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D.C. Eagles Hockey #0.5
Passion or Penalty
Once I knew this girl who sent a video of herself to her brother's best friend… while she was hopped up on pain meds. And he didn’t reciprocate her feelings.
Sounds like a hilarious story, right?
WRONG. This really happened to ME, Melanie Taylor.
That was five years ago, so I’m over it—over him. Or I thought I was… until West got traded to the D.C. Eagles and moved to the same city as me.
(Oh, did I forget to mention my brother’s best friend is Weston Kershaw? A famous professional hockey player?)
Of course, I set out to avoid him completely, but end up going to one of his games—against my will, I might add. When I have to face him again, all of those stupid butterflies in my stomach return full force.
Except this time, the attraction doesn’t feel so one-sided.
Sounds like a hilarious story, right?
WRONG. This really happened to ME, Melanie Taylor.
That was five years ago, so I’m over it—over him. Or I thought I was… until West got traded to the D.C. Eagles and moved to the same city as me.
(Oh, did I forget to mention my brother’s best friend is Weston Kershaw? A famous professional hockey player?)
Of course, I set out to avoid him completely, but end up going to one of his games—against my will, I might add. When I have to face him again, all of those stupid butterflies in my stomach return full force.
Except this time, the attraction doesn’t feel so one-sided.
ebook
First published April 1, 2022
About the author
Leah Brunner
9 books908 followersLeah Brunner is an Amazon top 50 best selling author of fun and flirty romance!
Since Leah spends most of her time daydreaming, she decided to make a career out of it! She loves writing realistic, relatable characters who will make you laugh (and possibly cry).
Although she’s a Kansas girl at heart, Leah is a proud Air Force spouse and currently lives in Ohio with her husband and three children.
(Leah is rep'd by Eva Scalzo at Speilburg Literary)
You can find Leah on Instagram @leah.brunner.writes. Or join her Facebook reader group: Leah’s Lit Lovers
Since Leah spends most of her time daydreaming, she decided to make a career out of it! She loves writing realistic, relatable characters who will make you laugh (and possibly cry).
Although she’s a Kansas girl at heart, Leah is a proud Air Force spouse and currently lives in Ohio with her husband and three children.
(Leah is rep'd by Eva Scalzo at Speilburg Literary)
You can find Leah on Instagram @leah.brunner.writes. Or join her Facebook reader group: Leah’s Lit Lovers
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 586 reviews
Shelved as 'read-audiobooks'
December 18, 2023 **I do not give audiobooks star ratings as I cannot analyze the prose**
NO, I WILL NOT BE ACCEPTING ANY JUDGEMENT 😂😂 After all the recent Booktok hockey drama I wanted to see what the fuss was all about. Like what was in these books that had SOME of ya'll acting feral? I saw someone on TikTok say she read 150 (ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY) hockey romance books this year!!!!!! In no way am I judging because I read 150 gruesome murder books a year, I'm just sharing this to demonstrate how wildly popular this genre is becoming. Plus, I'm Canadian, so it's almost considered required reading.
What I think is so fascinating about this sub-genre is how hockey players are literally walking red flags in Canada LOL. If you want a sure-fire toxic relationship, date a minor league hockey player 😂. Not only are they 99.9% guaranteed to traumatize you, they're kinda grimy LOL. Plus, their equipment is a breeding ground for the next 26 strands of COVID. When Melanie goes over to Wes' house and sees his bare feet I visibly flinched. Ain't no way this man has normal toes after years of skating. I know I don't after years of figure skating 😂
Anyways. I had taken a gander at some of the most popular hockey romances, but they were either unnecessarily long OR had too many 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ in the reviews for me to handle. At four hours long and spice-free, this was the perfect introduction into the genre for me. Yes, it's corny. Yes, it's cheesy. But I wasn't expecting a nuanced look at the power dynamics in a relationship between a famous, professional athlete and his regular degular partner, so it didn't bother me. The romance was what you expected, and I did have a legitimate laugh at the whole parallel parking debacle. If you think I'm gonna drive downtown and parallel park, you have me f#cked up. Too many witnesses. I'm a pull-in parking spot girlie only. And yes, I do scope out the parking situation on Google Maps before I head to a new location 😂.
All in all, this is a cute, harmless romance. Will I continue to read hockey romance? Unlikely, but not because I have anything against it. I played tennis growing up so I would be interested in a tennis romance. Anyone wanna take a swing (har har har) at that!?
NO, I WILL NOT BE ACCEPTING ANY JUDGEMENT 😂😂 After all the recent Booktok hockey drama I wanted to see what the fuss was all about. Like what was in these books that had SOME of ya'll acting feral? I saw someone on TikTok say she read 150 (ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY) hockey romance books this year!!!!!! In no way am I judging because I read 150 gruesome murder books a year, I'm just sharing this to demonstrate how wildly popular this genre is becoming. Plus, I'm Canadian, so it's almost considered required reading.
What I think is so fascinating about this sub-genre is how hockey players are literally walking red flags in Canada LOL. If you want a sure-fire toxic relationship, date a minor league hockey player 😂. Not only are they 99.9% guaranteed to traumatize you, they're kinda grimy LOL. Plus, their equipment is a breeding ground for the next 26 strands of COVID. When Melanie goes over to Wes' house and sees his bare feet I visibly flinched. Ain't no way this man has normal toes after years of skating. I know I don't after years of figure skating 😂
Anyways. I had taken a gander at some of the most popular hockey romances, but they were either unnecessarily long OR had too many 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ in the reviews for me to handle. At four hours long and spice-free, this was the perfect introduction into the genre for me. Yes, it's corny. Yes, it's cheesy. But I wasn't expecting a nuanced look at the power dynamics in a relationship between a famous, professional athlete and his regular degular partner, so it didn't bother me. The romance was what you expected, and I did have a legitimate laugh at the whole parallel parking debacle. If you think I'm gonna drive downtown and parallel park, you have me f#cked up. Too many witnesses. I'm a pull-in parking spot girlie only. And yes, I do scope out the parking situation on Google Maps before I head to a new location 😂.
All in all, this is a cute, harmless romance. Will I continue to read hockey romance? Unlikely, but not because I have anything against it. I played tennis growing up so I would be interested in a tennis romance. Anyone wanna take a swing (har har har) at that!?
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
August 5, 2023DNF at 52%.
This book is annoying the crap out of me.
1. They've been childhood friends. Yes, he's her brother's best friend, but all three of them acknowledge that she hung out with them and they enjoyed her as a friend, too.
2. She tells him she loves him when she's 18 and she's high off of surgery meds.
3. He apparently loves her too... but he decides that she can't handle his life (she's afraid of ice and he's a hockey player) so he let's her know "he doesn't feel the same".
4. And then... he pretty much ghosts her for 5 years+ while he dates around, etc.
5. They meet up again and we get other woman drama RIGHT AWAY! Cause he's dated a lot of women "who smelled artificial" and were high maintenance models and other BS. When the OW challenges him to "prove" the hero is dating his childhood friend, he immediately kisses her (rolls eyes). Let's take a sideline here to say how stupid it is for someone to say, "prove it". But also, how he thinks about "all the other women I've dated never compare to this one..." and yet, he dated A LOT! While supposedly in love with the heroine. And when she asks, "why did you kiss me?", he doesn't immediately answer, "I've always had a thing for you." No... he repeats that stupid BS about "proving they're dating".
6. When his teammate sexualizes and objectifies women... the hero responds cause of the heroine being the one discussed... but you don't get a sense that he generally speaks up.
I prefer a story with a lot more inner work on the relationship and on the main characters. This one uses stupid trite external drama as a way to drive the story.
If these people were friends and have been in love... where is the chemistry and spark of enjoyment between the two of them... other than "she/he is so pretty/handsome"? It's just so shallow. And I'm over the 50% mark on this book... so I've given it enough time.
Sigh... I just came off of the best romance so it's going to take another good one for me to read a book all the way through.
This book is annoying the crap out of me.
1. They've been childhood friends. Yes, he's her brother's best friend, but all three of them acknowledge that she hung out with them and they enjoyed her as a friend, too.
2. She tells him she loves him when she's 18 and she's high off of surgery meds.
3. He apparently loves her too... but he decides that she can't handle his life (she's afraid of ice and he's a hockey player) so he let's her know "he doesn't feel the same".
4. And then... he pretty much ghosts her for 5 years+ while he dates around, etc.
5. They meet up again and we get other woman drama RIGHT AWAY! Cause he's dated a lot of women "who smelled artificial" and were high maintenance models and other BS. When the OW challenges him to "prove" the hero is dating his childhood friend, he immediately kisses her (rolls eyes). Let's take a sideline here to say how stupid it is for someone to say, "prove it". But also, how he thinks about "all the other women I've dated never compare to this one..." and yet, he dated A LOT! While supposedly in love with the heroine. And when she asks, "why did you kiss me?", he doesn't immediately answer, "I've always had a thing for you." No... he repeats that stupid BS about "proving they're dating".
6. When his teammate sexualizes and objectifies women... the hero responds cause of the heroine being the one discussed... but you don't get a sense that he generally speaks up.
I prefer a story with a lot more inner work on the relationship and on the main characters. This one uses stupid trite external drama as a way to drive the story.
If these people were friends and have been in love... where is the chemistry and spark of enjoyment between the two of them... other than "she/he is so pretty/handsome"? It's just so shallow. And I'm over the 50% mark on this book... so I've given it enough time.
Sigh... I just came off of the best romance so it's going to take another good one for me to read a book all the way through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2023
STOP THE TRAIN! I’m. In. LOOOOVVVVEEE!!!
A brother’s best friend, friend to more, HOCKEY romance?! Yep I’m here for aallll of it!
I’m so stinkin’ excited for the rest of the series this prequels! It’s going to be amazing!
The hockey team! 👏🏻
Melanie’s roommate! 👏🏻
THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN MEL & WEST! 👏🏻
It was soooo cute!!
And the anxiety rep was well done in my opinion! It shows up in different ways for everyone, and everyone has a different way to cope.
LOVED!
4/5 stars
A brother’s best friend, friend to more, HOCKEY romance?! Yep I’m here for aallll of it!
I’m so stinkin’ excited for the rest of the series this prequels! It’s going to be amazing!
The hockey team! 👏🏻
Melanie’s roommate! 👏🏻
THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN MEL & WEST! 👏🏻
It was soooo cute!!
And the anxiety rep was well done in my opinion! It shows up in different ways for everyone, and everyone has a different way to cope.
LOVED!
4/5 stars
April 28, 2023
For a free (through the newsletter) and fast read this was pretty good. Melanie and West had me curious after being introduced to them in Desire and Defense and I was right in thinking their story would be interesting.
Overall, glad I went back and gave this one a read.
Overall, glad I went back and gave this one a read.
December 11, 2023
2.5⭐️
This was a cute and quick read but I can’t say that the writing was very good. It was pretty bland and did a lot more telling than showing. I liked the second chance romance/brother’s best friend tropes even though it was pretty light on the romance elements overall. This was a fine novella but it didn’t pull me in enough to want to check out the full novels in this series.
This was a cute and quick read but I can’t say that the writing was very good. It was pretty bland and did a lot more telling than showing. I liked the second chance romance/brother’s best friend tropes even though it was pretty light on the romance elements overall. This was a fine novella but it didn’t pull me in enough to want to check out the full novels in this series.
July 12, 2022
I loved this clean novella. Sports romance has a special place in my heart and this one is so fun. That first chapter was a gem💎😂.
I love West🏒, he was such an adorable dork🥰. West and Mel's relationship was cute haha they used their time apart to mature. I loved how they met up again, it was fun watching them come together. How he supported her to overcome her fears and didn't let her give up was sweet⛸️.
I loved the gestures, the journal! And of course, the communication!!! Not only how he spoke with her directly about their situation, but also with his best friend. It felt so good and refreshing 💙. West and Harrison's friendship was amazing, they were so fun to watch.
Also, being able to see Madden and Oddette again was amazing. Those two are faves 💞.
I loved this story, the pace was really good but I wanted more of them!! I couldn't get enough!
🍁
*This story was free as part of The Sweet and Swoony Romance project in Prolific Works. Visit Leah's profile to get the link*📖
I love West🏒, he was such an adorable dork🥰. West and Mel's relationship was cute haha they used their time apart to mature. I loved how they met up again, it was fun watching them come together. How he supported her to overcome her fears and didn't let her give up was sweet⛸️.
I loved the gestures, the journal! And of course, the communication!!! Not only how he spoke with her directly about their situation, but also with his best friend. It felt so good and refreshing 💙. West and Harrison's friendship was amazing, they were so fun to watch.
Also, being able to see Madden and Oddette again was amazing. Those two are faves 💞.
I loved this story, the pace was really good but I wanted more of them!! I couldn't get enough!
🍁
*This story was free as part of The Sweet and Swoony Romance project in Prolific Works. Visit Leah's profile to get the link*📖
January 4, 2024
vibe: 🏒☕️🗂️👩🏻❤️💋👨🏼
spice: 0/5
rating: 4/5
Brothers best friend, short and sweet. As an anxious girlie I like the representation. Also the epilogue 🥺
spice: 0/5
rating: 4/5
Brothers best friend, short and sweet. As an anxious girlie I like the representation. Also the epilogue 🥺
April 5, 2022
I really enjoyed this novella and getting to see characters from Leah’s previous books again.
Content: kissing
Tropes: best friend’s sister, childhood friends to more
5 Stars
Content: kissing
Tropes: best friend’s sister, childhood friends to more
5 Stars
March 18, 2024
*It hasn't been very long since I read this novella, however, this time I ended up listening to the audio book when I was dealing with some trouble sleeping. I needed a story that I knew I loved, with low angst, and that it would be ok if I drifted off listening to it because I knew how the storyline progressed. This was just what I needed. I did eventually drift off after quite a while of listening, I was able to find my spot the next day and enjoyed listening to the rest of the romance between Mel and West again and loved it just as much as the first time.*
I absolutely loved this novella! I began reading this series out of order by listening to book two, Flirtation or Faceoff, last year and loving it. Now, I plan to catch up on the previous books, beginning with this prequel to the DC Eagles Hockey series.
I loved that this story brought two people back together who had once been best friends (along with Mel's brother). The way things went wrong for them was both funny and cringy as well as sad. These two young hearts wanted to be together even as teens, yet I think it made their story even sweeter when it actually came to be and helped them both realize how much they meant to each other. I loved when they saw each other for the first time! So fun!
I simply loved this story from start to finish and especially liked how clear West was about his feelings for Mel both now and in the past. He was truthful and swoony, without being pushy. I liked the way he cherished her for who she was, quirks and all, and understood the things she struggled with emotionally.
It was great to dive back into these characters and see them right from the beginning. And it was also fun to realize that there is a tie in to another series, with characters who Mel works for. I'm looking forward to reading all of this author's back list books.
I absolutely loved this novella! I began reading this series out of order by listening to book two, Flirtation or Faceoff, last year and loving it. Now, I plan to catch up on the previous books, beginning with this prequel to the DC Eagles Hockey series.
I loved that this story brought two people back together who had once been best friends (along with Mel's brother). The way things went wrong for them was both funny and cringy as well as sad. These two young hearts wanted to be together even as teens, yet I think it made their story even sweeter when it actually came to be and helped them both realize how much they meant to each other. I loved when they saw each other for the first time! So fun!
I simply loved this story from start to finish and especially liked how clear West was about his feelings for Mel both now and in the past. He was truthful and swoony, without being pushy. I liked the way he cherished her for who she was, quirks and all, and understood the things she struggled with emotionally.
It was great to dive back into these characters and see them right from the beginning. And it was also fun to realize that there is a tie in to another series, with characters who Mel works for. I'm looking forward to reading all of this author's back list books.
November 9, 2023
i couldn't handle the cringe
➸ Trigger warnings for .
▷ Representation: Melanie (mc) has anxiety.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
➸ Trigger warnings for .
▷ Representation: Melanie (mc) has anxiety.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
April 4, 2022
Such a great novella!!
Perfectly paced. Super sweet. Felt all of the anxiety rep.
Now I just need more sports romances from Brunner 😍👏🏻
Perfectly paced. Super sweet. Felt all of the anxiety rep.
Now I just need more sports romances from Brunner 😍👏🏻
February 3, 2023
-4.5 Stars-
I loved this novella, it was so swoony.
Here's what I loved:
- hunky hockey player
- second chance vibes
- childhood friends to lovers
- anxiety rep
- brother's best friend
- swoony kisses
It was just a great novella and I cannot wait to read a full length hockey romance from Leah Brunner.
Steam: kissing
TW: none
I loved this novella, it was so swoony.
Here's what I loved:
- hunky hockey player
- second chance vibes
- childhood friends to lovers
- anxiety rep
- brother's best friend
- swoony kisses
It was just a great novella and I cannot wait to read a full length hockey romance from Leah Brunner.
Steam: kissing
TW: none
December 31, 2023
This was so sweet!! I really needed to read a book that left me calm, happy, and sitting with a goofy little grin on my face for a while after it was done. This was exactly that. It also reminded me of something I used to do for my husband that I want to do again. It’s good to be reminded of the early days and things you used to do. I think I’ll be getting journals and writing letters to loved ones in them next year. Ya know, something to do in all of my free time. Lol This was a lovely library find. I will be looking for more in the future.
July 26, 2023
4 stars
This closed door hockey romance novella was ridiculously cute!
Older brother’s best friend trope, a whole lot of mutual pining, and flirty vibes (the narrators did this very well on the audiobook - I was trying to stop myself from grinning while listening… in public).
It started with a majorly embarrassing moment for the FMC (she sent the MMC a video declaring her love for him, while hopped up on pain meds) but I found that kind of charming rather than cringey (ymmv).
I will definitely be checking out other books by Leah Brunner.
This closed door hockey romance novella was ridiculously cute!
Older brother’s best friend trope, a whole lot of mutual pining, and flirty vibes (the narrators did this very well on the audiobook - I was trying to stop myself from grinning while listening… in public).
It started with a majorly embarrassing moment for the FMC (she sent the MMC a video declaring her love for him, while hopped up on pain meds) but I found that kind of charming rather than cringey (ymmv).
I will definitely be checking out other books by Leah Brunner.
Shelved as 'dnf'
November 19, 2023DNF at 19%
Insipid.
The beginning where the heroine was 18 read more like she was 14; the main section where she’s 23 feels closer to 18. Her “trauma induced anxiety” was, from my perspective, presented as “quirky ocd” (alphabetizing her pens by color, for example). The side characters of her boss and his wife are squicking me out for some reason. And the hero is basically a piece of paper.
11.18.23
Insipid.
The beginning where the heroine was 18 read more like she was 14; the main section where she’s 23 feels closer to 18. Her “trauma induced anxiety” was, from my perspective, presented as “quirky ocd” (alphabetizing her pens by color, for example). The side characters of her boss and his wife are squicking me out for some reason. And the hero is basically a piece of paper.
11.18.23
July 7, 2023
˗ˏˋ ⋆ ⋆ ´ˎ˗
﹌﹌﹌
2 stars!! This one was brief and uncomplicated. However, I didn't sense any spark between them.
﹌﹌﹌
﹌﹌﹌
2 stars!! This one was brief and uncomplicated. However, I didn't sense any spark between them.
﹌﹌﹌
August 23, 2023
There’s cringe that’s cute and there’s cringe that’s yuck. And this was definitely yuck.
1.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 24, 2023
I know it’s a prequel and we know the outcome but this could’ve been wayyyy slower and much cuter
August 8, 2023
Short and sweet. I definitely want to read Desire or Defense now by the same author.
There was no spicy scenes if that's what your into.
He is her brother's best friend. She has an ice related trauma and since he is an ice hockey player years ago when she professed her love for him he lied about his feelings for her for fear thar her trauma would make their relationship impossible for him.
When he finally sees her again 5 years later he's not holding back anymore.
The relationship wasn't really too developed as this was only a 4 hour audio book.
There was no spicy scenes if that's what your into.
He is her brother's best friend. She has an ice related trauma and since he is an ice hockey player years ago when she professed her love for him he lied about his feelings for her for fear thar her trauma would make their relationship impossible for him.
When he finally sees her again 5 years later he's not holding back anymore.
The relationship wasn't really too developed as this was only a 4 hour audio book.
September 11, 2023
כתיבה בוסרית
מרגיש כמו וואטפד ולא במובן החיובי
התחיל מצחיק ואז איבדתי עניין סיימתי בכוח כי רציתי לנסות את הספר הבא (גיליתי שזו נובלה שפותחת) בקיצור לא מומלץ
מקווה שהבא יהיה הרבה יותר טוב כי כרגע יצאתי עם תחושה של "אהה.... מעפן"
מרגיש כמו וואטפד ולא במובן החיובי
התחיל מצחיק ואז איבדתי עניין סיימתי בכוח כי רציתי לנסות את הספר הבא (גיליתי שזו נובלה שפותחת) בקיצור לא מומלץ
מקווה שהבא יהיה הרבה יותר טוב כי כרגע יצאתי עם תחושה של "אהה.... מעפן"
September 9, 2023
Trama simplista, sin ningún punto de conflicto, ni desarrollo.
Poco original contada sin gracia.
Pérdida de tiempo.
Poco original contada sin gracia.
Pérdida de tiempo.
