Decker: Changing the Play by Kayley Loring

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#12 Johnny Decker. Star quarterback for the Boston Tomcats. Two-time Super Bowl MVP…a decade ago. Nickname: Decker the Panty Wrecker.

I get tackled for a living by men who are built like rhinos. I could take the wings off a fly with a football from 30 yards away. (I wouldn’t, but I could.) Being a veteran quarterback means I’m a mentally alert, fine-tuned athletic machine who can make split-second decisions.

It’s my job to anticipate what’s going to happen next and adapt. But I couldn’t have anticipated the death of our beloved team owner. 

His estranged daughter Hannah Strong is a finance nerd from New York. She knows less than nothing about football. Know what she didn’t anticipate? Inheriting the Boston Tomcats.

She’s stubborn, uptight, infuriating, and wrong about absolutely everything—from pizza to how to run my team. And I don’t want to talk about how good she looks in a skirt. Or daydream about how good she’d look out of it.
Really, I don’t. 
I’m not Decker the Panty Wrecker anymore—I’ve changed.

I can’t stop arguing with her. 

Or thinking about her.

I thought I had a winning play.
But Hannah Strong changed everything.

Touchdowns, Tension, and Terrible First Impressions

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💜💚❤️🩷
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋😀😛😘🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Duet Narration – multicast

🎧 Audiobook Review: Decker: Changing the Play (The Boston Tomcats, #1)

Author: Kayley Loring and Connor Crais
Genre: Sports romance
Narrators: Connor Crais, Mackenzie Cartwright, Ava Lucas, Ron Butler

🦸🏻‍♂️ The Hero: Johnny Decker (a.k.a. Decker the Panty Wrecker)

Johnny Decker is the thirty‑six‑year‑old star quarterback of the Boston Tomcats, coasting into the final year of an eight‑year, $225 million contract. Once a two‑time Super Bowl champion and league MVP, his glory days are behind him, though he’s still in enviable shape and clinging to the last threads of his prime. When the team’s emotional coach bursts into the locker room in tears, no one thinks much of it—until they realize he isn’t the only one crying. The news hits hard: team owner Jerry Strong has passed away. Jerry drafted Johnny, celebrated every high with him, and stood by him through every low. Losing him is more than a professional blow; it’s personal.

🦸🏼‍♀️ The Heroine: Hannah Strong

Hannah Strong, Jerry’s estranged daughter, suddenly finds herself the new owner of the Boston Tomcats—a twist she never wanted. Armed with an MBA and a successful career in wealth management in New York City, she’s spent her entire life avoiding football. Her parents divorced when she was six, and she grew up far from the stadium lights that defined her father’s world. Now she’s back in Boston, unsure, unprepared, and emotionally conflicted about stepping into a legacy she never asked for.

📚 The Plot

When Hannah arrives at the stadium, she’s supposed to meet the equipment manager, Johnathan. Instead, she mistakes the first man she sees—Johnny Decker—for him. And since “Johnathan” is technically his name, Johnny rolls with it, assuming she’s a new executive assistant. He’s instantly drawn to her, so he happily gives her the tour.

A series of misunderstandings follow, each one escalating their irritation and attraction in equal measure. Johnny thinks she might be a little unhinged; Hannah thinks he’s far too casual about the team’s expenses. Their first real interaction ends in an argument and a mutual vow to avoid each other… which, of course, doesn’t last long.

🌟 Strengths

• I loved how deeply the story immersed itself in the world of football. Sports romances feel richer when the sport is more than window dressing, and this one delivers.
• Their chemistry is fantastic – charged, complicated, and grounded in that delicious “we really shouldn’t” tension since she’s technically his boss.
• The middle section runs a bit long, but the plot stays unpredictable, and I appreciate a romance that can genuinely surprise me. The story only gets stronger as it goes.

💔 Limitations

• Hannah starts off extremely prim and proper, almost rigid, which made it hard to warm up to her at first.
• Her lack of football knowledge is so extreme that it strains believability for someone raised in the U.S., even if she avoided the sport.

🎙️ Narration

The audiobook uses duet narration with a full cast: Connor Crais, Mackenzie Cartwright, Ava Lucas, and Ron Butler. I’m a sucker for duet narration and ensemble casts, and this one shines. Connor Crais’s deep, velvety voice is endlessly listenable, Mackenzie Cartwright brings emotional nuance, Ava Lucas adds warmth and clarity, and Ron Butler is pitch‑perfect in his supporting role. The production elevates the entire experience.

💬 Final Assessment

This audiobook blends sports, slow‑burn tension, and character growth into a satisfying, steadily improving romance. While Hannah’s early stiffness and football cluelessness can be frustrating, the chemistry, emotional beats, and strong sense of place more than make up for it. The story rewards patience, building toward a heartfelt payoff that feels earned. Add in a stellar narration cast, and this becomes a thoroughly enjoyable listen for anyone who loves sports romances with genuine depth and charm.

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