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Toronto Titans Hockey #3
Cross Check Christmas
Two bets, one mistletoe, and a whole lot of holiday chaos—let Battle of the Sexes begin.
Coming back to my hometown wasn’t part of my Christmas game plan. Neither was coaching my old high school’s hockey team or crossing paths with Colette McAllister, the Ice Queen of Brooking Sound. Back in high school, she was my biggest crush—and my brother’s biggest fan. Now, she’s all sharp glares, sarcastic quips, and a refusal to admit how much fun she’s having making my life miserable.
But when my buddy Tucker bets I can’t get Colette to go on a date and kiss me under the mistletoe by Christmas Eve, I can’t resist. This is my shot to finally score with her—and maybe defrost her frosty exterior. Except… she has a plan of her own.
If Hendrix O’Malley thinks he’s sticking around until Christmas, he’s got another thing coming. I’ve got a bet of my own—one that involves getting him out of town before the holiday lights come down.
So, I’ve got my playbook ready. Loud carolers in the ice rink? Check. Leave him stranded? Done.
But somewhere between our snowball fights and a few too many times in close quarters, I realize I might be losing more than just this bet. Because Hendrix isn’t the cocky class clown I remember. He’s sweeter than a Christmas cookie, and suddenly, I’m the one at risk of falling hard.
🎄 Battle of the Sexes
🎄 Snowed In
🎄 Small-Town Shenanigans
🎄 One Bed
🎄 He bets he can woo her
🎄 She bets she can make him leave
🎄 Snowball fights
🎄 Accidental mistletoe smooches
🎄 He falls first
Cross Check Christmas is the perfect blend of holiday cheer, laugh-out-loud antics, and swoon-worthy romance. Grab your cocoa and dive in!
Coming back to my hometown wasn’t part of my Christmas game plan. Neither was coaching my old high school’s hockey team or crossing paths with Colette McAllister, the Ice Queen of Brooking Sound. Back in high school, she was my biggest crush—and my brother’s biggest fan. Now, she’s all sharp glares, sarcastic quips, and a refusal to admit how much fun she’s having making my life miserable.
But when my buddy Tucker bets I can’t get Colette to go on a date and kiss me under the mistletoe by Christmas Eve, I can’t resist. This is my shot to finally score with her—and maybe defrost her frosty exterior. Except… she has a plan of her own.
If Hendrix O’Malley thinks he’s sticking around until Christmas, he’s got another thing coming. I’ve got a bet of my own—one that involves getting him out of town before the holiday lights come down.
So, I’ve got my playbook ready. Loud carolers in the ice rink? Check. Leave him stranded? Done.
But somewhere between our snowball fights and a few too many times in close quarters, I realize I might be losing more than just this bet. Because Hendrix isn’t the cocky class clown I remember. He’s sweeter than a Christmas cookie, and suddenly, I’m the one at risk of falling hard.
🎄 Battle of the Sexes
🎄 Snowed In
🎄 Small-Town Shenanigans
🎄 One Bed
🎄 He bets he can woo her
🎄 She bets she can make him leave
🎄 Snowball fights
🎄 Accidental mistletoe smooches
🎄 He falls first
Cross Check Christmas is the perfect blend of holiday cheer, laugh-out-loud antics, and swoon-worthy romance. Grab your cocoa and dive in!
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 24, 2024
46 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
About the author
Gigi Blume
29 books504 followersGigi is a USA TODAY bestselling author and hopeless musical theatre nerd who has perfected the art of lollygagging.
Former professional wedding singer, Gigi lives in Southern California with her personal chef...er...husband and two weird and awesome teenagers.
When Gigi's not writing like a crazy woman, she likes to belt out showtunes, embarrass her kids, and spend all her free cash on books.
Former professional wedding singer, Gigi lives in Southern California with her personal chef...er...husband and two weird and awesome teenagers.
When Gigi's not writing like a crazy woman, she likes to belt out showtunes, embarrass her kids, and spend all her free cash on books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
December 29, 2024
3.25! I actually had a lot of fun! There were a few like totally random, never gonna happen, unrealistic things but it I still liked it
July 9, 2025
She's betting he will leave town.
He's betting she'll kiss him under the Mistletoe.
Cue the prank wars!!
If you loved How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, you will absolutely love this book
You'll Find 🔍
- banter
- so much humor
- Home Alone Easter eggs
- he falls first
I don't want to spoil it.
I grinned the whole time! This was a perfect roadtrip read!
QOTD: favorite road trip snack?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#howtoloseaguyintendays
#romcom
#dualnarration
#closeddoor
#mybookishpeeps
#heatherlovesbooks
#gigiblume
#crosscheckchristmas
#hockeyromance
He's betting she'll kiss him under the Mistletoe.
Cue the prank wars!!
If you loved How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, you will absolutely love this book
You'll Find 🔍
- banter
- so much humor
- Home Alone Easter eggs
- he falls first
I don't want to spoil it.
I grinned the whole time! This was a perfect roadtrip read!
QOTD: favorite road trip snack?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#howtoloseaguyintendays
#romcom
#dualnarration
#closeddoor
#mybookishpeeps
#heatherlovesbooks
#gigiblume
#crosscheckchristmas
#hockeyromance
August 18, 2025
I absolutely adore Hendrix & Colette's fiery, intense, caring, laugh out loud, loving, hopeful, sweet n swoony happily ever after!!
January 5, 2025
Woof. This one was so slow to start. The chemistry between Hendrix and Colette seems to hinge on a frenemies plot point. I’m sorry but I stand with Colette on this. The idea that Hendrix made her life low key miserable in high school because he really liked her is laughable. You don’t call someone names, laugh at them, send spitballs their way because you like them. And then you come back to town and continue to torment her and downplay her support of the Christmas pageant is also laughable.
I’m never a fan when a bet is placed because it’s going to backfire. And to watch the town humiliate Colette for the bet was icky. And Colette had every right to lose her shit over it. To watch people trading money over the bet right on front of her is also icky. In the words of Laney Boggs, “Am I a f*cking bet!?!”
At less than 200 pages, I persevered even though my first thought was DNF. I honestly don’t know if this is worth the read. I’m inclined to say it isn’t.
I’m never a fan when a bet is placed because it’s going to backfire. And to watch the town humiliate Colette for the bet was icky. And Colette had every right to lose her shit over it. To watch people trading money over the bet right on front of her is also icky. In the words of Laney Boggs, “Am I a f*cking bet!?!”
At less than 200 pages, I persevered even though my first thought was DNF. I honestly don’t know if this is worth the read. I’m inclined to say it isn’t.
November 19, 2025
What happens a former class clown turned pro hockey superstar is in the throes of contract negotiations and asked to return to his hometown to help coach at his former high school, a whole lot of crazy?!
Hendrix Ellis is back in Brookking Sound for the foreseeable future to serve as his alma mater’s interim coach too bad for him that he has a run in with his former crush almost immediately. She still can’t stand him! What’s a guy to do… met a bet with his best friend and risk losing a beloved collectible at the same time?! Sounds like old habits die hard for this guy and to add awkwardness being back “home,” he must take up temporary housing with his Grannie and aunt. Good times to be had!
Colette McCallister is proud to be a teacher at her former high school and in charge of the Christmas pageant until she got word that her funding that she desperately needed was being allocated to the hockey team again! Determined once and for all to stand her ground against Coach Wade only to come face to face with Hendrix wasn’t on her bingo card! Taking a moment, she regroups only to forge a plan with her bestie to run him out of town by Christmas Eve! What could go wrong?!
Over the course of this story, you get hints of their shared past and that not everything as it may first appear. Also, that when truce is called that some moments of real vulnerability occur. I loved the push/pull to these two and their dynamic! Sometimes I was cheering for them to get together while other times I was eager to see how far they would force each other to bend without breaking! Also let it be said that Genghis Khan is a fantastic name for a cat, even if he makes a lousy chaperone! This is the last book for me to read for the Toronto Titans series and let me be frank, the series would not be complete without this story in it! Job well done, Gigi!
CW: past parental problems
Hendrix Ellis is back in Brookking Sound for the foreseeable future to serve as his alma mater’s interim coach too bad for him that he has a run in with his former crush almost immediately. She still can’t stand him! What’s a guy to do… met a bet with his best friend and risk losing a beloved collectible at the same time?! Sounds like old habits die hard for this guy and to add awkwardness being back “home,” he must take up temporary housing with his Grannie and aunt. Good times to be had!
Colette McCallister is proud to be a teacher at her former high school and in charge of the Christmas pageant until she got word that her funding that she desperately needed was being allocated to the hockey team again! Determined once and for all to stand her ground against Coach Wade only to come face to face with Hendrix wasn’t on her bingo card! Taking a moment, she regroups only to forge a plan with her bestie to run him out of town by Christmas Eve! What could go wrong?!
Over the course of this story, you get hints of their shared past and that not everything as it may first appear. Also, that when truce is called that some moments of real vulnerability occur. I loved the push/pull to these two and their dynamic! Sometimes I was cheering for them to get together while other times I was eager to see how far they would force each other to bend without breaking! Also let it be said that Genghis Khan is a fantastic name for a cat, even if he makes a lousy chaperone! This is the last book for me to read for the Toronto Titans series and let me be frank, the series would not be complete without this story in it! Job well done, Gigi!
CW: past parental problems
March 6, 2025
Cute Christmas rom con
If you love hallmark Christmas movies, this book is for you.
Hendrix and Colette are cute.
It's an enemies to lovers type story. They went to high school together. Hendrix always liked Colette, but as stupid boys go, he went about it by teasing her. So she never caught on and disliked him instead.
Hendrix is forced back to his hometown due to contract issues with his hockey team.
He takes a job as the local high school hockey coach, and Colette is now a teacher. Let the schnanagains begin.
There is some back and forth, a bet with friends, and then some adorable moments as we read the love blooming between the two.
The faculty Christmas party was great. Reminded me of 10 ways to lose a guy when they sing at the jewellery party.
This is a clean story, no smut. So don't be rating down because it doesn't have any. A good author can write a great romance without details of the bedroom.
If you love hallmark Christmas movies, this book is for you.
Hendrix and Colette are cute.
It's an enemies to lovers type story. They went to high school together. Hendrix always liked Colette, but as stupid boys go, he went about it by teasing her. So she never caught on and disliked him instead.
Hendrix is forced back to his hometown due to contract issues with his hockey team.
He takes a job as the local high school hockey coach, and Colette is now a teacher. Let the schnanagains begin.
There is some back and forth, a bet with friends, and then some adorable moments as we read the love blooming between the two.
The faculty Christmas party was great. Reminded me of 10 ways to lose a guy when they sing at the jewellery party.
This is a clean story, no smut. So don't be rating down because it doesn't have any. A good author can write a great romance without details of the bedroom.
October 9, 2025
A fun Christmas story about second chances and enemies to more. Fun, flirty, nod to the Hallmark Christmas movies but still with some depth and glimpse into characters that makes them layered and not just 2 dimensional. A good story with a hint to Christmas magic without being cheesy.
I agree with another reviewer the Hero was pretty immature with his antics in high school. That can be off putting but I still think the author spun it into more so it wasn't and you end up really liking both characters! I know nothing about the sport and like how she did her research to bring the game alive and give this reader an understanding. The voice actors did wonderful in reading the book. I was never pulled out of the story.
4.5 stars
I agree with another reviewer the Hero was pretty immature with his antics in high school. That can be off putting but I still think the author spun it into more so it wasn't and you end up really liking both characters! I know nothing about the sport and like how she did her research to bring the game alive and give this reader an understanding. The voice actors did wonderful in reading the book. I was never pulled out of the story.
4.5 stars
January 18, 2025
Colette and Hendrix
One of my favorite parts of Cross Check Christmas is the fact that Hendrix and Colette are not typical rom-com MC names. Best of all, they're as fun, quirky, and spirited as their names imply. The scene coming back from Colette's cousin's house is one I won't soon forget! It's especially wonderful that Hendrix and Colette could laugh through such an embarrassing situation. Life is too short to get hung up on embarrassing moments. That only adds to the charm of Colette and Hendrix's romance.
One of my favorite parts of Cross Check Christmas is the fact that Hendrix and Colette are not typical rom-com MC names. Best of all, they're as fun, quirky, and spirited as their names imply. The scene coming back from Colette's cousin's house is one I won't soon forget! It's especially wonderful that Hendrix and Colette could laugh through such an embarrassing situation. Life is too short to get hung up on embarrassing moments. That only adds to the charm of Colette and Hendrix's romance.
December 29, 2024
high school nemesis,s get a second chance
In high school Hendrix had a crush on Collette but the jokes he used to get her attention all failed. When he got a chance to ask her to dance a misunderstanding caused it to go wrong.Seven years later he’s back in town at Christmas time and he is hoping for a better ending. Sometimes the things behind a persons reactions come from something in their past. I’m glad Hendrix didn’t give up on Collette because they belong together.
In high school Hendrix had a crush on Collette but the jokes he used to get her attention all failed. When he got a chance to ask her to dance a misunderstanding caused it to go wrong.Seven years later he’s back in town at Christmas time and he is hoping for a better ending. Sometimes the things behind a persons reactions come from something in their past. I’m glad Hendrix didn’t give up on Collette because they belong together.
January 3, 2025
Didn't appreciate the male lead
This is one of those enemies to lovers where the male main lead has basically been bullying the female lead their whole lives. And they brush it off as cute, as boys being boys, as he liked her but he didn't know how to express it. Which is all kind of cruddy. Humans deserve to be treated better than that. It's a bummer because I normally really like this author.
This is one of those enemies to lovers where the male main lead has basically been bullying the female lead their whole lives. And they brush it off as cute, as boys being boys, as he liked her but he didn't know how to express it. Which is all kind of cruddy. Humans deserve to be treated better than that. It's a bummer because I normally really like this author.
July 28, 2025
This was a sweet and funny holiday romcom between a pro hockey player and his high school crush who separately make bets over Christmas, one to win a kiss, the other to drive the annoying 'class clown' away. Full of holiday hijinks, this kept me giggling and was good on audio. It's also perfect for fans of authors like Catherine Walsh or Leah Brunner. Set in the Toronto Titans hockey universe, this can be read as a standalone but has some cameos from other players on the team.
December 28, 2025
I had no hope for Hendrix until about page 126 when he knocked the hockey team into shape.
Collette is still a bit prickly we shall see if I like her in the end.
So far their fights have been pretty ridiculous and slightly annoying
The end was a lot like “How to lose a guy in ten days.”
“"You know," he says, voice low and warm, "this reminds me of those Hallmark movies my gran loves so much. Two people, a Christmas tree farm..."
That did make me laugh
Collette is still a bit prickly we shall see if I like her in the end.
So far their fights have been pretty ridiculous and slightly annoying
The end was a lot like “How to lose a guy in ten days.”
“"You know," he says, voice low and warm, "this reminds me of those Hallmark movies my gran loves so much. Two people, a Christmas tree farm..."
That did make me laugh
September 11, 2025
Hendrix and Colette's relationship was so many things, most importantly hilarious and beyond beautiful.
He bets he can get her to go on a date, and she bets she can run him out of town. The result? You will have to see but expect endless laughs and smiles with this spice free rom com. Get ready for an amazing ride! My only regret is I read this book so fast, I loved it way too much!
He bets he can get her to go on a date, and she bets she can run him out of town. The result? You will have to see but expect endless laughs and smiles with this spice free rom com. Get ready for an amazing ride! My only regret is I read this book so fast, I loved it way too much!
December 27, 2024
Hendrix & Colette
Absolutely loved this one! Easily a favorite! Loved Hendrix and his adorable ‘he fell first/never got over his high-school crush’. He & Colette are perfect together.
Absolutely loved this one! Easily a favorite! Loved Hendrix and his adorable ‘he fell first/never got over his high-school crush’. He & Colette are perfect together.
December 28, 2024
So cute!
Cross Check Christmas was such a cute book!! Colette is a firecracker, and Hendrix is a gooey cinnamon roll! I loved how Hendrix pursued Collette but was still respectful, and I love it when the guy falls first. So cute!
Cross Check Christmas was such a cute book!! Colette is a firecracker, and Hendrix is a gooey cinnamon roll! I loved how Hendrix pursued Collette but was still respectful, and I love it when the guy falls first. So cute!
January 4, 2025
Cross Check Christmas was such a sweet book. Colette’s firecracker energy is perfect for Hendrix who’s cocky yet sweetheart. You will feel happy, mad and sad all the same time. It’s a he falls first and nemeses to lovers.
January 6, 2025
Hilariously Fun!
Absolutely hilarious, my favorite book I’ve read this holiday season with delightful witty banter balanced with a few tender moments of vulnerability, would highly recommend!!!
Absolutely hilarious, my favorite book I’ve read this holiday season with delightful witty banter balanced with a few tender moments of vulnerability, would highly recommend!!!
January 9, 2025
She’s done it again! Gigi Blume continued her Titan’s Hockey Series with Hendrix and Colette. The Christmas carol change ups, him saving her butt :), and the 12 days of Christmas, you’ll feel like you’re part of the action!
Don’t miss this funny, action-packed story!
Don’t miss this funny, action-packed story!
January 26, 2025
It's the Banter
I love the laugh-out-loud dialog and bantering in this author's books! Hendrix and Collette are experts at throwing words at each other. The hockey team mates, school coworkers, and adorable family and friends make this a perfect Christmas hockey romance!
I love the laugh-out-loud dialog and bantering in this author's books! Hendrix and Collette are experts at throwing words at each other. The hockey team mates, school coworkers, and adorable family and friends make this a perfect Christmas hockey romance!
July 28, 2025
Ok this book was really good!
I listened to this on audio and loved the narrators.
There were a few parts that had me laughing out loud (bathroom break behind the truck).
I loved the characters and was happy with the ending.
I listened to this on audio and loved the narrators.
There were a few parts that had me laughing out loud (bathroom break behind the truck).
I loved the characters and was happy with the ending.
Read
December 28, 2024DNF 12/28/24 at 3%
January 1, 2025
Over the top in the best, sweetest way!
January 2, 2025
Soooo Good
Wow. This book had me laughing and crying and everything between rooting for these two to somehow get on the same page at the same time. Just such a treat to read.
Wow. This book had me laughing and crying and everything between rooting for these two to somehow get on the same page at the same time. Just such a treat to read.
January 4, 2025
A cute Christmas novella
January 5, 2025
Very funny
Want to read
February 3, 2025This book has been nominated for a 2025 Swoony Award, to vote for it click here: Swoony Awards.
June 2, 2025
3.5 🌟 By far the best book in the series. I liked the background and chemistry between the 2 MCs and there were several laugh out loud moments.
August 22, 2025
2.5 rounded to 3 for GR
-Audiobook-
Meh. The ending was kinda cute though
-Audiobook-
Meh. The ending was kinda cute though
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews