Heartfelt, steamy, and addictive.
Jean delivers a winning hockey romance fueled by sharp banter, bruised hearts, and electric chemistry. Brian Anderson, star center for the Los Angeles Quakes, is used to keeping the peace on and off the ice. Then a charity tournament brings him face-to-face with Alexis Barlowe, a fiercely talented amateur player and devoted single mother who has little patience for hockey celebrity—or romance. As Brian steadily breaks through her defenses, old betrayals threaten the trust they have begun to build.
The romance gains much of its heart from Brian, whose easy charm masks a deeper uncertainty about love and commitment. His growing attachment to Alexis and her daughter gives the romance welcome tenderness. Alexis proves an especially compelling and complicated creation. Years of fighting for equal treatment in hockey have made her quick to challenge condescension, while an earlier romantic betrayal has left her wary of dependence. Jean smartly allows those qualities to be both strengths and obstacles, making Alexis’s resistance feel rooted in experience rather than manufactured conflict. Her athletic ability is also taken seriously, making hockey integral to the story rather than mere backdrop.
The prose throughout is fast-paced, heavily profane, and knowingly irreverent. The approach suits the novel’s commercial-romance identity and produces genuinely funny interactions, particularly among teammates and family members. The large supporting cast and several topical side plots occasionally crowd the central romance. Still, Jean keeps the pages moving with lively dialogue, affectionate family dynamics, and an easy command of team camaraderie. Readers who enjoy a spicy hockey romance with a capable heroine, a genuinely decent hero, and strong found-family appeal will find this a satisfying series entry.
***
Pub date October 28, 2025
ISBN 979-8269288406
Print length 332 pages
Price $14.99 Paperback, $5.99 Kindle edition
