Book Review: Ice Shy (Ottawa Otters Legends #1) by K.M. Gillis

October 11, 2026July 20, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: K.M. Gillis
Publisher: Literary Lupin Publishing
Release Date: April 29th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Once burned…

Arthur “Ace” Stetson is a living legend. Once destined for a record-breaking NHL career, a devastating injury put him behind the bench instead. Now the league’s youngest head coach, his only goal is to lead the Ottawa Otters to their first Stanley Cup. It’s going to take discipline, focus, and zero distractions—like the beautiful, chaotic new team physiotherapist.

Elliot Baker runs on caffeine and blind optimism. The single mom has three jobs, a mountain of debt, and absolutely no idea what day of the week it is. Her new job offers the stability she and her son, Sam, desperately need…if she can survive working with the gorgeous tyrant, Coach Stetson.

He needs a physiotherapist who will put up with him. She needs to keep her job.

He thrives on structure. She goes with the flow.

He demands results. She knows broken things need time to heal.

The more time they spend together, the more their attraction becomes impossible to ignore. And for two people who’ve been hurt before, falling for each other might be the riskiest play in the book.

OH I LOVED THIS.

I am a previous enjoyer of the two earlier Ottawa Otter books (they are holiday themed, highly recommend). And I didn’t even know Ice Shy was coming and I’m so glad I saw a friend’s review because I would have missed out on another amazing hockey romance!! My new favorite from K.M. Gillis.

My favorite part was the MMC, Arthur. He’s grumpy for everyone but her and so down bad I can’t even. I loved that you can see his gruff outward demeanor but with his inner dialogue, just how much he cares and wanted to communicate that as well. He found genuine ways to look after Elliot and Sam and it was incredibly endearing and smile inducing every time.

I really liked Elliot as the FMC too. Besides a few too many why would you want to date me remarks, I loved her single parent strength and her ability to handle business. Especially when that involved asking for help.

And I loved seeing the other Otters. I loved Sam. I love so many moments!! I seriously gobbled this up.

I will say that the last chapter through me for a loop because it was an abrupt jump to the epilogue. But that was a minor foible.

Overall audience notes:

Hockey romance
Language: moderate
Romance: 3ish open door; light innuendo
Violence: mild
Content warnings: abusive parent (recounted, emotional abuse on page), abusive ex (recounted and on page), loss of a loved one (recounted)

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ARC/ALC Book Review: Guard My Heart by Sabrina Fedel

October 6, 2026September 27, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Sports Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Sabrina Fedel
Publisher: Delacorte Romance
Release Date: October 13th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A girl who dreams of being a D1 ice hockey goalie meets a hot hockey player who offers a deal to boost her skills in this young adult hockey romance!

Hit me with your best shot . . .

RYLEIGH VENTO has one goal—literally. She dreams of becoming an all-star goalie on a Division 1 women’s ice hockey team. Senior year is her last shot, and she can’t afford distractions. Not injuries. Not family drama. And definitely not a relationship.

Enter Jett Robitaille, the school’s new hockey god. He wants Ryleigh to be his fake girlfriend to make another girl—Ryleigh’s nemesis—jealous. Ryleigh’s answer? To block his goal. Until Jett ups the stakes: He’ll train her, push her, and use his own skills to help her become the best goalie in the league. As the season heats up, Ryleigh has to decide if letting Jett in will make her stronger—or throw her completely off her game. Because sometimes the hardest save isn’t on the ice . . . it’s guarding your heart.

Thank you to Get Underlined and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.

CUTE YA.

This is one of those books that didn’t quite HIT for me but I can absolutely see the merits for the true young adult audience. The characters felt realistic to their age and regards to thought processes and actions, while also not having excess language or anything more than kisses. It’s a sweet young adult hockey romance with some fake dating.

I did love that the FMC is a player too!! And a goalie. Loved this so much. Having both of the leads be athletes was a good dynamic for the story. I liked the banter and that you could see the friendship turn into more. I liked the themes of never knowing what someone is going through and how being kind is key. Both of the MC’s are carrying things that are hard for an adult, even more so for a teen. There’s a pretty classic third act break up that goes back to my first paragraph about this fitting better for a younger audience and that’s okay haha.

🎧: I liked the narrator for the audiobook. Sometimes Jett’s voice wasn’t great and he sounded younger than 17, but otherwise it was fine! I did about 3/4 as audio and it’s a solid format choice for reading Guard My Heart.

Overall audience notes:

YA Sports Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Content warnings: loss of a parent from cancer (recounted), a parent who is in remission from cancer

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Book Review: Unbound (The Undone #3) by Peyton Corinne

September 19, 2026June 28, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 496 pages
Author: Peyton Corinne
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: June 9th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A new “angsty, sexy, emotional” (Farrah Rochon, New York Times bestselling author) lyrical romance by Peyton Corinne that follows a college couple through first love, heartbreak, and the struggle to come together again.

