The Power Move

by Elizabeth Meitzler, Laura Cifelli (editor), Enni Tuomisalo (cover_art)

Needing to be anywhere but home, Millie Bardot is excited for her Junior year at Winger University. At least she was until a puck-for-brains hockey player hits her car on move-in day. And to make matters worse, he’s the definition of yummy.



Caleb Booker is more worried about the beer in his trunk than the dent in his fender. But when the sassy, curvy spitfire who hit him bends over to assess the damage, his thoughts shift to other things completely.



With Caleb and Millie telling different stories of the accident, tensions instantly run high.



Caleb discovers he loves to push Millie’s buttons and it’s all fun and games until he asks for a kiss… and she gives him one.



When Millie finds herself the subject of unwanted attention, Caleb will do anything to protect her, even if that means risking everything he’s worked for.



Come fall in love with the athletes at Winger University in the first of the Ballentine Boys series.

Genres: Sports Romance, Hockey Romance, Hockey, Enemies To Lovers, Sports, Romance, College

400 pages, Paperback

First published December 2, 2023

About the author

Elizabeth loves reading all genres but fell in love with romance. Her background in education and rehabilitation inspires her to include complexities in characters that will compel you to cheer them on throughout. A Pittsburgh native and Clarion University graduate, Elizabeth is a loving wife and mother of two (six if you include the cats). Follow Elizabeth on social media for updates on future projects.

Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/bdhk65ny

Twitter: https://tinyurl.com/4bd3zc4d

TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/mwy597v9

Reviews

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed with this one. The blurb sounded right up my alley but, in the end, it was a letdown. The premise for this story was okay but the execution was a mess. Everything was so fast-paced as to be unbelievable and frankly outlandish at times. I was seriously rolling my eyes throughout the entire book. The characters didn't have an iota of personality and it made them uninteresting and very forgettable. The romance was laughable because the kissing and orgasms started right off the bat with no real build-up. It was entirely unconvincing. The writing style was cringey and really needed some work. It was hard to get through this book if I am being honest. The ideas might have been there but there just wasn't any substance to this story. Pair that with the awful AI voice in the audiobook and this book was just a big ol' mess.


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⛔My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers.

[NikkiReads365 · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ The Power Move by Elizabeth Meitzler ✨

Memorable Moments/Ideas:
💜 Tumultuous meet cute
✨ Locker room shenanigans
💜 Hockey 😍
✨ Sister’s roommate
💜 Melt your ice cream

Hockey romance? Purple cover? Taunting vibes on the cover? Curvy FMC? Do I really need to write any more in this review?

Yes? Ok.

Millie and Caleb have what is quite possibly the best meet cute I’ve read — an accident. No, like, a legit car accident. Fender bender. Who’s at fault? Great question. They’re both so stubborn, it makes for excellent comedy.

On top of their stubborn nature, there is intense chemistry between the two. What might be considered red flags in real life (possessiveness, alpha-hole in a good way) are well played out and developed in this storyline.

On top of the hockey and spice, there’s also some good representation and discussion of family dynamics (good and less than good) and sexual harassment. There is depth interwoven with moments of humor, game play, and intimacy.

Also, there may or may not be an answer to who caused the accident… you’ll just have to read it to find out 😉

Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Recommend: Yes!
Hockey romance lovers — must read!

[Shelby Alease Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review honestly and voluntarily. This got me out of a reading slump! It was so cute! Hockey, rom com, Great banter, and I'm so excited that this will be a series, and I'll be able to visit this world again.

[Tiffany ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨"You're ridiculous," I say, still giggling. "And you're perfect."✨

This was so adorable, so sweet, and so perfect!! caleb & Millie are the cutest and had me smiling and giggling the whole time 🥹🫶🏻 Caleb was the sweetest ever and I love him

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw that Elizabeth was releasing another book and that it was a hockey romance, I was BEYOND excited. I was so lucky to recieve an ARC of her first book, The Twelve Swipes of Christmas, and absolutely loved it. To get the chance to receive an ARC for her second book was like an early Christmas gift! I began reading it and had it finished within 4 hours because I just could not put it down!

The story is in POV format which I love. It follows Mille and Caleb. Their story begins from meeting in a car collision to learning that her new roommate is Caleb’s sister and they find theirselves running into each other quite a bit around the college campus.

I loved the characters. This book has that enemies to lovers theme, but there is just something different that made me love it even more. Millie didn’t just fall over herself at Caleb’s charm. She made sure to make it known that she could handle herself. I also loved that Caleb had no problem expressing how he felt about Millie. Also, if you like some spice in your books, this one has got it! 🌶️

[Readbooks16 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fun hockey romance that I had the opportunity to both beta read and have an ARC of. Caleb and Millie have some initial enemies to lovers vibes, but it quickly turns to attraction that they can’t deny. At first Caleb seems like any other cocky hockey player but dang it if he won’t weasel his way into your heart and give you all the feels. And Millie is kind of awesome with all her sass!

The banter between these two is hilarious and their chemistry (and spicy scenes) are incredible. I love the way Elizabeth writes her characters. Her first book was a favorite holiday read of mine last year and I’m so glad she took at shot at hockey romance (she totally scored!)

There’s great college drama, fantastic side characters, fun silly dates, sexy sexy scenes, and more in this fantastic romcom. I loved it, both times I read it, and I highly recommend it for all my friends who love a good romance, especially hockey romance!

[Saphira Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

So my first complaint is about the editing. It was a little annoying to see one space, then double space, then once space again between the lines. It was changing on every page and I am not a fan of that at all 🥲
However, the story was really good. It was a little cringe at times, more at the beginning than in the rest of the book. It started also a little fast for me, but the overall story was great! I liked the main characters, I absolutely love Caleb, the way he is and his behavior. I’m all for the protective/“you’re mine” personality trait 😌 I also liked that hockey was more mentioned than in some hockey romance lol there’s not a crazy plot behind the story but I just loved the story the way it was. Can’t wait to read more books from this author!

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️🌶️ The meet cute (car accident), the HOT chemistry, the sweetness, romance, and the spice was soooo incredibly good. The only thing that threw me off was the Wattpad-like formatting of the paragraphs, but honestly even then, the love story between Caleb and Millie was so passionate. My favorite parts were the small moments that mattered like when they were just hanging out or when she came to cheer him on at his games because they were really good together as a couple. I also loved how there was no unnecessary third act breakup plot that happened. I loved this story a lot, and I wish we could get more stories of the other boys in the Ballentine house.

[Autumn | bookishandblissful · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a super easy and smutty read. it is meant to be enemies to lovers, but comes off more insta lovey. i enjoyed it being between college kids because i felt reminiscent of my college days.

there were heavier topics in the book, but they didn't feel as intense as they could have been and were just barely hit on (see tw below).

Spoilers/Triggers: blackmail of professor, inappropriateness of professor, lack of parents in life related to drugs/alcohol.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put the book down! The way the story evolves and the characters relationship evolved had me constantly guessing. A must read for anyone who likes romantic fiction or hockey. I loved the hockey references. Great book! I loved the way Elizabeth wrote the story and all of the twists and turns throughout the story. I couldn’t put it down.

[grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

ugh so cute. obsessed with millie and caleb, they have my whole heart. wonderful enemies-to-lovers, although i suppose they were never really enemies to begin with - the way they grew together was adorable and i love how millie found strength within herself. also loved the dynamics with millie and caleb’s friends! millie, zola, and bonnie are the ultimate girl gang!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was the writing good? No not really. Was the plot good? Eh, didn't seem to have much plot. Even the conflict with the FMC's parents didn't make much sense. Was it enjoyable? Yes, the banter between the MCs was cute. Gave wattpad vibes. Spice would be 2🌶 which there was so much the author could have done that was mentioned but didn't

[Deanna Sigai · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listen to the audio. There was just nothing to this, the wasn’t really a plot beside the main character being interested in each other. And then she has parent drama and professor drama, it just didn’t really align. It was like things were just popping up just to bring interest into the sorry but it didn’t help at all. The spicy was there though, that was written well.

[Jessica Matassa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I DNF this book. It is very poorly written. The story probably would have been really cute if it wasn’t so rushed and confusing. One minute they just got to the bar and are dancing and then next the friend is so drunk and leaving…even though she only had one drink. Very inconsistent and needed more explanation in some scenes but after seven chapters I just couldn’t keep going.

[Emily M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Predictable, but the characters had good chemistry, and I did like the representation of a power imbalance and potentially abusive relationship with an authority figure (not with mmc) . The ending felt like it was gonna go to a big thing and what ended up happening was kind of sweet. Sometimes I love overly coincidental. Things in the book is it. ‘Oh no I hit your car’ they exchange words and separate. Meets new college roommate ‘ My brother should arriving any moment’ guess who the roommates brother is. I was honestly cackling.

[Savanna Golden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I’ve read quite a bit of college romance and hockey romance, this was by far one of the best! I loved Caleb and Millie’s dynamic. Started out with her hating him and him being like “oooo she’s mean to me and I like it.” So many laughs, cuteness, and top tier spice.

[emy ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐⭐⭐
Missing those old days were nothing mattered and i would just sit and lie down on my bed reading through wattpad nonstop. This is exactly how this book felt for me.

AND the spice girrrll was hella good🤫😳

[Ashley Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.75 rounded up

This was an enemies to lovers very easy, smut filled book about two college kids who keep running into each other.. literally. I would’ve liked to have more enemies before lovers but the banter was great when it was.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute read. Definitely had cringy Wattpad energy but not in a bad way. The banter and the spice were good and I really enjoyed the ending.

[mnela (Taylor'sVersion) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hace mucho un libro no me sacaba CARCAJADAS. Ame estos personajes.

[Rhea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I WAS BLUSHING ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THE BOOK!!!! This book has all the best spice scenes and ofcourse the OG enemies to lovers trope with dual POV! UGH, WILL DEF READ THIS AGAIN!

[Nati · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved Caleb, I was kind of annoyed at moments with Millie, but he makes the whole book worth it.

[em · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a cute and fun read. it was cringy at times, but in the best way possible. the banter, and spicy moments were good. overall, i can’t complain

[Jaileen Duckworth · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF this book was super cringe. For an enemies to lovers book, Caleb and Millie never really were enemies. Was cringey at time so I decided to move on. 2/10

[Emma Cardenas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! It gave me all the feels! I laughed, I cringed, I cried, it gave me goosebumps!

[Riya Patel · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐

[Shauna.Cergogna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5* loved Millie

[Aubrey McCune · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it no big plot twist and after the stuff with the teacher at the hockey game oh my god i was in love with this book it had me pretty much constantly on the edge of my seat!!

[readsbymanduh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like Night Shift by Annie Crown, this book made me KICK MY FEET and GIGGLE!! It would have been a five-star read, however, I feel like some of the spice overtook major plot points for me. The spice was SPICY... I'm talking about getting busy in an alleyway, a tattoo parlor, and a JANITORS CLOSET! Read it... just freaking read the book!!!

Also, in case anyone was wondering, yes I do still deeply miss college and will continue to read college romances to live vicariously through the FMCs and experience what my college experience greatly lacked :)

[Meg Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is exactly what I was needing after binging fantasy & horror.

The Power Move was a perfect mix of spicy, sweet, & whitty. At first, I did not like Caleb. I thought he was an arrogant jerk, but by the end of it he was added high up on my list of book boyfriends! 😍 Millie is a strong female lead who I instantly related to right off the bat. Caleb and Millie have great banter and are both super fierce. I don’t want to spoil anything, but there is no third act breakup (and if you know, you know)!!!!

I enjoyed the reference to the Pittsburgh Penguins and CMU as a Pittsburgh girly. If you’re looking for a quick and steamy hockey romance, you don’t want to miss picking this up.

I can’t wait to see what else Elizabeth has in store for this group of college roomies!

I received this as an advanced reader copy. I’m extremely grateful and all opinions are honest & my own 🫶🏻