Review: Hit Me With Your Best Shot Anthology

Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Authors: Saffron A. Kent, Becca Steele, S.J. Sylvis, Maggie Rawdon, Ki Stephens, Jay McLean
Publication Date: March 15, 2024
Publisher: Purple Prose Press LLC
Genre: Sports Romance, Contemporary Romance, Anthology
Note: This review is for an ARC provided by WordSmith Publicity and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

All new sports romance stories from six bestselling authors!

They may be players on the field and rule over a million hearts. But watch them lose theirs in the all-new angsty and steamy stories by six of your favorite sports romance authors.


Hit Me With Your Best Shot was a fun sports romance anthology. I enjoyed the majority of the novellas and even found some new authors I want to read more from. Here are my mini reviews for each novella in this book.

Love Made Me Do It by Saffron A. Kent – ★ ★
This short story was about a nanny and her soccer star employer. The connection between Meadow and little Sophie was adorable. The chemistry between Meadow and Riot was there. Where this one lost me was Riot losing his mind over Meadow when she’s on a date with another man. His actions and words from that point on were disappointing and left me feeling slighting disturbed.

Tempted by Becca Steele – ★ ★ ★ ★
Bennett and Niccolò’s chemistry was off the charts and their romance was sweet. I loved how different these two characters were while also being perfect for each other. If only it was a full-length book to give me more of everything.

Sidelined by Ki Stephens – ★ ★ ★
Callum and Lila are childhood best friends who have had a thing for each other since they were kids, but that was messed up by a kiss that almost but didn’t happen. They are finally getting their second chance and it is sweet. My issue with this novella were the flashbacks. They didn’t work because they took away time from the romance that was happening in the present time, which there isn’t much of because of the length of a novella.

In the Company of Darkness by Jay McLean – ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Jay McLean, I’ve missed your writing! Harlow and Jace’s story captured my attention from the start and never let go. I felt for these high school seniors and the hands they had been dealt. I loved how they started to bond and fall for each other. I cannot wait to read their full-length book coming later this year!

Call Me Teach by S.J. Sylvis – ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
This steamy little brother’s best friend/roommate/teammate college hockey romance was a lot of fun! Hannah was a sweetheart while Nolan was a bit of a jerk, but I loved how he embraced his feelings for her. I could have read a full-length book about this couple. I’m excited to try more from this author.

Onside Recovery by Maggie Rawdon – ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Gabe and Aurora’s romance was another winner for me. I love that they had been best friends from college and were finally getting their chance at love. Aurora was a two-time runaway bride. Gabe was a single father who played football and owned a bar. The really should have gotten together earlier in life because their chemistry was fire. I can’t wait to try more from this author.

Review: If You Hate Me (Helena Hunting)

If You Hate Me
Author: Helena Hunting

Publication Date: March 7, 2024
Publisher: Ink & Cupcakes, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

Synopsis:

A brand new standalone hate-to-love, brother’s best friend hockey romance.

My new roommates are two pro hockey players.
First, my manwhore older brother, and second, his seriously hot best friend (who I seriously hate).
This was a last resort.
No one should be sleeping on a futon that smells like Cheetos and ball sweat.
But here I am, trying to get my life together.

Tristan Stiles is the bane of my existence.
He never wears a shirt.
We can’t seem to stop fighting.
He’s an arrogant playboy with a filthy reputation.
Sure, I had a crush on him when I was fourteen, but that was a long time ago.
I know better than to trust him.

I just need to survive long enough to find a new job and get a new place.
And not accidentally let Tristan rail me into next week.


If you have been missing Helena Hunting’s Pucked series, you won’t want to miss reading If You Hate Me. Hunting is giving us a whole new hockey world filled with amazing characters starting with Rix and Tristan. I didn’t want to put this book down! What was so great about it? Pretty much everything.

  • Hunting brought the fun, the humor, the swoon, and the spice to ensure this romance was a very entertaining read. I even teared up a couple of times.
  • The tropes in this book were perfection.
  • The roommate situation was a great way to put Tristan and Rix in close proximity. The fact that her brother, Flip, was there making things secretive was a lot of fun.
  • Tristan’s annoyance with his best friend/teammate’s younger sister and Rix’s anger and frustration with Tristan created tension and chemistry that were palpable. The enemies to lovers trope was strong with these two.
  • Rix was easy to love. Life hadn’t been the easiest growing up for her and I thought Hunting did a fabulous job portraying the results of years of food insecurity. I always wanted the best for Rix because of how caring she was towards her friends and family.
  • Tristan was a wee bit harder to love at times, but I did end up loving his character. His womanizing past was his past and was easy to dismiss. His present on the other hand was a mess. Tristan had his own leftover childhood trauma to deal with, and he didn’t do a good job at it for a lot of this book. I did love seeing his growth, though.
  • I loved Rix and Tristan together when things were going well. Rix and Tristan’s situationship was filled with a lot of ups and a couple of downs. Their agreement to keep things casual and on a timeline went about as well as it always does in romance novels. The feelings got pretty messy. I enjoyed their romantic journey and how they both worked through the issues that came between them.
  • I’m already waiting for the side characters to get their own books. Flip was a lovable idiot who I can’t wait for to fall in love. Hollis and Roman were teammates who shined. Rix’s entire girl gang made me happy, and I want them all to find love as well. I’m super excited that Hollis’s book is next!

I only had a few of things that were a little iffy for me in this book.

  • The situationship was ultra-spicy. It’s hotter than the Pucked series. I didn’t mind that for the most part. There were a couple of situations that pushed my boundaries and made me cringe. If you can’t stand the heat, I would not recommend this book to you.
  • I’m not saying I wanted this book to be shorter, but there was a point where I thought it was about to end and then got put through another emotional upheaval. I didn’t hate that, but it did surprise me a bit.
  • Rix’s name. Or maybe I should say nicknames? Her real name is Beatrix, but she goes by Rix. Tristan calls her Bea or Beat most of the time, while everyone else calls her Rix. She felt more like a Bea to me, but that might have been Tristan’s influence. When I was writing this review, I kept wanting to write Bea instead of Rix.

Overall, If You Hate Me was a highly entertaining romance. I loved Rix and Tristan. I wish the next book in the series was already out because I can’t wait to read it!

Review: Ice Cold Player (Nikki Hall)

Ice Cold Player
Series: Beyond the Ice, #1
Author: Nikki Hall
Publication Date: February 23, 2024
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC provided by WordSmith Publicity and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

Synopsis:

A deal with the devil…

Gavin
Anyone but her. Eva Adams—the entitled, picture-perfect cheer princess. Incapable of empathy, patently manipulative, and absolutely beautiful. I can’t afford her drama—I just want to play my last year of hockey without being kicked out of TU, but there she is on my first day back. Crying. In a weak moment, I make her an offer. An agreement I never thought she’d take. Except she surprises me, and now I’m faced with a dilemma. Protect my secrets…or win the girl.

Eva
Anyone but him. Gavin King—the rebellious, coffee-slinging hockey god. Arrogant, irreverent, and way hotter than he has any right to be. Despite the lady tingles, I’d be happy to spend my last year at TU without seeing his face—or his tattoos—again. It should be easy. I have cheer, I have my friends, and I have nowhere to live. To my eternal frustration, he offers me a solution…for a price. When I take the deal, I can’t help wondering what else I’ll give him before the end.

Ice Cold Player is the first book in the Beyond the Ice series of interconnected standalones featuring the hockey players of Teagan University—an enemies to lovers, he falls first, forced proximity, college hockey romance with plenty of heat.


It was surprising when Mac and Eva didn’t get a happy ending or even a relationship in Play Maker, the last book in the Wild Card series. I think I can speak for Wild Card series fans when I say we hoped they would be end game. Then Blue stole Mac’s heart in the best way and Eva had some interesting interactions with Gavin at her favorite coffee shop. After that, I couldn’t be mad about Eva and Mac not ending up together. I had a feeling Eva and Gavin’s distaste for each other was going to lead to some amazing chemistry. I was right and it led to a great start to this new spin-off series.

