The Veteran

Dalvegan Dragons #2

by Xavier Neal

What's good for the gosling is good for the gander...

At least according to the sunshine and snowflakes woman whose amnesia episode has her believing she's been assigned to be my daughter's new nanny.

And, of course, I can't really fire the fake hire because the last thing I need as the captain of my pro hockey team is to be trending for more drama.

I guess you could say this season won't be easy.

Especially for me, the veteran.

TROPE CHECK
Grumpy/Sunshine
Single Dad/Nanny
Amnesia Romance
Plus-Size/Curvy Heroine
Possessive Alpha

Genres: Sports Romance, Hockey Romance, Hockey, Forced Proximity, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

353 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2024

About the author

I'm USA TODAY Bestselling Romance Author who has published over ninety works to date.

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Reviews

[Jenn (The Book Refuge)]

Just not jivving with this one. I'm sure it will be real fun for some. But the hockey terms and -ski added on to everything is not working for me.

The author does warn about it, so it's no fault of hers.. I just can't sit through the whole book doing it.

[Steph's Romance Book Talk · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars / 4.25 Steam Fans

Oh, I LOVED this story from the start to the end! Xavier Neal gives us a glossary filled with hockey terms at the beginning of the book and let me just say they made the reading experience so good. Igor is a single dad, captain of the team, and responsible for Joey's current memory loss. Joey is this amazing child specialist who wakes from an injury thinking she works for Igor as his daughter's nanny.

They find love, family, hope, and joy. If you are a lover of hockey and romance you will love this story.

Video review available in Week 13: Mar 24 – Mar 31, 2024, weekly book reviews on Steph's Romance Book Talk (https://www.youtube.com/@stephsromanc...)

[Patricia (Spellbound Stories Trish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author and though the Hockey terms threw me a bit I did enjoy the characters and the story line!

Igor in a very rough spot makes a game time decision that is about to alter everything in his life. Allowing the beautiful Joey to be the nanny to his daughter means they will be in close contact and things get very entertaining!

Igor is hilarious and though he’s a big burly man his heart beats and melts for his daughter. He will do anything and everything to provide her with the life she deserves! His interactions with her were so cute but I loved when Nanny Joey put her foot down and showed Igor she wouldn’t back down from him.

The storyline was original and I enjoyed the team and other characters. They really added to the charm and overall feel of the book. Amazing spice level and this will not be a last read for me by this author.

[Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
4⭐️s
Igor & Joey story was everything and more to hope for in a hockey romance. Igor is the veteran hockey captain, single dad and Joey is the new nanny….or is she! The building of a family, repairing hurt in their current families, growing together and character development for all was done seamlessly. I loved watching these characters grow, build such deep connections and the banter was on point ! A great read and different than most hockey romances in the best of ways.

[Melinda Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, I am in love with my new hockey hero, Igor!  Mr. Grumpy Pants melts like butter for his daughter’s new nanny, Joey.

When the hockey Captain finds himself in a precarious situation involving his daughter and a beautiful princess, he’s torn, and in the hot seat with his fiery GM. But the love his has for his daughter forces his hand and he takes a chance on the slightly misinformed nanny ensuring she comes home with him. The burning attraction he feels goes on hold…for a brief moment. All the while, Nanny Joey is trying to navigate her current situation. Unfortunately, her momentary amnesia is not helping. But the pull of her heart to this single dad and his daughter is undeniable. She simply seems to be the missing puzzle piece that completes this family.

These two fell fast and effortlessly at the same time that they just let their feelings realize what was in their hearts. Igor sorta just took over her space. While cautious, he did the little things that lay claim to his woman, and well, Joey was a force of her own. She became the other half without even trying.

These characters were so beautiful and I was an instant fan rooting for their HEA!

[Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fabulous!

Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: nanny
Angst: 😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥

This was a super fun story from beginning to end! Igor is the captain of an NFL team and single dad who gets Joey, the accidental nanny, by way of amnesia and a lie, lol. Loved both of these characters so much. Both of them had issues to work through and showed up for the other. A delicious slow burn filled with lots of yummy tension. There is tons of fun banter that will produce a couple of eye rolls along with lots of laughs. You really can't go wrong with Xavier Neal - she has never let me down, no matter the sub-genre. Can't wait to see what's next!

[Katelynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this unique spin on the nanny dad romance. In this case the heroine has disassociate amnesia and finds herself having an episode where she believes she is Igor's nanny. Igor see how great she is with his daughter Bella and allows Joey to believe this. The hockey in this romance definitely feels like it's center stage. I could have done with a little less of the hockey vocabulary even as a big fan of the sport but appreciates the commitment to the sport and players jargon. Igor is grumpy but loveable and though he has his own traumas he's trying to be the best captain and dad to his sweet girl. Joey is truly a fabulous role model and has a gift of patience and connecting with kids. This was definitely a fun and unique read for me!

[Cigi cini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grumpy/Sunshine
Single Dad/Nanny
Amnesia Romance
Plus-Size/Curvy Heroine
Possessive Alpha

Star: ⭐️⭐⭐️⭐.25
Spice: 🌶️

"The Veran" by Xavier Neal is a contemporary romance novel that delves into the complexities of love, family, and unexpected connections. The story follows Igor, a professional hockey team captain, who finds himself in a challenging situation when a woman suffering from amnesia believes she is the nanny hired to care for his daughter.

One of the highlights of the book is its engaging premise, which sets the stage for a series of humorous and heartwarming moments as Igor navigates the unexpected arrival of the woman who believes she is his daughter's nanny. The dynamic between Igor and the woman with amnesia adds layers of intrigue and curiosity to the narrative, keeping readers hooked from the beginning to the end.

The author excels in creating well-rounded characters with distinct personalities and motivations. Igor struggles as a single parent and a professional athlete add depth to his character, while the woman's journey to rediscover her identity provides an emotional anchor to the story. The interactions between the characters are filled with witty banter and genuine chemistry, making it easy for readers to become invested in their relationships and root for their happiness.

Moreover, Xavier Neal's writing style is smooth and immersive, allowing readers to easily lose themselves in the world of the story. The pacing is brisk, with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing and turning the pages eagerly. The author also skillfully balances romance with moments of humor and drama, creating a well-rounded reading experience that appeals to fans of the genre.

Overall, "The Veran" is a charming and entertaining romance novel that offers a delightful blend of humor, heart, and steamy romance. With its engaging characters, engaging plot, and skillful storytelling, it is sure to captivate readers looking for a feel-good read with a touch of sports and amnesia-themed intrigue.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Book Review for The Veteran by Xavier Neal

Rating: 4/5 Spice Level: 3/5

OMG. Hockey immersion for the win. If you want to get yourself into the world of hockey and understand the lingo all while reading a romance novel – this book is for you. Some of the lingo can be overwhelming if you aren’t used to it but there is a glossary provided and I feel it really adds to the characters by making them feel more realistic and showing their love and passion for their sport.

Now speaking of the romance! This was my first book with a Single Dad/Nanny trope, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I loved the set up here and how it turned from a work relationship to an actual relationship!

From an accident caused by the MMC causing a dissociative amnesia episode that leads to a miscommunication and a new job for our FMC this book follows Nanny Joey and Hockey Captain Igor in a slow burn romance where Joey is trying to remain professional in her role as Nanny to “Princess” Bella but is starting to see that line blur as both her and Igor realize their feelings for each other. When they finally cross over the line of professionalism into relationship status, they kick up the heat, only to be met with other complications. Navigating from a working relationship into a loving relationship has its issues, especially when it comes time to fess up to the initial miscommunication of how they met and how Joey got the job as nanny. When another miscommunication leads to another episode for Joey, Igor rallies his family on and off the ice to help him “win” Joey back by recreating the moment he knew she was it for him.

I really enjoyed the chemistry between Joey and Igor and how their relationship brought not only Igor closer to his daughter, but also closer to his parents and overall became a closer family that needed Joey in it. The support from Igor and his family, and even his family on the ice, rallying to Joey’s side to help her out in her time of need was so sweet!

Such a good read <3

Read if you enjoy:
• Grumpy/Sunshine
• Single Dad/Nanny
• Plus Size/Curvy Heroine
• Amnesia Romance

The Veteran is Book 2 in the Dalvegan Dragons Series by Xavier Neal but can be read as a standalone.
Now available on Kindle Unlimited or available for purchase in eBook form for $4.99 on Amazon.

Quote:
“Family on my knee is a reminder to always put in the work for something you give a f*ck about.”

[Jens_Book_Cubby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Veteran is the second book in the Dalvegan Dragons Series. It is a grumpy sunshine, single dad, hockey romance with wit, steam, and some amnesia to boot.

Igor is a real klutz, when he’s not on the ice, which inevitably gets him into trouble. Joey is the victim of his latest disaster, but when she wakes and doesn’t remember what happened, Igor decides to use it to his advantage and goes along with her thinking that she is his daughters nanny. Comedy, drama, and emotional moments ensue.

I really loved this book. I especially loved the amnesia, hockey, and nanny aspects of the story. The hockey language, bit of Russian, and unique words cracked me up. I also loved the characters, both the main and secondary characters are wonderful. The storyline is very entertaining as well, it’s a definite page turner.

As per standard with this awesome author, the writing, pace, flow, characters, character development, relationship development, storyline, storytelling, and world building are all terrific. I would absolutely recommend this book and cannot wait for more!

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Xavier Neal book and I truly enjoyed it! This is the second book in the Dalvegan Dragons series but can be read as a standalone. The hockey terms were hard to follow at times but I really enjoyed the characters.

Joey has a dissociative amnesia episode caused by Igor, our MMC, and believes she is his daughter Bella’s nanny. This is something completely different than anything I have read and I really liked it! Joey was amazing with Bella from the start and I loved the organic relationship they built. There is clearly chemistry with Joey and Igor but they really try their best not to cross that line. It really is a slow burn but there are so many tension filled moments that make up for it. I loved how natural it was between Joey and Igor. They both learn a lot from each other especially Igor who has been navigating being a single dad.

I really enjoyed how each character showed some growth throughout the book including his father. It was a really beautiful read. Thank you Xavier Neal for this ARC.

[LaTosha Webber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t Get Enough

The way Xavier Neal has ruined me for all other hockey romances is criminal. Legit no one I’ve read does it like her, you can absolutely tell she’s true to this not new to this! The use of lingo and hockey analogies is always fun and aids the romcom experience. But the way she crafts characters and addresses things be it mental health, disabilities, or health conditions she does it with such care that you know lots of research has gone into it. Anyways this was such a fun read and such a great plot. It was well paced. It was well written. And as always the play on the ice was amazing. She really did an amazing job of showing the reality of a pro athlete’s life and schedule and how managing work / life balance is a monster. I haven’t read the bonus content yet but I will say on page the one thing I wish we would have gotten more of is seeing Ig work through his trust issues and what that looked like for how he loved and handled Joey. Overall though this was absolutely fantastic and as always has me ready to go back to Vlasta.

[Madison_renee2415 · Rating 4 out of 5]

love single dad books!

Oh this was a funny romance book!

Igor is a single dad hockey player who is in need of a nanny. One day he accidentally knocked over a woman and he passed out.

Joey has amnesia here and there and after her encounter with Igor she unknowingly hires herself to be his nanny.

I love the interactions with Igor’s daughter with Joey, they are so funny! I can’t count how many times I laughed.

Oh and can’t forget the extra spicy scenes *wink*.

[Nicole Scarborough · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good one too. So far this series is good and I can't wait for the next. I loved Igor and Joey so much! Bella was great top. I laughed and I cried. The chemistry was great and it was well written

[Andrea Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book deserves more than five stars!! Everything about it was swoon worthy. Joey is the absolute best in what she does, Igor has the best hunky dad appeal, and Bella was cute as buttons.
I loved everything about their story. First, the crazyish and complicated meeting… Next, the parenting guide we all need.. Last, the bonding of this little family!
This book was such a joy to read, you honestly just get lost in the story and are smiling from ear to ear. I’m loving this series so much and I hope we get more of the Dalvegan Dragons!

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Igor and Joey were a perfectly adorable, funny, sweet, spicy, and swoon worthy couple and they easily stole my heart as their heartfelt, feel-good romance unfolds. This book read very smoothly, and it had me happily devouring chapter after chapter wherever and whenever I could. Drama, emotion, steam, humor, twists, and mega feels make a potent and seductive combination that puts a huge smile on your face as it turns your heart to mush. Another winning entry for this great series.

[Kayla May · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars but rounding up to 4 for rating purposes

ARC Review! "The Veteran" by Xavier Neal. This was my first read by this author so it took me a few chapters to get with her writing style, but once l was in it was smooth sailing. Joey, a professional nanny with an amnesia disorder, suffers an accident at a hockey event and wakes up thinking she's the hockey captain's daughter's nanny! Igor is a devoted, single dad to his daughter Bella and captain of a professional hockey team. Single dad. Live-in nanny. What could possibly go wrong? Joey comes and turns Igor and Bella's lives topsy turvy and ends up being the missing piece to this little family. This is not my typical speed for a read but I really enjoyed the plot and the characters.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: sports (hockey) romance
Format: eBook 📱#ALC
⭐: 3.75
🌶️: 2
Feels: 🥹😂🧐

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“So, hot hockey dad not only has an a$s I could cut diamonds on but brains I could help build a better world with? Great.”

Tropes:
☀️ Grumpy/Sunshine
🏒 Single Dad/Nanny
☀️ Amnesia Romance
🏒 Possessive Alpha
☀️ Plus-Size/Curvy Heroine

This book was all sorts of cute, with a side of funnies, and then some feels for dessert.

Our FMC Joey, is a super smart early childhood educator working as a live-in nanny and our MMC is a huge, 6’5” Russian hockey captain with daddy issues and a fabulous mum. Xavier has written both characters to have really nuanced and in-depth histories and family dynamics, creating well-rounded and distinct characters with a gorgeous amount of depth to them. This only adds to the storyline and your love for the characters.

I enjoyed the storyline and the characters in this book, the drama was the same old 3AB trope… and yet somehow also completely new! You’ll have to read it to understand what I mean 😉

Igor proves to be a sweet and swoony partner to Joey, and the way he treats his daughter is simply amazing, no notes. Love him.

My biggest drawback was the overuse of hockey slang. I am Australian, we looooove our slang and to add ‘o’ to the end of almost everything but I find it hard to believe that people speak that way in real life 😅 Buuuut! There is a really detailed glossary at the beginning of the book that explains all of the terms and between that and context clues I had 0 issues understanding what anyone was saying. It just felt odd to hear someone use ‘-skies’ at the end of so many words, or ‘pracky’ instead of practice as a fully-grown, adult man.

Special thanks to: DS Book Promotions for providing this copy.

**These are my honest thoughts that I have provided voluntarily.

[Anni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is listed as a single hockey dad, grumpy sunshine, amnesiac nanny romance… hard to really get the gist of what to expect when you pick it up from the blurb, but this story is truly so heartwarming and amazing! Xavier Neal is the queen of hockey romances and I know whenever I pick up one of her books I’m going to love it.

I made sure to read The Owner before this one (book one in the new Dalvegan Dragons series), and glad I did because of the character crossover, but it definitely isn’t required reading. You can read this as a standalone.

Igor, the captain of the Dalvegan Dragons team, is a single dad to an adorable 3 year old, Bella (at first by choice but the last year by being the only living parent), making it work with a lot of help from his parents. He’s been searching for a nanny until a really freak incident landed one in his lap with a memory issue, and he’s worried she’s going to leave at any moment.

Joey is in possession of a lifelong amnesia condition, which keeps hitting her at inconvenient times, especially stressful events. She wakes up in hospital with the new hockey player she’s nannying for and can’t quite remember how she got to this point, but she rolls with it because little Bella is very attached to her. He’s also very excited about her being there, and she needs the job. What she doesn’t need is the attraction that keeps building!

I loved the relationship between both of them, the whole family and the team. Even better than book 1! What I really disliked was the “hockey speak”… it actually drove me nuts and really took me out of the fantasy of the story (please Xavier, use real English in the future books… It was super annoying having to refer back to a glossary - wasn’t ok). Otherwise, everything else was just right here, if you as the reader tried to anticipate the “hockey” language as it came and substituted with real words, it was exactly what this story needed to be.

I received an advance copy from the author and Give Me Books PR, and this is my honest feedback.

[Nikki'J' · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good second book to the series. I think I enjoyed it more than the first. There is still plenty of hockey lingo but I found it better this time.

Like Xavier’s other books the characters are unique. The heroine of this story, Joey has dissociative amnesia which leads to an unusual set of circumstances that have the captain of the team falling for his new nanny while keeping a secret.

Igor is the single father and the captain of the team. He’s one of the older players and feels a lot of pressure to help make the team great again after everything the GM, Hennington has tried to make it better.

There was plenty to like about this story and I enjoyed the tension as well as the will-they-won’t-they vibe.

The addition of the other team members/coaches/managers/family helps to give this book more character and depth. It’s clear there is more to come from Xavier Neal and the Dalvegan Dragons.

A good hockey romance to add to your ready list.
.
.
.
Igor is in trouble. A charity event the team was part of didn’t end well with him accidentally pulling the plug on a jumping castle and it collapsing on children and the princess there for the kids. With her knocked out he’s at the hospital making sure she’s ok while being chewed out by Hennington.

Waking up in a hospital with a pretty little girl beside her should be unusual but nothing in Joey’s life is usual. When the handsome man comes in she assumes he must be her newest employer but with her medical condition she isn’t sure, but with nothing else to go she heads home with them.

It’s clear this family needs some help and while she usually avoids single dads and high profile ones she must have had a reason she accepted the job. Hoping her notes and the contract will help she tries to find them, but comes up empty handed.

He didn’t mean to bring the injured princess home, but the truth is he really needs a nanny and he wants to keep her close to make sure she’s ok and because Hennnington wants to be sure that she won’t cause any issues for the club.

She’s more than he could have imagined and being near her and having her in their lives seems like it was always meant to be. Igor has no idea what’s going to happen if she remembers everything and if he tells her will it all come back and bit him in the ass.

‘I wanna tell her how much I love that. How much I love that she’s stepping into her role not as a nanny but as the woman that belongs to the captain. The woman whose job it is to care and lead off the ice while he’s on it. Except technically that’s not her role. No matter how much I fucking wish it was.’

Happy Reading.

[Lacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

In The Veteran: Single Dad Grumpy Sunshine Hockey Romance Dalvegan Dragons #2 by Xavier Neal, a young woman experiencing amnesia after an accident believes that she’s the new nanny for NHL Hockey Captain and Single Dad Igor’s daughter. Because he does need a nanny and to avoid being responsible for any drama that makes his hockey team go viral, he goes along with her misbelief and allows her to be his fake nanny.

Despite being a romcom with a primarily lighthearted, sometimes overwhelmingly over-the-top silly tone, Neal explores surprisingly serious issues with thought and nuance. Still, she could have explored other topics a little more deeply. Neal’s multilayered, intriguing story draws you in, along with her active writing style, which is vibrant with detailed descriptions that keep the novel moving at a quick pace. A lot of the hockey vocabulary is familiar to me as a hockey fan, but then there’s a lot that isn’t, or I wonder if it’s just peculiar to Igor. Though it does make some passages a little confusing, I appreciate the author-provided glossary.

I love Neal’s development of the relationships between her fascinating characters through colorful, hilarious, and natural-sounding dialogue, snarky banter, and interactions that perfectly suit her characters, setting, and themes. She develops conflicted, complex, relatable, and likable characters you can’t help but root for. Joey’s relationship with Bella, Igor’s daughter, is sweet. I love how much Igor loves his little girl. He wants to be the best father for her and is willing to learn and improve. Igor’s relationship with hockey and his father is incredibly complicated. Neal nicely explores their family life and evolution. Joey’s relationship with her best friend with her best friend is so

Igor and Joey share an intense sexual attraction from their first meeting. I like that Neal gives them time to get to know each other and become friends and partners in caring for Bella before they become lovers. Otherwise, I might not have believed there was more depth to their relationship after they became intimate. Their sex scenes focus more on the sexual than the emotional connection between them.

A sweet, funny, angsty, fast-paced romance, The Veteran should be a fun read for hockey, interracial, grumpy x sunshine, curvy Black heroine, possessive Russian alpha hero, nanny, family-centered, and single parent romance fans who like their romances more on the erotic side.

Xavier Neal and DS Promotions provided an advanced review copy for review.

[Geri Stoikova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok , if you love Hallmark Christmas movies and you're in your hockey romance era then The Veteran , Dalvegan Dragons book two is what you need in your life. And it's full with all the slow burn, angst and all the spicy hotness. And that hotness is so swoony because we're talking about grumpy romance reading hot hockey captain Igor "Eeyore" Alexeyev . Hockey god on ice a and a total klutz of it . His clumsiness leads to an incident that lands Joey Grier in the hospital. But that's not all . At the same time joey had one of her incidents of a disassociate amnesia . Waking up in the hospital with a child looking at her she assumed that she's the nanny. And then the fun begins. Because Igor needs a nanny for his three year old daughter Bella and he intends to keep this one . Joey is pretty much qualified for the job. Her episodes of amnesia are about stressful events in her life. The attraction between Igor and Joye is instant and that's pilling up the tension between them. And they are such a good team. Soon Joye organizes and puts their life in order and becomes very important part of it . Everything feels like a family and not a job . Bella is the cutest three year old written ever. Igor's parents and friends are part of this big found family for Joye. You'll have fun with the hockey lingo and the made up words . And the included Russian was very interesting for someone speaking the language and it just added to the charm of the story and made it real . When Joye learns the truth about her being with them that doesn't change anything just explains some things. But is a game changer for their relationship. And these two are so good together. Each one of them is fighting and overcoming the fears that are limiting them in life. Joey has another one of her episodes but this time her saving net is so big and a lot of people are helping her to come back . And for the first time in her life she decides to stay and to have it all . Their happily ever after melted my heart. While searching my Kindle I found out that I have the first book in the series so I'm going to read it . And I was so all over the Pinterest board for the series.

Thanks to the author and DS Book Promotions for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this book.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

🏒💚 The Veteran
By Xavier Neal

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

"The Veteran" by Xavier Neal is an enthralling, steamy sports romance that I absolutely adored. As a fan of the grumpy/sunshine and single dad/nanny tropes, I was immediately drawn in. These elements, combined with the added layer of dissociative amnesia, created a unique and captivating storyline that kept me hooked from start to finish.

The book revolves around our MMC, Igor, a professional hockey player, and Joey, our intriguing FMC who is obsessed with all things Christmas. Their initial meeting is far from ordinary - a clumsy encounter lands Joey in the ER, where she suffers a bout of dissociative amnesia. When she wakes up, she believes she is Igor's nanny, an assumption he doesn't correct. This unconventional beginning sets the stage for their relationship to develop in a way that's both captivating and endearing.

The characters are richly depicted and incredibly relatable. Joey, the curvy heroine, is a breath of fresh air and her witty Christmas references throughout the book were funny. Her character is an embodiment of strength, resilience, and kindness. Despite her memory loss, she manages to offer stability and consistency to Igor's family, especially his daughter Bella. This newfound family dynamic is heartwarming and one of my favorite aspects of the story.

Igor, the grumpy yet possessive alpha, is a complex character. His journey from being a single dad to accepting Joey into his and Bella's life is moving. The chemistry between Igor and Joey is palpable and their romance sizzles off the pages.

What sets "The Veteran" apart from other sports romances is the inclusion of dissociative amnesia - a topic not often explored in romance novels. Neal handles this sensitive subject matter with grace and respect, adding an extra layer of depth to the story.

The epilogue is the cherry on top, providing a satisfying conclusion to this emotionally charged journey. It ties up loose ends and provided me a glimpse at the future I had really hoped for for this family!

In conclusion, "The Veteran" is an impressive blend of romance, sports, and family dynamics. Its unique storyline, engaging characters, and thought-provoking themes make it a standout read. I give it a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars. This is a book I would highly recommend to any romance lovers looking for something a little different.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

BookIG: @tequilamockingbirdlady
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[Maycee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Veteran is the all new second book in Xavier Neal’s Dalvegan Dragons series. This book is a standalone but does reference plot points from the first book. I haven’t read “The Owner” (book one) but I’m not new to Xavier. This was such a fun and interesting book. The tropes are *Chef’s kiss* perfection. I am always down for a hockey romance and this one did not disappoint. I’m a sucker for a single dad/nanny romance but I was not prepared for how much I loved Joey. She is so much more than a nanny, she literally transforms the lives of the whole Alexeyev family. The grumpy/sunshine aspect makes for so much fun banter. Joey doesn’t take any of Igor’s attitude and has no issues calling him out on his bad behavior. It also really melts your heart to watch Ig open up and be more than just a Captain. I wasn’t sure how the amnesia trope was going to shake out, but I truly loved the whole thing and it made for such an interesting plot line. The fact that it is such a complicated medical condition made for some fantastic reading. I absolutely adore Bella. She’s spunky and fun and her character is definitely true to a three year old. I appreciated the gentle parenting Joey introduced and how she tackled her sensory issues was heartwarming. The chemistry and spice is holy cannoli hot. Who knew 42 was such a smexy number? This was such an emotional read, all the feels, highs and lows made it a ride you don’t want to get off of. I appreciate Xavier’s dedication to hockey, not just as a sport, but as a culture and a community. I will say she warned us about the extreme hockey lingo. She’s not joking.. I know all the terms so it’s not confusing, it’s just constant and I felt like I was in a never ending Letterkenny or Shorsey episode. Even Mama Alexeyev and Joey start with the hockey slang and it could get very distracting. I feel that aspect could have been toned down and would still get the point across. Aside from that small “downside” I absolutely loved the book and I will definitely be reading the first one and can’t wait for more of the series. Definitely pick this one up!

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars, but I rounded up because I'm so nice :)

This was my first book by this author, and I went into it knowing only that it was a hockey romance. I really enjoyed the story, and found the premise really intriguing. When we're introduced to Joey, she's just had a dissociative event that resulted in amnesia, and it turns out that it's not the first time. Unfortunately for Igor, he's the one that caused the event, and his GM has been on his case about managing the situation so that Joey doesn't sue or do anything else that would make the team look any worse than it already does. Due to some assumptions on her part, Joey finds herself nannying for Igor, looking after his 3 year old daughter. They each find themselves fighting an intense attraction to the other, all while Ig plays hockey, Bella starts learning to speak Russian, and Joey tries to figure out just how she ended up where she is.

I thought the type of amnesia Joey has was just so interesting to read about. It's like her best friend Berks says, "that big, beautiful brain of yours is just trying to protect you from what it thinks is going to harm you right now." Our brains are so fascinating, and I love that this was brought into the story in such a unique way.

The relationships built throughout the story were very sweet and heartwarming, which was a nice balance to the stress and confusion of the amnesia. I was so excited when Joey and Ig finally gave in to temptation - it was enough to have me fanning myself and grinning like a three year old in a bouncy house.

There's a glossary in the front, and you should definitely take the time to read it or bookmark it so you have it for reference, because the hockey lingo is different than you'll usually find. It's constant, not just sprinkled throughout the story, so you need it if you want to understand everything that's going on.

I am so happy I took the chance and read this as an ARC, and I will absolutely be on board to read any books that come after this! Thanks so much to Xavier Neal for reaching out and asking if I'd be interested in reading her new book. I'm quite pleased to share my honest review.

[Maryger Chacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Veteran by Xavier Neal, is the second book in The Dalvegan Dragons Series, Igor "Eeyore" Alexeyev is Captain of the Dalvegan Dragons hockey team and is a single father of a 3-year-old girl, Anabella “Bella”, at the moment we find him with the GM and others from the team in an emergency room due to an unfortunate accident that occurred during a team event, in which Igor may have been the cause, which has them in an argument about the consequences of it, but during this they find out something that can help them get out of this little problem. Jonati "Joey" Grier is a specialist in early childhood development, but she suffers from dissociative memory loss which makes her forget segments of her life triggered by something that shocks her, leading her to suffer from these momentary gaps in her memory. She suffered precisely from one of these episodes when the small accident, at the event where she worked as an entertainer, now when she comes to she finds a beautiful little girl whom she does not remember having seen before, much less her father. But it is here that Igor, seeing how she interacts with his daughter, and Joey assuming that she is her nanny, Igor comes up with the idea of ​​tricking her and making her believe that they knew each other and that she is indeed Bella's nanny and thus get the help that he so desperately needs. with your daughter. This makes him feel guilty for trick her and as he gets to know her better he can't help but feel protective of her, and as they spend more time together an affinity begins to grow between them that will lead them to get closer and end up completely attracted to each other but first they must face some challenges that life will present to them in order to find their happy ending.
I loved this story, and although it touches on some difficult topics, the author did it in a wonderful way, giving us an approach that makes us appreciate the character's struggle. Since I started reading this story I was smiling and laughing out loud, there are hilarious circumstances, I also shed a few tears and fell completely in love with these characters. A wonderful story that I know you will enjoy and I will be patiently waiting for the next book in this Series. Definitely Highly Recommended!
*Thanks to Xavier Neal and DS Book Promotions for my ARC. I voluntarily leave my honest review*

The Veteran de Xavier Neal, es el segundo libro de la Serie The Dalvegan Dragons, Igor "Eeyore" Alexeyev es Capitán del equipo de hockey de los Dalvegan Dragons y es padre soltero de una niña de 3 años, Anabella “Bella”, al momento que lo encontramos se encuentra junto a la GM y otros de su equipo en una sala de emergencia por un desafortunado accidente que ocurrió durante un evento del equipo, en el que Igor puede haber sido el causante, lo que los tiene en una discusión sobre las consecuencias del mismo, pero durante esto se enteran de algo que puede le va a ayudar a salir de este pequeño problema. Jonati "Joey" Grier es especialista en desarrollo infantil temprano, pero sufre de pérdida de memoria disociativa lo que la hace olvidar segmentos de su vida desencadenado por algo que le cause shock llevándola a sufrir de estos vacíos momentáneos en su memoria. Sufrió justamente de uno de estos episodios cuando el pequeño accidente, en el evento donde trabajaba como animadora del mismo, ahora cuando vuelve en sí se encuentra con una hermosa pequeña de la que no recuerda haber visto antes y mucho menos a su padre. Pero es aquí cuando Igor, al ver como interactúa con su hija, y Joey asumir que es su niñera, se le ocurre la idea de engañarla y hacerle creer que se conocían y s efectivamente la niñera de Bella y así conseguir la ayuda que tan desesperadamente necesita con su hija. Esto lo hace sentirse culpable por engañarla y al conocerla mejor no podrá evitar sentirse protector de ella, y mientras más tiempo juntos comienza a crecer entre ellos una afinidad que los llevara a acercarse y terminaran completamente atraídos por el otro pero antes deberán enfrentar algunos desafíos que la vida les presentara para así encontrar su final feliz.
Esta historia me encantó, y aunque toca algunos temas difíciles la autora lo hizo de una maravillosa manera dándonos un enfoque que nos hace apreciar la lucha del personaje. Desde que comencé a leer esta historia estuve sonriendo y riendo a carcajadas, hay circunstancias hilarantes, también derrame unas cuantas lagrimitas y me enamore completamente de estos personajes. Una maravillosa historia que se que van a disfrutar y estaré esperando pacientemente el siguiente libro de esta Serie. Definitivamente Altamente Recmendada!
*Gracias a Xavier Neal y a DS Book Promotions por mi ARC. Dejo voluntariamente mi reseña honesta*

[NikiReadsRomance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think there has been a book that I've read by Xavier Neal that I have not loved, including this one! I laughed, I had all the feels, and all the hockey!!
This was the second book in the Dalvegan Dragons series, you don’t have to read the first to read this one though. Although I would absolutely recommend it! I adored all of the characters in this! They were fun and vibrant and no matter how little they were on page, all were memorable. I definitely attribute that to the author’s writing style in creating such an interesting world or characters.
Igor is a giant of a man with the biggest of hearts for his daughter. Its adorable! He wants the best for her and when Joey sort falls, literally, into their lap he is not in a position to turn the best nanny for his daughter away. Even if he knows it might not go the way he wants. And he certainly cannot avoid the mounting tension between them the longer they spend together.
I kinda loved that Joey seemed to just go with the flow when she wakes up in the midst of a toddler and a handsome hulking hockey player missing some of her memories. Even when there are so many questions that she doesn’t have answers for. She is definitely a team player 😉😄
If you’re looking for a feel good hockey romance with a lot of laughs, fun and quirky characters, and definitely some spice, this may hit the spot!
🏒Quick Notes🏒
Hockey Romance
Grumpy/Sunshine
Single Dad/Nanny
Amnesia Romance
Plus-Size/Curvy Heroine
Possessive Alpha
Found/Created Family
Can be read as a standalone

🏒A few of my favorite things🏒
✨All the hockey talk! I loved it in the first book and I loved it here too and how much EVERYONE, including Joey embraces it. Also, I loved learning all the things lol
✨Igor relationship with his daughter: so adorable and also how can you not love a dad that will do everything he can to provide a happy life for her 🤩
✨Joey’s inner monologues cracked me up 😄

[Jennifer Leigh (jenjenbookfan) · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧 is the 2nd book in the Dalvegan Dragons series by Xavier Neal, featuring a unique twist on the single dad/nanny romance. What do you do when you’re the captain of a professional hockey team and a woman with dissociative amnesia believes she’s your nanny? When your career is already on thin ice, you go with it and hope nothing goes wrong.🫣 But Igor isn’t great at following the rules, and he finds himself ridiculously attracted to his identity-challenged, curvy nanny, adding yet another complication to to their precarious arrangement. How will things turn out when secrets and truths are revealed?

Talk about an original premise for a common trope! I was intrigued from the start by Joey’s mysterious condition and what could possibly cause her to have these episodes. The grumpy/sunshine vibes between her and Igor were fun to watch evolve with their funny banter and spicy chemistry. They both clearly have emotional issues lingering from their pasts, and I love the way she helps him grow in his role as a single dad as he struggles to juggle that with hockey. Bella is simply adorable, and her bond with Joey was so sweet. Bella’s own struggles in the mental health arena were handled beautifully as well. I learned a lot reading this, honestly. The authentic emotions tugged at my heartstrings. There was plenty of exciting hockey action to enjoy as well! The only thing that hung me up was the excessive hockey lingo and the untranslated Russian. The author provided a guide for the lingo in the beginning, it was just overwhelming. Also, adding -ski to the end of everything got tedious after awhile.🤷🏼‍♀️ I still loved the twists and turns of the story and whole-heartedly recommend it! I can’t wait to see what comes next in the series!!

I received an ARC for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️

#TheVeteran #DalveganDragons #xavierneal #SingleDad #Nanny #GrumpySunshine #AmnesiaRomance #curvyheroine #possessivealpha

[BookAddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

Igor Alexeyev, hockey defenseman and single dad of a pre-school daughter, ends up with a nanny he never expected. It's not necessarily on the up-and-up, but he desperately needs a nanny and she basically fell into his lap, so… Igor is a leader, the captain of the team, but he’s more than his brawn. He's highly intelligent and reads a lot including romance. He also uses a lot of slang, which makes him sound less intelligent, but I’ll get to that later.

Joey Grier has worked as a nanny and has a lot of education in early childhood development. She also has dissociative amnesia, which is her brain's way of protecting her against stressful situations. I completely adored Joey and her love of everything Christmas. She's brilliant in her interactions with little Bella, Igor, and everyone in general.

This story is so much more than a romance, because Neal takes us deep into these characters and handles difficult subjects with careful consideration. In addition to her brain's betrayal, Joey has always been a solitary person, so finding a family and group of friends she can depending on is huge for her.

My only critique is with the amount of slang, which was distracting. Not only was the hockey lingo excessive but many words were shortened – apprech for appreciate, sando for sandwich, profesh for professional – and “ski" was added to a lot of words. Other words I had to look up in the Urban Dictionary, and all of this dates a work rather than allowing it to be timeless.

Otherwise, I love everything about this one. The big, protective hero with his tiny daughter was all kinds of swoon, the camaraderie and banter between teammates was lots of fun, and Joey finding her place to belong was beautiful. Charming, funny, steamy and heartfelt, if you’re at all a fan of sports romance, you'll definitely enjoy this one.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

"𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆.
𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒕𝒐.
𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐."

I went into this book not knowing what to expect. Sure, I read the book description. Sure, I knew the tropes. But other than that I knew nothing about it. And it's also the first book from this author I read. So I can honestly say that this book promised me nothing and delivered EVERYTHING!

I ate this book up. Genuinely couldn't even focus on anything else till I finally finished it.

Joey is so sweet and so effing smart! Igor is a beast but he's a softie one and he's also super smart as well - I love me a man that likes to read romance 😮‍💨. And little princess Bella oh my goodness, she's ADORABLE!

Seeing Joey helping Bella grow as well as helping the relationship between Igor and his dad specially was everything. I loved the entire family dynamic and how they so quickly welcomed Joey into their circle and made her feel so loved and cared for. She needed that and I'm happy she found her safe place.

Seeing Igor grow as well was so sweet. He fell fast and hard. He learned to belive someone wouldn't leave him. Learned to take a breath before snapping because of his insecurities. Learned to be loved.

And Bella. Aw, that little princess knew before anyone else that Joey was there to stay! She needed someone like Joey to grow and learn and walk her through her fears and insecurities and issues as well.

And Igor parents are adorable and his dad growing and changing also made me so emotional.

Overall, the family found/created trope made me SOB! I love them with everything I've got and I'm SO happy they all have each other. If you want a quick little silly rom com, read this! You won't regret it.

Thank you so much to Xavier for the ARC of this pretty one. 🥹🤍