Line Change

A Second-Chance Romance (The Playmakers Series Hockey Romances, Book 0)

By: G.K. Brady

Narrated by: Ryan Lee Dunlap, Aubrey Vincent

Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

There’s only one woman for him. The problem? She belongs to his best friend.

When it comes to hockey and women, Marty LeBrun is used to coming in second to his best friend and teammate, Zach Pruitt. And that’s okay because Marty’s sole aim is breaking into the NHL, a climb as steep as Mt. Everest—without oxygen—for a guy whose heart is greater than his talent. But all that changes when Claudia Campbell walks into their lives. Suddenly, playing Zach’s wingman is a role Marty is no longer willing to fill.

Claudia Campbell has been itching to escape her stifling family and spread her wings. None of her big plans include a serious relationship, but she soon finds herself falling for Zach and putting her plans on ice. There’s a bonus that comes with the hottest hockey player on campus, though, and that’s his buddy, Marty. As her relationship with Zach deepens, Marty becomes her best friend, her rock, the guy she trusts above all others—including Zach.

While he flounders in the minors, Marty envies Zach’s meteoric rise in the NHL. Zach has everything Marty wants: a thriving career and the girl. But Zach’s fame creates the perfect storm for excess, and when he begs Marty to keep his secrets, Marty is torn. Do his loyalties lie with his best friend since childhood? Or with his other best friend, the girl he secretly pines for?

In order to protect the woman he adores, Marty agrees to hide Zach’s recklessness. But secrets never stay buried, and Marty’s choice delivers devastating consequences. When Claudia discovers what Marty has been keeping from her, it’s game over.

Years pass and scars cover old wounds, but Marty is haunted by memories of the only woman he’s ever loved. Meanwhile, Claudia yearns for the friendship she shared with Marty. When a chance encounter brings them together again, will they take a shot at winning the biggest prize of all?

©2022 G.K. Brady (P)2024 G.K. Brady

Recommend!!! So worth the credit!

Line change by G.K. Brady

This book had me in a roller coaster of emotions. One moment, I was happy, then next I was mad and then I was sad and so on. I had to take my breaks while listening to this one because, I felt everything both main characters were feeling. We do have a happy ending which left me so satisfied. Especially after going through every feeling. At some point I felt like I was watching a telenovela. Which if you ask me, that is impressive. The narrators Ryan Lee and Aubrey Vincent did a fantastic job. I absolutely recommend this book or audiobook. Both versions won’t disappoint.

A Tangled Romance

I was entertained by this prequel to "The Playmakers" series. Marty and Zach met Claudia Campbell on the same night, and both were interested in her. Zach and Claudia became sweethearts. Claudia and Marty became best friends. This story wandered down many tortuous paths which kept my interest. There were times when I just wanted to tell the characters to wake up and stop being so blind. There were some steamy scenes. Ryan Lee Dunlap's and Aubrey Benson's dual narrations were a pleasure to listen to, and their performances kept my attention. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, provided by Home Cooked Books, and I have voluntarily posted this review which reflected my opinions.

Sweet Friemds To Loversds

Line Change is a friends to lovers romance, also a very frustrating and sweet love story. I immediately liked Marty and Claudia, two college students. I felt bad for Marty for most of the book, always wanting what he couldn't have. I'm just glad it ended right, it was so heart warming. The narrators did an awesome job bringing everything to life. I'm gonna have to listen to the whole series again. This series is a good sport romance if someone is looking for one.

Really long but builds good characters

Really really long! Maybe a little shorter in Part 1 and I would have enjoyed that part more. While I liked it at times it was taking way too long since I already knew what was going to happen. We meet all the characters while they are young and that sets their relationships up. How close a few were and others who thought they were close. The author does a good job building the characters and their connections to others. That helps bring out all the emotions for each one from the reader. I went through a large array of emotions from disgust to happiness. I saw dreams grow and other become squashed. The second part was my favorite as was Marty my favorite character. I really wished him well from early on.

I listened to this on audio. Aubrey Vincent and Ryan Lee Dunlap do a wonderful job on the narration. Very enjoyable to listen to.

