Ruth Stilling: Code Violation

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/256729861-code-violation

Book Blurb:

I’m in love with my brother’s ex-girlfriend.

After years of acting like Vesper Stone isn’t the girl of my dreams, I owe it to myself to be honest, even if the confession can only ever remain a secret.

There are so many reasons why I should forget about her. As the captain of the Seattle Rogues, I shouldn’t betray my only sibling, and I ought to honor the promise I made to our late mom to stand by him.

But my brother isn’t a good man, and I can’t take my eyes off the stunning bartender with sleek black hair and a smile that falters whenever she gets a text from the guy who never deserved her.

Voicing my feelings is a terrible idea. My brother isn’t only a bad person, but he’s dangerous, too, and my top priority is protecting the one girl I can never have.

But I didn’t make it as a pro hockey player without going after what I wanted, and regardless of who she is to my family, I can’t stop showing up at her apartment.

Maybe we can just be friends. I’d rather have that than lose her altogether. My brother doesn’t need to know we hang out and eat pizza while watching a movie.

But friends don’t hold their breath whenever they catch each other’s gaze, and they definitely don’t do what we did the other night …

I should walk away.
For her.
For us.
For the sake of keeping the peace.

So, why am I standing outside Vesper’s door right now, ready to lay my heart on the line? And why am I about to speak the words I vowed to take to my grave?

Because now that I’ve had her in my bed, I’ll go to war to keep her—and our baby—forever.

Tropes:

*Hambright PR ALC *Netgalley ALC *Sports Romance (hockey) *Forbidden romance 

*Brothers ex-girlfriend *Friends --> More *Green flag MMC *Found Family 

*Accidental Pregnancy *Golden Retriever MMC *He falls first *Pining for ages 

*Check your triggers  *State Challenge Washington (repeat)

Triggers: 

Thoughts:

Silas has had it bad for the one woman he can never have, for years he has watched Vesper (FMC) as she has had an on again off again toxic relationship with his younger half brother Kane.  

Kane is emotionally abusive towards Vesper and just calls Silas when he needs money, unfortunately he doesn't use it for bills like he says but on alcohol or other things... Silas feels like he needs to keep this relationship going and make sure his younger brother is ok due to a promise he made to their mother on her death bed, unfortunately as the years go on he's finding it harder to keep this promise especially when he sees how badly he treats Vesper.

Vesper in a cycle of taking Kane back when he tells her what he thinks she wants to hear and then never changing his ways has finally decided to break the cycle she is not taking him back again and that's final she's blocked his number... unfortunately he still knows where she lives and has been sitting outside her home and coming to her job in order to "talk." 

Silas has always been there for her even when she attempted to push him away, he's kind, caring, stable and he treats her with the respect she deserves.  She remains close with him even after the end of the relationship with his brother and she likes how safe she feels when he's near, one thing leads to another and next thing she knows she is pregnant... with her ex-boyfriend's brothers baby what will people think?  he is a big name hockey star and if his brother finds out he will lose his mind he's never been one to keep his cool.

Silas knows that once he's been with Vesper she is it for him... but how can he convince her that he is the right man for her and will be there for her and their child with whatever they need?  

Both MMC and FMC have a past history of harsh family dynamics and little family support, Vesper is used to doing everything by herself could she let her guard down and be with the brother she should have chosen to begin with, or is this just another disappointment waiting to happen?

Things I liked about this book:

I enjoy sports romance, hockey being one of my favorites and liked the found family team dynamics with Silas and his team mates.  The author sets up potential story lines for other players and I might check these out eventually.

I liked how caring and protective Silas was towards our FMC 

The drama between the brothers kept me wanting to find out what would happen next

I liked the girl group that included Vesper she needed a good support system after what she had been through.

I did end up liking Silas and Vesper together once they got on the same page... it just took awhile for our FMC to get there (understandable since her last relationship was terrible). 

Some things that didn't work for me:

Some of the spicy stuff was over the top for me personally... I wasn't a fan of the lactation kink (it came off as weird)

The MMC while he was sweet and protective was over the top about it and I worried for the FMC going from a toxic relationship with one brother (like the on again off again relationship had barely ended) and jumping right over to the other brother who was better (yes) but also kind of love 💣her and it felt like too much at some points in this story.

I felt the story kind of started going downhill after the Pregnancy happened, we as the readers know that the MMC is totally all in for the FMC, but Vesper on her side was only attracted to the MMC at the time she didn't have the strong feelings of love at that time for him as he did for her and I wasn't feeling their connection as both sided throughout most of the book. 

I almost DNF the book a few times just because I wasn't feeling it was for me the narrators did a good job keeping me with the story.  I am interested in giving more of this series a try as I liked the other side characters and would like to see how their stories pan out.  

Have you read this one?  what did you think? 

Sara Ney: Revenge Puck

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/253023569-revenge-puck

Book Blurb:

When I catch my girl with my hockey teammate and best friend—scratch that, ex-best friend—I’m done playing nice.

Declan betrayed me. But I have the perfect way to get even: his sister.

Juliette is sweet, bookish, gorgeous… and completely off-limits.

Fake dating her should be easy. A little wining and dining, a little harmless flirting, and I’ll get revenge on the guy who wrecked my life.

But Juliette throws me completely off my game.

Beneath her button-up shirts and wide eyes is the sexiest and most fascinating woman I’ve ever met. All good-girl by day, lacy underwear by night.

She sees right through my bad attitude… and somehow likes me anyway.

Suddenly the one thing worse than losing my best friend, would be losing her.

I’m desperate for revenge. But hurting Juliette? That’s a penalty I just can’t take…

Tropes:

*Netgalley ALC *Sports Romance (Hockey) *Strangers to more *Brother's team mate

*Revenge romance *Grumpy/Sunshine *Forbidden Romance *rom-com *Hall Pass

*Spice *State Challenge Michigan (repeat) *team drama  *workplace romance

Thoughts:

This is a new to me author but I do love a sports romance, hockey romance being my favorite of the genre, I grabbed this as an ALC from Netgalley and only wish I had a chance to listen to it sooner!

Going into this book I think you need to understand this main thing --> the name of the book is on point for our MMC's goal at the beginning, is it a bad idea (yes) does his plan divert pretty quickly after (also yes)... let me explain.

Aaron is a big NHL star for the team in Michigan he's noticed that his friend/team mate Declan has been off recently leaving early, not going to team gatherings (etc...) worried for his well being Aaron arrives at Declan's place and lets himself in only to find that he's fine... in fact he's fantastic minus being a back stabbing snake since he is in the middle of getting it on with someone else very close to Aaron... his girlfriend of over a year what!  I guess friendship means different things to different people.

After tossing both of these relationships out the window... with friends like that who needs enemies Aaron happens to run into a beautiful girl Juliette (FMC) who is leaving an awful date (she knows who he is as he is her celebrity crush... and her brother's team mate).  Although she usually doesn't do things like this she is sweet and shy she decides to go for it and invites him to her place for a one night of fun kind of thing... things don't get too wild and he doesn't stay the full night but he does realize on his way out that she has some interesting photos on her wall... in fact they are of Declan the now ex-friend... this must be his sister.

Juliette starts a job working in event services for the hockey team her brother plays for and learns that there are rules against dating co-workers/players but Aaron is seriously amazing... if given the chance maybe he's worth breaking some rules for.

Aaron sets about his evil (insert evil laughter) plan to hurt Declan by getting closer to his sister Juliette... step one invite her out, step two be charming af, step three make her fall in love, step 4 break up with her and break her heart... super easy it's a fool proof plan... 

Only it's not because Juliette is quite possibly the sweetest girl he's ever met, she's not like the usual women he dates that are looking to be a WAG she notices the little things, makes him feel special and knows the life because her brother is part of it and he just likes spending time with her... He knows what he's doing is wrong but he was angry and humiliated and not thinking like a rational person at the time this started... but the longer he spends time with her the more he feels that he wouldn't break her heart without breaking his heart too.

I loved Aaron's sassy sister and Juliettes best friend was over the top unhinged at times but a fun side kick who always has her back.

Declan attempts to push Juliette away from his team mate... but naturally doesn't explain why and we all know that he doesn't want to come off as a huge jerk to his younger sister, which he would since he was in the wrong.  So instead of saying what he means he dances around the topic and is super vague with her not telling her anything.

Tempers flare between Declan and Aaron and the longer the situation goes on and the longer Aaron waits to tell her the full truth you just know this is going to be a disaster... especially if someone else fills in why Declan and Aaron are not on speaking terms.  But will Juliette want anything to do with him once she finds out what happened and what he planned to do, even if that is the last thing he would want now?

This was a fun fast listen, Aaron made terrible decisions and as the reader you know whats coming but can't wait to see how everything unfolds anyways, and thing is Aaron is a sweet guy he loves his sister and is caring towards others if he wasn't so mad about what happened he would have never come up with this terrible revenge plot, what was even more endearing was watching him realize that over the time he has been with Juliette he didn't want his plan to work because Juliette deserved better from him and he wanted to be the man she deserved.

The Narrators did a great job bringing this to life Lee Samuels & Amelia Hugh were a great duo for these characters.

Juliette was so sweet and didn't just let Aaron off the hook she made him work for it.  

Declan... ugh!  he's got a long way to go to get a redemption but hopefully the author will be able to do it and I'm looking forward to reading his story.  

If you are looking for your next Hockey romance check this one out!  I enjoyed this one!! 

looking forward to reading the next book in the series, have you read this one yet?  what did you think?  

I enjoyed this one but here are some negatives for the book:

*If you are looking for detailed back stories and in depth getting to know the characters on page it isn't that kind of book, it's more superficial, and times they could have been talking they were "exploring" other areas of their relationship.  I didn't mind too much I just realized it wasn't going to be that kind of book early on and went with it. 

