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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
OH MAN RORY MILLER!!
I think I have a new #1 book boyfriend. This guy has it all - funny, charming, charismatic, protective, obsessed, sweet, thoughtful, caring and sexy as hell. He is the total package and I'm in love.
Aside from my love for Rory, I REALLY enjoyed this one - significally more than Behind the Net. This book is exactly what you would want from a hockey romance. Hazel has a rule against dating hockey players after being heartbroken by her high school/college hockey boyfriend. The last things she's interested in Rory Miller, the perceived cocky, arrogant and stuck up captain of the professional hockey team she works for. When her ex gets traded to the team, she asks Rory if he'll agree to fake date her to make her ex jealous. Rory, who's secretly been pining for Hazel for years, happily agrees.
Normally I don't like the Fake Dating trope because the miscommunication element drives me nuts, but that is not the case here. I was never annoyed, but rather just excitedly waiting for them to accept they're meant to be.
Both Rory and Hazel have so much depth to their characters. I loved seeing them show up for each other, and help each other to transform into the better, braver and happier people they end up becoming at each other's side.
Hazel's career is focused on body positivity and making sure all bodies feel comfortable in movement, and I just loved the messages around this throughout the book. The story also touches on prioritizing a work/life balance, and finding joy in your passions again - both such great reminders to live life fully and fight for your own happiness, whether that is to feel good about yourself or what you're doing with your life.
Of course I also love the Vancouver Storm hockey family, and can't wait to dive into Hayden's book next. Stephanie Archer does a great job of keeping you hooked with the romance, while incorporating moments of the team dynamic we all love and want when we read sports romance books.
My other favorite thing - Rory's nickname for Hazel. That made me laugh and it was just perfect for them.
My only critism of this book is that I felt the resolution of Rory's conflict with his parents and Hazel's with her mom was a bit rushed. I would have liked to see that unfold a little bit more before it wrapped up, but as it was not the central plot to the story, I understand why Stephanie maybe didn't prioritize it.
And I cannot end this review without giving Connor Crais a shout out for his audiobook narration. I have said it once and I'll say it again - he has the hottest voice I've ever heard, and any character he narrates is instantly ratcheted up 10x in my book! Not only did his honey voice lend itself perfectly to Rory's charm and appeal, but he also handles the more emotional and tender moemnts so well too. You can't help but love him. Kitt Swan was also solid as Hazel. I thought she did a great job conveying Hazel's gaurded vulnerability in the beginning, to her coming out of her shell, braver and happier than ever. If you are an audiobook lover, do not skip this one!
Read this if you like:
- Hockey Romance (professional, not college)
- Fake Dating
- He falls first and hard
- Possessive/Protective MMC
- Fun and flirty banter
- Spice, spice spice
- Hockey family dynamics
I'm sad this one is over.
I think I have a new #1 book boyfriend. This guy has it all - funny, charming, charismatic, protective, obsessed, sweet, thoughtful, caring and sexy as hell. He is the total package and I'm in love.
Aside from my love for Rory, I REALLY enjoyed this one - significally more than Behind the Net. This book is exactly what you would want from a hockey romance. Hazel has a rule against dating hockey players after being heartbroken by her high school/college hockey boyfriend. The last things she's interested in Rory Miller, the perceived cocky, arrogant and stuck up captain of the professional hockey team she works for. When her ex gets traded to the team, she asks Rory if he'll agree to fake date her to make her ex jealous. Rory, who's secretly been pining for Hazel for years, happily agrees.
Normally I don't like the Fake Dating trope because the miscommunication element drives me nuts, but that is not the case here. I was never annoyed, but rather just excitedly waiting for them to accept they're meant to be.
Both Rory and Hazel have so much depth to their characters. I loved seeing them show up for each other, and help each other to transform into the better, braver and happier people they end up becoming at each other's side.
Hazel's career is focused on body positivity and making sure all bodies feel comfortable in movement, and I just loved the messages around this throughout the book. The story also touches on prioritizing a work/life balance, and finding joy in your passions again - both such great reminders to live life fully and fight for your own happiness, whether that is to feel good about yourself or what you're doing with your life.
Of course I also love the Vancouver Storm hockey family, and can't wait to dive into Hayden's book next. Stephanie Archer does a great job of keeping you hooked with the romance, while incorporating moments of the team dynamic we all love and want when we read sports romance books.
My other favorite thing - Rory's nickname for Hazel. That made me laugh and it was just perfect for them.
My only critism of this book is that I felt the resolution of Rory's conflict with his parents and Hazel's with her mom was a bit rushed. I would have liked to see that unfold a little bit more before it wrapped up, but as it was not the central plot to the story, I understand why Stephanie maybe didn't prioritize it.
And I cannot end this review without giving Connor Crais a shout out for his audiobook narration. I have said it once and I'll say it again - he has the hottest voice I've ever heard, and any character he narrates is instantly ratcheted up 10x in my book! Not only did his honey voice lend itself perfectly to Rory's charm and appeal, but he also handles the more emotional and tender moemnts so well too. You can't help but love him. Kitt Swan was also solid as Hazel. I thought she did a great job conveying Hazel's gaurded vulnerability in the beginning, to her coming out of her shell, braver and happier than ever. If you are an audiobook lover, do not skip this one!
Read this if you like:
- Hockey Romance (professional, not college)
- Fake Dating
- He falls first and hard
- Possessive/Protective MMC
- Fun and flirty banter
- Spice, spice spice
- Hockey family dynamics
I'm sad this one is over.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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:
Yes
4.5 stars //such a fun book, i loved their dynamic so much plus he fell first trope never disappoints
lighthearted
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
Echt fake dating was het niet, dat werd eerst als een excuus gebruikt maar in andere boeken was het een duidelijkere trope, hier kwam het maar twee keer voor ofzo dat ze het moesten zeggen/doen alsof
Lichte vage spoiler
Het einde ging opeens heel snel, vond dat een beetje raar en onnatuurlijk, maar goed. Zeker nadat Rory meermaals had gezegd dat hij al het geduld had
Lichte vage spoiler
This book got me! The enemies to lovers vibe, hockey super star, playful banter back and forth… this book had me crying laughing! Duel POV and steamy
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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:
Yes
I loved Hazel's sharpness and sass from book one, and I was curious about Rory, but I found myself diving into his arm in this book. RORY! I loved him in this book and getting to know him more. This book was my favorite out of all of them. I read the whole series and then returned to write this review.
hopeful
lighthearted
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