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Shadow Valley U #2
Heart of Thorns
As the number one quarterback in college football, my only dream is to make it to pro.
My richer-than-sin parents have a different goal.
Their plan is for me to score a trophy wife whose trust fund can hold its own against mine, then join the family empire after graduation. The latter half of that plan means giving up my dream of professional football. The first part means sitting through excruciating dates with girls who already have their wedding vows written.
In an attempt to free myself from one of my perpetual nightmares, I announce that I’m already in a serious, long-term relationship.
Which is a great excuse to get out of a date–if it were true.
To save the lie, I talk the intriguing campus black cat, Briar Hart, into pretending to be my girlfriend. She has a prickly heart, and she’s made it clear that she hates jocks.
But after I offer her something she can’t refuse, we’re suddenly faking our happily-ever-after to everyone.
If I’m not careful, I may start to believe it too.
My richer-than-sin parents have a different goal.
Their plan is for me to score a trophy wife whose trust fund can hold its own against mine, then join the family empire after graduation. The latter half of that plan means giving up my dream of professional football. The first part means sitting through excruciating dates with girls who already have their wedding vows written.
In an attempt to free myself from one of my perpetual nightmares, I announce that I’m already in a serious, long-term relationship.
Which is a great excuse to get out of a date–if it were true.
To save the lie, I talk the intriguing campus black cat, Briar Hart, into pretending to be my girlfriend. She has a prickly heart, and she’s made it clear that she hates jocks.
But after I offer her something she can’t refuse, we’re suddenly faking our happily-ever-after to everyone.
If I’m not careful, I may start to believe it too.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 27, 2024
951 people are currently reading
4519 people want to read
About the author
S. Massery
43 books5,576 followersS. Massery is a dark romance author who infuses all her stories with a dash of suspense. Formerly from Massachusetts, she now resides in Southern California with her dog, Alice.
Before adventuring into the world of writing, she went to college in Boston and held a wide variety of jobs—including working on a dude ranch in Wyoming (a personal highlight). She has a love affair with coffee and chocolate. When S. Massery isn’t writing, she can be found devouring books, playing outside with her dog, or trying to make people smile.
• Facebook Group —> http://facebook.com/groups/smasserysquad
• Facebook —> http://facebook.com/authorsmassery
• Instagram —> http://instagram.com/authorsmassery
• Newsletter —> http://smassery.com/newsletter
• Tiktok —> http://tiktok.com/@smassery
Before adventuring into the world of writing, she went to college in Boston and held a wide variety of jobs—including working on a dude ranch in Wyoming (a personal highlight). She has a love affair with coffee and chocolate. When S. Massery isn’t writing, she can be found devouring books, playing outside with her dog, or trying to make people smile.
• Facebook Group —> http://facebook.com/groups/smasserysquad
• Facebook —> http://facebook.com/authorsmassery
• Instagram —> http://instagram.com/authorsmassery
• Newsletter —> http://smassery.com/newsletter
• Tiktok —> http://tiktok.com/@smassery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 805 reviews
August 19, 2025
"That's the thing about fire. It doesn't pick and choose."
Briar Hart knew her life would never be the same after surviving the fire.
Her hockey dreams were crushed. She will never be able to play again.
So she's focusing on the thing she can control.
Art. Painting.
Control is key.
That is until Cassius Thorne comes into the picture.
QB of the football team. Heartthrob of Shadow Valley U.
Oh and also her new fake boyfriend.
But the lines start to blur when danger creeps back in.
Was it ever really fake?
"I don't have to trust him. I just have to act like I'm in love with him. That shouldn't be too hard, right?"
I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review 🖤
"Now I need to convince the girl with the heart of thorns to pretend to date me."
If I have said it once I have said it one hundred million bazzilion times = when S.J. Sylvis and S. Massery combine forces magic of epic proportions happens. The pure awesomeness that comes out of this collab - WE ARE NOT WORTHY!! The characters, the suspense, THE SMUT - everything hits and this one is absolutely no exception. Not only did I DEVOUR this in one sitting but I was kicking my feet and giggling like there was no tomorrow and I blame S.J. Sylvis and S. Massery wholeheartedly. That said. I hope both sides of their pillows are cold as can be tonight because my obsession with Thorne is borderline unhealthy but I'm not getting it checked out by a doctor because it will be my obsession and I will not apologize thank you very much. And Briar is giving "look at me wrong and I will ruin you vibes" and if that doesn't make you fall in love with her immediately then that is not my problem because she is my spirit animal in all ways. To summarize, this book was amazing and I will be rereading it 🫡🫡
"The Briar they know died in that fire, and I’m not sure anyone knows what to do with the new version of me."
The playlist is some of my best work (if I do say so myself) and I am pretty proud of myself because the vibes fit so well 💋💫🖤
(Link - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1SI...)
🎶 "Moonlight Magic" - Ashnikko
🎶 "Smoke and Fire" - Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 "Meddle About" - Chase Atlantic
🎶 "Lovely" - Lauren Babic, Seraphim
🎶 "Every Heart But Mine" - Dylan
🎶 "The Emptiness Machine" - Linkin Park
🎶 "American Money" - BORNS
🎶 "For The Love of the Game" - Secrets In Stereo
🎶 "Miss Murder" - Charlotte Sands
🎶 "Make A Move" - Icon For Hire
🎶 "goosebumps" - Travis Scott
🎶 "Burn" - Tom Walker
🎶 "Hate Me" - Nico Collins
🎶 "Beauty" - Layto
🎶 "HOUNDIN PT. II" - Layto, AViVA
🎶 "Heaven, We're Already Here" - The Maine
🎶 "HOLOGRAM" - Poe the Passenger
🎶 "happy ending" - Bailey Spinn
🎶 "Happy World" - Debbii Dawson
🎶 "Devil Devil" - MILCK
🎶 "Dazed & Confused" - Ruel
🎶 "Body (Slowed & Reverb)" - Rosenfeld
🎶 "Paralyzer" - Finger Eleven
🎶 "Pain" - Jake Daniels
🎶 "Thorns" - MIRA
🎶 "Paint It, Black" - Ciara
🎶 "The Devil Wears Lace" - Steven Rodriguez
🎶 "Flawless" - The Neighbourhood
🎶 "BLURRY" - Neoni
🎶 "Make You Mine" - Madison Beer
🎶 "NICE THINGS" - JORDY
🎶 "Bad Habits" - Nerv
🎶 "Imaginary" - Evanescence
🎶 "Hot For Me!" - NightMareKommunity, AKA
🎶 "Touch" - Little Mix
🎶 "Close" - Nick Jonas, Tove Lo
🎶 "Shackles" - Steven Rodriguez
🎶 "Trust Fund Baby" - Why Don't We
🎶 "Espresso - Double Shot Version" - Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 "Desire" - MEG MYERS
🎶 "Nonsense - Remix" - Sabrina Carpenter, Coi Leray
🎶 "HEARTBEAT" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "Drop Dead Gorgeous" - VOILA
🎶 "Shatter Me" - Lindsey Stirling, Lzzy Hale
🎶 "Pretend My Pain Away" - Citizen Soldier
🎶 "To My Knees" - Two Feet
🎶 "Jerk It Out - New Brauer Mix" - Caesars
🎶 "Flames" - R3HAB, ZAYN, Jungleboi
🎶 "Whatever" - Alex Coles
🎶 "Nails" - Call Me Karizma
🎶 "Flowers" - Lauren Spencer Smith
🎶 "butterflies" - GAYLE
🎶 "eyes don't lie sped up" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "Fallin' (Adrenaline)" - Why Don't We
🎶 "Hooked" - Why Don't We
🎶 "ICE QUEEN" - margo
🎶 "Movement" - Hozier
🎶 "Electricity" - Ashley Jana
🎶 "Cravin'" - Stileto, Kendyle Paige
🎶 "Chills - Dark Version" - Mickey Valen, Joey Myron
🎶 "I Feel You" - Depeche Mode
🎶 "Natural" - THE DRIVER ERA
🎶 "Moth" - Madison Reyes
🎶 "Candyland" - Stela Cole
🎶 "The Color Violet" - Tory Lanez
🎶 "Afterglow" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "The Archer" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "greedy" - Tate McRae
🎶 "HONEY (ARE U COMING?)" - Maneskin
🎶 "Mount Everest" - Labrinth
🎶 "Eat Your Young" - Hozier
🎶 "NFWMB" - Hozier
🎶 "Knee Socks" - Arctic Monkeys
🎶 "R U Mine?" - Arctic Monkeys
🎶 "Only Girl (In The World)" - Rihanna
🎶 "Only Love Can Hurt Like This" - Paloma Faith, Teddy Swims
🎶 "OXOX" - Dutch Melrose, Lost Boy
🎶 "Call Out My Name" - The Weeknd
🎶 "Beautiful Things" - Benson Boone
🎶 "Bad Guy" - The Interrupters
🎶 "I Like Me Better" - Lauv
🎶 "Wonder" - Shawn Mendes
🎶 "GOSSIP" - Maneskin, Tom Morello
🎶 "Beg" - Aryia
🎶 "Alibi" - Sevdaliza, Pabllo Vittar, Yseult
🎶 "Harder to Breathe" - Letdown.
🎶 "Love You Like Me" - William Singe
🎶 "Miss Independent" - Meet Me @ The Altar
🎶 "Picasso" - Loveless
🎶 "Bones" - MOD SUN
🎶 "Lay All Your Love On Me" - The Butterfly Effect
🎶 "Too Sweet" - Hozier
🎶 "Francesca" - Hozier
🎶 "I Think I'm In Love" - Kat Dahlia
🎶 "That's My Girl" - Russ
🎶 "Love Situation (911)" - Blanks
🎶 "dancing in the kitchen" - LANY
🎶 "Moon" - Austin Giorgio
🎶 "Paper Rings" - Taylor Swift
And you will completely understand my obsession just by the spice alone 🌶️🌶️
"Look at how perfect you are when I make you come."
"Good girl. now just come on my fingers and tongue and I’ll give you what you really want."
"Grab on to the headboard."
🏒 Tropes 🏒
🏈 Football Romance
🏈 Fake Dating
🏈 Grumpy x Sunshine
🏈 Black Cat FMC
🏈 Suspense
Book Edit - https://www.instagram.com/p/DDxG2v-gw...
Briar Hart knew her life would never be the same after surviving the fire.
Her hockey dreams were crushed. She will never be able to play again.
So she's focusing on the thing she can control.
Art. Painting.
Control is key.
That is until Cassius Thorne comes into the picture.
QB of the football team. Heartthrob of Shadow Valley U.
Oh and also her new fake boyfriend.
But the lines start to blur when danger creeps back in.
Was it ever really fake?
"I don't have to trust him. I just have to act like I'm in love with him. That shouldn't be too hard, right?"
I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review 🖤
"Now I need to convince the girl with the heart of thorns to pretend to date me."
If I have said it once I have said it one hundred million bazzilion times = when S.J. Sylvis and S. Massery combine forces magic of epic proportions happens. The pure awesomeness that comes out of this collab - WE ARE NOT WORTHY!! The characters, the suspense, THE SMUT - everything hits and this one is absolutely no exception. Not only did I DEVOUR this in one sitting but I was kicking my feet and giggling like there was no tomorrow and I blame S.J. Sylvis and S. Massery wholeheartedly. That said. I hope both sides of their pillows are cold as can be tonight because my obsession with Thorne is borderline unhealthy but I'm not getting it checked out by a doctor because it will be my obsession and I will not apologize thank you very much. And Briar is giving "look at me wrong and I will ruin you vibes" and if that doesn't make you fall in love with her immediately then that is not my problem because she is my spirit animal in all ways. To summarize, this book was amazing and I will be rereading it 🫡🫡
"The Briar they know died in that fire, and I’m not sure anyone knows what to do with the new version of me."
The playlist is some of my best work (if I do say so myself) and I am pretty proud of myself because the vibes fit so well 💋💫🖤
(Link - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1SI...)
🎶 "Moonlight Magic" - Ashnikko
🎶 "Smoke and Fire" - Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 "Meddle About" - Chase Atlantic
🎶 "Lovely" - Lauren Babic, Seraphim
🎶 "Every Heart But Mine" - Dylan
🎶 "The Emptiness Machine" - Linkin Park
🎶 "American Money" - BORNS
🎶 "For The Love of the Game" - Secrets In Stereo
🎶 "Miss Murder" - Charlotte Sands
🎶 "Make A Move" - Icon For Hire
🎶 "goosebumps" - Travis Scott
🎶 "Burn" - Tom Walker
🎶 "Hate Me" - Nico Collins
🎶 "Beauty" - Layto
🎶 "HOUNDIN PT. II" - Layto, AViVA
🎶 "Heaven, We're Already Here" - The Maine
🎶 "HOLOGRAM" - Poe the Passenger
🎶 "happy ending" - Bailey Spinn
🎶 "Happy World" - Debbii Dawson
🎶 "Devil Devil" - MILCK
🎶 "Dazed & Confused" - Ruel
🎶 "Body (Slowed & Reverb)" - Rosenfeld
🎶 "Paralyzer" - Finger Eleven
🎶 "Pain" - Jake Daniels
🎶 "Thorns" - MIRA
🎶 "Paint It, Black" - Ciara
🎶 "The Devil Wears Lace" - Steven Rodriguez
🎶 "Flawless" - The Neighbourhood
🎶 "BLURRY" - Neoni
🎶 "Make You Mine" - Madison Beer
🎶 "NICE THINGS" - JORDY
🎶 "Bad Habits" - Nerv
🎶 "Imaginary" - Evanescence
🎶 "Hot For Me!" - NightMareKommunity, AKA
🎶 "Touch" - Little Mix
🎶 "Close" - Nick Jonas, Tove Lo
🎶 "Shackles" - Steven Rodriguez
🎶 "Trust Fund Baby" - Why Don't We
🎶 "Espresso - Double Shot Version" - Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 "Desire" - MEG MYERS
🎶 "Nonsense - Remix" - Sabrina Carpenter, Coi Leray
🎶 "HEARTBEAT" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "Drop Dead Gorgeous" - VOILA
🎶 "Shatter Me" - Lindsey Stirling, Lzzy Hale
🎶 "Pretend My Pain Away" - Citizen Soldier
🎶 "To My Knees" - Two Feet
🎶 "Jerk It Out - New Brauer Mix" - Caesars
🎶 "Flames" - R3HAB, ZAYN, Jungleboi
🎶 "Whatever" - Alex Coles
🎶 "Nails" - Call Me Karizma
🎶 "Flowers" - Lauren Spencer Smith
🎶 "butterflies" - GAYLE
🎶 "eyes don't lie sped up" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "Fallin' (Adrenaline)" - Why Don't We
🎶 "Hooked" - Why Don't We
🎶 "ICE QUEEN" - margo
🎶 "Movement" - Hozier
🎶 "Electricity" - Ashley Jana
🎶 "Cravin'" - Stileto, Kendyle Paige
🎶 "Chills - Dark Version" - Mickey Valen, Joey Myron
🎶 "I Feel You" - Depeche Mode
🎶 "Natural" - THE DRIVER ERA
🎶 "Moth" - Madison Reyes
🎶 "Candyland" - Stela Cole
🎶 "The Color Violet" - Tory Lanez
🎶 "Afterglow" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "The Archer" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "greedy" - Tate McRae
🎶 "HONEY (ARE U COMING?)" - Maneskin
🎶 "Mount Everest" - Labrinth
🎶 "Eat Your Young" - Hozier
🎶 "NFWMB" - Hozier
🎶 "Knee Socks" - Arctic Monkeys
🎶 "R U Mine?" - Arctic Monkeys
🎶 "Only Girl (In The World)" - Rihanna
🎶 "Only Love Can Hurt Like This" - Paloma Faith, Teddy Swims
🎶 "OXOX" - Dutch Melrose, Lost Boy
🎶 "Call Out My Name" - The Weeknd
🎶 "Beautiful Things" - Benson Boone
🎶 "Bad Guy" - The Interrupters
🎶 "I Like Me Better" - Lauv
🎶 "Wonder" - Shawn Mendes
🎶 "GOSSIP" - Maneskin, Tom Morello
🎶 "Beg" - Aryia
🎶 "Alibi" - Sevdaliza, Pabllo Vittar, Yseult
🎶 "Harder to Breathe" - Letdown.
🎶 "Love You Like Me" - William Singe
🎶 "Miss Independent" - Meet Me @ The Altar
🎶 "Picasso" - Loveless
🎶 "Bones" - MOD SUN
🎶 "Lay All Your Love On Me" - The Butterfly Effect
🎶 "Too Sweet" - Hozier
🎶 "Francesca" - Hozier
🎶 "I Think I'm In Love" - Kat Dahlia
🎶 "That's My Girl" - Russ
🎶 "Love Situation (911)" - Blanks
🎶 "dancing in the kitchen" - LANY
🎶 "Moon" - Austin Giorgio
🎶 "Paper Rings" - Taylor Swift
And you will completely understand my obsession just by the spice alone 🌶️🌶️
"Look at how perfect you are when I make you come."
"Good girl. now just come on my fingers and tongue and I’ll give you what you really want."
"Grab on to the headboard."
🏒 Tropes 🏒
🏈 Football Romance
🏈 Fake Dating
🏈 Grumpy x Sunshine
🏈 Black Cat FMC
🏈 Suspense
Book Edit - https://www.instagram.com/p/DDxG2v-gw...
January 3, 2025
Squee!! Loved these two and their chemistry. Briar was such a cool character and definitely someone I’d love to meet in real life!
February 6, 2025
5 Stalker Grumpy Cat Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level:🌶️🌶️/5
Now this was an interesting read for me, and I stand by what I said for Sticks and Stones that these books (this Series) is basically the type of book you read if you’re looking for an intro to Dark Romance. While there are a couple of triggers, it’s not overbearing or overly hard to handle, and you’re still dealing with generally a green-flag MMC.
𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Briar Hart, who used to be a hockey player. One night, while painting a commission in an abandoned building, the building was set on fire. Trapped and desperate to escape she jumps from the second-story window, shattering her knee and Hockey dreams. One day, she meets Cassius Thorne and something about her intrigues him; and life keeps putting them in the same place at the same time. It turns outCassius Thorne has access to a state-of-the-art fitness centre that could help her rehabilitate her knee. In exchange, he needs someone to pretend to be his girlfriend to pacify his parents. It’s a win-win, but we all know that fake feelings don’t always stay fake.
𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
Briar is angry. She was angry before her accident channelling that rage into hockey. Now she’s furious that her entire future has been jeopardised, and she has no control over pursuing it. She’s in constant pain from her injury, and she hates showing weakness or vulnerability to anyone as she doesn’t want to become the laughingstock of the university or a pity case for what happened to her. So she hides her emotions, her pain, everything and doesn't open up very easily.
Cassius Thorne is, oh my god, a gooey cinnamon roll. Not only is he popular, a quarterback, and incredibly sexy! But he’s sweet and cute and flirty, with a smirk that can melt your panties. He’s the typical type of man written by women, because of course he’s rocking an eight-pack and is sexy as hell, BUT I AM ALL HERE FOR IT! Also he hates his REAL name... and only lets her call him Cassius...
I really liked how their relationship developed. It never felt rushed or forced, these two were just comfortable with each other and you could see how much they enjoyed each other’s company and how simply being around each other calmed them down. The relationship just felt real, meaningful, and realistic. Their emotional connection, the way they help each other through low points, and are thrilled for the other during the high points, was sweet.
I need to commend these two authors for taking two of my FAVOURITE tropes (and one normally only seen in Fantasy) and finding a way to put them into this romance... They share a bath and SHE HOLDS A KNIFE TO HIS THROAT! It was perfection! It's the stuff that made me devour this in one sitting. Just the quick, fun, real, emotional read I needed... everything!
One of my main issues though is that I wanted a cameo from Wren or Stone, I wanted to revisit them for a moment. But there was no mention of them at all, so it almost felt like this wasn't even the same universe as the previous book, just a random book that had the same university. I would have believed it if I had been told this was a complete standalone. (Though...Evan is mentioned in passing)
On the bright side, I’ve seen too many authors stretch this kind of book into multiple books (S. Massery herself being one of them) and I think I prefer something like this. The fast-paced story concludes at the end with a nice Epilogue wrap-up.
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ University Romance
▶ Sports Romance (Hockey and Football)
▶ She Falls First - He Falls Harder
▶ Tending to Injuries
▶ Fake Dating
▶ Poor Girl, Rich Boy
▶ Black Cat X Golden Retriever (Reverse Grumpy Sunshine)
and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Nicknames
▷ Undressing Help
▷ Hand Necklaces
▷ Mine
▷ Spicy/Steamy Water Scene
▷ Share a Bath
▷ Beg Me
▷ Knife to the Throat
▷ "Hold on to the..."
All in all, while the twist at the end wasn’t hard to see coming, and the ending felt slightly rushed and I wanted a bit more scenes of them IN the REAL relationship once they went "all in" I still really enjoyed this!
So if you like a grumpy black cat with claws who falls for a sexy golden retriever, and want banter and spice, I definitely recommend picking this up!
Thank you to ValentinePR, S. Massey and S.J. Sylvis for the gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own
Spicy Level:🌶️🌶️/5
Now this was an interesting read for me, and I stand by what I said for Sticks and Stones that these books (this Series) is basically the type of book you read if you’re looking for an intro to Dark Romance. While there are a couple of triggers, it’s not overbearing or overly hard to handle, and you’re still dealing with generally a green-flag MMC.
𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Briar Hart, who used to be a hockey player. One night, while painting a commission in an abandoned building, the building was set on fire. Trapped and desperate to escape she jumps from the second-story window, shattering her knee and Hockey dreams. One day, she meets Cassius Thorne and something about her intrigues him; and life keeps putting them in the same place at the same time. It turns out
𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
Briar is angry. She was angry before her accident channelling that rage into hockey. Now she’s furious that her entire future has been jeopardised, and she has no control over pursuing it. She’s in constant pain from her injury, and she hates showing weakness or vulnerability to anyone as she doesn’t want to become the laughingstock of the university or a pity case for what happened to her. So she hides her emotions, her pain, everything and doesn't open up very easily.
I really liked how their relationship developed. It never felt rushed or forced, these two were just comfortable with each other and you could see how much they enjoyed each other’s company and how simply being around each other calmed them down. The relationship just felt real, meaningful, and realistic. Their emotional connection, the way they help each other through low points, and are thrilled for the other during the high points, was sweet.
I need to commend these two authors for taking two of my FAVOURITE tropes (and one normally only seen in Fantasy) and finding a way to put them into this romance... They share a bath and SHE HOLDS A KNIFE TO HIS THROAT! It was perfection! It's the stuff that made me devour this in one sitting. Just the quick, fun, real, emotional read I needed... everything!
One of my main issues though is that I wanted a cameo from Wren or Stone, I wanted to revisit them for a moment. But there was no mention of them at all, so it almost felt like this wasn't even the same universe as the previous book, just a random book that had the same university. I would have believed it if I had been told this was a complete standalone. (Though...Evan is mentioned in passing)
On the bright side, I’ve seen too many authors stretch this kind of book into multiple books (S. Massery herself being one of them) and I think I prefer something like this. The fast-paced story concludes at the end with a nice Epilogue wrap-up.
