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LA Panthers #1
Stick Handled
If my best friend's little sister is ready to pop her cherry, it’s gonna be on
my
stick.
I’m the Enforcer who breaks every rule on and off the ice—except Avery DiMarco’s off-limits.
The only problem, she’s always been my weakness.
Now Avery’s home from college and living next door with her brother, my best friend and team captain.
She’s still the shy, bookish smokeshow I remember.
But under that quiet sweetness is a strong, intelligent woman who doesn’t know how sexy she is.
She wants to break out of her shell and sharpen her flirt game — on me.
Her idea of flirting? Clumsy. Adorable. And completely dangerous.
But as long as she’s flashing me that cute smile, I’m shooting my shot.
I may be obliterating the Bro Code, but our scorching secret nights are worth every risk.
I’ve spent my career skating through puck bunnies and bad decisions.
Now I’m ready to clean up my game — for good.
But I’m in for the body check of my life when her brother finds out his sister’s getting stick-handled by his best friend.
Stick Handled is a spicy standalone, brother's best friend, off limits, opposites attract hockey romance. This is book one in the LA Panthers series with a guaranteed HEA! When a reckless bad boy hockey star melts the rules, will forbidden love score big or shatter everything?
I’m the Enforcer who breaks every rule on and off the ice—except Avery DiMarco’s off-limits.
The only problem, she’s always been my weakness.
Now Avery’s home from college and living next door with her brother, my best friend and team captain.
She’s still the shy, bookish smokeshow I remember.
But under that quiet sweetness is a strong, intelligent woman who doesn’t know how sexy she is.
She wants to break out of her shell and sharpen her flirt game — on me.
Her idea of flirting? Clumsy. Adorable. And completely dangerous.
But as long as she’s flashing me that cute smile, I’m shooting my shot.
I may be obliterating the Bro Code, but our scorching secret nights are worth every risk.
I’ve spent my career skating through puck bunnies and bad decisions.
Now I’m ready to clean up my game — for good.
But I’m in for the body check of my life when her brother finds out his sister’s getting stick-handled by his best friend.
Stick Handled is a spicy standalone, brother's best friend, off limits, opposites attract hockey romance. This is book one in the LA Panthers series with a guaranteed HEA! When a reckless bad boy hockey star melts the rules, will forbidden love score big or shatter everything?
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 8, 2025
About the author
Vitina Rose
31 books89 followersA ferocious reader, a story weaver, and a lover of all things steamy and romantic. Her head is always in the clouds dreaming up the Hella Hunky male characters that will keep your heart racing. She writes men with the perfect amount of charm, wit, humor, class, and five o’clock shadow to make your insides quiver. Her heart throbs, heartbreaks, and HEA will always keep you coming back for more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
May 18, 2025
DNF’d at 43%
This felt so slow to me. Almost the halfway point and they’re still staying away from each other. No spice yet,
The FMC is insipid. She’s timid. She’s painfully shy. If you jumped out and said “Boo!” She’d probably be in a corner crying. She has one friend. One.
Yrs, she had a nearly fatal accident while figure skating with her then partner. This happened at 20. She hasn’t been on the ice since then. Her brother is overly protective of her forbids her from going on the ice. Which, I get. The trauma from almost losing your only family member would do that.
Instead of communicating with him, she asks his best friend to help her relearn the basics behind his back.
Of course he says “yes” and then later uses the fact she’s hiding it to get her to drink with him in exchange for a book. That felt weird to me.
Sure, it was supposed to be this lightheaded thing, where he loosened her up some, in order to get to know her better. Yes, at the end, he just gave her orange juice and some fruity syrup instead of the watered down shots he gave her before. It still felt kind of icky. Why are you blackmailing her to do something, even if it’s innocent, when her brother would be more mad at you for helping her do the thing he forbade her?
I’m honestly so bored with this book. He’s apparently God’s gift to women and she’s a frumpy mouse who has no idea how beautiful she actually is.
She’s been away to college for 2 years. I have questions about that. How old is she now? If she was 20 when she had her accident,was she enrolled in college before? How long was she out for recovery from her accident?
Supposedly, her partner’s ice skate blade cut through her femoral artery and she almost bled out. I would imagine that would take a significant amount of recovery time. Not just from the surgery, but possibly also physical therapy,etc. What kind of degree did she even get?
If she is 22, how was she able to finish her degree in 2 years, if she was out for a significant amount for recovery? Or did she just have the accident and she was right back in class?
These are the things I think about because the book itself is so boring. Apparently, she’s had a crush on the MMC for years. She’s never had another boyfriend, which he is delighted to learn. Because of course she’s a virgin. She didn’t try anything with the MMC because he is best friends and teammates with her brother.
The MMC supposedly also had a thing for her for a long time, but couldn’t act on it because not only is her brother his best friend, but also his team captain and partner in multiple businesses.
It felt like “let’s throw every possible reason why I can’t touch her, but I still will” into the book.
Not only could this possibly blow up his friendship with her brother, but also their professional sports team and every business venture they are partners in. What more could the author have added? If it went wrong, he could lose everything. Of course, none of that is really brought up outside of she’s his best friend’s younger sister.
I don’t even want to continue this. The characters are uninspired. MMC: Cocky. A player, incredibly handsome, rich, a celebrity. FMC: young, introvert, painfully shy, doesn’t like to go out, woefully unaware of how every man wants her when they see her, because she’s that beautiful. Don’t forget extremely humble and inexperienced.
I’m giving it 2 stars because the base idea was good,but the execution was sorely lacking. You could say that it didn’t stick the landing
This felt so slow to me. Almost the halfway point and they’re still staying away from each other. No spice yet,
The FMC is insipid. She’s timid. She’s painfully shy. If you jumped out and said “Boo!” She’d probably be in a corner crying. She has one friend. One.
Yrs, she had a nearly fatal accident while figure skating with her then partner. This happened at 20. She hasn’t been on the ice since then. Her brother is overly protective of her forbids her from going on the ice. Which, I get. The trauma from almost losing your only family member would do that.
Instead of communicating with him, she asks his best friend to help her relearn the basics behind his back.
Of course he says “yes” and then later uses the fact she’s hiding it to get her to drink with him in exchange for a book. That felt weird to me.
Sure, it was supposed to be this lightheaded thing, where he loosened her up some, in order to get to know her better. Yes, at the end, he just gave her orange juice and some fruity syrup instead of the watered down shots he gave her before. It still felt kind of icky. Why are you blackmailing her to do something, even if it’s innocent, when her brother would be more mad at you for helping her do the thing he forbade her?
I’m honestly so bored with this book. He’s apparently God’s gift to women and she’s a frumpy mouse who has no idea how beautiful she actually is.
She’s been away to college for 2 years. I have questions about that. How old is she now? If she was 20 when she had her accident,was she enrolled in college before? How long was she out for recovery from her accident?
Supposedly, her partner’s ice skate blade cut through her femoral artery and she almost bled out. I would imagine that would take a significant amount of recovery time. Not just from the surgery, but possibly also physical therapy,etc. What kind of degree did she even get?
If she is 22, how was she able to finish her degree in 2 years, if she was out for a significant amount for recovery? Or did she just have the accident and she was right back in class?
These are the things I think about because the book itself is so boring. Apparently, she’s had a crush on the MMC for years. She’s never had another boyfriend, which he is delighted to learn. Because of course she’s a virgin. She didn’t try anything with the MMC because he is best friends and teammates with her brother.
The MMC supposedly also had a thing for her for a long time, but couldn’t act on it because not only is her brother his best friend, but also his team captain and partner in multiple businesses.
It felt like “let’s throw every possible reason why I can’t touch her, but I still will” into the book.
Not only could this possibly blow up his friendship with her brother, but also their professional sports team and every business venture they are partners in. What more could the author have added? If it went wrong, he could lose everything. Of course, none of that is really brought up outside of she’s his best friend’s younger sister.
I don’t even want to continue this. The characters are uninspired. MMC: Cocky. A player, incredibly handsome, rich, a celebrity. FMC: young, introvert, painfully shy, doesn’t like to go out, woefully unaware of how every man wants her when they see her, because she’s that beautiful. Don’t forget extremely humble and inexperienced.
I’m giving it 2 stars because the base idea was good,but the execution was sorely lacking. You could say that it didn’t stick the landing
April 7, 2025
Fell for another Facebook ad for a crappy book. If it wasn’t so short I would’ve dnfed.
Characters are all so flat and predictable, especially the FMC she was just boring. The 2 main characters talk like children trying to one up each other for the first chunk of the book. Then he got all icky holding their skating lessons over her head so she’d drink with him in exchange for a book? Then thinking he loves her after 2 skating lessons spent together? But then forgetting that he thought that earlier and not being able to figure out what he feels for her later?
Also, her brother being like an overprotective dad was weird. she’s an adult relax and she needs to tell him to get off her ass. Her having to fully sneak out and not just go do her own thing like an adult was weird, there was a lot about her as a character that felt childish and some of the things Damien noticed and liked about her being kind of childish was pretty creepy.
Story is pretty the same as a million others with nothing special to set it apart. There were also so many glaring spelling errors it was offensive. “Intesion” instead of intention, “Douch” instead of douche, “brush” instead of blush.
I was at one star until the ending. Bumped it up a tad because the DRAMA and confrontation was like the only good thing about this book lol.
Characters are all so flat and predictable, especially the FMC she was just boring. The 2 main characters talk like children trying to one up each other for the first chunk of the book. Then he got all icky holding their skating lessons over her head so she’d drink with him in exchange for a book? Then thinking he loves her after 2 skating lessons spent together? But then forgetting that he thought that earlier and not being able to figure out what he feels for her later?
Also, her brother being like an overprotective dad was weird. she’s an adult relax and she needs to tell him to get off her ass. Her having to fully sneak out and not just go do her own thing like an adult was weird, there was a lot about her as a character that felt childish and some of the things Damien noticed and liked about her being kind of childish was pretty creepy.
Story is pretty the same as a million others with nothing special to set it apart. There were also so many glaring spelling errors it was offensive. “Intesion” instead of intention, “Douch” instead of douche, “brush” instead of blush.
I was at one star until the ending. Bumped it up a tad because the DRAMA and confrontation was like the only good thing about this book lol.
March 4, 2025
I hope this series gets better
Ugh really wanted to love this book..sexy as sin hero and good storyline and it dived into a few things that could’ve been fleshed out a little more .
I’ve grown a soft spot for hockey player romances since the Ice Gods series.
I thought that the female lead was very very weak and not a good match for him . I felt like she was maybe finding her voice a little but then ..The End story end. You get a little bit of her back story but not enough to really get to know her and it frustrated me .
Ugh really wanted to love this book..sexy as sin hero and good storyline and it dived into a few things that could’ve been fleshed out a little more .
I’ve grown a soft spot for hockey player romances since the Ice Gods series.
I thought that the female lead was very very weak and not a good match for him . I felt like she was maybe finding her voice a little but then ..The End story end. You get a little bit of her back story but not enough to really get to know her and it frustrated me .
January 6, 2026
why were they fucking every other page???
April 30, 2025
0/5 stars - felt predatory and a little grapy, to be honest, he held her skating lessons over her head so that he could get what he wanted from her. I've read virgin hunting books before, but none that left me feeling dirty afterwards like this one
October 9, 2025
So good!!
As a huge fan of both sports romance and best friend's sibling tropes, Stick Handled by Vitina Rose was an absolute win for me. Combining the heat of the hockey world with the tension and sweetness of forbidden love, this book had everything I love—and then some.
This was my first read by Vitina Rose, but it definitely won’t be my last. I was instantly pulled into Avery and Damien's story. Avery is the shy, determined little sister of Damien’s best friend, and Damien knows exactly why she’s off-limits. But sometimes, the heart wants what it wants—and for Damien, there’s no one else but Avery. Their chemistry is off the charts, but what really drew me in was the emotional connection between them. Damien doesn’t just want her; he needs her in a way that’s deep and undeniable.
When Avery goes to Damien for help getting back on the ice, neither of them expects how much more they'll find in each other. Their journey is both steamy and heartfelt, and I loved every minute of watching their relationship grow, despite the risks and secrets they’re trying to keep.
If this is just the beginning of the series, I can’t wait to dive into the rest. Stick Handled hit every note I look for in a romance—emotional, sexy, and full of tension—and it’s made me a fan of Vitina Rose for good.
As a huge fan of both sports romance and best friend's sibling tropes, Stick Handled by Vitina Rose was an absolute win for me. Combining the heat of the hockey world with the tension and sweetness of forbidden love, this book had everything I love—and then some.
This was my first read by Vitina Rose, but it definitely won’t be my last. I was instantly pulled into Avery and Damien's story. Avery is the shy, determined little sister of Damien’s best friend, and Damien knows exactly why she’s off-limits. But sometimes, the heart wants what it wants—and for Damien, there’s no one else but Avery. Their chemistry is off the charts, but what really drew me in was the emotional connection between them. Damien doesn’t just want her; he needs her in a way that’s deep and undeniable.
When Avery goes to Damien for help getting back on the ice, neither of them expects how much more they'll find in each other. Their journey is both steamy and heartfelt, and I loved every minute of watching their relationship grow, despite the risks and secrets they’re trying to keep.
If this is just the beginning of the series, I can’t wait to dive into the rest. Stick Handled hit every note I look for in a romance—emotional, sexy, and full of tension—and it’s made me a fan of Vitina Rose for good.
May 30, 2025
This was a very heartwarming story. In my opinion, bouncing back and understanding where people are coming from always makes a story good.
Damien (NHL Hockey player) and Avery had to deal with some tough situations, but they also shared some really beautiful moments together, despite others trying to interfere with their relationship.
Many of the choices Rowan (NHL Hockey player) made were made out of love, even if some of them were somewhat selfish. He had to learn a few lessons about how to love.
To be fair, Avery, his little sister, and Damien, his best friend, also made a couple of choices that weren't cool either. Overall, it was a sticky situation for everyone involved.
An important part of this story is how Avery's journey towards healing from a severe accident impacted everyone in different ways. Everyone who loves someone who gets injured suffers too; that's the nature of love.
I really liked Sarah (Avery's close friend) and Ares (Damien's and Rowan's best friend) too. I really hope to see them in future books in this series.
TROPES:
✔️hockey romance
✔️brother's best friend
✔️Virgin FMC
✔️forbidden love
✔️neighbors
Trigger warnings: terrible accident off-page, violence
Damien (NHL Hockey player) and Avery had to deal with some tough situations, but they also shared some really beautiful moments together, despite others trying to interfere with their relationship.
Many of the choices Rowan (NHL Hockey player) made were made out of love, even if some of them were somewhat selfish. He had to learn a few lessons about how to love.
To be fair, Avery, his little sister, and Damien, his best friend, also made a couple of choices that weren't cool either. Overall, it was a sticky situation for everyone involved.
An important part of this story is how Avery's journey towards healing from a severe accident impacted everyone in different ways. Everyone who loves someone who gets injured suffers too; that's the nature of love.
I really liked Sarah (Avery's close friend) and Ares (Damien's and Rowan's best friend) too. I really hope to see them in future books in this series.
TROPES:
✔️hockey romance
✔️brother's best friend
✔️Virgin FMC
✔️forbidden love
✔️neighbors
Trigger warnings: terrible accident off-page, violence
July 4, 2025
This book is book 1️⃣ of the L.A. Panthers series. This is a brother’s best friend Hockey romance 🏒. This story was sweet and spicy 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️.
This story is about a Hockey player named Damien Colton. He is a bad boy on the ice as well as off of it. He meets Avery who is his best friend’s sister. Damien is the Enforcer who breaks every rule on and off the ice. He meets Avery DiMarco and she is off-limits to him. Avery used to be a figure skater until she got injured on the ice by her skating partner. She is having trouble getting back on the ice and she asks Damien for his help. Her brother forbade her to get back out on the ice. Avery is quite shy and she likes to read books 📚. Avery has always been Damien’s weakness. She is home from college and living next door with her brother. Damien finds Avery to be beautiful with a quiet sweetness. Avery doesn’t know how beautiful she is. She wants to break out of her shell and sharpen her flirt game on him. Her flirting is clumsy and cute and adorable. Damien decides to obliterate the bro code and shoot his shot with Avery. Avery and Damien have scorching hot nights with each other and they are worth every risk. This book was fun to read from start to finish.
This story is about a Hockey player named Damien Colton. He is a bad boy on the ice as well as off of it. He meets Avery who is his best friend’s sister. Damien is the Enforcer who breaks every rule on and off the ice. He meets Avery DiMarco and she is off-limits to him. Avery used to be a figure skater until she got injured on the ice by her skating partner. She is having trouble getting back on the ice and she asks Damien for his help. Her brother forbade her to get back out on the ice. Avery is quite shy and she likes to read books 📚. Avery has always been Damien’s weakness. She is home from college and living next door with her brother. Damien finds Avery to be beautiful with a quiet sweetness. Avery doesn’t know how beautiful she is. She wants to break out of her shell and sharpen her flirt game on him. Her flirting is clumsy and cute and adorable. Damien decides to obliterate the bro code and shoot his shot with Avery. Avery and Damien have scorching hot nights with each other and they are worth every risk. This book was fun to read from start to finish.
June 23, 2025
Damien Colton is in deep. He has the hots for his best friend’s sister, Avery, who he’s been resisting for years. But when she tells him she wants to give him her V-card, all bets are off.
Though I ended up really liking Damien, there were a few moments early on where his boy-obsessed persona came across a little creepy. Give me an alpha male any day, but it was kind of uncomfortable when it felt like he skated a smidge too close to manipulative territory. The further along I read, however, the less I got that vibe. He ended up being a sweet, caring guy and totally redeemed himself - and then some! – as the story progressed.
Happily, Avery wasn’t a pushover. It was nice to see her turn the tables on him every so often. And there were some steamy, will-they-get-caught moments that nearly had me volunteering to stand guard for them, just to make sure they didn’t! I truly did enjoy the story.
And as for the found family of Damien’s hockey besties, Rowan and Ares? They both hooked me hard! There was no way I could help but one-click their books to find out how their happily ever afters come about. I can’t wait to read them!
Though I ended up really liking Damien, there were a few moments early on where his boy-obsessed persona came across a little creepy. Give me an alpha male any day, but it was kind of uncomfortable when it felt like he skated a smidge too close to manipulative territory. The further along I read, however, the less I got that vibe. He ended up being a sweet, caring guy and totally redeemed himself - and then some! – as the story progressed.
Happily, Avery wasn’t a pushover. It was nice to see her turn the tables on him every so often. And there were some steamy, will-they-get-caught moments that nearly had me volunteering to stand guard for them, just to make sure they didn’t! I truly did enjoy the story.
And as for the found family of Damien’s hockey besties, Rowan and Ares? They both hooked me hard! There was no way I could help but one-click their books to find out how their happily ever afters come about. I can’t wait to read them!
July 3, 2025
This plot is a “let’s throw every possible reason why I can’t touch her, but I still will" story. I don't like the characters or the 'plot'. The man whore Damien has always liked Avery. Now he plans to make his moves on her including getting her drunk. She has had a crush on him for years but is so timid and shy that she can barely speak to him. She gets all tongue-tied and doe-eyed, like a 13 yr old. Yes she had a bad skating accident, but is supposedly 20 or 22 (?). Has she even ever been kissed? (boring woman) She has graduated college; I wonder how exactly. Her brother is so overly protective that I'm surprised he lets her go to the coffee shop alone. Supposedly these 3 families live in big mansions near one another but, hey, he can see into her bedroom window. One of my pet peeves by these authors is how they can't seem to find another word to use besides 'smirk'. Let me help: sneer, leer, grin, and smug. He 'smirks' at her all the time. He thinks it's fun that she's scared around him. This feels very icky to me; he's grooming her. I won't read any more of these books. I skipped to the end so technically a DNF.
February 26, 2025
Brother’s best friend trope is always one of my favorites. There’s just something about the “forbidden” romance, the sneaking around, and watching their relationship go from just friends because of a sibling to falling in love and giving it their all when the stakes are high. And this book was no exception. Watching Damien and Avery’s relationship go from 0-100 when she returned home from college was so sweet because of how skittish and closed off Avery was. She had just finished college and is a total book worm with zero experience when it comes to men. And the guy that she falls for? He’s a professional NHL player who also co-owns a real estate company with his two best friends (who are also NHL players) and has more money than he knows what to do with. He can also (and has) have any woman he wants in his bed. But when the girl that he’s always wanted comes back home, he’s completely screwed and changes his ways to show Avery that she can trust him and that he can be everything she needs him to be.
