I really wanted to like this book because I am ALL about the heroines of sports romance being the professional athlete, not just the hero. so a book about two professional football players? Sign me up!

I liked Kieran and Joanie. Kieran is hardly the bad boy, he has the rep but he’s dependable, stands up for himself and is only out partying to look out for his closeted teammate and younger brother. Joanie is an introvert but dedicated to her sport.

It’s an easy and fast read but the storyline just so disposable with barely any football, which was such a missed opportunity given Joanie is coming back after 9 months rehab from an ACL injury. There’s one scene where she finally gets the nerve to do a kick around and of course it’s played up for drama with her falling and hurting her injured knee.

Instead the majority of the action is Joanie and Kieran in Spain to film a commercial where the author throws in only one bed because Joanie gives up her bed for a wedding guest (eyeroll), then of course earlier Joanie’s teammate comes up with a sex list for Joanie. And of course Joanie is a virgin. While at least Kieran isn’t a player, did few really have to have a sex lessons thing in? Then of course when they finally do the deed for the first time there’s no condom nor mention of of Joanie being on the pill. I lasted a few chapters after (skimming the subsequent spice scenes) and by the time the hospital scene, I just pretty much skimmed til 80% before finally calling it quits.

Not enough of the playing and too much insta-love spice. Lack of contraception was also a boner killer.

Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for the ARC.

Really enjoyed this book, the banter with the main characters was perfect. It’s held you captivated to see what happened as the story progressed.
Being a sports romance and little more about character connections between each book into the next and more about the sport would be a part I wanted.
I loved the story but coming into it being book 5 they were new characters that I hadn’t heard one word about at all so that’s the reason for a 4 star.
Arc reader

Story follows injured professional soccer player Joanie and pro player Kieran getting matched up for an ad and the rest was history!!


For a soccer romance I wasn’t sure what to expect and this didn’t fail to deliver!! So many tropes were in this book including virgin fmc and I absoltely adored it. Had me laughing too!! I got a bit confused with some of the characters names (purely because of my bad memory not the book) but apart from that, this book was amazing and I can’t wait to go back and read the earlier books!!!

Playing For Possession by Sasha Lace is a fun, passionate, and engaging romance that blends sports, chemistry, and heart perfectly. Joanie and Kieran’s story is full of charm and tension, making it impossible not to root for them. I truly enjoyed this book and rated it five stars.

Another great addition to the series .

I was fortunate enough to discover this series way back when Sash was releasing these as an indie author.

Whilst each book can be read as a stand alone I highly recommend reading the whole series .

As a football fan I have devoured this series and it’s so nice to find books that concentrate on women’s football.

If you enjoy

Sports romance
Grumpy sunshine
Bad boy / good girl
Force proximity

Pick up this book - hell the whole series , you will find great paced books , a great mix of plot , character development , spice all encompasses in the sports world

Playing for Possession follows the story of two professional soccer (football 🇬🇧) players, Joanie who is coming back from an injury and Kieran, a Premier League star with a bad boy reputation. They’re thrown into a trip together to film a commercial for a team sponsor, and the romance (and drama!) builds from there.

Things I loved about this book:
☀️😤 Grumpy x Sunshine vibes
👩🏼‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏻 🛌 Forced Proximity
💁🏻‍♂️😍 He falls first! 🥰
🌶️🌶️ Loved those spicy scenes!
💙💗 Depth of character development - both the FMC and MMC have deeper reasons for the challenges that keep them from being easily, happily together right away
👫👫 The “supporting cast” - Mortimer Fox, Ramirez, Jack, Ollie, Sean and others added layers to the story that kept me curious and invested in the outcome
🇬🇧⚽️ It’s fun reading a British author for all the funny slang and references!

What kept it from 5 stars for me…
- A bit TOO instant love for my taste
- I didn’t read the other books in the series, and the references to other characters from past books in the series did didn’t make sense or add value to the story.

Overall this was a very fun read! I would definitely recommend - thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Sasha Lace for an early copy of this book!

First I've got to admit that this is the first book I've ready in the series! But I definitely want to read the others!

I really enjoyed this story. Kieran is a rough around the edges guy who has a bad boy reputation, but is that truly who he is? Joanie is recovering from an injury and is trying to push past her daddy's girl image. When an advertisement opertunity gets them sent off to Majorca together for a few days of filming.

They are drawn to each other, and you can feel the attraction. I really enjoyed how believable their interactions were and the development of their relationship. This is a fun, binge-able romance full of spice and characters you are invested in.

Couldn't put this down!

Where to start? Joanie is coming back from a big injury and Kieran has an awful reputation, what better pairing could their be? Throughout the book they lean on each other and learn more about each other eventually overcoming things they have been struggling with (deliberately vague so no spoilers). I liked the chance to explore their personalities away from the limelight, and the fact it showed that your preconceived idea of someone isn't necessarily the way they are.

Generally, it was a cute book and I really enjoyed reading it. It's great for people who like a sports romance, the grumpy x sunshine trope and the forced proximity trope too. Would recommend and I look forward to reading others in this series too!

Cute story with some of my favorite tropes like enemies to lovers and opposites attract. I thought that the representation of women football, and especially the contrast with men’s soccer, was important and insightful. I am not really interested in football, but the whole football world caught me in this book without any knowledge. I enjoyed both POVs, because they made the characters feel relatable and showed their genuine background story and struggles. Joanie’s dad was a little bit over the top for me, but overall it was a cute story with summer vibe.

I was definitely the kid who always had a book handy. I remember getting in trouble for reading at the table. There was a time that I actually got grounded for books! To say that I am a bookworm is an understatement. For as long as I can remember, I have been a fan of traditional romance. Lately, I also become a huge fan of “sports romance,” so I was glad to get a chance to read this.

I was a bit nervous about reading a book that was a part of a pretty long series that I had not read yet. Thankfully, I was able to read this as a standalone. This book hooked me from the very beginning. I liked that it was told in alternating perspective first person. It really helped always knowing the other MC’s perspective.

As someone who has never really been into soccer (football), this book helped me see a different perspective. Also, I really liked the ending. My only issue is that I wish the epilogue would have been set a little further into the future.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

I DEVOURED this book in just two days. A whole series about female soccer players??? COUNT ME IN

Playing for Possession follows Joanie—a rule-following footballer fighting to get back on the pitch after injury—and Kieran, the men’s team bad boy chasing his England squad dream. Thrown together for a promo trip, they have every reason to keep things professional… until sparks fly, rules blur, and they discover they might just be each other’s game changer.

Even though I haven’t read the other books in the series, I had zero trouble diving right in. Joanie and Kieran’s personalities bounce off each other perfectly—opposites, yet somehow the same—and their blunt humor had me giggling out loud more than once.

If you’re looking for your next sports romance, definitely give this one a try <3

I confess I haven't read the other four books in this series, but I didn't feel lost when I picked up this one. One thing I was a bit put off by was the male character "taking care" of the female character. I thought she was too strong a character to need a bad boy by her side; even so, I enjoyed the romance and the bond that developed between them. They have a delightful chemistry, and I enjoyed how the plot and the two got to know each other.
I will definitely read the other four previous books.
Thank you, NetGalley, and the author for this book.

4⭐️/5

I would recommend this if you enjoy:
- Women in sports
- Football
- Forced proximity
- One bed trope
- Friends to lovers
- Opposites attract
- Bad boy x good girl
- Travel
- Spicy scenes

Thank you for the ARC Netgalley - all opinions are my own.

This book follows Joanie, a professional footballer healing from an injury, and Kieran, a Premier League footballer who meet when they are asked to collaborate on a carbonated beverage ad and have to fly to Spain to do it. They both refuse but when they realise it can be good for them, they reluctantly take the trip.

I liked both of the characters and that isn't typical for me. Joanie struggles with standing up for herself and is shy and Kieran is the opposite because he's always breaking the rules and not caring what anyone thinks about him. Their dynamic worked really well and I liked them together.

The Spanish backdrop was a fun addition and the spice was well written. The balcony scene was 🔥 and Kieran was a gentleman as he didn't do anything she wasn't comfortable with which I appreciate in books. The one thing I didn't like was how insta-lovey it was as they didn't know each other for that long and they were saying they loved each other quicker than I like in romance books. I was still smiling for them though as I feel like they were exactly what each other needed.

The cameos of the other characters - specifically Skylar and Lana - was so fun and I was smiling when they were on page as I missed them and I liked them in the previous books.

Overall, I would recommend this book and this series as it is fast-paced, fun and full of love and I would pick up the next book.

Sometimes the one you think you should stay away from is exactly who you need to be with. Kieran may play the part of bad boy footballer, but that isn't who he really is and it definitely isn't who he wants to be. Joanie grew up in the shadow of her famous father and now equally famous brother. Most people think she is a spoiled princess, but the reality is far from that.

Forced into working together, then forced into sharing a room, with one bed, will the Spanish sunshine melt their hearts for each other? And will they be the same once they return home?

I've enjoyed this series as a fun, quick, escape read and this latest is a fun edition. I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys sports romance. The story flows well and is pretty fast-paced.

A much needed sweet and spicy read. The characters were lovable, the backstories perfection and the growth of them everything needed.
I absolutely pictured a Gene Simmons type for the dad!

Looking forward to reading more by this author ❤️

I have loved this series, and Playing for Posession was equally as brilliant as the previous books.

Joanie quietly goes through life trying not to draw attention to herself for being difficult, wanting to hide away from her dad's fame. She's recovering from an injury and desperate to get back on the pitch.
Kieran is mistakenly labelled as a football bad boy, a ladies man and a bit of a trouble causer.

When the two meet they do not hit it off, but having ti spend more time together, they both see the real people each other are and realise how wrong their initial judgements were.

Spicy, fun, and filled with emotion.
As a mum of two football playing girls, I especially loved the authors dedication in this book.
Brilliant.

He falls first
Forced proximity
Slow burn

Thanks to Netgalley & Amazon publishing for providing me with an ARC for review.

Playing for Possession is a fun story about two professional soccer players. The story is heartwarming and romantic while still dealing with real issues.
Kieran and Joanie get off on the wrong foot because each of them has assumptions about the other. They forced to get along when they have to shoot a commercial together. I loved how the book had an underlying theme of perception about ourselves and others.
If you're looking for a good story with romance, humor and a little spicy this book is for you. Thank you Netgallery for the ARC!

I really enjoyed Joanie and Kieran’s story! Kieran is such a sweetheart and really loves and cares for his people no matter what it costs him. Their chemistry was great.

We return to the Calverdale Ladies football for another truly fun romance that will grab you and hold on until the end, even if you don't realize it! This is a fun series of standalone, sizzle, snark, and substantial plots - more than the usual fluff, always some serious topics handled well. Definite reading enjoyment.