What do you think?
Rate this book
Worth the Wait
Worth the A West Coast Hockey Romance
Roman Graves, captain of the Los Angeles Knights, finds himself in a media frenzy when intimate photos of him are leaked by a woman he doesn't even remember. “Grounded” by his personal assistant, Roman is stuck at home for the remainder of the NHL holiday break as he awaits his fate with the press.
Grace Fairchild is busy. When she's not working towards her personal goals; a masters degree and interning at a high end facility, she’s delivering Thai food to afford her life in Los Angeles, California. She doesn’t date, she doesn’t go out, she doesn't shop, she's just really, really busy.
When a chance encounter brings the unlikely pair together, Roman and Grace start as a slow burn, but ignite like a forest fire. As they outwardly allow their connection to deepen, they both grapple in private with hidden secrets that threaten to shatter their newfound love.
Worth the Wait is a hockey romance with a little bit of hot hockey players, independent women, fun banter, junk food, hot tubs, first dates, and the ultimate dilemma of honesty for the sake of being honest, or holding out on your secrets for the sake of saving face in the present.
Roman Graves, captain of the Los Angeles Knights, finds himself in a media frenzy when intimate photos of him are leaked by a woman he doesn't even remember. “Grounded” by his personal assistant, Roman is stuck at home for the remainder of the NHL holiday break as he awaits his fate with the press.
Grace Fairchild is busy. When she's not working towards her personal goals; a masters degree and interning at a high end facility, she’s delivering Thai food to afford her life in Los Angeles, California. She doesn’t date, she doesn’t go out, she doesn't shop, she's just really, really busy.
When a chance encounter brings the unlikely pair together, Roman and Grace start as a slow burn, but ignite like a forest fire. As they outwardly allow their connection to deepen, they both grapple in private with hidden secrets that threaten to shatter their newfound love.
Worth the Wait is a hockey romance with a little bit of hot hockey players, independent women, fun banter, junk food, hot tubs, first dates, and the ultimate dilemma of honesty for the sake of being honest, or holding out on your secrets for the sake of saving face in the present.
438 pages, Paperback
Published April 23, 2024
30 people are currently reading
7099 people want to read
About the author
Lucille James
2 books62 followersLucille James is a Southern California native who recently relocated
with her family to a small Southern town. While she will always
love and miss the West Coast vibes; food, beaches, Disney days, Ducks
Hockey and the sunny weather, she has come to love the sounds of the
South, sweet tea, rural highways, and a slower life that allows her to write
more freely.
Throughout her life, Lucille has found stories in her own experiences;
from skateparks to cheer squads; hockey games to punk shows;
fast food burger joints to Hollywood sound studios; and most importantly,
always asking the people around her: What’s your love story?
Lucille enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and
pup. In her free time Lucille loves writing, watching Rom Coms, reading,
cooking, concerts, coffee shops, and going to the roller skating rink.
with her family to a small Southern town. While she will always
love and miss the West Coast vibes; food, beaches, Disney days, Ducks
Hockey and the sunny weather, she has come to love the sounds of the
South, sweet tea, rural highways, and a slower life that allows her to write
more freely.
Throughout her life, Lucille has found stories in her own experiences;
from skateparks to cheer squads; hockey games to punk shows;
fast food burger joints to Hollywood sound studios; and most importantly,
always asking the people around her: What’s your love story?
Lucille enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and
pup. In her free time Lucille loves writing, watching Rom Coms, reading,
cooking, concerts, coffee shops, and going to the roller skating rink.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
April 11, 2024
Worth the Wait is a wonderful debut novel by Lucille James.
Roman and Grace start off with a meet cute on Christmas Eve when Roman is “grounded” from his recent nude photo scandal and Grace is delivering his Thai food.
This was an enjoyable slow burn, super slow burn at first, that turned into a spice filled love story. Roman and Grace balance each other perfectly despite being in different places in their lives.
Special shout out to Grace’s best friend Jess for always standing up for her bestie and not letting anyone (aka jealous mean girls) tear down her friend.
I’m excited to see where this series goes next!
Roman and Grace start off with a meet cute on Christmas Eve when Roman is “grounded” from his recent nude photo scandal and Grace is delivering his Thai food.
This was an enjoyable slow burn, super slow burn at first, that turned into a spice filled love story. Roman and Grace balance each other perfectly despite being in different places in their lives.
Special shout out to Grace’s best friend Jess for always standing up for her bestie and not letting anyone (aka jealous mean girls) tear down her friend.
I’m excited to see where this series goes next!
May 7, 2024
i think i'm at a point where i don't find it fun to read romances if they don't genuinely move me or make me laugh just to get to those couple of sweet scenes that i'll forget in a few weeks anyway. so don't let my rating deter you from picking this up if you're in the mood for a quick mindless read.
the dynamic between roman (terrible name, moving on) and grace (his sweet, sweet grace 🤨) was in no way toxic as is the case most of the time with hockey romances but like can we stop praising men for respecting women and their boundaries? that is the bare minimum??
bonus points for making the epilogue actually sensible and not some weird 7 years in the future scene where they're married and expecting which i hate but ultimately i didn't find this particularly gripping.
anyway this is going to be a series and i'm taking this opportunity to complain about romance series. obviously the point is to sell more books because you know who is going to be the protagonist in the next installment and you're curious or even interested to catch a glimpse of the previous mcs. but to me that's kinda cheap. it's not like there's any worldbuilding required to write a contemporary love story so just write something fresh? you could never make me care about multiple books all of which follow the love lives of a group of people who are so similar to each other we're basically getting a remix of the first one.
the dynamic between roman (terrible name, moving on) and grace (his sweet, sweet grace 🤨) was in no way toxic as is the case most of the time with hockey romances but like can we stop praising men for respecting women and their boundaries? that is the bare minimum??
bonus points for making the epilogue actually sensible and not some weird 7 years in the future scene where they're married and expecting which i hate but ultimately i didn't find this particularly gripping.
anyway this is going to be a series and i'm taking this opportunity to complain about romance series. obviously the point is to sell more books because you know who is going to be the protagonist in the next installment and you're curious or even interested to catch a glimpse of the previous mcs. but to me that's kinda cheap. it's not like there's any worldbuilding required to write a contemporary love story so just write something fresh? you could never make me care about multiple books all of which follow the love lives of a group of people who are so similar to each other we're basically getting a remix of the first one.
May 2, 2024
This well-written debut was absolutely adorable (and spicy,) and may have inspired me to check out more romance! Sports romance is not something I have ever thought about reading, but I really enjoyed watching Grace fall in love with hockey as she navigated her feelings for Roman.
The characters in this one were just so well done, I found myself feeling close to them before I was even halfway through the book. Grace and her roommate Jess were FUNNY like I laughed out loud at a couple points - I could see myself hanging out with them. Roman, reformed bad boy, is my new book boyfriend and that is all I will be saying on the matter.
I also really appreciated how James managed to tackle larger topics and heavy feelings around addiction and treatment in such a light-hearted book. Worth The Wait was a feel-good book for me, but with plenty of “real life” thrown in.
Check this one out if you like sports romance, spice, well-done characters, and of course - hockey! Look for this one wherever you buy books or on Kindle Unlimited.
The characters in this one were just so well done, I found myself feeling close to them before I was even halfway through the book. Grace and her roommate Jess were FUNNY like I laughed out loud at a couple points - I could see myself hanging out with them. Roman, reformed bad boy, is my new book boyfriend and that is all I will be saying on the matter.
I also really appreciated how James managed to tackle larger topics and heavy feelings around addiction and treatment in such a light-hearted book. Worth The Wait was a feel-good book for me, but with plenty of “real life” thrown in.
Check this one out if you like sports romance, spice, well-done characters, and of course - hockey! Look for this one wherever you buy books or on Kindle Unlimited.
March 24, 2024
Worth the Wait
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Worth the Wait is a wonderful debut novel by Lucille James. This is the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. You can see the passion the author has for the sport and writing.
Roman is a playboy hockey player who gets himself into trouble when a one night stand releases intimate pictures of him she took while he was asleep. Now tasked with the making a public apology, paying the girl money for her “emotional wellbeing” and laying low during Christmas the last thing he expects is to be so interested in the delivery girl.
Grace is working on her final hours for her rehabilitation counselor certification and needs extra money during Christmas break so she picks up shifts delivering Thai food. Little did she know she was going to meet one sexy hockey playboy.
After lots of flirting and a tipping mishap Roman asks Grace on a date. With her final certification hours being her main focus for the next 4 months she asks that he waits and asks her out then.
The rest of the story is a heartwarming and steamy story full of angst, cute banter and finding the perfect partner to live your life with.
I can’t wait to see what comes next for these characters. I noticed a few hints of characters that also deserve a love as good as Roman and Grace’s.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Worth the Wait is a wonderful debut novel by Lucille James. This is the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. You can see the passion the author has for the sport and writing.
Roman is a playboy hockey player who gets himself into trouble when a one night stand releases intimate pictures of him she took while he was asleep. Now tasked with the making a public apology, paying the girl money for her “emotional wellbeing” and laying low during Christmas the last thing he expects is to be so interested in the delivery girl.
Grace is working on her final hours for her rehabilitation counselor certification and needs extra money during Christmas break so she picks up shifts delivering Thai food. Little did she know she was going to meet one sexy hockey playboy.
After lots of flirting and a tipping mishap Roman asks Grace on a date. With her final certification hours being her main focus for the next 4 months she asks that he waits and asks her out then.
The rest of the story is a heartwarming and steamy story full of angst, cute banter and finding the perfect partner to live your life with.
I can’t wait to see what comes next for these characters. I noticed a few hints of characters that also deserve a love as good as Roman and Grace’s.
dnf
May 20, 2024DNF at 39%
I didn’t want to be too harsh and give a bad rating since this is the author’s debut novel, so I didn’t rate it. However, I want to say that most of the reviews so far most likely come from people the author knows in real life because they’re so incredibly positive, and that was not my experience with this book.
For one, this book needs major editing. From Roman’s mind “wondering” to sixty percent of people succumbing to their addiction and Grace wanting to help the “twenty percent” who don’t, there are a lot of obvious mistakes. Also, an excessive use of commas in places where there should be periods.
Plus, this was super insta-lovey. Have neither of them seen an attractive person before? He’s into her why? Because she’s a brunette? They literally meet three times for like 5 minutes each and then can’t stop thinking about each other for months.
Finally, there is way too much telling and not enough showing. We know Grace is “busy, busy, busy” but we never actually see her being that busy. Also, in one scene I didn’t even realize there were other people in the room with Roman and his coach until the end of the scene because they were never mentioned.
Overall, I think with a good editor this book could do well, but at the moment I just couldn’t finish it.
I didn’t want to be too harsh and give a bad rating since this is the author’s debut novel, so I didn’t rate it. However, I want to say that most of the reviews so far most likely come from people the author knows in real life because they’re so incredibly positive, and that was not my experience with this book.
For one, this book needs major editing. From Roman’s mind “wondering” to sixty percent of people succumbing to their addiction and Grace wanting to help the “twenty percent” who don’t, there are a lot of obvious mistakes. Also, an excessive use of commas in places where there should be periods.
Plus, this was super insta-lovey. Have neither of them seen an attractive person before? He’s into her why? Because she’s a brunette? They literally meet three times for like 5 minutes each and then can’t stop thinking about each other for months.
Finally, there is way too much telling and not enough showing. We know Grace is “busy, busy, busy” but we never actually see her being that busy. Also, in one scene I didn’t even realize there were other people in the room with Roman and his coach until the end of the scene because they were never mentioned.
Overall, I think with a good editor this book could do well, but at the moment I just couldn’t finish it.
June 4, 2024
I believe I may have indulged in one too many romance novels, as the spice scenes in this book feel like both characters were inexperience, despite Grace and Roman being full grown axx adults and Roman being the whore he was. 😅🤭 I catch myself skimming through these parts because I didn’t find them steamy enough. I mean... the hot tub scene? It was kind of weird too Lol.