February 15, 2025
Avery and Her best friend Sarah returned from college for summer holidays and her brother was going to pick them up at the airport,something came up and he sent Damien his friend for them.
Sarah suggested that she could flirt with DAmien because he’s hot and successful hockey player .
Avery went with her brother to the practice and when she saw them on the ice, she became nostalgic of years back she was a professional skating but she had a bad accident. When she asked her brother to help her to go onto the ice to skate he refused but when she went onto Damien’s doorstep he couldn’t refuse.
Between them grew a friendship that they can’t stay without one another but if her brother knew what was happening behind his back, because he was over protected about his little sister.
A great book to read , I loved the story.
Recommend to who loves reading sports romance.
Sarah suggested that she could flirt with DAmien because he’s hot and successful hockey player .
Avery went with her brother to the practice and when she saw them on the ice, she became nostalgic of years back she was a professional skating but she had a bad accident. When she asked her brother to help her to go onto the ice to skate he refused but when she went onto Damien’s doorstep he couldn’t refuse.
Between them grew a friendship that they can’t stay without one another but if her brother knew what was happening behind his back, because he was over protected about his little sister.
A great book to read , I loved the story.
Recommend to who loves reading sports romance.
February 13, 2025
OH WOW 😮 this was a sweet and steamy. It was a page turner and the suspense was intense. I was on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t even put it down. Avery had started of flirting with Damien. They had a connection with each other and the chemistry of pleasure and romance. But the physical attraction was intimacy in a sexual manner. They couldn’t fight the temptation any longer how would her brother react to this news of his sister and best friend relationship in this moment. More drama and emotional of feelings.
I definitely recommend this book and you won’t be disappointed. I received advance copy of this book via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion. Trina Jones
I definitely recommend this book and you won’t be disappointed. I received advance copy of this book via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion. Trina Jones
September 14, 2025
I picked up and put down this book so many times I was tempted to DNF. The MFC is portrayed as some weak, tiny frail thing and the MMC comes off more as a predator than a love interest. She’s terrified of him for half of the book! I only finished it when his inner thoughts became spoken ones because before that it was hard not to cringe at how he acted like he was playing with her like a toy instead of an actual person. Hockey brother’s best friend where she’s a bookworm is one of my favorite tropes but this book was a waste of my time for the first half then too drawn out in guilt and over emotion in the last 10% or so. More like a 2.5 for the few and far between touching/sexy scenes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2025
Avery's slip at flirting with Damien was all he needed for his resolve to slip. He is her brother's best friend and trying hard to follow the bro code but being in close proximity to Avery is making it hard and when she wants to get rid of her virginity he has hit his limits. Will going for what he wants with Avery cause him his friendship with her brother. This sports romance kept me cheering on Damien and Avery from start to finish.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 15, 2025
4/5
TROPES:
-hockey romance
-brother's best friend
-"teach me"
-neighbors
-forbidden love
This was a super cute and spicy sports romance! I really enjoyed it. When the hero learns that his best friend's little sister, Avery, wants to lose her v-card- he decides it's HIS job. And he does it so well. ;) This was funny, sweet, and had a lot of heat.
SAFETY:
Virgin/manwhore/celibate: virgin heroine, not a manwhore hero
OM/OW: none
Cheating/sharing: none
HEA?: yes! <3
My bookshelves may contain spoilers.
TROPES:
-hockey romance
-brother's best friend
-"teach me"
-neighbors
-forbidden love
This was a super cute and spicy sports romance! I really enjoyed it. When the hero learns that his best friend's little sister, Avery, wants to lose her v-card- he decides it's HIS job. And he does it so well. ;) This was funny, sweet, and had a lot of heat.
SAFETY:
Virgin/manwhore/celibate: virgin heroine, not a manwhore hero
OM/OW: none
Cheating/sharing: none
HEA?: yes! <3
My bookshelves may contain spoilers.
March 24, 2025
DNF 14%
I usually love the hockey roms, especially with the Brothers best friend trope thrown in. I don't know what it was about this one though but I didn't like it. Up to where I stopped the dialog felt stilted and the flow felt off. Avery was just meh. Damien was the usual f boy and I know that that's a normal trope & normally I'm fine with it because there's some sense of redemption in the guy when he thinks of the girl. With Damian though it felt like to me that Avery was more like a conquest to him then the girl that's his forever. There was just something about him I didn't like.
I usually love the hockey roms, especially with the Brothers best friend trope thrown in. I don't know what it was about this one though but I didn't like it. Up to where I stopped the dialog felt stilted and the flow felt off. Avery was just meh. Damien was the usual f boy and I know that that's a normal trope & normally I'm fine with it because there's some sense of redemption in the guy when he thinks of the girl. With Damian though it felt like to me that Avery was more like a conquest to him then the girl that's his forever. There was just something about him I didn't like.
April 1, 2025
I love hockey romances and this was a fantastic one.
Avery is staying with her brother Rowan, who is the captain of the hockey team. His best friends Ares and Damien live within walking distance. The one rule that Rowan has is to stay away from Avery.
As hard as he tries Damien can not help but fall in love with her. After awhile he realizes that she feels the same.
When Rowan founds out what is going on, he tries to break them up but of course it causes a lot of problems. And they come to the understanding that Avery and Damian are meant to be.
Avery is staying with her brother Rowan, who is the captain of the hockey team. His best friends Ares and Damien live within walking distance. The one rule that Rowan has is to stay away from Avery.
As hard as he tries Damien can not help but fall in love with her. After awhile he realizes that she feels the same.
When Rowan founds out what is going on, he tries to break them up but of course it causes a lot of problems. And they come to the understanding that Avery and Damian are meant to be.
August 4, 2025
This book is professional hockey, best friend’s sister.
Damien has always had a thing for Avery but because of who she is she was off limits. When he gets asked to pick her up from the Airport she is right back in the front of his mind.
Avery has never let herself think about Damien. He is her brothers best friend and besides she is just a shy bookworm. What would a hockey playboy want with her.
Tropes:
Best friends sister
Hockey
Secret dating
He’s a player
She’s a virgin
He falls first and harder
Basically if you like hockey romance you’ll like this book!
Damien has always had a thing for Avery but because of who she is she was off limits. When he gets asked to pick her up from the Airport she is right back in the front of his mind.
Avery has never let herself think about Damien. He is her brothers best friend and besides she is just a shy bookworm. What would a hockey playboy want with her.
Tropes:
Best friends sister
Hockey
Secret dating
He’s a player
She’s a virgin
He falls first and harder
Basically if you like hockey romance you’ll like this book!
February 9, 2025
OMG Vitina has written one ice melting, panty wet romance book that is going to have your heart racing and mouthwatering while reading about Damien who is a playboy hockey player who breaks the bro code with his best friend Rowan's little sister Avery. Trust me when I say that this 10/10-star romance read is BLAZING HOT and a must-read book. Thankyou Vitina for writing a very enthralling romance book I devoured and loved reading.
February 9, 2025
A wonderful story, in love with your brother's best friend, this is the story of Avery and Damien. Damien does what is actually forbidden and that is you never go with the sister of your best friend, But despite the bro-code feelings do not let themselves be stopped and it does not take long before things get hot and steamy.
I received an Advance Reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an Advance Reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 1, 2025
Hooked
This was my first time reading this author's work, and I really like it! I finished this within 2 days. Initially, I was slightly bothered by Avery's shyness and frequent blushing, but this became more understandable as the story progressed. You can tell Avery has low self-esteem about herself, but Damien's help brings out the real her. Usually, I read much darker stuff, but this one was great! It totally kept me hooked the whole time.
This was my first time reading this author's work, and I really like it! I finished this within 2 days. Initially, I was slightly bothered by Avery's shyness and frequent blushing, but this became more understandable as the story progressed. You can tell Avery has low self-esteem about herself, but Damien's help brings out the real her. Usually, I read much darker stuff, but this one was great! It totally kept me hooked the whole time.
