Tag: hockey romance

Book Review: Heart Check (Varsity #1) by Emily Charlotte

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: YA Sports Romance
Length: 304 pages
Author: Emily Charlotte
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: November 18th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A star hockey player and his biggest critic must reexamine their assumptions about each other when forced to work together at an after-school job in this feel-good young adult rom-com debut about breaking the ice—featuring stenciled sprayed edges!

Luke Dawson and Harper Braedon could have been friends. They trade shifts at the same diner, share classes at school, and are driven by their greatest passions: hockey for Dawson and jewelry-making for Harper. But some things aren’t meant to be. Dawson thinks Harper is stuck-up, too good for anything resembling school spirit. Harper thinks Dawson is a self-centered jock, a perfect fit for a hockey team that seems to absorb all the budget away from the arts departments.

When his beloved hockey coach gets fired for misallocation of funds, Dawson is terrified that all his plans for impressing scouts are vanishing before his eyes. A rumor goes around that Harper was the one who got him fired, and suddenly she’s public enemy number one.

But even with their mutual dislike at an all-time high, Harper and Dawson can’t escape splitting shifts forever. Can forced proximity help them find some common ground, or will long-held grudges finally succeed in bringing them both down?

TIS A BIT DRAMATIC.

I feel like I have this fine line when it comes to drama (as do many of us?? maybe?? just me?) where it either works or I roll my eyes repeatedly. Very little in-between. This was in the roll your eyes category. For a while I didn’t mind and it worked for the plot but things spiraled here and there and it felt forced to add plot that was diminishing.

The vibes between Harper and Dawson were good. I liked them together and how they slowly started to figure each other art. The opposites attract trope was just right. And I loved all of the hockey content. I’m always a fan of hockey romances. I wish some of the themes had been more fleshed out like Dawson talking to his dad about pressure, more background on the coach who was fired, why does Harper want to leave so badly?? there were plot holes throughout.

It is decently appropriate for mid-older YA. With light language throughout, some underage drinking and make-outs.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Sports romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: low

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC Book Review: Could’ve Fooled Me (Georgia Jaguars Hockey #1) by Jenny Proctor

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 26th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She married him to stay in the country. She didn’t expect him to feel like home.

Sarah Stone never meant to marry a hockey player.

She doesn’t even like hockey—too loud, too violent. But when her visa runs out and going home isn’t an option, marrying one of her brother’s teammates becomes the fastest way to stay in the country.

Carter Williamson is boyishly handsome, charming, and exactly the kind of man who makes a temporary marriage feel dangerous in all the wrong (right?) ways. He respects the rules, takes the pretending seriously, and somehow manages to make her feel safer than she has in years.

Which is inconvenient because he’s also determined to keep things strictly business.

Or so he says. Something about the way he looks at her makes Sarah think he’s struggling as much as she is to remember their marriage is fake.

But then a crisis on the ice sends them both into a tailspin, and Carter and Sarah have to decide if the fragile life they’ve built together is one they want to fight for.

This was supposed to be paperwork. Not feelings.

Definitely not love.

Could’ve Fooled Me is a marriage of convenience closed-door hockey romance with chemistry, tension, and steamy kisses…but ONLY kisses on the page.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

LOVELY AS ALWAYS.

I mean, who could resist a Jenny Proctor + marriage of convenience book? BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN’T. I loved this book so much!! I am so excited to be at the start of another JP series and all the goodness it will hold. I am already sat for the MMC’s I suspect are coming and I am always down for a hockey romance.

I adored how soft this romance was between Sarah and Carter. It’s filled with this sense of slow burn longing and tension. The yearning comes into play and I was a goner. Swoony and heartfelt and I loved a man who falls first. Carter and Sarah both kept finding ways to show up and support each other and that makes these too immensely easy to fall in love with.

There was definitely hockey content, I love the twin brothers idea, I’m always down for a my wife moment and more. And EXCUSE ME? The kisses are hot y’all. So very hot.

If you’ve been wanting to try a Jenny book [I would first tell you that you can’t go wrong starting anywhere] BUT starting here is a great option too! She continues to be one of my all time favorite romance authors and I always look forward to the loving stories she writes.

Overall audience notes:

  • Sports romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: mentions of child abuse (recounted), hockey injury, pregnancy/childbirth, panic attacks (recounted)

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend (Catching Feelings #1) by Kate Watson

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 378 pages
Author: Kate Watson
Publisher: Little Biks Creative
Release Date: July 22nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s not about the wedding, it’s about the marriage…license.

Sean

When my ex cheated and begged me to take her back, I made a rash, too-public vow: the next woman I kiss will be my wife. It seemed like a good idea at the time—anything to stop being everyone’s second choice. The ultimate fallback guy.

Then the Kayla Carville walks into my bar, all bold and stunning. When she hears my ex tearing me apart, she kisses me to shut her up. And when she learns about my stupid promise, she offers me a way to save face: we’ll claim we’re engaged.

The thing is, this isn’t about some stupid vow anymore. It’s about finding the courage to stop being the backup goalie and finally go for what I really want.

If I can.

Kayla

My ex is the worst, so my dad bought me a baseball team.

Classic billionaire-dad move.

Now I’m living in a small Southern town that hates me, trying to convince everyone I’m an absolute delight, not some generic “Boss Babe.”

They’re not buying it.

Except for Sean O’Shannan, the hot hometown hockey hero and bar owner who gave me the courage to break up with my fiancé months ago. He’s the kind of guy who remembers my smoothie order, saves a seat for me at the church potluck…and proposes when he discovers I don’t meet the team’s “ownership residency requirement.”

Saying yes is easy.

The hard part?

Not falling for my husband.

THIS WAS SWEET.

Y’all know I am a big fan of marriage of convenience. If I see that as a potential part of the book I AM SO THERE. I thought this was a really sweet way to bring Sean and Kayla together. It was a simple situation between them. I do think it led to lacking in some sort of push/pull. They were super smitten from the get-go and while they absolutely led to some great moments I think I needed more of a slow burn in that department.

I adored all of the hockey and baseball content. As a big sports girlie having both MC’s connected to sports in some way was awesome. And I loved how Kayla supported (and lovingly pushed) Sean to pursue his dreams and reminded him of how much he mattered.

I could always do with less ex related drama but it’s alright. If you’re needing a soft closed door romance, Kate Watson is slowly becoming an easy go-to author.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: closed door between a married couple
  • Violence: low

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Check the Halls (The Ottawa Otters #2) by K.M. Gillis

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: K.M. Gillis
Publisher: Literary Lupin Publishing
Release Date: October 15th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She thought her future was set…until her past skated back into her life.

On paper, Madelyn Clairmont has it all: a dependable fiancé, a dream job in a new city, and a bright future planned. But when she comes face to face with the man who stole her heart a decade ago, she’s left wondering if the “perfect” life she’s planned is the one she’s meant to live.

Ben Michaels is known for being a player, both on and off the ice. But lately, the all-star NHL defenseman has been working hard to clean up his act. A chance encounter with Madelyn—the one who got away—only confirms what he’s always known: he never stopped loving her. Unfortunately for him, she’s engaged to someone else.

When Madelyn needs a host for her Christmas charity gala, Ben doesn’t hesitate to step in—as a friend. But their time together stirs up old feelings and unanswered questions. She’s afraid of repeating past mistakes. He’s determined to prove he’s not the same man who let her go.

Love doesn’t always go according to plan and this holiday season, their second chance might be a real game changer.

WHERE WERE THE HOLIDAY VIBES?

I had a good time with this book. My favorite is the first one [for now] but I still had no problem picking this up and reading it as fast as I could. I love this hockey team and I’ve missed hockey romance!

I loved that the flashbacks only took up a few paragraphs each time. I don’t like long winded flashback chapters and this delivered on the little glimpses of the past and how they fell in love. And how communicative Ben was??? Good heavens YES. I LOVED IT. The man is so down bad. Y’all know that’s my kryptonite.

I did miss the holiday/Christmas moments. There were a few mentions but it definitely didn’t stick out enough in the plot to necessarily call this a holiday romance.

I’m still dialed into this series and I can’t wait for the next book!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Hockey Holiday Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3-4ish open door
  • Violence: low

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph