Game Play: Power Play # 1 by Lynda Aicher: Character Interview, Review, & Giveaway

Game Play

Power Play # 1

By: Lynda Aicher

Releasing February 16^th, 2015

Carina Press

Blurb

One night, one time, nothing more. That’s all it was supposed to be. They’d agreed their first night together would be their only night together—and Minnesota Glaciers defenseman Dylan Rylie was fine with that. Giant hickeys and claw marks on his ass had never been his style, even if the very memory of Samantha Yates’s merciless sexual energy gets him hard within seconds. He needs to focus on getting a better contract, not mind-blowing orgasms.

One night, one time, nothing more. Fresh off representing the US at the Games and with nowhere else to play, Samantha gave in to one night of frantic passion with the Glaciers’ brawny hotshot. She couldn’t get hurt—not if she controlled the outcome. And she planned to leave Minnesota soon, anyway. She didn’t expect to be recruited to coach Dylan after they’d gotten down and dirty.

When brutal on-ice workouts lead to kinky locker room sessions and “one night” falls by the wayside, Samantha insists on keeping things casual, despite Dylan’s quiet hope for more. But when Dylan goes down—hard—and his career is in jeopardy, Samantha is the first one by his side. What will it take to keep her there after he’s healed? 

Available at:

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Excerpt

Timing was everything, and she waited for her moment to kick up some fun on an otherwise blasé event. The charity that donated hockey equipment to kids from military families was a great cause that would benefit from a little show. At least, that was what she told herself.

“Don’t be stupid,” Meg warned in her ear.

“Why not?” Sam asked. “What do I have to lose?” Absolutely nothing. She’d never do anything to smear her name, but it wasn’t like she had a hockey career to worry about. Or a coach she was accountable to.

Or a reason to behave.

Rylie was spending as much time tipping his trademark worn brown cowboy hat at the passing women as he was paying attention to the kids looking for pointers. The ends of his brown hair curled over the back of the gray hoodie he’d worn under his jersey and seemed to match his hat color almost perfectly. Too perfectly.

Nicknamed Cowboy within the hockey world, he was dubbed Pretty Boy as well. The second label was coined his rookie season by a sports announcer and as far as Sam had heard and seen, the man cultivated both brands equally.

“Hi, Rylie,” a group of teenage girls dressed in skinny jeans and overdone makeup chorused as they skated past. Rylie shot them a nod and grin that somehow managed to be appropriate for the age of the girls.

Sam shook her head and chuckled at his easy charm. The guy had it all. Talent, looks, personality—he was a star in the making. One full of potential if he didn’t get distracted by the fame and parties he seemed to enjoy.

Walters smacked the puck toward Rylie, and Sam broke through the kids to swoop across the ice and steal the puck from the preoccupied man. A cheer went up from the kids when she circled the pro player, puck firmly in her control. The air chilled her cheeks and laughter rang in her ears as she sped away.

A quick glance over her shoulder showed Rylie chasing her, the determined pull of his brows blending with a full smile that somehow managed to put a matching one on her face. She caught sight of Meg and passed the puck off before she stopped then took off in the direction she’d just come from.

The circle of kids widened as Walters got into the play, tailing Meg. She swooped around a group of unsuspecting adults, using them as a pick to cut off Walters, and she smacked the puck back to Sam.

“Think you’re hot stuff, do you, Yates?” Rylie was at her side, jabbing his stick at the puck with no effect. She was under no illusion the man knew who she was. Her name was printed in big letters across the back of her jersey.

“Just having some fun.” She cut a sharp circle and faced off Rylie, who skidded to a quick stop.

He tapped his stick on the ice, an indulgent half smile on his lips. “Come on then.” He glanced over his shoulder. “You and me to the net.”

Her stomach did an unwanted flip when his eyes landed back on her. An interesting mix of brown and green, they seemed to dance with the same excitement that flooded her. The challenge was exactly what she’d wanted and his proposition was the best offer she’d had in months. On or off the ice.

“You are so on,” she said, grinning.

Author Bio

Lynda Aicher has always loved to read. After years of weekly travel implementing computer software into global companies, she ended her nomadic lifestyle to raise her two children. Now her imagination is her only limitation on where she can go and her writing lets her escape from the daily duties as a mom, wife, chauffeur, scheduler, cook, teacher, volunteer, cleaner and mediator. Find her at: http://lyndaaicher.com

Author Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Character Interview  

Please welcome Samantha from Lynda Aicher's Game Play to Diane’s Book Blog. 

What is your full name? 

Samantha Yates.

Do you have a nickname? 

Most people call me Sam, especially on the ice.

What is your hair color? 

Blonde.

Eye color? 

Blue

How old are you?   

25

Where were you born? 

I was born in a small town about two hours north of Minneapolis, MN.

Where have you lived since then? 

I’ve lived within the state of Minnesota my entire life, although I’ve been fortunate to travel all over the world to play ice hockey.

Where do you currently call home?   

Minneapolis, MN.

Who is your funniest friend? 

That would be Megan. She’s been my roommate, teammate and best friend since we first played together on the U.S. Women’s National U18 team. She followed me (yes, you did Meg) to the University of Minnesota women’s ice hockey team when I was a sophomore. This will probably go to her head, but I’m really glad she did. She’s a winger who played on my line and was the one who could always talk me down and get me to focus when I got wound up during a game, usually by making me laugh.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? 

Ice hockey. My dad is a coach and he strapped on my first pair of skates before I was two. I grew up at the ice rink and started playing with the boys when I was five. My entire life has been dedicated to playing the game and the ice is the one place where nothing matters except getting the puck in the net. It’s home—that’s the best way to describe it.

What is your favorite journey?

I’ve had some pretty great journeys thanks to hockey. But they all led to the most amazing one which was playing on the USA team at the Olympics. There is no way to describe how incredible it was to be a part of a great team of women and represent our country in front of the world. It was…exhilarating, nerve-racking, exhausting, overwhelming, exciting and a pure adrenaline rush.

What is your greatest regret? 

This is going to sound weird, but it’s probably being born a girl. I know that doesn’t make sense since I had no control over my gender but it’s true. Unfortunately, I spent most of my life shoving the regret onto my father. Let me explain. If I was boy, my hockey career wouldn’t be over once college was done. I could play in the pros, earn a fantastic income and possibly get the recognition I’d work my entire life to receive. But most importantly, I would get to keep playing until I chose to leave the sport instead of being force to end my competitive career simply because there’s nowhere else for me to play.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Gender switching! Is that a talent? Then I could play hockey as a boy and still be the girl I am everywhere else. *head scratch* I suppose that would be more of a super power than a talent, but I’d still like to have it.

Giveaway

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