*The revenge plot was petty and of course unfair to Juliette (who is a sweetheart)... she had nothing to do with what her F-boy brother does in his free time

*If you enjoy a sports romance with more sports --> there is limited sport in this a few game mentions the main focus is the revenge plot that fizzles pretty quickly and Juliette sneaking around with this situationship since she knows it is against policy to not report it but can't stop herself from continuing to see him in secret.

*It's made out to be a brothers best friend but doesn't read like that because it starts after the situation that broke up their friendship so Declan and Aaron were not friends throughout the story.  

*Juliette made a big deal about Aaron needing to speak with her brother and make up with him... but this was not in the book like what happened???

*The ending felt a bit rushed and the epilogue (this wasn't on the alc audio version... I got the e-book and read the epilogue) was only a few weeks later and didn't really add anything to the story.  

Shayne McClendon: Breaking the Ice

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19039939-breaking-the-ice

Book Blurb:

This book is no longer available as a stand-alone.

Diesel LeBlanc notices MacKenzie Rhodes ice-skating on a pond in their hometown and decides he has to have her. He makes no secret of his desire – or the casual nature of it. He finally gets what he wants…on her terms…and heads off to live the fabulous life of a professional hockey player.

Years later, a chance meeting brings them together again and Diesel realizes she’s the one woman he was never able to forget. He’s ready to prove that he can be a man worthy of her heart.

Is she ready to trust him with the life she’s built?

Tropes:

*Novella *Hockey Romance *2nd chance for romance *Spice *hidden secrets

*State Challenge North Dakota  

Thoughts:

I grabbed this one for my kindle as I've been doing the 50 states reading challenge and needed a book set in North Dakota.

To start with we have Mackenzie (FMC) who has had a tough time in life growing up with two neglectful parents and helping to raise her younger brother's and sisters she's put all of her own dreams on hold to make sure she's there for them.  

Back in town while on break from College handsome Diesel (MMC) notices Kenzie ice skating at first not realizing it's the girl he went to school with for years... she is gorgeous and has grown into her curves.  Being the ladies man he is he pursues Kenzie and goes to the local bar she works at night after night trying to wear her down.

Kenzie at first continues to push Diesel away but one night frustrated and feeling alone she ends up stranded on the side of the road and they have a night to remember and go their seperate ways... MacKenzie ends up with a big memory from that night while Diesel goes on to get drafted after college into the NHL.

Kenzie now living in Boston with her younger brother and working a zillion hours a week on top of going to night school and dealing with other things doesn't have time for romance... but it's been several years and now Diesel has been traded to the team in Boston he finds her at the bar she works at and it's just like he never left her he's always thought about her while they were apart and now is a second chance.  

Will stubborn Kenzie allow herself to fall for Diesel completely?  he could have any woman he wanted what would he want with her?  Will Diesel be able to convince her that they are meant to be? 

This was a quick read at a bit over 100 pages, I feel like I might have missed part of their relationship development at times due to unknown time jumps at the beginning like she didn't want anything to do with him then he's telling him to take her home with him?? 

Due to the shorter length it also feels like some of the dialog was weird like it feels like too much personal information is just dumped in sections where it didn't make sense because our FMC is more guarded but next thing you know she's sharing her childhood trauma with him.  This also goes for the secret being revealed it seemed that everything was just fine right away.

The plot that was there was ok and I don't mind spice, but I felt the spice almost over powered the plot.  

This was a short hockey romance there really wasn't any hockey involved in this so if you enjoy sports romance with sports this won't be for you --> basically it's just used to say what a great job Diesel has as an NHL star later in the book.

Have you read this one?  What did you think?

Elysia Wages: Fall To Me

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/233994011-fall-to-me

Book Blurb:

River

Carter Graham has been after me for a year now; leaving my favorite coffee on my desk every morning, showing up when I think I’ve successfully avoided him. I don’t want to find him attractive. God, I really don’t. Every time he pierces me with those glacier-blue eyes, it feels like he sees right down to the depths of my soul. I become confused, my pulse races, my cheeks warm, and tingles spread throughout my body. It literally feels like the ground shifts under my feet. Usually, that’s when I run. Running is something I’ve become very good at.

Carter

River Hendrix. Man, I’ve had it bad for that woman since the day I laid eyes on her. She took my breath away. But it wasn’t only her beauty that shook me, it was how she looked at me like I was an idiot when I held out my hand to shake hers. Since then, that girl has lit me up and torn me down in the same breath. Chasing her is a high that makes me feel more alive than I’ve ever felt in my life. Every glance, every time she brushes me off, or pops off with one of her smart remarks, only makes me crave her more. The more she turns me down; the more determined I become. I’m not one to give up easily. I don’t quit . . . ever. Mark my words. One day, she will be mine.

After a painful divorce, River is still piecing herself back together, wary of letting anyone in. Carter is relentless, determined to win her heart. When a wild night in Vegas ends in an accidental marriage, they’re forced to confront what they truly want. Will River’s past destroy their chance at happiness?

Or will Carter prove he’s worth the risk?

Tropes:

*High Gravity ALC  *Hockey Romance *Workplace Romance *Forced Proximity

*Slow Burn *spice *Accidental Marriage *Drama *Green Flag MMC *Fierce FMC

*Protective MMC *humor *Golden Retriever MMC *mental health representation

*Found family  *State Challenge New York (Repeat) 

Trigger Warnings: *Toxic Ex *DV  *Check for other triggers 

Thoughts:

I received this ALC from High Gravity and was really excited to start this one after finishing up the first book especially since the ending of the first book set us up for the 2nd book.

Carter (MMC) is hot (he knows it, we know it) he's a Hockey superstar, wealthy and has charm for days he can get any woman he wants... or at least he thought he could until he ran into River (FMC) but he knows they were meant to be and he'll wear her down eventually he just needs to be patient.

River has a bad history with men since getting away from her awful ex it will be a long, long time before she wants anything to do with men... especially Carter, he's handsome (yes) but he's also got a temper which she's seen on the ice... she can't deal with that again.

Carter and River are in Vegas for their best friends wedding and when they get thrown together for the night to do a pre-wedding game, maybe have a few too many drinks and wake up the next day with a rotten hangover and evidence that their night might have been a bit too much... of everything since now they are married and it will be a bigger PR nightmare to get this annulled... I guess they are doing this.

Carter was surprising to me in all the best ways in the first book I saw how sweet he was towards River... but just when I thought he was just a hot, goofy party boy hockey player... he shows up and steps up as the man River always should have had he's caring, supportive, protective, he's truly kind, he even teaches her self defense techniques, he's everything that she didn't even know she was missing with a man in her life.  

River is unsure of herself after the end of her last relationship and still trying to figure out who she is now by herself without adding another person to the mix... but Carter is so easy to love. 

Their love is not over night it happens slowly and I appreciated that it was a slower progression and not an instant situation especially since River had been fighting any feelings she might have towards him for the last year.  The longer they were together the harder time she had staying away from him and the closer they became throughout the book the harder time she had wondering why she was putting up so much fight against him... he is nothing like her ex and showed her day after day that he was one of the good ones. 

Just when things are going so well between our couple a wrench gets thrown in the middle... will they ever be able to have a happy ending or will her past keep coming back to haunt them?

When this ALC popped up I downloaded it immediately and I wasn't disappointed it has a full-cast of amazing narrators: Teddy Hamilton, Andi Eloise, Corvin King, Stella Hunter, Aaron Shedlock, Lauren Beck, Brandon Francis, Leanne Blade, and Audrey Obeyn.  

I was drawn in from the first chapter and truly felt like I was going on an emotional journey with our couple if you enjoy a hockey romance with humor, a green flag protective book boyfriend, a fierce FMC (and like I said some more emotional/harder moments too) add this one to your list... and do yourself a favor if you are an audio book lover and get the audio version too!  

Have you read this one?  What did you think?

A.L. Richards: Blocked & Bewitched

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/254455293-blocked-bewitched

Blurb:

The moment Lachlan Fraser walked into her shop, Calla Brighton knew he was going to be a problem.

Calla liked her life predictable. Her herbs are organized, her wards are maintained, and her emotional entanglements are kept to an absolute minimum.

Then a cursed hockey goalie walks into her shop.

As the starting goalie for the Victoria Seawolves, Lachlan "Lock" Fraser is used to pressure. He's even gotten used to the bad luck that's followed him for years. What he isn't prepared for it discovering that his bad luck isn't bad luck at all.

It's a curse.

When a magical accident binds Calla and Lock together, staying apart isn't an option. Distance tears at the magic. Closeness keeps it stable. But, while proximity buys them time, it does nothing to stop the curse from escalating.

As the danger grows, so does the connection between them.

The longer they remain bound together, the harder it becomes to ignore what's growing between them - and the more there is to lose if they curse wins.

Because this time, the curse isn't just threatening Lock.

It's coming for both of them.

Blocked & Bewitched is a paranormal hockey romance featuring a cursed goalie, a sarcastic witch, forced proximity, found family, magic, humor, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Tropes:

*ARC Read 2026 *Hockey Romance  *Goalie MMC *Reverse Grumpy x sunshine

*Black cat FMC with a black cat familiar  *curses *magic *strangers --> more

*Golden Retriever MMC *Witch FMC *found family *Slow burn *spice *Sassy FMC

*paranormal elements *Banter *Forced proximity *opposites attract *Mystery 

Thoughts:

You could say that Lachlan Fraser (MMC) leads a charmed life he's living many peoples dreams as a starting hockey goalie on the Victoria Seawolves and he's a pretty happy guy usually but lately things have been more off than usual and it's making his job to catch these fast flying pucks harder when he's losing focus and there have been disturbances around him.  Being superstitious as any other hockey player he decides to go into a local shop for something to help with this issue... maybe a potion?  Or a charm? 

Calla (FMC) has been living a very ordered life, everything has its proper place and she likes her guards up... around everything especially her heart... she's a bit on the broody side and when Lock stumbles into her shop she knows it will lead to trouble... she's just going to help him and hopefully he won't come back(?)

