The Game by Sam Whitelock ~ Review

THE GAME

BOOK TWO IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP ROMANCE SERIES

The Game by Sam Whitelock is an enemy-to-lovers, forced proximity, workplace romance. It’s written in dual POV with open door spice and I quickly discovered that once I started reading it, I didn’t want to put it down.

So, let’s talk about it, shall we?

ARC REVIEW

The Game by Sam Whitelock QUOTE

I read the e-ARC of The Game by Sam Whitlock in one-sitting. It’s a slow burn, enemy-to-lovers, workplace romance set in the NHL hockey world with a sports journalist intern and the team captain of the fictional Chicago Coyotes. A hot, arrogant captain who is used to being in control and holding all the cards. Then he meets the one girl who challenges all that and it’s game on.

Sarah is a strong female protagonist who is no-nonsense and able to give as good as she gets. She handles the team like a pro, finding out what they like and don’t like about their relationship with social media. The only snag she runs into is when she tries to meet with team captain, Alexander, who first cancels on her then thinks she’s an escort sent by a friend and teammate. Needless to say, things do not go well at their first meeting. But Alexander is nothing if not persistent, and the harder Sarah tries to fight things, the more he works to understand her and change her mind.

At first, I was not sold on Alexander. He had a bright neon sign that said walk away and keep going on him. But he quickly shifted things, showing both Sarah and me, as a reader, that there was more to him than what he allowed people to see—and know—about him. There was depth there, and realness, and once he decided on something—or someone—he’s all in. I liked that a lot.

The first half of this book was slower than the second, but once the midpoint came, things ramped up a bit. Both in terms of the relationship and the spice level. Alexander made sure to pursue Sarah with a clear-minded focus, and he also made sure to give her what she wants—including the fantasies that have been running through her head for so long.

If you’re looking for a fun, one-sitting read with spice, banter, and plenty of moments to smile, The Game by Sam Whitlock is a book to check out. I really enjoyed it and I will definitely be on the lookout for more from this author.

RATING:

DETAILS AND INFORMATION

I received an advanced reading copy (ARC) or advanced listening copy (ALC) of this book from the author, publisher, or publicist. The receipt of this ARC or ALC did not influence my choice to review the book on this site. It also did not influence how I felt about the book or its characters, storyline, and overall feel. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. As such, they only deal with what is written on the pages of the book and how what is written and otherwise presented made me feel during and after my reading of the book or how the book is presented in audio format and the narrators perform the book.

The Game by Sam Whitelock
Series: Championship Romance #2
Published by Indie on February 20, 2026
Genres: Hockey Romance, Sports Romance
Pages: 345
Format: E-Arc
Source: Publicist/PR
Buy: Amazon | Goodreads
Rating: four-stars

Series Rating: four-stars

SARAH
Getting accused of being an escort by the captain of an NHL team wasn’t what I anticipated when I started my internship with the Chicago Coyotes Hockey team. Neither was slapping Alexander McGregor across the face—but here we are. The chemistry between us is instant and dangerous, a game neither of us knows how to quit. He’s used to getting what he wants, and right now, that’s me.

ALEXANDER
Accusing our new social media strategist of being an escort wasn’t my strongest performance. Those usually happen out on the ice, wearing the C on my arm as the captain of my NHL team. Now, I need to redeem myself and show the brilliant Sarah Parker, just how good we can be together.

A sizzling hockey romance where one mistake turns into an irresistible love story.