Beautiful Devil

Misfits #3

by Rachel Leigh

A Deliciously Sexy Ex-Boyfriend’s Rival, New Adult, Hockey Romance by USA Today and International Bestselling Author Rachel Leigh.

Two sports collide when a feisty sideline cheerleader meets her match in an arrogant hockey player who is more than just his bad boy reputation.

I fell for the wrong Devil…

Hayes Madden was never on my dance card. He’s an egotistical jock who plays for the Devil’s hockey team —not to mention, he’s my boyfriend’s biggest rival.

His sculpted abs and charm do nothing for me. Besides, I’m a cheerleader, not a puck bunny.

When a very graphic video of me and my ex is sent to the entire student roster at Rosewood-U, rumors quickly spread and, to my surprise, Hayes is my unlikely knight in shining armor.

Before long, I find myself falling for the hidden side of him he doesn’t let anyone else see.

It’s time for me to learn if this is all a strategic act of revenge against his nemesis, or if Hayes really is the beautiful devil I’ve fallen for.

Genres: Hockey, Enemies To Lovers, Sports, Sports Romance, College, He Falls First, Hockey Romance

244 pages, Paperback

Published October 25, 2024

About the author

Rachel Leigh is a USA Today and international bestselling author of new adult, dark romances. She’s drawn to writing flawed, irresistible heroes and strong, resilient heroines. Her stories blend dark elements, a touch of suspense, and plenty of steam—perfect for readers who crave passion with an edge.
Her goal is to sweep readers away on an unforgettable adventure while reminding them that even in the darkest moments, love conquers all.

Rachel resides in Michigan with her husband, three kids, and a couple of spoiled fur babies. When she isn’t lost in a book, you’ll find her in cozy leggings with a coffee in hand, binge-watching her favorite reality TV shows.


Rachel Leigh is represented by Beck Literary: Josi@beckliterary.com


Join Rachel's Readers Group: http://bit.ly/rl_ramblers
Facebook: rachelleighauthor
Instagram: rachelleighauthor
www.rachelleighauthor.com

Reviews

[Noa · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Life is scary. But that doesn't mean we stop living just because we're afraid."

Hayes Madden was never supposed to be part of the story.
Especially not Brogan Astor's story.
She has a boyfriend. She's a cheerleader for the football club and he's an egotistical hockey player.
At least that's what she thinks.
She's not supposed to fall for him.
But supposed to is always how it starts.
So what is she supposed to do when the egotistical jock becomes her knight in shining armor?
How can she resist him then?

"Hayes Madden's charm might just be the death of me."

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

"Love and hate are two sides of the same coin. I think he flipped and it doesn't look like you're far behind."

💫 4.75 stars 💫

Rachel Leigh has had me hooked to this series since "Heartless Monster" and with every book I have become more and more invested in this universe and this book was no different.
I absolutely ADORED Brogan and her take no crap attitude - honestly aspiring and I want to be her when I grow up (ignore the calculations) AND HAYESSSS omg obsessed like he is with Brogan. From that first second I already knew - I ALREADY KNEW PEOPLE. Sparks were flying and I was so concerned it was from my kindle just saying ❤️❤️

"You want romance? Oh, I can romance you, Legs."

This playlist literally was flowing and you guys know how I absolutely LOVE when that happens so these are the songs that I added to Rachel Leigh's already amazing playlist ❤

(Link - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/07L... )

🎶 "Greek God" - Conan Gray
🎶 "Beautiful Liar" - Beyonce, Shakira
🎶 "Devil I Know" - Allie X
🎶 "RE-IGNITION" - VALORATN, ARB4, Jazz Alonso, Emei
🎶 "S.L.U.T" - Bea Miller
🎶 "As They Bloom" - Unlike Pluto
🎶 "GIRLS" - The Kid LAROI
🎶 "It's ok I'm ok" - Tate McRae
🎶 "Head & Heart" - Lost In Her Smile
🎶 "R U Mine?" - Arctic Monkeys
🎶 "Soaked - Sped Up" - Shy Smith
🎶 "lovely liar" - Stevie Howie
🎶 "BABY SAID" - Maneskin
🎶 "Uma Thurman" - Fall Out Boy
🎶 "GOSSIP" - Maneskin, Tom Morello
🎶 "Heart Of Glass" - Miley Cyrus
🎶 "Love Me Or Hate Me" - Kelsy Karter & The Heroines
🎶 "Undrunk" - FLETCHER
🎶 "all the good girls go to hell" - Billie Eilish
🎶 "Bad Guy" - Halocene
🎶 "I Hate Your Friends" - Alex Coles
🎶 "H B I C" - Gin Wigmore
🎶 "Anarchy" - Lilith Czar
🎶 "You Call Me a Bitch Like It's a Bad Thing" - Halestorm
🎶 "Bite Me" - Avril Lavigne
🎶 "Moth To A Flame" - Swedish House Mafia, The Weeknd
🎶 "River" - BRKN LOVE
🎶 "Hate U" - LOLO
🎶 "Crazy" - BRKN LOVE
🎶 "Guys Don't Like Me" - It Boys!
🎶 "Bloodstream" - Neoni, Jung Youth
🎶 "you broke me first" - Out Last Night
🎶 "Cravin'" - Kenyle Paige
🎶 "My Kink Is Karma" - Chappell Roan
🎶 "I Want It All" - Cameron Grey
🎶 "Like You Mean It" - Steven Rodriguez
🎶 "Karma" - Taylor Swift, Ice Spice
🎶 "Love the Way You Hate Me" - Like A Storm
🎶 "Sucker (Cover)" - Meet Me @ The Altar
🎶 "Dangerous Hands" - Austin Giorgio
🎶 "the AUDACITY" - emlyn
🎶 "Shut Up and Listen" - Nicholas Bonnin, Angelicca
🎶 "…Fuck" - Johnny Rain
🎶 "Coincidence" - Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 "Good Graces" - Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 "Fallin' (Adrenaline)" - Why Don't We
🎶 "sloppy" - KiNG MALA, UPSAHL
🎶 "FUCK" - Snow Wife
🎶 "Intentions" - Out Last Night
🎶 "W.I.T.C.H." - Devon Cole
🎶 "anatomy" - kenzie
🎶 "I like the way you kiss me" - Artemas
🎶 "Make A Move" - Icon For Hire
🎶 "eyes don't lie" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "A Little Death" - The Neighbourhood
🎶 "Nonsense" - Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 "Crowded Room" - Meghan Trainor
🎶 "No Mercy" - Austin Giorgio
🎶 "One in a Million" - Bebe Rexha, David Guetta
🎶 "Self Control" - Bebe Rexha
🎶 "Into You" - Ariana Grande
🎶 "Collide (Sped Up Remix)" - Justine Skye, Tyge
🎶 "Like A God" - Lia Maria Kohnson
🎶 "sugar honey ice & tea" - Bring Me The Horizon
🎶 "Bones" - MOD SUN
🎶 "Do or Die" - Natalie Jane

And of course we can't forget the spice people the spice 🌶️🌶️

"Don’t worry, Legs. We’ll make it fit."

"Wrap your lips around me, baby. See how good it tastes."

"That’s right. Come around my cock, baby."

🏒 Tropes 🏒

📣 College Hockey Romance
📣 He Falls First
📣 Enemies to Lovers
📣 Opposites Attract
📣 Grumpy x Sunshine

Book Edit - https://www.instagram.com/p/DBiuC7cAF...

[Kursed Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you get when the hottest hockey player for the Devils beds the feisty cheerleader in a one night stand? An explosive, enemies-to-lovers romance that has drama, banter, and a surprisingly cinnamon roll-esque MMC you'll love to hate.

Brogan is headstrong and sassy, and gives as good as she gets. I loved that she didn't roll over for Hayes or those who tried to bring her down. I waffled a lot with Hayes and the fact that he never really spoke an apology. His actions and his internal dialogue showed us his feelings, but I really wanted to hear him atone for his behavior. All in all, I loved this couple and their journey to a HEA.

[Michellelovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. Hayes and Brogan were amazing. I like how there relationship was built over time . I did not expect the twist that happened.

I 10/10 recommend this book and series

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[momaddictedtobooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this story! Hayes and Brogan are everything. I didn’t want it to end. It’s so good! I highly recommend!

[Jessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful Devil
Rachel Leigh
246 pgs

"In fact, it's now become my life mission to peel back her layers of vulnerability since she's somehow begun breaking down the walls I've built around myself. Walls I swore I'd never let anyone so much as touch."

Beautiful Devil brings us an enemies lovers college romance that centers around a cheerleader, Brogan, and a hockey player, Hayes, who get off on the wrong foot. Despite their initial reaction to each other, Brogan decides that if she never has to see Hayes again, it will be too soon, and Hayes thinks the girl of his dreams is too stuck up, even if she is beautiful. Time goes on before they meet back up, learning that Brogan's boyfriend, Kamden, is Hayes' worst enemy, a fact that becomes very important once a personal video of Brogan is passed around school. They think Kamden had something to do with it, so Brogan and Hayes team up to give Kamden a taste of his own medicine. Neither one ever thinks they may end up more important to each other in the end.

"I've realized something about Brogan that I'm not even sure she knows about herself. She likes to have people around and I don't think she would ever tell me to leave. I think if I want to make this real for her, I need her to want to ask me to stay. Not just that, but I want it to be a conscious choice, not just one of convenience."

Brogan is a character that is easy to like in the story. She's honest and down to Earth, and even though she's a cheerleader, she doesn't possess the stereotypical cheerleader behaviors that portray them as mean and catty. She's kind, thoughtful, caring, and best friends with Avery. I enjoyed reading her POV and getting in her head as her friendship/relationship progressed. Hayes is a hockey player character who is true to his sport; he is gruff, comes off as somewhat rude, quick to respond, and protective of Brogan in all the best ways—I appreciated how Hayes opened up and started caring for Brogan as their agreement wore down their walls. He was falling under her spell, even if he didn't want to admit it. He was also a male character who didn't take kindly to someone's videos being used without their consent, something I haven't seen too often yet in the books I've read. Overall, I enjoyed the story and getting to know our characters. I would have been happy reading more about Brogan and Hayes, and I liked the man Hayes was under his cavalier exterior. There were a few brief instances where the writing sounded transactional, especially in the first spice scene at the beginning, but the writing smoothed out and carried on as I read.

Thank you, Rachel Leigh, for a great book! All opinions in this review are honest and mine.

[Chey · Rating 4 out of 5]

* Hockey Romance
*Enemies to lovers
*Grumpy/Sunshine
Every book of Rachel makes me realize that I made the right choice when I became ARC for her. This book is amazing (and definitely, in my ‘Hockey Era’ was the perfect choice too). Hayes is kind of an asshole in the beginning (and in the whole book too), but he has a good heart. Brogan made bad choices sometimes, but I really liked the confidence and assertiveness by her. It’s a good book, can’t wait to see more.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The combination of a hockey player and a football cheerleader was unexpected, but I really enjoyed how it turned out!

"Beautiful Devil" grabbed me from page one. It's your classic Alpha-hole bad boy who hides a softer side beneath that gruff exterior. There's something irresistible about watching a tough guy melt for the right girl.

I have to say, this book might just be my favorite from Rachel Leigh to date!

The Spice: 3/5
Character Development: 4/5
Overall Rating: 5/5

[Marissa Pekurny · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was so good. i absolutely loved every minute of hayes and brogans story. hayes was fantastic and such a hottie, couldn’t get over his bad boy persona but then he was so sweet to brogan. brogan was honestly perfect and i loved her character so much, she was just great overall. i enjoyed the multiple twists in the story and didn’t expect them to turn out the way they did. however kamden sucked big time and i hated gabby from the first moment she was introduced. absolutely loved the ending and am sad it is over. highly recommend!

[Nadja]

DNF

Honestly, this one was tough to get through. The writing just didn’t flow, and the dialogue felt so stiff that it was like the characters had never actually spoken to another human before. It made the whole thing hard to enjoy.

The main character kept reassuring the reader that she’s "not a slut," which honestly had the opposite effect and just drew more attention to it. And then there was a moment that lost me completely: she loses track of her friend at a party but decides it’s cool to go watch a game instead, telling someone else to find the friend if they spot her. That whole exchange felt weird and pretty unrealistic.

Couldn’t get past the prologue—just wasn’t for me!

[Brittany (happy.ending.always) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Incredible!!!! ♾️⭐️ Infinity Stars!!!

This book is everything!!! Absolutely incredible!!! I saw an advertisement for the book before it came out and could not wait to read it. I didn’t want it to end, as the storyline is utterly brilliant!

Ex’s Rival is my new favorite everything. The tension and angst, not only between the two rivals but between the fmc and the mmc was soooo hot! I felt I was reading too fast because I needed to figure out what was happening, but then also I wanted to slow down my reading too consume everything over and over again! I will 100% be re-reading this over and over again!

Brogan the female character and Hayes the male character’s chemistry was incredible! The moment they got together I was like they will soooo be end game! Then boom something happens and nope Brogan starts dating Kamden! Such a great twist, I never saw coming! You don’t expect the fmc to be with someone else, but then you know too something is coming because this is a ex’s rival story! But wait, which one is the ex!!! Eeeekkk, soooo amazing!!!

The entire book had me hooked. I didn’t want to put the book down, but when I had to because life got in the way, I constantly thought about the characters and the storyline and what was going on.

I’m soooo ready to dive right back into this read all over again. I miss Brogan and Hayes already. I miss him sweetly calling her “legs” and her smart mouth putting him in his place! Soooo good!!!