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ University Romance
▶ Sports Romance (Hockey and Football)
▶ She Falls First - He Falls Harder
▶ Tending to Injuries
▶ Fake Dating
▶ Poor Girl, Rich Boy
▶ Black Cat X Golden Retriever (Reverse Grumpy Sunshine)
and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Nicknames
▷ Undressing Help
▷ Hand Necklaces
▷ Mine
▷ Spicy/Steamy Water Scene
▷ Share a Bath
▷ Beg Me
▷ Knife to the Throat
▷ "Hold on to the..."
All in all, while the twist at the end wasn’t hard to see coming, and the ending felt slightly rushed and I wanted a bit more scenes of them IN the REAL relationship once they went "all in" I still really enjoyed this!
So if you like a grumpy black cat with claws who falls for a sexy golden retriever, and want banter and spice, I definitely recommend picking this up!
Thank you to ValentinePR, S. Massey and S.J. Sylvis for the gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own
Currently reading
January 4, 2025Available now!
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: https://a.co/d/gX2RjOt
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3NoF97G
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: https://a.co/d/gX2RjOt
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3NoF97G
April 28, 2025
Audio:
5 stars for Savannah Peachwood and JF Harding
Book: 4 stars
Can be read as a standalone.
I actually really enjoyed this, would definitely love to read more by this duo.
And the narration was great!
5 stars for Savannah Peachwood and JF Harding
Book: 4 stars
Can be read as a standalone.
I actually really enjoyed this, would definitely love to read more by this duo.
And the narration was great!
December 14, 2024
Cue like a prayer, choir edition. 🎶
SJ Sylvis & S Massery know how to write sports bangers. And not fluffy ones, ones with bones and slightly darker themes.
Briar: “grumpy cat”, pure black cat energy and I loved her.
Artist, a girl hockey player, no sh*t attitude
A traumatic incident occurs.
A-lot of sports romance boys are the whole “playboy”/reformed playboy is his whole personality vibes. Not the case here 🙌
Thorne: star quarterback, got some money in the family.
Awful parents, needs a girlfriend… a fake one.
He’s the sunshiney one.
Banter
Angst
Fake dating
I love the hates being touched except for you trope
Football
A stalker👀
FMC in danger
🔥🔥🔥
This is a complete standalone.
Arc review ⭐️
SJ Sylvis & S Massery know how to write sports bangers. And not fluffy ones, ones with bones and slightly darker themes.
Briar: “grumpy cat”, pure black cat energy and I loved her.
Artist, a girl hockey player, no sh*t attitude
A traumatic incident occurs.
A-lot of sports romance boys are the whole “playboy”/reformed playboy is his whole personality vibes. Not the case here 🙌
Thorne: star quarterback, got some money in the family.
Awful parents, needs a girlfriend… a fake one.
He’s the sunshiney one.
Banter
Angst
Fake dating
I love the hates being touched except for you trope
Football
A stalker👀
FMC in danger
🔥🔥🔥
This is a complete standalone.
Arc review ⭐️
January 7, 2025
HOLY!!! Sara and Sammi really know how to write some good frickin' books and when they write one together...it's perfection!
This story follows Briar and Thorne. Thorne needs Briar to help get his rich parents off his back and Briar need someone who can help her recover from an injury. What started off as fake quickly doesn't stay fake.
THORNE!! I am obsessed with this man. The way everyone makes him cringe when touching him except her...I am a puddle. Also...who knew an ice bath could be soo hot. Golden Retriever energy through and through with him.
I absolutely loved Briar. She was the definition of a black cat and I loved all her sass. She was exactly what Thorne needed. Perfect balance of one another.
THE SUSPENSE!! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time with this one and shocking to no one...I didn't figure out who it was. If you're looking for a book filled with angst, witty banter, spice, and a bit of black cat energy, this is a must read!!!
Literally cannot wait to see what these two come up with next bc everything so far has been a favorite of mine.
Overall: 5
Spice: 3
Tropes:
Football Romance
Black Cat x Golden Retriever
Fake Dating
Angst
Suspense
This story follows Briar and Thorne. Thorne needs Briar to help get his rich parents off his back and Briar need someone who can help her recover from an injury. What started off as fake quickly doesn't stay fake.
THORNE!! I am obsessed with this man. The way everyone makes him cringe when touching him except her...I am a puddle. Also...who knew an ice bath could be soo hot. Golden Retriever energy through and through with him.
I absolutely loved Briar. She was the definition of a black cat and I loved all her sass. She was exactly what Thorne needed. Perfect balance of one another.
THE SUSPENSE!! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time with this one and shocking to no one...I didn't figure out who it was. If you're looking for a book filled with angst, witty banter, spice, and a bit of black cat energy, this is a must read!!!
Literally cannot wait to see what these two come up with next bc everything so far has been a favorite of mine.
Overall: 5
Spice: 3
Tropes:
Football Romance
Black Cat x Golden Retriever
Fake Dating
Angst
Suspense
December 30, 2024
Read it cover to cover. Couldn’t put it down. I was obsessed!
December 29, 2024
ATE TF DOWNNNN🔥
MASSERY ANS SYLVIS NEVER DISAPPOINT ME OKAY 10’s ACROSS THE BOARD👏🏾. The way I ate this up needs to be studied and I had my suspicions but the plot twist still shook me to the core . I love grumpy x sunshine , but this was like grumpy x grumpy in a way and I never realized I’d love that until now lol . YALL GOTTA READ THIS LIKE YESTERDAY!!
MASSERY ANS SYLVIS NEVER DISAPPOINT ME OKAY 10’s ACROSS THE BOARD👏🏾. The way I ate this up needs to be studied and I had my suspicions but the plot twist still shook me to the core . I love grumpy x sunshine , but this was like grumpy x grumpy in a way and I never realized I’d love that until now lol . YALL GOTTA READ THIS LIKE YESTERDAY!!
December 28, 2024
Loved it!
Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: fake dating
Angst: 😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
What a fantastic read! I absolutely loved Briar and Thorn and I loved them together. This was a fast paced, lower angst read that hits all the right spots. I love grumpy heroines, lol, and Briar certainly fit the bill, although she definitely had reasons. Thorn loved the fact that she wasnt kissing his 🍑 like all the other girls. Call me weird, but I loved how he was touch averse to anyone but her 🤷🏻♀️. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: fake dating
Angst: 😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
What a fantastic read! I absolutely loved Briar and Thorn and I loved them together. This was a fast paced, lower angst read that hits all the right spots. I love grumpy heroines, lol, and Briar certainly fit the bill, although she definitely had reasons. Thorn loved the fact that she wasnt kissing his 🍑 like all the other girls. Call me weird, but I loved how he was touch averse to anyone but her 🤷🏻♀️. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
January 21, 2025
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice Rating: 🌶🌶
HEA: 🌟🌟🌟/3
❗️ Safety and Small Spoilers Below❗️
📌 Triggers: Living to parental expectations (on-page) PTSD (on-page) Career-Ending Injury (on-page) Arson (on-page)
📌 No Cheating/Sharing
📌 No OMD: FMC broke up with her boyfriend a couple of months before MMC due to him cheating
📌 Slight OWD: MMCs parents push girls onto him in hopes he'll marry one. He's not interested in them and doesn't go on any dates with them after meeting FMC.
📌 Sorta Third-act Breakup: MCs were scared that their fake relationship was becoming too real, so they decided to distance themselves. This only lasts a week before they confess their true feelings.
Spice Rating: 🌶🌶
HEA: 🌟🌟🌟/3
❗️ Safety and Small Spoilers Below❗️
📌 Triggers: Living to parental expectations (on-page) PTSD (on-page) Career-Ending Injury (on-page) Arson (on-page)
📌 No Cheating/Sharing
📌 No OMD: FMC broke up with her boyfriend a couple of months before MMC due to him cheating
📌 Slight OWD: MMCs parents push girls onto him in hopes he'll marry one. He's not interested in them and doesn't go on any dates with them after meeting FMC.
