Offside Bride

Toronto Titans Hockey #2

by Gigi Blume

From USA Today Bestselling Author Gigi Blume comes a new sports romance in the Toronto Titans hockey series.

This marriage sham might work if they didn’t want to kill each other…

Getting hitched to the guy who walked out on me in the middle of a hookup wasn’t on my bingo card, but here we are.

Sawyer O’Malley is bad news. He told me so. But when you sneak off with a guy like Sawyer at your best friend’s wedding, bad feels kind of good.

Until he ghosts you.

I made a point to avoid him after that. But somehow I find myself in the middle of his viral social media screw-up.

Do I care if he got himself into a pickle and needs a wife? No.

I don’t do second chances.

But my credit is shot and I need a place to crash until I get back on my feet. Plus I'd have the chance to get payback by puck-blocking hockey's worst playboy.
I’m doing the women of Toronto a favor.

Who says a girl can’t have a little fun while leveling the score?

What could possibly go wrong?

Spoiler Everything.

My wife is loud, bossy, scrappy, opinionated, a fire-eating pain in my butt… and I would tear the whole world apart for her.

Maggie hates me for slamming on the breaks before we took it too far—when I was just trying to protect her. How can I tell her that without causing World War Three? Because loving Maggie is a contact sport. I have a feeling she’s out to get me. And I find that surprisingly hot.

Sparring with my wife is all the danger I need. But when her pet parrot gets kidnapped by the mob, it’s gloves off and I go in full Liam Neeson mode.

I didn’t want to get her involved in my mess. But now that she’s mine, winning Maggie’s heart is worth a penalty shot.


🏒 Marriage of Convenience
🏒 Brunch Daddy MMC
🏒 Queen Energy FMC
🏒 He falls first
🏒 Spite Kisses
🏒 One bed
🏒 Hands off my wife
🏒 Explosive chemistry
🏒 He’s on his knees for her

🏒 No third-act breakup

Genres: Hockey, Marriage Of Convenience, Sports, Hockey Romance, Sports Romance, Romance, Enemies To Lovers

430 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2024

About the author

Gigi is a USA TODAY bestselling author and hopeless musical theatre nerd who has perfected the art of lollygagging.

Former professional wedding singer, Gigi lives in Southern California with her personal chef...er...husband and two weird and awesome teenagers.

When Gigi's not writing like a crazy woman, she likes to belt out showtunes, embarrass her kids, and spend all her free cash on books.

Reviews

[Bree · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I think this will have to be the last new book by Gigi Blume that I read. Over time, her writing has started to edge closer and closer to the brink of not being considered clean romance anymore. This book was especially dangerously close to that edge 😬

I always fly through Gigi Blume’s books because she does write highly entertaining stories! While I did fly through this book, I found the plot severely lacking and just downright silly at times. Sadly her books seem to have less and less actual plot and more just romance bordering on steamy. Her OG books were always super fun in my opinion and I might still go read or reread some of those, but as far as new books go, I don’t think I’ll be touching anymore of those.

So with all that being said, I would NOT recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, clean, hockey romcom. There are plenty more out there by other authors that are super fun, but without the steam.

[Addison Lackey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am so irritated. I spent time reading this. The backstory was rushed. The conclusion was rushed. The emotional development appeared nonexistent. You had to go to the authors website and sign up for a newsletter to get to the chapter where they like crossed the final threshold from flirting to actually want to be with each other.it just felt really incomplete and really lazy and full of cliché and honestly the fact that I spent time that I will never get back reading this makes me genuinely angry

[Laurie reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m done. I enjoyed her first books, but I’m done with this author. She was in the sweet romcom universe but this one takes her out of that genre. Crass, profane language, sexual innuendo, an open door/ closed door choice in the middle of the book! Add in a slapstick farce involving the mafia, a smutty talking parrot , and a sexualized parody of women’s book clubs and I’m just totally done. 2 stars was generous.

[Sara Arnaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gigi Blume scores a haul with this one, her best yet!

This book was an absolute delight and an incredible surprise, in the VERY BEST way. In my opinion, Offside Bride is Gigi Blume’s best work yet. I don’t know what it is exactly: the marriage-of-convenience trope, the characters, the plot, the absolutely delicious banter, the laugh-out-loud humour, the bird, but it all hit. just. exactly. right. I could go on and on for dayzzzzzzzz

And did I mention the banter? The back and forth. It was incredible! Clever. Witty. Absolutely delicious. Even the bird. Did I mention the bird? I don’t want to give too much away, but you are going to looooooove the bird!

Highlightables:

- The Toronto Titans hockey team. This brotherhood Gigi has created. Found family at its finest.
- The bird. (No spoilers. No spoilers. No spoilers.) Trust me: the bird.
- The chemistry. The tension. The kissesssssss. Heat-level warning: have a fan ready and within reach. Or smelling salts.
- The banter. Between anybody. And everybody. The main characters, the teammates, the sister, the bird. Especially the bird. He just adds another layer on what is already super delicious banter, making the perfect over-the-top dessert for a cool fall day. (Speaking of desserts, when I was young, my mom used to make a layered dessert called “The Next Best Thing to Robert Redford”. I’m renaming it. That dessert shall forevermore be renamed, from this day forward: “The Next Best Thing to Sawyer and Maggie.”)
- The never giving up. I loved the way Maggie wasn’t even ruffled by Sawyer’s fear or his crazy family. And Sawyer, well, he just took everything “Maggie” in stride. Perfect!

Notable Quotables:

- But as I jog back to join the team, all I can think about is getting home to my beautiful, infuriating, absolutely perfect fake wife. The woman who has my heart in a chokehold.
- Love snuck up on me when I wasn’t looking, wrapping around my heart like a warm, cozy blanket. And now…I realize I’m in deep. Hopelessly, completely, deeply in love. It’s like someone flipped a switch inside me, and suddenly everything is Sawyer.
- “I screwed around with your feelings, and if you want to hate me forever, I’ll gladly take it as long as you let me love you enough for the both of us.”

Oh. my. heart. These two. Their pathway to love was rocky, but it was a hilarious, fun, and enjoyable ride. Thank you, Gigi, for this absolutely wonderful story of friendship, love, and family!

And to anyone else still reading this: what are you still doing here? You could be halfway through Chapter 1 already! So go get this book as soon as you can, I highly recommend it! 5 well-deserved stars of hockey gold!

[Sarah Beth G. (a.neverending.tbr) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Marriage of convenience can hardly ever go wrong for me but this did. The story felt very choppy with large chunks of time between chapters. Sawyer and Maggie spend very little time together on page and what some have called banter is really just plain being mean to each other. Neither Maggie nor Sawyer are likable characters and the jump to this being a real relationship came out of nowhere. I downloaded the bonus chapter and while the book says you don’t need it, you really do. Chapter 20 would have been very confusing without Chapter 19.5 if for no other reason than that being when they have some sort of conversation about their feelings. The side plot with his dad was also just over the top and made this feel like two books squashed together.

Content Notes: Kisses or fade to black romance (bonus chapter)

[Larissa (That Baker That Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis:
Sawyer ghosts on Maggie after they hook up, and she had every right to be upset with him. But after a generalized bar fight, they’ll have to pretend they’re married.

Includes:
✨Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
✨Marriage Of Convenience
✨Prank Wars
✨Hockey Romance
✨Sunshine/Sunshine
✨Family Secrets
✨No third-act breakup

🌶️Heat Level:
Close Door
Innuendo
Mild Language
Attraction/Tension:🔥🔥🔥🔥

My Opinion:
Put my favorite trope and Gigi Blume's writing together, and I knew this romance would be hot, funny and sweet. Gigi knows how to write an explosive chemistry like no one else, and every time Sawyer and Maggie are together, we can feel the tension (all of this without any spicy scenes). I just love how both characters are so charismatic and don’t overshadow each other. Sawyer is the best Golden Retriever hero, and Maggie is so spunky, which makes the story even more entertaining. This is a great Marriage of Convenience with a fun plot, hot kisses and a Mafia subplot. I super recommend!

*𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫. 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰. 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧.*

[Randi Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Offside Bride is the second book in the Toronto Titans Hockey Romance series. While these characters may be familiar if you've read the previous book, I do think this could be enjoyed as a standalone as well.

Oh my goodness...this book! Right from the very start, I found myself unable to put this one down. I loved that rather than giving us the buildup and explanation as to WHY these two people who clearly despised one another were entering a marriage of convenience as we would in most books, we just jump right in at the wedding. We do go back and get the whole story that led up to that point, but I loved being thrown right into it like that... it absolutely drew me into their story and kept me there throughout the whole thing. The chemistry between these two was absolutely explosive--- you really didn't know if they were going to kiss each other or kill each other (or perhaps both), and I absolutely couldn't get enough of it. There were so many moments that had me laughing out loud and swooning in equal measure. Hockey + marriage of convenience + a hilarious parrot that gets kidnapped by the mafia!? It's the combination I didn't know I needed, and I loved every single moment. I've never read a Gigi Blume book that I didn't enjoy, but this one is certainly a new favorite.

Offside Bride is a closed-door romance but does have implied intimacy between a married couple and many heated kisses as well as innuendo and mild language throughout. As such, it may not be for all readers.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Kate (bookishkenyannerd) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tried to write a review but couldn't 😅 Below are just my inner ramblings as I was reading the book.

- For a closed door romance author, Gigi is really toeing the line with the innuendo.
- Also, Maggie agreeing to marry Sawyer just so she can limit his sex life?🤦🏾‍♀️
- I feel like she's just taking popular micro-tropes and finding a way to throw them into the mix.
- This reads like a new adult dark romance sometimes.
- I can't understand how she'd tear up her paperbacks that she worked so hard for and spent money on just because she found out her books are pirated online.
- There are some cute moments here. I just wish there was more of that and less of cookie cutter hockey/dark romance stuff.
- Why did she have to punch the puck bunny? I get being territorial but something else would've sufficed. I don't like how this book is seemingly promoting violence as an excuse for being jealous.
- I'm curious why serious mobsters would actually take a parrot as collateral to get what they want. Why not take Maggie? Why a pet bird?🤦🏾‍♀️
- Hockey players storming a mobster meeting just to fight? But why? I was actually laughing when shit hit the fan but once they joined I just lost interest.
- I get it Sawyer. She's your wife. No need to say it a hundred times 🙄

Let me just say, I miss Precio Brothers Gigi. Hockey romance might be en vogue, but this isn't it. Not for me. I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 2.5⭐
Steam level: 2🌶️ Closed door, loads of innuendo

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Hot guys can get away with just about anything. It’s science. Look it up.”

Sawyer and Maggie have the most delicious story, full of all the banter, sass, and sizzle. He’s a bad boy hockey player and she’s struggling to make ends meet and their first encounter is not to be forgotten…until he seems to forget. But now? He’s got a need that only she can fill and I was there for every single energy-crackling interaction.

This team is a dream and these characters are so over-the-top full of personality that I couldn’t quit swooning and laughing. The little unexpected twists and turns left me gasping with surprise. I couldn’t get enough of Sawyer–his dedication to his new situation is the sweetest and Maggie’s determination to undermine everything hilarious. Undeniable attraction, “my wife,” found family, Otto the bird, danger, flirty banter that borders on hatred, scorching kisses, and even a fight scene, made this one oh, so much fun.

Gigi Blume knows how to bring all the things I love together into a book that’s unputdownable.

Content: moderate language; moderate romance (closed door); mild violence/danger

*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*

[Hannah May · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so cute. I do love me some marriage of convenience! I love Otto, he cracked me up the whole time. I do wish that this book was longer, as it felt like it was missing little bits, but other than that it was good! I loved how they ended up and I am excited to continue this series. I do love me some hockey romances. The little plot twist i was not expecting at all which made it real fun!

[Teddy G · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up only because I did finish it.
They say when you try to please everyone you please no one.
I did not like the choose your own chapter 19.
For the record you DO need it for the story.
Such a hassle to switch devices, sign up for the newsletter, wait on the email, then read the chapter and then have to go back to the rest of the book really disrupts the story.

For those wanting clean close door this leaned pretty steamy and for those wanting spice it’s only 2-3 pages in the open door choice for chapter 19.5.
The closed door chapter should have been included in the book and then if you want the spice you can go through the newsletter but something should have been included so you could read straight through.

Overall there were a lot of fun ideas and I thought this was just gonna be a wacky rom-com but the beginning was rushed and the end was rushed even more. Everything related to the mob was way over the top and silly. I still don’t know if there was a cliffhanger to be finished in another book or that’s just how the author is leaving it?
Too many things in this that took away from the story instead of adding to it.

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reader’s Notes:

– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

– this is told from Maggie & Sawyer’s points of view

-there are about 18 curse or not nice words

-there is one mention of the middle finger being put up

-there is some innuendo

-a kiss mentions her hands under his shirt

-it is mentioned that Sawyer helps Maggie take a bath after she is injured (she is only dressed in her underwear; there is nothing else beyond a bath in terms of actions acted on)

-it is mentioned that a character’s parent is currently in prison & the other parent left them behind at that point

-it is mentioned that a character’s parent grew up in the foster system

Review:

I removed a star because some of the kisses/scenes I wasn’t entirely comfortable with.

However, Maggie & Sawyer did have me chomping at the bit for more of their unconventional romance each step of the way! I loved that Maggie did everything in her power to stick it to Sawyer while still sticking to their agreement. It was so funny to see what she’d come up with and how Sawyer would not only be surprised by her actions, but he’d also have to scramble to keep up with her. 😂 I loved that some of the hockey team members & Maggie’s best friend were in on the secret, but no one else. I loved that it not only opened an opportunity for teasing from that group over the possible real feelings between the couple, but it also made it so that Maggie & Sawyer had to mainly pretend to be deeply in love with each other.

I’m curious to find out if we’ll get stories for the other players in on their secret! I’d love to find out more about them 😍

Summary:

Maggie thought that she & Sawyer had something during their friends’ wedding, until he walked out on her. Since then, she’s done everything in her power to avoid the man child and doubled down on trying to get her feet back under her. It was only a matter of time before Maggie’s efforts in avoiding Sawyer were thwarted, but she never would have expected things to blow up like they did. Now she’s married to the man who she despises in order to benefit both of them. Though Maggie has more than just a fake marriage up her sleeve. She’s determined to get back at Sawyer for what he’s done…

Sawyer knew that once he and Maggie took the chance to test their feelings, there’d be no going back. No matter how much Sawyer needs to keep her away for her own safety. But when a media firestorm makes it safer to keep Maggie close, Sawyer will do anything for her. Even when it means enduring Maggie’s ire for his previous attempt at protecting her…

[Hilma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Offside Bride by Gigi Blume is an enemies to lovers fake marriage novel, in which Maggie gets roped in to be the wife of hockey player/playboy Sawyer. They have a short history, and have never forgotten each other. It is the second book in the Toronto Titans Hockey series, but you can easily read it, even when not having read the first book (but you must read that one too).

This book was so good! When I started reading I had no idea I would get pulled into this story so much. It started with a lot of action and even though what happens at the beginning is not what you must do, it is also very hilarious (do read the book and you know what I mean). I had a really hard time putting the book down and so I read it in record time. The writing style is flowing and fast paced and the dual POV is so very good! I loved Maggie, she is a firebrand, goes her own way, but at the same time she can be emotional and loving. She gives Sawyer a run for his money and that made for some very funny situations. Sawyer lives for his sport, is a playboy, at least that is what you think when you first start reading this story. But he hides himself somewhat thanks to his family, he is loyal and caring. They have a great chemistry and you know they just belong together. When the story progresses we learn more about Sawyer and his family. Some of it is rather sad.

Offside Bride is not your typical hockey romance story, it has a good plot woven into it. If you want to read a great sweet hockey romance story, with two main characters who just leap off the pages, with a flowing writing style, a very good story line and a great additional cast, you just have to read this book. I loved it and I can’t wait to read more books by Gigi Blume!

Highly recommended!

[Kaci Bonar · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first met Sawyer and Maggie in the first book, I liked them individually but could never imagine them as a potential couple, let alone married!  Boy, oh boy these two are something else!

Sawyer O’Malley is a big flirt and life of the party much to his best friend/team captain’s disappointment, but that’s all about to change!  When meeting at ‘The Crowned Loon,’ a whole slew of rugby enthusiasts are actively watching the game, but when a few of them dare to get handsy with Maggie, all bets are off!  Sawyer may have only kissed her once, but he wasn’t about to allow anyone else do that!  One thing, led to another and the press ships them as a married couple – let’s just say that’s when all the antics really begin.

Maggie Jones is used to being fierce and scrappy in her life, but she’s not prepared to be matrimonial matched with a puck playboy, especially after he ghosts her!  Despite her misgivings, she agrees to the charade.  As they adjust to life as newlyweds, they have to deal with an overly opinionated housekeeper, jersey chasers, and a rather mouthy parrot!  Maggie decides to try to show Sawyer who’s the boss, but that only results in some very heated chemistry between the two!

The all the emotions and tension that flows from these two is not only palpable but fantastic!  I love that isn’t your average Marriage of Convience, it’s Enemies to More!   Gigi Blume continues to surprise me with each book I read of hers!  These Toronto Titan books deliver on so many levels, it’s incredible!  I love seeing characters from the first book come back around, this is sure to be a series that keeps you on your toes!

CW:  Fade to Black; Minor swears; Mob nods

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

The second in the Toronto Titans series, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of sass for a sweet rom-com. Sometimes it's hard to strike a balance between closed door and dull, or even preachy, and this one was a perfect blend of flirtatious banter and sizzle without explicit descriptions. I also really enjoy how in this hockey romance series, the focal point is more the mystery or adventure and the occupation of the MMCs just so happens to be hockey players.

Maggie is the best friend of Emily from the first in the series, and hooks up with Sawyer, another hockey player, at her wedding. Sawyer runs off midway, leaving Maggie hurt and confused, but most of all, angry. Not able to fully avoid each other because of their friend and teammate, they find themselves together in the wrong place at the wrong time and get caught in a viral video of a bad fight. After a teammate accidentally implies Sawyer was just protecting his wife, his agent tells him to lean into the image of being a respectable married man to save his sponsorship deals, and they offer a deal to Maggie for a marriage of convenience. With nowhere to live and a failing writing career, Maggie reluctantly agrees, but doesn't make any step of the way easy for Sawyer. Their banter and games were top notch and somehow a farfetched subplot featuring the Irish Mafia only added to the fun. This quick read is perfect for fans of enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, and a little light mystery action mixed in with your romance.

🩵 Thank you to Gigi Blume for sending me a copy of Offside Bride to review.

[Tera Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars - Sawyer is a hockey player in Toronto. He meets Maggie, a writer, at a teammates wedding and they connect. He walks away, even though he’s attracted to her because of his family‘s past. His father is an accountant for the mob and is in prison for it. They run into each other at a bar and a fight breaks out. To avoid bad press, they are forced to get married.

The plot is a bit silly. It’s a Haki romance with a mob twist, but the mob plot is kind of silly. Sawyer and his sister find out that their father is actually the head of the crime family not an accountant. He start sending the sister trinkets from prison with codes. The three of them team up to bring down their father after rival mobster, steal Maggie‘s parrot. There is also a plot revolving around Maggie‘s budding romance writer career the mob boss story doesn’t entirely resolve itself. The writer points out that Maggie was a foster kid multiple times however, it doesn’t really add to the plot other than she doesn’t have any family and expects the marriage to fail.

I liked the romance between Maggie and Sawyer. The book is fast paced engaging. I listen to the audiobook version and it was very well done. The mob line was a bit silly and not entirely necessary. There is at least one plot hole, revolving around how and why his teammates show up at the warehouse meet up. I liked the first book in the series better but this one is a silly fun, engaging read. There is borderline spice included, and one of the epilogue extra bonus. Chapters is a spicy version if that matters to other readers.

[Koren | the_blue_eyed_bluestocking · Rating 4 out of 5]

Offside Bride is a sweet hockey romcom in the Toronto Titans series, but can be read as a stand-alone story. And like its predecessor, romance isn't the only thing on the menu!

After a makeout to remember, but unfortunately, both are trying to forget, Sawyer and Maggie find themselves in the sticky situation of needing to enter a PR marriage of convenience. The shenanigans these two get into to get under each other's skin had me laughing out loud while their chemistry jumped off the page!

Check it out ⤵️

Sawyer: "Now I just want to go home. To Maggie. My fake wife who’s slowly becoming my real obsession."

Maggie: "When did Sawyer O’Malley, the man I married for convenience and spite, become the man I can’t imagine my life without?"

When it turns out that Sawyer had a great reason for pushing Maggie away, the two will unite to stand together in the face of danger.⤵️

"What do you do when your fake husband’s mobster dad puts you in danger? Is there an app for that?"

I'M. DYING. 🤣

Turns out a little danger is just what it takes to go from fake to real, and I'm here for it!

Content: Some swearing and innuendo

I received a complimentary copy of the author's story to read and review. All thoughts contained here are my own.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Offside Bride is a marriage of convenience, Hockey Rom Com. This book had me giggling the whole way through. I absolutely loved the banter between Maggie and Sawyer. The way I devoured this book!


Sawyer the famous pro hockey player has been known for getting into fights at local bars lately and is about to lose endorsement deals. Cue Maggie and the hockey fans that somehow end up thinking Maggie and Sawyer are married! The Chemistry Between Maggie and Sawyer is off the charts!


I loved Maggie's spirit, she is absolutely hilarious! I was laughing out loud at her antics! Her pet bird, is always hilarious and makes me (lol) with his catch phrases!


"Mobsters, bird napping, discovering your fake husband's dad is actually a crime lord". 


I love a good marriage of convenience! If you throw in a grumpy hockey player with a hilarious wife I'm sold! There are more surprises throughout this book as well that kept me on my toes! I couldn't get enough of "Offside Bride"!


Tropes Include:

-Hockey Romance 

-Closed Door

-He Falls First 

-Mariage of Convenience 

-Hands off my Wife

-He takes Care of Her

-Spite Kisses 

-Explosive Chemistry 

[All Things Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Lose a Guy in 10 days meets hockey romance!

Offside Bride jumps RIGHT INTO the feelings! You meet a jaded Maggie (FMC) followed by Sawyer's (MMC) POV that makes your heart instantly melt with his locked down "secret" pining.

"That woman. That maddening, intoxicating, sultry goddess of my dreams. The very thought of her haunts me --- and it kills me that I can't have her. She's my Roman Empire."
Chapter 2

From there the action keeps rolling because a bar fight gone wrong turns into a mistaken quote by the media who now assumes that Maggie and Sawyer are MARRIED! With some convincing from teammates and best friends, the two agree to a "temporary" marriage of convenience.

Think "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" and that's basically Maggie's whole approach to this temporary marriage scam. It results in HILARIOUS parrots, "oops wrong number" sexy texts, and more... all driving Sawyer absolutely nuts trying to keep his REAL FEELINGS from busting out.

Sprinkle in some romantic suspense (no spoilers here but *cough* MAFIA *cough*) and grand gestures throughout and you have yourself a hockey romance YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT DOWN!!!

[Melly Gem · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, this was... ummmm.. what was this??
This was a very bizarre book.
It started as a hockey romance marriage of convenience to then a mafia story WTF.

What was the actual point of the marriage of convenience in the end. It started that sawyer needed to marry Maggie because his teammate accidentally said they were in an interview.. ummm ok not a reason, but sure.
And then there was nothing.
I've read a lot of billionaire/mafia marriage of conveniences, and there is usually a list of things that have to be attended or agreed to, but there was nothing.
The whole thing was stupid.

Then boom, sawyers dad is part of the mafia but not just the accountant as they always thought he is head of the Irish mafia.
And the police don't know this? Sawyer and Siobhan didn't grow up with body guards?
And his dad never looped him in to train and take over at any point.
What kind of crap Irish mafia is this???

The author should stick with what she knows - clean closed door romance.
Don't try and leap into mafia dark smutty books. Leave that to the hundreds already out there.

Don't know if I'll read more from gigi blume, especially if heading down this road.

[Charlie R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book! Gigi Blume is truly the best at writing swooney, clean romance with toe curling kisses and heart melting romantic declarations, right along side wild, wacky adventures and shenanigans. She paints such brilliant, vivid scenes that make you feel like you’re right there in the midst of the action, up to and including a crazy bar brawl, complete with a hilarious soundtrack. This book also had a fantastic new twist on the marriage of convenience trope that I thought was equal parts hysterical and creative, but I won’t say more than that because I don’t want to spoil it. Oh and Maggie and Sawyer’s relationship was so much fun to watch develop! They had such great banter and a sizzling romantic tension that was so much fun to read! And having Maggie be a sports romance author herself gave the story a brilliant tongue in cheek sense of self awareness. Overall this was a fantastic read, definitely 5/5 stars, I’d give it all the stars it if was possible, be sure to add this one to your TBR!

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were parts of this book that I really liked, but it also felt very rushed in some areas, especially as their feelings developed for each other. It has more language in it than I usually like in the stories I read and an option for a partial chapter add in that is either closed door or open door. I listened to the audio book, which skips that half chapter entirely until the end of the book, where you can listen to either or both of the missing portion. When I listened to the story without the half chapter, then some things said the next morning were confusing and I felt as if I was missing something. I was also not a fan of how things played out with the mafia angle as it was just a bit too slapstick for me.

This is the first time that I have read this author and I will probably try another one of her books again sometime to see if this one read was just not a great fit for me.

The audiobook narrators did a good job with the story.

[Amy Laudick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gigi Blume does it again with this cute hockey romance. Offside Bride is the second book in the Toronto Titans book series, although it can definitely be read as a stand-alone. Gigi brings the banter with all the characters and then goes and adds a bird, yes, a bird! Maggie and Sawyer share a past that leaves them in enemy territory. They are brought back together when Sawyer needs to fix his reputation, and Maggie conveniently needs a place to live. So, Maggie reluctantly agrees to marry Sawyer to make him seem like a responsible, married man.

This was a very lighthearted, romance with a fun little mystery mixed in. I do wish it was a bit longer as I felt like the ending was a bit rushed to close the story up. Other than that, I really enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more.

Thank you, Gigi Blume, for the ARC read!

[Theresa Lambe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love when a fade to black, or closed-door story, gives you all the swoon vibes that a steamy book has because the love and romance is the best part. That's what Gigi gives us!

And these two. Woahhhh buddy. They are so amazingly hot and steamy together that it makes my mind spin! What I loved, though, was seeing how Sawyer was all into the little wedding getaway for him and Maggie bur because of his feelings, had to stop it. Now that hurts, sure, but it's also super sweet and it just made me gush. How could you not love a man like that? Or how his one purpose is to make you happy. Can we also talk about all the book buying? I mean, I would love for my man (if i had one) to do that!

Gigi is so good at giving you all the vibes and feels, so don't miss this one either. Because in all the sweetness, the banter is always amazing!

[Alayna (the.bookstrovert) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quote:
"What do you want, Magpie? An apology? You want me to grovel? Well, I don't say sorry, and I don't grovel. I don't have a white horse. I have a black Harley. So you better get on my frickin' bike and come with me before the cops get here."
"I hate you."
"That's fine by me, love."



Gigi is the Queen of one line openers that have you intrigued and laughing from the start! 😂

The way Sawyer supported Maggie as an author!!!! 😆😆 #iykyk

I loved that Maggie was such a spitfire!

I loved the romance mixed with adventure and suspense! When the boys showed up at the warehouse! 😂💀

This book is for sure high up on my list of favorites for the year! You can’t go wrong with this one!

Thank you to the author for the advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me laugh so hard! I loved the crazy situations Maggie and Sawyer got themselves into. And this one has a fake relationship, those are always my favorite!

I loved Maggie. She works so hard to support herself. But it seems like everything is always against her. I really loved that she is an author. And how her books played a big role later in the story. I loved the way her view of Sawyer changes as the book goes along.

Sawyer is a hockey player. He isn't quite sure why Maggie hates him. But...when he needs to get married to stay in Canada, she eventually says yes. The wedding day made me laugh so hard!

I loved that this one has so many twists! It surprised me so many times.

[H · Rating 2 out of 5]

These books are wild. You think you’re getting a regular old romcom and then all of a sudden there are mafia visits and bar fights—like, what?! That aside, it was a pretty good read. A tiny bit steamier than I like, though it stayed within the closed door parameters. My main issue was the whole mafia thing. Not that it was a subplot (though that was definitely not what I was expecting), but how it was such a big deal and then didn’t have any follow through. You’ve got the bad guys making threats and demands, codes to crack, and then nothing? We just have to assume everything worked out so our heroes get to live happily ever after? I like an HEA as much as the next person, but I also like closure and the tying up of plot threads.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner by Gigi Blume! I could not put this one down. Gigi Blume has become a must read author for me and I was hooked on this book right off the bat. Sawyer and Maggie (also love her nickname Magpie) did not disappoint at all! It's not always fluff with her books and this one touched on some abandonment issues. Even those who don't have mobster family or grew up in the system may be able to relate to.
I'm all for fake dating/marriage because you know they are going to fall for each other. If they hadn't fallen before the fake stuff. Great quick read that will have you smiling for most of it.

[Karissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

We are back in the world of the Toronto Titans hockey team and its lovable cast of characters.

Sawyer and Maggie are both passionate, stubborn, and made for one another. They each have so many foibles and tend to jump to conclusions (more often than they have conversations) which leads to some hilarious banter and laugh out loud moments. They don’t have the typical love story, but it’s entertaining to journey with them. Their marriage of convenience quickly morphs from the shallow and petty drama to deep affection as they break down their emotional walls.

I love a lighthearted story that makes me smile and anxiously await the next book and wonder which character will get their HEA!

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Needs to 10 🌟 5 are not enough

This book was absolutely brilliant. Had so many funny moments and some serious ones. But I lived for the funny one liners and quotes from movies. This book will seriously have you in stitches with their antics and that of Otto.

For a hockey romance, this here would be my favourite line from the book, “Oh, it’s okay. I mean…if you’re into watching grown men fighting for the last Oreo.” Lol, please tell me I’m not the only one who has thought this.

Definitely a must read, pick it up today

Hockey romance
Hot kisses but everything else is closed door
Some innuendo which adds to the fun
Clean