Eva was a confident, attention attracting cheerleader. She was in the process of rebuilding old friendships and looking for a new place to live. The last place she ever thought she would end up living was with her coffee house nemesis / hockey player Gavin. Gavin was a busy guy between hockey and keeping up with his brother. He knew letting Eva and her duck move into his hockey house was a gamble, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself from offering it. She hates him and can’t stand her privilege, but behind all that hate was a raging attraction. I loved seeing it combust. The two of them pushed and pulled against each other until they ended up together. I loved how it all happened and how they supported each other when it mattered most.

While Eva and Gavin were the center of attention in this book, others also had their time to shine. Henry the duck stole the show half the time. Then there were Gavin’s roommates. I’m highly intrigued by them, especially Cole. I’m glad he’s getting a book next. Oh, and Eva’s best friend Stephen was a lot of fun, too. I even enjoyed Gavin’s brother who could have easily been someone I disliked.

The only thing I might even complain a tiny bit about was how easily and neatly everything wrapped up for Eva and Gavin in the end. It was almost too easy for them. That being said, this is a sports romance, and I didn’t expect them to go through the ringer or anything. I liked that it a nice, light read.

It was very fun being back at TU with some favorite characters and some great new ones. I love what Nikki Hall did with Eva and Gavin’s romance. I can’t wait to read Cole’s book hopefully soonish.

Review: The Tomboy and the Captain (Ginger Scott)

The Tomboy and the Captain
Series: The Final Score, #1
Author: Ginger Scott
Publication Date: February 22, 2024
Publisher: Little Miss Write LLC
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC provided by WordSmith Publicity and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

It was supposed to be my year, but then he made a bet that I couldn’t refuse…

A star senior on the Tiff U volleyball team, it’s been my goal to come back strong after an injury that nearly took me out of the game. But I’m Laney freaking Price, and I’m taking my shot to make it on the new pro women’s team, despite the lack of support from my father.

The problem? Cutter McCreary. He is the Captain of the Tiff U hockey team, all-around loveable guy, and a total player. And did I mention a complete thorn in my side since freshman year? Yeah…that guy. His charms don’t tempt me.

Until…a mix up with our housing situation forces us into a bit of a predicament. We were both promised a room. The same room.

His proposal? A bet. We split the room in half—for now. Whoever falls in love with the other first has to move out. The winner gets to stay. But when strategic glances turn into late night talks, and fake kisses start to feel real, I’m finding myself without a game plan. And winning suddenly doesn’t feel like the only thing that matters.


Ginger Scott is a chameleon when it comes to writing. While her last book felt heavy and angsty, The Tomboy and the Captain felt lighter and fun. I flew through it, reading it in one sitting.

I adored the characters. Laney was a talented college volleyball player whose confidence had taken a little bit of hit with an injury. Cutter was the hockey team’s Captain and most sought-after campus hottie. Cutter is not Laney’s favorite person and when they accidentally end up renting the same room all bets are ON. They are both determined to end up the sole inhabitant of the room. First, they have to find a way to get along while they share the room, and that’s where the fun comes.

These two don’t hate each other the way Laney wants them to. I loved how they got to know each other better and the emotional connection they made. Most of the time things were fun and flirty, but there were also some harder things they had to deal with. They way they got through those things together made my heart happy. Their romance was so sweet. 

The side characters were great. Ivy, Laney’s best friend, was driven when it came to her school and work but also highly entertaining. Ivy’s brother Matt was obnoxious but in a way that made me both laugh and shake my head. Cutter’s mom and brothers made me smile a lot. Laney and Cutter had a good group of people surrounding and supporting them.

I had such a good time reading The Tomboy and the Captain. New adult sports romance is where Ginger Scott’s writing shines the most for me and she knocked this one out of the park. If you enjoy college sports romances, you won’t want to miss this one. 

Review: My Anti-Hero (Tijan)

My Anti-Hero
Author: Tijan
Narrators: Andi Arndt, Teddy Hamilton
Publication Date:
February 8, 2024
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Sports Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

I shouldn’t have agreed to this. What was I thinking?
Appearing on a local news show? Just because something happened to me?
I live mostly in isolation on purpose.
But here I am.
I was so nervous that I needed the make-up chair, twice.
And then I walked past his room.
He’s a giant—no softness, all muscle.
And a rich beard that made me want to rub myself all over it.
He made me see stars, literally, because the second time I saw him, I tripped.
Or I would’ve, but he caught me, and the cameras were rolling.
Soon, that clip will be trending because he wasn’t just another guest on the show.
He’s Brett Broudou, the Kings’ newest football star.
We couldn’t be more opposite.
The only special thing about me is the reason I was on the show.
Brett, the Super Bowl champion, and me, the survivor who helped bring down the infamous Midwest Butcher.
Brett might not think he’s anyone’s hero, but he’s about to become mine.


If you’re a Fallen Crest High fan, I know you were as excited as I was to hear Brett Broudou was getting his own book. I’ve been wondering what happened to that dude since the FCH series ended. Now, I know. A lot has happened.

Brett has left his rough past mostly behind. He plays professional football with Stone Reeves from Enemies and against Mason Kade. And, finally, he’s been given his chance at love with Billie, the one woman who escaped a serial killer as a child, who avoids both the media and other serial killers who may want to take her down. Billie is pretty much a hermit with a close circle of her friends and family until she has an adorable meet cute with Brett on live TV. Brett’s celebrity status should scare her off, but she can’t stay away from the guy and her lusty feelings for him.

Brett and Billie’s romance was a wild ride filled up hills, valley, twists, and turns. It was classic Tijan with the slightly rambling writing and narration that has become like home to her readers, but it was also much more. It was probably one of the darkest Tijan books I’ve read. The serial killer plot was grittier, more suspenseful, and intense like her mafia books. The romance was just as addictive but lustier than most of her others, which is saying a lot. Brett and Billie were endearing, but also might just be Tijan’s horniest couple yet. I loved their connection and devotion to each other.

The side characters were also great. I loved Billie’s family and friends. They added some important moments in Brett and Billie’s story. I also enjoyed getting to know more about Brett’s family and where they were now. Plus, there were some cameos FCH and Enemies fans will love as much as I did.

I do have to admit there were a couple of things that weren’t my favorite that popped up in this book. Tijan has a habit of her heroine’s feeling a migraine coming on at least once in every book it feels like. Usually it happens multiple times, but luckily it was only once here. I wouldn’t mind her moving on from that trend. Same with all the aching references. But maybe I would miss those if they weren’t there. I don’t know. I wasn’t a fan of Brett calling Billie “Little Billie” as a nickname in passionate moments. It might not have bothered me if I had read it over hearing it said. It just sounded weird and not very romantic. It gave me the “ew” factor. I could easily look past these things, though. They didn’t hinder my enjoyment much. Oh! One last little thing… I would have loved even more Brett chapters.

Overall, I had a great time being in Brett Broudou’s world. I enjoyed his and Billie’s love story and all of the drama that went along with it. I can’t wait to find out what’s next from Tijan because I’m already missing her characters.

Review: Long Way Down with Bonus Material (Krista & Becca Ritchie)

Long Way Down
Series:
 Calloway Sisters, #4; Addicted, #3.2
Authors: Krista & Becca Ritchie
Publication Date: February 6, 2024 (Original: November 20, 2015)
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

The TikTok sensation Addicted Series continues with Long Way Down, now in a print edition with special bonus material!

With a seven-year age difference, Ryke Meadows and Daisy Calloway have faced an uphill battle in the eyes of the world and their families. Known as the most adventurous, fast-paced couple, their next step has always been elusive to the rabid media.
 
