My One & Goalie

Return to Starlight Bay

by Kara Kendrick

He’s the bad boy of professional hockey.
She’s a struggling single mom.
What neither of them sees coming is each other.

I have a reputation—and it’s not a good one. I’m a fighter on the ice, a player in the sheets, and apparently that’s more trouble than my coach wants on his team.

After one too many run-ins with the press, my agent sends me to small-town Starlight Bay to rehab my image. A few well-placed articles and photo ops of me coaching a youth hockey team should get me back in everyone’s good graces quickly. Then I can leave this sleepy town behind for good.

What I don’t count on is falling hard for struggling single mom Rachel. She’s smart, funny, wildly gorgeous—and doesn’t even know it. And the bonus point? Her kid’s got real talent on the ice.

I shouldn’t shoot my shot with a single mom, but I can’t help myself. One night of red-hot passion leaves me wanting more, so much more. For the first time, there’s more to my life than hockey. Now I want a chance at forever with Rachel and her son.

Genres: Hockey Romance, Sports Romance, Hockey, Sports, Small Town Romance, Romance, Novella

136 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2025

Reviews

[Kealyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My One & Goalie by Kara Kendrick

4/5 stars

Oh my, I just absolutely loved and devoured this novella. The book starts with Xander Kovac hitting someone in a hockey game. His coach asks him into his office. And together with a bar fight the night before tells him he is suspended for an entire month. He tells him to get his act together if he wants to stay in the league. His agent Ricky sends him to Starlight Bay to become a coach for a hockey club where young kids play. 

Meanwhile Rachel is going through tough times with her ex-husband Charles. They have a son Jett together and Charles is using Jett as a tool to control Rachel. 

Sweet Jett recently started playing hockey and that is where Xander and Rachel meet. Jett truly has a talent for hockey and Xander is in awe of him. But he cannot stop ogling his gorgeous mother. And Rachel cannot stop thinking about what is under Xander's hockey padding and outfit. 

And that is what this story is about. Xander needs to stay clear of trouble and Rachel only wants what is best for her son and focuses solely on that. But love and lust creep into their bones and passion ignites within this novella. 

I just love how feelgood this novella felt. It deals with serious and important subjects. But it also has that happy vibe throughout it from start to finish. I love how protective Xander is, and I love how he enforces that protectiveness throughout this entire book. The chemistry between the two of them was also on point!
A part of me wished this was a full length book. But it was bloody perfect as a novella. The pacing was spot on and it really delivered an amazing love story. 

4 huge stars from me for this amazing novella! 

[PleaseGoAwayImReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, sweet, and a little bit spicy!

Where can I find myself a Xander Kovac?

Xander is a professional hockey player who is known as the “bad boy of hockey.” Rachel is a single mom living in Starlight Bay, raising her son Jett, sharing custody with her abusive, narcissistic ex Charles, and just trying to make a living. Xander is helping to coach a youth hockey team to help rehab his image while suspended from the game, when he meets Rachel. The pull between the two is immediate, and things pretty much pick up from there.

These characters are so sweet together. I loved Xander’s protectiveness when it came to Rachel and Jett, especially when Charles started to really be an @$$h0le.

If you like instant attraction, bad boy/good girl, falling fast, spice where the MMC worships the FMC, and a HEA then this is a great option!!

[Lia · Rating 1 out of 5]

MF
Single mom x Goalie
Short read

Rating: 1.5/5 - I finished this one because the premise was good
🌶️: 2/5 - there were a few explicit intimate scenes
🏒: -5/5 - goalies don't really get in fights, linesmen are almost involved in a fight other than to break them up, also those 5 year olds played a suspiciously coordinated game

TLDR: Could have been good, it wasn't

This book had all the elements of a really enjoyable hockey romance. Single mom with a cute kid meets a goalie with protective instincts who immediately falls in love with the damsel and distress and her cute kid. No objections to the premise. The execution was a problem. There were crazy hockey and accuracies immediately. And it's a fictional world I'm willing to give a bit but these were really bad. I almost stopped reading it after the first chapter because of it. He didn't have to get in a fight with a linesman. It could have been someone else. Goalies don't really get in fights. He could have been a defenseman. The book was really short so the romance felt rushed.

Ultimately, I wouldn't recommend this book.

Thank you to the author and Valentine PR for the advanced review copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

[Kara Kendrick]

Available now!

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: https://amzn.to/48CTxD0

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4fAcLf2

[Sarah Nielsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an arc from the author and I’m voluntarily leaving my honest review.

This was a great single mom romance. It was a short, well written story with a good flow. The storyline was a bit unexpected and had some heavier elements but I really enjoyed it though I would have liked to have more closure on what happened with Charles but that was a minor thing. I loved the chemistry between Rachel and Xander and their HEA.

[Mick C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heartwarming story of a Mom who loves her little boy so much, that she'd give him the world if she could. Including being on a kid's hockey league. What she doesn't know is that the Bad Boy of Hockey just got assigned a coaching position, to help his image. But when sparks fly between the two, will their lives mesh together? Throw in her controlling ex-husband and some other fun characters and this makes for a quick and fun story.

[Julie Booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are back in Starlight Bay! It's a great story packed into an easy, fast read. A mom who will do whatever she needs for her son. The bad boy of hockey who has pushed a little too far.

Rachel is doing it all on her own, dealing with a jerk of an ex, a son obsessed with hockey, and finding a way to get him to play on the local kid's hockey team. Xander is in Starlight Bay as a punishment, working for a kid's hockey team as part of his suspension and trying to work on his image.

When these two meet, there are sparks. Will it change their lives? Will her controlling ex, make trouble and keep them apart?

Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an amazing, sweet, and short book all wrapped up in one. I always love ice hockey romance books especially with the MMC Xander being a goalie who happens to have a bad boy reputation of getting into fights everywhere on and off of the ice which end up leading to his suspension and to reform his image he is told to help out with the youth hockey team where he meets a single mom who will change his life forever.

I loved Rachel from the second that her character was introduced in the book, that woman goes through alot like all mom's do but the way that she handles it and shields her 5 year old son from the pain she goes through is a true testament to her character and especially her as her ex is a piece of work. I completely understand why Rachel was so hesitant to do anything with Xander when she showed an interest in her, but I am so glad that Xander's persistent ways got through to her in the end.

Although this book was not long at all, such a meaningful plot made it feel like the book was much longer than it was. I loved every second of it, and to see the characters get closer together was such a treat to read. In my opinion the book could not have been better and I am so glad that I got to read it. Everyone needs a Xander in their lives, I believe.

I hope to read more of this authors books and possibly see these characters once more and how their lives have progressed over time. The pacing in this book was perfect for a short book, and the quality was amazing, so I am definitely a fan of this author now!

[Cams Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know the saying behind every good man stands a good woman, well it seems like all Xander, the “bad boy of hockey” needed to reform his bad boy ways was to meet a good woman. A woman who happens to be a single mum, with a jackass of an ex who likes to lay hands on her.

Rachel and Xander were attracted at first sight. So while it was a little bit instalove-y I could forgive it since the book was so short. Rachel brings out all Xanders’ protective instincts, especially when he finds out about her ex. I love a good “you’re mine” as much as the next girl but Xander takes it a step further and tells Rachel “you’re mine and I’m yours”, 😣 so swoony.

I read this in a few hours so if you’re looking for a quick hockey romance with some heat, you’ve found it my friends.

I received an arc from Valentine PR and the author and this is my honest review.

[balayageandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet and spicy romance read!

The 2025 Man of The Month Club Series is kicking off with a bang!

Author Kara Kendrick will have you wanting to meet your very own bad boy of hockey!

And this small town will immediately have you wrapped around its fingers.

Who better to tame the hockey league’s number one bad boy than a single mother who can tame her 5yr old son!

And instead of beating up his fellow players he can out his aggressor better use in her jerk of an Ex.

These two are so HOT they melt the all the ice and have you fanning yourself!

It’s sweet and romantic but doesn’t skimp on the spice!

I cannot wait to see what Men of the Month these Author have in store for 2025!

[Mira Gencheva · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately, along with the good books, there is no way there will be none that not only missed my expectations, but smashed them to smithereens, and "My One & Goalie" by Kara Kendrick is just like that.

The story has a lot of things that I love, collected in one book and it was exactly the thing that I really wanted to read when I started it. However, my enthusiasm was quickly extinguished after I went through the first ten pages, because I understood what I was actually going to deal with.

In "My One & Goalie" we have a lot of ingredients that would otherwise bring the story a great success in my eyes, but in reality they are not in the right quantities at all, which creates something that is very far away from good.

The writing style is quite shallow and lean in terms of any expressive techniques and means. And this is noticeable in the first 3 pages, which led me to think that the author can do so much and is unlikely to improve there. I didn't think I'd say it, but a Hallmark movie has more meaning and depth than this book.

Even though the book is a very short novella, things still happen too quickly, which made them look so forced, even ridiculous, all the time.

The actions follow some points that you need to go through in order to get a romantic story. And it doesn’t matter at all to the author that its not their time to happen when they happen and that this totally interferes with getting to know the characters and makes them extremely superficial. The situation is just tragically bad.

I also think it's time for someone to tell the author that by repeating what a "bad boy" the main character is, but he actually behaves like a complete angel, it doesn't magically turn him into a bad boy. It just makes the characters' thoughts and dialogues sound even more ridiculous and stupid.

In summary - there is a good idea and if the performance was at least half as good, it would have turned out to be a somewhat decent book, but alas. We are left alone with this one.
~~~
Rating: 1/5

~~~This book was provided to me by Valentine PR for my honest opinion.~~~

[j · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.3

[Nicole Scarborough · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that this year's MOTM returns to Starlight Bay. Xander and Rachel's story kicks it off and I absolutely loved it and Jett. The chemistry was great and it was well written.

[Shelby Kostyshyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talk about a quickie!

I absolutely loved the story line. But i felt like this story was extremely rushed…. Like a quickie.

Would be a 5 star read if there was more debth to it

[Kalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

rushed

I like the *idea* of this novella but it REALLY needed to be a full length book. With the FMC’s history the whole thing felt way too rushed. I would have even forgiven the violent insta-love if there had been even a moment of reflection. I really wanted to like this but it felt like two delusional people fell into insta-love and then the end. It didn’t feel like there was enough time for it to make sense for either character.

[Tescendres · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you need nothing, read this book.

[Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
*check tws*

If you love fast paced novellas, this is the one for you! It is around 130 pages, and it is instalove, but I love a good novella reset, and that's what this book gave me!

I loved how protective Xander became over Rachel and Jett. I feel like this novella proves, sometimes you just need the right person that brings out the best in you to change everything!

[Franzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in one setting and it was so good! This was very low conflict just a sweet single mom who finally gets the love she deserves 🫶🏻 I haven't read anything else in the series and I didn't have any issues at all.

I received a free early copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Crystal Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short little novella was so good! Quick little read packed with goodness and spice.

Xander is known for being the bad boy of hockey. So when his coach has had it he gets suspended and his agent thinks it would be best to go to a small town to coach little league hockey. Of course Xander doesn’t want to, but that was until he meets Rachel, one of the kids mom. He is hooked from the first time he saw her.

Rachel is a very strong and independent single mom who had a rough marriage and a pain in the booty ex husband. That is until Xander sweeps her off her feet wanting to protect and take care of her and her son.

This book will have you laughing, swooning, and a little frustrated at the ex. Such a good and quick read.

4⭐️
2🌶️

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It moved way too quickly for me. I love a fast paced book but I at least want a bit of yearning☹️

[Serena Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

’Si estamos juntos —y estoy bastante seguro de que lo estaremos después de este fin de semana—, eres mía y yo soy tuyo. Nada ni nadie te hará daño bajo mi cuidado.’




•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers.
•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen.



My One Goalie de Kara Kendrick

Argumento:

Él es el chico malo del hockey profesional. Ella es una madre soltera con dificultades. Lo que ninguno de los dos ve venir es el uno al otro.

Tengo una reputación, y no es buena. Soy un luchador en el hielo, un jugador en la cancha, y al parecer eso es más problemas de los que mi entrenador quiere en su equipo. Después de demasiados encontronazos con la prensa, mi agente me envía al pequeño pueblo de Starlight Bay para rehabilitar mi imagen. Unos cuantos artículos bien ubicados y sesiones de fotos mías entrenando a un equipo juvenil de hockey deberían volver a caerme bien rápidamente. Entonces podré dejar atrás este pueblo tranquilo para siempre. Con lo que no cuento es con enamorarme perdidamente de Rachel, una madre soltera con dificultades. Es inteligente, divertida, increíblemente guapísima, y ni siquiera lo sabe. ¿Y el punto extra? Su hijo tiene un talento real en el hielo. No debería arriesgarme con una madre soltera, pero no puedo evitarlo. Una noche de pasión ardiente me deja con ganas de más, mucho más. Por primera vez, mi vida es más que hockey. Ahora quiero una oportunidad para la eternidad con Rachel y su hijo.



Mi humilde opinión:

Romance deportivo, hockey, atracción instantánea, madre soltera.

Charles obviamente fue lo peor del libro, un poco hombre con letras mayúsculas. Rachel debió haberlo denunciado antes. Dejo que este ejerciera abuso verbal demasiado tiempo y luego físico.
Pero entiendo el miedo que le tenia y mas por perder a su hijo. Jett era un niño adorable y me dio mucha pena como su padre lo decepcionaba cada vez.

Xander no fue lo que esperaba, tenia fama de ser el chico malo pero acabó siendo un rollo de canela! Vio a Rachel y supo que era la mujer para él. A pesar de estar de estar suspendido y que no debía meterse en problemas, no dudo en arriesgarlo todo por Rachel. Enseguida estuvo a su lado para protegerla y tratarla como se merecía, también a Jett. Se enamoró de lo dos y estuvo ahí para protegerlos. Rachel y su hijo se merecían su cuento de hadas con final feliz.

Me gustó la historia de Xander y Rachel, si bien tenia la violencia domestica en medio, no dejó de ser una historia dulce y sexy con algunos juegos de hockey emocionantes.

[Patti Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED My One & Goalie by Kara Kendrick, the first book in the Return to Starlight Bay Series! I loved every moment on every page, and it was impossible to put it down. Kara Kendrick did not disappoint her readers with this novella and has delivered an incredible love story filled with everything that I love and expect in a love story. I love that Kara Kendrick continues to write the stories that I love to read and a must-read author for me. Who does not love hot sexy men, who make you swoon, strong females, loving families, and friends, who always support one another, and wonderful characters? I love how Kara Kendrick managed to create the "perfect" heroine, who is a strong, sassy woman on her own, to balance out the sexy, swoon worthy man. My One & Goalie is a love at first sight love story between Rachel Allen, single mother of Jett and Xander Kovac, hockey goalie. Xander is the bad boy of hockey, and his latest indiscretion causes him to be suspended for fifteen games. Xander heads to Starlight Bay to serve out his suspension to help his friend Jackson Montgomery, coach a youth hockey team. When Xander meets Rachel when she drops Jett off at hockey practice, he is immediately attracted to her. Conversation between Rachel and Xander flows so easily, with innuendos and playful banter, and Xander constantly flirting with Rachel. As Rachel and Xander spend more time together things change between them. I love all the little things that Xander does for Rachel, especially after just meeting her. I love the changes that Rachel and Xander make to have a life with one another and that they admit their feelings for each other. I love Rachel and Xander’s love story, especially the ending and the surprise gifts waiting for Rachel and Jett. One of my favorite parts is the epilogue and Xander’s proposal and the location of the proposal. I also love the bonus epilogue that is told from Rachel’s perspective, that takes places two years later and all the changes that have taken place in their lives. Kara Kendrick has given her readers an incredible novellas with incredible characters, I loved catching up with Harper and Jackson. She has proven that she is an amazing storyteller. I really enjoy how she writes her stories in the first person from the perspective of the main characters. I love knowing what the main characters are thinking and feeling. My One & Goalie is filled with all those things that I have come to love and expect in a love story, especially the poignant and bittersweet moments and plot twists that filled this page turner. I love the epilogue that is the perfect ending of the love story. Kara Kendrick creates such wonderful and memorable characters in My One & Goalie. I love the descriptions of the Starlight Bay setting. I love the characters and the family dynamic My One & Goalie, the characters feel like family and friends. I enjoy all the interactions among the characters, it feels like real family love and makes me laugh at their teasing. I highly recommend this love story. Received an advanced copy from the author.

[Cigi cini · Rating 4 out of 5]

🏒 Man of the Month Club
❤️ Adult Romance
🏒 Sports Romance
❤️ Alpha Hero
🏒 Athlete
❤️ Bad Boy/Good Girl
🏒 He Falls Frist
❤️ Hockey
🏒 Opposites Attract
❤️ Single Mom
🏒 Small Town

Star: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kara Kendrick’s My One & Goalie is a heartfelt romance that combines the excitement of professional hockey with the warmth of small-town charm. The story follows a rugged and misunderstood hockey player who’s trying to rebuild his reputation and a single mum juggling life’s challenges while supporting her talented son.

When the bad boy of hockey finds himself coaching a youth team in Starlight Bay, he doesn’t expect his life to take a dramatic turn. Rachel, the single mum he encounters, is everything he didn’t know he needed—beautiful, intelligent, and resilient, though she doesn’t see her own worth. Their connection is electric, filled with passion and emotional vulnerability, as he discovers there’s more to life than just hockey.

