The Secret Hook-Up

The Copper Valley Thrusters #6

by Pippa Grant

Watching too many women settle for mediocre men has made me lose my taste for relationships, but when I see Duncan Lavoie again after all this time, suddenly I’m starving.

An awkward chance encounter with my secret former fling in an upscale dressing room should’ve been the beginning and the end of having the green-eyed, curly-haired, dimple-cheeked, hot AF hockey captain back in my life, but it’s not.

Because he’s just bid an unspeakable sum of money to win me in a charity auction. We’re talking this woman is mine money. No one else can have her money. Touch her and die money.

News flash, I’m not for sale, and that bid doesn’t come with favors.

But after the auction, the entire city is shipping us. Strangers are giving me knowing winks. My bosses want to use the publicity of our “Are they, aren’t they?” gossip coverage for the benefit of the team.

Which is the other problem. If I go along with this, I’m no longer professional baseball coach Addie Bloom. Now I’m just that girl dating a hockey player.

Duncan asked me to choose between him before my career once before. Now he says he’s never gotten over me. He says he wants to try again. He says this time is different.

But is it? Or will taking another chance, this time a public chance, with him put my career—and my heart—on the bench forever?

The Secret Hook-Up is a laugh-out-loud romcom featuring the hot-as-sin hockey captain of the Copper Valley Thrusters, the Copper Valley Fireballs’ lady baseball coach he never got over, and a misbehaving formal gown. It stands alone and comes complete with a happily-ever-after.

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Second Chance, Sports, Hockey, Audiobook, Contemporary

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2024

About the author

Pippa Grant wanted to write books, so she did.

Before she became a USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling romantic comedy author, she was a young military spouse who got into writing as self-therapy. That happened around the time she discovered reading romance novels, and the two eventually merged into a career. Today, she has more than 30 knee-slapping Pippa Grant titles and nine published under the name Jamie Farrell.

When she’s not writing romantic comedies, she’s fumbling through being a mom, wife, and mountain woman, and sometimes tries to find hobbies. Her crowning achievement? Having impeccable timing for telling stories that will make people snort beverages out of their noses. Consider yourself warned.

Reviews

[Gigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this second chance romance for Duncan and Addie, or "Daddie" as their relationship name, which was just perfect! The book kicked off with a hilarious scene involving a too-tight gown and a dressing room disaster that had me laughing right away.

Addie, the coach of the Fireballs, was a bit hesitant about rekindling her romance with Duncan, the captain of the local hockey team. Meanwhile, Duncan is super patient and sweet, letting Addie take things at her own pace. Their chemistry was off the charts, and it was heartwarming to see them reconnect.

This story had a wonderful, well-paced slow burn romance with plenty of funny moments, angst, tension, and witty banter. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing Addie and Duncan to life, making it a fun and enjoyable read from start to finish!

Read this if you like:
⚾ Second chance romance
🏒 Sports romance
⚾ Fling
🏒 Forced proximity

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

📖 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐔𝐩 𝐛𝐲 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐚 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭
🎧 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞 & 𝐓𝐢𝐦 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐞

“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦."

This was a wonderful second chance romance! Duncan was so ridiculously in love with Addie it was next level. That man went WILD at that charity auction. (IYKYK) 😉

This book had me cracking up at all the things. Addie reuniting after years with Addie stuck in a dress and Duncan trying to get her out of it had me in hysterics. The secretly dated before but when things got too serious Addie, their relationship ended abruptly.

Addie was an insanely strong FMC. She’s protected her heart over the years so that everyone takes her seriously in her career. Being a female coach in a predominantly male career, Addie doesn’t allow her true personality to show.

I enjoyed the spice and heated moments between Addie and Duncan. Chemistry was never an issue for them, it was always there.

I was obsessed with how protective her players were over her. 🤣 The date scene was so freaking wholesome. Where can I find me a whole team of professional baseball players to protect me?!

If you love sports romance stories with a hockey hero and a kick butt female baseball coach, go add 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐔𝐩 𝐛𝐲 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐚 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 to your TBR today!

The audiobook, narrated by 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞 & 𝐓𝐢𝐦 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐞, was such a treat! I consumed it in one roadtrip and I immediately needed more!

𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴:
✌🏼 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦
⛸️ 𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘹 𝘏𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳
✨ 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘺
💗 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴
🥵 𝘋𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘉𝘢𝘥 𝘔𝘔𝘊
🫶🏼 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺
🔥 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘺 (2🌶️)

[costitanza (onetoomanybooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though second chance romances are not usually my jem I loved this book.
Addie is focused on work and being a woman in a men´s world she cannot be distracted by anything or anyone. But Duncan, the guy she had a secret story four years ago, and captain of the hockey team seems bend to conquer her back. And when for PR reasons the two are thrown together it´s difficult to resist something that was so good.
I love when the MMC is caring and I oved Duncan, not just with Addie, but also with his niece. He truly is the perfect book boyfriend.
Also I related a lot to Addie, she wanted to make it and was scared of loosing everything she worked for because she is a woman. Unfortunately working every day in a men´s world I feel all her insecurities really close to me and it wasn´t always easy to process them (even though this is a rom-com, Pippa Gant approaches this topic splendidly).
I really liked the narration of this ALC, Duncan voice was so hot!!!
(and wait for the spice, it will get even better)

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book for free on audible, so I listened to the whole thing, but I was not really a fan. There wasn't a plot in sight. The FMC was extremely pick-me. She's ~not like other girls~ and frankly, I had a hard time making sense of her reasons for not wanting relationships. At first it was because of her mom (but that seemed flimsy to me), and then it was because of her ex boyfriend from college.

The MMC was a simp, which I usually like, but he was kinda boring. My guy was popping too many boners nonstop in all of his chapters. It became an ongoing joke with myself every time he started internally thinking about his erection again.

Anyways, I was disappointed by this, and I won't read it again. There's no real story here. This book also has a lot of character-worship of side characters (who were all main characters in other books written by this author). I thought the whole friend group was cringe.

Also...the Thrusters????

[FANCHON · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most frustrating ride to HEA ever

Duncan is a saint. Like undeniably a legitimate saint, and the world needs more men like him.

This was the most frustrating, painful ride to an HEA and I honestly cannot believe I didn’t quit. I love this crazy world it is set in, so I guess that’s what kept me going. I **wanted** to love this so much more than I actually did. But Addie is so so so insufferable for essentially the entire book, so it was so hard. I’m absolutely convinced she wants to be miserable. It made it very hard to read, and as much as I loved the cast of side characters, and loved Duncan, I had to force feed the book to myself just to get it finished. 🤦🏻‍♀️ And while I sympathized with some of her struggles (it’s so unfair being a woman in a “man’s world” sometimes), I mostly wished she’d get therapy for her obvious relationship and trust issues, and wanted better for Duncan. And I’ll edit to add- also for her. She is NOT a bad person at all. She’s actually a good person, she deserves to be loved for who she is and shouldn’t have to pretend to be something she’s not, but her trauma baggage she wears like an albatross makes it hard.

I will do a happy dance though, because the author did actually present therapy in a positive light. Not only did Duncan seek therapy after their breakup four years prior to the story starting, but at the 80% mark Addie finally finally realizes she needs help and starts therapy herself. ❤️❤️❤️

I did truly enjoy the last 20%. But I am going to be honest and say I loathed Addie for the first 80% and she made the book so painful I chose not to read when I had plenty of time FOR DAYS because I just didn’t want to spend time with her. She had real life issues, and was written well. The author does not lack in writing skill and technically the book is brilliant. Addie was just so miserable that I loathed spending time with her. I can only imagine others in her life would feel the same. Extreme independence is not a sign of strength- it’s a trauma response. And she had a luggage bag full of it that she was hauling around and choosing to use as an excuse to keep people at arm’s length. She wore it like armor and a badge of honor. Only it made her insufferable, miserable, and pretty crappy to other people at times. Her own team complained to her boss about how bad she’d been over the past season. I did enjoy seeing her finally be her real self, relaxing and healing, and her bonding with Paisley was great.

I’m overjoyed that the author chose to utilize therapy as a method of growth for both the main characters. They both had baggage and made mistakes the first time around. I hate when authors choose the Disney Prince kisses away all the problems option and everything is magically healed instead 🙄🙄 Not real life at all.

There were plenty of laughs, lots of appearances of characters from the Thrusters and Fireballs series. They’re all ridiculously entertaining. Will I reread this one? Definitely not. The road was way too painful for me. But I am glad I stuck it out.

[monica ✨ romantasyreader]

rating & rtc 🏃‍♀️‍➡️

[kaitlyns_library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. It’s a sports, second chance romance that started off on a high and kept going; I couldn’t put this down! The romance between Addie and Duncan seemed so genuine (bonus points for the ship name being Daddie). This is a well-paced slow burn novel. I overall loved this book and would recommend this one for lovers of sports romances!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute and funny and charming and just a really easy and fun listen. It’s my first by the author and won’t be my last, I could see myself turning to her books when I want a comfort type of read. The audio narration was engaging and they delivered the authors witty banter in such a perfect way.

[Jess Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up! ⚾️🏒💵
This was my first Pippa Grant and honestly my first full sports romance and I kinda get the hype!! I almost wish I’d read the eBook instead of audio for this one, the narration was actually good for the most part but the spice being read out loud had me cringing just a little bit which is totally a me problem 🤣 I loved the storyline and it was different from anything else I’d ever read, I loved Duncan and Addie and the side characters too. Duncan’s relationship with his niece was so sweet and I loved how Addie supported them.

Thank you to Hambright PR for the ALC 🫶🏼

[Car H · Rating 2 out of 5]

About half way in I got bored. I haven't read the earlier books in this series. There are pages and pages going on about all these other characters and it's just boring page filler. I never felt a strong connection to Addie and Duncan to care much about them, it was struggle to finish this book.

[carolyn.reads.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
3🔥

Quick Breakdown

Second Chance
Sports Romance
Forced Proximity
Baseball Coach (Her) x Hockey Captain (Him)
Slow Burn
Cinnamon Roll Hero
He Falls First
He Takes Care of Her
Dual POV
Open Door - Moderate Detail

Addie, a female batting coach for a pro baseball team, & Duncan, the captain of the local pro hockey team, once had a secret fling four years ago. When Duncan assumes their relationship is more serious than it is & commitment-phobic Addie sets him straight, he handles it poorly & ends their arrangement. He’s regretted it ever since.

The pair meet for a second time - once in a boutique dressing room with a ridiculous-in-the-best-way dressing room incident & again at an auction for Addie’s team, the Copper Valley Fireballs. Duncan gets into a bidding war for the experience she’s giving away & world goes crazy over the idea of the two of them together. Given their new popularity, their respective organizations ask them both to be the face of their new joint city wide sports initiative. Duncan, knowing the error of his ways four years ago is patient & ready to use this forced proximity to try & win Addie back.

I LOVED this. For context, I read a lot of Pippa Grant in my pre-booksta life back in 2020 & 2021. I’m well versed in her Fireballs, Thrusters & Bro Code series, so it was incredibly nostalgic to be thrown back in this world. There were so many cameos from past characters & I was here for it 🙌🏻

Outside of the nostalgia, this was really well written. I adored Addie so much. I felt for her & her constant struggle between attempting to maintain her professionalism as a woman in a “man’s” role while still maintaining her femininity & friendly relationships with her players. My heart felt for her & her reasons for wanting to keep herself out of romantic relationships. Watching her grow made my heart so happy.

Duncan was the best cinnamon roll hero. It didn’t take long for him to admit to his past mistakes in regards to Addie, but he made up for it tenfold. He was a constant soft presents for her and always supportive. He was patient and always showed up to prove to her they were worth taking a chance on. Then he went and wore her name on the back of a fireballs jersey while watching her team play and I completely swooned.

Thank you to @hambright_pr & @pippa.grant for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[KeelyReadsRomance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pippa is back with her signature brand of humor and what a fantastic ride this story was. I always know what I’m getting when I pick up a Pippa Grant book and I love it every single time! When the first chapter is the FMC hilariously stuck in a dress and suffocating (not really-but she IS stuck in a dress), you know this meet cute will be epic.

Duncan and Addie’s second chance romance is so patient, sweet, and loving. I fell so hard for Duncan! #SWOON. He handled Addie so perfectly this time around and she had lots of fear to overcome. I related to her in that aspect…..she was independent and didn’t NEED Duncan, or any man for that matter. But she WANTED him and she CHOSE him because he made her stronger and understood her. She knew herself well enough to seek help to move through her fears and hold ups. #RESPECT. Seriously, I love these two. Their HEA was SO good!

[Erin Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Star Review The Secret Hook Up (The Copper Valley Thrusters #6)) by Pippa Grant

This was an entertaining book that ticked all the boxes for me. This is Duncan Lavoie, Captain of The Copper Valley Thrusters and female baseball coach Addie’s story.

I was intrigued when I read this blurb and could not wait to dive in. Duncan and Addie and are meant to be together. This book was witty, romantic, and full of characters that you cannot help but fall for.

From the first to the last chapter, I was taken on a journey that was entertaining and well written, with characters who you cannot help but become invested in.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Why are you doing this?"
"You need coffee and food before I piss you off."

Aww, there is no denying that we all need a Duncan Lavoie in our lives as our biggest cheerleader. What makes him stand out as a dream-come-true boyfriend material is his down-to-earth personality and imperfection. I love how straight-forward he is when it comes to his feeling to Addie, the female main character, a.k.a. Coach Addie, the badass baseball coach who raises the entire team from the bottom to championship. Never once has Duncan shied away from showing affection to Addie, even though he's been burnt once years ago. This book is hands-down one of the best second chance love stories I've read and I thoroughly enjoy it.

Being in a relationship isn't about codependency, Duncan. It's about the enhancement to both of your lives that you can't get on your own.

Another major brownie points for me is how openly Addie and Duncan share about what their therapists taught them during mental health caring sessions. Not knowing why, but I feel like most books--even nowadays--still don't talk about mental health issues AND how the protagonists overcome them very often. So learning how much key takeaways both Addie and Duncan get from their respective therapists truly impresses me, making it harder to put down this book.

"Thank you for liking me enough to want to destroy my enemies."

What's more, I also appreciate the character development of Addie, in particular. She has completely transformed into a better version of herself. She is still a badass girl who coaches the best players on the baseball field and continues to thrive in her career, but after giving Duncan a second chance, she finally lets her guard down and confidently shows her soft side. *cheering internally* Witnessing her personal growth from rejecting help from others to admitting her deepest fear to Duncan makes me feel like a proud mama bear cheering along when her cub takes his first step. No kidding, there's happy tears at the end of this book, especially after devouring the bonus epilogue.

And what's the best thing that can happen? she asked me.
He makes me see the world in brighter colors and takes me to new highs and is there holding my hand during my lowest lows. And I make his world brighter and take him to new highs and I'm there holding his hand during his lowest lows.

All in all, The Secret Hook-Up is indeed a laugh-out-loud romcom about second chance, loving deeply and unconditionally, and two people learning how to embrace each other and carve out a spot in their hearts for the significant partner. There's a promised happy ending and my heart can't be more content. Addie and Duncan's story is beautifully narrated and I hope we all find our special someone just like Addie did with Duncan. :-)

***Thanks to Hambright PR and the author for generously providing me with an e-ARC/ALC in exchange for an honest review.***

[BookishRaquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Star Rating: 4/5 ⭐
Heat Rating: 3/5 🌶️
Audiobook: 5/5 🎧

What to Expect:
- Sports Romance
- Second Chance
- Opposites Attract
- Forced Proximity
- Baseball Coach FMC
- Hockey Player MMC
- He Falls First
- Found Family
- Slow Burn
- Great Banter

Pippa Grant's books are always so fun to read. The Secret Hook-Up is a cute and fun sports romance filled with swoony and laugh-out-loud moments. When this book started with Addie being stuck in a dress in a dressing room, I knew this would be a good time. A few years before reconnecting, Addie and Duncan had a secret friends-with-benefits situation. Fears and insecurities got in the way, things ended, and they went their separate ways. Now, Addie is involved in a charity auction, and Duncan goes above and beyond to make sure he wins time with Addie. Duncan wants a future with Addie, but will she give him a second chance?

I loved Addie and Duncan together. Their tension, chemistry, and banter were so good. Addie is such a strong woman, and I love that she works in a male-dominated industry. She has had to work very hard to earn respect in her industry and has built up walls to protect her heart. Duncan is so swoony! He was so patient and supportive of Addie. I love that he allowed her to be herself and the space she needed to overcome her fears. Addie and Duncan helped each other become better versions of themselves. I enjoyed the character growth and how they learned to make room for love in their lives. In addition to being ridiculously funny, this story was about self-discovery, second chances, and finding true happiness.

NARRATION:
I read this book while listening to the audiobook. Virginia Rose and Tim Paige did a fantastic job narrating this story. They were the perfect voices for Addie and Duncan and really brought the characters to life. They gave highly entertaining performances, making it hard to put this book down.

Thanks to Pippa Grant and Hambright PR for the eARC and audiobook copy. Opinions expressed are my own.

[Carrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like rom-coms that give you that warm fuzzy feeling inside, read/listen to this book!

I LOVED the women in sports aspect of the story. While this truly is a fun romcom, it explores how much harder women have to work in a predominantly male industry. And Addie’s relationship with the guys on her team was great.

This was my first Pippa Grant book, but I’ll definitely be checking out some of her other books!

Thank you so much to the author for this ALC.

Read if you like:
⚾️ second chance romances
🏒 sports romances
⚾️ women in sports
🏒 secret hook-ups (obviously) 😂

[Jess (GetbookedwithJessica) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/4.5 stars

I loved this Second Chance Romance for Duncan and Addie. Daddie as a relationship name was perfection. I was laughing right off the bat and being that this was my first book by Ms. Pippa Grant, it definitely won’t be my last!

This was a fun and sweet romance where the female lead was the hesitant one needing to take her time in accepting the relay for what it was. I found her relatable and real but also very strong in how she conducts herself and profession in a male dominated industry! Duncan, he was patient doting and really allowed Addie to develop at her own speed and meeting her where she was and it was so special to see!

Such a wonderful storyline with a well-paced slow burn romance that had me laughing along the way! I feel like the relationship between Duran and Addie had the definition of compatibility written all over it! Can’t wait to read more Pippa books!!

[Lark _thebookchamber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pippa Grants stories always have me laughing and this one was no different! Addie and Duncan were the cutest and their banter was really good. I loved that they got their second chance together and loved watching them get there through the narration of Virginia Rose and Tim Paige. 💖

I loved both of the characters but especially loved that Addie was a baseball coach- I loved seeing her prove stereotypes wrong about women in sports management!

Overall, this was super cute and well paced! The slow burn was absolutely worth it! 😊

[Kayla Lindquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addie and Duncan are old friends 😉 Fate brings them together again, in an odd way, involving a dress and a dressing room. Addie is a hitting coach for the Cooper Valley’s baseball team and Duncan is the captain of the hockey team. You’ll fall in love with this romance.

Read this if you like:
⚾️ Sports romance
🏒 Second chances
⚾️ Flirty banter
🏒 Slow burn
⚾️ Forced proximity
🏒 Dual POV

I love a good rom com and this one takes the cake. It’s a super easy read (I finished it in a day). It’s the perfect summer/beach read. The main characters are loveable. The flirty banter is adorable and adds to the slow burn romance. Duncan is a perfect MMC, he’s funny, he’s cute, and he is OBSESSED with Addie and will do anything to get her back! I laughed so hard that I cried multiple times while reading this one.

[Kait Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

For every women who was ever made to feel as if she had to put herself last. OMG read this book.

[Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love Pippa Grant books. I look forward to them releasing and am never disappointed. She makes me laugh out loud while reading.

[bookspaced · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Hook-up was a fun, charming and very easy story to read and fall in love with.
I havent read a Pippa Grant book in a while and definitely won't let this much time go by before reading the next one!

Addie and Duncan are a lovely couple that had to endure a lot of ups and downs mainly due to Addie'S insecurities but I just loved how Duncan wasnt thrown off my them at all.

I will definitely continue reading more in this series!

5 Stars

[Babs | babs_reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a charming and cute story. I loved listening to this one and it had me laughing out loud so many times.

Addie and Duncan had such fun banter between them and I found it super easy to accept their instant chemistry. I’m not typically a fan of second chance but I think it really worked here, both of them had some self discovery to do and we love to see the growth.

This was my first book by this author and it won’t be my last.

Thank you Hambright PR and Pippa Grant for the ALC.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading Pippa Grant's books a couple of years ago thanks to Bookstagram and I love them. I thought this read fine as a standalone, and it makes me want to hit the backlist and read the romances that I've missed based on the side character cameos.

Addie and Duncan's second chance romance was lovely. It's been four years since they hooked up and Duncan is ready to try again. I loved the communication, the understanding, the growth, the affection, the friends, the banter, and the funny and heartfelt scenes. So good!

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

I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more but most of all I fell in love! Addie and Duncan were the perfect pair but getting there took some work!

Book starts with a hilarious boom and I couldn’t get enough of the banter and the tension that had the angst sky rocket! Duncan and Addie have history and it’s evident that the feelings are still there but neither can decide what to do with what they feel.

I don’t want to give the story away because it’s something that is done in a very original, very fresh and very emotional way. Addie has a lot to overcome and Duncan proves that his patience with her means more than he will know. As they juggle what can be they have to figure out how to avoid the hilarious shenanigans of the Thrusters and the Fireballs because their protective streaks run strong!

It takes awhile for the heat to get pipping hot but when it does you will be thoroughly satisfied! Duncan is a gentleman when he needs to be but has no issue getting dirty when it comes to Addie!

[Hijinx Abound · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this 2nd chance romance. Who wouldn’t swoon over a man so gone for a woman that 4 years after their secret situationship blew up he just wants another chance and acknowledges his part in the blow up.

[Nate Brightman · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this is author Pippa Grant’s fond farewell to the imaginary characters who dwell in the imaginary town of Copper Valley Va. she sends them off in grand style.
On her first night in Copper Valley after her interview with the Copper Valley Fireballs MLB team for their hitting coach position, (which she believes she’s blown), Addie Bloom goes to a small bar to have a drink and drowned her sorrows. There she spies a handsome man on stage singing and playing guitar. She decides a fun night of sex with him would also help her get over the disappointment of not getting the job. She has no clue her one-night lover is Duncan Lavoie, the captain of the Copper Valley Thrusters NHL team. Not until one year later when Duncan is asked to throw out the first pitch at a Fireballs game where she is happily working as the team’s hitting coach. They reconnect and begin a secret fling. Everything is going great for a while. They truly enjoy each other’s company in and out of bed.. But then Duncan goes and spoils it all by telling Addie that he no longer wants their relationship to be a secret. He wants them to live together. Addie tells Duncan all their having is a fling and that’s all it ever will be. Duncan hurt and angry pretty much telling her to have a nice life, walks out of Addie’s apartment and the two fastidiously avoid any chance of seeing one another for the next four years. Which isn’t that difficult given their busy career schedules. Then one day while Addie is trying to get out of an evening gown that is threatening to strangle the life out of her, Duncan who happens to be in the dress shop to pick up a dress for his niece Paisley who will be attending the same event with him that Addie was buying a dress for, rushes into the dressing room to rescue her from the literally killer dress. Somehow during their efforts to remove the dress from Addie she dislocates her shoulder. Duncan offers, nee insist upon driving Addie to receive medical attention for her shoulder. Neither says much to the other during the drive, both still feeling the sting of how their previous fling had ended and blaming the other for it. But a few days later when Addie steps on stage to auction off her company for a few hours in a tea room and playing a video game, Duncan decides he and no other man will be the one who will be winning that date with Addie. He realizes his mistakes that led to their break up and is determined to earn a second chance at the woman he must now admit he’s never stopped obsessing over. He spends a ridiculous amount of money to outbid a local real estate magnet to do so. Thus begins Duncan’s slow, patient campaign to win the heart of Addie Bloom.
Addie has a lot of issues. None of which is this ridiculous idea that someone (male or female) who has never stood in the batter’s box trying to get a hit off of a major league pitcher can help major league ball players have a better chance of doing so. To me that’s akin to someone who has never driven a car trying to tell professional race car drivers how to win a race. But Addie being a pro baseball coach gives the author plenty of opportunities to document the real problems for women of what its like to try and earn a living and prosper in a predominantly male dominated career. Not that there really are many male dominated careers left outside of the meritocracy of the sports world where the undeniable physical difference between biological men and women give men the clear advantages. No Addie has issues because she watched her mother metaphorically wither and nearly die taking care of her father and four brothers with no help from her father who believed that since he was the family’s main breadwinner he was entitled to sit on his ass at home while she took care of their kids and household. And then when Addie went away to college and after she was the victim of rude treatment and double standards by the men who came into her life. So Addie doesn’t really trust anyone, men most of all. She’s determined not to become her mother or let a romantic relationship derail her career as a baseball coach. But Addie does like sex which is why she and Duncan got together in the first place.
Duncan now more aware of Addie’s relationship issues, realizing where he went wrong in too early (for her) pressuring Addie to out their relationship, is determined to try and win her back, being as patient as he must, because he knows she’s worth it. I know it doesn’t much sound like it but this book is pretty hilarious from start to finish. As all of the Copper Valley couples from the previous Fireball and Thruster books (and a few from Shiprwreck) especially now retired Cooper Rock and his pop superstar wife Waverly play a role in helping Addie realize that she’s not alone, that she is enough, that she is worthy of being loved for who she is and not who she perceives she has to be. Just another fantastic story from one of my favorite rom.-com. authors.

[Stephanie ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 - Thank you so much to Hambright PR for the ALC & ebook of this book!

This book is OUT NOW!

Content Warnings from Storygraph:
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Sexism

I have heard the name Pippa Grant among the Bookstagram romance readers but never had the opportunity to read her - until now. And if you been following the romances I have been reading this year, you know that sport romances have been a new fave of mine so when I saw this had not only a hockey player but also a baseball coach. Yes please.

From the very start we learn that our MMC Duncan is still SO smitten with his former fling Addie after an awkward encounter in a dressing room. I am not a super big fan of slow burns but this one didn't bother me because of the flirting and banter was so strong leading up to the moment. Addie was just so resistant into starting things back up with him but she knew that she still had such deep feelings for him.

I loved seeing them navigate how this time around would be different than the last and more importantly Duncan just being totally head over heels in love with Addie. Addie just wanted to be taken seriously as a coach which is totally understandable and dating a player (even if it was in another field) could potentially have been risky.

I paired my reading with the audio and I thought both Virginia Rose and Tim Paige were pretty good with narrators.

This is part of a series and I did not feel like I was lost at all. There were mention of past characters which I am going to assume were past books. It was just a fun time and I really enjoyed it!!

If you are looking for a baseball/hockey romance, dual POV, second chance romance - give this one a whirl!

[Linda McCutcheon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I'm the one who wants to make sure she gets everything she needs."

"I have resting bitch face."
"You have resting pretty face."

After listening to the laugh out loud, swoony second chance romance, The Secret Hook-Up, by romcom queen Pippa Grant, you'll have a resting smile face.

We meet Addie screaming stuck in a dress, arms trapped, unable to breathe. Rushing to the rescue, thinking a woman is being attacked in the dressing room, Duncan is shocked to see the woman he thought he'd spend the rest of his life with, almost naked. She sees her past but he sees his present and future.

This scene was hilarious with Addie's embarrassed inner dialogue and Duncan's inner overactive libido. Addie worked her whole life for her job as the first woman coach for the local baseball team. So when she found out Duncan, the man she was falling for, was a star hockey player, she demanded they keep it a secret. Then Duncan wanted more, Addie got scared and left.

Okay, I'll be honest; seeing that voice actor Tim Paige was Duncan I didn't even read the synopsis. I just knew I needed to hear it...alone... undistracted and ASAP! Mr. Swoon was perfect. Voice actress Virginia Rose's honest performance of Addie's fears of losing herself for a man, like her Mom, and her impeccable comedic timing, made me a fan.

Once again, this writer has created a funny fierce female and a loving OTT alpha male, his response to win Addie at a charity auction was hilariously possessive. It's no secret, The Secret Hook-Up is a swoony flirty banter RomCom escape.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Hambright PR for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Joanna- LifeWithPrinceMan · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ PRINCEMAN REVIEW ✨

📝 Addie has had to WORK for everything she's got! Being a female batting coach for a major league team wasn't easy to achieve. She's had to be serious, tough on her players and not too girly. But when a fling with the captain of the hockey team wasn't what she expected. Addie had to break it off when things started to get serious. But now he's back-rescuing her at a dress shop and again at the fundraising auction. Can she finally let Duncan go for good? Or, is he really HER person?

What I 🤍:
⚾️ Female in a Man's World
🏒 Hockey Captain
🤫 Secret Relationship
💕 Second Chance Romance
🐶 Golden Retriever MCC
🥇 I'll Win Her Over Trope
🎤 Heathy Communication
🔥 Spice On Page
2️⃣ Duel POV

I was able to listen 🎧 to this book AND read a digital copy. For starters, the narrators were AMAZING! I would gladly listen to anything read by those two in the future. Right away I was sucked into this book when Addie is at a dress store trying on a dress that's too tight. Of course, she gets stuck in it, I couldn't stop cackling. 🤣 Pippa Grant really has a romantic comedy writing style that I enjoyed. For me, Duncan was the star of the show. He considered what Addie always needed and wanted. He always knew how she would react BEFORE she reacted. He was patient, and willing to wait for her. Honestly, such a sweetheart. I loved him.

Prince's Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Passion: 🔥🔥🔥 (Few Open Door Scenes)
Read if ➡️: You love black cat X Sunshine sports romances.
Read 📅: ☀️ Summertime!
Warning ⚠️: Body Shaming, Divorce, dysfunctional family

This was such a slow burn romance! Sometimes I just wanted to yell at Addie to OPEN HER EYES! She really was a commitment phob, so it was frustrating for me at times. Duncan was just so perfect. Watching is possessiveness during the bidding war was FANTASTIC. 👏 This is book 6 in 'The Copper Valley Thrusters' series. I did not read the other books first, but I do think I would have been more emotionally invested in the side-characters if I had.

🙏 Thank you so much to Hambright PR and Pippa Grant for the ALC 🎧 and Digital copy 📕 of this book. The Secret Hook-Up is out August 1!