⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. Sneaking around is never a good idea, but it sure makes for an amusing and compelling read.

When it comes to hockey, unflappable Maple Creek sports reporter Joy Barlowe is privy to a lot of behind-the-scenes locker room activity. Like stumbling upon Dalton Days in all his unabashed glory. When the muscled goalie goes on to score better than he ever has, he offers Joy a unique proposal. A provocative pregame ritual is born. Dalton has the best stats in the league, but he’s also superstitious. Now he’s found his good luck charm. Joy is not only game, she’s playing along. She’s also his best buddy’s younger sister and totally off-limits. What happens between them has to be their late-night FaceTime secret. That’s the naked truth. So is the fact that Joy and Dalton are discovering there’s more to each other than meets the eye. Falling in lust? Easy to hide. Falling in love? Much harder. Now Dalton has one more proposition for Joy. And the fallout could rock Maple Creek.

MY THOUGHTS

This was most certainly an unusual arrangement to satisfy a hockey player’s new superstition. And it kept evolving as Joy and Dalton spent more time together and their intimacy grew. They were both confident, driven characters, and they brought out the best in each other. These two jumped into this secret pact with both feet and it was clear that they enjoyed each other and this experience. Despite all the intensity right off the bat, this was still a fairly slow burn. And that made it extra satisfying when Joy and Dalton finally gave in to the insane attraction between them.

The overprotective brother is not my favourite, but Shep was a very likable character and even I (as the reader) cared about his opinion. Apart from this obvious roadblock, Joy and Dalton had plenty of other personal demons to slay. Dalton handled Joy’s issues like a pro, even if his delivery could’ve used some improvement.

I enjoyed the straightforward writing style and the witty dialogue. The author quickly established a tone and personality for Joy and Dalton that stayed consistent throughout. Their edges softened up a bit as they became more comfortable with each other.

This is book two in a series, but it stands well on its own. I can highly recommend this if you like a steamy hockey romance, with a decent amount of actual hockey playing.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: February 18, 2025
Sensuality Rating: Hot
Series: Book 2 of Maple Creek
Tropes: Brother’s Best Friend, Unusual Hockey Superstition, Forbidden Romance, Small Town