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Slap Shot Scandal
A sexy grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers, hockey romance from bestselling author, Kara Kendrick
He’s the grumpy captain with everything to lose. She’s the PR problem he didn’t ask for.
Hockey is my life. Always has been.
As captain of the team, I’ve built my career on discipline, loyalty, and laser focus.
But after a scandal tanks the franchise’s image, the owner relocates us to Driftwood Cove, a small sleepy Florida beach town.
New name, new strategy.
And a bubbly PR consultant hired to clean up the mess.
Harbor Hayes.
She’s sunshine in a bottle. Bright, blonde and opinionated. Worse—she knows hockey. And exactly how to get under my skin.
We clash from day one and I’m torn between wanting her gone and wanting every inch of her body underneath mine.
The longer we work together, the harder it is to pretend she doesn’t affect me.
When lines blur behind closed doors, we make a deal.
Three
No feelings. No falling. No future.
Until one reckless moment leaks in a viral video.
Now I’m not just leading the team–I’m at the center of a brand-new scandal.
One that could destroy everything.
Especially the woman I swore I’d never fall for.
He’s the grumpy captain with everything to lose. She’s the PR problem he didn’t ask for.
Hockey is my life. Always has been.
As captain of the team, I’ve built my career on discipline, loyalty, and laser focus.
But after a scandal tanks the franchise’s image, the owner relocates us to Driftwood Cove, a small sleepy Florida beach town.
New name, new strategy.
And a bubbly PR consultant hired to clean up the mess.
Harbor Hayes.
She’s sunshine in a bottle. Bright, blonde and opinionated. Worse—she knows hockey. And exactly how to get under my skin.
We clash from day one and I’m torn between wanting her gone and wanting every inch of her body underneath mine.
The longer we work together, the harder it is to pretend she doesn’t affect me.
When lines blur behind closed doors, we make a deal.
Three
No feelings. No falling. No future.
Until one reckless moment leaks in a viral video.
Now I’m not just leading the team–I’m at the center of a brand-new scandal.
One that could destroy everything.
Especially the woman I swore I’d never fall for.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 2, 2025
94 people are currently reading
4441 people want to read
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October 1, 2025
Slap Shot Scandal (Coastal Crushers, #1) by Kara Kendrick
4/5 stars
Slap Shot Scandal is another fun, delicious and bubbly book by Kara Kendrick. I just love her easy going writing style. It's easy to get lost in and I fell for these characters super fast.
The book starts with Weston rushing to an emergency meeting with his coach. He is very close with him and is dying to know what the meeting is about. On his way there he bumps into a stunning blonde but he quickly goes on his way. He gets the shock of his life when A. the coach isn't there and B. he got let go. He slept with the owner's wife and threw their play-off games. Things have to change ASAP. And that's the moment the stunning blonde steps in. Her name is Harbor and she is the new PR Consultant. The team moves to Driftwood Cove, a small town in Florida and the team has to start giving back to the community to fix up their image.
Harbor is dying to prove herself to her famous coaching father. Her father constantly degrades her and isn't supportive of her new career move. He tries to get her into other jobs. But Harbor finally puts her foot down and choses herself for once.
And all Harbor wants is to fully focus on her new job. But she is intricately drawn to Weston. And Weston knows he needs to focus on being the best team captain he can be, but Harbor quickly crawls under his skin and he throws him off his game with her delicious banter and intelligent mind. At first he tries to dismiss her new ideas, but he quickly realizes they are good and that her plans will move the team in a better and new direction.
I love how much they yearned for each other. Their looks, the small touches, the blushes and the grins had me on the edge of my seat. And when they tried to make some ground rules I instantly knew they were doomed to fail.
I love how much they love. I ached when Harbor tried to create distance and rejoiced when they finally gave in. The chemistry was absolutely top notch.
Bennett might have been my favorite character in this book. He is a triplet brother with Weston and Callum. He literally stole every scene he was in. And the way he pushes his brother had me laughing out loud. I also love how his story is set up for the second book in this series.
The only thing I didn't like, and what I struggle with with more than one author is the fact that you always need to sign up for bonus scenes. The author says what the bonus scene is about and I was like, that is not a bonus scene, that is a vital scene to the story. And it really annoyed and bothered me that it isn't in the book itself. Just put everything you have in the book. Why is it always sign up for this or that in order to read a complete book? I really dislike it when authors do that. I get that bonus scenes aren't in the book when authors write them years later. But this book isn't even released and it's still not in it. Maybe this is a me thing. But it did kill a bit of the joy I felt overall.
Apart from that it's an amazing book which I really enjoyed. 4 big stars for Slap Shot Scandal!
4/5 stars
Slap Shot Scandal is another fun, delicious and bubbly book by Kara Kendrick. I just love her easy going writing style. It's easy to get lost in and I fell for these characters super fast.
The book starts with Weston rushing to an emergency meeting with his coach. He is very close with him and is dying to know what the meeting is about. On his way there he bumps into a stunning blonde but he quickly goes on his way. He gets the shock of his life when A. the coach isn't there and B. he got let go. He slept with the owner's wife and threw their play-off games. Things have to change ASAP. And that's the moment the stunning blonde steps in. Her name is Harbor and she is the new PR Consultant. The team moves to Driftwood Cove, a small town in Florida and the team has to start giving back to the community to fix up their image.
Harbor is dying to prove herself to her famous coaching father. Her father constantly degrades her and isn't supportive of her new career move. He tries to get her into other jobs. But Harbor finally puts her foot down and choses herself for once.
And all Harbor wants is to fully focus on her new job. But she is intricately drawn to Weston. And Weston knows he needs to focus on being the best team captain he can be, but Harbor quickly crawls under his skin and he throws him off his game with her delicious banter and intelligent mind. At first he tries to dismiss her new ideas, but he quickly realizes they are good and that her plans will move the team in a better and new direction.
I love how much they yearned for each other. Their looks, the small touches, the blushes and the grins had me on the edge of my seat. And when they tried to make some ground rules I instantly knew they were doomed to fail.
I love how much they love. I ached when Harbor tried to create distance and rejoiced when they finally gave in. The chemistry was absolutely top notch.
Bennett might have been my favorite character in this book. He is a triplet brother with Weston and Callum. He literally stole every scene he was in. And the way he pushes his brother had me laughing out loud. I also love how his story is set up for the second book in this series.
The only thing I didn't like, and what I struggle with with more than one author is the fact that you always need to sign up for bonus scenes. The author says what the bonus scene is about and I was like, that is not a bonus scene, that is a vital scene to the story. And it really annoyed and bothered me that it isn't in the book itself. Just put everything you have in the book. Why is it always sign up for this or that in order to read a complete book? I really dislike it when authors do that. I get that bonus scenes aren't in the book when authors write them years later. But this book isn't even released and it's still not in it. Maybe this is a me thing. But it did kill a bit of the joy I felt overall.
Apart from that it's an amazing book which I really enjoyed. 4 big stars for Slap Shot Scandal!
October 9, 2025
#Review: *Slap Shot Scandal* - Kara Kendrick - ALC [18+]
4.6/5✨
2.5/5🌶️
Another sports romance which caught my eye🤭. Super grateful for being accepted for this one by the author and Valentine Pr. Thank youu!
As if one initial scandal in the Coastal Crushers hockey team wasn't enough, another one was about to blow again. But let's go to the beginning. A huge scandal involving the coach of the team has exploded and solutions were needed to calm thing down and start over. So, the team needed to move to Driftwood Cove, in Florida and hired a PR consultant, in the person of Harbor Hayes.
Captain of the team, Weston Steel wasn't happy at all with the changes and with the arrival of Harbor Hayes. But besides the loathing he had at that moment, something strange was lurking inside him, making him feel something towards the new PR consultant. Things were about to get so much more messier because of the stong connection Weston and Harbor felt for each other. Will they be able to deal with another scandal? Were their jobs in jeopardy because of that secret relationship?
It was pretty obvious that I would enjoy this book because of that forbidden and secret romance story. I'm always adoring that uncertainty and angst, this one having plenty of both. Also, can we please talk about how adorable this couple was? There were those small details which I really loved, those little praising lines, where you could see how much they liked each other and how inevitable their feelings were. As usual, I had lots of fun because of the hockey team members, who brought to the story that lighter side. I enjoyed that there were those ice time too, where all the details were depicted in such an amazing way.
Emma Wilder and Sean Masters have done such an awesome job in bringing these characters to life! They made me feel like I was in the middle of the action, living to the fullest each moment from this story! I adored their duet and how expressive they are.
