Face Off

D.C. Stars, Book 1

De: Chelsea Curto

Narrado por: Adam Gold, Laura Horowitz

Emerson (Emmy) Hartwell has waited for a spot on an NHL roster since she became a professional hockey player, and this season, she'll finally get a chance to showcase her talents with the struggling D.C. Stars.

Maverick Miller is the best player in the league, but he's never had a winning record. Team captain and desperate to turn things around, he agrees to play nice with the fiery new left-winger even though they're total opposites.

After a night where the tension between them reaches a tipping point, and they fall into bed together, Emmy and Maverick vow it was only one time. Just once to get it out of their systems so they can play better and help their team. It doesn't mean anything. She doesn't date hockey players. He's a notorious playboy who doesn't date. Period.

Except… what should've been just once happens again, then again. They tell each other their friends with benefits arrangement is only for the season, but despite facing off on the ice, behind closed doors, the pair is nothing but fire.

By USA Today bestselling author, Chelsea Curto.

Face Off is a spicy dislike to lovers sports romance with professional athletes, friends with benefits, he falls first, and a guaranteed happily ever after. Narrated in duet style.

Cover Illustration: Chloe Quinn.

©2024 Chelsea Curto (P)2026 Podium Audio

Mav and Emmy 💜

This is one of my favorite books and it was made even better the audio! Adam was the perfect Maverick “pretty boy” Miller the gruff in his voice and just the way he delivered those lines (iykyk) 🤭🫠 and Laura was the perfect Emmy! She did amazing with delivering her sassy take no shit attitude. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fantastic rendition of an amazing book

I loved Face Off when I read it back in May 2024. I had to listen to this duet and it was soooo good! Adam and Laura were the perfect choice to be Maverick and Emmy. I am so excited for the rest of the DC Stars series to be published as audiobooks!!!

Emmy Girl and Pretty Boy <3

I’ll never forget the weekend I first downloaded and read this book. I loved every single moment and devoured it as quickly as I could. Power Play wasn’t set to come out for another month, so I dove into Chelsea’s backlog and finished the Love Through a Lens series. Before I knew it, I had signed copies of the Love Through a Lens series and Face Off ordered from Chelsea’s Etsy shop. She became an immediate buy author!

This was my 3rd re-read of Face Off, first time listening to the audiobook. First time hearing Adam Gold and Laura Horowitz narrating... OH MY!!! These two were perfect for Maverick and Emmy. Adam’s narration of Maverick was the perfect amount of cocky and charming and then in the bedroom scenes I was blushing and giggling out loud. Laura conveyed so much emotion in Emmy’s character. I have followed Laura on TikTok for a long time so it was nice to finally hear her narrate! The way these two pined for each other as they began to cross the line from FWB to dating had me tearing up. Hat Trick may be my favorite in the series, but Face Off is truly something special. Let’s be honest… Chelsea makes all of her books special in their own way.

This was good!

I enjoyed this. I thought it was a little longer than it needed to be, over all still good. Narration was good as well.

Light, Insightful, and a lot of fun

The narrators did a great job with this one and took the book to 5 stars I'd not have otherwise given it. The story, surroundings, and characters come alive with their performances.

The story itself is a great one - a female NHL player and her team captain go from dislike to a HEA.
The book is witty and full of heart and is a lovely way to spend an evening or two.

I read the book a few years ago and picked up the audio nook now on sale. Worth it.
The only confusing thing about the bonus epilogue was that it was not in the book, and seemed unnecessary.