Some Like It Sinful

A Perfect Recipe #2

by Robbie Terman

Their attraction is sinfully delicious…
A struggling business and one act of vandalism may have brought them together, but bakery owner Chloe Nelson and professional hockey player Griffin Lange get along like chocolate and pickles. Chloe needs the famous (and famously unattached) Griffin to attract people to her pastries, and Griffin needs the curvaceous and fiery Chloe to keep him out of trouble. A fake relationship to keep the media interested seems like the perfect plan.
But when temptation throws them into bed together, a new plan arises. Why not make the fake real? Griffin’s winning every home game, and Chloe’s business has never been better. Both know it’s only physical—and only temporary. But can they drop their defenses for love, even if it means getting a little bit sinful?

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

220 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 25, 2013

About the author

Robbie Terman began her journey as a writer in third grade, when she completed her first (24-page) "novel." Many years later, she is published in contemporary romance. Her heroines are feisty, her heroes Hot (yup, that's with a capital H!). And, when you read her books, if you tear up a little and laugh a lot, that's just the reaction she was hoping for.

Robbie lives in Michigan and spend s her time wishing she lived somewhere warmer. When she's not writing, Robbie can often be found shopping for shoes and handbags. She's also a wannabe foodie, who's always looking for a new restaurant to try or a recipe she'll inevitably screw up.

Reviews

[Coco.V]

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Blurb:
Chloe Nelson and professional hockey player Griffin Lange get along like chocolate and pickles. But Chloe needs the famous (and infamously unattached) Griffin to attract people to her struggling bakery, and Griffin needs the curvaceous and fiery Chloe to keep him out of trouble. A fake relationship for the media to focus on seems like the perfect plan.

But when temptation throws them into bed together, a new plan arises. Why not make the most of things? Griffin's winning every home game, and Chloe's business has never been better. Both know it's only physical-and only temporary-so why is it starting to feel like more? And can they drop their defenses long enough to find out if what started out as playing pretend can rise into something sinfully good?

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 I'm Loving This Series Stars.

Some Like It Sinful is book 2 in the A Perfect Recipe Series. I really liked the first book Some Like It Spicy, but Robbie Terman has taken it to the next level with book 2.

Chloe Nelson has realised her lifelong dream and has just opened the Happy Ending Bakery, unfortunately a national bakery chain Goody Luv, is planning to open up a new shop opposite her own, which could essentially bankrupt her before she even gets the chance to fully open her doors.

In steps Griffin Lange, local celebrity and Captain of the Chicago Brawlers Hockey team. He has been a little naughty and stepped outside of the law. To avoid court and possibly jail time he agrees to complete 300 hours community service in Chloe's shop.

This is where the book takes off, because the verbal sparring between these two is priceless, Chloe believes that Griffin is everything that she abhors in a guy, a player, untrustworthy and more interested in his team than his family. Griffin is trying to the hold onto the respect of his much younger team-mates as well as try to keep up with them on a social level initially, but after spending time in Chloe's company he realises that there may be more to life after all, and what begins as a well planned PR exercise, turns into something else.

There were so many funny conversations and one liners between the two of them that I highlighted in the early stages of the book, but the below still stands out to me, because it was just so funny. Chloe is a little slow to understand how superstitious sports-men are, so Griffin is trying to enlighten her -

Chloe - "You really are superstitious."

Griffin - "A little. I'm not as bad as some of the guys. Nils refuses to wear deodorant to away games. And last time we were in the playoffs, Mazer refused to take a dump in round two because in round one he'd been constipated and we'd swept the series. He ended up crapping his pants on Sportscenter."

Chloe - "I so didn't need that information."

I kid you not there, are dozens of instances like this, and they all made me laugh my socks off!

Chloe is looking for her fairytale ending with Prince Charming, and doesn't believe that Griffin can be that guy. Struggling with self-image issues, she believes that a man who looks and lives like Griffin does, would never be interested in her for the long term. Griffin *curls finger in a come hither motion* really goes above and beyond, to prove to Chloe that he is exactly the kind of Prince Charming that she needs.

I have to say that the ending in this book is absolutely adorable, with one of the best proposals I have ever read (little spoilery I know, but it's obvious that a HEA is on the cards). Some of the pet-names they use with each other sarcastically were an absolute hoot too...Schmoopie!!! Bahahaha :)

This is a series I know I will happily go back to, to read and enjoy again and again in the future. I hope we get Jenna's book sooner rather than later because I cannot wait!

ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for the above honest review.

[Tanu Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't been expecting to, but I really liked this book. It has been written far better than the first one, with consistent writing patterns. There were some grammatical errors, but not too many.

I liked the cocky, sassy Griffin. But I liked the Griffin-in-love version even more! His character was so true to the jock he was. It was amazing to witness him arrive at the realisation that it wasn't his superstitions, but his drive, passion, determination and hard work, that got his team the ultimate win at the end of the book.

I liked Chloe, her soft nature, and careful behaviour because she didn't want to end up like her mother. Yes, she was scared to face her emotions, but, when it came to her baking skills, she knew her true strength.

Carter's role was full of twists and turns, with me alternatively doubting him and hating him for poaching on Chloe, but the ultimate reveal of his true self was completely unexpected!!

An amazing plot, great protagonists, well developed secondary characters, thrilling sports stuff, a kickass PR head, and a HEA!! Great one! And a pleasant surprise the book turned out to be!!!

[TSN ☮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I'm a total sucker for those fake boyfriend/girlfriend stories, and this one was pretty good.

It was a bit - how should I put it; not all that realistic, but it was sweet and I liked it.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

“When life handed Chloe Nelson lemons, she made lemon sponge cake drizzled with lemon icing and garnished with lemon zest.”

Fitting opening lines for a down-on-her-luck baker, no? This sports-centered contemporary starts with a hard hit to our female narrator, Chloe. A week from opening her very own bakery, Happy Endings, Chloe steps outside one chilly Chicago morning to discover the vacant lot across the street has been rented by Goody Luv, a massively successful chain bakery. Thinking her dreams have crashed and burned before they ever took flight, Chloe turns to her sister Sylvia for guidance.

“You’re thirty-five years old and you don’t take anything seriously, not as far as I can tell. This isn’t Neverland, and you’re not Peter Pan. Grow up.”

Griffin Lange, captain on the Chicago Blackhawks Brawlers finds himself in a heap of legal trouble after a prank goes seriously wrong. Fresh from a call with her stressed-out sister, assistant district attorney, Slyvia Nelson, offers Griffin a deal too sweet to refuse: Instead of facing a very public trial he can work off his crime via community service hours for a local bakery. And you’re clearly new to contemporaries if you didn’t guess that lucky bakery was Happy Endings!

Sports-ignorant Chloe accepts Griffin’s help after her friends – and sister – explain the crowds that would flock to the bakery for a chance to meet the “Prince of the Puck.” When word gets out that he’s working at the bakery, Griffin desperate to hide the real reason for his shifts asks Chloe to serve as his alibi AND as his fake girlfriend.

Soon the team – and their PR unit led by feisty Taryn O’Neill – is doing everything it can to promote their captain’s newfound love story as a way to encourage people back to the arena after seven long seasons of losing. And, as is often the case, the more Chloe and Griffin are pushed together the more the lines start to blur. Soon their fake relationship becomes a real one, but with a scheduled expiration date: the Brawlers winning the cup or Griffin’s hours being served.

The private moments between Chloe and Griffin were honestly my favorite parts of this book – and not just for the steam. I enjoyed watching their feelings evolve, getting their backstories, and seeing how they developed as characters. However, their scenes were often interrupted with telenovela levels of drama, frequent self-deprecating “humor” about being a size 12 (GASP!), and too many rage-inducing moments where two GROWN ADULTS refuse to communicate.

If you can suspend belief for the theatrics featured throughout this story, and forgive some seriously cheesy decisions made in the final moments of this romcom, I think you’ll agree this is an enjoyable read. While it wouldn’t win the Cup for me, it showed enough promise to have me on the lookout for future seasons reads. If you’re trash for hockey contemporaries or "relationship of convenience" plot lines, consider giving Some Like it Sinful a shot.




Thank you to Createspace Independent Publishing Platform and Netgalley for providing a copy of this "second look" ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite some early laughs the on again, off again relationship just made me dizzy. They were a fake couple, then a real couple, then they were off, then on, then fake...just too damn much. The story certainly leaves you wondering how it will all end with the plot moving all over the place. Just when I thought it would go one direction it veered elsewhere constantly changing. And the H is pretty self absorbed not sure what he wants until the very end. The h has her head in the clouds wanting the fairytale. If you have the patience to wait this story out while it bounces around like a pin ball it might be the one for you. Or it might not, or it might, or it might not.... :-)

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

serious pastry craving right now

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Griffin Lange, an aging professional hockey captain runs afoul of the law, the DA decides she's had it with celebrities getting away with practically murder, and wants to bring the book down on him. Fortunately for Griffin, the DA has a sister she wants to help, and that's where her brilliant idea comes wherein Griffin is to work 200 hours community service at her sister's soon-to-open bakery, or he'll be heading to prison instead.



Griffin and Chloe's first meeting is less than happy. Their meet cute isn't fun, but the sparks are flying...the negative kind. You see, Chloe knows men like Griffin. The kind like her father who are so involved in sports that their families run a distant second or even third or last place. Not to mention that the hot hockey captain is most definitely a womanizing playboy, right? A villain in the fairytales she used to read when she was a young girl.



Griffin hasn't been entirely honest with his team; all of whom are younger than he and look up to their captain, and with whom he wants to keep up and to impress. So when it comes out that he's working at Chloe's bakery, and they start razzing him, he has to make up a fake relationship with Chloe to keep up his image. Oops...

I found Some Like it Sinful to be much better than I had been expecting. It's sexy and sweet, and has more depth than expected. Griffin has more substance than I had been expecting. Seeing him come to terms with the end of his playing days, and the way his life will change, for the better, and seeing him fall hard for Chloe was all kinds of fantastic. Chloe's reticence to face her feelings was a bit of a drag, and her push and pull was annoying, but understandable given her past. Honestly, Griffin made up for any annoyance I had with Chloe. He was a sweet, sexy former playboy with a huge heart. Just the kind of hero I love.

Although I haven't read the other books in this series, now that I've read and loved this one, I definitely intend on checking out Some like It Spicy and Some like It Sizzling.

I received an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

[Kristiej · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5

This is yet another recent hockey romance I’ve read recently. I’m waiting for the weather to stay warm and the hockey playoffs to be done so the baseball romances will start calling my name again. But in the meantime I’ll just follow where I’m called.

I’m not sure where I found out about this one, but I got in my book buying frenzy. I like this one, it’s very cute. Our hero, Griffin Lane seems to have it all. He’s a very successful hockey player who’s made it big in the NHL. Though he really doesn’t want to face it, his hockey playing days are coming to an end. He’s in his mid-30’s which is old for the sport. But because he’s still growing strong and in some ways still immature, he does some foolish things. His latest exploit though is going to cost him. He decides to drive a car being offered up for auction and manages to crash into a dessert table. Now this happens to be just the opportune thing. The assistant DA has a younger sister who is desperate for help.

Chloe Nelson is just about to open her own business, a bakery. Things were looking good, but now a big name chain bakery is opening right across the street and Chloe figures this will kill any chance of her own independent bakery succeeding. But then big sister to the rescue. See, there is this big, famous hockey player who need to be punished…. So big sis coerces him to volunteer at Chloe’s restaurant for 600 hours of community service. And here’s where it really starts getting cute.

Chloe knows nothing about hockey so she has no clue about how famous is. But she does know she’s not the least bit impressed with her new help. And Griff is still resentful about being forced into this bogus community service thing, especially since neither Sylvia, bit sister DA and Chloe are about to let him out of it.

There were a number of cute scenes between these two – when she forces this big bad hockey player to wear a bright pink t-shirt. But then things start happening, her oven stops working, an important order goes missing and she has the worry of the other bakery opening soon hanging over her head. But both she and Griff are coming to enjoy the bickering and there are definitely flames starting not just in the oven and Chloe starts depending on Griff, even though she’s a very independent business owner.

Soon they are forced even closer together as the PR rep for the hockey team decides that a love story between Griff and Chloe is just what’s needed to garner more interest in the team as well as Chloe’s bakery. They both insist it’s only a pretend relationship, but does it stay that way????

Both Griff and Chloe are very likeable characters and very well suited to each other. A number of times I was smiling throughout the book.

There were a few minor quibbles though that kept if from getting a higher grade. I found Chloe’s acceptance of and participation of Griff’s new pregame superstition a bit unrealistic. And also Griff’s self-flagellation over his lack of dedication to hockey a bit much. He has been very successful after all. On top of that I found the ending kind of hokey and unrealistic too. But overall , these weren’t big issues and as I said, I found this book cute in a make me smile way.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful hot enjoyable read that I ate right up. Part of a series but can be read as a stand alone and first time reading of this author she does have the recipes right for winners. Chloe has almost finalized her dream of opening her own bakery but OH NO right across the street there is a sign of competition coming soon and a popular chain one no less. In a panic calls her sister who also happens to be a assistant district attorney to vent and possibly later acquire assistance. Then there is Griffin, well known longtime hockey player at a fund raiser party with team mates and things get out of hand and he gets in big time trouble showing off. And who do you think he encounters who does the plea bargaining with none other than the sister Slyvia. Gotta help a sister out right so her brilliant plan is to put them together and Griffin must do community service at the bakery and at the same time his name she attract customers. Oh and the story only gets better after that. One thing leads to another and these two have dug themselves into a hole that a big bulldozer will have to be rented to help them I would say. Also though while in that hole their mutual attraction turns into a hot combination that out of the kitchen is lethal. That is the funny thing sometimes about fibbies sometimes they have a way of turning around and becoming fact and that is the fun part of some of the reading in this one. Filled with hilarious interactions between these two and then they could turn around and melt butter. Some of the ideas they cook up spiral out of control so we are given some enjoyable reading on how it has to be reigned back in. Not forgetting the competition some nasty sabotage goes on that seems so innocent but when the culprit is revealed was a good surprise not even I saw that one coming. Don't forget the heat between the two they can burn something other than cookies for sure.Slap happy great ending because even though they start out tit for tat they end up with more than that. So needless to say this is a perfect read. Received an arc for a honest review.

[Jeannie Zelos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some Like It Sinful. Robbie Terman.

Review from Jeannie Zelos Book Reviews.
I'm a sucker for a romance, one that has something extra to lift it about the bland offerings that proliferate the book lists. I know many many people love those, I need something more though :) Anyway, Robbie delivers that here. This book made me laugh, and made me sad ( that's always needed for balance IMO.) I guessed part of the plot but that's fine, it was written well and didn't spoil my enjoyment. There are some great characters here besides Chloe and Griffin – they have some friends that are interesting and in Chloe's case sounded familiar. Looking up Robbie's other works that's when I saw the novel about Ty and Ashton, who appear several times in this book. I do like these interlinked novels, and would like to read Some Like It Spicy, their story when I’ve time.
Anyway – back to this book, It was a fun story, light-hearted but not a shallow read, and had several sub plots to keep things interesting. The sex scenes were..... hot! Very hot, and fitted the plots really well. Sometimes authors write sex for the sake of spicing up a novel and its just doesn't work, but here it fits perfectly and feels just right. That Griffin knows how to please a lady :)
I enjoyed the way both characters learned things about themselves too – about how they let their pasts, and fears about it, dominate the now and the future. It's touches like that which make characters feel real, like friends we could sit and chat with over a glass of wine. I need my book characters to feel genuine, to have problems and not lead a perfect life. Chloe and Griffin certainly had their share of problems! The only thing that kept this from being a five star read was that though the highs were perfect, the low point wasn't quite as “down” and sad as I like – I like to wallow and feel tearful when things go wrong, and though I felt sad for them I wasn't on the edge of tears.
Priced at £3.05/$4.92 for 300 pages its good value and a fun read.
Stars: almost five – four and a half.
ARC supplied via Publisher.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hilarious 2nd book in the Perfect Recipe series. I received an ARC of this book and was pleasantly surprised. I wasn't expecting a 2nd book but I think I might like this one even better. I loved the authors sense of humor! The banter between the characters was so funny and was probably my fav part of the book. I liked that the female character gave as good as she got. Who doesn't like a smart ass heroine?

Griffin is a hockey player nearing the end of his career and not happy about it. While at a party he tries to show off to the rookies and makes a stupid mistake that lands him in front of the D.A. She sentences him to some community service at a new bakery...

Chloe has left her partnership in Sweet Home (book 1) to open the bakery she's always dreamed of. She's put everything she has into it but immediately runs into problems.

Griffin begs Chloe to pretend to be his fake girlfriend to save his reputation and keep his community service a secret, Chloe agrees for the free publicity but how smoothly can it go when they bicker constantly?

Can wait for Jenna & Luke's story!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a great story that truly makes you want some sweet treats. Chloe being the pastry chef is a delight. She is not meek fragile woman, but a strong sticks up for herself woman. I loved her fire and feistiness. She goes toe to toe with Griffin. I loved their sarcastic bantering they had with each other. Their chemistry was explosive and it was great to see it play out over several months with them still doubting their relationship was more than it was. I adored the supporting characters of Ashton and Jenna. Such great friends who were more family than most. I liked the way Sylvia looked out for her sister Chloe. I always love the strong sisterly bonds, whether blood related or not.

This was the first book I have read by Robbie Terman and has made me want to go back to read the first one in this series. And it definitely has me looking forward to the next one, hoping it will be Jenna's story!

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a deliciously sweet romance! Chloe is following her dream, opening a bakery; unfortunately, a chain bakery has decided to set up shop across the street. Griffin is a hot hockey player who's sadly getting up in age to play the game. At a formal party he makes a stupid decision which leads him to face either jail time or community service. The DA decides to throw him a bone, or cookie as the case may be, and sets him up to work his community hours with her sister (Chloe) which will have the added benefit of drawing the crowd to her new store. Sparks fly immediately between the two. Only, it's not so much the sexy kind as it is the 'I want you to catch on fire' kind ;) This leads to some pretty funny interaction between our H/h! This was a funny book that had me laughing and aww-ing at every turn! I really enjoyed it and will definitely read more from this author!

[Birgit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hockey Star Griffin, after committing an act of vandalism, is sentenced to do community work - in the struggling bakery of Chloe, who happens to be the prosecution attorney's sister. Both loathe each other at first sight...or do they? Will the fake relationship they agreed to for media reasons become real?
Fairly obvious what the answer is, but the way to whatever ending a reader is presented with (there, no spoilers!), the way there is what makes this books such a lot of fun to read. Easily flowing narration, with a lot of humorous dialogues and situations thrown in, a slightly well-known but well presented plot, and very sympathetic characters with enough depth and quirks are preventing this story from being just another "Taming-of-the-Shrew" type romance.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book had my emotions all over the place. Chloe and Griffin's characters had me doubled over with laughter as much as they had me frustrated with their personal issues. In a sense it was what a modern day fairy tale with a sexy..frustrating hockey player and a pastry chef. Believe me this book is entertaining and way better than I described. This is another author to put on my fun to read list.

[Ayekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun, romantic read with a hockey player and a baker that makes you want to devour the closest pastries. Griffin is a pro hockey player who is just about to age out of the sport but won't be happy until he brings the team he captains one last Stanley Cup. He's a rowdy, wealthy, devil may care playboy who spends his time reveling in his glory days, having the team rookies as his captive audience. One in particular. When a night at a charity ball goes horribly wrong for him after commandeering a very expensive sports car that was up for auction, driving it around the ballroom and running over the security guards foot lands him in jail facing down the Asst DA, knowing he could face serious jail time they strike a bargain. One that sucks for him. Beats jail though.
Chloe has just opened her own bakery, so proud and finally on her own after working with her best friends at their restaurant, she's getting ready for her grand opening when a sign goes up in the empty space across the street, a well known chain bakery is moving in, making a panic call to her sister Sylvia, the Asst DA, she assures her it will all work out and they'll talk later. Not feeling much better, Chloe is pretty down in the dumps. When Griffin's outrageous behavior coincides with Chloe's predicament, Sylvia's deal for him is community service hours. Lots of them. They just happen to be at her sisters bakery. Unspoken but obviously Syl thinks that Griffin's popularity as a hockey star will be a big draw and Chloe's baked goods will keep them coming back.
After a somewhat tenuous first meeting, they make a deal when he'll show up. Chloe is clueless about sports. She's pretty much clueless about other things as well, but she's certainly not tolerant of this egotistical, oversized, smart aleck who thinks he can smoke her into what she wants. Chloe lives in a dream world. She's waiting for her prince to come. Nope not kidding. She thinks life is a fairy tale and believes that one day he'll show up. Gotta leave the bakery for that to happen Chloe, but it's her story. Griffin busts her chops about it. He's a jerk. Especially when handed his work shirt, which is pink. He balks at that. Meanwhile he's got hockey to play, a goal he's got his eye on and a rookie who thinks he walks on water. There is definitely a spark between Griffin and Chloe and when they finally do the deed it's sends off fireworks. Meanwhile they have to spin Griffin and Chloe after he lies to his teammates about Chloe and it gets out he's got a girlfriend; so in waltzes the teams PR gal and her sidekick, convinces poor (?) Chloe that this is good press and they spin them being together.
There's a lot going on in this story, Griffin's constant lies, another male customer who comes in every day and expresses interest in Chloe, Miss PR wanting Chloe to go to some of the games. Gotta show the boyfriend support. It's all dandy until they break up which aside from the fact is causes problems for Griffin, he still needs his community service hours, he's seen out on a date and so is she, so they make it a foursome?? Messy very messy. In fact the story is messy and the king of messy is Griffin and as much as I love hockey and hockey romance stories, he's such a loser. Chloe lives in a bubble, thankfully she's got a couple supportive friends who help her out and the sister that she was so dependent on is awol for the rest of the story. The proverbial hits the fan during playoffs and add to that Griffin suffers an injury that takes him off the ice. Yet another twist. Lots of twists. Some were really good. There is a lot more to this story and I'm going to leave you hanging here so you can read the book and find out for yourself how it all comes together. Or not. Maybe. Maybe unicorns really do exist. I don't know, read the book and find out!

*advanced reader copy from NetGalley and Entangled for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own*
Second look

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Endings Is Not Just a Good Bakery Name

Chloe Nelson, pastry chef extraordinaire, is opening her dream bakery, Happy Endings, when she learns that a very popular chain bakery will be opening across the street from her store. Chloe, having grown up in a very dysfunctional family, with her parents dying when she was 13, hopes that some day her Prince would come and she'd have a life different than that of her parents.

Griffin Lange, a somewhat famous hockey player who is aging toward retirement, makes one foolish, impulsive prank too many and ends up facing criminal charges. Fortunately for Griffin, the district attorney prosecuting his case turns out to be Chloe's older sister. She arranged for Griffin to plead to a reduced charge and be sentenced to 300 hours of community service at Chloe's bakery, with the hope it would bring in customers who wanted to meet Griffin. For Griffin it becomes an opportunity to keep the public and his teammates from learning how his stupid stunt legally affected him, by changing the facts to make them all believe Chloe is his new girlfriend and Griffin is helping out at her bakery.

Add to this mix a very savvy team Public Relations lady, a wonderful grandmother (Griffin's), Chloe's two BFFs, and a lying, manipulating wolf dressed in sheep's clothing and you've got the makings of a really enjoyable novel.

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was yet another I downloaded free from a Bookbub deal. After finishing and thoroughly enjoying Faking It, I just couldn’t resist yet another free romance download. This one found new bakery owner Chloe Nelson struggling to get her business off the ground. When a chain competition threatens to open up right across the street from Chloe’s bakery, she panics calling her older sister, Sylvia for help.

As luck would have it Sylvia is the assistant district attorney for Chicago. She uses her power to set up community service for hockey star and legend Griffin Lange at Chloe’s bakery. The two are like oil and vinegar from their first meeting. What starts out as a mutual arrangement turns into a fake relationship. And then this fake relationship interestingly becomes real. But the two decide it would only be real temporarily as Griffin doesn’t think he is able to settle down for good and Chloe is looking for her real prince charming. What these two don’t realize is they may actually be falling for each other. Can their real love win out? You have to read to find out.

[Melenareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chloe and Griffin find themselves thrown together even though they are not each other's biggest fan.

Griffin plays hockey for the Chicago Brawlers and Chloe is about to achieve her dream of opening a bakery. The author did a nice job of making both of them well rounded. It isn't that interesting to read about characters without their own dreams and interests, but that is not a problem here.

Their back and forth is fun to read, and I liked being able to read the story from both their points of view. Especially as they grow and change throughout the book.

After finishing this one, I am looking forward to reading the others in the series!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for an honest review.

[Susanne M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost as good as chocolate!

Ok....maybe better than that. A sports story where a team sticks together. A bakery that struggled to open, to survive and then excelled. A couple thrown together, grew together, taught each other and yes.....got their happy ending. Overall quality of writing and proofreading was really good. No cheating or cliffhanger and some steamy intimacy scenes too. Enjoy!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting plot

This is about a woman with a bakery that is stuck with a hockey player. She is not a sports fan and knows nothing about hockey. The hockey player is arrogant and thinks he can buy his way out of anything. This is cute chick lit, but you knew who the villian was way before the reveal.

[Rita · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters started out not very likeable and stayed that way for a long time. They were finally likeable when it ended, but it was kind of too little, too late. It would have been more enjoyable if Griffin had been less immature as a whole. It's hard to believe they would make him team captain when he's out getting drunk and setting a bad example for the younger players.

[Suzette · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love sappy love stories this is perfect for you. It is the perfect fairytale romance complete with the villain and the prince on a white horse. The story is lighthearted and funny and gives you a good feeling as you read.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most enjoyable

This was a good fake to real story that is sure to put a smile on readers’ faces. The characters are believable and I will be looking for more of this author’s work.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the characters. I want to read the other stories in the series. The storyline wasn’t perfect. Some parts I hated. Some parts I predicted. However, Chloe and Griffin were so sweet, I can easily overlook the bad.

[Silke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started good, developed however with too much drama.

[Carol Tietsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really cute fake girlfriend story. Well worth your time.

[Christine D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Griffin but Chloe's character constantly plagued with back and forth of "I love him but this can't work" got annoying.
it was hot though!

[Sherry Vitaniemi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prince charming

Prince charming is a dream. But Chloe hockey guy is definitely Mr. right. And mister coach to. Gotta love a guy who will go the extra mile.