Narration by Nelson Hobbs & Virginia Rose
Love of the Game, Book 1
From the publisher:
Two season tickets. One genius idea. Zero interest in a relationship.
The plan is simple: a brand-new, hot, preferably funny, definitely single male will fill one of those seats for every Bears game at Soldier Field. And I’ll fill the other.
I can’t think of a better way to use the season passes I’d bought for my ex-husband. I am a woman of plans, and this one’s foolproof. Until Zach Bowen offers to be my practice round.
He’s infuriating. Presumptuous and overbearing. And absolutely, undeniably gorgeous. Any woman with a heartbeat would be attracted to him, and mine picks up speed every time he speaks. But as I said, I’m a woman of plans – and I’m not backing down on this one.
One night. One game. And then, his time’s up. He can try to change the rules, but here’s the truth: He can’t win if he’s playing the wrong game.
Contains mature themes.
This book is a fun and surprisingly emotional read. I absolutely loved the main characters, and the sharp, heartfelt, and effortlessly engaging writing brings a fresh spin to the sports-romance trope.
Gemma is a planner to her core. After a devastating betrayal, she rebuilds her life around rules, structure, and one unbreakable promise: never risk her heart again. A die-hard Chicago Bears fan with season tickets, she decides to ease back into dating by bringing a different “date” to each home game—strictly casual, strictly for fun, and absolutely no feelings allowed. Then she meets Zach.
Zach volunteers to be her “practice guy” for the first game, and from the moment they meet, he’s impossible not to love. He sees straight through Gemma’s carefully built walls and is determined to chip away at them—even if he doesn’t yet understand what put them there. Patient, charming, and endlessly swoony, Zach balances Gemma’s strength and vulnerability perfectly. Their chemistry crackles, their banter sparkles, and their connection feels genuine and earned. The side characters—especially Belle and Micah—add humor and warmth that make the story even richer.
At its heart, Gemma’s journey is about rebuilding. Newly single at 29, she’s learning how to reclaim her life after everything she trusted fell apart. Her dating-at-the-games plan is meant to be safe and controlled—until Zach becomes the exception she never anticipated. He lives boldly, loves openly, and pursues what he wants with his whole heart. And what he wants is her.
Terrified to trust again, Gemma is slowly drawn out of her comfort zone and into something real. Their story is a reminder that love always involves risk—but sometimes the reward is worth every bit of fear. Sweet, sexy, emotional, and just angsty enough to keep you hooked, this story is a perfect fall read and a must for sports-romance lovers.
I adored this emotional, funny, chemistry-packed romance, and if you enjoy sports romances, give it a try. This was my first read by this author, but I am now hunting down the next book in this series, The Right Player.
2/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
Audiobook Sunday: THE WRONG GAME by Kandi Steiner. ASIN: B07P83FN5R. Narrators: Nelson Hobbs & Virginia Rose. Tantor Media. March 12, 2019. Listening Length: 10 hours and 47 minutes.
Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™ 