Checking the Center

The Wilcox Wombats #0.5

by Delancey Stewart

A forced-proximity, naked-man-on-my-couch hockey romcom that'll have you snort-laughing!

You have to be pretty desperate to consult someone referred to as the Drunken Psychic for insight into your perennially single status.

But that's me... Until now.

Because tonight, after trying to make heads or tails of the psychic's mysterious pronouncements about my love life, I arrive home to find a man on my couch.

A very naked, very muscley, very handsome man.

Did I mention he was butt naked?

And things only get more confusing from there. We have a whole conversation, in which he reveals that he's the star center for the Wilcox Wombats hockey team, Rock Stevens. And that Rock is actually his real name. And that he's in town for a week for an all-star pickleball tournament. And that my apartment is actually his apartment.

And then he refuses to leave. Things only get more confusing from there.

As we try to navigate our sudden forced-roommates situation while the landlord gets to the bottom of the mixup, Rock decides to turn the tables. Instead of being annoyed that I'm in his apartment, he suddenly becomes charming. Sweet, even. And even though I know it's a mistake, he charms me right up onto the kitchen counter, and... well, you can imagine the rest.

The guy's only in town for a week. Surely I can protect my silly single heart for that long? But with every stolen kiss and whispered promise, I can't help but wonder if I'm the one who’s getting played.

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

90 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 31, 2023

About the author

I'm USA Today Bestselling author Delancey Stewart. My contemporary romances run the gamut of settings and setups, but they always deliver humor, heart and heat. It's a guarantee.

I write from my home in Denver, CO, where I manage a household full of boys and men. Okay, only one man. The hubs. But two boys. I mean, three if you count the hubs. (You see why I do words and not numbers. I was told there'd be no math in this bio. Someone lied.)

I grew up in California and have had more jobs than anyone on earth (personal trainer, pharmaceutical rep, copywriter, tech writer, marketing director, wine seller, elementary school teacher... I'm not kidding. The list. It goes on.) But the one I love the most is writing, in part because I get to meet people who love books and stories as much as I do! Please don't hesitate to get in touch to say hello, and don't forget to join my newsletter!

Get a free story from me by joining my weekly email here: https://www.subscribepage.com/delance...

Find me at www.delanceystewart.com
Facebook: www.facebook/DelanceyWrites.com

Reviews

[ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

such a cute little novella. can't wait to read the rest of this series.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Julie Booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun start to a new series, a quick read, fun character intros, and some secondary characters I need to know more about. Great dialog and shenanigans, plus pickleball, I can not wait for more. I plan to enjoy following the Wilcox Wombats hockey team.

Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

[BookAddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quick, terrific prequel to whet your appetite for all things Wilcox Wombats, and I hope we get much more of Drea and Rock in the upcoming romances in this series.

Drea Coopersmith comes home late one evening to find the duplex she rents has been invaded by Rock Stevens, center for the Wilcox Wombats hockey team. The thing is, it's really his duplex, and his aunt somehow had a mix-up and rented Drea the same unit. Rock is home in Singletree, MD, to play in an all-star pickle ball tournament, which is another story on its own. The close proximity and only one bed quickly leads to more, but how can you fall in love in only a week?

Okay, I’m gonna need more of this book world. A lot more. I love all of these characters already, and I hope we'll get more from Aunt Nattie and her matchmaking ways, even though the Wombats work out of Virginia. And the bits from Zamboni driver, Julius Ramon? There's definitely a story there.

If you’re at all a sports romance fan, you'll love this humorous, heartfelt, steamy read. Run to the 1-Click now so you’re ready for whatever comes next with the Wombat team members. One thing I know for sure, it will be epic!

[Claudia, Cmarie927 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This adorable novella (that I received as a free ARC) begins my addiction to the Wilcox Wombat hockey team! This author consistently delivers engaging and entertaining stories that are easy to love, and this is another.

I am a fan of this author and her numerous works, and was excited to get into this new series. This is a fantastic way to get an intro to the new characters. Drea is easy to connect with, and the misunderstanding that puts a naked Rock in her space seems to be completely designed by the drunken psychic! IYKYK.

(see?! Now you gotta read this!!)

Seriously, this is a quick, easy-to-read, steamy, fun read that has me eager to get my hands on the next in the series (The Wedding Winger) as soon as possible!

I recommend reading this one (and any of the other books and series in her catalog).
I happily leave my review.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute novella. This is seemingly a teaser or intro to a new series from Delancey Stewart. Rock Stevens plays for the Wilcox Wombats hockey team. He returns to his hometown for an all star appearance at a pickle ball tournament. Thru a meet cute mishap he meets Drea Coopersmith. She works at a local bakery with dreams of attending culinary school. With just 89 page there isn’t really much to sink my teeth into. Boy meets girl, instant attraction, only in town for a week. I can’t really give this more than three stars but I can look forward to the series as I have read the author before and she writes light, fun, open door contemporary romances. I’ll look forward to more of the Zamboni Diaries books. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love romance, enjoy laughing, have a thing for hockey, or a penchant for pickleball—this book is for you!

Super cute dual POV romcom novella to start a new series! I loved being back in Singletree for this book, and getting to check in on some of our favorite Delancey characters.
Andrea (Drea) Coppersmith, a local baker, and Rock Stevens, a professional hockey player, have a rather memorable “meet cute” that jumpstarts a forced proximity, he falls fast romance. This story is fast paced, but it is a perfect segue into The Zamboni Diaries series. My only wish is to have The Wedding Winger in my hands asap!

[Tammy Moldovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

From accidental roommates to forever

I loved Rock and Drea’s forced proximity, opposites attract romance. It was a wonderful mix of hilarity, sweetness, steam, and real life issues with lovable and relatable characters. Drea works in the bakery in small town Singletree. She’s the last single girl standing and feeling a bit dejected about her chances. Rock is a professorial hockey player who grew up in Singletree. He’s in town to play in a pickle ball tournament. Their meet cute involved naked couch sleeping and a pink fur pillow and made me snort laugh. A week of reluctant roommates should not evolve into more but feelings seldom listen to logic. "Love follows its own rules,.” Despite being short, the story was well written and included witty dialogue, three dimensional characters, and an engaging storyline as shown through sweet moments, steamy scenes, laughs, supportive friends, messy families, painful pasts, and all the love. I love the Singletree series and am excited about the new series with the Wilcox Wombats. 4.5 stars.

[Makayla Monroe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick easy read, fast pace but it’s a novellas so that makes sense. I liked it. Banter between them at the beginning was cute. Good start to the series.

[Tippy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can someone please explain to me how this is a hockey rom-com? The only time there is any hockey at all going on in this story is when the MMC watches a game on TV. Just having a character be a hockey player does not make the story a hockey rom-com if there is not actual hockey in it. Ugh. Also, what is the point of the Zamboni driver? He literally serves no purpose to the story at all. Look, I get that is just a short prequel to the actual series, but give me a break. The romance in blah, there banter is sub-par, and to be honest I thought both MCs were trash. Hard pass on this one.

[Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had so much fun reading this story. This is the first book I've read by this author and I will probably keep reading more books by her. The Wilcox Wombats have my attention right now.
Drea is such a great main character. I felt that I could connect with her at the beginning. Rock is my favorite. I love his name. It's unconventional but so original in its own way. Also, he is so funny. Their meet-cute is so funny and really cute. Their connection is palpable, but Drea isn't sure if Rock wants her for a relationship or just a fling. Will they make the relationship work?
I liked their story so much. From their meet-cute to their happily ever after. Can't wait to read the series.

[Sonja Ton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great start to a new series. If you love forced proximity, romantic comedy, instant love and hockey you will enjoy this one. I’m all in with the adorable hockey player who knows how to treat a woman right even if they don’t start out in a traditional way.

Drea is desperate enough to visit the drunken psychic to try to find her soulmate. She just didn’t expect to find him naked on her couch when she got back home. I’m not sure anything can top that but I’m excited for the next book in this series.

[Lilpep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great intro for a new series!  

Oops! Wilcox Wombats hockey star, Rock, returns to Singletree to find his zany Aunt Nattie has rented his home to attractive Drea. Tempers flare but Nattie convinces the two to share the space. When Rock and Drea settle in, sparks fly. 

There's humor, tender moments and just enough spice. Engaging characters, well-wriiten dialogue and fast moving plot make this novella a delightful read. Julius, the Zamboni driver narrator, is an interesting touch. All I can say is "gimme, gimme, gimme" the next book in the series.

[Sharon Faurot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as arc book . Quick read enjoyed very much . Can’t wait for next part . A hockey player goes to his hometown and meets a women that his aunt rented out his house too . 5 stars . Loved it

[Ash Lovesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is a fun, Amusing mixture of romance and comedy. Great world building combined with interesting characters. I look forward to reading the entire series

[Donna McEachran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick instalove story featuring Rock and Drea and introducing the Wilcox Wombats!!

[Jennifer Wertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is a fun and cute romance story. The characters have great chemistry. This is an entertaining and quick read.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Professional hockey player Rock Stevens is back in his hometown of Singletree, Maryland to play in an all-star pickleball tournament. He's planning to stay in the duplex he rents there from his aunt, though he hasn't visited in months. As soon as he arrives, Rock notices a few changes to the apartment's decor, but he assumes that his aunt has made a few updates. He settles in to watch hockey on TV and soon falls asleep on the couch, naked. He's startled awake by a woman claiming that he's broken into her apartment and demanding that he leave. As it turns out, there's been a mix-up: Rock's aunt meant to rent the other side of the duplex, which is supposed to be vacant, to local bakery worker Drea Coppersmith. Instead, the previous tenant has been squatting there for the past six months without paying rent, and Drea was mistakenly set up in Rock's apartment. Until the situation is straightened out, Drea and Rock are forced to become roommates - and it might just be the best thing that ever happened to them both.

This short but sweet and funny story was exactly the palate cleanser I needed between longer reads. I loved Drea and Rock's instant chemistry and witty banter. Their speculation regarding the man next door (was he a vampire?) made me laugh out loud, and I wish they'd actually had a chance to interact with him on the page. I can only imagine the hilarity that would have ensued. Rock and Drea were a fun couple, and while this story ended in an HFN, I'm sure we'll see more of them in future books of the upcoming Zamboni Diaries series.

I'd recommend "Checking the Center" for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. Stewart's new series promises to be a fun one and I'm looking forward to the first full-length book later this year.

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Lynn_G · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute, instalove, somewhat steamy (one open door love scene) hockey-adjacent series starter. Drea is dragged to a psychic with a reputation as a drunk because she’s unhappy with her (at the story’s outset, nonexistent) love life. Rock is a hockey player who has reluctantly agreed to enter a pickleball tournament in his hometown. A mixup has the two sharing living quarters, and so begins their whirlwind week together. A prologue and epilogue imply that a Zamboni driver is a prescient figure who is somehow watching these events unfold. I give this offering 3-ish stars, as it had some funny moments in the beginning but it really didn’t go anywhere due to the lack of conflict between the main characters. Sure there was a moment of doubt on Drea’s part when it was revealed that Rock had withheld information that might have changed their living situation, but it seemed sort of tossed in and forced. I really would’ve liked to have experienced more character development from both MCs, especially with regard to the family members for whom they have stuck around the tiny, remote town. As a series starter, this was just okay. It would be more compelling in my opinion to have the psychic and the unseen/unheard neighbor be fleshed out a bit in order to generate interest in subsequent installments in the series.

I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley at no cost in exchange for an honest review.

[Lynn_G · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute, instalove, somewhat steamy (one open door love scene) hockey-adjacent series starter. Drea is dragged to a psychic with a reputation as a drunk because she’s unhappy with her (at the story’s outset, nonexistent) love life. Rock is a hockey player who has reluctantly agreed to enter a pickleball tournament in his hometown. A mixup has the two sharing living quarters, and so begins their whirlwind week together. A prologue and epilogue imply that a Zamboni driver is a prescient figure who is somehow watching these events unfold.

I gave this offering 3-ish stars, as it had some funny moments in the beginning but it really didn’t go anywhere due to the lack of conflict between the main characters. Sure there was a moment of doubt on Drea’s part when it was revealed that Rock had withheld information that might have changed their living situation, but it seemed sort of tossed in and forced. I really would’ve liked to have experienced more character development from both MCs, especially with regard to the family members for whom they have stuck around the tiny, remote town.

As a series starter, this was just okay. It would be more compelling in my opinion to have the psychic and the unseen/unheard neighbor be fleshed out a bit in order to generate interest in subsequent installments in the series.

I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley at no cost in exchange for an honest review.

[Book Nerdy 2020 · Rating 3 out of 5]

CHECKING THE CENTER By Delancey Stewart

You have to be pretty desperate to consult someone referred to as the Drunken Psychic for insight into your perennially single status.
But that's me... Until now.
Because tonight, after trying to make heads or tails of the psychic's mysterious pronouncements about my love life, I arrive home to find a man on my couch.
A very naked, very muscley, very handsome man.
Did I mention he was butt naked?
And things only get more confusing from there. We have a whole conversation, in which he reveals that he's the star center for the Wilcox Wombats hockey team, Rock Stevens. And that Rock is actually his real name. And that he's in town for a week for an all-star pickleball tournament. And that my apartment is actually his apartment.

😊What i liked -

✔ Sports/Forced Proximity/Small Town.
✔ I snort laughed after their first meet and the phone call that followed.
✔ Loved the MC's and a few side characters.
✔ I liked the Insta-attraction between Rock and Drea.
✔ This was a quick humorous spicy read.

🤔What could have been better -

✔ It ended a bit too quickly for me.

📚Who Should read :

👶Beginners
💝Romance Lover
🏡Small Town Romance
🏒Sports Romance


📈My Rating : 3.5/5


Thank you, Delancey Stewart and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for a copy.

[Faye · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Drea Coopersmith is stuck between a rock and a hard place (no pun intended!) and is unsure what to do with her life. Her friends are all married and have their own lives, whilst she is still very much single. After visiting a drunken physic, she arrives home to find a very naked, but very attractive man on her couch. Rock Stevens is a pro hockey player and is home visiting for a pickleball tournament. The last thing he expects is to be woken up in his own home, but a complete stranger.’

This was such a short and sweet novella by Delancey Stewart to start off the new series, ‘The Zamboni Diaries’.

Drea & Rock’s meet-cute was hilarious, along with multiple other parts of this book. Rock is very swoony-worthy and even had me blushing with one particular scene and this quote “I think next, I’d like to kiss you.” He had me blushing and it wasn’t even me he was speaking to!

As this is a novella, it is fairly insta-lovey, but you could still feel the chemistry and tensions between them.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc of this book.

[all.the.smut.things · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🔥🔥

I’ve been reading a ton of long books so this cute and sweet novella was such a palette cleanser and an easy enjoyable read! I like the quirky writing style of this and was hooked instantly!

Rock is a star hockey player for the Wilcox Wombats, and he’s playing in a pickle all tournament in his hometown. Drea works at a bakery and feels like she is the only single person in her town of Singleton. When she walks in on a naked Rock sleeping on her sofa, hilarity ensues while they figure out the mix up.

This was a great little read to get my hockey fix. I didn’t mind the Insta live between Drea and Rock because it was adorable and their banter was top notch. For a short book the side characters really shine (I’m looking at you drunken psychic) and the spice we got was well done.

This reminded me why I need to read more novellas and seems like it nicely sets up the next book. I will happily read more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley for my early copy of this book, I am happily leaving a voluntary review!

[Jackie Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Checking The Center ( The Zamboni Diaries #0.5) is a quick read but it’s honestly just what you want for an introduction to a new series. This book gave you just enough to keep you wanting more and if Rock Stevens, star center for the Wilcox Wombats hockey team and baker Andrea (Drea) Coppersmith’s story is anything to go by The Zamboni Diaries will certainly be a hit series for Delancey Stewart.
The last thing Drea expected to find on her couch was a naked man….and from that moment on things start to get complicated for the woman looking for an easy life without a man in it.
Rock is determined to stay in the house he owns but only stays in occasionally and he has no idea why there is a strange woman living there. From the moment these two meet sparks fly and not in a good way……
Checking The Center is an entertaining read that sets the mood for what’s to come in the upcoming new series. It’s the perfect start, it’s witty, it has wonderful characters, it has a great name for a hockey Team and it certainly ticked all my boxes.

[Eileen]

I loved Drea and Rock’s love story in Checking the Center by Delancey Stewart, a fast paced novella introducing her new Zamboni Diaries series, a prequel to introduce you to all things Wilcox Wombats. Rock Stevens, the center for the Wilcox Wombats hockey team, has returned to his hometown for an all star appearance at a pickle ball tournament. Andrea (Drea) Coppersmith works at a local bakery with dreams of attending culinary school. Coming home late one evening Drea finds the duplex she rents has been invaded by Rock. The problem is that the duplex is really Rock’s and his aunt somehow had a mix-up and rented Drea the same unit. Sharing a small duplex with only one bed quickly leads to so much more; from accidental roommates, to finding a forever love, in only a week. If you are a sports romance fan, you will love this humorous, heartfelt, steamy read. I highly recommend Checking the Center and look forward to the next story in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Elizabeth Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free e-copy of this book, and my only complaint is that it’s so short. I knew it would be, since it’s a prequel, but I was surprised by how quickly I read it. The story is complete. I have no complaints in that regard. But I would have enjoyed more of it. It’s the story of Drea, lamenting her single status while she lives in Singletree. Rock, a hockey player, comes home to Singleton for a week and they meet. Over the course of the week, they quickly become close and begin to care about one another, but Rock messes up. With the help of his aunt (surrogate mother), he engineers a scenario to win her back. There was one line in the book, that cracked me up. When Rock observes Drea’s reaction to him, realizing he needs to win her back, he describes her face as having, “The look you might use before you disemboweled a favorite pet, if that was a face people made. Yikes.” It’s a fun story. It only goes deep enough to touch on just-below-the-surface feelings, but that’s enough. It’s not an epic love story. It’s just a funny one.

[Rhonda · Rating 2 out of 5]

At ladies night, Drea complains to her besties that the small town of Singletree has no eligible bachelors and that she is tired of being single (single in Singletree is the one good pun in this story). After seeing a drunk psychic, who reads her romantic future on tarot cards (!!), she comes home to find a naked man on her couch, so what does she do? Poke him in his naked chest and kindly asks him to leave - what any normal woman would do in her shoes, right? NO!! Big red flag, regardless of what the psychic said! From there, the story just got gradually more ridiculous with some major insta-love/close proximity tropes and unnecessary sex scenes.

This novella was just all over the place and made me question why I wasted an hour reading it. There was no hockey (even though the MMC was described in all his hockey glory at every turn), the FMC was horny and not too bright, and the prologue and epilogue were both narrated by a Zamboni driver that doesn’t even appear in this novella. This was a poor introduction to a new series.

[lowkeyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an exciting introduction to a promising new series. If you're a fan of tropes like forced proximity, romantic comedy, instant attraction, and a backdrop of hockey, this book is a delightful choice.

Drea, the main character, is an absolute gem. From the very start, I found myself easily relating to her, and her journey resonated with me. But it's Rock who truly stole the show for me. His name, unconventional yet wholly original, adds to his charm. Beyond that, his sense of humour is absolutely infectious.

Their meet-cute is both hilarious and endearing. The chemistry between Drea and Rock is palpable, leaving you eager to see where their connection will lead.

The banter between them in the early stages of their relationship is incredibly cute, adding a layer of charm and wit to the story. All in all, Checking the Center is a delightful read for fans of humorous romance, and it sets the stage for what promises to be an engaging series. Drea and Rock's story is a heartwarming journey you won't want to miss.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty funny novella. I loved the story of Drea and Rock although it should have been longer. Rock is the center for the Wilcox Wombats and is going back to his childhood town of Singletree for a pickle ball tournament of all things. Rock has been enjoying his life and his friends in Virginia and does not want to return, but it may have been the best thing for him.

Drea watches all her friends find the love of their life and she seems stuck and single when one night her girls talk her into going to the drunken psychic! To keep her friends happy, she goes and the psychic tells her the man for her is already in her life. Well, that was no help!

Drea goes home to find a perfect man sleeping naked on her couch and the fun begins. I really like the story, just wished it were longer. Ms. Stewart does it again, I can't wait to read the Zamboni Diaries.

I received an advance copy for my honest opinion

[K-la Hugie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Checking the Center is a hockey sports romance, but really it was like a rom com from the 90s as well. Drea comes home from meeting with a psychic about her lackluster love life to find a very naked, very sexy man on her couch. What ensues is some fun drama and sexy shenanigans.

This was a great close proximity romance. It left me wanting more from some of the characters, especially the aunt. It is definitely a short novella though. I would love to see what is next for the two MCs.

Overall, I will be checking out more from this author. But I will probably stick to her full length novels. This is more a personal preference thing and absolutely nothing against this novella. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read an ARC of this. It was an enjoyable and steamy short story.

[Kellie Herrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

cut story and characters just a few holes

The story was cute and though it was a novella so meant to be short and face paced it sort of skipped spots. Like they were going to “brunch” one min they are talking in the kitchen the next they are done eating at a restaurant but no
Transition to how they go there in the midst of the discussion. I feel like maybe another few pages could have ironed out a few things.
The other thing I had a hard time with is them going from hating each other at the “inn” to just about jumping in bed after a car ride where they barely said a word.
It was a cute story but it just had some holes that needed to be plugged and the Zamboni guy I’m not sure I got what his role is maybe it will come out later but his 2 chapters don’t really make any sense or seem to help the story along. Those are words that could have helped fill holes instead.