Penalty Play

Boston Rebels, Book 5

De: Julia Connors

Narrado por: Aiden Snow, Megan Wicks

We were never meant to see each other again. It was a one-night, no-names fling in Bermuda . . . until the next day when I watch her walk down the aisle at our parents’ wedding and discover she’s now my stepsister. We say it won’t happen again, but we give in to the temptation of “just one more time” . . . twice. We tell ourselves there’s no harm in it. Given my stepdad’s and her mom’s rocky marital histories, it’s unlikely we’ll ever see each other again.

Except, a few days later, I walk into the Boston Rebels’ offices to assure management that I’ll focus on nothing but hockey after I missed last season thanks to an injury. Instead, I find myself face-to-face with my stepsister, Morgan, who now works for the team. At first, we pretend we’ve never met and try to steer clear of each other. But it’s impossible. Her friends are tangled up with my teammates. Her dad is my agent. She’s everywhere: at the rink, out with our friends, and in my head. I have every reason not to pursue her. I tell myself I’ll stay away. And yet, I can’t get enough of her. So we make a deal: a secret friends with benefits arrangement—no feelings, no commitment.

The more I truly get to know her, though, the more I can’t imagine my life without her. But forever is the one thing I promised myself I’d never give anyone again.

©2026 Julia Connors (P)2026 Julia Connors

Penalty Play: Boston Rebels Book 5

I have to give mad props to Julia for this blurb! I mean if you are not LOL by the time you are halfway through reading it, I can’t help you! Shenanigans for the #win! I’ve read it so many times for its humor effect that I might have it memorized! And you know what, the story had the same vibe! #winning I have yet to meet a Julia Connors story that I didn’t like! I’ve not read every one of the stories she has ever penned, but the ones I have, have been winners for me, not just reading but also listening! I cannot wait to get my listening groove on with this story!

Normally I talk about this next aspect towards the end of my reviews, if I talk about it all, but it was done so realistically, that I’m doing it now. I’m not a fan of last minute/third-act conflicts. Mostly because they come across as forced and unnecessary in most stories that I read. This is not one of those cases! Yes, there is conflict towards the end(ish) but it’s realistic conflict. Could the story be as impactful without it? Sure, but having it didn’t really register to me as a negative. It felt more like an “of course” moment to me. Obviously, this all sounds super cryptic now that I read over it (lol), but I can’t spoil it for you, so you get what you get!

Julia really went out with a bang with this story. She hit every one of my high notes and I am so in love with it all that it makes me giddy! I love the growth that both Aiden and Morgan underwent because of their relationship. They were to each other the thing they both needed so they could be the best possible people to each other! It was a thing of beauty. The support and lifting up they gave to each other was very emotional for me and I just loved it! Their chemistry sparked off the pages from their vacation fling to the end! The banter and wit in the story were addictive and humorous.

I’ve loved this team from the very beginning, and I hate to say goodbye to them, but it was a superstar goodbye so I’m okay with it! This is one of those series that I know I will come back to over and over again in the future!

🎧There are just not enough audiobooks narrated by 🎤Megan Wicks! Her talent holds no bounds. I’ve only listened to a handful of the audiobooks she has narrated since I discovered her this past summer and in every single one she has had to perform a different “type” of character and she has nailed every single one. I could not have asked for a better Morgan! I really felt all of her layers thru Megan’s performance, from her quick wit and sass to her self-doubts. Megan brought her to life spectacularly for me and I found myself even more emotional listening to this story than I was while I read it. 🎤Aiden Snow is a narrator that I have come to gravitate towards in the last year or so and knowing that he would be bringing Aidan to life just made me so excited! And yes, he too brought his a-game to the table. Aidan is the kind of character that really fits Aiden’s voice and style and together with Megan in a duet performance they just exploded.

I’ve experienced this series both with my eyes and my ears and last month I took the opportunity to sit with the series as a whole back to back and I have to tell you guys, that not only do I think that overall my audio experience beats my reading experienced but also this is one of the few series that I can say can be binged back-to-back without a missed beat. Let’s be honest, or at least I’m going to be honest LOL, when it comes to “binging”, after the 3rd book I tend to wonder and come back. That’s not true “binging”. Well, I didn’t stray. I started with Center Ice and did not stop until the end of Penalty Play, back to back to back. I can count on one hand the number of series I can do that with and I love a lot of series. <<< Pay attention LOL! I bring this up because it’s something I think Julia Connors needs to be celebrated over. It takes a lot of work to find the perfect fit for a character and not just “any” talented narrator will do for every character. Julia not only found exceptional narrators in their own right, but they all fit the characters they performed ridiculously well. I cannot express how much I have loved this series from the very beginning and the cast of narrators that Julia has brought together played a big role in that. Those of you in your audiobook era, pay attention. *wink*

an absolute standout

Julia Connors delivers an absolute standout with Penalty Play, the final installment of her Boston Rebels series that pushes the tension into deliciously forbidden territory. What begins as a no-names, one-night fling in Bermuda quickly transforms into an emotional minefield when they discover the next day that their parents are getting married.

This shocking stepsibling reveal sets the stage for a story brimming with "we shouldn't, but we can't stop" energy, perfectly captured by the dual narration of Aiden Snow and Megan Wicks. Their performances add incredible depth to every secret glance and whispered deal, making the stakes feel remarkably high from the very first chapter.

Aiden is a professional hockey player fighting to reclaim his career after a devastating injury, while Morgan is a strong, smart PR manager for the team who also happens to be the daughter of Aiden's agent. Their chemistry is instantaneous and scorching, leading them to a secret "friends-with-benefits" arrangement that is clearly a lie they both tell themselves to avoid the growing emotional pull.

As they navigate workplace tension and a shared social circle where their teammates and friends are constantly intertwined, the forced proximity makes their "just one more time" rule impossible to keep. Beneath the intense spice and the thrill of their hidden relationship is a deeply moving journey of healing and self-discovery.

Aiden's fear of commitment, rooted in past pain and his grueling recovery, makes his eventual surrender to his feelings for Morgan feel raw and earned. Morgan is equally compelling as a woman unwilling to be an afterthought, finding in Aiden a positive presence who helps her see her own worth.

With its perfectly paced plot and sharp banter, Penalty Play is a fitting and heartfelt conclusion to the series. It balances high-stakes hockey drama with a "he falls first" romance that proves forever is worth the risk.


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

Boston Rebels end with a BANGER!

I knew I was going to love this last book in the series just based off the tropes alone & I wasn't wrong. I related to this story all too well & Morgan really climbed to the top of my favorite FMC's in this series. She was so relatable. Deep down, she's a romantic, someone looking for a real & meaningful love but she keeps picking the wrong men. She's realized that she done with "casual" love & she just wants a man that's gonna stick around.

When she and Aiden meet in beautiful Bermuda, she thinks she's found him only to discover that he's her new stepbrother. I loved watching Morgan grow in this story, coming into her own & finally taking a stand for herself, not only with her mother but with Aiden as well. Her body insecurities were so real & genuine. As a woman who is curvy & tall, I related to her insecurities, her struggles with her self-confidence and how she perceived herself. Even though, she had a man who just slathered on the praise & adored every inch of her body, she still struggled with believing it but her real turning point was realizing that she deserved MORE!

After being off the ice for a year due to an injury, Aiden is back and determined to skate better than ever. He's definitely got the drive but Morgan's a big distraction and he can't seem to get her off his mind. Not only is he recovering from a physical injury, his heart is still recovering from a past relationship. He genuinely tries to be a better teammate & man and watching him develop and realize that he needs Morgan was so satisfying.

These two have such a fun dynamic with flirty, sexy banter. I LOVED how Aiden made Morgan feel seen, feel beautiful & wanted. She did the same for him and that's what made these two so great together. Even though their relationship becomes complicated and could have probably been solved with a little communication, it honestly felt like something that could easily have happened in life. Sometimes the hardest conversations make for the easiest solutions. The chemistry & growth between both of these characters just made for such a great read & I was rooting for them from start to finish!

🎤Let's talk audio: Megan Wicks just slayed this ya'll. I ADORED her as Morgan. She is just sooo good! You feel every layer of emotion that Morgan is going through in her performance from feisty, to fun, to sassy & determined. She's vulnerable & genuine when dealing with Morgan's insecurities and her performance really sealed the deal for me in me loving this character so much. Aiden Snow's voice is exactly what you're looking for in a grumpy hockey player whose got a guard up to love. His commanding & deep tone HITS LADIES! I really loved the dynamic between these two narrators and the audiobook is absolutely one you need to get your ears on. Without question!

I'm sad to see this series come to and end but the found family, girl gang and older MC's are what keep pulling me back to Julia's writing. Her books are genuine & relatable. She works hard to craft characters that people can connect with & I loved EVERY one of these characters and their stories.

Loved Morgan and Aiden

🤍 Hockey Romance
✨️ Step Siblings
🤍 Agents Daughter
✨ Broken boy/good girl
🤍 Workplace Romance
✨ Vacation Fling

• Thoughts:
I have been not so anxiously awaiting to get my hands on Penalty Play and it was everything I could have imagined but more! Morgan is such a relatable character to me! I loved her. She pushes Aiden out of his comfort and makes him feel in ways he hasn't in a long time. And let's be honest I feel everyone needs an Aiden. Even with Aiden and his past trauma he is incredibly terrible and sooo good to Morgan... Sigh. What an incredible couple to leave us with for this series! well done Julia!! I highly recommend this book but most importantly this entire series!!

Okkaaayyyy let's chat about these narrators! They were fantastic!! Aiden and Megan totally nailed these characters. they executed it so beautifully!! I loved this audiobook so much! I highly recommend!!

Great final book in this series! Perfection in duet narration.

I loved this story. Morgan and Aidan with all the obstacles before them eventually overcome them all for a wonderfully special HEA. They meet when their parents are getting married. Step siblings! But. Not for long as that disastrous marriage doesn’t last of course. But. They also discover that they are going to be working together for the Devils hockey team and Morgan’s father is Aidan’s agent! Yikes.

I also enjoyed so many of the characters from previous books in this series reappearing in this story.

This audiobook is excellent. Highly recommend!