Kara Kendrick beautifully captures the journey of a man who starts out focused on repairing his image but ends up falling for a woman and her son in a way that changes him profoundly. The chemistry between the characters is undeniable, and their love story is a perfect blend of steamy and sweet, with moments of humour, tenderness, and hope. Rachel’s strength and her son’s budding hockey talent add depth to the story, making it more than just a romance.

My One & Goalie is a captivating read about love, redemption, and second chances. It’s perfect for readers who love sports romances with strong, relatable characters and a story that tugs at your heartstrings. Kara Kendrick delivers a satisfying tale of finding family, love, and a place to belong.

[Romantic Reads and Such · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know going in that this was a novella and I think that probably influenced how I felt about it. I loved Xander & Rachel and the relationship they created together. But my biggest issue, being such a short story that I enjoyed that much, is I wanted SO much more!

Xander is known for his temper, on and off the ice, but he’s not a bad guy. He usually gets in trouble standing up for himself and his teammates. And once he meets Rachel and her son, he finds himself standing up for them too.

Rachel is a good mom with a terrible ex. She’s making sacrifices to make her son happy and trying her best to limit the fall out from her ex’s bad behavior. The last thing she has time for is her son’s sexy new coach. But he’s not one to give up.

I would have loved to see more of the reforming of the bad boy. He immediately feels this pull towards Rachel and as they get to know each other he shows himself to be a good man. He takes care of her when she needs it, supports her, and respects her. He’s an amazing boyfriend and I really just wanted more of it!

I definitely think that if I’d known that this was a novella my attitude would have been different as I read their story. It’s smooth, flows well, and is believable with likable characters – everything that makes for a great read. It’s because I liked them so much, I enjoyed their story, that I was looking for more out of it, that extra detail and development. Make it a full length story and you're getting 5*s from me.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

[Liz Callahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ARC REVIEW⭐️
My One and Only Goalie by @authorkarakendrick
4.5 ⭐ / 3🔥🌶

I absolutely love Hockey Romance. I love Kara Kendrick. But what do I love more than that? A reformed bad boy who is sexy, protective, a hockey goalie because, duh, have you seen the stretches??? A man with a heart of gold who just can’t help but fall hard and love deeply. . . they are the most swoony of them all!!!

Xander has been suspended because of too much penalty time on the ice. Rachel is a single mom juggling life, her son, his hockey, a job and her ex. When Xander is sent to do some community service he ends up meeting Jett, Rachel’s son and helping them when she has car trouble. Due to Xander’s past he can relate to the complicated life that is Rachel and Jett’s and doesn’t back down from protecting them or falling hard for them.

It helps that he has a way with words…
“Rachel, I love you more than anything in this entire world. More than hockey. I never thought I’d be able to say that. You came into my life and turned the worst time into the best. You are my absolute sunshine, my rock, and I want nothing more than for you to be my wife.”

@authorkarakendrick delivers a fast pace, funny, steamy, emotional in all the best ways, short hockey romance that is everything! You’ll fall just as hard and fast for Rachel and Xander as Xander does for the two of them.

Add this to your TBR today!!!

Thank you @authorkarakendrick and @valentine_pr_ for my ARC.

#arc #arcreader #arcreviewer #angrycatreads #angrycatreviews #authorkarakendrick #hockeyromance #singlemom #milf #hockeygoalie #badboyofhockey #ireformedthebadboyofhockey

[Sofia Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

My One & Goalie
Kara Kendrick

Xander "Bad Bockey" Kovac is a notorious bad boy in professional hockey—amazing on the ice but a PR nightmare off it. After his latest scandal his coach is forced to suspend him. He's given one last chance to clean up his act: spend the off-season coaching a youth hockey league in a small town far removed from his glamorous city life.
Rachel is a single mom doing everything she can to provide for her son, Jett, a hockey-obsessed kid with big dreams. After a messy divorce from her violent ex-husband, Rachel has sworn off men entirely, focusing all her energy on her son and making ends meet.
When Xander steps onto the rink as Jett's new coach, sparks fly between the tough-as-nails mom and the brooding hockey star. At first, Rachel’s protective instincts bristle against Xander’s arrogant charm, but she soon sees the genuine heart beneath his bad-boy exterior—especially in how he connects with Jett. For Xander, coaching becomes more than a punishment; it’s a chance to reclaim his sense of purpose. As he helps Jett find his confidence on the ice, Xander discovers something unexpected: a family he didn’t know he needed.
But Rachel’s ex-husband isn’t ready to let go, and when his threats escalate, Xander’s protective instincts kick into overdrive. For the first time in his life, Xander has something worth fighting for—on and off the ice.
Can Rachel open her heart to love again? And can Xander prove he’s more than his bad-boy reputation to win the family he’s come to love?
A beautiful love story!

[Yana Lately · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute quick read. Xander got assigned to coach a kids’ hockey league in Starlight Bay during his suspension to clean up his bad-boy reputation. He met Rachel who is a single mom to Jett, who he coaches. One night after practice, Rachel's car broke down, and Xander offered to lend her and Jett a ride home. Not having enough money to fetch an Uber, she decided to take him up on his offer. After their brief encounter, Xander became completely enthralled with Rachel. He couldn't keep her out of his mind and decided to pursue her.

After her messy divorce and custody battle, Rachel was on the fence about Xander. She simply wants to focus all of her attention on Jett and to make ends meet. Xander has been nothing but kind to her and her son so when he asked her out again, she said yes.

The dinner scene lives rent-free in my head 💀 These two are freaky!

I love how protective Xander is not only with Rachel but with Jett as well. He quickly came to love them and developed a new sense of purpose of keeping them protected and loved at all times. Xander might be a hockey star but I think little Jett has him beat!


What to expect:
* Hockey romance
* Small town
* Opposites attract
* Single mom
* He falls first
* Bad Boy x Good girl


Thank you to the author and VPR for an ARC of this title. All opinions are my own. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mary Lohorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! Can the bad boy of hockey be tamed by the single mom?? I enjoyed this story and loved the chemistry the characters shared. Looking forward to the rest of the series!

He’s the bad boy of professional hockey.
She’s a struggling single mom.
What neither of them sees coming is each other.

I have a reputation—and it’s not a good one. I’m a fighter on the ice, a player in the sheets, and apparently that’s more trouble than my coach wants on his team.

After one too many run-ins with the press, my agent sends me to small-town Starlight Bay to rehab my image. A few well-placed articles and photo ops of me coaching a youth hockey team should get me back in everyone’s good graces quickly. Then I can leave this sleepy town behind for good.

What I don’t count on is falling hard for struggling single mom Rachel. She’s smart, funny, wildly gorgeous—and doesn’t even know it. And the bonus point? Her kid’s got real talent on the ice.

I shouldn’t shoot my shot with a single mom, but I can’t help myself. One night of red-hot passion leaves me wanting more, so much more. For the first time, there’s more to my life than hockey. Now I want a chance at forever with Rachel and her son

[Grace Dillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

“My One & Goalie” by Kara Kendrick is a contemporary romance novella set in the charming small town of Starlight Bay. Scheduled for release on January 1, 2025,  this story is part of the “Return to Starlight Bay” series and the “Man of the Month Club” collection.

The narrative centers on a professional hockey player, known for his rebellious reputation, and a single mother striving to make ends meet. Their paths cross in Starlight Bay, leading to a romance that is both heartwarming and passionate. Early readers have praised the novella for its engaging characters and compelling storyline. One reviewer mentioned, “I loved it! I’ve been in a reading slump for most of December and this has pulled me out.” 

Kara Kendrick’s writing is known for its relatable characters and emotional depth, and “My One & Goalie” appears to continue this trend. Fans of sports romance and small-town love stories are likely to find this novella an enjoyable read.

As the release date approaches, readers can look forward to a story that combines the excitement of professional hockey with the warmth of a small-town romance. Keep an eye out for “My One & Goalie” to start the new year with a delightful love story.

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first trip to Starlight Bay and I was so glad to meet Xander, Jett, and Rachel. Rachel is a single mom dealing with an awful ex-husband. Her ex has a temper and she finds its easier to just go along with what he wants and not stand up to him. Except when she does that temper shows and I was glad to see her stand up for herself and her son and take care of the situation.

Xander is known as the bad boy of hockey, is suspended from the team, and sent to Starlight Bay to coach a kids hockey team. He agrees to work on his image for the team so that he doesn't lose the one thing he loves in his life. What he doesn't expect is to meet Rachel and her little boy.

I thought that while Xander has earned his nickname on the ice there was more to him. We see that early on when he meets Rachel and immediately we see a change in Xander. There were instant sparks between these two characters and it took Rachel a little bit to feel OK with having help after her previous experiences. I enjoyed watching these two characters grow closer and all of the positivity that he gave Jett to boost his confidence in himself. Rachel and Xander's story was a quick read but it is so worth it.

Received ARC in exchange for voluntary honest review from Kara Kendrick and Valentine PR.