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The Captain and The Coach

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Basil Andrews knows three things are Rhonda’s brownies are elite, love leads to heartache, and she’s the best youth hockey coach at her facility.

So, when Basil is forced to take on an assistant coach, she’s more than confused. Things only get worse when she shows up for practice and is faced with the unexpected. The tall, handsome man she yelled at the week before–who also happens to be the captain of Denver’s hockey team. She’s determined to keep things professional, despite his intent on being in her life. Because Basil can’t promise anything more than friendship, even when her heart starts to beg for more.

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 13, 2024

7 people are currently reading
115 people want to read

About the author

Ashlynne Kristine

4 books18 followers

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5 stars
16 (35%)
4 stars
15 (33%)
3 stars
13 (28%)
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1 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Mariha Sharon.
231 reviews
January 27, 2024
5/5 ⭐

Thank you so much to the author for sending me an ARC of 'The Captain and the Coach'. I was beyond excited to dive in and let me say, it did not disappoint.
First of all, the book was so freaking cute, like I was 'giggling and kicking my feet in the air' kind of cute. I loved the MC's, Case, a professional hockey player Captain and Basil, a sports coach. Their friendship was precious and Case was down bad for Basil from the first time he met her.

I loved that this was a slow burn(I'm a sucker for slow burn) because it gave the characters to truly get to know each other and form this mutual friendship that gradually turns into something much more. The way Case respected Basil and was always there for her when she felt down🥺

There's a lot of drama, family drama and some media drama but it didn't turn out horrible or boring, it actually made the mmc and the fmc trust each other more, it made Basil come out of her shell and Case to learn from his past mistakes and you know, he was ready to beg if it came to that😏

Overall, I absolutely loved this book and hope to read so much more from the author💗
Profile Image for Thistiredmamareads.
49 reviews10 followers
February 11, 2024
⭐️Slow burn
⭐️Mutual Pining
⭐️Friends to Lovers
⭐️He falls first
⭐️Hockey Romance

Basil is a youth hockey coach who is content where her life is. Except one thing love leads to heartache. Or so she thought.

She now had a hot hockey captian as an assistant coach, whom she yelled at the week before.

The slow burn is slow, I felt like it was a little hard for me to connect with the characters. I wish I had a little more depth when it came to the FMC and MMC.

I love good side characters, and sometimes I feel like I could connect with them either except for MMC best friend. LOVED HIM and his straight to the point attitude. Im not going to lie, I can't wait for book 2. I screeched when I got to the part that made is obvious who's book is next.

Once we got past the slow burn and got closer to the lovers part, I started connecting with the MCs and started to enjoy the book more.

I loved how Case formulated a friendship with Basil. Even when she gave some push. He wanted to know everything about her even when she didn't know. He was a good guy who would take whatever Basil could give. In the end, I was rooting for both characters. They were both good people who built a great foundation before getting into a romantic relationship.

I want to thank the author for allowing me to read this book in turn for my honest review !
Profile Image for Kayla Collins.
21 reviews
February 8, 2024
Not your average Hockey Romance! (And yes that’s a good thing)

Thank you so much to the Author for sending me an ARC of her debut novel! Case and Basil had me giddy the entire time. Their banter was pure entertainment but their friendship turned love was the cherry on top. Oh, and she wasn’t joking when she said it is a SLOW BURN. But when her characters finally stop being silly, well 🥵🥵🥵

5/5 —you all are in for such a treat when this drops on 2/13 🤭
Profile Image for val.
30 reviews1 follower
May 8, 2024
I had the honor of being a BETA and an ARC reader for Ashlynne. She is an upcoming romance writer that has done a fantastic job writing the most agonizing slow burn, that is so worth reading the progress of! I love Basil and Case’s relationship so much, and how much their friend group is so supportive of each other. There’s hockey and there’s romance. What more could I want? I cannot wait to read about the other characters’ love journeys!
Profile Image for Laura Lee.
88 reviews9 followers
February 10, 2024
4.5 rounded to 5!

