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

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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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Book Review: The Assassin’s Way by J.M. Kearl

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Rating: ★★★★.25
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 442 pages
Author: J.M. Kearl
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: June 18th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Never go out at night. Lock the doors. Ignore the screams.Those are the rules Aesira lives by to survive the monsters that stalk her village. But everything changes when it’s revealed she’s been born with the power to fight the vampires she’s spent her life fearing.

Aesira is thrust into the elite and secretive League of Assassins, where mercy is weakness and fear is forbidden. Now her survival depends on her ruthless trainer, Vander – the most dangerous assassin of them all. And the only thing more lethal than his blade is the desire he awakens in her.

Because the greatest threat in Nighthaven might not be the monsters lurking in the dark…

It might be him.

VERY GOOD.

I had a good time with this one. It felt like a different vampire romance than I’ve read and I loved seeing the story unfold. I should have caught on more but I also liked that I kept myself in the dark. It made the big moments all the more intense.

The world building was solid and I’m intrigued to see how that, alongside the magic system expands in book two. It’s not overtly complicated and it’s even better when there’s not copious info dumping.

I liked Aesira as a main character. She’s a pretty typical fantasy FMC with no skills and no romantic experience, but it’s fine. Aesira learns well and I liked her relationship with her family a lot.

Aesira’s chemistry with Vander was good. I can’t tell you how much I appreciated that this was a genuine slow burn. I know that Kearl tends to do open door romances so BLESSSSS that this is actually dragged out and you can feel the tension slowly ramping up and building. I have missed plots like this!!!

Also, the audiobook is duet narration so highly recommend that too. It is great. I also eye ball read this one so you honestly can’t go wrong with either option. Can’t wait for book two!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: heated kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: loss of loved ones, blood/gore depiction, physical and weapons altercation

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: September 2026

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THE BER MONTHS. And what a good reading month for September! Made it through a lot and now I’m drowning in ARCs for October.

  • Ungodly Rich by Katharine McGee
  • Fossil Feud by Maggie North
  • Hawk & Sparrow by Ayana Gray
  • Catching Feelings (Varsity #2) by Emily Charlotte
  • [ALC] Fall Into Me by Juliana Smith
  • [ARC] Trust Fall by Lynn Painter
  • Steelborn (The Steelborn Saga #1) by Taylor J. LaRue
  • The Enigma Challenge by S.C. Godfrey
  • A Flame Among the Seas (Beyond the Tides #2) by Emilia Jae
  • Sea of Charms (Spellshop #3) by Sarah Beth Durst
  • [Graphic Novel] Rebel by Marie Lue
  • Our Strange Duet by Erin A. Craig
  • Further to Fall by Catherine Cowles
  • [Reread] House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City #2) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [Non-fiction] Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes that Dot Our Planet by Geo Rutherford
  • Runaway Rule (The Fugitive Files #1) by Jenessa Fayeth
  • The Gods Will Sing Our Song by Autumn Krause
  • [ARC/ALC] Empire (Heir Duology #2) by Sabaa Tahir
  • The Theory of Uncertain Things by Madysson David
  • Die for Me by Shirlene Obuobi
  • [Reread] The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
  • I Wish He Would (Sweeter Than Fiction #4) by Amanda Schimmoeller
  • The Winged Game by Sophie Kim
  • Resisting the Fall (Falling for Autumn) by Jess Heileman
  • Chasing the Rush (Football and Feels #2) by Lauren Rowe
  • [Non-fiction] Spooky Rivers (Haunted Hydrology) by Geo Rutherford
  • Alchemy of Souls by Adriana Mather
  • Story of My Life (Story Lake #1) by Lucy Score
  • Kobra (Inked Sap #1) by Cris G. Wells
  • [ARC/ALC] Guard My Heart by Sabrina Fedel
  • [ARC] Once, Again, Always by Amanda Gayle
  • Tempest (The Lyrian Sea #1) by Victoria Aveyard
  • Forget Me Knot (Happy in Honey Hill #1) by B.R. Goodwin
  • Threshing Day (The Empyrean #3.5) by Rebecca Yarros
  • Falling for Keeps (Falling for Autumn) by Kasey Stockton
  • [ARC/ALC] Falling Like Snow (Bramble Falls #2) by Misty Wilson

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: August 2026

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Fall is in sight! We’re almost to the -ber months and it was a great month of reading. I love seeing the combination of all of these books. Check out my Instagram for reviews or they will be out on this platform in the future!

  • Out of Her League by Ava Rani
  • [Reread] A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3.5) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] Rebel Season (Hockey Boys of Loft 3B #3) by Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner
  • The Assassin’s Way by J.M. Kearl
  • Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie
  • The Lion and the Deathless Dark (Crowns of Nyaxia #5) by Carissa Broadbent
  • [Non-Fiction] The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
  • In the Wake of the Wicked (The Siren Mage #2) by Kalie Cassidy
  • [ARC] Well Versed (Well Met #5) by Jen DeLuca
  • [Reread] House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] The Bodyguard’s Fall (Falling for Autumn) by Cindy Steel
  • Adversary to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain #4) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
  • [ARC] House of Curses (Royal Houses #3) by K.A. Linde
  • Tropesick by Lauren Okie
  • The Gilded Blade (The Grandest Game #3) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
  • [ARC] The Wretched Divine (The Wretched Divine #1) by Adalyn Grace
  • [ALC] Autumn on My Mind (Falling for Autumn) by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
  • The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy (Dearly Beloathed #2) by Brigitte Knightley
  • The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren
  • City of Lost Kings (Lost Kings Duet #1) by Kristen R. Moore
  • Cursed Ever After by Andy C. Naranjo
  • [ARC] This Change Everything by Danielle McKechnie
  • [ARC/ALC] Daughter of the Dark (Daughters of Auquis #1) by R.J. Valldeperas
  • Star-Crossed Summer by Devon Daniels
  • [ARC] Miss Beresford and the Beast (Daughters of Somerset #1) by Mimi Matthews
  • [ARC] Here We Go Again (Georgia Jaguars Hockey #2) by Jenny Proctor
  • The Butcher’s Masquerade (Dungeon Crawler Carl #5) by Matt Dinniman
  • [Reread] A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses #5) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] Harbinger by Geneva Lee
  • [ALC] Love Felt Like This by Julie Olivia
  • To Drown a Witch by Lindsey Olsson
  • Ashwalker (The Emberfall Trilogy #1) by S.M. Gaither
  • Immortal Rose (Immortal Rose Duology #1) by Alexandra Bracken
  • [Novella] All the Time in the World by Cara Bastone

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