Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First, I have to say THANK YOU to @sunnybabepr and @danigalliaroauthor for sending me an advanced reader copy of this book! I INHALED this book in less than 2 days!
I was so excited to read a book with a FMC that has a chronic illness that is similar to what I struggle with,and this book did not disappoint! Mara respectfully and beautifully represented the POTS, EDS ,nd MCAS community. Galliaro took the time to share the book content (during the writing process) with warriors who battle the same illnesses, to make sure Mara properly represented what they experience in their daily lives and to also make sure it was written with the utmost respect. The fact that she took such care with this makes me love and respect her all the more.
What really blew my mind about this book was how the dynamic shifted between the characters. At first, Mara comes across as the damsel in distress, so to speak, and Jack seems like he will be our grumpy hero. However, ever so slowly, we get to know Jack a bit more and realize that deep down, he is more the wounded soul than Mara, and Mara is HIS strength. It is truly a beautiful thing to witness. Reading about a “tough and rugged” hockey player MMC that turns out to be vulnerable and delicate is not common in the Hockey Contemporary Romance fad, and I am here for it! Mara’s chronic illnesses make you think she will be high maintenance and a “constant issue” but man, does she prove us wrong! She is one tough cookie!
The spice in this book really surprised me! I knew there would be some spicy stuff in there (love me a little smut),but Jack’s bedroom persona was what surprised me! Not saying that in a bad way, it was just unexpected but COMPLETELY makes sense now that I understand Jack as a person (which didn’t come full circle for me until close to the end of the book).
I love how this story came together in this bbook it was unlike anything I’ve read so far and definitely a book I will be thinking about for a long time. SO GOOD! The writing style alone was so memorable,and I can not wait to read more by Dani Galliarmo.
Go ahead and save or pre-order UNTHINKABLE for its release date- Feb 7th!
I was so excited to read a book with a FMC that has a chronic illness that is similar to what I struggle with,and this book did not disappoint! Mara respectfully and beautifully represented the POTS, EDS ,nd MCAS community. Galliaro took the time to share the book content (during the writing process) with warriors who battle the same illnesses, to make sure Mara properly represented what they experience in their daily lives and to also make sure it was written with the utmost respect. The fact that she took such care with this makes me love and respect her all the more.
What really blew my mind about this book was how the dynamic shifted between the characters. At first, Mara comes across as the damsel in distress, so to speak, and Jack seems like he will be our grumpy hero. However, ever so slowly, we get to know Jack a bit more and realize that deep down, he is more the wounded soul than Mara, and Mara is HIS strength. It is truly a beautiful thing to witness. Reading about a “tough and rugged” hockey player MMC that turns out to be vulnerable and delicate is not common in the Hockey Contemporary Romance fad, and I am here for it! Mara’s chronic illnesses make you think she will be high maintenance and a “constant issue” but man, does she prove us wrong! She is one tough cookie!
The spice in this book really surprised me! I knew there would be some spicy stuff in there (love me a little smut),but Jack’s bedroom persona was what surprised me! Not saying that in a bad way, it was just unexpected but COMPLETELY makes sense now that I understand Jack as a person (which didn’t come full circle for me until close to the end of the book).
I love how this story came together in this bbook it was unlike anything I’ve read so far and definitely a book I will be thinking about for a long time. SO GOOD! The writing style alone was so memorable,and I can not wait to read more by Dani Galliarmo.
Go ahead and save or pre-order UNTHINKABLE for its release date- Feb 7th!
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh Jack!! I love me a man that would do anything for his family and Jack does just that. Unthinkable shows a different side of a hockey family. The difficulties of living with debilitating chronic illnesses is well portrayed in Mara's character. I do feel like how they ended up together was a bit too fast and not developed enough. But the spice... ufff!! That spice was spicing. I love me a bit of femdom and Mara was just that. Definitely a hot one! I also loved the blended family aspect and their dynamic. I do wish there was a bit more hockey but all in all it was a really good story.
This was such a fun, fast-paced sports romance-perfect if you need something to pull you out of a reading slump!
Jack is a divorced, grumpy, fiercely protective, tattooed hockey dad who's convinced he'll never love the way he once did. Mara is a kindhearted, struggling single mom whose son just so happens to be best friends with Jack's daughter. Their unexpected friendship slowly turns into something more, and I was so here for it.
Jack is also a professional hockey player, and the moment Mara goes to his first game? I was fully invested. I was grinning at my pages every time Jack couldn't stop smiling at her, talking about how he finally had someone in the stands cheering for him. My god, I love a good sports romance.
We have some pretty spectacular moments like belting out nickleback and creed on the way to a hockey game *chefs kiss* and a guys locker room scene that left me fo The playlist that accompanies this book is so nostalgic and fun!
Now, the marriage of convenience plot point? It kinda came out of left field. Everything was moving along smoothly, feeling pretty realistic... and then suddenly, we went from zero to one hundred. Was it a bad thing?Nope! It was wildly entertaining. But if I'm putting on my
"let's be critical" hat, yeah, it was a lot.
Read if you enjoy:
- Hockey romance
- Marriage of convenience
- Single dad x single mom
- Chronic illness and mobility aid rep
- Touch them and die
Unthinkable is an interconnected standalone and book #2 in the Ohio Rusties Hockey Series.
Why aren't there more books where super hot MMCs get sprayed with breast milk and aren't even phased by it?
Can I tell you how much I love love love reading about characters closer to my age! It's refreshing to read about relatable content - like everyday life as someone NOT in their early twenties, and being a parent.
This story takes us through the ups and downs of love after heartbreak, the struggles of single parenthood and the reality of a blended family.
Jack is a grumpy tattooed hockey daddy, who swore never to love (or be loved) again after being married to a mean girl.
Mara is freshly divorced and raising her kids alone after her ex ran off to find himself. She's got several chronic illnesses (that I hadn't really heard of so it was educational) that add an extra layer to everyday life let alone being a single mom. There's definitely a strong chronic illness and mobility aid rep in this book.
They bond over an incident their bff kids are involved in at school, and eventually Jack proposes a mutually beneficial marriage of convenience.
The spice is steamy
Why aren't there more books where super hot MMCs get sprayed with breast milk and aren't even phased by it?
Can I tell you how much I love love love reading about characters closer to my age! It's refreshing to read about relatable content - like everyday life as someone NOT in their early twenties, and being a parent.
This story takes us through the ups and downs of love after heartbreak, the struggles of single parenthood and the reality of a blended family.
Jack is a grumpy tattooed hockey daddy, who swore never to love (or be loved) again after being married to a mean girl.
Mara is freshly divorced and raising her kids alone after her ex ran off to find himself. She's got several chronic illnesses (that I hadn't really heard of so it was educational) that add an extra layer to everyday life let alone being a single mom. There's definitely a strong chronic illness and mobility aid rep in this book.
They bond over an incident their bff kids are involved in at school, and eventually Jack proposes a mutually beneficial marriage of convenience.
The spice is steamy
I cannot gush about this book enough!!! I grinned through almost the whole thing! I loved the banter between Jack and Mara! I loved the marriage of convenience trope. Loved the spice, and I loved their happily ever after. So, so great!!!
emotional
funny
medium-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
This was my first Dani Galliaro book but it sure won’t be my last (and yes I already bought all her books I didn’t already own after finishing this one).
This romance is all about single parents Jack and Mara, whose kids are best friends.
I love a hockey romance and we get that with Jack playing professional hockey in LA on the fictional LA Princes... and did I mention he’s tattooed!?! We get a lot of fun interactions with Jack’s hockey teammates too. Pretty sure a new favorite trope of mine is now “tattooed hockey daddy.”
Plus, we also get some top tier chronic illness representation in Mara. As someone living with chronic illness, I always appreciate seeing it done well in a book and it’s done so well here. (There is an author note that some of the chronic illness representation is based on the authors own experiences with the illnesses).
And can we talk about how amazing the female friendship is between Mara and her BFF Gabi. I love seeing women supporting each other in books and in real life!
All of the above doesn’t even touch how great the romance is. The author doesn’t shy away from exploring the spicy side and we get a female dom in Mara. I had no idea a scene could be so spicy without the love interests even kissing, but Dani knows how to bring that romantic tensions and spice!
Both Mara and Jack have been married and divorced before, they both have scars from their previous marriages, which brings a messy, realness to the characters and makes the plot so wild (in that omg this is so good what’s going to happen next way) and entertaining because these characters are not perfect, but they realize that and do work on themselves.
Some of the best tropes in this one:
💜single parents
💜marriage of convenience
💜grumpy exterior but marshmallow center MMC
💜hockey playing MMC
💜open door spice filled romance
Burned by love and left to pick up the pieces
Jack is a single hockey dad who also plays professionally. He has two children with his ex-wife who really did a number on him. Between this and the way he grew up Jack doesn't believe he is worthy of love from anyone but his kids.
Mara is a single mother of two kids. Having her daughter really put her body through a lot and exacerbated her medical conditions. Every day is filled with pain, a delicate balance to avoid flare ups, working while doing everything for her children. Their father pretty much ghosted them and doesn't even give child support.
Jack and Mara officially meet when their children get in trouble at school. They build a friendship where they secretly want each other but refuse to go there. However, when the world starts kicking them while they are down they come to an agreement.
This is a beautiful story that shows the strain of medical diagnosis, divorce, single parenting, and never feeling like you are enough.
I absolutely love Jack and he is such a teddy bear for the kids. I love seeing this "weak" woman being the dominant to such a strong man. He just wants to be her "good boy" and it's so hot. Having the freedom to be who you are and know that your partner accepts you is everything.
Jack is a single hockey dad who also plays professionally. He has two children with his ex-wife who really did a number on him. Between this and the way he grew up Jack doesn't believe he is worthy of love from anyone but his kids.
Mara is a single mother of two kids. Having her daughter really put her body through a lot and exacerbated her medical conditions. Every day is filled with pain, a delicate balance to avoid flare ups, working while doing everything for her children. Their father pretty much ghosted them and doesn't even give child support.
Jack and Mara officially meet when their children get in trouble at school. They build a friendship where they secretly want each other but refuse to go there. However, when the world starts kicking them while they are down they come to an agreement.
This is a beautiful story that shows the strain of medical diagnosis, divorce, single parenting, and never feeling like you are enough.
I absolutely love Jack and he is such a teddy bear for the kids. I love seeing this "weak" woman being the dominant to such a strong man. He just wants to be her "good boy" and it's so hot. Having the freedom to be who you are and know that your partner accepts you is everything.
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
While a different vibe from Unbreakable (if you haven't read it, DO THAT NOW), Dani Galliaro has knocked it out of the park again with Jack and Mara's story.
I feel absolutely feral about this book. The chronic illness and disability rep. The way that both characters are divorced, single parents with kids they adore. The fact that they know they are damaged from their previous relationships and despite that are filled with so much love and respect for each other (I'm looking at you, Jack). Just... absolute perfection and healing while looking in the face of some really ugly things.
Then you add in the fact that you have something we don't get to see often which is a man who is comfortable and secure in being who he is in public but who has a submissive streak in bed and who is getting to explore that in safe environment with Mara and OOF. I loved Brat!Jack. It made perfect sense for who he is and was everything I didn't know I needed in an MC.
I feel absolutely feral about this book. The chronic illness and disability rep. The way that both characters are divorced, single parents with kids they adore. The fact that they know they are damaged from their previous relationships and despite that are filled with so much love and respect for each other (I'm looking at you, Jack). Just... absolute perfection and healing while looking in the face of some really ugly things.
Then you add in the fact that you have something we don't get to see often which is a man who is comfortable and secure in being who he is in public but who has a submissive streak in bed and who is getting to explore that in safe environment with Mara and OOF. I loved Brat!Jack. It made perfect sense for who he is and was everything I didn't know I needed in an MC.
Please post by Feb 26th
Summary:
Jack is a cranky, tattooed hockey pro—and a single dad with a lot of baggage from his divorce. Mara is a recently single mom struggling to juggle her kids and her health. When their kids get suspended from kindergarten, Jack and Mara strike a friendship that leads to a mutually beneficial arrangement. But will the sparks they feel lead them to more?
Title: Unthinkable
Author: Dani Galliaro
@danigalliaroauthor
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 4.5/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ 🌶️🌶️4/5
Tropes:
Sports Romance
Chronic Illness Rep
Marriage of Convenience
Grumpy/Sunshine
Triggers:
Physical violence (not between MCs)
Serious medical event/hospitalization
Femdom and other consensual kinks
Manipulative exes
Whitney’s Thoughts:
This was a totally different take on a hockey romance! I loved watching Mara and Jack fall for each other and become comfortable with themselves and their needs. The last 10% or so of the book moved way quicker than I was ready for, but I couldn’t put this down and loved seeing such a strong FMC! Thank you @sunnybabepr for the e-ARC!