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Love in Maple Falls #5
Goalie and the Girl Next Door
My life was perfect except for the occasional goat emergency. Then a charming French goalie with dimples turned my life upside down. Rude.
Marcy
I came to Maple Falls to rebuild my life with nothing but four pencil skirts and a broken heart, courtesy of my hockey-playing ex. I like numbers because they don't lie, and I like my quiet ranch life because it's predictable.
Enter Clément Rivière—the devastatingly charming French goalie who shows up shirtless to help with barn work, whispers sweet French nothings to our goat, and looks at me like I'm the only woman in the world. But I'm not the only one falling for his act—half the town's women are already under his spell, and I refuse to be just another conquest.
Clément
I traded Paris for small-town Washington to chase my big league dreams and restore a historic house that's trying to kill me daily. What I didn't expect was the town's brilliant, beautiful accountant who treats me like I'm a tax audit waiting to happen.
Marcy Fontaine sees right through my act and makes me want things I never knew were missing. But she's been burned by a hockey player before, and I'm running out of time to prove I'm different. There's a ticking time bomb inside me, and my career is on the line.
If I can’t stay, we'll both have to decide if love is worth the risk—or if some dreams are too good to be true.
***
Goalie and the Girl Next Door is a grumpy-sunshine, wounded hero, fish-out-of-water hockey romcom in the Love in Maple Falls series. Add some goat whispering, sunrise kisses, and a guaranteed happily ever after sweeter than maple cupcakes and you have this sweet romance with all the heart and no spice.
Welcome back to Maple Falls—the small town where hockey players fall in love! This is a multi-author series of seven full-length books that could be read as standalones, but we think you'll enjoy them best in order.
Fake-Off with Fate by Whitney Dineen
Offside and Off-Limits by Kate O’Keeffe
Checking Mr. Wrong by Anne Kemp
Skating and Fake Dating by Ellie Hall
Goalie and the Girl Next Door by Elsie Woods
Soulmates and Slapshots by Melissa Baldwin
The Icing on the Cake by Grace Worthington
Marcy
I came to Maple Falls to rebuild my life with nothing but four pencil skirts and a broken heart, courtesy of my hockey-playing ex. I like numbers because they don't lie, and I like my quiet ranch life because it's predictable.
Enter Clément Rivière—the devastatingly charming French goalie who shows up shirtless to help with barn work, whispers sweet French nothings to our goat, and looks at me like I'm the only woman in the world. But I'm not the only one falling for his act—half the town's women are already under his spell, and I refuse to be just another conquest.
Clément
I traded Paris for small-town Washington to chase my big league dreams and restore a historic house that's trying to kill me daily. What I didn't expect was the town's brilliant, beautiful accountant who treats me like I'm a tax audit waiting to happen.
Marcy Fontaine sees right through my act and makes me want things I never knew were missing. But she's been burned by a hockey player before, and I'm running out of time to prove I'm different. There's a ticking time bomb inside me, and my career is on the line.
If I can’t stay, we'll both have to decide if love is worth the risk—or if some dreams are too good to be true.
***
Goalie and the Girl Next Door is a grumpy-sunshine, wounded hero, fish-out-of-water hockey romcom in the Love in Maple Falls series. Add some goat whispering, sunrise kisses, and a guaranteed happily ever after sweeter than maple cupcakes and you have this sweet romance with all the heart and no spice.
Welcome back to Maple Falls—the small town where hockey players fall in love! This is a multi-author series of seven full-length books that could be read as standalones, but we think you'll enjoy them best in order.
Fake-Off with Fate by Whitney Dineen
Offside and Off-Limits by Kate O’Keeffe
Checking Mr. Wrong by Anne Kemp
Skating and Fake Dating by Ellie Hall
Goalie and the Girl Next Door by Elsie Woods
Soulmates and Slapshots by Melissa Baldwin
The Icing on the Cake by Grace Worthington
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 10, 2025
176 people are currently reading
524 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
September 8, 2025
Goalie and the Girl Next Door was such fun to read! I loved getting to know Clément, who has been more of a background character in the other books. He was such a great guy and really went all in to show Marcy how he was beginning to fall for her. He was also a reliable friend to the other guys on the team, as well as helping out Scotty a lot at the Happy Horizons Ranch.
Marcy had some big fears to overcome, including allowing herself to step away from trying to control every situation and relaxing enough to learn to trust Clément, even though she had been badly treated by a hockey player in the past.
Marcy and Clément were a sweet couple to read about and a fun addition to the series.
(4.5 stars)
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Marcy had some big fears to overcome, including allowing herself to step away from trying to control every situation and relaxing enough to learn to trust Clément, even though she had been badly treated by a hockey player in the past.
Marcy and Clément were a sweet couple to read about and a fun addition to the series.
(4.5 stars)
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
September 10, 2025
ARC REVIEW:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Maple Falls might be a small-town in Washington, but it offers a great big escape. Both Marcy Fontaine (accountant) and Clément Riviére (professional hockey player) arrived to the charming town (separately) seeking a fresh start. While they dreamed of happier times, they didn’t forsee the tight-knit community welcoming them with open arms. However, with all of the puzzle pieces falling into place, Marcy and Clément are no longer able to deny their strong attraction. Will the two take one last leap of faith and open their heart’s to love, or will they keep their relationship strictly platonic out of fear?
Goalie and the Girl Next Door by Elsie Woods is the fifth book in the Love in Maple Falls Series. This is an interconnected, multi-author series that follows seven professional hockey players as they find love in a small-town. While each book is written as a standalone, they are best enjoyed as a collective whole!
Marcy Fontaine was first introduced as a side character in, Fake Out With Fate (book 1). I was immediately enamored by the feisty, driven accountant. Not only was she was an integral part of helping Ashlyn save the town, but she proved herself as a formidable appointment. Therefore, I was beyond excited to get her POV via her very own book.
I loved seeing things through both Marcy’s (and Clément) eyes. While they are one of the less flashy couples in the series, their love story was beyond sweet. They shared such soft and tender moments that felt more realistic than most romcom couples.
Be sure to read Goalie and the Girl Next Door for:
-Dual POVs
-Opposites Attract
-Grumpy/ Sunshine
-Second Chances
Special thanks to Puppy Love Books and Elsie Woods for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Maple Falls might be a small-town in Washington, but it offers a great big escape. Both Marcy Fontaine (accountant) and Clément Riviére (professional hockey player) arrived to the charming town (separately) seeking a fresh start. While they dreamed of happier times, they didn’t forsee the tight-knit community welcoming them with open arms. However, with all of the puzzle pieces falling into place, Marcy and Clément are no longer able to deny their strong attraction. Will the two take one last leap of faith and open their heart’s to love, or will they keep their relationship strictly platonic out of fear?
Goalie and the Girl Next Door by Elsie Woods is the fifth book in the Love in Maple Falls Series. This is an interconnected, multi-author series that follows seven professional hockey players as they find love in a small-town. While each book is written as a standalone, they are best enjoyed as a collective whole!
Marcy Fontaine was first introduced as a side character in, Fake Out With Fate (book 1). I was immediately enamored by the feisty, driven accountant. Not only was she was an integral part of helping Ashlyn save the town, but she proved herself as a formidable appointment. Therefore, I was beyond excited to get her POV via her very own book.
I loved seeing things through both Marcy’s (and Clément) eyes. While they are one of the less flashy couples in the series, their love story was beyond sweet. They shared such soft and tender moments that felt more realistic than most romcom couples.
Be sure to read Goalie and the Girl Next Door for:
-Dual POVs
-Opposites Attract
-Grumpy/ Sunshine
-Second Chances
Special thanks to Puppy Love Books and Elsie Woods for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
September 9, 2025
If I ever move to a small town, I really want it to be Maple Falls. This quirky little town has some of the most unique and wonderful residents, and I’m so happy they are all getting their HEAs.
In Goalie and the Girl Next Door, the girl in question is town accountant Marcy Fontaine. She followed her ex-boyfriend (a hockey player) to Maple Falls, where he unceremoniously dumped her, and she decided to stay with nothing to her name except her brains and accountancy credentials. Known around town as ‘The Ice Queen’, nothing and no one can get through to her shielded heart, until she meets Clement Riviere. A human shield on the ice, he is, you guessed it, a hockey player. Goalie for the Icebreakers and an accent (and chest) to make even the coldest heart melt. Except for Marcy, maybe.
These two opposites were great with each other. Clement took every barb that Marcy threw at him and just upped the charm. Not in a sleazy or patronising way, but he found his way of getting Marcy to let him in. He was also such a nice, friendly and helpful guy. I loved his interactions with the animals on the ranch. His flirtations with Betsy the cow and his ability to control the menace of a goat that is Edgar were just so funny.
Both characters had their issues that they were dealing with and didn’t want to burden the others with, so it was interesting watching how they dealt with these and slowly came to trust the other with them. This is part of a multi-book series, so it was nice to see how certain events that were featured in the others, play out in this one from a different perspective. You can read any of the books on their own or out of sequence and it doesn’t change the storyline, however.
In Goalie and the Girl Next Door, the girl in question is town accountant Marcy Fontaine. She followed her ex-boyfriend (a hockey player) to Maple Falls, where he unceremoniously dumped her, and she decided to stay with nothing to her name except her brains and accountancy credentials. Known around town as ‘The Ice Queen’, nothing and no one can get through to her shielded heart, until she meets Clement Riviere. A human shield on the ice, he is, you guessed it, a hockey player. Goalie for the Icebreakers and an accent (and chest) to make even the coldest heart melt. Except for Marcy, maybe.
These two opposites were great with each other. Clement took every barb that Marcy threw at him and just upped the charm. Not in a sleazy or patronising way, but he found his way of getting Marcy to let him in. He was also such a nice, friendly and helpful guy. I loved his interactions with the animals on the ranch. His flirtations with Betsy the cow and his ability to control the menace of a goat that is Edgar were just so funny.
Both characters had their issues that they were dealing with and didn’t want to burden the others with, so it was interesting watching how they dealt with these and slowly came to trust the other with them. This is part of a multi-book series, so it was nice to see how certain events that were featured in the others, play out in this one from a different perspective. You can read any of the books on their own or out of sequence and it doesn’t change the storyline, however.
September 14, 2025
Goalie and the Girl Next Door is the fifth book in the Love in Maple Falls series. This is a collection of seven books, each written by a different author, but they all take place in Maple Falls, Washington. Each book is a standalone but you'll probably want to read the full series in order!
This one is a grumpy/sunshine, small town, hockey romance featuring Marcy Fontaine and Clément Rivière.
Marcy is an independent accountant who also works for the city. She is the one who interim mayor Ashlyn Thompkins reaches out to when she first learns about the heir to Maple Falls being identified. I'm glad I had a chance to read the previous books as it helped shape my knowledge and understanding of Marcy. She is one tough cookie who thrives on numbers and know how. She sees the world as very black and white. Due to previous heartbreak, by another hockey player, she has closed herself off to the possibility of another relationship.
Clément is the hockey player who joined Maple Falls' Ice Breakers NHL hockey team, coming all the way from France. While he is a little bit of a fish out of water, he also feels very much at home in Maple Falls. This town seems to have offered him exactly what he needed. He is upbeat and optimistic, and always greets challenges with a positive outlook. When he sees Marcy, he falls for her instantly. While she may be a tough nut to crack, he is determined.
Theirs is a sweet love story where both need to overcome events of their past and build mutual trust and understanding. I loved Marcy's feistiness and her determination. Clément won me over with his big heart and his kindness to animals. I'm glad they found each other!
If, like me, you plan to read the full series, here are all the books and authors:
Fake-Off with Fate by Whitney Dineen
Offside and Off-Limits by Kate O’Keeffe
Checking Mr. Wrong by Anne Kemp
Skating and Fake Dating by Ellie Hall
Goalie and the Girl Next Door by Elsie Woods
Soulmates and Slapshots by Melissa Baldwin
The Icing on the Cake by Grace Worthington
Happy Reading!
This one is a grumpy/sunshine, small town, hockey romance featuring Marcy Fontaine and Clément Rivière.
Marcy is an independent accountant who also works for the city. She is the one who interim mayor Ashlyn Thompkins reaches out to when she first learns about the heir to Maple Falls being identified. I'm glad I had a chance to read the previous books as it helped shape my knowledge and understanding of Marcy. She is one tough cookie who thrives on numbers and know how. She sees the world as very black and white. Due to previous heartbreak, by another hockey player, she has closed herself off to the possibility of another relationship.
Clément is the hockey player who joined Maple Falls' Ice Breakers NHL hockey team, coming all the way from France. While he is a little bit of a fish out of water, he also feels very much at home in Maple Falls. This town seems to have offered him exactly what he needed. He is upbeat and optimistic, and always greets challenges with a positive outlook. When he sees Marcy, he falls for her instantly. While she may be a tough nut to crack, he is determined.
Theirs is a sweet love story where both need to overcome events of their past and build mutual trust and understanding. I loved Marcy's feistiness and her determination. Clément won me over with his big heart and his kindness to animals. I'm glad they found each other!
If, like me, you plan to read the full series, here are all the books and authors:
Fake-Off with Fate by Whitney Dineen
Offside and Off-Limits by Kate O’Keeffe
Checking Mr. Wrong by Anne Kemp
Skating and Fake Dating by Ellie Hall
Goalie and the Girl Next Door by Elsie Woods
Soulmates and Slapshots by Melissa Baldwin
The Icing on the Cake by Grace Worthington
Happy Reading!
August 21, 2025
This series has been so fun! The timelines overlap so if you read them in order you can put all the pieces together and get a fuller picture of what’s happening (though they can be read as standalones). Marcy and Clement seem like they are opposites, but once they each let their walls down they are just perfect for each other. And I loved seeing Angel and Scotty from The Parent Playbook (Love on Thin Ice series) as well as the lovable nuisance Edgar the goat.
September 6, 2025
This was a cute HEA cozy fall book that I really enjoyed! I was rooting for Marcy and Clement the entire time and I love how it all came together in the end for them. I love the Maple Falls books and I actually read the story about Angel and Scottie in a previous book so it was fun reading about them in this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2025
Each book in this series just gets better and better! I love that each book adds another layer to the background story of the town drama in Maple Falls. And each couple has such a unique and adorable love story! Marcy and Clément’s story was no exception.
Marcy rebuilt her life in Maple Falls after her hockey-playing ex broke her heart 3 years ago. She’s not looking for another relationship with a hockey player.
Enter Clément, straight from France with the charm and good looks to sweep any woman off her feet. But he’s chasing his own dreams of playing professional hockey in the US and settling down in the small town of his dreams. Even better if he can find the right woman to share his life with.
Marcy has a lot of fears to overcome, and Clément is determined to break down all of her walls. Throw in the quirky small town drama, a goat who loves to be the center of attention, and a grand gesture that was worthy of its own Hallmark movie moment to give this book all the charm it needed to be an adorable love story.
Thank you so much to Elsie Woods and Booked with the Emilys for the gifted copy of this book! 🍁
Marcy rebuilt her life in Maple Falls after her hockey-playing ex broke her heart 3 years ago. She’s not looking for another relationship with a hockey player.
Enter Clément, straight from France with the charm and good looks to sweep any woman off her feet. But he’s chasing his own dreams of playing professional hockey in the US and settling down in the small town of his dreams. Even better if he can find the right woman to share his life with.
Marcy has a lot of fears to overcome, and Clément is determined to break down all of her walls. Throw in the quirky small town drama, a goat who loves to be the center of attention, and a grand gesture that was worthy of its own Hallmark movie moment to give this book all the charm it needed to be an adorable love story.
Thank you so much to Elsie Woods and Booked with the Emilys for the gifted copy of this book! 🍁
October 13, 2025
Idk why it’s all caps but I’m too lazy to fix it 😂 must have been a format thing on my instagram post
I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO MARCY AND CLEMENT AND THEIR BOOK WAS JUST AS AMAZING AS I HOPED! I CAN'T WAIT TO READ MORE BY ELSIE WOODS! HER WRITING WAS SO FUN TO READ AND I LOVED THE BANTER AND CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THESE TWO!
MARCY. I LOVED THIS GIRL FROM BOOK 1 WHEN WE MET HER IN ASHLYNN'S BOOK. MARCY IS COMMITTED. I LOVED HOW ALL IN SHE THREW HERSELF TO EVERYTHING. AND WATCHING HER OPEN HER HEART TO CLEMENT WAS SO CUTE. AND THE ENDING?! | WAS SQUEALING IT WAS SO CUTE!
CLEMENT. WE GOTTA LOVE THOSE FRENCH MEN! I LOVED THE LAYERS CLEMENT HAD.
BETWEEN HIS DISASTER OF A HOME RENOVATION TO HIS FRIENDSHIP OVERSEAS, CLEMENT KEPT SUPRISING ME. HE WAS SO PATIENT WITH MARCY, I JUST WISH HE WAS MORE PATIENT WITH HIMSELF. AGAIN, THAT ENDING WITH CLEMENT HAD ME CHEERING SO HARD!
I LOVED THE TEAM IN THIS BOOK. THE MORE I READ ABOUT THEM THE SADDER I WAS TO CONTINUE BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO SAY GOODBYE!
••
SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BOOK FOR ME, WITH NO CONTEXT
• PUZZLES AHHHH
GOAT WHISPERER
CW: MIGRANES RELATED TO INJURY
I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO MARCY AND CLEMENT AND THEIR BOOK WAS JUST AS AMAZING AS I HOPED! I CAN'T WAIT TO READ MORE BY ELSIE WOODS! HER WRITING WAS SO FUN TO READ AND I LOVED THE BANTER AND CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THESE TWO!
MARCY. I LOVED THIS GIRL FROM BOOK 1 WHEN WE MET HER IN ASHLYNN'S BOOK. MARCY IS COMMITTED. I LOVED HOW ALL IN SHE THREW HERSELF TO EVERYTHING. AND WATCHING HER OPEN HER HEART TO CLEMENT WAS SO CUTE. AND THE ENDING?! | WAS SQUEALING IT WAS SO CUTE!
CLEMENT. WE GOTTA LOVE THOSE FRENCH MEN! I LOVED THE LAYERS CLEMENT HAD.
BETWEEN HIS DISASTER OF A HOME RENOVATION TO HIS FRIENDSHIP OVERSEAS, CLEMENT KEPT SUPRISING ME. HE WAS SO PATIENT WITH MARCY, I JUST WISH HE WAS MORE PATIENT WITH HIMSELF. AGAIN, THAT ENDING WITH CLEMENT HAD ME CHEERING SO HARD!
I LOVED THE TEAM IN THIS BOOK. THE MORE I READ ABOUT THEM THE SADDER I WAS TO CONTINUE BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO SAY GOODBYE!
••
SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BOOK FOR ME, WITH NO CONTEXT
• PUZZLES AHHHH
GOAT WHISPERER
CW: MIGRANES RELATED TO INJURY
September 23, 2025
Definitely another win for the Love in Maple Falls series!!! Seriously, all of the books (I have read them all now) have been fabulous! Each book is written by different authors and I loved how seamlessly they wrote the books and scenes throughout each book. I loved seeing the timeline from the view of each of these main characters!
Marcy and Clement are another adorable couple! I loved watching their story unfold. Especially with help from Edgar the goat! Hahaha! And the secondary characters were great in their helping Marcy navigate her growing friendship and attraction with this hockey player. Whom she has sworn to never talk to, not just him, but all hockey players! Well, that backfires...majorly. Especially when he's nothing like her ex-hockey-player-boyfriend! She decides to let her heart be open to possibilities with this man who sees her and truly cares for her. And they're just adorable! (Yes, I know I keep saying "adorable" for them, but it's true!!!)
Get ready to swoon and laugh and cheer this sweet couple on!
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
Marcy and Clement are another adorable couple! I loved watching their story unfold. Especially with help from Edgar the goat! Hahaha! And the secondary characters were great in their helping Marcy navigate her growing friendship and attraction with this hockey player. Whom she has sworn to never talk to, not just him, but all hockey players! Well, that backfires...majorly. Especially when he's nothing like her ex-hockey-player-boyfriend! She decides to let her heart be open to possibilities with this man who sees her and truly cares for her. And they're just adorable! (Yes, I know I keep saying "adorable" for them, but it's true!!!)
Get ready to swoon and laugh and cheer this sweet couple on!
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
August 7, 2025
I love that the goalie is from Paris *Swoon* that accent! The Frenchman has he's work cut out for him, thawing the Ice Queen! An adorable hockey romcom!
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.
September 8, 2025
Another fantastic trip to Maple Falls ~ 4✨
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ PLOT ✧
Marcy Fontaine is strait-laced & career driven. Known around town as ‘The Ice Queen’, she prefers spreadsheets over socialising & the company of animals over people. But that all changes when the beautiful Parisian ice hockey player Clément Rivière walks into her life.
Clément Rivière left Paris to play for Maple Fall’s ice hockey team, the ‘Ice Breakers’. Between debilitating migraines, worrying about letting the team down & the pressure to turn the dilapidated house he bought into a home, he’s spent. That is, until the beautiful, intelligent Marcy Fontaine enters the frame.
When Maple Falls is thrown into chaos with a question mark hanging over the town’s future, the community bands together to save it.
Marcy & Clement step up to help & with each interaction find themselves growing closer. But with 2 guarded hearts, Marcy’s hot & cold nature & Clément’s self doubt, it’s not just the future of the town that has a question mark hanging over it, it’s Marcy & Clément’s future too.
~
✅This is a great book for anyone who enjoys -
• books/genre - sports romance (ice hockey) & romantic comedy.
• themes/tropes - cosy fall vibes, ice hockey, small town, team spirit, found family, closed door romance & Hallmark movie feels.
❣️Please keep in mind this book includes mentions of - loss of family members & debilitating migraine attacks.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ SUMMARY/OPINIONS ✧
[This is book 5 of 7 in the multi-author ‘Love in Maple Falls’ ice hockey rom-com series. Each book can be read as a standalone but the authors suggest reading them in order. They’re interconnected, share the same timeline & with each book you learn more about the town, characters & events. For maximum enjoyment I too, would suggest reading the full series but they’re great books either way! - The full series is available on KU📚]
Goalie and the Girl Next Door is a sports rom-com set in the charming town of Maple Falls. It’s entertaining & emotional with an amazing group of characters who rally together for their town & for each other. There’s hilarious banter between team-mates, vulnerable heartfelt conversations & a lot of noise from Edgar.. the goat. The MCs Marcy & Clément are easy to root for & their journey both together & as individuals was a joy to read.
This is the perfect book to curl up on the couch with & I’d definitely recommend it!
I really appreciated how Clément’s migraines were portrayed - the impact they have on daily life, how quickly they come on, how they’re so much more than just ‘head pain’ & the toll the condition takes on your mental health. Migraines are constantly belittled & that’s why Elsie’s realistic portrayal is SO important.
She hasn’t exaggerated nor has she tried to water it down, she’s shared it exactly as it is & i’m so grateful.
~
(I suffer from chronic migraine, hemiplegic migraine & migraine syncope so I live with a migraine, some of my attacks result in me losing feeling on one side of my body & sometimes I lose consciousness with very little warning. I’ve been told ‘stop being dramatic’, ‘ get over it’, ‘it’s just a headache’, ‘walk it off’ & I can’t explain how upsetting it is. So again, that’s why I’m so appreciative of how Elsie has written the condition into the story - thank you🥹)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ FINAL THOUGHTS ✧
This book was a pleasure to read. It was cosy, sweet & I loved the way everyone got behind Clément in his quest to resolve things (don’t want to spoil things by being too specific🥲) The ranch dinner/jigsaw chapter was beautifully written & a total emotional rollercoaster. So vulnerable & real, you could feel the weight lifting as time passed & more was shared, I genuinely had goosebumps. On a lighter note… EDGAR. Hilariously written & so cleverly used to help break the tension. Goat by name & by nature (greatest of all time).
A fantastic story of love, friendship & new beginnings.
📣 Thank you so much to Elsie Woods for allowing me to read & review this ARC. This is my honest opinion & I’m sharing it voluntarily.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ PLOT ✧
Marcy Fontaine is strait-laced & career driven. Known around town as ‘The Ice Queen’, she prefers spreadsheets over socialising & the company of animals over people. But that all changes when the beautiful Parisian ice hockey player Clément Rivière walks into her life.
Clément Rivière left Paris to play for Maple Fall’s ice hockey team, the ‘Ice Breakers’. Between debilitating migraines, worrying about letting the team down & the pressure to turn the dilapidated house he bought into a home, he’s spent. That is, until the beautiful, intelligent Marcy Fontaine enters the frame.
When Maple Falls is thrown into chaos with a question mark hanging over the town’s future, the community bands together to save it.
Marcy & Clement step up to help & with each interaction find themselves growing closer. But with 2 guarded hearts, Marcy’s hot & cold nature & Clément’s self doubt, it’s not just the future of the town that has a question mark hanging over it, it’s Marcy & Clément’s future too.
~
✅This is a great book for anyone who enjoys -
• books/genre - sports romance (ice hockey) & romantic comedy.
• themes/tropes - cosy fall vibes, ice hockey, small town, team spirit, found family, closed door romance & Hallmark movie feels.
❣️Please keep in mind this book includes mentions of - loss of family members & debilitating migraine attacks.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ SUMMARY/OPINIONS ✧
[This is book 5 of 7 in the multi-author ‘Love in Maple Falls’ ice hockey rom-com series. Each book can be read as a standalone but the authors suggest reading them in order. They’re interconnected, share the same timeline & with each book you learn more about the town, characters & events. For maximum enjoyment I too, would suggest reading the full series but they’re great books either way! - The full series is available on KU📚]
Goalie and the Girl Next Door is a sports rom-com set in the charming town of Maple Falls. It’s entertaining & emotional with an amazing group of characters who rally together for their town & for each other. There’s hilarious banter between team-mates, vulnerable heartfelt conversations & a lot of noise from Edgar.. the goat. The MCs Marcy & Clément are easy to root for & their journey both together & as individuals was a joy to read.
This is the perfect book to curl up on the couch with & I’d definitely recommend it!
I really appreciated how Clément’s migraines were portrayed - the impact they have on daily life, how quickly they come on, how they’re so much more than just ‘head pain’ & the toll the condition takes on your mental health. Migraines are constantly belittled & that’s why Elsie’s realistic portrayal is SO important.
She hasn’t exaggerated nor has she tried to water it down, she’s shared it exactly as it is & i’m so grateful.
~
(I suffer from chronic migraine, hemiplegic migraine & migraine syncope so I live with a migraine, some of my attacks result in me losing feeling on one side of my body & sometimes I lose consciousness with very little warning. I’ve been told ‘stop being dramatic’, ‘ get over it’, ‘it’s just a headache’, ‘walk it off’ & I can’t explain how upsetting it is. So again, that’s why I’m so appreciative of how Elsie has written the condition into the story - thank you🥹)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ FINAL THOUGHTS ✧
This book was a pleasure to read. It was cosy, sweet & I loved the way everyone got behind Clément in his quest to resolve things (don’t want to spoil things by being too specific🥲) The ranch dinner/jigsaw chapter was beautifully written & a total emotional rollercoaster. So vulnerable & real, you could feel the weight lifting as time passed & more was shared, I genuinely had goosebumps. On a lighter note… EDGAR. Hilariously written & so cleverly used to help break the tension. Goat by name & by nature (greatest of all time).
A fantastic story of love, friendship & new beginnings.
📣 Thank you so much to Elsie Woods for allowing me to read & review this ARC. This is my honest opinion & I’m sharing it voluntarily.
September 10, 2025
4.8/5
🚨TW: suffering with trauma which affect his eyesight, accidents, loss of love one
Favourite Moments
🏒 When they first met
🏒 Them bickering and flirting.
🏒 Them helping out in Happy Horizons
🏒 Him trying to win her love.
🏒 Dunk tank (can’t spoil it)
🏒 Them opening up to each other.
🏒 The Bachelor Bid.
🏒 Their friends making them realised things (can’t spoil it)
🏒 In the plane.
🏒 Moments with Edgar the goat.
(lots more)
Swoony Moments
🏒 He falls for her at first sight
🏒 He try his best to win her heart.
🏒 He cares for her and loves her.
🏒 Him caring of others instead himself.
🏒 He is just so sweet.
🏒 He is always there for her.
Synopsis
Clement
A French goalkeeper of the Ice Breakers. He doesn’t like the spotlight and suffering with a trauma which costs him have trouble with his eyesight sometimes. He doesn’t like to be in the spotlight and he dreams of starting a life in a small town with the old house which needs a lot of fixing.
Marcy
An accountant who came to Maple Falls with no money and no plan because she wants to start a new. And she had stayed in Maple Falls for 3 years. She is serious with her work and she is good at it.
They met with papers flying, she is not happy that he just came in like that. He falls for her but she had bad experience with hockey players. Things get interesting when Scotty got injured and need manpower to help in Happy Horizon. Will he able to win her heart? Read Goalie and the Girl Next Door to find out!!
Review:
Love them both so much. They are just so cute together. Their flirting and bickering are just so fun to watch. And him trying to fix the house that he wanted though he is struggling with fixing it. Both of them helped Happy Horizon and the animals seem to love him especially Edgar the goat. He had the charm and he seemed to be a goat whisperer haha… and he loves being in a small town and also love that they open up to each other about their life. They are there for each other. He tries to win her love though he pushes her away when he finds his illness is getting worst. (Can’t spoil it)
It is also thanks to their friends who talks to them and making them realise their feelings for each other. And the sweet date was just so sweet and romantic (can’t spoil it too). Matthieu, his buddy from France came and also kind of help Clement too and he is also such a scene stealer. The people around them are supporting them too. This book made me smile, swoon, laugh, and emotional. Ooo… and also love Clement’s accent too hehe… 🙈🙈
I was gifted complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own. Thanks @elsie.woods.author for the ARC .
This is the 5th book of Love in Maple Fall Series. This series consists of 7 books and it is written by 7 different authors.
You can purchase this book on Amazon and it is available on KU.
🚨TW: suffering with trauma which affect his eyesight, accidents, loss of love one
Favourite Moments
🏒 When they first met
🏒 Them bickering and flirting.
🏒 Them helping out in Happy Horizons
🏒 Him trying to win her love.
🏒 Dunk tank (can’t spoil it)
🏒 Them opening up to each other.
🏒 The Bachelor Bid.
🏒 Their friends making them realised things (can’t spoil it)
🏒 In the plane.
🏒 Moments with Edgar the goat.
(lots more)
Swoony Moments
🏒 He falls for her at first sight
🏒 He try his best to win her heart.
🏒 He cares for her and loves her.
🏒 Him caring of others instead himself.
🏒 He is just so sweet.
🏒 He is always there for her.
Synopsis
Clement
A French goalkeeper of the Ice Breakers. He doesn’t like the spotlight and suffering with a trauma which costs him have trouble with his eyesight sometimes. He doesn’t like to be in the spotlight and he dreams of starting a life in a small town with the old house which needs a lot of fixing.
Marcy
An accountant who came to Maple Falls with no money and no plan because she wants to start a new. And she had stayed in Maple Falls for 3 years. She is serious with her work and she is good at it.
They met with papers flying, she is not happy that he just came in like that. He falls for her but she had bad experience with hockey players. Things get interesting when Scotty got injured and need manpower to help in Happy Horizon. Will he able to win her heart? Read Goalie and the Girl Next Door to find out!!
Review:
Love them both so much. They are just so cute together. Their flirting and bickering are just so fun to watch. And him trying to fix the house that he wanted though he is struggling with fixing it. Both of them helped Happy Horizon and the animals seem to love him especially Edgar the goat. He had the charm and he seemed to be a goat whisperer haha… and he loves being in a small town and also love that they open up to each other about their life. They are there for each other. He tries to win her love though he pushes her away when he finds his illness is getting worst. (Can’t spoil it)
It is also thanks to their friends who talks to them and making them realise their feelings for each other. And the sweet date was just so sweet and romantic (can’t spoil it too). Matthieu, his buddy from France came and also kind of help Clement too and he is also such a scene stealer. The people around them are supporting them too. This book made me smile, swoon, laugh, and emotional. Ooo… and also love Clement’s accent too hehe… 🙈🙈
I was gifted complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own. Thanks @elsie.woods.author for the ARC .
This is the 5th book of Love in Maple Fall Series. This series consists of 7 books and it is written by 7 different authors.
You can purchase this book on Amazon and it is available on KU.
September 18, 2025
Goalie and the Girl Next Door
Een super schattige novelle met een Frans randje. Dit deel gaat over Clément en Marcy. Marcy woont al drie jaar in Maple falls en is accountant. Ze woont op een boerderij met een super leuke en grappige geit, wat echt humor toevoegde aan het verhaal. Clément is een Franse die verhuist voor de ijshockey, hij maakte het Franse tintje! Samen hebben ze een super schattig verhaal wat heerlijk relaxt opbouwt. Je kan helemaal in hun verhaal duiken en je laten meenemen tot het einde.
A super cute novella with a French twist. This installment is about Clément and Marcy. Marcy has been living in Maple Falls for three years and is an accountant. She lives on a farm with a super cute and funny goat, which really adds humor to the story. Clément is French and moved to play ice hockey, adding the French touch! Together, they have a super cute story that unfolds in a wonderfully relaxed way. You can completely immerse yourself in their story and be carried along until the very end.
Marcy
I came to Maple Falls to rebuild my life with nothing but four pencil skirts and a broken heart, courtesy of my hockey-playing ex. I like numbers because they don't lie, and I like my quiet ranch life because it's predictable. Enter Clément Rivière—the devastatingly charming French goalie who shows up shirtless to help with barn work, whispers sweet French nothings to our goat, and looks at me like I'm the only woman in the world. But I'm not the only one falling for his act—half the town's women are already under his spell, and I refuse to be just another conquest.
Clément
I traded Paris for small-town Washington to chase my big league dreams and restore a historic house that's trying to kill me daily. What I didn't expect was the town's brilliant, beautiful accountant who treats me like I'm a tax audit waiting to happen. Marcy Fontaine sees right through my act and makes me want things I never knew were missing. But she's been burned by a hockey player before, and I'm running out of time to prove I'm different. There's a ticking time bomb inside me, and my career is on the line.
If I can’t stay, we'll both have to decide if love is worth the risk—or if some dreams are too good to be true.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ sterren
#lezenisontspanning #neverstopreading #spreadthebooklove #reading #bookstagramreadsaugust #boekstagram #bookblogger #lekkerlezen #leesmaand #boekenmaand #boekentips #boekenplank #feelgood #readingisgoodforthesoul #booklover #booksbooksbooks #boekenwurm #spreadthebooklove #sharethebooklove
Een super schattige novelle met een Frans randje. Dit deel gaat over Clément en Marcy. Marcy woont al drie jaar in Maple falls en is accountant. Ze woont op een boerderij met een super leuke en grappige geit, wat echt humor toevoegde aan het verhaal. Clément is een Franse die verhuist voor de ijshockey, hij maakte het Franse tintje! Samen hebben ze een super schattig verhaal wat heerlijk relaxt opbouwt. Je kan helemaal in hun verhaal duiken en je laten meenemen tot het einde.
A super cute novella with a French twist. This installment is about Clément and Marcy. Marcy has been living in Maple Falls for three years and is an accountant. She lives on a farm with a super cute and funny goat, which really adds humor to the story. Clément is French and moved to play ice hockey, adding the French touch! Together, they have a super cute story that unfolds in a wonderfully relaxed way. You can completely immerse yourself in their story and be carried along until the very end.
Marcy
I came to Maple Falls to rebuild my life with nothing but four pencil skirts and a broken heart, courtesy of my hockey-playing ex. I like numbers because they don't lie, and I like my quiet ranch life because it's predictable. Enter Clément Rivière—the devastatingly charming French goalie who shows up shirtless to help with barn work, whispers sweet French nothings to our goat, and looks at me like I'm the only woman in the world. But I'm not the only one falling for his act—half the town's women are already under his spell, and I refuse to be just another conquest.
Clément
I traded Paris for small-town Washington to chase my big league dreams and restore a historic house that's trying to kill me daily. What I didn't expect was the town's brilliant, beautiful accountant who treats me like I'm a tax audit waiting to happen. Marcy Fontaine sees right through my act and makes me want things I never knew were missing. But she's been burned by a hockey player before, and I'm running out of time to prove I'm different. There's a ticking time bomb inside me, and my career is on the line.
If I can’t stay, we'll both have to decide if love is worth the risk—or if some dreams are too good to be true.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ sterren
#lezenisontspanning #neverstopreading #spreadthebooklove #reading #bookstagramreadsaugust #boekstagram #bookblogger #lekkerlezen #leesmaand #boekenmaand #boekentips #boekenplank #feelgood #readingisgoodforthesoul #booklover #booksbooksbooks #boekenwurm #spreadthebooklove #sharethebooklove
September 9, 2025
Goalie and the Girl Next Door is a sweet and delightful romantic comedy featuring Marcy Fontaine, local Accountant, and Clement Riviere, French Goalie for the Ice Breakers. Her love of numbers and structure combined with her professional persona and no nonsense attitude earn her the title of the Ice Queen. She’s had her heart broken by a hockey player before and she isn’t looking for a repeat. Clement is charming and charismatic, Frenchie, “the guy with a wink and a smile for every situation.” He came to the US to play hockey in the big leagues and fix up his dream house. Falling in love wasn’t part of the plan. Will he let Marcy see the man behind the image he projects - the humble, caring man who feels deeply? Can Marcy let down her barriers enough to trust Clement’s intentions?
Marcy and Clement were so cute together. They both had images and personas they hid behind. It was fun to see those starting to slip. I love how kind and self-effacing Clement was when you got to know the real him. He wasn’t arrogant and didn’t crave attention. He may have made the entire female population swoon with his accent and good looks but he was only interested in one woman, Marcy. I appreciate the way he handled the date auction but wanted to throw my Kindle after reading his letter. But alas, if book boyfriends were perfect there wouldn’t be much of a story. :) I loved the way Clement interacted with his teammates and how they showed up for him in the end. I can just picture them in the airport. His friend Mathieu was a great addition. I hope we get his story someday in the near future!
Marcy isn’t the Ice Queen people have made her out to be. She’s kind, warm, and worth the effort it takes to win her over. She doesn’t trust easily but she also doesn’t give up once she’s all in. I love her response to the letter. The ending was chef’s kiss! I’m so glad we got to see a lot of Angel and Scotty in this book. (See their story in The Parent Playbook). I love how they both took Marcy under their wing. Edgar and the other animals brought so much humor to the story. I would love to see Andy and Lily’s stories in the future!
Goalie and the Girl Next Door is book 5 in the Love in Maple Falls series. It’s a charming, feel good romance that will leave a smile on your face and warmth in your heart.
Thank you Elsie Woods for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Marcy and Clement were so cute together. They both had images and personas they hid behind. It was fun to see those starting to slip. I love how kind and self-effacing Clement was when you got to know the real him. He wasn’t arrogant and didn’t crave attention. He may have made the entire female population swoon with his accent and good looks but he was only interested in one woman, Marcy. I appreciate the way he handled the date auction but wanted to throw my Kindle after reading his letter. But alas, if book boyfriends were perfect there wouldn’t be much of a story. :) I loved the way Clement interacted with his teammates and how they showed up for him in the end. I can just picture them in the airport. His friend Mathieu was a great addition. I hope we get his story someday in the near future!
Marcy isn’t the Ice Queen people have made her out to be. She’s kind, warm, and worth the effort it takes to win her over. She doesn’t trust easily but she also doesn’t give up once she’s all in. I love her response to the letter. The ending was chef’s kiss! I’m so glad we got to see a lot of Angel and Scotty in this book. (See their story in The Parent Playbook). I love how they both took Marcy under their wing. Edgar and the other animals brought so much humor to the story. I would love to see Andy and Lily’s stories in the future!
Goalie and the Girl Next Door is book 5 in the Love in Maple Falls series. It’s a charming, feel good romance that will leave a smile on your face and warmth in your heart.
Thank you Elsie Woods for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 11, 2025
Reader’s Notes:
-this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
-this is told from Marcy & Clément’s points of view
-a character deals with crippling migraines
Review:
I loved that we got to come back to the Happy Horizons Ranch! Marcy and Clément were so adorable together! 😍 I loved that Clément knew Marcy wasn’t interested in pursuing him at first and that it attracted him to her (especially since typically women would throw themselves at him). I loved that he eventually broke down her walls and was able to get a chance to love her and have it reciprocated. I loved that once Marcy allowed herself to fall for Clément, she was all in and wouldn’t let fears keep them apart. I also loved that Angel & Scotty kept trying to push Marcy towards Clément! They (and Edgar the goat) were the best at playing matchmaker! 😂
Summary:
Marcy came to Maple Falls years ago with almost nothing and never left. As the only accountant in town, she has had a lot of business and is lucky enough to live on the sometimes quiet ranch just on the outskirts. Numbers have never done her wrong and Marcy prides herself on doing everything she sets her mind to at the best of her ability. But when the new hockey players come into town, Marcy finds herself in the midst of the new French goalie’s sights. His moves don’t impress her, not with all the women in town falling over themselves to get his attention. But when he keeps showing up to help at Happy Horizons in his spare time, Marcy is finding it much harder to hold to her no hockey players ban…
Clément moved from France to Maple Falls for the hockey team and the American dream he’s always hoped for. But the fixer upper house he bought is constantly fighting him at any repair and the one woman he’s truly found himself interested in getting to know wants nothing to do with him. Marcy has been burned by a hockey player before, and Clément is determined to prove that he is different from the last man she tried to give her heart to. If only she’d give him the chance…
-this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
-this is told from Marcy & Clément’s points of view
-a character deals with crippling migraines
Review:
I loved that we got to come back to the Happy Horizons Ranch! Marcy and Clément were so adorable together! 😍 I loved that Clément knew Marcy wasn’t interested in pursuing him at first and that it attracted him to her (especially since typically women would throw themselves at him). I loved that he eventually broke down her walls and was able to get a chance to love her and have it reciprocated. I loved that once Marcy allowed herself to fall for Clément, she was all in and wouldn’t let fears keep them apart. I also loved that Angel & Scotty kept trying to push Marcy towards Clément! They (and Edgar the goat) were the best at playing matchmaker! 😂
Summary:
Marcy came to Maple Falls years ago with almost nothing and never left. As the only accountant in town, she has had a lot of business and is lucky enough to live on the sometimes quiet ranch just on the outskirts. Numbers have never done her wrong and Marcy prides herself on doing everything she sets her mind to at the best of her ability. But when the new hockey players come into town, Marcy finds herself in the midst of the new French goalie’s sights. His moves don’t impress her, not with all the women in town falling over themselves to get his attention. But when he keeps showing up to help at Happy Horizons in his spare time, Marcy is finding it much harder to hold to her no hockey players ban…
Clément moved from France to Maple Falls for the hockey team and the American dream he’s always hoped for. But the fixer upper house he bought is constantly fighting him at any repair and the one woman he’s truly found himself interested in getting to know wants nothing to do with him. Marcy has been burned by a hockey player before, and Clément is determined to prove that he is different from the last man she tried to give her heart to. If only she’d give him the chance…
September 22, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️
Elsie Woods has written a wonderful addition to the Finding Love in Maple Falls series. Goalie and the Girl Next Door is a sweet, romantic, and heartwarming story. Elsie never fails to write wonderful characters, great back stories, and amazing side characters who bring so much to the storyline.
Marcy came to Maple Falls with her hockey playing boyfriend who then broke up with her! I somewhat hated knowing there is a player on the Icebreakers who isn’t a nice guy, but I guess they can’t all be. So she swore off hockey players. When a new player moves to town, all the way from Paris, France, it isn’t lost on the many single women of town that he is gorgeous. She won’t be falling for his charms. However, the more they spend time around each other, the harder she finds it to not fall.
Clement was looking for a fresh start and Maple Falls, WA provided him with just that. Traveling half way around the world has left him feeling out of sorts, but he also feels more at home than he has in a long time. His sunny disposition towards life lends him a helping hand in adapting to his new life easily. When he meets Marcy, he is instantly taken. She doesn’t make it easy for him to get to know her, but he won’t give up. In charming, non-creepy ways, she lets him in and they begin to fall.
As each of the books in this series has provided, this clean, sweet romance is a must read. I love the perspective that Elsie brings to the series overall. And while it is a series, these books can be read in any order. I highly recommend you read all of them though!
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
🏒Ice Queen FMC
🍂Hockey Goalie MMC
🏒Frenchman x Accountant
🍂Loves Spreadsheets
🏒Adorable Goat
🍂Hockey Romance
🏒Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
🍂Clean Romance
Elsie Woods has written a wonderful addition to the Finding Love in Maple Falls series. Goalie and the Girl Next Door is a sweet, romantic, and heartwarming story. Elsie never fails to write wonderful characters, great back stories, and amazing side characters who bring so much to the storyline.
Marcy came to Maple Falls with her hockey playing boyfriend who then broke up with her! I somewhat hated knowing there is a player on the Icebreakers who isn’t a nice guy, but I guess they can’t all be. So she swore off hockey players. When a new player moves to town, all the way from Paris, France, it isn’t lost on the many single women of town that he is gorgeous. She won’t be falling for his charms. However, the more they spend time around each other, the harder she finds it to not fall.
Clement was looking for a fresh start and Maple Falls, WA provided him with just that. Traveling half way around the world has left him feeling out of sorts, but he also feels more at home than he has in a long time. His sunny disposition towards life lends him a helping hand in adapting to his new life easily. When he meets Marcy, he is instantly taken. She doesn’t make it easy for him to get to know her, but he won’t give up. In charming, non-creepy ways, she lets him in and they begin to fall.
As each of the books in this series has provided, this clean, sweet romance is a must read. I love the perspective that Elsie brings to the series overall. And while it is a series, these books can be read in any order. I highly recommend you read all of them though!
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
🏒Ice Queen FMC
🍂Hockey Goalie MMC
🏒Frenchman x Accountant
🍂Loves Spreadsheets
🏒Adorable Goat
🍂Hockey Romance
🏒Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
🍂Clean Romance
November 18, 2025
Marcy Fontaine landed in Maple Falls after her high school sweetheart dumped her (basically telling her they were never together after all the years she wasted on him) when she arrived at Maple Falls to watch him play hockey. He left, she didn't. Through sheer grit and determination she made a life from nothing but a travel suitcase with 3 pen skirts in it. Now she has her own little accounting business and works for various businesses, charities and even town hall.
Clément Riviére arrives from France pretty much intending to do what Marcy did, start over in a fresh location. He is instantly attracted to Marcy because she pins his former character in the span of mere seconds. Finally someone who isn't swayed by his charm. Apparently that makes her desirable.
This book takes place pretty much at the same time as the previous one (and probably others), interconnecting with it in certain areas to give a multi-character view of the same, shared, experiences, which I found interesting as I haven't read any series that does this across books and characters at this level. It kind of weaves this interesting perspective of being able to see and experience a community at a given time through multiple 'eye witness' accounts. Guess i should start at the beginning of a series instead of the middle for once. lol!
I once again enjoyed having both perspectives of the MMC and the FMC throughout the book. I did enjoy them both and I am mot ashamed to say I gave Clément the accent of what's-his-face...Andor? Yeah I did that.
I did not enjoy the lack of communication drama that served as the climax of the book, however. It just felt like the author used it as a convenient way to neatly give some drama and rapidly tie up the ending. It didn't really suit Clément, in my humble opinion.
Clément Riviére arrives from France pretty much intending to do what Marcy did, start over in a fresh location. He is instantly attracted to Marcy because she pins his former character in the span of mere seconds. Finally someone who isn't swayed by his charm. Apparently that makes her desirable.
This book takes place pretty much at the same time as the previous one (and probably others), interconnecting with it in certain areas to give a multi-character view of the same, shared, experiences, which I found interesting as I haven't read any series that does this across books and characters at this level. It kind of weaves this interesting perspective of being able to see and experience a community at a given time through multiple 'eye witness' accounts. Guess i should start at the beginning of a series instead of the middle for once. lol!
I once again enjoyed having both perspectives of the MMC and the FMC throughout the book. I did enjoy them both and I am mot ashamed to say I gave Clément the accent of what's-his-face...Andor? Yeah I did that.
I did not enjoy the lack of communication drama that served as the climax of the book, however. It just felt like the author used it as a convenient way to neatly give some drama and rapidly tie up the ending. It didn't really suit Clément, in my humble opinion.
September 9, 2025
Once bitten, twice shy takes on new meaning in this latest Maple Falls story.
Marcy Fontaine is an accountant extraordinaire. Numbers and structure make her happy. Numbers will not break her heart. Because of her timidity and matter of fact behavior, she has been given the title of Ice Queen, which you will soon learn she does not deserve. Marcy has the warmest heart in the world. She just has barriers built around herself to protect her heart from further heartbreak. She is certainly not going to let some flirty hockey player change anything in her life. Those were famous last words.
Clement Riviere has left the lights and big city vibes of Paris to come to the small town of Maple Falls to play goalie for the Ice Breakers. The Frenchman is swoony and all the ladies fan themselves when he is around, but underneath that rock solid exterior is a man who has a secret and loves his mom.
This story was extraordinary as you see two characters who are seemingly nothing alike learn lessons from each other. It takes a lot a time for the walls to come down, as they do not realize just how much they need each other. They are actually a match made in heaven.
The romance was chef's kiss. If you are looking for an instalove romance, this one is not for you. The author builds the characters slowly as you get an inside look at what makes them tick so that you can more fully appreciate the people they are today.
There is plenty of humor, as is par for the course in the Love in Maples Falls series. Edgar, the goat, provides plenty of laughs and actually steals the show several times. I adored everything about this story. That ending was ooh la la!
Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Marcy Fontaine is an accountant extraordinaire. Numbers and structure make her happy. Numbers will not break her heart. Because of her timidity and matter of fact behavior, she has been given the title of Ice Queen, which you will soon learn she does not deserve. Marcy has the warmest heart in the world. She just has barriers built around herself to protect her heart from further heartbreak. She is certainly not going to let some flirty hockey player change anything in her life. Those were famous last words.
Clement Riviere has left the lights and big city vibes of Paris to come to the small town of Maple Falls to play goalie for the Ice Breakers. The Frenchman is swoony and all the ladies fan themselves when he is around, but underneath that rock solid exterior is a man who has a secret and loves his mom.
This story was extraordinary as you see two characters who are seemingly nothing alike learn lessons from each other. It takes a lot a time for the walls to come down, as they do not realize just how much they need each other. They are actually a match made in heaven.
The romance was chef's kiss. If you are looking for an instalove romance, this one is not for you. The author builds the characters slowly as you get an inside look at what makes them tick so that you can more fully appreciate the people they are today.
There is plenty of humor, as is par for the course in the Love in Maples Falls series. Edgar, the goat, provides plenty of laughs and actually steals the show several times. I adored everything about this story. That ending was ooh la la!
Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 15, 2025
Goalie and the Girl Next Door is the fifth book in the Love in Maple Falls series about the new NHL Ice Breakers Hockey Team and returns to the town of Maple Falls. This is the third book in this series that I have read so far (I plan to go back and read the ones I missed) and I love how the stories are occurring during the same time period. The reader is able view the situations in Maple Falls from different perspectives, which is so fun to experience.
This story introduces the reader to Marcy and Clement. Clement is the new charming French goalie for the Ice Breakers who is full of life and looking to establish himself in a new culture, new home and new team. Marcy is the quiet, hometown accountant focused on helping to improve her town one set of taxes at a time while protecting her broken heart especially from hockey players. Clement and Marcy aren't an instant love situation, they have to work at finding mutual ground. Watching them work on healing their hearts, finding love, laughing with Edgar the goat, and planning a future makes this book impossible to put down.
Another fun aspect of this book is being able to follow the events and characters from the other stories as well. Each book can be read as a standalone story but since the books seem to overlap in the timeframe, it is a great way to view the many events from everyone's viewpoint. For example, the bachelor auction is fun for one, scary for another, and works outs for the best for someone else. I definitely recommend this series for everyone. I have really enjoyed every book that I have read so far.
I received an ARC copy of this book and I am leaving an honest voluntary review.
This story introduces the reader to Marcy and Clement. Clement is the new charming French goalie for the Ice Breakers who is full of life and looking to establish himself in a new culture, new home and new team. Marcy is the quiet, hometown accountant focused on helping to improve her town one set of taxes at a time while protecting her broken heart especially from hockey players. Clement and Marcy aren't an instant love situation, they have to work at finding mutual ground. Watching them work on healing their hearts, finding love, laughing with Edgar the goat, and planning a future makes this book impossible to put down.
Another fun aspect of this book is being able to follow the events and characters from the other stories as well. Each book can be read as a standalone story but since the books seem to overlap in the timeframe, it is a great way to view the many events from everyone's viewpoint. For example, the bachelor auction is fun for one, scary for another, and works outs for the best for someone else. I definitely recommend this series for everyone. I have really enjoyed every book that I have read so far.
I received an ARC copy of this book and I am leaving an honest voluntary review.
September 11, 2025
This Swoon-worthy story about Marcy Fontaine and Clement Rivière , I was in my element and read with delight .Marcy was adamant ,it’s not right . You see this fella ,this Frenchman he’s taken it upon himself to help out at Happy Horizons Ranch where of course Marcy Fontaine’s Accountancy is as well as where she helps out with other business like feeding the chickens. He’s set to with the hay making and good with goats? Well she wasn’t going to fall for a man that would up and leave town but without him? She’d surely be down . Her ex was a hockey player though and this makes her frown. The whole town seems to like having him around and without his shirt ? Who can blame them ?…Ahem. Taking a chance on romance and falling in love with a town as well as a girl is what makes Clement’s lips curl up .He’s left Paris for a shot at the big time while fixing up an abode to eventually live in not offload…This accountant and a hockey goalie ,oh moly the chemistry is off the charts .Yup! It’s meant to be , it’s on the score cards that their hearts beat for one another and oh brother the romance is ecstasy and real feels see. Great characters you can relate to and a sense that alls right in their world as long as they’re together … . And this town ,Maple Falls is clingy and wants to keep them around. And anyway his goat whispering sure is sound . I Love this book by Elsie Woods ,it’s something else . The characters are splendidly written and of them I’m truly smitten . It’s funny and sunny and atypical of this great author ,who always leaves you happy and smiling with her stories so beguiling.
August 13, 2025
In this fifth book in the series, we finally get the chance to get to know Maple Falls' resident Frenchman... and the determined accountant who is helping to save the town! Clément and Marcy didn't get off to a great start during their first meeting, but Clément didn't let her initial brush off sway him! These two were really fun together... with lots of laugh out loud moments to keep me smiling. If you enjoy animal shenanigans, Edgar (the goat) absolutely delivers in this one! But mixed in with those laughs, we have two characters who have some hurts in their pasts and uncertainties in their future that they have to grow through... and I loved seeing them work it all out together. Having read (most of) the previous books, it was also really fun to once again see some of those now familiar events through a new set of POVs! If you love smalltown autumn vibes, animal mayhem, home renovation, and hockey romance, this is certainly one not to be missed! Another great addition to the series!
Goalie and the Girl Next Door is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. It is the fifth book in the Love in Maple Falls series. This is a multi-author series centered around The Ice Breakers hockey team, first introduced in the Love on Thin Ice series. All the books in the series have an overlapping timeline, making it extra fun for those who read in order, but could be enjoyed as a standalone as well.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
Goalie and the Girl Next Door is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. It is the fifth book in the Love in Maple Falls series. This is a multi-author series centered around The Ice Breakers hockey team, first introduced in the Love on Thin Ice series. All the books in the series have an overlapping timeline, making it extra fun for those who read in order, but could be enjoyed as a standalone as well.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
September 9, 2025
Marcy wound up in Maple Falls after her pro hockey boyfriend left her behind. Maple Falls has become a place where she’s been able to heal, and now it feels like home. She started her own accounting business and has clients all over town, including City Hall. She’s mortified to learn that the town’s benefactor, who owned over half of Maple Falls and donated it to the city since he had no living relatives, has a man claiming to be a relative! She’s been tasked confidentially to help the town keep the bequeathed property.
At a meeting with the mayor’s daughter at City Hall, Marcy bumps into Clément, a new resident and the goalie for the newly formed NHL team, the Ice Breakers, based in Maple Falls. Clément purchased a fixer-upper home in Maple Falls, intending to settle down in his new town after coming here from France. He needs a building permit from the elusive mayor and is trying everything to get the permit so he can start renovations. He’s captivated by Marcy and can’t stop thinking about her. Marcy feels some attraction, but is determined to steer clear of him as he’s a hockey player. She doesn’t want to fall for someone who’ll leave her behind again.
Can Marcy fight the attraction between them? Will Clément be able to break down Marcy’s walls? Will they be able to save the town? Loved this story and can’t wait for the next installment in this series!
At a meeting with the mayor’s daughter at City Hall, Marcy bumps into Clément, a new resident and the goalie for the newly formed NHL team, the Ice Breakers, based in Maple Falls. Clément purchased a fixer-upper home in Maple Falls, intending to settle down in his new town after coming here from France. He needs a building permit from the elusive mayor and is trying everything to get the permit so he can start renovations. He’s captivated by Marcy and can’t stop thinking about her. Marcy feels some attraction, but is determined to steer clear of him as he’s a hockey player. She doesn’t want to fall for someone who’ll leave her behind again.
Can Marcy fight the attraction between them? Will Clément be able to break down Marcy’s walls? Will they be able to save the town? Loved this story and can’t wait for the next installment in this series!
October 2, 2025
Goalie and the Girl Next Door is the 5th book in the Love in Maple Falls Series and, in surprised to admit, the first book I have read by author Elsie Woods! It centers around March Fontaine, the part time town accountant who readers met in the 1st book, Fake Out with Fate. She has been called the Ice Queen by the townspeople, and it seems to be an accurate description of her personality as she lives her life trying to protect her wounded heart. All is well emotionally until she meets the charming French goalie of the new Ice Breakers Hockey team. Despite her best efforts, they become friends, and she slowly realized that his appealing personality in not fake and she is drawn to the man within.
This was a unique storyline as is more than a simple love story. Elsie Woods, through the MMC, Clement, presents the reality of living with debilitating migraines complete with the anxiety and unpredictability associated with this aliment. My own husband has navigated his life with migraines since childhood and her descriptions of the onset and resulting physical conditions were exceptional.
I found the main characters to be authentic and well written. I was crossing my fingers that they both would see what their lives could be together! I am now adding Elsie Woods titles to my TBR.
I received an ARC from the author and am leaving a voluntary review based solely on my reading experience.
This was a unique storyline as is more than a simple love story. Elsie Woods, through the MMC, Clement, presents the reality of living with debilitating migraines complete with the anxiety and unpredictability associated with this aliment. My own husband has navigated his life with migraines since childhood and her descriptions of the onset and resulting physical conditions were exceptional.
I found the main characters to be authentic and well written. I was crossing my fingers that they both would see what their lives could be together! I am now adding Elsie Woods titles to my TBR.
I received an ARC from the author and am leaving a voluntary review based solely on my reading experience.
September 20, 2025
Marcy first came into town with just a few changes of clothes and plans to surprise her now ex boyfriend. After being humiliated by her ex, who happened to be a hockey player, Marcy has learned to guard her heart, especially around hockey players. Luckily she came to town right when the town needed a new accountant, and found a home on the Happy Horizons Ranch doing accounting for the charity and odd jobs around the ranch
Clement is a French transplant who is looking for his forever home. Which kinda makes him sound like a puppy, I mean he does have golden retriever energy so maybe it fits. Clement is trying hard to make his move to America feel like home, he bought an old, very run down home to fix up, but his permit hasn’t gone through. He’s fitting in well with the team but he’s feeling a bit lost. Then, Marcy stumbles into his life and doesn’t fall all over herself, and instead clearly has a keep away attitude, but he can’t help but fall for her.
Marcy and Clement have one of the quieter relationships so far of the Love in Maple Falls series. A lot of their time together is spent away on the Happy Horizons Ranch. It’s one of those slow and steady wins the race relationships, and Clement definitely fell first and harder, though Marcy wasn’t far behind, just in denial about it.
Clement is a French transplant who is looking for his forever home. Which kinda makes him sound like a puppy, I mean he does have golden retriever energy so maybe it fits. Clement is trying hard to make his move to America feel like home, he bought an old, very run down home to fix up, but his permit hasn’t gone through. He’s fitting in well with the team but he’s feeling a bit lost. Then, Marcy stumbles into his life and doesn’t fall all over herself, and instead clearly has a keep away attitude, but he can’t help but fall for her.
Marcy and Clement have one of the quieter relationships so far of the Love in Maple Falls series. A lot of their time together is spent away on the Happy Horizons Ranch. It’s one of those slow and steady wins the race relationships, and Clement definitely fell first and harder, though Marcy wasn’t far behind, just in denial about it.
July 29, 2025
Marcy & Clément
Marcy has been a part of the Maple Falls community nearly as long as the Ice Breakers have been a team. I loved to see the circumstances that brought her to town, the reasons she stayed, and how she took an unhappy event and became stronger as a person. Clèment was a very unique character, all French charm and good looks, and a very skilled goalie. I loved the team dynamic he created, and his insistence on doing the repairs on his historic home himself. He didn't realize exactly how historic it was in the context of the town. I loved watching the two of them together while they talk about their past and the triumphs and tragedies that made them who they are. The vulnerabilities they expose let the other person in much faster and deeper than initially intended. Honesty tends to do that.
It was special getting to visit Happy Horizons Ranch children's charity location from the first Ice Breakers series to see how the family and the animals are doing some years later. Edgar the goat makes a special appearance ; even he cozies up to our favorite French goalie.
I received an advance beta copy of this story directly from the author and voluntarily chose to share my review.
Marcy has been a part of the Maple Falls community nearly as long as the Ice Breakers have been a team. I loved to see the circumstances that brought her to town, the reasons she stayed, and how she took an unhappy event and became stronger as a person. Clèment was a very unique character, all French charm and good looks, and a very skilled goalie. I loved the team dynamic he created, and his insistence on doing the repairs on his historic home himself. He didn't realize exactly how historic it was in the context of the town. I loved watching the two of them together while they talk about their past and the triumphs and tragedies that made them who they are. The vulnerabilities they expose let the other person in much faster and deeper than initially intended. Honesty tends to do that.
It was special getting to visit Happy Horizons Ranch children's charity location from the first Ice Breakers series to see how the family and the animals are doing some years later. Edgar the goat makes a special appearance ; even he cozies up to our favorite French goalie.
I received an advance beta copy of this story directly from the author and voluntarily chose to share my review.
September 8, 2025
I give this 4 1/2 Stars!
I want to start by saying I received an ARC of this book. This is a clean romance and part of the Love in Maple Falls series. The main characters are Clément and Marcy. Clément is a hockey player and Marcy is an accountant. When Marcy meets Clément and finds out he is a hockey player she automatically decides to stay away from him. Marcy had her heart broken in the past by a hockey player. The town is small so she can’t avoid him forever. The more she sees him and spends time with him she sees he is different. Will they open their hearts to each other? Will Marcy be willing to give him a chance even though he is a hockey player? There is a chance Clément won’t be able to stay. Will they fight for him to stay? I found Clément to be a great book boyfriend as he is French and talks sweetly to goats. Clément was great for Marcy. I loved watching them together. Seeing them move on from the past to have a future together. They were opposites which also worked out great. The side characters were awesome as they have been in this series so far. Overall, this was a great book. If you like a French hockey player who whispers sweet words to a goat then you may love this book.
I want to start by saying I received an ARC of this book. This is a clean romance and part of the Love in Maple Falls series. The main characters are Clément and Marcy. Clément is a hockey player and Marcy is an accountant. When Marcy meets Clément and finds out he is a hockey player she automatically decides to stay away from him. Marcy had her heart broken in the past by a hockey player. The town is small so she can’t avoid him forever. The more she sees him and spends time with him she sees he is different. Will they open their hearts to each other? Will Marcy be willing to give him a chance even though he is a hockey player? There is a chance Clément won’t be able to stay. Will they fight for him to stay? I found Clément to be a great book boyfriend as he is French and talks sweetly to goats. Clément was great for Marcy. I loved watching them together. Seeing them move on from the past to have a future together. They were opposites which also worked out great. The side characters were awesome as they have been in this series so far. Overall, this was a great book. If you like a French hockey player who whispers sweet words to a goat then you may love this book.
September 12, 2025
- Small town romance
- Hockey romance
- He falls first
I have to say, I am LOVING this interconnected, multi-author series! I adore small town romances so much and this little town of Maple Falls is amazing! However, the little town may be changing hands if a long lost heir has any say....
The little town has just secured a NHL team, the Icebreakers. This is cause for celebration as a boon for tourism...and an influx of handsome hockey players! But accountant Marcy is not at all interested in the hockey players after a former hockey boyfriend dumped her after she made her way cross country to surprise him. Lucky for Marcy, the little town of Maple Falls welcomed her love of numbers and she has made a nice little spot for herself.
New goalie Clement, fresh from France, is excited to put down roots in this quaint little town. He immediately purchased a fixer upper (on the verge of falling down!) that he wants to renovate mainly by himself.
These two characters are so cute together and Marcy tries her best not to fall for the charming Clement. Which is hard because all the animals at the farm where Marcy works and lives love Clement.
I was so invested in saving this town and can't wait to see what the next story brings!
- Hockey romance
- He falls first
I have to say, I am LOVING this interconnected, multi-author series! I adore small town romances so much and this little town of Maple Falls is amazing! However, the little town may be changing hands if a long lost heir has any say....
The little town has just secured a NHL team, the Icebreakers. This is cause for celebration as a boon for tourism...and an influx of handsome hockey players! But accountant Marcy is not at all interested in the hockey players after a former hockey boyfriend dumped her after she made her way cross country to surprise him. Lucky for Marcy, the little town of Maple Falls welcomed her love of numbers and she has made a nice little spot for herself.
New goalie Clement, fresh from France, is excited to put down roots in this quaint little town. He immediately purchased a fixer upper (on the verge of falling down!) that he wants to renovate mainly by himself.
These two characters are so cute together and Marcy tries her best not to fall for the charming Clement. Which is hard because all the animals at the farm where Marcy works and lives love Clement.
I was so invested in saving this town and can't wait to see what the next story brings!
September 18, 2025
Such a swoony small-town romance!
What you'll love:
opposites attract
dual pov
French hockey player MMC
motorcycle ride
home renovation
his accent
he falls first
the Ice Breakers
cinnamon roll hero
the date!!!
Edgar the goat
the grand gestures!!!
Cuter than a Hallmark movie and twice as swoony! I adored the opposites attract magic between Marcy, the "Ice Queen" with a heart guarded by spreadsheets and sarcasm and Clément a flirty, motorcycle riding French hockey goalie who dreams of small-town roots and big love. Their chemistry was instant (though Marcy would no doubt deny it!) and oh, that first date had me practically swooning.
Add in a mischievous goat named Edgar, a found family hockey team full of heart and humor, and the perfect balance of small town charm and realistic emotion, and this book had me hooked from page one. Loved seeing some of the characters from other books in the series, but there are no spoilers and this book can be read as a standalone!
If you love flirty men with accents, hockey romances with depth, and all the small town fall vibes, then this book belongs on your TBR!
I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.
What you'll love:
opposites attract
dual pov
French hockey player MMC
motorcycle ride
home renovation
his accent
he falls first
the Ice Breakers
cinnamon roll hero
the date!!!
Edgar the goat
the grand gestures!!!
Cuter than a Hallmark movie and twice as swoony! I adored the opposites attract magic between Marcy, the "Ice Queen" with a heart guarded by spreadsheets and sarcasm and Clément a flirty, motorcycle riding French hockey goalie who dreams of small-town roots and big love. Their chemistry was instant (though Marcy would no doubt deny it!) and oh, that first date had me practically swooning.
Add in a mischievous goat named Edgar, a found family hockey team full of heart and humor, and the perfect balance of small town charm and realistic emotion, and this book had me hooked from page one. Loved seeing some of the characters from other books in the series, but there are no spoilers and this book can be read as a standalone!
If you love flirty men with accents, hockey romances with depth, and all the small town fall vibes, then this book belongs on your TBR!
I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.
September 25, 2025
In the charming small town of Maple Falls, a handsome French goalie named Clément arrives, only to find himself completely captivated by the local "ice queen," Marcy. Her nickname is well-earned; after a painful past heartbreak, Marcy has built an impenetrable wall around her emotions, dedicating herself to her work to avoid any chance of being hurt again.
But Clément is not easily deterred. He’s a true romantic, patiently chipping away at Marcy’s defenses not with grand gestures, but with genuine kindness and thoughtful romance. A unique and endearing twist is his talent as a "goat whisperer," a charming skill that even helps him connect with Marcy in unexpected ways.
One of the real treats of this story is the fantastic cast of supporting characters. It's a joy to see Clément's friends and teammates not only support each other's on-ice efforts but also rally behind their romantic pursuits. Their camaraderie and unwavering loyalty add a heartwarming layer to the story, making the town of Maple Falls feel like a place you'd want to visit.
Goalie and the Girl Next Door is a sweet and satisfying romance that proves even the iciest hearts can be melted by a little patience and a whole lot of kindness.
But Clément is not easily deterred. He’s a true romantic, patiently chipping away at Marcy’s defenses not with grand gestures, but with genuine kindness and thoughtful romance. A unique and endearing twist is his talent as a "goat whisperer," a charming skill that even helps him connect with Marcy in unexpected ways.
One of the real treats of this story is the fantastic cast of supporting characters. It's a joy to see Clément's friends and teammates not only support each other's on-ice efforts but also rally behind their romantic pursuits. Their camaraderie and unwavering loyalty add a heartwarming layer to the story, making the town of Maple Falls feel like a place you'd want to visit.
Goalie and the Girl Next Door is a sweet and satisfying romance that proves even the iciest hearts can be melted by a little patience and a whole lot of kindness.
September 7, 2025
This book was so much fun! I fell in love with these characters! This book had me hooked from the first page until the end. I also love a good story that has animals and the goat Edgar was so much fun and had me laughing like crazy!
Clemente is from Paris and is here to play with the Ice Breakers. He's always wanted to come to America and settle down in a small town with a home he put his heart and soul into. He ends up buying a house and it's definitely a fixer upper. While he's trying to find the mayor to get a permit for the house he runs into the beautiful Marcy!
Marcy has a past with hockey players and she wants nothing to do with them. When she meets Clemente and finds out he's a goalie things don't start out to well for these two. But as he starts helping out Scotty and Angel at Happy Horizons Ranch she starts seeing a different side to him and thinks he might not be like most hockey players.
This story was so much fun to read. You will laugh until you cheeks hurt, smile through out the entire book, swoon, have your heart melt, fall in love, and be left with an AMAZING ending!!
Thank you Elsie Woods for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.
Clemente is from Paris and is here to play with the Ice Breakers. He's always wanted to come to America and settle down in a small town with a home he put his heart and soul into. He ends up buying a house and it's definitely a fixer upper. While he's trying to find the mayor to get a permit for the house he runs into the beautiful Marcy!
Marcy has a past with hockey players and she wants nothing to do with them. When she meets Clemente and finds out he's a goalie things don't start out to well for these two. But as he starts helping out Scotty and Angel at Happy Horizons Ranch she starts seeing a different side to him and thinks he might not be like most hockey players.
This story was so much fun to read. You will laugh until you cheeks hurt, smile through out the entire book, swoon, have your heart melt, fall in love, and be left with an AMAZING ending!!
Thank you Elsie Woods for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.
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