The Proposal Play

Love and Hockey, Book 3

De: Lauren Blakely

Narrado por: Vanessa Edwin, Robert Hatchet

Performed with duet narration by Vanessa Edwin and Robert Hatchet!

My plan when I win a date in Vegas with my brother’s hockey star best friend? Poker and go to sleep early. Instead, I wake up with a ring on my finger and the sexy athlete naked in my bed.

But Asher’s my best friend too so we’ll get this annulled and laugh about this secret for years to come.

Trouble is our wedding pics went viral overnight.

Now everyone thinks we’re a real couple. We race back home, where I’ve just landed the big art commission of my dreams and he’s launching a sports charity so we need to look like we meant to tie the knot.

Easy enough. We’ll claim we’ve been secretly in love, while staying in separate rooms for the rest of the hockey season.

The last thing either one of us wants is to ruin a decade-long friendship by falling into bed again.

But I experience a new side of my husband at home. He cooks for me, encourages me…and buys me so many toys.

And, it’s more fun to share your toys with a friend.

We’re just enjoying temporary marital benefits.

Except, the more times he calls me his wife, the more I start to wonder if Asher was ever pretending?

And if my heart is ready to take the biggest risk of all.

Tropes: brother’s best friend, friends to lovers, marriage of convenience, marriage pact, he’s been secretly in love with her for years, forced proximity, my wife, pro hockey

©2024 Lauren Blakely Books (P)2025 Lauren Blakely Books

Narration on point!

4.5 stars. My favorite Lauren Blakely yet!

Slow burn, marriage of convenience, friends to lovers, he falls first, “my wife,” mental health rep.

Asher and Maeve are best friends who make a marriage pact. Two years later on a trip to Vegas, he suggests they get married basically to give her a dopamine boost. They plan to get an immediate annulment but it turns out that their marriage is mutually beneficial for both of their careers. Asher realizes that he has had feelings for Maeve for a very long time. Cue the tension, angst, and pining.

Asher was a favorite MMC for me. His character seemed very authentic- he knew what he wanted and did everything he could to get it. He was bossy, funny, but mostly just so sweet. He struggled heavily with anxiety and intrusive thoughts and I felt it was written in a very relatable way. Maeve is mostly just a ray of sunshine. Maybe she’s not the most introspective but she gets there in the end.

I loved this story for the MMC mostly. There were moments when I swooned and moments where I laughed out loud.

I listened to the audiobook and the performances of Rob Hatchett and Vanessa Edwin were incredible. I definitely recommend giving this duet narration a listen.

Loved it

I absolutely adore this author’s books, and this series always melts my heart. I can never pick a favorite because each one is so special in its own way.

This time, we get an irresistible friends-to-lovers story. The characters made a pact when they were younger, which leads them to an auction where they end up in Vegas and impulsively get married. But that’s just the start of their journey.

Watching them navigate their new relationship was a total joy. The way they connect and grow together is beautifully written. Their chemistry is off-the-charts, and when he calls her "My wife!"—wow! It’s such a sexy moment that makes you want to keep reading, and it's one of those scenes that totally melts you.

The author does an amazing job of capturing the emotional depth and passion of their slow-burn romance. The way their bond develops is heartfelt and incredibly hot. This book will stay with you long after the last page, and I can't recommend it enough—especially if you love a steamy, emotional romance.

My favorite book in the series!!

The Proposal Play by Lauren Blakely is my favorite book in the love and hockey series. How could it not be when it combines brothers best friend, friends to lovers, and fake marriage all in one. Let’s not forget it’s a hockey romance too. What more could you want? Asher and Maeve are absolutely adorable together. I could listen to their story all day long and not get bored. Asher is the kind of man women fantasize about. Having him as a best friend would be amazing in itself, but having him as your husband would be a dream. Maeve is lucky enough to have him as both. Hold on tight and see if this just for fun fake marriage between two best friends will ruin their friendship or turn into something more.
The narrators were fantastic!!

Best friends to forever love

I love this series and Ash and Mauve’s story was so good. It’s a slow burn but great story of how they go from best friends to Vegas marriage to the real thing. Mauve is lovable and funny and Ash is her steady. They make a perfect couple.

Robert Hatch and Vanessa Edwin brought them to life and I enjoyed listening to both of them.

I highly recommend this book.

YES!! to The Proposal Play

The Proposal Play is the 3rd book in Lauren Blakelys Love and Hockey series. This story follows two best friends and the…predicament they have found themselves in. Maeve and Asher are besties and have been for over a decade. Asher is also teammates and friends with Maeves brother. During a play auction for charity, Maeve has to bid on Asher and gets egged on by her brother to do so. When she wins, they take off to enjoy the night together (as friends) but wake up in the same hotel, same bed and each with a ring on their finger…THAT finger. They talk about getting in annulled right away, but when word gets out about their nuptials, they decide to let it ride out for a little longer. Soon Maeve is moving into Ashers place to make it seem authentic, Asher is cooking for her, and he buys her some toys ;-). Soon the lines begin to blur, feelings that have been locked up are busting out, and the bedroom gets hott hott HOTT!!!

This book was such a fun read, I love a friends to lovers, especially when there is a siblings friend aspect. From the start these two clearly were just the best of friends, the way the interacted felt very genuine. Maeve is so head strong and I love that about her, she could ask her brother for help, or Asher, but she wants to get her accomplishments all on her own. Asher is such a cinnamon roll, and way more than people see of him on the outside, which is why him and Maeve work so well together. I even liked that Maeves brother was the instigator of it all when we normally see the brother playing the overprotective guy.

This was narrated in duet by Vanessa Edwin and Robert Hatchet. These two were simply PERFECT for Maeve and Asher, no one could have done them better. Vanessa gave Maeve her headstrong attitude in her voice, and Robert really brought that friendly kind of goofy at times tone. But when both characters were vulnerable, they both portrayed that to a T. I had such fun listening to both in this story.

Five Stars!

This series keeps getting better! I loved the sweet story and wonderful spice, the narration was fantastic

Fire and ice and oh so much spice! Audio Gem!!

The Proposal Play is like a long, slow tease that you don't want to ever end....

The delicious tale of Maeve and Asher will keep you on your toes. There is something to be said for best friends who know each other's highs and lows and show up for each other. You route for them individually and even more so as they navigate as a "couple".

This story is poised as the classic friends to lovers trope but with a fresh twist. In the Proposal play, you don't feel like you are being told the same old story. Blakely breathes energy into their friendship turned marriage of convenience and edges the readers with their spicy honeymoon phase!

Vanessa Edwin encapsulates the creative free spirit that is Maeve. She brings our heroine's artsy side to life with the optimism and anguish that you can hear in every word Edwin utters.
Robert Hatchet is a new narrator for me and he does not disappoint as our Hero. He brings Asher's helpful yet dominant side to life and makes you want to obey his every command.

The bonus to the audio book is this is told in the Duet style that I feel makes the story come to life! Do yourself a favor and order the audio book ... you won't be disappointed!

The Proposal Play is like the sweetest torture you could dream up and the pay off is a kin to all the presents under the Christmas Tree this holiday season!

My favorite Lauren Blakely book

Loved this book. Loved this audio! The characters and storyline were such a good time. The narrator’s did an awesome job with the performance and emotion. 💗

Love Asher and Maeve!

In this enchanting tale of friendship blossoming into love, Asher and Maeve’s journey captivates the heart from the very first page. Their deep bond, forged over years of shared friendship and unwavering support, sets the stage for a romance that feels both inevitable and thrilling.

When fate intervenes in the form of a charity auction, whisking them away to the glittering lights of Las Vegas, their platonic relationship takes an unexpected turn. In a whirlwind of excitement, fueled by the intoxicating atmosphere of Sin City, Asher and Maeve find themselves at the altar in a surprise wedding. When the light of day brings common sense, they decide to annul the marriage. Unfortunately, word—and pictures—have gotten out of their nuptials. So they decide to continue being married for a while for appearances.

As their “pretend” marriage unfolds, the line between friendship and love begins to blur. The couple discovers a simmering attraction that has long been hidden beneath the surface of their friendship. Each tender moment and stolen glance reveal the depth of their connection, leaving readers breathless with anticipation.

Lauren Blakely masterfully weaves a tale of two souls discovering that their perfect match has been by their side all along. The author delves into the complexities of their emotions, exploring how their strong foundation of friendship evolves into a love story that feels both fresh and familiar.

The narration by Robert Hatchet and Vanessa Edwin breathes life into this passionate friends-to-lovers romance, their voices perfectly capturing the chemistry and emotional intimacy between Asher and Maeve. This irresistible story of unexpected love will leave you swooning, reminding us all that sometimes, the greatest love stories begin with the strongest friendships

I Definitely Do!!!

The Proposal Play features Asher and Maeve in a best friends to lovers, fake marriage, forced proximity, hockey star falls hard first with all the feels! Maeve is an artist on the cusp of a budding career and spends a lot of time hustling. That is, when she isn't inciting shenanigans and going on fun adventures with Asher, the swoony hockey star with a wonderful personality in a perfect book boyfriend package. I just love his family and his friendship with Becket, Maeve’s brother. They have a great support system and it’s perfect for Lauren’s world of wonderful characters who love and support each other. I always feel safe in Lauren’s world, and this book is no exception. Asher loves to help others and is dealing with some issues that really connect with my experience with anxiety. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I really felt seen and identified with Asher in this story! Asher and Maeve have a wonderful friendship that turns to love, eventually… While they figure out the “feelings” part and embrace their attraction (and stop torturing each other), the steamy scenes are absolute perfection! Asher has that dirty talk down to expert level. All of the characters are great, especially Ruby Roo! I love how they each have a support group of friends who help pull them through their denial. Super naughty, super fun, and extremely adorable!

Robert Hatchet and Vanessa Edwin perform in duet and it is absolute audio perfection! Their timing is excellent and it makes the banter so engaging and wonderful! I was swept up in the story and really enjoyed this audiobook. This is another example of excellence in casting, editing, and all the other minutiae of tasks to deliver a truly excellent audiobook. Lauren’s passion for audio shines through and is very much appreciated.