Review: Fair Game by Ruth Stilling

May 13, 2026

Synopsis:

Getting drafted to a losing team was bad enough. Falling for her could end me …

I’m supposed to be the NHL’s next poster boy.

Not the guy the draft screws over.
Or the headline waiting to happen.
And definitely not the new face of the Seattle Rogues—the league’s latest expansion team, who loses on repeat.

But here I am.

Just like my Hall of Famer dad, I’ve got the talent, looks, and dedication to be the next big thing in pro hockey … but keeping my mouth shut is proving to be a problem.

Even worse, my new team has assigned a high-flying publicist to keep watch over me since I’m a loose cannon on social media and unable to hold my tongue.

Fine, babysit me. Whatever.

Then I discover the woman assigned to represent me is Drew Callaghan—aka my coach’s daughter.

I guess if they’re making me have a publicist, it makes sense for it to be her—we’ve been family friends for years, and even if my cocky attitude drives her crazy, I know our friendship will translate well to the workplace.

But my overconfidence has never been the issue. It’s the way Drew disarms me whenever I see her in a suit while she lays out a bunch of rules for me to curate the perfect public profile.

There can be zero distractions.
No scandals.
And absolutely no temptations.

While she may be meticulous in her job, Drew misses one important rule: don’t fall for your coach’s daughter.

The world knows I’m a playboy, and I’m about to break every rule in the book … along with the fraternization clause in our contracts.

Review:

Was it really a fair game?

I enjoyed this story a lot. We first meet Will as a talented and highly ambitious athlete who, while clearly skilled, lacks experience in presenting himself to the outside world. When we meet him again a few years later, this weakness has become a real problem, affecting his ability to secure the right sponsors and meet the expectations of the teams he represents.
Enter Drew, who knows Will through family connections and is given the opportunity by her boss to manage him. Her task is to help Will establish a clearer professional image and get his career back on track.

Will was a character I enjoyed at times, but struggled with in others. He can come across as arrogant, often pushing his own goals while ignoring the needs and feelings of those around him. When he forced his opinions onto others or took situations for granted, I found myself more frustrated than sympathetic. His tendency to overlook the consequences of his actions – especially for other people – didn’t always sit well with me. That said, I understood that this behaviour was part of his character arc, and ultimately, his journey worked for the story. I do think that having him step back a little more in certain moments might have strengthened the narrative and made some sections less frustrating.

In the end, I was thoroughly entertained. I enjoyed the dynamic between Will and Drew, their banter, and the overall energy of the story. Despite its flaws, this was a fun and engaging read that left me satisfied.

🌙 Recension: Fair Game (The Rules of the Rink #1) by Ruth Stilling
📚 Genre: Romance, Sports Fiction
📅 Release Date: May 7, 2026
📱 Read as: Kindle
📗 available in various formats – included in Kindle Unlimited
💸 I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 379
⭐️ 4/5