The One Timer

Portsmouth Whalers #2

by Stephanie Queen

“With a name like Chase, I should have known you’d catch up with me,” she says sporting her wry smile, pretending to be all casually cynical. I would have believed her act if it hadn’t been for that one night...
Only problem is, I’m dying to re-live it all. And she’s not.

Chase Whittier, just up from the minor leagues to join the NHL's new Portsmouth Whalers, is riding high and out to celebrate in Boston after their win against the Brawlers.
In a departure from his usual behavior, he takes a woman home for a one night stand.
Except this woman and this night are not what he expects from a one-night-stand. He connects with her on a level he’s never experienced before. This can’t be normal.

But when she disappears before morning, he's more than disappointed because he didn't get her number--or her last name. And though he doesn’t expect to ever see her again, she stays on his mind.
Until two weeks later when he goes to his grandma’s in Boston for Christmas and finds her there.
She's his grandma's caretaker.
And not happy to see him. At all.

The One Timer is a full length New Adult hockey romance set in the world of the Portsmouth Whalers hockey team--an hour north of the Boston Brawlers. You'll see players from other stories drop in for fun, but this book was written to be read as a stand-alone. If you love hot hockey players and sizzling attraction with all the feels right up to the satisfying happy ending, you'll love this story!
( Contains sex and language for mature audiences. )

Genres: Hockey, Sports Romance

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 30, 2023

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

mixed feelings

I have mixed feelings about this book, although I mostly enjoyed it. The basic story is the h is studying to be a nurse and is the home health aide for an older wealthy woman with a pro hockey player grandson. The aide gets the tickets to the family seats on her birthday and is spotted by the grandson who was expecting his grandmother in the stands. They have an agreed ONS and the h anonymously sneaks out the next morning. Of course the jig is up as soon as the H visits his grandmother and “meets” her aide. The guy fell first as instalove/instalust after spotting her in the stands the hockey game. I prefer a slower roll to a relationship, but if you like a good “love at first sight” then you’ll like that part. I was a little confused by the underlying Cinderella theme. At times it seemed like a reimagining of Cinderella, complete with selfish aunt and two cousins that treated her poorly and made her do chores, but then the h would try to excuse their behavior and the author softened their personalities by the end of the book. If it hadn’t been for the constant references to Cinderella by multiple characters, including the H, I would have ignored that underlying implication as it was not consistent in several areas. There was a lot of push pull regarding the disparity in their wealth, harped on by the h for their mismatch and her not belonging in his world. I got a bit tired of the repetition and her pushing him away, even when he had the support of his family. Apparently the h was the only one objecting to their relationship! Rory was a fantastic boyfriend. Attentive, sweet, caring, hot, talented, faithful, respectful, etc. Most the of family, teammates, friends, etc. were likable and supportive. Like I said, overall I liked this book, hence the 4 stars. There were a few editing errors that jumped out at me. One example is the h is making a luncheon salad for the grandmother and makes a point of adding canned shrimp for healthy protein as she tried to cook salmon one time and it was a cooking failure. On the next page, she offers Rory a salad with poached salmon. Sloppy editing. I know this sounds picky but this happened several times. She turns her phone off and a few minutes later gets a text is another example. That sort of thing. It can be a bit distracting and a bit annoying that no one proofread the book. Feels unprofessional. I hope the author reads these comments and takes them as constructive criticism from someone who loves romance and wanted this to be 5*.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The One Timer by Stephanie Queen, book two in her Portsmouth Whalers series is a wonderful Cinderella story. Emery uses unused tickets to the Whalers game in Boston from her employer Mrs. Whittier to watch, in person, her grandson Chase play; after all she’s heard so much about him. Chase spots her in his grandmother’s seats and after the game sends for her so he can find out who the mystery woman is. After Emery meets Chase she wants a simple one night fling, only Chase finds that one night is not enough. Chase, the rich hockey player falls hard and fast for Emery, the working-class nursing student. Chase has his work cut out for him convincing Emery to give them a shot at more than one night. Their shared traumatic pasts bind them as well as their instant chemistry. This was a fun story to read, especially a Cinderella tale, with a “fairy grandmother” twist to it. I really enjoyed reading this feel good story with lots of twists and turns that keeps you wondering where it is going next. I highly recommend The One Timer to other readers who enjoy sports romance.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Rebecca Unsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

 The One Timer is the second book in the Portsmouth Whalers series and it can be read as a standalone. The One Times features Emery and Chase. Chase is a Hockey player for the Whalers and Emery is a student nurse who is working for Chases grandmother. Emery steals some tickets from Chases grandmother which means she ends up sitting in seats that belong to the Whittiers. Chase spots her in his grandmothers seats and wonders who she is. He sends for her after the game and they spend the night, both saying its a one time thing. They meet again when she is caring for his grandmother and there is obvious attraction and chemistry between them but she feels she doesn't belong in his world.
Another great hockey story. Its got cinderellla vibes and the chemistry between these two is fantastic. I also loved the grandmother and her relationship with Emery. If Hockey romance stories with a hint of a cinderella vibe and a HEA is your thing then I definitely recommend this read.

