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Bluegrass Bluff
Some exes deserve a second chance. Others deserve a well-crafted lie.
Brenna Quinn has spent years proving herself in the world of professional hockey, carving out her place as the sharp-witted, no-nonsense PR manager for the Bluegrass Blades. But when Logan Ashford—the ex who broke her heart—joins the team, her carefully built walls start to crack. Worse, she’s expected to play nice and help him settle in.
Landon Reid, the Blades' relentless defenseman and resident flirt, has been after Brenna for years, always with a joke and a cocky grin. She’s never taken him seriously, but when she shows up at the bar looking for an escape, Landon sees his chance. One overheard conversation, one reckless idea, and suddenly, they have a plan—fake date to throw Logan off his game.
It’s just an act. Just a way to keep Logan from thinking he still has a shot. But as the lines between pretend and real start to blur, Brenna has to ask Is she still playing defense, or has Landon slipped right past her guard?
Because in a game of love and lies, the hardest thing to do is tell the truth.
Brenna Quinn has spent years proving herself in the world of professional hockey, carving out her place as the sharp-witted, no-nonsense PR manager for the Bluegrass Blades. But when Logan Ashford—the ex who broke her heart—joins the team, her carefully built walls start to crack. Worse, she’s expected to play nice and help him settle in.
Landon Reid, the Blades' relentless defenseman and resident flirt, has been after Brenna for years, always with a joke and a cocky grin. She’s never taken him seriously, but when she shows up at the bar looking for an escape, Landon sees his chance. One overheard conversation, one reckless idea, and suddenly, they have a plan—fake date to throw Logan off his game.
It’s just an act. Just a way to keep Logan from thinking he still has a shot. But as the lines between pretend and real start to blur, Brenna has to ask Is she still playing defense, or has Landon slipped right past her guard?
Because in a game of love and lies, the hardest thing to do is tell the truth.
235 pages, Paperback
Published April 11, 2025
1 person want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 3, 2025
“I’m going to worship you, Brenna,” he promised, his voice thick with desire. “Every single inch of you. And when I’m done, you’re going to forget everything but my name.”
Fake relationship to make her ex jealous? Yes please 💖
Landon is the flirt of the team and Brenna is one of the many lucky ladies around the arena on the receiving end of his antics. When her ex abruptly comes back into her life, Brenna and Landon agree to fake a relationship. She gets to tell her ex where to shove it, and he looks better to the media.
I love the chemistry that these two had from the very beginning. And I straight up SWOONED over Landon getting all defensive and alpha male over her when her ex decides to be even more of a jerk.
Such a lighthearted and easy read. 💖
4 ⭐️
2 🌶️
Fake relationship to make her ex jealous? Yes please 💖
Landon is the flirt of the team and Brenna is one of the many lucky ladies around the arena on the receiving end of his antics. When her ex abruptly comes back into her life, Brenna and Landon agree to fake a relationship. She gets to tell her ex where to shove it, and he looks better to the media.
I love the chemistry that these two had from the very beginning. And I straight up SWOONED over Landon getting all defensive and alpha male over her when her ex decides to be even more of a jerk.
Such a lighthearted and easy read. 💖
4 ⭐️
2 🌶️
March 31, 2025
3.5/5 ☆
Thank you to JJ Whit for the ARC!
This was a quick read - I sat down and finished it in one sitting. The pacing felt a bit quick for me but I came to enjoy Brenna and Landon together!
Thank you to JJ Whit for the ARC!
This was a quick read - I sat down and finished it in one sitting. The pacing felt a bit quick for me but I came to enjoy Brenna and Landon together!
May 6, 2025
My ARC Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5, so rounding up | Fake Dating, Hockey Romance, Steamy Chemistry
The pacing of Bluegrass Bluff is chef's kiss. I loved how Brenna and Landon were introduced. No long build-up here—this story dives right in, and it’s fast-paced. They immediately start fake dating, and it doesn’t take long for the lines to blur because, let’s face it, Landon is perfection. He's a hotshot hockey player with a playboy reputation, but he exudes confidence and knows exactly what Brenna needs, when she needs it. He grounds her with physical touch, and it’s clear from the start that he’s not just playing pretend.
Landon knows everything about Brenna—he's been quietly pining (and lowkey stalking) her for years, learning what she likes and dislikes, even reading the smutty books she’s into to figure out how to be the perfect guy for her. He’s protective, hilarious, and just goes full force into his "boyfriend" role when it comes to dealing with her ex. The way he asserts his dominance over the ex is so funny—I was cracking up at his douche canoe moments.
Brenna is healing from the trauma her ex caused, and she’s been focusing on starting fresh, but she slowly lets Landon in, and it’s incredibly cute. He helps her see her worth and makes her feel heard and wanted. They really work as a couple, and their slow-burn romance was fantastic.
As for the ex…well, there wasn’t much going on there, but honestly, it wasn’t needed. Brenna’s trauma and insecurities were realistic, and I could feel the effects of her past relationship. The ex didn’t need much attention—his narcissistic behavior was felt through Brenna’s internal struggles.
