High Sticking the Heart

A Scoring Chance

by Marie M.

No last names, no phone numbers, no job titles…

Ariella
In theory, it was the ideal way to keep me from getting attached. My life plans left no room for distractions—not if I was going to break out of my culture’s machismo and prove to my family that I could make it on my own. And the 6’4” Texan rocking boots and a cowboy hat? He was exactly the type of distraction I was avoiding. So when the hot Wrangler-wearing man strolled up to me at a bar with a desperate plea to pretend to be his date, the rules were necessary…and completely useless.

How was I supposed to know my fake date was the star hockey player for the very team I was just hired as the strength and conditioning coach for?

Dalton
Pro tip: If your goal is to stay single so you can focus on not repeating last season’s disaster, maybe don’t ask a dark-haired beauty with looks that could kill to pretend to be your date. Especially not when her laugh makes you feel alive for the first time in years. Because that charade may last longer than you’d anticipated…and trying to keep things fake? Feels like a damn High Stick to The Heart.

Genres: Sports Romance, Hockey, Sports, Romance, Fake Dating, Hockey Romance, Workplace Romance

385 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2025

About the author

Hey there!
I'm Marie!
Writing a book was only supposed to be a bucket list thing to check off; now, here we are.

My author brand centers around writing unapologetic feminine rage with FMCs as badass as the boys who fall for them. And now I am trying my hand in the sports romance world!

I currently live in Tennessee and try to survive the cycle of working, writing, mom-ing, and consuming questionable amounts of caffeine.

*If you want my mafia stuff, look up Marie Maravilla

Reviews

[Noa · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When you find someone who truly sees you, someone who believes in you, it doesn't cage you. It frees you. Supports you. It makes you stronger."

Ariella Contreras is the new conditioning coach for her fake date.
Dalton Langley - the hockey player fake date in question.
One night and one action was not supposed to lead to so much.
Ariella needs Dalton to pretend again to keep her job.
Dalton does not want a repeat of last season.
Both of them do not want to get their hearts involved.
Until it's too late.
Because trying to keep things fake?
Well that's gonna be a tough one to keep.

"I'd decided I needed no distractions this season, and Ari would be the biggest kind of distraction."

I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review 💛💛

"It's your life. You have a right to live it the way you want."

💫4.75 stars💫
Marie Maravilla you absolute genius you!! This absolute 180 landed perfectly and was absolutely amazing!!
This woman - I am sat - she can write it all and I will absolutely gobble it up with no problems at all.
FMCs with no apologies and no fucks given I absolutely adore that and this one is no exception.
Oh and the perfection that is Dalton - the cowboy golden retriever hockey play - LOVE LOVE LOVE!!
I cannot wait to see what the rest of this series has in store but if you are looking for hockey romance, banter, "yes coach" and a badass FMC? Look no further people 🌻🌻

"She had an energy that pulled me in. Her confidence, her laughter. Sunshine. She was sunshine."

Of course the playlist is elite I mean come on but you know me so these are the songs I added that fit the vibe imo
(Link - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6pY... )

🎶 "CUFF IT" - Beyonce
🎶 "Starving" - Hailee Steinfeld, Grey, Zedd
🎶 "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" - Beyonce
🎶 "3D" - Jung Kook, Jack Harlow
🎶 "telepatia" - Kali Uchis
🎶 "Drop Dead Gorgeous" - VOILA
🎶 "I Want Crazy - Encore" - Hunter Hayes
🎶 "Natural" - THE DRIVER ERA
🎶 "butterflies" - GAYLE
🎶 "Electricity" - Ashley Jana
🎶 "Dazed & Confused" - Ruel
🎶 "HEARTBEAT" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "Disco Cowboy" - Adam Mac
🎶 "Somebody To You" - The Vamps, Demi Lovato
🎶 "Treasure" - Bruno Mars
🎶 "Juno" - Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 "Friday Night Big Screen" - girli
🎶 "Like Real People Do" - Hozier
🎶 "Silence" - Marshmello, Khalid
🎶 "eyes don't lie" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "Jerk It Out - New Brauer Mix" - Caesars
🎶 "Desperado" - Rihanna
🎶 "Brokenhearted" - Karmin
🎶 "A Kiss" - THE DRIVER ERA
🎶 "One Kiss" - Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa
🎶 "Flawless" - The Neighbourhood
🎶 "Touch" - Little Mix
🎶 "BLOW" - Ed Sheeran, Chris Stapleton, Bruno Mars
🎶 "Whatever" - Alex Coles
🎶 "Crowded Room" - Meghan Trainor
🎶 "I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE" - Maneskin
🎶 "Teach Me How To Love" - Shawn Mendes
🎶 "Wonder" - Shawn Mendes
🎶 "Rain Over Me" - Pitbull, Marc Anthony
🎶 "PAPI" - Isabela Merced
🎶 "WOW - Remix" - Zara Larsson, Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 "Motivation" - Normani
🎶 "favorite" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "GIRL LIKE ME" - Black Eyed Peas, Shakira
🎶 "Diggy Down" - INNA, Marian Hill
🎶 "Hot For Me!" - NightMareKommunity, AKA
🎶 "Alibi" - Sevdaliza, Pabllo Vittar, Yseult
🎶 "Slow Hands" - Niall Horan
🎶 "Too Sweet" - Hozier
🎶 "I Want It All" - Bonnie McKee
🎶 "Desire" - MEG MYERS
🎶 "Play With Fire" - Sam Tinnesz, Yacht Money
🎶 "She Looks So Perfect" - 5 Seconds of Summer
🎶 "I Like Me Better" - Lauv
🎶 "Better Man" - 5 Seconds of Summer
🎶 "Legend" - The Score
🎶 "If I Can't Have You" - Shawn Mendes
🎶 "Fallin' (Adrenaline)" - Why Don't We
🎶 "goosebumps" - Travis Scott
🎶 "Mi Amor" - Sam Feldt, JVKE, Anitta
🎶 "Taste" - Ari Abdul
🎶 "Dangerous Hands" - Austin Giorgio
🎶 "Like You Mean It" - Steven Rodriguez
🎶 "Sex on Fire" - Kings of Leon
🎶 "Sweat" - ZAYN
🎶 "Miss Independent" - Meet Me @ The Altar
🎶 "Sucker" - Meet Me @ The Altar
🎶 "If I Know Me" - Morgan Wallen
🎶 "Cool for the Summer - Rock Version" - Demi Lovato
🎶 "Pon de Replay" - Rihanna
🎶 "FOR YOUR LOVE" - Maneskin
🎶 "I'm yours sped up" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "Into You" - Ariana Grande
🎶 "Instructions" - Jax Jones, Demi Lovato, Stefflon Don
🎶 "End Game" - Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Future
🎶 "About Damn Time" - Lizzo
🎶 "Water" - Tyla

And also spicy spicy spicy - I love it!! 💋🌶️

"Eyes on me. How else will you know if I’m doing a good job?"

"Sunshine, I can give you all sorts of things to lick clean if that’s what you want. I was also taught it’s rude not to reciprocate."

"You're making a mess. Want me to clean it up?"

🏒 Tropes 🏒

🤠 Fake Dating
🤠 Hockey Romance
🤠 Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🤠 He falls first
🤠 Top Tier Banter
🤠 Workplace Romance

Book Edit - https://www.instagram.com/p/DE9uMz2xA...

[naz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cute, fast paced and had that latina sass in a fmc that I adore 🥺

Rtc


——


➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ I wanted to celebrate early Hispanic Heritage Month and I had this on my tbr for so long, I also love the narrators so I just know I will enjoy the audiobook.

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had zero expectations for this romance, as I had never read this author before but I love trying New to Me authors and this one excited me. The heroine being a trainer for the hero's hockey team, the reverse grumpy sunshine vibes, the fake dating, all these things are right up my alley.

I truly fell head over heels for Dalton and Ari right from the jump. When they meet at the bar and Dalton begs Ari to be his fake date to shake off his ex-girlfriend, Ari is not interested in helping this dude snub a girl. Until said ex opens her damn mouth and then Ari can't help but get protective of this sexy cowboy. It was so endearing.

Then when they meet the next day, it's to discover that they are going to be working together. And to keep her new job, they have to pretend to be dating. Dalton is WAY excited about that and begins to wage a campaign to make it more than temporary. He was just so swoony! From picking her up for work, to learning her coffee order, to giving her a place to stay... he was a dream.

Due to her heritage and family culture, Ari has always been urged to do things a certain way and she has very protective family members. SO she is really wanting to spread her wings in her new position. Being locked into a relationship and answering to a man are the last things she wants to do. In some author's hands, Ari could have come off as a bit too harsh to Dalton, but I feel like her characters was expressed so well and I understood her drive for her dreams.

But let's be honest, with a hunky hottie like Dalton doing his best to woo her, the woman doesn't stand a chance! I highly recommend this romance if you loved books like Unsteady, as that most closely fits the relationship though not the plot of, of course.

Narrated by Christian Fox and Vanessa Vasquez, who were just wonderful. I truly flew through this audio book and I'm sad I don't have another in the series to jump into. I will be on the lookout for more from Marie M very soon!

5 stars
3 on the spice scale

CW: gaslighting, toxic parent relationship

*Thank you to Must Love Audio and the author for an ALC of this title.*

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOD THIS WAS SO FUCKING GOOD AND EVERYTHING I WANTED IT TO BE AND MORE 😭

[Koryne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dalton is everything… Ari is everything….

i can’t fully wrap my mind around this book. my last read broke my heart and put it back together and this one cured my depression.

DALTON DALTON DALTON you sweet sweet naughty man 😭😭😭😭

His girlfriend of six years broke up with him four months ago and he’s been a hermit ever since, until his best friend gets him to go to the opening of a sports bar…. the same night Ari’s cousin forces her to go to the same bar 😝😝😝 He was literally obsessed before he even saw her, he heard her laugh and it was game over for him.

Dalton sees his BITCH of an ex and decides to ask Ari to be his fake date and she agreed because “girl code doesn’t count if you’re a cunt” 😏

this entire book was full of swoony freaking moments. my GAWD the sexual tension throughout this was amazing. it’s shockingly not a super spicy book, the first p in v is at like 80% BUT THE SLOW BURN WAS WORTH ITTTTTT

also for the whole fake dating thing starting with getting his ex off his back, there was NO ow drama! he was college sweethearts with his ex, together for 6 years, and she left a note and said bye bye and normally i would be worried that he is pining for her but NOPE. she was the devil. almost stereotypical evil ex but not in a tacky way. the way Ari handled her was with grace and sass. it was so clear that the ex broke Dalton down and was tbh verbally abusive and pair that with his daddy issues and him never sticking up for himself but he stuck up for Ari after knowing her literally five seconds 😭😭😭😭

last thing before i end up writing a 300 page review about my love for Dalton. 🫣

they both had their hang ups. Ari with never letting a man steal her independence or not respect her in a male dominated field and Dalton with just wanting to be enough (so relatable) and they both complemented each other so well and communicated and…TO BE LOVED IS TO BE SEEN is just so true for them 😭😭😭😭

my heart could burst with love for these two and even though the next book will PROBABLY be single dad, i want to read it because i love the characters so much.

my ONLY complaint was i needed to see more comeuppance for the dad. fuck that guy 🖕🏼

[Olga 🌺 · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, I would like to offer my sincere apologies to my Daragaya Lori for dragging her along to BR this book with me. But you see, she is wiser than me, thus dnf-ing it while I kept going till the last page.

When I saw this book and read the blurb, it catapulted me to Cloud 9. It was something like this....

Olga 👀 📖, Olga hears 📖 whispering her name Olgaaaa Olgaaa, Olga encourages Lori 👩, Lori is dragged along, Olga is on 😶‍🌫️...

Olga after finishing the book 🤒🤕🥴

You see, this book has the best trope. A strength and performance coach (MFC) and a hockey player (MMC).
She comes from a conventional conservative Mexican family who loves the shit out of her but want her to settle down with a good Mexican instead of chasing her dreams. Unfair of course but not unheard of. The MMC comes from an equally broken home where the dad accused the mom of tampering with the c**dom to leech herself to his fame and money (which is absolutely not the case).
They both come from controlling homes, they both go through their own struggles and this would have been a beautiful and empowering book if not for the constant and repetitive reminders of ........ wait for it.

I AM A STRONG AND INDEPENDENT WOMAN 💪

If I receive a dollar for every time I read "I am a strong and independent woman" in a contemporary romance book, I'd be filthy rich! 💵💲🤑💸

Apparently, the MFC's version of independent woman is to bark at every man who attempts to be nice to her, try to get to know her or merely exist. Because, you know, Strong Independent Women (SIW) cannot coexist with a gentleman unless they get to emasculate the poor chap.

Add to the horror mix, a slutty cousin whose own version of SIW is to have a different asshole in her bed every night of the week and being proud and vocal about it giving the word vulgar a whole new meaning. And to make things worse, she's actually the MFC in Book 2. 😱

The book is summarised in the MMC's puppy chase to constantly support, give space, slap himself if he even thinks of being a gentleman, mind his words, be scared of the cousin, constant case of blue balls and prove that he is not a chauvinistic asshole who only wants to impregnate her and to strip her of her dreams of having a successful career, instead someone who is worthy of being introduced to her family and not a typical privileged white boy and who acknowledges that she is a SIW who can and would be happy and self sufficient without a man and he is lucky enough to have her in his life because she is strong and independent and does things on her own!!!!! Phewwww that was quite a mouthful!

Yup, that pretty much summarises the whole book.

Ok bye now.

📝 ticking another Bingo square
71) "Blue Cover"
Squares Count: 17

25┃🔴┃87┃13┃68┃40┃🔴┃59┃76┃44
10┃86┃04┃45┃47┃98┃50┃🔴┃85┃75
88┃51┃🔴┃02┃42┃🔴┃24┃92┃82┃01
100┃🔴┃17┃96┃43┃49┃64┃70┃15┃38
🔴┃31┃62┃🔴┃21┃73┃28┃46┃90┃77
03┃12┃80┃69┃52┃65┃54┃🔴┃23┃🔴
18┃95┃22┃🔴┃93┃🔴┃41┃08┃🔴┃58
57┃94┃16┃56┃05┃60┃78┃26┃81┃🔴
97┃48┃79┃67┃53┃🔴┃06┃36┃89┃🔴
🔴┃19┃39┃66┃55┃27┃20┃63┃11┃83

[Sandy (Sandy.Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars: A spicy, swoony hockey romance that checks all the boxes

If you’re in the mood for a spicy hockey romance packed with tension, sharp banter, and a golden retriever MMC you’ll instantly fall for, High Sticking the Heart is it.

Ariella is a total badass. As a strength and conditioning coach in a male-dominated field, she’s tough, smart, and absolutely holds her own. Watching her push back against expectations, especially those from her own family, while still allowing herself to grow and be vulnerable was one of my favorite parts of the book.

And Dalton? Whew. This golden retriever captain is all heart. His past relationship left him guarded, but meeting Ariella flipped everything for him. I loved watching him soften, open up, and show just how deeply he could care.

The spice in this book is piping hot and so well done. It matches the chemistry between Ariella and Dalton perfectly and adds even more emotional depth to their connection.

The side characters added so much warmth and humor. Ariella’s cousin and Dalton’s teammates brought the laughs but also grounded the story with loyalty and heart. They made me want to jump right into this friend group and stay for the next book.

I cannot wait to see where Marie M takes this series next because I am absolutely hooked.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so good I wanna give it a 10 but that’s not possible so I’m going to give Dalton the opportunity to eat my ass in his cowboy boots 🤠

[Sienasummerrreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Look how wild you drive me Sunshine.”

This story follows Ariella, who, one night, is approached by a good-looking cowboy asking her to be his pretend date to deter his ex. Little did she know that taking on a new job as a strength and conditioning coach would bring her face-to-face with the star hockey player.

This book was such a feel-good, fun read! It’s more character-driven with a lighter plot, but the chemistry and banter were spot-on. The FMC was headstrong, which I loved, and she stood her ground in so many situations. I also appreciated the representation of culture and the focus on working in a field that can often be male-dominated.

Now onto Dalton—this man was everything! A snack, a gentleman, kind, delicious, and just fantastic. His character made me melt, and he treated her exactly how a woman deserves to be treated. These two were perfect together, and I’m so excited for the rest of the series. My fingers are crossed for the best friend and the single-dad coach as the next story?! Highly recommend picking up the audiobook for this one, was well done.

Genre/Type: Adult Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook ALC
Audiobook Length: 9hrs 27mins
Narrators: Christian Fox and Vanessa Vazquez - Dual
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Series or Stand Alone: Book One In A Scoring Chance Series
Tropes or Themes: Sports (Ice Hockey), Reverse Grumpy Sunshine, Fake Dating, Work Place, Opposites Attract, He Falls First, Slow Burn, Coach, Banter, Mexican Rep, Sexual Content, Dirty Talk, Praise, Impact Play, Office Scene and Phone Scene
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫

All Round Romance Reader 
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Fable | Everand | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫

[littlegirlbigbook · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25✨ so cute, so sweet, so fun, and classically hilarious in marie m. fashion.

ariella was such a badass. from her job, to her strength, to her big & bold personality. i loved her character. wild and free but uptight at the same time. which sounds bad but really wasn’t! independent and bullheaded because she knows her worth and what she wants. she was so unique, every aspect of her was. if you need to be put in line, she will put you the fuck in line. it was nice to see her go from totally closed off, to open to change & opportunity.

dalton is a cowboy hockey player. i don’t know what else needs to be said honestly. he’s sweet, and oh so very kind, and an absolute golden retriever. he deserves so much love, loyalty, and kindness and i’m just so glad that he finally got it. he was too good. a very good man. he is all about acts of service and showing his love & care.

this book was just so sweet and absolutely funny. the characters were entertaining, there were great unique aspects, the latinx representation was wonderful. especially with family dynamics, it was very relatable for me, someone with immigrant parents and strong culture, even if not latinx. while the conflict and end was very predictable and a bit of a let down, it was a really fun, quick sports romance with side characters you’ll fall in love with. really looking forward to book two!

"I thought a relationship would cage me, hold me down.......When you find someone who truly sees you, someone who believes in you, it doesn't cage you. It frees you. Supports you. It makes you stronger."

"Sunshine, you're the other piece of my soul."

“Be mean to them. They like it.”

• hockey romance
• cowboy hockey player
• opposites attract
• strength coach fmc
• working together
• forced proximity
• fake dating
• black cat x golden retriever
• he falls first & harder
• insta-love
• “yes coach”
• female in male dominated field

thank you so much, marie, for the arc!!!

[BookedwithRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Marie stops writing chapter titles just take me out back and old yeller me bc reading won’t be worth it anymore

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

I ate this book up, and the only reason it's so high is because of Dalton. I WANTED TO HUG HIM AND NEVER LET HIM GO!!!

He deserved everything in the world. He's such a golden boy 😭😭😭 he didn't deserve to have a toxic ass ppls in his life. But I was super glad that Ariella was there to help him and stand by him when he needed someone. And Ari she was such a great character that we see how a woman in a male workplace works them men!! She didn't take it easy on them. And I loved it. Her and her cousins' relationship was cute they bonded on how they live their lives from their culture.

I kinda wish the book had more spice.

Even if the cousin was amazing, I probably won't read her book.. wasn't a huge fan of her cousins womanhoe ways.
It might be with the coach, and he's a single dad.

Ow drama, no cheating, secondary characters, drama, sexy times, no virgins


Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶.5

Slowburnish
Pinning
Praise kink
toxic parental relationship
Parental manipulation
and attempts at social isolation by a parent
No condom
Hea
Epilogue

[Maegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ That was cute. Definitely more laid back than her mafia series. This is a book that could be consumed by everyone.
Golden retriever mmc
Latina fmc
Fake dating
He falls first
🌶🌶

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one had me kicking me feet! I loved the characters as people and them as a couple! The outside conflict is a fave, and the narrators were PERFECT!!

Must read for sure!

[Ayushi (bookwormbullet) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Marie M. for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

High Sticking the Heart follows Ariella Contreras, who recently moved to Dallas for her new job as the strength and conditioning coach for the Dallas Desperados. Before her first day, she’s approached by a 6’4” Texan rocking boots and a cowboy hat at a bar with a desperate plea to pretend to be his date for the night. Ariella says yes on three conditions: they don’t share any last names, phone numbers, or job titles. It’s her way to not get attached and distracted from her life plans to break out of her family’s expectations and machismo. Little does she know that her fake date is none other than Dalton Langley, the star hockey player for the very team she was just hired as the conditioning coach for. When the two’s charade lasts longer than anticipated, trying to keep things fake feels like a high stick to the heart.

I was super excited for Marie’s contemporary sports romance era when she first announced this series! Even if you’re a dark romance lover and have enjoyed the Toxic Paradise series, I think you’ll still really love HSTTH. It carries the same chemistry, snark, and badass FMCs that we love (including a new set of very fun chapter titles). I loved how adorable Dalton and Ari were and how Dalton spent the entire book proving to Ari why they would be perfect for each other. Ari, like any eldest daughter in an immigrant household, is naturally very independent and tries not to rely on others. I really appreciated how Dalton showed Ari that he knows she is capable of accomplishing everything, and yet, he still wants to take care of her to relieve any burdens. The romantic snippets I included in these slides here had me swooning so hard!

I can’t wait to read the rest of this series! The comedy is so much fun (every single one of Jimenez’s scenes had me cracking up) and I especially loved the chemistry between a certain head coach and a relative of Ari’s. I’m so glad our cast of characters are back in the Bay Area to rep San Jose as well.

Follow me on TikTok | Instagram | Twitter for more book reviews & recommendations!

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Y’all are a bunch of liars or I read a different book 🙃

[all.the.smut.things · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️.5

I loved every bit of this. Welcome to the world of Hockey Romance Marie M because I’m going to need you to stay a while.

Dalton and Arielle were adorable from the second they met. Dalton is an adorable southern golden retriever hockey player and Ariella is his sassy Latina strength coach… and by the way they are fake dating.

- Hockey Romance
- Coach x Player
- Fake Dating
- He Falls First
- Forced Proximity

I really enjoyed this book. It was funny, it was snarky and the characters were really easy to like. I also really enjoyed tapping into Ariella's perspective, as my husband is hispanic and I saw so much of his family dynamic in this book. I also really loved Dalton because he was the ultimate southern chaser and just soy sweet.

This man is the very definition of if he wanted to he would.

The spice was great, I loved the side characters and the writing style is fun and engaging. I absolutely need more from this series.

[kayli · Rating 4 out of 5]

CUTIES!!!!!💓

abolish evil dad characters they get my blood pressure too high

[Afton Gross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hockey romances girlies… DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS ONE!

The spice, the plot, the fake dating, the immediate chemistry… it’s straight perfection!

[Ashley’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

I loved the story and enjoyed the book but it was very repetitive to me

[casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love when a very supportive man is so down bad for a bad*ss independent woman (& she's a POC)!! <3

[monica • · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love two people who choose each other wholeheartedly ❤️

[Arlette Sheyla · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars ✨

Glad I know nothing about Hockey because there’s already enough that doesn’t make sense outside of the sports aspect.

Ariella and Dalton brought out the best in each other and made a sweet couple. For the most part, they’re pretty healthy communicators. They’re both very open about their past and support each other by listening and validating one another’s feelings and experiences.

I also love how much consent is emphasized even before they start dating for real. They both know they have chemistry, and while Dalton is quick to recognize his desire to explore something more, he knows Ariella isn’t there yet, and he lets her take the lead and respects the boundaries she sets.

As a Mexican-American, I love how receptive Dalton was to Ariella’s culture and how ready he was to immerse himself in her world. I also appreciate how much Ariella wanted to share this part of herself with him and how warmly her family welcomed him.

I loved the parts that the author included about machismo and the frustration caused by these traditions in our culture. I very much appreciate Ariella’s confession about sometimes wishing her family wasn’t so loving because then she could justify cutting them off, but then acknowledging the immediate guilt of having those feelings. I felt seen.

One thing that sort of triggered me was the way that Spanish was incorporated in the writing—it reminded me of how Hollywood uses Spanglish. I understand that the author is no sabo, so the Spanglish may not come naturally to her, but the way it’s implemented just feels so forced, and it genuinely annoyed me.

Aside from the inauthentic Spanglish, I have a limited understanding of the sports industry and still needed to suspend belief for some of the plot points. Ariella joining the team without familiarizing herself with the roster, the circumstances leading to their fake dating situation, their workplace activities, and the sudden trade talks were all pretty out there as far as contemporary sports romances go.

Some other random things I didn’t like:
1. Sometimes a part of the dialogue was used as a chapter title, and other times it wasn’t. The switch-up was a little weird, and I would’ve preferred if the chapter titles were chosen in a consistent format.
2. Let’s not glamorize feet on the dashboard. That’s like promoting drunk driving. It’s reckless. Irresponsible. Dangerous. It’s a big no-no by my standards.

Overall, this was a cute romance about a supportive couple with similar ambitions. While some elements were very unrealistic, this was a fun and lighthearted story.

Audiobook side note: Christian Fox was a great Dalton, and his narration brought out the character’s charm. I generally enjoy Vanessa Vasquez’s narrations, but I didn't like how she put on a ’50s film/whimsy voice for Gracie and the other female characters. It also sounded like she was forcing an accent. Additionally, she had some background noise in some parts, and it kind of sounded like the mic was hitting something.

[ReadingTilTheBreakOfDawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I gotta say I'm a fan of Marie Maravilla's books because they have bada$$ women that ARE the story. Check out her Toxic Paradise series and you'll see what I mean. We tend to fawn over the heroes, but I fall for her heroines. So, when she said she was shifting gears and writing a hockey romance and something a little more "contemporary", I had to follow and see what would come of Marie M. And all I'll say is, DAMN! She did the damn thing and I frickin loved Ari and Dalton! Sports, workplace, fake dating romance for the win!

Ariella comes from a very traditional Mexican family, but she just wants to live her life for herself and break from cultural norms. So, she accepts a job offer in a male dominated field, moves to Texas and crashes with her cousin in her studio apartment. These two women are the epitome of badass, independent women that do things how THEY want and I loved them from the very start. They are supposed to meet up for the night at a bar, when a tall, stacked, cowboy hat wearing man approaches Ariella and asks for the biggest favor of a total stranger. But Ari is all about girl code and can't help him out, until she witnesses exactly why he needs the favor and she can't resist. But she will only help this stranger if they don't exchange anything......No last names, jobs, personal info, etc.

Dalton is a star player on his hockey team, but hasn't had the best luck with the ladies after being in a long term relationship. He just wants to focus on hockey and his father and having people accept him. When he's put into an uncomfortable predicament, there just happens to be sunshine right around the corner.

I LOVED Ari and Dalton. I loved Ari's independence and I loved that she didn't want to depend on anyone else for her success. She just has a strong character that I could appreciate. And then there's Dalton. I loved his softness and how kind he was and how he just wanted to support Ari in any way without taking her magic and her strength from her. He is the epitome of "if he wanted to, he would".

High Sticking the Heart is a fun and sexy hockey romance with some amazing supporting characters, kickass main characters and full of banter and fun texts between Ari and Dalton. Their sexual tension can be felt from the start and you will be rooting for them even when they are only supposed to be one night. They just compliment one another so well and have you smiling from ear to ear. And I can't forget about the chapter titles. Marie sets the tone with those. :)

"I thought a relationship would cage me, hold me down.......When you find someone who truly sees you, someone who believes in you, it doesn't cage you. It frees you. Supports you. It makes you stronger."

If you like:

Fake Dating
Hockey Player/Hockey Coach
Black Cat/Golden Retriever
He falls first
Badass Latina FMC
Acts of Love
She's protective of Him
With the best banter and unhinged chapter titles, then you are going to LOVE this book and devour it like I did. I can't wait to see what Marie M will bring next in this world.

[Alex (HEABookNerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

HIGH STICKING THE HEART was so much fun to read and I'm a sucker for a MMC who is completely gone for his woman. Ariella has just been hired as a coach for a NHL team (yes women in sports!) and I loved her fire and her strength and how she was never afraid to stand up for herself. She's spent her life fighting for independence and respect, both as a woman in a male dominated industry, but also with her Mexican family who don't understand her dreams. I thought the representation of Ari's Mexican culture was done so well and the way Dalton supported Ari and her culture was beautiful.

As the team captain, Dalton has a lot on his shoulders and to compound that his father, who he didn't know growing up, owns the team and has high expectations for Dalton. He's more than happy to fake date Ari and I loved how he basically spent the whole book showing Ari how he'd be the perfect boyfriend for real.

These two were great together and while there isn't much on-ice hockey moments, there was a lot of the team spending time together and the overall feel of a hockey romance. The ending gets a little dramatic but I didn't mind it too much because the rest of the book was pretty smooth. I'm definitely looking forward to more in this series!

Content Warning: toxic and narcissistic parent

[rita's book journal · Rating 4 out of 5]

ariella is an absolute menace in the best way. she’s loud, bold, independent, stubborn, and will put you in your place without blinking. although she slightly annoyed me with her antics, I still adored her.

then there’s dalton. my man!! i'd die for him... a cowboy hockey player. do i need to explain further?? he’s sweet, gentle, total golden retriever vibes. acts of service king. he deserves the world and honestly, i wanted to wrap him in bubble wrap.

the book was funny, sweet, and full of heart. the ending was predictable, but i still had a great time.

[Annalise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun read! The cast of characters was very fun and three dimensional, with super distinct personalities that made each one stand out😂 The chemistry between Dalt and Ari was HOT and I love when the lines in fake dating get blurred immediately bc the feelings are so strong🙂‍↕️👏 I’m excited to see where this series goes bc I am very much invested in Gracie, Jimenez, and potentially Ricky’s stories👀

[Mer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ cute little hockey romance!!! The characters were lovable and I love Marie’s writing!!! If you’re looking for a a sweet quick read this is the one!!!! I bounced back and forth between the physical and audio and the audio was great!!!

[Annabelle (annabelles.shelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

[Nia Antonopoulos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute read!! I was swooning the whole time!! Can’t wait for book 2!