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Fury #1
Love & Hockey
NHL’s golden boy, Bishop Maverick, knows all too well about wanting something you can’t have. It seems his entire life, everything he’s really wanted was out of reach. So what does a man do when he has so little? He pours everything into the only thing that he has left: Hockey.
This sport has brought him a family, hope and something to work for. What he didn’t ever expect: A forbidden obsession with a green-eyed, wild child with a soul that matches his own.
Valor Sullivan was raised on the ice by a single father who inspired her love for hockey. With a mouth that would make a sailor blush, and fiery red hair she is a force to be reckoned with on and off the ice. She’s worked hard for everything she has, but one thing that still remains out of tantalizing reach is Bishop.
Eight years older and one of her father's closest friends, Valor knows that she and the NHL Rookie are endgame and belong together. But with a connection that spans years, fate blurs the lines of past and present to pull these two together. The only question is...Were they always meant to be? Or were they damned from the start?
Love & Hockey is a standalone novel that deals with sensitive subjects some may find triggering.
This sport has brought him a family, hope and something to work for. What he didn’t ever expect: A forbidden obsession with a green-eyed, wild child with a soul that matches his own.
Valor Sullivan was raised on the ice by a single father who inspired her love for hockey. With a mouth that would make a sailor blush, and fiery red hair she is a force to be reckoned with on and off the ice. She’s worked hard for everything she has, but one thing that still remains out of tantalizing reach is Bishop.
Eight years older and one of her father's closest friends, Valor knows that she and the NHL Rookie are endgame and belong together. But with a connection that spans years, fate blurs the lines of past and present to pull these two together. The only question is...Were they always meant to be? Or were they damned from the start?
Love & Hockey is a standalone novel that deals with sensitive subjects some may find triggering.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2020
567 people are currently reading
4287 people want to read
About the author
Monty Jay
15 books4,149 followersMonty Jay is a dark romance author with titles published in multiple countries. Their books are for hopeless romantics with wicked hearts looking for their next morally grey hero. They call the Appalachian mountains home, along with their two furry friends, Poe and Maeve. When they aren’t writing you can find them reading anything Stephen King, in a tattoo chair or binging a new true crime documentary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 383 reviews
March 8, 2024
4,5
“But slowly, I accepted that our past was never going to change. I either had to move on from it or leave her out of my life completely.”
This book is everything I need to get back into good reading.
The characters are amazing, this story is emotional and beautiful!
It’s worth reading.
“But slowly, I accepted that our past was never going to change. I either had to move on from it or leave her out of my life completely.”
This book is everything I need to get back into good reading.
The characters are amazing, this story is emotional and beautiful!
It’s worth reading.
August 29, 2023
It’s us. It’s waves crashing onto the shore with a ferocity that I can’t explain. Her lips are my safe haven. They want to know all the places I have been damaged and heal them.
5/5 ⭐ 2/5 🌶️
Monty's lyrical writing never ceases to surprise me! It is ethereal, soulful, a writing that seamlessly paints pictures in my mind and provokes powerful feelings! As with the Hollow boys series, this follows the same pattern, one that digs into my heart until it conquers a piece of it for its own! Monty's words on paper were magnificent!!!
It feels as like the characters in this book, Bishop and Valor, narrate their own story for us. And it is simply captivating! The angst in this book! The ANGST! I felt my heart break for these characters so many times. These two were old souls, broken since childhood, that tried to find their place in the world and resolve the chaos inside them, their demons and that electric bond they seem to have!
This was age-gap (8 years). Valor meets Bishop when she is just a child and along with her father, he becomes her hero. Bishop is there for her saddest and most brilliant moments. He grows up with her. When Valor starts her teenage years, Bishop is well into his way of a hockey star and a playboy. There is a lot of angst, a lot of “coming of age” for both characters. It isn’t until much later, once Valor is fully grown up and into her legal age that Bishop contemplates on what their bond really means.
This is a very character driven story with both main characters being incredible. Both their positive and negative traits were alluring. Their relationship and chemistry was magnetic! They made so many mistakes, they hurt each other and healed each other. Their story wasn’t easy, it was full of bumps and obstacles but damn if it wasn’t beautiful.
The secondary characters were also amazing. From Vallie’s father to their friends, all of them had their own role in this book. I am so ready to dive into the stories of Rigg and Nico, and Kai. So excited!
Did I like it? Loved it.
Would I reread it? Yes!
5/5 ⭐ 2/5 🌶️
Monty's lyrical writing never ceases to surprise me! It is ethereal, soulful, a writing that seamlessly paints pictures in my mind and provokes powerful feelings! As with the Hollow boys series, this follows the same pattern, one that digs into my heart until it conquers a piece of it for its own! Monty's words on paper were magnificent!!!
It feels as like the characters in this book, Bishop and Valor, narrate their own story for us. And it is simply captivating! The angst in this book! The ANGST! I felt my heart break for these characters so many times. These two were old souls, broken since childhood, that tried to find their place in the world and resolve the chaos inside them, their demons and that electric bond they seem to have!
This was age-gap (8 years). Valor meets Bishop when she is just a child and along with her father, he becomes her hero. Bishop is there for her saddest and most brilliant moments. He grows up with her. When Valor starts her teenage years, Bishop is well into his way of a hockey star and a playboy. There is a lot of angst, a lot of “coming of age” for both characters. It isn’t until much later, once Valor is fully grown up and into her legal age that Bishop contemplates on what their bond really means.
This is a very character driven story with both main characters being incredible. Both their positive and negative traits were alluring. Their relationship and chemistry was magnetic! They made so many mistakes, they hurt each other and healed each other. Their story wasn’t easy, it was full of bumps and obstacles but damn if it wasn’t beautiful.
The secondary characters were also amazing. From Vallie’s father to their friends, all of them had their own role in this book. I am so ready to dive into the stories of Rigg and Nico, and Kai. So excited!
Did I like it? Loved it.
Would I reread it? Yes!
August 28, 2024
MAAANNN my emotions were everywhere in this. Sooo much was going on and my heart broke for Valor the entire time. I just wanted to punch Bishop in the face.
I enjoyed this but I think I just struggled with Bishop if I am being honest. His actions just irritated me so much. BUT, Riggs... was my favorite in this series and I am so ready for book 2!!!
"You're going to be what destroys me, Vallie. But I think I'm going to let you do it anyway."
-sports
-age gap (starts when she's 13, he's 21) *NOTHING happens until she is of age (18)
-forbidden
-ALL THE EMOTIONS!!!
I enjoyed this but I think I just struggled with Bishop if I am being honest. His actions just irritated me so much. BUT, Riggs... was my favorite in this series and I am so ready for book 2!!!
"You're going to be what destroys me, Vallie. But I think I'm going to let you do it anyway."
-sports
-age gap (starts when she's 13, he's 21) *NOTHING happens until she is of age (18)
-forbidden
-ALL THE EMOTIONS!!!
