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Chicago Players #1
Sweet Thing
A surprise single dad, nanny, age gap, hockey romance!
Lars
I just found out I’m a dad.
My one-night stand dropped a baby bombshell in my local bar where I was celebrating my team’s win. Then she fled, leaving me holding my new daughter.
Thank God for Adeline. The daughter of my teammate and closest friend on the Chicago Rebels, she practically raised her little sister and knows exactly how to deal with this situation. I need a nanny; she needs a job. Problem sorted, right?
Not so fast …
Adeline
I think you’re the sexiest guy alive.
That’s what Lars Nyquist overheard me say while recounting my embarrassing crush on him. Yeah, that Lars Nyquist. Defenseman for the Chicago Rebels. Owner of the thickest thighs in the league. More than a decade my senior. Oh, and my dad’s teammate.
My only option? Leave the country, of course. Luckily, I’d already planned a round-the-world trip with my bestie and by the time I returned to Chicago a year later, I expected my blunder would be long forgotten. Shows what I know. Now I’m lying awake in the bedroom next to his while playing nanny to his surprise little girl. But I can ignore this stupid infatuation. I have to. Even though the sight of Lars learning to be a dad leaves me breathless and takes that crush to a whole other level.
One that has the potential to break my sorry little heart …
Lars
I just found out I’m a dad.
My one-night stand dropped a baby bombshell in my local bar where I was celebrating my team’s win. Then she fled, leaving me holding my new daughter.
Thank God for Adeline. The daughter of my teammate and closest friend on the Chicago Rebels, she practically raised her little sister and knows exactly how to deal with this situation. I need a nanny; she needs a job. Problem sorted, right?
Not so fast …
Adeline
I think you’re the sexiest guy alive.
That’s what Lars Nyquist overheard me say while recounting my embarrassing crush on him. Yeah, that Lars Nyquist. Defenseman for the Chicago Rebels. Owner of the thickest thighs in the league. More than a decade my senior. Oh, and my dad’s teammate.
My only option? Leave the country, of course. Luckily, I’d already planned a round-the-world trip with my bestie and by the time I returned to Chicago a year later, I expected my blunder would be long forgotten. Shows what I know. Now I’m lying awake in the bedroom next to his while playing nanny to his surprise little girl. But I can ignore this stupid infatuation. I have to. Even though the sight of Lars learning to be a dad leaves me breathless and takes that crush to a whole other level.
One that has the potential to break my sorry little heart …
338 pages, Paperback
Published July 15, 2025
91 people are currently reading
6976 people want to read
About the author
Kate Meader
58 books3,393 followersKate writes sexy contemporary, sports, and LGBTQ+ romance with strong guys and amazing women and men who match their heroes quip for quip. She's known for blending heat, humor, and heart into irresistibly romantic stories.
Sign up for her newsletter to get updates on sales, giveaways, and new releases.
The Rookie Rebels features a team of heroes who are about to learn that all's fair in love and hockey.
1. GOOD GUY (Levi and Jordan)
2. INSTACRUSH (Theo and Elle)
3. MAN DOWN (Gunnar and Sadie)
4. FOREPLAYER (Cal and Mia)
5. DEAR ROOMIE (Reid and Kennedy)
6. REBEL YULE (Erik and Casey)
7. JOCK WANTED (Fitz and Tara)
8. SUPERSTAR (Bast and Pepper)
9. WILD RIDE (Dex and Ashley)
10. HOCKEY WIFE (Banks and Georgia)
The Hot in Chicago Rookies series heads back to Engine 6 for more steamy firefighter romances.
0. COMING IN HOT (Tyler and Evie)
1. UP IN SMOKE (Roman and Abby)
2. DOWN IN FLAMES (Jude and Hudson)
3. HOT TO THE TOUCH (Sam and Cassandra)
The Laws of Attraction series about sexy divorce lawyers:
1. DOWN WITH LOVE (Max and Charlie)
2. ILLEGALLY YOURS (Lucas and Trinity)
3. THEN CAME YOU (Grant and Aubrey)
The Chicago Rebels series about sexy hockey players:
0.5 IN SKATES TROUBLE (Ford and Addison) - FREE!
1. IRRESISTIBLE YOU (Remy and Harper)
2. SO OVER YOU (Vadim and Isobel)
3. UNDONE BY YOU (Dante and Cade)
4. HOOKED ON YOU (Bren and Violet)
5. WRAPPED UP IN YOU (More Dante and Cade)
The Hot in Chicago series about sexy firefighters:
0.5 REKINDLE THE FLAME (Beck and Darcy)
1. FLIRTING WITH FIRE (Luke and Kinsey)
1.5 MELTING POINT (Gage and Brady)
2. PLAYING WITH FIRE (Eli and Alex)
3. SPARKING THE FIRE (Wyatt and Molly)
3.5 FOREVER IN FIRE (More Eli and Alex)
3.6 COMING IN HOT, Men in Uniform anthology (Tyler and Evie)
The Hot in the Kitchen series about sexy chefs:
1. FEEL THE HEAT (Jack and Lili)
2. ALL FIRED UP (Shane and Cara)
3. HOT AND BOTHERED (Tad and Jules)
... however each book can also be read as a standalone novel or novella.
For excerpts, news, and giveaways, visit: http://katemeader.com
Sign up for her newsletter to get updates on sales, giveaways, and new releases.
The Rookie Rebels features a team of heroes who are about to learn that all's fair in love and hockey.
1. GOOD GUY (Levi and Jordan)
2. INSTACRUSH (Theo and Elle)
3. MAN DOWN (Gunnar and Sadie)
4. FOREPLAYER (Cal and Mia)
5. DEAR ROOMIE (Reid and Kennedy)
6. REBEL YULE (Erik and Casey)
7. JOCK WANTED (Fitz and Tara)
8. SUPERSTAR (Bast and Pepper)
9. WILD RIDE (Dex and Ashley)
10. HOCKEY WIFE (Banks and Georgia)
The Hot in Chicago Rookies series heads back to Engine 6 for more steamy firefighter romances.
0. COMING IN HOT (Tyler and Evie)
1. UP IN SMOKE (Roman and Abby)
2. DOWN IN FLAMES (Jude and Hudson)
3. HOT TO THE TOUCH (Sam and Cassandra)
The Laws of Attraction series about sexy divorce lawyers:
1. DOWN WITH LOVE (Max and Charlie)
2. ILLEGALLY YOURS (Lucas and Trinity)
3. THEN CAME YOU (Grant and Aubrey)
The Chicago Rebels series about sexy hockey players:
0.5 IN SKATES TROUBLE (Ford and Addison) - FREE!
1. IRRESISTIBLE YOU (Remy and Harper)
2. SO OVER YOU (Vadim and Isobel)
3. UNDONE BY YOU (Dante and Cade)
4. HOOKED ON YOU (Bren and Violet)
5. WRAPPED UP IN YOU (More Dante and Cade)
The Hot in Chicago series about sexy firefighters:
0.5 REKINDLE THE FLAME (Beck and Darcy)
1. FLIRTING WITH FIRE (Luke and Kinsey)
1.5 MELTING POINT (Gage and Brady)
2. PLAYING WITH FIRE (Eli and Alex)
3. SPARKING THE FIRE (Wyatt and Molly)
3.5 FOREVER IN FIRE (More Eli and Alex)
3.6 COMING IN HOT, Men in Uniform anthology (Tyler and Evie)
The Hot in the Kitchen series about sexy chefs:
1. FEEL THE HEAT (Jack and Lili)
2. ALL FIRED UP (Shane and Cara)
3. HOT AND BOTHERED (Tad and Jules)
... however each book can also be read as a standalone novel or novella.
