Cross Checked

Denver Dragons #1.5

by Madi Danielle

I have it all, and that’s not being conceited. I really do have it all. World renowned singer, the best support people to ever exist. Including my childhood best friend. The same best friend who is the hottest goalie in the NHL. The same man who just told me he has stronger feelings than just friendship toward me. The same man I’ve never expected to have in my bed…and yet, that’s exactly where he is.
**Cross Checked is a novella set in the Hat Trick universe, but can be read as a standalone.**

Genres: Hockey, Sports Romance, Friends To Lovers, Romance, Sports, Novella, Hockey Romance

140 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2024

About the author

Madi is 20 something trying to figure out what “adulting” is. Madi has been writing stories since she was a teenager she continues to express all her emotions in her writing. She’s also an avid reader. Madi lives in the PNW where she attended college after moving from the unforgiving heat of Arizona. Madi spends her free time with her husband, daughter and family of pets (3 dogs and 2 cats).

Reviews

[Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5⭐️
3/5🌶️

Fast-paced, fun, spicy little novella! Perfect if you’re looking for a palette cleanser or just something short & sweet!

Tropes:
- Sports Romance
- Hockey Player x Pop star
- Friends to Lovers

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i’m now a big believer in that all authors should start out their books by saying they wrote them purely for vibes & not the plot. sometimes you want to read a low stakes book that’s fun & a quick read; madi gave us that with this <3

spencer & jared were cute bffs to lovers with a cute little story that i enjoyed every second of!!

thank you madi for the arc!!

[Notyourmomsshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5
Bee: This novella was exactly what I needed. It had the right amount of fluff, spice, and turmoil from side characters. I really liked that behind the limelight, Spencer and Jared knew each other on a much deeper level. They were so connected and dialed into each other and I loved that about them. Such a swoony read!
Nik: I really enjoyed this novella after reading The Power Play. I loved the best friends to lovers trope! The plot was the perfect mix of spice and drama. There’s just something about goalies that’s *chef kiss* and this one didn’t disappoint. Jared was such a sweetheart but also filthyyyy!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars for the goalie & his superstar

Super quick, fun, easy novella

The spice was spicing
Friends to lovers
This couple was super cute! The banter was great!
Love that as a novella we still saw some hockey on page, and we even got a hockey fight!

Would love to read more about this couple in future books!

[Kaity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those h0rny idiots…! ;p

[Amber Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

So freaking cute!! Spencer is a pop star who is on tour when she blindsided by breakup with her boyfriend after two years. The only person giving her peace is her long term friend Jared Colver. Jared wants to help her get her mind off the breakup but the truth comes out when he utters the words “since forever”. Everything changes for Spencer but she knows that he has always felt like home and that she also has those feelings. This novella was perfect! I could have done a whole book of these two!

Tropes:
•Hockey Romance
•Novella
•Friends to Lovers
•Pop Star
•Goalie
•Dual POV

Quote: “I think it was going to be us no matter what. At some point in our lives, it was always going to be us. Just like this.”

Rating: 4⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Megan M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was lucky to get an ARC of this and honestly the only complaint I have is that it was just so short. I felt the spice was good but if the book had been longer the relationship could’ve been meatier and held more depth. Madi is a great writer and the preview of her next book at the end seemed very promising!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhhhhhhhhh no words 😩 I love Jared and Spencer and this book was just straight 🔥🔥

[Ashlee B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spencer + Jared

-hockey romance
-pop star
-friends to lovers

this was quick & easy read! a great palate cleanser & these two were absolutely filthy!! 😈😈

[Alexia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cross Checked

I absolutely LOVE a friends to lovers romance, and Cross Checked is another example of why. Spencer and Jared have been best friends for the majority of their lives and have secretly been crushing on each other since high school. Since this is less than 150 pages, we don’t get to see as much pining as usual, but things happen naturally after Spencer and her ex split up. Jared and Spencer have explosive chemistry. I definitely would read a full length novel of how things turn out for these two, but I loved every minute of this quick and spicy read!