March 10, 2024
Love & Hockey is a book that was recommended to me and I finally got to it, a year later but here we are! 😂 This is an angsty, emotional, hockey romance where the hero and heroine both play hockey, it has age gap (8 years), she was raised by her single dad and she falls for her dad’s teammate/friend!
This read was real angsty and emotional, filled with lots of melodrama and flowery writing (and I don’t mean that in a negative way). We follow Valor when she’s 10 and meets 18-year old Bishop, a hockey rookie who is playing with her dad. Valor was raised by her single dad, who is a hockey legend, and she has played for as long as she remembers too. I did love all the hockey time we get in this book! Each chapter starts to follow different ages in Valor and Bishop’s lives and we see how their relationship evolves over time. It definitely gets complex and messy and angsty. Lots of “not the right time”, sneaking around, hearts hurting, time passing, push-and-pull, etc.
This story also has a connection between Valor and Bishop and we see how they’ve both been raised without mothers and how that has affected their lives. Hockey saved B’s life and seeing how important it is so both characters was just so good. The prologue sets up the emotional angst of the story and I liked how this explores how a character can be both a villain of one person’s story, and a hero or guardian angel in someone else’s story. There are a ton of flashbacks in the story, even throughout each chapter where we are on a specific age of the characters we’d still get flashbacks. A lot of inner thoughts and not a ton of dialogue as well. Also if the hero being in the heroine’s life from when she is younger (he is younger too to a degree) isn’t your jam, maybe this one won’t be for you. This book was the author’s debut I believe and there are some minor things with certain dialogue or things I felt like could have been edited more, but for the most part I enjoyed this one. This was my first read from the author and I’d read more!
CW: childhood SA (mentioned, alluded to), alcoholism, drug addiction, grief, loss, abandonment, attempted suicide (side character, graphically on page), bipolar disorder (side character), depression
This read was real angsty and emotional, filled with lots of melodrama and flowery writing (and I don’t mean that in a negative way). We follow Valor when she’s 10 and meets 18-year old Bishop, a hockey rookie who is playing with her dad. Valor was raised by her single dad, who is a hockey legend, and she has played for as long as she remembers too. I did love all the hockey time we get in this book! Each chapter starts to follow different ages in Valor and Bishop’s lives and we see how their relationship evolves over time. It definitely gets complex and messy and angsty. Lots of “not the right time”, sneaking around, hearts hurting, time passing, push-and-pull, etc.
This story also has a connection between Valor and Bishop and we see how they’ve both been raised without mothers and how that has affected their lives. Hockey saved B’s life and seeing how important it is so both characters was just so good. The prologue sets up the emotional angst of the story and I liked how this explores how a character can be both a villain of one person’s story, and a hero or guardian angel in someone else’s story. There are a ton of flashbacks in the story, even throughout each chapter where we are on a specific age of the characters we’d still get flashbacks. A lot of inner thoughts and not a ton of dialogue as well. Also if the hero being in the heroine’s life from when she is younger (he is younger too to a degree) isn’t your jam, maybe this one won’t be for you. This book was the author’s debut I believe and there are some minor things with certain dialogue or things I felt like could have been edited more, but for the most part I enjoyed this one. This was my first read from the author and I’d read more!
CW: childhood SA (mentioned, alluded to), alcoholism, drug addiction, grief, loss, abandonment, attempted suicide (side character, graphically on page), bipolar disorder (side character), depression
May 1, 2021
DNF @ Chapter 4
You cannot believe my disappointment in this one - I love hockey romances and I love (legal, everyone is an actual adult) age gap romances, so this sounded right up my alley. But I don’t like age gap romances where they meet when she’s 10 and he’s 18, and he plays a father/uncle figure in her life. Yeah, no thanks, that’s just grooming.
Even if it wasn’t for that, there was so much misogyny, shaming other women for feminine traits & interests and an entirely ‘pick me’ attitude in the first four chapters (and prologue), that I never would’ve been able to make it through the whole book. Not to mention the referring to someone who is clearly depressed/traumatised as no longer human and the horrid portrayal of depression, addiction & trauma responses.
On top of all of that, the writing was lacklustre and repetitive and didn’t push the storyline along - I don’t need a whole treatise on soulmates, let’s get to the actual story. Way too much inner monologue and info dumping, and god awful flashbacks that just highlight the incredibly wrong nature of their relationship.
All in all, absolutely would not recommend - four chapters was way too much, not sure how anyone made it through this.
You cannot believe my disappointment in this one - I love hockey romances and I love (legal, everyone is an actual adult) age gap romances, so this sounded right up my alley. But I don’t like age gap romances where they meet when she’s 10 and he’s 18, and he plays a father/uncle figure in her life. Yeah, no thanks, that’s just grooming.
Even if it wasn’t for that, there was so much misogyny, shaming other women for feminine traits & interests and an entirely ‘pick me’ attitude in the first four chapters (and prologue), that I never would’ve been able to make it through the whole book. Not to mention the referring to someone who is clearly depressed/traumatised as no longer human and the horrid portrayal of depression, addiction & trauma responses.
On top of all of that, the writing was lacklustre and repetitive and didn’t push the storyline along - I don’t need a whole treatise on soulmates, let’s get to the actual story. Way too much inner monologue and info dumping, and god awful flashbacks that just highlight the incredibly wrong nature of their relationship.
All in all, absolutely would not recommend - four chapters was way too much, not sure how anyone made it through this.
August 18, 2025
this has crack in it
Read
August 28, 2025Dnf 30 % It’s just too slow. It’s nicely done though, but romance is a stretch. It’s a lot of hockey but not love.
July 24, 2020
Love & Hockey is Monty Jay debut novel and she definitely started with a BANG!!
Bishop is a rookie for the Chicago Fury hockey team when he meets Vallie for the first time. She is his team mate's little girl. Vallie is a feisty 10 year old who dreams to become a legend in the Women Hockey league. They meet on an ice ring and even if they are at different stage of their lives they become fast friends and they seem to immediately understand each other.
If you believe in fate this story will bring you on a great journey, and if you don't, I'm sure you'll reconsider it when you turn the last page.
“What they do not tell you as a child is dreams become messy. They get hazy, bumps get in the way, curves take you in different directions. Life happens. Then when you finally accomplish your dream, you realize just how much more work you have to put in to make that dream enjoyable.”
This story was an emotional rollercoaster that kept me gripped from beginning to end. Chapter after chapter we can see our main characters growing and getting attached to each other more and more.
I loved to read about Vallie and Bishop lives, to see how their 8 years age gap is not something to frown upon because their relationship is based on a deep friendship and affection and their feelings are never out of place.
I recommend to read this book to everyone but if you have some triggers be careful.
Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author.
July 24, 2020
What a beautiful heart wrenching story. Hats off to Monty on her amazing story telling. I am in awe that this is her debut in the writing world . I was wowed by her way with words. Get ready for all the feelings and grab your box of tissues this is an emotional ride !! I fell in love with Bishop & Vallie their journey was so much more than I could have ever expected .