📌 Sorta Third-act Breakup: MCs were scared that their fake relationship was becoming too real, so they decided to distance themselves. This only lasts a week before they confess their true feelings.
March 24, 2025
3.5⭐️
Briar was injured when a building she was commissioned to paint a mural in was purposefully set on fire, the arsonist saw her in there and locked her in but she jumped out a window and busted her knee. Months later she’s unable to play hockey anymore and is dealing with the pain from her injury and the ptsd of being trapped in the building and left to die.
Thorne is the popular quarterback with shitty rich parents who only care about image, they want him to take over his dads company one day and are trying to push him to settle down and get married with someone from their social circle, so they’ve been pressuring him into dating girls of their choosing. He’s miserable from it all and just wants to play football so when the dad of one of those girls insinuates that he’ll be his father in law soon he panics and blurts out that there’s been a misunderstanding because he’s already in a serious relationship. This is where the fake dating with Briar comes in. He gets the fake girlfriend and to focus on football and stop the annoying dates and in exchange he’ll help her rehab her knee in the football stadiums facilities. She wants to keep an eye on the football players too because she remembers the arsonist wearing something that identified him as a football player.
I really liked them both and liked them together. Fuckin haaaate the nickname ‘kitten’ but I loved when he called her ‘Grumpy Cat’ The suspense stuff with the arsonist was good, have to say I suspected his best friend Rhys for a while but I was glad to be proven wrong.
I wished we saw more of him confronting/cutting off his parents. After they caused so much trauma and issues in his life it felt very anticlimactic that we never got a big showdown. I just felt robbed cus I fuckin hate when grown ass adults let their parents dictate their life and I love when the shitty parents are put in their place.
-Dual pov
-College aged
-Fake dating
-ex hockey girl & artist/ football player
-small owd- an ow who Thornes parents were pushing him to date makes a few appearances but he’s not interested at all. She tries to pretend she’s his fiance when he wakes up in the hospital near the end of the book but he can’t even remember her name and gets her thrown out.
-small omd- Briars ex Ben is on the football team with Thorne, he had cheated after she got injured in the fire. He doesn’t really cause any issues he tries to talk to her a couple times.
-no virgins, no cheating, faithful and loyal from the very start of fake dating. Seemed like he hooked up a lot before Briar but he has an aversion to touch so it’s said before he was very impersonal, like only from behind and no intimacy. Briar is his first real girlfriend and first woman he’s wanted to properly kiss him and touch him.
-third act kinda blip- he freaked out at how much he was starting to feel for her and how it was distracting him from football and pushed her away. She didn’t end the fake dating and still showed up to his game for him. They’re still ‘together’ but distant for a short while.
-HFN
-epilogue 3 years later, she’s a working artist and he’s in the NFL. He proposes after a winning game
Briar was injured when a building she was commissioned to paint a mural in was purposefully set on fire, the arsonist saw her in there and locked her in but she jumped out a window and busted her knee. Months later she’s unable to play hockey anymore and is dealing with the pain from her injury and the ptsd of being trapped in the building and left to die.
Thorne is the popular quarterback with shitty rich parents who only care about image, they want him to take over his dads company one day and are trying to push him to settle down and get married with someone from their social circle, so they’ve been pressuring him into dating girls of their choosing. He’s miserable from it all and just wants to play football so when the dad of one of those girls insinuates that he’ll be his father in law soon he panics and blurts out that there’s been a misunderstanding because he’s already in a serious relationship. This is where the fake dating with Briar comes in. He gets the fake girlfriend and to focus on football and stop the annoying dates and in exchange he’ll help her rehab her knee in the football stadiums facilities. She wants to keep an eye on the football players too because she remembers the arsonist wearing something that identified him as a football player.
I really liked them both and liked them together. Fuckin haaaate the nickname ‘kitten’ but I loved when he called her ‘Grumpy Cat’ The suspense stuff with the arsonist was good, have to say I suspected his best friend Rhys for a while but I was glad to be proven wrong.
I wished we saw more of him confronting/cutting off his parents. After they caused so much trauma and issues in his life it felt very anticlimactic that we never got a big showdown. I just felt robbed cus I fuckin hate when grown ass adults let their parents dictate their life and I love when the shitty parents are put in their place.
-Dual pov
-College aged
-Fake dating
-ex hockey girl & artist/ football player
-small owd- an ow who Thornes parents were pushing him to date makes a few appearances but he’s not interested at all. She tries to pretend she’s his fiance when he wakes up in the hospital near the end of the book but he can’t even remember her name and gets her thrown out.
-small omd- Briars ex Ben is on the football team with Thorne, he had cheated after she got injured in the fire. He doesn’t really cause any issues he tries to talk to her a couple times.
-no virgins, no cheating, faithful and loyal from the very start of fake dating. Seemed like he hooked up a lot before Briar but he has an aversion to touch so it’s said before he was very impersonal, like only from behind and no intimacy. Briar is his first real girlfriend and first woman he’s wanted to properly kiss him and touch him.
-third act kinda blip- he freaked out at how much he was starting to feel for her and how it was distracting him from football and pushed her away. She didn’t end the fake dating and still showed up to his game for him. They’re still ‘together’ but distant for a short while.
-HFN
-epilogue 3 years later, she’s a working artist and he’s in the NFL. He proposes after a winning game
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2024
I know it wasn’t a short novella but it felt like it.
Everything seemed rushed, very on-the-surface and the character development was mostly just… assumed, rather than actually developed through the plot.
The plot premise was good but the writing somehow made it bland and lackluster. It kinda felt like we got a run-down of the story, a cliff notes version, instead of actually getting a chance to live it through.
It had also absolutely nothing to do with the first book, so besides being set in the same universe, it doesn’t feel like the series whatsoever.
Everything seemed rushed, very on-the-surface and the character development was mostly just… assumed, rather than actually developed through the plot.
The plot premise was good but the writing somehow made it bland and lackluster. It kinda felt like we got a run-down of the story, a cliff notes version, instead of actually getting a chance to live it through.
It had also absolutely nothing to do with the first book, so besides being set in the same universe, it doesn’t feel like the series whatsoever.
January 1, 2025
4 stars⭐️
My first read in 2025!😍
This was a cute, spicy, and shorter book. I loved how they managed to help each other because they both had their problems and traumas.❤️ There is also some suspense, but it's predictable, at least for me.
The only thing I really hated was his nickname for her (kitten). I have a really high tolerance for nicknames in the books, and I think this is the only one that gives me the ick.😅
Overall, nothing innovative, but still, it is good and cute. If you liked The Deal you will probably also like this one, it has similar tropes.
✨️college romance
✨️sports romance, MMC is a football player and FMC is an ex-hockey player
✨️fake dating
✨️black cat x golden retriever
✨️HEA
✨️spicy: 🌶🌶.5
✨️dual pov, written in first person
✨️the second book in the series, can be read as a standalone
My first read in 2025!😍
This was a cute, spicy, and shorter book. I loved how they managed to help each other because they both had their problems and traumas.❤️ There is also some suspense, but it's predictable, at least for me.
The only thing I really hated was his nickname for her (kitten). I have a really high tolerance for nicknames in the books, and I think this is the only one that gives me the ick.😅
Overall, nothing innovative, but still, it is good and cute. If you liked The Deal you will probably also like this one, it has similar tropes.
✨️college romance
✨️sports romance, MMC is a football player and FMC is an ex-hockey player
✨️fake dating
✨️black cat x golden retriever
✨️HEA
✨️spicy: 🌶🌶.5
✨️dual pov, written in first person
✨️the second book in the series, can be read as a standalone
May 9, 2025
2.5 stars 🌟
I was excited for this book but it has been one disappointment after another.
Thorne comes from a family of generational wealth and is expected to marry someone from the same entourage. They are constantly setting him up with equally wealthy girls. His parents refer to his football stardom as a hobby and expect him to take over the business once his football itch is scratched.
Briar comes from a middle class family. Her dream is to become a pro hockey player but an accident in a burning building squashes those dreams and leaves her with a limp.
Thorne meets Briar aka grumpy pants and is intrigued that there is at least one female who is not obsessed with his name and wealth. So naturally he asks her to fake date him to get his parents off his back, and in return he helps her rehabilitate her injured knee so she might have another chance at playing hockey.
I know this is fiction and I know these are college kids and this might actually be how they talk about women but the vulgar language used when they want to get laid and sleep around is just.... errrghhh *shudder
The only touch I like is getting my cock wet
Yeah because our dear Thorne doesn't like to touch or be touched. However, random accidents where he had to grab Briar brought him nothing but desire.
Their first time is painstakingly underwhelming. He rushes into a party and saves her from the aftermath of her first use of drugs, he takes her to his house. She comes on to him he denies her of course because he doesn't want to take advantage. The next day though, she confesses she's still horny and needs to get off but she cannot do it with any other man ( 🙄 no comment) because she's fake dating him and so he takes that honorable task. He gets her off then bangs her and after it's done she tells him this is a one time thing.
Just wow!
Very classy 👌
It lacked attraction, it lacked desire, it lacked emotion, it was just THAT, getting her off to make sure the drugs wear off.
Anyway, of course they don't keep it as a one time thing. 🙄
She caved in too soon to having skin privileges with him. Their physical relationship doesn't look special or anything they just gave in and gave each other everything way too soon to my liking.
The dynamic of this book is pretty weird
She tells him about the arsonist, he listens but then dismisses the subject by asking her how the dinner with his parents went!
The third act breakup?! What. A. Douchebag!!!
I mean I understand his reasons but he could have done it differently.
Ok the whole situation after the breakup? Or is it? It's just weird.
The breakup?! 👇
"I can't do real, Briar." Fuck, why does this hurt so
much? "This is my last season playing football, and
I am not even thinking about the game. I'm think-
ing about you. And I just need it all to fucking stop
for five seconds. I won't do this. I don't even care
that my parents didn't believe our ruse. I'm losing
sight of what I love most in life because of you."
She stares at me. And stares and stares and stares.
My heart cracks. "Please leave."
"Cassius-"
"Leave," I order, throwing my hand out, one finger
pointed toward the front door.
She bolts.
They don't speak or see each other for a few days and then on game day he texts her if she's coming.
Briar, all prideless, goes because as if that part 👆 wasn't clear, she doesn't know if they're still faking it or not!
After what he did to her he just appears one day without groveling without apologising or feeling bad about what happened and expects her to forgive him and forget about what he did because he's hate f**king her! 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
This book spiraled down so fast! It was an easy 4 star read at first but after all the underwhelming events and how they handled certain situations it just dropped to a mere 2.5
I was excited for this book but it has been one disappointment after another.
Thorne comes from a family of generational wealth and is expected to marry someone from the same entourage. They are constantly setting him up with equally wealthy girls. His parents refer to his football stardom as a hobby and expect him to take over the business once his football itch is scratched.
Briar comes from a middle class family. Her dream is to become a pro hockey player but an accident in a burning building squashes those dreams and leaves her with a limp.
Thorne meets Briar aka grumpy pants and is intrigued that there is at least one female who is not obsessed with his name and wealth. So naturally he asks her to fake date him to get his parents off his back, and in return he helps her rehabilitate her injured knee so she might have another chance at playing hockey.
I know this is fiction and I know these are college kids and this might actually be how they talk about women but the vulgar language used when they want to get laid and sleep around is just.... errrghhh *shudder
The only touch I like is getting my cock wet
Yeah because our dear Thorne doesn't like to touch or be touched. However, random accidents where he had to grab Briar brought him nothing but desire.
Their first time is painstakingly underwhelming. He rushes into a party and saves her from the aftermath of her first use of drugs, he takes her to his house. She comes on to him he denies her of course because he doesn't want to take advantage. The next day though, she confesses she's still horny and needs to get off but she cannot do it with any other man ( 🙄 no comment) because she's fake dating him and so he takes that honorable task. He gets her off then bangs her and after it's done she tells him this is a one time thing.
Just wow!
Very classy 👌
It lacked attraction, it lacked desire, it lacked emotion, it was just THAT, getting her off to make sure the drugs wear off.
Anyway, of course they don't keep it as a one time thing. 🙄
She caved in too soon to having skin privileges with him. Their physical relationship doesn't look special or anything they just gave in and gave each other everything way too soon to my liking.
The dynamic of this book is pretty weird
She tells him about the arsonist, he listens but then dismisses the subject by asking her how the dinner with his parents went!
The third act breakup?! What. A. Douchebag!!!
I mean I understand his reasons but he could have done it differently.
Ok the whole situation after the breakup? Or is it? It's just weird.
The breakup?! 👇
"I can't do real, Briar." Fuck, why does this hurt so
much? "This is my last season playing football, and
I am not even thinking about the game. I'm think-
ing about you. And I just need it all to fucking stop
for five seconds. I won't do this. I don't even care
that my parents didn't believe our ruse. I'm losing
sight of what I love most in life because of you."
She stares at me. And stares and stares and stares.
My heart cracks. "Please leave."
"Cassius-"
"Leave," I order, throwing my hand out, one finger
pointed toward the front door.
She bolts.
They don't speak or see each other for a few days and then on game day he texts her if she's coming.
Briar, all prideless, goes because as if that part 👆 wasn't clear, she doesn't know if they're still faking it or not!
After what he did to her he just appears one day without groveling without apologising or feeling bad about what happened and expects her to forgive him and forget about what he did because he's hate f**king her! 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
This book spiraled down so fast! It was an easy 4 star read at first but after all the underwhelming events and how they handled certain situations it just dropped to a mere 2.5
December 26, 2025
»I think we need more practice.«
»Do you now? I think you just want to kiss me again.«
»I think you're right, kitten.«
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
❥ 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒓 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
I loved her so much. She is grumpy with a soft heart and she suffered a lot in the past few months. I understood her and could relate to her.
❥ 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒆 ࣪⋆✮
What a sweetheart. He is the typical rich jock but has a brain and got me wrapped around his finger quickly. Thorne is funny, sassy and stubborn.
✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
What an amazing read! I had a good time and was glued to my kindle the whole morning. There was a big smile plastered in my face and I laughed and giggled a lot. This was so much fun and I‘m a little sad it‘s over.
The plot is interesting and kept me entertained. The writing style is fluent with a lot of humour. As a non native english speaker everything was easy to understand.
Briar and Thorne have my heart. They‘re perfect for each other and their tension was great. The banter and dialogue was funny and I enjoyed their dynamic. Both understand one another on a deeper level and I liked how they helped each other. Their relationship is special and I rooted for them.
I am so happy that we get two more books in this universe (and hopefully more) and I can‘t wait to finally read them!
𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?
Yes, yes, yes! This was a quick and entertaining college sport romance with good plot and great main characters.
𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓 ׂㅤ𐙚 ࣪ ⭒
plot: 5/5
spice: 3/5
humor: 5/5
couple/tension: 5/5
world building: 5/5
happy end?: yes
𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 ᡣ𐭩ྀི₊ ⊹
possessive and protective hero, fake dating, college, quarterback x artist, grumpy x sunshine, black cat x golden retriever, she falls first but he falls harder, rich x poor, close proximity, trauma and healing, stalker (kinda)
𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
#1 Sticks and Stones ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2 Heart of Thorns ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2.5 The Christmas Playbook ★ ★ ★ ★
#3 Cross the Line ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
»Do you now? I think you just want to kiss me again.«
»I think you're right, kitten.«
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
❥ 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒓 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
I loved her so much. She is grumpy with a soft heart and she suffered a lot in the past few months. I understood her and could relate to her.
❥ 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒆 ࣪⋆✮
What a sweetheart. He is the typical rich jock but has a brain and got me wrapped around his finger quickly. Thorne is funny, sassy and stubborn.
✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
What an amazing read! I had a good time and was glued to my kindle the whole morning. There was a big smile plastered in my face and I laughed and giggled a lot. This was so much fun and I‘m a little sad it‘s over.
The plot is interesting and kept me entertained. The writing style is fluent with a lot of humour. As a non native english speaker everything was easy to understand.
Briar and Thorne have my heart. They‘re perfect for each other and their tension was great. The banter and dialogue was funny and I enjoyed their dynamic. Both understand one another on a deeper level and I liked how they helped each other. Their relationship is special and I rooted for them.
I am so happy that we get two more books in this universe (and hopefully more) and I can‘t wait to finally read them!
𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?
Yes, yes, yes! This was a quick and entertaining college sport romance with good plot and great main characters.
𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓 ׂㅤ𐙚 ࣪ ⭒
plot: 5/5
spice: 3/5
humor: 5/5
couple/tension: 5/5
world building: 5/5
happy end?: yes
𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 ᡣ𐭩ྀི₊ ⊹
possessive and protective hero, fake dating, college, quarterback x artist, grumpy x sunshine, black cat x golden retriever, she falls first but he falls harder, rich x poor, close proximity, trauma and healing, stalker (kinda)
𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
#1 Sticks and Stones ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2 Heart of Thorns ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2.5 The Christmas Playbook ★ ★ ★ ★
#3 Cross the Line ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 8, 2025
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
SPICE: 🔥🔥🔥
Okay co-write queens. I see you! This book was just absolutely everything I didn’t know I needed. It was the perfect combination of angsty and spicy and I fell head over heels for both Thorne and Briar. Like full on tumble, no hope of recovery.
Something about Black Cat FMCS Just draws me in like a moth to the flame, and Briar just could take you down in a minute, no doubt about it. Ans Thorne, golden retriever energy through and through with that one! I love him.
✨ Football Romance
✨ Fake Dating
✨ Suspense
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine
✨ Black Cat FMC
This plot is so good too. I love fake dating so much and this hit perfectly when Thorne needed to get Briar to agree to be his fake girlfriend. I loved watching them be so different with each other than they were with anyone else.
I also loved the danger aspect, and absolutely didn’t guess that bad guy. I never do and that just goes to show how well written it is.
Also this spice was IMMACULATE. It hits so hard and I am a puddle on the floor. 🥵🥵 Thorne is one of my favorite book boyfriends in a long time and I ate this story up. ATE IT!
SPICE: 🔥🔥🔥
Okay co-write queens. I see you! This book was just absolutely everything I didn’t know I needed. It was the perfect combination of angsty and spicy and I fell head over heels for both Thorne and Briar. Like full on tumble, no hope of recovery.
Something about Black Cat FMCS Just draws me in like a moth to the flame, and Briar just could take you down in a minute, no doubt about it. Ans Thorne, golden retriever energy through and through with that one! I love him.
✨ Football Romance
✨ Fake Dating
✨ Suspense
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine
✨ Black Cat FMC
This plot is so good too. I love fake dating so much and this hit perfectly when Thorne needed to get Briar to agree to be his fake girlfriend. I loved watching them be so different with each other than they were with anyone else.
I also loved the danger aspect, and absolutely didn’t guess that bad guy. I never do and that just goes to show how well written it is.
Also this spice was IMMACULATE. It hits so hard and I am a puddle on the floor. 🥵🥵 Thorne is one of my favorite book boyfriends in a long time and I ate this story up. ATE IT!
March 16, 2025
I loved this book! its everything I love about fake dating and the suspense element on top was so chef's kiss. the way they chose each other and loved each other was everything to me. so so good. i will definitely be tuned into the rest of this series.
December 26, 2024
I. Am. OBSESSED.
This book is easily in my top 10 of the year. I love Briar and Thorne SO MUCH. These two had me unable to put the book down. I read this in one sitting. I never wanted it to end😭
Throne finds himself in need of a fake girlfriend, and when he sees Briar for the first time he is entranced. Briar isn’t the girl with the heart of thorns, she has given up on love and is frustrated with the way her life turned out after she was trapped in a fire. But Thorne is determined to change that.
What starts as fake dating to get him out of dates his parents put together, quickly turns into more and things even when they’re alone.
I honestly am at a loss for how to describe how much I love this book. This was everything. If you love football and fake dating- PLEASE READ THIS!!!! There is some suspense in this and it just made it even better because you’re left guessing who started the fire and left Briar in it.
And when you find out… Your jaw will be on the floor.
SJ and S. Massery write so spectacularly together. You would never guess this was a co-write, it is written so smoothly. I love this with everything I am and definitely can’t wait for what else these two do together!!
This book is easily in my top 10 of the year. I love Briar and Thorne SO MUCH. These two had me unable to put the book down. I read this in one sitting. I never wanted it to end😭
Throne finds himself in need of a fake girlfriend, and when he sees Briar for the first time he is entranced. Briar isn’t the girl with the heart of thorns, she has given up on love and is frustrated with the way her life turned out after she was trapped in a fire. But Thorne is determined to change that.
What starts as fake dating to get him out of dates his parents put together, quickly turns into more and things even when they’re alone.
I honestly am at a loss for how to describe how much I love this book. This was everything. If you love football and fake dating- PLEASE READ THIS!!!! There is some suspense in this and it just made it even better because you’re left guessing who started the fire and left Briar in it.
And when you find out… Your jaw will be on the floor.
SJ and S. Massery write so spectacularly together. You would never guess this was a co-write, it is written so smoothly. I love this with everything I am and definitely can’t wait for what else these two do together!!
December 29, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ This fast paced. Fake dating romance was a perfect pallet cleanser. I really liked Briar's black cat energy and Thornes' obsession with her.
🌶🌶🌶
🌶🌶🌶
December 16, 2024
Briar + Thorne
-romantic suspense
-college romance
-football romance
-fake dating
-black cat x golden retriever
this felt sooooo different than these authors other works but i was ABSOLUTELY entranced from the get go!! the black cat x golden retriever energy was SERVINGGGG & completely 🤌🤌🤌 chefs kiss!! the characters banter too was perfect!
-romantic suspense
-college romance
-football romance
-fake dating
-black cat x golden retriever
this felt sooooo different than these authors other works but i was ABSOLUTELY entranced from the get go!! the black cat x golden retriever energy was SERVINGGGG & completely 🤌🤌🤌 chefs kiss!! the characters banter too was perfect!
January 8, 2025
I went into this book so blind and I LOVED IT!!
The FMC Briar Hart OH MY GOD I loved her so much and she was SO REFRESHING to read. When you’ve read as many romance (especially sports romance) books that I have it can be quite hard to find a FMC that is just so different and Briar was this for me. She blindsided me. She was broken but so cool and I loved her.
Their chemistry. The angst. The mystery!!!
Honourable mention for Rhys because we love a side character that leaves us wanting more.
Could have been a 5 stars but the overuse of the nickname kitten, the mentioning of the black attire constantly and bookish references killed it 🫣
The FMC Briar Hart OH MY GOD I loved her so much and she was SO REFRESHING to read. When you’ve read as many romance (especially sports romance) books that I have it can be quite hard to find a FMC that is just so different and Briar was this for me. She blindsided me. She was broken but so cool and I loved her.
Their chemistry. The angst. The mystery!!!
Honourable mention for Rhys because we love a side character that leaves us wanting more.
Could have been a 5 stars but the overuse of the nickname kitten, the mentioning of the black attire constantly and bookish references killed it 🫣
March 12, 2025
ALC Review:
This audiobook was amazing and enhanced an already fantastic book! To stop his parents’ matchmaking, star quarterback Thorne claims he’s dating Briar and must convince her to play along. In exchange, he helps with her knee rehab, but their fake relationship soon feels real. As Briar faces threats from her past, Thorne is determined to protect her.
