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Grand Marquee Manticores #0.5
It's a Set Up: A Dislike to Lovers Fake Dating Sports Romance
Malia Kahale is ready to start her career as a professional volleyball player. She knew her team, the Thunderbirds, would have to share the arena with the Manticores hockey team, but she didn’t expect their outright hostility over it. Especially not from their captain—Alex Dionis.
To defuse tensions, the two are asked to give an interview together, hoping to boost ticket sales and temporarily put aside their rivalry for the sake of their teams. Malia plans to ignore the grumpy hockey captain and focus on the upcoming season opener… that is until their interview goes viral. Manticore fans start shipping #Malex, so the two captains lean into the ruse.
Can Malia and Alex put aside their differences and pretend to date to fill seats for the upcoming season?
One arena. Two teams.
Game. Set. Match.
It’s a Set Up is a prequel novella in the Grand Marquee Manticores series of interconnected standalones.
To defuse tensions, the two are asked to give an interview together, hoping to boost ticket sales and temporarily put aside their rivalry for the sake of their teams. Malia plans to ignore the grumpy hockey captain and focus on the upcoming season opener… that is until their interview goes viral. Manticore fans start shipping #Malex, so the two captains lean into the ruse.
Can Malia and Alex put aside their differences and pretend to date to fill seats for the upcoming season?
One arena. Two teams.
Game. Set. Match.
It’s a Set Up is a prequel novella in the Grand Marquee Manticores series of interconnected standalones.
131 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2025
26 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
About the author
Stef C.R.
6 books68 followersProject leader by day, romance author by night, Stef C.R. lives in West Michigan with her husband and not one, not two, but three cats.
When she's not working or writing stories, she spends her time reading fantasy and romance, endlessly cheering on the Red Wings, Charles LeClerc, and listening to Noah Kahan.
When she's not working or writing stories, she spends her time reading fantasy and romance, endlessly cheering on the Red Wings, Charles LeClerc, and listening to Noah Kahan.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 5, 2025
Rating: 2.5,
Plot: 3/5
Spice: 2/5 (1 scene, end of the book)
Characters: 4/5
Overall reco: Enjoyable, Cute. All the way up until the end I was going to rate this a 4.
(Other Notes):
So. I was enjoying the shit out of this cute little meet-cute. I liked how they felt very enemies to lovers most of the book.. The single POV was fine, made sense.. this was going to be 4 stars, easy. And then 1 fucking paragraph ruined it.
I get this is such a small, tiny, stupid thing to tank my review. But it made me mad, so mad. It took me right out of the book.. I'm still mad. I'm considering not reading the rest and I only read this because I wanted to get into the series as the others looked good. Now I'm hesitant.
edit: lul, In my rage i put the wrong word.
Plot: 3/5
Spice: 2/5 (1 scene, end of the book)
Characters: 4/5
Overall reco: Enjoyable, Cute. All the way up until the end I was going to rate this a 4.
(Other Notes):
So. I was enjoying the shit out of this cute little meet-cute. I liked how they felt very enemies to lovers most of the book.. The single POV was fine, made sense.. this was going to be 4 stars, easy. And then 1 fucking paragraph ruined it.
I get this is such a small, tiny, stupid thing to tank my review. But it made me mad, so mad. It took me right out of the book.. I'm still mad. I'm considering not reading the rest and I only read this because I wanted to get into the series as the others looked good. Now I'm hesitant.
edit: lul, In my rage i put the wrong word.
March 26, 2025
4.75 ⭐️
|ARC|
⋆ meet cute
⋆ fake dating
⋆ rivals to lovers
⋆ hand necklaces
⋆ “i never hated you”
⋆ workplace romance
⋆ professional athletes
_________________
ya I thought this book was adorable! It was short, sweet, straight to the point and just such an easy read. I loved loved loved the meet cute, and if that doesn’t happen to me when I’m in uni… there will be problems… WHEN IS IT MY TURN??? anyways I’m getting carried away. The classic rival captains of different sports teams was so good and let’s be so real who doesn’t love a volleyball x hockey fake dating romcom! It’s a Set Up is a short novella apart of the Manticores series! This novella is set before the first book in the Manticores universe where we follow our FMC Malia as she try’s to find the correct balance between her personal like while also being the captain of the women’s volleyball team and our MMC Alex as he tries to better his reputation as a hockey player as well as be the best captain he can be for the men’s hockey team. We follow through Malias eyes as she tries to navigate this infuriating hockey player and as the lines between fake and real are blurred.
Oh how I love these two! The chemistry, the banter, the tension omg it was so addicting. I loved how much a hard ass Alex was and how Maria didn’t take his shit. I think what I loved most was being able to see Alex’s cocky hockey player exterior break the more time he spent with Malia. He such a sweetheart under all that hockey captain exterior. Absolutely swoon worthy honestly. I fell in love with them the second they met and I fell so so hard for Alex goodness. Idk they were so cute, just absolutely perfect.
The writing in this book was so good. I honestly loved the single POV. I haven’t read a single POV in so long but this one was so well done. I think it worked perfect for this novella, and the ending… AHHH mhm perfection. I haven’t read the Manticore series yet but I think this was a perfect little introduction and set up for the rest of the series. It didn’t give up much for the rest of the series but just teased us at the end and It had me hooked. I can’t wait to eventually read the rest of the series after finishing this one!
Overall, this was such an adorable read. I don’t think I will ever get over Alex and Malia! someone get me an Americano 🙂↕️ I would like to thank Stef C.R for this cute ARC! I can’t wait to read more of your work!! 🏒🏐
|ARC|
⋆ meet cute
⋆ fake dating
⋆ rivals to lovers
⋆ hand necklaces
⋆ “i never hated you”
⋆ workplace romance
⋆ professional athletes
_________________
ya I thought this book was adorable! It was short, sweet, straight to the point and just such an easy read. I loved loved loved the meet cute, and if that doesn’t happen to me when I’m in uni… there will be problems… WHEN IS IT MY TURN??? anyways I’m getting carried away. The classic rival captains of different sports teams was so good and let’s be so real who doesn’t love a volleyball x hockey fake dating romcom! It’s a Set Up is a short novella apart of the Manticores series! This novella is set before the first book in the Manticores universe where we follow our FMC Malia as she try’s to find the correct balance between her personal like while also being the captain of the women’s volleyball team and our MMC Alex as he tries to better his reputation as a hockey player as well as be the best captain he can be for the men’s hockey team. We follow through Malias eyes as she tries to navigate this infuriating hockey player and as the lines between fake and real are blurred.
Oh how I love these two! The chemistry, the banter, the tension omg it was so addicting. I loved how much a hard ass Alex was and how Maria didn’t take his shit. I think what I loved most was being able to see Alex’s cocky hockey player exterior break the more time he spent with Malia. He such a sweetheart under all that hockey captain exterior. Absolutely swoon worthy honestly. I fell in love with them the second they met and I fell so so hard for Alex goodness. Idk they were so cute, just absolutely perfect.
The writing in this book was so good. I honestly loved the single POV. I haven’t read a single POV in so long but this one was so well done. I think it worked perfect for this novella, and the ending… AHHH mhm perfection. I haven’t read the Manticore series yet but I think this was a perfect little introduction and set up for the rest of the series. It didn’t give up much for the rest of the series but just teased us at the end and It had me hooked. I can’t wait to eventually read the rest of the series after finishing this one!
Overall, this was such an adorable read. I don’t think I will ever get over Alex and Malia! someone get me an Americano 🙂↕️ I would like to thank Stef C.R for this cute ARC! I can’t wait to read more of your work!! 🏒🏐
March 21, 2025
✨ARC Review✨
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for It's A Set Up by Stef C. R.
This was a short read but it packed a punch, I loved it so much! The chemistry between Malia and Alex leaps off the page, and the spicy scenes were scorching!
Alex started out as a typical cocky hockey player, but we quickly find out he's an absolute sweetheart of a man underneath that confident exterior; I fell hard and fast for him, much like Malia did. Their workplace rival turned fake dating was so much fun, and my only complaint is this wasn't a full-length novel, as I would have read much more of these two!
This is a prequel to the Grand Marquee Manticores series, and a great introduction into that world. Read if you enjoy fake dating, rivals to lovers and sports romances.
Thank you to Stef C. R. for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for It's A Set Up by Stef C. R.
This was a short read but it packed a punch, I loved it so much! The chemistry between Malia and Alex leaps off the page, and the spicy scenes were scorching!
Alex started out as a typical cocky hockey player, but we quickly find out he's an absolute sweetheart of a man underneath that confident exterior; I fell hard and fast for him, much like Malia did. Their workplace rival turned fake dating was so much fun, and my only complaint is this wasn't a full-length novel, as I would have read much more of these two!
This is a prequel to the Grand Marquee Manticores series, and a great introduction into that world. Read if you enjoy fake dating, rivals to lovers and sports romances.
Thank you to Stef C. R. for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
March 19, 2025
In the Manticores universe is my favorite place to be!! This was so cute!! Seriously such a good novella to start a perfect series, that l already love with my whole heart! I absolutely love Alex's grumpy ass and Malias sassiness! Alex is so damn hot. Am I completely head over heels for this thirst trap of a man? Yes, yes I am. I will say it with my whole chest. With this being a novella, there wasn’t a ton of spice. BUT when there was, it was so damn hot. The tension and the banter between them had me squealing like a little girl. Ah, I just love both of them so much! Once again Stef didn’t disappoint. Bring on book three!!🥰
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
Rivals to lovers
Meet cute
Workplace romance
Professional athletes
Teasing as a love language
Hand necklaces
Fake dating
“I've never hated you"
Thank you so much Stef C.R. for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!🫶🏻
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
Rivals to lovers
Meet cute
Workplace romance
Professional athletes
Teasing as a love language
Hand necklaces
Fake dating
“I've never hated you"
Thank you so much Stef C.R. for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!🫶🏻
March 22, 2025
I loved everything about this book.
This is the first book of Stef's that I've read and now I can't wait to read the rest of the series and anything else she comes out with.
I saw so much of myself in the sassy yet easy to cry FMC. And have always had a soft spot for a boy that teased but is also a softy at heart.
There was a little spice, but it's a novella so that's expected. But the spice definitely spiced 🔥
Thank you so much to Stef for the ARC gifted for an honest review.
This is the first book of Stef's that I've read and now I can't wait to read the rest of the series and anything else she comes out with.
I saw so much of myself in the sassy yet easy to cry FMC. And have always had a soft spot for a boy that teased but is also a softy at heart.
There was a little spice, but it's a novella so that's expected. But the spice definitely spiced 🔥
Thank you so much to Stef for the ARC gifted for an honest review.
April 20, 2025
Thank you to Stef C.R. for the ARC! I have loved being on your team and will always be rooting for your books.
I loved this novella! So well done, and you feel like you get a decent taste of the characters in much less pages than a normal novel. I would have read an entire one of this couple! The idea was so fun to me - a volleyball team sharing the arena with a hockey team. Enemies to lovers, fake dating - made for such a fun, filled with banter short story!
I loved this novella! So well done, and you feel like you get a decent taste of the characters in much less pages than a normal novel. I would have read an entire one of this couple! The idea was so fun to me - a volleyball team sharing the arena with a hockey team. Enemies to lovers, fake dating - made for such a fun, filled with banter short story!
April 3, 2025
This was a wonderful novella, and very easy to read! I enjoyed the characters’ banter and how they grew together within the short book. I thought that the spicy scenes were just right for the amount of pages (and they were steamy!) and there was a lot of spicy tension as well.
August 20, 2025
3,5 ⭐️ Leest lekker makkelijk weg en erg lek dat het verhaal geschreven is vanuit alleen haar perspectief. Ze is het gehele book in charge en dat is weer eens wat anders dan de andere romance boeken.
March 10, 2025
This is a prequel novella for the Manticore series where we get to meet the captain before Robbie. It’s fun and short and the bickering banter is top notch.
Alex and Malia get off to a bit of a rough start after an adorable flirty meet cute. The tension they felt at the beginning turns into him needling her like a smitten boy during recess. Both characters soften towards each other as the story unfolds and we get to see Alex’s ohh gooey cinnamon roll center, while Malia fights her growing feelings for him.
The spice is spicy but not abundant (it’s a novella so that’s expected) and a bit bossy lady coded (so fun).
Alex and Malia get off to a bit of a rough start after an adorable flirty meet cute. The tension they felt at the beginning turns into him needling her like a smitten boy during recess. Both characters soften towards each other as the story unfolds and we get to see Alex’s ohh gooey cinnamon roll center, while Malia fights her growing feelings for him.
The spice is spicy but not abundant (it’s a novella so that’s expected) and a bit bossy lady coded (so fun).
March 13, 2025
Hockey and volleyball, with a side of fake dating / rivals to lovers. Yes please! I ate this one up. Malia and Alex's banter had me giggly and giddy kicking my feet.. And the spice... We love an fmc in control 😏🙌 Seeing Robbie and Jordan get a few mentions in this, has made me even more excited for book 3.
February 7, 2025
Such a fun and spicy novella!!
October 1, 2025
Loved this Novella! Hockey Captain MMC and Volleyball Captain FMC are the stars in this rivals to lovers story. Starts out with the cutest meet cute, but then realize shortly after they are sworn rivals.
There's even some good spicy spice! And we love a HEA.
Being a Midwest Girly myself I love that this series is also set in the Midwest. I'll have to go read the other books in this series now!
Thank you to the author for an ARC copy!
Rating = 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice = 3/5 🔥🔥🔥
There's even some good spicy spice! And we love a HEA.
Being a Midwest Girly myself I love that this series is also set in the Midwest. I'll have to go read the other books in this series now!
Thank you to the author for an ARC copy!
Rating = 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice = 3/5 🔥🔥🔥
April 3, 2025
IT'S A SET UP was a cute read that I finished quickly. Stef C.R.'s writing flowed nicely and after the initial animosity from Alex, I liked both the MCs as characters. There's a little bit of fake dating (my favorite trope) and a slow burn between NHL Captain Alex and the Captain of the new women's professional volleyball team Malia, but it paid off in the end with a few spicy moments. And I was happy with the surprise that Malia was the one taking charge in the bedroom! There wasn't much to the side characters and the hockey moments were fairly light but it's also a novella so that's not unusual. I played volleyball for over 7 years so I do wish there had been some actual volleyball included but I think this was really more for the hockey girlies, so oh well.
What kept me from rating this higher were a variety of things that didn't make logical sense or events that felt a bit contrived to meet the chosen tropes. For instance, why is the well established NHL team giving in to all the demands of a brand new volleyball team who hasn't even had their season opener yet? If Alex and Malia are fake dating to boost attention on the volleyball team specifically, why was all the focus on the hockey team? Malia attends his home games, goes to the family skate event, and attends the hockey fundraiser gala but what was Alex doing to promote the women's team? How was Alex still captain if he's gotten a bad reputation for game suspensions? Malia's coach was basically a tyrant but after a small moment where she tells him no to breaking up with Alex he's not an issue anymore? And this is nit-picky but why was Malia only 5'5"? I know author's love their tiny FMCs with giant MMCs (Alex is over 6 ft) but Malia is a professional volleyball player and while there are a few short players it's incredibly rare so if ever there was a time to have a taller than average FMC, this would be the book!
All that being said, I do plan to read the next book in the series because I love the idea of a hockey/referee pairing.
What kept me from rating this higher were a variety of things that didn't make logical sense or events that felt a bit contrived to meet the chosen tropes. For instance, why is the well established NHL team giving in to all the demands of a brand new volleyball team who hasn't even had their season opener yet? If Alex and Malia are fake dating to boost attention on the volleyball team specifically, why was all the focus on the hockey team? Malia attends his home games, goes to the family skate event, and attends the hockey fundraiser gala but what was Alex doing to promote the women's team? How was Alex still captain if he's gotten a bad reputation for game suspensions? Malia's coach was basically a tyrant but after a small moment where she tells him no to breaking up with Alex he's not an issue anymore? And this is nit-picky but why was Malia only 5'5"? I know author's love their tiny FMCs with giant MMCs (Alex is over 6 ft) but Malia is a professional volleyball player and while there are a few short players it's incredibly rare so if ever there was a time to have a taller than average FMC, this would be the book!
All that being said, I do plan to read the next book in the series because I love the idea of a hockey/referee pairing.
April 4, 2025
It’s a Setup was such a good short novella! It was actually my first “novella” and my first book from author Stef C.R. I knew from the first Americano I was going to love this story! Malia and Alex had instant chemistry and I knew it was going to be the best, sassy banter, which I so love!
“Are you going to wear my jersey to the game?” “In your dreams.”
“You clean up nice… For a second there, I thought you’d show up in your leggings.” “You don’t look so bad yourself. I see you’ve left the backwards hat at home for once.”
One of my favorite relationships in this book was with Malia and Josh. I love how they became close even though it wasn’t a very highlighted friendship. One of my LEAST favorite relationships was that of Coach Jackson and literally everyone. I could not stand that man and every time he was mentioned my eyes rolled!
I truly enjoyed this story and the MCs. Malia and Alex were the perfect of opposites to complete the things each lacked in their own lives. They were the confidence, support, and love that each other needed.
ALSO am I the only one who wanted to bid on Robbie Elliot? Cooking, cats, and game night!!! Now that sounds like my dream man!
☕️💬 Meet Cute
💣😘 Rivals to Lovers
🎭♥️ Fake Dating
🏒🏐 Hockey Captain x Volleyball Captain
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to the author for this opportunity.
“Are you going to wear my jersey to the game?” “In your dreams.”
“You clean up nice… For a second there, I thought you’d show up in your leggings.” “You don’t look so bad yourself. I see you’ve left the backwards hat at home for once.”
One of my favorite relationships in this book was with Malia and Josh. I love how they became close even though it wasn’t a very highlighted friendship. One of my LEAST favorite relationships was that of Coach Jackson and literally everyone. I could not stand that man and every time he was mentioned my eyes rolled!
I truly enjoyed this story and the MCs. Malia and Alex were the perfect of opposites to complete the things each lacked in their own lives. They were the confidence, support, and love that each other needed.
ALSO am I the only one who wanted to bid on Robbie Elliot? Cooking, cats, and game night!!! Now that sounds like my dream man!
☕️💬 Meet Cute
💣😘 Rivals to Lovers
🎭♥️ Fake Dating
🏒🏐 Hockey Captain x Volleyball Captain
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to the author for this opportunity.
March 24, 2025
4.5 rounded up to 5
Malia is excited for her first season with Grand Marquee's first women's professional volleyball team. Too bad she has to deal with Alex, the grumpy hockey captain who makes sharing the arena a nightmare. When their interview goes viral as fans specualte about their relationship, the arena PR team asks them to lean into the attention. Can she pretend to be into the man who pushes all her buttons on a daily basis?
Read if you like:
-Dislike to Lovers
-Fake Dating
-Workplace Rivals
-Banter
-I Never Hated You
This is my third time reading It's a Set Up -- Alpha, Beta, and now ARC reading -- and I love it more and more each time. It's really the little things. Like Alex's tattoos. Or the way Malia's coach is the sports romance version of Miranda Priestly. Or how much I want to join the Thunderbirds and hang out with the girls. Or the banter and chemistry. I have a type and I fear it's boys who tug on pigtails because they don't know what else to do.
This is such a fun novella and a great introduction to what to expect from Stef C.R. as an author and the rest of the Manticores series. I highly recommend it. It's perfect for when you need a short sports romance to break you out of a reading slump or for a quick infusion of serotonin.
Malia is excited for her first season with Grand Marquee's first women's professional volleyball team. Too bad she has to deal with Alex, the grumpy hockey captain who makes sharing the arena a nightmare. When their interview goes viral as fans specualte about their relationship, the arena PR team asks them to lean into the attention. Can she pretend to be into the man who pushes all her buttons on a daily basis?
Read if you like:
-Dislike to Lovers
-Fake Dating
-Workplace Rivals
-Banter
-I Never Hated You
This is my third time reading It's a Set Up -- Alpha, Beta, and now ARC reading -- and I love it more and more each time. It's really the little things. Like Alex's tattoos. Or the way Malia's coach is the sports romance version of Miranda Priestly. Or how much I want to join the Thunderbirds and hang out with the girls. Or the banter and chemistry. I have a type and I fear it's boys who tug on pigtails because they don't know what else to do.
This is such a fun novella and a great introduction to what to expect from Stef C.R. as an author and the rest of the Manticores series. I highly recommend it. It's perfect for when you need a short sports romance to break you out of a reading slump or for a quick infusion of serotonin.
April 11, 2025
[ if you're thinking at all while I'm kissing you, then I'm not doing it right ]
Stef C.R. is a new author to me whom I was lucky to meet at a convention earlier this year.
I was excited to dive into Malia and Alex's story, and it turned out to be such a fun read. As a former volleyball player and a lover of sports romance, I was sure this novella would be the perfect read for me.
I love when a typical cocky, grumpy guy softens for the sassy girl who has his attention, and that is what I got in this read. The story begins with a meet-cute that quickly transitions to not-so-cute, and then the plot unfolds from there. There is tons of tension and banter, this book was a perfect palate cleanser.
It's a Set Up is a prequel to the Manticores universe, where this author already has two published books in the series, one of which is already on my shelf screaming at me to please open it.
What to expect:
Rivals to lovers
Meet cute
Workplace romance
Professional athletes
Teasing as a love language
Hand necklaces
Fake dating
"I've never hated you"
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of It's a Set up and I am providing my honest review. Thank you Stef C.R. for the opportunity.
Stef C.R. is a new author to me whom I was lucky to meet at a convention earlier this year.
I was excited to dive into Malia and Alex's story, and it turned out to be such a fun read. As a former volleyball player and a lover of sports romance, I was sure this novella would be the perfect read for me.
I love when a typical cocky, grumpy guy softens for the sassy girl who has his attention, and that is what I got in this read. The story begins with a meet-cute that quickly transitions to not-so-cute, and then the plot unfolds from there. There is tons of tension and banter, this book was a perfect palate cleanser.
It's a Set Up is a prequel to the Manticores universe, where this author already has two published books in the series, one of which is already on my shelf screaming at me to please open it.
What to expect:
Rivals to lovers
Meet cute
Workplace romance
Professional athletes
Teasing as a love language
Hand necklaces
Fake dating
"I've never hated you"
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of It's a Set up and I am providing my honest review. Thank you Stef C.R. for the opportunity.
May 6, 2025
Cute quick story
This story is all from Malia's POV so just one narrator. It’s been awhile since I've listened to a solo narrator. Casey Montgomery is a new to me narrator. I thought she did a good job of reading Alex's dialogue.
Alex is a hockey player and Malia a volleyball player who have to share the same facility. Things start out rough and then they are asked to fake date for publicity. Feelings develop of course.
it's short but good. A great spicy scene. A really nice big gesture from Alex, who starts off as kind of a grump. Overall, I enjoyed these two! And would love to hear more from Ms Montgomery
This story is all from Malia's POV so just one narrator. It’s been awhile since I've listened to a solo narrator. Casey Montgomery is a new to me narrator. I thought she did a good job of reading Alex's dialogue.
Alex is a hockey player and Malia a volleyball player who have to share the same facility. Things start out rough and then they are asked to fake date for publicity. Feelings develop of course.
it's short but good. A great spicy scene. A really nice big gesture from Alex, who starts off as kind of a grump. Overall, I enjoyed these two! And would love to hear more from Ms Montgomery
March 6, 2025
🏐🏒It's A Set Up by Stef C. R.🏒🏐
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
This is my first book by the author after having met her at Sports Romance Con!
I first want to say, I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed this...hear me out...I usually LOATHE fake dating...I know, I know...but miscommunication is a BIG ICK for me.
That was not the case here. This was done so well that I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. The meet cute. The moment they become workplace rivals. The fake dating not being their idea. The chemistry. The BIG feelings.
This was chefs kiss and I can't wait to continue reading more from the author!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
This is my first book by the author after having met her at Sports Romance Con!
I first want to say, I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed this...hear me out...I usually LOATHE fake dating...I know, I know...but miscommunication is a BIG ICK for me.
That was not the case here. This was done so well that I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. The meet cute. The moment they become workplace rivals. The fake dating not being their idea. The chemistry. The BIG feelings.
This was chefs kiss and I can't wait to continue reading more from the author!
October 2, 2025
This was a cute and enjoyable read. I really liked the meet-cute, and for a novella, it did a great job of letting us get to know the characters. My only hang-up was the 5'5" volleyball captain. I'm assuming she's the libero, but it still felt a bit unrealistic since she never mentioned her position. Also, since the story built up to the big first game, I would’ve loved at least a brief scene featuring some actual volleyball action. 2.5
April 1, 2025
ARC review!!
I loved it’s a Set Up!! Such a cute enemies to lovers / workplace novella!! Alex and Malia’s teasing and banter made this such an easy and fun read. I’ve loved all the manticore books, and this one was no different. Great characters, who are relatable!!! Definitely add this to your TBR if you need something quick to make you smile
April 22, 2025
💚 Volley Player x Hockey Player
🤍 Her POV & one MMC's POV
💚 Sports Romance
🤍 Nemesis to Lovers
💚 Fake Dating
🤍 Hate to Love
💚 Banter
🤍 Tension
💚 Found Family
I loved this story between Alex & Malia. I read about these characters in the Grand Marquee Manticores series. I'm so glad that Stef C.R. wrote about how Alex and Malia met. It's such an amazing prequel to the series.
Alex and Malia had a great meet cute until they became nemesis at their workplace. Their coaches wanted to help Alex's reputation by doing a press conference together. The commenters could feel the chemistry they had with each other. With this, they have decided to use this to their advantages.
When Malia saw another side to Alex and she really liked it. They grew closer and closer the more they advertise their fake relationship. Real feelings developed. I really liked the moment that Malia met the coach's son, and their interaction was sweet. I loved that moment when Alex did something incredibly sweet by bringing important people to Malia's game to support her. Alex went beyond for Malia. This prequel story was so amazing and sweet. 🩷
🤍 Her POV & one MMC's POV
💚 Sports Romance
🤍 Nemesis to Lovers
💚 Fake Dating
🤍 Hate to Love
💚 Banter
🤍 Tension
💚 Found Family
I loved this story between Alex & Malia. I read about these characters in the Grand Marquee Manticores series. I'm so glad that Stef C.R. wrote about how Alex and Malia met. It's such an amazing prequel to the series.
Alex and Malia had a great meet cute until they became nemesis at their workplace. Their coaches wanted to help Alex's reputation by doing a press conference together. The commenters could feel the chemistry they had with each other. With this, they have decided to use this to their advantages.
When Malia saw another side to Alex and she really liked it. They grew closer and closer the more they advertise their fake relationship. Real feelings developed. I really liked the moment that Malia met the coach's son, and their interaction was sweet. I loved that moment when Alex did something incredibly sweet by bringing important people to Malia's game to support her. Alex went beyond for Malia. This prequel story was so amazing and sweet. 🩷
April 7, 2025
I received this as an arc in exchange for my honest review! I loved this one! I really liked the teasing as a form of flirtation and how whatever one of them dished out the other was able to give it back just as fiercely! They were both supportive of each other in their respective sports! I am a sucker for a good fake dating read and this one was a nice quick read!
I have not read the other two books in this series but I am definitely going to get on that to prepare for the third to come out this summer!
I have not read the other two books in this series but I am definitely going to get on that to prepare for the third to come out this summer!
April 1, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Calling all Fake Dating trope lovers! This was a sweet story. It's a novella and I couldn't stop reading. Made me wish it was longer!
ARC
Calling all Fake Dating trope lovers! This was a sweet story. It's a novella and I couldn't stop reading. Made me wish it was longer!
ARC
April 6, 2025
I LOVE LOVE LOVE! Volleyball and hockey?! Yess pleaseeeeee
April 11, 2025
We need more volleyball representation in books. I had such a good time with this novella. the dislike to lovers was so fun!
Read
July 28, 2025This novela is a lot like ice breaker I just don’t love that it’s supposed to be about a pro volleyball player who is 5’5”??? And calls it a spike?
November 4, 2025
easy read it was fine
May 14, 2025
✨✨Arc Review✨✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Spice in chps: 10&11
‼️���️TW|CW‼️‼️
- Mentions death of sibling (off page)
- Manipulation by a role model
💕💕Tropes💕💕
- Fake dating
- Miscommunication
✨✨Onto the Review✨✨
Have I ever told yall how much I love Stef’s writing? She is one of my favorite sports romance authors who I found through another one of my favorite sports romance authors (her bestie A.K Isaacs). This is a novella in the Grand Marquee Manticore series and although this book is 129 pages it still took me through a feels trip. This isn’t that surprising though, Stef had another novella, “Tented Feelings” that put me through a similar journey because her writing is just that fantastic!
Malia our FMC is a volleyball captain on a professional team and one day while on the way to practice (cutting it close to being late) she stops at a coffee shop to get an Americano, some jerk steaks her drinks assuming it’s his even though there are several people who ordered before him in the shop. That jerk just so happens to be our MMC Alex (he turns out to be a sweetheart but for a chapter or two you dont favor him) the captain of the manticore hockey team! The two end up faking dating as a PR stunt which makes fans go wild, but what if it isn’t fake for one of them… or both of them?
This was such a sweet story that had me kicking my feet and squealing at times! I really loved watching the relationship between the two MCs unfold! If you want a fantastic sports romance series to read you need to go pick up the first book in this series “The Love Penalty” and then check out all of Stef’s other books, I promise they will take you on the best emotional roller coaster! “It’s a Set Up” is going to release on Amazon and Kindle
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Spice in chps: 10&11
‼️���️TW|CW‼️‼️
- Mentions death of sibling (off page)
- Manipulation by a role model
💕💕Tropes💕💕
- Fake dating
- Miscommunication
✨✨Onto the Review✨✨
Have I ever told yall how much I love Stef’s writing? She is one of my favorite sports romance authors who I found through another one of my favorite sports romance authors (her bestie A.K Isaacs). This is a novella in the Grand Marquee Manticore series and although this book is 129 pages it still took me through a feels trip. This isn’t that surprising though, Stef had another novella, “Tented Feelings” that put me through a similar journey because her writing is just that fantastic!
Malia our FMC is a volleyball captain on a professional team and one day while on the way to practice (cutting it close to being late) she stops at a coffee shop to get an Americano, some jerk steaks her drinks assuming it’s his even though there are several people who ordered before him in the shop. That jerk just so happens to be our MMC Alex (he turns out to be a sweetheart but for a chapter or two you dont favor him) the captain of the manticore hockey team! The two end up faking dating as a PR stunt which makes fans go wild, but what if it isn’t fake for one of them… or both of them?
This was such a sweet story that had me kicking my feet and squealing at times! I really loved watching the relationship between the two MCs unfold! If you want a fantastic sports romance series to read you need to go pick up the first book in this series “The Love Penalty” and then check out all of Stef’s other books, I promise they will take you on the best emotional roller coaster! “It’s a Set Up” is going to release on Amazon and Kindle
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