Taming Beckett

The Playmakers Series Hockey Romances, Book 1

By: G.K. Brady

Narrated by: Marcio Catalano, Veronica Pace

Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

His career is in the penalty box. Her marriage is on the rocks. Can love score the winning goal?

Beckett Miller’s hedonistic lifestyle just got iced. After a high-profile fall from grace over a drug scandal, the aging pro hockey superstar finds himself without a team, dropped from endorsements, and completely broke. Desperate to turn his home into cash, the league’s bad boy is forced to work with a real estate agent with a megawatt smile…and who he’d just made a spectacular fool of himself with.

Paige Anderson’s sales success hasn’t translated to relationships. With her husband becoming more distant, Paige is pulling out all the stops to keep her marriage together, and the last thing she desires is to have a scandal-plagued playboy athlete as a client. But the high commission she’ll get from the sale seems worth it…especially when he unexpectedly becomes a shoulder to cry on.

Surprised when he develops feelings for the beautiful realtor, Beckett decides it’s time to clean up his act and plan for the future. And though Paige can’t stop thinking about the troubled all-star, she worries he’ll betray her like every other man in her life.

Can this damaged duo put aside their fears and take a slapshot at love?

Taming Beckett is the tantalizing first book in The Playmakers Series of sports romances. If you like swoon-worthy characters, slow-burn chemistry, and enemies-to-lovers attractions, then you’ll adore G.K. Brady’s steamy listen.

Winner of the 2020 Independent Publishers Book Awards Gold Medal for Best Romance E-book

Winner of the 2020 Independent Readers Discovery Award for Romance

Finalist for the 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards for Romance

©2019 G.K. Brady (P)2023 G.K. Brady

Up till Minnight

This was the first book of GK. Brady's and a first for the two narrators. I really enjoyed it. I stayed up until Midnight one night because I didn't want to stop listening. The angst was good. A few times, I wanted to punch someone or shake Paige. lol, but being in her shoes with the same happening to me, I get her confidence being down and her low faith in men. But I truly enjoyed the story, loved watching Beckett change his ways. And I could have strangle the other women..🤣 Looking forward to Book 2.

Emotional Journey to find the life you want

First in series with a new to me author.

Beckett is a professional hockey player. He's the quintessential bad boy player. Women, booze, drugs, and scandal are his life until he hits rock bottom. Everything is taken from him and he has to find a way to find solid ground and rebuild the life he wants selectively rebuilding from the ashes.

Paige is living her best-ish life. She has a flourishing buisness, a husband she loves and prospects on the horizon that excite her. She also, used to know Beckett once upon a time and through mutual friends, she's helping him move forward from disaster. Then he's helping her when her life implodes.

This slow burn story has these two building a beautiful friendship and supporting each other as they piece their lives back together and eventually find their way from friends to lovers. But can the sins of the past really stay in the past or will it colour their chance for a future... together.

The audiobook for this one was performed by 2 new to me narrators flowing back and forth smoothly in this 3rd person narration. Marcio Catalano voiced the portions focused around Beckett & Veronica Pace voiced the portions focused around Paige. I sometimes find a 3rd person base narration can be a little more detached in the performance, but there was a lot of emotion and feeling in this one. I was right there with them through every heartbreaking revelation, each emotionally jarring reveal. I was talking back to the characters along the way and was very invested in their journey.

Beware some trigger warnings: cheating spouse, drug use, overdose, main couple are with others before officially getting together, accidental pregnancy and miscarriage (brief yet emotionally well done), historic passing of a parent.

I requested and was provided with an advanced copy of the audiobook. These are my honest opinions.

Second Chance

This is an engaging story that you don’t want to put down until you find out how Beckett and Paige/Andie get their HEA. They are perfect together, they just don’t realize it. Paige is friends with Beckett, but she does not want to fall for him due to his bad boy past. Beckett is so supportive of Paige. They both went through lost playing hockey and she is going through a divorce. Both characters are so well written you can't help but root for them as they work though everything life has thrown at them. I loved the time they spent watching movies and baseball or hockey together.

The narrators did a great job bringing the characters to life. They put a lot of emotion into their performance. It made my listening experience very enjoyable.

I received a copy of this book and audiobook and am voluntarily leaving a review.

So good!

Taming Beckett is the first book in The Playmakers series. I love romances of any sport, so this was right up my alley. Beckett Miller is a big bowl of manwhore with a side of drugs and alcohol. His hockey career is crashing down around him and he has little left to keep him going. Then along comes Paige Anderson to help him sell his house. Paige is trying to salvage her marriage. This book may have been about taming Beckett, but it was more about self-discovery for both of them. Yes, she was a little over the top with her distrust, but I can't say I wouldn't react the same way. The author gave us humor, heartbreak, and a slow burn that led to spicy deliciousness.

The narrators were fantastic! Marcio Catalano was the PERFECT Beckett. When Beckett was being a tool, Marcio made him sound like a tool. When Beckett was being a little remorseful, Marcio nailed that one. And spicy Beckett, well, that was good. Real good. Veronica Pace as Paige was beautiful. The desperate woman, the wronged wife, the iwantyoubutcanthaveyou voice...perfection. Everything about this book was 5 stars for me. I can't wait for the rest of this series!

trusting your heart

Beckett and Paige met at Denver University but they went their own way until they meet again more than ten years later. He is a hockey star but lots of personal problems and a suspended career. She is a succeful woman at work but with a crumbling marriage. Can they become friends and help each other find their way again? Can Beckett make Paige trust him and let him love her and cherish her? The audiobook is great. Marcio catalano and Veronica Pace's chemistry is amazing.

Book 1 - Playmakers

This is book 1 in Brady's new The Playmakers series. This is Beckett and Paige's story. While these two went into completely separate ways after college both find themselves struggling. Beckett joined the NHL and became a party boy with drugs and women to the point that he's in trouble and getting kicked out of the league. Paige got married out of college and finds herself in a loveless marriage with some hard choices to be made. Now while Paige is reeling, Beckett is ready for the next chapter in his life and move on from his wreaked life. No cheating in this read / listen which I so appreciate but I love that there is chemistry there. Brady delivers a wonderful storyline that flows smoothly but has great twists and turns that keep you engaged and captivated throughout. These characters, while at times hard to like ultimately have you falling in love with them and rooting for their HEA. Dual narration by Marcio Catalano and Veronica Pace was wonderfully done - smooth pace and vocals make these characters come to life and make the audio easy to listen and follow. Definitely looking forward to more in this series!

This book was given to me for free at my request and I voluntarily provided this review.

This was super cute

First time with both these narrators. Enjoyed the story and the angst. Looking forward to the next book!

Beckett and Paige

The narrators were fantastic and really brought Beckett and Paige to life. This is a slow burn, great friends to lovers and second chance at love romance. I was hooked from the get go. Beckett and Paige met in college and became friends. Beckett went on to become a professional hockey player and Paige went on to get married and start a business. These two meet up again and quickly pick up their friendship again. I just loved how these two are attracted yet cautious to move forward. So realistic and heartfelt. I really enjoyed their story. Definitely a 5 star listen.

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

Turning the bad boy around

Nice mix of second chance, friends to lovers, reformed bad boy…the list can keep going. I liked how they truly became friends first and the friendship was put first in the relationship. I’m a big hockey fan and I thought there would’ve been more about the sport, but this was a good romance and I’ll be checking out more of this series.

slow burn

Some of my favorite books are sports romance and this one did not disappoint. Right from the start, it automatically pulls you in. If you like sports romance with a slow burn and second chance, this is definitely for you. I got this on audio, and the narration was done really well. I just added a new narrator to my list that I love.