⭐️: 5/5
🌶️: 3/5

What to expect:
🥅 hockey romance
💙 novella
🥅 childhood best friends to lovers
💙 long distance relationship
🥅 NHL goalie MMC x superstar FMC

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

quick novella

Cross Checked is a quick, spicy novella if you are looking for a fast paced, low angst read!

Spencer is a pop star who’s had feelings for her best friend, Jared, since they were teens. She’s had a boyfriend the past couple years, but that’s over now, and both Spencer and Jared finally give into the tension that’s been building between them.

I always enjoy friends to lovers, plus you have two current bf/ex bf fights on the ice and some good spice. I read The Hat Trick when it first came out, and with a new book in the series releasing soon, I wanted to get caught up. And I’m glad I did because this one will tie in to The Break Out, dropping in October.

[Paige (wingsandsmut) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, spicy, and I couldn't get enough of Jared and Spencer together!! Having been best friends for literally their whole lives just made them so much sweeter! It was the perfect novella to read between books!

[AshleyReadsSmut · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novella included with The Power Play audiobook

[Tayla Conde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick and spicy novella following the hat trick 🙌🏻

[Casie Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

childhood friends
FMC rockstar
MMC hockey player

This spicy little novella will surly having you fall in love with Spencer & Jared.

When your childhood best friend tells you he likes likes you. You jump on it! 🥵
Jared’s love for Spencer was so obvious and the dirty mouth these men Madi writes will surly have you back for her next book!

My only complaint? It was a novella.

[kreadsoften · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, this was such a fun and spicy novella. It’s very fast-paced, and there isn’t much plot, but I knew that going in.

Spencer and Jared were best friends, and when they gave in to their feelings…well, it was just hot.

Tropes:
Best friends to lovers
Hockey Player x Pop Star

[Shae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short sweet novela that’s best friends to lovers with an MMC that is super protective, super sweet, but his mouth in the bedroom so damn hot!

[Lunarbookwyrm aka Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Spice Level: 3.5/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶

🎤 popstar fmc x hockey player
🎤 BFF to lovers
🎤standalone
🎤Been in love since forever
🎤 Ex’s rival

I don’t usually read the "Friends to lovers" trope, but this is quite the hottest one I’ve read.

She was with a her toxic ex and got dumped in public and runs to her hot bestie hockey player. He was just too afraid to be the rebound, but they just spent time and realized they were “things”.

It’s definitely a must read for a quick & spicy read. A hockey player with a filthy mouth and definitely a HEA! Even if it was just spice has some fluff in there!

[Jaeann · Rating 5 out of 5]

book was very fast paced, could easily read it all in one sitting. spicy 🌶️ short and sweet 😍

[Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boy oh boy am I glad that Spence and Jared decided their story needed to be told. Best friends to lovers, hockey player x pop star.

I read this novella in a day people! I ate this novella up, it was fast paced, cute, fun and spicy. Spence and Jared gave each other never ending support as they navigated taking that next step in their relationship.

We also got glimpses of Chandler and her men and whats to come for Brynn and Audrey 🖤

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!!! Cute, fun and spicy! Fast paced and to the point of the story, I couldn’t put it down.

[Sara J [saras kindle era] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update since listening to the audio (Cross Checked was included in The Power Play audio in case you see repeat review from me lol): Avery Caris and Patrick Zeller are phenomenal again in these two stories! They have such great chemistry & are so great at bringing Madi's characters to life! I love them as the duo that has absolutely owned this series!!

**ARC Review**

I love a friends to lovers romance, and this one was top tier!

Spencer and Jared have been friends for their entire life, and each held secret feelings for the other but didn't want to ruin the friendship. Spencer gets out of a toxic relationship (the audacity of that man is unreal!), & timing finally lines up for her & Jared. He doesn't want to be a rebound, so he makes them wait buuuut that doesn't last as long as you'd think because Spencer gets what she wants when she puts her mind to it!

This friends to lovers, rockstar & hockey player romance is super cute and SUPER SPICY! I mean, Jared, SIR. Love the growth of their feelings while they take their relationship out of the friend zone, and I wish it was much longer! I'd love to see more of them in the future!

[Erin Under_Covers_Smut_Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶.25
Heat/Angst: 🔥.5
Narrators: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧

This was a very short and spicy story. We've got little teasers of Jared and Spencer throughout this series, and I love that this novella brought the best friends to lovers' trope. It was fun, super sweet, and has a lot of spice in this super short book. I was so happy it was included at the end of The Power Play.

Tropes:
🏒 Hockey Goalie Romance
🎶 Famous Singer
🏒 Best Friends to Lovers
🎶 Hidden Crush/Feelings for Years
🏒 Rival's Ex
🎶 Novella

I loved the whole childhood best friend to lovers trope. We have the goalie for the Denver Dragons, Jared, that had always had a crush on his best friend & famous superstar singer, Spencer.

Spencer has been in a remaining for the past 2 years with a rival hockey team's player, and her relationship just ended publicly while she was in Denver performing. Her best friend is there to take her out and cheer her up.

Yet, the more time Jared spends with Spencer when she's single, the more he's having problems keeping his feelings to himself. His just worried to cross that line, and her not feeling the same. And he can't live without Spencer. Even if that means he has to keep her as his his best friend.

The narrators in this book did a great job. Patrick Zeller and Avery Caris have narrated this whole series, and I love listening to these two. Patrick Zeller's voice is super smexy. Especially during the spicy scenes. It's almost as if he's acting out the lines he is reading. So yummy 😋 🥵
Avery really gets into her emotions while reading, and you can hear it in her voice. The happy and bubbly moments, as well as the angry and emotional parts. Her voice is always a great one to listen to.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫3.5 stars

"Once I have a taste of her, I know it won’t be enough. I’ll need all of her."

✨️ Hockey Player / Pop Star
✨️ Best Friends to Lovers
✨️ Cinnamon Roll MMC
✨️ Toxic Ex-Boyfriend
✨️ Long Distance
✨️ HEA

Jared and Spencer were the most adorable sweet and spicy couple! Childhood best friends who both harbored secret crushes on each other, the tension between them simmering until it absolutely exploded when they gave in. They were so in love and yet still the best of friends, so completely lost in each other and I absolutely adored their relationship.

Jared was so sweet and sensitive, always respectful to Spencer as he kissed her with so much emotion to say everything that was unspoken. But when they were together in the bedroom, it was so hot and steamy, the way he became growly and dominant, the dirty talk so filthy and I couldn't get enough. I loved Jared's protectiveness and possessiveness, how he would do absolutely anything and everything for Spencer. And I loved how confident and unapologetic Spencer was as she took what she wanted and enjoyed every second of it. Jared and Spencer set the pages on fire and it was so much fun to get wrapped up in their whirlwind romance. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series and I especially can't wait for Brynn's story.

* Special thanks to author Madi Danielle and Wordsmith Publicity for sending me this ARC to read and review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Available March 1, 2024. *

[mysticalblaise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3.5-4
🎤 Pop star phenom FMC
🏒 Hockey goalie MMC
🎤 Childhood best friends to lovers
🏒 "Superstar"
🎤 She has a jerky ex
🏒 Rage room visit
🎤 They've liked each other forever
🏒 "Last chance to end this. Once I f*** you, you're mine."

This book is part of the Hat Trick series by Madi Danielle and can be read as a standalone.

Spencer Sparks (and yes, that is her real name) is our auburn-haired, popstar princess FMC. She, along with her PR rep Brynn, they battle a messy set of stories put out by her hockey playing ex boyfriend. As always, her childhood best friend Jared Colver, and current star goalie for the Denver Dragons, is there for her. But something between them has shifted and changed over the years, blossoming into something more. Only, both of them have stayed silent about the attraction---until now.

I really loved this little novella. Yes, it was steamy (and boy was our golden retriever Jared a *surprise* in those scenes🔥👀), but I also adored the tender, cute moments Spencer and Jared had together. I don't know if it was because they were already set up as Friends to Lovers, but it just hit differently. This was a sweet, spicy fun little read.

Favorite Quote:
"You want me?"
"Only since forever."

[Nicole D'cruz (kiwinikilovesreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC REVIEW**
Cross Checked is a novella by Madi Danielle and it was my first Madi Danielle book!