[Cheryl A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am never disappointed in a book by Stephanie Queen and this second installment of the Whalers is really awesome. It was such a wonderful Cinderella story. Emery steals tickets to the Whalers game in Boston from her employer Mrs. Whittier to really see her grandson Chase play. She’s heard so much about him. Chase spots her in his grandmother’s seats and after the game sends for her so he can find out who the mystery woman is. He’s a rich determined hockey player and she is a struggling student nurse trying to become independent after living with her aunt after her mother died. This is a really feel good fast paced romance with an HEA.

[Kristin Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved!! I was given this book for an arc read and it was perfect. I love a good hockey romance, I'm a suckered for them.

This story, you first get the whole Cinderella vibe. Emory lives with her aunt and Teo cousins, poor, barely making ends meet. Here comes Chase, from old money, Mr Prince Charming. I love the little twist, where her aunt really isn't that evil in the end, just kind of had to live with what life threw at her and in the end, was 100% there for Emory and supported her. Gran, she will forever be a favorite character. She was a hoot in this and made their love story all that much better. Thank you for letting me be a part of your arc team!!

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinderella meets Prince Charming and Everly wants a simple one time fling, but this prince Chase is thinking differently, thou his rookie season of the NHL is weighing heavy on his mind. This book is written so the reader is hooked right into cheering on this couple. I don’t know how you can duplicate Chase but I would like the recipe to try. Everly is a sweet young lady that has been dealt many hardships in her life, but is pure sunshine.

I’m a fan of Stephanie’s sports romance books, they bring a big of everything & always are page turners.

[Tabitha Cagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I think Chase is absolutely swoony and sexy all in one! He’s definitely in over his head but he’s got Gran to keep him grounded. I love Emery! Her amazing selflessness and ability to see the good in everyone even if on the outside it doesn’t look like they deserve it is so admirable. I loved every second of this book. I wish there was more because I didn’t want it to end! Stephanie really did a fabulous job yet again. She always pulls me into the stories she writes, into the lives of her characters. I can’t wait for the next one!

[Nancy Peach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was certainly a fun book to read, who doesn’t love a Cinderella tale with a hockey playing grandmother caretaker twist. I really enjoyed reading this story and Stephanie Queen did a marvelous job writing it. It is certainly a feel good story but plenty of twists and turns that keeps you wondering where it goes next. It even has a fairy grandmother, I just loved it!

I received an ARC copy for free and this is my honest review!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story. Hockey romances are my favorite. Cinderella meets Prince Charming. Of course, Cinderella is fiercely independent with the heart of an angel. Prince Charming can't help but love and admire her sweet and caring nature. She sees the best in everyone. She only has to see past her feelings of inadequacy. We all know the end of the Cinderella story but read the book anyway. It truly is a Cinderella story.

[BookFox · Rating 1 out of 5]

Emery pushed against the idea of a relationship up until 84% of the book. The Cinderella thing was stupid why make the aunt and cousins look so bad the whole way to soften them up at the end? Chase fell first and hard but never told her he loves her unless you count in the epilogue when he asks her to marry him he calls her the love of his life.

Safe
Dual pov
No ow/om drama but jealousy from a family friend that obviously wants the H
Epilogue eh

[Allison6876 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't understand the H's thing about "stealing" the tickets - she brought them to the Fosters and they told her to use them - how is that stealing? Overall she was likable but too much of a doormat to her family and strangely immature about some things. However, I am a fan of the author and overall enjoyed the book.

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emery works for Chase’s grandmother, she takes tickets to go watch the game. Chase is wondering who the girl in his grandmother’s box is….A real life Cinderella story , but does this one get her fella? Brilliant! Hockey star hooks up and falls for nurse student and one night is not enough…..great narratives, steamy and fun .
I read an advance copy and my review my own words given voluntary

[TAMRON · Rating 2 out of 5]

wordy

I was getting dizzy from the circles the main characters were going in. The mfc always seemed like she wasn’t all in. It was kinda dry and I got to a point i just wanted it to be over. There wasn’t really any romance they just slept together and for the most part she was sneaking out afterwards. I’m sorry I wouldn’t recommend

[Lynne Spreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had everything going for it. A rich boy / poor girl Cinderella setup, with an evil "stepmother" and "step-sisters", a good-hearted heroine trying to pull herself up by her bootstraps, a handsome "prince", instalove, and steam. Characters you can root for from page one. Recommended!

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the sass between these two right from the start and it only of gets better the farther you get in the book. Add in hockey, a loving grandmother and some steamy hot scenes and you've got another best seller you don't want to miss

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first ARC book, and I really enjoyed it! It was a fun, and feel good book that made me laugh from the get go. I will be reading the first book of this series, and more of Stephanie’s Books!

[Spice Chaser · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Simple romance with a bit of spice. Sometimes a simple romance with a minimal mind bending storyline can be a good thing. Easy to read (although a few editing issues, but I don’t worry about those) and easy to finish. Enjoyable for me.

[Erin Molta · Rating 4 out of 5]

One night leads to forever

When one night leads to an existential crisis and found family it’s a story worth reading. Love these Portsmouth Whalers guys.

[sandra silliman · Rating 4 out of 5]

G

The only reason why this was a bit less effective at first and I don't was used as I don't was

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story between Chase and Em was good, but I almost dnf'd the book due to the "Cinderella" part. I kept at it waiting for her to grow a spine but I was seriously disappointed. Total doormat.

[Amber Pickerill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need Chase and Emery in my life! I did not want this book to end. Absolutely loved the unique take on Cinderella and who doesn't love hockey romance!
A great read!
I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.