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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
120 people are currently reading
7143 people want to read
About the author
Kate Meader
55 books3,429 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 460 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.
February 10, 2026
Sweet Thing by Kate Meader
Chicago Players series #1. Contemporary sports related romance. Spin-off from the Chicago Rebels series.
Adeline Kershaw grew up surrounded in a world of hockey. Her family and friends are all part of the Chicago Rebels team and Adeline learned to track stats and injuries and more since she was young. After accidentally telling player Lars Nyquist that she thinks he’s the sexiest man alive, and basically getting a pat on the head, she travels for a year across multiple countries with a friend. She’s back in Chicago now, a year older with a little seasoning and experience, figuring out what’s next. She didn’t expect it to be babysitting but she still can’t say no to Lars.
Lars Nyquist loves being a star of the Chicago Rebels hockey team. He’s used to women hitting on him wherever he goes. What he didn’t expect was to have a baby dropped into his arms, and told he’s a father and then for the mother to go off on a break. He doesn’t know anything about babies! He is constantly traveling across the country with the team, rarely more than a couple nights in any one place.
Lars hires Adeline to help take care of the baby until he can hire a nanny or the mother comes back.
As both fall in love with his daughter, they find themselves spending more time together as well. Is she over her crush?
🎧 I received an audiobook copy of this story as well as an ecopy. The narration is performed by Avery Reid and Xander Stone. Both performed brilliantly with alternating POV’s, performing voices for both in their chapter with distinct voices for Lars and Adeline and the occasional child. Emotions were clear and the story was easy to follow. I stalled on the ecopy with all the secondary characters in the beginning from the first series. With the audiobook, I was able to take a step back and listen to the story without worrying about who I should already know.
Bad boy learning to be a dad. He was all in for taking care of his daughter. Protective and wanting to do the right thing. Swoon.
Still sexy and hot. He’s a fit hockey player and she’s young and beautiful.
Bonus epilogue. Yay!
Adorable, engaging and hot.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media
Chicago Players series #1. Contemporary sports related romance. Spin-off from the Chicago Rebels series.
Adeline Kershaw grew up surrounded in a world of hockey. Her family and friends are all part of the Chicago Rebels team and Adeline learned to track stats and injuries and more since she was young. After accidentally telling player Lars Nyquist that she thinks he’s the sexiest man alive, and basically getting a pat on the head, she travels for a year across multiple countries with a friend. She’s back in Chicago now, a year older with a little seasoning and experience, figuring out what’s next. She didn’t expect it to be babysitting but she still can’t say no to Lars.
Lars Nyquist loves being a star of the Chicago Rebels hockey team. He’s used to women hitting on him wherever he goes. What he didn’t expect was to have a baby dropped into his arms, and told he’s a father and then for the mother to go off on a break. He doesn’t know anything about babies! He is constantly traveling across the country with the team, rarely more than a couple nights in any one place.
Lars hires Adeline to help take care of the baby until he can hire a nanny or the mother comes back.
As both fall in love with his daughter, they find themselves spending more time together as well. Is she over her crush?
🎧 I received an audiobook copy of this story as well as an ecopy. The narration is performed by Avery Reid and Xander Stone. Both performed brilliantly with alternating POV’s, performing voices for both in their chapter with distinct voices for Lars and Adeline and the occasional child. Emotions were clear and the story was easy to follow. I stalled on the ecopy with all the secondary characters in the beginning from the first series. With the audiobook, I was able to take a step back and listen to the story without worrying about who I should already know.
Bad boy learning to be a dad. He was all in for taking care of his daughter. Protective and wanting to do the right thing. Swoon.
Still sexy and hot. He’s a fit hockey player and she’s young and beautiful.
Bonus epilogue. Yay!
Adorable, engaging and hot.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media
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 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!
February 9, 2026
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! 💕
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!
Read
March 6, 2026🏒 Sweet Thing 🏒
Full Review to come!
🩷 What to Expect
• Single dad MMC
• Hockey Romance
• Nanny X boss
• Age gap
• Forced proximity
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: February 10, 2026
📝 Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.
Full Review to come!
🩷 What to Expect
• Single dad MMC
• Hockey Romance
• Nanny X boss
• Age gap
• Forced proximity
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: February 10, 2026
📝 Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.
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?
February 11, 2026
3⭐️ *Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the the ALC*
First and foremost, the rating is based off the fact that this is my first Kate Meader book and it was after finishing it that I realized this is a spin off of another series which makes sense because the amount of side characters names that were threw off on pages after a couple of chapters was so confusing to me.
As for the story itself, I had a good time listening to this audiobook, I am a sucker for a single dad nanny trope so it doesn’t take much for me to be having the best time. As for the characters, I loved Lars characters development. He felt believable and I loved how he faces his demons regarding his father and his new life responsabilities. As for Adeline, I felt like she came off very young and immature at times, but what really made me disconnected to her character is how little to no development her character had. I wish we had more time with her, getting to the bottom of her issues and really having her go through healing and growth.
Last but not least, the narrators did a good job and the pacing was great!
First and foremost, the rating is based off the fact that this is my first Kate Meader book and it was after finishing it that I realized this is a spin off of another series which makes sense because the amount of side characters names that were threw off on pages after a couple of chapters was so confusing to me.
As for the story itself, I had a good time listening to this audiobook, I am a sucker for a single dad nanny trope so it doesn’t take much for me to be having the best time. As for the characters, I loved Lars characters development. He felt believable and I loved how he faces his demons regarding his father and his new life responsabilities. As for Adeline, I felt like she came off very young and immature at times, but what really made me disconnected to her character is how little to no development her character had. I wish we had more time with her, getting to the bottom of her issues and really having her go through healing and growth.
Last but not least, the narrators did a good job and the pacing was great!
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.
February 15, 2026
Oh my gosh, so cute! What a unique plot - and such a fun story. I enjoyed Kate Meader's Sweet Thing.
I'm always up for a hockey romance, and the twists and turns in Sweet Thing brought new life to this traditional chestnut. The sparks between these two characters are great, and I love the unique ideas of this "forbidden" romance. Between the "dad's teammate" and the surprise baby, this tale is a lot of fun. The rhymes made me laugh out loud and there is just enough hockey to count as a "sports" book.
The audio version of Sweet Thing is nicely performed by Avery Reid and Xander Stone.
an audiobook copy of Sweet Thing, Chicago Players #1 was provided by Dreamscape Media, via NetGalley, for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
I'm always up for a hockey romance, and the twists and turns in Sweet Thing brought new life to this traditional chestnut. The sparks between these two characters are great, and I love the unique ideas of this "forbidden" romance. Between the "dad's teammate" and the surprise baby, this tale is a lot of fun. The rhymes made me laugh out loud and there is just enough hockey to count as a "sports" book.
The audio version of Sweet Thing is nicely performed by Avery Reid and Xander Stone.
an audiobook copy of Sweet Thing, Chicago Players #1 was provided by Dreamscape Media, via NetGalley, for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
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!
June 24, 2025
This was my first “surprise baby” book & I am shocked by how much I enjoyed it!
I loved the age gap, hockey, nanny elements to the book as well! I feel like Lars’ response to a baby being thrust into his arms & left with him without warning was a bit wild but I still binged this book & loved it!
I loved the age gap, hockey, nanny elements to the book as well! I feel like Lars’ response to a baby being thrust into his arms & left with him without warning was a bit wild but I still binged this book & loved it!
January 22, 2026
First and foremost, let's get the obvious out of the way: this is book 1 in a spin off of a spin off series. Meaning there's not just 1 set of books, but 2 entire series already written before this one. Books that we're meant to have already read and a whole host of characters whose stories we're already supposed to be familiar with.
I did not read any of those books. I have never encountered the litany of characters that got paraded around in this book. I have zero emotional connection to any of them. And yet - as these kinds of follow-up series do, the book spends an inordinate amount of time rehashing other couples' stories instead of focusing on the main couple in this book.
And when I tell you there are a LOT of characters in this book? I stopped counted in chapter 7 but I'd already reached over 30 different names. And more were inbound. I'm not talking about tertiary characters like a pediatrician or a nanny interviewee who we only see a time or two - I mean friends and family members who pop up more than once like I'm supposed to just know who they are. Spoiler alert: I didn't.
So, I'm annoyed, but I know it's half my fault. I didn't do my due diligence. I didn't go back into this author's catalogue and start at her diary when she was 5 years old and read EVERY. SINGLE. WORD. she's ever put on a page, so I did this to myself.
That being said - I HATE when authors do this. When they feel the need to parade 974 different characters through a plot that has nothing to do with them because FaNsErViCe. One or two "oh look it's those people" is one thing. Dumping EVERY CHARACTER YOU'VE EVER CREATED into a new book series is ludicrous.
It alienates readers who are just finding your books starting with your newest releases. I shouldn't have to read 13 books by an author to learn every characters' story, so I can read the author's newest release and have things make sense.
I also don't particularly enjoy books that read like the phone book or an anthology of epilogues and bonus chapters when I picked the book up based on the blurb surrounding what's supposed to be the main couple.
Lars and Addy's story gets lost sometimes. That's what I'm trying to say.
And it's a shame, because I genuinely wanted to feel something for the two of them. The set up - her having a crush as a young 20-something and him accidentally overhearing the confession - was kind of cute. But every other chapter it's "Oh there's those guys, and here's what their story was about and look at their kids now". Okay - that's great. If I'd wanted to read about those guys, I'd have picked their book up. But it's Lars and Addy's turn now. I don't care about anybody else but Lars and Addy.
Needless to say I really struggled to connect to these two characters. As much as I wanted to, and even though there were moments where I genuinely grinned and giggled and kicked my feet over how cute they both are with Mabel, all of it was so interrupted by other character appearances (it's worse in the first half of the story, but it continues throughout the book) to really grow that emotional attachment.
It doesn't help that the breakup that happens 3/4s of the way through is based PURELY on the MMC's self-loathing, meddling family members who don't have the whole story and heaps of miscommunication. Barf.
When we're not dealing with the entire city of Chicago, we are suffering through some sort of repetitive internal monologuing and it made me want to take a shower with my toaster.
For instance: I think Lars miiiight be the son of the late Sven Nyquist. No idea where I'm getting that from - could it be because we're told every other paragraph? Surely not!
Also, did you guys know that Adaline is awkward? A social misfit? Shy and quiet? Fragile? I don't know how you could have missed it - because we're told about as often as we're told Lars is the son of Sven.
Finally - something happened at the end that sort of made my blood boil.
There's the inevitable blow-up between Theo (Adaline's father and Lars' teammate) and Lars. Theo discovers Lars and Adaline in his kitchen during Thanksgiving and it all comes out that they've been together physically. Theo explodes, blaming Lars for everything, calling him all sorts of choice words, and - because I suspect he knows it'll hurt Lars, brings up his gambling drunkard of a father. Says Lars is just like him.
Now hang on a minute, sir. This is your BFF. The man you've invited into your home for decades. Your ride-or-die on and off the ice.
NOW you're calling him a piece of crap delinquent?
That was a LOW blow and he never apologizes for it.
Even when they later come to blows on the ice, and then reconcile after Lars admits that he loves Addy, Theo never apologizes for what he said, for the blame he places on Lars, or for the fact he hit him.
And, come to think of it, neither does his meddling wife, Elle.
See, she's a large part of the reason for the 3rd act breakup. Elle straight up tells Lars he's not good enough for her daughter, fully knowing he's got a hang-up about not wanting to become his father. She acknowledges that her daughter's in love with Lars, and STILL meddles in their relationship to keep them apart. What a peach.
Excuse me, you've been letting this man in your home, around your kids for YEARS and never had a problem with it until now????? Is this really what you think about him? She ticked me off so bad.
And let's talk for a second about the blame being placed on Lars for the relationship between him and Addy. Both of Addy's parents try to pin it on him as the older, more experienced party - and they don't listen to Addy at all when she straight up tells them no, it was the other way around - they completely dismiss her agency.
Theo even doubles down on this at the end, when he talks to his daughter before the final game, saying that Lars straight up took advantage of Addy. And Addy just accepts that her dad's going to believe what he wants about the situation without putting up a single ounce of fight. Honestly it's telling how beaten down this woman is if her reaction is to just give in every time her parents have an issue with something. She didn't become a doormat by default. Her family's been treating her like this for years, clearly.
And it's just...never addressed. Like any of what happened at the end of this book would ever be okay without a serious discussion or two to fix what's been broken.
Needless to say the blurb failed me here. The premise had promise. But the execution just left a bad taste in my mouth. Between not being able to connect with the main characters, the mob of other people who's names I apparently should have known but didn't, the miscommunication that happens between the main couple, and Addy's terrible family dynamic this was mostly a miss for me. This doesn't quite make the 3 star mark - 2.5 but I'm rounding down here on GR.
Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for sending me this audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
I did not read any of those books. I have never encountered the litany of characters that got paraded around in this book. I have zero emotional connection to any of them. And yet - as these kinds of follow-up series do, the book spends an inordinate amount of time rehashing other couples' stories instead of focusing on the main couple in this book.
And when I tell you there are a LOT of characters in this book? I stopped counted in chapter 7 but I'd already reached over 30 different names. And more were inbound. I'm not talking about tertiary characters like a pediatrician or a nanny interviewee who we only see a time or two - I mean friends and family members who pop up more than once like I'm supposed to just know who they are. Spoiler alert: I didn't.
So, I'm annoyed, but I know it's half my fault. I didn't do my due diligence. I didn't go back into this author's catalogue and start at her diary when she was 5 years old and read EVERY. SINGLE. WORD. she's ever put on a page, so I did this to myself.
That being said - I HATE when authors do this. When they feel the need to parade 974 different characters through a plot that has nothing to do with them because FaNsErViCe. One or two "oh look it's those people" is one thing. Dumping EVERY CHARACTER YOU'VE EVER CREATED into a new book series is ludicrous.
It alienates readers who are just finding your books starting with your newest releases. I shouldn't have to read 13 books by an author to learn every characters' story, so I can read the author's newest release and have things make sense.
I also don't particularly enjoy books that read like the phone book or an anthology of epilogues and bonus chapters when I picked the book up based on the blurb surrounding what's supposed to be the main couple.
Lars and Addy's story gets lost sometimes. That's what I'm trying to say.
And it's a shame, because I genuinely wanted to feel something for the two of them. The set up - her having a crush as a young 20-something and him accidentally overhearing the confession - was kind of cute. But every other chapter it's "Oh there's those guys, and here's what their story was about and look at their kids now". Okay - that's great. If I'd wanted to read about those guys, I'd have picked their book up. But it's Lars and Addy's turn now. I don't care about anybody else but Lars and Addy.
Needless to say I really struggled to connect to these two characters. As much as I wanted to, and even though there were moments where I genuinely grinned and giggled and kicked my feet over how cute they both are with Mabel, all of it was so interrupted by other character appearances (it's worse in the first half of the story, but it continues throughout the book) to really grow that emotional attachment.
It doesn't help that the breakup that happens 3/4s of the way through is based PURELY on the MMC's self-loathing, meddling family members who don't have the whole story and heaps of miscommunication. Barf.
When we're not dealing with the entire city of Chicago, we are suffering through some sort of repetitive internal monologuing and it made me want to take a shower with my toaster.
For instance: I think Lars miiiight be the son of the late Sven Nyquist. No idea where I'm getting that from - could it be because we're told every other paragraph? Surely not!
Also, did you guys know that Adaline is awkward? A social misfit? Shy and quiet? Fragile? I don't know how you could have missed it - because we're told about as often as we're told Lars is the son of Sven.
Finally - something happened at the end that sort of made my blood boil.
There's the inevitable blow-up between Theo (Adaline's father and Lars' teammate) and Lars. Theo discovers Lars and Adaline in his kitchen during Thanksgiving and it all comes out that they've been together physically. Theo explodes, blaming Lars for everything, calling him all sorts of choice words, and - because I suspect he knows it'll hurt Lars, brings up his gambling drunkard of a father. Says Lars is just like him.
Now hang on a minute, sir. This is your BFF. The man you've invited into your home for decades. Your ride-or-die on and off the ice.
NOW you're calling him a piece of crap delinquent?
That was a LOW blow and he never apologizes for it.
Even when they later come to blows on the ice, and then reconcile after Lars admits that he loves Addy, Theo never apologizes for what he said, for the blame he places on Lars, or for the fact he hit him.
And, come to think of it, neither does his meddling wife, Elle.
See, she's a large part of the reason for the 3rd act breakup. Elle straight up tells Lars he's not good enough for her daughter, fully knowing he's got a hang-up about not wanting to become his father. She acknowledges that her daughter's in love with Lars, and STILL meddles in their relationship to keep them apart. What a peach.
Excuse me, you've been letting this man in your home, around your kids for YEARS and never had a problem with it until now????? Is this really what you think about him? She ticked me off so bad.
