Hudson

Blazers Hockey Romance #5

by Lisa Linwood

A marriage of convenience, hurt/comfort, forced proximity, hockey romance.

Love is a game he refuses to play, but sometimes the heart takes unexpected shots.

Hudson Talbott, starting goalie for the San Jose Blazers, got benched by love. A scandal pressures him to settle into a relationship, but he shuts down any attempts on goal.

For Whitney Addison, romance isn’t just a genre—it’s a way of life. Yet behind the pages of her bestselling novels lies the reality of crushing medical expenses.

Drawn together by a medical emergency, Hudson proposes a marriage of convenience to repair his reputation and provide health insurance for Whitney. He rules out love, which shatters her romantic heart. But with every faux kiss, the lines between pretense and genuine feelings blur.

When crisis strikes, can their hearts survive the game they’re playing?

Genres: Hockey, Hockey Romance, Marriage Of Convenience, Sports Romance, Romance

206 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 5, 2024

About the author

Lisa Linwood writes hockey romance with heat, heart, and just enough stick-handling to keep things interesting. Her stories feature swoon-worthy players, fierce heroines, and emotional stakes as tense as the Stanley Cup Finals.

A longtime hockey fan and lifelong reader, she believes every shot on goal deserves a happily ever after. While plotting her next romance, she sips iced coffee and pretends it counts as hydration.

See all of Lisa’s social media and links at linktr.ee/lisalinwood

Reviews

[Nancy Koske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hudson meets Whitney in most unexpected spot, an author book signing, where his grandfather, Gramps, wanted to go. The book was for historical romance novel written by Whitney who turned out to be his apartment neighbor. Hudson decided to read her latest book after hearing her reading a chapter at the signing. Hudson's Gramps want him to settle before he dies. Hudson had a bad experience when he caught this girlfriend in bed with one of his former teammates. He's afraid to love again. When the apartment building fire alarm goes off, Hudson and Whitney, grabbing my Rx plus putting her cat into her carrier, have to evacuate with Hudson helping her. He gives a complimentary ticket to his next hockey game. Whitney has been only half of her daily Rx dose with only few pills left since the medicine is very expensive. Whitney helps Gramps with his bad knees to the ride after the game. When Hudson takes her things for breakfast to thank her for helping his Gramps, she has an epileptic seizure in front of him in her apartment. He goes to the hospital to be with her. After she gets home, what does he propose to do help her plus help him out? Does she agree?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blazers Hockey #5

Hudson Talbott is the starting goalie for the San Jose Blazers. After being hurt in the past he is against love and relationships. Getting caught in a scandal he now has to clean up his act and prove that wasn't really how he is.

Whitney Addison is a writer and romance for her is everything.

She and Hudson are neighbors and after he witnesses her having a seizure and then finding out she doesn't take her full amount of medication due to the cost he comes up with a marriage of convenience. He will put her on his health insurance and she can help repair his reputation.

Fooling the people close to them will be hard, will the kiss change everything?

4.25 stars

[Sarah Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, steamy and swoony.

Hudson and Whitney were completely delicious. A 'sworn off love' hockey player and a romance writer agreeing to a loveless marriage of convenience - what could possibly go wrong? I absolutely loved their journey from neighbours, to spouses, to friends, and more. Their connection and chemistry was magnetic, and the growing depth of feeling between them was sweet, swoony and satisfying. Hudson's grandfather 'Gramps' was a wonderful character, and I loved all the cameos from the other Blazers hockey players and their significant others. This is a great addition to the series and I'm already looking forward to Book 6 next.

I received a free copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Destany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I LOVE HUDSON. I mean, he's definitely my favorite Blazer! This cinnamon roll has a soft spot for his romance author neighbor and sees a way to help her - by getting married. Let's back up a minute. Whitney has epilepsy and terrible insurance. But marrying Hudson would put her on a great insurance plan, thereby getting her medication cheaper and easier. The problem? They have to lie to their friends and family.

Slowly falling in love with each other was never the plan, but these two make it look easy! I loved everything about their story - it was sweet, steamy and satisfying. They way Hudson treated Whitney, the way he talked to her, the way he made sure she was taken care of. It was just the perfect romance.

[BM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series and have enjoyed all the stories that I have read by this author.
A marriage of convenience may be a little simple for some readers, but it all turns out well I the end, especially when the man falls hard and fast.
Jaded by his past relationship and hurt by his cheating fiancee, Hudson's not so finest moment came to bite him. His gentle, kind and considerate neighbour is the answer to his problems if he can get her to agree to his proposal. Whitney is a semi accomplished, self publishing author but her epilepsy and medication costs have soared. It seems to be a win-win situation but feelings and emotions emerge to compiicate their plans.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dewey · Rating 3 out of 5]

(The cover is silly.) This is an easy to read, but real, marriage of convenience story. Hudson suggests the marriage to help Whitney be able to afford her medication, plus it helps him redeem his damaged reputation. The quickie marriage ceremony felt very real as they both were nervous about what they were doing. They don't sugar coat the effects of lying to family & friends. He has sworn off love (broken heart from ex) and she's a romance writer, so we know how this will end up. It's a simple romance but the characters elevate the story, which is why I gave 3 stars even though the last 20% felt overly sentimental.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun storyline. A twist of the fake marriage/marriage of convenience trope leading to a HEA. I loved Whitney and Hudson, and how they fit so well together. Gramps, the Blazers players and their significant others were fun side characters.

This was my first book by the author, but I am definitely interested in reading more of her work. This was a nice balance of hockey romance with actual hockey game action included as part of the storyline and a steamy fake turning real marriage.

I received a free ARC from the author; and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.

[Ineta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love hockey romances and I love romances, so this is hotspot.
He is a hockey player and don't want romance to be involved, she is romance writer. Their game starts when due to medical emergency, Hudson offers a marriage of convenience. He will get his reputation restored, but she will be able to use his medical insurance.
This was my first book of the series and 1st book of the Author, and I am happy for having it.
Loved the characters, their interactions. Very exciting and easy reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Fleur · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fire in their apartment building brings Hudson and Whitney together and then another emergency brings out Hudson's need to protect in a most unconventional way and honestly I fell in love with these two straight away along with grandpa, so I needed them to write their own love story.
I laughed at how the Blazers team and their significant others bring Whitney into the fold and she gets a whole group of girlfriends and fan fan girling from both the guys and gals.
This really is my favorite to date and can not wait for the next in the series!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way Hudson takes care of Whitney. I love how sweet and kind and caring she is. I love how his feelings sneak up on him. I love his gramps and the girlfriends. I love the team, they are a hoot. I like this writing style. I love that we get an epilogue a few years in the future. I need the previous books in this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer K. Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book

Hudson swears he will never marry. He gets himself into hot water after a drunken night of partying and is accused of having a threesome where erroneous photos are taken. Then he meets Addison
who has epilepsy and needs to take medication she cannot afford. Hudson decided he could repair his reputation by asking her to enter a fake temporary marriage. She gets better healthcare and he gets a stable relationship to boost his reputation.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an entertaining book that grabs your attention from the very first page. The storyline is intriguing and offers interesting story elements. The characters are well developed and have depth to their personalities to hold your interest in their situations. The couple has steamy magnetic chemistry that propels them forward as they work to overcome their challenges. I enjoyed this book. Highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mickie Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

great story - didn’t need the on page sex to make it great

The story itself warrants 5 stars but I took off 2 stars because I don’t enjoy reading explicit bedroom scenes even though they were married. Which means I I did a lot of page skipping. I would have liked a heads up before I started the book that’s why I included it in my review

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this book it's the first one of the author and series I've read. Now I must go back and read more. Really love these two they are such a great fit for each other. The book was well written and kept me wanting more.

[Chrys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

This series just keeps getting better and better. I loved Whitney and Hudson together, and how supportive they were for each others careers. Gramps was great. I love getting glimpses of all the previous couples and can't wait for the next book. I definitely recommend this series.

[Melinda Swaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good hockey romance!!

This book was fab. I really enjoyed it. It has amazing characters. It has the right amount of steam, drama and feels. Such a good hockey romance. It’s an another great addition to the series! Defo pick this one up. Happy reading

[TELA666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hudson & Whitney
Whitney was quite isolated, with limited interactions beside her editor & cat. Hudson was much more social, negatively viewed in the press recently due to this. I liked their interactions, they approached the marriage very methodically but soon their chemistry overtook.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every minute of this story. Exciting, detailed, lots of fun drama filled pages. Loved the character development and chemistry between them. Couldn’t put it down. Five stars!!!!!

[sandra silliman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

I enjoyed this book and the characters in this book are how they grew and overcome their fears I will read more in this series

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it

[Karen Hoffman - Booktastic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed

I saw this book recommended and after reading the blurb I downloaded and read all in one sitting. Looking forward to reading more of the series.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Hudson, Whitney, and grumpy Gramps!

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hudson and Whitney live next door to each other in their apartment complex. Things take a drastic change for them when their brief encounters turn into something more permanent. Hudson is a goalie for the Blazers and Whitney is a regency romance author. These two make a marriage pact to better both of their lives. Swearing off love is the one condition Hudson has. Whitney desperately needs better health coverage for her epilepsy.  Marrying her neighbour may be the answer to her problems. This was an interesting read. Though at times I found it repetitive, for me that took away from the story.  While I did enjoy Gramps and the storyline, I wasn't fond of the repetativness in this book. 3 stars.

[Char ღ Denae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hudson, the 5th book in the Blazers Hockey Romance series, is a sweet story of a good guy hockey star who tanks his reputation in one, cringeworthy night.
Whitney is a romance writer who lives across the hall from Hudson. They barely know each other but he happens to be in her apartment when she suffers a medical emergency.
Working out a deal that helps them both, they enter into a fake marriage.
A spicy, sweet story about a dreamy hockey hunk, an author who’s beautiful, inside and out, and their charming fake marriage.
Happy, sigh-worthy ending, guaranteed.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed getting to finish this. So glad you brought awareness to Epilepsy! Your books are always fun and enjoyable to read! I have a hard time putting them down!

[Mary Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better & better! Blazers Goalie Hudson Talbott & regency romance novelist Whitney Addison are neighbors, who suddenly become more. Whitney writes about marriages of convenience even though she dreams of true love. Hudson proposes a marriage to help repair his reputation & provide health insurance for her, all the while swearing that love will never be in the cards for him. I think we can all see where this is going to go, but Lisa Linwood’s finely crafted words had me falling in love with both these characters as they were falling for each other. Extra fun getting to revisit all the characters/couples from previous books in the series and meeting Hudson’s grandpa, the man who raised him to be such a great guy. If you haven’t read them already, the whole series is definitely worth getting!