Face Off

by Ellie Rae

I never thought I would have been a teen mom. I also never thought I’d be raising my kid alone.

That’s what happened when I told Boyce Cameron he was going to be a father. He left me high and dry to chase his dream in the NHL, leaving me with a bouncing baby boy and a broken heart.

I swore I’d never love again.

Well, that was the plan till I met him, Brooks Miller. The team captain for the Seattle Skipjacks and my new patient. See where I’m heading here? A big conflict of interest between doctor and patient. So, I pushed him away and built up walls so high to freeze him out.

But seeing him interact with my child slowly chipped away at my defenses and I realized I was quickly falling for him. It’s been 10 years since I let love in. Can I trust Brooks with my heart?

The answer is yes.

However, it could all crumble in a matter of moments thanks to a secret I’m hiding.

Genres: Hockey, Sports Romance, Contemporary, Romance, Hockey Romance

307 pages, Paperback

Published April 23, 2023

Reviews

[Brit · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[J. · Rating 1 out of 5]

So Disappointing!

For starters, they need a better editor. So many gramatical errors and storyline inconsistencies. In the beginning of the book, “Everleigh” was his 5 year old niece and then in the middle of the book “Everly” is his 3 year old niece who knows about David Beckham and he’s her boyfriend. So dumb!

Also, is Brooks the most clueless guy ever. The fact that Cam had the Richards last name should have been a big neon sign saying who he was or at least made him ask more questions. Hayley’s reasoning for not telling him made no sense. This book was just bad!!

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost DNF the book by 50% but decided to just follow through. You’ll find some errors throughout the book. Both grammar and spelling errors, no biggie. Insta lust/love. Everything happened within months. For a grown woman who is a mother and a doctor, the FMC (Hayley) was immature. In one scene she asked for space from the MMC (Brooks), he gives her space, like two weeks, and she doesn’t know what to do to get his attention, so she agrees to have her best friends hot cousin grind all over her and then she kisses him to get a reaction from Brooks. If Brooks had done that it would’ve been over, done, he cheated, fuck him but oh it’s ok she did that because she truly wanted only him and wanted his attention? How about use your words and talk to him? 🤷🏻‍♀️ And the fact that she couldn’t blurt out the words “my last name was Richard’s so I’m the owner of your hockey team’s daughter” annoyed the hell out of me. There’s 60 seconds in a minute, 24 hours in a day and they’ve been dating and fucking for months and she couldn’t find 10 seconds to say that to him? I’m trying to think why I gave this book 3 stars instead of 1. I’m trying to be nice and demure and all that, whatever, but the more I talk about this book the more annoyed I’m getting lol

[Courtney Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ Book Review ✨

Face Off by Ellie Rae
Publisher Scarlet Lantern Publishing
Pub date April 28th 23

Rating ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice 🌶🌶🌶.5

I will be reading this entire series, thank you! Can we all just give a slow hand clap for Brooks? That man…yes. I swear I am putting tab markings everywhere when I get the paperback!

This is a forbidden lover’s hockey romance! Everyone that knows me knows that I am a sucker for hockey romance. When I say this book delivers…it delivered!

It was a angsty and sweet kinda of book. This book is 🔥🌶️ and the scenes were done very very well and there were so many of them throughout the entire book.

I loved the chemistry between Brooks and Hayley. I think Brooks Miller ranks up there in the Ultimate Book Boyfriends.

Brooks and Hayley both definitely delivered in the dirty talker category. 🥵

The ending will make your JAW DROP!!

I am 💯 recommending this series to everyone!

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book. It fell very flat. It seemed very instalove after being intimate one time, and the drama felt very juvenile. Multiple typos and inconsistencies in the plot. For someone who is a single mother, she seems to not spend much time with her child. The lies and omissions between the MMC and FMC are so ridiculous, there is no way they are even close to being realistic. Brooks has been playing for Seattle EIGHT YEARS--and he has no clue about the owners family? Hasn't heard of Hayley?? He doesn't recognize the owners wife when he sees her at Hayley's home?? They were just at a party with them. *eyeroll* If you want something light, this might be a fine choice but overall it lacked depth and development.

[Jessica Shaffer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just dont

There's a lot of spelling and grammar errors, which i could get past. But then his nieces name changes how it's spelled mid story along with her age. Her son is 10, acting like he's 5 one minute and 16 the next. Both MCs are childish. You dont connect with them, and they don't really connect with each other. The whole story of her hiding her last name was absolutely stupid. Im unsure how brooks didn't figure it out on his own. He's either very naive or just dumb. Poorly written and executed. I feel tricked because I read the reviews. I went back and noticed all the higher reviews got a free copy for feedback. Coincidence? Who knows, but lesson learned for me.

[Bookstagramtea · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love sports romance. I'm a serious addict and I can't remember the last time I gave a sports romance less than a four star, but this book is awful. Soooo many errors. I reported numerous typos, then there are huge plot fails. A right hand squeezed here, whilst the right hand squeezed there. Everleigh and Everly are actually the same niece though differently aged and alternately spelled. I should have stopped, when the story began with its ending and revealed the entire plot. This was really disappointing.

[Helen · Rating 1 out of 5]

this was dumb

I’ve never read a book so infuriatingly stupid😐

Why are we just forgiving the worst males?? Like no don’t do that

Also what’s with breakup but not actually breakup yous gave me whiplash

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alrighty then......The book was well-written and kept my attention, but the drama was such unbelievable bs. It got to be really annoying and it seems some of it will carry over to the next book but I doubt I'll be reading it.

[DAC · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

I love hockey romance - it’s my favorite trope.

This book read like it was written by a high schooler. And why do we need the end before the story even starts. I wanted to like it and tried to keep going, but I just can’t.

[Julia B · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hailey is a Grade A moron. A doctor? Yeah freaking right… 🤨

Her determination to lie to someone she supposedly loves is so absurd and infuriating. I hope she ends up alone forever.

The end.

[S]

Absolutely the worst audio narration of all time.

[Ash | bookasaurusrecs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Well, I officially have a new auto-buy/auto-read author. And it’s Miss Ellie Rae.

Read if you like:
🏒hockey romance
🚫forbidden love
👩‍👦single mom romance
🥵extreme & hot sexual tension
👍🏻excellent plot
🫶🏻relatable characters
✌🏻dual POVs
😉references to 2 Live Crew IYKYK

Do you ever SLOWLY read a book because you don’t want it to be over? This is what I did with this book. It was absolutely amazing and I have no complaints besides that the next book in the series isn’t out yet. 😩

Hayley is our FMC and Brooks is our MMC. From the beginning, I was hooked and desperately needed more. Hayley is an absolute badass. She’s a doctor and a single mom. Of course, her son Cam’s dad Boyce is a douchey hockey player who dipped out after he found out that Hayley was pregnant. But, Hayley kicks ass anyway. She becomes the Skipjacks hockey team’s doctor. And did I mention that Hayley’s dad just so happens to own the Skipjacks? 👀 And don’t even get me started on Daddy Brooks. He is a star hockey player. He’s sexy as hell. And he wants Hayley more than he’s ever wanted anyone or anything in his life. As soon as he meets her, he’s determined to make her his. He’s injured and needs to get cleared by Hayley before returning to the game. *wiggles eyebrows* This forbidden romance will have you sweating and desperately needing more. I’m a sucker for forbidden romance. Their chemistry is seriously some of the best chemistry that I’ve ever read. Ellie knew what she was doing ending the book like that. 🙄 I still love you Ellie. Just trust me you want to read this book.

To sum it up, I’m absolutely obsessed with this book. I can’t tell you how excited I am that this is the first book in a series.

✨READ THIS BOOK IMMEDIATELY ON KINDLE UNLIMITED K THANKS BYE✨

[Grinning Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

H/h- Brooks and Hayley
Occupations- Hockey Player and Team Doctor
POV- 1st person dual
Genre- Sports Romance
Heat level- Vesuvius
Series? Y
Cliffhanger? Y- teasing next book in series
HEA/HFN- Y
Bonus- Playlist
Triggers- language, explicit erotic content, hockey game-type violence (punching)
Tropes- Workplace Romance, Single Mom, Instalust, Evil Ex
What I liked- the humor blended in with the romance plot and volcanic-hot steamy scenes. This book was well-balanced. Plus the Arm Porn- detailed descriptions of the Hero’s very hot forearms.
What I disliked- it got a little angsty, but not excessively. I liked this book.
Verdict- recommended to lovers of sports romance or romance with extreme steam.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mulan Book Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rate this book 3.5 stars.

I quite enjoyed this sports romance. Hayley is a strong woman who loves her son. Unfortunately she has had bad luck with men, and didn't want to give Brooks a chance since he is a hockey player and they work on the same team. Brooks is wary of women but is fascinated by Hayley and is persistent in getting her to go out with him. These two have a great chemistry together, but both are holding secrets which might prevent them from finding their HEA. I found there is a lot of drama and to be honest, not sure about what the point was on some of them as they were a bit of a weak point in the story. However, I did find this novel fun to read.

I received a free advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my fair and honest review.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in a series, and this is Brooks and Hayley’s story. Hayley was left as a single mom to a little boy, when the baby daddy hightailed out of town to follow his dreams, and she is now the team doctor for the Seattle Skipjacks, and Brooks is the team captain, and is Hayley’s new patient. The chemistry between these two is combustible and undeniable, and they complement each other perfectly. This is a well written story which has humor, witty banter, secrets, twists, realistic and relatable characters, a tad angst, and love, which leads to an entertaining hockey romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I've read by this author. This is Brooks and Haley's story. Haley is a single mom and doctor. Her father owns a Hockey team and he asks her to become the team physician. One of her first patient's is Brooks, who is hoping to be cleared from an injury to play. However, during their first meeting, sparks fly and throughout their training sessions to get him ready for the season, their relationship starts to grow even though both are very wary of relationships. Throughout the twists and turns, the biggest being that Haley's father is Brooks' boss, these two were fun to read and I couldn't wait to see how their story played out!

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hayley is heart broken when her boyfriend leaves her behind to pursue his career. She has vowed to never love again but when a patient gets under her skin it starts the ice melting around her heart. Will Hayley let Brooks into her heart and will this time around bring Hayley the happiness she deserves. This story will touch your heart and have you in their corner.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nicole Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The storyline is brilliant

Ellie Rae what a fantastic start to the series. Absolutely loved reading Brooks & Hayley's story. It's hockey romance at it's best. She's a single mum & the team's new doctor & he's the team captain. Despite their undeniable attraction what happens when secrets kept in the dark come to light? Are they willing to fight for their love?
I can't wait for book 2 come out.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Happyscribe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't normally love sports-romance books, but this was a recommendation from a friend. And I have to say Thank you! What a well crafted storyline - avoiding all the usual trope traps, to deliver a sharp story around professional relationships that inherently slide towards the personal, the uncomfortable reality of real lives and unintended consequences - and Brooks...well, Brooks, was a swoon-worthy MMC. Hayley was smart and perfect - and so real! Loved it.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brooks and Hayley’s relationship starts off as adversarial. As the team doctor Hayley is responsible for the well-being of the players and Brooks wants to play! After putting him through his paces the relationship heats up but both have secrets. Hayley’s secrets are big and, while Brooks tends to fly off the handle quick, he seems to adjust and give 2nd chances. His treatment of her son and his attention to her was sweet. It was nice to have a “non-player” lead man in a sports romance!

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was Brooks and Hayley’s book. She never thought she’d have been a teen mom. Raising her son alone. But that's what happened when her bf left her high and dry to chase his NHL dream. So she swore never to love again. Until she met him, Brooks Miller. The team captain for the Seattle Skipjacks and her new patient. It was an intriguing read. And am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been a while since I found a read like this! It’s just the right amount of drama, sweetness and sexy. Do yourself a favour and give it a chance 😃