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Midnight #2
Tender Heart
Nikita “Nicky” Baladin thinks he has everything he ever wanted.
Beatrice “Bea” Farrow doesn’t understand what she’s missing.
The New Haven Midnight’s starting goalie, and single dad, isn’t excited when he becomes the subject of a new NHL documentary series. Especially when it means Nicky has to be around the woman he’s been ever-so-slightly crushing on since she joined the public relations department. He just wants to play hockey, put his daughter to bed, and ignore how pretty he thinks Bea is—not spending more time with her.
Bea feels like she’s going through the motions. She has a great job, fantastic friends, and a new assignment. But nothing really brings her the satisfaction she’s looking for, except the time she spends getting to know a stoic goalie and his precocious daughter.
When one puck changes everything, Nicky and Bea discover how much they need each other.
Tender Heart is the second book in The Midnight Series, but can be read as a standalone. Readers will fall for this strong, steady, single dad goalie who can't help his feelings for the saucy and sweet team publicist, even when his life and career take an unexpected turn.
Beatrice “Bea” Farrow doesn’t understand what she’s missing.
The New Haven Midnight’s starting goalie, and single dad, isn’t excited when he becomes the subject of a new NHL documentary series. Especially when it means Nicky has to be around the woman he’s been ever-so-slightly crushing on since she joined the public relations department. He just wants to play hockey, put his daughter to bed, and ignore how pretty he thinks Bea is—not spending more time with her.
Bea feels like she’s going through the motions. She has a great job, fantastic friends, and a new assignment. But nothing really brings her the satisfaction she’s looking for, except the time she spends getting to know a stoic goalie and his precocious daughter.
When one puck changes everything, Nicky and Bea discover how much they need each other.
Tender Heart is the second book in The Midnight Series, but can be read as a standalone. Readers will fall for this strong, steady, single dad goalie who can't help his feelings for the saucy and sweet team publicist, even when his life and career take an unexpected turn.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2026
About the author
Kate Byrne
6 books43 followersKate Byrne is a contemporary romance author with titles in new adult, sports romance, and cowboy romance. Known for her swoon worthy male main characters, emotional plots, and cinematic prose, her debut peaked in the top twenty. Delivering moments that make readers' cheeks blush and their hearts burn, Kate aims to tell stories with unique twists while staying true to romance's best tropes.
When not working on her next story, Kate is an avid reader and sports enthusiast. She enjoys walks in her neighborhood and time with her family.
Want to stay connected to news about Kate's books? Follow her on social media: @author_katebyrne
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
April 8, 2026
4.5🌟, 3🌶️
You had me at single dad goalie, I’m not even going to pretend otherwise.
This was such a soft, feel-good hockey romance that pulled me in right away. Nicky is the definition of a green flag, completely devoted to Natalia and quietly pining for Bea, which made every interaction between them that much sweeter. It leans more coworkers to lovers than friends to lovers, but the chemistry is there from the start, and the documentary angle was a fun way to keep them in close orbit while everything slowly builds.
What really stood out was the emotional core. Nicky’s injury and the aftermath weren’t just brushed over, and I appreciated how the story took time to show the mental and emotional impact on him and Natalia too. Bea naturally finding her place with them added so much warmth, and their bond as a trio felt genuine and comforting. I did wish we got a little more depth into their pasts, especially with family dynamics, because it could have made their connection hit even harder.
It’s not the most intense or groundbreaking story, but it doesn’t try to be. It’s heartfelt, engaging, and full of that found family charm that makes hockey romances so addictive. The relationship builds in a steady, believable way, even if I wouldn’t have minded more time with them as a couple.
Safe to say I’m already curious about who’s next in this series.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Kate Byrne & Love Notes PR for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
You had me at single dad goalie, I’m not even going to pretend otherwise.
This was such a soft, feel-good hockey romance that pulled me in right away. Nicky is the definition of a green flag, completely devoted to Natalia and quietly pining for Bea, which made every interaction between them that much sweeter. It leans more coworkers to lovers than friends to lovers, but the chemistry is there from the start, and the documentary angle was a fun way to keep them in close orbit while everything slowly builds.
What really stood out was the emotional core. Nicky’s injury and the aftermath weren’t just brushed over, and I appreciated how the story took time to show the mental and emotional impact on him and Natalia too. Bea naturally finding her place with them added so much warmth, and their bond as a trio felt genuine and comforting. I did wish we got a little more depth into their pasts, especially with family dynamics, because it could have made their connection hit even harder.
It’s not the most intense or groundbreaking story, but it doesn’t try to be. It’s heartfelt, engaging, and full of that found family charm that makes hockey romances so addictive. The relationship builds in a steady, believable way, even if I wouldn’t have minded more time with them as a couple.
Safe to say I’m already curious about who’s next in this series.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Kate Byrne & Love Notes PR for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
April 2, 2026
Baby’s first ARC!
3.75 ⭐️ rounded up!
I am an absolute sucker for a hockey romance, so when I saw the author’s post on Threads boasting a book about a down bad single dad goalie, I had instant *grabby hands*.
This was real cute! A solid hockey romance that had great character development and storytelling. I really liked how the relationship focus wasn’t just on Bea and Nikita, but between Nikita’s daughter, Natalia, and Bea as well. I appreciated the care in which the author described not just the physical rehab required after a significant injury but the emotional and mental rehabilitation that is often necessary as well.
The description in the ARC email reports this as a friends to lovers, which I wouldn’t necessarily say is accurate, as there seems to be some attraction on both sides from the beginning, and regardless of how the relationship starts I would have loved to have seen more of it. The ending also seemed to just, keep going beyond what I expected, there were a few scenes that I expected to be the end of the book but then more happened, but I am glad to get the resolution we did.
Is this the most riveting piece of literature to grace the planet? No. But we aren’t asking it to be that. We’re asking it to be a book with romance, a team that becomes family, good characters, and a heavy sprinkle of hockey, and it does just that.
Thanks so much to Love Notes PR for selecting me for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
3.75 ⭐️ rounded up!
I am an absolute sucker for a hockey romance, so when I saw the author’s post on Threads boasting a book about a down bad single dad goalie, I had instant *grabby hands*.
This was real cute! A solid hockey romance that had great character development and storytelling. I really liked how the relationship focus wasn’t just on Bea and Nikita, but between Nikita’s daughter, Natalia, and Bea as well. I appreciated the care in which the author described not just the physical rehab required after a significant injury but the emotional and mental rehabilitation that is often necessary as well.
The description in the ARC email reports this as a friends to lovers, which I wouldn’t necessarily say is accurate, as there seems to be some attraction on both sides from the beginning, and regardless of how the relationship starts I would have loved to have seen more of it. The ending also seemed to just, keep going beyond what I expected, there were a few scenes that I expected to be the end of the book but then more happened, but I am glad to get the resolution we did.
Is this the most riveting piece of literature to grace the planet? No. But we aren’t asking it to be that. We’re asking it to be a book with romance, a team that becomes family, good characters, and a heavy sprinkle of hockey, and it does just that.
Thanks so much to Love Notes PR for selecting me for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
April 1, 2026
✨ARC REVIEW✨ 4⭐️ Nicky and Bea did not disappoint! Bea works in PR for the Midnight and is tasked with helping Nicky navigate the new NHL documentary following his life. Just what Nicky doesn’t need…more time with the one woman he’s been crushing on. He has his priorities, hockey and his daughter Natalia. But the more he’s around Bea the more he falls. Bea is going through the motions of her life but she didn’t expect Nicky to become such an important person in it. She’s falling for both of them and making her rethink what she wants in life. When Nicky gets injured and life is put into perspective things are bound to change for the better.
I just adored these three! Nicky and Bea are so good together. Their fall felt inevitable and they just kept building and building on it. I really loved that everything that went down led to them both discovering what they truly want in life. Seeing Bea step up for not only Nicky but Natalia too and filling in that gap of a mother figure was truly the best. Can’t forget all the characters we fell in love with in book 1…such a great friend group and found family too!!
Tropes:
✨Single Dad
✨Hockey Romance
✨Forced Proximity
✨Found Family
✨Sports Injury
I just adored these three! Nicky and Bea are so good together. Their fall felt inevitable and they just kept building and building on it. I really loved that everything that went down led to them both discovering what they truly want in life. Seeing Bea step up for not only Nicky but Natalia too and filling in that gap of a mother figure was truly the best. Can’t forget all the characters we fell in love with in book 1…such a great friend group and found family too!!
Tropes:
✨Single Dad
✨Hockey Romance
✨Forced Proximity
✨Found Family
✨Sports Injury
April 9, 2026
I received a gifted eARC of this book from the author & Love Notes PR. Thank you for the free copy of the book. All opinions are my own, freely given!
This book is so lovely. SO. INCREDIBLY. LOVELY. It’s full of raw emotions and deeply visceral feelings. The conversations around traumatic medical events is handled with grace and care and I absolutely fell in love with this series.
Full disclosure, I did not realize this was book two in the series, when I signed up for it. However, I still connected with the characters without issue. I will absolutely be going back and reading book 1, however, it doesn’t seem to be a requirement to thoroughly love this book. Interconnected standalones! Yay!
Kate Byrne is an amazing writer. Her writing is accessible, fun, and relatable. If you’re a lover of hockey, this book incorporates hockey at every turn, but it’s not overwhelming if you aren’t a super fan. It’s engaging and welcomes you in like an old friend. That truly is the way the writing feels - friendly. There’s witty banter, absolutely bangers, but also this very real, genuine feel.
I love Nicky, our MMC. Love him. No notes. He’s perfect. Same with our FMC, Bea, honestly. I think she’s like us (even if she has a slightly more glam job), is a girl’s girl, and just truly relatable. AND NAT. As a parent myself, I appreciated the way Nat was incorporated into the story - again, in a very genuine way, not just a plot device.
I am so honored to have been able to read this book. Truly, so lovely.
This book is so lovely. SO. INCREDIBLY. LOVELY. It’s full of raw emotions and deeply visceral feelings. The conversations around traumatic medical events is handled with grace and care and I absolutely fell in love with this series.
Full disclosure, I did not realize this was book two in the series, when I signed up for it. However, I still connected with the characters without issue. I will absolutely be going back and reading book 1, however, it doesn’t seem to be a requirement to thoroughly love this book. Interconnected standalones! Yay!
Kate Byrne is an amazing writer. Her writing is accessible, fun, and relatable. If you’re a lover of hockey, this book incorporates hockey at every turn, but it’s not overwhelming if you aren’t a super fan. It’s engaging and welcomes you in like an old friend. That truly is the way the writing feels - friendly. There’s witty banter, absolutely bangers, but also this very real, genuine feel.
I love Nicky, our MMC. Love him. No notes. He’s perfect. Same with our FMC, Bea, honestly. I think she’s like us (even if she has a slightly more glam job), is a girl’s girl, and just truly relatable. AND NAT. As a parent myself, I appreciated the way Nat was incorporated into the story - again, in a very genuine way, not just a plot device.
I am so honored to have been able to read this book. Truly, so lovely.
April 7, 2026
✨ ARC REVIEW ✨ 3.5⭐
Nicky and Bea had such a soft, emotional story, but it didn’t fully hit the depth I was hoping for. Bea works in PR for the Midnight and is tasked with helping Nicky navigate the NHL documentary centered around his life—something that already feels too personal for him. Being around Bea more only complicates things, especially when she’s the one person he can’t seem to stay away from.
Nicky is juggling hockey, fatherhood, and his daughter Natalia, and I really appreciated how grounded his priorities felt. Bea, on the other hand, is trying to figure out her own path, and while her connection with Nicky and Natalia was sweet, I wanted just a little more emotional development between them. Their relationship builds steadily, but at times it felt like it skipped over some of the deeper moments that would’ve made their bond hit harder.
That said, I loved the found family aspect and seeing Bea step into Natalia’s life—it was easily one of the strongest parts of the story. And when Nicky’s injury shifts everything, the emotional stakes definitely pick up and bring things into perspective.
Overall, it was a heartfelt and cozy hockey romance with strong family dynamics, I just wish it dug a little deeper into the emotional layers.
Tropes:
✨ Single Dad
✨ Hockey Romance
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Found Family
✨ Sports Injury
Nicky and Bea had such a soft, emotional story, but it didn’t fully hit the depth I was hoping for. Bea works in PR for the Midnight and is tasked with helping Nicky navigate the NHL documentary centered around his life—something that already feels too personal for him. Being around Bea more only complicates things, especially when she’s the one person he can’t seem to stay away from.
Nicky is juggling hockey, fatherhood, and his daughter Natalia, and I really appreciated how grounded his priorities felt. Bea, on the other hand, is trying to figure out her own path, and while her connection with Nicky and Natalia was sweet, I wanted just a little more emotional development between them. Their relationship builds steadily, but at times it felt like it skipped over some of the deeper moments that would’ve made their bond hit harder.
That said, I loved the found family aspect and seeing Bea step into Natalia’s life—it was easily one of the strongest parts of the story. And when Nicky’s injury shifts everything, the emotional stakes definitely pick up and bring things into perspective.
Overall, it was a heartfelt and cozy hockey romance with strong family dynamics, I just wish it dug a little deeper into the emotional layers.
Tropes:
✨ Single Dad
✨ Hockey Romance
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Found Family
✨ Sports Injury
April 24, 2026
Thank you to Kate and her team for the early copy. This review is my own.
Any single dad romances are an immediate yes for me!
I loved this book so much! This series is so good! One of my favorite aspects of this book was the Russian heritiage of the main character Nicky. I felt right at home in this story. Bea really brought out the best in him and I just love the way these characters were written. They compliment each other so well and Kate clearly did her research with the MMC and his heritiage and I really appreciate that.
The emotion??? Are you kidding me?? This was one of my favorite aspects of Tender Heart even though my anxiety might disagree. Watching Nicky deal with the raw emotions of the injury, I found myself tearing up often. The way that Kate writes emotion into all of her books is heartwrenching and heart stopping at times and I love it. Reading about the injury and then watching their love story unfold was such a treat and I wish I could read this series over for the first time.
Any single dad romances are an immediate yes for me!
I loved this book so much! This series is so good! One of my favorite aspects of this book was the Russian heritiage of the main character Nicky. I felt right at home in this story. Bea really brought out the best in him and I just love the way these characters were written. They compliment each other so well and Kate clearly did her research with the MMC and his heritiage and I really appreciate that.
The emotion??? Are you kidding me?? This was one of my favorite aspects of Tender Heart even though my anxiety might disagree. Watching Nicky deal with the raw emotions of the injury, I found myself tearing up often. The way that Kate writes emotion into all of her books is heartwrenching and heart stopping at times and I love it. Reading about the injury and then watching their love story unfold was such a treat and I wish I could read this series over for the first time.
March 21, 2026
ARC review;
This is a classic hockey romance book. It was very easy to get into and I read it in 2 days. I love the relationship between Bea and Nicky but especially between Bea and his daughter, Nat. The spice was a 2/5 but the scenes were written really well and felt authentic. I was so excited to see a book about CT (coming from there myself) but was disappointed there wasn’t much mentioned about the state other than New Haven, Yale and Yale hospital.
There wasn’t some information in the book that I wish was explored more, like Nicky’s relationship with his mom and Bea’s with her parents. I could see how Bea’s abandonment issues came to play regarding Nat and the extra attention she provided her that she didn’t receive herself, but there wasn’t very little dive into her background and I felt it could have connected her and Nicky more.
Overall, I’m glad I read this book and will happily read others by the author.
Thank you to Love Notes PR for selecting me as an ARC.
This is a classic hockey romance book. It was very easy to get into and I read it in 2 days. I love the relationship between Bea and Nicky but especially between Bea and his daughter, Nat. The spice was a 2/5 but the scenes were written really well and felt authentic. I was so excited to see a book about CT (coming from there myself) but was disappointed there wasn’t much mentioned about the state other than New Haven, Yale and Yale hospital.
There wasn’t some information in the book that I wish was explored more, like Nicky’s relationship with his mom and Bea’s with her parents. I could see how Bea’s abandonment issues came to play regarding Nat and the extra attention she provided her that she didn’t receive herself, but there wasn’t very little dive into her background and I felt it could have connected her and Nicky more.
Overall, I’m glad I read this book and will happily read others by the author.
Thank you to Love Notes PR for selecting me as an ARC.
March 21, 2026
4.5⭐️
Can I just start this review saying how much I love Nicky?! I mean, that man is just everything!!! 😩💜 his love for Natalia and his eagerness to show Bea how much he cares for her and how much he loves her is just something so perfect and beautiful ✨💜
I really enjoyed this book, it was so sweet and also the fact that we had the chance to dive in Nicky’s journey through his mental health was so spot on! I’m glad the author managed to write about this with such care and love, and not just about Nicky but Natalia and Bea too, because it affected them too and I love reading their journey together through this as the loving little family they became 🥹💜
I loved everything about this book and I’m going to grab the first one because I need to read about Violet and Crosby 🙂↔️ and of course I can’t wait for the next book because I saw many potential tropes with some of the characters in this book and I’m really excited to read more about them ✨
Can I just start this review saying how much I love Nicky?! I mean, that man is just everything!!! 😩💜 his love for Natalia and his eagerness to show Bea how much he cares for her and how much he loves her is just something so perfect and beautiful ✨💜
I really enjoyed this book, it was so sweet and also the fact that we had the chance to dive in Nicky’s journey through his mental health was so spot on! I’m glad the author managed to write about this with such care and love, and not just about Nicky but Natalia and Bea too, because it affected them too and I love reading their journey together through this as the loving little family they became 🥹💜
I loved everything about this book and I’m going to grab the first one because I need to read about Violet and Crosby 🙂↔️ and of course I can’t wait for the next book because I saw many potential tropes with some of the characters in this book and I’m really excited to read more about them ✨
April 2, 2026
A story where both main characters live up to the name of the title. This truly was a sweet, beautiful (with spice!) romance. Single dad and star goalie, Nicky, has been selected for a documentary and the Public Relations representative, Bea, is there to make sure things don’t go awry. He is guarded and holds his heart close, she is hesitant to jump on board with the whole true love thing. Their forced proximity brings their chemistry to a head, their feelings out in the open, and ignites their passion. I enjoyed reading how Natalia, Nicky’s daughter, was the mutual catalyst that prompted their affection towards each other, too. I enjoyed the real perspective in the effects and injury could have in a player. I overall enjoyed this sweet, single dad hockey romance.
Thanks to the author and LoveNotesPR for the eARC
Thanks to the author and LoveNotesPR for the eARC
April 9, 2026
This is just another cutesy hockey single dad romance. It’s a good old faithful for me.
I loved the MMC Nicky sooo much. He was such a teddy bear.
I did feel like this book was very surface level and don’t go very deep into the feels of characters or bring out any emotion in me as a reader.
I loved the MMC Nicky sooo much. He was such a teddy bear.
I did feel like this book was very surface level and don’t go very deep into the feels of characters or bring out any emotion in me as a reader.
April 2, 2026
I was so fortunate to receive this as an ARC.
4.5 Stars!! My goodness did I eat this book up. The growth and love between Nicky and Bea was amazing. Watching the strength Bea had taking on the tasks during Nicky’s injury was inspiring. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone.
4.5 Stars!! My goodness did I eat this book up. The growth and love between Nicky and Bea was amazing. Watching the strength Bea had taking on the tasks during Nicky’s injury was inspiring. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone.
April 9, 2026
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Synopsis:
Single-dad goalie Nicky Baladin just wants to focus on the ice and his daughter, but a new NHL documentary forces him into close quarters with his secret crush, Bea Farrow from the PR department. As they work together on the series, Bea discovers the sense of belonging she’s been missing, while Nicky realizes he can’t ignore his feelings forever. When a life-changing injury strikes, they both discover just how much they need each other.
MMC : Nikita “Nicky” Baladin. A stoic, hard-working goalie of New Haven Midnights. As Bea puts it, "He has the work ethic of an ox, the loyalty of a Labrador, and the gentleness of a sloth."
FMC: Beatrice “Bea” Farrow. A PR professional transitioning from a life of people-pleasing to a journey of radical self-worth. She is actively untangling her identity from others' expectations.
Thoughts:
It was a cute read. Loved Nicky speaking Russian, loved his girl dad moments, loved how soft he is, emotionally. The external plot of the NHL documentary added a great layer to the story, providing a natural reason for the flirty attraction to build while they tried to remain professional. The injury was sad and I liked the emotional and mental health elements of his recovery and Bea’s part in it. I also really appreciated the hockey jargon explanations since Bea is from the UK, the side characters explain things like "icing" helped me understand too.
Side Characters:
Gus is hands-down the best side character, cos he’s a total charming idiot. There is a strong found family element with the team and the WAGs,though it was occasionally confusing. It felt like many characters were from previous books in an interconnected series that I hadn't read (to be fair this is book 2 but can be read as a standalone haha I just haven’t read the first one).
It’s not the most groundbreaking piece of literature, and there were several time jumps that confused me. I would have much preferred to actually see the scenes play out rather than just hearing they happened :(
If you want an easy, feel- good, sports hockey romance, with a soft giant hero and a heroine finding her self worth, READ THIS BOOK ^_^ It’s sweet, sexy and the girl dad energy is CUTE AF.
Tropes:
Grumpy x Sunshine, Co-workers to Lovers, Single Dad. Found family, Russian MMC, British FMC, and sports rehab. NHL setting.
Synopsis:
Single-dad goalie Nicky Baladin just wants to focus on the ice and his daughter, but a new NHL documentary forces him into close quarters with his secret crush, Bea Farrow from the PR department. As they work together on the series, Bea discovers the sense of belonging she’s been missing, while Nicky realizes he can’t ignore his feelings forever. When a life-changing injury strikes, they both discover just how much they need each other.
MMC : Nikita “Nicky” Baladin. A stoic, hard-working goalie of New Haven Midnights. As Bea puts it, "He has the work ethic of an ox, the loyalty of a Labrador, and the gentleness of a sloth."
FMC: Beatrice “Bea” Farrow. A PR professional transitioning from a life of people-pleasing to a journey of radical self-worth. She is actively untangling her identity from others' expectations.
Thoughts:
It was a cute read. Loved Nicky speaking Russian, loved his girl dad moments, loved how soft he is, emotionally. The external plot of the NHL documentary added a great layer to the story, providing a natural reason for the flirty attraction to build while they tried to remain professional. The injury was sad and I liked the emotional and mental health elements of his recovery and Bea’s part in it. I also really appreciated the hockey jargon explanations since Bea is from the UK, the side characters explain things like "icing" helped me understand too.
Side Characters:
Gus is hands-down the best side character, cos he’s a total charming idiot. There is a strong found family element with the team and the WAGs,though it was occasionally confusing. It felt like many characters were from previous books in an interconnected series that I hadn't read (to be fair this is book 2 but can be read as a standalone haha I just haven’t read the first one).
It’s not the most groundbreaking piece of literature, and there were several time jumps that confused me. I would have much preferred to actually see the scenes play out rather than just hearing they happened :(
If you want an easy, feel- good, sports hockey romance, with a soft giant hero and a heroine finding her self worth, READ THIS BOOK ^_^ It’s sweet, sexy and the girl dad energy is CUTE AF.
Tropes:
Grumpy x Sunshine, Co-workers to Lovers, Single Dad. Found family, Russian MMC, British FMC, and sports rehab. NHL setting.
March 26, 2026
4,5⭐️
ARC REVIEW
"Moving forward, playing again...it's going to come in waves. Sometimes, the tide will be easy, and others, I'm going to need help getting to shore. But I'm going to swim, solnyshka, and l'll let everyone see me."
•
Tender heart is the second book in the “Midnight” series, here you’ll find:
🥅Single Dad
✨Friends to lovers
💜Sports injury
🏒Dual pov
As many of you probably know, I’m a total sucker for the single dad trope, and this book absolutely delivered. This was my first time reading this author, and I was pleasantly surprised by how smooth and engaging the writing felt.
Nikita is such a quiet, thoughtful character, and I completely fell in love with him. Not only is he a talented hockey player, but he’s also an incredibly devoted father. His relationship with his daughter was one of my favorite parts of the book — you can really see how much effort he puts into making sure she feels safe, happy, and loved. I also appreciated how his injury was handled, especially the emotional and psychological struggles that come with it, something that isn’t always explored deeply in sports romances.
Bea was wonderful as well. She’s strong, independent, and confident in who she is, and I loved how she never compromised her self-respect. Her bond with Nikita’s daughter was adorable and felt genuinely heartfelt. She shows up when it matters most, and her care for both of them felt natural and sincere.
Nikita and Bea’s relationship begins as friendship and coworkers, and I really enjoyed how their romance developed slowly and organically. Nothing felt rushed — their feelings grew in a believable way that made their connection even sweeter.
One of my absolute favorite aspects of this book was the found family element and the friendships surrounding the main characters. The sense of community added so much warmth to the story and made the world feel alive and comforting.
Overall, this was such a cozy, emotional read with lovable characters and a romance that felt genuine from start to finish. I’ll definitely be picking up more books by this author.
ARC REVIEW
"Moving forward, playing again...it's going to come in waves. Sometimes, the tide will be easy, and others, I'm going to need help getting to shore. But I'm going to swim, solnyshka, and l'll let everyone see me."
•
Tender heart is the second book in the “Midnight” series, here you’ll find:
🥅Single Dad
✨Friends to lovers
💜Sports injury
🏒Dual pov
As many of you probably know, I’m a total sucker for the single dad trope, and this book absolutely delivered. This was my first time reading this author, and I was pleasantly surprised by how smooth and engaging the writing felt.
Nikita is such a quiet, thoughtful character, and I completely fell in love with him. Not only is he a talented hockey player, but he’s also an incredibly devoted father. His relationship with his daughter was one of my favorite parts of the book — you can really see how much effort he puts into making sure she feels safe, happy, and loved. I also appreciated how his injury was handled, especially the emotional and psychological struggles that come with it, something that isn’t always explored deeply in sports romances.
Bea was wonderful as well. She’s strong, independent, and confident in who she is, and I loved how she never compromised her self-respect. Her bond with Nikita’s daughter was adorable and felt genuinely heartfelt. She shows up when it matters most, and her care for both of them felt natural and sincere.
Nikita and Bea’s relationship begins as friendship and coworkers, and I really enjoyed how their romance developed slowly and organically. Nothing felt rushed — their feelings grew in a believable way that made their connection even sweeter.
One of my absolute favorite aspects of this book was the found family element and the friendships surrounding the main characters. The sense of community added so much warmth to the story and made the world feel alive and comforting.
Overall, this was such a cozy, emotional read with lovable characters and a romance that felt genuine from start to finish. I’ll definitely be picking up more books by this author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
Thank you so much Kate & LoveNotes PR for the opportunity to read & review this ARC!
5 ⭐️ ♾️
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Beatrice Farrow takes an opportunity & moves from the UK to America to be close to her best friend Violet who happens to be the daughter of a pro hockey team coach. Bea accepts a new job working for 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓲𝓭𝓷𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 as the publicist & part of her job is protecting her clients aka the hockey players during public affairs such as filming. Bea will do whatever it takes to keep her clients protected, especially when it comes to the hot Russian Goalie -𝙉𝙞𝙠𝙞𝙩𝙖 𝘽𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣. The hottie also known as Nicky happens to be in Violet & Crosby’s close knit friend group so Bea takes to Nicky’s daughter rather fast & it’s the cutest thing ever!
Nicky & Bea’s story is swoony, spicy, sweet & not without its own struggles. Nicky is involved in a serious sports injury where he suffers from cardiac arrest mid game - I feel like this is a sensitive topic & not many people can write something like this but Kate did an amazing job giving this the sensitivity it needed! As someone who works in the ICU I just want to say how beautifully written this was & how the medical terms were used correctly and the situation was accurately described as it happens in real life!
I loved the relationship not only Nikita & Bea have but also the relationship and trust his daughter Natalia develops for Bea - her 𝙼𝚊𝚖𝚘𝚌𝚑𝚔𝚊
This is an amazing book & I think if you are reading this - you should go download it, preorder it, save it to your Amazon wishlist, add it to your Goodreads TBR.
AVAILABLE APRIL 2nd on KU
Thank you so much Kate & LoveNotes PR for the opportunity to read & review this ARC!
5 ⭐️ ♾️
.
.
Beatrice Farrow takes an opportunity & moves from the UK to America to be close to her best friend Violet who happens to be the daughter of a pro hockey team coach. Bea accepts a new job working for 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓲𝓭𝓷𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 as the publicist & part of her job is protecting her clients aka the hockey players during public affairs such as filming. Bea will do whatever it takes to keep her clients protected, especially when it comes to the hot Russian Goalie -𝙉𝙞𝙠𝙞𝙩𝙖 𝘽𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣. The hottie also known as Nicky happens to be in Violet & Crosby’s close knit friend group so Bea takes to Nicky’s daughter rather fast & it’s the cutest thing ever!
Nicky & Bea’s story is swoony, spicy, sweet & not without its own struggles. Nicky is involved in a serious sports injury where he suffers from cardiac arrest mid game - I feel like this is a sensitive topic & not many people can write something like this but Kate did an amazing job giving this the sensitivity it needed! As someone who works in the ICU I just want to say how beautifully written this was & how the medical terms were used correctly and the situation was accurately described as it happens in real life!
I loved the relationship not only Nikita & Bea have but also the relationship and trust his daughter Natalia develops for Bea - her 𝙼𝚊𝚖𝚘𝚌𝚑𝚔𝚊
This is an amazing book & I think if you are reading this - you should go download it, preorder it, save it to your Amazon wishlist, add it to your Goodreads TBR.
AVAILABLE APRIL 2nd on KU
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of Tender Hart from Kate Byrne and LoveNotes PR, in exchange for an honest review.
I went into this book knowing it was book 2 of a series that I had not read the first book. I don't feel like that took anything away from this story, other than maybe not knowing quite as much about some of the side characters. I do intend to go back and read Shots Taken, but would not say it was a requirement to enjoy Tender Heart.
Nikita "Nicky" Baladin is the starting goalie for the New Haven Midnight, as well as a single dad to the most precious little girl, Natalia. He's balancing chasing his dreams in hockey with being the dad Natalia needs.
Beatrice "Bea" Farrow has left the life she knew in England behind, moved to the States, and is now working for the New Haven Midnight.
When she is assigned to be the liaison between Nicky and the producer of a new documentary series, she gets an deeper insight into who Nicky is, not just as a hockey player, but as a parent. Her relationship with Nicky evolves naturally, and was a pleasure to experience as they both realized that maybe what they needed in their life wasn't what they'd been looking for - but was right in front of them the entire time.
The real highlight of this book though is Natalia and her relationships with all of those around her. That father daughter bond is something special, but to see the way she gravitates toward Bea as well warmed my heart. The way she had the rest of the hockey team wrapped around her finger brought a smile to my face.
I went into this book knowing it was book 2 of a series that I had not read the first book. I don't feel like that took anything away from this story, other than maybe not knowing quite as much about some of the side characters. I do intend to go back and read Shots Taken, but would not say it was a requirement to enjoy Tender Heart.
Nikita "Nicky" Baladin is the starting goalie for the New Haven Midnight, as well as a single dad to the most precious little girl, Natalia. He's balancing chasing his dreams in hockey with being the dad Natalia needs.
Beatrice "Bea" Farrow has left the life she knew in England behind, moved to the States, and is now working for the New Haven Midnight.
When she is assigned to be the liaison between Nicky and the producer of a new documentary series, she gets an deeper insight into who Nicky is, not just as a hockey player, but as a parent. Her relationship with Nicky evolves naturally, and was a pleasure to experience as they both realized that maybe what they needed in their life wasn't what they'd been looking for - but was right in front of them the entire time.
The real highlight of this book though is Natalia and her relationships with all of those around her. That father daughter bond is something special, but to see the way she gravitates toward Bea as well warmed my heart. The way she had the rest of the hockey team wrapped around her finger brought a smile to my face.
April 7, 2026
Tender Heart is a hockey, single dad, friends to lovers’ romance.
I enjoyed reading Tender Heart. The main characters Nicky and Bea were both likable and relatable. They were enjoyable characters to read about. Nicky is a single dad that only cares about two likes hockey and his daughter. He guarded and keeps his heart closed.
The last thing he would ever want is to be selected for a documentary. Well lucky for him he doesn’t have a choice and his picked. Which brings Bea into his life. She is the PR representative for the documentary and she there to make she everything goes smoothy. Little did she know she was going to be the one that would break the walls down the Nicky built. I loved watching the growth of the Bea and Nicky relationship throughout of the book. Their relationship looked what a real relationship looks like in the world. It was developed organically it went a pace that was believable.
Additional things I like about the book, the pace and flow were good. The story was easy to follow and to understand. The mental health that was talked about in the story was written well. You can tell that Kate Byrne handle the subject of mental health respectfully. The spicy in the book was also written well. It wasn’t cheesy or over the top. Also, the spicy didn’t overtake the story.
Overall, Tender Heart is good read. The main character is both likable and relatable. The story is well written and easy to follow. A story that once you start reading you won’t be able to put it down.
I enjoyed reading Tender Heart. The main characters Nicky and Bea were both likable and relatable. They were enjoyable characters to read about. Nicky is a single dad that only cares about two likes hockey and his daughter. He guarded and keeps his heart closed.
The last thing he would ever want is to be selected for a documentary. Well lucky for him he doesn’t have a choice and his picked. Which brings Bea into his life. She is the PR representative for the documentary and she there to make she everything goes smoothy. Little did she know she was going to be the one that would break the walls down the Nicky built. I loved watching the growth of the Bea and Nicky relationship throughout of the book. Their relationship looked what a real relationship looks like in the world. It was developed organically it went a pace that was believable.
Additional things I like about the book, the pace and flow were good. The story was easy to follow and to understand. The mental health that was talked about in the story was written well. You can tell that Kate Byrne handle the subject of mental health respectfully. The spicy in the book was also written well. It wasn’t cheesy or over the top. Also, the spicy didn’t overtake the story.
Overall, Tender Heart is good read. The main character is both likable and relatable. The story is well written and easy to follow. A story that once you start reading you won’t be able to put it down.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ok, wow! Book 2 of the Midnight series and it was just as incredible as the first.
I absolutely loved Bea and Nicky! And of course Natalia too! Their relationship built so organically and their chemistry could not be denied, no matter how much neither of them moved to progress the relationship, it happened anyways.
I already knew I loved Bea from her friendship with Violet in Shots Taken, but getting to know her better through this one, and seeing how much care she puts into all of her relationships was great. She is fiercely protective of the people she cares about, and also just loves so big. It’s no wonder Natalia was so easily and quickly drawn to her, which meant Nicky of course was too.
And Nicky, our quiet, elusive goalie. Well, of course there’s more to him than we saw before. He is a protective single dad, and keeping Natalia safe and keeping his family/personal life private is so important to him. But for the people he lets in and the people he’s close to, we see so much care and love that he gives.
There was also so much emotion in this book. Between Nicky’s injury, his recovery, and the emotional toll it took on everybody (not just Nicky but those closest to him too), there were so many moments that had me tearing up, or just full on crying. And the final chapter had me in a puddle.
Absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for the next one! Especially if I’m right on who the MMC will be!
I absolutely loved Bea and Nicky! And of course Natalia too! Their relationship built so organically and their chemistry could not be denied, no matter how much neither of them moved to progress the relationship, it happened anyways.
I already knew I loved Bea from her friendship with Violet in Shots Taken, but getting to know her better through this one, and seeing how much care she puts into all of her relationships was great. She is fiercely protective of the people she cares about, and also just loves so big. It’s no wonder Natalia was so easily and quickly drawn to her, which meant Nicky of course was too.
And Nicky, our quiet, elusive goalie. Well, of course there’s more to him than we saw before. He is a protective single dad, and keeping Natalia safe and keeping his family/personal life private is so important to him. But for the people he lets in and the people he’s close to, we see so much care and love that he gives.
There was also so much emotion in this book. Between Nicky’s injury, his recovery, and the emotional toll it took on everybody (not just Nicky but those closest to him too), there were so many moments that had me tearing up, or just full on crying. And the final chapter had me in a puddle.
Absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for the next one! Especially if I’m right on who the MMC will be!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2026
Tender Heart by Kate Byrne is a sports romance set in the world of ice hockey, pairing a single dad hockey player (Nicky) with a PR specialist (Bea) in a slow burn that feels genuinely earned.
What I loved most was how the romance developed naturally — nothing felt rushed or forced. The slow burn pacing gave both characters room to breathe and made every moment between them feel believable. Byrne also does a wonderful job with the single dad element. Nicky’s daughter isn’t just a cute accessory to the plot — she’s a fully realised character, and watching Bea’s relationship with the little girl develop alongside the main romance added real warmth to the story.
Seeing Nicky navigate both fatherhood and his adult life gave him genuine depth, and the book is well-paced throughout, keeping the plot moving without dragging.
My one wish was that Bea had been given the same kind of on-page psychological support for her trauma that Nicky received. Both characters carry historical, off-page trauma that shapes who they are in the present, and while Nicky’s journey toward healing formed part of the storyline, Bea’s could have used that same attention.
It’s a satisfying read and a solid 4 stars. I’d recommend it to both newcomers to sports romance and existing fans of the subgenre — you don’t need to know a thing about ice hockey to enjoy it, though the sport is woven into the story, so you’ll want to be open to that setting. The author includes content warnings, which I appreciated.
What I loved most was how the romance developed naturally — nothing felt rushed or forced. The slow burn pacing gave both characters room to breathe and made every moment between them feel believable. Byrne also does a wonderful job with the single dad element. Nicky’s daughter isn’t just a cute accessory to the plot — she’s a fully realised character, and watching Bea’s relationship with the little girl develop alongside the main romance added real warmth to the story.
Seeing Nicky navigate both fatherhood and his adult life gave him genuine depth, and the book is well-paced throughout, keeping the plot moving without dragging.
My one wish was that Bea had been given the same kind of on-page psychological support for her trauma that Nicky received. Both characters carry historical, off-page trauma that shapes who they are in the present, and while Nicky’s journey toward healing formed part of the storyline, Bea’s could have used that same attention.
It’s a satisfying read and a solid 4 stars. I’d recommend it to both newcomers to sports romance and existing fans of the subgenre — you don’t need to know a thing about ice hockey to enjoy it, though the sport is woven into the story, so you’ll want to be open to that setting. The author includes content warnings, which I appreciated.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Tender Heart
Book 2 of The Midnight Series
🌶️ 5 ⭐️5
Work place romance
Forced proximity
Single dad
Miss Independent FMC
Found family
This book hand me swooning and kicking my feet at the love Nikita and Bea have for each other. Nikita (Nicky) is the goalie for The Midnights hockey team and a single dad to little Natalia. Bea is a London transplant that happens to be the coaches daughter, Violet’s, best friend and works for The Midnights PR team. The two have crossed paths over the year but never leaned into whatever spark was between them. When the star goalie gets picked for the NHL Network Documentary Bea gets put in charge to make sure things stay within agreeable limits. As the documentary begins new friendships and levels of trust are built between Nicky and Bea. The lines start to blur for both as that spark reappears mixing personal and professional feelings. And trust me these lines that blur get SPICY 🥵🥵🌶️🌶️
You will fall in love with these characters from the beginning. This team is family and will support each other through thick and thin. You will cry, laugh, and swoon throughout this story. You will watch as Bea’s character heals her inner child wounds through Nicky’s daughter. All while Nicky is facing his own inner turmoil recovering from a major injury. The character development is top tier and makes you want to be a part of their process.
Book 2 of The Midnight Series
🌶️ 5 ⭐️5
Work place romance
Forced proximity
Single dad
Miss Independent FMC
Found family
This book hand me swooning and kicking my feet at the love Nikita and Bea have for each other. Nikita (Nicky) is the goalie for The Midnights hockey team and a single dad to little Natalia. Bea is a London transplant that happens to be the coaches daughter, Violet’s, best friend and works for The Midnights PR team. The two have crossed paths over the year but never leaned into whatever spark was between them. When the star goalie gets picked for the NHL Network Documentary Bea gets put in charge to make sure things stay within agreeable limits. As the documentary begins new friendships and levels of trust are built between Nicky and Bea. The lines start to blur for both as that spark reappears mixing personal and professional feelings. And trust me these lines that blur get SPICY 🥵🥵🌶️🌶️
You will fall in love with these characters from the beginning. This team is family and will support each other through thick and thin. You will cry, laugh, and swoon throughout this story. You will watch as Bea’s character heals her inner child wounds through Nicky’s daughter. All while Nicky is facing his own inner turmoil recovering from a major injury. The character development is top tier and makes you want to be a part of their process.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hockey romance girlies, this one is for us!
I was super excited to receive an ARC for this book, I love hockey romances.. especially goalie hockey romances (iykyk) but this book went to much deeper than I expected.
While there is some spice in this book I wouldn’t call this a smut romance. I loved Nikita’s character and his relationship and devotion to his daughter. His struggle with feeling embarrassed but also being so open about his emotions and fight against the narrative that (male) athletes need to be these stoic impassive people.
I’m so glad the mental health aspect wasn’t rushed because working on trauma does take time and I love how that was portrayed.
I do think Bea could have been a bit more fleshed out, other than knowing she grew up without present parents and her bad taste in men (before Nicky) we don’t really know her all that well. She was a workaholic (?) and English. Her inner turmoil about going back to work came a bit unexpected to me, yes she wished she had more hands on parents but (correct me if i’m wrong) working a pr job should have been realistic especially with a school attending kid.
I hope maybe we learn a bit more about what she ends up doing in the epilogue (was not released in the ARC) or in future books in this series.
I did really enjoy this story and the green flag Nikita is!
I was super excited to receive an ARC for this book, I love hockey romances.. especially goalie hockey romances (iykyk) but this book went to much deeper than I expected.
While there is some spice in this book I wouldn’t call this a smut romance. I loved Nikita’s character and his relationship and devotion to his daughter. His struggle with feeling embarrassed but also being so open about his emotions and fight against the narrative that (male) athletes need to be these stoic impassive people.
I’m so glad the mental health aspect wasn’t rushed because working on trauma does take time and I love how that was portrayed.
I do think Bea could have been a bit more fleshed out, other than knowing she grew up without present parents and her bad taste in men (before Nicky) we don’t really know her all that well. She was a workaholic (?) and English. Her inner turmoil about going back to work came a bit unexpected to me, yes she wished she had more hands on parents but (correct me if i’m wrong) working a pr job should have been realistic especially with a school attending kid.
I hope maybe we learn a bit more about what she ends up doing in the epilogue (was not released in the ARC) or in future books in this series.
I did really enjoy this story and the green flag Nikita is!
April 5, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Midnight hockey team returns in the second book in Kate Byrne's series, "Tender Heart". This story is as much about love and trust as it is found family (one of my favorite tropes!). Nicky and Bea are more the outsiders of the Midnight organization through their roles of goalie and PR person respectively, but the filming of a documentary for the NHL sheds new light of each in the eyes of the other. Both MCs have baggage from the past that has shaped the very cores of their lives, but as they work together, they find that heavy burdens are much easier to carry when shared with someone you trust. It is this bond of trust which allows them to best move forward together when new tragedy strikes.
The Midnight hockey organization is truly a found family. You see it in the way the players interact with one another like rowdy siblings. You see it in how they all show up to help Nicky take care of his five year old daughter Natalia (for everything from first day of school jitters to movie nights). You see it in how they encourage Nicky and Bea to open up to one another, and in the emotional journey the team takes as a whole. Bryne has penned a realistic and emotional journey the reader feels as much a part of as the main characters, that flows so naturally you won't want to put it down. Based on an actual event which happened in professional sports (be sure to check out the author's note!), "Tender Heart" is a wonderful story of hockey, emotional healing, and love.
The Midnight hockey team returns in the second book in Kate Byrne's series, "Tender Heart". This story is as much about love and trust as it is found family (one of my favorite tropes!). Nicky and Bea are more the outsiders of the Midnight organization through their roles of goalie and PR person respectively, but the filming of a documentary for the NHL sheds new light of each in the eyes of the other. Both MCs have baggage from the past that has shaped the very cores of their lives, but as they work together, they find that heavy burdens are much easier to carry when shared with someone you trust. It is this bond of trust which allows them to best move forward together when new tragedy strikes.
The Midnight hockey organization is truly a found family. You see it in the way the players interact with one another like rowdy siblings. You see it in how they all show up to help Nicky take care of his five year old daughter Natalia (for everything from first day of school jitters to movie nights). You see it in how they encourage Nicky and Bea to open up to one another, and in the emotional journey the team takes as a whole. Bryne has penned a realistic and emotional journey the reader feels as much a part of as the main characters, that flows so naturally you won't want to put it down. Based on an actual event which happened in professional sports (be sure to check out the author's note!), "Tender Heart" is a wonderful story of hockey, emotional healing, and love.
April 8, 2026
This is a slow burn, cozy-esque hockey romance.
I loved the family found vibe among Nicky and his teammates, Bea and a few others. Nicky and Bea’s relationship slowly builds from being in the same friend group & working for the team together to actual friends, and then into a mutual attraction that they hold off actually pursuing anything for a bit longer.
From the blurb and author’s introduction to the storyline I was bracing for the scene where Nicky is hurt and was expecting it to be more emotionally impactful than it was (for me at least). I described this a cozy-esque because the feelings and/or emotions felt surface level. Nicky’s injury was traumatic and life changing, but the pacing and tone of the storytelling doesn’t change.
This is an entertaining read, and several important issues are mentioned - emotional and mental health for Nicky and his young daughter, Natalia, after the trauma of his injury. His healing journey plays a role in the storyline’s progression which was needed.
Overall, this is an entertaining read, but I would have appreciated something deeper with more emotional impact.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved the family found vibe among Nicky and his teammates, Bea and a few others. Nicky and Bea’s relationship slowly builds from being in the same friend group & working for the team together to actual friends, and then into a mutual attraction that they hold off actually pursuing anything for a bit longer.
From the blurb and author’s introduction to the storyline I was bracing for the scene where Nicky is hurt and was expecting it to be more emotionally impactful than it was (for me at least). I described this a cozy-esque because the feelings and/or emotions felt surface level. Nicky’s injury was traumatic and life changing, but the pacing and tone of the storytelling doesn’t change.
This is an entertaining read, and several important issues are mentioned - emotional and mental health for Nicky and his young daughter, Natalia, after the trauma of his injury. His healing journey plays a role in the storyline’s progression which was needed.
Overall, this is an entertaining read, but I would have appreciated something deeper with more emotional impact.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 9, 2026
The way that Nicky and Bea really tug on your heart strings in this, no wonder it’s called Tender Heart, besides what happens to Nicky. These two were so gentle and so patient with one another. They made me want to grab them and just call them real cute.
Nat though, that little girl would have me wrapped around her little finger in a second. She was the sweetest little thing and so wise beyond her years. I could have hugged her through the pages.
The gradualness of Nicky and Bea’s love story was so cute. I loved the build up and the final draw when he finally kissed her!
The whole Midnight family was especially heart warming in this. I loved getting back into this world. I loved getting more pieces from the different characters.
Bea made my heart hurt bc of her past but Nicky made me want to cry putting those pieces together again. But Nicky’s injury in this. I could never imagine what he went through and those around him were feeling. Kate Byrne brought to light an injury that was hard to fathom, let alone survive and I think she did it in such an incredibly tender way.
So excited to see what’s next.
Tropes:
✨Hockey romance
✨Sports injury
✨Friends to lovers
✨Single girl dad
✨Goalie x team publicist
✨Forced proximity
✨Mental health rep
✨Found family
Nat though, that little girl would have me wrapped around her little finger in a second. She was the sweetest little thing and so wise beyond her years. I could have hugged her through the pages.
The gradualness of Nicky and Bea’s love story was so cute. I loved the build up and the final draw when he finally kissed her!
The whole Midnight family was especially heart warming in this. I loved getting back into this world. I loved getting more pieces from the different characters.
Bea made my heart hurt bc of her past but Nicky made me want to cry putting those pieces together again. But Nicky’s injury in this. I could never imagine what he went through and those around him were feeling. Kate Byrne brought to light an injury that was hard to fathom, let alone survive and I think she did it in such an incredibly tender way.
So excited to see what’s next.
Tropes:
✨Hockey romance
✨Sports injury
✨Friends to lovers
✨Single girl dad
✨Goalie x team publicist
✨Forced proximity
✨Mental health rep
✨Found family
April 19, 2026
✨️ARC REVIEW✨️
I'm really enjoying this hockey series from Kate Byrne. Book 2 is about our goalie, Nicky, his daughter, Natalia, and the newest member of the team's PR dept, Bea.
There were so many great things about their story and relationships. The build from friends of friends, crush, real friends and then lovers felt so natural. Nicky may be a bit stoic but he's a softie for Bea and Natalia and I adored that side of him. I absolutely loved the relationship between Bea and Natalia too. She's an adorable kid!
Kate did, in my opinion, a wonderful job of working through both Nicky and Bea's feelings after his injury. It was life changing in many ways and I thought Kate kept things very realistic.
Bea has a ton of growth throughout the story and I was so happy for her decisions in the end. She was able to truly be herself, regardless of her family history and preconceived or societal expectations.
It's a bit of slow burn but I thought the pacing was well done. There is great spice once it hits and Nicky knows how to take care of his girl. 🙂
"Falling in love with you has made me a better friend, a better father, a better man. I wouldn’t take back any of the hard things that happened because I was lucky enough to have you by my side for all of them.”
I'm really enjoying this hockey series from Kate Byrne. Book 2 is about our goalie, Nicky, his daughter, Natalia, and the newest member of the team's PR dept, Bea.
There were so many great things about their story and relationships. The build from friends of friends, crush, real friends and then lovers felt so natural. Nicky may be a bit stoic but he's a softie for Bea and Natalia and I adored that side of him. I absolutely loved the relationship between Bea and Natalia too. She's an adorable kid!
Kate did, in my opinion, a wonderful job of working through both Nicky and Bea's feelings after his injury. It was life changing in many ways and I thought Kate kept things very realistic.
Bea has a ton of growth throughout the story and I was so happy for her decisions in the end. She was able to truly be herself, regardless of her family history and preconceived or societal expectations.
It's a bit of slow burn but I thought the pacing was well done. There is great spice once it hits and Nicky knows how to take care of his girl. 🙂
"Falling in love with you has made me a better friend, a better father, a better man. I wouldn’t take back any of the hard things that happened because I was lucky enough to have you by my side for all of them.”
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy from love notes pr, and absolutely devoured this book! I’m a big hockey fan so I loved the combination of technical hockey terms and deep romance.
Bea’s learning of the sport and her technical craft in public relations is such an interesting take to witness as she runs Nicky’s best interests in interviews and filming. His daughter was such a cute addition when I normally don’t lean towards single parent romances. My favorite scene that had me giggling and laughing was the reference to goalies like cats with their reflexes when they’re doing the laser training.
I’ll definitely be looking at her other book(s) since I went into this one with no knowledge of the first. I only knocked it down a star because it wrapped too quickly for me - I wanted to see more of their storyline after everything that’s happening, which will probably resolve with the unreleased epilogue, and there were some things I had a hard time following. (I thought she was screwing one the guy from the beginning still for the longest time, and I can’t tell you what Andy looks like at all). Overall a very very enjoyable read.
Bea’s learning of the sport and her technical craft in public relations is such an interesting take to witness as she runs Nicky’s best interests in interviews and filming. His daughter was such a cute addition when I normally don’t lean towards single parent romances. My favorite scene that had me giggling and laughing was the reference to goalies like cats with their reflexes when they’re doing the laser training.
I’ll definitely be looking at her other book(s) since I went into this one with no knowledge of the first. I only knocked it down a star because it wrapped too quickly for me - I wanted to see more of their storyline after everything that’s happening, which will probably resolve with the unreleased epilogue, and there were some things I had a hard time following. (I thought she was screwing one the guy from the beginning still for the longest time, and I can’t tell you what Andy looks like at all). Overall a very very enjoyable read.
March 25, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ - I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Considering this book was the second in a series, I found it easy to get into the story within the first few chapters. I didn’t feel like I was missing out too much on the previous book and its characters, but I feel like I’d enjoy reading the first of this series too!
I found the start of the book a little clunkier than the rest, as I feel like the start of Bea’s story was a little bit of a mess, which makes more sense the more I got to know her.
With the Midnight hockey team as both friends and resembling a family, it felt easy and comforting to have so many wonderful side characters to support Bea and Nicky throughout.
Bea and Nicky become fast friends when they’re put into a project for the team and feelings they’re both feeling become bigger than either of them imagine. Being a single dad and a damn good man, Nicky is the perfect example of stability Bea deserves.
This book deals with some pretty heavy themes including serious injury, health complications, mental health of a child and adult and past childhood trauma.
Considering this book was the second in a series, I found it easy to get into the story within the first few chapters. I didn’t feel like I was missing out too much on the previous book and its characters, but I feel like I’d enjoy reading the first of this series too!
I found the start of the book a little clunkier than the rest, as I feel like the start of Bea’s story was a little bit of a mess, which makes more sense the more I got to know her.
With the Midnight hockey team as both friends and resembling a family, it felt easy and comforting to have so many wonderful side characters to support Bea and Nicky throughout.
Bea and Nicky become fast friends when they’re put into a project for the team and feelings they’re both feeling become bigger than either of them imagine. Being a single dad and a damn good man, Nicky is the perfect example of stability Bea deserves.
This book deals with some pretty heavy themes including serious injury, health complications, mental health of a child and adult and past childhood trauma.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
ARC Review
I am really grateful for this opportunity to see Bea's and Nicky's relationship bloom. From the start to the end, it was good. I looked forward to finding out how they weathered their storms and it did not disappoint. I love the relationship between Nat and Bea and I would have loved to have seen more of it.
Nicky was so kind and understanding and he knew what he needed and what he want. He didn't pretend that everything was fine when it was not and he knew how to behave or act accordingly to a situation.
Bea was so strong after everything she went through. She was so kind and patient and she made sure Nicky and the others knew that she was there for them whenever they needed someone.
Bea and Nicky showed loyalty, love, stability, reliability and kindness to everyone. Their characters were great.
The only thing I wish to see talked about more was the relationship they both have with their parents and how they work with it. I just hoped I could have seen some closure with Bea and her parents and I would have also liked to have seen the kind of relationship Nicky has with his mother.
But other than that, it was a good book.
I am really grateful for this opportunity to see Bea's and Nicky's relationship bloom. From the start to the end, it was good. I looked forward to finding out how they weathered their storms and it did not disappoint. I love the relationship between Nat and Bea and I would have loved to have seen more of it.
Nicky was so kind and understanding and he knew what he needed and what he want. He didn't pretend that everything was fine when it was not and he knew how to behave or act accordingly to a situation.
Bea was so strong after everything she went through. She was so kind and patient and she made sure Nicky and the others knew that she was there for them whenever they needed someone.
Bea and Nicky showed loyalty, love, stability, reliability and kindness to everyone. Their characters were great.
The only thing I wish to see talked about more was the relationship they both have with their parents and how they work with it. I just hoped I could have seen some closure with Bea and her parents and I would have also liked to have seen the kind of relationship Nicky has with his mother.
But other than that, it was a good book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I want to start by letting you know to double check the trigger warnings and how you're feeling because this book has a lot of mental health issues in it, but it is like in a good way. So a lot of books that we see with hockey and mental health. They don't really address the mental health side from the hockey players. Point of view from the hockey player being the one with the issue with the mental health this book does. This book is showing you the trauma surrounding an event in his life but it doesn't start out as a trauma thing for him. You gradually build up to it so you get to see before the mental health issue starts and after it starts, which I really love. I also really love that. He is a single dad trying to do what is best for his daughter and he pushes her away. He doesn't think that he needs her and then you slowly see her build a relationship with the daughter on top of building the relationship with him and you see that the daughter's relationship with her was actually built prior to her falling for the dad, which I absolutely loved. It was an amazing read. I would definitely recommend it and I would read it again all. I'm just going to reiterate it does have a bit of a harsh ness with the mental health and everything and I advise you to really take care of yourself while reading it. Like if I was in one of those emotional things where I just needed a book to cry, I would pick this up because I think that this book would make me cry if I read it again. I mean it's an amazing read. The author did an amazing job with it and I loved seeing it. How heartfelt the book was? It felt like almost like it was real like I wasn't reading it off of a page but that it was someone's real life, which I've loved feeling like I could count on people because this book showed it. This book showed what it is like to find a family that might not be blood and it is amazing.
April 2, 2026
I had the opportunity to read this ARC prior to release. I love the sports romance genre but so often, the characters are in their early 20’s. I was so pleased to find that this book had older protagonists, including an athlete nearing the end of his career and trying to figure out what that looks like. It was also nice to see a single parent dealing with typical parenting things and not excessively dramatic issues that often permeate this type of story. His child is an important part of his life but not the central part of the story. She isn’t a complication in the romance - the FMC is aware that the MMC is a single dad from the outset and it’s just another fact about him. Most importantly to me, the main romantic leads were both strong, independent characters and extremely easy to like.
This is the second book in a series but works as a standalone - I haven’t read the first book and the only part that was a bit confusing was the prologue which sets up why the FMC ends up in the city. I’m sure that there is some deeper understanding of some characters if you’ve read the first book but I didn’t find it necessary.
This is the second book in a series but works as a standalone - I haven’t read the first book and the only part that was a bit confusing was the prologue which sets up why the FMC ends up in the city. I’m sure that there is some deeper understanding of some characters if you’ve read the first book but I didn’t find it necessary.
April 3, 2026
ARC review
Looove a single parent troupe, and when the kid is practically another main character!
Bea: after helping her bestie with a PR nightmare, she gets a job with the professional hockey team in the PR department, deciding to leave her old life of meaningless relationships behind. She’s assigned to a film project focusing on the goalie of the team, who’s also a HAWT and sweet single dad. As time goes on, she starts noticing him as more than just that…and when a medical emergency occurs, she realizes just what all her life has been missing.
Nicky: as a single dad, he’s found it difficult to connect with anyone romantically, especially with his focus on his daughter and hockey. When the new PR staff arrives, he’s locked in and infatuated. As he spends more time with her while filming for a project, he discovers that the infatuation is more than just that. A medical emergency has him down for the count, and as this woman steps into his life so effortlessly, he knows it’s exactly what him and his daughter have been missing.
Would recommend to others, excited to read other books on the series!
Looove a single parent troupe, and when the kid is practically another main character!
Bea: after helping her bestie with a PR nightmare, she gets a job with the professional hockey team in the PR department, deciding to leave her old life of meaningless relationships behind. She’s assigned to a film project focusing on the goalie of the team, who’s also a HAWT and sweet single dad. As time goes on, she starts noticing him as more than just that…and when a medical emergency occurs, she realizes just what all her life has been missing.
Nicky: as a single dad, he’s found it difficult to connect with anyone romantically, especially with his focus on his daughter and hockey. When the new PR staff arrives, he’s locked in and infatuated. As he spends more time with her while filming for a project, he discovers that the infatuation is more than just that. A medical emergency has him down for the count, and as this woman steps into his life so effortlessly, he knows it’s exactly what him and his daughter have been missing.
Would recommend to others, excited to read other books on the series!
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