Behind the scenes, heartbreaking troubles continue to test Ryke and Daisy’s resilience and shape their future together.
 
They promise:
To never slow down.
To never compromise who they are.
To never abandon their love for each other.
 
But preserving their happiness also means taking more risks. As a professional free-solo climber, Ryke is no stranger to danger, but his next step with Daisy wagers more than just his health. With their lives on the line, Ryke and Daisy head towards the vast, wild unknown.


With every book added to the Addicted/Calloway series, I find a new favorite. Long Way Down has definitely filled that spot. It was a very beautiful “conclusion” to Ryke and Daisy’s love story. (I say “conclusion” because it was supposed to be The End, but the authors gave us a really cool epilogue novel.)

I’ve loved Ryke’s character since the beginning of the series. His honest, blunt approach to life appealed to me. I also loved his swearing. (Hey, there was just something kind of sexy about it!) He felt more real to me than the other characters. Daisy hasn’t always been my favorite, but Long Way Down really endeared her to me. I felt like I actually got to know her in this book. Her raw connection with Ryke made more sense to me and I loved the playfulness they continued to share.

The story wasn’t all fun and games, though. There were some very intense moments that had me worried. The suspense was brutal at times. But those moments lead to really moving moments between the characters, so it was well worth it. Long Way Down was another amazing addition to this series.

As for the added bonus content… There is a Halloween bonus scene from Lo’s POV that has the guys bonding and a hilariously scary time for the entire gang. There is also a short bonus text thread that was a lot of fun.

I know I’ve said it with every review for this series, but I think new adult romance lovers need to read this series. It’s simply amazing. I’ve grown so attached to the characters and I’m not looking forward to the series ending. So, go read it!

Review: The Summer Playbook (Jaqueline Snowe)

The Summer Playbook
Series: Central State Football, #2
Author: Jaqueline Snowe

Publication Date: February 6, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Sports Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Mackenzie Mallinson is an expert at two things—playing soccer and talking about soccer. Wait, there’s a third too. Crushing on her best friend’s twin brother, the star quarterback for the football team, but no one knows about that. Her senior year is her last shot at fun before entering the pros, and she refuses to let soccer be the only thing that defines her. She wants to live life to the fullest, and that requires a summer bucket list.

Dean Romano might have a line of people wanting his signature, but he’s been off his game since someone he trusted hurt him last year. Once the life of the party, he misses the old version of himself. Not the guy who slept around version, but the fun, carefree, let’s enjoy my time on earth version. With his senior year on the team starting, he wants to get back to having a good time, and the perfect opportunity arises: The Summer Playbook.

Mack needs to let loose but wants to do it with someone she trusts. Dean wants to find his mojo again with someone who doesn’t care about his potential NFL career. The two pair up to complete a bucket list of fun while ensuring there are no feelings involved. Some items are easy, like dance on a bar or go to a concert, but skinny dipping? Body shots? Things heat up, but they both agreed their deal ends once they check off every item on the list. The question remains: is love something you cross off a list or a game you can win?


ADORABLE.
FUN.
SWEET.
STEAMY. 

Do I need to say more to get you to want to read this book? I guess I should give a little more insight what a heartwarming romance The Summer Playbook was. 

Mack has had a crush on Dean from the moment she met him. She’s never acted on her feelings because his twin sister is her best friend, and she knows he’s not into her. When Mack decides to let loose the summer before her senior year of college with a list of crazy, fun things to complete, she’s surprised when Dean offers to do the list with her. Dean has some stuff he wants to move on from and Mack’s list (and Mack herself) feel like the perfect way to do just that. But only for the summer. This leads to a summer of exploration, new friendship, feelings neither know what to do with and a lot of fun. 

I adored Mack and Dean. I loved how focused Mack was on her future soccer career and improving the lives of future athletes. She was a little self-conscious, which made her relatable. Mack’s wanting to push herself out of her comfort zone was inspiring and also a great way to bring her together with Dean. Dean was the big man on campus as Central State’s quarterback. A former player (in the non-football sense of the word), he was working through some trust and mental setbacks. The way he worked through his thoughts and feelings made me love him. Mack and Dean had chemistry that leapt off the page and a swoony emotional connection. I adored every minute they spent working on their list and building a bond. I also loved how Snowe didn’t make one of them sacrifice their sport for the other. 

Being the second book in the series brought back some of the great characters from the first book. I adored seeing Lo and Luca and the rest of the roommates. Callum cracked me up and I loved how he was “one of the girls”. Speaking of the girls, I loved the girl gang showing up to support Mack. These characters were all so fun and I hope the rest of them get books of their own in the series. 

So, yeah. I can’t recommend this book enough. If you love college sports romances that are adorable, fun, sweet, swoony, and steamy this book is for you. 

Review: Even if it Breaks Your Heart (Erin Hahn)

Even if it Breaks Your Heart
Author: Erin Hahn
Publication Date: February 6, 2024
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

A heart-buckling ride of a romance by beloved author Erin Hahn, Even If It Breaks Your Heart is about two teens finding out that sometimes, the hardest part of discovering what you want is getting the courage to pursue it.

The only thing keeping nineteen-year-old Case Michaels together after the death of his best friend, Walker, is a list Walker left behind of things he wants Case to accomplish in his absence. So far, though, Case hasn’t even been able to continue riding bulls in the rodeo circuit, something he’s done his entire life, balking at the thought of competing without Walker by his side. But the list? Case is determined to follow it to the letter– and he follows it all the way to Winnie Sutton.

Eighteen-year-old Winnie Sutton just wants to keep her family together. She graduated high school early to work long shifts at the Michaels family ranch so she can support her younger siblings and a father who’s more than happy to let Winnie fill the responsible parent role. If she sometimes sneaks out to ride the horses herself and forget about life for a while– well, that’s no one else’s business– until the day she crashes headfirst into Case Michaels. Case sees her riding skills and immediately ropes her into competing for the ranch and becoming his friend.

Winnie and Case couldn’t be more different, but Case can’t help but be inspired by Winnie’s badly-hidden passion for riding and competition. And there’s something about Case that makes Winnie want to try grasping onto a dream for herself, whether that’s a shot at a rodeo trophy, the annoyingly handsome rancher’s son who won’t leave her alone, or maybe both.


I swear I saw Erin Hahn call Even if it Breaks Your Heart her “sad cowboy romance”. That is the perfect description of this book. It’s a sad cowboy romance with a lot of hope. It wasn’t a happy read at times (obviously), but it was a great one.

Case is not dealing with the loss of his best friend to cancer. He’s stuck in a cycle of making poor choices. All he has left of his best friend is a list of things Walker wants him to do. Winnie is starting to crumble from the pressure of helping support and raise her siblings. She’s more mom and dad to them than her own parents. They both need someone to help lift them up and Walker helps them find it in each other.

I loved the friendship Case and Winnie built. They gave each other support they desperately needed and also a hope of the future they had both lost. Case and Winnie were attracted to each other from the start, but it was nice to watch their feelings for each other build over the course of the story. Their romance was really sweet. There was also a ton of personal growth for each of them. I loved how they grew emotionally together and learned a lot about themselves.

Even if it Breaks Your Heart was a very special YA romance that brought hope in a couple of very tough, emotional life situations. I’m sad that Hahn has declared this book her final YA release, but happy I had the chance to read and experience it. It was such a good book.

CW: childhood cancer, parental abandonment

Mini Reviews: Face Off (Hunter) and The Bride’s Runaway Billionaire (Grant)

The past week has been full of new releases. Here are mini reviews for two of those recent releases.

Face Off
Series: Seattle Serpents, #2
Author: Teagan Hunter
Publication Date: January 18, 2024
Publisher: Teagan Hunter
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

Face Off was a fun, flirty read. I adored the characters and their entire relationship. Lucas Lawson was a hockey player and well-known ladies man who was also a sweetheart who took care of those he loved or those he knew needed extra help. He was the sunshine to Rory’s grump. Rory, Auden’s twin sister from the first book in this series, did not believe in love. She was a veterinarian who didn’t have time for love or feelings in general. Lawson and Rory were a surprising match that worked in the best ways. The way they got to know each other beyond their initial impressions was a lot of fun. I especially loved Daisy the dog and how she brought them together. Lawson and Rory’s romance so swoony and adorable. I also loved seeing all of the Seattle Serpent players again. The team text message chat was just as fun as the last book. I’m excited to find out what comes next in the series for Hayes.

The Bride’s Runaway Billionaire
Series: Three BFFs and a Wedding, #3
Author: Pippa Grant
Publication Date: January 18, 2024
Publisher: Bang Laugh Love LLC
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

I have loved this series, so I was happy to finally get Emma’s story. It was so much fun finding out what happened on her honeymoon after she didn’t get married and who got her pregnant. That man being a celebrity made things complicated in the best way. I loved how Emma and Jonas reconnected, reignited their friendship, and fell in love. Jonas meeting their son Bash and quickly learning to be a father was so sweet. Bash was hilarious and acted age appropriate. Yolko Uno was a hilarious side character/pet. I loved all of the characters from the previous books lending a helping hand with their support and humor. I also loved that characters from The Last Eligible Billionaire make some appearances. This was such a fun book to read.

Mini Reviews: The Enforcer (Keelan), Bossy Devil (Ivers), and Behind the Net (Archer)

I’ve been in a sports romance reading mood. Here are three mini reviews for hockey novels I’ve read lately. Surprisingly, they all have kind of a second chance vibe to them. That’s not my favorite trope, but it worked for all of these.

The Enforcer
Series: Lakeside University, #1
Author: Avery Keelan
Publication Date: June 23, 2022
Publisher: Avery Keelan
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

I’m normally not a big second chance romance reader because there are usually a lot of flashbacks. Thank goodness this one didn’t have any since there were only two years between them breaking up and getting back together. I loved Nash and Violet’s romance. I felt a true connection between them. They had their issues, especially moving on from the past, but they worked hard on them together. Sometimes Nash drove me nuts with his avoidance of stuff, but he was trying. Their relationship was really passionate, too. Although, I could have done without the “petal” nickname because it made me want to gag. And I wasn’t bothered by what both Nash and Violet did when they weren’t together, but it will rub some people wrong. They weren’t saints. That made their romance feel more real to me, though. Overall, a great start to the series. I was disappointed to find out I couldn’t binge the rest of the books, as they seem to be unavailable anywhere. 🙁

Bossy Devil
Series: Nashville Devils, #5
Author: Melissa Ivers
Publication Date: January 5, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

Late last year I binged the first four books in the Nashville Devils series. They were so much fun, and I couldn’t wait for the next book – even though it was Gordon’s, and I wasn’t that fond of his character. He changed my mind pretty quickly in this book. His father had a huge impact on his life in ways he couldn’t even imagine. I immediately loved Riley. She was a strong, single mother. She guarded her heart and her daughter with all she had. I loved that Gordon’s reuniting with Riley brought the things that mattered to him back into focus and corrected some wrongs between them. I also loved that the flashbacks were kept to a minimum and this book focused on their reuniting and love in the present. This book was a great addition to this steamy hockey romance series. 

Behind the Net
Series: Vancouver Storm, #1
Author: Stephanie Archer
Publication Date: June 30, 2023
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½

My thoughts:

Behind the Net was good, but it could have been great. It fell prey to the current trend of being overly long. I adored the characters, loved their backstory, felt their connection, got irritated at their dumb choices, and loved the places the romance and story went. It just didn’t need to be 424 pages. The first half of the book could have been edited down a bit because there wasn’t enough going on there besides set up and Jaime and Pippa’s longing. I want to try the second book because it’s about Pippa’s sister, but I’m hesitant knowing that one is about the same length as this book.