I need to start off by saying this book made me feel so giddy! And for this being Ashlynne's debut novel...are you kidding me? Ugh, I loved it.

Oftentimes with a romance, the slow burn becomes so painful, and I'm like DO IT ALREADY! But this one was different. The slow burn allowed for a sweet friendship to form and have a strong foundation to build upon. I savored every moment between Basil and Case, especially when the tension was tensioning! 😂

The character building was perfect. I loved getting to know both MCs, what their friendship and family dynamic was like with other loveable characters in the book, and the things they both love and what makes them tick. I absolutely adore the way Case admires Basil while she's reading (and in general, really), how he quickly learns the things she likes like her usual order from Rhonda's, their local coffee shop they frequent, and the way he shares his hoodie with her without hesitation. Literally, such a perfect gentleman! 🥰 Oh, and he bakes her her favorite brownies. Like, come on.

And we can't forget Basil! Seeing her growth throughout the book, finally putting her foot down and sticking up for herself against people who don't deserve to disturb her peace and be in her life was the freakin' cherry on top!! 🤌🏻 Loved that for her.

Highly recommend if you're looking for a cute hockey romance with some spice!

Read if you love:
🏒 Hockey romance
🏒 He falls first
🏒 Slow burn
🏒 Friends to lovers
🏒 Golden retriever MMC
🏒 Open communication
🏒 Open door romance

Release date: February 13, 2024 (just in time for Valentine's Day) and is available for pre-order now! 💕

Thank you so much, @ashlynne.kristine.author, for the opportunity to read this arc! ❤️
Profile Image for Tava Howell.
13 reviews
November 30, 2025
Where do I even start!!! This book was written amazingly! Since the day I got it, I was so excited to pick up this book and read it.

The Captain & The Coach is an adorable, slow burn, friends to lovers, hockey romance. Full of cute moments to funny scenes. There is a lot of drama between family and media.

MMC: NHL Hockey player for a Denver team! He falls first and is the sweetest guy to ever exist.

FMC: is a mixture of sunshine and grumpy. She coaches for a youth hockey team

Spice: lowish
If wanting to skip the open door scenes look below
• Chapter 21 (last paragraph)
• Chapter 31 (most if the chapter besides the first two pages)
• Chapter 34 (most of the chapter besides the first page and half)
• Chapter 36 (most of the chapter besides the first page and half)

**Couple of my favorite quotes from the book**
“I didn’t know what was worse, accidentally buying decaf coffee or the unexpected snowstorm.”

“Case’s simple made itself known when he smiled, and my stomach flipped again. “If you say so, sunshine” sunshine?”

“He placed a gentle kiss behind my ear and signed. “Good morning Beautiful.””
Profile Image for jana.
95 reviews6 followers
February 17, 2024
tropes:
🏒 hockey romance
🏒 friends to lovers
🏒 mutual pinning
🏒 slow burn
🏒 no third act breakup
🏒 he falls first

okay so basil and case got me absolutely hooked, i loved the slow burn and how much they pinned for each other, i was giggling and kicking my feet for the most part and that's when you know it's good.
basil relationship with the kids on her team was the cutest thing ever, she was the best coach🥹🫶🏽
now this is not your normal hockey romance but it's absolutely amazing, it's such a cute, fluffy read and it was exactly the book i needed at the moment.
now onto case, ohmygod this man absolutely raised my standards, the way he fell so hard for basil and quite literally grovelled for her was EVERYTHING and how every man should behave (my opinion but im obviously right)
i also really love the duo pov because i love knowing both of their perspectives.
overall this was such a happy, lighthearted read and sometimes that's everything i need.
thank you so much to ashley for sending me the arc💓
Profile Image for Najat_ Bookshelf.
53 reviews
February 16, 2024
Get comfy and get ready to dive into "The Captain and The Coach" by Ashlynne Kristine. It's not your usual hockey story this one puts a woman front and center, and it's super fun to see her play the game as a sport’s coach for young hockey players and win at love.

What sets this story apart is the emphasis on friendship and building a solid foundation. Leading the romance to build at a leisurely pace which might test your patience at the start. But as the story unfolds, you find the layers of Case and Basil worth the wait, and their individuality and unity as a couple make you cheer them on.

What keeps the pages turning isn't just the simmering love but also the drama that feels so real it could be your own: family clashes, pesky paparazzi, and the weight of expectation. Yet, this isn’t the drama that drags; it’s the kind that tests and strengthens, that makes the triumphs taste sweeter. Case is the MVP of boyfriend material, detailed-oriented to the point of baking brownies from her favorite café's recipe. And at the end of the day, The Captain and The Coach is a heartwarming hockey romance that will leave you with all those fuzzy feelings inside. So, grab a cup of hot cocoa, snuggle up, and enjoy this adorable ride. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Dive into a weekday read with Ashlynne Kristine's "The Captain and The Coach," where love and hockey collide in the sweetest slow burn ever. Watch Case and Basil turn mutual pining into a championship-worthy romance!
Profile Image for Mave Hathaway.
Author 5 books7 followers
October 29, 2024
The Captain and The Coach by Ashlynne Kristine is a hockey romance. This romance puts the slow in slow burn. I danced between if it was too long or just right. She definitely toes the line. Enter the sassy Basil and Case.
One thing I really appreciate from Kristine is her strength in characters and plot. There is a lot of drama swirling around these two characters and yet she keeps the reader on task and clear on what is happening. This was a book I didn’t have to go back and revisit certain sections to verify what is happening later on in the book.
This book is part of a series, but I unintentionally read it out of order and it worked great. I love that capability. It's another example about her strength of plot, she can have characters cross over and it stays a unique story. LOVE it!
Profile Image for Zoey.
235 reviews5 followers
February 20, 2024
Thank you for the arc, Ashlynne!
This was a cute read! It was a fmc hockey coach for little kids x mmc captain of his hockey team. I loved the build-up between the characters and creating their friendship before jumping into a relationship, allowing them both to get to know each other more. Basil is great at her job and deals with sexism for being a female coach, but she doesn't let that get to her as she knows she's good at her job. Case is told he will become her assistance and is rather confused when he shows up to see her do her job impeccably. Case is protective of Basil and there are a few scenes that were adorable, like him finding her favorite brownie recipe to replicate it and make her smile.

Out now!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Olivia Amiet.
52 reviews
February 13, 2024
#ARCREVIEW

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a great, quick and easy read!

Basil and Case are both adorable and I love their characters. I love the female representation in sport, especially youth hockey because that made it even cuter!

Case definitely fell first and harder but it didn’t take away from the slow burn aspect which was KILLING ME, I was on the edge of my seat. The banter was 🤤 and you could feel the chemistry between the characters.

The little boys on the youth hockey team are my favs I hope to see them in the future as well as Hayley, she is such an adorable kid.
Profile Image for Esmee.
2,192 reviews2 followers
February 18, 2024
70 procent. Ik had er geen zin meer in. Misschien omdat ik het niet achter elkaar las en er lang over deed. Het voelt langdradig.
Ipv dat ze de stap nemen en initiatieven tonen om te laten zin dat ze meer dan vriendschap willen, krabbelen de een of ander terug. Erg frustrerend. En het ging nogal vlot, dus de rest voelt langdradig. Terwijl het maar 312 blz heeft. Haar moeder is best een bittere trut
Profile Image for Kristin.
145 reviews9 followers
February 13, 2024
Thank you @ashlynne.kristine.author for the e-ARC copy of this book.

1. I love Basil and Case. SO much!
2. My hockey romance era is HERE. 😍
3. I can’t wait for the rest of this series!

I seriously loved this book. Do yourself a favor and run to get it now.

