The Play: A Sports Romance

The plot was pretty scattered and there were a lot of details that were so distracting. Why did the team keep flying back and forth between Chicago and AZ and commercial no less, and why did Emily and Charlie go with them? Why and how did they take the cat (without a carrier)? Why did they keep leaving the kid with random strangers (hotel babysitter, mascot)? The dropping of Emily saying a Farsi word twice, for no particular reason. The ridiculous response to the blackmail attempt and then the resolution of that issue (which totally didn’t make ANY sense). I generally liked these characters but overall, the plot of the story was a bit too messy and nonsensical to me.

*FIVE STARS*

- Enemies/neighbors to lovers romance ✔
- Sports romance✔
- A paternity scandal✔
- The city suspense✔
- An adorable eight year-old and an even more adorable hallway cat✔
- Passionate✔
- Intense✔
- Heartfelt✔
- Emotional✔
- All-consuming✔
- Fast paced✔
- Off the charts chemistry✔
- A gorgeous but slightly damaged, displeased, sullen, grumpy, don’t-trust-anyone baseball player
- An ambitious, strong, vulnerable, takeout-loving lawyer/neighbor heroine that’s tasked with getting our hero out of his scandal

This is the first book I read by this author but certainly wouldn’t be the last. The Play is the first book in Chicago Nights series and a spin-off of Natalie’s previous series Manhattan Nights. I love a good sports romance and enemies to lovers story. It’s an amazing start to a new series. I couldn’t put it down. The synopsis is just the surface of what it is really about. It has so much depth, powerful and effortless storytelling which allowed me to connect with the characters. I loved that it was written in dual POV so I know what both characters – Emily and Sevin – were thinking at the specific time or moments. It was well developed, well written and well thought out.

Emily is a lawyer living in the same apartment block as Sevin who is a famous baseball player. They don’t know each other personally but they got involved in neighborly wars: she didn’t like the noise he was making and he loved riling her up.

Emily and Sevin were amazing even though they didn’t have a very good start being enemies and all. They are both so relatable and I loved their journey to happily ever after. Emily and Sevin are truly really great together. I loved their insta connection and attraction when they first met in the elevator. Their timing might be a little off because they both have so much going on and they are focused on different things: Sevin with paternity scandal and Emily with her career. When they are together everything just makes sense; they are just perfect for each other and exactly what they need in order to start anew. Both are instantly drawn to each other but can’t explain why exactly they feel this incredible pull toward each other. I loved their off the charts chemistry and how patient he was with her. I loved how they blossomed and thrived even though life had thrown them quite a few obstacles. They are each other’s match. I love their moments and dialogues and banter; how they are just drawn to each other, how gradually they let each other in and began to trust each other. The epilogue was just beautiful.

This book was simply wonderful and such a great read. It was flirty, sexy, fun, a bit suspenseful, tender, touching, heartbreaking and heartwarming. I can’t wait to read Sawyer’s book. I highly recommend it. They were what the other one needed.

Emily and Sevin are both strong characters. Emily is caring but holds back because she thinks she only cares about her career. Sevin thinks he can not care about anyone or anything. While Sevin may have been a better man recently, in the past he was a real bad boy. Their journey is sweet and snarky and fun. The build up is masterful. The character development is nice. The story is unique. The writing is good. I like Sawyer and Naomi and Ben. Kara threw me. Stephen is somewhat of a jerk, unintentionally of course. The story includes workplace relationship, drama, mystery and cuteness. Charlie adds dimension to the book by cuteness and all the feels. The feud between Sevin and Emily gives the story kick.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Excellent love story for the summer! The baseball star with all kinds of walls around his heart, meets the uptight lawyer...who also happens to be his nasty neighbor! However, she just might be the only one to help break those walls down and get him out of a sticky situation.
Great characters and excellent world building. Didn't keep me up all night to find out what happens next...but a fun read all the same!

4 1/2 stars
A humorous enemies to lovers story that was very entertaining to read. I liked their interactions which were delightful to read. The characters relationship evolved over the story becoming a mix of humor, suspense, drama and steam. An enjoyable read.

Fantastically well written sexy, sweet, snarky, and comedic is the best description of this book. As usual Natalie's characters have so much life to them and you can't help but fall for them. Sevin and Emily are just so intriguing as they banter their way through the book. This is a very good addition to Natalie's series. Just love it.

Another exciting story from Wrye. Loved watching Sevin and Emily grow into a power couple. Fantastic series.

On paper these our hero is living his best life. Sevin is one of the top ranked baseball players in the MLB. He was voted MVP, have any woman he wants and a nice penthouse apartment. All is great except his uptight neighbor who lives below him. She complains of noise and loud music, calling the cops all the time. Emily has her dream job but she is new. When her boss gives her primary on a new case to protect a new client. She is nervous and excited until she realizes it’s Sevin, her noisy upstairs neighbor. Fun, slow burn story with a cute kid and and wayward cat. Quick read with great characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.