Tag: katie bailey

ARC Book Review: Rival Season (Hockey Boys of Loft 3B #2) by Leah Brunner and Katie Bailey

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: NA Sports Romance
Length: 309 pages
Author: Leah Brunner and Katie Bailey
Publisher: Eleventh Avenue
Release Date: May 14th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He’s trying to outrun his past…

Penn Matthews is living beyond his wildest dreams. He’s made it to the NHL, shares a swanky loft with his teammates, and best of all, he’s able to support his little sister. Life is good, and his rocky past is finally behind him.

Until Hazel Palmer shows up at his door.

His downstairs neighbor is as feisty as she is gorgeous, and the type of woman he’d be very interested in–if he hadn’t sworn off falling in love years ago. But when Penn finds out Hazel just got her heart broken by his longtime rival, he steps in to help.

…She wants revenge on her cheating ex

Hazel should be writing her dissertation, but it’s difficult to focus while dealing with betrayal, a breakup, and the constant distractions from her rowdy upstairs neighbor.

At first, she’s convinced the tattooed hockey player in 3B is just another idiot playboy, but when Penn comes to her defense one night, the feuding neighbors realize they share a common enemy–and decide to get payback.

The plan is simple: fake date to make her ex jealous, and get the jerk out of both their lives for good.

But when fake kisses turn into real connection and Penn’s past threatens to catch up to him, what started out as sweet revenge soon escalates to risking everything…

Thank you to the authors for a gifted eARC.

THAT’S HOT.

Am I still thinking about what was possibly the hottest kiss I’ve ever read? YOUBETCHA. That should convince you to pick up this book without even reading the rest of the review. BUT FINE, I’ll give you more.

I am obsessed with Penn and Hazel. They had the perfect blend of chemistry and undeniable attraction and for someone who hasn’t been loving fake dating lately I could NOT GET ENOUGHHHH of these two pretending they weren’t already madly in love. My favorite romance books are ones where each scene feels like it serves the plot of the romance and RIVAL SEASON DOES JUST THAT. I loved how every moment, big and small, created this beautiful relationship. Penn is a walking green flag. Hazel is my favorite kind of feisty and genuinely kind FMC.

Not to even mention all of the hockey content, and seeing Noah and Ally??? AND FISHER???? Let me tell y’all. I love this crew so much!! It really does provide the New Girl vibes that I love. I don’t often stay up late for books anymore and this one had me reading past my bed time and I REGRET NOTHING.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Sports Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: hot kisses
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: cheating (not b/t the mains obvs), strained parent relationships

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Book Review: The Quit List by Katie Bailey

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 346 pages
Author: Katie Bailey
Publisher: Eleventh Avenue Publishing
Release Date: April 5th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He quit believing in love a long time ago. She won’t quit until she finds The One… and he’s everything she’s NOT looking for.

Holly Greene is on a mission to find her happily ever after. And her journey to love does not include a detour to Bad Boy Bartenderville, population Jax Grainger.

Jax may be witty, smart-mouthed, and handsome, but he’s the kind of guy who views love as a four-letter word… and the last thing Holly needs is to waste any more time.

She’s in her seeking Prince Charming era, not her playboy villain era.

But after he saves her from the world’s worst date, Holly sees an opportunity: Jax may not check any of the boxes on her list, but he’s the perfect person to help her find a man who does.

All she has to do is stick to the plan—and stay out of the sexy bartender’s arms.

Easy peasy lemon sque… Oops.

AM I A FAN NOW?

This just goes to show you that just because you didn’t like one of the author’s first books doesn’t mean that you won’t love future books. Because I can easily say I want to continue ready KB books and I’m happy with that.

The Quit List was clever and fun and filled with such great banter. I loved the dynamic between Jax and Holly. It was a really sweet slow burn and even with the plot pieces didn’t overwhelm the relationship that was building. All of the outdoor content was great and I was charmed by it all.

It’s also a great audiobook if you’re interest in that avenue!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: heated kisses
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: Season’s Schemings by Katie Bailey

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Holiday Sports Romance
Length: 262 pages
Author: Katie Bailey
Publisher: Eleventh Avenue Publishing
Release Date: December 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

‘Tis the season to get even…

When Maddie Grainger’s longtime boyfriend dumps her on TV for the entire world to see, she thinks she’s hit rock bottom.

Until her parents announce that they’re spending the holidays with her ex’s family… And he’ll be bringing the woman he left her for.

All Maddie wants for Christmas is to stick it to her cheating ex. But how?

Enter Sebastian Slater, the NHL’s most infamous player.

On a drunken night out in Vegas, Maddie asks the superstar athlete to pose as her new boyfriend. She’s kidding, mostly. But Seb shocks her by making a counter offer: he doesn’t want to date Maddie for the holidays… he wants to marry her.

Show up at her ex’s cabin alone, or with a surprise new hockey-playing husband? Maddie opts for the ultimate level up.

Because maybe, just maybe, revenge is a dish best served betrothed.

Sparks fly and Christmas cheer is abundant in this festive marriage of convenience rom com. Season’s Schemings is a closed door/fade to black romance that includes mild language, innuendo, and tons of sizzle without the spice.

PLEASANTLY SURPRISED.

I didn’t know what I was going to get out of this one. It was coming on the heels of TWO two star holiday romances and I needed a win. And oh how grateful I am that it was a win. It was a little bit too chaotic for me in the beginning but found its footing and I was charmed way by Seb.

I love marriage of convenience. If I see it, I’ve got to have it and this was clever and fun. I liked the set-up and all of the following holiday shenanigans. It’s cheerful and on the lighter side and I though the audiobook was great too. AND it’s also a hockey romance which is another tally in the win column.

One of my favorite FAVORITE aspects was that this was steamy without the spice. I loved that this had actual closed door material and brought the heat without the explicit scenes. This is my true favorite place to be and I want to to read more from Katie Bailey purely for this reason alone.

Overall audience notes:

  • Holiday Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: cheating (not between the main characters)

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Book Review: Rookie Season (The Boys of Loft 3B #1) by Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner

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Rating: ★★★★.75
Audience: NA Sports Romance
Length: 330 pages
Author: Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 21st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He’s starting his rookie season in the NHL…

Noah Downsby has always had one goal: play professional hockey. Now that he’s finally made it, he’s determined to prove himself. And if he’s going to have the best rookie season in NHL history, he needs zero distractions.

But Noah didn’t plan for Allegra—Ally—Callahan moving in with him.

With her sassy smile, smart mouth, and bad habit of ‘borrowing’ his jerseys—nevermind her stupid cat who won’t stop sleeping in his bed—one thing’s for

Ally is officially a distraction.

…She’s moving across the country to start over.

The rumors say she’s a bad girl, but they’re all lies. Lies that have ruined her reputation.

So when Ally’s offered a fresh start in San Francisco, she packs up her life and brings her baggage out west—emotional and otherwise.

Living in a swanky loft with three NHL players is a world away from college dorms, but at least two of her new roommates treat her like one of the guys.

And then there’s Noah.The grump whose broody glances turn her blood hot. Who makes her feel both safe and sexy…when he’s not icing her out.

As things between Noah and Ally heat up, their walls come down. And suddenly, there’s a whole lot more than his rookie season on the line…

I’M HERE FOR IT.

I gotta say, I like this sexier writing style of LB & KB. It is that delicious level of heat without being open door and I can’t tell y’all how deeply I will BEG to have more authors in this category. It once again goes to show, you do not have to have spice to have a heated romance and I will die on this hill.

ANYWAYS.

I really did love the New Girl loft dynamics here. The boys were such gems and I adored the way they played off of each other and took care of each other. I love strong male friendship groups and that Allegra found her own close girlfriends too.

It did take me just a touch to get into (and I don’t know if that’s because I was getting used to the new setting or that the flow of writing was off for a few chapters). BUT, I thought things only got better and better and I binge read the second half of this book. I could not put it down and LOOOOVED it all. I loved the character growth for both Ally and Noah. I loved seeing old characters. I loved the protectiveness and all of the hockey content. Just so many good things stood out to me.

I’m very excited to read more books from this series.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Sports Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: heated make-outs with light touching
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: mentions of loss of parents (recounted), brief physical violence, recounting of sexual assault

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