Penalty Play

Boston Rebels, Book 5

By: Julia Connors

Narrated by: Aiden Snow, Megan Wicks

We were never meant to see each other again. It was a one-night, no-names fling in Bermuda . . . until the next day when I watch her walk down the aisle at our parents’ wedding and discover she’s now my stepsister. We say it won’t happen again, but we give in to the temptation of “just one more time” . . . twice. We tell ourselves there’s no harm in it. Given my stepdad’s and her mom’s rocky marital histories, it’s unlikely we’ll ever see each other again.

Except, a few days later, I walk into the Boston Rebels’ offices to assure management that I’ll focus on nothing but hockey after I missed last season thanks to an injury. Instead, I find myself face-to-face with my stepsister, Morgan, who now works for the team. At first, we pretend we’ve never met and try to steer clear of each other. But it’s impossible. Her friends are tangled up with my teammates. Her dad is my agent. She’s everywhere: at the rink, out with our friends, and in my head. I have every reason not to pursue her. I tell myself I’ll stay away. And yet, I can’t get enough of her. So we make a deal: a secret friends with benefits arrangement—no feelings, no commitment.

The more I truly get to know her, though, the more I can’t imagine my life without her. But forever is the one thing I promised myself I’d never give anyone again.

©2026 Julia Connors (P)2026 Julia Connors

Loved Morgan and Aiden

🤍 Hockey Romance
✨️ Step Siblings
🤍 Agents Daughter
✨ Broken boy/good girl
🤍 Workplace Romance
✨ Vacation Fling

• Thoughts:
I have been not so anxiously awaiting to get my hands on Penalty Play and it was everything I could have imagined but more! Morgan is such a relatable character to me! I loved her. She pushes Aiden out of his comfort and makes him feel in ways he hasn't in a long time. And let's be honest I feel everyone needs an Aiden. Even with Aiden and his past trauma he is incredibly terrible and sooo good to Morgan... Sigh. What an incredible couple to leave us with for this series! well done Julia!! I highly recommend this book but most importantly this entire series!!

Okkaaayyyy let's chat about these narrators! They were fantastic!! Aiden and Megan totally nailed these characters. they executed it so beautifully!! I loved this audiobook so much! I highly recommend!!

Great final book in this series! Perfection in duet narration.

I loved this story. Morgan and Aidan with all the obstacles before them eventually overcome them all for a wonderfully special HEA. They meet when their parents are getting married. Step siblings! But. Not for long as that disastrous marriage doesn’t last of course. But. They also discover that they are going to be working together for the Devils hockey team and Morgan’s father is Aidan’s agent! Yikes.

I also enjoyed so many of the characters from previous books in this series reappearing in this story.

This audiobook is excellent. Highly recommend!

Loved these two

Audiobook listened and reviewed April 2026.
Book read in January 2026.

Ya’ll will read my review below. Let me say, do yourself a favor,listen to this on audio. I loved the book so much but the audio was just a chef’s kiss. Narrated in duet by Megan Wicks and Aiden Snow. They brought it. The emotions, the characterizations, the tension. It was appropriate in all the right places. Definitely pulled at my heart strings in certain places.
Let’s now talk about Megan’s sassiness that came through or Aiden deep baritone voice. Especially when he says she’s mine or good girl.


Penalty Play is the 5th and final book 😭 in JC Boston Rebels Series. Can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend. It’s hockey gold!

Julia!!!! You did the dang thing. I loved Aidan and Morgan so much. I love this world and never want to leave.

Ahhhh. Where do I start. Bermuda, a vacation fling with no names, no strings, the fact the he turns out to be her semi stepbrother by marriage or the fact they actually work for the Boston Rebels. He’s the bad boy hockey star coming back from IR, and she’s working part time as a PR consultant. I mean, just that alone should hook you into reading this book.

Let talk about the instantaneous chemistry, attraction, sass, and banter that these two delivered. Right off the bat Julia is giving us what we want the tension, the sexiness, the spice, and she’s serving the good girl moments on a silver platter.

So what’s the problem? Well, they both have had hard familial circumstances in the past, and for Morgan some in the present. The past relationships they have had have left them guarded. One doesn’t want the distraction and one doesn’t do causal. Cue the tension.

One thing is for sure even though these two are jumping through hurdles to figure things out. They can’t stay away! The MOUTH ON THIS MAN! The way he takes care of her, even though he’s fighting it. Well they are both fighting it.
THE WAY HE GETS PROTECTIVE AND POSSESSIVE, (she’s MINE)….. 🫠🫠

As always I love seeing the family aspect within JC books. It’s great to see other couples make an appearance and also the cross overs from other books. What a great way to finish out the series. Loved the bonus content and the set up for the next series with the Hartmann’s. I can’t wait to listen to this on audio! Great Read.

So freaking good!

Step Siblings
Vacation fling
Agent's daughter
Broken Boy x Good Girl
Workplace Romance
Dual POV - 1st person

Duet narration - Megan Wicks & Aiden Snow
What a pair. These two compliments each others voices so well. They both performed this story wonderfully.

Book #5 Boston Rebels series

Julia Connors has done it again, giving us a fabulous hockey romance romcom. Love this series so much. Each book is great in its own way. This one has the best "meet cute". One night stand hook up on vacation only give it an extra spin when they discover who each other is.

Once I started this book I did not want to stop. I love each and every character and all the vibes.

Morgan is a strong and independent woman starting her PR/social media business when a friend needs her help covering for someone going on maternity leave. Morgan has a hard time telling people no and always wants to help in anyway she can. Stepping into the roll for the hockey team as temporary PR manager she does not expect to see her vacation fling and new step brother at work. She can't seem to resist him and her attraction to him. Aidan is back on the team after a year long injury recovery stint. He is known as a fighter in the hockey arena but the bosses want to see him settle down into a more leader type of roll. He also can not resist his new step sister Morgan when the universe keeps throwing them together.

Such a good book. I love the friendships and the development of a found family within them.

Perfect voices, perfect characters, perfect book

Updated for audio: I absolutely loved reading Penalty Play, but do you know what I loved even more? Listening to it! As always with each and every audiobook by author Julia Connors, her amazing story comes even more alive with fantastic narrators. The duet recording by talented voice actors Megan Wicks and Aiden Snow could not be better. Wicks is exactly how I imagined Morgan: the perfect deep voice and a nice, slow measured pace that picks up when Morgan is angry or excited or worried – or having a sexy moment. I have listened to narrator Aiden Snow quite a bit lately, and as always his performance is spot-on and stellar. Cocky until he’s not, intense, emotional and always sexy. Wicks and Snow’s portrayals of Morgan and Aidan balance each other out with just the right tone, delivery, and all the feels. A must-must-listen.

Author Julia Connors is back with Penalty Play, Book 5 in her fantastic, romantic, heartwarming Boston Rebels series. The cast of lovable characters gets larger and larger with each new book, with looks back to the stories you loved, so many welcome repeat appearances, and another tender, funny steam story about a new couple to enjoy.

Penalty Play is Morgan and Aidan’s story, and it starts out with an unbelievably humorous premise that sets up everything you need to fall fully into this book. Morgan’s horrible mother Anne is getting married – again – and Morgan has reluctantly agreed to attend, even if she doesn’t give this latest marriage six months. Danny’s stepfather Max is getting married again, too. Even though Danny doesn’t expect this marriage to last either, Max isn’t a horrible guy and Danny wants to support him. When a storm delays all flights into Bermuda Morgan and Danny meet in the hotel bar, feel an instant attraction and decide what could be the harm, they’ll never see each other again, anyway. It kind of feels like something that could last for more than a night, but neither of them is in the right place for a relationship, so no-repeats, no further contact is perfect.

Except ha ha ha, wait for it . . . guess who’s getting married? Yep, Anne and Max. Morgan and Danny don’t let on that they already know each other, but spending a little more time together means that no-repeats thing doesn’t really hold. So they amend it to no contact once they leave the island.

Well, ha ha ha, wait for it again . . . because guess whose PR firm is under temporary contract to the Boston Rebels and guess who is the player returning after a year away due to injury? Yep, Morgan and Danny. Except Danny is really Adian; only Max calls him Danny. And even better, her father is his agent.

Not good. All that fun in the sun has to stay secret. Unfortunately, however, Morgan has already shared with her friends a lot of details about her fantastic vacation hookup. Sorry, multiple hookups. And those friends include the GM of the Rebels, players’ wives, her cousins who are also connected to the Rebels . . . this could be a disaster if it gets out. Also a disaster? That attraction hasn’t gone away. Even though Aidan isn’t the easy-going guy she had such a great time with while in Bermuda – he’s edgier, moodier, has a reputation – he’s still obsessed with her and she can’t stop thinking about him. So their perfect, no-risk solution? A friends-with-benefits relationship, secret of course. They’ll just enjoy each other for a while, until her contract ends or whatever, and then it will be over. No one needs to know because it’s not serious and doesn’t have a future. Fun times, then the end. Yeah, no risk there.

Aidan keeps saying it’s casual, but his behavior towards her, the tenderness, consideration, protectiveness, jealousy sure don’t say casual. And Morgan is confused, afraid she’s picked yet another jerk that won’t last but feeling so wonderful in his presence, at the way he makes her feel seen and more than enough, the opposite of how her mother has always made her feel. Both frantically dragging their feet but sliding hopelessly, helplessly toward each other. And the whole idea of keeping it secret? You know how that always works out.

Penalty Play has everything you’ve come to love in a Julia Connors book: men whose entire viewpoint on life changes when they meet a certain woman, women who have never felt safer or more secure. The sexy spiciness, delightful humor and true love will pull you into Moran and Aidan’s story, keep you turning pages, laughing, crying, yelling at the page for them to get a clue – just immersing yourself into this satisfying love story.

I will never get tired of reading about (or listening to) the Boston Rebels. Author Julia Connors just gets better and better. I received an advance copy of Penalty Play from the author as part of her team, thoroughly enjoyed it, recommend it without hesitation, can’t wait for the audiobook and for whatever is next from this talented, remarkable author. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.