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Going Rogue #1
The Love You Win: Going Rogue, Book 1
One broken heart. One winning bid at a date auction. One hot, grumpy hockey player.
What could go wrong?
According to my best friends, five months is too long to nurse a broken heart. They're determined to push me out of my nest made of sweatpants and sadness. I need to date, they say. They have the perfect plan, they say.
Maddox Graves is the star center of the Minnesota Rogues, and he's every woman's fantasy. Tall, dark, and broody, he's the guy you picture when you're home alone enjoying some self-care. And after my friends win a date with him at a charity auction, he's all mine for one night.
It's supposed to be a fun way to get back into the swing of dating. No pressure, no expectations, and absolutely no chance it will lead to anything more.
It's perfect.
Or it would be if Maddox Graves wasn't an insufferable, self-absorbed mother-pucker.
I'm just an English teacher, but he thinks I'm a puck bunny after his money and fame. I think he's just another rich prick with an overinflated ego. One who's using me and this date for a publicity stunt.
This is why I'm so surprised when he agrees to do something selfless to help me and my students. Only one tiny string attached.
I won the date auction, but will Maddox Graves manage to win my heart?
The Love You Win is the first standalone novel in the Going Rogue series. Each book will follow a different player on the Minnesota Rogues hockey team and the women they fall for.
The Love You Win includes grumpy/sunshine; he falls first; a disastrous meet-cute; found family; and a date auction.
What could go wrong?
According to my best friends, five months is too long to nurse a broken heart. They're determined to push me out of my nest made of sweatpants and sadness. I need to date, they say. They have the perfect plan, they say.
Maddox Graves is the star center of the Minnesota Rogues, and he's every woman's fantasy. Tall, dark, and broody, he's the guy you picture when you're home alone enjoying some self-care. And after my friends win a date with him at a charity auction, he's all mine for one night.
It's supposed to be a fun way to get back into the swing of dating. No pressure, no expectations, and absolutely no chance it will lead to anything more.
It's perfect.
Or it would be if Maddox Graves wasn't an insufferable, self-absorbed mother-pucker.
I'm just an English teacher, but he thinks I'm a puck bunny after his money and fame. I think he's just another rich prick with an overinflated ego. One who's using me and this date for a publicity stunt.
This is why I'm so surprised when he agrees to do something selfless to help me and my students. Only one tiny string attached.
I won the date auction, but will Maddox Graves manage to win my heart?
The Love You Win is the first standalone novel in the Going Rogue series. Each book will follow a different player on the Minnesota Rogues hockey team and the women they fall for.
The Love You Win includes grumpy/sunshine; he falls first; a disastrous meet-cute; found family; and a date auction.
Audible Audio
Published May 6, 2025
837 people are currently reading
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About the author
Piper Hale
4 books116 followersPiper Hale is a Midwestern girl who loves golden-retriever heroes, imperfect heroines, and some coffee with her sugar. She lives with her two crazy (but amazing) kids in the middle-of-the-map USA.
Piper grew up listening to her dad’s silly stories at bedtime, became a voracious reader as a child, and never forgot her high school creative writing teacher, who told her she had what it took to write romance. Even if she didn’t give it a go until the pandemic.
These days, you’ll find Piper writing contemporary romance that’s sassy, sexy, and chock-full of cinnamon rolls.
Piper grew up listening to her dad’s silly stories at bedtime, became a voracious reader as a child, and never forgot her high school creative writing teacher, who told her she had what it took to write romance. Even if she didn’t give it a go until the pandemic.
These days, you’ll find Piper writing contemporary romance that’s sassy, sexy, and chock-full of cinnamon rolls.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
October 7, 2024
I've read a lot of smut okay... but the fact that the author kept talking about how the FMC would wear the same pair of underwear for DAYS on end made the smut make me actually a little sick to my stomach.
October 23, 2024
Octubre no fue mi mes, solo quiero leer algo que no sea MEDIOCRE ¿acaso estoy pidiendo demasiado? 🥲
January 12, 2026
This was a cute, light book that I pretty much blitzed through. I don't know, sports romance is one of those things that, when it works for me, I just can't put it down. I'm not sure why.
One thing I wanted to comment on. This book features the near-ubiquitous gorgeous FMC who doesn't realize she's gorgeous. I've seen people comment on that, how they hate it, and it makes it feel like romances like this are just for gorgeous people, and ruins their fantasy. Those comments, I feel, miss the point. It's not setting the FMC up as super special and therefore not like us. It's pointing out that, LIKE US, the FMC doesn't realize she's gorgeous. Because we're beautiful, you guys. And we don't see it, for all kinds of bullcrap reasons. And also because happiness is beauty. Have you see the photo series someone did of people on the street, both before and after the photographer tells them they are beautiful? The before pictures are the images we all have in our heads - just regular people, nothing amazing. The after pictures ... are stunning. These people light up. They glow.
So when we find our happiness, we are beautiful. We glow. Just like this FMC and all the others, we don't realize how special we are.
Anyway, that's a tangent, but I wanted to share because it's a comment I've seen a lot and I feel like we all deserve better perspective.
This book is fun and low-angst. The FMC and MMC have a terrible first meeting, but it gets better from there. There's also a 3rd act fight rooted in a misunderstanding (both of them screw up, because she was there as well, misunderstanding why he didn't take her to fall festival...and then he overheard that convo with Alex and the shitshow parade was on) that could have been avoided if both characters just SPOKE TO EACH OTHER. So it was frustrating, but not way across the line. For a minute I thought it was going to go there - MMC seemed like he was going to get drunk and hook up with someone - but it doesn't happen. And we get a pretty huge grand gesture moment from him to bring resolution.
One thing I wanted to comment on. This book features the near-ubiquitous gorgeous FMC who doesn't realize she's gorgeous. I've seen people comment on that, how they hate it, and it makes it feel like romances like this are just for gorgeous people, and ruins their fantasy. Those comments, I feel, miss the point. It's not setting the FMC up as super special and therefore not like us. It's pointing out that, LIKE US, the FMC doesn't realize she's gorgeous. Because we're beautiful, you guys. And we don't see it, for all kinds of bullcrap reasons. And also because happiness is beauty. Have you see the photo series someone did of people on the street, both before and after the photographer tells them they are beautiful? The before pictures are the images we all have in our heads - just regular people, nothing amazing. The after pictures ... are stunning. These people light up. They glow.
So when we find our happiness, we are beautiful. We glow. Just like this FMC and all the others, we don't realize how special we are.
Anyway, that's a tangent, but I wanted to share because it's a comment I've seen a lot and I feel like we all deserve better perspective.
This book is fun and low-angst. The FMC and MMC have a terrible first meeting, but it gets better from there. There's also a 3rd act fight rooted in a misunderstanding (both of them screw up, because she was there as well, misunderstanding why he didn't take her to fall festival...and then he overheard that convo with Alex and the shitshow parade was on) that could have been avoided if both characters just SPOKE TO EACH OTHER. So it was frustrating, but not way across the line. For a minute I thought it was going to go there - MMC seemed like he was going to get drunk and hook up with someone - but it doesn't happen. And we get a pretty huge grand gesture moment from him to bring resolution.
October 23, 2024
I was enjoying it at first but later it just got boring and insta lovey. They never really talked about anything and suddenly they were in love, okay.
May 13, 2025
It was so cute but got a little cringe at the end. I'm also very picky about my hockey terminology and some of it was also wrong and cringe - alas, a cute story - quick easy read.
November 24, 2024
Honestly this was pretty good. I hope the author gets more Instagram followers so she’s encouraged to continue writing
September 15, 2024
Que manera de arruinar una buena historia.
Odie a Maddox al principio, la forma como trató a Isla fue injusta, pero entendible con todo su pasado y afortunadamente Piper logró redimirlo.
Todo iba perfecto hasta el conflicto final en donde un malentendido hizo que él la tratara horrible, prácticamente le dijo interesada, falsa, mentirosa, la bloqueara y se dejara fotografiar con otra mujer en sus piernas.
Fue necesario que escuchara la versión del estúpido del ex para que le creyera a Isla.
Luego tenemos a Isla que cuando el bastardo le dijo que ya no la quería y que él se merecía algo mejor, ella en lugar de enojarse y mandarlo al infierno, le mando mensajes suplicando, disculpándose y diciéndole que sería mejor. Durante la ruptura dejó de ir a trabajar, no se bañaba, no comía y sus amigas tuvieron que sacarla de su cama para que se bañara.
Para terminar de enterrar la historia, lo único que hizo el idiota fue darle un discurso frente a mucha gente pidiéndole perdón y esto basto para que ella lo perdonara. Lo mínimo que debió hacer el inútil era arrastrarse (literalmente), suplicar, rogar y humillarse por su perdón, al menos por unos meses.
Ah, me falto decir que Isla venía de una relación abusiva en donde la rata del ex le hizo creer que era una vergüenza estar con ella, que nadie la podría querer porque era poca cosa y no valía nada. Y luego la autora sale con la idea de que Maddox le dijera lo mismo y que todo lo que el imbecil le metió en la cabeza, volviera a resurgir.
Odie a Maddox al principio, la forma como trató a Isla fue injusta, pero entendible con todo su pasado y afortunadamente Piper logró redimirlo.
Todo iba perfecto hasta el conflicto final en donde un malentendido hizo que él la tratara horrible, prácticamente le dijo interesada, falsa, mentirosa, la bloqueara y se dejara fotografiar con otra mujer en sus piernas.
Fue necesario que escuchara la versión del estúpido del ex para que le creyera a Isla.
Luego tenemos a Isla que cuando el bastardo le dijo que ya no la quería y que él se merecía algo mejor, ella en lugar de enojarse y mandarlo al infierno, le mando mensajes suplicando, disculpándose y diciéndole que sería mejor. Durante la ruptura dejó de ir a trabajar, no se bañaba, no comía y sus amigas tuvieron que sacarla de su cama para que se bañara.
Para terminar de enterrar la historia, lo único que hizo el idiota fue darle un discurso frente a mucha gente pidiéndole perdón y esto basto para que ella lo perdonara. Lo mínimo que debió hacer el inútil era arrastrarse (literalmente), suplicar, rogar y humillarse por su perdón, al menos por unos meses.
Ah, me falto decir que Isla venía de una relación abusiva en donde la rata del ex le hizo creer que era una vergüenza estar con ella, que nadie la podría querer porque era poca cosa y no valía nada. Y luego la autora sale con la idea de que Maddox le dijera lo mismo y que todo lo que el imbecil le metió en la cabeza, volviera a resurgir.
October 21, 2024
The third act was too cheesy for me but the rest i really liked!!
January 19, 2025
3 ⭐️
A good hockey romance. I really liked this book at the beginning, but it slowly got too cringy for me with some insta love without really ever talking anything through and I hate a miscommunication trope and a third act breakup and I really hate a big public groveling - basically the whole last third of the book. I loved the found family and some teacher representation. Isla and Maddox were both great characters with depth, but I wish they would’ve shared it with each other more in their healing from previous relationships. Their relationship began as charming and healing but I feel like got cringy towards the third act. This was not closed door and had several spicy scenes that were skipped. I’m excited to see what happens with future Rogue players and am a little surprised the rookie Ryder is next. Can’t wait for Griffin and Sebastian’s books!
This story follows FMC, Isla, inner city high school English teacher, mourning a broken engagement and a broken heart when she’s set up with MMC, Maddox, star hockey player, swearing off relationships due to exes causing drama for him. The two are paired together for a charity auction date that Maddox is forced to do for his image by the team and Isla is pushed to do by her friends buying the date for her. He’s a jerk to her and she calls him on his crap and he offers to bribe her to stay and make him look good for this date. She selflessly says she will if he does something for her students and school and he completely misjudges her thinking she must be another rich girl trying for 15 minutes of fame. The two are jaded and broken from past relationships and have the opportunity to heal each other in the wounds their exes made, but the healing only seems to last for a little while before list takes over, meddling exes take over, busy hockey season takes over and then their ultimate downfall- miscommunication. I loved the small moments of growth, but I felt like neither of them actually shared their feelings and fears just told each other they were there if they want to talk - but they never did. Maddox realizes, with a lot of help, he came to conclusions based in fear and has a lot of groveling to do to make it up to Isla and I really hated the giant public groveling. It seemed insincere and forced and just not like them at all. I liked the epilogue and am happy for the HEA but I was hoping for all the baggage they both carried for a little more character growth.
Also I know a lot of reviews are grossed out by the hygiene of her post breakup and those people I don’t think have ever been through a bad breakup. If she doesn’t shower or change clothes for a couple of days wallowing in bad food on the couch - is she even heartbroken?
Sports romance. Hockey romance. Found family. Third act breakup. Miscommunication trope. Dual POV. First person POV. Spicy. Language.
A good hockey romance. I really liked this book at the beginning, but it slowly got too cringy for me with some insta love without really ever talking anything through and I hate a miscommunication trope and a third act breakup and I really hate a big public groveling - basically the whole last third of the book. I loved the found family and some teacher representation. Isla and Maddox were both great characters with depth, but I wish they would’ve shared it with each other more in their healing from previous relationships. Their relationship began as charming and healing but I feel like got cringy towards the third act. This was not closed door and had several spicy scenes that were skipped. I’m excited to see what happens with future Rogue players and am a little surprised the rookie Ryder is next. Can’t wait for Griffin and Sebastian’s books!
This story follows FMC, Isla, inner city high school English teacher, mourning a broken engagement and a broken heart when she’s set up with MMC, Maddox, star hockey player, swearing off relationships due to exes causing drama for him. The two are paired together for a charity auction date that Maddox is forced to do for his image by the team and Isla is pushed to do by her friends buying the date for her. He’s a jerk to her and she calls him on his crap and he offers to bribe her to stay and make him look good for this date. She selflessly says she will if he does something for her students and school and he completely misjudges her thinking she must be another rich girl trying for 15 minutes of fame. The two are jaded and broken from past relationships and have the opportunity to heal each other in the wounds their exes made, but the healing only seems to last for a little while before list takes over, meddling exes take over, busy hockey season takes over and then their ultimate downfall- miscommunication. I loved the small moments of growth, but I felt like neither of them actually shared their feelings and fears just told each other they were there if they want to talk - but they never did. Maddox realizes, with a lot of help, he came to conclusions based in fear and has a lot of groveling to do to make it up to Isla and I really hated the giant public groveling. It seemed insincere and forced and just not like them at all. I liked the epilogue and am happy for the HEA but I was hoping for all the baggage they both carried for a little more character growth.
Also I know a lot of reviews are grossed out by the hygiene of her post breakup and those people I don’t think have ever been through a bad breakup. If she doesn’t shower or change clothes for a couple of days wallowing in bad food on the couch - is she even heartbroken?
Sports romance. Hockey romance. Found family. Third act breakup. Miscommunication trope. Dual POV. First person POV. Spicy. Language.
September 23, 2025
A classic, honestly
December 6, 2024
Not great idk
Sorry I’m in a spiraling depressive episode and reading the worst shit KU has to offer
Sorry I’m in a spiraling depressive episode and reading the worst shit KU has to offer
January 8, 2025
the beginning was good and then they got together and it was horrible. It just lost all the plot. Also why was this almost 500 pages… I barely read the last 100 because they weren’t needed.
June 28, 2025
⥼~-✰-~⥽ ☽ ˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊☾ ⥼~-✰-~⥽
Started: 25th June 2025
Finished: 28th June 2025 ✩‧₊꒰ ⊹ ࣪—˚Final thoughts
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹ " " 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩. 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨"
˚ ┊✦ At first I thought this book was going to be another cringy book, I can see why people hated the book in the reviews with the character wearing same underwear everyday is kinda gross but once you move passed the grossness the story line in the book is really cute not at all cheesy.
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹ " "𝙬𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡"
˚ ┊✦ Isla- I did feel bad for isla being in a toxic relationship with her ex partner Alex having such a hard time after breakup after having planned rest of their lives together then went all to shambles for her. I’m so happy that she has the most caring friends aswell to push her back into the dating world not being cooped up inside all day being in a rut.
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹. "𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧. 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙪𝙥 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙨𝙞𝙭 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧"
˚┊✦ Maddox - what can I say about this man oh holy Jesus… he is the handsome hockey player on the team but so stubborn to work with aswell I do hate how the coach treats his star player after giving the coach fame and money on sidelines like don’t be a prick man sometimes I hate hockey coaches when all they care is about fame not the actual team players it self..
I do feel bad for Maddox in a way that he suffers a lot with women that also uses his fame and money treating him like dirt which why he never goes on dates or blind dates. But for the sake of the team fortune he has to go on a date for the press to make up the mistakes he has occurred 😭
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹ "𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧, 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙨. 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚"
˚┊✦ ˚the romance- omg the romance in this was just lush!!! I just loved how Maddox is always there for Isla emotionally and physically whatever she wants she gets from him unlike her Ex gave her nothing in return.
I found that so cute finding her new best friend Mira to help understand of the games and rules and sidelines.
I also love how suporive Maddox friends are with isla aswell with some spoilers of the book I don’t want to give too much away but they were all just so sweet even keeping her safe when Maddox was away like he has such a good friend group which with hockey romances some friends can be a bit toxic.
Epiglouge - THE ENDING!!! God almighty that last few chapters at the end was such big drama happening like damn I just found it so cute how Maddox owned up again with spoilers I don’t wanna reveal too much but fucking he’ll THAT WAS ADORABLEEE WTF 😭😭🥲 literally made me giggle and slightly teary eyes you never see that much of a good gesture in these books like that omg
I can’t wait to read the rest of this series but come one the second book is a Christmas one??! to read it in June is beyond me lmfao but I’m here for it !
•̩̩͙✦𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛 & 𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐•̩̩͙✦
⭐️5🤩
🌶5.6
❤️ 5.5
🍉⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒
Finished: 28th June 2025 ✩‧₊꒰ ⊹ ࣪—˚Final thoughts
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹ " " 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩. 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨"
˚ ┊✦ At first I thought this book was going to be another cringy book, I can see why people hated the book in the reviews with the character wearing same underwear everyday is kinda gross but once you move passed the grossness the story line in the book is really cute not at all cheesy.
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹ " "𝙬𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡"
˚ ┊✦ Isla- I did feel bad for isla being in a toxic relationship with her ex partner Alex having such a hard time after breakup after having planned rest of their lives together then went all to shambles for her. I’m so happy that she has the most caring friends aswell to push her back into the dating world not being cooped up inside all day being in a rut.
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹. "𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧. 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙪𝙥 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙨𝙞𝙭 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧"
˚┊✦ Maddox - what can I say about this man oh holy Jesus… he is the handsome hockey player on the team but so stubborn to work with aswell I do hate how the coach treats his star player after giving the coach fame and money on sidelines like don’t be a prick man sometimes I hate hockey coaches when all they care is about fame not the actual team players it self..
I do feel bad for Maddox in a way that he suffers a lot with women that also uses his fame and money treating him like dirt which why he never goes on dates or blind dates. But for the sake of the team fortune he has to go on a date for the press to make up the mistakes he has occurred 😭
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹ "𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧, 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙨. 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚"
˚┊✦ ˚the romance- omg the romance in this was just lush!!! I just loved how Maddox is always there for Isla emotionally and physically whatever she wants she gets from him unlike her Ex gave her nothing in return.
I found that so cute finding her new best friend Mira to help understand of the games and rules and sidelines.
I also love how suporive Maddox friends are with isla aswell with some spoilers of the book I don’t want to give too much away but they were all just so sweet even keeping her safe when Maddox was away like he has such a good friend group which with hockey romances some friends can be a bit toxic.
Epiglouge - THE ENDING!!! God almighty that last few chapters at the end was such big drama happening like damn I just found it so cute how Maddox owned up again with spoilers I don’t wanna reveal too much but fucking he’ll THAT WAS ADORABLEEE WTF 😭😭🥲 literally made me giggle and slightly teary eyes you never see that much of a good gesture in these books like that omg
I can’t wait to read the rest of this series but come one the second book is a Christmas one??! to read it in June is beyond me lmfao but I’m here for it !
•̩̩͙✦𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛 & 𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐•̩̩͙✦
⭐️5🤩
🌶5.6
❤️ 5.5
🍉⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒
September 15, 2024
Isla (FMC) is trying to rebuild her life after a break up and when an opportunity her friends come up with to go on a date with a Hockey player - Maddox. One that doesn't go according to plan but leads to unexpected attraction between both of them. Which is tentative because both of them were holding a lot of emotional baggage from past relationships. I loved Maddox's teammates who were a constant source of laughs especially Griffin. I really enjoyed reading Isla and Maddox's story. It was a good read.
October 11, 2024
love love loved this book!
From the beginning I loved this book. It made me laugh and cry in so many areas. Isla wrung my heart she is sweet and kind and smart except her ex really did a number on her . Maddox such a jerk when he first meets her I mean talking about judging a book by its cover . There were so many on her side and the nudges that were given to push these two together. I could not put this book down it’s a definite keeper . This couple is so charming and so real I loved their story.
