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Second Chance Faceoff
Colton Hayes is my brother’s best friend, the team’s bad boy, and my new problem.
After a scandal torched his career, Colton was dumped into the minors with a busted reputation and one last shot at redemption.
My job is to keep him out of trouble while ignoring his blue eyes, sculpted forearms, and the kind of shoulders that made t-shirts illegal. Ok, still working on that last one.
He’s cocky, impossible to manage, and allergic to authority—especially mine.
Yet he sneaks in after hours, when no one is watching, to walk my shelter’s restless dogs.
He coaches me through my fear of public speaking and stands up to the man trying to bulldoze my rescue.
Then “my problem” kisses me. Now I want him to stay.
But when I walk into his apartment, his suitcase is open. His gear is packed.
Was I ever part of his playbook—or just the last drill before puck drop?
This is a sweet, kisses-only romance with great banter, slow-burn chemistry, and a guaranteed HEA.
After a scandal torched his career, Colton was dumped into the minors with a busted reputation and one last shot at redemption.
My job is to keep him out of trouble while ignoring his blue eyes, sculpted forearms, and the kind of shoulders that made t-shirts illegal. Ok, still working on that last one.
He’s cocky, impossible to manage, and allergic to authority—especially mine.
Yet he sneaks in after hours, when no one is watching, to walk my shelter’s restless dogs.
He coaches me through my fear of public speaking and stands up to the man trying to bulldoze my rescue.
Then “my problem” kisses me. Now I want him to stay.
But when I walk into his apartment, his suitcase is open. His gear is packed.
Was I ever part of his playbook—or just the last drill before puck drop?
This is a sweet, kisses-only romance with great banter, slow-burn chemistry, and a guaranteed HEA.
198 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 12, 2025
26 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 3, 2026
I liked the ending and Colton and the dogs but the plot and Riley were so melodramatic sometimes I was just so annoyed. Like the things that happened weren’t really that big of a deal for the drama.
July 10, 2025
Don’t you just love that feeling of connection you get when you begin a new story? The characters resonate with each other, even though, they don’t show it, and the story keeps you reading until you must force yourself to close the book. I have always loved getting lost in books. I really enjoy it when the author makes me feel like I could just step into the book and become friends with the people in the town.
Our story begins at the shelter where Riley spends most of her time. She’s trying to “coax a skittish terrier named Max to eat something other than the squeaky toys he kept hoarding under his bed.” Her phone buzzes and she sees that it’s her brother Ryan and he’s in need of a huge favor. He tells her it’s Colton. Now Colton is her brother’s best friend who she has had a huge crush on. Riley went above and beyond trying to get him to notice her as more than just his best friend’s sister.
Ryan informs her that he’s a mess at the moment. He’s been in the news a great deal, but not for the right reasons. “The NHL’s golden boy had gone from scoring game-winning goals to making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Party photos, late-night club scenes, and -worst of all – that scandal with the married woman.” Ryan wants her to babysit him. It seems that he is skating on thin ice with his current team. He’s also been warned that his career will be over. Riley tells him she’s busy enough and has no desire to watch over Colton. Ryan pulls out the big guns and reminds her how Colton was there for them when their Dad got sick. Just as she started to continue the argument that she was not interested, the shelter door opened and who walked in? The man of the hour…Colton Hayes. Gone is the self-assured Colton, he seems contrite and ready to work on his image. His confidence was gone and this unnerved Riley. She had never seen him like this before.
As the two of them are trying to come to terms, who walks in? Vanessa Carlisle, a reporter who loves getting stories out there first. She’s relentless in trying to find out what’s going on and will do whatever she has to do to get what she wants.
Colton is surprised by the changes he sees in Riley. In their younger days, she was shy and followed them everywhere. Now, “she was confident, sharp-tongued, and had a glare that could freeze the rink.” He knows she won’t put up with the things he’s been doing. Colton really does want to clean up his act, hockey is the only thing he’s really good at. But the scandal with the married woman, could destroy his career and then what would he do? Riley agrees to help and tells him to send her his schedule, and she’ll work on what he’ll be doing at the shelter.
This story is filled with drama, changes, frustration, setbacks, and more. You don’t want to miss what happens when Colton must answer Riley and he knows she means business, or she’ll just walk away. Riley is struggling to keep the shelter going and hopefully she’ll be able to get Colton to change his lifestyle so her fee can save the shelter. Get your copy of Second Chance Faceoff by Sophie Shelton today! You won’t be sorry! Oh, and don’t forget to set aside some time to read!
Our story begins at the shelter where Riley spends most of her time. She’s trying to “coax a skittish terrier named Max to eat something other than the squeaky toys he kept hoarding under his bed.” Her phone buzzes and she sees that it’s her brother Ryan and he’s in need of a huge favor. He tells her it’s Colton. Now Colton is her brother’s best friend who she has had a huge crush on. Riley went above and beyond trying to get him to notice her as more than just his best friend’s sister.
Ryan informs her that he’s a mess at the moment. He’s been in the news a great deal, but not for the right reasons. “The NHL’s golden boy had gone from scoring game-winning goals to making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Party photos, late-night club scenes, and -worst of all – that scandal with the married woman.” Ryan wants her to babysit him. It seems that he is skating on thin ice with his current team. He’s also been warned that his career will be over. Riley tells him she’s busy enough and has no desire to watch over Colton. Ryan pulls out the big guns and reminds her how Colton was there for them when their Dad got sick. Just as she started to continue the argument that she was not interested, the shelter door opened and who walked in? The man of the hour…Colton Hayes. Gone is the self-assured Colton, he seems contrite and ready to work on his image. His confidence was gone and this unnerved Riley. She had never seen him like this before.
As the two of them are trying to come to terms, who walks in? Vanessa Carlisle, a reporter who loves getting stories out there first. She’s relentless in trying to find out what’s going on and will do whatever she has to do to get what she wants.
Colton is surprised by the changes he sees in Riley. In their younger days, she was shy and followed them everywhere. Now, “she was confident, sharp-tongued, and had a glare that could freeze the rink.” He knows she won’t put up with the things he’s been doing. Colton really does want to clean up his act, hockey is the only thing he’s really good at. But the scandal with the married woman, could destroy his career and then what would he do? Riley agrees to help and tells him to send her his schedule, and she’ll work on what he’ll be doing at the shelter.
This story is filled with drama, changes, frustration, setbacks, and more. You don’t want to miss what happens when Colton must answer Riley and he knows she means business, or she’ll just walk away. Riley is struggling to keep the shelter going and hopefully she’ll be able to get Colton to change his lifestyle so her fee can save the shelter. Get your copy of Second Chance Faceoff by Sophie Shelton today! You won’t be sorry! Oh, and don’t forget to set aside some time to read!
July 15, 2025
Ryan and Riley are brother and sister. Ryan manages the hockey team that Colton is now playing on. Ryan convinces Riley to "babysit" Colton who needs to shape up or his hockey career is over. So Colton arrives at the Timberline Dog Shelter run by Riley and does not seem to put much effort into his work. Riley calls him out on it. Colton starts to see Riley as more than Ryan's sister and worth getting to know. The local reporter writes negatively about Colton and Riley tells him to ignore her. Colton starts helping players at practice and they see him now as becoming a team player. Lots of cute scenes and some unexpected turn of events as Colton and Riley become closer.
I enjoyed the development of the characters as their personalities and attitudes change as they develop respect, caring and trust for each other.
I enjoyed the development of the characters as their personalities and attitudes change as they develop respect, caring and trust for each other.
July 16, 2025
This is a story about a dog rescue agency disguised as a hockey romance. There are bits of hockey mixed into the story, but it's more about Riley's dog rescue mission and how being involved in that work not only rescues the dogs but Colton as well.
There are some plot and timing holes/inconsistencies, but I was invested in their story from the beginning, so these are minor nits... I wanted to know how they would find their way to each other, given she was clearly waiting for him to fail, and he was struggling with self-doubt.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
There are some plot and timing holes/inconsistencies, but I was invested in their story from the beginning, so these are minor nits... I wanted to know how they would find their way to each other, given she was clearly waiting for him to fail, and he was struggling with self-doubt.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 11, 2025
“Second Chance Faceoff” by Sophie Shelton
-A hockey player and his best friend’s little sister story. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.
Colton’s redemption arc hits hard in this emotional, dog-filled second-chance romance.
Riley is fierce, focused, and not here for excuses—especially from her brother’s reckless friend.
Their chemistry crackles as old wounds, media pressure, and a failing shelter collide.
A gripping, heartfelt story of growth, forgiveness, and love that sneaks up on you.
-A hockey player and his best friend’s little sister story. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.
Colton’s redemption arc hits hard in this emotional, dog-filled second-chance romance.
Riley is fierce, focused, and not here for excuses—especially from her brother’s reckless friend.
Their chemistry crackles as old wounds, media pressure, and a failing shelter collide.
A gripping, heartfelt story of growth, forgiveness, and love that sneaks up on you.
July 13, 2025
NFL hockey player is sent down to try and revamp his dreadful PR image. The sister of his coach ( his good friend) is tasked with babysitting him and trying to help him reach that goal. She runs a rescue kennel for dogs, and he spends time working there. Emotions are tricky and everything working out is not a sure thing.
Not much hockey, but enough to make the plot work while the dogs take a leading role in the book. Then finally the energy burst through and the ending was better than I could have imagined. Delightful story!
Not much hockey, but enough to make the plot work while the dogs take a leading role in the book. Then finally the energy burst through and the ending was better than I could have imagined. Delightful story!
July 12, 2025
This was a fantastic romance with a wonderful redemption story for Colton, the MMC. He starts out as a playboy, smirking smiles, a little too smooth, like he's untouchable and takes nothing seriously. That gets him into trouble, and Riley is brought in to "babysit" him. She is a no-nonsense, tell it to you straight type person. She rips him a few times, and it's hard to read. You almost feel bad for him. It makes him really start to look at things differently, though. I loved how the author took these two characters and changed their perspectives, but in a way, I wasn't quite expecting. What if you were never taught how to fix what is broken in yourself? What if someone really sees you, broken and all, and you are enough? I love it all!
July 9, 2025
Lots of scene stealing dogs. A hockey player who's reputation may get him permanently ejected. She's his best friend's little sister and the one person who might be able to save him from himself. Too bad her opinion of him isn't what it used to be. Throw in a reporter determined to catch him living up to his rep.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews