REVIEW: The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson

The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson: You would think by now the scandal of Ian’s break up would be ancient history but with the pro hockey player returning home to play for his families team, it would seem that the only thing that the gossip sites can talk about is his failed marriage and the cheating allegations, never mind that he is actually on great terms with his ex wife or the fact that he is an incredible defence man. However the last thing the team needs now is bad publicity just as the season is about to start, which is how Ian finds himself holding tiny cute cupcakes on the set of his best friends baby sisters baking show. Ratings have taken a bit of a hit and if Delilah wants to keep her beloved baking show going she needs to find a way to up her views and fast. And what better way than to add a hot hockey player into the mix, after all who in Boston doesn’t love hockey. However when she suggested her bright idea to her producer she hadn’t intended the hottie hockey star to be her childhood crush Ian Chase. Now Delilah needs to look cute, try not to burn down the set and not drool over Ian all while being on camera, yeah that is sure to be a piece of cake…not!

LOVED!! I absolutely ate up this book, there is nothing I love more than a cute and spicy romcom that has me wanting to devour a book in a day and that was definitely the case with Game Changer. I think it would be safe to say that I am a total sucker for a good sports romance and add in the fact that this had the brothers best friend trope and I was a total goner. I mean truly this book had the perfect recipe for a easy, cute and total adorable romcom read.

Both main characters were just lovely, it was easy to love both of them and want them to find the perfect happily ever after. I have to say that I really liked Delilah, not only was she really easy to relate to but I loved how easy going and fun she was. I loved getting to see this entire thing unfold from her perspective, the whole crushing on a guy for so long only to finally have his attention. It was a really nice full circle seeing her crush come to life. As for our hunky hero, well he played the part of broody on the ice but a total softie by nature. Ian was such a sweet hero, I loved his relationship with his ex and her new wife and that he wanted to protect them even if it painted him as the bad guy. He was truly a great hero and I loved getting to see him finally take note of Delilah and the fact that she is all grown up now.

The connection between these two was perfect, we got to see them go through a slightly awkward phase trying to readjust to being around each other after all this time, to the low key flirting, to faking it for the paps, to eventually falling in love. I really enjoyed the build up of their relationship and all the banter and playfulness that they had during the show. Good gosh was this book spicy! There were more than a few moments that had me fanning myself, truly Ian has a mouth on him and he knows how to work it! Let me just tell you the locker room scene was something else entirely!

I love the supporting characters that featured in this book. Jack was a total hoot, the way he reacted to the news of his best friend and sister getting together was exactly how I imagined it would go down. I have to say I also really liked Delilah’s team, they were just hilarious and added so many giggles to this book. Ian’s ex wife Mei was great and I loved the fact that she too wanted to protect Ian and wanted the best for him, I just loved the relationship between Ian, Bella and Mei, such an unconventional bunch but they worked and I loved their scenes.

Game Changer was the perfect combination of brothers best friend, sports romance, friends to lovers, fake turned real and some super yummy deserts. I loved this book and would highly recommend it to sports romcom fans!

Book Info:

Publication: July 9, 2024 | Berkley |

When a very public breakup becomes a PR nightmare for Ian Chase’s team, he hopes to focus on his game, but that suddenly seem less likely than a hat trick. With his career and the team’s image in jeopardy, Ian is surprised to find a solution through none other than Delilah Baker, his best friend and teammate’s little sister…who isn’t so little anymore.

Delilah Baker is known as “the darling of baking” on her local cable show, and being in the public eye is her bread and butter. But with her numbers dwindling and her producers turning up the heat, Delilah offers up the half-baked idea to collaborate with her brother’s team to entice the hockey fans of Boston to tune in to her show. Delilah thinks it will be a piece of cake—until the team sends Ian Chase, her brother’s best friend and the object of a decade-long crush that she’s never quite gotten over.

Delilah’s and Ian’s teams think it’s a true win-win situation—gaining higher numbers for Delilah’s show and casting Ian in a more positive light. And viewers are eating them up like a cupcake, sparking the idea to play up their relationship for the goal of good press. With more than just their careers on thin ice, the line between what’s real and what’s for show begins to blur, but one thing’s for certain: This PR stunt will either be a total game changer—or leave them both totally pucked.