ARC Review: Unbound (The Undone #3) by Peyton Corrine

 

A new “angsty, sexy, emotional” (Farrah Rochon, New York Times bestselling author) lyrical romance by Peyton Corinne that follows a college couple through first love, heartbreak, and the struggle to come together again.

Paloma Blake is, at best, antagonistic. But beneath the hairspray, attitude, and promiscuity is a scared girl whose trauma runs deep. Still, the walls she’s built are strong, ensuring everyone only sees Paloma’s sexy façade. Everyone except for Bennett.

Bennett Reiner, the carefully controlled, neurodivergent goalie, has his routines and sticks to them, which helps him keep a hold on his OCD compulsions and the crippling anxiety that comes with them. The quiet and meticulous Bennett sees everything, especially the girl beneath Paloma’s ever-present masks. And he always has.

Unbeknownst to their friends, Bennett and Paloma were each other’s first real love, which ended in crippling heartbreak. Bennett still doesn’t know what happened, and Paloma is determined to stay away from the comfort she used to find only in his arms. For years, Bennett has remained her protective shadow, coming to Paloma’s rescue whenever she asked, keeping her as close and safe as she’ll let him. But, like a tumultuous sea to a constant shore, Bennett and Paloma find each other once more.

Alternating between scenes from their past and present, Unbound contrasts the tentative tension and passionate beginnings of first love with the devastating loneliness and deep yearning of having that love ripped away from you without truly knowing why. As Bennett discovers the truth about Paloma’s past, the threads to his careful control start to come unbound, and both begin to realize that letting go of everything else might be worth it, if it means they both get the real love they once shared again.

Title: Unbound (The Undone #3)

Author: Peyton Corrine

Publisher: Atria

Expected Publication Date: April 7, 2026

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I was so excited for this story. I absolutely loved Bennet in the other books in this series and really needed to hear the story of this quite, broody hockey player. I was not so crazy about learning about Paloma as I wasn't much of a fan of hers when she was introduced to the reader, but I knew Corrine would make a redemption arc that would more than likely change how I viewed her. Unfortunately, there were so many things with this book I didn't enjoy it was hard to find the things I did.

Before I start, I highly recommend you read the first two books in this interconnected series prior to this. While this could be read alone, you are introduced to these characters (and the minor characters) in the prior books and those introductions set the tone for who these main characters are. In my opinion, the reader will be lost if they do not first read the prior books.

Let's start with the characters. Did I love Bennet and Paloma as a couple? I wanted to. I really did. But their relationship was so co-dependent it was unhealthy. Did I understand each character's issues? I did. I loved the mental health representation. I do believe Corrine took her time to research this and presented it well on the page. But the mental health issues were all the main characters were. There was nothing more to Bennet and Paloma. There was no exploration of them outside of the autism and OCD for Bennet or the abuse Paloma endured. Their mental health issues are their entire identity. And, while I understand this was the major point of their characters and the books, there really was nothing else. Paloma is the epitomy of the miscommunication trope which I normally do not dislike but it was so overdone in the story it was annoying. I just could not connect with the two characters we are meant to watch grow, develop, and ultimately understand. I also found their love to be a bit too all consuming. They could not see beyond one another, ever. And their obsessions with each other didn't seem to make sense to me. Especially with the three years that happened between when they met and broke up. One other thing I would have loved to see is Paloma making friends. She so alone and it makes no sense that she doesn't find people who can support her. We do get introduced to her new roommate but we have zero idea of who she is. We don't see their relationship grow despite Paloma saying she's her best friend. It just made no sense.

Then we can talk about the pacing of the book. I understand the author wanted to keep a bit of mystery as to why this couple has spent three years apart, but it was so drawn out. Nothing happens until the last 20% of the book. Normally I love a dual perspective as it allows me to connect on a deeper level with each character. And I did like that aspect in this story. But Corrine also utilized past and present chapters which didn't always lend to pushing the story forward. The point of going to the past is to help the story develop in the future and that just did not happen. Add to this the flashbacks within the chapters and it just got totally confusing. The flashbacks were so random and not separated in any way that made any sense. I found myself constantly trying to figure out if I was in the present or the future and sometimes even forgetting who was narrating the chapter. Finally, for a romance this was way too long. I feel like things were harped on over and over again to make the book so much longer than was necessary including all the inner dialogue from both Paloma and Bennet. So much unnecessary stuff that ended up being repetitive rather than helping the characters grow and change. And the epilogue: TEN YEARS? It was just such a jump it made zero sense for me.

I was surprised to find so many plot holes in the story, as well. Things that we are introduced to that I thought would lend some understanding of the characters but were never resolved or even revisited. Characters who are introduced but we have no idea of the relationship they had with our main characters or how that relationship even came to be. Paloma gets kicked out of her dorm but we never find out why. She has a relationship with Alessia but she hasn't spoked to her in three years and suddenly they are back to being besties? What is Paloma's relationship with her mom? We are told about it but it's never shown to us in any way. The rift between Bennet and his dad which truly just didn't make any sense. These things are never addressed. On top of this, there were moments that were introduced that could have been explored more deeply but were just glossed over.

And the drama! There is so much drama throughout the book and never anything good or funny or fun. It makes the book so heavy, which I know is part of the point, but even heavy books can have moments of levity that help the reader want to move along in the book. This story is just trauma, intense feels, and repressed emotions. 

Where was the hockey? It's there but it's not. This is a hockey romance and we really don't get much of it in this book. Part of the reason I read sports romance is for the sport, But it's glossed over and there's no true exploration of it as it pertains to the story line.

I did love seeing the side characters that we have met in the previous books. It was fun to see them following their happy endings. I loved the found family aspect of this book, as well. It's super important for both main characters. Corrines theme of it's ok to not be ok is also important. This is something that needs to be shown to many and can definitely be relatable to most. And, as I previously stated, Corrine absolutely took her time to approach difficult topics with sensitivity. And I cannot wait to see where Toren's story goes because he is such a bad boy, mysterious character who needs to be explored.

Overall, I was disappointed with this installment. Will I continue to read the series? Absolutely. I adored the first two books. And I love that Corrine explores mental health issues within her stories.

2.75/5 stars rounded to 3

Author:

Peyton Corinne is a writer of romances with imperfect characters, angst and lots of heart. Her stories come with a healthy dose of swoon and angst, of hurt and comfort, and—though it make take them some time, they always end with a happily ever after.

She has been writing since she was young, but is finally letting those stories live further than her notes app.

If she's not writing, she's probably making another cup of coffee, rewatching Twilight and frantically reading through her own endless TBR.

Peyton loves to laugh, but her books might make you cry.

ARC Read: Thrown For a Loop (New York Legends #1) by Sarina Bowen

 

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.

Title: Thrown for a Loop (New York Legends #1)

Author: Sarina Bowen

Publisher: Forever Grand Central Publishing/ Hachette Audio

Expected Publication Date: November 4, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I love me a good hockey romance. And I know Bowen knows how to write hockey (her Him series with Kennedy is amazing). So I was excited to dive into another of her stories and see where she would take it. Plus, she included figure skating and I am a former skater so I wanted to see what she would include.

I alternated between audio and kindle with this book. I wanted to see how the vibe might be different using both, I was pleasantly surprised that I liked both (usually it's one or the other). Brooke Bloomingdale is a narrator that is known to me. I've listened to several of her books and have always liked her cadence and how she voices characters (male and female). I find her very easy to listen to and she makes books very enjoyable. This is my first time listening to Ryan Hudson and I really enjoyed his voice. I kind of wish there was more of him. His narration fell off the last 40% or so of the book since the alternating time lines resolved. I would definitely listen to more by him. He did a great job with the MMC narration.

I really enjoyed learning about Zoe Carson and Chase Merritt. The past and present POVs in the book really helped me understand the characters and leant to their overall development. The past chapters set up the relationship and the conflict really well. 

I enjoyed Zoe for the most part. She did let people step all over her at times and this bothered me. But that was part of her character development. I enjoyed watching her grow and change and truly come into herself/stand up for herself. Chase is such a broody character. I do wish I had more from him. While I loved the past chapters that showed his personality, I kind of wish I had present narration from him to really be in his head. I had to rely on Zoe to tell me about him and that made it harder to really see how he was thinking.

As for the romance, second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes. Bowen did a fair enough job with it. I'm not sure I 100% bought it, though, It's been 10 years since these two parted ways with not a word between them since. Suddenly they are pushed back into each other's orbit. This is set up well at the beginning but for me, Chase was too quick to turn around and forgive what happened and Zoe was too quick to have feelings for him again. Especially since she had been married until recently. I needed more angst between these two. I needed more conflict. It just seemed to come together too easily.

The plot was good. It moved along at a good pace. There were a few things introduced that were choppy. And a few of those things were important to character development. Some of them were scattered so much, it kind of left holes in the story. I kept wondering when the author would come back to the points so we could see how they shaped the characters. She did come back around to most of them but with just a mention and then it was over. There was so much more that could be done. I don't want to name the things as I don't want to spoil the story.

Overall, I did enjoy this one despite the holes the author had going on. It was fast paced and there was some great banter that happened. Plus the side characters really made the story. I'm excited for the next relationship between Darcy and Tramaine. I can't wait to see how Bowen shapes it!

3.75 stars rounded to 4

Author:

Sarina Bowen is the 24-time USA Today bestselling and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary fiction, including: The Five Year Lie, the True North series, and the Brooklyn Hockey series. She's the co-author of Him/Us and the WAGs series with Elle Kennedy. And more!

You can find a complete reading order list of Sarina's books on her website. Or see what's coming next from Sarina, and sign up for her newsletter so you don't miss a new book or a deal.

ARC Review: Dream Girl Drama (Big Shots #3) by Tessa Bailey

A steamy chance encounter between a professional hockey player and the manic pixie dream girl he just can’t seem to forget takes a turn when the pair realize that their parents are engaged—in an all-new rom-com by #1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey.

When professional hockey player Sig Gauthier’s car breaks down and his phone dies, he treks into a posh private country club to call a tow truck, where he encounters the alluring Chloe Clifford, the manic pixie dream girl who captivates him immediately with her sense of adventure and penchant for stealing champagne.

Sparks fly during a moonlight kiss and the enamored pair can’t wait to see each other again, but when Sig finally arrives to meet his dad’s new girlfriend over dinner, Chloe is confusingly also there. Turns out the girlfriend is Chloe’s mother. Oh, and they’re engaged.

Sig’s dream girl is his future stepsister.

Though the pair is now wary of being involved romantically, Chloe, a sheltered harp prodigy, yearns to escape her controlling mother. Sig promises to teach her the ins and outs of independence in Boston—but not inside his bedroom. They both know there can never be more than friendship between a famous hockey player and his high-society, soon-to-be stepsister. But keeping their relationship platonic grows harder amid the developing family drama, especially knowing they were meant for so much more…

Title: Dream Girl Drama (Big Shots #3)

Author: Tessa Bailey

Publisher: Avon/Harper Voyager

Expected Publication Date: February 4, 2025

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Harper Voyager for providing me with an egalley of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Do I love insta-love? No, not really. Does Tessa Bailey write it so I just cannot help but love her characters, their story, and where they are going to end up? You betcha! Every time I think I'll hate when characters are immediately attracted to each other, Bailey does their story justice and makes me love insta-love love just a little bit more. Throw in there me enjoying the other books in this series, and I know I'm jumping into something I won't be able to put down.

Sig Gauthier is a hockey player with no plans to be romantically involved with anyone, until his chance encounter with Chloe Clifford. Their connection is instant and he can't get enough of her. When he's faced with the reality that his father is marrying Chloe's mother, he knows he has to stay away. But he just can't. Chloe wants more than her sheltered life and Sig give her to opportunity to take it. I love how much of a care taker Sig is. He is oath bound to keep Chloe safe and help her fulfill her dreams in any way he can. He knows he cannot have her, but he craves her and if being her supporter is what he must do to be in her life, then he takes it. Of course he cannot seem to stay way from her, from wanting to touch her and be with her in more than a brotherly way. Sig is probably one of my most favorite MMC's that Bailey has written. He's sweet and undemanding. He loves with his whole heart.

Chloe Clifford is the most sheltered character I've ever read. She has had her whole life handed to her being the daughter of a wealthy mother and not having had to want for anything her entire life. But Chloe feels stunted and her need to become her own person overwhelms her need to remain in the cushy life her mother has built. Her growth in this book is really great. She learns so many life lessons about being on your own. taking care of yourself, standing up for yourself, and most of being loved for yourself.

Bailey has a very particular writing style. I enjoy how she writes in third person. And I especially likes that she does a dual POV. I really feel like this helps her characters grow and develop. Her pacing is pretty fast paced and she always gets to the heart of the story immediately. I love when this happens and then you can spend the rest of the book watching the characters work out their story,

This was a great addition to the Big Shots series. Spice, drama, tension, and so much banter kept me turning the pages to see what happened. I cannot wait for Robbie's story!

Author:

New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. Catch her on TikTok at @authortessabailey or check out tessabailey.com for a complete list of books.

 

ARC Review: Unloved (The Undone #2) by Peyton Corinne

 

The highly anticipated follow-up to Peyton Corinne’s “unputdownable and unforgettable” (Bal Khabra, author of Collide) TikTok sensation Unsteady follows hopeless romantic Ro and player—on and off the ice—Freddy as their feelings for each other grow from strictly friendly to so much more.

Matt “Freddy” Fedderic is all smiles—at least on the surface. On the ice, he’s the star left winger for the Waterfell Wolves with a stellar reputation in bed and a potential future in the NHL. But in the classroom, he’s barely scraping by on a 2.0 GPA, retaking dropped classes and struggling with a rough mix of dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD. Freddy had plans to enter the NHL draft at eighteen, but then his estranged father added a “graduation” clause to his inheritance, and now, he needs help to pass Biology with a professor who’s already betrayed him before.

Ro Shariff is a hopeless romantic with terrible luck in love—and now, Freddy’s new tutor. She keeps telling herself that she’s very happy with her on again/off again boyfriend, but Ro is desperate for real affection. As her tutoring sessions with Freddy lead to friendship and late-night phone calls, an undeniable heat begins to simmer between them, which they’re both trying desperately to ignore.

Although they are too protective of their newfound friendship to cross that line, Ro can’t stop thinking about how Freddy was her first kiss her freshman year at Waterfell, a spine-tingling moment seared into Ro’s memory that Freddy doesn’t seem to remember, and Freddy is determined to protect Ro from his reputation at all costs. Meanwhile, Ro wants to prove to him that despite what others have led him to believe, he’s worth more than his body. But maybe, just maybe, together they can learn how easily the right person can love every part of you, even your flaws.

Title: Unloved (The Undone #2

Author: Peyton Corinne

Publisher: Atria Books

Expected Publication Date: February 4, 2025

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I was super excited to read this next installment for Undone. I loved Freddy in the first book and I needed to know his story. And Corinne did a fabulous job with his story! While you could read this book as a stand alone, I really do insist you read the first book to get more context on the characters from this book and relationships with their friends.

Matt Fredderic does two things well: hockey and sex. His future hangs on him graduating from college. But his learning disabilities, which have not been dealt with, have continuously haunted him. I really love Freddy's set up. It truly shows how people can slip through the cracks and get by with grit and determination. Corinne addresses the learning disabilities with truth and honesty. She also shows how men can struggle with their emotions. Freddy is a people pleaser who doesn't feel he's worthy of love. My heart hurt for him for this entire book. He had no one to turn to, despite having friends and family. His need to feel loved is extremely prominent in the book. I was absolutely invested in him and his future. I wanted to jump in and help fight his battles. I wanted to show him he was worth so much more than he has told himself. I don't think I've ever been so emotionally invested in an MMC in a romance book as I was with Freddy.

Ro Shariff is also a people pleaser and a romantic. Her on again, off again relationship with her boyfriend is toxic and a abusive. But she can't seem to break away from it, despite his gaslighting and treating her as if she is always the one in the wrong. She struggles to feel seen and wanted for just who she is. She's lonely and a bit lost. But her heart is just so big. I love how she fought for Freddy this whole book. She made him feel seen and loved. Add to that her ability to infuse great banter into her stories and it was just so amazing to read! Plus her characters are so well developed. There wasn't a time I didn't understand or find the characters believable. This really added to the plot development and kept the story moving forward.

Corinne infused into this book a rawness you rarely see in romance books. The relationships between the characters are emotional and relatable. She also writes grief and healing very well. She builds the relationship with Ro and Freddy on raw feeling. It's a slow burn that is wroth every word written to get there.

Do I need the next story now? Yes, yes I do. It's going to be hard to wait, I will be honest. But I know Corinne will give that story what it needs and I'm excited to see what happens. If you want to read stories with heartfelt emotion, strong character development, and relatable situations, pick up Corinne's books!

Author:

Peyton Corinne is a writer of romances with imperfect characters, angst and lots of heart. Her stories come with a healthy dose of swoon and angst, of hurt and comfort, and—though it make take them some time, they always end with a happily ever after.

She has been writing since she was young, but is finally letting those stories live further than her notes app.

If she's not writing, she's probably making another cup of coffee, rewatching Twilight and frantically reading through her own endless TBR.

Peyton loves to laugh, but her books might make you cry.

ARC Review: Spiral (Off the Ice #2) by Bal Khabra

 

He’s on edge while she’s en pointe in this fake-dating sports romance from the author of the smash hit Collide.

Elias Westbrook, a newly drafted hockey player for the Toronto Thunder, is facing the challenges of fame and media scrutiny. With a growing fan base and too many expectations on his shoulders, he’s struggling to make his first career goal. The tabloids are reporting on his every move, including which woman he was last seen with, but all he wants to do is escape the spotlight.

Enter from stage left Sage Beaumont, an aspiring ballerina with dreams of joining the Aurora Ballet Theatre, but her lack of popularity online leaves her at a major disadvantage for securing the lead role. When Sage finds herself with the perfect opportunity to make her dreams come true by fake dating Elias, she takes her shot.

Soon enough, the flimsy fake-dating rules they set in place fall away in the face of their sizzling connection. But before things spiral out of control, Sage and Elias will have to decide if they’re willing to take the leap together or if they'll call it quits.

Title: Spiral (Off the Ice #2)

Author: Bal Khabra

Publisher: Berkley

Expected Publication Date: January 28, 2025

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for supplying me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I adored the first book in this series, Collide. It was unexpected from an author I hadn't heard for before. That made me really want to continue on to see the story lines of the other characters I met there. Sprial is the story of Elias Westbrook, who we met in book one, and Sage Beaumont, a newly introduced characters. 

I will say, I went into this book with high expectations given how much I loved the first book. I wanted it to give me the same feel. Unfortunately, that was not the case. 

Elias Westbrook, definitely a grump in this grumpy/sunshine book. He's had some trouble in his past and is paying for it, literally. Being the handsome young rookie on the Toronto Thunder team has has thrust him into the media spotlight. And the media has painted him in a playboy light, when he is nowhere near what they are trying to show the public. He doesn't want to open up for anyone. And he certainly doesn't want to be romantically involved with anyone. His focus is on his career and keeping his nose clean. He doesn't expect Sage Beumont, and he certainly doesn't expect how she makes him feel. However, the amount of tease with him was just annoying for me. He had this big secret he was holding back and I felt like he was stringing Sage along for much of the book. When the big reveal finally happens, I was not impressed. Plus, the actual reveal made no sense given what they had already done together. I don't want to spoil it so I'll just leave it at that.

Sage has one sole focus: get the lead role in the ballet company's showing of Swan Lake, She will do whatever she needs to make sure she can secure that role. Even if it means fake dating the man she won a date with at an auction. Social media will help her be noticed and recognized. Fake dating Eli will help with this. What she doesn't expect is to actually fall for the man. Having spent her life around hockey players, she's always kept her distance. But Elias offers her the support she needs to get her career on track. Sage is supposed to be a POC but I just don't see that worked in to where it made sense to even introduce that. If you're going to introduce this, there needs to be reasoning for it: showing socio/economic differences, showing how this may affect her ability to move forward in ballet, etc. We get a bit of the socio/economic but not enough. I felt like this part of the story fell short as the wealthy white hockey player swoops in to take care of her. It was way too superficial. I enjoyed Sage's relationship with her brother, but I just found it a little unrealistic, to be honest. How is she caring for him when she has the mess of her life? I understand he's at a boarding school but she's just not as involved as I feel like she would be if she were like his guardian.

I wasn't totally comfortable with the relationship between Sage and Eli. The potential was great. I loved the idea of them being forced together. But I wanted more of a slow burn with antics and banter and it just didn't hit for me. There was so much that could have been done to show them growing towards each other but it just felt forced to me. I needed to see their relationship grow more organically and it just didn't. I didn't feel invested in them ending up together. The slow burn was done well enough but not to the point that I felt the emotional connections I would have liked to between the characters.

I felt like the author didn't truly understand the ballet world. I feel like more research was needed to truly show what that world is like for Sage. It's just not realistic the way it's presented. And I'm confused as to why there needed to be a fake dating trope. Was it supposed to be because of Eli's background and he's vow? I don't really get why it was necessary expect to make another story line to follow that didn't really make sense for the plot line.

Overall, I was more disappointed than not with this installment of this series. I wanted to love it but there were just so many plot holes and things that didn't make any sense. I felt like I spent the entire book waiting for something to happen and it never really did. I will still pick up future books from Khabra, as I like her writing and think she has great potential as a romance author.

Author:

Bal is a Canadian writer, romance enthusiast, and book lover. Before she decided to jump into the romance pool, she spent her time gushing about books on social media.

She loves reading about love, watching movies about love, and now, writing about it herself. There really isn’t much else that gets her heart fluttering the way HEAs do. She fell in love with writing and hopes to continue living out her romance author dreams.

Most Anticipated Releases Tuesday December 17, 2024

 

Happy Tuesday December 17, 2024 release day to these beauties!

Definitely Better Now by Ava Robinson

I will say it is the theme of alcoholism that pulled me to this book. I grew up in that environment so I hope the author does it justice.

Power Play (Sinners on the Ice #4) by Anastasija White

I'm all over hockey romance. I haven't read any of the books in this series but you better bet they are now on my TBR!

What are you most anticipating this week?

ARC Review: Stay (WAGS #2) by Ellen Kennedy and Sarina Bowen

From New York Times bestselling author Elle Kennedy and USA Today bestselling author Sarina Bowen comes the next in the spin-off series of their wildly successful Him and Us books.

"I'm ridiculously attracted to you, Hottie. I figured I should be up front about that."

"Shut up and kiss me again, Snipes."

Hailey Taylor Emery has a hunch that Sniper87, her favorite client at Fetch—the anonymous virtual assistant service she runs with her ex-husband—is actually gorgeous hockey superstar Matt Eriksson. It's against the rules to check his file, but she's pretty sure she spends every day texting her lifelong crush and catering to his every need. Still processing her recent divorce, Hailey is perfectly content for this to be nothing but harmless online flirting…until Sniper87 wants to meet her. Face to face. utter panic.

Matt Eriksson is no stranger to heartbreak. He's still not over the destruction of his own marriage, and it sucks to be the only guy on his team who knows the that hockey and long-term relationships are a toxic mix. He barely sees his kids, and dealing with his ex makes him feel worthless. The only person in his life who seems to understand is someone who won't show her pretty the mysterious HTE, aka "Hottie."

Surely, though, it's nothing a pair of fourth row hockey seats can't fix. Superfan Hailey can't resist the offer, and Matt can't resist Hailey. But when the phone screens come down, can they get past their baggage long enough to build something real?

Title: Stay (WAGS #2)

Author: Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen

Publisher:

Expected Publication Date: September 17, 2024

Previous Publication Date: June 20, 2017

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for supplying me with an egalley of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I cannot pass by an Elle Kennedy book, ever. I love her fun, funny, romantic stories and this one was no different.

Stay is the follow up to Good Boy. So you'll see some cross over characters there. You don't truly need to read the first book in the WAGs series to understand this one, but it will spoil the relationship from the first book a bit.

I'm loving the new covers Sourcebooks has given to this updated series. They are fun and the colors truly pop and catch the eye.

The story has a typical romance theme which includes one of my favorite romance sports, Hockey.

Hailey and Matt have a cute connection. I love that they share the background of divorce and what follows that. Both having a difficult time realizing they deserve to be happy, despite what happened in their past relationships. They have great banter and lots of fun chemistry throughout the book as they navigate their new relationship. They don't label themselves for a good while, worrying those labels will define who they are to each other. But in the end they are a couple and everyone around them realizes it before they do, of course.

I love the relationship Kennedy and Bowen paint of Matt with his twin girls. He's so good with them. It's sweet. And the struggle between him and his ex to balance co-parenting seems to be fairly spot on, though I've not experienced this on a personal level to truly know 100%.

Of course we have the characters with their insecurities who just do not think they are worthy of one another. And it takes a bit of a rift for the realization that they are to come to the forefront. I will say, there is no real third act break-up, at least not in the traditional sense. Usually that involves some sort of miscommunication, but that is not the case with this book. It was refreshing.

It was also nice to see characters that are a bit older, a bit more worldly, a bit more mature. You can see the struggle between them as they figure out what will make their relationship work, and it's more than just passionate sex.

It was fun to see the WAGs ladies from the first book. I love that Kennedy and Bowen paint a picture of women empowering other women and lifting them up. Their support is really great.

Overall, this one was fun and I'd continue with the series, given the chance.

Authors:

A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.

Elle currently writes for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

Sarina Bowen is the 24-time USA Today bestselling and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary fiction, including: The Five Year Lie, the True North series, and the Brooklyn Hockey series. She's the co-author of Him/Us and the WAGs series with Elle Kennedy. And more!

You can find a complete reading order list of Sarina's books on her website. Or see what's coming next from Sarina, and sign up for her newsletter so you don't miss a new book or a deal.

 

ARC Review: Good Boy (WAGS #1) by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen

Hosting her brother’s wedding for an MVP guest list is the challenge of Jess Canning’s life. Already the family screw-up, she can’t afford to fail. And nobody - absolutely nobody! - can learn of the colossal mistake she made with the best man during a weak moment last spring. It was wrong, and there will not be a repeat. Absolutely not. Even if he is the sexiest thing on two legs.

Blake Riley sees the wedding as fate’s gift to him. Jess is the maid of honor, and he’s the best man? Let the games begin. So what if he’s facing a little (fine, a lot) of resistance? He just needs to convince the stubborn blonde that he’s really a good boy with a bad rap. Luckily, every professional hockey player knows that you’ve got to make an effort if you want to score.

But Jess has more pressing issues to deal with than sexy-times with a giant man-child. Such as: Will the ceremony start on time, even though someone got grandma drunk? Does glitter ever belong at a wedding? And is it wrong to murder the best man?

Caution: May cause accidental aspiration of tea or coffee. Do not read in a public place where loud laughter is inappropriate. Contains hot but hilarious hockey players, puppy cuddling and a snarky pair of underwear.

Title: Good Boy (WAGS #1)

Author: Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen

Publisher: Sourcebooks Bloom Books

Expected Publication Date: August 6. 2024

Review:

Thank you to Sourcebooks Bloom Books and NetGalley for providing me with an egalley of this title for and honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I will pretty much read anything Elle Kennedy writes. And I know this is a re-release but I've actually never read this series so I wanted too jump in. And when she combines her writing with Bowen, it's even more fun. I loved their Him and Us books. I wasn't expecting a spin off of that series but they did it and I'm all about reading it.

The plot line is typical of a fast and quick romance. I love the friends to lovers aspect. And it's fun to see it grow in the presence of a little bit of a sorted past between the two characters. The plot heavily relies on humor, which I really like. Blake Riley and Jessica "Jess, J-babe" Canning could not be more different. But their chemistry does sizzle. And the plot grows that chemistry but also their growing attraction to each other as people.

Blake really is your stereo-typical athlete dude. He's cocky and very sure of himself. But underneath there's this sweetness too him. And even though he comes off not as smart as you think he might be, he actually has so much more going on underneath. His biggest asset is his heart and how he puts himself in the way of those he cares for (or cared for) so they won't get hurt. It's a bit detrimental to him. He's very worried about hurting people but it is hurting him for much of the book. I'm glad he's able to come to terms with this. The one thing he never waivers on is his love for Jessica. And his determination to show her they are right for each other is a bit over the top, because he is that cocky, but sweet at the same time. And his sisters are so much fun. I would have loved to see a bit more about them but what I got from his family is the women are big and bold and not afraid of opening their mouths. 

Jessica was a fun character. I love that she's Jamie's sister. They have a big family and Jessica has always felt like she is the screw up. But she's actually so much smarter than she gives herself credit for and it takes her the entire book to realize that. She's very busy comparing herself to others for most of the book and when she finally realizes there is so much more she can give than what she thinks she can, it's fun to watch her see it in herself. I do wish there was a little more substance to her than her being super insecure. It took up her whole personality and I really would have liked to see more from her as a character.

The pacing is easy and light with this one. The chapters flow well and it's a pretty fast pace getting you from beginning to end. 

If you're looking for something fun and funny, this is that book. I will say the actual plot is very light. There's not all that much there but it didn't detract from the relationship between Blake and Jessica growing and just being a joy to watch. I'll definitely continue to read this series to see what other character relationships Kennedy and Bowen grow!

Authors:

A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.

Elle currently writes for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

Sarina Bowen is the twenty-four-time USA Today bestselling and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of three dozen books, including: the True North series, and Brooklyn Hockey. She's the co-author of Him/Us and the WAGs series with Elle Kennedy. She's the author of The Ivy Years series, and more!
Are you looking for a friends-to-lovers story or maybe even a secret baby book? You can read a list of Sarina's books broken out by trope and style.
Need to know what's coming next ? Get all the latest news on Sarina's website, and sign up for her newsletter so you don't miss a book or a deal.