From the beginning I loved this book. It made me laugh and cry in so many areas. Isla wrung my heart she is sweet and kind and smart except her ex really did a number on her . Maddox such a jerk when he first meets her I mean talking about judging a book by its cover . There were so many on her side and the nudges that were given to push these two together. I could not put this book down it’s a definite keeper . This couple is so charming and so real I loved their story.
not-in-a-million-years
November 11, 2024Personal hygiene is key. Proudly writing about a heroine wearing the same underwear for days just grosses me out 🤢🤮
January 8, 2025
Ugh, such a good little romance book. 2/5 spice but I liked the FMC even if I wish she would’ve developed more in her confidence.
November 2, 2024
this was pretty basic really. nothing happened except the love story. no personal struggles at all.
April 6, 2025
This book was very cute but it got pretty boring in the middle.
August 8, 2025
Not my cuppa
September 19, 2024
I'm just gonna start this off with that I was 99% sure in the beginning of this book that Isla and I were the same person. There's a scene in the beginning of the book where her friends insist on taking her to the restaurant because they didn't trust her to drive herself. Specifically they thought she would take out her e-reader and park in a random parking lot and pretend to be on the date. And then her internal monologue says “for the record, I wasn't planning on doing that. I was going to read all my phone.” I have never felt more seen and attacked in the same sentence in my life. She also says she likes good books, pizza, movie nights in, and driving out of the city. We're gonna act like the rest of that sentence doesn't exist because I don't hike. We're also gonna pretend that the driving is done at night. Now I can say we’re the same person. I immediately was so excited to read this book because everyone knows I am a sucker for sexy hockey men so I could EASILY pretend that I was Isla. I am OBSESSED with how much Maddox’s sister immediately loved Isla. I’ve always wanted a relationship like that. I also LOVE that Isla has no qualms about putting Maddox in his place.
So the FMC is named Isla Harding. Which in my head is very similar to Ian Harding. I was obsessed with Pretty Little Liars when it was on air. So it took me a while to get used to seeing her name and not picturing Ezra Fitz.
I'm also just gonna add that I am obsessed that they pray to Chris Hemsworth. I mean is that genius or what??? (The answer is yes and that it's the most creative thing I've ever seen in a book…and I’ve seen some shit). The vibes in this book were just absolutely immaculate and everything that I could've wished for in a hockey romance.
Isla also says the funniest things. I love the way she words stuff. It reminds me so much of Jess from New Girl, and it probably doesn't help that she's also a teacher.
Like when Maddox is telling her how long they've all been on the team and explains what positions they play. In her head she says “he might as well be speaking in tongues. It's all gobbledy-gook to me.” Or when she uses the word dickmatized. I was thinking that’s perfect and I am so stealing it.
This book is seriously funny on top of being a romance novel. When I say I wanna read a romcom, this is what I mean. It had everything you could want. This book played out like a movie in my mind. I loved the relationships all the characters developed and how personal they felt. You could truly feel the love they have for one another through these pages. And it didn't just focus on the two main characters which made it so wholesome. There were so many full circle moments where I was giggling and squealing. There were also the moments where I was sad or frustrated. A of course the moments where I was happy and kicking my legs on my bed with a huge smile on my face. These characters all had such different, beautiful, and hilarious personalities. I truly felt like these were real people and not just words on a page.
QUOTES (I had SO many that I could probaby type well over 10 pages so here's a few from the beginning of the book that I thoroughly enjoyed):
Text thread:
Jess: Well? How was dinner? You never texted us, so hopefully that means you're naked and breathless in that gorgeous hunk of a man-meat’s bed.
Nevaeh: Is his dick huge? I bet it’s huge.
Isla: I have no idea what size his dick is. We didn't sleep together and never will. He was a pompous asshole for the better part of the night, and I almost left fifteen minutes into the date.
Jess: What? Why? What did he do?
Nevaeh: Do we need to find out where he lives and egg his house?
Isla: LOL. Please don't. I'm exhausted. Can we meet for lunch tomorrow and I’ll tell you all about it?
Nevaeh: Are you kidding me? How are we supposed to sleep when you haven't told us anything?
Isla: I’m sure you’ll find a way.
Nevaeh: Rude.
Isla: You love me.
Jess: *sighs* We do. Noon tomorrow at Café Gold?
I am totally Jess in my friendships and so okay with it. There were so many times in the book where I was actually laughing out loud, but this scene really had me giggling.
____________________
Wright shrugs. “I let her finger my prostate a few times, but a strap-on just felt too impersonal.”
“Totally,” Navarro says with a roll of his eyes before he turns back to me. “So, tell us about it.”
“I wasn't there when Wright’s girl fingered his asshole.”
“Christ.” Bash groans. “Tell us about your date, Graves. Stop stalling and spill it.”
I love how close they all are, how much shit they give each other, and how nonchalant all the guys are that stuff like this with each other. And I really love how they force each other's issues out of each other and make them work through their problems.
____________________
Maddox: “She's not my woman. Isla’s not interested in me. I blew any chance of that on our date last week.”
Logan: “You sure about that?”
Bash: “I don’t know, if you really blew it as badly as you think, I doubt she would have hung around with us at the bar.”
Maddox: “She was nervous to leave.”
Navarro: “She fell asleep on your shoulder.”
Maddox: “That doesn't mean anything. She was tired.”
Navarro: “She could've dozed off with her head on Griff's shoulder, but she didn't. She fell asleep on yours.”
Maddox: “You're reading into this.”
Navarro: “Maybe, but you are distracted. Are you really trying to convince us it has nothing to do with Isla?”
Maddox: “It doesn't have anything to do with her.”
“Uh huh,” Griffin sings.
He brings his stick to his face and acts like he's making out with it.
Griffin: “Oh, Isla. I'm so glad you gave me another chance. I want to make sweet, sweet love to you. Have my babies. We’d make adorable, grumpy little redheads together.” He thrust his hips against the stick, egged on by Logan and Sebastian's laughter.
Griffin: “Oh yeah, baby. I love that you don't care that I have a small dick. And that I can only last ten seconds before I blow my load.” His hip thrusts become more exaggerated.
Griffin: “That's it, baby. God, you're so hot.” He pulls away from the stick, his mouth opening into a look of shock.
Griffin: “Griffin? Why are you crying out his name while I'm buried inside of you? You know what? I don't even care. I know Griff’s better than me in every way, so I don't mind if you scream his name while we're naked.”
____________________
Griffin: “Yeah. She's also feisty and cool. She's not afraid to put you in your place, and she's funny. She's not some single-minded puck bunny who only cares about snagging a hockey player. In fact, I doubt she's impressed by your job at all. You think we don't realize how attractive that must make her to you?”
____________________
Navarro: “So be her friend, Madds. She’s cool, and you could use a reminder that not all women are backstabbing narcissists.”
Maddox: “I don’t think all women are like that.”
Bash: “Your mom and sister don’t count.”
Logan: “Why don't you start by inviting her to one of our preseason games?It would be a good low-pressure way to spend some time with her. See if there's anything there.”
Maddox: “I kind of already did.”
Griffin: “What do you mean, kind of?”
Maddox: “No, I did invite her.”
Griffin: “What exactly did you say to her?”
Maddox: “I told her she could come to one of our games. She said it sounded cold, so I told her I'd hook her up with some Rogues gear to keep her warm, and I told her you guys would like it if she came.”
