REVIEW: The Flirting Game by Lauren Blakely

The Flirting Game by Lauren Blakely: What is a girl to do if her new hot neighbour insists on working out shirtless all the time? Surely being outside at the same time cant be called stalking…right? Watching the gummy hottie next door is one thing but having to work for him is proving to take a lot more willpower than Skylar expected. The last thing Skylar expected was for new client to be non other than her neighbour and hockey sensation Ford Devon. The mission was simple help Ford decorate the new house that he plans on gifting to his mother and not get lost in his cool blue eyes… well that plan went straight out of the window after they shared a scorching backyard kiss. Which somehow lead Ford insisting he be Skylar’s date to her ex’s party…which is were everything kind of snowballed… somewhere between their steamy sleepover, fabric swatches and porch picnics Skylar stopped pretending. But the question is can she convince Ford that he has space in his life for more than just hockey?

I absolutely devoured The Flirting Game! This book was funny, flirty and full of heart. Blakely just has a knack for creating characters who feel real and instantly lovable. And Skylar and Ford are no exception. From the hilarious banter to the slow burn chemistry this book kept me smiling, swooning and giggling throughout. I loved how Blakely balanced the playful romance with genuinely tender moments making the book impossible to put down.

While Skylar and Ford were the perfect opposites that just seemed to somehow just click. Skylar is all energy, sunshine and a little chaos, she was the kind of heroine who lights up every room she walks into and isn’t afraid to speak her mind. I really enjoyed getting to follow her as she got her confidence back and getting to see her truly shine. As for our hero Ford, well he was controlled, grumpy and irresistibly handsome, with a quiet intensity that makes your heart race. Watching them navigate their differences was pure joy, we get to see Skylar’s warmth slowly melts Ford’s icy exterior, while his steadiness gives her moments of calm and security she didn’t know she needed.

There was something very comforting in the connection that these two shared. It might be from the way they simply just see each other or their shared history. I really enjoyed getting to see their relationship grow naturally from playful flirting into something deeper, built on honesty, respect and genuine care for each other. The thing that really made their relationship work was the fact that Skylar challenged Ford to loosen his grip on control and let joy in, while Ford offered her stability, support and a safe place to land. Their chemistry was undeniable but it was the quieter moments, the deep meaningful conversations, the shared laughter and the way they show up for each other that made their connection feel real and lasting. Together, they don’t change who they are; they simply become better, braver versions of themselves and I loved this about this couple.

I loved reading The Flirting Game, with a cute nosy pups, adorable main characters, genuine emotions and tons of laugh out loud moments it was hard not to love this book!

Book Info:

Publication: January 8, 2026 | Series: Love and Hockey #6 |

My new neighbour is a hot, grumpy hockey player who works out shirtless on his porch every morning. But it’s not technically spying if I just happen to be on my patio at the same time. . . right?

Imagine my surprise when the sexy grouch turns out to be the client who just hired me to redecorate the house he’s giving his mom.

What’s a ray of sunshine like me to do? Pretend I’ve never noticed his abs while we pick out furniture – since I’d never date a client. And Ford Devon? He’s made it clear this is his final season, and he wants zero distractions.

Which means I need to exercise some serious resistance. . . To his cool blue eyes that track my every move. To that deep voice that makes me shiver. And to the mouth that shuts me up one night in our shared backyard with a scorching kiss.

Oops.

We agree it’s a one-time slip up. But when he insists on being my date to my cheating ex’s party. . . we slip up again into a very fun sleepover. With our dogs watching!

One fake date at a charity gala turns into another at a hockey game, and somewhere between fabric swatches and porch picnics, I stop pretending.

But how do I convince Ford that with me, he can have both love and hockey?