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spicy rating: 🔥🔥🔥

If you love these tropes, you are going to love this book!
🏒Hockey Romance
🎤Pop/Rockstar Romance
🏒Novella
🎤Friends to Lovers
🏒Possessive MMC
🎤Lots of SPICE!!!!

My Thoughts
This was my first Madi Danielle book and OMG!!! This novella was AMAZING!!!

I knew from the beginning that there was something special between Spencer and Jared!!

Their friendship was BEAUTIFUL!!!

Jared Colver is a goalie for the Denver dragons ice hockey team and Spencer Sparks is his extremely talented popstar best friend.

When they finally took the step out of the friend zone just OMG!!! IT WAS HOT!!!!!!!

I loved that Jared always looked out for her and wanted to protect her from certain people who we wont name!!

Overall, despite it being short and sweet, it kept me wanting more!

I cannot wait to see what's coming next from Madi!

Thank you to Madi and Wordsmith Publicity for kindly sending me this arc to read and review. This review is my own honest opinion on the book :)

[Kristen Weidner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute, spicy, little novella that was a perfect palate cleanser between genres. I loved that fact that the author made it clear from the beginning that this was written purely for the vibes and not the plot. I felt like, knowing that, I was able to enjoy the novella for what it was rather than try and analyze for review.

The mcs were sweet and definitely hit the friends to lovers vibe. Would I loved more depth? Sure, but this book wasn't about the depth. It was a quick burn, whirlwind, can't fight this feeling anymore book, which was a great change of pace.

The spice was good and plentiful with lots of dirty talk and slight power dynamics. This is a great feel good, quick read. It's perfect for those who don't want to pick up a huge book or start a series (though you may enjoy it enough to read the rest in the Hat Trick series). Just know when you start this, it's all about the vibes. Enjoy the ride for what it is!
Overall 4 Stars
Spice 3 Stars

[the_romance_regent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madi Danielle's "Cross Checked" is a sizzling HOT novella that takes place in the Hat Trick universe. As someone who doesn't typically gravitate towards novellas due to the lack of character development, I was pleasantly surprised by how well-developed and compelling the characters were in this book. Spencer Sparks, a famous singer, has just ended a relationship with a hockey player. Her best friend, Jared Colver, a successful NHL goalie, has been harboring feelings for her since high school, unbeknownst to Spencer who has been secretly crushing on him too. When they finally confess their mutual feelings, the chemistry between them is electric, and Jared's dirty talk is sure to leave readers with goosebumps. Overall, "Cross Checked" is a must-read for anyone looking for a steamy and romantic hockey read. I can't wait to dive into the first book in this universe, "The Hat Trick"!

[Lauren Curley · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 5 stars
🌶🌶 - Spice Level

Spencer is a famous superstar singer/songwriter. She's been lifelong friends with Jared, who is an NHL goalie for his hockey team. Both Spencer and Jared have been harboring each secret crush on the other. They've always been there for each other through thick and thin. Spencer is in her latest crappy relationship and is about to end it. Instead, the ex, who is a media h0€, breaks the story first. Finally, the two best friend's admit their crushes to each other. It gets steamy and hot from there on out in secret before they put it to the world because, Hello, she's a big deal in her world.

This was a nice extra between Powrr Play and The Break Out. You get a little story with a whole lot of come here, you're mine now vibes. Madi warns you that this is more spice than plot, and that's the truth.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
🏒Hockey Novella
🫦Childhood Friends to Lovers
🎤Famous Popstar FMC
🥹It Was Always You
❤️‍🔥Fast Burn

Cross Checked is a hockey novella about two best friends who have always had feeling for one another, but never made a move until now. Jared doesn’t let this opportunity pass him and decides to tell Spencer how he feels. And when she tells him she feels the same, well all bets are off!

Ok, I was not ready for all the spice in this book! This is around 150 pages and I thought to myself that there would be a small amount of spice, but Not. A. Chance. Madi brought the heat with this one! 😮‍💨

This CAN be read as a standalone. No OWD or OMD. No cheating + of course, a HEA. 🫶🏻

Spice:
4 🌶️