No Touch Zone

A Single Dad Sports Romance (The Playmakers Series Hockey Romances, Book 6)

De: G.K. Brady

Narrado por: Ryan Lee Dunlap, Aubrey Vincent

Love has its own playbook, and they’re both about to be blindsided.

I’ve landed in Denver as a backup goalie—a huge step down from the starting position I’m used to. Uprooting my two young kids after losing their mom wasn’t in the plan. I thought I could ease the sting by hitting the reset button and maybe channeling a bit of my younger, single self. But the dating game? I’m rusty. Then I meet Mia Morales—the stunning agent helping me find our new home. She’s smart, beautiful, and way out of my league. With her fiery spirit, she makes me feel things I haven’t in a long time.

Mia’s got her own baggage—work burnout, family drama. She’s wary, keeping me firmly in the “client” zone, and I can’t blame her. My fumbling attempts at charm don’t help. But every time we’re together, it’s like the pull between us gets stronger, no matter how much she resists.

Just as things heat up, my mother-in-law shows up with her own ideas about what’s best for my family. And Mia? She’s fighting battles I don’t fully understand. But I can’t shake this feeling—she’s the one I’ve been waiting for, and I’m not about to let her go.

The question isn’t if we’ll make it work—but if we’ll survive the heartache we risk just by trying.

©2021 G.K. Brady (P)2023 G.K. Brady

Mac and Mia

The narrators did an excellent job telling Mac and Mia's story.

Even though this is the sixth book in the series this is a standalone. I would still read the others because they are good. In this one we have Mac a widowed single dad who took time off to take care of his family and now he is back trying to get back in the game on and off the ice. Mia is a caregiver who has a lot on her plate and does a lot for her family and work as a real state agent. Love her and her interaction with Mac in the beginning when she doesn't even know who he is and insults him without even knowing and then it turns out he is a client. I enjoyed this story listening to Mac try to flirt, his adorable little girl, dealing with a snobby MIL who tries to run his life. Then poor Mia and the struggles she goes through with trying to be there for her mom, being taken advantage of from her boss and especially her sister that part aggravated me and the situation she puts herself through because she doesn't want to hurt people feelings or deal with arguing.

A wonderful single dad sports romance!

No touch zone is the 6th book in the Playmakers Series but can be listened to as a standalone. The story is about Mac, a widowed single father of two kids who took time off from his hockey career as a goaltender to care for his family after his wife’s passing. He’s relocating for a fresh start with a new team and to possibly get back into the dating scene. Mia is a real estate agent who puts her family above herself, taking care of far too many things at once. The two meet in a bar and have a great time with fun conversations and laughs, but when Mac wants to escalate it further, she shuts him down and says goodnight. Little did they know their paths would cross again when Mac turned out to be her new client…

This was a very enjoyable listen. Mac and Mia were absolutely adorable together they had amazing chemistry , they were fun and flirty, and when it came to the steamy bits, they were scorching hot! The characters were genuine and relatable with relatable problems, which made the story more endearing and likable. There were a few twists that added a layer of drama that I had never seen coming. An overall great story with the most perfect ending!

Aubrey Vincent and Ryan Lee Dunlap were the narrators on this book, and I found them both a joy to listen to. They hit the tone of the story and its characters from vulnerable and frustrated to fun and passionate flawlessly.

If you’re a fan of single dad sports romance with a touch of angst, a little drama, adorable kids, a swoon worthy man, a woman with a heart of gold and plenty of steam, that is well written, and wonderfully narrated, then you want to get this one!

Wonderfully satisfying listen

What can I say? No Touch Zone was just a wonderful listen, totally satisfying from first syllable to last. Author G. K. Brady has put together a magic combination of elements to make this story special: narrators that bring the characters to life and make you feel every emotion, characters with personalities to make you love them even when you want to shake them, and enough obstacles, hurdles, frustration, surprises and hope to keep your earbuds firmly in place until that last syllable.

No Touch Zone is sweet with some adorable children, teeth-gnashingly irritating with a meddling mother-in-law and spicyspicyspicyspicyspicy enough to have you smiling and swooning.

Mac is as sweet as he is sexy. He’s such a good guy, a good guy who’s had some bad breaks but keeps hanging in there doing his best. He’s a great dad, a loyal friend, a talented hockey player and a magnificent catch if the right woman would just let her barriers down.

Mia has had some bad breaks, too. Her mother is sick, her boss is horrible, she feels responsible for her sister and nephew, and her battered heart is afraid to show itself anymore. She doesn’t have the time or money to have fun; she truly feels the weight of the world on her shoulders.

