Game Changer by Piper Lawson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A steamy, grumpy sunshine sports romance featuring a woman down on her luck, a star basketball player with a filthy mouth, and a connection neither of them can deny.

After being dumped and losing my job the same week, the last thing my broken heart needs is a rebound.

I’m escaping across the country to help my perfect sister plan her dream wedding, and to prove to both of us everything is under control.

But a combination of tequila and turbulence on the flight there lead to word-vomiting all my troubles to the huge and handsome stranger in the first-class seat next to mine.

Only his whispered dirty diversions keep me sane until landing.

Despite the spark of attraction, we go our separate ways.

Or so I thought.

Turns out the tall, muscular, tattooed tower of a man from the plane is the star player on my future brother-in-law’s pro basketball team.

Clay is the last person I should gravitate toward. They’re called “players” for a reason.

Grumpy and cynical, he carries a weight on his shoulders I can’t possibly fathom.

He’s also the only one who knows my secrets and gets my heart racing.

The more we’re thrust together, the stronger the chemistry between us becomes.

Hooking up with the all-star athlete isn’t the way to get my life on track…but it could just be the game changer we’ve both been searching for.

Game Changer

The Playmaker and the Pixie

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋🙂🤨🤣🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration

🛡️ Audiobook Review: Game Changer

Series: King of the Court, #1 (book 1 of 4, not a standalone)
Genre: Sports Romance
Narrators: Carly Robbins and Lance Greenfield

🦸🏼‍♀️ Heroine Spotlight: Nova

Nova’s month-long trip to Denver isn’t just about wedding prep — it’s a quiet act of redemption. She’s trying to reconnect with her sister Mari, whose life she’s drifted from, and bury the emotional fallout of her own breakup. Raised on the road by free-spirited parents, Nova’s used to chaos, but this time she’s determined to be the steady one. She’s an artist with a heart full of guilt and a head full of color — including the pink pixie cut that catches Clay’s eye.

🦸🏻‍♂️ Hero Spotlight: Clayton “Clay” Wade

Clay’s the Kodiaks’ top scorer, but his career is teetering after a brutal injury. He’s got beef with the new GM — who just happens to be marrying Nova’s sister — and a chip on his shoulder the size of the championship trophy he’s chasing. But the pink-haired stranger on his flight to Denver? She stirs something in him he thought was long gone. Clay’s guarded, driven, and unexpectedly vulnerable — especially when Nova starts peeling back his layers.

📃 Plot Pulse

The tangled web of personal and professional drama kicks off when Nova discovers her future brother-in-law is also Clay’s nemesis. Cue wedding chaos, locker room tension, and a slow-burn romance that simmers with emotional stakes. Nova’s artistic soul and Clay’s relentless ambition clash and complement in equal measure, especially as she helps him navigate the pressure cooker of pro sports and self-worth.

💘 What Hit Home

• ✈️ Their meet-cute on a plane? Adorable. A spicy one-night stand would’ve added heat, but the emotional spark was real.
• ☀️ The grumpy/sunshine dynamic shines here — Nova’s optimism is hard-won, and Clay’s brooding feels earned.
• 🎨 Nova’s advice to Clay about anxiety and self-pressure was surprisingly poignant. Her creative lens brings depth to his internal battles.

🧐 What Fell Flat

• 📚 That cliffhanger! I expected a standalone sports romance, not a series about one couple. Piper Lawson’s rockstar series should’ve tipped me off, but I still felt blindsided. If you’re diving in, be ready to commit to the full arc.

🎧 Narration Notes

Dual POVs are voiced by Carly Robbins and Lance Greenfield. While neither narrator tops my favorites list, they deliver solid performances with expressive emotion. Carly’s tone skews older than Nova’s vibe, and Lance’s voice doesn’t quite match Clay’s imposing presence — but they still capture the heart of the story.

📝 Final Takeaway

“Playmaker” blends emotional depth, sizzling tension, and a heroine who heals as much as she helps. Just don’t expect closure in book one — this is a slow burn with a long game.

—

Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub



View all my reviews