For excerpts, news, and giveaways, visit: http://katemeader.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 344 reviews
June 27, 2025
• Single Daddy ~ Nanny
• Best friend's daughter
• Age Gap
• 3.5/5 spice 🌶️
This was an easy 5 ⭐ for me. It had me hooked from the very beginning. It was funny, charming and at times vulnerable. I love me some hockey romance and this book did not disappoint. Lars and Adeline had great chemistry. Not only were they great but I enjoyed the side characters as well. It has me excited for what's to come for this universe, especially after that epilogue 🫢🫢
I want to thank Netgalley and Kate Meader for the ARC. In exchange for my honest review.
• Best friend's daughter
• Age Gap
• 3.5/5 spice 🌶️
This was an easy 5 ⭐ for me. It had me hooked from the very beginning. It was funny, charming and at times vulnerable. I love me some hockey romance and this book did not disappoint. Lars and Adeline had great chemistry. Not only were they great but I enjoyed the side characters as well. It has me excited for what's to come for this universe, especially after that epilogue 🫢🫢
I want to thank Netgalley and Kate Meader for the ARC. In exchange for my honest review.
July 28, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op as well as the author for providing me with this ARC, in exchange for my honest review.
Age gap x hockey x nanny romance. Lars is a grumpy older guy who finds out he has a daughter when she is dropped off by her mom on a random day at a bar. Adeline is his best friend's shy, quiet, daughter who steps up to help him with the baby. I love me hockey romances and this once did not disappoint. This was my first book by this author. Very excited for next book, and made me want to read previous series about Adeline's parents.
Age gap x hockey x nanny romance. Lars is a grumpy older guy who finds out he has a daughter when she is dropped off by her mom on a random day at a bar. Adeline is his best friend's shy, quiet, daughter who steps up to help him with the baby. I love me hockey romances and this once did not disappoint. This was my first book by this author. Very excited for next book, and made me want to read previous series about Adeline's parents.
June 22, 2025
I'm such a sucker for single dad romances! I also loved the age-gape trope and the found family trope. As soon as I saw how much the Kershaw's welcomed Lars into their family I knew immediately it was going to get bumpy when things came to light about Adeline and Lars. But, I was also looking forward to seeing Lars get the big family permanently when it all works out between them. To see him go from such a rough childhood to having no one as an adult... the dream is to see him find the family to fill his heart full. Heck, I want to be a part of the Kershaw's family too! And Adeline... she's 23, young and quiet in a room full of big personalities. In no way did she get lost in the story. I think the author did a great job of showing who she really was. I rooted for her and Lars hard! And you must get the bonus epilogue when you finish reading this book. Oh my heart! It's exactly what I needed to feel fulfilled. Great book and I want to dive into the others in the series!
June 18, 2025
Ahhh I couldn't stop reading! This book was sooo good!
Their little family is so cutee! These two will definitely make the best couple, their chemistry was instant and the tension was strong! 💗
Sweet Thing is about Lars who has just had a bombshell dropped on his lap! Literally! In the form of a baby called Mabel, his baby! A one-night stand that lead to a secret baby he didn't know anything about and now the mum has vanished. His teammate steps in to help him with the help of his wife and his daughter, Adeline. Adeline has agreed to help him with being Mabel's nanny, especially since she needs a job after going traveling for the past year. She thought in that year she could get over the crush she had for him, but did she? 🙃
We have age-gap, forbidden, single dad x nanny, found family 🔥
Adeline - you can only imagine the trauma she would've been facing after what happened to her on her travels, she was so brave and strong! She was also an amazing person for Mabel and Lars, looking after them and helping when she knew they needed her. She had her own battles with never feeling a part of her family and not having an identity, as she's always seen as Theo's daughter but this is far from how her family see her. She has a lot of insecurities but Lars helps her with these and trys to help push her, so she can become more!
Lars - omg he was an amazing MMC, the way he stepped up for Mabel and became the father she needed overnight was adorable! He had a lot of trauma from his own father and didn't want to repeat his mistakes with Mabel or Adeline. The relationship between him and Theo (Adeline's dad) really makes you realise how forbidden their relationship was but it was nice to see it all work out i the end!
Both of these two had amazing character growth and it was so good to see 🥰
I do kinda wish we got to see a bit more of their relationship, as the conflict kind of took over (understandable) but like it meant we didn't see a lot of them together with Mabel! 😭
Thank you to Kate Meader & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this arc! 💕
Their little family is so cutee! These two will definitely make the best couple, their chemistry was instant and the tension was strong! 💗
Sweet Thing is about Lars who has just had a bombshell dropped on his lap! Literally! In the form of a baby called Mabel, his baby! A one-night stand that lead to a secret baby he didn't know anything about and now the mum has vanished. His teammate steps in to help him with the help of his wife and his daughter, Adeline. Adeline has agreed to help him with being Mabel's nanny, especially since she needs a job after going traveling for the past year. She thought in that year she could get over the crush she had for him, but did she? 🙃
We have age-gap, forbidden, single dad x nanny, found family 🔥
Adeline - you can only imagine the trauma she would've been facing after what happened to her on her travels, she was so brave and strong! She was also an amazing person for Mabel and Lars, looking after them and helping when she knew they needed her. She had her own battles with never feeling a part of her family and not having an identity, as she's always seen as Theo's daughter but this is far from how her family see her. She has a lot of insecurities but Lars helps her with these and trys to help push her, so she can become more!
Lars - omg he was an amazing MMC, the way he stepped up for Mabel and became the father she needed overnight was adorable! He had a lot of trauma from his own father and didn't want to repeat his mistakes with Mabel or Adeline. The relationship between him and Theo (Adeline's dad) really makes you realise how forbidden their relationship was but it was nice to see it all work out i the end!
Both of these two had amazing character growth and it was so good to see 🥰
I do kinda wish we got to see a bit more of their relationship, as the conflict kind of took over (understandable) but like it meant we didn't see a lot of them together with Mabel! 😭
Thank you to Kate Meader & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this arc! 💕
June 9, 2025
ARC by Netgalley Review 💓!!
This was my first book by this author—and it definitely won’t be my last. I’ve been loving this trend where authors create entire worlds filled with interconnected characters and stories, and this one fits that mold perfectly.
So, why did I pick this book?