~~Michele McMullen ~~
~~Michele McMullen ~~
July 23, 2020
WAIT- this is Monty Jay’s DEBUT novel?! Wow. Friends, this is someone to watch, but Love and Hockey reads better than books (that I love) by authors a million books into their career. This book was RIVETING- complex, so emotionally resonant and moving, and so, so enjoyable. Love and Hockey is the Calder Memorial Trophy of debut novels- I’m floored.
If you have any doubts about investing in this new author, just read the prologue. From the first paragraph, I knew this story would have so much depth, that it would tug on so many emotions. The prologue is a gut punch- truly heartbreaking and emotionally staggering. I felt so raw, so moved yet intrigued- what an absorbing way to begin this truly beautiful love story.
Our story centers on Valor, the daughter of a legendary NHL hockey pro and up and coming hockey star in her own right. As a child, she was abandoned by her mother- so she’s always grown up just with her dad- and she’s a pistol, an endearing tomboy with a fire in her belly for her sport. Her family has always been her father’s team, which causes her to cross paths with young hotshot rookie Bishop, drafted to her father’s team at 18. She loves him instantly- but he’s 8 years older than her, but here is an unspoken connection and kinship they recognize in each other. So, despite their age difference, over the years they become unlikely friends, both in hockey and life. Valor’s love for him only grows and matures as she does, and soon Bishop is thinking of 18 year old Valor differently. They embark on a forbidden, secret romantic journey as they embrace their feelings and revel in their need for each other- their love was fated, they are soul mates. But what fate didn’t account for was baggage. Both characters have a deep fear of abandonment, of getting their hearts hurt by those that are supposed to protect them. That mutual pain connected them and helped them find safety with each other, but embarking on a romantic journey requires new trust, new vulnerability, and inspires new fear- a fear that rivals their soulmate pull. Their love story is so alluring- effervescent and heart warming in places and heart shattering in others
Both of these characters are so nuanced- so interesting and empathetic. Valor defies trope- she’s a snarky tomboy who is insecure but brash. She compensates for her wounded heart by keeping her inner circle tight and giving all of her heart to Bishop and hockey. And Bishop is SO swoony- packed with so much emotional complexity. We get to know him a bit slower, but what we find is a sweet and tender man who loves fiercely but is suffering from gaping wounds he never addressed. The linear narrative really works for the character development and chemistry. We have a variety of time periods/chapters focused on different ages of our leads, starting back when Valor was a little girl- with Jay giving us these incredibly impactful, small but momentous moments in the evolution of these two as a pair. The chemistry here is deep and evolves with our character’s journey- from mutual admiration to respectful friendship to budding attraction to deep longing and profound emotional interconnection. There is a spark between them, a magnetic pull that I could feel the force off on every page. And the emotional range is really compelling.
I was also impressed by the technical quality of Monty Jay’s writing - the pace flows beautifully, the dialogue is engaging and sharp, the plot is so well sequenced and twists unfold beautifully, and the character voice is so pronounced and compelling. The secondary characters are all so fantastic- their extended friend families add such richness to the story- both in helping us know and understand our main characters but also in bringing added layers of emotional impact as their stories seep into this one. Nico, Riggs, and Kai all were so captivating even in a secondary seat, and I’m hopeful they get their own books. AND, it is clear that MJ really loves hockey- hockey is not a random choice here, some plot device. The sport is a living breathing character- instrumental to every character, part of every moment- that love, that role of sport really is what a sports romance should be about. The way the plot comes all together is also sobrilliant- I wasn’t sure how all these elements were going to come together, but then they do- HOLY SMOKES- it was stunning. Twists I didn’t expect, tears I wasn’t expecting to cry, a deep fulfillment I didn’t even know I needed. This is a truly masterfully constructed story.
But, the emotional impact of this story- the romantic themes explored, are what I loved most and what made me feel so moved by this romance. The exploration of how fate intersects with love, how love battles with insecurities and pain, the role of acceptance and the concept of being at home in someone else’s soul all play into these characters' paths. At the center, though, is a charming nod to the power of fated love when combined with human free will. How fate can tie people together so seamlessly, so magically, that the line between their stories blurs, but fate itself is just a catalyst to love, just an open door. Being fated to love someone only draws their souls together, what marries those souls is the active choice to give that person your love freely, to trust them with it. And that is the journey of these characters- loving was easy, but giving into that love? So much harder.
This book is one of the best surprises of 2020 for me, and a great reminder of why we all need to not just stick to our usual players- I would not have wanted to miss this read! Monty Jay is clearly an incredible talent- she’s earned a new fan in me with this phenomenal debut, and I’m planning on stalking her everywhere because I’m so excited for the next in the series. If this is what this author brings to the table for a FIRST book, I can only imagine what is in store for us as she continues to evolve. Whatever it is- I’ll be one-clicking it!
Note: there are some triggering subjects in here. One, in fact, is at times triggering to me given my history, but I’m still glad I read this book. And, those elements are less within the romance of our characters and more so external of their relationship, but still play a key role.
If you have any doubts about investing in this new author, just read the prologue. From the first paragraph, I knew this story would have so much depth, that it would tug on so many emotions. The prologue is a gut punch- truly heartbreaking and emotionally staggering. I felt so raw, so moved yet intrigued- what an absorbing way to begin this truly beautiful love story.
Our story centers on Valor, the daughter of a legendary NHL hockey pro and up and coming hockey star in her own right. As a child, she was abandoned by her mother- so she’s always grown up just with her dad- and she’s a pistol, an endearing tomboy with a fire in her belly for her sport. Her family has always been her father’s team, which causes her to cross paths with young hotshot rookie Bishop, drafted to her father’s team at 18. She loves him instantly- but he’s 8 years older than her, but here is an unspoken connection and kinship they recognize in each other. So, despite their age difference, over the years they become unlikely friends, both in hockey and life. Valor’s love for him only grows and matures as she does, and soon Bishop is thinking of 18 year old Valor differently. They embark on a forbidden, secret romantic journey as they embrace their feelings and revel in their need for each other- their love was fated, they are soul mates. But what fate didn’t account for was baggage. Both characters have a deep fear of abandonment, of getting their hearts hurt by those that are supposed to protect them. That mutual pain connected them and helped them find safety with each other, but embarking on a romantic journey requires new trust, new vulnerability, and inspires new fear- a fear that rivals their soulmate pull. Their love story is so alluring- effervescent and heart warming in places and heart shattering in others
Both of these characters are so nuanced- so interesting and empathetic. Valor defies trope- she’s a snarky tomboy who is insecure but brash. She compensates for her wounded heart by keeping her inner circle tight and giving all of her heart to Bishop and hockey. And Bishop is SO swoony- packed with so much emotional complexity. We get to know him a bit slower, but what we find is a sweet and tender man who loves fiercely but is suffering from gaping wounds he never addressed. The linear narrative really works for the character development and chemistry. We have a variety of time periods/chapters focused on different ages of our leads, starting back when Valor was a little girl- with Jay giving us these incredibly impactful, small but momentous moments in the evolution of these two as a pair. The chemistry here is deep and evolves with our character’s journey- from mutual admiration to respectful friendship to budding attraction to deep longing and profound emotional interconnection. There is a spark between them, a magnetic pull that I could feel the force off on every page. And the emotional range is really compelling.
I was also impressed by the technical quality of Monty Jay’s writing - the pace flows beautifully, the dialogue is engaging and sharp, the plot is so well sequenced and twists unfold beautifully, and the character voice is so pronounced and compelling. The secondary characters are all so fantastic- their extended friend families add such richness to the story- both in helping us know and understand our main characters but also in bringing added layers of emotional impact as their stories seep into this one. Nico, Riggs, and Kai all were so captivating even in a secondary seat, and I’m hopeful they get their own books. AND, it is clear that MJ really loves hockey- hockey is not a random choice here, some plot device. The sport is a living breathing character- instrumental to every character, part of every moment- that love, that role of sport really is what a sports romance should be about. The way the plot comes all together is also sobrilliant- I wasn’t sure how all these elements were going to come together, but then they do- HOLY SMOKES- it was stunning. Twists I didn’t expect, tears I wasn’t expecting to cry, a deep fulfillment I didn’t even know I needed. This is a truly masterfully constructed story.
But, the emotional impact of this story- the romantic themes explored, are what I loved most and what made me feel so moved by this romance. The exploration of how fate intersects with love, how love battles with insecurities and pain, the role of acceptance and the concept of being at home in someone else’s soul all play into these characters' paths. At the center, though, is a charming nod to the power of fated love when combined with human free will. How fate can tie people together so seamlessly, so magically, that the line between their stories blurs, but fate itself is just a catalyst to love, just an open door. Being fated to love someone only draws their souls together, what marries those souls is the active choice to give that person your love freely, to trust them with it. And that is the journey of these characters- loving was easy, but giving into that love? So much harder.
This book is one of the best surprises of 2020 for me, and a great reminder of why we all need to not just stick to our usual players- I would not have wanted to miss this read! Monty Jay is clearly an incredible talent- she’s earned a new fan in me with this phenomenal debut, and I’m planning on stalking her everywhere because I’m so excited for the next in the series. If this is what this author brings to the table for a FIRST book, I can only imagine what is in store for us as she continues to evolve. Whatever it is- I’ll be one-clicking it!
Note: there are some triggering subjects in here. One, in fact, is at times triggering to me given my history, but I’m still glad I read this book. And, those elements are less within the romance of our characters and more so external of their relationship, but still play a key role.
July 20, 2020
“I know that I have loved you before, I will love you in this life, and I'll love you in the one after. It's always us, Vallie."
4.5 stars!
An emotional and angsty romantic rollercoaster that is raw, intense and full of chemistry, I loved this book! A forbidden-ish sports romance with all the feels, the start of a new series, and a seriously impressive debut for author, Monty Jay.
Valor Sullivan was abandoned by her mother as a young child and was raised by her beloved single father, an NHL legend. She grew up on the ice, surrounded by rough and rude hockey players, and wanting nothing more than to play the sport she loves… and Bishop Maverick.
Bishop is just starting out in the NHL after a difficult childhood, and with a bucketload of baggage. Hockey is his life, and he is thrilled to be getting his chance to play with the Chicago Fury.
Valor and Bishop meet when she is ten, and he is 18. They bond over their love of hockey and their traumatising childhood abandonment, and they form a close connection that only deepens over the years as Valor grows up. They taunt and tease, and Bishop is there for Valor whenever she needs him, and she falls for him hard.
It’s a beautiful relationship, and we get to see glimpses of their unique friendship through the years, until suddenly Valor is all grown up and finally going after the man she wants.
The chemistry between these two is electric. You can feel it, and I was pining for something to happen just as much as Valor was! But Bishop is cognisant of their age gap, and of his relationship with her father, plus his experiences with love have left him closed off and he’s not interested in a relationship. Knowing that Valor deserves better than that, he tries to keep his distance…. until he can’t.
This is very much a character-driven story. Bishop is just amazing - sweet and strong, with a huge heart and a side of dirty alpha. But his past has hurt him and left him with emotional damage that he struggles to overcome. He has issues to deal with, but you can’t help but completely fall for him. And Valor is such a great heroine, feisty, bold, and completely filterless, she has a mouth like a trucker and is absolutely fabulous! She grew up in the locker room and she’s way older than her years, and she has no trouble telling Bishop what she wants. But as much as she loves him, she’s strong enough to not take any crap from him either, and I just loved her!
Their relationship is passionate, raw, intense and completely all-consuming. It’s like two souls coming together, and it’s so beautifully written.
But their path isn’t an easy one. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster, and they go through so much as they wrestle their demons, deal with their issues and fight for their happy ending. And what a fight it is! Twisty and unexpected, there are multiple shocks and surprises in their journey. My heart ached and I cried at the heartbreak and beauty of it all. But OMG, it’s worth it, and I was completely swept up in their love story.
There's a great collection of side characters that bring so much to the story. Valor's Dad is just beautiful, and her best friend, Riggs, and Bishop's team-mates, Nico and Kai, are well developed and just begging to have their own stories told, and I can't wait to continue on with this series
Monty Jay has delivered a wonderful debut. Her writing is raw and emotive, and she tells her story beautifully. The book finishes well, with an epilogue which provides perfect closure, and I finished it hugging my kindle with a huge grin (and a glass or two of wine).
I loved it! 4.5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars!
An emotional and angsty romantic rollercoaster that is raw, intense and full of chemistry, I loved this book! A forbidden-ish sports romance with all the feels, the start of a new series, and a seriously impressive debut for author, Monty Jay.
Valor Sullivan was abandoned by her mother as a young child and was raised by her beloved single father, an NHL legend. She grew up on the ice, surrounded by rough and rude hockey players, and wanting nothing more than to play the sport she loves… and Bishop Maverick.
Bishop is just starting out in the NHL after a difficult childhood, and with a bucketload of baggage. Hockey is his life, and he is thrilled to be getting his chance to play with the Chicago Fury.
Valor and Bishop meet when she is ten, and he is 18. They bond over their love of hockey and their traumatising childhood abandonment, and they form a close connection that only deepens over the years as Valor grows up. They taunt and tease, and Bishop is there for Valor whenever she needs him, and she falls for him hard.
B walked into my life thinking he was just another person, but he walked out of it being the other piece of my soul.
It’s a beautiful relationship, and we get to see glimpses of their unique friendship through the years, until suddenly Valor is all grown up and finally going after the man she wants.
Bishop is more than just a person to me, he’s my person.
The chemistry between these two is electric. You can feel it, and I was pining for something to happen just as much as Valor was! But Bishop is cognisant of their age gap, and of his relationship with her father, plus his experiences with love have left him closed off and he’s not interested in a relationship. Knowing that Valor deserves better than that, he tries to keep his distance…. until he can’t.
“What does that make me, B?"
Without hesitation, no doubt, he responds with something I never saw coming.
"You're everything, Vallie."
This is very much a character-driven story. Bishop is just amazing - sweet and strong, with a huge heart and a side of dirty alpha. But his past has hurt him and left him with emotional damage that he struggles to overcome. He has issues to deal with, but you can’t help but completely fall for him. And Valor is such a great heroine, feisty, bold, and completely filterless, she has a mouth like a trucker and is absolutely fabulous! She grew up in the locker room and she’s way older than her years, and she has no trouble telling Bishop what she wants. But as much as she loves him, she’s strong enough to not take any crap from him either, and I just loved her!
She’s the only person who knows all of me. Who gets to see every single piece of me. The one person who makes my days a little more vivid. I place my forehead on hers, snapping at her bottom lip.
“You, Valor Sullivan, are what magic is made of.”
Their relationship is passionate, raw, intense and completely all-consuming. It’s like two souls coming together, and it’s so beautifully written.
Valor and I were so broken that our pieces had found a way to mend each other. Our story was a tragically beautiful mosaic created from trauma. It’s why we were so connected. There were pieces of me holding hers together and vice versa.
But their path isn’t an easy one. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster, and they go through so much as they wrestle their demons, deal with their issues and fight for their happy ending. And what a fight it is! Twisty and unexpected, there are multiple shocks and surprises in their journey. My heart ached and I cried at the heartbreak and beauty of it all. But OMG, it’s worth it, and I was completely swept up in their love story.
“Bishop?” My voice is slightly broken, soft, gentle, it doesn't even sound like me.
“Vallie?”
“It's always been us, right?”
The pained expression that spans across his face almost brings tears to my eyes. The mask of the confident man I know is gone, and in its place is just B. He looks so broken, and all I want to do is open up my arms and let him find refuge inside my skin. I want to protect him from the pain.
He drops his head to my forehead and kisses the tip of my nose.
“It'll always be us, Val.”
There's a great collection of side characters that bring so much to the story. Valor's Dad is just beautiful, and her best friend, Riggs, and Bishop's team-mates, Nico and Kai, are well developed and just begging to have their own stories told, and I can't wait to continue on with this series
Monty Jay has delivered a wonderful debut. Her writing is raw and emotive, and she tells her story beautifully. The book finishes well, with an epilogue which provides perfect closure, and I finished it hugging my kindle with a huge grin (and a glass or two of wine).
I loved it! 4.5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2020
So good! Really love all the characters. Bishop (heart), Sully, and especially her dad. Omg could he be any better! Can’t wait to read more
August 20, 2025
I honestly did not read the blurb before starting this book, so I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it. I'd give this book a solid 4 stars, maybe even 4.5 stars. This is not your typical hockey romance since the heartbreak came in so many different forms throughout the book. The relationship between Valor and Bishop was messed up, yes, but can you really expect two people with deep childhood trauma to have a "typical" relationship? My heart absolutely broke for Valor at times, but I loved their journey to get to their happily ever after. I absolutely loved Valor and Riggs's friendship and have already started Ice Hearts, review to come soon!
*Age-Gap
*Hockey Romance
*Childhood Trauma
*Found Family
Format: audiobook - Amy Hall and Benjamin Sands did a great job! I will listen to anything Amy Hall narrates.
Thank you NetGalley, Monty Jay, and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.
*Age-Gap
*Hockey Romance
*Childhood Trauma
*Found Family
Format: audiobook - Amy Hall and Benjamin Sands did a great job! I will listen to anything Amy Hall narrates.
Thank you NetGalley, Monty Jay, and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.
July 29, 2020
My review will be posted later today!
May 22, 2020
5/5
This book. THIS BOOK. I love every second of it. It has become one of my faves. I usually love college sport romances but i have a hard time getting attached to it or feeling emotions when it came to this type of books. I enjoyed them but for some reason they never stick with me. However love &hockey changed that. Monty Jay has a way with words. Her writing is beautiful and you are rooting for the characters all the time. The book is really quick to read because you can't stop once you start with it. I can't sat much without spoilers but we are following Vallie and Bishop and they are both hockey players. They both share a passion for this sport and they want to achieve their goals. I have to say Vallie is a really complex and amazing heroine. I think she was strong, well-determined and extremely funny. Some of her scenes got me in tears because her humor is really similar to mine and i adore reading from her POV. Bishop is..Bishop. I think he is a great male and he has so many layers. Once you get to know him you'll fell in love with him (mark my words ladies. Bishop is the ultimate book boyfriend).
We also get to see the rest of the teammates and i love the dynamic between them. While I was reading this book it felt as if they were my group of friends. They are so different from each other but they all felt real. Each of them are dealing with their own struggles but they share the love for hockey and I love how supportive they all are for each other.
The romance... *swooning* . The author has a way to describe Vallie's and Bishop's feeling for each other and i felt in love with them at the same time they were discovering each other. They are both perfect for the other and really cute together. Their connection felt real and genuine and that is really refreshing in this kind of romances.
I think love & hockey is a really solid debut novel and monty j has a brilliant career ahead of her. This book is one of my faves from this year and I can't recommend you enough.
Also I can't wait for book 2 because i'm sure it's going to be amazing.
I got an early copy of this book.
This book. THIS BOOK. I love every second of it. It has become one of my faves. I usually love college sport romances but i have a hard time getting attached to it or feeling emotions when it came to this type of books. I enjoyed them but for some reason they never stick with me. However love &hockey changed that. Monty Jay has a way with words. Her writing is beautiful and you are rooting for the characters all the time. The book is really quick to read because you can't stop once you start with it. I can't sat much without spoilers but we are following Vallie and Bishop and they are both hockey players. They both share a passion for this sport and they want to achieve their goals. I have to say Vallie is a really complex and amazing heroine. I think she was strong, well-determined and extremely funny. Some of her scenes got me in tears because her humor is really similar to mine and i adore reading from her POV. Bishop is..Bishop. I think he is a great male and he has so many layers. Once you get to know him you'll fell in love with him (mark my words ladies. Bishop is the ultimate book boyfriend).
We also get to see the rest of the teammates and i love the dynamic between them. While I was reading this book it felt as if they were my group of friends. They are so different from each other but they all felt real. Each of them are dealing with their own struggles but they share the love for hockey and I love how supportive they all are for each other.
The romance... *swooning* . The author has a way to describe Vallie's and Bishop's feeling for each other and i felt in love with them at the same time they were discovering each other. They are both perfect for the other and really cute together. Their connection felt real and genuine and that is really refreshing in this kind of romances.
I think love & hockey is a really solid debut novel and monty j has a brilliant career ahead of her. This book is one of my faves from this year and I can't recommend you enough.
Also I can't wait for book 2 because i'm sure it's going to be amazing.
I got an early copy of this book.
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July 19, 2020
I love hockey romances and this one intrigued. I wasn’t expecting this book to be so emotional and completely gut me. It was full of love, romance, hockey and so much emotions.
Valor grew up the daughter of a hockey legend, however, she was a hockey star in her own right. Raised by her single father and a whole host of hockey players. I love that she isn’t the typical girly girl. She isn’t your typical heroine and that makes her stand out so much more as a character. Bishop had experienced loss at a young age and it jaded him when it came to love. However, his former coach and his wife, helped him. They gave him the family he craved. Now he is living his dreams in the NHL.
The prologue will gut you and break your heart. The story starts when Valor is 10 and Bishop is 18. From the moment these two met there was a connection, a bond. They formed a friendship. They supported each other throughout the years. As they grew older, their relationship changed. Sparks were flying. However, it wasn’t smooth sailing for Valor and Bishop.
Valor and Bishop’s relationship is an emotional rollercoaster. I felt frustration, joy and sadness when it came to the two of them. These two broken people were drawn to each other, they were meant to me together, however, they both had to work through their own issues.
The secondary characters in this story added so much, including a very emotional scene that broke me. I love the relationship between Valor and her best friend, Riggs. They have been friends since they were six and those two are thick as thieves. They are more like sisters. I love Bishop’s teammates Nico and Kai, too. They are complete opposites of each other. The relationship between Bishop and Riggs is also something I loved. They act like siblings and it was refreshing at times.
Love & Hockey is a MUST READ and one of my TOP READS of 2020. I can’t wait for more of this series and more of Monty Jay because I am hooked.
Valor grew up the daughter of a hockey legend, however, she was a hockey star in her own right. Raised by her single father and a whole host of hockey players. I love that she isn’t the typical girly girl. She isn’t your typical heroine and that makes her stand out so much more as a character. Bishop had experienced loss at a young age and it jaded him when it came to love. However, his former coach and his wife, helped him. They gave him the family he craved. Now he is living his dreams in the NHL.
The prologue will gut you and break your heart. The story starts when Valor is 10 and Bishop is 18. From the moment these two met there was a connection, a bond. They formed a friendship. They supported each other throughout the years. As they grew older, their relationship changed. Sparks were flying. However, it wasn’t smooth sailing for Valor and Bishop.
Valor and Bishop’s relationship is an emotional rollercoaster. I felt frustration, joy and sadness when it came to the two of them. These two broken people were drawn to each other, they were meant to me together, however, they both had to work through their own issues.
The secondary characters in this story added so much, including a very emotional scene that broke me. I love the relationship between Valor and her best friend, Riggs. They have been friends since they were six and those two are thick as thieves. They are more like sisters. I love Bishop’s teammates Nico and Kai, too. They are complete opposites of each other. The relationship between Bishop and Riggs is also something I loved. They act like siblings and it was refreshing at times.
Love & Hockey is a MUST READ and one of my TOP READS of 2020. I can’t wait for more of this series and more of Monty Jay because I am hooked.
July 13, 2020
4.5 star review Love & Hockey (Fury series #1) by Monty Jay
I love hockey books so I was excited to read this debut novel by Monty Jay. This was an entertaining read that captured my interest and kept it from the first to the last chapter.
This is NHL player Bishop Maverick and Valor Sullivan’s story. I found the characters easy to relate to and I really liked them. For a debut novel, I was impressed with Ms. Jay’s storytelling. This was a story that was well written and had me emotional at times. Her words are powerful and the journey that Bishop and Valor have to travel to get to their happily ever after was one that really got to me.
Bishop is a man alone, he has focused all his drive and determination into his hockey career; they have become his family and I found that a little sad. Valor, is the daughter of one of his best friends, eight years younger and to him should be off limits. I really liked her, she is sassy, feisty and has a mouth that has no filter; such a great character.
It was a pleasure to watch the growth of both Bishop and Valor as the story progressed and I couldn’t put it down. I am excited to see what the author writes next as Monty Jay is an author to keep your eye on.
I love hockey books so I was excited to read this debut novel by Monty Jay. This was an entertaining read that captured my interest and kept it from the first to the last chapter.
This is NHL player Bishop Maverick and Valor Sullivan’s story. I found the characters easy to relate to and I really liked them. For a debut novel, I was impressed with Ms. Jay’s storytelling. This was a story that was well written and had me emotional at times. Her words are powerful and the journey that Bishop and Valor have to travel to get to their happily ever after was one that really got to me.
Bishop is a man alone, he has focused all his drive and determination into his hockey career; they have become his family and I found that a little sad. Valor, is the daughter of one of his best friends, eight years younger and to him should be off limits. I really liked her, she is sassy, feisty and has a mouth that has no filter; such a great character.
It was a pleasure to watch the growth of both Bishop and Valor as the story progressed and I couldn’t put it down. I am excited to see what the author writes next as Monty Jay is an author to keep your eye on.
July 22, 2020
Love & Hockey is Monty Jays debut novel that I just couldn't put down. It was heart-wrenching and utterly engrossing!
Bishop and Valor were made for each other. The way this author delivered their story! The sports brought them together, but discovering their love towards each other... I have no words.
Yeah, it was beautiful.
Bishop and Valor were made for each other. The way this author delivered their story! The sports brought them together, but discovering their love towards each other... I have no words.
Yeah, it was beautiful.
July 23, 2020
Let me start off by saying that, for a debut, this was very, very good. I see a ton of potential in the author’s work and would not hesitate to read more. While there are some storyline issues that hold me back from rating this higher, it’s a solid, emotional read that will leave you with a lasting first impression. The plot was nothing like I expected it to be but full of heart and a heaviness that lingers throughout. My suggestion? Read the prologue, and you'll know right away whether it's going to be a winner for you or not - just be aware that it starts off with an emotional, triggering punch to the gut.
The story follows Valor and Bishop throughout several years of their relationship, from friends to lovers and beyond. Though Valor has always looked up to Bishop and has harbored a crush on him for longer than she can remember, it's not until she becomes a woman that things really change for them. The 8-year gap in their ages means that their relationship has never been about the physical, but once Valor turns 18, that's no longer the case. Whether the commitment-phobic Bishop can handle the evolution of their relationship is what will make or break them.
I loved the depth of the story and how strong Valor is. The writing itself is a little rough but very well done, and I can only see the author growing as she continues to write. Where this falters for me is the actual flow of the story. Since it spans so many years, there isn't a lot of time spent on actually building the relationship and feeling those quiet moments that showcase why Bishop and Valor are right for each other. I just wanted it to slow down and settle into one timeline for longer so that, honestly, I would like Bishop more. He's a professional hockey player who has spent years hooking up with puck bunnies right before Valor's eyes, and I kind of needed him to show me why he's worthy of such a fierce heroine. Granted, Valor was a child for some of that (yeah, the age gap was a little problematic at times too), but I needed more of the good times between these two and less angst. Jay has set up a promising new series, and I think that its got plenty of potential to be something great. I received an ARC via Wildfire Marketing Solutions and am voluntarily leaving a review of this sports romance.
The story follows Valor and Bishop throughout several years of their relationship, from friends to lovers and beyond. Though Valor has always looked up to Bishop and has harbored a crush on him for longer than she can remember, it's not until she becomes a woman that things really change for them. The 8-year gap in their ages means that their relationship has never been about the physical, but once Valor turns 18, that's no longer the case. Whether the commitment-phobic Bishop can handle the evolution of their relationship is what will make or break them.
I loved the depth of the story and how strong Valor is. The writing itself is a little rough but very well done, and I can only see the author growing as she continues to write. Where this falters for me is the actual flow of the story. Since it spans so many years, there isn't a lot of time spent on actually building the relationship and feeling those quiet moments that showcase why Bishop and Valor are right for each other. I just wanted it to slow down and settle into one timeline for longer so that, honestly, I would like Bishop more. He's a professional hockey player who has spent years hooking up with puck bunnies right before Valor's eyes, and I kind of needed him to show me why he's worthy of such a fierce heroine. Granted, Valor was a child for some of that (yeah, the age gap was a little problematic at times too), but I needed more of the good times between these two and less angst. Jay has set up a promising new series, and I think that its got plenty of potential to be something great. I received an ARC via Wildfire Marketing Solutions and am voluntarily leaving a review of this sports romance.
July 3, 2021
tw: references to sexual assault, sex with a minor
DNF at... maybe 10%? She was 17 the first time they engaged in sexual relations. Explicitly & clearly labelled as "almost 18" - a minor. I skipped through this scene because it was disturbing. Please don't reply to this review with the specifics of it.
Large age gaps aren't my thing, but I don't mind them. That wasn't an "age gap" - that was statutory rape. Not only could he easily be in jail in most states, it's immoral. This normalizes the idea that it's okay for 26 year old men to pursue 17 year old girls. I'm not even going to get into their relationship, but he's also a trusted figure throughout her childhood. His internal struggle with her being a minor is creepy. This is indefensible.
DNF at... maybe 10%? She was 17 the first time they engaged in sexual relations. Explicitly & clearly labelled as "almost 18" - a minor. I skipped through this scene because it was disturbing. Please don't reply to this review with the specifics of it.
Large age gaps aren't my thing, but I don't mind them. That wasn't an "age gap" - that was statutory rape. Not only could he easily be in jail in most states, it's immoral. This normalizes the idea that it's okay for 26 year old men to pursue 17 year old girls. I'm not even going to get into their relationship, but he's also a trusted figure throughout her childhood. His internal struggle with her being a minor is creepy. This is indefensible.
August 15, 2020
Is this really a debut novel? Because it is amazing and I really enjoyed! And of course, it has my favourite trope, sports romance! It has all the feels and I just couldn't put it down. It's more emotional, so don't expect a light read with this one. Bishop and Valor definitely bear emotional scars from their pasts that still run deep. But no matter what, they tried to pull through it together
And it makes this book such a great read!
And it makes this book such a great read!
August 3, 2020
No kurcze podobało mi się 😁 aż dziwne , ponieważ MF ciężko mi ostatnio idą...
December 6, 2023
— 1 ⭑ || dnf @31%
this is so weird i’m sorry
this is so weird i’m sorry
July 24, 2020
4.5 Stars!
That blurb + the promise of a taboo - age gap relationship? I'll be honest, that's what first drew me in but what was in between the pages of this romance is what kept me here for all the words and all those feels.
Love & Hockey by Monty Jay is a brand new romance from a brand new author and y'all, I WAS HERE FOR IT. Valor and Bishop... wait until you meet them, unforgettable in every single moment.
HOLY WOW. All that angst. All of those pesky feels. THIS couple. What they delivered. The simmering heat.. the underlying tension.. the steamy passion.. the ups and downs.. those complications.. THAT chemistry. The SWOON.
WHAT. A. JOURNEY.
Valor and Bishop hooked me at every turn of the page and they had me addicted by the very. last. word. I didn't want these two to leave my kindle and I almost had to do a re-read to experience it all over again.
Love & Hockey was so beautifully written and so expertly told that I was stunned to find out that THIS STUNNER is a debut! The name MONTY JAY is officially on my radar.
I HIGHLY recommend this book.
Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog.
That blurb + the promise of a taboo - age gap relationship? I'll be honest, that's what first drew me in but what was in between the pages of this romance is what kept me here for all the words and all those feels.
Love & Hockey by Monty Jay is a brand new romance from a brand new author and y'all, I WAS HERE FOR IT. Valor and Bishop... wait until you meet them, unforgettable in every single moment.
HOLY WOW. All that angst. All of those pesky feels. THIS couple. What they delivered. The simmering heat.. the underlying tension.. the steamy passion.. the ups and downs.. those complications.. THAT chemistry. The SWOON.
WHAT. A. JOURNEY.
Valor and Bishop hooked me at every turn of the page and they had me addicted by the very. last. word. I didn't want these two to leave my kindle and I almost had to do a re-read to experience it all over again.
Love & Hockey was so beautifully written and so expertly told that I was stunned to find out that THIS STUNNER is a debut! The name MONTY JAY is officially on my radar.
I HIGHLY recommend this book.
Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog.
July 28, 2020
This is an ARC review. All opinions are solely my own.
WOW!! Love & Hockey by Monty Jay is a debut novel of epic proportions. This book had me in all of my feelings.
This book follows Bishop and Valor through their meeting as trash talking youths into their 20's and their very beautiful relationship. They have both had difficult lives for both similar and different reasons.
This is a dual POV and age gap trope. The POV switches with the chapters. I did find it somewhat confusing that when the POV speaker changed age it was not stated the age of the other. For example, chapter 3 is Bishop - 23 but I had to figure out for myself how old Valor was at that time.
This is an age gap trope and for some it could be a trigger. Generally, age gap is not a trope I seek out but this was a beautiful story. It was so well done that it wasn't creepy.
This is book 1 of the Fury Series and I'm excited to see what Monty Jay comes up with.
WOW!! Love & Hockey by Monty Jay is a debut novel of epic proportions. This book had me in all of my feelings.
This book follows Bishop and Valor through their meeting as trash talking youths into their 20's and their very beautiful relationship. They have both had difficult lives for both similar and different reasons.
This is a dual POV and age gap trope. The POV switches with the chapters. I did find it somewhat confusing that when the POV speaker changed age it was not stated the age of the other. For example, chapter 3 is Bishop - 23 but I had to figure out for myself how old Valor was at that time.
This is an age gap trope and for some it could be a trigger. Generally, age gap is not a trope I seek out but this was a beautiful story. It was so well done that it wasn't creepy.
This is book 1 of the Fury Series and I'm excited to see what Monty Jay comes up with.
July 24, 2020
Valor was raised by a single father with a love for hockey. Bishop is a hockey player with the sport as the only thing that has given him a family, love or anything else. He is good friends with Valor's father and eight years older than her. Valor is sassy and after Bishop to get him to see her as more than a friend. A sexy age gap romance that I recommend.
November 10, 2025
3.5 ⭐ i feel like after being apart for 4 years you should have more to say than her coochie is your home idk 😭😭😭
June 22, 2024
4.75/5 ⭐️
2.5/5 🔥
RTC
2.5/5 🔥
RTC
July 14, 2024
So I definitely did not know what to expect when I started reading this book. I quite literally went in blind. I do not know what Monty puts in her books, it might be crack. But reading her Hollow Boys series and reading this it's like you are reading two completely different authors and the fact that she could write dark romance and then write a series with darker themes is amazing. she is a very versatile author and i love anything that she writes.
this story follows valor and bishop. valor is the daughter of bishop's bestfriend. valor has been in love with bishop since she was ten years old. bishop is 8 years older than her and has always felt this connection towards her, well they both have felt this connection towards each other. they are soulmates. i wholeheartedly believe that these two souls were created for each other. they both have a rough childhood with valor's mother walking out on her when she was just two years old and bishop's mom dying when he was young. valor not growing up with her mom made her question many things in her life and she grew up to be very self conscious over herself. bishop losing his mother at a young age affected him and how he perceived love. his father loved his mother so much that when she passed away, he was a shell of a man and he then closed that part off of himself because he was too afraid to love someone that much if it meant they would leave.
this book was a rollercoaster. you saw glimpses of what the next book is going to bring and truthfully the next book scares me shitless. i do not know how many times i was crying, sobbing, or tearing up. writing this review is bringing back all the feels. it has been a while since i have read a book that quite literally had my brain spinning and also just touched my heart. monty you did it once again. i cannot wait to own this series physically.
Highlightsੈ✩‧₊˚
He got me on a level other people didn't. When I was sad, he saw right through me. He'd take me to the ice, because he knew the only place that truly cheered me up was the rink. He knew that pizza cured my attitude, and Lemonhead candies were the only way you were getting your way.
"A boy like Nico wouldn't know what to do with you, Val."
"And you would?"
"I know exactly what to do with this body, baby. It was made for me. Every inch of you, all of it is mine, Vallie."
"It's always been us, right?"
"It'll always be us, Val."
Valor is the softness of a hug, the first day of spring, the sound of laughter, she's love. What she is isn't tangible. You can't contain all she encompasses. Valor is my kind of magic.
Hockey was my first love. When I first learned to skate and picked up a stick, I was hooked. I had never felt passion like that before. It started this burn inside of me that fueled me to want better for myself. There used to be no feeling like this ice. Until her.
"Do you believe in fate?"
"I believe that you were made for me. i believe that whatever created us took a piece of my soul and placed it in you. I believe that the spaces in me are the spots you fill, and the sun always shines a little brighter when I wake up next to you. I know that I have loved you before, I will love you in this life, and I'll love you in the one after. It's always us, Vallie."
Tropes:
- sports romance
- age gap
- dad’s best friend
- forced proximity
- found family
4.5✩
this story follows valor and bishop. valor is the daughter of bishop's bestfriend. valor has been in love with bishop since she was ten years old. bishop is 8 years older than her and has always felt this connection towards her, well they both have felt this connection towards each other. they are soulmates. i wholeheartedly believe that these two souls were created for each other. they both have a rough childhood with valor's mother walking out on her when she was just two years old and bishop's mom dying when he was young. valor not growing up with her mom made her question many things in her life and she grew up to be very self conscious over herself. bishop losing his mother at a young age affected him and how he perceived love. his father loved his mother so much that when she passed away, he was a shell of a man and he then closed that part off of himself because he was too afraid to love someone that much if it meant they would leave.
this book was a rollercoaster. you saw glimpses of what the next book is going to bring and truthfully the next book scares me shitless. i do not know how many times i was crying, sobbing, or tearing up. writing this review is bringing back all the feels. it has been a while since i have read a book that quite literally had my brain spinning and also just touched my heart. monty you did it once again. i cannot wait to own this series physically.
Highlightsੈ✩‧₊˚
He got me on a level other people didn't. When I was sad, he saw right through me. He'd take me to the ice, because he knew the only place that truly cheered me up was the rink. He knew that pizza cured my attitude, and Lemonhead candies were the only way you were getting your way.
"A boy like Nico wouldn't know what to do with you, Val."
"And you would?"
"I know exactly what to do with this body, baby. It was made for me. Every inch of you, all of it is mine, Vallie."
"It's always been us, right?"
"It'll always be us, Val."
Valor is the softness of a hug, the first day of spring, the sound of laughter, she's love. What she is isn't tangible. You can't contain all she encompasses. Valor is my kind of magic.
Hockey was my first love. When I first learned to skate and picked up a stick, I was hooked. I had never felt passion like that before. It started this burn inside of me that fueled me to want better for myself. There used to be no feeling like this ice. Until her.
"Do you believe in fate?"
"I believe that you were made for me. i believe that whatever created us took a piece of my soul and placed it in you. I believe that the spaces in me are the spots you fill, and the sun always shines a little brighter when I wake up next to you. I know that I have loved you before, I will love you in this life, and I'll love you in the one after. It's always us, Vallie."
Tropes:
- sports romance
- age gap
- dad’s best friend
- forced proximity
- found family
4.5✩
July 26, 2020
Love and Hockey is an intense story. From the get go there are a lot of possible triggers for some people. Bishop and Valor’s story is a very haunting one. It has a holy moly part that I didn't see coming. I am
Interested to read the next book in the series.
Blurb:
NHL’s golden boy, Bishop Maverick, knows all too well how a haunting past can taint your future. It seems his entire life all people have done is leave. So what does a man do when he has so little? He pours everything into the only thing that he has left. Hockey. This sport has brought him a family, hope, something to work for, but what was the one thing he never expected for it to bring him? A green-eyed, wild child with a soul that brings him back home.
Valor Sullivan was raised on the ice by a single father who inspired her love for hockey. With a mouth that would make a sailor blush, and fiery red hair she is a force to be reckoned with on and off the ice. There doesn’t seem to be anything hard work won’t get her. Well, everything but him. Bishop is her Endgame. The only problem? He’s eight years older and one of her father's closest friends.
Fate blurs the lines of past and present to pull these two together. The only question is...
Were they always meant to be? Or damned from the start?
Love & Hockey is a standalone, age-gap, romance. It deals with sensitive subjects some may find triggering.
ARC received for honest review
Interested to read the next book in the series.
Blurb:
NHL’s golden boy, Bishop Maverick, knows all too well how a haunting past can taint your future. It seems his entire life all people have done is leave. So what does a man do when he has so little? He pours everything into the only thing that he has left. Hockey. This sport has brought him a family, hope, something to work for, but what was the one thing he never expected for it to bring him? A green-eyed, wild child with a soul that brings him back home.
Valor Sullivan was raised on the ice by a single father who inspired her love for hockey. With a mouth that would make a sailor blush, and fiery red hair she is a force to be reckoned with on and off the ice. There doesn’t seem to be anything hard work won’t get her. Well, everything but him. Bishop is her Endgame. The only problem? He’s eight years older and one of her father's closest friends.
Fate blurs the lines of past and present to pull these two together. The only question is...
Were they always meant to be? Or damned from the start?
Love & Hockey is a standalone, age-gap, romance. It deals with sensitive subjects some may find triggering.
ARC received for honest review
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