The suspense, emotion, and chemistry kept me hooked from the beginning. J.F. Harding and Savannah Peachwood’s narration perfectly captures Thorne’s charm and Briar’s strength, making their story even more captivating. If you're a fan of angst, sharp banter, sizzling moments, and black cat vibes, this is a must listen!
Thank you, S.J. Sylvis for the ALC.
_______________________
Original Review:
This book was incredible, and I didn’t want it to end. Thorne, the top college football quarterback, dreams of going pro. Unfortunately, his parents have their own plans for his career and even his future wife. Frustrated by their constant matchmaking, Thorne blurts out that he’s already dating someone, and names Briar. The catch? He needs to convince Briar to play along.
In return for pretending to be his girlfriend, Thorne offers to help Briar with her knee rehabilitation. As they spend more time together, their undeniable chemistry pulls them closer. What starts as a fake relationship soon feels very real. Meanwhile, Briar faces threats from both her past and present, and once she confides in Thorne, he’s determined to protect her.
I loved every moment of their journey and how they supported each other. The suspense woven into their emotional story added another layer of intrigue. If you're looking for a book filled with angst, witty banter, spice, and a bit of black cat energy, this is a must read!
Thank you, S. Massery, S.J. Sylvis and Valentine PR for the ARC.
This audiobook was amazing and enhanced an already fantastic book! To stop his parents’ matchmaking, star quarterback Thorne claims he’s dating Briar and must convince her to play along. In exchange, he helps with her knee rehab, but their fake relationship soon feels real. As Briar faces threats from her past, Thorne is determined to protect her.
The suspense, emotion, and chemistry kept me hooked from the beginning. J.F. Harding and Savannah Peachwood’s narration perfectly captures Thorne’s charm and Briar’s strength, making their story even more captivating. If you're a fan of angst, sharp banter, sizzling moments, and black cat vibes, this is a must listen!
Thank you, S.J. Sylvis for the ALC.
_______________________
Original Review:
This book was incredible, and I didn’t want it to end. Thorne, the top college football quarterback, dreams of going pro. Unfortunately, his parents have their own plans for his career and even his future wife. Frustrated by their constant matchmaking, Thorne blurts out that he’s already dating someone, and names Briar. The catch? He needs to convince Briar to play along.
In return for pretending to be his girlfriend, Thorne offers to help Briar with her knee rehabilitation. As they spend more time together, their undeniable chemistry pulls them closer. What starts as a fake relationship soon feels very real. Meanwhile, Briar faces threats from both her past and present, and once she confides in Thorne, he’s determined to protect her.
I loved every moment of their journey and how they supported each other. The suspense woven into their emotional story added another layer of intrigue. If you're looking for a book filled with angst, witty banter, spice, and a bit of black cat energy, this is a must read!
Thank you, S. Massery, S.J. Sylvis and Valentine PR for the ARC.
December 25, 2024
Although Book 1 Sticks and Stones is a must-read, Heart of Thorns, the second book in the Shadow Valley University series, may be read as a stand-alone book. I have to read a book written by two amazing authors. I love how Cassius and Briar were attracted to one other right away. These characters are both intriguing and complex at times. I loved both characters so much. Although each character agreed to this arrangement for their own reasons, their relationship grew more real and less fake over time as their sparks became too strong to ignore. The suspense and spice in this novel were just right as we sought to figure out who was responsible for everything. I can't wait for the next book!!
Thank you so much to VPR, S.J. Sylvis, and S. Massery for allowing me to read this e-ARC.
Thank you so much to VPR, S.J. Sylvis, and S. Massery for allowing me to read this e-ARC.
January 27, 2025
This was a fun college hockey romance! I loved book one so I was excited to get back into this series. I initially thought it was hockey when I went into it cause the first book was & Ope it was football!
I love a black cat FMC & briar was just that. Thorne was enamored by her from the beginning. Briar is recovering from an injury after getting stuck in a fire that derails her college hockey career. Thorne is trying to get out from under the control of his rich parents. The two decide to fake date for their mutual benefit and soon things become anything but fake. I loved the added element of suspense in this one! A solid college football romance!
I love a black cat FMC & briar was just that. Thorne was enamored by her from the beginning. Briar is recovering from an injury after getting stuck in a fire that derails her college hockey career. Thorne is trying to get out from under the control of his rich parents. The two decide to fake date for their mutual benefit and soon things become anything but fake. I loved the added element of suspense in this one! A solid college football romance!
January 3, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/🌶️🌶️🌶️
2 of my favorite names are in the book Thorne and Rhys!!!!
I really need Rhys to get his own book!
Now thorne is the last name is Cassius, but that name is directly linked to his father and he does not want that!
His parents want gim to marry someone in a particular class and status and to quit football and that’s a no go, so introducing Briar!
Now Briar! She is everything. I loved her attitude and how she made Thorne work for it!!!!!
What to expect:
-fake dating
-sports romance
-black cat FMC
-quarterback MMC
-suspenseful plot
2 of my favorite names are in the book Thorne and Rhys!!!!
I really need Rhys to get his own book!
Now thorne is the last name is Cassius, but that name is directly linked to his father and he does not want that!
His parents want gim to marry someone in a particular class and status and to quit football and that’s a no go, so introducing Briar!
Now Briar! She is everything. I loved her attitude and how she made Thorne work for it!!!!!
What to expect:
-fake dating
-sports romance
-black cat FMC
-quarterback MMC
-suspenseful plot
November 18, 2025
"Now I need to convince the girl with the heart of thorns to pretend to date me."
"Every part of me that I thought was dead comes back alive, and its burning brighter than it ever has before."
"It means I'm going to make you mine, Briar."
Ekkkkkk I LOVED this book. It was exactly what I needed, and I DEVOURED it in 24 hours. Yes, I did.
You have Thorne, who is the quarterback of Shadow Valley University's football team. Then you have Briar, the ex hockey star/artist.
We have reverse grumpy sunshine, and I hadn't read that in a while, and I was obsessed with Briars' sassy-ness. She doesn't date jocks anymore. That is her rule. Something really bad happened to her and ended her hockey career, possibly forever. So she shuts anything and anyone down.
But when Thorne runs into her...literally 👀...he can't get the grumpy beautiful girl out of his head. Then, he figures out a way for them to both benefit from a "fake" relationship. But let's keep it real... these two can pretend it's fake all they want, but......the tension and chemistry is through the roof. Seriously obsessed! I can't wait for more books in the series!
@authorsjsylvis @authorsmassery
#shadowvalleyuniversity #heartofthorns #footballromance #sportsromance #reversegrumpysunshine #briarandthorne #sjsylvis #smassery #booksandchatswithnickib
"Every part of me that I thought was dead comes back alive, and its burning brighter than it ever has before."
"It means I'm going to make you mine, Briar."
Ekkkkkk I LOVED this book. It was exactly what I needed, and I DEVOURED it in 24 hours. Yes, I did.
You have Thorne, who is the quarterback of Shadow Valley University's football team. Then you have Briar, the ex hockey star/artist.
We have reverse grumpy sunshine, and I hadn't read that in a while, and I was obsessed with Briars' sassy-ness. She doesn't date jocks anymore. That is her rule. Something really bad happened to her and ended her hockey career, possibly forever. So she shuts anything and anyone down.
But when Thorne runs into her...literally 👀...he can't get the grumpy beautiful girl out of his head. Then, he figures out a way for them to both benefit from a "fake" relationship. But let's keep it real... these two can pretend it's fake all they want, but......the tension and chemistry is through the roof. Seriously obsessed! I can't wait for more books in the series!
@authorsjsylvis @authorsmassery
#shadowvalleyuniversity #heartofthorns #footballromance #sportsromance #reversegrumpysunshine #briarandthorne #sjsylvis #smassery #booksandchatswithnickib
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