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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Thank you NetGalley, Kelly Jamieson, and Boldwood books for allowing me to read an advance copy of Crossing the Line. While I’m not a hockey fan, Jamieson makes it an easy read with just the right amount of sports scenes so the reader is not overwhelmed.
Ban, an extremely talented professional hockey player and introvert, has been tapped to contend for team captain because of his outstanding leadership skills in the locker room and on the ice. However, his introversion causes him to struggle with small talk with anyone who is not a close friend and public speaking, even with just a sportscaster and cameraman. How can he be the team spokesperson? Management suggests he attend Toastmasters which nearly causes Ben to withdraw his name.
Mabel, just out of an emotionally abusive relationship, quits her job and moves in with her twin brother Marek and Ben (hockey teammates and best friends) who is waiting for his new condo to be ready. She is quirky, outgoing, appears to a bit flaky at times, and definitely an extrovert! Marek suggests that Ben hire Mabel to help him with public speaking and awkward situations.
And here you have a wonderful set-up for Marek’s warning to his teammates to “keep your hands off my sister”! This is a fast moving story filled with humor, innuendos, and steamy scenes countered with very emotional, touching moments as both Ben and Mabel share their weaknesses, worst moments, greatest fears, and learn that trusting the right people is crucial to your mental health and a successful relationship.
Ban, an extremely talented professional hockey player and introvert, has been tapped to contend for team captain because of his outstanding leadership skills in the locker room and on the ice. However, his introversion causes him to struggle with small talk with anyone who is not a close friend and public speaking, even with just a sportscaster and cameraman. How can he be the team spokesperson? Management suggests he attend Toastmasters which nearly causes Ben to withdraw his name.
Mabel, just out of an emotionally abusive relationship, quits her job and moves in with her twin brother Marek and Ben (hockey teammates and best friends) who is waiting for his new condo to be ready. She is quirky, outgoing, appears to a bit flaky at times, and definitely an extrovert! Marek suggests that Ben hire Mabel to help him with public speaking and awkward situations.
And here you have a wonderful set-up for Marek’s warning to his teammates to “keep your hands off my sister”! This is a fast moving story filled with humor, innuendos, and steamy scenes countered with very emotional, touching moments as both Ben and Mabel share their weaknesses, worst moments, greatest fears, and learn that trusting the right people is crucial to your mental health and a successful relationship.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ice hockey player Ben close to being named team captain, but first he needs to come out of his shell and believe in himself so he can be the voice of the team to media and supporters. His best friend's sister Mabel - outgoing, bubbly and confident - agrees to help him manage his fear of public speaking.
It turns out that Mabel had a teenage crush on Ben, and all those feelings are coming back as they work together.
Ben and Mable are likeable, with believable vulnerabilities, but the story does lack depth and the plot is rather predictable - but hey, it's a hockey romance with brother's best friend and a great way to escape the outside world.
It turns out that Mabel had a teenage crush on Ben, and all those feelings are coming back as they work together.
Ben and Mable are likeable, with believable vulnerabilities, but the story does lack depth and the plot is rather predictable - but hey, it's a hockey romance with brother's best friend and a great way to escape the outside world.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Omg. There’s a scene where they sit in a pub next to some Aussie tourists and the way they talk is fucking hilarious. And also kinda spot on 🤨
I loved Ben. He was cute and introverted but also kinda raunchy. Like he doesn’t talk at all but put him in bed with a hot lady and you couldn’t get him to shut up.
CN for death of a baby, not one of the MCs, and shitty abusive ex boyfriends.
Thanks to #netgallery, the author and publisher for a copy of this book.
Genre: Romance MF
Format: Digital
POV: Dual
Tropes: brothers best friend/teammate, roommates, forced proximity, shitty ex boyfriends, introvert/extrovert, extrovert lessons, secret hookups, hockey, random Australian characters spotted, let’s get maggot.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ / 5
Age suggestion: 18+
Ben is a hockey player who struggles with public speaking or speaking in general. He’s staying with his best friend until his apartment is ready when he’s best friend’s sister, Mabel needs a place to stay. She’s the total opposite of him, an extrovert. Also used to a crush on him in high school so he’s a little bit scared of her. Which I kinda loved.
This book was so good and the spice was SPICY! Finished it one sitting. I really love getting to read about them falling in love “awkwardly.” I definitely recommend it and want to read more from this author. Would also LOVE to read books in the future about the other hockey players in their group.
This book was so good and the spice was SPICY! Finished it one sitting. I really love getting to read about them falling in love “awkwardly.” I definitely recommend it and want to read more from this author. Would also LOVE to read books in the future about the other hockey players in their group.
Ben is this hockey jock who's so good on the ice but an absolute mess off it, especially when it comes to public speaking (literally, he’d rather play naked).
Enter Mabel, his best friend's sister, who's basically sunshine in human form—outgoing, super social, and just the kind of person Ben needs to help him step up as team captain. But of course, they’ve got history, so it’s all kinds of complicated.
I loved how this isn’t your typical sports romance where the jock is all cocky. Nope, Ben’s the shy, awkward guy who needs Mabel’s help to “fake it 'til he makes it.” Meanwhile, Mabel’s got her own personal stuff to deal with, so their chemistry just makes things so much more real and steamy (hello, apartment-sharing situations!). The way they support each other, flaws and all, is just a chef's kiss.
I also loved how their relationship develops—watching them go from awkward tension to full-on OMG they’re perfect for each other moments is everything.