Only Lock keeps coming back he needs her help especially since she straight up told him he is cursed... what can he do about it?  Lock by accident messes with an object not meant for him... Calla was trying to strengthen her bond between herself and her Cat familiar "Hex"... but the second he touches it their worlds collide and now they are bound together.

What happens when a closed off broody witch and a Sunshine hockey goalie are bound together?  Actually it's straight up magic.  Lock is a big personality on ice and he storms into her life, forces her to get out and socialize and see that she can still be orderly and let her hair down from time to time, she on the other hand shows him that love can be shown in many ways like comfort and support even when his job has him on the road a lot of nights.

As our couple that started out as strangers learn to work together as they are now both dealing with being tied to Lock's curse they quickly find themselves falling for each other... but will they ever get to the bottom of the curse?  What did he even do and how can they fight the unknown?  

Things that were a bit off for me involved the time line I was never sure at any given time how much time had passed, and I think that a lot of things maybe happened off page and just told to us later.  I also wish there might have been a better explanation of the magical system there was a lot of speak of "Magical" wards/barriers, tugging/straining on magical lines but without further explaining what Calla knew about her magic and curses it was hard for me to follow, there is a bit more explanation later on in the book though so that helped to clarify things a bit but until then I kind of just felt it was magical filler words without much background knowledge, that could be a me thing though.

Calla's brought into the WAG group and forms fast friends with most of the other ladies but this was part of what I feel was more off page as they only met up a few times and had a group chat but we were more told than shown how close they were.

Overall this was a cute cozy read and I enjoyed it.  This is a fun take on a hockey romance with a bit of a paranormal element thrown in I loved seeing Lock and Calla go from strangers to inseperable and Lock's team mates and their girlfriends made for a fun found family addition to this story.  I'm looking forward to the next in this series.

have you read this one?  What did you think? 

Riley Paige: Kiss Me First

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/242868907-kiss-me-first

Book Blurb:

Joining the insomnia thread at PCU was supposed to be harmless, a place to burn through the quiet hours with strangers who'd never know my name. A way to take my mind off the NHL scouts breathing down my neck.

Just honesty at 2 a.m. with a girl I only know as LittleTooMuch.

I didn't plan to fall for her. But somewhere between the late-night confessions and the things I'd never say out loud, I did.

Then Harlow walks into my life—guarded, beautiful, and my team captain’s little sister.

The more time I spend with her, the harder it gets to ignore the feeling that I already know her.

And if I'm right, I'm in a lot of trouble.

Tropes: 

*Hambright PR ARC/ALC  *Hockey Romance *College Romance  *Mental Health rep

*Check your Trigger warnings *Brothers Best friend *Brothers Team Mate *Anonymous Penpals

*He falls first *Slow Burn *spice   *Long term Grief  *You've got mail vibes *Golden retriever MMC

*Toxic Ex  *Found family *friends to lovers  *State Challenge California (Repeat)

Thoughts:

To Start with I would like to thank the author and Hambright PR for this ARC/ALC Copy, I'm a big Hockey romance fan and when I saw this pop up in my email I was right on top of submitting my request!

Grayson (MMC) is a hockey star on the college team and even though many might think he has it easy he is battling performance anxiety, high expectations that have been placed on him and long term grief over the loss of his brother which has led to long nights as he struggles with Insomnia, thankfully he has found a kindred spirit online a girl (so they say) on the schools forum for their Insomnia thread that calls themselves "LittleTooMuch" even though he's never met her in person he spends late nights chatting with her and looks forward to the next time they talk.

I appreciated the online friendship portion of this book it was sweet and reminded me of You've got mail where they are falling for eachother's personalities first and even though they've never met they already have a strong bond, they talk about anything and everything late into the night and are building that trust that sometimes takes years to form.

Harlow (FMC) has struggled with mental health over the years after the decline of a high school relationship sent her spiraling since then everyone checks in on her (possibly too much) but she's finally doing ok even though she spent some time taking online classes she feels this is her time to join people her age and get out and start living her life again, while she loves her older brother he is towards the over protective and over bearing side, but she has been getting to know a few of his team mates better including Grayson, and she has an online friend that she really can't live without they talk every night and maybe part of the reason things are so great is because they haven't met in person.

The more time Grayson spends with Harlow the more he sees the similarities between his best friends younger sister... and the online girl he's never met but dreams about... this is possibly too big to be a coincidence but at this point things are going well she's opening up to him as herself in person and what if it's not her?  But if it is her will she feel betrayed like he's keeping secrets? 

Harlow is relatable to anyone who has gone through school bullying she's a beautiful girl but struggles with self doubt due to things toxic people have said in the past, it was moving to see her pull herself from the darkness and come out on top.  

Grayson is the ideal green flag book boyfriend he's patient, kind, caring he knows that Harlow has had these struggles in the past and he is there for her without being an overbearing presence, he's very mature for his age (such a sweetheart, I love him!) 

Their relationship didn't feel rushed and the longer they spent time together it felt more inevitable it was meant to be.

If you are a hockey romance fan and enjoy the above tropes add it to your list!  This was a sweet story of two college aged kids who were struggling but found safety in each other.  

some negatives for me:

There were a few side plots that were picked up occasionally but just got dropped so I don't know if those will pick back up in the next book or not, It might be interesting to check out the next in the series.  

I did listen to the ALC for part of this book and the narrators did a great job but I just struggled with the way the book was written at times it was repetitive, I felt like some character in the book asked Harlow if she was "Ok" every other paragraph I found myself getting irritated for the girl everyone is walking on eggshells treating her like she's super fragile it's hard for her to have progress when she's being so sheltered.  

Could just be a me thing but her being in a constant state of stress/anxiety was causing me to have stress and anxiety... I'm reading to relax.   

The other thing that took me out of the story was sometimes there were so many analogies I was wondering if we would ever move towards more actual plot, it was a lot of filler and led to nothing much happening for many pages/chapters but the same stuff.

There was a big build up to the game against her ex then it happened and ended so quickly we don't even fully know what happened after discipline wise, like what!? 

Elysia Wages: Fall Wherever They May

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221031918-fall-wherever-they-may

Book Blurb:

After a phone call, secrets about Aspen’s life are unveiled. Between the discovery of her past and the complications that arise in her small Oklahoma hometown, the single mom finds herself suddenly moving to New York to start a new career and a new life with her ten-year-old son.

Callan is the center iceman for The New York Blaze. He’s focused on one thing and one thing his professional hockey career. After his life was upended, he wants no complications, no distractions.

A series of chance encounters between Aspen and Callan force them together and turns their world upside down.

This is the first installment in The Blaze Hockey Series.

This book is a standalone and ends with a happily ever after.

Tropes:

*High Gravity ALC  *Hockey Romance  *broody MMC  *Single parent (FMC) 

*banter *emotional read *grief  *Slow burn *Neighbors  *Boss x employee 

*spice *workplace romance  *Enemies --> friends --> more  *found family

 *State Challenge New York (repeat)  **Check trigger warnings 

Thoughts:

First of all Thank you to the author and High Gravity Productions for this Audiobook!  I'm a huge hockey romance fan and I was excited to start this one! I've read at least 60 Hockey romance books and this one didn't disappoint.

Callan (MMC) is a broody NHL star who has been going thru the motions of life but not really living for several years, we as the reader know it has something to do with his past but don't find out more of the story until later in the book.  He has been on his current New York team after being traded and the contract ends at the end of this season so he has some big choices to make. 

Aspen (FMC) is a single mom who has recently moved across country to New York to start her new job taking over for her father who recently passed away (not expected).  Aspen has big shoes to fill as she's not only starting this new role... she's the boss/owner of a professional hockey team... talk about big life changes.  She never met her father and is now upset with her mom for keeping so many things from her.

Callan and Aspen have a less than ideal initial meeting in the way of a fender bender where they both exchange less than pleasant words... turns out they will be seeing a lot of each other since they live across the street from each other and Callan is one of Aspen's star players.  

I really enjoyed watching Callan and Aspen go from sharing barbs to finally settling on a truce and becoming friends... but underneath all that there is a buzzing chemistry they both like each other but are holding back due to their past history.  Will they be able to let their guards down enough to let each other in and be more than friends?  

But Aspen also has her son to worry about because Tucker (son) loves Callan and what if they they try something more and it ends badly... Tucker would be crushed!  on the other side of the coin what if everything comes together and they could help heal each other, what if they are each others missing half.  

Aspen's doesn't have a good history with men in her mind men in her life are no show's or they leave as evidenced by her own father and her son's father who isn't in the picture.  

Callan has a truly heartbreaking back story and there must have been someone chopping onions in the room when he finally willing to open up and share his story.  

This was a slow burn and I appreciated that they truly were friends by the point that they decided they were ready for more it made it feel more believable. 

Some Things that were off for me: 

1) I didn't really understand the whole situation with Aspen's father staying away from her in order to "protect" her... I think that since he was such a family man I think her parents would have found some way for him to be in her life without her getting put in the public eye. 

2) once the spice was introduced it just didn't feel like what they were doing would have been for them... seemed like it was more tossed in to make the book a bit more naughty (?)... just felt awkward for this couple. 

3) sometimes the dialog felt like it was meant for younger characters, it was heavier on slang and curse words 

4) towards the end some information comes out and I felt by that point Aspen would/should have been more understanding and allowed Callan to at least explain himself but instead she shut him down and needed space, I just didn't feel that she would have done that since she had been open to communication and even demanded it prior to this event.  

5) sometimes it felt like the scenes were really pushing for setting up the couple for the next story but I was still trying to stay more with the couple from this book.  

Overall I truly enjoyed this story and the narrators did a great job bringing these characters to life, this was a heartfelt story about 2 broken souls coming together and building their own family.  If you are a hockey romance fan like me add this one to your list!   I'm looking forward to getting to the next book in the series.

Have you read this book?  what did you think? 

Heather C. Myers: Exes and Goals

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34208007-exes-and-goals

Book Blurb:

Most people have no regrets. She has one.

Harper Crawford is a big fan of the Newport Beach Seagulls, despite their abysmal previous season. It's been a year since Ken Brown's murder and Seraphina Hanson, Ken's youngest granddaughter, just survived her first year as the new owner and manager of the national hockey team. Barely. The last year was dismal to the point where Seraphina is making drastic changes. Like hiring Harper as their official blogger. Harper gets to travel with the team, write character pieces, critiques, game summaries, and the like. It's her dream job.

Another change? Putting together practically a new team, including Zachary Ryan, first line center. At six foot four and two hundred and twenty pounds, he is tall, dark blond, and solid muscle. He's arrogant and direct and the minute he sees Harper at Taboo nightclub during a team bonding session dressed in a plaid shirt and converse sneakers, he has to get to know her better.

Except there's a problem from her past that won't go away. Harper has an ex that won't stay in her past - where he belongs. He starts showing up at her place, reminding her of all the wrong choices she made, bringing up things she wants nothing more than to forget. When Zachary gets involved, things get heated and his notorious temper flares.

Harper doesn't want to get involved with a hockey player - especially with an overzealous ex who won't leave her alone - but Zachary plans to change her mind. No matter what the cost.

Tropes:

*Hockey Romance *Work place romance *Hockey Player x Journalist/blogger *toxic ex

 *spice *protective MMC  *State Challenge:  California (Repeat) 

*trigger warnings -DV 

Thoughts:

This is the second time I've read this book and this time I read it as part of a group challenge I'm in this book was one of the options on a bingo board, I already had this one in my kindle and haven't read it in a few years so thought I would give it a re-read to help our group! 

To start with we have Harper a sports blogger who is a fan of the local hockey team the seagulls... unfortunately in recent years due to a series of unfortunate and tragic events (namely the owner's death) and a losing team most of the better players of the team requested trades leaving to the new owner (the grand daughter) having to put together a team from scratch.  

With efforts to change things and in need of some good publicity Seraphina (new owner) decides to hire Harper to work for the team as their personal blogger she's happy for the opportunity this is a dream come true.  Another change for the team is aquiring Zach Ryan (MMC) from another team who wanted him to go after a scandal of sorts involving a team mates wife... while he hasn't openly shared his side of the story he hasn't done anything to settle the rumors either... Harper has a big task here making this team look good.

Harper's job with the team puts her closer together with many of the players including Zach and she just can't believe that any of the rumors she's heard are true he is nothing like what the gossip says... although he may be dangerous to her heart, especially since she her last relationship was a dumpster fire.  

In comes the Ex, Harper wants nothing to do with this guy but since the restraining order ended and she forgot to refile he's coming around again... trying to get close and thinks he has a say in her life and who she dates... newsflash he does not.

This was a shorter book and even though it's a "hockey" romance the hockey is in the way back as like a side story, they spend more time at the club, hotel, or her apartment and I would have liked a little bit more of the sport to be in the story, or even portions of some of the articles she was writing about the team, when mentioned it usually was brief and that she "turned it in" to her boss.  

I enjoyed the relationship Harper has with her grandmother and I did like seeing both of our leads let down their walls and fall for each other... even though it did feel like it happened super quick.  I appreciated how protective Zach was over Harper. 

Harper and the ex... she should have immediately gone to see if she could get a new restraining order against the guy as soon as he started coming around again... he was bad news and I don't think that she should have been around him at all let alone meet him willingly even though she had her reasons.  There were a few issues with the time line as well at one point the relationship with her ex had been over for like 8 months and another point in the book it was a few years.  The other thing that bothered me at one point was that she was so sick she had to call out of work yet the MMC comes over to bring her soup and then they end up in bed together... not sleeping...I'm sorry but if she's that sick let that girl eat her soup and sleep she's not well enough to do all that.  

There were a few other issues with the plot but I over looked some things I know it's fiction and enjoyed the story enough to be willing to read it for a 2nd time and plan to continue the series.  Amazon labels this as an enemies to lovers trope... I didn't get those vibes.  

Have you read this one?  What did you think?  

R.A. Smyth: Stick It

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240929102-stick-it

Book Blurb:

In a game built for men, I came to make history.

As the only girl on an all-male Division I hockey team, I’m not a novelty—I’m a threat. A spark in a powder keg of testosterone. But I didn’t come to play nice. I came to dominate.

I didn’t expect them…

The golden boy captain who carries the team on his shoulders.
The brooding guardian with a darkness that calls to me.
The hot and cold viper who kisses me breathless in dark corners—then acts like it never happened.
And the quiet bruiser who speaks my language in video games.

I live with them. Train with them. Compete against them.
They’re temptation wrapped in danger—
And the first ones to ever look at me like I belong.

But this game has enemies off the ice too.
And someone wants to break me for good.

Let them try.

Because I’m not just here to play.
I’m here to rewrite the rules and claim my legacy.