And let's talk for a second about the blame being placed on Lars for the relationship between him and Addy. Both of Addy's parents try to pin it on him as the older, more experienced party - and they don't listen to Addy at all when she straight up tells them no, it was the other way around - they completely dismiss her agency.
Theo even doubles down on this at the end, when he talks to his daughter before the final game, saying that Lars straight up took advantage of Addy. And Addy just accepts that her dad's going to believe what he wants about the situation without putting up a single ounce of fight. Honestly it's telling how beaten down this woman is if her reaction is to just give in every time her parents have an issue with something. She didn't become a doormat by default. Her family's been treating her like this for years, clearly.
And it's just...never addressed. Like any of what happened at the end of this book would ever be okay without a serious discussion or two to fix what's been broken.
Needless to say the blurb failed me here. The premise had promise. But the execution just left a bad taste in my mouth. Between not being able to connect with the main characters, the mob of other people who's names I apparently should have known but didn't, the miscommunication that happens between the main couple, and Addy's terrible family dynamic this was mostly a miss for me. This doesn't quite make the 3 star mark - 2.5 but I'm rounding down here on GR.
Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for sending me this audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
January 22, 2026
3.5/5
Thank you so much to Dreamscape Media for the ALC of this book via Netgalley!
I absolutely love hockey romance, so I am always wanting to read something in this genre, and I'm glad I was able to listen to the first book in the Chicago Players series.
This audiobook is dual narration, and done really well by both Avery Reid and Xander Stone. I feel that they both really brought the characters to life for me.
We have Adeline who is the daughter of the team's captain and friend of Lars Nyquist who becomes the nanny of his surprise daughter. I finished this book quickly because it was a fun and light read, while also reading some pretty long-winded romantasies, so this was a great palette cleanser! I always love the found family aspect of a hockey romance, and the Kershaw family (and team!) did this wonderfully! I love the whole concept of how raising a child takes a village, and it was great seeing those surrounding the team step up to give Lars the support he needed.
One thing that didn't set the best with me was a part where a photo was shared of his 6 month old with the caption of "Best Mistake Ever",,, I think to say something so publicly was not it and just rubbed me the wrong way.
We get some great tropes in this one:
- Nanny x Single Hockey Player Dad
- Dad's Best Friend
- Age Gap
- Forced Proximity
- He comes to her rescue
- Found Family
Thank you so much to Dreamscape Media for the ALC of this book via Netgalley!
I absolutely love hockey romance, so I am always wanting to read something in this genre, and I'm glad I was able to listen to the first book in the Chicago Players series.
This audiobook is dual narration, and done really well by both Avery Reid and Xander Stone. I feel that they both really brought the characters to life for me.
We have Adeline who is the daughter of the team's captain and friend of Lars Nyquist who becomes the nanny of his surprise daughter. I finished this book quickly because it was a fun and light read, while also reading some pretty long-winded romantasies, so this was a great palette cleanser! I always love the found family aspect of a hockey romance, and the Kershaw family (and team!) did this wonderfully! I love the whole concept of how raising a child takes a village, and it was great seeing those surrounding the team step up to give Lars the support he needed.
One thing that didn't set the best with me was a part where a photo was shared of his 6 month old with the caption of "Best Mistake Ever",,, I think to say something so publicly was not it and just rubbed me the wrong way.
We get some great tropes in this one:
- Nanny x Single Hockey Player Dad
- Dad's Best Friend
- Age Gap
- Forced Proximity
- He comes to her rescue
- Found Family
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. 😊
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.
January 16, 2026
I received this as an ALC from NetGalley in exchange for review.
The Audiobook was dual narration and both of the narrators were great, and I enjoyed the story too. She’s 22, he’s her dad’s 35 year old best friend. He’s a single dad to a surprise baby and she is volunteers to be a temp nanny. Their chemistry was believable and there was some substance, but overall this was a light easy romance with a touch of taboo.
It’s a great palette cleanser for any romance fan.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.
The Audiobook was dual narration and both of the narrators were great, and I enjoyed the story too. She’s 22, he’s her dad’s 35 year old best friend. He’s a single dad to a surprise baby and she is volunteers to be a temp nanny. Their chemistry was believable and there was some substance, but overall this was a light easy romance with a touch of taboo.
It’s a great palette cleanser for any romance fan.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.
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.
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