The Games We Play Season 2 Book 8: Punchline by Cari Z & LA Witt

The Games We Play Season 2 Book 8

 Jake Radovitz is finally figuring himself out again. After he accidentally injured a friend so badly during a tournament that it ended the guy’s MMA career, Jake shied away from the mat and their friendship. Now he’s inching back into that world, working alongside his friend and coaching young fighters.

Ethan Bernier is trying his level best to prove that he’s ready to move up from the farm team to the NAPH. He’s playing hard, he’s playing well… and he’s playing with some newfound grit. Unfortunately, a humiliating attempt at fighting turns him into the joke of the league.

When a teammate suggests fighting lessons, Ethan agrees. Anything to avoid a repeat of that embarrassment.

But it’s really, really hard to focus on the instruction when the fighting coach is the hottest man Ethan has ever seen.

And now Jake is struggling to teach this cute student who’s making him face the bisexuality he’s tried to ignore.

Even as their careers pick up steam, maybe they can have it professional success, strong friendships… and love they won’t have to hide from their fans.

The Games We Play - Season 2 is the second season of this multi-author minor league hockey romance series! All titles run concurrently through the same hockey season and the books can be read in any order, so jump in anywhere!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239426884-punchline

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Jake has been struggling on the mat since the day he accidentally injured his friend in a tournament that it ended his career and could have cost him his life. He’s gotten help and his friend has long forgiven him and even has him working at his gym. But still doesn’t mean Jake is over it. Though he is trying bit by bit to gain his confidence back in the mat. And that starts with taking on a new client his friend Carson brings him. Ethan is mortified to watch a fight he got into on the ice look absolutely ridiculous. He thought he could hold his own but watching the playback? Yikes. So when his friend brings him to his boyfriend’s gym to help him learn, well Ethan is definitely willing to try. But the moment he sees Jake he knows he is in trouble. How can he not be when he looks at Jake and he is filled with butterflies and nerves? And when Ethan learns that Jake may be into him too? Well, neither would have thought they would find love like this. These two were so cute! They were so awkward and unsure with one another. Not sure how to act because they were definitely interested in each other, but I loved how they stumbled into it. It was really sweet and adorable. Throw in some hockey and mma fighting? And we’ve got quite the story! I also loved revisiting characters we met from the previous season of this series. It was nice to come back and catch up with them. Great story all around!