April 14, 2025
The hockey god and his princess
A hockey god(read playboy/manwhore) falling for his best friend’s sister. Lots of deep emotions on both sides of that relationship. Strong feelings and deep insecurities plus add in the overprotective big brother and the explosion is bound to happen. It all works out for the HEA but good hockey and even better steamy scenes along the way.
Read and enjoy, I did..
A hockey god(read playboy/manwhore) falling for his best friend’s sister. Lots of deep emotions on both sides of that relationship. Strong feelings and deep insecurities plus add in the overprotective big brother and the explosion is bound to happen. It all works out for the HEA but good hockey and even better steamy scenes along the way.
Read and enjoy, I did..
April 21, 2025
At least it was quick
First...if you know little to nothing about hockey, don't make it the backdrop for your book. How an NHL teams plays so infrequently and how opposing players have time to stalk out women in other cities is beyond me. Also, an enforcer and an offensive star are not the same player.
Now for the actual romance, there was bo character development, no relationship building, they were just in love.
It was a quick read, so I got through the whole thing.
First...if you know little to nothing about hockey, don't make it the backdrop for your book. How an NHL teams plays so infrequently and how opposing players have time to stalk out women in other cities is beyond me. Also, an enforcer and an offensive star are not the same player.
Now for the actual romance, there was bo character development, no relationship building, they were just in love.
It was a quick read, so I got through the whole thing.
June 30, 2025
Had me
Ok this book was a solid 4 star, until the end. I get the in love with brother's best friend. The sneaking behind his back, no big deal. However, the hockey timeline didn't work. I could overlook that since there isn't really a lot of hockey going on, but the end! It was so corny!! Honestly if it would have been that corny throughout, I wouldn't have finished it. It's so bad I'm not continuing with the series & wouldn't recommend. On to the next!
Ok this book was a solid 4 star, until the end. I get the in love with brother's best friend. The sneaking behind his back, no big deal. However, the hockey timeline didn't work. I could overlook that since there isn't really a lot of hockey going on, but the end! It was so corny!! Honestly if it would have been that corny throughout, I wouldn't have finished it. It's so bad I'm not continuing with the series & wouldn't recommend. On to the next!
July 12, 2025
Great book
I really liked this book! Brothers best friend romance, are my new favorite trope. Damien and Avery are so good together! The way he took it slow and was patient with her. How he made har believe in herself… was everything. I think the whole fight didn’t last long enough. It was wrapped up way too fast. I would’ve liked it to have lasted longer. I just needed more of the story.
I really liked this book! Brothers best friend romance, are my new favorite trope. Damien and Avery are so good together! The way he took it slow and was patient with her. How he made har believe in herself… was everything. I think the whole fight didn’t last long enough. It was wrapped up way too fast. I would’ve liked it to have lasted longer. I just needed more of the story.
November 13, 2025
This was okay. It was originally going to be a three star review because I just didn't feel like the MMC truly loved the FMC until about 80% of the book. But once that 80% hit, hot damn, I quickly changed my mind and truly believed he loved her, lol.
The book did need some extra editing, especially near the end (a couple of typos, not a big deal, but then there were things that happened earlier on that were retconned, and the hockey....oof. do not read this book for good hockey)
The book did need some extra editing, especially near the end (a couple of typos, not a big deal, but then there were things that happened earlier on that were retconned, and the hockey....oof. do not read this book for good hockey)
December 27, 2025
2.5 stars rounding up. This started out half good mostly ok. Then you get to the spice and it did absolutely nothing for me. The book then becomes pretty much one long spicy scene after another truly draining any joy I was getting out of this book. There was still some good here which is why I’m rounding up, but the second half really started to make me regret reading this one. The climax though rushed (unlike the spicy climaxes) was good (also unlike the spicy climaxes)
February 18, 2025
I loved it
I haven't binge read a book in a day in a long time. I absolutely loved this book. The only bad thing about this book is its way too short...but then again I'd consider 500 pages too short. This book was just so good that I didn't want it to end. I can't freaking wait for the next one.
I haven't binge read a book in a day in a long time. I absolutely loved this book. The only bad thing about this book is its way too short...but then again I'd consider 500 pages too short. This book was just so good that I didn't want it to end. I can't freaking wait for the next one.
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