Paloma Blake is, at best, antagonistic. But beneath the hairspray, attitude, and promiscuity is a scared girl whose trauma runs deep. Still, the walls she’s built are strong, ensuring everyone only sees Paloma’s sexy façade. Everyone except for Bennett.

Bennett Reiner, the carefully controlled, neurodivergent goalie, has his routines and sticks to them, which helps him keep a hold on his OCD compulsions and the crippling anxiety that comes with them. The quiet and meticulous Bennett sees everything, especially the girl beneath Paloma’s ever-present masks. And he always has.

Unbeknownst to their friends, Bennett and Paloma were each other’s first real love, which ended in crippling heartbreak. Bennett still doesn’t know what happened, and Paloma is determined to stay away from the comfort she used to find only in his arms. For years, Bennett has remained her protective shadow, coming to Paloma’s rescue whenever she asked, keeping her as close and safe as she’ll let him. But, like a tumultuous sea to a constant shore, Bennett and Paloma find each other once more.

Alternating between scenes from their past and present, Unbound contrasts the tentative tension and passionate beginnings of first love with the devastating loneliness and deep yearning of having that love ripped away from you without truly knowing why. As Bennett discovers the truth about Paloma’s past, the threads to his careful control start to come unbound, and both begin to realize that letting go of everything else might be worth it, if it means they both get the real love they once shared again.

WELL I’M STILL HERE.

I kind of can’t believe I’m still reading this series?? Maybe because I really love a redemption arc so I am super excited for the audiobook of book four to come out. Maybe because I miss hockey season and it’s unbearably hot right now?? IDK. But alas, book three has been completed.

I do genuinely like the core of these stories and the characters. This one was no different. I liked Bennett the most. He was endearing and loving and had some very relatable moments to someone who also has OCD and anxiety. Paloma on the other hand, kind of bugged me? I don’t love the “you don’t deserve me so I’m going to break up with you” kind of thing. Let Bennett make that decision. The flashback chapters were honestly fine though and I did like what they added to the story.

Now once again, the spice becomes so out of pocket it becomes annoying to flip past it on the audiobook. It constantly rivals spice > plot. Still love the all things hockey. Love the friendships.

Overall audience notes:

NA Sports romance
Language: strong
Romance: gahlee I gave up counting
Violence: moderate+
Content warnings: panic attacks, adult/minor relationship, grooming, sexual assault, child abuse, parental abandonment, drug/alcohol use

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ARC Book Review: Here We Go Again (Georgia Jaguars Hockey #2) by Jenny Proctor

August 27, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: August 25th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He knows what it takes to make a comeback. She isn’t sure he deserves a second chance.

After a career-threatening injury, Georgia Jaguars defenseman Theo Williamson is fighting to prove he still has a future in hockey. The harder battle? Convincing Rebecca Bradley he deserves another chance at her heart.

After a career-threatening injury, Georgia Jaguars defenseman Theo Williamson is fighting to prove he still has a future in hockey. The harder battle? Convincing Becca Bradley he deserves another chance at her heart.

Eight years ago, when his father died, Theo shut Becca out instead of letting her help him through the hardest time of his life.

Becca rebuilt without him. She’s stronger now. More careful. And she definitely isn’t interested in letting him back into her life—no matter how sincere his apology sounds.

But when their meddling mothers trap them on a surprise vacation together, distance isn’t an option—and neither is ignoring the chemistry they never really lost.

Just when Becca starts to think Theo might be worth the risk, real life comes crashing in. Demanding schedules, hard days, and the uncertain shape of what a future together would even look like.

Soon, Theo realizes he isn’t just fighting to win Becca’s heart. He’s fighting to believe he deserves to keep it—before the same old doubts convince him to let her go.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

SWEET BABY THEO.

Oh I’m down bad myself for Theo Williamson. I was hooked from this book from the beginning. This is how you do second chance romance!!

I loved seeing Theo and Becca reconnect. It is tension filled and yet soft and sweet. They both had many conversations that needed to be had and I liked that there was arguing and push and pull and getting down to the grittiness of how crappy life can be sometimes. The way that they learned to lean on each other again and the fact that this gave me that soul mate level kind of love!!!

There were also some beautifully handled conversations around first loves, grief, and pain. As someone who personally deals with chronic pain I found a lot of what Theo was going through to be highly relatable. And I also just adored Becca too. She’s independent, a good friend, and works hard. I love when romantic characters stand as well on their own as they do together.

I could fawn over a dozen scenes in here. And getting to see other teammates and future set ups!! There’s not one weak moment in this entire book. I am head over heels smitten with these two.

Overall audience notes: