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Perfectly Complicated Christmas Romance
He's allergic to Christmas. She practically bleeds tinsel. Their holiday collision is about to get complicated.Single mom Janie Bennett has one pull off the perfect Christmas pageant for her kindergarten class. What she doesn't need is the world's grumpiest hockey player ruining her holly-jolly plans.
Enter Rourke Riley, Mr. "I Hate Christmas" himself—who's been sentenced to play Santa in her pageant and is determined to get fired from this nightmare before Christmas.
Janie can't let his humbug ruin her fa la la, so she calls his bluff with a Christmas challenge: if she can prove he’s secretly got some holiday spirit, he has to help her pull off the most magical pageant ever.
But if she loses? She's wearing his jersey and going on a date with the grinch himself.
To be She's not losing.
Not when her secret weapon is taking Rourke on a road trip to the most over-the-top Christmas festival in existence.
Cue the holiday chaos.
Between an unexpected snowstorm, sharing a one-bedroom cabin, a hockey team text thread gone awry and a mistletoe kiss that's life-changing—suddenly, winning doesn't matter anymore.
Turns out, the holidays are full of surprises. But her falling for the grump—and his jersey?
It’s the biggest complication of the season.
Perfectly Complicated Christmas Romance is a closed-door holiday hockey romcom, featuring a grumpy athlete with a soft heart, a sunshine single mom, and a bet that proves opposites don't just attract—they make a perfect mistletoe match.
Holiday hijinksChristmas romanceGrumpy sunshineSingle mom and hockey athleteRivals to loversSmall-town laughsClosed door with all the yearning and tension
Enter Rourke Riley, Mr. "I Hate Christmas" himself—who's been sentenced to play Santa in her pageant and is determined to get fired from this nightmare before Christmas.
Janie can't let his humbug ruin her fa la la, so she calls his bluff with a Christmas challenge: if she can prove he’s secretly got some holiday spirit, he has to help her pull off the most magical pageant ever.
But if she loses? She's wearing his jersey and going on a date with the grinch himself.
To be She's not losing.
Not when her secret weapon is taking Rourke on a road trip to the most over-the-top Christmas festival in existence.
Cue the holiday chaos.
Between an unexpected snowstorm, sharing a one-bedroom cabin, a hockey team text thread gone awry and a mistletoe kiss that's life-changing—suddenly, winning doesn't matter anymore.
Turns out, the holidays are full of surprises. But her falling for the grump—and his jersey?
It’s the biggest complication of the season.
Perfectly Complicated Christmas Romance is a closed-door holiday hockey romcom, featuring a grumpy athlete with a soft heart, a sunshine single mom, and a bet that proves opposites don't just attract—they make a perfect mistletoe match.
Holiday hijinksChristmas romanceGrumpy sunshineSingle mom and hockey athleteRivals to loversSmall-town laughsClosed door with all the yearning and tension
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 21, 2025
214 people are currently reading
350 people want to read
About the author
Grace Worthington
23 books441 followersGrace Worthington is a three-time award-winning author who lives and breathes sweet closed door romcoms.
A former musical theatre gal and playwright, she brings that same energy, heart, and comedic timing to her stories, crafting witty banter and lovable characters you can’t help but root for.
She holds a master’s degree in psychology and human development and has also completed graduate studies in creative writing. Her inspiration comes from charming coastal towns and classic romcoms from the ’80s and ’90s.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids.
A former musical theatre gal and playwright, she brings that same energy, heart, and comedic timing to her stories, crafting witty banter and lovable characters you can’t help but root for.
She holds a master’s degree in psychology and human development and has also completed graduate studies in creative writing. Her inspiration comes from charming coastal towns and classic romcoms from the ’80s and ’90s.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
December 31, 2025
Oh this book was lovely!
Thanks to Grace for emailing me an ARC copy!
Best moments: Rourke and Janie’s gingerbread conference
The boys (Brax, Tate, and more) helping Rourke with planning the bet and donating to charity.
Baby Aria 🥹🥹 and Rourke comforting her when she’s sick.
Janie defending herself against her ex husband.
Janie and Rourke’s kiss after the hockey game. 😏😘😘
CW: angry alcoholic dad from childhood, cheating ex, postpartum loneliness, same money and family talking, and some fears of losing a partner.
Best lines:
“Trust me, this is a deeply humbling chapter of my life." Then his smile turns soft. "To quote a famous movie..I'm just a boy. Standing in front of a girl. Asking her to love hockey."
“I don’t need you to be perfect, Rourke Riley. I don’t need you to love the holidays or have all the answers or be anything other than who you are. I just need you to stay.”
“I love you, Rourke. I was scared to say it before. But after watching you walk away, I’ve never felt so sure of anything in my life.”
I draw her close, kissing her mouth as fire races down my body.
“Me too, angel,” I whisper, trailing kisses along her cheek, then down her throat, letting my lips memorize what my heart already knows. Between each kiss, I whisper, “I won’t leave you. Not ever again. I’ll always love you, Janie.”
“She rises on her toes, bringing her lips close to mine. “Just for the record, I think we both learned a lot this season.”
“What did you learn?”
“How to love a hockey player.” She pauses, her smile turning soft. “And how to let him love me back.”
“Best lesson plan ever,” I murmur against her lips.”
Thanks to Grace for emailing me an ARC copy!
Best moments: Rourke and Janie’s gingerbread conference
The boys (Brax, Tate, and more) helping Rourke with planning the bet and donating to charity.
Baby Aria 🥹🥹 and Rourke comforting her when she’s sick.
Janie defending herself against her ex husband.
Janie and Rourke’s kiss after the hockey game. 😏😘😘
CW: angry alcoholic dad from childhood, cheating ex, postpartum loneliness, same money and family talking, and some fears of losing a partner.
Best lines:
“Trust me, this is a deeply humbling chapter of my life." Then his smile turns soft. "To quote a famous movie..I'm just a boy. Standing in front of a girl. Asking her to love hockey."
“I don’t need you to be perfect, Rourke Riley. I don’t need you to love the holidays or have all the answers or be anything other than who you are. I just need you to stay.”
“I love you, Rourke. I was scared to say it before. But after watching you walk away, I’ve never felt so sure of anything in my life.”
I draw her close, kissing her mouth as fire races down my body.
“Me too, angel,” I whisper, trailing kisses along her cheek, then down her throat, letting my lips memorize what my heart already knows. Between each kiss, I whisper, “I won’t leave you. Not ever again. I’ll always love you, Janie.”
“She rises on her toes, bringing her lips close to mine. “Just for the record, I think we both learned a lot this season.”
“What did you learn?”
“How to love a hockey player.” She pauses, her smile turning soft. “And how to let him love me back.”
“Best lesson plan ever,” I murmur against her lips.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2026
Single mom Janie Bennett loves Christmas and she wants to arrange the perfect Christmas pageant with her kindergarten class. Then grumpy hockey player Rourke Riley shows up to play Santa in the pageant - and he hates Christmas. Janie is not going to let some grinch ruin her Christmas, so they make a bet. But she wasn’t counting on it becoming so complicated...
Both Janie and Rourke have tragic backgrounds that affect them. Janie's husband cheated on her during her pregnancy, and Rourke grew up with an alcoholic father. Janie can't risk trusting Rourke because of the infidelity, and Rourke got all his Christmases ruined by his father’s rage. Despite these gloomy premises, this book is full of love, warmth and hope (and Christmas, of course!), and I often find myself smiling. The scenes with Rourke and Aria, Janie's little daughter, are simply adorable, and the scenes with the kindergarten children are so funny! It's also nice to see the characters from the previous books in the series, and I love the found family vibes from the hockey team; they banter and tease, but when push comes to shove they're there for each other.
* I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *
Both Janie and Rourke have tragic backgrounds that affect them. Janie's husband cheated on her during her pregnancy, and Rourke grew up with an alcoholic father. Janie can't risk trusting Rourke because of the infidelity, and Rourke got all his Christmases ruined by his father’s rage. Despite these gloomy premises, this book is full of love, warmth and hope (and Christmas, of course!), and I often find myself smiling. The scenes with Rourke and Aria, Janie's little daughter, are simply adorable, and the scenes with the kindergarten children are so funny! It's also nice to see the characters from the previous books in the series, and I love the found family vibes from the hockey team; they banter and tease, but when push comes to shove they're there for each other.
* I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *
November 22, 2025
✅♥️Thank you @graceworthingtonauthor for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
My thoughts:
Cue Christmas chaos!
LOL…I obsoletely loved grumpy/grinchy Rourke and feisty/festive Janie!
The chemistry between the two of them was on point!
The banter was hilarious! Especially the the school play scenes with the children ;)
💚Grinchy hockey player
🤍Unexpected snow storm
🤎Sunshine divorced teacher mom
♥️Christmas pageant
💙Forced proximity
💜Grumpy-Sunshine
🧡Rivals to lovers
💛Second chance
🩶Found family
🩷Opposites attract
🩵Closed door
🤍Small town
I always enjoy reading books by author Grace Worthington….her books are always heartwarming, heartfelt and swoon worthy.
http://instagram.com/shortbookthyme
My thoughts:
Cue Christmas chaos!
LOL…I obsoletely loved grumpy/grinchy Rourke and feisty/festive Janie!
The chemistry between the two of them was on point!
The banter was hilarious! Especially the the school play scenes with the children ;)
💚Grinchy hockey player
🤍Unexpected snow storm
🤎Sunshine divorced teacher mom
♥️Christmas pageant
💙Forced proximity
💜Grumpy-Sunshine
🧡Rivals to lovers
💛Second chance
🩶Found family
🩷Opposites attract
🩵Closed door
🤍Small town
I always enjoy reading books by author Grace Worthington….her books are always heartwarming, heartfelt and swoon worthy.
http://instagram.com/shortbookthyme
November 15, 2025
The moment this book hit my Kindle, I knew nothing else was getting done that day.
Janie Bennett is a teacher who loves Christmas, especially with her school’s big holiday pageant approaching. Rourke Riley is a hockey player who wants nothing to do with the event, until he sees who is running it. Janie instantly becomes the only thing about the pageant he actually enjoys. He still hates Christmas, but working with the beautiful single mom is making it all worth it.
A friendly bet raises the stakes. Janie believes she can make him love Christmas. Rourke is sure she cannot, and if she fails, she owes him a date while wearing his jersey. If he does end up enjoying Christmas, the school gets the benefit of a standout pageant that could help with funding. He also hopes to make her appreciate hockey in return. Soon it is hard to tell who is winning, especially when real feelings start to get involved. Janie’s heart has been broken before, their lives are very different, and her ex is ready to cause trouble. It all seems so complicated...but will they think its all worth the risk?!
I loved this story. Rourke is wonderful with Janie, especially with little Aria, and Janie is incredibly patient as she helps him work through his feelings about Christmas. The kisses, the declarations, the texts with friends and teammates, and the setup for the next couple were all perfect. I cannot wait for the next book!!!
QUOTES OUT OF CONTEXT:
𝑰𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏. 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔. 𝑫𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕? 𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆? 𝑶𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕.
“𝑰’𝒎 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝑩𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒕.” 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒂𝒛𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉. “𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆.” 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒎𝒆. “𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔.” “𝑵𝒐,” 𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒔, 𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒓. “𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔. 𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏’𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆…” 𝑯𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅. “𝑰’𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅.” “𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔…” 𝑰 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔. “𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆’𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔.” “𝑰’𝒎 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒈𝒖𝒚. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕.” 𝑯𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒋𝒂𝒘. “𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆? 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅.”
𝑰’𝒎 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒚. 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍. 𝑨𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒚.”
I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
Janie Bennett is a teacher who loves Christmas, especially with her school’s big holiday pageant approaching. Rourke Riley is a hockey player who wants nothing to do with the event, until he sees who is running it. Janie instantly becomes the only thing about the pageant he actually enjoys. He still hates Christmas, but working with the beautiful single mom is making it all worth it.
A friendly bet raises the stakes. Janie believes she can make him love Christmas. Rourke is sure she cannot, and if she fails, she owes him a date while wearing his jersey. If he does end up enjoying Christmas, the school gets the benefit of a standout pageant that could help with funding. He also hopes to make her appreciate hockey in return. Soon it is hard to tell who is winning, especially when real feelings start to get involved. Janie’s heart has been broken before, their lives are very different, and her ex is ready to cause trouble. It all seems so complicated...but will they think its all worth the risk?!
I loved this story. Rourke is wonderful with Janie, especially with little Aria, and Janie is incredibly patient as she helps him work through his feelings about Christmas. The kisses, the declarations, the texts with friends and teammates, and the setup for the next couple were all perfect. I cannot wait for the next book!!!
QUOTES OUT OF CONTEXT:
𝑰𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏. 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔. 𝑫𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕? 𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆? 𝑶𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕.
“𝑰’𝒎 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝑩𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒕.” 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒂𝒛𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉. “𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆.” 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒎𝒆. “𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔.” “𝑵𝒐,” 𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒔, 𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒓. “𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔. 𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏’𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆…” 𝑯𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅. “𝑰’𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅.” “𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔…” 𝑰 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔. “𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆’𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔.” “𝑰’𝒎 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒈𝒖𝒚. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕.” 𝑯𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒋𝒂𝒘. “𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆? 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅.”
𝑰’𝒎 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒚. 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍. 𝑨𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒚.”
I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
dnf
November 20, 2025I would like to thank the author for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Dragged.
Dragged.
December 12, 2025
Holiday whimsy + Crushers hockey = YES!
Thank you, Partners, @graceworthingtonauthor & @bookedwiththeemilys for the #gifted copy of "Perfectly Complicated" [PUB DATE: OUT NOW]
If you're like me and hockey romances bring you insurmountable joy, than I highly suggest YOU check out any & all of Grace's Perfect Crush Hockey series.
Really... you can start at any book & fall in love with the Crushers.
I devoured this story. From hate karaoke to a holiday village Date night to a scavenger hunt in a mansion to a hockey rink filled with Christmas trees...my heart has it bad for everything that is "Perfectly Complicated"
There's really something about closed door romances that capture what makes love extra special. And don't get me wrong, I L O V E a good Carolina Reaper spiced moment, but what makes these stories so special is the magic in the little moments.
My favorite scene is when Rourke immediately buys a Christmas ornament for Janie at the holiday village. *swoony sigh* (but that's not the only moment that melted my heart. Just wait for the Christmas trees at the Crushers area *squeals*)
All the little moments that make up this book made my heart grow three sizes (like Grumpy ol Rouke by the end of this book)
I am officially devoted to this entire series (plus it doesn't hurt that Queen Grace has a new Crushes player love story coming soon)
❤️ Holiday Vibes
🎄 Hockey, duh
✨️ Grumpy Sunshine
❤️ Enemies to Lovers
🎄 Single Mom
✨️ Snowed In
❤️ Temporary Roommates
🎄 Forced Proximity
✨️ Closed Door (AKA Green Pepper Spiced)
Thank you, Partners, @graceworthingtonauthor & @bookedwiththeemilys for the #gifted copy of "Perfectly Complicated" [PUB DATE: OUT NOW]
If you're like me and hockey romances bring you insurmountable joy, than I highly suggest YOU check out any & all of Grace's Perfect Crush Hockey series.
Really... you can start at any book & fall in love with the Crushers.
I devoured this story. From hate karaoke to a holiday village Date night to a scavenger hunt in a mansion to a hockey rink filled with Christmas trees...my heart has it bad for everything that is "Perfectly Complicated"
There's really something about closed door romances that capture what makes love extra special. And don't get me wrong, I L O V E a good Carolina Reaper spiced moment, but what makes these stories so special is the magic in the little moments.
My favorite scene is when Rourke immediately buys a Christmas ornament for Janie at the holiday village. *swoony sigh* (but that's not the only moment that melted my heart. Just wait for the Christmas trees at the Crushers area *squeals*)
All the little moments that make up this book made my heart grow three sizes (like Grumpy ol Rouke by the end of this book)
I am officially devoted to this entire series (plus it doesn't hurt that Queen Grace has a new Crushes player love story coming soon)
❤️ Holiday Vibes
🎄 Hockey, duh
✨️ Grumpy Sunshine
❤️ Enemies to Lovers
🎄 Single Mom
✨️ Snowed In
❤️ Temporary Roommates
🎄 Forced Proximity
✨️ Closed Door (AKA Green Pepper Spiced)
January 14, 2026
If you love grumpy/sunshine, holiday hijinks, and closed-door romance with all the yearning, this one is pure Christmas magic. Janie Bennett lives and breathes the holidays, especially when it comes to her kindergarten Christmas pageant. Rourke Riley? He hates Christmas with a passion and wants nothing more than to get out of playing Santa for her class.
Enter a holiday bet, forced proximity, a snowy road trip, one-bed cabin chaos, and a hockey player who absolutely melts when you put a baby in his arms. From their hilarious meet-cute to the growing emotional depth between them, I was completely hooked. Janie and Rourke both carry past hurts, and I loved how gently and realistically those were woven into their story.
Rourke may claim to hate Christmas, but watching him fall for Janie—and especially for little Aria—was everything. This book balances festive cheer with the reminder that the holidays can be bittersweet, and that made it feel all the more heartfelt. The chemistry? Crackling. The banter? Delightful. The team text threads and returning characters? Perfection.
This is a closed-door, kisses-only romance that delivers maximum swoon without spice, and it’s easily one of my favorite books in the series. Grace continues to create characters that feel like friends, and stories that feel like home. I already can’t wait for what’s next!
Enter a holiday bet, forced proximity, a snowy road trip, one-bed cabin chaos, and a hockey player who absolutely melts when you put a baby in his arms. From their hilarious meet-cute to the growing emotional depth between them, I was completely hooked. Janie and Rourke both carry past hurts, and I loved how gently and realistically those were woven into their story.
Rourke may claim to hate Christmas, but watching him fall for Janie—and especially for little Aria—was everything. This book balances festive cheer with the reminder that the holidays can be bittersweet, and that made it feel all the more heartfelt. The chemistry? Crackling. The banter? Delightful. The team text threads and returning characters? Perfection.
This is a closed-door, kisses-only romance that delivers maximum swoon without spice, and it’s easily one of my favorite books in the series. Grace continues to create characters that feel like friends, and stories that feel like home. I already can’t wait for what’s next!
December 1, 2025
Tropes:
single mom
forced proximity
holiday romance
hockey romance
one bed
Dual POV
Perfectly Complicated is a cute Christmas time closed-door romance featuring the Crushers hockey team! Well, specifically it was Rourke's time to shine lol. Rourke has been obsessed with Janie since he met her at a dive-bar months ago. Things were going great that night... until Christmas came up and their different opinions quickly sent them each their own ways. Now, forced to work together, can Janie and Rourke put aside their differences long enough or will a condo fire escalate things to another level?
I've read 3/4 of the Crushers stories so far (I need to go back and read the very first book). I like this hockey team of players. However, I will say I struggled a little with this one. In particular, the beginning made it out that Janie and Rourke had never met until the dive bar. However, later, the book references her being friends with the wives/girlfriends of the other Crusher players before her and Rourke even are forced into a co-working relationship. That... is what I'm confused with. It never explained how she knew these women, or even the other players from the team. But they all seemed to know her on a personal level and vice versa. That was confusing for me and never explained.
I thought the story was cute overall. I love a forced proximity romance! It was so sweet seeing Rourke step up and be what Janie and Aria were missing and he did so flawlessly. It was also fun seeing the woman chase the man in the end- and I don't mean "chase a man" in the typical sense. Usually romances have the woman go off and the man chases her to have a grand gesture to bring them back together. But this time, it was Janie with the grand gesture and I thought that was fun and new! (It fit the story perfectly).
single mom
forced proximity
holiday romance
hockey romance
one bed
Dual POV
Perfectly Complicated is a cute Christmas time closed-door romance featuring the Crushers hockey team! Well, specifically it was Rourke's time to shine lol. Rourke has been obsessed with Janie since he met her at a dive-bar months ago. Things were going great that night... until Christmas came up and their different opinions quickly sent them each their own ways. Now, forced to work together, can Janie and Rourke put aside their differences long enough or will a condo fire escalate things to another level?
I've read 3/4 of the Crushers stories so far (I need to go back and read the very first book). I like this hockey team of players. However, I will say I struggled a little with this one. In particular, the beginning made it out that Janie and Rourke had never met until the dive bar. However, later, the book references her being friends with the wives/girlfriends of the other Crusher players before her and Rourke even are forced into a co-working relationship. That... is what I'm confused with. It never explained how she knew these women, or even the other players from the team. But they all seemed to know her on a personal level and vice versa. That was confusing for me and never explained.
I thought the story was cute overall. I love a forced proximity romance! It was so sweet seeing Rourke step up and be what Janie and Aria were missing and he did so flawlessly. It was also fun seeing the woman chase the man in the end- and I don't mean "chase a man" in the typical sense. Usually romances have the woman go off and the man chases her to have a grand gesture to bring them back together. But this time, it was Janie with the grand gesture and I thought that was fun and new! (It fit the story perfectly).
November 17, 2025
A Christmas hating hockey player who melts when you put a baby in his arms!? Um, yes, please! Right from their hilarious meet cute, Janie and Rourke drew me in... but despite their initial chemistry, it took a little bit for these two to see eye to eye... especially when it came to his dislike of Christmas. That is until they were thrown together to work on her school's holiday pageant, end up as unexpected roommates and place a little friendly holiday bet. I absolutely loved these two together. They both had some past hurts that they had to work through, but I loved how they looked out for each other so well. And seeing Rourke with Aria (Janie's infant daughter)... oh my heart! It was truly the sweetest thing and made me love these two together even more. Their story was definitely packed full of holiday cheer, but I also loved that reminder that sometimes the holidays can be really bittersweet too. Truly, I loved everything about this sweet story... one of my very favorites from the series so far! I cannot wait to see what will happen next!
Perfectly Complicated is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. It is the fourth book in the Perfect Crush Hockey Romance series, and while you might have some better understanding of the team dynamics if you've read the previous books, this could be enjoyed just fine as a standalone as well.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
Perfectly Complicated is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. It is the fourth book in the Perfect Crush Hockey Romance series, and while you might have some better understanding of the team dynamics if you've read the previous books, this could be enjoyed just fine as a standalone as well.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
December 5, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up!
I received this book as an arc, all opinions are my own.
This is the second book I have read in this series and Grace Worthington never disappoints. It was the perfect cozy Christmas read with low spice and kissing only, yet still full of warmth and chemistry.
I loved the grumpy sunshine dynamic between Rourke and Janie. Rourke hates Christmas because of his painful childhood while Janie is basically a Christmas queen. They start off as enemies and their banter had me laughing out loud more than once. Janie is a single mom with a guarded heart after her past and watching Rourke slowly soften and become fiercely protective of her and her child was incredibly sweet. Their growth, the snowy setting, and the festive touches made this exactly the kind of comforting holiday romance I enjoy.
Tropes:
Holiday
Hockey
Grumpy Sunshine
Enemies to Lovers
Single Mom
One Bed
Snowed In
Temporary Roommates
Forced Proximity
I received this book as an arc, all opinions are my own.
This is the second book I have read in this series and Grace Worthington never disappoints. It was the perfect cozy Christmas read with low spice and kissing only, yet still full of warmth and chemistry.
I loved the grumpy sunshine dynamic between Rourke and Janie. Rourke hates Christmas because of his painful childhood while Janie is basically a Christmas queen. They start off as enemies and their banter had me laughing out loud more than once. Janie is a single mom with a guarded heart after her past and watching Rourke slowly soften and become fiercely protective of her and her child was incredibly sweet. Their growth, the snowy setting, and the festive touches made this exactly the kind of comforting holiday romance I enjoy.
Tropes:
Holiday
Hockey
Grumpy Sunshine
Enemies to Lovers
Single Mom
One Bed
Snowed In
Temporary Roommates
Forced Proximity
November 26, 2025
This Christmas romance melted me like hot cocoa on a snowy night. Perfectly Complicated gives you all the cozy holiday feels but with a delicious twist: our hero is a grumpy, Christmas-hating hockey player, and our heroine is a single mom who practically breathes peppermint and holiday cheer. Watching those two worlds collide? Pure magic. Their chemistry is instant. Their banter? Sharp and addictive. And don’t even get me started on the tropes, this book gifts you some of my absolute favorites:
One Bed
Hockey Romance
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Grumpy Sunshine
I devoured this story. It’s sweet, spicy, emotional, and exactly the kind of book that makes winter feel warmer. If you love holiday romances with big feelings, cozy vibes, and a hero who slowly learns to love Christmas (and the girl who teaches him how), you need this one on your TBR.
One Bed
Hockey Romance
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Grumpy Sunshine
I devoured this story. It’s sweet, spicy, emotional, and exactly the kind of book that makes winter feel warmer. If you love holiday romances with big feelings, cozy vibes, and a hero who slowly learns to love Christmas (and the girl who teaches him how), you need this one on your TBR.
December 2, 2025
I really enjoyed this Christmas romance that had great Christmas vibes and a wonderful story. Janie and Rourke were great and I loved their banter.
They had the best enemies to more banter! And I loved how their first meet cute played into their story and set off their dynamic. Janie was such a firecracker. She was spunky and determined. Rourke was gruff but charming and kind. He had so much under that tough exterior. They had a great connection and I loved their hilarious interactions over their opposite Christmas views. I loved how they found common ground throughout the book and developed an understanding of the things that made them opposites in light of Christmas. Rourke and Janie were so devoted to each other and there love was strong. The conflict was timed well and created just enough drama and emotion for this sweet story.
Also, the single mom trope was so sweet in this one. Rourke was so great with her daughter and I loved the quick connection between him and Aria. I really enjoyed how the hockey team was so supportive of Rourke. And I enjoyed seeing Janie be a fighter and protector of her daughter.
The Christmas vibes were perfection! So many fun Christmas events and overall theme of finding the joy in the meaning of Christmas. I loved the Santaville festival and the kid's Christmas pageant, so fun! This one had a great balance of Christmas spirit, romance, and character growth.
They had the best enemies to more banter! And I loved how their first meet cute played into their story and set off their dynamic. Janie was such a firecracker. She was spunky and determined. Rourke was gruff but charming and kind. He had so much under that tough exterior. They had a great connection and I loved their hilarious interactions over their opposite Christmas views. I loved how they found common ground throughout the book and developed an understanding of the things that made them opposites in light of Christmas. Rourke and Janie were so devoted to each other and there love was strong. The conflict was timed well and created just enough drama and emotion for this sweet story.
Also, the single mom trope was so sweet in this one. Rourke was so great with her daughter and I loved the quick connection between him and Aria. I really enjoyed how the hockey team was so supportive of Rourke. And I enjoyed seeing Janie be a fighter and protector of her daughter.
The Christmas vibes were perfection! So many fun Christmas events and overall theme of finding the joy in the meaning of Christmas. I loved the Santaville festival and the kid's Christmas pageant, so fun! This one had a great balance of Christmas spirit, romance, and character growth.
December 7, 2025
“There’s nothing more endearing than a man who’s willing to save someone’s dignity while sacrificing his own.”
What starts as a rescue on the karaoke stage ends with a bitter parting of ways–and a re-meet months later pits the bah-humbug against the fa-la-la-la-la. A friendly bet between kindergarten teacher Janie and hockey player Rourke is the ultimate Christmas showdown and I was there👏🏻for👏🏻it👏🏻.
“You can’t play Santa.”
“Why not?”
“You don’t look the part. You’re built like…a Marvel superhero. And you’re about as jolly as a colonoscopy.”
Janie is desperate to save her classroom’s holiday play and Rourke is forced to serve for the season for his team. In an effort to infuse the Christmas spirit through his veins, Janie drags him to a Christmas festival–full of overpriced hot chocolate, a fierce gingerbread competition, sweet ice skating, and even a sprig of mistletoe magic. But the snowstorm that leaves them snowed in? Not in the plans.
Mesmerizing attraction, hilarious and playful banter, and all the magic of the season, including one bed in the “Honeymoon Haven,” builds an irresistible dynamic that I just couldn’t put down. I love the way Worthington writes–all the descriptions that warmed my heart, the amusing characters and connections, and the exciting tension that’s loaded with chemistry. This is story is sure to warm the coldest of Christmas hearts.
Content: mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
What starts as a rescue on the karaoke stage ends with a bitter parting of ways–and a re-meet months later pits the bah-humbug against the fa-la-la-la-la. A friendly bet between kindergarten teacher Janie and hockey player Rourke is the ultimate Christmas showdown and I was there👏🏻for👏🏻it👏🏻.
“You can’t play Santa.”
“Why not?”
“You don’t look the part. You’re built like…a Marvel superhero. And you’re about as jolly as a colonoscopy.”
Janie is desperate to save her classroom’s holiday play and Rourke is forced to serve for the season for his team. In an effort to infuse the Christmas spirit through his veins, Janie drags him to a Christmas festival–full of overpriced hot chocolate, a fierce gingerbread competition, sweet ice skating, and even a sprig of mistletoe magic. But the snowstorm that leaves them snowed in? Not in the plans.
Mesmerizing attraction, hilarious and playful banter, and all the magic of the season, including one bed in the “Honeymoon Haven,” builds an irresistible dynamic that I just couldn’t put down. I love the way Worthington writes–all the descriptions that warmed my heart, the amusing characters and connections, and the exciting tension that’s loaded with chemistry. This is story is sure to warm the coldest of Christmas hearts.
Content: mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
December 20, 2025
What a swoony and sweet Christmas romance! Even though they had a rough start, these two were a great match! They both had persevered through several rough Christmases in their lives, yet while Rourke disliked all things festive, Janie leaned into the holidays and hoped to make this one extra special.
The way Rourke was all in for Janie and her daughter was heartwarming. Janie and baby Aria finally found the man who would love them unconditionally. They made such a sweet family and I appreciated all of the ways that Rourke worked to show Janie how much she meant to him.
I loved this story from start to finish!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but I also purchased my own print copy.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
The way Rourke was all in for Janie and her daughter was heartwarming. Janie and baby Aria finally found the man who would love them unconditionally. They made such a sweet family and I appreciated all of the ways that Rourke worked to show Janie how much she meant to him.
I loved this story from start to finish!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but I also purchased my own print copy.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
November 21, 2025
amazing closed door romance (kissing only) by Grace Worthington! Thank you partner @BookedWithTheEmilys and @GraceWorthingtonAuthor for my copy!
He’s a grinch, and she’s a magical Christmas elf. But when his hockey team starts a volunteer competition and Rourke is cast as Christmas in a kindergarten play directed by his crush, will he have to accept the Christmas spirit?
This book includes so many amazing romance tropes. Snowed In with one bed, temporary roomies, hockey player, single mom, and the list goes on! The entire book was a fun read and definitely put me in the holiday spirit.
This book also deals with death of a parent, alcoholic parent, and absent parent. Although these are mostly brief mentions, readers should exercise care if these topics are bothersome.
He’s a grinch, and she’s a magical Christmas elf. But when his hockey team starts a volunteer competition and Rourke is cast as Christmas in a kindergarten play directed by his crush, will he have to accept the Christmas spirit?
This book includes so many amazing romance tropes. Snowed In with one bed, temporary roomies, hockey player, single mom, and the list goes on! The entire book was a fun read and definitely put me in the holiday spirit.
This book also deals with death of a parent, alcoholic parent, and absent parent. Although these are mostly brief mentions, readers should exercise care if these topics are bothersome.
November 24, 2025
Perfectly Complicated is truly the perfect holiday romcom to curl up with this season! 🎄
If you love grumpy/sunshine, Grinch meets Cindy Lou Who energy, snowed-in shenanigans, and of course… the one-bed trope 👀 — this book wraps it all together in the sweetest, swooniest way.
The holiday vibes in this story are chef’s kiss — twinkly lights, cozy moments, festive banter… everything you need for the ultimate Christmas read. ❤️✨
Perfectly Complicated Christmas Romance releases TODAY! Add it to your holiday TBR and get ready to melt into all the cozy feels!
If you love grumpy/sunshine, Grinch meets Cindy Lou Who energy, snowed-in shenanigans, and of course… the one-bed trope 👀 — this book wraps it all together in the sweetest, swooniest way.
The holiday vibes in this story are chef’s kiss — twinkly lights, cozy moments, festive banter… everything you need for the ultimate Christmas read. ❤️✨
Perfectly Complicated Christmas Romance releases TODAY! Add it to your holiday TBR and get ready to melt into all the cozy feels!
December 1, 2025
MCs: Janie and Rourke
My thoughts: Another fantastic book by Grace Worthington! This has everything I love about hockey romance and Christmas romance together! She loves Christmas and he couldn’t hate it more. There’s really so much to enjoy in this sweet story! Here’s just a few things I loved:
- single mom
- Christmas bets
- a Christmas festival
- snowed in
- skating together
- she wears his jersey
Oh, how I adore these Carolina Crushers! Just as enjoyable as the other books in the series!
His thumb brushes across my knuckles, sending electricity through my body. “You’re going to look amazing in my jersey.”
“I’m a defenseman. It’s my job to protect you.”
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My thoughts: Another fantastic book by Grace Worthington! This has everything I love about hockey romance and Christmas romance together! She loves Christmas and he couldn’t hate it more. There’s really so much to enjoy in this sweet story! Here’s just a few things I loved:
- single mom
- Christmas bets
- a Christmas festival
- snowed in
- skating together
- she wears his jersey
Oh, how I adore these Carolina Crushers! Just as enjoyable as the other books in the series!
His thumb brushes across my knuckles, sending electricity through my body. “You’re going to look amazing in my jersey.”
“I’m a defenseman. It’s my job to protect you.”
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 22, 2025
I absolutely loved Rourke and Janie’s story! Didn’t want to put it down! Janie is a kindergarten teacher and a single mom who loves everything about Christmas and volunteers to run the school Christmas pageant partly for the extra money.
Rourke is a pro hockey player who is basically the grinch when it comes to Christmas after a lifetime of bad Christmas memories.
They meet at a bar and sparks fly but she shuts it down because of her past.
He accidentally volunteers to help with and play Santa in the school Christmas pageant as part of the team’s community service. Their tension is still there and they end up making a bet that she can make him love Christmas by the pageant or she will have to wear his jersey to a game.
Some highlights:
- all the banter
- the group text threads!!
- “angel”
- Rourke taking care of Janie and Aria
- secretly watching hockey
- buying her an ornament
- decorating with lights
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion.
Rourke is a pro hockey player who is basically the grinch when it comes to Christmas after a lifetime of bad Christmas memories.
They meet at a bar and sparks fly but she shuts it down because of her past.
He accidentally volunteers to help with and play Santa in the school Christmas pageant as part of the team’s community service. Their tension is still there and they end up making a bet that she can make him love Christmas by the pageant or she will have to wear his jersey to a game.
Some highlights:
- all the banter
- the group text threads!!
- “angel”
- Rourke taking care of Janie and Aria
- secretly watching hockey
- buying her an ornament
- decorating with lights
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion.
November 18, 2025
This Christmas book truly warmed my heart right away. I love the characters—they feel so real and easy to connect with. The romance is absolutely swoon-worthy and is beautifully balanced with genuine emotion, all without any spice. Her writing style is so engaging—I often find myself laughing, swooning, and feeling protective of the story. These romances really show the kind of love we should encourage our teens to seek. I’m completely in love with this series and its adorable hockey players—each one finding love unexpectedly, even when they weren't really looking. I can’t wait for the next book to come out!
I received a complimentary e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.
I received a complimentary e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.
November 23, 2025
Yes, Lord Daddy Alex
Ok Lulu hooking me with these Lords. I have to say this is the first book I read in the series, and it’s book 2. I had no problem coming in at this point, now did I go and download book 1 immediately? I did. The banter with these siblings is the best. Now we have Alex and Haven who met when he was in the States, but left to go back to England. Fast forward 10 months and Haven is headed there with a surprise, daddy Alex was everything.
This was so much fun with a small amount of emotion surrounding the anniversary of their father’s passing.
Will definitely keep going with this series!
Ok Lulu hooking me with these Lords. I have to say this is the first book I read in the series, and it’s book 2. I had no problem coming in at this point, now did I go and download book 1 immediately? I did. The banter with these siblings is the best. Now we have Alex and Haven who met when he was in the States, but left to go back to England. Fast forward 10 months and Haven is headed there with a surprise, daddy Alex was everything.
This was so much fun with a small amount of emotion surrounding the anniversary of their father’s passing.
Will definitely keep going with this series!
November 14, 2025
Absolutely adorable Christmas rom-com.. Grumpy/sweet, heartwarming, and swoony..
December 23, 2025
3.5⭐️ rounded up
November 18, 2025
The most perfectly complicated grumpy/sunshine Christmas romcom ever created! A fun rendition on rivals to lovers, single mom and found family! All the cozy Christmas vibes!
I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.
I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.
December 16, 2025
I'm hooked on Grace Worthington's books! Especially her hockey ones! And can I just do a little happy dance that this one is Rourke's story?! I loved it! I'm not always a fan of the grumpy/sunshine trope—I don't mind them, I just have a few other tropes that I love more—but I loved this one!
A surly hockey player, especially when it comes to all things Christmas. A single mom who teaches Kindergarten and exudes holiday cheer and happiness. Combine those two together and you get a somewhat friendly competition. Hahaha! And let me tell you, this competition is going to be a little intense as each of our competitors are more than bound and determined to win! *Smirks*
Seriously, this one made me so happy. I just wanted to be completely immersed in this story and for it to never end. Add in Janie's adorable baby girl and Rourke taking care of her off and on...your heart might melt. Just warning ya now. *Winks* But more than just a big burly-surly hockey player being so gentle and loving with a little baby, it was so sweet to watch both of these main characters finding that their perceptions of things can change and that there is good and joy and love and family out there! Sometimes, it just takes time to find it. And it takes work to make it work. But that work is so worth it.
I loved the banter between these two. I was giggling a lot. And yes, there were some sweet swoony moments that will have you swooning and sighing as well. *Heart Eyes* Go grab a copy and enjoys this wonderful Christmas read that will have your heart melting and growing!