1. Hockey.
2. Single dad.
3. She’s the daughter of one of the older hockey players on the team.
Basically: YES. This is my kind of trope. This is my happy place.
Their relationship was absolutely beautiful. Yes, we had a bit of family drama (as expected) when their connection came to light, but it was handled in a way that felt genuine and satisfying.
I adored the female lead—she was determined, confident, and knew exactly what she wanted, how she wanted it, and who she wanted it with. Meanwhile, our male lead? Whew. He was thrown into a new lifestyle and handed a responsibility he wasn’t ready for. Unsurprisingly, he struggled. He made mistakes. But there’s always a price to pay for growth.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. That ending? That epilogue? DEAD.
Now I have to go read the book about the heroine’s parents from the previous series because clearly, I’m in too deep.
Thank you again for the opportunity to read this advanced copy!
This was my first book by this author—and it definitely won’t be my last. I’ve been loving this trend where authors create entire worlds filled with interconnected characters and stories, and this one fits that mold perfectly.
So, why did I pick this book?
1. Hockey.
2. Single dad.
3. She’s the daughter of one of the older hockey players on the team.
Basically: YES. This is my kind of trope. This is my happy place.
Their relationship was absolutely beautiful. Yes, we had a bit of family drama (as expected) when their connection came to light, but it was handled in a way that felt genuine and satisfying.
I adored the female lead—she was determined, confident, and knew exactly what she wanted, how she wanted it, and who she wanted it with. Meanwhile, our male lead? Whew. He was thrown into a new lifestyle and handed a responsibility he wasn’t ready for. Unsurprisingly, he struggled. He made mistakes. But there’s always a price to pay for growth.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. That ending? That epilogue? DEAD.
Now I have to go read the book about the heroine’s parents from the previous series because clearly, I’m in too deep.
Thank you again for the opportunity to read this advanced copy!
August 28, 2025
Loved it.
July 29, 2025
I can’t get over how much I enjoyed this book. This is my first book by Kate Meader, and I am now a fan. I experienced all the emotions throughout this book. Lol. Sweet Thing is a hockey romance between Lars and Adeline, who happens to be his best friend’s daughter. 👀 And guess what? They’re also teammates. 😱
Lars’ life completely changed when his one-night stand dropped a baby girl in his lap and informed him that he was the father. Seven-month-old Mabel was the star of the show. Lol. Adeline and her family jumped into action and helped set Lars up for the night with baby Mabel. Despite her childhood crush on Lars, she offered to be his temporary nanny. Little did they know what would come of this arrangement.
Watching Lars be a dad was so cute. He had zero clue what to do with Mabel at the beginning. Over time, and with the help of Adeline (and her family), he got the hang of it.
Both Lars and Adeline struggled with the way people viewed them. Lars strived daily to be everything his father wasn’t. Adeline constantly worried that her family saw her as the weak link. They helped each other discover they were more than they gave themselves credit for.
I loved Adeline’s family. The Kershaws are what every family should strive to be. IMO. Lol. They aren’t perfect, but they are loyal to a tee. They care, and they are always there for one another. They were also obsessed with Mabel. She was a doll. 💕
Sweet Thing had its heavy moments, but it also had moments where it was light and fun too. I thought it was an all-around good book. I don’t feel like anything was missing. I’m excited to read more from Kate.
Lars’ life completely changed when his one-night stand dropped a baby girl in his lap and informed him that he was the father. Seven-month-old Mabel was the star of the show. Lol. Adeline and her family jumped into action and helped set Lars up for the night with baby Mabel. Despite her childhood crush on Lars, she offered to be his temporary nanny. Little did they know what would come of this arrangement.
Watching Lars be a dad was so cute. He had zero clue what to do with Mabel at the beginning. Over time, and with the help of Adeline (and her family), he got the hang of it.
Both Lars and Adeline struggled with the way people viewed them. Lars strived daily to be everything his father wasn’t. Adeline constantly worried that her family saw her as the weak link. They helped each other discover they were more than they gave themselves credit for.
I loved Adeline’s family. The Kershaws are what every family should strive to be. IMO. Lol. They aren’t perfect, but they are loyal to a tee. They care, and they are always there for one another. They were also obsessed with Mabel. She was a doll. 💕
Sweet Thing had its heavy moments, but it also had moments where it was light and fun too. I thought it was an all-around good book. I don’t feel like anything was missing. I’m excited to read more from Kate.
Read
June 2, 2025The first in a brand-new hockey romance series! The Chicago Players series features the family of Rebels legend, Theo Kershaw (hero in Instacrush) and the next generation of hockey phenoms. Immerse yourself in the Chicago Rebels universe with new heroes and heroines, and of course, check-ins with the original crew. No prior knowledge of the Rebels world is needed, but you might enjoy the free prequel, Holly Jolly Rebel, which catches you up with the Kershaws at the holidays and introduces the next generation!
Sweet Thing, Book 1 of the Chicago Players series, features Theo's daughter, Adeline, his teammate, Lars, and the following delicious tropes:
👶🏻 Surprise single dad
🍼 Nanny
🫶 Age gap
🏒 Dad's teammate and friend
💕 Years long crush
🚫 Off limits
☠️ Touch her and die
🔥 Slow burn
🌶️ Spicy
I can't wait for you to meet Adeline, Lars, and the rest of the Rebels crew in Sweet Thing!
Sweet Thing, Book 1 of the Chicago Players series, features Theo's daughter, Adeline, his teammate, Lars, and the following delicious tropes:
👶🏻 Surprise single dad
🍼 Nanny
🫶 Age gap
🏒 Dad's teammate and friend
💕 Years long crush
🚫 Off limits
☠️ Touch her and die
🔥 Slow burn
🌶️ Spicy
I can't wait for you to meet Adeline, Lars, and the rest of the Rebels crew in Sweet Thing!
June 19, 2025
I recieved an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Now, let's get into it:
Lars Nyquist is a sexy hockey player suddenly handed a baby from a one-night stand (more like dumped on his lap). Initially panicked and uninterested in fatherhood, he slowly grows into the role, determined not to repeat his own father’s mistakes. His bond with his daughter Mabel was what kept me hooked throughout.
Now Adeline. I really wish I had liked her. She went through something traumatic while traveling and didn't let it effect her sunshine. Also has a hard time finding her place in her family of superstars. I felt for her. HOWEVER, she came off a bit immature, partly from how her parents coddle her, and partly from her own lack of direction. At 23, she seemed passive and unsure, especially during key moments in the relationship. The miscommunication trope didn’t help and made her come off even more childish.
Despite not connecting with Adeline, I still enjoyed the story. However, the sheer number of side characters became overwhelming, likely because the author pulled in people from many of her other books. I love cameos, but a few would’ve been enough.
If you're into:
× age gaps
× hockey romances
× single dads
× forbidden love
× found family
You’ll probably enjoy this 🖤
Side note: anyone else surprised Hatch and Summer are next? I thought we were getting a friends-to-lovers arc with Rosie and Hatch?
