Tag: sports romance

ARC Book Review: Romancing the Grump (Appies) by Jenny Proctor

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 358 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 23rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He’s a grump and happy to stay that way. But can her sunshine melt the ice around his heart?

Nathan Sanders didn’t earn his reputation as the grouchiest player on the Appies minor league hockey team by chance. So when Summer Callahan breezes into his life with her flirtatious smiles and endless charm, he responds like he always he completely ignores her.

But Summer is intrigued by the surly center, and she won’t be deterred quite so easily. She’s convinced that the ones with the hardest shells on the outside are often the softest underneath. And she’s determined to prove it.

Romancing the Grump is a closed door grumpy sunshine hockey romcom with heart and humor, sizzle but no spice. Perfect for fans of sports romance who want a little less heat. Books in the Appies Hockey Romance series connect to Just Don’t Fall & Absolutely Not in Love from the Sweater Weather series, but all books stand alone and can be read in any order.

Thank you to the author for an eARC and gifted copy.

THIS BOOK.

Gosh, Jenny Proctor, DOES NOT MISS. I have been anxiously waiting for another Appies books and this was incredible. An all consuming kind of romance with the push and pull angst that leaves you breathless. And the kissing scenes??? YES PLEASE.

I loved Nathan and Summer (yay for dual POV!). Their chemistry was so easy to see and you just felt that draw between them. I loved how Nathan’s struggles with relationships were handled and that he had space to work through his own trauma to find love with Summer. And I loved how brave and bold Summer was. She leaned into the fear of not knowing how the situation would unfold and I loved that for her. The dialogue and banter was, as always, swoony and fun. And I can’t get enough of the strong friendships and families throughout. I love the support the other Appies players provide and the comradery between everyone.

I could go on and on about how many scenes I adored (why yes, we get another JERSEY SCENE Y’ALL) and the sweetness of the relationship between Summer and Nathan. I loved everything about this.

Overall audience notes:

  • Sports Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: heated kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: workplace harassment, death of a parent (recounted, alcoholism)

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

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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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ALC Book Review: The Rule Book by Sarah Adams

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Sarah Adams
Publisher: Dell
Release Date: April 2nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

College sweethearts meet again years later, in this highly anticipated romance and companion story to the viral TikTok sensation The Cheat Sheet.

Nora Mackenzie’s entire career lies in the hands of famous NFL tight end Derek Pender who also happens to be her extremely hot college ex-boyfriend. Nora didn’t end things as gracefully as she could have back then, and now it’s come back to haunt her. Derek is her first client as an official full-time sports agent and he’s holding a grudge.

Derek has set his sights on a little friendly revenge. If Nora Mackenzie, the first girl to ever break his heart, wants to be his agent, oh he’ll let her be his agent. The plan is make Nora’s life absolutely miserable. But if Derek knows anything about the woman he once loved—she won’t quit easily.

Instead of giving in, Nora starts a scheme of her own. But then a wild night in Vegas leads to Nora and Derek in bed the next morning married. With their rule book out the window, could this new relationship be the thing to save their careers?

Thank you to PRHAudio for the free audiobook.

HELD UP.

Honestly y’all. I was nervous about this one. But honestly, I loved it. It had all of the charm and swoon that I love and adore in Sarah Adams books. I laughed out loud multiple times at the well placed jokes and banter between Nora and Derek. The set-up worked really well and I loved seeing both of them pursue their separate passions while finding a way to reconnect.

My tiny quip is that I just didn’t understand the reason for breaking up in the first place. One small conversation could have changed the entire trajectory (which is an issue I often have in second chance romance books and it’s a me thing, BUT STILL).

I loved the forced proximity moments and hot dang Derek has a heated way with words. This is my favorite level of heat and steam and I looooved the combination. The audiobook narrators did an amazing job. I really appreciate with dual POV having two narrators.

And I am OBSESSED with how much we got to see Derek’s friend group (including Nathan!!). I know a lot of focus is usually around great female friendships (which is awesome), I just loved that this one had Derek and his friends as a prominent aspect. I loved how they encouraged and pushed Derek to move forward and make things work with Bree.

Absolutely another hit for Sarah Adams. Her books bring me such joy.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Sports Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: one open door; low explicit
  • Violence: low

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ARC Book Review: A Groom of One’s Own (Appies Series) by Emma St. Clair

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Sports Romance
Length: 345 pages
Author: Emma St. Clair
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 1st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He always dreamed of getting married–but for love, not to avoid deportation.

Eli Hopkins has it all–almost. A hockey career with the wildly popular Appies. Teammates who are like brothers. The only thing he’s missing is someone to share it all with. Oh–and correctly filed visa paperwork. Due to administrative error, Eli is about to lose everything. Unless he can find someone to marry him in the next thirty days. And he might have the perfect woman in mind. The only problem? He’d like to marry her for real, not simply for legal purposes. Now Eli faces the challenge of winning over a wife who thinks the marriage is in name only …

A Groom of One’s Own is a closed door marriage of convenience hockey romcom with heart and humor, sizzle but NO spice. Perfect for fans of sports romance who want a little less heat. This book connects to Just Don’t Fall & Absolutely Not in Love from the Sweater Weather series, but all books can be read as standalones.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

SO TENDER.

I love the way Emma St. Clair books make me feel. They are the right balance of heart and humor that make me smile and swoon. I love the kissing scenes and the characters and the way the plot works out with each story and this was no exception.

I adored Eli and Bailey. All the stars for getting dual POV. I loooved how Eli was the best kind of golden retriever MMC. Heart on his sleeve, big feelings and all the protectiveness. Good heavens I couldn’t get enough of him. And Bailey? Loved her too. I loved her shyness but willingness to be bold and open to her relationship and situation.

With just the right level of hockey content and omg a jersey moment, y’all know I LOVE JERSEY MOMENTS. And this whole group of hockey players/friends? AH I LOVE THEM ALL. The wedding scene was sweetest, softest moment and I’m still a melted puddle of those longing looks and heated kisses. And now I’m obsessing over many other scenes and y’all just need to read this one ASAP.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Sports Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents (past), grandmother with dementia (on page), mom with chronic illness (on page)

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