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

October 5, 2025September 20, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

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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ARC Book Review: Secret or Shutout (D.C. Eagles Hockey #4) by Leah Brunner

March 23, 2025February 26, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Hockey Romance
Length: 321 pages
Author: Leah Brunner
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 27th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A 6’5 NHL goalie walks into a bar and meets the love of his life…no, this isn’t the start of a bad joke.

I had a chance encounter in a dimly lit bar that led to an earth-shattering kiss with a beautiful stranger.

But then the next morning my world is rocked again–when I walk inside my team captain’s house and see her.

Farrah Remington isn’t a mysterious stranger after all, she’s the little sister of my captain and best friend. A woman firmly off limits to anyone on the D.C. Eagles.

Now, I have to pretend that kiss never happened. But the more I see Farrah, the hotter our chemistry burns, and the stronger our connection grows–until we can’t resist each other any longer.

Sneaking around isn’t ideal, but what my team captain doesn’t know won’t hurt him (or piss him off in the middle of the Stanley Cup playoffs).

I’m with my dream girl and my team is sailing through playoffs…until the truth comes out.

Now my team captain hates me, I can’t keep pucks out of my net to save my life, and the woman I love won’t speak to me.

Can I save my relationship, my friendship, and enough goals to help the D.C. Eagles finally win the Cup…or will I get shut out of Farrah’s life forever?

Secret or Shutout is a dual POV, fade-to-black romance that can be read as a stand alone. This work of fiction contains mild language, depictions of PCOS, infertility, and divorce. If you are sensitive to these subjects, please use this content warning to make an informed decision about reading this book.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

MY HEART CAN’T HANDLE.

Oh my gosh this was everything I wanted and MORE. I could not put it down and why would I? IT WAS PERFECT. But I’m also a mess because this series is over and how I adored it with every fiber of my being. D.C. Eagles are one of my favorite sports teams ever now.

Bruce and Farrah have immaculate chemistry. Burning up my kindle and begging for them to kiss already. I loved how their opposite natures played off of each other and the softness that Bruce showcased with Farrah. Gosh this book was swoony y’all. And the medical content (check content warnings below) was handled in a respectful, real, and tender way. It breaks your heart and gives you hope, because differing emotions can exist at the same time.

Don’t even get me started on seeing all of my loves from previous books. It’s all fantastic. I’m obsessed with this team. I love the banter and the way they take care of each other. Can I please have a girl group like this too??? There’s a sense of healing reading this book.

I’m an emotional puddle and can’t beg you enough to pick up this series. THANK YOU.

Also excuse me, that jersey moment? IYKYK.

Overall audience notes:

Hockey Romance
Language: low
Romance: closed door
Violence: low
Content warnings: PCOS (ruptured ovarian cysts and surgery involved), infertility, divorce (recounted)

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ARC Book Review: Betrothal or Breakaway (D.C. Eagles Hockey #3) by Leah Brunner

April 4, 2024March 29, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Hockey Romance
Length: 310 pages
Author: Leah Brunner
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 4th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

My best friend—and unrequited love—has a hole in her heart. Literally and figuratively.

First, Amber’s fiancé left her when she told him she was pregnant, and then her daughter’s birth left her with complications from a heart defect she didn’t realize she had.

I’m devastated.

Of course I offer to pay for her surgery, but Amber (stubborn woman that she is) insists on wanting to pay me back, which I don’t understand. As captain of an NHL team, I have plenty of spare cash, and I’m more than happy to help. I want to help.

So I come up with a plan.

I’ll marry Amber, my health insurance will cover her surgery, I’ll help with the baby, and the gold band on my finger will get my parents—who seem to think I’m incapable of love—off my back.

It’s a win-win for both of us.

Two years of platonically wedded bliss before we amicably go our separate ways, and remain best friends, as always.

Only, how am I supposed to let Amber go when I’m not only in love with her, but also with her baby girl… who now feels like my own.

And I might have to let her go sooner than I ever wanted to.

Betrothal or Breakaway is a dual POV, fade-to-black romance with mild langauge. This book is light-hearted, but contains themes of minor heart surgery, broken engagement, and difficult parental relationships.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

THIS WAS EVERYTHING.

I don’t even know how to write this in a way to convince y’all that this is one of my new favorite sports romance, BUT JUST TRUST ME. If you get nothing else from this review, know that this is my new favorite Leah Brunner book.

I ADORED Ford. I can’t wrap it up into once concise sentence. I just loved him. His personality and how he handled situations, the way he communicated and the fiery blushes he could not control. The absolute way he was GONE for Amber and Nella. The heated looks and longing glances, the caretaking and family relationships. He’s everything I could have dreamed up and more.

I also loved Amber. Dual POV romances always hit better. Amber was filled with strength and hope that each day was going to be a step in the direction and life she’s longed for. I loved how she realized her connection with Ford was deeper than she expected and how everything was handled between them. The fade to black scenes only enhance the story and showed how tender and passionate these two are. It had the soulmate level chemistry.

And I appreciated how many of the side situations were handled too. A lot could have been blown out of proportion and instead things were nicely wrapped up in a satisfying way. There’s so many moments I could pick out that I loved and I already can’t wait to reread this.

……the way I need the next book after surmising who it’s about…….

Overall audience notes:

Hockey Romance
Language: low
Romance: fade to black
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: minor heart surgery, broken engagement, difficult parent relationships

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ARC Book Review: Flirtation or Faceoff (D.C. Eagles Hockey #2) by Leah Bruner

September 1, 2023August 27, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 265 pages
Author: Leah Brunner
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: September 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

After getting my heart broken, I’ve sworn off athletes forever.

Then my best friend has to go and marry an NHL player, and his teammate, Colby Knight, won’t leave me alone.

Colby is a master at scoring (on and off the ice), and he’s not used to being told no. So he takes my disinterest as an invitation to pursue me even harder. I ignore him… until I realize I can use his expertise to help me get my crush’s attention.

But now that he’s my dating coach, and we’re spending so much time together, I’m growing more and more distracted. I mean, those dimples? Very enticing.

Just when I think he might be more than just a playboy hockey player, a blast from the past comes back and reminds me why I swore off athletes in the first place.

Can I trust Colby, or is he just another jerk who will break my heart?

(This is a dual POV, fade-to-black romance, and can be read as a standalone. This book contains mild language. Trigger warnings: cheating exes.)

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

CLOSED DOOR HOCKEY QUEEN.

I don’t care that we’re only three books into this series (including the prequel!), Leah Brunner is creating the best closed door hockey romance series around.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. Colby was absolutely GONE for Noel from the get-go and he was so dang sweet. Good heavens. I loved how much he cared. For Noel, his friends, family and those around him. I loved his passion and commitment. I just loved HIM.

And Noel. I loved her too. I loved how incredibly intelligent and nerdy she was. I loved her character arc too and how she learned to trust and move forward with the things she wanted in life.

The chemistry between Colby and Noel was off the charts. I loved how soft it was, but also sexy. It’s a fiery combination that sets the book A FLAME. I loved the dating lessons, and protective moments. All of the family get together and the seeing my favorite D.C. Eagles again.

This book had it all. I already want to read it again.

Overall audience notes: