*`Review: Played by Naima Simone`*

Title: Played
Author: Naima Simone
Release Date: September 3, 2024

REVIEW:
3.5 Stars
When I saw this was a single dad hockey romance all I said was sign me up. Plus this author is a favorite of mine. I loved her Lord of the Rings references. She did kill me though with the Pats and Brady references. I really wanted to love this one, but I did struggle at times investing into this one. I loved that Adina is a firefighter. It's a family tradition to go into the field. We see the struggles she endures not just being a woman in the field, but also as a black woman. I did love that both MCs are black characters. It gave me diversity through a black woman author creating these characters. Gave us the slang and accent to the characters which I thought was cool. Now Solomon his redeeming quality is the love for his son. It took me a long time to warm up to Solomon. I know both Adina and Solomon are struggling with the grief of the loss of their loved ones. Trust me I know that struggle daily. I may not have lost a significant other, but my grandparents loss has crushed me so I can't even imagine losing a significant other. I could feel the pain and struggle of them opening up to the possibility of moving on and finding love again.  Little Kahlil, he stole my heart. He is such a cutie that brings out the softer side of Solomon. It's a good book that I just wish I could get emotionally more invested in. The connection between reader and the characters was just lacking on my part. 

BLURB:
USA Today bestselling author Naima Simone heats up the page with intensity and wit in this romance between a pro hockey player and a firefighter, both struggling to move on from the past.

Being a firefighter isn’t easy. Especially for a Black woman. Working with family helps a little. But when somebody from your company doesn’t come back from a call, it’s brutal—as in, “How’m I supposed to go on?” brutal.

And one death took me to a really dark place.

A year later, I’m at the Pirates’ hockey training facility. Just another day on the job. Until I find a charred journal. I look inside for the owner’s name, but the words on the page punch me in the gut. It’s like reading my own thoughts. Reliving my own pain.

The journal belongs to Solomon Young, left-winger for the Pirates—a father and widower. When I return it, I’m racked with guilt for the invasion of privacy. The look Solomon gives me is cold as ice.

But damn if that man isn’t hot as hell.

Now he’s stuck in my brain. And fate seems intent on making us face off.

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