Content: Clean. There are some kisses but nothing further. The main couple ends up sharing an apartment but different rooms due to a problem with his apartment and not having another place to go.
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
A surly hockey player, especially when it comes to all things Christmas. A single mom who teaches Kindergarten and exudes holiday cheer and happiness. Combine those two together and you get a somewhat friendly competition. Hahaha! And let me tell you, this competition is going to be a little intense as each of our competitors are more than bound and determined to win! *Smirks*
Seriously, this one made me so happy. I just wanted to be completely immersed in this story and for it to never end. Add in Janie's adorable baby girl and Rourke taking care of her off and on...your heart might melt. Just warning ya now. *Winks* But more than just a big burly-surly hockey player being so gentle and loving with a little baby, it was so sweet to watch both of these main characters finding that their perceptions of things can change and that there is good and joy and love and family out there! Sometimes, it just takes time to find it. And it takes work to make it work. But that work is so worth it.
I loved the banter between these two. I was giggling a lot. And yes, there were some sweet swoony moments that will have you swooning and sighing as well. *Heart Eyes* Go grab a copy and enjoys this wonderful Christmas read that will have your heart melting and growing!
Content: Clean. There are some kisses but nothing further. The main couple ends up sharing an apartment but different rooms due to a problem with his apartment and not having another place to go.
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
Read
December 8, 2025DNF
I’m sorry I can’t finish this. This was received as an arc. I got to 25% and I just feel both characters act really childish and I’m just not loving it sadly.
Thank you to the author for a copy of the arc in exchange for my honest review.
I’m sorry I can’t finish this. This was received as an arc. I got to 25% and I just feel both characters act really childish and I’m just not loving it sadly.
Thank you to the author for a copy of the arc in exchange for my honest review.
November 18, 2025
Such a sweet Christmas book! Not really a grumpy/sunshine as Rourke wasn’t truly grumpy, just bitter about Christmas, but it was fun seeing him slowly come around. He was the absolute sweetest with Aria and Janie, which was just what Janie needed. I swooned, I laughed, I cried. It was a perfect Christmas book with an amazing message that “the holidays can be both beautiful and bittersweet” and “the heart of this story is about finding the light in your mess.”
January 11, 2026
A perfect Christmas story, with enough festive chaos to warm even the coldest December 🎄
Highly recommend for:
✨ holiday romance lovers
✨ grumpy/sunshine fans
✨ anyone who needs a little extra Christmas magic
This is a no spicy, but it did have a good amount of chemistry ❤️👏🏻
Thank you grace Worthington for the opportunity as an ARC 📖
Highly recommend for:
✨ holiday romance lovers
✨ grumpy/sunshine fans
✨ anyone who needs a little extra Christmas magic
This is a no spicy, but it did have a good amount of chemistry ❤️👏🏻
Thank you grace Worthington for the opportunity as an ARC 📖
November 23, 2025
Thank you Grace Worthington for a copy of your book!
Janie is a single mom that absolutely loves Christmas. Rourke is a hockey player that hates Christmas. When Rourke saves Janie during karaoke when the equipment fails, Rourke is instantly intrigued. However, Janie will do anything to save her heart from heartbreak again and finds reasons to not like him.
When the hockey team is told they need to participate in service hours, Rourke accidently signs up to help with the school Christmas pageant that Janie is in charge of. At first he wants to get "fired" from the pageant so that he find a different volunteer opportunity, but Janie calls his bluff with a Christmas Challenge - if she can prove that he doesn't completely hate Christmas, he will help make the pageant the best ever. If she fails, she has to attend one of his hockey games wearing his jersey. Both refuse to lose!
While this book can be read as a standalone, it is part of the Perfect Crush Hockey Romance. There are a couple of side characters that you get a hit of the story that happened in one of the other books in the series.
I enjoyed reading this story and became invested in the characters. Both Janie and Rourke have pasts hurts that they have to overcome and both of them learn that there are times that you need others to help you heal. While the book touched on divorce, single motherhood, death of parents, and alcohol abuse, it was done respectfully and was used as events that helped to develop and grow the character.
One of my favorite senses was when Janie went after Rourke. Even though he stepped away for what he thought was a good reason and he believed he was making thing easier, Janie went after him - showing that he was just as important and that she wanted him to be just as happy. I really liked that Worthington had Janie show up for Rourke like he had shown up for her throughout the whole book.
Quotes:
"I just want easy for once. Is that too much to ask?"
"Well, that's your problem right there." Gabriella laughs as we head out the door. "Love is always complicated." pg 5
"What's the point of making something beautiful if it doesn't matter?" pg 62
"You take care of your daughter, not to mention all of your students. Someone should be taking care of you." pg 149
"Some moments are meant to be captured on a phone while others are meant to be experienced firsthand. Lived in real time. Replayed in our memory, where they'll live forever." pg 183
"Maybe it's not about pretending everything's fine when it isn't. Perhaps it's about celebrating anyway. Because Christmas can be complicated and still worth showing up for. It can be both hard and good. A disaster and a miracle - sometimes at the same time." pg 256
I received a complementary copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
Janie is a single mom that absolutely loves Christmas. Rourke is a hockey player that hates Christmas. When Rourke saves Janie during karaoke when the equipment fails, Rourke is instantly intrigued. However, Janie will do anything to save her heart from heartbreak again and finds reasons to not like him.
When the hockey team is told they need to participate in service hours, Rourke accidently signs up to help with the school Christmas pageant that Janie is in charge of. At first he wants to get "fired" from the pageant so that he find a different volunteer opportunity, but Janie calls his bluff with a Christmas Challenge - if she can prove that he doesn't completely hate Christmas, he will help make the pageant the best ever. If she fails, she has to attend one of his hockey games wearing his jersey. Both refuse to lose!
While this book can be read as a standalone, it is part of the Perfect Crush Hockey Romance. There are a couple of side characters that you get a hit of the story that happened in one of the other books in the series.
I enjoyed reading this story and became invested in the characters. Both Janie and Rourke have pasts hurts that they have to overcome and both of them learn that there are times that you need others to help you heal. While the book touched on divorce, single motherhood, death of parents, and alcohol abuse, it was done respectfully and was used as events that helped to develop and grow the character.
One of my favorite senses was when Janie went after Rourke. Even though he stepped away for what he thought was a good reason and he believed he was making thing easier, Janie went after him - showing that he was just as important and that she wanted him to be just as happy. I really liked that Worthington had Janie show up for Rourke like he had shown up for her throughout the whole book.
Quotes:
"I just want easy for once. Is that too much to ask?"
"Well, that's your problem right there." Gabriella laughs as we head out the door. "Love is always complicated." pg 5
"What's the point of making something beautiful if it doesn't matter?" pg 62
"You take care of your daughter, not to mention all of your students. Someone should be taking care of you." pg 149
"Some moments are meant to be captured on a phone while others are meant to be experienced firsthand. Lived in real time. Replayed in our memory, where they'll live forever." pg 183
"Maybe it's not about pretending everything's fine when it isn't. Perhaps it's about celebrating anyway. Because Christmas can be complicated and still worth showing up for. It can be both hard and good. A disaster and a miracle - sometimes at the same time." pg 256
I received a complementary copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
November 30, 2025
Perfectly Complicated Christmas Romance by Grace Worthington is the fourth book in the Perfect Crush Hockey Romance series, but definitely can be read a standalone story. Grace knocked this story out of the park. I absolutely loved this story.
Readers are introduced Rourke Riley, defenseman for the Carolina Crushers and all-around Christmas Grinch. Rourke has finally met the one woman he can’t get out of his mind, but she wants nothing to do with him. Meet Janie Bennett, single mother of an infant, kindergarten teacher, and lover of all things Christmas. Rourke and Janie couldn’t be more different. Janie has had a rough year and she isn’t ready to trust her heart, let alone trust it to a hockey player no less. Through some mutual friends Rourke and Janie run into each other several times and Janie decides that she will just stay away from Rourke, not that he agrees but it seem to be working out until the Crusher’s owner decides the team needs to do more community service hours so he launches a volunteer Christmas Challenge involving volunteer hours, penalty fees, game benching, and bonus for the winning charity. Rourke thinks he has his volunteer hours in the bag and a way to get Janie’s attention. However Janie has other plans, she plans to win over the Grinch and show him how wonderful Christmas can be. Cue some weird occurrences that lead to Rourke and Janie getting lots of time together and feelings start to get confused. Watch Janie try to convince Rourke that Christmas is amazing and Rourke just try to discover what these new feelings mean for him.
When Janie’s ex-husband reappears to stir up problems for them, Rourke tries to make decisions to help Janie, but he forgets to talk with her. Grab your coffee and a copy of the book to see what happens next when Janie discovers what Rourke has done. Is there a way to find a happy ever after? Was Ms. Christmas able to help the Grinch’s heart grow? Check out the book and see how it goes.
Highly recommend this book. I am going to check out the other books in this series. I received an ARC of this story and I am leaving my honest review of this book.
Readers are introduced Rourke Riley, defenseman for the Carolina Crushers and all-around Christmas Grinch. Rourke has finally met the one woman he can’t get out of his mind, but she wants nothing to do with him. Meet Janie Bennett, single mother of an infant, kindergarten teacher, and lover of all things Christmas. Rourke and Janie couldn’t be more different. Janie has had a rough year and she isn’t ready to trust her heart, let alone trust it to a hockey player no less. Through some mutual friends Rourke and Janie run into each other several times and Janie decides that she will just stay away from Rourke, not that he agrees but it seem to be working out until the Crusher’s owner decides the team needs to do more community service hours so he launches a volunteer Christmas Challenge involving volunteer hours, penalty fees, game benching, and bonus for the winning charity. Rourke thinks he has his volunteer hours in the bag and a way to get Janie’s attention. However Janie has other plans, she plans to win over the Grinch and show him how wonderful Christmas can be. Cue some weird occurrences that lead to Rourke and Janie getting lots of time together and feelings start to get confused. Watch Janie try to convince Rourke that Christmas is amazing and Rourke just try to discover what these new feelings mean for him.
When Janie’s ex-husband reappears to stir up problems for them, Rourke tries to make decisions to help Janie, but he forgets to talk with her. Grab your coffee and a copy of the book to see what happens next when Janie discovers what Rourke has done. Is there a way to find a happy ever after? Was Ms. Christmas able to help the Grinch’s heart grow? Check out the book and see how it goes.
Highly recommend this book. I am going to check out the other books in this series. I received an ARC of this story and I am leaving my honest review of this book.
November 21, 2025
Janie is a single mother who loves Christmas. Her friends think it’s about time she starts to have adult fun – not just the interactions with her kindergartners and her daughter. She found out her husband and her best friend were having an affair when she was pregnant – not something you can bounce back from easily. They convince Janie to have a girls' night out, and they wind up at a karaoke bar. Janie is talked into singing one song, as they promised she could decide when they head home if she did. As Janie is on stage, ready to sing, there’s a terrible screech from the mic, and Janie freezes. She sees a handsome, huge man start toward the stage, and he tells Janie that he’s going to sing with her. They talk afterwards, and Janie learns that Rourke is a hockey player for the Crushers. She doesn’t want anything to do with a hockey player and leaves. But neither of them stops thinking about the other.
Rourke’s team is tasked with completing 40 hours of community service during the holiday season, and Rourke sees a school play and signs up. When he shows up for the first rehearsal, he learns it’s Janie’s school and she’s the director of the Christmas play. He hates Christmas, and Janie knows that, but she’s determined to change his attitude toward Christmas by taking him to the Santaville Christmas Festival. She’s tasked him with rewriting the play’s script as it’s really terrible, and this is the best way to get him in the spirit of Christmas and to deliver a good script. He agrees to go, and they join in the activities, betting on who will win each one. During the activities and as the day goes on, things shift between them. They start home, but soon find out the road is closed due to the snowstorm. They get the last room available and now have to share a room!
Can they fight what is slowly happening between them? Can Janie change Rourke’s mind about Christmas? Can Rourke move on from his past to find a future with Janie? Love the characters and the love story. Highly recommend!
Rourke’s team is tasked with completing 40 hours of community service during the holiday season, and Rourke sees a school play and signs up. When he shows up for the first rehearsal, he learns it’s Janie’s school and she’s the director of the Christmas play. He hates Christmas, and Janie knows that, but she’s determined to change his attitude toward Christmas by taking him to the Santaville Christmas Festival. She’s tasked him with rewriting the play’s script as it’s really terrible, and this is the best way to get him in the spirit of Christmas and to deliver a good script. He agrees to go, and they join in the activities, betting on who will win each one. During the activities and as the day goes on, things shift between them. They start home, but soon find out the road is closed due to the snowstorm. They get the last room available and now have to share a room!
Can they fight what is slowly happening between them? Can Janie change Rourke’s mind about Christmas? Can Rourke move on from his past to find a future with Janie? Love the characters and the love story. Highly recommend!
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