3.5⭐️
I received an advance review copy from netgalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Crossing the Line is a super engaging, angsty, opposites attract hockey romance featuring Mabel and Ben.
Who ends up living together as roommates. When Mabel leaves a toxic relationship and temporarily moves in with her brother Smitty.
Only to find out that he already has a roommate. None other than his teammate Ben. The boy who Mabel had a significant crush on during high school.
And Ben and Mabel soon come to rely on each other.
As Mabel may be both outgoing and quirky. But her ex-Julian has dented her confidence, and it doesn't help that Smitty and her parents think she made a mistake by dumping him. And Ben, well, he's an introvert and the only time he really lets loose is when he's on the ice. However, he wishes to alter that and feel more at ease in social settings. So he takes the opportunity to hire Mabel as his confidence coach.
And the more time the two spend together, the harder it becomes to resist the attraction between them, and soon they find themselves getting hot and heavy.
But Mabel is hesitant to engage in anything serious. As she feels that her judgment is not reliable when it comes to men. After all, they may start out nice with compliments, flowers, and kindness, but it never lasts and they soon reveal their true selves.
However, Ben's not like that and he'll prove it one terrible poem at a time.
And with the perfect amount of sweetness, spice, and angst Crossing the Line was really enjoyable to read. Not to mention well-written with plenty of character development and likable secondary characters, and I am eager to read more in the future.
I would happily recommend Crossing the Line to all.
Who ends up living together as roommates. When Mabel leaves a toxic relationship and temporarily moves in with her brother Smitty.
Only to find out that he already has a roommate. None other than his teammate Ben. The boy who Mabel had a significant crush on during high school.
And Ben and Mabel soon come to rely on each other.
As Mabel may be both outgoing and quirky. But her ex-Julian has dented her confidence, and it doesn't help that Smitty and her parents think she made a mistake by dumping him. And Ben, well, he's an introvert and the only time he really lets loose is when he's on the ice. However, he wishes to alter that and feel more at ease in social settings. So he takes the opportunity to hire Mabel as his confidence coach.
And the more time the two spend together, the harder it becomes to resist the attraction between them, and soon they find themselves getting hot and heavy.
But Mabel is hesitant to engage in anything serious. As she feels that her judgment is not reliable when it comes to men. After all, they may start out nice with compliments, flowers, and kindness, but it never lasts and they soon reveal their true selves.
However, Ben's not like that and he'll prove it one terrible poem at a time.
And with the perfect amount of sweetness, spice, and angst Crossing the Line was really enjoyable to read. Not to mention well-written with plenty of character development and likable secondary characters, and I am eager to read more in the future.
I would happily recommend Crossing the Line to all.
If, like me, you're a sport's romance junkie Crossing the Line is perfect and highly readable.
Following the break up of a bad relationship, Mabel temporarily moves in with her professional hockey playing brother who has a team mate residing in his spare room, leaving the couch as Mabel's only option.
The story of Mable and Ben, as it progresses, is beautifully sweet and uplifting. It is so easy for the reader to recognise how well they fit together.
Building each other up and having each others' backs is a common theme throughout the story in both the relationship between the two main characters and, The Storm Ben's ice hockey team.
I'll certainly be back to Kelly Jamieson's stories, especially if more players from The Storm have their chance at an HEA.
Following the break up of a bad relationship, Mabel temporarily moves in with her professional hockey playing brother who has a team mate residing in his spare room, leaving the couch as Mabel's only option.
The story of Mable and Ben, as it progresses, is beautifully sweet and uplifting. It is so easy for the reader to recognise how well they fit together.
Building each other up and having each others' backs is a common theme throughout the story in both the relationship between the two main characters and, The Storm Ben's ice hockey team.
I'll certainly be back to Kelly Jamieson's stories, especially if more players from The Storm have their chance at an HEA.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Crossing the Line
By Kelly Jamieson
If you like forbidden romance (best friend/ sibling) with a little Enemies to lovers thrown in this would be a good fit for you.
Ben is so ready to step up as a leader on his team, he's a strong player, the only problem is he freezes up with put on the spot. He rather have 100 pucks shot at him than deal with questions from the media, and small talk, hard pass. To add fuel to his current situation he has zero privacy while he waits on his new apartment and his teammates sister just started couch surfing. But maybe that will turn into a silver lining.
Mabel didn't have leaving a job she loved and moving in with her brother on her to do list. Starting over is hard, but she made the choice to put herself first. And now she's faced with a new dilemma, living with her high school crush. Could her life get any more compilated? Yes, helping him deal with his social issues while trying to ignore the attraction that is definitely not in her head. Because crossing the line means there is no turning back.
By Kelly Jamieson
If you like forbidden romance (best friend/ sibling) with a little Enemies to lovers thrown in this would be a good fit for you.
Ben is so ready to step up as a leader on his team, he's a strong player, the only problem is he freezes up with put on the spot. He rather have 100 pucks shot at him than deal with questions from the media, and small talk, hard pass. To add fuel to his current situation he has zero privacy while he waits on his new apartment and his teammates sister just started couch surfing. But maybe that will turn into a silver lining.
Mabel didn't have leaving a job she loved and moving in with her brother on her to do list. Starting over is hard, but she made the choice to put herself first. And now she's faced with a new dilemma, living with her high school crush. Could her life get any more compilated? Yes, helping him deal with his social issues while trying to ignore the attraction that is definitely not in her head. Because crossing the line means there is no turning back.
This is a first read for me by this author abd I devoured this book. I very much enjoyed these charaters and this story line, off to binge more of this authors work