From the author:
Swoon-worthy romance with lovable characters, loads of humor, and a healthy dose of drama on the way to a happily ever after.
From I’ve Read This: Instant bestsellers, Consider Me, Play With Me, and Unravel Me were all published in December 2023 after reaching massive success as e-books via their popularity on TikTok. Now that they are in print, they’re reaching an even wider audience to great success. Each is a romance that follows a different hockey player on a fictional NHL team closely modelled after the Vancouver Canucks, and not surprisingly, each book results in true love found. You don’t need to necessarily read them in order, but there are ‘relationship spoilers’ if you don’t. With each being 500 pages, it is a commitment, but one that many are clearly diving into anyway.
From Goodreads: There appears to be a fifth book coming in this series, Breathe With Me. No information on it from my usual sources though, and trust me, I did my research. There is a barely-there mention of it on The Bookseller, simply stating that book 5 will be out in 2025 in the UK, and I assume, in the US. Obviously, I am a tiny bit obessed with this series!
I did a full review of the first book in the series, Consider Me, and here are my thoughts on the rest of the series.
I believe these were self-published, but Simon & Schuster published book 4, Fall With Me, and started up their publicity machine. I managed to get hold of all the books in the series thus far, and despite their long length, I read them in a few days. I loved them all! These books are full of well-defined characters that come to life on the page, lots of steamy sex, some real problems, and enough humor that I was laughing out loud. Plus, they are set in Canada in professional hockey with a fictional team, and even the hockey stuff all rang true. Being that the author is Canadian, that’s not a surprise. Canadians live and breathe hockey like Americans do with football, basketball, and/or baseball. Or hockey, for that matter.
See my comments below each book.
Book 1: CONSIDER ME
For a shot at love, he’ll do whatever it takes…
Carter Beckett is the NHL’s best player—both on and off the ice. His career is at its peak, his friends are performing better than ever, and there’s no shortage of women to spend the night with. What more could he want?
Olivia Parker isn’t new to professional hockey players, thanks to her best friend’s boyfriend, but she has no interest in dating one herself—no matter how hot he is. And anyway, she loves working as a teacher and hanging out with her best friend, drama-free. Why would she want to spend her time stroking the ego of an arrogant athlete?
But once Carter meets Olivia, he can’t think of anything else. Too bad for him, Olivia is hellbent on keeping him at arm’s length, with no intention of giving into his charms. Perhaps it’s time for Carter to up his game…after all, nobody said he had to play fair.
Sparks will fly as Carter does whatever it takes for Olivia to consider him.
From the BookBitch: Consider having plenty of Oreos around for this delicious read! Full review
Book 2: PLAY WITH ME
In the sizzling hockey romance that has taken TikTok by storm, a dedicated player struggles with the number one team rule: don’t go near the captain’s sister.
He’s found the perfect person—but she’s the only one he can’t be with…
Garrett Andersen knows that playing professional hockey requires absolute dedication to the rules. There’s just one rule he’s finding difficult to follow: stay away from his captain’s younger sister.
As a professional dancer, Jennie Beckett knows what it takes to excel. She prides herself on being every bit as confident and bold as her brother, sassy as hell, and the only person in charge of her pleasure. No wonder Garrett can’t stay away from her—even if he forgets how to form sentences whenever she’s around.
Jennie would rather avoid her brother’s teammate, especially after several embarrassing run-ins, but suddenly they’re neighbors. And as the connection between them grows, Garrett and Jennie decide to have some fun, no strings attached. Between their busy schedules and her brother’s disapproval, they know keeping things casual and low-key is the smartest play.
But what if their feelings get in the way? After all, they’re only supposed to be playing with each other…
From the BookBitch: Forbidden love is always a fun trope, and family relationships come into play here when team captain Beckett’s sister moves into the same building as his teammate, Garrett. Garrett is tasked with watching out for Jennie, and he does, happily. But as they grow closer, their friendship soon turns into a more physical relationship. When big brother finds out, that happy ending seems in jeopardy.
Book 3: UNRAVEL ME
In the sizzling hockey romance that has taken TikTok by storm, the star goalie discovers the family he’s always wanted when he falls in love with a single mother.
Can he leave the past behind to forge the future he’s always wanted?
When it comes to dating, Adam Lockwood wouldn’t know luck if it hit him in the face. After a failed relationship and a string of dates gone wrong, the thought of being vulnerable with someone is terrifying—most women only see his fame. But when his dog runs into Rosie Wells, a beautiful woman with a blush as pink as her hair, she doesn’t seem to have a clue who he is, and Adam seizes the opportunity as a chance to finally be himself.
Rosie has her hands full as a single mother and fourth-year veterinary student, and she certainly wouldn’t know a hockey player if she ran into one. She doesn’t have time to date, and she’s fiercely protective of her little family. But when a chance encounter leads her to Adam, she knows it’s worth risking her heart.
The only problem? Adam is used to wearing a mask—he’s a goalie, after all. And as he holds onto a secret that threatens to unravel him and destroy his new family, they’re both at risk of losing more than ever before.
NOTE: Unravel Me contains emotional references to the past death of parents and its surrounding grief, as well as brief discussions of foster care, depictions of child neglect (not by the main character), and the death of an animal (minimal descriptions and as it pertains to the FMC’s training as a veterinarian student; not main character’s pet). If you are sensitive to these subjects, please use this information to make an informed decision about whether to proceed with this story.
From the BookBitch: I loved this story! After a bad breakup with a woman who wanted Adam for everything he has monetarily, and a string of one-night stands with puck bunnies, Adam is done dating. He is a genuinely nice guy, and all he wants is a woman who loves him for himself. Convinced that is never going to happen, he meets Rosie while out walking his dog. She is a single mom, a veterinerary school student, and helps out at the local animal shelter. And best of all, she has no idea who he is other than this really sweet guy who also loves animals, and kids. Especially hers. Theirs is a rocky road to their happy ending, but I loved every page on the way there. This may be my favorite book of the series.
Book 4: FALL WITH ME
From bestselling author and TikTok sensation Becka Mack comes the next book in her sizzling hockey romance series about a playboy defenseman and the team photographer who reforms him.
It was supposed to be a one-night stand. But what if they can’t leave it in the past?
Jaxon Riley is exceptional at three things: starting fights on the ice, picking up women post-game, and going home to fulfill his role as the world’s best cat dad. Relationships, unfortunately, missed the list.
Lennon Hayes is supposed to be on her honeymoon. Instead, she’s alone and single, vacationing next door to a surly tattooed man who ran his date off the resort. When a run-in at the bar results in a night of bickering and cocktails, she finds herself tumbling into bed with the enemy next door, then sneaking out before the sun comes up.
Lennon’s plan to start over in a new city is going great, until she starts her new job. The job? The Vancouver Vipers’ new photographer. And the defenseman scowling at her from across the room? The one-night stand she wasn’t supposed to see again. Good thing neither of them are looking for anything serious… right?
Jaxon may not be used to falling, but if he’s going to go, he refuses to go alone. If he falls, he wants Lennon to fall with him.
From the BookBitch: Jaxon is the newest team member, but after being traded pretty much every year of his hockey career, he knows better than to grow attached to his teammates. But their captain, Beckett, his close group of teammates, and their wives happily ignore his standoffishness and embrace him as their newest family member. Lennon, thinking she is starting over in a new country after a bad breakup at her wedding rehearsal, is shocked to see the one-night stand she had on her “honeymoon.” But the WAGS (wives and girlfriends of the team) really love her and are including her in all their fun, keeping Jaxon and Lennon together whether they like it or not. And it turns out they like it, a lot.
9/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™ 