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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Giving this one a 3.75 because I felt like it dragged a bit in the middle. I knew it would be hard to beat the first in the series, but I just felt like this was missing something. Plus Tess irritated me sometimes with the lack of communication with Ryan.
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
relaxing
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Yes
medium-paced
This book! I was a fan of Pucking Around that I was so excited for this and my goodness it did not disappoint. The relationship between Tess and Ryan is so stinking perfect. Usually I am not one to fall for the golden retriever, cinnamon roll but Ryan…had another side that just hit the right spot. Emily had me giggling, blushing and even crying.
My favorite thing about Emily’s writing is how real her dialogue is. While reading, you get completely immersed and feel like you’re just hanging out with the characters, it puts you right there in it. You get a whole lot of all the characters we know and love from her first book along with meeting a couple newer side characters.
This plot line was so much more enticing than her first book, I didn’t feel like it was dragging whatsoever. And the spice…had me clutching my pearls! My word!! So good!
If Pucking Around really wasn’t your thing, I really encourage you to pick this guy up. I could not put it down. I cannot wait for the next book!!
My favorite thing about Emily’s writing is how real her dialogue is. While reading, you get completely immersed and feel like you’re just hanging out with the characters, it puts you right there in it. You get a whole lot of all the characters we know and love from her first book along with meeting a couple newer side characters.
This plot line was so much more enticing than her first book, I didn’t feel like it was dragging whatsoever. And the spice…had me clutching my pearls! My word!! So good!
If Pucking Around really wasn’t your thing, I really encourage you to pick this guy up. I could not put it down. I cannot wait for the next book!!
adventurous
emotional
tense
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
⭐ 4/5
🌶 4/5
🌶 4/5
As a former player and an avid hockey fan, I usually struggle to suspend disbelief when it comes to hockey romances. The details of the sport are often where books lose me. That said, this one did a pretty solid job! There were a couple of moments that stretched believability (the very last chapter especially), but nothing so glaring that it ruined the story. The scene where half the team suddenly flies to Cincinnati had me scratching my head—I assume that was supposed to be during the All-Star break? Either way, it didn’t pull me out of the book too much.
The age gap between Tess and Ryan honestly didn’t play as big a role as I expected. Tess’s career and past relationship set her up as the older, more grounded character, but beyond the opening chapters it doesn’t really come up again. Ryan, on the other hand, does feel believably young—his focus on signing bonuses, contracts, and the general “new to adult life” energy came through well. I only wish the storyline with his sister had been developed more. It was introduced in a way that made it seem like it would be central, but it really only popped up a few times.
What I really enjoyed was Tess’s journey—her search for a sense of home and her willingness to redefine herself. Yes, some of it was a little over the top and occasionally cringy, but that’s par for the course with a lot of romances, and it still felt endearing. I also loved the found family aspect threaded through her story.
The chemistry between Tess and Ryan was adorable. Their dynamic shifts were fun to watch, and I especially liked how Tess guided Ryan in exploring new aspects of his sexuality while also giving him space to figure himself out. The intimacy felt playful, genuine, and added real depth to their relationship.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read with a nice mix of hockey realism, romance, and character growth. Definitely one I’d recommend if you’re into hockey romances with a spicy edge.
This was mid imho. First of all, why would other people be so completely open about their sex life in front of other people??? I understand Tess is Rachel’s best friend but should Rachel’s husbands really be that explicitly open about their sex life in front of Tess? idk, just weird.
A trope I find to be boring in romance books is when the FMM says that they can’t be together in order to protect the love interest from something (in this case, her ex and his blackmailing tendencies) but the MMC has to convince her that their love is stronger than anything and nothing will stop him from loving her which eventually convinces her to give in to the relationship. Just a boring plot line.
I was loving Ryan being compared the Jax Teller though 👀
A trope I find to be boring in romance books is when the FMM says that they can’t be together in order to protect the love interest from something (in this case, her ex and his blackmailing tendencies) but the MMC has to convince her that their love is stronger than anything and nothing will stop him from loving her which eventually convinces her to give in to the relationship. Just a boring plot line.
I was loving Ryan being compared the Jax Teller though 👀