Now, let's get into it:
Lars Nyquist is a sexy hockey player suddenly handed a baby from a one-night stand (more like dumped on his lap). Initially panicked and uninterested in fatherhood, he slowly grows into the role, determined not to repeat his own father’s mistakes. His bond with his daughter Mabel was what kept me hooked throughout.
Now Adeline. I really wish I had liked her. She went through something traumatic while traveling and didn't let it effect her sunshine. Also has a hard time finding her place in her family of superstars. I felt for her. HOWEVER, she came off a bit immature, partly from how her parents coddle her, and partly from her own lack of direction. At 23, she seemed passive and unsure, especially during key moments in the relationship. The miscommunication trope didn’t help and made her come off even more childish.
Despite not connecting with Adeline, I still enjoyed the story. However, the sheer number of side characters became overwhelming, likely because the author pulled in people from many of her other books. I love cameos, but a few would’ve been enough.
If you're into:
× age gaps
× hockey romances
× single dads
× forbidden love
× found family
You’ll probably enjoy this 🖤
Side note: anyone else surprised Hatch and Summer are next? I thought we were getting a friends-to-lovers arc with Rosie and Hatch?
June 26, 2025
Thank you to #NetGalley
Sweet Thing by Kate Meader
4.5 stars round UP!
I freaking LOVED this!
Age Gap? Check.
Found Family? Check.
Single Dad? CHECK.
Hockey Romance? CHECK
The chemistry between Lars and Addy is chefs kiss. The Kershaw family is just fun and I want to be best friends with all of them.
Reading about Lars falling in love with Mabel makes my damn ovaries feel a certain type of way. I absolutely can not wait for the rest of the books in this series.
I am honestly really disappointed that this is the first Kate Meader book I have ever read, I can assure you that it will certainly NOT be the last. So so good.
Sweet Thing by Kate Meader
4.5 stars round UP!
I freaking LOVED this!
Age Gap? Check.
Found Family? Check.
Single Dad? CHECK.
Hockey Romance? CHECK
The chemistry between Lars and Addy is chefs kiss. The Kershaw family is just fun and I want to be best friends with all of them.
Reading about Lars falling in love with Mabel makes my damn ovaries feel a certain type of way. I absolutely can not wait for the rest of the books in this series.
I am honestly really disappointed that this is the first Kate Meader book I have ever read, I can assure you that it will certainly NOT be the last. So so good.
July 22, 2025
Reviewed for Dear Author. 3.5 stars
Link to come.
Link to come.
July 14, 2025
Ovaries in overdrive. Superglutes children, woohoo! I am big time crushing on Lars. You know what they say about men and kids. Well, this ramped it up 100 times. The story is super cute and Lars and Adeline make it so. There are issues which I thought were dealt with very nicely. Not too much drama (although I do like the drama). This book had me smiling and chuckling the entire time I read it. Alright, enough gushing. If you have read any of the Chicago Rebels or spin off series then you will see our old friends. If you haven’t, pick this one up. I guarantee it will pick you up.
July 6, 2025
I love a single dad romance, but a single dad who doesn’t even know he’s a dad and then has to step up to the plate? AMAZING!! This book had all the best elements: a big found family, friends-to-lovers, an adorable baby girl, and someone willing to risk it all for love.
Lars’s backstory made you expect one type of guy, but the real Lars? A sweet, loyal man just looking for a place to belong. And Adeline completely stole my heart. She always felt like the “forgotten child” for not doing anything extraordinary, but she was actually the glue that held her family together.
Watching Lars and Adeline fall in love? Incredible!! Talk about a slow burn! This was a great, quick read, and little Mabel just made the story even more special.
Lars’s backstory made you expect one type of guy, but the real Lars? A sweet, loyal man just looking for a place to belong. And Adeline completely stole my heart. She always felt like the “forgotten child” for not doing anything extraordinary, but she was actually the glue that held her family together.
Watching Lars and Adeline fall in love? Incredible!! Talk about a slow burn! This was a great, quick read, and little Mabel just made the story even more special.
June 14, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️
🏒 Ice hockey romance
🏒 Single dad x nanny
🏒 Teammate/captain’s daughter
🏒 Age gap (13 years)
🏒 YEARS long crush
Snapped this up in 24 hours because it delivered everything I need, expect and love in a single dad x nanny, ice hockey romance story.
What I LOVED:
🏒 Lars and Theo having such a strong friendship and camaraderie on the ice DID make things feel quite forbidden between Lars and Addy, so I thought the author did this very well.
🏒 This was a pretty interesting/unique take on the single dad trope and it was refreshing to read about an MMC learn and discover how to be a dad.
🏒 The interactions we got to see between the older Kershaw siblings were TOP TIER! I actually wish there was more of this, more text chains, etc. but I’m definitely keen to see how their love stories unfold!
🏒 The writing really sucked me in and made me want to learn more about Theo’s story and that generation of Rebels’ stories, but at the same time, I didn’t feel lost not having read the previous series.
What I DIDNT love:
🏒 Everything felt like it happened super quickly. It would’ve been nice to see Addy and Lars’ relationship and emotional connection develop at a slower pace, rather than something that came to fruition in a matter of weeks.
🏒 I don’t think Addy’s drama was necessary for the plot. It seemed like it was a little skimmed over/brushed over? Like we don’t even really get a follow up on it and she’s not even had a conversation with her mum about it.
WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK? Yes ✅
WILL I CONTINUE THIS SERIES? Yes ✅
[Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review]
🌶️🌶️
🏒 Ice hockey romance
🏒 Single dad x nanny
🏒 Teammate/captain’s daughter
🏒 Age gap (13 years)
🏒 YEARS long crush
Snapped this up in 24 hours because it delivered everything I need, expect and love in a single dad x nanny, ice hockey romance story.
What I LOVED:
🏒 Lars and Theo having such a strong friendship and camaraderie on the ice DID make things feel quite forbidden between Lars and Addy, so I thought the author did this very well.
🏒 This was a pretty interesting/unique take on the single dad trope and it was refreshing to read about an MMC learn and discover how to be a dad.
🏒 The interactions we got to see between the older Kershaw siblings were TOP TIER! I actually wish there was more of this, more text chains, etc. but I’m definitely keen to see how their love stories unfold!
🏒 The writing really sucked me in and made me want to learn more about Theo’s story and that generation of Rebels’ stories, but at the same time, I didn’t feel lost not having read the previous series.
What I DIDNT love:
🏒 Everything felt like it happened super quickly. It would’ve been nice to see Addy and Lars’ relationship and emotional connection develop at a slower pace, rather than something that came to fruition in a matter of weeks.
🏒 I don’t think Addy’s drama was necessary for the plot. It seemed like it was a little skimmed over/brushed over? Like we don’t even really get a follow up on it and she’s not even had a conversation with her mum about it.
WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK? Yes ✅
WILL I CONTINUE THIS SERIES? Yes ✅
[Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review]
June 15, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for this advanced copy to read and review!
This was the first book by this author that I read! It will not be my last!
I absolutely loved this book! I loved the relationship between Lars and Adeline. I loved how she was such a support for him when he got the news that he was a father! The relationship between them made me smile from the start! I loved hearing bits and pieces of her parents story! I loved seeing the characters grow as individuals but also together! Can't wait to read more of the series!
Hope you all enjoys this book as much as I did!
This was the first book by this author that I read! It will not be my last!
I absolutely loved this book! I loved the relationship between Lars and Adeline. I loved how she was such a support for him when he got the news that he was a father! The relationship between them made me smile from the start! I loved hearing bits and pieces of her parents story! I loved seeing the characters grow as individuals but also together! Can't wait to read more of the series!
Hope you all enjoys this book as much as I did!
July 15, 2025
“Your dad’s teammate. Your massive crush. His surprise baby. What could possibly go wrong?” 🍼🏒💘
Read if you like:
✨ single dad hockey players
✨ nanny + forbidden crush
✨ age gap romance
✨ sports romance spin-offs
✨ found family + soft dads
✨ a little chaos, a lot of heart
📚 Sweet Thing kicks off Kate Meader’s Chicago Players series with a swoony, sweet slow burn between a freshly minted single dad and the one woman he should definitely not fall for—his teammate’s daughter. When Adeline returns from a year abroad and steps in as nanny for Lars’s surprise baby, she’s expecting professionalism… not nightly sparks and full-on heart eyes over diaper duty.
👨👧 Lars is newly thrust into fatherhood and completely out of his depth. Big, broody, and adorably clueless about babies, he’s also harboring some very un-dad-like thoughts about the woman helping him keep it all together. Adeline is funny, warm, and fiercely capable—but she’s also battling a long-standing crush on the man with the thickest thighs in hockey and her dad’s best friend. Yikes.
💞 Their dynamic is built on trust, slow-burn tension, and quiet moments that melt into more. While the premise might feel familiar, the charm is in the execution—the pining, the age-gap tension, and the stolen glances make this feel fresh and emotionally satisfying. And once they give in? Totally worth the wait.
👧 Adorable baby content? Check. Nostalgic cameos from beloved Chicago Rebels characters? Double check. Seeing OG couples all grown up and parenting adds depth without stealing the spotlight, and the world-building hints at more heart-melting stories to come.
✍️ Kate Meader delivers comfort, chemistry, and a strong heroine with a soft heart. This isn’t a high-drama ride—it’s low-angst, high-feels, and perfect for fans of sports romance who want a mix of emotional warmth and flirty fun.
🌟 Sweet Thing is a feel-good, forbidden(ish) romance that leans into found family, soft masculinity, and long-time crushes finally realized. If you love hockey heroes learning how to swaddle and strong women who’ve had enough of pretending they don’t feel something, this one’s for you.
📲 QOTD: Would you ever take a nanny job for someone you secretly crushed on? Or is that emotional chaos waiting to happen?
📲 ALT QOTD: What’s your favorite sports romance trope—single dad, fake dating, or enemies to lovers? 👇
#BookReview #SweetThing #KateMeader #ChicagoPlayers #HockeyRomance #SingleDadRomance #AgeGapLove #NannyRomance #SportsRomCom #RomanceBooks #SlowBurnRomance #FoundFamilyFeels #RomComWithHeart #BookstagramRomance #HockeyRomanceSeries
Read if you like:
✨ single dad hockey players
✨ nanny + forbidden crush
✨ age gap romance
✨ sports romance spin-offs
✨ found family + soft dads
✨ a little chaos, a lot of heart
📚 Sweet Thing kicks off Kate Meader’s Chicago Players series with a swoony, sweet slow burn between a freshly minted single dad and the one woman he should definitely not fall for—his teammate’s daughter. When Adeline returns from a year abroad and steps in as nanny for Lars’s surprise baby, she’s expecting professionalism… not nightly sparks and full-on heart eyes over diaper duty.
👨👧 Lars is newly thrust into fatherhood and completely out of his depth. Big, broody, and adorably clueless about babies, he’s also harboring some very un-dad-like thoughts about the woman helping him keep it all together. Adeline is funny, warm, and fiercely capable—but she’s also battling a long-standing crush on the man with the thickest thighs in hockey and her dad’s best friend. Yikes.
💞 Their dynamic is built on trust, slow-burn tension, and quiet moments that melt into more. While the premise might feel familiar, the charm is in the execution—the pining, the age-gap tension, and the stolen glances make this feel fresh and emotionally satisfying. And once they give in? Totally worth the wait.
👧 Adorable baby content? Check. Nostalgic cameos from beloved Chicago Rebels characters? Double check. Seeing OG couples all grown up and parenting adds depth without stealing the spotlight, and the world-building hints at more heart-melting stories to come.
✍️ Kate Meader delivers comfort, chemistry, and a strong heroine with a soft heart. This isn’t a high-drama ride—it’s low-angst, high-feels, and perfect for fans of sports romance who want a mix of emotional warmth and flirty fun.
🌟 Sweet Thing is a feel-good, forbidden(ish) romance that leans into found family, soft masculinity, and long-time crushes finally realized. If you love hockey heroes learning how to swaddle and strong women who’ve had enough of pretending they don’t feel something, this one’s for you.
📲 QOTD: Would you ever take a nanny job for someone you secretly crushed on? Or is that emotional chaos waiting to happen?
📲 ALT QOTD: What’s your favorite sports romance trope—single dad, fake dating, or enemies to lovers? 👇
#BookReview #SweetThing #KateMeader #ChicagoPlayers #HockeyRomance #SingleDadRomance #AgeGapLove #NannyRomance #SportsRomCom #RomanceBooks #SlowBurnRomance #FoundFamilyFeels #RomComWithHeart #BookstagramRomance #HockeyRomanceSeries
July 15, 2025
4.5⭐
Sweet Thing has everything I love in a hockey romance, and I devoured it in just one day. As the story was incredibly engaging, filled with romance that had tension, chemistry, and a whole lot of heat—not to mention a sexy hockey player! 🩷
As Lars is a swoon-worthy, emotionally complex single dad who unexpectedly takes on the responsibility of caring for his daughter Mabel.
But fortunately, his teammate’s daughter, Adeline, steps in to help him. And I adored the connection that developed among the three of them.
Additionally, I loved how the story brought Lars and Adeline closer together. As Adeline had a major crush on Lars, and her assistance in caring for Mabel finally gave her the opportunity to be seen as more than just his teammate's daughter.
And wiith the perfect blend of tension, spice, and emotional growth, this was truly a delightful read. It has even inspired me to reread all of Kate's earlier hockey romances and I would wholeheartedly recommend Sweet Thing to everyone!
My thanks to The Author Agency for my copy of Sweet Thing. All thoughts expressed are my own. 😊
Sweet Thing has everything I love in a hockey romance, and I devoured it in just one day. As the story was incredibly engaging, filled with romance that had tension, chemistry, and a whole lot of heat—not to mention a sexy hockey player! 🩷
As Lars is a swoon-worthy, emotionally complex single dad who unexpectedly takes on the responsibility of caring for his daughter Mabel.
But fortunately, his teammate’s daughter, Adeline, steps in to help him. And I adored the connection that developed among the three of them.
Additionally, I loved how the story brought Lars and Adeline closer together. As Adeline had a major crush on Lars, and her assistance in caring for Mabel finally gave her the opportunity to be seen as more than just his teammate's daughter.
And wiith the perfect blend of tension, spice, and emotional growth, this was truly a delightful read. It has even inspired me to reread all of Kate's earlier hockey romances and I would wholeheartedly recommend Sweet Thing to everyone!
My thanks to The Author Agency for my copy of Sweet Thing. All thoughts expressed are my own. 😊
no-way-jose
November 29, 2025No rating, DNF at 11%. I’m not feeling it. Maybe another time. Maybe not.
Tropes you’ll find:
🍼 age gap (13 years)
🍼 single father (from a ons with ow/offpage)
🍼 nanny
🍼 forbidden (daughter of his team captain)
👩🏻🍼 FMC - Adeline - 23 yrs old, daughter of his captain Theo, has had a crush on Lars for years.
🤡 FMCs father - Theo, from Instacrush, 42 years old, but had the energy and hyper-activity of an 18 year old. It was exhausting to read about him in every scene, scenes that he controlled as if he was the MMC/leading character because he was constantly over powering, making decisions and stealing the spot light.
🏒 MMC - Lars Nyquist - 36 years old, hockey player for Chicago Rebels, how the baby came about
The FMCs father was so annoying and over powering that it made the MMC come across as weak too, which was a turn off. Maybe it’s just my mood, so no rating.
Tropes you’ll find:
🍼 age gap (13 years)
🍼 single father (from a ons with ow/offpage)
🍼 nanny
🍼 forbidden (daughter of his team captain)
👩🏻🍼 FMC - Adeline - 23 yrs old, daughter of his captain Theo, has had a crush on Lars for years.
🤡 FMCs father - Theo, from Instacrush, 42 years old, but had the energy and hyper-activity of an 18 year old. It was exhausting to read about him in every scene, scenes that he controlled as if he was the MMC/leading character because he was constantly over powering, making decisions and stealing the spot light.
🏒 MMC - Lars Nyquist - 36 years old, hockey player for Chicago Rebels, how the baby came about
The FMCs father was so annoying and over powering that it made the MMC come across as weak too, which was a turn off. Maybe it’s just my mood, so no rating.
July 2, 2025
Thank you NetGalley, Kate Meader and Victory Editing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review🤍
I ate this up! Single dad - nanny, best friends daughter, forced proximity and forbidden romance, what more could you ask for😍 I was hooked and had read half of it in a single train journey giggling away on my way home🤭 There wasn't a single character that grated on me (which is rare) and I was obsessed with the dynamic of the Kershaw family, can't wait to see more of them as the series goes on! It was so nice to see how they accepted Lars into their family, looking out for him and welcoming him like he was always a part of it. Adeline was quiet and afraid of always being the side character having so many huge personalities and 'stars' in her life, but Kate did such a great job of ensuring that she was seen and heard and finally developed into the main character of her own life. It was beautiful to see Lars give her the confidence she needed to find her own voice🥹 The character development was perfect and I honestly can't wait for the rest of this series!
I ate this up! Single dad - nanny, best friends daughter, forced proximity and forbidden romance, what more could you ask for😍 I was hooked and had read half of it in a single train journey giggling away on my way home🤭 There wasn't a single character that grated on me (which is rare) and I was obsessed with the dynamic of the Kershaw family, can't wait to see more of them as the series goes on! It was so nice to see how they accepted Lars into their family, looking out for him and welcoming him like he was always a part of it. Adeline was quiet and afraid of always being the side character having so many huge personalities and 'stars' in her life, but Kate did such a great job of ensuring that she was seen and heard and finally developed into the main character of her own life. It was beautiful to see Lars give her the confidence she needed to find her own voice🥹 The character development was perfect and I honestly can't wait for the rest of this series!
July 16, 2025
This is the first in a new series, and this is Lars and Adeline’s story.
Lars is the defenseman for the Chicago Rebels, and when a 1-night stands drops a baby girl on his doorstep, he is lost. Adeline practically raised her little sister by herself, and she is Lars’ best friend and teammates daughter, and she becomes nanny to his daughter.
This is a well written slow burn story, with family, friendships, emotions, engaging and relatable characters, surprises, humor, witty banter, touch her and die vibes, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, unpredictable, and fun, hockey romance.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
Lars is the defenseman for the Chicago Rebels, and when a 1-night stands drops a baby girl on his doorstep, he is lost. Adeline practically raised her little sister by herself, and she is Lars’ best friend and teammates daughter, and she becomes nanny to his daughter.
This is a well written slow burn story, with family, friendships, emotions, engaging and relatable characters, surprises, humor, witty banter, touch her and die vibes, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, unpredictable, and fun, hockey romance.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
July 17, 2025
This book was utterly amazing, I have not read anything from Kate before but she has sold me on her books from this one that I feel so glad to have read. Sweet Thing follows Adeline, who has always had a bit of a thing for her father's friend and ice hockey teammate to whom he found out but only the next time she sees him following a long holiday is when a woman from his past shows up randomly handing him his daughter he had no idea about.
Adeline had previously helped look after her sister as a younger child while their mother worked on her business so after sitting in on many terrible nanny interviews with other women with Lars, Adeline somehow ends up being the nanny to Lars's sweet but unexpected baby daughter.
The forced proximity and forbiddenness of this book just really made everything so much more fun to read. The tension between the characters was always strong but watching them end up building a family together after everything they had both been through was amazing. I think my favourite part was watching Lars become a dad and love his child despite his feelings at the beginning.
Adeline had previously helped look after her sister as a younger child while their mother worked on her business so after sitting in on many terrible nanny interviews with other women with Lars, Adeline somehow ends up being the nanny to Lars's sweet but unexpected baby daughter.
The forced proximity and forbiddenness of this book just really made everything so much more fun to read. The tension between the characters was always strong but watching them end up building a family together after everything they had both been through was amazing. I think my favourite part was watching Lars become a dad and love his child despite his feelings at the beginning.
July 21, 2025
The age-gap romance between had my attention from the moment I read the blurb. I loved Theo and Ellie’s Great Romance, Trademarked and was excited to read a book about their daughter falling in love with her dad’s teammate and close friend. Knowing Theo’s propensity for over the top reactions and emotions, I gleefully read waiting for the epic showdown.
In the meantime, I feel in love with Adeline and Lars. Both have less than stellar options about themselves and just need some extra love and care. Addy steps in to be a temporary nanny for her girlhood crush - sure living in close proximity isn’t going to heat things up. Lars tries to resist his attraction to Addy as he tries to find an equilibrium after having his entire life upended with the out of the blue arrival of his 7 month old daughter.
Baby Mabel is adorable and she brings out the best in Lars…with some coaching and help from the Kershaw family. Great Gran Aurora is still adding her sass to the family.
The loves catching up with the extended Chicago Rebel family and am eager for more books about their daughter falling Next Gen.
I received a free ARC from the author and The Author Agency and NetGallery; and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.
In the meantime, I feel in love with Adeline and Lars. Both have less than stellar options about themselves and just need some extra love and care. Addy steps in to be a temporary nanny for her girlhood crush - sure living in close proximity isn’t going to heat things up. Lars tries to resist his attraction to Addy as he tries to find an equilibrium after having his entire life upended with the out of the blue arrival of his 7 month old daughter.
Baby Mabel is adorable and she brings out the best in Lars…with some coaching and help from the Kershaw family. Great Gran Aurora is still adding her sass to the family.
The loves catching up with the extended Chicago Rebel family and am eager for more books about their daughter falling Next Gen.
I received a free ARC from the author and The Author Agency and NetGallery; and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.
July 15, 2025
Sweet Thing is a great start to this series. It's a sports romance with the single dad, nappy, age gap tropes and written very well.
I really enjoyed the small-town vibes this gave off with the found family (looking forward to reading about more of them). I love that Lars and Adeline's relationship blended into this found family so well.
I really liked that we got to know Lar's background as it helped readers understand him more. Madeline comes from a very a family that has well accomplished and feels a bit overshadowed - Kate wrote this character beautifully and her growth shows how she comes into her own. Lars, Adeline and Mabel become this unique family unit that I absolutely adore.
I will say that there alot of side characters and felt a bit confused as to who is important to this series and who was from a previous series. This is my only drawback with this book but I just sort of breezed over these parts.
The story moved at a perfect pace. Kate delivers a great blend of romance, humor and sports into this story. The chemistry between Lars and Adeline just builds as the story moves along and I really liked that.
Overall, a great read and I am looking forward to more in this series.
I really enjoyed the small-town vibes this gave off with the found family (looking forward to reading about more of them). I love that Lars and Adeline's relationship blended into this found family so well.
I really liked that we got to know Lar's background as it helped readers understand him more. Madeline comes from a very a family that has well accomplished and feels a bit overshadowed - Kate wrote this character beautifully and her growth shows how she comes into her own. Lars, Adeline and Mabel become this unique family unit that I absolutely adore.
I will say that there alot of side characters and felt a bit confused as to who is important to this series and who was from a previous series. This is my only drawback with this book but I just sort of breezed over these parts.
The story moved at a perfect pace. Kate delivers a great blend of romance, humor and sports into this story. The chemistry between Lars and Adeline just builds as the story moves along and I really liked that.
Overall, a great read and I am looking forward to more in this series.
July 16, 2025
Lars life changes in an instant when a one night stand hands him a baby as he is sitting in a bar. He second guesses everything because his father was horrible and not a good example to go by. Luckily his best friend and team captain, Theo, and his family step in to help. This also leads to Adeline, their daughter lending her help too. The girl he overheard telling her friend a year ago how she had a crush on him.
Adeline steps up and really helps Lars when it comes to Mabel. Showing him how to care for her, but also giving him the confidence and reassuring him that he isn’t his father. The two become closer and feelings start to bloom, not just on her side. But there’s so much at stake. This would ruin a friendship, a team’s dynamic, the family he has formed with the Kershaw’s. They can’t possibly cross that line?
The more the two are together, the more wounds start to heal on both sides. The more they become comfortable with each other and could see it becoming more. Lars grows a lot, not just in becoming a father, but in trusting that he can give and receive love.
4⭐️
1🌶️
Adeline steps up and really helps Lars when it comes to Mabel. Showing him how to care for her, but also giving him the confidence and reassuring him that he isn’t his father. The two become closer and feelings start to bloom, not just on her side. But there’s so much at stake. This would ruin a friendship, a team’s dynamic, the family he has formed with the Kershaw’s. They can’t possibly cross that line?
The more the two are together, the more wounds start to heal on both sides. The more they become comfortable with each other and could see it becoming more. Lars grows a lot, not just in becoming a father, but in trusting that he can give and receive love.
4⭐️
1🌶️
July 23, 2025
Lars and Adeline✨
First of all, I am in love with the name Adeline. It’s so timeless. Her name fits her personality and how she presents herself.
This was such a cute slow burn story mixed with a single dad forbidden romance!
First of all, I am in love with the name Adeline. It’s so timeless. Her name fits her personality and how she presents herself.
This was such a cute slow burn story mixed with a single dad forbidden romance!
July 13, 2025
“Or maybe I deserve sweet things. Adeline, the sweetest thing of all.”
The last thing Lars Nyquist is expecting is a woman to hand him a baby in a bar and walk away. But that’s how he discovers he is a father. Now he needs help to navigate fatherhood and Adeline Kershaw is stepping in.
Adeline is the daughter of Lars’ teammate, the last person Lars should be getting involved with but when the two are spending most of their time together it’s hard to deny their chemistry!
These two were a fun pair, the odds were certainly not in their favor but I loved seeing them navigate their growing attraction. Another amazing Rebels couple and I am very ready for what’s to come next!!
🔥: “You heard me in the shower, baby, now it’s my turn to hear you.”
The last thing Lars Nyquist is expecting is a woman to hand him a baby in a bar and walk away. But that’s how he discovers he is a father. Now he needs help to navigate fatherhood and Adeline Kershaw is stepping in.
Adeline is the daughter of Lars’ teammate, the last person Lars should be getting involved with but when the two are spending most of their time together it’s hard to deny their chemistry!
These two were a fun pair, the odds were certainly not in their favor but I loved seeing them navigate their growing attraction. Another amazing Rebels couple and I am very ready for what’s to come next!!
🔥: “You heard me in the shower, baby, now it’s my turn to hear you.”
July 13, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Kate Meader for the ARC!
The perfect hockey romance! In the first book in the Chicago Players series, you’ll find tropes such as single hot hockey player, nanny, age gap, best friends daughter, found family!! I loved the relationship between Lars and Adeline, and the detail that went into Lars past and his unexpected role he was forced into that he embraced so graciously. Adeline’s mental health journey was extremely relatable for me and the overall representation was amazing! Definitely recommend pick this one up for anyone wanting a newly released good-vibes sports romance 💘 I cannot wait for the next book!
The perfect hockey romance! In the first book in the Chicago Players series, you’ll find tropes such as single hot hockey player, nanny, age gap, best friends daughter, found family!! I loved the relationship between Lars and Adeline, and the detail that went into Lars past and his unexpected role he was forced into that he embraced so graciously. Adeline’s mental health journey was extremely relatable for me and the overall representation was amazing! Definitely recommend pick this one up for anyone wanting a newly released good-vibes sports romance 💘 I cannot wait for the next book!