Emotional Second Chance

I absolutely love this series and this book is another fantastic addition. The narration was emotion filled perfection. I really enjoy these narrators and their performance. This book is an emotional, sweet and angst filled romance that has you rooting for Claudia and Marty to come together and get their HEA. These two definitely have their misunderstanding and secrets to overcome. Definitely a 5 star listen.

I was sent a free audiobook from HCB and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

The heart wants what the heart wants!

Line Change is a prequel to The Playmakers series and I just want to say THANK YOU Ms. Brady for giving us Coach Lebraun's story! There was no way this man guided his players with so much understanding and not have a fantastic backstory. And this one is just that...fantastic. Marty has to work hard to play professional hockey, while his best friend Zach has natural talent. But big money and big egos slowly destroy their friendship. Claudia friend-zoned Marty, but Marty wanted Claudia from the moment he saw her. This HEA was hard earned and so worth it. There is so much in this story...secret love for your best friend's girl, sooooo much angst, steamy steam when that angst is over 😍, bad boy trying to do right, fun banter between players, heartbreaking disloyalty and lies, rediscovery of self and friends...a complete circle of feelings and emotions that wrap up a beautiful love story. This is a standalone, but sets the stage for this phenomenal series. I'm not sure if this is the end (well, technically the beginning) of this series. If it is, I'm sad to see this series end. Definitely on my re-listen list. Don't miss this series!!

The narration will push those feelings straight out of your body (in the form of tears, laughter, and yelling...lots of yelling). Ryan Lee Dunlap and Aubrey Vincent once again pair up with their stellar performance of Marty and Claudia. Love, love, love these two together. 5 untouchable stars!

💖💖💖

Marty and Claudia
The narrators did a great job.

FYI even though this says 9 this is considered a prequel and can be read/listened to as a standalone if anything I think this should be read first. This first starts when Marty and his best friend see Claudia at a bar when they were all in college. Like always when Marty goes to talk to her there is a bit of a connection but then Claudia starts asking questions about Zack and like the good guy Marty is backs off and finds himself in the friends zone. Even though there story doesn't come to years later you get the early years. I feel bad for Marty because both Zack and Claudia are his best friends and Claudia seems to put Marty in compromised situations by asking him questions and not really wanting the truth. Zack's a real piece of work and just becomes a bigger DB when he becomes famous and Marty starts to see what always was there but overlooked. I enjoyed listening to this story.

A second chance romance for Coach LeBrun!

Story: 4.5 ⭐️s
Narration: 4.5 ⭐️s

Years before he becomes the supportive and stalwart coach of the Blizzard, Marty LeBrun is just a college hockey playing NHL hopeful playing pool in a Boston bar with his best bud when Claudia Campbell walks in and steals his heart. But meet cute turns to misunderstanding then to missed opportunity and his best bud, Zach, gets the girl instead… for a time.

Brady’s prequel to her Playmaker series is filled with some of the things this author does best - complicated friendships, slightly angsty relationships, solid MC chemistry, and steam. Having a sense of Marty even slightly from the rest of the series made diving into his past something I was excited for. In past books we’ve seen that he’s someone all his players have great respect for; so, to see how he got there, and have his personality and character fleshed out here, was great. And he is well-matched with Claudia. I love that they are genuinely friends. Despite his disappointment that Zach wins her first, he’s willing to be part of her life in whatever way she needs because they have a great connection truly value one another beyond their romantic potential. As a result, it’s that much sweeter when their time does come around. Claudia is a fantastic character; I loved her ambition and her sense of humor. When they finally get together, it’s just fireworks in the best way - lots of heat and joy. Their growth was fostered and highlighted with a great cast of many secondary characters who I absolutely love; from Marty’s sisters to Claudia’s bffs Megan and Rex, providing some great interactions that brought out the best in the MCs.

Because I loved Marty and Claudia as a couple so much, one element I had an issue with was the pacing. I felt like part 1 took too long and would have preferred more time spent in part 2 ten years on. That might be because Zach is a major player in part one, and he was more a stereotype than a character. With every cliche - Excessive partying? Check. All about the money? Addictive personality? Check. Has no concept of his douchery and entitlement? Check. Loses sight of what matters? Check. - I just got more and more frustrated. I know that’s his function in the narrative, but it just felt like he and his narcissism took up too much time. Time I would have much rather spent seeing Claudia and Marty’s romantic relationship develop. As it was, part two often felt more like dealing with the impact of their getting together rather than showcasing moments of them being together. I just loved them as a couple so much, I wanted more! Still, if my biggest frustration stems from wanting more of the MCs, how much of a complaint is it? In the end, Marty and Claudia are great characters and I’m glad Brady shared their story.

The audiobook was solid. Ryan Lee Dunlap and Aubrey Vincent are together again and do their usual fine work. They hit all the notes for their characters and their performances complemented one another. As an avid listener of the series, there is part of me that wished for new narrators just to change things up a bit; however, that is not a reflection on their skill or the quality of the audiobook.

This is another recommendation, especially if you’ve ever found yourself wondering about Coach LeBrun. As usual, I eagerly await the next Playmaker audio!

I received an ALC copy of the audiobook via Home Cooked Books and read via KU. All opinions are my own.

it all started with a bet

Line Change is Marty LaBrun and Claudia Campbell’s story and if you’ve read or listened to previous books in the playmakers series you might recognize Marty as Coach LaBrun of the Blizzards hockey team which makes this book a prequel to the Series. It can be listened to as a standalone. However, the entire series has been really good, so I will always recommend reading or listening to the other books as well.  Marty and Claudia’s story takes place over a ten year time period. It’s a second chance romance that is narrated by Aubrey Vincent and Ryan Lee Dunlap.

Marty and Claudia first met while they were both in college at a bar. Marty was immediately attracted to Claudia and she was to him as well but a misconception of vibes caused her attention to shift to Marty’s “friend” Zach Pruitt and Marty and Claudia officially entered the friend zone. In fact, they became so close they considered one another best friends, but a series of bad decisions and poor choices tore their friendship apart. Now, ten years later, the pair runs into one another and just might get a second chance at more than friends.

G.K BRADY really put my emotions through the wringer with this book. One of the things I love most about this book and the series in general is that they are very character driven. The author let’s you get to know the MCs individually and together. They have relatable problems, aspirations, career goals, and even financial struggles. The romances are not insta love. They build off a foundation that becomes more solid as the characters grow and their feelings grow. Marty and Claudia’s chemistry was obvious, and even though I could have bopped them both upside the head over Zach, I enjoyed their friendship. they worked so well together, and when they both finally bridged that friend gap, the romance sizzles between them.

Aubrey Vincent and Ryan Lee Dunlap took two already relatable characters and really brought them to life in a way that showcased the ups and downs and emotions peeks of a story that spanned 10 years. The youthful naivety to the grown-up realities.  They did an excellent job.

Marty and Claudia’s story is not easy, they had many mountains to climb and tears and laughter to be had and I enjoyed taking the journey with them to their HEA and the most perfect epilogue that made my book heart so happy!

Second Chance Hockey Romance

Narrated by Ryan Lee Dunlap & Aubrey Vincent


📚⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5 rounded to 4)
🌶
🎧⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Claudia and Marty

• Hockey • 2nd chance • Large Time jumps forward • Best Friends •

The Playmakers Series Hockey Romances series

This book starts telling the story of Marty and Zach - two best friends who are living the college hockey dream. Then, one night they see Claudia - and a game of chance lands who gets their shot at her.

The first 1/2 of the book, while told from Claudia and Marty's perspectives, focuses on the relationships between Claudia and Zach (budding romance) and Claudia and Marty (new best friends), and Marty and Zach (current best friends). As the relationships ebb and flow, decisions are made, and friendships are cracked and broken.

The 2nd have of the book is a time jump several years forward. I loved seeing how Marty pushed forward in his hockey career, even if it didn't look like what he thought it would.

Overall, a great story. I wasn't ready for the time jumps, however it worked for what this story needed to tell.

The narrators did a great job brining these characters to life with all the anticipation, frustration, and heartbreak along the way.




I received a copy of the audio from Home Cooked Books. I am voluntarily leaving this honest review.