Tropes: 

*Netgalley ALC  *Enemies to Lovers *College Romance  *Hockey romance 

*Reverse Harem *Darker elements check your trigger warnings  *Team mates

*Fierce FMC  *Why Choose  *team Drama  *death of parent (FMC Father prior to story starting)  *Spice  *Protective MMC's  *Touch her and 💀 *State Challenge Vermont 

*Found family *mental health  *Multiple POV's *over 600 pages 

Thoughts:

I'm going to start this a bit differently because I have read and enjoyed a lot of hockey romance books and there were elements of this book I enjoyed I loved the idea of a fierce FMC (Dylan) not only putting herself out there and playing in a male dominated sport... but also competing with the men and skating circles around them while she's at it!  yes please!

Our girl Dylan has had a really rough time since she's come to college she was on a different All Male D1 Hockey team (the rivals to her current team) but after the death of her father (who was an NHL superstar and passed away tragically) her life felt like it was going off the rails... she got into a relationship with her former teams sleezy captain only for him to blind side her and betray her needing a fresh start with the help of a family friend (the Coach of her new team) she was able to not only land a spot but proved her worth and landed a spot on the first line... this causes a problem with the team mate she pushed out of his spot Kyle.

Dylan can't even get away from Kyle during practice and games since he is one of her room mates... along with a few other team mates, this is going to go well.  What first starts as a strained relationship with all of her team mates, especially since it doesn't help that team captain/room mate Ethan has decided to deal with the situation by having the whole team ignore her... yep that's going to help.  Thankfully she meets a friend and occasionally stays with her throughout different times in the book to get away from the chaos that is her life.

So on to the males in her life now and listening to the book it was at times hard to figure out/remember who had the POV I think this audio could have done with a bigger cast for narration (maybe it would have helped) but several of the voices were similar/the same especially for the male narrator the female narrator did a great job.  The guys had varying degrees of the same personality, other than Dylan we don't get much background information on any of the other characters which is surprising for such a long book.

Ethan --> captain, he was getting closer to Dylan throughout the book but also trying to keep his distance because he knew it was wrong to want her. (room mate)

Jax- likes to play video games, troubled child hood, strong silent, broody type (room mate)

Griffin:  takes an automatic liking to Dylan and probably has the best relationship with her out of all the guys (not one of her room mates), goalie

Finn: this guy was confusing to me as his name was so close to Griffin but he's a hottie with a rockin body and likes to take advantage of the "puck bunnies" that hang around the team... until Dylan comes along.  He has been best friends with Kyle since they were kids... and often feels torn throughout due to the fact that he knows Kyle and Dylan are having big beef.

Once all the guys stop being so hard headed and realize that Dylan isn't trying to ruin their chances for the championship and is a really great team mate they all begin to get closer to Dylan in their own ways often having their own spicy encounters with her as Dylan struggles with what she's even doing with all of them... and she has other things to worry about as well.  

Dylan continues throughout the book to receive threats from known and unknown subject(s), she has a few run ins with her evil ex from her old team, continues to deal with long term grief r/t her father's passing (which her guys eventually help her thru) and her complicated relationship with her mother it's a lot for anyone to have to deal with... all while continuing to want her dream of making it to the NHL.

I did feel for Dylan and her past history and wanted to see her be happy but there was a lot going on in this one.  I'm sure that plenty of people will like this book... and I did like Dylan's friend (I think the next book is about her and I might check it out... if it isn't so long).  

Negatives: 

I have to say this one was not my favorite I probably enjoyed the hockey related sections more than her relationship with the guys to be honest.

Out of her relationships with all the guys I truly only felt that Griffin was worth her time... the rest of the guys spent too much time not being on her side/actively working against her... it reminded me of the things that she said happened on her old team that she left and yet she let them do this to her again... history repeating itself.  

At any instance of drama... her guys (minus Griffin) are all on the "don't believe" her bus without even having a conversation... are you with her or not?  Are you willing to hear her side of the story or not?  

The guys were hard to tell apart and don't get equal time throughout the story with our girl... it was almost like all the main character energy went into a few characters and the others kind of were dimmer in comparison/not as noticeable... story could have maybe benefitted by not having as many male love interests since it felt like the story became more muddy with all the relationships that weren't even all that serious in my opinion the majority of the book she was in a situationship with 1-4 of them at any given time, while she becomes jealous of "her guys" being near other women.

I feel this book could have benefitted by being about 2-300 pages shorter, there was a lot of filler chapters where nothing much was happening to move the story forward and it was just a repetitive inner monologue or the same things were happening

This book had the feeling of too much going on but nothing going on at the same time making it feel like a slog to get through at times.  

For a college romance... did these kids ever go to class?  there wasn't much homework going on either... they had a lot of time after practice or games to hang out at a bar or play video games.  

I had a hard time imagining that even if they were to allow a female on the previously "all male" team that they would have her share a locker room with them.

I could go on with some more things... but I think I'll just end it here, this one was just ok for me, I do enjoy hockey romance but at over 650 pages I think I could have been ok skipping this one.