August 28, 2025
In Sweet Thing, Kate Meader time-jumps to welcome a new class of Chicago Rebels, creating a new series called Chicago Players and spotlighting the Rebel offspring as they find love to rival their parents’ love stories.
My FAVORITE Chicago Rebel is back! I LOVE, love Theo Kershaw, who fell in love, married his wife, and started a family in Instacrush. Superglutes is just as I remembered him.
Sweet Thing finds the Kershaw family front and center. Theo has been in the league for over twenty years. He knows his time is coming to a close, but he wants to accomplish two things before he retires: 1) play at least one year with his son, Hatch, who just so happens to be the Chicago Rebels’ newest acquisition, and 2) win the Cup again. To say Theo needs this season to be perfect would be an understatement. When Theo’s co-defenseman and honorary member of the Kershaw clan, Lars Nyquist, unexpectedly has his surprise baby dropped in his lap, Theo and his wife, Elle, rush in to offer assistance. Not only do they supply him with almost everything he needs for a baby, they offer up their oldest daughter, Adeline—who’s just come back from touring Europe—to be a temporary nanny until he can find a permanent one. Little do they know Adeline has had a crush on Lars for several years.
Kate loves to stack tropes in her books, and Sweet Thing is no different. With this story, you get:
Surprise single dad (That moment is CRAZY!)
Nanny (Because a hockey player needs someone to take care of his kid when he has no one else.)
Age gap (Yep. Thirteen years.)
Dad’s teammate and friend (Same d-line, they have each other’s backs, and Theo made Lars an honorary member of the family.)
Forbidden/Off-limits (Refer back to tropes three and four.)
Slow burn (They try really, really hard not to give in to their attraction.)
Spicy (Yeah. That shower scene. Enough said.)
I really loved Sweet Thing. Adeline and Lars were great characters who immediately drew me in.
Adeline is very big on family, yet she tends to find herself in the background. She isn’t like her brothers, who gravitate toward hockey and seek the spotlight. She likes to be in the background but feels as though she doesn’t live up to her family’s expectations. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Lars is truly alone. Both his parents have passed away, and he’s spent his career trying to prove he’s nothing like his father. Unfortunately for him, people won’t let him forget who his father was. With the Kershaw family, he found a family that truly loves and cares about him. It’s a little foreign to him, but he also doesn’t want to lose it.
I loved the way Lars and Adeline both stepped up to take care of baby Mabel and build their own family unit without realizing it. Their love story definitely rivals the great love story of Theo and Elle.
Up next for the Chicago Players series is Rebel Bride, featuring Hatch Kershaw. That should definitely be a fun and entertaining book, and I KNOW Theo’s going to be in it! It’s a definite must-read for me.
~ Favorite Quotes ~
“The world needs weirdos.”
“We’re our own worst enemies.”
**Received a copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed it. Also personally purchased a paperback copy.**
My FAVORITE Chicago Rebel is back! I LOVE, love Theo Kershaw, who fell in love, married his wife, and started a family in Instacrush. Superglutes is just as I remembered him.
Sweet Thing finds the Kershaw family front and center. Theo has been in the league for over twenty years. He knows his time is coming to a close, but he wants to accomplish two things before he retires: 1) play at least one year with his son, Hatch, who just so happens to be the Chicago Rebels’ newest acquisition, and 2) win the Cup again. To say Theo needs this season to be perfect would be an understatement. When Theo’s co-defenseman and honorary member of the Kershaw clan, Lars Nyquist, unexpectedly has his surprise baby dropped in his lap, Theo and his wife, Elle, rush in to offer assistance. Not only do they supply him with almost everything he needs for a baby, they offer up their oldest daughter, Adeline—who’s just come back from touring Europe—to be a temporary nanny until he can find a permanent one. Little do they know Adeline has had a crush on Lars for several years.
Kate loves to stack tropes in her books, and Sweet Thing is no different. With this story, you get:
Surprise single dad (That moment is CRAZY!)
Nanny (Because a hockey player needs someone to take care of his kid when he has no one else.)
Age gap (Yep. Thirteen years.)
Dad’s teammate and friend (Same d-line, they have each other’s backs, and Theo made Lars an honorary member of the family.)
Forbidden/Off-limits (Refer back to tropes three and four.)
Slow burn (They try really, really hard not to give in to their attraction.)
Spicy (Yeah. That shower scene. Enough said.)
I really loved Sweet Thing. Adeline and Lars were great characters who immediately drew me in.
Adeline is very big on family, yet she tends to find herself in the background. She isn’t like her brothers, who gravitate toward hockey and seek the spotlight. She likes to be in the background but feels as though she doesn’t live up to her family’s expectations. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Lars is truly alone. Both his parents have passed away, and he’s spent his career trying to prove he’s nothing like his father. Unfortunately for him, people won’t let him forget who his father was. With the Kershaw family, he found a family that truly loves and cares about him. It’s a little foreign to him, but he also doesn’t want to lose it.
I loved the way Lars and Adeline both stepped up to take care of baby Mabel and build their own family unit without realizing it. Their love story definitely rivals the great love story of Theo and Elle.
Up next for the Chicago Players series is Rebel Bride, featuring Hatch Kershaw. That should definitely be a fun and entertaining book, and I KNOW Theo’s going to be in it! It’s a definite must-read for me.
~ Favorite Quotes ~
“The world needs weirdos.”
“We’re our own worst enemies.”
**Received a copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed it. Also personally purchased a paperback copy.**
July 6, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
*ARC Review*
-
Sweet Thing is a tender, slow-burn romance wrapped in themes of found family and unexpected parenthood. Lars, a stoic hockey player, is thrown into fatherhood overnight, while Addy’s no-nonsense independence challenges and grounds him. Their sizzling chemistry and witty banter make for a compelling read, though I wished for more depth in their emotional journey. Still, this was an enjoyable novel that left me eager to read more from Kate Meader.
Thank you NetGalley and Kate Meader for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
*ARC Review*
-
Sweet Thing is a tender, slow-burn romance wrapped in themes of found family and unexpected parenthood. Lars, a stoic hockey player, is thrown into fatherhood overnight, while Addy’s no-nonsense independence challenges and grounds him. Their sizzling chemistry and witty banter make for a compelling read, though I wished for more depth in their emotional journey. Still, this was an enjoyable novel that left me eager to read more from Kate Meader.
Thank you NetGalley and Kate Meader for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 4, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for this Arc!
This was a cute, little read. I liked the pacing of the first half, however I did feel like the second half moved and jumped quite quickly.
Lars’ character development, particularly with Mabel, was sweet and fun to read. I would’ve liked more character development from Adeline. I wish she found herself more, beyond the validation from the men in her life.
All in all, a fun little read!
This was a cute, little read. I liked the pacing of the first half, however I did feel like the second half moved and jumped quite quickly.
Lars’ character development, particularly with Mabel, was sweet and fun to read. I would’ve liked more character development from Adeline. I wish she found herself more, beyond the validation from the men in her life.
All in all, a fun little read!
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