Julia Connors In Conversation with Lauren Blakely (Includes Pennalty Play + a Signed Book Plate) (1/29/26)

Join bestselling author Julia Connors for an exclusive virtual book launch event celebrating the release of her latest novel, Penalty Play!

Date: Thursday, January 29th
Time: 8 PM EST / 7 PM CST
Location: Zoom (link will be emailed the day of the event)
Duration: 1 hour

This interactive event will feature a live conversation with Julia Connors, behind-the-scenes insights about Penalty Play, audience Q&A, and more.

Ticket Options:

Standard Ticket – Includes:

• A paperback copy of Penalty Play

• A signed bookplate

Don’t miss this chance to celebrate with Julia and fellow romance fans. Get your ticket now—space is limited!

✨ Important:
Please make sure to use the same email address for your ticket purchase that you plan to use to attend the event — your access link will be sent to that email. For everyone’s security, access is limited to ticket holders, so please do not share your link.

Recording Policy:
Personal recordings are not allowed, but you’re welcome to take and share screenshots! We’ll be recording the event ourselves and will likely share some highlight clips on social media afterward — feel free to share those with your fellow romance readers!

Julia Connors is an Amazon Top 15 bestselling author of spicy sports romances. She grew up on the warm and sunny West Coast, but her first decision as an adult was to trade her flip-flops for snow boots and move to Boston. She’s been enjoying everything that New England has to offer for over two decades, and now that she’s acclimated to the snowy winters and finally found all the places to get good sushi and tacos, she has zero regrets. You can usually find her in front of her computer, but when she stops writing she’s most likely to be found outdoors, preferably with a pair of skis or snowshoes strapped to her feet in winter, or on a paddleboard in the summer.

Penalty Play

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.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Penalty Play is book 5 in the Boston Rebel series, which features interconnected standalones about the players on a fictional professional hockey team.

Tropes:
* stepsiblings
* vacation fling
* agent’s daughter
* opposites attract
* workplace romance
* secret relationship