[Hope]

DNF - i'm grossed out

so h is one of the MANY people he fucks and throws out of his room immediately. she feels a 'connection' but after he threw her out, she finds another guy in the party and starts dating him. 6 months later her tape gets released and H suddenly realises he wants her. so he proposes to do a rival sex tape. he has got the hots for her but wants a recognition for resisting 'strong temptation' to fuck ow when she's in front of him cause if it was last week he would've already fucked her. Next page is him realising he's falling for h. The whiplash lol

no, i'm not exaggerating, i wish i was but it's word for word

so eww...just eww...🤮🤮🤮

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦, 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘴. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶.”

Brogan is in her first year at Rosewood U and runs into Hayes at a party before the school year starts. As attracted to him as she is, he shows himself to be an even bigger d!ck than what he’s packing and she swears him off. Hayes is your typical bad boy hockey player with the gruff attitude to match. Except, when Brogan’s ex releases a video to the whole school, Hayes finds himself softening towards the girl who gives him nothing but attitude.

Hayes is witty and sarcastic and sees Brogan’s fierceness as a challenge he won’t back down from. He shows Brogan a side no one ever gets to see and slowly starts to realize how much he can’t stay away. The push/pull banter between the two, while Brogan tries to deny her feelings for Hayes, only intensifies the more time they spend together. Brogan starts to see that the man behind the mask is her perfect match and no one else matters.

Brogan and Hayes have undeniable chemistry from the get go. The sarcasm and banter will keep you laughing while simultaneously rooting for this couple. Her ex’s rival AND a pierced 🍆?! Say less.

[Keza Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brogan meets Hayes at a party. They hook up and when Hayes kicks her out Brogan gives him his own back.
She moves on after meeting her boyfriend Kamden. Who turned out to be a giant frog!

Things go horribly wrong and Hayes is there to help her.
Seeing a whole new side to him, Brogan fears she has misjudged him badly. Hayes knows he has met his dream girl. He just has to make her see him.

"Life is scary. But that doesn't mean we stop living just because we're afraid." Awww....

These two have wicked chemistry. Hayes is so, so sweet. He is charming and thoughtful and his bad boy rep is just that! He doesn't let anyone in but he opens up to Brogan. The banter between them. God they could go on for days. The story did have a few twists in there and it was surprising once it was revealed. I loved everything about this story. Beginning, middle and the ending.

Definitely recommend 👌

[Lisbeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Personajes muy inmaduros y drama exagerado.

[Amber Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just full of pleasant surprises! With heartwarming moments,and swoon-inducing one liners, I quickly grew to love Brogan and Hayes. Their scathing banter,and natural chemistry was felt and enjoyed on each and every page.
If you’re looking for a story with second chances, a bit of revenge, and enemies-to-friends-to lovers goodness…this is it.

[Dominique (The Diary of a Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful Devil by Rachel Leigh promised a classic enemies-to-lovers dynamic, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver for me. Brogan, a fiery sideline cheerleader, and Hayes Madden, an arrogant hockey player with a heartless reputation, are caught in a rivalry that quickly turns into a love-hate relationship. The premise had a lot of potential, and while there were moments of tension and drama, the overall execution felt flat.

“You’re the first, and likely the last. I’m not very good at sharing.”

Hayes is painted as the “heartless monster” with a reputation that precedes him, but I never truly felt the intensity of the supposed animosity between him and Brogan. Instead, their dynamic felt more like a vague “I dislike you, but I’m not sure why” situation rather than a fully fleshed-out enemies-to-lovers arc. I found myself wishing Brogan would just admit her attraction to Hayes earlier on. The repeated tension of “I hate him, but he’s so hot” got a bit old, and instead of feeling the excitement of that slow burn, I just felt frustrated by the lack of genuine conflict.

"She consumes me—every thought, every dream, every second of every day."


The romance, which should have been the focal point, didn’t hit the emotional highs I was expecting. While there were some steamy moments, they didn’t feel earned or fully developed, especially early on. The chemistry was there, but the pace felt rushed, especially towards the end. I also struggled with the relationship between Brogan and Kamden, which felt unnecessary and dragged on longer than it should have, especially since she already admitted there wasn’t much of a connection.

As for the plot, it never fully grabbed me. Things would seem to be building towards a big emotional moment, only to fizzle out and leave me disappointed. There’s a lot of potential here, but it didn’t come together in a way that made me feel invested in the characters or their growth. The writing itself is fine, but the lack of character depth and the rushed pace really held the story back for me. And while the spice was a fun addition, it felt awkward at times and didn't quite make up for the missed opportunities in terms of relationship development.

"Even if you don’t see me and I just see you, knowing you’re there makes me feel like I can conquer the world."

Overall, Beautiful Devil had its moments, but it ultimately left me feeling lukewarm. If you're into light, sports-themed romances and don’t mind a bit of drama, this might be a quick read for you. However, if you're looking for a more deeply developed enemies-to-lovers romance with a stronger connection between the characters, this one might not hit the mark. I was hoping for more depth and growth in the relationship, especially considering the shorter length of the book. If you're still curious, it’s available on Kindle if you want to give it a try, but for me, it didn't quite live up to the hype.

[Sarah Nguyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but missing something

[Thorunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally sped-read through this book, because I couldn't get the story fast enough. I love Rachel's way with words and how she grapples certain (often difficult) topics - I mean, hello! I'm still reeling from her last book. So now that she takes a slight departure from her previous world, but still has a crossover because this is Brogan's book, I mean... I was just here for all of it.

We got to know Brogan a bit in the previous series. But now she's off at college and so Rachel has introduced us to this whole new world. And I love this new world. And the way that this story begins, like... whoa! We find ourselves enthralled with Hayes, yet we are disgusted by him and hate him on behalf of Brogan. Then as the story begins to unfold, I'm sorry but I was just so encapsulated by all of it, literally hanging onto every page. The story that unfolds is interesting, complex at times yet simple at others, while building up the characters so well. Rachel also tackles certain topics that are at the forefront of things in our society right now like about the way society judges women and praises men for the same actions when it comes to their sexual proclivities. But I loved how Rachel had Brogan approach this topic - it was truly inspiring. And the way she did it, she shone a spotlight on the topic while doing it a positive and empowering way.

She also tackled toxicity, specifically the toxicity and cattiness that can exists between women. It's truly so stupid, but the way that some women are not only catty but just downright mean is so despicable and borders on bullying. But again, the way that Rachel handled this in the story, and by proxy, how she had Brogan handle this was, again, so amazing.

That all said, the relationship between Brogan and Hayes is just... it's truly riveting. I love how strong of a MFC Brogan is, and we know Hayes is an a$$ right off the bat, but then to learn how and why.. well of course our perceptions of him change. But the way that they banter back-and-forth is just so engaging and the way it builds the electricity between them, it's just wow. Then to turn it all around and he falls first?? I mean, who doesn't love that???? But when we've got such a bad boy who falls first, it's like doubly satisfying.

For me, reading Rachel's stories is always an experience and I love how she handles certain topics - especially taboo or controversial topics. She's really, IMHO, a master at that with how she handles them with grace and compassion. This book didn't dive so deep into that as her last book, but what she did tackle here is very important and poignant though. And besides that, the unfolding story between Brogan and Hayes was combustible and riveting. Their intimate scenes were truly scorching! My only complaint is that we just didn't have enough though - I wanted MORE of them together!

Now, Rachel, please gimme book #2 in this series!!!! Please and thank you.

[Erin Under_Covers_Smut_Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶

I love Rachel Leigh's books, and this is another great story in this series. We've moved to college with hockey, cheerleading, and one night stand that leads to an amazing enemies to lovers' story with so much tension between these two. A must-read book with a sexy bad boy and a stubborn girl who ends up in a relationship with the wrong guy at first 😉

Tropes:
- College Hockey
- College Cheerleader
- Enemies to Lovers
- One Night Stand
- Revenge/Rivals
- Bad Boy
- Spicy Tape Released
- Twist & Turns
- He Falls First
- Touch Her & Die
- Pierced 🍆

This book is Brogan's, one of the sisters in the Misfit Series. She's stubborn, feisty, sassy, and can hold her on. She's getting to stay away from thinking she can "fix" bad boys, but has a one night stand before college starts with a bad boy that tossed her out. Where she ends up in the arms of a charming football player.

College starts, and Brogan's relationship progresses with her boyfriend, Kamden. She's a cheerleader and her boyfriend plays football. After a game, she runs back into her one night stand, Hayes. Their banter is so great, and Hayes plays the a-hole role very well.

Brogan's boyfriend finds out about her and Hayes and starts running his mouth, saying how they are rivals and hate each other. He gets bossy and demanding with Brogan. This leads her to hate Hayes even more because she wants a relationship with a good guy to work out. She had no idea how wrong she thinks her boyfriend is a good guy.

After a messy argument that leads to their breakup, a video is released to everyone in the college of Brogan, pleasuring herself. A video that was taken without consent and regard without her knowledge. Who comes to help her out. None other than her enemy, Hayes.

They come up with a plan for revenge, which is a horrible one, but Hayes realizes it and makes a deal that she has to spend 1 week doing what he wants to and if she ask wants to do the revenge at the end, then he will. He has never taken for a girl before and never wanted to, but he falls hard for Brogan.

Hayes had the bad boy persona covered, but Brogan knows there is more to him. For the first time ever, Hayes wants someone in his life. He wants Brogan like nothing else, but he has to make her see that she's is worthy and wanted. Plus, she needs to like him.

I love these two together. Their banter is so tension filled. There were plenty of times I was going, oh, he's going to kiss her. It's time to do that now, Hayes. But he ends up being such a good guy inside and doesn’t want to rush it. Especially after everything her ex did. There is so much between Hayes and Kamden, and Brogan starts to see who is really the bad guy. It's a twist i didn't see up until it happened.

This book was so good, and after everything that happened to Brogan, she didn't fall down. She wanted to empower women and their bodies, and this book talks about that. She may just end up falling for the one night stand bad boy that became her enemy.

I read this as an ARC from Valentine’s PR.

[Victoria Weston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is part of a hockey romance series, enemies to lovers romance, he falls first romance, opposites attract, new adult, sports romance, grumpy sunshine. This is the third book in the Misfits series but can be read as a standalone.

Brogan is a beautiful, strong woman that has a ton of sass and gets what she wants. She's the cheerleader and a feisty woman that spends one night with a player and now everythings changed.
Hayes is a guy that has an ego and an attitude to match, he the hockey player everyone wants to be around. He has a tough guy persona and is a total alpha male with his own attitude to match. When Brogans ex, releases something to the public Hayes finds himself helping her out of the situation.
(NO SPOILERS)

I love love love the chemistry between these too and the banter between them both is too notch fabulous. There is alot of push and pull between them both and they have a strong connection that they try to deny at first. But when she sees the real him and how he wants to protect and treats her so sweetly. I also love all the drama and the suspense and I loved the twists inside this story that you won't see coming. This book will also pull on your heart strings and have your emotions up and down and these characters come to life on the page and I absolutely love Brogan and how strong she is kept Hayes on his toes. I love how this author writes and her words always know how to captivate me completely. As usual this author nails it and knocks it out the park. I highly recommend this book and this series.


#hockeyromance #hockeyromancebooks #sportsromance #sportsromancebooks #bookstagram #romancebooks #spicybooks #rachelleighauthor #beautifuldevil #romancereader #romancebooks

[Danielle Spellbound Stories]

I tandem read Beautiful Devil and listened to the audiobook, and honestly, I’m so glad I experienced it both ways. The story already had me hooked, but the narration by Kelsey Navarro Foster and Gabriel Spires elevated the emotional tension, sharp banter, and all those simmering, charged moments. Both brought something special to Brogan and Hayes—especially in the more intimate, emotionally raw scenes. Their chemistry in audio just worked.

As for the story, this one delivers all the delicious tension you'd expect from an ex’s rival setup. Hayes is exactly the kind of emotionally unavailable, cocky jock who doesn’t believe in love—until, of course, he meets the one girl who flips his entire worldview upside down. Brogan is strong, stubborn, and absolutely holds her own. I appreciated how she navigated loyalty, heartbreak, and unexpected connection, even when things got messy.

And oh, do they get messy.

The emotional arc is where this book really shines. It’s not heavy on spice—though let’s be honest, I can’t imagine a Rachel Leigh book without some steam—but the push-pull tension, heartbreak, and redemption absolutely land. There were moments that made me pause and re-listen just to catch the nuance in a line or the vulnerability beneath the surface. Hayes opens up in a way that feels earned, and Brogan’s refusal to settle for less makes her incredibly easy to root for.

There are twists I didn’t see coming, and while I might’ve wanted one or two more fiery moments in the writing itself, the overall arc was satisfying. The dynamic between Brogan and Hayes—enemies, allies, something more—carries the emotional weight of the story beautifully.

If you’re in the mood for a college romance with emotional tension, satisfying character growth, and narration that brings it all to life? Beautiful Devil is absolutely worth the listen.

Overall Rating: 4.25⭐
Performance: 4.5⭐
Story: 4⭐
Spice: 2.5🌶️


Genre:
🖤Sports Romance

Tropes:
🖤College Hockey
🖤He falls first
🖤Enemies to Lovers
🖤Opposites Attract
🖤Grumpy/Sunshine
🖤New Adult Romance

[Devon (tips_and_tropes) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosewood Devil's hockey player Hayes Madden isn't a nice guy, but he's hot and convenient when cheerleader Brogan Astor feels the need to scratch that itch while at a frat party with friends. Unfortunately, he immediately demonstrates his worst impulses before the afterglow even fades and Brogan writes him off as just another jerk. Flash forward, and the cheerleader is now dating a guy from the university's football team. She's feeling disenchanted with her relationship, and has just ended it when a scandalous video of them is posted to social media. Somehow, Hayes, the guy who couldn't get rid of her fast enough after their hookup suddenly has her back when it goes viral.
If you're looking for a book where the author puts their foot on the spice pedal early and hammers down, this is it. I loved every bit of it. The banter, the snark, the heat, it's all in the mix with an interesting plot to boot. One of my favorite things about this book is that Brogan is no pushover. She's stronger than anyone gives her credit for in the face of scandal and shame. Her refreshing decision to embrace the moment and publicly proclaim that her sexuality is nothing she's ashamed of even though she didn't give consent to being exposed publicly is such a flex. I love that she doesn't want to give the people trying to bring her down the satisfaction, and wants to exact her own form of revenge. The twist close to the end is something I had a feeling was coming from pretty early on, but I still enjoyed how it played out. This is my first Rachel Leigh book, but I ate it up. I vibed with her style, and will be going to her backlist for more.
Thank you to Valentine PR & Rachel Leigh for the ARC review opportunity.

[Lou LIFEstyled · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to valentine PR for the ARC of this book.

Hayes and Brogans story is such a delicious slow burn. Instant attraction to hate to love!
Never done such a 180 on a character before. At the start Hayes is the total player and makes me see red. But he’s a sweetheart to his core.

Kamden, the jock who everyone thinks is so perfect - I’m already sus about him at the start, don’t trust the guy and he really does show his true colours.

I loved how each character developed, Hayes has so many layers to peel away, and he feels like a lost boy, and Brogan is the perfect compliment to give him time and space whilst also giving him shit for it at the same time.

Favourite quote - “Brogan makes me feel settled, like the racing storm inside my head that I am always trying to push down breaks in her presence.”

The tea ☕️

1️⃣ - one night stand
💞 - enemies to lovers
🏒 - sports romance
🏫 - college/campus romance
🔥 - slow burn
🌶️ - 3/5 spice

—- Highlights ——

“He turns to face me, arms crossed over his tight shirt that exposes the outline of his rigid abs. Stop it, Brogan. He’s not a midnight snack—he’s a cocksure jerk.”

“It’s moments like this that I hate myself and the pull I have to guys like him. It’s like my pussy is screaming we can fix him while my brain tells me to run away.”

“Legs, and Legs’s friend.” Avery laughs. “He’s hilarious.”

“There’s peace in empowerment, and I’m feeling it now more than ever.”

“I get that. Not everyone who comes into our lives is meant to stay and we don’t have to feel bad about that.”

“Brogan makes me feel settled, like the racing storm inside my head that I am always trying to push down breaks in her presence.”

[Cassee Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is the third one in the Misfits series following Heartless Monster and Wicked Scandal.

Brogan Astor, Cheerleader for the Devils Football Team at Rosewood University, Younger Sister to Elodie from Heartless Monster, Aspiring Designer, Freshman in College, is a fiery blonde who finds herself in between a long time feud between her boyfriend Kamden, and a one night stand Hayes. As time goes on she finds herself in an impossible relationship that turns down hill very quickly. Kamden shows his real colors and now karma has its way for him. That one night comes back to haunt her after every turn she comes face to face with Hayes.

Hayes Madden, an egotistical hockey player at Rosewood U, who knows how to insert himself into Brogans life at all of the wrong moments. He has secrets and an attitude on him that would make any person squirm away in an instant but not Brogan who stands toe to toe with him as a challenge. After her relationship turned south with her boyfriend she is looking for revenge. Who better to help than Kamdens worst enemy, Hayes. What was once a bet and challenge now has turned into a new adventure as Brogan and Hayes learn more about another than ever before and grow closer in their search of revenge against Kamden.

Why do Hayes and Kamden despise eachother? What happened with Brogan and Kamden? What secrets are revealed? What revenge do they get on Kamden?

Read the story to find out how these two navigate this tricky, unconventional relationship.

🔥 He Falls First
🔥 Enemies to Lovers
🔥 Grumpy/Sunshine
🔥 HEA

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful Devil is the third stand alone book in the Misfit series. If you like rivals, secrets, enemies to lovers based off a ONS, college and hockey then I recommend this book to you. Very well written with a great plot to keep it interesting. Spice in beginning and the end only and it's a fast paced book where a grumpy one and done kinda man gets obsessed with a sassy cheerleader who can dish it out!


Hayes Madden, Junior at Rosewood University and a D1 Center Hockey Player. He's gorgeous with a body to match and doesn't like most people so he comes off as a rude grump. When he tries being rude and mouthy to Brogan at a party, he doesn't expect her sassy response then charms her into his bed later and kicks her out afterwards.

Brogan Astor, Freshman and football cheerleader and dating a football player who has been her prince charming for 6 months but is now starting to show his true colors. Especially when her ONS keeps showing up and he turns out to be her boyfriends enemy number one.

Hayes comes to her rescue when a personal video is released. He's supportive and friendly and comes up with a revenge plan. But when Brogan finds out what's been kept secret the Beautiful Devil will have to admit to falling hard and fast.

[Kay Daniels (Kay Daniels Romance) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastically fun and full of great wit and banter, Beautiful Devil was impossible to put down! I loved the chemistry that brewed between Brogan and Hayes as it continually brought out some of the best banter that Leigh has ever written.

Brogan is confident, sassy, and has set plans for everything and I loved her from the very start. She's the type of person that if you believe in something it will happen. Her confidence is infectious, except perhaps to someone who already has a ton of confidence themselves. 😆 So imagine Brogan at her first college party where she meets Hayes Madden, the guy with the biggest...um, ego on campus (it's well deserved, is all I'll say) 😏 Their night is hotter than sin, but it also sets the stage for everything else that wasn't in Brogan's perfect plans for her first year of school. Oops...

Hayes is a star hockey player with a string of bunnies under his belt, but after meeting Brogan and her confident attitude he is definitely shook. Yes, he enjoys riling her up and getting under her skin, but the fact that she keeps getting under his skin is what makes his head start to spin. He's never been fixated on a woman before, but there is something about Brogan he just can't seem to shake. Hayes really grew and I loved peeling back his layers as the story progressed, especially since each layer was better than the next.

These two were delightful and got all kinds of tangled up in a mess they couldn't seem to unravel, which made for fantastic reading. It was a ton of fun to watch as they got more entwined in each other and just couldn't help the emotions that came along with all the bickering and banter - total chemistry between these two with the constant undertone of foreplay. 🥵 I loved it!

[Riley Burford · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ I absolutely love every single book Rachel Leigh writes!!!! This book is the perfect length filled with angst, spicy banter, ex-bf rival, enemies to lovers and football/hockey sports romance. I absolutely ADORED Brogan and Hayes from the start, their chemistry was HOT 🥵 and they were just so cute. His nickname for her >>> Definitely recommend this book!!

Book Overview:
Two sports collide when a feisty sideline cheerleader meets her match in an arrogant hockey player who is more than just his bad boy reputation.

Blurb:
I fell for the wrong Devil…

Hayes Madden was never on my dance card. He’s an egotistical jock who plays for the Devil’s hockey team —not to mention, he’s my boyfriend’s biggest rival.

His sculpted abs and charm do nothing for me. Besides, I’m a cheerleader, not a puck bunny.

When a very graphic video of me and my ex is sent to the entire student roster at Rosewood-U, rumors quickly spread and, to my surprise, Hayes is my unlikely knight in shining armor.

Before long, I find myself falling for the hidden side of him he doesn’t let anyone else see.

It’s time for me to learn if this is all a strategic act of revenge against his nemesis, or if Hayes really is the beautiful devil I’ve fallen for.

⭐️ I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book ⭐️

[Nicole D'cruz (kiwinikilovesreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Devil by Rachel Leigh WAS SO SO GOOD BESTIES!!!!

Rachel never ceases to amaze me with how good her books are!

This one is Brogan and Hayes love story and they ended up meeting and having a one night stand but things happen and they end up becoming enemies...

I am such a sucker for an enemies to lovers trope and I loved the fieriness between the two of them.

There was so many unexpected twists in this book that kept me wanting to know more.

All my hockey romance besties will LOVE this one!

Overall, 5 stars from me and I am already counting down the days to the next Rachel release.

Thank you to Rachel & Valentine PR for kindly sending me the arc to read and review. This review is my own honest opinion on the book :)

[Caitlin 🎀🕷️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book of Rachel Leigh’s I’ve read and I really enjoyed it. Brogan is a cheerleader in her freshman year in college. She meets Hayes, the junior start hockey player, at a frat party. They both hate each other while also wanting to rip each other’s clothes off, and they have the best banter. Enemies to lovers is definitely a top tier trope and I love when they go toe to toe. The spice is really good, but it didn’t overtake the story, which I appreciate. I enjoyed getting to know the main and side characters, and think she didn’t a great job making them relatable and interesting. The writing is good, but I wish the author provided more description about various things that happened. I occasionally felt a little like I must have missed something or the scene could have had more depth. Overall this was a good book, and I’d recommend.
3.75⭐️ 3🌶️

[Jesse Adler-Wheeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brogan and Hayes. What a power couple. They are enemies and slowly work their way into friends and then lovers. The story starts out with brogan going to college and meets Hayes at a party. They hit it then quit it. Brogan runs into a guy, Kamden who eventually becomes her boyfriend. Kamden and Hayes are mortal enemies. Kamden plays football, Hayes plays hockey. Things happen, drama ensues. Feelings are felt.

This was a cute, quick read. The characters were likable. Something seemed rushed or off to me. Maybe it was too predictable? Overall, a fun hockey read. I’m excited for the next siblings book!