Three sets of eyes pinned to the ice. Their faces twist in varying expressions of disbelief.
Byrne: “Hold up. You told Isla that we would like it if she came to a game?”
Fuck. I knew they'd pick up on that.
Griffin: “Dude. What the hell is wrong with you?”
Sebastian: “You told her you wanted her to come too, right?”
Maddox: “Uh, not really.”
____________________
“Oh. My. God. She’s the GOAT. She totally threw shade only you would recognize when making her ex read it the opposite way. Please tell me you turned it around by the end of the night and did some serious groveling so you can take her out again.”
____________________
Maddox: “Who are you looking for?:
A deep voice whispers in my ear, so close to the hot brush of his breath on my neck makes me shiver.
I can't decide if I'm more disappointed that he's not wearing a tracksuit, or startled when I notice the color of the tie he’s paired with his fitted navy suit. Emerald green. My favorite.
I freaking love how attentive to detail Maddox is. I love all the subtle hints he drops to show her she's worth someone's time.
____________________
Griffin: “Look at his hands. See how he keeps clenching his fists? He's trying not to say something rude because Coach would have his ass if he wasn't nice and attentive to everyone wanting a bit of attention from him. Trust me, he's miserable.”
Just then, Maddox meets my gaze. Brown eyes search my face, and his brow furrows at whatever he finds. His previous smile slips quickly into a scowl and he shuffles his weight from one foot to the other
Griffin: “He just noticed the frown marks between your eyebrows and now he wants to ditch the jersey-chasers and storm over here to make sure I didn't say something stupid to upset you.”Griffin laughs gleefully.
We both watch as the blonde woman places her hand on Maddox again. This time, she lightly dragged it down his bicep, before letting it rest on his forearm. My frown deepens, and this time Maddox does brush her hand away.
Griffin: “Here he comes in three. Two. One.”
And sure enough, by the time Griffin hits one, Maddox excuses himself from the crowd of fawning women and crosses the room with a purposeful stride.
Maddox: “What's wrong? Did Griffin call you a TILF?”
There's a bit of silence as my brain processes. Then Griffin and I double over with laughter.
Isla: “TILF?What the hell, Griffin?”
The man shrugs between bouts of laughter.
Griffin: “I meant it from Maddox's perspective.”
Maddox: “What are you two cackling about? And why did you look upset?”
Isla: “I'm fine. Griffin didn't say anything to upset me.”
Maddox: “Then why were you frowning?”
Griffin: “You know how sometimes we’re on the road and it's late at night and we're all a little drunk so we turn on those tele-novellas?” Griffin shoots me a wink, silently telling me to go along with whatever he's about to say.
Griffin: “Well, I was doing that. I just made the blonde over there say something ridiculous and Isla was frowning because she was trying to get in character as you.”
There is no hiding the super graceful snort I let out.
Isla: “Uh, yep. Just getting in the right headspace to come up with lines for a big grumpy hockey player.”
Maddox: “Is that so?”
Griffin: “Yep.” His smile is utter mischief. It has Maddox rubbing his temples.
Maddox: “I'm going to regret introducing the two of you, aren't I?”
He doesn't mean it, though. His fond expression makes that clear.
Isla: “Is it true Griffin puked all over Logan at the top of a giant Ferris wheel?”
Maddox groans. “Yeah, I'm definitely going to regret it.”
This scene solidified my obsession with Griffin and Isla’s relationship and I am so here for it. I absolutely adore how well they get along and all the jokes that they come up with. This is honestly probably my favorite relationship in the book, sorry Maddox.
____________________
“Isla, I can make an appointment to talk contracts. You're important. I've been looking forward to this dinner with you all week.”
Oh, Maddox. You always know just what to say even when you have no insight into how meaningful things like this are.
____________________
Isla: “Will you tell me about it sometime?”
He considers me with a furrowed brow.
Maddox: “You read her interview.”
Isla: “I did.”
His face pinches with the flash of hurt, and now it's my turn to be there for him.
Isla: “I may not know you all that well, but it's easy to see the things she claimed aren't true.”
Maddox's eyes widen. He’s surprised I don't believe the worst about him?
Maddox: “You don't believe her? Even after the way I treated you when we first met?”
Isla: “Oh, you were an asshole at first. But you gave yourself away when you checked for monsters under my bed.”
Maddox: “Is that so?”
Isla: “Yep. It is.”
Maddox: “Does that mean you'd say yes if I asked you on a date? A real one. No best friends or auctions or awkward interviews afterward.”
Just like Maddox always knows what she needs to hear, she gives it back tenfold. The moments like those were so heartwarming to read.
____________________
Griffin: “Having more fun now?”
Isla: “I am. Are you?”
Griffin: “Hell, yeah. My dance card is full for the rest of the week.”
Calling his scheduled hookups a dance card is so Griffin.
Isla: “Is that what we're calling it these days?”
Griffin: “Sounds better than a sex roster.”
The girl on Griffin's other side raises her hand.
“You can put me on your sex roster. I can do the splits and put both legs behind my head.”
Griffin's eyes widen and he turns to her so slowly it might as well be slow-motion. He holds out a hand.
“Hi there. My name is Griffin Wright. What's your name, darlin’?”
There’s no holding back my laughter as the two of them discuss their favorite sex positions. Like it’s as normal as commenting on the weather.
“Oh, I love anal. I have this super cute butt plug with a fox tail on it. I'll show you if you want.”
Griffin hums What Does the Fox Say while he nods empathetically.
Griffin: “Oh, Quinoa, I definitely want to see that.”
I nearly spit out my water and look at Griffin. He meets my wide-eyed gaze with a huge smirk as I mouth her name is Quinoa? He just shrugs and stifles a laugh.
____________________
He got it in his head back in college that he's cursed. Every single one of his relationships ended by their six-month anniversary, and he's taken it as a sign that he's not meant for anything serious. Even though I know the guy is a closet romantic.
Felt that Griffin. I was in the same boat in college, buddy.
Piper...
Please tell me the next book will be Griffins.
So the FMC is named Isla Harding. Which in my head is very similar to Ian Harding. I was obsessed with Pretty Little Liars when it was on air. So it took me a while to get used to seeing her name and not picturing Ezra Fitz.
I'm also just gonna add that I am obsessed that they pray to Chris Hemsworth. I mean is that genius or what??? (The answer is yes and that it's the most creative thing I've ever seen in a book…and I’ve seen some shit). The vibes in this book were just absolutely immaculate and everything that I could've wished for in a hockey romance.
Isla also says the funniest things. I love the way she words stuff. It reminds me so much of Jess from New Girl, and it probably doesn't help that she's also a teacher.
Like when Maddox is telling her how long they've all been on the team and explains what positions they play. In her head she says “he might as well be speaking in tongues. It's all gobbledy-gook to me.” Or when she uses the word dickmatized. I was thinking that’s perfect and I am so stealing it.
This book is seriously funny on top of being a romance novel. When I say I wanna read a romcom, this is what I mean. It had everything you could want. This book played out like a movie in my mind. I loved the relationships all the characters developed and how personal they felt. You could truly feel the love they have for one another through these pages. And it didn't just focus on the two main characters which made it so wholesome. There were so many full circle moments where I was giggling and squealing. There were also the moments where I was sad or frustrated. A of course the moments where I was happy and kicking my legs on my bed with a huge smile on my face. These characters all had such different, beautiful, and hilarious personalities. I truly felt like these were real people and not just words on a page.
QUOTES (I had SO many that I could probaby type well over 10 pages so here's a few from the beginning of the book that I thoroughly enjoyed):
Text thread:
Jess: Well? How was dinner? You never texted us, so hopefully that means you're naked and breathless in that gorgeous hunk of a man-meat’s bed.
Nevaeh: Is his dick huge? I bet it’s huge.
Isla: I have no idea what size his dick is. We didn't sleep together and never will. He was a pompous asshole for the better part of the night, and I almost left fifteen minutes into the date.
Jess: What? Why? What did he do?
Nevaeh: Do we need to find out where he lives and egg his house?
Isla: LOL. Please don't. I'm exhausted. Can we meet for lunch tomorrow and I’ll tell you all about it?
Nevaeh: Are you kidding me? How are we supposed to sleep when you haven't told us anything?
Isla: I’m sure you’ll find a way.
Nevaeh: Rude.
Isla: You love me.
Jess: *sighs* We do. Noon tomorrow at Café Gold?
I am totally Jess in my friendships and so okay with it. There were so many times in the book where I was actually laughing out loud, but this scene really had me giggling.
____________________
Wright shrugs. “I let her finger my prostate a few times, but a strap-on just felt too impersonal.”
“Totally,” Navarro says with a roll of his eyes before he turns back to me. “So, tell us about it.”
“I wasn't there when Wright’s girl fingered his asshole.”
“Christ.” Bash groans. “Tell us about your date, Graves. Stop stalling and spill it.”
I love how close they all are, how much shit they give each other, and how nonchalant all the guys are that stuff like this with each other. And I really love how they force each other's issues out of each other and make them work through their problems.
____________________
Maddox: “She's not my woman. Isla’s not interested in me. I blew any chance of that on our date last week.”
Logan: “You sure about that?”
Bash: “I don’t know, if you really blew it as badly as you think, I doubt she would have hung around with us at the bar.”
Maddox: “She was nervous to leave.”
Navarro: “She fell asleep on your shoulder.”
Maddox: “That doesn't mean anything. She was tired.”
Navarro: “She could've dozed off with her head on Griff's shoulder, but she didn't. She fell asleep on yours.”
Maddox: “You're reading into this.”
Navarro: “Maybe, but you are distracted. Are you really trying to convince us it has nothing to do with Isla?”
Maddox: “It doesn't have anything to do with her.”
“Uh huh,” Griffin sings.
He brings his stick to his face and acts like he's making out with it.
Griffin: “Oh, Isla. I'm so glad you gave me another chance. I want to make sweet, sweet love to you. Have my babies. We’d make adorable, grumpy little redheads together.” He thrust his hips against the stick, egged on by Logan and Sebastian's laughter.
Griffin: “Oh yeah, baby. I love that you don't care that I have a small dick. And that I can only last ten seconds before I blow my load.” His hip thrusts become more exaggerated.
Griffin: “That's it, baby. God, you're so hot.” He pulls away from the stick, his mouth opening into a look of shock.
Griffin: “Griffin? Why are you crying out his name while I'm buried inside of you? You know what? I don't even care. I know Griff’s better than me in every way, so I don't mind if you scream his name while we're naked.”
____________________
Griffin: “Yeah. She's also feisty and cool. She's not afraid to put you in your place, and she's funny. She's not some single-minded puck bunny who only cares about snagging a hockey player. In fact, I doubt she's impressed by your job at all. You think we don't realize how attractive that must make her to you?”
____________________
Navarro: “So be her friend, Madds. She’s cool, and you could use a reminder that not all women are backstabbing narcissists.”
Maddox: “I don’t think all women are like that.”
Bash: “Your mom and sister don’t count.”
Logan: “Why don't you start by inviting her to one of our preseason games?It would be a good low-pressure way to spend some time with her. See if there's anything there.”
Maddox: “I kind of already did.”
Griffin: “What do you mean, kind of?”
Maddox: “No, I did invite her.”
Griffin: “What exactly did you say to her?”
Maddox: “I told her she could come to one of our games. She said it sounded cold, so I told her I'd hook her up with some Rogues gear to keep her warm, and I told her you guys would like it if she came.”
Three sets of eyes pinned to the ice. Their faces twist in varying expressions of disbelief.
Byrne: “Hold up. You told Isla that we would like it if she came to a game?”
Fuck. I knew they'd pick up on that.
Griffin: “Dude. What the hell is wrong with you?”
Sebastian: “You told her you wanted her to come too, right?”
Maddox: “Uh, not really.”
____________________
“Oh. My. God. She’s the GOAT. She totally threw shade only you would recognize when making her ex read it the opposite way. Please tell me you turned it around by the end of the night and did some serious groveling so you can take her out again.”
____________________
Maddox: “Who are you looking for?:
A deep voice whispers in my ear, so close to the hot brush of his breath on my neck makes me shiver.
I can't decide if I'm more disappointed that he's not wearing a tracksuit, or startled when I notice the color of the tie he’s paired with his fitted navy suit. Emerald green. My favorite.
I freaking love how attentive to detail Maddox is. I love all the subtle hints he drops to show her she's worth someone's time.
____________________
Griffin: “Look at his hands. See how he keeps clenching his fists? He's trying not to say something rude because Coach would have his ass if he wasn't nice and attentive to everyone wanting a bit of attention from him. Trust me, he's miserable.”
Just then, Maddox meets my gaze. Brown eyes search my face, and his brow furrows at whatever he finds. His previous smile slips quickly into a scowl and he shuffles his weight from one foot to the other
Griffin: “He just noticed the frown marks between your eyebrows and now he wants to ditch the jersey-chasers and storm over here to make sure I didn't say something stupid to upset you.”Griffin laughs gleefully.
We both watch as the blonde woman places her hand on Maddox again. This time, she lightly dragged it down his bicep, before letting it rest on his forearm. My frown deepens, and this time Maddox does brush her hand away.
Griffin: “Here he comes in three. Two. One.”
And sure enough, by the time Griffin hits one, Maddox excuses himself from the crowd of fawning women and crosses the room with a purposeful stride.
Maddox: “What's wrong? Did Griffin call you a TILF?”
There's a bit of silence as my brain processes. Then Griffin and I double over with laughter.
Isla: “TILF?What the hell, Griffin?”
The man shrugs between bouts of laughter.
Griffin: “I meant it from Maddox's perspective.”
Maddox: “What are you two cackling about? And why did you look upset?”
Isla: “I'm fine. Griffin didn't say anything to upset me.”
Maddox: “Then why were you frowning?”
Griffin: “You know how sometimes we’re on the road and it's late at night and we're all a little drunk so we turn on those tele-novellas?” Griffin shoots me a wink, silently telling me to go along with whatever he's about to say.
Griffin: “Well, I was doing that. I just made the blonde over there say something ridiculous and Isla was frowning because she was trying to get in character as you.”
There is no hiding the super graceful snort I let out.
Isla: “Uh, yep. Just getting in the right headspace to come up with lines for a big grumpy hockey player.”
Maddox: “Is that so?”
Griffin: “Yep.” His smile is utter mischief. It has Maddox rubbing his temples.
Maddox: “I'm going to regret introducing the two of you, aren't I?”
He doesn't mean it, though. His fond expression makes that clear.
Isla: “Is it true Griffin puked all over Logan at the top of a giant Ferris wheel?”
Maddox groans. “Yeah, I'm definitely going to regret it.”
This scene solidified my obsession with Griffin and Isla’s relationship and I am so here for it. I absolutely adore how well they get along and all the jokes that they come up with. This is honestly probably my favorite relationship in the book, sorry Maddox.
____________________
“Isla, I can make an appointment to talk contracts. You're important. I've been looking forward to this dinner with you all week.”
Oh, Maddox. You always know just what to say even when you have no insight into how meaningful things like this are.
____________________
Isla: “Will you tell me about it sometime?”
He considers me with a furrowed brow.
Maddox: “You read her interview.”
Isla: “I did.”
His face pinches with the flash of hurt, and now it's my turn to be there for him.
Isla: “I may not know you all that well, but it's easy to see the things she claimed aren't true.”
Maddox's eyes widen. He’s surprised I don't believe the worst about him?
Maddox: “You don't believe her? Even after the way I treated you when we first met?”
Isla: “Oh, you were an asshole at first. But you gave yourself away when you checked for monsters under my bed.”
Maddox: “Is that so?”
Isla: “Yep. It is.”
Maddox: “Does that mean you'd say yes if I asked you on a date? A real one. No best friends or auctions or awkward interviews afterward.”
Just like Maddox always knows what she needs to hear, she gives it back tenfold. The moments like those were so heartwarming to read.
____________________
Griffin: “Having more fun now?”
Isla: “I am. Are you?”
Griffin: “Hell, yeah. My dance card is full for the rest of the week.”
Calling his scheduled hookups a dance card is so Griffin.
Isla: “Is that what we're calling it these days?”
Griffin: “Sounds better than a sex roster.”
The girl on Griffin's other side raises her hand.
“You can put me on your sex roster. I can do the splits and put both legs behind my head.”
Griffin's eyes widen and he turns to her so slowly it might as well be slow-motion. He holds out a hand.
“Hi there. My name is Griffin Wright. What's your name, darlin’?”
There’s no holding back my laughter as the two of them discuss their favorite sex positions. Like it’s as normal as commenting on the weather.
“Oh, I love anal. I have this super cute butt plug with a fox tail on it. I'll show you if you want.”
Griffin hums What Does the Fox Say while he nods empathetically.
Griffin: “Oh, Quinoa, I definitely want to see that.”
I nearly spit out my water and look at Griffin. He meets my wide-eyed gaze with a huge smirk as I mouth her name is Quinoa? He just shrugs and stifles a laugh.
____________________
He got it in his head back in college that he's cursed. Every single one of his relationships ended by their six-month anniversary, and he's taken it as a sign that he's not meant for anything serious. Even though I know the guy is a closet romantic.
Felt that Griffin. I was in the same boat in college, buddy.
Piper...
Please tell me the next book will be Griffins.
October 11, 2024
They get together at like 30%. Miscommunication trope 🤦♀️
November 20, 2024
**spoilers**
I enjoyed the first 70% until I got hit with that third-act breakup. He messed up so bad and then left her to wallow in self pity and depression for another FULL WEEK after having the miscommunication cleared up, knowing full well that she was struggling and feeling horrible so he could “prove” he loved her in dramatic fashion. That “proof” being having her friends, students, and his family coerce her into taking him back on LIVE TELEVISION. It’s like those dramatic proposals from the 2010s where the person being proposed to is goaded on by the crowd of strangers around them despite being visibly uncomfortable. All this book is missing is “I think I wanna marry you” by Bruno Mars playing in the background.
I enjoyed the first 70% until I got hit with that third-act breakup. He messed up so bad and then left her to wallow in self pity and depression for another FULL WEEK after having the miscommunication cleared up, knowing full well that she was struggling and feeling horrible so he could “prove” he loved her in dramatic fashion. That “proof” being having her friends, students, and his family coerce her into taking him back on LIVE TELEVISION. It’s like those dramatic proposals from the 2010s where the person being proposed to is goaded on by the crowd of strangers around them despite being visibly uncomfortable. All this book is missing is “I think I wanna marry you” by Bruno Mars playing in the background.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2024
The story was nice, boring but cute. The spice was cringe, but the worst part is the third part conflict. The MMC was an ass and I would not forgave him or be with him in the end. I wanted to DNF it so bad, but I read too much to give up.
Read
July 26, 2024Just finished beta reading. Excited to read the finished project.
December 20, 2025
4.25 stars
January 7, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
“Isla Harding is everything. She’s my present and my future. She’s wrapped up in every dream and goal for my life, now. She’s a part of me. The best part.” ❤️
“You’re the fairytale, Maddox.” ❤️
Tropes
Hockey romance (NHL)
Player x Teacher
Found family
He falls first
Third act breakup due to communication
Public grand gesture apology
I was really enjoying this up until the 3rd act breakup, I was ready to put it down because of how everything fell apart and how Maddox reacted. I understand how he felt and why he did and said what he said to some extent, but all of that could’ve been avoided with a simple conversation, him coming right out and saying he was outside the door and heard them, Isla telling about what happened when it asked if she had anything to tell me, or if he just walked into the room right then and there.
I also hated how much Alex was brought up during the story. He infuriated me so much.
But other than those things, I enjoyed this. Maddox and Isla had a rocky initial first impression with each other, but I loved seeing Isla give him an actual chance. Maddox proved that he was more than the media made him out to be. He was sweet yet dominant, caring, attentive, passionate, affectionate, and protective. One of his love languages was definitely acts of service, and I loved that too. They had great chemistry, their spicy scenes were great, and I loved seeing them fall in love with each other.
I loved the side characters too (especially Griffin), and I hope we get books for some of them in the future
“Isla Harding is everything. She’s my present and my future. She’s wrapped up in every dream and goal for my life, now. She’s a part of me. The best part.” ❤️
“You’re the fairytale, Maddox.” ❤️
Tropes
Hockey romance (NHL)
Player x Teacher
Found family
He falls first
Third act breakup due to communication
Public grand gesture apology
I was really enjoying this up until the 3rd act breakup, I was ready to put it down because of how everything fell apart and how Maddox reacted. I understand how he felt and why he did and said what he said to some extent, but all of that could’ve been avoided with a simple conversation, him coming right out and saying he was outside the door and heard them, Isla telling about what happened when it asked if she had anything to tell me, or if he just walked into the room right then and there.
I also hated how much Alex was brought up during the story. He infuriated me so much.
But other than those things, I enjoyed this. Maddox and Isla had a rocky initial first impression with each other, but I loved seeing Isla give him an actual chance. Maddox proved that he was more than the media made him out to be. He was sweet yet dominant, caring, attentive, passionate, affectionate, and protective. One of his love languages was definitely acts of service, and I loved that too. They had great chemistry, their spicy scenes were great, and I loved seeing them fall in love with each other.
I loved the side characters too (especially Griffin), and I hope we get books for some of them in the future
January 3, 2026
Isla Harding is struggling to get over a bad breakup. To help, her friends have won her a date night with a professional hockey player.
Maddox Graves has a notorious reputation for breaking hearts. The charity auction is supposed to help him get some good publicity.
When their date goes horribly wrong, Maddox still needs Isla to tell the journalists that it went well. She agrees to do that, but only if he does a presentation for her students. It's an agreement that upends both their lives for the better.
🏒Adult Fiction
🍎Contemporary Romance
🏒Teacher x Hockey Player
🍎Date Auction
🏒Grumpy x Sunshine
🍎Open Door
'The Love You Win' is a steamy sports romance with a fast-paced relationship. It's long for a book that doesn't have much conflict until the end.
Isla has been miserable for months after leaving an abusive relationship. Her confidence has been ripped to shreds and she has trouble putting herself first. Some of her narration is a bit off-putting and she spends a lot of time fixated on her ex-fiancé.
Maddox is a grumpy person with trust issues. He's had a lot of bad luck with dating and he's trying to focus on his hockey career.
The romance includes corniness that wasn't always to my taste. On top of that, the conflict at the end had such a silly set-up that it was hard to read. I'm not a fan of sports romances that make it seem like athletes get the same level of media scrutiny as pop stars. Aside from that, Isla and Maddox have a decent amount of chemistry, and most of their relationship was sweet.
Maddox Graves has a notorious reputation for breaking hearts. The charity auction is supposed to help him get some good publicity.
When their date goes horribly wrong, Maddox still needs Isla to tell the journalists that it went well. She agrees to do that, but only if he does a presentation for her students. It's an agreement that upends both their lives for the better.
🏒Adult Fiction
🍎Contemporary Romance
🏒Teacher x Hockey Player
🍎Date Auction
🏒Grumpy x Sunshine
🍎Open Door
'The Love You Win' is a steamy sports romance with a fast-paced relationship. It's long for a book that doesn't have much conflict until the end.
Isla has been miserable for months after leaving an abusive relationship. Her confidence has been ripped to shreds and she has trouble putting herself first. Some of her narration is a bit off-putting and she spends a lot of time fixated on her ex-fiancé.
Maddox is a grumpy person with trust issues. He's had a lot of bad luck with dating and he's trying to focus on his hockey career.
The romance includes corniness that wasn't always to my taste. On top of that, the conflict at the end had such a silly set-up that it was hard to read. I'm not a fan of sports romances that make it seem like athletes get the same level of media scrutiny as pop stars. Aside from that, Isla and Maddox have a decent amount of chemistry, and most of their relationship was sweet.
September 15, 2024
“The Love You Win”, is the first in a book of a series called Going Rogue. Each book in the series is a standalone which I enjoy I sometimes get impatient waiting for book 2 to find out what happened. Two weeks before Isla's wedding her boyfriend calls it off and to make things even worse he goes on the trip that was to be their honeymoon trip. She has spent the Summer in a depression wondering what is wrong with her. Her girlfriends decide enough is enough and they come and have her get up and they take her for a girls night out on the town. During the evening, they get her to say if they could get her a date with some one nice she would go out, not realizing they had put a bid in on a charity auction and had won a date, not only had they won a date but a date with the Captain of the Minnesota Rogues Maddox Graves. Isla goes to meet him for dinner with as much joy as going to the dentist. Unknown to Isla Maddox has been deeply hurt in love and they last place he wants to be is at the dinner but the coach says he has to do it. Well it did not go well.. Maddox agrees to do anything within reason to make up for his rude behavior. Well what do you thing Isla wants him to do? What happens when the ex shows up. Can these two people so badly hurt in love develop a lasting lovely relationship?. I so enjoyed the friends of Maddox, his sister and Isla's friends. Looking forward to books about them.
September 26, 2024
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗪𝗜𝗡 • 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🍎 𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 🍎
26 • high school english teacher • recently single • goes on an auction date with maddox • nickname: “short-stack”
🏒 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘰𝘹 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 🏒
30 • captin of the rouges • very guarded with women • trying to romance isla • nickname: “ogre”
𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦:
🏒 hockey romance
😤 dislike to love
🌦️ grumpy x sunshine
🫶🏽 he falls first
🩷 found family
𝗠𝗬 ����𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦:
WOWWW…well flippin done on your debut novel piper 👏🏽 the disastrous meet cute, the plot, the main characters, the side characters, the banter, and everything in between was so well written!!!
•
i absolutely loved how isla was so passionate about teaching and would do anything for the students at her school, as a teacher myself i understood the passion and love she had for her students 🥹 but also my heart broke for isla after her ex broke her heart and made her feel so bad about herself, she did not deserve 💔 and then after meeting maddox it didn’t help…until he got his head out of his ass and made it right
•
maddox has been through the ringer when it comes to women so i understood his aversion when it came to isla but when he realized he misjudged her…boy does he make it up in the best ways possible!!! their connection was so flippin cute and the things he did for her and how he made her feel was so swoon worthy 🫠 but when their third act breakup came i was tearinggg uppp, ughhh i hated it 😭 but the groveling he does was goodddd (as it should be)
•
also shoutout to the side characters…isla’s best friends were truly amazing, loved maddox’s sister, and the guys on the team were so welcoming to isla and treated her like she was apart of the team 😍 i cannot wait for them to get their hea’s (i already have a few theories about their stories), so excited for whats’ to come in this series
@tropesandblurbs
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🍎 𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 🍎
26 • high school english teacher • recently single • goes on an auction date with maddox • nickname: “short-stack”
🏒 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘰𝘹 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 🏒
30 • captin of the rouges • very guarded with women • trying to romance isla • nickname: “ogre”
𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦:
🏒 hockey romance
😤 dislike to love
🌦️ grumpy x sunshine
🫶🏽 he falls first
🩷 found family
𝗠𝗬 ����𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦:
WOWWW…well flippin done on your debut novel piper 👏🏽 the disastrous meet cute, the plot, the main characters, the side characters, the banter, and everything in between was so well written!!!
•
i absolutely loved how isla was so passionate about teaching and would do anything for the students at her school, as a teacher myself i understood the passion and love she had for her students 🥹 but also my heart broke for isla after her ex broke her heart and made her feel so bad about herself, she did not deserve 💔 and then after meeting maddox it didn’t help…until he got his head out of his ass and made it right
•
maddox has been through the ringer when it comes to women so i understood his aversion when it came to isla but when he realized he misjudged her…boy does he make it up in the best ways possible!!! their connection was so flippin cute and the things he did for her and how he made her feel was so swoon worthy 🫠 but when their third act breakup came i was tearinggg uppp, ughhh i hated it 😭 but the groveling he does was goodddd (as it should be)
•
also shoutout to the side characters…isla’s best friends were truly amazing, loved maddox’s sister, and the guys on the team were so welcoming to isla and treated her like she was apart of the team 😍 i cannot wait for them to get their hea’s (i already have a few theories about their stories), so excited for whats’ to come in this series
@tropesandblurbs
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