🏒 Hockey Captain & Kid’s Coach
🍫 Secret Brownies
🙋‍♂️ He Falls First
🥰 Nicknames
🛏️ 1 Bed
💒 Wedding Date
7 reviews
March 13, 2025
It was very clear while reading this that it was a newer writer. The story itself was good, but needed a strong editor. It is a pet peeve of mine when authors write a story involving sports but don't bother to do the minimum research on the sport. In particular this author referenced half time during a hockey game, hockey is played in three periods with intermission. There was also a lot of moments within the story that seemed to conflict with itself. As stated, I think a strong editor could have resolved these inconsistencies.
Profile Image for Patricia George.
26 reviews1 follower
May 6, 2025
Basil Andrews swore off love and stuck to hockey until she's forced to coach alongside Denver’s star captain, the same man she just yelled at. She wants to keep things strictly professional, but her heart has other plans.
Profile Image for Brianna.
1,109 reviews22 followers
February 17, 2024
This was a great debut novel! I loved the slow burn romance and both characters…I do wish there was more plot though.
Profile Image for Calene Bybee.
81 reviews
October 20, 2024
Slow burn to very spicy! Proud of my friend for writing such an entertaining book!
Profile Image for Kaitlin.
105 reviews1 follower
February 15, 2024
I love a good slow but, but a hockey romance slow burn.. COMMON!

The way this golden retriever MMC had me smiling like a fool over making brownies is unmatched.
This friends to lovers, he falls first and calls her "Sunshine" was just what I needed for this month.

A completely refreshing, no 3rd act breakup, even with some built up drama and tension read.

If I had to share my two favorite quotes to convince someone to read this, it would be " I wanted nothing more than to sit next to her, pull her into my lap, and run my fingers through her hair while she continued reading."

"Why do you call me that? Sunshine, I mean."
" Have you seen yourself smile? It's absolutely radiant."

Please do yourself the favor, and go melt over Case Whitlock like I did.
Profile Image for Kayla | Kayla Reads Smut.
313 reviews489 followers
February 10, 2024
Ok this book is perfect for those who are looking for a cute slow burn hockey romance that will make you want to kick your feet! The Captain and The Coach is a hockey romance and book 1 in the Denver Peaks series and told in a Dual POV. The FMC Basil is a youth hockey coach and the MMC Case is a hockey player who begins helping Basil as an assistant coach. And in true romance fashion, Case falls head over heals in love with Basil and let's face it, we all love seeing our MMC fall first and hard! But Basil comes from a divorced family with a toxic mother so her view on love is distorted. Case and Basil become really good friends and their relationship truly grows so strong and beautiful. Now I will say, I didn't expect the slight twist at the end but I am so glad that their problem dealing with a crazy fake ex-girlfriend was not what it seemed and that everything worked out for these two in the end.

📚 Book Tropes:
- Hockey Player MMC
- Hockey Youth Coach FMC
- Friends to Lovers
- Mutual Pining
- He Falls First and HARD
- No Third Act Break Up
- SLOW BURN

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 but rounded it up to 4 stars for the HEA
Spice: 🌶.5

💭 My Thoughts: Ok I want to be honest, I thought this was a really cute story. I enjoyed the different angle because far too often hockey romances seem to have the same plot. So I did appreciate the different angle and seeing a FMC heavily involved in the sport. But I will say I had a hard time at first getting into this book and I think it was because I felt like it was all over the place at first and I was attempting to connect with the characters. But once I got into it, I did think it was super cute. This book was also a super SLOW BURN. I mean these two mutually pined for each other and we didn't even get a kiss til like 85% of the book. So just go into it know that this is a slow burn.

Overall, I think this was a cute and easy read and I recommend it to those who enjoy the friends to lovers trope within the sports romance and don't mind a really slow burn. Because Ashlynne makes you work for the spice!

* I was given the opportunity to read The Captain and The Coach as an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts, opinions and reviews.
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