No Touch Zone

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

By: G.K. Brady

Narrated by: Ryan Lee Dunlap, Aubrey Vincent

Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

He’s a single dad uprooting his family. She’s struggling under the weight of her own chaos. When these two hearts collide, will both end up on the line?

Dana “Mac” McPherson is a goaltender without a job, a team, or a city. Until he lands in Denver as a backup goalie. He should be happy, but he’s not. Not only is his new job a step down from the starting goaltender position he’s used to, even worse, he’s uprooting his family from the only home they’ve ever known—and he’s doing it as a widowed single dad of two young children.

Mac decides the move to a new city is the perfect chance to hit the reset button and recapture a slice of his younger self when he was a ladies’ man. But he’s a little out of practice. So when he meets Mia Morales, the dark-eyed beauty helping him and his family find their Denver house, he decides she’s the perfect woman to help him sharpen his skills.

Burned out on her job, her family in turmoil, Mia doesn’t need to add another twist in her already complicated life—like her hunky new client. Mac isn’t just a twist: he’s a huge wrinkle she needs to keep in the client zone because his halting boyish charm threatens to expose her carefully cloistered heart.

Fate has a way of scrambling plans, and as Mac and Mia are continually thrown together, their attraction becomes bigger than both of them. When Mac decides Mia’s more than a candidate to practice his imagined playboy moves on, his determined mother-in-law steps in with an agenda of her own. Meanwhile, Mia struggles to balance the weight of family and job. Her heart’s not all she has to lose if she gives in to her desire to be with Mac.

The path to Mac and Mia’s happily-ever-after is littered with hip-checking hurdles. Some are of their own making, but others are barriers put up by those with a desire to keep them apart. Will they be able to skate around the barricades blocking their way and make it to the goal line, or will they veer so far off the path that they lose out on their happy ending?

A little bit of humor and whole lot of heat

©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!

Stand alone story, great narration

No Touch Zone is a stand alone story in the Playmakers Series. With Mac recently being traded to the team, I don’t think you miss much if you haven’t read the previous books.

One of the things I really appreciate with the Playmaker series is that side characters that would normally just be good guys or bad guys have more layers. It’s not only romantic relationships that can evolve over time, but also relationships with family and friends.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Ryan Lee Dunlap and Aubrey Vincent. They did a great job with their performances.

I received a copy of the audiobook at my request, and the opinions here are my own.

So Sweet and Steamy!

G. K. Brady’s “No Touch Zone” (Book 6 in the Playmakers series) is a sweet and steamy hockey romance that I absolutely loved. I’ve never read anything else by this author, but the humor and heat in this story is amazing. Mack is this adorably goofy single dad all wrapped up in a smokin’ hot package, and Ryan Lee Dunlap exudes all of that sweetness and sexiness in an incredible audio performance. Aubrey Vincents packs ALL the sass into the lovely Mia, making this a story you won’t want to miss!

Mac & Mia!

Mac has had it tough. Taking a leave of absence for be with his family and the death of his wife has been hard on him. he lost his starting goalie position and the trade was inevitable. He is making the move to the Colorado Blizzard as the backup goalie and trying to find a place for him and his kids. Upon first meeting Mia, he is given the brush off, but as luck would have it, she urns out to be his realtor, showing him places to live. The chemistry is real, but now to get her on board too. Mia has been hurt in the past and now carries a guilt that is weighing her down. A relationship is not in her cards, but this man has her attention. GK Brady took me into their lives and invested my heart 100%. These two are both broken, and the healing is just beginning. I loved seeing previous teammates, and the interaction with their new teammate. But I especially loved the rivalry with Wyatt. The twists and turns there story takes are unexpected!I can’t wait to see where it all takes me next!

Pulling me into the narration is Ryan Lee Dunlap and Aubrey Vincent. What a team! Both figure out the best voices, add just enough emotion and kept my attention completely. I loved every minute of this one.

Return of the Mac!

No Touch Zone is book #6 in The Playmakers series. It can be read as a standalone, but it does have characters from previous books (so don't miss the rest of this series)!! Dana/Mac MacPherson is trying to salvage his hockey career from a personal tragedy and numerous team trades. He's a widower, single father of two great kids, and a "playboy wannabe". When he gets Mia, his property manager, in his sights, the chemistry between these two sets the room on fire! Mia is a pleaser for both her work and family, and Mac is determined to be the one to take care of her. This single dad sports romance is funny as well as heartwarming. The kids are endearing, the MIL overprotective and manipulative, with lots of angst to keep you engaged until the last word. And the playlist...superb! Each book in the series has a playlist that you need in your life.

The narration was perfection! Ryan Lee Dunlap gave us the Mac that is finding his footing in his life again, but still unsure about his path. LOVED this performance. Aubrey Vincent was a new to me narrator until Gauging the Player (book #3 in this series). I'm really loving her ability to switch it up and bring so many facets to the character personalities. 5 shining stars for this duo!

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.