Mac and Mia’s encounters are sweet and funny and will fill your heart. It’s obvious these two are MFEO – Meant For Each Other – so hurry up and get with the program, guys! I couldn’t wait for Mac to become his team’s primary goalie, to see if he would finally give his MIL the boot, and wanted so much for him to have the love he deserves in contrast to the marriage he was stuck in. I also couldn’t wait for Mia to finally be able to follow her dream and tell her boss to stuff it and to realize she didn’t have to save the world, wasn’t responsible for everyone and everything, could actually speak up for herself. And to see that Mac was THE ONE.

I was absolutely tickled with the references to the movie Laura (one of my favorites) and the wordplay around Mac’s name: Dana McPherson, after Dana Andrews who played Mark McPherson in the movie. Loved it! There are little surprises and teasers all along the way, and a great, big twist I guarantee you won’t see coming. And a perfectly perfect ending in the epilogue.

Thanks to Home Cooked Books for providing an advance copy of the No Touch Zone audiobook. I thoroughly enjoyed it and now have another author and stack of books for my tilting TBR. Ryan Lee Dunlap’s narration captures the uncertainty, fake cockiness and adorable side of Mac, as well as his hunky hockey persona. Aubrey Vincent’s Mia is klutzy, flustered, warm, scared, and sexy. They were a pleasure to listen to. I leave this review voluntarily; all opinions are my own.

Favorite so far of the series!

I loved this story so much! Mac and Mia were very real to me. Mia is a very strong woman who supports everyone around her, even if it is to her detriment. Mac is an amazing single father who has to uproot his family. Their slow love story is one I truly enjoyed! Ryan Lee Dunlap and Aubrey Vincent were perfectly cast for these two. I can’t wait for the rest of the series to be on audio!

Sweet, witty, romantic, and sexy romance!

This is such a sweet, heartfelt romance. Mac has his second chance at playing professional hockey, after taking time off to raise his young children after his wife sudden passes. He is ready to get back out on the dating scene as well. He and Mia have a chance meeting one night at a bar and have an instant connection, but Mia bolts before it gets too far. Luckily for them both, they meet the next day when Mia is showing Mac and his children possible homes to rent. Mac tries again to ask Mia out, but she is resistant, for many reasons. Mac's life is complicated trying to find his place on a new team while being a good father as well. Mac thought he wanted to be a player, but he really just wants Mia. Mia has her own complications, as she tries to take care of everyone in her life, never considering her own happiness. The more she fights allowing Mac and his adorable kids in her life, the harder she falls for them. But when someone threatens all they hold dear, will they be strong enough to fight for each other? I really loved Mac and Mia together. They are both so awkward, but so caring and supportive, and family meant everything to them both.
I enjoyed listening to narrators, Ryan Lee Dunlap and Aubrey Vincent as they brought this story to life. They did a terrific job capturing each characters personality, and I love the emotion, and passion they brought to their performances. This is my first time listening to both voice actors, and they had me completely invested in Mac and Mia's story. I was completely captivated by this sweet, witty, romantic, and sexy romance!

Fabulous & Emotional

I enjoyed book 6 of "The Playmakers Series" as much as the other five. Dana McPherson moved his family to Denver as he got a job as a backup goalie on a professional hockey team. Mia was the woman who helped his family to find a house in Denver. Their path to love was fraught with bumps and obstacles. I thought that this book was very touching as family members were shown dealing with emotional issues. I liked the way that family was portrayed. I enjoyed the moments of humor. There were some steamy scenes depicted. Ryan Lee Dunlap's and Aubrey Vincent's dual narrations added to my enjoyment of this story. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.

Single dad sports romance

Audiobook Review:  Narrated by Ryan Lee Dunlap and Aubrey Vincent

4.5 stars for story / 4.5 stars for performance

This is such a great single-dad romance. Mac is moving to a new city as a back-up goalie after taking some time off to heal with his children after the death of his wife and meets Mia at a bar. While he is instantly attracted to her, they part ways only to meet up again the next day in a professional capacity. I really love the premise for this one as it's not an insta-love or fast burn. Mia has had a difficult past relationship and that carries over to her currently family life in an interesting way. Mac has two kids and is uncertain of his future with his current team. While Mac is clear in his intentions, Mia is the one that has to take some convincing and boy does he work at it. There is a lot going on with each character aside from their interactions and it provides great depth to each of their stories. The progression of their relationship is paced very well and it's an entertaining read.

The narration of this one was so great. I don't remember having listened to Ryan Lee Dunlap before and I'm so glad I did this time. His portrayal of Mac was so good, and his gentle broodiness came through in a masterful way. The different inflections he uses when in conversations with his kids was soooo good!! Aubrey Vincent did a great job with Mia's character and that was no small feat as she runs the gambit of emotions in this book. Highly recommend this one on audio!

Lord love a duck … and NTZ

Well, the next Playmakers audio has arrived and it is another fine addition to the series. This time Brady’s story is about new-to-the-team (and widowed single dad), Mac who meets his match in Mia, the property manager helping him find a rental for him, his kids, and his formidable mother-in-law. And while the fact that Mac is new to the Blizzard cuts down on some of the secondary character interactions and found family vibes which I’ve loved throughout previous books, there are the start of some bonds that might play out going forward.

The strongest element is the two MCs. Mac and Mia are great together from the start, despite some resistance on both their parts - especially Mia. Mac is slightly goofy and a bit off his game at first, but that just makes him all the more endearing. Mia is going through it as this book starts, but she has such steely compassion and the urge to make everything right for those she loves. These are just two likable MCs with an undeniable connection even before they really know each other and it only grows more compelling throughout. I just kept wanting to follow their journey towards each other.

The aspect of this book that was a minor let down for me is similar to previous books - with multiple subplots, some conflicts get more room to develop than others. As a result, some felt under-cooked and a lot of the resolution was achieved through telling rather than showing. I’d prefer fewer, more well-developed conflicts rather than multiple road-bumps that feel a bit thrown in to manufacture a separation that lasts a few pages and then is waved away. Still, Mia and Mac are wonderful characters and I enjoyed their romance regardless.

The audiobook is another fine installment. Ryan Lee Dunlop and Aubrey Vincent return (they also narrated Book 3 - Gage & Lily) and are just a good in this time around. Mac has some adorkably awkward moments and Dunlop just nails them. But he also plays the more serious moments just as well . Vincent also brought a great balance to Mia’s varied moments - whether struggling to deal with her family’s troubles, or her lighter interactions with Mac. Both performances were compelling and the narrators a great fit for their characters which made for a positive listening experience.

Overall, this is another recommendation for its solid core love story and spot on audio performances.

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

More Playmakers Greatness~Fantastic Story & Audio!

This is a fantastic single dad sports romance novel, and I loved everything about it, from G.K. Brady’s wonderful writing style to the fabulous characters and storylines she created to the perfectly cast narrators who bring it all to life from the pages to your ears. I’d like to say this is the best of the series but that would not be fair to the other books, which are equally amazing, so I will settle by saying this is one of my favorites. The story not only captivated my attention from start to end, but it tugged at my heartstrings too. I adored the two lead characters, Dana “Mac” McPherson and Mia Morales, and some of the secondary characters are great too. Mac’s life turned upside down after losing his wife and becoming a single dad of his son and daughter, the two most important people in his life. His hockey career had been on hold, but he was back and got picked up as a backup goalie by the Blizzards. He moves to Denver and contacted a realtor to find him and his children a place to live. His first night there, he ran into a woman who piqued his interest, but nothing became of it. But fate puts them into each other’s life again when he meets his new realtor, Mia. Mac’s pursuit of her is on, but she gives him every excuse to be unavailable, which does not discourage him from giving up. His two kids liked Mia, though his controlling and uptight mother-in-law, who stuck around to help him settle into his new home and life, did not. I loved how everything played out in this book, the story flows naturally, the writing, plot, and world building are wonderful, as are the character growth and development. There is never a dull moment, and it has a perfect balance of drama, a touch of angst, some charming humor, some twists and turns, heartwarming and emotional moments, and a steamy romance. G.K. Brady, thank you for another amazing story and emotional rollercoaster ride. 

🎧📚🎧 And for the fabulous narration, Ryan Lee Dunlap and Aubrey Vincent did an amazing job of bringing these characters to life and the story to life. They had a complete understanding of the characters they were portraying, giving each a voice that was fitting, sounding believable and just as I imagined how they would sound. Dunlap was a natural in his role as Mac, brought out all his fine traits from his caring side to his swoon-worthy side. Vincent as Mia was just as amazing and she too was a natural in that role and played it with perfection. Both were fantastic performing the roles of the secondary characters too. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and had you feeling each one. These versatile voice artists are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for the wonderful listen. 

Best save of his life!

The narrators did an amazing performance. I really felt like I was there with Mac and Mia.This is a wonderful, emotional slow burn romance. Mac and Mia have both been dealt some hard blows in life that have shaped who they are. I love how they come together and really show how to build a true relationship. These two gave me all the feels and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how things played out. Another great book in this series.

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