{"id":81070,"date":"2025-11-12T08:00:34","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T13:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=81070"},"modified":"2025-11-12T05:09:23","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T10:09:23","slug":"release-arc-review-playing-the-field-los-angeles-devils-1-by-stacy-travis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=81070","title":{"rendered":"Release &#038; ARC Review:  Playing the Field (Los Angeles Devils, #1) by Stacy Travis"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"81073\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?attachment_id=81073\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playing-the-Field-Available.jpg?fit=1080%2C1350&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1080,1350\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Playing the Field Available\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playing-the-Field-Available.jpg?fit=150%2C188&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-81073 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playing-the-Field-Available.jpg?resize=416%2C520&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"416\" height=\"520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playing-the-Field-Available.jpg?w=1080&amp;ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playing-the-Field-Available.jpg?resize=100%2C125&amp;ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playing-the-Field-Available.jpg?resize=150%2C188&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playing-the-Field-Available.jpg?resize=650%2C813&amp;ssl=1 650w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 416px) 100vw, 416px\" \/><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Playing the Field by Stacy Travis is live!<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>This is such a sweet read! A brother\u2019s-best-friend, teenage crush, forced proximity sports romance with chemistry, heart, and the most gorgeous love story.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4qVCuVq\">Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><!--Yasr Overall Rating Shortcode--><div class=\"yasr-overall-rating\"><div class=' yasr-rater-stars'\r\n                           id='yasr-overall-rating-rater-e9eb86d6e9feb'\r\n                           data-rating='4'\r\n                           data-rater-starsize='32'>\r\n                       <\/div><\/div><!--End Yasr Overall Rating Shortcode--><\/strong><\/h4>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><strong>Blurb<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>A delicious Forced proximity, Brother\u2019s Best Friend, Sports romance by bestselling author, Stacy Travis.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I didn\u2019t expect my first week with the Devils soccer team to involve saving a career.<\/p>\n<p>But when the team\u2019s hot-headed center back\u2014aka my brother\u2019s best friend, Hunter Reyes\u2014blows up in front of management, it\u2019s my job as the head Data Analyst to keep him on the field.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s as close as I plan on getting to the gorgeous, bad-boy soccer god until he shows up at the house I\u2019m temporarily sharing with my brother, needing a place to stay.<\/p>\n<p>Hunter is the epitome of the grumpy, ridiculously muscular, and infuriatingly confident man fans love. I\u2019m the girl who color-codes data sets and stress-bakes muffins. We are opposites in every way. We shouldn\u2019t share the same Wi-Fi, let alone an address.<\/p>\n<p>But late nights with spreadsheets turn into late nights sharing takeout.<\/p>\n<p>Eye rolls turn into inside jokes. And every time his hand brushes mine, I swear the air between us crackles like lightning before a storm<\/p>\n<p>But he\u2019s my brother\u2019s best friend. A player on the team I work for. And completely, absolutely not my type. Too bad my heart can\u2019t compute our differences.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/\"><strong>Add to Goodreads<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><strong>Review<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><b>4 stars<\/b><\/p>\n<p>This is such a sweet read! A brother\u2019s-best-friend, teenage crush, forced proximity sports romance with chemistry, heart, and the most gorgeous love story.<\/p>\n<p>After a career misstep, Gracie has moved from San Francisco to LA and has accepted a job as the senior data analyst for the LA Devils soccer team to get herself back on track. She has moved in with her younger brother while she\u2019s in town, and is determined to focus on her career and redeem herself.<\/p>\n<p>Hunter is the best friend of Gracie\u2019s brother, and is a soccer player for the Devils. He\u2019s a gifted player but is volatile and unpredictable, and his reputation off the pitch is as a bit of a player, but he\u2019s trying to do better. When his house is damaged by a fire, he temporarily moves in with his best friend, putting him up close and personal with Gracie, the object of all of his teenage fantasies.<\/p>\n<p>Gracie and Hunter crushed wildly on each other as teenagers, but they hid it from each other well and nothing ever happened between them \u2013 he was the popular soccer star, and she was the nerdy STEM girl who was five years older. Now, they\u2019re suddenly all up in each other\u2019s space, and the attraction from all of those years ago still burns brightly. But Gracie doesn\u2019t want to do anything to jeopardise her career, and Hunter knows she can do better than a troubled soccer player.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s so much standing in their way, but their chemistry is undeniable, and when put to the test, they can\u2019t stay away from each other.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i>\u201cThis, you \u2026 I didn\u2019t expect it. Didn\u2019t even know how much I needed it. Gracie. I didn\u2019t see you coming. Not at all.\u201d<br \/>\nI nod.<br \/>\n\u201cBut now that I have you, all bets are off.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>I love the feeling of tingly anticipation waiting for a couple to act on their feelings, and I felt all of that with Hunter and Gracie. There\u2019s plenty of intense staring, flirting, little touches, and wild overprotectiveness on Hunter\u2019s part, and it all feels so natural! They talk, they\u2019re open about it, they don\u2019t play games, and their coming together is easy, sweet, sexy and gorgeously swoony.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i>\u201cBack when we were younger and you used to come home from college. I was crushing hard and totally intimidated.\u201d<br \/>\nI grin and reach for his hand. \u201cI had a thing for you too.\u201d<br \/>\n\u201cYeah?\u201d<br \/>\nI nod.<br \/>\n\u201cAnd now?\u201d<br \/>\n\u201cBetter than I imagined.\u201d<br \/>\n\u201cSo much better \u2026 You were worth the fucking wait.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Those issues are still there, and there is some drama they need to deal with, but I enjoyed watching them work through it and the book ends in a great place with a happy ending that left me satisfied.<\/p>\n<p>I really enjoyed this book. I\u2019m looking forward to more from the series.<\/p>\n<p>4 stars.<\/p>\n<p><i>An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Los Angeles Devils<\/strong><\/h4>\n<div data-post-id=\"81077\" class=\"insert-page insert-page-81077 \"><h4><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"81071\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?attachment_id=81071\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playing-the-Field.jpg?fit=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"200,300\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Playing the Field\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playing-the-Field.jpg?fit=150%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-81071\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playing-the-Field.jpg?resize=80%2C122&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"122\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playing-the-Field.jpg?resize=80%2C122&amp;ssl=1 80w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playing-the-Field.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=80%2C122&amp;ssl=1 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/> \u00a0<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"81075\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?attachment_id=81075\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playing-to-Win-Temp.jpg?fit=326%2C522&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"326,522\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Playing to Win Temp\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playing-to-Win-Temp.jpg?fit=141%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-81075\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playing-to-Win-Temp.jpg?resize=80%2C122&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"122\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playing-to-Win-Temp.jpg?resize=80%2C122&amp;ssl=1 80w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playing-to-Win-Temp.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=80%2C122&amp;ssl=1 160w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playing-to-Win-Temp.jpg?zoom=3&amp;resize=80%2C122&amp;ssl=1 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Playing the Field (#1)<\/strong> (Hunter &amp; Gracie)<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=81070\">Review<\/a><br \/>\nBuy:\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4qVCuVq\">Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Playing to Win (#2)<\/strong> (Dario &amp; Julia)<br \/>\nTo be released 20 May<br \/>\nPre-order:\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4oAeUfl\">Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><strong>About Stacy Travis<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"59372\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?attachment_id=59372\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Stacy-Travis.jpg?fit=400%2C599&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"400,599\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Stacy Travis\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Stacy-Travis.jpg?fit=150%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-59372 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Stacy-Travis.jpg?resize=214%2C321&amp;ssl=1\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Stacy-Travis.jpg?w=400&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Stacy-Travis.jpg?resize=100%2C150&amp;ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Stacy-Travis.jpg?resize=150%2C225&amp;ssl=1 150w\" alt=\"\" width=\"214\" height=\"321\" data-attachment-id=\"59372\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?attachment_id=59372\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Stacy-Travis.jpg?fit=400%2C599&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"400,599\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Stacy Travis\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Stacy-Travis.jpg?fit=100%2C150&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Stacy-Travis.jpg?fit=150%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/>It\u2019s a rough world out there, and we all sometimes need a good, romantic beach read, even if we can\u2019t make it to the beach. I\u2019ve spent many lazy days walking the streets of Paris and other gorgeous European cities, and if I\u2019m doing it right, I\u2019m bringing you a dash of romance and a vacay fantasy.<\/p>\n<p>I can\u2019t sit still, so when I\u2019m not hiking, biking or running, I\u2019m playing a very average game of tennis. Background music for writing undoubtedly features some U2, Lizzo, Billy Joel, Pink, Taylor Swift, and Led Zeppelin. Not necessarily in that order. And if I could only eat one food group, it would be cheese. Or wine. Or bread. Are those food\u00a0groups? Whatever.<\/p>\n<p>Connect with Stacy:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/2UbPlWv\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/2xdBd62\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2Uw1bcD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amazon\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/2QBKcEU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Goodreads<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Stay up to date with Stacy by joining her\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/2y6nYod\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mailing list<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Website:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/stacytravis.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/stacytravis.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; Playing the Field by Stacy Travis is live! This is such a sweet read! A brother\u2019s-best-friend, teenage crush, forced proximity sports romance with chemistry, heart, and the most gorgeous love story. &nbsp; Amazon &nbsp; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":81071,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","yasr_overall_rating":4,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[443,972,9,58,29],"tags":[59,1641,48,1247],"class_list":["post-81070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brotherbest-friend","category-forbidden","category-romance","category-sports-star","category-steamy","tag-arc","tag-los-angeles-devils","tag-review","tag-stacy-travis"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":0,"sum_votes":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playing-the-Field.jpg?fit=200%2C300&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7gaNL-l5A","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=81070"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81070\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/81071"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=81070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=81070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=81070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}