Power Play

Table of Contents

 

 

Praise for the novels of Deirdre Martin

JUST A TASTE

“A warmhearted romance with in-depth characters, this story will leave you satisfied, salivating, and ready to try one of the recipes included. Martin serves up a real treat.”

—Romantic Times
(4 stars)

 

“Be prepared to get a little hungry . . . Pick up
Just a Taste
for a tempting read you won't want to put down.”

 

“Will make you laugh and melt your heart at the same time.”

 

“The revelation of deeper emotions makes this another victory for Martin.”
—Booklist

 

“Delightful! Romantic, funny, and wildly fast paced . . . A great story that pulled me in right from the beginning.”

 

“This engaging tale will keep readers entertained to the very end of the story. Ms. Martin has written a winner with this one.”
—Romance Junkies

 

“Ms. Martin does a terrific job in writing dynamic characters you will come to know intimately and care for . . . I thoroughly enjoyed this book, enthusiastically recommend it, and anxiously await future books by Ms. Martin.”

CHASING STANLEY

“Martin has created an enjoyable sports community with quirky characters and lots of humorous dialogue. You'll cheer as Delilah and Jason slowly overcome their fears and the obstacles keeping them apart.”
—Romantic Times

 

“Martin has a way of bringing her dissimilar characters together that rings true, and fans and curious new readers won't want to miss her latest hockey-themed romance.”

 

“Sometimes it's not the one-plus-one-equals-two that matters but everything that comes in between. On that score,
Chasing Stanley
is a real winner.”
—The Romance Reader

 

 

THE PENALTY BOX

“It will make you think even while you laugh and cry . . . A crowd-pleaser. You won't want to miss
The Penalty Box
.”

 

“Scores a goal with this reader . . . Deirdre Martin proves once again that she can touch the heart and the funny bone.”

 

“Martin scores another goal with another witty, emotionally true-to-life, and charming hockey romance.”
—Booklist

 

“Fun, fast rinkside contemporary romance . . . Martin scores with this witty blend of romance and family dynamics.”

 

“Ms. Martin always delivers heat and romance, with a very strong conflict to keep the reader engaged.
The Penalty Box
should be added to your ‘must-read list.' ”

TOTAL RUSH

“
Total Rush
is just that—a total rush, an absolute delight. Deirdre Martin is the reason I read romance novels. This contemporary romance is so well written [and] has a hero to die for and a romance that turns you into a puddle. It fills your heart to overflowing with love, acceptance, and the beauty of uniqueness. I laughed, I cried, I celebrated. It's more than a read, it is a reread. Brava, Ms. Martin, you're the greatest!”

 

“Well written . . . Makes you want to keep turning the pages to see what happens next.”
—The Columbia (SC) State

 

“Martin's inventive take on opposites attracting is funny and poignant.”
—Booklist

 

“A heartwarming story of passion, acceptance, and most importantly, love, this book is definitely a
Total Rush.
”

 

“Fast paced, sexy, fun yet tender, the pages of
Total Rush
practically turn themselves. This is Deirdre Martin's third novel and is as sensational as the first two . . . A definite winner.”

 

 

FAIR PLAY

“Martin depicts the worlds of both professional hockey and ethnic Brooklyn with deftness and smart detail. She has an unerring eye for humorous family dynamics [and] sweet buoyancy.”
—Publishers Weekly

 

“Fast paced, wisecracking, and an enjoyable story . . . Makes you feel like you're flying.”
—Rendezvous

“A fun and witty story . . . The depth of characterizations and the unexpectedly moving passages make this an exceptional romance and a must-read for all fans of the genre.”

 

“A fine sports romance that will score big-time . . . Martin has provided a winner.”
—Midwest Book Review

 

 

BODY CHECK

“Heartwarming.”
—Booklist

 

“Combines sports and romance in a way that reminded me of Susan Elizabeth Phillips's
It Had to Be You
, but Deirdre Martin has her own style and voice.
Body Check
is one of the best first novels I have read in a long time.”

—All About Romance
(Desert Isle Keeper)

 

“Deirdre Martin aims for the net and scores with
Body Check
.”
—The Romance Reader
(Four Hearts)

 

“You don't have to be a hockey fan to cheer for
Body Check
. Deirdre Martin brings readers a story that scores.”

 

“A dazzling debut.”

—USA Today
bestselling author Millie Criswell

 

“Fun, delightful, emotional, and sexy.”

 

“An engaging romance that scores a hat trick [with] a fine supporting cast.”
—The Best Reviews

BODY CHECK
FAIR PLAY
TOTAL RUSH
THE PENALTY BOX
CHASING STANLEY
JUST A TASTE
POWER PLAY

THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

 

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

 

POWER PLAY

 

A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author

 

PRINTING HISTORY
Berkley Sensation mass-market edition / October 2008

Copyright © 2008 by Deirdre Martin.

 

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

 

eISBN : 978-0-425-22451-9

 

BERKLEY® SENSATION
Berkley Sensation Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
BERKLEY SENSATION and the “B” design are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

 

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to:
My husband, Mark.
Miriam Kriss and Kate Seaver.
Binnie Braunstein, Eileen Buckholtz,
and Jeff Schwartzenberg.
The Actors' Workshop of Ithaca Saturday
morning class—you guys help keep me sane.
Mom, Dad, Bill, Allison, Beth, Jane, Dave, and Tom.
Rocky.

ONE

 

“And cut!”

Monica Geary glared at her costar, Royce Lindstrom, as he rose from the wheelchair and ostentatiously shook out his legs, admiring the definition of his calves. “How many times have I told you not to stick your tongue down my throat?”

For ten years, Royce had played Grayson Lamont, the on-again, off-again love interest of Monica's character, Roxie Deveraux, on daytime's top-rated soap,
The Wild and the Free
. And for ten years, Royce had taken any opportunity he could to probe the depths of Monica's mouth, claiming he was simply keeping in character. This time, however, rather than claiming a De Niro-like dedication to his craft, Royce sported an unapologetic smirk.