Slap Shot Surprise

Cherry Tree Harbor, Book 5

De: Melanie Harlow

Narrado por: Connor Crais, Kirsten Leigh

In my defense, I thought the plane was going to crash.

Otherwise, I never would have blurted out those embarrassing things to a perfect stranger.

Did I mention he turned out to be a scorching hot superstar of professional hockey?

But wait, there’s more.

When the plane lands safely, I rush off, praying I’ll never have to face him again. My luck holds out for less than twenty-four hours, when I realize he’s a groomsman at the wedding I’m attending.

We end up having a drink and a good laugh about my panicked confessions, and when he invites me up to his room for some no-strings-attached fun, I say yes. After all, a headboard rattling one-night stand with a guy who knows how to put the puck in deep isn’t something a bookworm like me ever thought she’d experience.

Neither are those two little pink lines.

Now what’s crashing are all the plans Joe Lupo and I had for our lives–separately.

After all, we’re totally wrong for each other. He’s commitment-phobic and completely focused on his career. And I want to plant roots in my small town–with someone who chooses me.

Love? It’s out of the question.

Until Joe Lupo lines up his shot and aims straight for my heart.

©2024 MH Publishing LLC (P)2024 MH Publishing LLC

Slap Shot Surprise !!!

OH MY GOSH ! THIS ONE MIGHT BE MY NEW FAVORITE !!!! Mable Jane Buckley is a quirky, nerdy, play it safe kinda girl who has a DEATHLY fear of flying . Which makes for the most hilarious meet cute with none other than perfectly sculpted, Paul’s twin brother, professional hockey player, Giuseppe ‘Joe’ Lupo . Cut to them both running into each other at a wedding in their home town of Cherry Tree Harbor, Michigan .. and a one night stand surprise happens !!! Long distance is never fun, but these two learn rather quickly that they are capable of scoring the goal . I can’t believe this perfection of a small town series has come to an end . Until my reread Cherry Tree .

This is book five in the Cherry Tree Harbor series and it can be read as a complete standalone .

This audiobook was given to me for honest review by the author .

My favorite of the series 😍

I loved this one!! Definitely my favorite of the series and I'm so glad Melanie Harlow gave us Joe and Mabel's story!!

I knew from the very first chapter I would love this. Their meet cute is hilarious and so original. Of course after that whole situation they would end up at the same wedding. Why not have a night of some fun??!! And of course this night ends up in a pregnancy, which I thought was done so well.

I loved how they both handled everything with such grace and how this brought them together to form an amazing friendship. I think developing that friendship led to having a great foundation for their love. It was perfect.

With Mabel being the baby of the family, I loved seeing her have her moment and get her love story. She loved this baby from the start and was ready to be a mom and you could just feel that she would be the best mom there is. She was strong but also so fun and just that person who would be a great friend!

And Joe! He definitely wasn't expecting any of this. And honestly didn't ever want a baby and wife. Especially at this time in his career. But I loved how he took care of Mabel and wanted to provide for her in any way he could. And he really stepped up and ended up being that rock that Mabel needed to start their family. And I mean, they had great chemistry and he was good in bed too haha.

This was overall just a fantastic conclusion to this series. I wouldn't say you need to read this series in order, and while this one is my favorite, I highly recommend them all! The audiobook was amazing, Connor Crais fantastic as always and Kirsten Leigh did a great job!

I love a pregnancy trope

This was a different way to go about it. I really enjoy the “ stranger to pregnant to love “ trope. Good palette cleanser

Romantic, witty, tender, and steamy romance!

I absolutely adored Mabel Buckley and Joe Lupo and their irresistible love story! It held me captive from page one with it's heartfelt emotion, fun banter, and hot and steamy passion. Mabel and Joe's funny meet cute had Mabel spilling all her secrets to the hot man sitting next to her when she thought their plane was going down. When they meet for a second time, Joe was determined to take care of several of her secrets! Now Mabel has a new secret that will bind them together forever. Joe was only focused on hockey, not considering life beyond that. Now that Mabel was carrying his child, everything changed. But they still live in different places. Can they make their new little family work when they have different ideas and goals? I fell so completely in love with Mabel and Joe, and their fun and fiery love story. Joe is scorching hot, honorable, and protective. He totally had me swooning with all the ways he took care of Mabel. Mabel is smart, funny and confident. She doesn't want to stand in the way of Joe's dreams, which makes him want her even more. They are so perfect together, having fun, both being close to their families, and their chemistry is explosive!
The narrators made this story and these characters come to life so beautifully. They both balanced each characters strength, vulnerability, heartache, and passion, and made me laugh, cry, and fall in love. They completely pulled me in to this world and I felt like I was right there with Mabel and Joe, and all their family and friends.
This is a wonderfully romantic, witty, tender, and steamy story that you can't help but devour as it captures your heart.

“…you know forever when you feel it.”

I am head over heels in love and positively obsessed with Joe and Mabel. They are absolute PERFECTION!! Slap Shot Surprise was a swoony and emotional delight and I couldn’t put it down once I started.

Mabel was so fun with her awkward rambling and nervous hiccups. I loved how maturely she handled the situation and the strength she showed throughout her pregnancy. She was strong and caring and such a joyful character.

Joe was so swoonworthy once he decided what he wanted. He was such a good guy—kind, thoughtful, loved his family and that mouth of his was filthy. I thought his fears and expectations about what he thought his life should look like was realistically portrayed. I loved watching the lightbulb going off in his head and watching him spring into action to get his family.

The audio is narrated by Connor Crais and Kirsten Leigh and it was oh, so good. Connor is perfection as Joe Lupo with his charm and filthy mouth while Kirsten is a delight as Mabel. She brings all Mabel’s adorable awkwardness to life to perfection. I absolutely loved listening to this one as much as I loved reading it.

The flirty banter between Joe and Mabel was everything. It crackled with wit, humor and electricity. These two were comfortable with one another while also being wildly attracted to each other. I loved watching them navigate their surprise pregnancy as well as their unexpected connection and feelings. Slap Shot Surprise was pure perfection and I loved every single moment of this fun, heartfelt story.

the best of surprise pregnancy trope!

I absolutely adored this surprise pregnancy trope. Mabel and Joe act like grown ups when things become unplanned and find their way to love and happiness

Melanie Has Done it Again!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it til I’m blue in the face… Melanie Harlow is my Michigan small town romance queen! She never fails to bring some of my favorite places in the state to life in her own way, and tells a unique, well written story that always has me ready to pack my bags and move back home in hopes I’ll get my own HEA!

Joe and Mabel’s story was completely entertaining from start to finish in Slap Shot Surprise. From a hilarious meet cute in an airplane, a steamy one night stand, to two pink lines on a stick, everything these two has ever known gets thrown on its head in an instant.

I adored Mabel as our heroine, and am SO HAPPY she’s getting her own story. She’s been in and out in previous books, but had lots of work to do before getting to her HEA. And Joe. Ohhhhh Joe. I’ve been waiting for you to meet your match. He’s been single and happy as a clam for years, and prefers the status quo. I loved that Mabel made him finally face his own life and decisions, and see how his actions and choices affect everything else.

I simply loved this book! Mabel and Joes relationship wasn’t conventional but the way it developed throughout the book was PERFECT. Well done, Melanie!

Loved the story, the characters and the narration

Slap Shot Surprise is the final book in the Cherry Tree Harbor Series and I believe Ms Harlow left the best for last. This was a bittersweet listen/read and it was everything I expected and so much more. It was only meant to be one night but who would have guessed a hook up between hockey star Joe Lupo and sweet smal, town girl Mabel was going to turn into a life long commitment. The player finds himself wanting more and all of sudden he can’t live without her….. What follows is a captivating and heartwarming journey as the sweet and caring Mabel finds herself in the world of a star hockey player.
Kristen Leigh and Connor Crais did a wonderful job bringing the characters and their journey to life. They were spot on with the emotion and the humour plus they were very easy to listen to.
Was I sad to see this series end…off course but what a story to end the series with and I’m sure I will be reading this series again and again because I will never tire of the residents of Cherry Tree Harbor. If you love small town romance I urge you to be click this gem of a listen.

No Surprise How Good This Is

It’s no surprise how good this book is… Harlow writes some swoon worthy romances and this was perfect. The characters were charming, past character cameos gave off that small town feel of the series and still the story was uniquely its own. Such a good audiobook.

score and win

this is just such a fabulous listen the story was amazing it's one of those where you just can't stop listening you have to find out what is going to happen. it's also one of those sweet stories where you just sigh and smile. because let's face it we all want to be on a plane right next to a hot hockey player and be awkward as hell but have the guy hit on us anyway that's not exactly what happens but they meet later on at a wedding after the awkward as hell meet on the plane. without giving too much away I just want to say this was such a fabulous story The awkwardness the hotness of him it just all came together so well and I absolutely loved every second of the story The narrators did a fabulous job Connor did a wonderful job playing that pro hockey player father to be. and the female narrator did a great job of being Mabel the awkwardness of her she she just played it really well you really believed it and that's what you want it was a fabulous listen and I would highly recommend this to anyone