Narration by Jason Clarke & Angelina Rocca
Boston Bobcats, Book 1
From the publisher:
He’s the plot twist she didn’t see coming . . .
Maya Silver doesn’t believe in happily ever afters, nor does she want one. She’s too busy managing the Book Nook, a cozy Boston bookstore where romance novels fly off the shelves. After one too many disappointments, she’s learned that love is unpredictable, and most promises don’t last. So love in real life? That’s a story Maya’s shelved for good.
Enter Nicholas “Cole” Barrett, the Boston Bobcats’ star player. He’s built his whole life around the game, and it’s paid off. He’s got his routine perfected until Maya crashes into it with stories, sarcasm, and a smile he can’t stop thinking about. She’s not chasing a puck or a paycheck, and for once, he’s not thinking about the next practice or game, he’s thinking about her.
Maya’s not interested in being won over, but Cole is used to pursuing things worth winning. And as they spend more time together, the harder it is to ignore the fiery pull between them and the way their connection feels like something more. But having spent her whole life believing true love was only found in books, will Maya be brave enough to begin a love story of her own?
This open‑door sports romance pairs Maya, a bookstore manager who lives and breathes stories, with Cole Bennett, a professional hockey player carrying more emotional weight than he lets on. Maya is the kind of person who can talk about romance tropes for hours, which made her instantly relatable. She loves reading about happily‑ever‑afters but doesn’t believe in them for herself.
Cole changes that. He falls first—and hard—and is willing to take things entirely at her pace. His patience, his steadiness, and the way he genuinely listens make him incredibly endearing. Maya, meanwhile, has trust issues rooted in her past, and the book does a great job showing why she doesn’t open up easily.
Their meet‑cute is refreshingly simple: two strangers at a party, one reading in a corner, one intrigued. No best friend’s brother, no coach’s daughter—just two people who click. They become friends first, sharing meals, conversations, and eventually feelings they can’t ignore. When the romance finally turns physical, the chemistry lands beautifully.
The miscommunication trope is present, but it aligns with their emotional arcs rather than feeling contrived. Cole’s family tragedy and Maya’s fear of abandonment both shape how they move toward each other. The side characters add humor and warmth, giving the story a strong found‑family feel, and even the dog is a standout.
The narrators did an excellent job of bringing me into the story and keeping me there. Overall, it’s a light, sweet, low‑drama hockey romance with great banter, a patient male main character, a bookish female main character, and a relationship that feels genuinely earned. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
5/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
ICE ICE BABY by Carly Robyn. Narrators: Callie Dalton & JD Tomlinson. Dreamscape Media. (February 24, 2026). ASIN: B0G61BC98L. Listening Length: 9 hours and 40 minutes.
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