Tag: leah brunner

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

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 324 pages
Author: Katie Bailey & Leah Brunner
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: August 27th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He wants to prove he’s more than a pretty face with a trust fund…

NHL rookie Archibald Fisher is wealthy, handsome, and appears to live a charmed life without a care in the world.

But behind closed doors, Fisher’s pretentious family treats him like a liability. A problem to fix rather than a person. And when his granddad passes away, he’s given an ultimatum: Get married, or say goodbye to every penny of his inheritance.

His family thinks it’s a foolproof plan to control their rebellious youngest son…but they clearly don’t know him very well.

…She’s fighting to save everything she loves

Lila Chen practically grew up in San Francisco’s historic firehouse turned art collective. Her fellow artists are like family to her, especially since her mom passed away.

So when she discovers the firehouse is going to be destroyed by Fisher Group, Lila is desperate to save the only home she has left. But after multiple dead-end attempts, she’s running out of hope.

Until Archibald Fisher shows up with a proposal she can’t refuse…

Their marriage was meant to be on paper only, until real feelings creep in. But new love is fragile, and between Lila’s secrets and threats from the Fisher family, there might be no way to stop it from shattering…

(This is a new adult hockey romance with moderate language, frequent innuendo, and references to sex. Though the romance fades to black, there are themes of grief and emotional/verbal abuse. If you are sensitive to these subjects, please use this content warning to make an informed decision before reading this book.)

Thank you Leah Brunner for the eARC.

Y’ALL KNOW I LOVED THIS.

Marriage of convenience is my kryptonite and I am down bad. JUST LIKE FISHER. I was obsessed with this book from the get go and it did not let up on the swoon and banter and chemistry and all the things.

I loved the way Fisher and Lila met. I loved every single interaction. I loved them on their own. I just ate up all of the moments together. What really makes for my favorite romances are when I feel like every scene serves the romance. AND SERVE IT DID. And Fisher and Lila stood strongly on their own which only made me love their arcs too.

And of course I loved seeing the previous couples too. This mish-mashed found family and how well they take care of each other in endearing and HILARIOUS and New Girl coded in all the best ways.

There’s plenty of hockey content, a lot of good conversations about privilege and grief, beautiful paintings that I wish I could see in real life and more. It is so hard to pick a favorite from this series because I love them all but this might have squeaked out on top.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Sports romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: loss of a parent (recounted but brought up throughout), toxic family relationships, emotional abuse

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

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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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