Love the Game Book 2: Offside Play by Becca Steele

Love the Game Book 2

From USA Today bestselling author Becca Steele comes a new standalone MM sports romance set in the Love the Game universe.

When my Premier League season comes to an abrupt end thanks to an injury and subsequent transfer to another team, I decide to surprise my brother by flying out to Canada to catch him in the NHL playoffs.

I never planned on sleeping with a man for the first time on my very first day in Calgary. A man who turns out to be my brother’s grumpy, antisocial teammate.

I never planned for it to happen again.

And again.

We’re professional athletes. His life is in Canada and mine is in the UK. 

I know there’s no future for us. So why can’t I make myself stay away from him?

Love the Game is an MM sports romance shared world, and features books from Willow Thomas, Becca Steele, Jodi Oliver, EM Denning, Becca Seymour, Becca Jackson, EM Lindsey, and Cora Rose.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/228390716-offside-play

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

When Jude arrives in Canada to surprise his brother, he decides that this is a chance to explore a part of him he hasn’t really had a chance to. But what he never expects is that his one night, very hot hook up with a stranger would be facing him the next day…as his brother’s teammate. Cody has kept his head down and his distance from everyone. He is used to being on his own and coming off as the silent, grumpy antisocial guy on his NHL team. So it’s just his luck that he hooks up with his teammate’s brother. But there is something about Jude that can’t make him stay away. And he tries. As Jude and Cody spend the next few weeks together secretly seeing one another, it gets harder and harder to let go of the other. But they are both professional athletes living in two different countries. They have no future. Right? I loved these two!! I love their sunshine and grumpy dynamic and how Jude is really the only one who sees Cody’s soft side. Cody really does keep to himself and when he isn’t at hockey, he is coaching hockey to teens in secret. He doesn’t want recognition, he just wants to help the kids out. Yet, he lets Jude see that part of him. Though long distance may not be ideal, I love that they aren’t ready to let go of one another just yet. And they’ll hold on as tight as they can until they have no choice. Really sweet story overall! With some great character and familiar faces if you read other Becca Steele books! I really enjoyed this one and am looking forward to more books in this series!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For Puck’s Sake Book 13: Total Assist by Crea Reitan

For Puck’s Sake Book 13

His submission is beautiful.

Shively

I’ve made my life a complete facade. It’s works for me. I’m successful and have a career I wouldn’t trade for anything. 

One night threatens all of my carefully constructed walls. 

A single night with one of my players unlocks and unleashes a secret need in me to submit and now I’m willing to put everything on the line to be his perfect submissive. Even at the cost of my career.

Dasan

The D/s lifestyle has always been tempting. In the back of my mind, I know I’ve wanted a sub of my own. But as a figure in the public eye, sometimes living the way you want becomes a challenge that can end with attention you simply don’t want. 

One evening challenges my decision to act upon this lifestyle desire when Coach Shively and I share a night together that teases the possibility of something we both deeply desire. As we push the boundaries of this secret relationship, one thing is perfectly clear - 

Shively Myers is my perfect, sweet submissive and I need to keep him at all costs.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236004208-total-assist

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Shiv knows that having a crush on one his players is a bad idea. But there is something about Dasan that speaks to him. And despite the flirting Dasan does with Shiv, he never imagines that Dasan would feel more for him. Until one night they find themselves breaking all the rules and discovering a part of themselves they didn’t realize existed. And while they know starting any sort of relationship outside of their hockey coach/player one is a bad idea, they realize that what they both have been looking for is one another. And giving that up? Well, that’s impossible. Not when feelings truly kick in and they explore a part of themselves that has been waiting for the right person to explore. Dasan and Shiv’s story really focuses on them discovering this dom and submissive relationship with one another. They are learning together. Figuring out what works for them and what doesn’t. What works as a couple and as individuals. They create their own world when it comes to this relationship and have another when they are player and coach. They never want to mix it because they know that there could be consequences if their relationship got out, but even still, it’s clear the longer the story goes on, the harder they are falling for one another. As usual, I love seeing familiar faces in this story as well as getting to know Dasan and Shiv! And of course, we meet new characters where I just want their stories as well. Overall, I really enjoyed Dasan and Shiv’s story and can’t wait for the next one in the series!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What Fury Brings by Tricia Levenseller

 #1 New York Times-bestselling author Tricia Levenseller makes her adult debut in What Fury Brings, a sexy, empowering romantasy featuring a warrior general who must kidnap and train a husband in order to take her rightful place as queen.

There's a shortage of men in the kingdom of Amarra. After a failed rebellion against the matriarchy, most noblemen in the country are dead. Now the women of Amarra must obtain their husbands (should they want one) by kidnapping them from other kingdoms.

Olerra, a warrior princess vying for the throne, is determined to prove her worth by kidnapping a husband. And not just any husband. To outmaneuver her treacherous cousin, she needs the best. Fortunately, the second-born prince of their greatest enemy is widely known for both his looks and his sweet, docile temperament. He's the perfect choice to secure her claim to the throne.

Sanos, heir to the Kingdom of Brutus, has nothing but contempt for the idea of a society run by women. Trained from birth to fight, lead, and follow in his father's overbearing footsteps, his path has always been set. Until he takes his younger brother's place in a drunken prank and finds himself kidnapped, carted off to the Amarran Palace, and informed that he is to become the husband of Queen Potential Olerra. Sanos needs to escape before anyone learns his real identity, but the more he gets to know his captor, the less sure he is of what he truly wants.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220908944-what-fury-brings

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My Review: 3.5/5 Stars

Olerra’s kingdom is a matriarchal one. Their goddess blessed the woman with the power to overthrow men and flip the tables on them and their cruel treatment of women. Many years later, Olerra is in competition to win the throne against her cousin but she is at every disadvantage. Including not being blessed with the goddess’s gift of strength. So she has proven herself in other ways throughout the years without anyone knowing her secret. But now, she must win the title of heir and her time is running out. If she wants to make changes to her country then she has to win. That plan includes using an old tradition. The one of kidnapping a husband. She sets her sites on the spare heir of the kingdom of Brutus. But without realizing it, she has stolen the actual heir.

Sanos hates his father and wishes the day he can escape from him. Yet he never imagined being kidnapped would do that. Or that pretending to be his brother for a moment, would lead to such a mess. Now he must survive Olerra and her brutal kingdom. Yet, he can’t help but notice the difference between Olerra and many of the noble women in her society. Or the fact that when she turns the table on his own country, that she has made some many points. While Olerra hopes to win his heart, he is adamant that won’t happen. But every moment he learns something new about her, well, his heart may just be softening. 

I won’t lie, this was a hard book for me to get into. I love this author and she is brave for doing a book like this. She really does a nice job of flipping the table and showing you a world where the women are in charge and what their side of cruelty will look like. There is definitely a mix of good and bad, but what really makes the difference is that Olerra isn’t one of the harsher ones in her kingdom. Though she has a softer touch and wants to make changes to help everyone in her kingdom. And interesting story for sure! 

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fighting Spirit by Anna Harrison

 

As the mascot for Allbreck University’s football team, the last thing Ruth expects during a late-night practice session is getting thrown over someone’s shoulder and stuffed into the back of a minivan.

She’s been kidnapped by players from Beaufort College, Allbreck’s fiercest rivals, in some kind of prank-gone-wrong. When all hell breaks loose and the perpetrators bail, it’s Rowan - their intriguing center - who gets left to pick up the pieces.

Ruth doesn’t need another catastrophe, with the unmanaged ADHD that’s taking over her life and a sort-of-ex who acts like they were never more than friends, she’s got enough to deal with. 

All she wants is a way to get home, unfortunately the only guy who can help is the one who wants nothing to do with this night and even less to do with her.

When Rowan accepts a coaching job for after graduation, he knows that things are going to change. He just didn’t think that that change would feel like losing everything before his last playing season is even over.

His dad’s disappointed in him, his head coach’s expectations are growing, and his teammates treat him more like staff than one of their own.

When his team shows up drunk one night with their rivals’ kidnapped mascot, they assume that once again he’ll clean up their mess. 

But when she takes off the oversized toad head and he gets his first look at those big green eyes, he realizes he might have bigger issues.

Even long after the night is over, their connection keeps pulling them back together. But Ruth can’t handle any more distractions, and Rowan can’t give his team any more reasons not to trust him. With everything to play for and their hearts on the line, can they make it into the end zone?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223501449-fighting-spirit

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

When this story popped up on my feed about a girl who is the mascot for her college and she gets kidnapped by the rival football team for a prank, I had to find out more. It sounded way too hilarious to pass up. And I ended up loving this story! After poor Ruth is kidnapped by some very ridiculous football players that seem to realize a little too late they messed up, she is saved by one of their own who can’t believe his teammates were this dumb. Rowan can’t believe his team and knows consequences for them are coming but yet he can’t seem to stay away from Ruth. There is something about her that draws him in and soon the two of them end up striking up a friendship. One he craves more and more each day until he realizes that those feelings are turning into a lot more. But will the team be as understandable for him falling for someone at their rival school? For Ruth, her struggle with ADHD makes school a challenge and making friends and having relationships, even more so. Yet getting to know Rowan and being with him turns into so much more than she could have ever imagined. Has she actually found someone who can love her for who she is? I adored these two. They had so much playful banter and I loved watching their relationship develop throughout the story. This was definitely a fun and sweet read! 

The Comebacks Book 0.5: Cherry Picker by AJ Truman

The Comebacks Book 0.5

 Bill

At the end of a long business conference, I’m eager to get home to my daughter. But a snowstorm strands me in Chicago for the night with my assistant Tate Cherry.

He’s very cute and very off-limits, no matter how much he’s flirting with me tonight. My willpower is put to the test though, when we’re forced to share a hotel room.

Even more so when he makes me an offer I’m unable to refuse.

Tate

After two years of working under Bill Crandell, and fantasizing about being under him in other ways, fate is shining down on me. Tonight will finally be the night we consummate the unnerving tension crackling between us.

It’s my last shot with Bill. I can’t screw it up and develop real feelings for my boss. Not tonight.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/233714058-cherry-picker

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Bill has had a very long crush on his assistant. A cliche, he knows. But how can he not have feelings for Tate when he has spent the last two years getting to know him? But he won’t cross that line. Even when they are stranded in a blizzard overnight waiting for their flight back home and have to share a room. He’ll resist. But when Tate makes an unexpected move, well Bill’s willpower is only so good. Tate has wanted Bill for two years and tonight is the night he is taking his shot. Maybe Bill won’t return his feelings completely, and it will be one night only. But he’ll take it. Neither are prepared for the chemistry between them once they finally give in to the attraction or that fact that neither want to let the other go. This was a sweet story to open the series. Bill is the leader of the Comebacks, the hockey team he puts together with his friends. And we get a nice sweet story between him and Tate. I remember really liking book one, so I was glad to come back to this world as I wait for book two’s release!

New York Legends Book 1: Thrown for a Loop by Sarina Bowen

 

New York Legends Book 1

Fans suspect that the bad boy of hockey has a few skeletons in his closet. They have no idea he also has a sparkly bodysuit… #toepick! 

When they met at figure skating camp ten years ago, Chase Merritt was a scrappy hockey player from the wrong part of town, and Zoe Carson was the up-and-coming ice princess. They fell in love faster than you can say triple toe loop, until Zoe makes a fateful error that ends up costing Chase dearly. 

Almost a decade later, their fortunes are reversed. Chase is the MVP of the New York Legends hockey team, while Zoe—their new skating coach—has years’ worth of personal and professional bruises. It’s hard to face him again—all six feet and two hundred pounds of muscle and swagger. 

And anger. Chase is in hot water with management, and refusing to work with Coach Zoe no matter how badly he needs to shore up his stride—and his image. Until a journalist digs up an old video of Zoe and Chase performing a skating program, and the internet goes wild. 

Management seizes on the opportunity for a P.R. redemption, ordering Zoe and Chase to reprise their flashy routine. 

Skating with him again—to a love song, of course—is pure agony. But it’s also Zoe’s only chance to unpack the truth of what really happened that night ten years ago. And to at least find forgiveness, if she can’t win back his heart.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223778118-thrown-for-a-loop

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

When Zoe and Chase were eighteen and nineteen, they fell in love as counselors at an ice skating summer camp. It was the greatest summer of their lives until everything fell apart. Ten years later, Zoe’s ice skating career is long over and she is starting her new job as a skating coach for the New York Legends. The same team Chase is now starring on. She can’t help but be wary about seeing him again after all these years. Knowing it was her fault that their summer ended badly but yet she also doesn’t fully understand why he never spoke to her again either. And when he sees her, yeah there are definitely some harsh feelings there. But she wants this job to work out more than anything, so she will do what she can to get Chase listen to her and let her help him with his skating which has been suffering lately. And in doing so, she may just learn more about the truth about what happened all those years ago. And maybe they can finally find their way back to one another. I love hockey romance by Sarina Bowen! She is just the best when it comes to them. I love that we have a new team with a whole lot of interesting characters to explore. And a familiar cameo as well. I really loved getting to know Zoe and Chase. Their second chance romance is just so sweet and I loved that they were able to find their way back to one another after so long. Definitely looking forward to seeing where this series takes us!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Letters of Enchantment Book 0: Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross

Letters of Enchantment Book 0

Born ​in the firelit domain of the under realm, Matilda is the youngest goddess of her clan, blessed with humble messenger magic. But in a land where gods often kill each other to steal power and alliances break as quickly as they are forged, Matilda must come of age sooner than most. She may be known to carry words and letters through the realms, but she holds a secret she must hide from even her dearest of allies to ensure her survival. And to complicate matters . . . there is a mortal boy who dreams of her, despite the fact they have never met in the waking world.

Ten years ago, Vincent of Beckett wrote to Matilda on the darkest night of his life―begging the goddess he befriended in dreams to help him. When his request went unanswered, Vincent moved on, becoming the hardened, irreverent lord of the river who has long forgotten Matilda. That is, until she comes tumbling into his bedroom window with a letter for him.

As Fate would have it, Matilda and Vincent were destined to find each other beyond dreams. There may be a chance for Matilda to rewrite the blood-soaked ways of the gods, but at immense sacrifice. She will have to face something she fears even more than losing her magic: to be vulnerable, and to allow herself to finally be loved.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222376906-wild-reverence

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Way before Iris and Roman, there was a story about a mortal and a goddess. Matilda is not like the other gods. She belongs to both the Underlings and Skywards. A herald of the gods, Matilda’s magic makes her a messenger. But she is so much more than that. As Matilda grow and learns of her magic, she finds herself meeting a mortal in her dreams. Vincent. For years these two find one another again and again in dreams until the day comes where everything changes. It’s a long time until Vincent and Matilda meet again. When Matilda is given a message to save Vincent’s life, she doesn’t hesitate to go. Together, they must face Vincent’s enemy and protect his people. It’s a battle mixed with gods and mortals. But it’s also a love story as Matilda and Vincent. Matilda has always been taught to be strong and protect her weaknesses and she knew she always had a soft spot for Vincent. But she couldn’t tell you what that meant until she is with him again. And while Vincent may have given up when Matilda disappeared, it doesn’t take him long to realize what his feelings for her were. What a great story! It took me a bit to fall back into this world, but it was so interesting to get a better look at the gods and goddesses before we are mortals in the very far future in the middle of a war. I loved getting to know Matilda and Vincent. Their story is longing and passionate and just tugs at your heartstrings the whole way through. Get ready for magic, twists, and turns and a beautiful love story!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.