Now, for the hockey aspect: I really wanted more of it. The story could have been amazing if there had been more game scenes or more focus on the team dynamics. There wasn’t much character development for the teammates, and I didn’t even know their names, positions, or how close-if at all they were to Landon. The lack of hockey focus felt odd for a book that’s categorized as a hockey romance. I just wanted more hockey moments!
As for the writing—there were a few repetitive words, some repeated sections, and a couple of funny moments like the whole “invisible belt” situation where they were initiating sex, he was naked, yet she removed his belt 😂 I think it's important to point out that some paragraphs were repeated, or slightly altered which threw me for a loop thinking I rewinded and read a page twice, so I'm hoping those didn't make the final cut. There was also a scene where he opened the truck door and a whole scene played out, and then they were back to driving and he pulled over and unbuckled her seatbelt. I’m hoping these were just quirks in my ARC copy, though, because they were a little distracting.
And lastly, the cover. I’m really confused about the horseshoes and roses. There’s literally nothing in the book related to horses, farms, or anything country—except for a brief mention of the family home being a farm in the EPILOGUE. I expected a cowboy-hockey vibe based on the cover, so I was a little disappointed. Please, change the cover to better match the content!
Overall, despite these little hiccups, I really enjoyed Bluegrass Bluff. The fake dating trope and the hockey romance were right up my alley. It’s not perfect, but it’s still a solid 3.5-star read for me. If you're into steamy chemistry and fun fake relationships, this one's worth checking out.
The pacing of Bluegrass Bluff is chef's kiss. I loved how Brenna and Landon were introduced. No long build-up here—this story dives right in, and it’s fast-paced. They immediately start fake dating, and it doesn’t take long for the lines to blur because, let’s face it, Landon is perfection. He's a hotshot hockey player with a playboy reputation, but he exudes confidence and knows exactly what Brenna needs, when she needs it. He grounds her with physical touch, and it’s clear from the start that he’s not just playing pretend.
Landon knows everything about Brenna—he's been quietly pining (and lowkey stalking) her for years, learning what she likes and dislikes, even reading the smutty books she’s into to figure out how to be the perfect guy for her. He’s protective, hilarious, and just goes full force into his "boyfriend" role when it comes to dealing with her ex. The way he asserts his dominance over the ex is so funny—I was cracking up at his douche canoe moments.
Brenna is healing from the trauma her ex caused, and she’s been focusing on starting fresh, but she slowly lets Landon in, and it’s incredibly cute. He helps her see her worth and makes her feel heard and wanted. They really work as a couple, and their slow-burn romance was fantastic.
As for the ex…well, there wasn’t much going on there, but honestly, it wasn’t needed. Brenna’s trauma and insecurities were realistic, and I could feel the effects of her past relationship. The ex didn’t need much attention—his narcissistic behavior was felt through Brenna’s internal struggles.
Now, for the hockey aspect: I really wanted more of it. The story could have been amazing if there had been more game scenes or more focus on the team dynamics. There wasn’t much character development for the teammates, and I didn’t even know their names, positions, or how close-if at all they were to Landon. The lack of hockey focus felt odd for a book that’s categorized as a hockey romance. I just wanted more hockey moments!
As for the writing—there were a few repetitive words, some repeated sections, and a couple of funny moments like the whole “invisible belt” situation where they were initiating sex, he was naked, yet she removed his belt 😂 I think it's important to point out that some paragraphs were repeated, or slightly altered which threw me for a loop thinking I rewinded and read a page twice, so I'm hoping those didn't make the final cut. There was also a scene where he opened the truck door and a whole scene played out, and then they were back to driving and he pulled over and unbuckled her seatbelt. I’m hoping these were just quirks in my ARC copy, though, because they were a little distracting.
And lastly, the cover. I’m really confused about the horseshoes and roses. There’s literally nothing in the book related to horses, farms, or anything country—except for a brief mention of the family home being a farm in the EPILOGUE. I expected a cowboy-hockey vibe based on the cover, so I was a little disappointed. Please, change the cover to better match the content!
Overall, despite these little hiccups, I really enjoyed Bluegrass Bluff. The fake dating trope and the hockey romance were right up my alley. It’s not perfect, but it’s still a solid 3.5-star read for me. If you're into steamy chemistry and fun fake relationships, this one's worth checking out.
April 5, 2025
Brenna is an executive assistant for a professional hockey team. Landon is a playboy player on the team who constantly flirts with her. When her ex is traded to the team, Landon offers her a distraction.
I felt like this book was ok. It had a lot of promise with the plot, but the execution struggled a bit. I wanted to know more about the history with her ex. Also, lines of text were repeated several times. The narration in the chapters was dual POV, but overlapping at times. It was a bit distracting to me. The spice was just a little at the end and not very spicy. It seemed to end rather abruptly as well.
