Rookie Season by Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner review

 Title: Rookie Season 

Author: Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner 

Ch: 43 plus epilogue 

Pg: 330

Series: 3b 

Genre: Rom com, Hockey Rom Com 

Rating: 5 stars 

Publisher: indie 

 

Grumpy sunshine has always been one of my favorite tropes and I love it even more when paired with hockey. Noah’s in his rookie season and is determined to not let anything distract him. Allegra or Ally is looking to start over. After watching Noah grow up a bit in the DC Eagles series 

 and meeting Ally in the Donovan family series I new that I needed to read about them as adults. I have to say I loved grumpy Noah. But even more so protective Noah. And  of course my heart broke for Ally. And just like both authors’ previous books I love that found family is so important in the one. The friendship between Fisher, Noah and Penn was like the friendship between the eagle’s teammates in the DC Eagles series.

And who can forget Harry Styles, the third who is indeed a typical cat. 

 

And while this one is the first of a new series, I would recommend reading both the DC Eagles series by Leah and  Katie’s books to get both Noah’s and Ally’s backstory as well as not be spoiled. But the book can easily be read on its own. One of my favorite scenes happened towards the end of the book and to me sums up Noah in a nutshell across two series. 

 

For those that have read Leah before this one has more language than previous books and is indeed more fade to black than earlier books. But it’s still a good read. I also recommend having tissues handy for some parts. 

I received a copy of this book from the author as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. 

Perfectly Grumpy by Grace Worthington review

Title: Perfectly Grumpy

Author: Grace Worthington

Genre: Hockey Romance

Publisher/Indie: Indie

Publication Date: June 17

 

I think Tate may be my favorite Carolina Crushers player. Apparently, I have a thing for fictional nerdy hockey players. But I have to say that Lauren was the character I related to the most. I could relate to her grief. I loved seeing the other crusher players. And Perfectly Grumpy was the perfect read for this time of year. A summer hockey rom com. 

 

 

I received a copy of this book from the author as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. 

Stick to me by Marion De Re reivew

 

Title: Stick to me 

Author: Marion De Re

Ch: 36 plus epilogue 

Pg: 322

Series: New York Raptors book 1 

Genre:  Rom com hockey rom com 

Rating: 5 stars 

Publisher: indie 

Aaron Miles 

Marissa Martin 

Not going to lie friends to more hasn’t been a favorite troupe in the past. But Aaron and Marissa changed that. And the fact that it includes hockey made it even more enjoyable.  The reasons the two had for just staying friends made perfect sense and actually enhanced the story.  The only thing more dramatic in a hockey romance than teammates sister is coach’s daughter. And I’m a sucker for a bookish hockey player. And after Stick to me I think also like fictional hockey defenseman. Can’t wait for the next one in this series. 

Thank you, Partner, @bookedwiththeemilys  @marionderewrites  or #gifted @bookedwiththeemilys  @marionderewrites

Synopsis: 

Have you ever heard of a guy who’s nice, funny, cooks like a chef, boasts a six-pack, and is the best player in the NHL?

Well, let me introduce you to Aaron Miles—aka the biggest test of my self-control.

Aaron and I have been friends since sixth grade, sharing everything from school and vacation to helping me start my business. But one thing I did on my own: falling in love with him.

It’s hopeless. He’s already rejected me once, and besides, as the coach’s daughter, I’m off-limits to everyone on the team, especially Aaron, who has a father-son relationship with my dad.

Yet, the more I try to suppress my feelings, the deeper my attraction grows. It’s hard to resist when he plans the best surprise birthdays and drops everything to be there for me. Oh, and did I mention we’re roommates? And that he loves parading around the apartment with his abs on display?

Yeah, I’m doomed.

I’m trying to get over him—trust me—but lately, there’s something in his eyes I’ve never seen before. An intense glint that mirrors the fire inside me. Surely, it means nothing, right?

It’s my heart playing tricks on me. As a romance reader, I’m prone to jumping to conclusions.

And if there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that the Friends to Lovers trope is the less realistic of them all.

There’s way too much at stake. 

What You’ll Find:

Hockey Romance

Friends to Lovers

Roommates

Coach's daughter

Body Positivity

Secret Dating

Closed Door/Kisses Only

Secret or Shutout by Leah Brunner review

Title:  Secret or Shutout 

Author: Leah Brunner 

Ch: 42 plus epilogue 

Pg: 338 

Series: DC Eagles 

Genre:  Rom Com Hockey Rom com 

Rating:  5 stars 

Publisher: indie 

I thought Wes and Mel’s story was sweet, Mitch tugged out my heartstrings. Colby made me swoon. Ford melted my heart. But Bruce, well Bruce stole my heart. And at the beginning of the series, I didn’t see the goalie being my favorite or that he’d still my heart. Bruce was easy to see as the friend but not the love interest. However Secret or Shutout changed that.  I started falling for Bruce in the first chapter when I realized that my high school French hadn’t little me down and I knew what he was calling her. And that tidbit a lone made me realize there’s more to Bruce than meets the eye. The dual chapters make the story so much better. As you get to see them get to the same page. And watching Bruce fall was so sweet. Though Bruce did break a big hockey rule when it comes to teammate’s sister. 

 

Now I knew Farrah was going to be my favorite heroine when I meet her in Betrothal or Breakaway. But it was in Secret and Shutout that I saw how much I related to her. Farrah was the first time I’ve seen a heroine with PCOS on the page. And as someone with PCOs I loved seeing a heroine with the condition in a rom com. There was plenty of times in this one where my heart broke for Farrah. But there’s literally a moment in the book that Bruce not only starts healing Farrah’s heart and starts her trusting but I think a fictional hero started mending mine. And it’s this quote, “Farrah, I don’t want to build a life with you because of what you can give me someday. I don’t cherish you for your ability to have children or not. And I don’t love you based on any conditions.”  All I can say is where’s the real-life Bruce’s at?  

 

Bruce and his old truck remind me of something my grandma use to say if a man drives an old truck he knows how to stay when things get tough because he’s got patience and he’s stubborn. Which I think sums up Bruce perfectly. 

 

I loved that even though it’s Farrah and Bruce’s story we still get closure for the DC Eagles.

 

I will say Leah’s books on the steamy side of clean as there is some language, innuendo  and a fade to black scene with married couple. 

 

#secretorshutout #dceagles #hockeyromance #closeddoorromance #pcosrep #booktour

#bookedwiththeemilys

@bookedwiththeemilys @leah.brunner.writes

 

I received a copy of this book from the author  as part of a blog tour  I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

 

Tropes:

Hockey romance

Teammate’s sister

Reverse age gap

NHL goalie

Curvy heroine

Perfectly Faked by Grace Worthington review

Title: Perfectly Faked 

Author: Grace Worthington 

Ch: 39

Pg: 292

Series: Perfect Crush Hockey romance 2 

Genre:  Rom Com

Rating: 4 stars 

Publisher: 

 

Not going to lie I started the book out liking Leo more than Victoria and I think that’s because I “met” Leo in Perfectly Wedded but Victoria quickly grew on me.  I loved watching Leo and Victoria go from not quite enemies to more while being forced to skate together. I’ve never read a hockey rom com that also included a figure skater. But the fact that they are in opposing ice sports adds to the banter between these two. And keeps the reader turning pages. 

 

 

Hockey romance

Coach’s daughter

Enemies to lovers

Second chance romance

Ice skater/Hockey player 

Closed door

 

#perfectlyfaked #hockeyromance #coachsdaughter #secondchanceromance #closeddoorromance #booktour #bookedwiththeemilys

 

 

Thank you, Partner, @bookedwiththeemilys@graceworthingtonauthor or #gifted @bookedwiththeemilys @graceworthingtonauthor

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

When Alec Met Evie by Jenny Proctor review

Title:  When Alec Met Evie 

Author: Jenny Proctor 

Ch: 30 plus epilogue 

Pg: 331

Series: Appies 6 

Genre:Rom Com, Hockey Rom Com 

Rating: 5 stars 

Publisher: Indie 

Never thought a hockey rom com would make me cry but When Alec Met Evie but did. I didn’t think any Appie could replace Felix as my favorite, but Alec did. I mean what’s not to love about a hockey defenseman captain who’s a cinnamon roll off the ice and loves his family. And apparently I’m a sucker for a hockey player holding a baby. 

Alec has always seen Evie as his little sisters best friend until new in town and needed a place for her and her infant daughter to stay. Alec offers up his house and ends up falling hard.  

This one made me laugh and cry because both Alec and Evie are at a crossroads with choice that will change their future. I mean I got teary eyed throughout but it was chapter 29 that had me bawling. 

Alec and Evie’s story was sweet and this was one a great end to the Appies series.  The Appies aren’t just teammates their brothers. 

Runaway Bride and Prejudice by Emma St. Clair review

Title:  Runaway Bride and Prejudice

Author: Emma St Clair

Chapters:30 Plus epilogue

Series: Appies # 5

Pages: 418

Genre: Hockey Rom Com, Rom Com, Sports Rom Com

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Indie

There’s only one rule that hockey players are smart enough not to break don’t date the coach’s daughter unfortunately Van’s not that smart. Van ends up being the get away driver for Amelia the runaway bride and coach’s daughter. He might be the bad boy of the Appies but there’s more to him than meets the eye.  And in Runaway Bride and Prejudice you get to peel back the layers and find Robbie not Van. I have to say he’s replaced Felix as my favorite Appie

Romancing the Grumpy by Jenny Proctor review

Title: Romancing The Grump

Author: Jenny Proctor

Ch: 26 plus epilogue

Pg:358

Series: Appies 4

Genre: Rom Com

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: indie

I never thought that any of the Appies would replace Flexi as my favorite. But that was until I read Romancing the Grump and met grumpy Nathan Sanders. Grumpy sunshine has always been one of my favorite tropes. But Nathan was more than just a grumpy hockey player. And of course, Summer’s the exact opposite of him making the banter awesome.

I mean as a rom com you know how it ends but the fun is the journey the characters take to get there. And it doesn’t hurt that he loves his family. Nathan really is a grump with a heart of gold.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

A Groom of One's Own by Emma St. Clair review

Title: A Groom of One’s own

Author: Emma St. Clair

Ch: 24 plus epilogue

Pg: 368

Series: Appies 1

Genre: Rom Com

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Indie


When we first meet Eli in Just Don’t fall he comes across as a bit of a ladies man. But in A Groom of One’s Own we learn that’s not exactly the whole truth. He actually has a heart of gold and loves his mom. He wants to get married but for love not to stay in the country. Enter Bailey who also has her own problems and the solution of a marriage of convenience.

I’m a sucker for the marriage of convenience troupe and I jump for the chance to read it especially in contemporary romances and rom coms where it’s not so common. And. A Groom of one’s own doesn’t disappoint.