April 24, 2024
This was so meh I forgot to put that I finished it
December 1, 2023
If you know me you know that I LOVE a good hockey romance. This book had SO much potential but unfortunately did not satisfy me in any way. The story lacked a bit of meat and the spice was non existent. I have no regrets reading it since I’m still very much behind my reading goal but I wouldn’t waste my time. 🫠 If you’re looking for a good hockey romance I would highly recommend Consider me 🏒 ❤️🔥❄️🥵
June 25, 2023
This is the first of the sweet and swoony novella’s I’ve had a chance to read. It’s about a girl named Melanie who has recently turned 18. she ends up having an emergency surgery after the surgery she’s a pit loopy in pain meds and sends a video to her long time crush and brother’s best friend Weston. Sadly he doesn’t reciprocate those feelings. Five years later and they are both in the same city. He’s now a famous hockey player. And Melanie plans to avoid him at all cost but will she be able to especially when she ends up having to attend one of his games not by choice? This story was such a sweet romance you get both sides of the story. And West is a sweetie who is willing to fight those he loves. There is a some childhood trauma in the story but it’s not overwhelming it did not stress me out but I loved how the character learns to deal and cope with her trauma. I heard there is going to be more books and I am very excited. I will be watching out for them. Oh, P.S. sign up for her newsletter and get a free bonus chapter. Also this novella was free through the sweet and swoony Facebook page. So go check out all their free stories.
August 4, 2022
K, I am really hoping this means that Leah Brunner is going to write sports romances because this novella was super cute!
If you enjoy brother's best friend and second chance tropes combined with some awkward and embarrassing moments, then you should definitely pick this one up!
If you enjoy brother's best friend and second chance tropes combined with some awkward and embarrassing moments, then you should definitely pick this one up!
August 31, 2023
This one was short and straightforward. However, there was no spark between the characters, no build-up or chemistry. The novel was overall extremely fast-paced, which was one of the factors that made me feel a disconnect.
January 3, 2024
Did I listen to this 4 hour audiobook while I worked today? Yes. Time flew.
Should I be embarrassed? Maybe.
But am I obligated to put this on my Goodreads? Yes. I give the people what they want.
My biggest concern with this book was the amount of times essential oils were referenced.
Should I be embarrassed? Maybe.
But am I obligated to put this on my Goodreads? Yes. I give the people what they want.
My biggest concern with this book was the amount of times essential oils were referenced.
October 1, 2023
West’s and Melanie’s story has so many things I love!
This novella starts out with a super embarrassing moment–one I could see myself doing–which led to a dose of secondhand embarrassment.
Things to love:
🏒hockey celebrity!
💗brother’s best friend
🏒hilarious situations
💗swoony banter
🏒simmering attraction
I loved watching Melanie desperately try to avoid her brother’s best friend, West, but being unable to do so due to her job responsibilities and a very determined professional hockey player.
Leah Brunner is quickly becoming a favorite and I love her writing style, allowing for humor, sprinkled with a few serious moments, and very real feelings. This is definitely a team I can get behind and I’m ready for more!
Content: mild romance (swoon, kissing); mild language
This novella starts out with a super embarrassing moment–one I could see myself doing–which led to a dose of secondhand embarrassment.
Things to love:
🏒hockey celebrity!
💗brother’s best friend
🏒hilarious situations
💗swoony banter
🏒simmering attraction
I loved watching Melanie desperately try to avoid her brother’s best friend, West, but being unable to do so due to her job responsibilities and a very determined professional hockey player.
Leah Brunner is quickly becoming a favorite and I love her writing style, allowing for humor, sprinkled with a few serious moments, and very real feelings. This is definitely a team I can get behind and I’m ready for more!
Content: mild romance (swoon, kissing); mild language
August 7, 2023
This was a sweet childhood friends to lovers, second chance sports romance novella with great Anxiety rep. I really enjoyed this short story about two friends who secretly pine for one another and finally find the right time to be together. The therapy and childhood trauma/PTSD content was really well done and it was good on audio too!! Looking forward to reading more from this new to me Indie author!
April 23, 2023
So much fun! I loved Weston and Melanie so much! I absolutely adored every second of this book, and didn’t want to set it down! I’m a huge fan of Leah Brunner’s writing, and I cannot wait to read Desire or Defense!
Highly recommended!
Note: not CF, closed-door with a tiny bit of mild language.
Highly recommended!
Note: not CF, closed-door with a tiny bit of mild language.
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