Britt98

I Love This Story & I Love This Series!

Reviewed: 02-28-25

I have been going back and listening to all of the DC Eagles Hockey books in preparation for the upcoming release of the last book in the series. This particular story was the first one that I had read by this author. I love that feeling when you realize that you have found an author whose writing style and stories make you happy and make you feel connected to the characters.

I loved that Colby fell first. He realized upon meeting Noel that she was someone he wanted to get to know and that his previous playboy ways were over. I loved his devotion to her.

Noel struggled with trusting her heart to any man again, but especially a professional athlete. She had a lot of growing to do in this story and I appreciated the way these two handled things when that trust was put to the test.

This book was swoony, fun, and full of heart from beginning to end. I absolutely loved it. The dual audio book narration was wonderful and made for a great listening experience.

The DC Eagles Hockey series is one of my very favorites! Great characters, great stories, great romance, and wonderful found family within the team and their significant others.

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I loved this marriage of convenience story!

Reviewed: 02-19-25

I loved this story! It was also fun to listen to it on audio.

The author did a great job of capturing the feelings that Odette had for Madden, from her high school crush to being his wife for the sake of his campaign run. Odette proved herself time and again and showed herself to be a kind and caring person as she navigated married life with Madden.

Madden made some pretty big mistakes within this marriage that really hurt Odette emotionally and threatened not only their marriage of convenience, but also the connection and love that was growing between them.

I appreciated how much Madden grew within this novel. He overcame some misplaced beliefs about himself and got his priorities right by the end of the story. It was great to see how these two got their start after having first met them as an established married couple in the novella, Passion or Penalty.

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Loved This Fake Dating Story!

Reviewed: 02-11-25

The Appies series is one of my absolute favorites and I am slowly listening my way through all of the books. I love this series so much that I have purchased each book in all of their available formats! I know! I just can’t help myself.

If you are a fan of sweet and clean hockey romances, this series is one you should definitely read. You can jump into any book, as they are all written so they can be enjoyed as stand alones, however, I really love the experience that the authors have created by crafting these stories of teammates who are also close friends. So, I love reading them in order when possible.

This is the second book that I have read this week where the male main character feels that he cannot, in good conscience, enter into a relationship due to the troubles that he experienced as a child, growing up in a family where love didn’t conquer all. But, of course, Nathan falls for Summer anyway, even though he puts up as many walls and boundaries as he can.

I love the fake dating trop because it gives the characters a reason that they must act as if they are in love when they are in public. This story had the great twist that Summer realized early on that she cared for Nathan, so her feelings quickly became real. It added some great tension. Both of these characters were just so wonderful and I couldn’t help but love them both. And I loved that Summer ended up taking care of Nathan when he was sick. It was a beautiful turning point for them, too.

Once again, as with all of the prior Appies books, I loved it from start to finish, which included an epilogue and even a bonus epilogue!

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From Grumpy Sunshine to Happily Ever After!

Reviewed: 01-12-25

This sweet and clean audio book with dual narration was fun to listen to! The quirky characters and the way they had to navigate being roommates and answering weekly video diary questions was clever.

This began as an enemies to more and grumpy sunshine type story, with Parker initially bringing the tension into everything with rude and distancing behavior toward Lanie. I enjoyed the way things built between these two. They both brought baggage into the potential relationship that began developing between them.

Lanie was tired of being judged on only her appearance. Her former boyfriend had told her she wasn’t smart enough for him to stay with her. And Parker was reeling from a divorce that cost him everything and included betrayal from his best friend, as well.

But, somehow, these two began to connect with some help from Parker’s friends and Lanie’s kind heart. It was really nice to see these two grow from strangers to unhappy roommates to friends to more. I also loved the wonderful epilogue at the end of the book.

(4.5 stars)

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A Nice Start to the Series

Reviewed: 01-11-25

This was such a sweet and fun story that also touched on some serious topics. These serious topics influenced the actions of both the male and female main characters, leading them to lie to each other throughout the book. I'm not a big fan of lying, however, it really actually worked for this plot.

I felt so bad for Brooke and the turmoil and heartache she was trying to rise above due to some medical news she received earlier in the year. She was so amazing with Mac's daughter, Daisy, though, and couldn't help falling for her and her dad.

Mac was a great character, too. I've seen him appear in the Abieville Love Stories series that I have read by this author, so it was fun to finally read his story. I continue to be impressed by the way he cares for the people in his life.

I really enjoyed Mac and Brooke's story and listened to the audiobook version, which was nicely narrated. I'm looking forward to reading the other Apple Valley books sometime, too.

(4.5 stars)

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Wonderful Addition to the Series!

Reviewed: 12-13-24

I continue to love the gentle stories of The Gents. Set in Regency England, this close group of friends and their growing circle of wives always show themselves to be faithful, witty, and willing to do what they can to support each other in all times.

I enjoyed Niles and Penelope’s story. I listened to the audio version and, like I have with the books before this one, I thought the narrator did a fantastic job with the voices.

Niles and Penelope had a rough start, with Niles actually running away from the marriage that had been arranged for him. This was definitely a slow burn romance and I really felt for Penelope as she began to get to know Niles and started to realize that they actually had a lot in common. Yet, as she worked to connect with Niles, he seemed uninterested in her and I could feel the hurt and worry that Penelope had since she viewed Niles as her last chance at the future she hoped for.

As Niles and Penelope began to fall for each other, it was so sweet to see what caring people they actually were. Yet they had some big obstacles to overcome and Penelope’s very frustrating brother to deal with.

Snapdragons is a great addition to The Gents series and I am looking forward to reading and listening to the future stories when they are released.

(4.5 stars)

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Beautiful, Sweet Story!

Reviewed: 12-04-24

I listened to this re-released novella (with a special bonus epilogue) and enjoyed it thoroughly again! The narration and gentle story telling make me feel as if I am back in time and experiencing life - both the good and difficult times with these characters.

This novella is particularly sweet in that you get to see Adam, the Duke of Kielder, as a boy who recently lost his father. Lucas and Julia, from the Gents series, take Adam under their wing and it is always a beautiful thing to see how Lucas and Julia take care of the people they love.

I adore The Gents series and this sweet novella is a joy!

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Absolutely Wonderful!

Reviewed: 11-22-24

I listened to this story during the summer and loved it so much that I went back and purchased it in audio, ebook, and print!

The Golden Goal is the first book that I have read by this author and I am now so excited to go back and read or listen to other books that she has written!

This story was, without a doubt, one of the best tales of unrequited love that I have read. The way Shaw had loved Sutton since they were children was so sweet. It made me feel bad for him as I realized all the times he had stepped in to be there for Shaw, but she had only seen him as someone who antagonized her.

The tropes in this book are some of my favorites, including brother’s best friend and celebrity or sports romance. I have realized lately that I also am a big fan of those moments when an unrequited love is suddenly made known to the person who is clueless as to the other’s feelings. And the moment between Shaw and Sutton when this occurred was perfection. I listened to this part of the story three times and then went back and read it in the ebook, as well. That’s how much I loved the reveal!

There is also an enemies to more vibe in this book. That is not usually a trope I consider a favorite, yet I loved it in this story! Again, Shaw’s devotion to Sutton persevered through all of the years that she considered him her enemy and I loved the moment when she realized all of the ways that Shaw had been there for her in the past. It was like her eyes were finally opened to who he really was.

I listened to the audio version of this novel and it was wonderfully performed in dual narration. Both narrators did a fantastic job and I plan to buy my own copy of this audio book, as well as a print copy for my shelves.

I received a complimentary copy of this audio book, however, I did purchase the ebook version & then went back and bought the print and audio copies, too. All opinions are my own.

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Wow! All the Love for this Story!

Reviewed: 10-05-24

*This book has been on my mind for weeks, so I could not resist listening to it again. It is one of my top favorites of the year. I just love these characters!*

I absolutely adore the books in the D.C. Eagles Hockey series. The author has crafted characters who feel so real and set them in the exciting world of professional hockey. Well, after listening to Betrothal or Breakaway, I know that Ford and Amber are my favorite characters. And that is really saying something, because each book and each set of characters has had something that captured me and made me feel connected to them. It is why this is one of my very favorite contemporary romance/romcom series. These books are sweet and closed door, with only a bit of mild language occasionally.

I loved the dual narration! The narrators really captured and brought to life Ford and Amber. This is the ultimate “he falls first” novel, too. Not only does it have the marriage of convenience and best friends to more tropes, but Ford has loved Amber since they were children. And we, the readers, get to experience some of their moments as children through flashbacks that were just the right peek into their friendship. And even though Amber didn’t see Ford in a romantic way until they were married, I liked that she wasn’t simply overlooking him all of those years. He truly was the most important person in her life and her love for him and their connection to each other through friendship was beautiful.

This book gave a peek into what Ford dealt with regarding his high functioning autism in a very realistic way. The way he approached life and the way he managed those things that overwhelmed him were part of who he was. I loved that Amber loved and understood him. They were so sweet together and their little family, with baby Nella, was wonderful to read about.

I received a complimentary copy of this audio book, although I also purchased the print version (and now also the audio and ebook versions). All opinions are my own.

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I Loved This Marriage of Convenience Story!

Reviewed: 09-11-24

A Groom of One’s Own is a wonderful addition to the Appies series! I listened to the audio book, which was narrated so nicely. The characters of Eli and Bailey came to life beautifully!

Eli has shown up in the two previous novels and definitely had a fun and engaging, extroverted personality. However, there were hints that there was more to him than met the eye, including a head for investing.

This was such a sweet marriage of convenience story between two people who I just couldn’t help but love. They were little more than acquaintances when Eli mentioned the idea of marriage. They both admire what they know of each other, yet are still very much strangers to each other when they actually agree to get married.

One of the things that felt very real about this story was when occasionally Eli would make a decision and then realize that it was the opposite of what Bailey had needed him to do. Such as when he showed up for their date and Bailey thought he was going to give her a hug and he didn’t. I loved that he immediately realized her disappointment and wrapped her up in that hug. These two were growing in their admiration and attraction to each other in a gentle way all through the story and it felt so real, as did the various “awkward together” moments.

I loved the care and consideration they showed for each other and their romantic attraction was simply perfection! This story made me so happy to listen to and is definitely going on my list of favorite marriage of convenience tales.

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1 person found this helpful