Despite that, the book was quite charming and cute overall. While the writing style wasn't quite my taste, considering it's the author's debut, it's still a good read.
Despite that, the book was quite charming and cute overall. While the writing style wasn't quite my taste, considering it's the author's debut, it's still a good read.
August 13, 2024
"Worth the Wait" by Lucille James was such a blast to feature in our July Indie Lit Lovers buddy read! We had an amazing time during our interview with Lucille—she shared her writing inspiration, love of hockey, a bit of her own love story, and there were plenty of laughs (and maybe a tear or two). If you haven’t seen the recap yet, definitely check it out in our reels!
Now, about the book—Roman Graves, the captain of the Los Angeles Knights, lands himself in hot water when private photos are leaked, forcing him to lay low. Then we meet Grace Fairchild, who’s completely focused on her master’s degree, internship, and a delivery job—no time for anything else. After Roman leaves her an incredibly large tip during a holiday delivery, she confronts him to give it back, and he surprises her by asking her on a date. But with her packed schedule, she tells him he’ll have to wait four months before she’ll even consider it.
As the months go by, Grace learns about Roman's playboy past and starts taking an interest in hockey, which she’d never really noticed before. Meanwhile, Roman’s stuck thinking about the girl who might just be the one that got away.
I absolutely loved that Grace was a career-driven woman with her own dreams and never relied on Roman's status to get ahead. Roman’s openness and thoughtful gestures, like making sure her favorite bagels were delivered, made him such a great character. And the banter between them—especially over texts—was just perfect!
This was a fun read that tackled real issues like trust, doing things on your own merit, and being honest. While I struggled a bit with the pacing at the beginning and adjusting to the third-person POV, once the two reconnected later in the book, I couldn’t put it down and finished it very quickly.
It's a fun story if you enjoy sports romances (especially hockey) and the author is such a sweetheart!
Now, about the book—Roman Graves, the captain of the Los Angeles Knights, lands himself in hot water when private photos are leaked, forcing him to lay low. Then we meet Grace Fairchild, who’s completely focused on her master’s degree, internship, and a delivery job—no time for anything else. After Roman leaves her an incredibly large tip during a holiday delivery, she confronts him to give it back, and he surprises her by asking her on a date. But with her packed schedule, she tells him he’ll have to wait four months before she’ll even consider it.
As the months go by, Grace learns about Roman's playboy past and starts taking an interest in hockey, which she’d never really noticed before. Meanwhile, Roman’s stuck thinking about the girl who might just be the one that got away.
I absolutely loved that Grace was a career-driven woman with her own dreams and never relied on Roman's status to get ahead. Roman’s openness and thoughtful gestures, like making sure her favorite bagels were delivered, made him such a great character. And the banter between them—especially over texts—was just perfect!
This was a fun read that tackled real issues like trust, doing things on your own merit, and being honest. While I struggled a bit with the pacing at the beginning and adjusting to the third-person POV, once the two reconnected later in the book, I couldn’t put it down and finished it very quickly.
It's a fun story if you enjoy sports romances (especially hockey) and the author is such a sweetheart!
April 24, 2024
*arc reader!!*
Sometimes, all you need is a hockey romance to dissolve the walls of a reading slump and Worth the Wait delivered!
As much as I adore collegiate hockey romances, the NHL ones are always a welcome change of pace because it opens the door to a new world and new character dynamics.
Grace Fairchild, our sweet CADC, is just trying to make money during the holidays when she crosses paths with newly scandalized LA Knights captain Roman Graves who promises to play the long game in the hopes for just one date.
After a rocky start, and some regrettable choices, Grace and Roman find their way back to one another and their sweet dalliance quickly turns into a red hot romance.
Everything about this book was perfect, Lucille James wrote a compelling story with characters you can’t help but root for. The main characters are magnetic, their chemistry is electric and their banter is second to none. Oh and the spice?!!!👀 The side characters were brilliant too, we saw just enough of them to know we want to know more without them taking anything from the main story. I can’t wait to, hopefully, see where some of their journeys take them.
I finished this book so quickly that I almost hate myself for it, I find myself wishing I could go back and savour the story instead of consuming it in one sitting. But I’ll settle for looking forward to the next installment!!
Sometimes, all you need is a hockey romance to dissolve the walls of a reading slump and Worth the Wait delivered!
As much as I adore collegiate hockey romances, the NHL ones are always a welcome change of pace because it opens the door to a new world and new character dynamics.
Grace Fairchild, our sweet CADC, is just trying to make money during the holidays when she crosses paths with newly scandalized LA Knights captain Roman Graves who promises to play the long game in the hopes for just one date.
After a rocky start, and some regrettable choices, Grace and Roman find their way back to one another and their sweet dalliance quickly turns into a red hot romance.
Everything about this book was perfect, Lucille James wrote a compelling story with characters you can’t help but root for. The main characters are magnetic, their chemistry is electric and their banter is second to none. Oh and the spice?!!!👀 The side characters were brilliant too, we saw just enough of them to know we want to know more without them taking anything from the main story. I can’t wait to, hopefully, see where some of their journeys take them.
I finished this book so quickly that I almost hate myself for it, I find myself wishing I could go back and savour the story instead of consuming it in one sitting. But I’ll settle for looking forward to the next installment!!
April 25, 2024
༻♡︎🌿🥀🌿♡︎༺
📖ⒷⓄⓄⓀ•ⓇⒺⓋⒾⒺⓌ📖
─────── • ♡︎🥀🕯️🥀♡ • ──────
📚📝✨🩶𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞•𝗗𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗦🩶✨📝📚
🌿Worth the Wait by Lucille James
🌿Book 1 in the West Coast Hockey Romance Series
🌿𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘: Sports Romance
🌿𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: April 23rd, 2024
╰┈➤Available on KU!✨
🌿𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗡𝗨𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥: 384 pages
🌿𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 5
🌿𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ || 5
🌿🚨𝗔𝗟𝗪𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
📚📝✨🩶𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘🩶✨📝📚
🏒Hockey Romance
🥅Slow Burn
⛸️Strong and Independent FMC
🏒Reformed Playboy MMC
🥅The Cutest Meet Cute Ever
⛸️Spice
🏒He Falls First
─────── • ♡︎🥀🕯️🥀♡ • ──────
✨✨𝘔𝘺 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴✨✨
Thank you so much to Lucille James for my Review Copy of Worth the Wait! This review is comprised entirely of my own thoughts & opinions, & is based on the copy I received.
Worth the Wait is literally everything I have been waiting for in a book. I ADORED this book. Adored, loved, and now I can’t stop thinking about it. Everything about it was amazing. The romance, the characters, the plot - I loved literally everything about it! I can’t believe this was Lucille’s debut book, because the way she writes is so real and genuine. The book just flows so well, it’s one of those books where you sit down to read and before you know it, you’ve read 150 pages and you’ve just been lost in the world of Grace and Roman.
The characters are so easy to connect with and you can’t help but fall in love with them as you read! Roman and Grace are just absolute perfection. I loved their journey in this book. Grace is driven, motivated, loyal, and so kind and loving. She’s been through a lot and she’s determined to achieve her dreams and not let anything, or anyone😉, stand in the way. Even a handsome hockey player. Roman is a reformed playboy, and after a scandal puts him in timeout, and he feels an instant connection to his Thai food delivery driver, he starts to wonder if there’s more to this whole “dating” thing. The journey these two go on will have you swooning. Roman is surprisingly in tuned with his emotions and I loved the moments where he showed Grace his vulnerable side. I really enjoyed his character growth and he is really the ultimate book boyfriend and cinnamon roll! Their chemistry is so palpable through the pages and I just craved when they were on page together! The way they both learned so much about themselves and about being in a committed relationship was really beautiful. There were things they both needed to work on, and I thought this part of their journey was really well written.
And the side characters were amazing, too! Liam is my absolute favorite and I just wanted to wrap him up in a hug. He’s the definition of a best friend!
I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of the book and thought the pacing and prose were perfect. It was a really easy read, and the romance, spice, and plot were a perfect balance. Everything flowed really well, and I never felt like anything with the plot was rushed or out of place.
Overall, an excellent read and a fantastic debut! I’m now obsessed with hockey romance, thank you to @ for that and I’m not even sorry in the least! I’m so excited to see what the rest of this series has to offer and I’m eagerly awaiting Book 2!
───── • ♡︎🥀🕯️🥀♡ • ─────
📖ⒷⓄⓄⓀ•ⓇⒺⓋⒾⒺⓌ📖
─────── • ♡︎🥀🕯️🥀♡ • ──────
📚📝✨🩶𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞•𝗗𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗦🩶✨📝📚
🌿Worth the Wait by Lucille James
🌿Book 1 in the West Coast Hockey Romance Series
🌿𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘: Sports Romance
🌿𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: April 23rd, 2024
╰┈➤Available on KU!✨
🌿𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗡𝗨𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥: 384 pages
🌿𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 5
🌿𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ || 5
🌿🚨𝗔𝗟𝗪𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
📚📝✨🩶𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘🩶✨📝📚
🏒Hockey Romance
🥅Slow Burn
⛸️Strong and Independent FMC
🏒Reformed Playboy MMC
🥅The Cutest Meet Cute Ever
⛸️Spice
🏒He Falls First
─────── • ♡︎🥀🕯️🥀♡ • ──────
✨✨𝘔𝘺 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴✨✨
Thank you so much to Lucille James for my Review Copy of Worth the Wait! This review is comprised entirely of my own thoughts & opinions, & is based on the copy I received.
Worth the Wait is literally everything I have been waiting for in a book. I ADORED this book. Adored, loved, and now I can’t stop thinking about it. Everything about it was amazing. The romance, the characters, the plot - I loved literally everything about it! I can’t believe this was Lucille’s debut book, because the way she writes is so real and genuine. The book just flows so well, it’s one of those books where you sit down to read and before you know it, you’ve read 150 pages and you’ve just been lost in the world of Grace and Roman.
The characters are so easy to connect with and you can’t help but fall in love with them as you read! Roman and Grace are just absolute perfection. I loved their journey in this book. Grace is driven, motivated, loyal, and so kind and loving. She’s been through a lot and she’s determined to achieve her dreams and not let anything, or anyone😉, stand in the way. Even a handsome hockey player. Roman is a reformed playboy, and after a scandal puts him in timeout, and he feels an instant connection to his Thai food delivery driver, he starts to wonder if there’s more to this whole “dating” thing. The journey these two go on will have you swooning. Roman is surprisingly in tuned with his emotions and I loved the moments where he showed Grace his vulnerable side. I really enjoyed his character growth and he is really the ultimate book boyfriend and cinnamon roll! Their chemistry is so palpable through the pages and I just craved when they were on page together! The way they both learned so much about themselves and about being in a committed relationship was really beautiful. There were things they both needed to work on, and I thought this part of their journey was really well written.
And the side characters were amazing, too! Liam is my absolute favorite and I just wanted to wrap him up in a hug. He’s the definition of a best friend!
I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of the book and thought the pacing and prose were perfect. It was a really easy read, and the romance, spice, and plot were a perfect balance. Everything flowed really well, and I never felt like anything with the plot was rushed or out of place.
Overall, an excellent read and a fantastic debut! I’m now obsessed with hockey romance, thank you to @ for that and I’m not even sorry in the least! I’m so excited to see what the rest of this series has to offer and I’m eagerly awaiting Book 2!
───── • ♡︎🥀🕯️🥀♡ • ─────
April 21, 2024
Let me start by saying that I have been a hockey fan for the majority of my life. I love a good hockey romance, but I really love a good romance that has a lot of hockey in it! This book was not only heavy on the romance, but so heavy on the hockey and I devoured it! It's got so many good tropes, a good story line, excellently flawed characters, and did I mention hockey? The banter in this story was good, and I loved how Grace and Roman met. The subsequent "waiting" from their initial meeting I think was paramount in this story line. I loved how Lucille actually wrote about the waiting process. It not only made it "worth the wait" for Roman and Grace in the story, but it also made it "worth the wait" for the reader. By the time their romance really started I was salivating for it!
I loved how perfectly damaged both of these characters were with their own insecurities and parent issues. I also love that the drama and angst wasn't overly done and drawn out. I especially loved the simple "I'm sorry" towards the end. I think sometimes an epic grovel is necessary, but most of the time a simple, heartfelt apology is all that's needed. These two characters were so wonderful together. Their chemistry was on point, and the spice was excellent! The side characters were an excellent addition. I'm really hoping we get to see a book featuring Liam! Overall, this was an excellent hockey romance just in time for hockey playoffs to start! I definitely recommend this if you're a fan of sports romance!
I loved how perfectly damaged both of these characters were with their own insecurities and parent issues. I also love that the drama and angst wasn't overly done and drawn out. I especially loved the simple "I'm sorry" towards the end. I think sometimes an epic grovel is necessary, but most of the time a simple, heartfelt apology is all that's needed. These two characters were so wonderful together. Their chemistry was on point, and the spice was excellent! The side characters were an excellent addition. I'm really hoping we get to see a book featuring Liam! Overall, this was an excellent hockey romance just in time for hockey playoffs to start! I definitely recommend this if you're a fan of sports romance!
April 27, 2024
“You don’t stop skating when you are down by three, why would you stop skating now with Grace. Fight for her. Fight for your Cup. She’s your Stanley Cup now, Roman. But you gotta fight to win her.”
Ohhh Roman and Grace ❤️ my only regret with this book is that I’ve been so busy and didn’t get to share it with you sooner!! I’m a little late but released on April 23 and available NOW!!!
Worth the Wait is the debut book by @lucillejames.authoraccount and let me tell you, as far as hockey romances go, this is top tier! I absolutely loved the humor, spice, and sweet love story between these pages…
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
This was a true slow burn, but with purpose which I appreciated. Both characters needed time to work on themselves and their goals before they could be the best for each other - and the story showed what they were doing to build themselves up and be ready for love. Loved that Grace didn’t give up her goals and timeline for a guy… so perfect!! And the reformed playboy trope is meh for me, because I get annoyed with the idea of what I call “the magic 🐱” that seems to be what changes a dude. But that wasn’t it for this book - he had real experiences and real concerns with his lifestyle completely unrelated to Grace that pushed him to reevaluate how he lives and the impact on his future. It was perfect watching him work through this all ❤️ and boy was a sweet cinnamon roll once he let himself be!
Make sure you download this ASAP for your next 🏒 fix and enjoy this amazing story, with more on the way from a new author on the scene!! 🙌
Ohhh Roman and Grace ❤️ my only regret with this book is that I’ve been so busy and didn’t get to share it with you sooner!! I’m a little late but released on April 23 and available NOW!!!
Worth the Wait is the debut book by @lucillejames.authoraccount and let me tell you, as far as hockey romances go, this is top tier! I absolutely loved the humor, spice, and sweet love story between these pages…
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
This was a true slow burn, but with purpose which I appreciated. Both characters needed time to work on themselves and their goals before they could be the best for each other - and the story showed what they were doing to build themselves up and be ready for love. Loved that Grace didn’t give up her goals and timeline for a guy… so perfect!! And the reformed playboy trope is meh for me, because I get annoyed with the idea of what I call “the magic 🐱” that seems to be what changes a dude. But that wasn’t it for this book - he had real experiences and real concerns with his lifestyle completely unrelated to Grace that pushed him to reevaluate how he lives and the impact on his future. It was perfect watching him work through this all ❤️ and boy was a sweet cinnamon roll once he let himself be!
Make sure you download this ASAP for your next 🏒 fix and enjoy this amazing story, with more on the way from a new author on the scene!! 🙌
December 3, 2024
What a great start to a series!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I absolutely loved this book! I was sucked it from the very beginning. Roman and Grace were just such easy characters to fall in love with. I definitely cannot wait to read more of this series!
It starts with Roman being in the midst of a publicity scandal. He is a professional hockey player playboy who has had intimate photos of him leaked to the press. Due to this problem, he has been grounded by his manager for the holiday. She is kind enough to have food delivered for him to keep him in the house, but doesn’t realize that the delivery girl will have such an effect on Roman.
This is where we meet Grave. She is working part time as a delivery girl while also completing her certification hours for her dream job. While delivering Roman’s food, he ends up asking her out on a date. She is so busy at the moment that she ends up telling him that she won’t be as busy in four months and to reach out to her then.
Then we follow the story of Roman and Grace reconnecting, and then developing a first time relationship for both of them. They are learning to navigate their lives while developing strong feelings for each other.
I will definitely be recommending this book! It was a great read, and I can’t wait to see what happens later on in the series!
Tropes:
Reformed Playboy MMC
Career Focused FMC
Professional Hockey
Spicy Banter
Childhood Trauma
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I absolutely loved this book! I was sucked it from the very beginning. Roman and Grace were just such easy characters to fall in love with. I definitely cannot wait to read more of this series!
It starts with Roman being in the midst of a publicity scandal. He is a professional hockey player playboy who has had intimate photos of him leaked to the press. Due to this problem, he has been grounded by his manager for the holiday. She is kind enough to have food delivered for him to keep him in the house, but doesn’t realize that the delivery girl will have such an effect on Roman.
This is where we meet Grave. She is working part time as a delivery girl while also completing her certification hours for her dream job. While delivering Roman’s food, he ends up asking her out on a date. She is so busy at the moment that she ends up telling him that she won’t be as busy in four months and to reach out to her then.
Then we follow the story of Roman and Grace reconnecting, and then developing a first time relationship for both of them. They are learning to navigate their lives while developing strong feelings for each other.
I will definitely be recommending this book! It was a great read, and I can’t wait to see what happens later on in the series!
Tropes:
Reformed Playboy MMC
Career Focused FMC
Professional Hockey
Spicy Banter
Childhood Trauma
April 1, 2024
This book is so fun and such a strong debut by Lucille James! Roman and Grace are adorable and I connected with their characters immediately. The book has a very down to earth and relatable feel, but also that element of “escapism” where you are tapping into the world of dating a hot, NHL, rich, hockey player.
I sometimes have a difficult time relating to FMC’s, but with Grace, I did not. She is independent, strong, smart, and free spirited, but also has a soft side which allows Roman to sweep her off her feet. I really enjoyed her character.
Let’s talk Roman Graves. I am a sucker for a golden retriever, and a hockey player, so I fell for him right away! He is fun, sexy, honest, and a gentlemen wrapped into one. I loved him!!
This book had just the right amount of plot and spice, and believable hockey talk! And I know hockey, so this was an amazing read! I can’t wait for the rest of the series!
I sometimes have a difficult time relating to FMC’s, but with Grace, I did not. She is independent, strong, smart, and free spirited, but also has a soft side which allows Roman to sweep her off her feet. I really enjoyed her character.
Let’s talk Roman Graves. I am a sucker for a golden retriever, and a hockey player, so I fell for him right away! He is fun, sexy, honest, and a gentlemen wrapped into one. I loved him!!
This book had just the right amount of plot and spice, and believable hockey talk! And I know hockey, so this was an amazing read! I can’t wait for the rest of the series!
April 2, 2024
ARC review ***
This book surprised me in the best ways possible. I’ve read a few books where they are written not in first person and didn’t like them. Not that there’s anything wrong with those. They are just not my personal preference so when I discovered this book was written that way, I was worried I wouldn’t like it. I wanted to love this book because the story is so cute….and truthfully I did love this book, every fucking word of it.
There are a million hockey romances out there, but this definitely stands out. It’s sweet, it’s edgy, and my gosh, I couldn’t get enough. You will fall in love with Grace and Roman, without a doubt.
For this being the first book from this author, it’s incredibly well done. I can’t wait to read the next book when it’s done, but I’m sure that will be ‘worth the wait’.
This book surprised me in the best ways possible. I’ve read a few books where they are written not in first person and didn’t like them. Not that there’s anything wrong with those. They are just not my personal preference so when I discovered this book was written that way, I was worried I wouldn’t like it. I wanted to love this book because the story is so cute….and truthfully I did love this book, every fucking word of it.
There are a million hockey romances out there, but this definitely stands out. It’s sweet, it’s edgy, and my gosh, I couldn’t get enough. You will fall in love with Grace and Roman, without a doubt.
For this being the first book from this author, it’s incredibly well done. I can’t wait to read the next book when it’s done, but I’m sure that will be ‘worth the wait’.
April 23, 2024
When hockey captain, Roman, has a publicity mishap he is grounded for the holiday break. Ordering takeout on Christmas eve, he is intrigued to meet Grace who is the exact opposite of the girls he usually goes for. Eager for her to accept his offer for a date, he is disappointed when she tells him that she is busy and gives him the ultimatum to reach out to her in four months. But will she be worth the wait?
I absolutely adored this book and Roman and Grace are just perfect! I loved this story line and I couldn't wait for them to finally get together! Roman and Grace had amazing chemistry and I loved their conversations, but the side characters are amazing too. Grace has such fun friends and I'd love to see more of Liam! After that ending I can't wait for book two!! If you're looking for a great hockey romance I highly recommend this one!
I absolutely adored this book and Roman and Grace are just perfect! I loved this story line and I couldn't wait for them to finally get together! Roman and Grace had amazing chemistry and I loved their conversations, but the side characters are amazing too. Grace has such fun friends and I'd love to see more of Liam! After that ending I can't wait for book two!! If you're looking for a great hockey romance I highly recommend this one!
Read
April 26, 2024That slow burn
I love a good hockey romance and this book did not disappoint. I immediately fell in love with Grace and her shoulder shrug. I ended up falling in love with Roman and both of the best friends (I'd love to see a story about Jess or Liam or maybe them together). The character development is great and you really get a feel for what these characters have been through. There's plenty of steamy scenes to keep the romance going but I love that there's an actual STORY! Some romance novels only put hot and heavy scenes throughout the book and it really keeps me interested when there's a good storyline to follow. This book has the story and the hot stuff ❤ it is a perfect blend for me. I also love how it doesn't jump right to sex scenes; there's plenty of buildup prior to the deed. I highly recommend this book, it is well worth the read!!!
I love a good hockey romance and this book did not disappoint. I immediately fell in love with Grace and her shoulder shrug. I ended up falling in love with Roman and both of the best friends (I'd love to see a story about Jess or Liam or maybe them together). The character development is great and you really get a feel for what these characters have been through. There's plenty of steamy scenes to keep the romance going but I love that there's an actual STORY! Some romance novels only put hot and heavy scenes throughout the book and it really keeps me interested when there's a good storyline to follow. This book has the story and the hot stuff ❤ it is a perfect blend for me. I also love how it doesn't jump right to sex scenes; there's plenty of buildup prior to the deed. I highly recommend this book, it is well worth the read!!!
March 26, 2024
Worth the Wait!!
5 ⭐️ 3 🌶️
I can’t say enough good things about this book. I read it in a day and a half (while working).
Grace is one of the best written FMC I’ve ever read. Her story is wonderful and her feistiness is everything I didn’t know I needed. Roman is also such a -only soft for her- type of man and I’m in love with him.
Am I allowed to say I’m obsessed with our side characters??? Like HELLO, the best, best friends of the century. Jess needs to be my bestie rn & Liam makes me swoon.
This book had me giggling, screaming, & kicking my feet and then had me SWEATING 🥵 the spice was spicy. THE HOT TUB??? I’m done for. Anywaysssss, if you’re a hockey romance girlie you definitely need to read this 🫶🏼
I want take out & a candy bar now
5 ⭐️ 3 🌶️
I can’t say enough good things about this book. I read it in a day and a half (while working).
Grace is one of the best written FMC I’ve ever read. Her story is wonderful and her feistiness is everything I didn’t know I needed. Roman is also such a -only soft for her- type of man and I’m in love with him.
Am I allowed to say I’m obsessed with our side characters??? Like HELLO, the best, best friends of the century. Jess needs to be my bestie rn & Liam makes me swoon.
This book had me giggling, screaming, & kicking my feet and then had me SWEATING 🥵 the spice was spicy. THE HOT TUB??? I’m done for. Anywaysssss, if you’re a hockey romance girlie you definitely need to read this 🫶🏼
I want take out & a candy bar now
April 16, 2024
Worth The Wait
Lucille James' debute hockey romance is A perfect mix of spicy and sweet. Enter A sweet delivery girl/CADC, a hockey player badboy, and a four month Wait to date rule- followed by a relationship bomb delivered via national television drama. Roman and Grace have instantaneous chemistry. Not only do we get to see them grow individually, they grow together as well . It's refreshing to read something where both main characters are flawed and own it. It makes their struggle and growth so much more realistic. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and felt myself counting down the hours until I was off work so I could finish it. Worth the wait is officially my favorite of this genre. 10/10 definitely recommend!
Lucille James' debute hockey romance is A perfect mix of spicy and sweet. Enter A sweet delivery girl/CADC, a hockey player badboy, and a four month Wait to date rule- followed by a relationship bomb delivered via national television drama. Roman and Grace have instantaneous chemistry. Not only do we get to see them grow individually, they grow together as well . It's refreshing to read something where both main characters are flawed and own it. It makes their struggle and growth so much more realistic. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and felt myself counting down the hours until I was off work so I could finish it. Worth the wait is officially my favorite of this genre. 10/10 definitely recommend!
December 18, 2024
4 out of 5 ⭐️
4 out of 5 🌶️
This debut novel by Lucille James truly blew me away! It was such a fun read, with the right amount of slow burn, while also keeping the story going. Roman and Grace are a match made in book heaven with their 1 in a million chance of meeting love and connection and their banter is humorous, sweet, and playful. There were also so many great side characters who add to the story. I am holding out hope for a Liam story after her next book comes out.
James really jump started her career as an author with this one and I am anxiously awaiting her next book and cannot wait to read it. There were a few elements that felt overlooked but all in all, I was glad to read this fun story and look forward to more!
4 out of 5 🌶️
This debut novel by Lucille James truly blew me away! It was such a fun read, with the right amount of slow burn, while also keeping the story going. Roman and Grace are a match made in book heaven with their 1 in a million chance of meeting love and connection and their banter is humorous, sweet, and playful. There were also so many great side characters who add to the story. I am holding out hope for a Liam story after her next book comes out.
James really jump started her career as an author with this one and I am anxiously awaiting her next book and cannot wait to read it. There were a few elements that felt overlooked but all in all, I was glad to read this fun story and look forward to more!
January 4, 2025
Well. Let's talk about the absolute cuteness that was this book!
I'm not sure what I loved the most, so I'm going to list the things I loved in no particular order:
• The character development of Roman
• The absolute adorableness of Grace
• The desire from both to try and be open and communicative from the start (even if they failed sometimes)
• The absolute HATE I have for Ava. In fact, I wish there was more Ava, I loved to hate her SO much
I know stories have to end, that's the whole point....but oh my goodness I could have read another 300 pages of these two. I cannot get enough and I cannot wait for Max Miller's book.
I also may love hockey now?
Overall: highly recommend
Spice: open door
I'm not sure what I loved the most, so I'm going to list the things I loved in no particular order:
• The character development of Roman
• The absolute adorableness of Grace
• The desire from both to try and be open and communicative from the start (even if they failed sometimes)
• The absolute HATE I have for Ava. In fact, I wish there was more Ava, I loved to hate her SO much
I know stories have to end, that's the whole point....but oh my goodness I could have read another 300 pages of these two. I cannot get enough and I cannot wait for Max Miller's book.
I also may love hockey now?
Overall: highly recommend
Spice: open door
April 21, 2024
ARC Review
What a great debut by Lucille James! This was such a sweet, cute, fun read. Roman and Grace were so adorable together! I loved how Grace was this strong, independent FMC, whose life didn't revolve around Roman. Rather she had her own goals and dreams that she wanted to accomplish outside of Roman. Roman was such a sweet, attentive MMC. I loved how he opened up to Grace and how he showed his vulnerable side. I loved their relationship - it was so relatable. The book also had a perfect amount of spice that complemented the storyline. I can't wait to see more books from Lucille - would love a Liam and Jess book! Congratulations again to Lucille for a great debut!
What a great debut by Lucille James! This was such a sweet, cute, fun read. Roman and Grace were so adorable together! I loved how Grace was this strong, independent FMC, whose life didn't revolve around Roman. Rather she had her own goals and dreams that she wanted to accomplish outside of Roman. Roman was such a sweet, attentive MMC. I loved how he opened up to Grace and how he showed his vulnerable side. I loved their relationship - it was so relatable. The book also had a perfect amount of spice that complemented the storyline. I can't wait to see more books from Lucille - would love a Liam and Jess book! Congratulations again to Lucille for a great debut!
July 10, 2024
I read this book as part of a buddy read.
I loved that Grace was a career driven woman who had dreams of her own and never once used Roman's status as a professional athlete to help her get what she wanted.
I appreciated how open Roman's character was with communication and thought it was cute that he made it a point to have her favorite bagels delivered.
I loved the banter between Roman and Grace, especially over texts!
I'll definitely read the next book when it releases.
✖️ My only issue - it doesn’t have anything to do with the storyline - is that I really wish the book had been told in first person POV.
I loved that Grace was a career driven woman who had dreams of her own and never once used Roman's status as a professional athlete to help her get what she wanted.
I appreciated how open Roman's character was with communication and thought it was cute that he made it a point to have her favorite bagels delivered.
I loved the banter between Roman and Grace, especially over texts!
I'll definitely read the next book when it releases.
✖️ My only issue - it doesn’t have anything to do with the storyline - is that I really wish the book had been told in first person POV.
April 2, 2024
Oh my word I devoured this thing! I still can’t believe this was her debut! I’m aching for more already! Book 2! Book2! Book2! I loved loved loved the unfolding of this story and the way you get to know the characters on such a sweet level. All their little quirks and idiosyncrasies just drew me in. I never knew I’d love a hockey romance. Didn’t know it was a thing until now and I’m sooo hooked. I love that you had steamy alongside a plot that couldn’t be shaken. Take out the sex and it’s still the most Knockout love story. I’m rooting for you with this series and can’t wait for more.
September 15, 2025
I met this sweet author at a book convention and had to pick up her books!🏒
Roman and Grace had a unique meet-cute! When Grace asked that Roman wait 4 months for, she thought he’d forget. Roman’s PR nightmare made him have to change his playboy ways. Grace was different and he wanted to wait for her.
This one is 3rd person POV, which I didn’t know beforehand. My only true ick was when Roman entertained the idea of sleeping with his best friend’s girlfriend. Although he turns her down, it bothered me.
I will definitely read the next in series! I’m always happy to support indie authors💚
Roman and Grace had a unique meet-cute! When Grace asked that Roman wait 4 months for, she thought he’d forget. Roman’s PR nightmare made him have to change his playboy ways. Grace was different and he wanted to wait for her.
This one is 3rd person POV, which I didn’t know beforehand. My only true ick was when Roman entertained the idea of sleeping with his best friend’s girlfriend. Although he turns her down, it bothered me.
I will definitely read the next in series! I’m always happy to support indie authors💚
November 20, 2025
This book was just kinda meh for me. I took a chance on this new for me indie author because it is a hockey romance book and I’ve been reading a lot of them lately, but I feel this one missed the mark. Both Roman and Grace have daddy issues and have lived their entire lives as a reaction to those issues. Neither are great at communicating, and in fact purposefully hide things from each other, not great for a relationship. I did like their meet cute, and now I’m really craving Panera’s cinnamon bagels. I’m not mad I read it, but I’m not going to be reading it again.
April 25, 2024
56 procent. Sorry ik vind er echt niks aan.
Gaat hij zielig lopen doen... Arm jongetje... Word gebruikt terwijl hij zelf ook word gebruikt. Ja als je alleen voor dezelfde types gaat... Smh
Snapte trouwens niet waarom hij zijn bff niet vertelde dat diegenes gf steeds met hem flirtte... Dat is niet handig en heel ongemakkelijk.
Grace vond ik in het begin wel aardig. Maar ze kon echt beter krijgen..
Gaat hij zielig lopen doen... Arm jongetje... Word gebruikt terwijl hij zelf ook word gebruikt. Ja als je alleen voor dezelfde types gaat... Smh
Snapte trouwens niet waarom hij zijn bff niet vertelde dat diegenes gf steeds met hem flirtte... Dat is niet handig en heel ongemakkelijk.
Grace vond ik in het begin wel aardig. Maar ze kon echt beter krijgen..
July 4, 2024
mmmm sign me up for the next one!!
This book…where do I start? Well I started yesterday and finished it this morning. It’s such a sweet story!!! Absolutely loved it!! You have a rich playboy hockey player who’s in a lot of trouble due to a puck bunny (go figure) who meets a down to earth small town beauty. Who told him to message her in four months…after the four months go by they take a chance and see what happens. Ugh going on my top ten favorite sports romance books!!!
This book…where do I start? Well I started yesterday and finished it this morning. It’s such a sweet story!!! Absolutely loved it!! You have a rich playboy hockey player who’s in a lot of trouble due to a puck bunny (go figure) who meets a down to earth small town beauty. Who told him to message her in four months…after the four months go by they take a chance and see what happens. Ugh going on my top ten favorite sports romance books!!!
July 9, 2024
Worth the Wait is about a hockey player who learns that hard way you can't just love 'em and leave 'em without someone getting hurt and an intern who delivers Thai food on the side for extra money.
It starts out as a slow burn as both Roman and Grace have things they need to work on before either of them can be in a relationship but once they connect it gets steamy really quick. This was fun read that deals with some real issues such as trust, doing things on your own merit and being honest.
It starts out as a slow burn as both Roman and Grace have things they need to work on before either of them can be in a relationship but once they connect it gets steamy really quick. This was fun read that deals with some real issues such as trust, doing things on your own merit and being honest.
July 8, 2024
So stinkin' cute! And hot 🔥 And real. This was a refreshing, realistic romance with quality relationships and high-profile athletes navigating real-life struggles. The characters are relatable and captivating. I particularly loved the friendships between the main characters and their closest friends. Also a big fan of the intimate scenes 😅 Highly recommend if you need to get lost in someone else's love story for a bit 💜
March 3, 2025
This story follows Roman Graves, a professional hokey player who got into some hot water with the press and Grace, a hard-working intern who delivers food on the side.
After an unconventional meet-cute, they don't connect again for months. And sparks instantly fly.
I'm not a huge fan of insta-love. But I'm giving Worth the Wait a pass. They didn't stop thinking about each other after the first meeting. So, technically, it's not completely insta-love. They story shows how they bring out the best in each other, and they are not destined to be alone or just like their parents.
I received a copy of Worth the Wait from a Goodreads giveaway. I held onto reading it for far too long. I noticed book 2 was coming out, and I had to jump to read this. I was disappointed.
After an unconventional meet-cute, they don't connect again for months. And sparks instantly fly.
I'm not a huge fan of insta-love. But I'm giving Worth the Wait a pass. They didn't stop thinking about each other after the first meeting. So, technically, it's not completely insta-love. They story shows how they bring out the best in each other, and they are not destined to be alone or just like their parents.
I received a copy of Worth the Wait from a Goodreads giveaway. I held onto reading it for far too long. I noticed book 2 was coming out, and I had to jump to read this. I was disappointed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews