Twisted Wrister

The Playmakers Series Hockey Romances, Book 7

By: G.K. Brady

Narrated by: Scott Rose, Samantha Brentmoor

He’s a hockey-playing trivia nerd who doesn’t believe in happily-ever-after. She’s an ambitious attorney looking for Prince Charming. Can love score a win, or will it get iced?

Blake Barrett here. My wicked wrist shot’s on fire, and the NHL spotlight’s on me. But off the ice? Let’s say my skills could use some work. Enter Michaela Wagner, my new neighbor—a sharp attorney with no time for my fumbling. When she offers kissing lessons, I jump at the chance, confident there’s no risk of getting attached. Love isn’t for me, thanks to my parents’ disastrous marriage. Happily-ever-after? Yeah, right.

Meanwhile, Michaela’s dream is finding her Prince Charming, though she’s certain he’s not me. Yet somehow, our practice sessions pull us closer, and her smile and fierce spirit keep getting under my skin. Her optimism challenges my beliefs, and I start questioning if maybe I’ve been wrong all along.

As our connection deepens, my fears claw at me. Letting her in risks not just my heart, but the fragile control I’ve fought to keep over a life that’s one mistake away from fracturing. And I’m not sure I can survive that.

©2021 G.K. Brady (P)2024 G.K. Brady

Loved this audio!

This was a cute story about a professional hockey player (Blake) and a hard working attorney (Michaela) who meet when she moves in next door to him. Blake’s roommate immediately sets his sights on their new neighbor, so Blake decides to play wingman for him. I liked that Blake was kind of awkward, but it drove me crazy how next level he was about the bro code when his friend was a total dirtbag. I am all about being a good pal but I couldn’t stand his bestie/teammate/roommate whose name I don’t even remember now because I tend to block out these types of characters 🤣 Michaela was a great FMC though - she was feisty, ambitious, and fun. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the performances by narrators Scott Rose and Samantha Brentmoor.

Great Story & Narration🎧 Captivating & Emotional!

G.K. Brady is back with another fantastic addition to her “Playmakers” series, a series of standalone sports romance novels with each book featuring a different player of the professional hockey team and their love interest or soon to be love interest. This seventh book is Blake Barrett and Michaela Wagner’s story, a story that grabbed my attention right from the start and captivated it straight to the end. Blake shares an apartment with his friend and teammate Owen Ferguson, who is a player on and off the ice. When they meet their new neighbor, Michaela, it is Ferguson who calls dibs, but it is Blake who interacts with her the most because Ferguson is too busy playing the field. Michaela is a lawyer working in a law firm and is looking to become a partner one day. The competition is fierce, but that does not intimidate her or her ambition. She has had no luck in the dating department and it has crossed her mind that maybe something could happen with one of her new neighbors. The thought was brief and the more she gets to know Blake, the more she drawn to him and his nerdy trivia spurts. He gives off mixed signals, so she is not sure he is interested. Except he is interested and is trying to be true to his friend who claims to be interested, though he has a funny way of showing it, or rather not showing it. I could not figure out Ferguson’s angle and was wondering why he was being such a jerk. Thankfully, he redeems himself and all is good in the end. Brady sure put these characters through the wringer and made them work to get to their happily ever after. I loved all the layers of the story, the writing, plot and world building are fantastic, as are the character growth and development. There is plenty of drama, which includes family, relationship and workplace drama, angst, heartfelt emotions, and steamy romance. G.K. Brady, thank you for another fabulous story and emotional rollercoaster ride. 

🎧📚🎧And for the fabulous narration, Scott Rose and Samantha Brentmoor were the perfect cast to bring these characters to life and did so with a complete understanding of who they were, giving each a voice that was suitable and believable. Brentmoor nailed it as Michaela, grasping every aspect of her personality, from her sassy intelligence to her fierceness and all in between, including her caring and loving side. Rose nailed it as Blake Barrett and he, too, grasped all sides of his personality, from his insecurities to his confident side, as well as his nerdy side. Both were just as fabulous performing the roles of the secondary characters, too. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and had you feeling each one.  These two made a great team, their voices and performance complimented each other and the quality of their audio was top-notch. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another amazing listen. 

I can't get enough of this series!

Twisted Wrister is book #7 in The Playmakers series. It can be a standalone, but you won't want to miss this sizzling hockey team! Blake is becoming a star on his hockey team, the Colorado Blizzard, while his roommate is falling behind, driving a wedge in their friendship. Michaela is the youngest attorney at her firm, vying for a shot at partner against another attorney who shows too much unwanted interest in her. I love this series and this story is another barnburner. Ms. Brady gives us angst, enemies-to-lovers, a little suspense and intrigue, and lots of hilarious banter between the team and the main characters. And the red couch? Yeah, we all want one now...

The narration was fantastic! Samantha Brentmoor gave us the tough talking lawyer with sass and spice. Scott Rose is a new narrator for me and is now on my watch list. His performance of Blake was exactly what you would expect...the hot guy next door that makes for sleepless nights! 5 stars for this duo.

A Great Hockey Romance

*I listened to the audiobook *
This was my first book by this author and definitely not my last. I went in blind and fell in love with these characters. I can't wait to continue the series. Scott Rose and Samantha Brentmoor narrated and they were fantastic. I highly recommend this series.

Brady and Brentmoor are a winning pair…

This was a pleasant continuation of Brady’s series. Book 7 focuses on the undeniable connection between Blake and Michaela, while continuing to build the Blizzard roster (I can’t wait for Cam’s book!). The MCs made for a good pair, with solid chemistry as both friends and lovers, and I enjoyed watching their connection blossom. Michaela is very driven and I just genuinely liked her, even in her weaker moments. Blake was also pretty likable for most of the story and his tensions with his family and with Ferguson were well developed. And though his attitude took a convenient turn towards a-holeville just in time for the third act breakup, I enjoyed that his “grand gesture” of redemption was actually just a quiet moment of honesty between the two lovers. It was a deft move on Brady’s part that highlights how a satisfying story conflict resolution doesn’t need bells and whistles to work. Plus the call back to the beginning with the couch was a fun touch.

My favorite part of my TW experience was Samantha Brentmoor’s narration in the audiobook. She lifted every moment she portrayed and augmented Michaela’s appeal. I feel like I have gushed over Brentmoor in just about every review, but she’s just that awesome. I only wish she had been paired with a stronger co-narrator. Maybe Scott Rose is suffering by comparison, but I found his performance a bit one-note. He was serviceable, but I couldn’t help but wish for a more varied performance for Blake. Despite that, I did enjoy the audiobook as a whole and do consider this another Brady audio that is well worth a listen.

Overall, a solid addition to the Playmakers series and recommended. Looking forward to the next.

I received an ALC copy of the audiobook via Home Cooked Books and read via KU. All opinions are my own.