I felt like this book was ok. It had a lot of promise with the plot, but the execution struggled a bit. I wanted to know more about the history with her ex. Also, lines of text were repeated several times. The narration in the chapters was dual POV, but overlapping at times. It was a bit distracting to me. The spice was just a little at the end and not very spicy. It seemed to end rather abruptly as well.
April 5, 2025
Fake Dating the team playboy to make your ex jealous? Sounds like nothing could go wrong. Brenna works for the hockey team and Landon is a major flirt but she doesn't realize he is serious about her. They had great chemistry and when her ex joined the team, they decided to date to make him jealous and keep him away. Of course, as they get closer, feelings start to grow. Landon was very protective towards Brenna, always there to back her up. Ends on a cliffhanger.
April 2, 2025
I had the pleasure of reading this book as an ARC!
I love reading this story. Their relationship was inevitable and it was so cute. It was a pretty fast paced book, read it in less than a day. They go from nothing to something real quick 😏
I wish there was a little more surrounding her ex. There was really only one or two scenes involving him. I just wish there was a bit more.
Writing wise there were some things that could be improved upon. There were some repeat paragraphs. Sentences that contradicted what happened in the previous paragraph. Overall though I don’t think it took away from the overall story.
I love reading this story. Their relationship was inevitable and it was so cute. It was a pretty fast paced book, read it in less than a day. They go from nothing to something real quick 😏
I wish there was a little more surrounding her ex. There was really only one or two scenes involving him. I just wish there was a bit more.
Writing wise there were some things that could be improved upon. There were some repeat paragraphs. Sentences that contradicted what happened in the previous paragraph. Overall though I don’t think it took away from the overall story.
April 21, 2025
Brenna works at Bluegrass Blades, she’s multitasking from emails, calls and scheduling appointments. Landon goes to talk to her and ask her to go to dinner with him. She tells him that her policy is no hockey player. He gives up and leaves. She gets a phone call from her ex, her luck he will be joining the team. She thought she will not have to deal with her ex, but she was wrong. Mark called on her and ask for her to show her ex Logan around the city. She didn’t want to but it’s her job so she agreed to. She’s been stressed over Logan that she went and met up with her friend to watch the game. The team won, so her and her friend went to the bar to talk and then enjoy themselves. Landon showed up and sat down with them. She’s been drinking a lot so Landon been keeping an eye on her. He then toke her to his place to take care of her because she’s wasted. He gave her one of his shirts for her to wear. Then when he came back she was already asleep. She woke up and didn’t know where she was until she saw Landon sleeping on a chair. He woke up and got up and told her what happened. He told her she talked about Logan so he had an idea but will she go with it. They both went with his plan. Will it work out? Will they really end up together? Or will the plan fall apart? Must read this book to see for yourself. 🌶️🌶️🌶️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 3, 2025
A lovely fake dating novel trope that hit all the notes.
I loved this novel so much that I finished it within hours of receiving the ARC. The writing is tighter than her other books and comend the author on her very well deserved progress.
The plot of the book is simple yet smooth. The characters are easy to connect and you can easily pick a side.
The sports scenes didn't disappoint and allowed us to really experience the sports highlights while diving deeper into the novel.
Well done to the author on this lovely tale, can't wait to see what is up next. All the best. Much love.
I loved this novel so much that I finished it within hours of receiving the ARC. The writing is tighter than her other books and comend the author on her very well deserved progress.
The plot of the book is simple yet smooth. The characters are easy to connect and you can easily pick a side.
The sports scenes didn't disappoint and allowed us to really experience the sports highlights while diving deeper into the novel.
Well done to the author on this lovely tale, can't wait to see what is up next. All the best. Much love.
April 9, 2025
Thank you JJ Whit for the ARC opportunity.
I liked the plot/premise of this book a lot. The pacing was a bit rushed in my opinion. I would have liked to see more between Logan and the team and more about what happened with Brenna and his relationship. Overall it was a quick read and has a lot of promise.
There were some inconsistencies from one page to the next but this is an ARC so it’s possible this will resolve in editing.
I liked the plot/premise of this book a lot. The pacing was a bit rushed in my opinion. I would have liked to see more between Logan and the team and more about what happened with Brenna and his relationship. Overall it was a quick read and has a lot of promise.
There were some inconsistencies from one page to the next but this is an ARC so it’s possible this will resolve in editing.
April 23, 2025
I am so obsessed with this book. It had me hooked from the first page. I couldn't put it down! I adore hockey romances and the fake dating trope so this was the perfect read for me. I lovedddd Landon so much, the whole time I wanted to scream "When is it my turn?!"
Thank you so much JJ Whit for the ARC!!
Thank you so much JJ Whit for the ARC!!
April 14, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
The pace was a little too rushed for my liking. Overall it was a good book. If you like fake dating to make your ex jealous than you will like this book.
The pace was a little too rushed for my liking. Overall it was a good book. If you like fake dating to make your ex jealous than you will like this book.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews