Power Play by Anastasija White Summary, Characters and Themes
Power Play by Anastasija White is a second-chance romance set in the emotionally charged world of professional hockey. At its core, it’s a story about lost love, unexpected parenthood, and the difficult road to healing and forgiveness.
Clay Rodgers, a former college hockey star now playing in the NHL, finds his past colliding with the present when he’s traded to a team that reconnects him with Layla. She’s the woman he never stopped loving—and the one who’s been keeping a life-altering secret.
With vivid characters, deep emotional currents, and moments of both vulnerability and redemption, the novel explores what it takes to rebuild trust after heartbreak.
Summary
Clay Rodgers, a talented and driven goaltender, has his world turned upside down when he sees Layla again. In college, they had a relationship full of passion and promise, but it ended abruptly, leaving Clay broken and confused.
Now, years later, Clay is a professional NHL player traded to the California Thunders—a move that inadvertently brings him face-to-face with Layla again. Unbeknownst to him, Layla is now a single mother to a two-year-old daughter named Maya—and Clay is the father.
From the moment Clay meets Maya, he’s struck by an inexplicable connection to her. Layla watches with a mixture of anxiety and awe as her daughter bonds effortlessly with Clay.
Torn between guilt and longing, she struggles to navigate the emotional terrain of their reunion. The narrative shifts between past and present, offering insight into the early days of their romance and the emotional weight of Layla’s decision to leave Clay behind without explanation.
As Clay re-enters her world, Layla battles with her insecurities, the trauma of a previous toxic relationship, and her deeply rooted fear of not being good enough. Clay, meanwhile, is initially unaware of the secret she’s harboring.
He senses the emotional scars she carries and is gentle in his approach, trying to rebuild the trust they once had. Their interactions are tentative at first but slowly grow in depth and intensity.
Clay is supportive, kind, and consistent—showing up for Layla and Maya in ways that go beyond obligation. He’s clearly in love and willing to work for a second chance.
Through long conversations, shared meals, and simple moments spent with Maya, Clay and Layla begin to rediscover each other. Layla opens up about her past—the abuse she suffered from Maya’s biological father, the reasons she ran from Clay, and the crushing sense of failure that has followed her since.
Clay listens, hurt by the truth but understanding. Their emotional intimacy builds gradually, as Clay proves time and again that his love is genuine and his intentions are pure.
As they continue to rebuild their relationship, the bond between Clay and Maya becomes undeniable. Clay’s paternal instincts emerge naturally, and he finds himself emotionally invested in the child he still doesn’t know is his.
Layla, torn between her growing hope for a future with Clay and the dread of losing him when the truth comes out, delays telling him. Her guilt festers, even as their relationship flourishes.
Eventually, Clay’s feelings reach a crescendo, and he confesses his enduring love for Layla. She reciprocates, and the two tentatively begin to build a life together again.
Their connection strengthens through everyday routines, from co-parenting to quiet evenings that mirror the domestic life Layla once believed was out of reach. Yet the weight of her secret looms, threatening everything they’ve rebuilt.
Maya, innocent and intuitive, brings them closer in moments of unfiltered joy and trust. Her attachment to Clay only grows, and Clay’s love for her becomes a cornerstone of his emotional awakening.
Still, the truth about Maya’s paternity remains unspoken, simmering just beneath the surface. Layla knows it cannot stay hidden forever, and the tension escalates as the moment of reckoning nears.
The final chapters of this arc lay the groundwork for profound emotional fallout and the possibility of either complete destruction or long-awaited healing. The stage is set for a confrontation that will challenge everything Clay and Layla have fought to reclaim, with their future—and that of Maya—hanging in the balance.
Characters
Layla
Layla is the emotional heart of Power Play, a character shaped by trauma, love, and the fierce protectiveness of motherhood. In college, she was bright and hopeful but also deeply insecure, affected by her family’s disapproval and a toxic past relationship with Eli.
These early wounds culminate in her abrupt departure from Clay’s life, not out of apathy, but from a belief that she was unworthy of his love and future. As a single mother, she becomes a figure of quiet strength and self-sacrifice, pouring herself into raising Maya with care and resilience while burying her own emotional needs.
Layla’s emotional journey is one of gradual transformation—from self-denial to vulnerability, from guilt to forgiveness. Her arc is about reclaiming worth, not only as a mother but as a woman deserving of love, partnership, and joy.
Her eventual willingness to open up, confess the truth about Maya’s paternity, and face Clay’s pain is a powerful act of courage that completes her path toward healing.
Clay Rodgers
Clay begins the story as a troubled hockey star, carrying the baggage of a broken heart and a career in flux. His early image—cocky, impulsive, and wounded—gives way to a more layered portrayal of a man struggling to reconcile his past and present.
Clay’s love for Layla is a constant, unrelenting force throughout the novel, and this devotion defines much of his character. His journey is about transformation through responsibility and emotional maturity.
When he discovers Maya is his daughter, his initial anger is explosive, but it quickly evolves into reflection and self-awareness. He ultimately chooses to rise above betrayal, becoming a father not out of obligation, but from love.
His evolution is evident in how he supports Layla through her vulnerability, how he earns her trust again, and how he becomes Maya’s emotional anchor. Clay’s character is a testament to the healing power of love and the strength it takes to forgive deeply.
Maya
Maya, though a toddler, plays a profound emotional role in the story. She is the living embodiment of Layla and Clay’s past love and the future they never believed they could have.
Her innate bond with Clay, long before the truth is revealed, creates a magnetic force that draws the main characters together. Her innocence and open-heartedness reveal truths that the adults around her try to bury.
Maya becomes a catalyst for transformation—for Layla’s acceptance of her past and for Clay’s reclamation of purpose and fatherhood. When she calls Clay “Daddy” for the first time, it marks a spiritual reunion as much as a narrative milestone.
Maya symbolizes forgiveness, hope, and the unbreakable threads of family.
Eli
Eli is not present as a major active character, but his shadow looms large over Layla’s past. He represents emotional abuse, manipulation, and betrayal.
Through Layla’s revelations, readers understand that her relationship with Eli was not just unhealthy but damaging enough to shape her views on trust, motherhood, and love. He functions as a narrative foil to Clay, emphasizing the contrast between toxic love and the nurturing connection Layla eventually rediscovers.
Colton
Colton, Clay’s best friend, plays a quieter but essential supporting role. He serves as a mirror and mentor figure for Clay.
His own experiences as a father, and his steady presence, help ground Clay when his emotions spiral. Colton’s presence adds depth to the friendship dynamic, showing the importance of emotional accountability among men.
His encouragement to Clay to follow his heart and confront his feelings adds a layer of emotional support that helps Clay reclaim his identity beyond the rink.
Ava
Ava, Layla’s friend, provides a grounding female presence. She offers Layla nonjudgmental support, particularly in moments of emotional retreat.
Ava’s role, while limited in direct plot impact, helps represent the theme of female solidarity and the importance of community in rebuilding after trauma. She encourages Layla to step back into the light when her fears threaten to overwhelm her.
Dylan
Dylan, Clay’s flirtatious neighbor in Santa Clara, acts as a brief narrative distraction and contrast. She represents the life Clay could have pursued—glamorous, detached, and emotionally safe.
His lack of genuine interest in Dylan highlights how deeply he remains tied to Layla. Her character helps emphasize that Clay’s desires aren’t fleeting or superficial, but deeply rooted in emotional truth.
Each of these characters contributes to the novel’s overarching themes: the long arc of healing, the transformative power of love, and the possibility of redemption. Through their journeys, Power Play becomes not just a second-chance romance, but a meditation on what it means to forgive, to rebuild, and to finally come home.
Themes
Second Chances and Redemption
Power Play strongly focuses on the idea that love, trust, and family can be rebuilt even after profound mistakes and heartbreak. Clay and Layla’s relationship, fractured by secrets and years of separation, becomes a powerful example of what it takes to forgive and start over.
The novel shows their journey from estranged ex-lovers to emotionally vulnerable co-parents and finally to a couple ready to marry again. This time, they approach their relationship with full honesty and intention.
Their second chance is not presented as a fantasy. Instead, it is earned through difficult conversations, painful truths, and emotional introspection.
Clay’s anger upon learning that he is Maya’s biological father is portrayed as real and valid. The story doesn’t rush toward forgiveness but allows space for emotional reaction and reflection.
What makes their story redemptive is not a magical reconciliation. It is the slow reestablishment of communication and emotional safety.
Layla’s eventual willingness to be fully honest, and Clay’s decision to face his hurt rather than avoid it, are crucial. Their renewed connection is portrayed as something deeply human rather than idealized.
Their second chance is not just about romance. It is about rebuilding trust as a family unit and redefining love in more meaningful terms.
The novel shows that while people may be broken by their pasts, healing is possible when they choose each other again with clarity and sincerity.
Secrets, Guilt, and Emotional Isolation
One of the central themes of Power Play is the burden of secrets and the emotional toll of guilt. Layla’s decision to keep Maya’s paternity a secret is rooted in fear and insecurity.
Although her intention is to protect, the result is years of emotional isolation. Even as a mother and friend, Layla remains trapped by the weight of what she has hidden.
Her guilt becomes all-consuming and influences every interaction she has with Clay. The tension between her desire for connection and her need to protect herself creates a constant emotional struggle.
On Clay’s side, learning the truth shatters his trust. His emotional withdrawal and anger emphasize the deep pain caused by betrayal.
The novel presents secrecy not as a protective shield but as something corrosive. It erodes not only the relationship between Layla and Clay but also Layla’s ability to see herself as worthy of love.
Emotional isolation in the book is not just about physical distance. It is about the silence and disconnection that follow unspoken truths.
Real healing begins only after Layla tells Clay the truth. Even then, the emotional damage takes time and effort to repair.
The story affirms that honesty, even when painful, is the only path to real emotional freedom. It is through that raw, vulnerable truth that the characters begin to find peace.
Parenthood and Emotional Inheritance
In Power Play, Maya is not just a background character. She is central to the emotional progression of both Layla and Clay.
Her presence turns the story from a romance into a story of family and emotional healing. Maya is a constant reminder of past choices and a symbol of future hope.
Clay’s growing bond with her, even before he knows she is his daughter, speaks volumes. It highlights that fatherhood is about presence and emotional investment, not just biology.
Once he learns the truth, his emotions shift from rage to deep commitment. He accepts Maya as his own, not out of duty but out of genuine love.
Layla’s role as a mother is also deeply explored. She is strong, protective, but also burdened by the loneliness that comes from parenting in isolation.
Parenthood in the novel is shown as a transformative experience. It is not defined by perfection but by effort, consistency, and love.
Maya’s natural gravitation toward Clay underscores how children instinctively respond to those who care for them. Her innocence and joy offer moments of light during heavy emotional scenes.
Small, shared experiences—bedtime stories, beach trips, laughter—form the emotional fabric of their growing family. These moments add depth to their reconnection.
The theme affirms that parenting, when approached with heart and consistency, can be a healing force. It becomes a way for the characters to rewrite their own emotional legacies.
Self-Worth and Internalized Doubt
Layla’s inner journey in Power Play is shaped by deep self-doubt. Much of her fear, secrecy, and hesitation stem from a belief that she is not enough.
She sees herself as unworthy—not just of love, but of trust and happiness. These insecurities inform nearly all of her decisions, especially regarding Clay.
Her reluctance to share the truth about Maya or to reconnect with Clay is rooted in this sense of inadequacy. She is convinced that the best way to protect herself is to remain alone.
Even as people around her offer support, Layla struggles to believe she deserves a second chance. Her emotional walls are high and difficult to breach.
Clay also grapples with his own version of self-doubt. He wonders if he failed Layla, if he could have done something differently to keep their relationship intact.
Both characters must confront and dismantle these inner narratives. Their healing begins only when they stop measuring their worth by past mistakes.
Layla’s transformation is gradual but powerful. Through Clay’s actions and Maya’s affection, she begins to see herself differently.
She comes to realize that she doesn’t have to be perfect to be loved. This realization allows her to finally open up, not just to Clay, but to her own sense of possibility.
The theme reinforces that self-worth is essential to emotional connection. Only when the characters reclaim their own value can they truly embrace the future they deserve.