Another book by Kara which I loved, being pretty impossible not to fall for each character from this story. They all had their own importance in the entire picture, creating such a beautiful whole.
✨Tropes
#ForbiddenRomance
#SecretRomance
#WorkplaceRomance
#StartingOver
#Banter
#Angst
#SportsRomance
#Hockey
4.6/5✨
2.5/5🌶️
Another sports romance which caught my eye🤭. Super grateful for being accepted for this one by the author and Valentine Pr. Thank youu!
As if one initial scandal in the Coastal Crushers hockey team wasn't enough, another one was about to blow again. But let's go to the beginning. A huge scandal involving the coach of the team has exploded and solutions were needed to calm thing down and start over. So, the team needed to move to Driftwood Cove, in Florida and hired a PR consultant, in the person of Harbor Hayes.
Captain of the team, Weston Steel wasn't happy at all with the changes and with the arrival of Harbor Hayes. But besides the loathing he had at that moment, something strange was lurking inside him, making him feel something towards the new PR consultant. Things were about to get so much more messier because of the stong connection Weston and Harbor felt for each other. Will they be able to deal with another scandal? Were their jobs in jeopardy because of that secret relationship?
It was pretty obvious that I would enjoy this book because of that forbidden and secret romance story. I'm always adoring that uncertainty and angst, this one having plenty of both. Also, can we please talk about how adorable this couple was? There were those small details which I really loved, those little praising lines, where you could see how much they liked each other and how inevitable their feelings were. As usual, I had lots of fun because of the hockey team members, who brought to the story that lighter side. I enjoyed that there were those ice time too, where all the details were depicted in such an amazing way.
Emma Wilder and Sean Masters have done such an awesome job in bringing these characters to life! They made me feel like I was in the middle of the action, living to the fullest each moment from this story! I adored their duet and how expressive they are.
Another book by Kara which I loved, being pretty impossible not to fall for each character from this story. They all had their own importance in the entire picture, creating such a beautiful whole.
✨Tropes
#ForbiddenRomance
#SecretRomance
#WorkplaceRomance
#StartingOver
#Banter
#Angst
#SportsRomance
#Hockey
October 3, 2025
TW: SA, horrible parents
This was in an insanely fast read/listen
I absolutely love Sean Masters and Emma Wilder and they did a great job with this one.
I was confused on the timeline of this story. In my head it was like maybe 2 weeks tops but they definitely acted like it was wayyy more time than that. Overall a good story about insta connection.
He bumps into her in the hall immediately can’t stop thinking of her and she knew right away he was trouble.
It’s a classic they can’t be together but also can’t stop.
I liked it a lot. The audiobook was duet style which besides graphic is my fav.
She was hired to be PR person for his hockey team and get them out of a scandal so she definitely cannot become the scandal.
Tropes: workplace romance, grumpy/sunshine he fell first, forbidden romance, hockey romance
Spice:🌶️.5
Steam:🔥🔥🔥
Sweetness:💗💗💗
This was in an insanely fast read/listen
I absolutely love Sean Masters and Emma Wilder and they did a great job with this one.
I was confused on the timeline of this story. In my head it was like maybe 2 weeks tops but they definitely acted like it was wayyy more time than that. Overall a good story about insta connection.
He bumps into her in the hall immediately can’t stop thinking of her and she knew right away he was trouble.
It’s a classic they can’t be together but also can’t stop.
I liked it a lot. The audiobook was duet style which besides graphic is my fav.
She was hired to be PR person for his hockey team and get them out of a scandal so she definitely cannot become the scandal.
Tropes: workplace romance, grumpy/sunshine he fell first, forbidden romance, hockey romance
Spice:🌶️.5
Steam:🔥🔥🔥
Sweetness:💗💗💗
October 2, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️
First of all, thank you to Valentine PR & the author for gifting me this ARC!
What I really enjoyed was the attraction between Harbor and Weston. Their chemistry and the spicy scenes kept me reading, because I wanted to see how things would unfold between them.
Unfortunately, the storyline itself didn’t hold my attention as much. Based on the blurb, I expected more of a scandal with Harbor at the center of it, but that wasn’t really what I got, which left me a bit disappointed.
Overall, I’m giving this book 3 stars , mainly because of Harbor & Weston and their dynamic together.
First of all, thank you to Valentine PR & the author for gifting me this ARC!
What I really enjoyed was the attraction between Harbor and Weston. Their chemistry and the spicy scenes kept me reading, because I wanted to see how things would unfold between them.
Unfortunately, the storyline itself didn’t hold my attention as much. Based on the blurb, I expected more of a scandal with Harbor at the center of it, but that wasn’t really what I got, which left me a bit disappointed.
Overall, I’m giving this book 3 stars , mainly because of Harbor & Weston and their dynamic together.
September 30, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Addicted. Obsessed. Completely in love.
This was my first read by Kara Kendrick and let me just say, I’m hooked. Her writing style is addictive in the best way…fast-paced, emotional, funny, and full of heart. I already know this won't be my last book by her. And I’m looking forward to what’s up next with Bennett.
Let’s talk about the grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers magic that is Harbor and the brooding team captain. These two had me in a CHOKEHOLD.
Their banter? Chef’s kiss.
The chemistry? Off. The. Charts.
And the emotional tension? I was living for it.
Harbor is the kind of headstrong, confident, quick-witted female lead I adore. She walks into a locker room full of egos and holds her own, flawlessly. She's fierce and refuses to back down, even when the grumpy hockey captain himself tries to steamroll her.
And him…ugh! The smitten, growly, reluctant-to-fall hockey captain. His gruff exterior, his loyalty to the team, and the way he absolutely melts for Harbor even though he fights it every step of the way? Oh, My heart.
I loved watching their walls come down little by little, especially when the odds were stacked against them. From scandal and tension to that viral video moment and everything after, this journey was filled with passion, drama, and the kind of swoony, slow burn payoff that made me giddy and left me craving more!
Kara Kendrick just became an auto buy author for me. If you love steamy, emotional hockey romances with electric chemistry, clever banter, and characters who feel real, this is one you don’t want to miss. And it’s a hockey romance… so that’s the icing on the cake!
Addicted. Obsessed. Completely in love.
This was my first read by Kara Kendrick and let me just say, I’m hooked. Her writing style is addictive in the best way…fast-paced, emotional, funny, and full of heart. I already know this won't be my last book by her. And I’m looking forward to what’s up next with Bennett.
Let’s talk about the grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers magic that is Harbor and the brooding team captain. These two had me in a CHOKEHOLD.
Their banter? Chef’s kiss.
The chemistry? Off. The. Charts.
And the emotional tension? I was living for it.
Harbor is the kind of headstrong, confident, quick-witted female lead I adore. She walks into a locker room full of egos and holds her own, flawlessly. She's fierce and refuses to back down, even when the grumpy hockey captain himself tries to steamroll her.
And him…ugh! The smitten, growly, reluctant-to-fall hockey captain. His gruff exterior, his loyalty to the team, and the way he absolutely melts for Harbor even though he fights it every step of the way? Oh, My heart.
I loved watching their walls come down little by little, especially when the odds were stacked against them. From scandal and tension to that viral video moment and everything after, this journey was filled with passion, drama, and the kind of swoony, slow burn payoff that made me giddy and left me craving more!
Kara Kendrick just became an auto buy author for me. If you love steamy, emotional hockey romances with electric chemistry, clever banter, and characters who feel real, this is one you don’t want to miss. And it’s a hockey romance… so that’s the icing on the cake!
September 22, 2025
Oh my lord was this book good! Kara has given me another series to love, and it all stems from a rather big scandal(s) that meant that this professional ice hockey team needed to move to a new pond. And the way this was perfectly done was through Harbor who absolutely bosses her way through this book like the PR queen she truly is.
You throw a scandal at a team and introduce a hot new PR lady whom the team captain Weston decides he has the hots for, that can never end well or as well as some may hope. This book was mostly filled with dancing around the attraction that needed to stay dormant between Weston and Harbor but as all romance books go, that can never go as one hopes.
This book is filled to the brim with daddy issues that Harbor possesses and I am not surprised through the interaction that we see between her and her father who was once a hotshot ice hockey player who is entirely sexist and doesn't think Harbor can do anything for herself but damn does she prove him wrong after some events that you will find out when you read this book.
I always give a book the benefit of the doubt if it does not hook me on the first few pages but that was not something that needed to be done for Slap Shot Scandal AT ALL. This book had me hooked from the first few lines and I love it when that happens. I did not want to put this book down and practically read it all in one sitting because that is just what Kara's writing is like, entirely hooking and leaving you wanting more, especially how the book ended.... Gimme the next one already!!
You throw a scandal at a team and introduce a hot new PR lady whom the team captain Weston decides he has the hots for, that can never end well or as well as some may hope. This book was mostly filled with dancing around the attraction that needed to stay dormant between Weston and Harbor but as all romance books go, that can never go as one hopes.
This book is filled to the brim with daddy issues that Harbor possesses and I am not surprised through the interaction that we see between her and her father who was once a hotshot ice hockey player who is entirely sexist and doesn't think Harbor can do anything for herself but damn does she prove him wrong after some events that you will find out when you read this book.
I always give a book the benefit of the doubt if it does not hook me on the first few pages but that was not something that needed to be done for Slap Shot Scandal AT ALL. This book had me hooked from the first few lines and I love it when that happens. I did not want to put this book down and practically read it all in one sitting because that is just what Kara's writing is like, entirely hooking and leaving you wanting more, especially how the book ended.... Gimme the next one already!!
October 9, 2025
This book was a phenomenal masterpiece, I’m so in awe of the amazing writing, storyline and characters! Honestly at first I was a little like “what the heck” like what do you mean this New York hockey team is moving to a little town in Florida and completely rebranding? But it was just so cute watching everything play out and seeing Harbour and Weston work together and fall deeply in love. There is a sort of love to hate thing, it’s instant attraction but Weston thinks they’re on different sides and decides to hate her, but that mentality was hopeless, he didn’t last very long. There are some minor grumpy x sunshine vibes here, he’s like the serious grumpy captain and she’s the strong PR manager fmc, who's confident but really sweet. And unfortunately both of them have daddy issues although Harbours are more prominent in the book. The plot was great, I wasn’t expecting some of the things to happen while I predicted some so I thought it was a good sort of mix. Also their relationship is peak. I love a man who will fight for a relationship, yes they get into so much trouble, but he fought until the end and that is husband material right there. I also loved the side characters, aka Weston’s brothers! I can’t wait for Bennett’s book. I really enjoyed this, I was so immersed in the story and the characters and I give this a 5/5
October 2, 2025
Slap Shot Scandal by Kara Kendrick 💙
Coastal Crushers, Book 1
Interconnected Standalone
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult • Sports Romance
360 Pages
🗓️ October 2
🏒hockey romance
💙workplace romance
🏒forbidden
💙he falls first and harder
🏒dislike to love
💙grumpy x sunshine
🏒3rd act wobble but no breakup
📖“She’s everything I want in a teammate—smart, tough, unshakeable under pressure. The kind of person who makes everyone around them better.”
📖“For the record, Hurricane, you were never the distraction. You were the reason I gave a s— in the first place.”
Okay, confession. This has one of my favorite micro tropes: when nothing means as much to him as his career… until her. And then he would give up everything without blinking to keep her… my goodness, it does things to me. This was no exception. It was the best.
Harbor and Weston were everything I love about a forbidden sports romance. They were so fun to read. The banter, the yearning, the heartbreak, the giving in, the realization they meant everything for each other.
I read this one in a day. It flowed flawlessly and I would’ve gladly stayed there forever. I’m also immensely excited for the next book in the series. That couple is going to be A RIDE 😁😎
Coastal Crushers, Book 1
Interconnected Standalone
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult • Sports Romance
360 Pages
🗓️ October 2
🏒hockey romance
💙workplace romance
🏒forbidden
💙he falls first and harder
🏒dislike to love
💙grumpy x sunshine
🏒3rd act wobble but no breakup
📖“She’s everything I want in a teammate—smart, tough, unshakeable under pressure. The kind of person who makes everyone around them better.”
📖“For the record, Hurricane, you were never the distraction. You were the reason I gave a s— in the first place.”
Okay, confession. This has one of my favorite micro tropes: when nothing means as much to him as his career… until her. And then he would give up everything without blinking to keep her… my goodness, it does things to me. This was no exception. It was the best.
Harbor and Weston were everything I love about a forbidden sports romance. They were so fun to read. The banter, the yearning, the heartbreak, the giving in, the realization they meant everything for each other.
I read this one in a day. It flowed flawlessly and I would’ve gladly stayed there forever. I’m also immensely excited for the next book in the series. That couple is going to be A RIDE 😁😎
September 19, 2025
Slap Shot Scandal eARC & ALC Review 🏒💙
I absolutely loved this one! This is my first book by Kara and it definitely will not be my last. I read the eARC and also had the privilege of listening to the ALC and the narrators are incredible! I enjoyed every second of it.
Harbor is hired on as a PR consultant to help and revamp/ fix a professional hockey team that has a scandal damaging its reputation. She is the definition of a badass FMC who has a sunshiney personality and puts her job at the top of her priority list. Weston, is the captain of the hockey team and after the scandal strikes and changes are forced to be made he is NOT happy about it.
The two are instantly at odds with one another but they also can’t denying their mutual attraction. Will they let their attraction to one another turn into another scandal?
Honestly, I enjoyed this book so much, it was such a fun read with great banter and spice. I can’t wait for the rest of the series!
What to expect:
Hockey romance
Small town
Slow burn
Grumpy x sunshine
Workplace romance
Enemies to lovers
Thank you so much Kara for the opportunity to read this as an ARC for my honest opinion and review!
I absolutely loved this one! This is my first book by Kara and it definitely will not be my last. I read the eARC and also had the privilege of listening to the ALC and the narrators are incredible! I enjoyed every second of it.
Harbor is hired on as a PR consultant to help and revamp/ fix a professional hockey team that has a scandal damaging its reputation. She is the definition of a badass FMC who has a sunshiney personality and puts her job at the top of her priority list. Weston, is the captain of the hockey team and after the scandal strikes and changes are forced to be made he is NOT happy about it.
The two are instantly at odds with one another but they also can’t denying their mutual attraction. Will they let their attraction to one another turn into another scandal?
Honestly, I enjoyed this book so much, it was such a fun read with great banter and spice. I can’t wait for the rest of the series!
What to expect:
Hockey romance
Small town
Slow burn
Grumpy x sunshine
Workplace romance
Enemies to lovers
Thank you so much Kara for the opportunity to read this as an ARC for my honest opinion and review!
October 3, 2025
Weston and Harbor.
This is your typical hockey romance with a player and a PR consultant with a sprinkle of witty banter. This is an easy light read if you're looking for a little bit of drama and a lot of steamy scenes between our MCs. I really enjoyed Wes's character development over the book and loved how strong and independent Harbor was even though sometimes she wasn't sure of herself she still put her big girl pants on and conquered.
The heat between these two was undeniable. & Wes going to bad for Harbor in the middle of all the chaos truly shows just how down bad he was for her. I also loved the concept of moving the hockey team to better than image. Sometimes a clean slate in a new state is just what the doctor ordered.
Thank you to Valentine PR and the author for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is your typical hockey romance with a player and a PR consultant with a sprinkle of witty banter. This is an easy light read if you're looking for a little bit of drama and a lot of steamy scenes between our MCs. I really enjoyed Wes's character development over the book and loved how strong and independent Harbor was even though sometimes she wasn't sure of herself she still put her big girl pants on and conquered.
The heat between these two was undeniable. & Wes going to bad for Harbor in the middle of all the chaos truly shows just how down bad he was for her. I also loved the concept of moving the hockey team to better than image. Sometimes a clean slate in a new state is just what the doctor ordered.
Thank you to Valentine PR and the author for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 9, 2025
I love a good “fuck it” moment 😮💨
This is my first book by Kara Kendrick and it won’t be my last. I loved her writing style and I fell for this book fast. Slap Shot Scandal is an amazing hockey romance with a lot of angst and banter. 🙂↕️ PS the audiobook is AMAZING! The narrators did an amazing job bringing these two characters and their story to life.
Weston Steel is the captain of a hockey team that gets in a HUGE scandal and they need major help. The team decided to hire a new PR consultant, Harbor Hayes. Harbor decides that the team needs a major revamp, including a move to Florida. Weston is not happy about the choices Harbor is making…but he also has some conflicting feelings towards her. What will happen when their feelings surface?
I absolutely loved this book. I loved the characters and their story. I’m a sucker for a forbidden/workplace romance and this one was perfect. There was so much angst between Weston and Harbor, I just wanted to scream at them to kiss already. 😂
Tropes:
Hockey romance
Workplace romance
He falls first
Grumpy x sunshine
Thank you to the author for the arc 🥰
This is my first book by Kara Kendrick and it won’t be my last. I loved her writing style and I fell for this book fast. Slap Shot Scandal is an amazing hockey romance with a lot of angst and banter. 🙂↕️ PS the audiobook is AMAZING! The narrators did an amazing job bringing these two characters and their story to life.
Weston Steel is the captain of a hockey team that gets in a HUGE scandal and they need major help. The team decided to hire a new PR consultant, Harbor Hayes. Harbor decides that the team needs a major revamp, including a move to Florida. Weston is not happy about the choices Harbor is making…but he also has some conflicting feelings towards her. What will happen when their feelings surface?
I absolutely loved this book. I loved the characters and their story. I’m a sucker for a forbidden/workplace romance and this one was perfect. There was so much angst between Weston and Harbor, I just wanted to scream at them to kiss already. 😂
Tropes:
Hockey romance
Workplace romance
He falls first
Grumpy x sunshine
Thank you to the author for the arc 🥰
September 25, 2025
I wish there was an ability to give books more than 5 stars because this book would be one of them! Ms. Kendrick hit this one out of the park! Oh the chemistry between Weston and Harbor is off the charts. This is the first book in the series in which Weston is the captain of a team embroiled in scandal with the coach and Harbor who is the PR hired to get them out of the mess and rebrand the team when they make the move to Florida to start over. As Weston and Harbor are thrown together to work on the rebrand, the chemistry between them ignites. Now, the new Coastal Crushers are having more scandals. Will Harbor and Weston’s new found love survive the fallout? Loved how these two fought for the love they found!
October 2, 2025
This is the first book in a new series, and this is Weston and Harbor’s story.
Weston is the grumpy captain of the hockey team, which is his life, and when scandal destroys the franchises image, the owner relocates the team to Driftwood Cove, and feisty Harbor, who is a PR consultant is hired to redeem the team’s image.
This is an easy-to-read story, which has friendships, loyalty, grumpy / sunshine, opposites attract, enemies / lovers, redemption, workplace romance, humour, witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, small town hockey romance.
I look forward to reading more from these talented authors’ whose work I highly recommend.
Weston is the grumpy captain of the hockey team, which is his life, and when scandal destroys the franchises image, the owner relocates the team to Driftwood Cove, and feisty Harbor, who is a PR consultant is hired to redeem the team’s image.
This is an easy-to-read story, which has friendships, loyalty, grumpy / sunshine, opposites attract, enemies / lovers, redemption, workplace romance, humour, witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, small town hockey romance.
I look forward to reading more from these talented authors’ whose work I highly recommend.
September 28, 2025
This was such a fun, fiery read! Slap Shot Scandal brings all the tension, banter, and steam you’d expect from an enemies-to-lovers hockey romance, but it also layers in heart and small-town charm that makes it feel fresh.
I loved how the grumpy/sunshine dynamic played out, it kept me grinning and swooning in equal measure. The close proximity and forbidden edges only added fuel to the fire, and the slow burn kept me hooked right until the payoff.
The characters were strong, the workplace/sports setting felt real, and the secret hookups? Spicy perfection. 🖤
I loved how the grumpy/sunshine dynamic played out, it kept me grinning and swooning in equal measure. The close proximity and forbidden edges only added fuel to the fire, and the slow burn kept me hooked right until the payoff.
The characters were strong, the workplace/sports setting felt real, and the secret hookups? Spicy perfection. 🖤
October 11, 2025
Slapshot Scandal made me cringe more than any book has in quite some time. It began with off circumstances and the creative liberty of simply relocating an entire sports franchise over a scandal was a bit too farfetched to wrap my mind around.
Wes was just plain rude to Harbor in the beginning, not quite a redeeming quality and then days later they're practically in love. This book gave no real connection between the characters and most of the decisions made by the characters were poor ones. There wasn't much I liked about this one.
Wes was just plain rude to Harbor in the beginning, not quite a redeeming quality and then days later they're practically in love. This book gave no real connection between the characters and most of the decisions made by the characters were poor ones. There wasn't much I liked about this one.
October 6, 2025
4.5 Stars
Slap Shot Scandal is everything I want in a hockey romance…grumpy/sunshine banter, tension, and slow-burn chemistry that had me hooked from the very beginning. Kara Kendrick takes the classic enemies-to-lovers setup and layers it with small-town charm, high stakes, and just enough scandal to keep things deliciously messy….but in a good way!
✦Weston is the perfect grumpy captain—disciplined, broody, and protective, but he’s also swoony, possessive, and not shy with the dirty talk. ✦Harbor is bold, whip-smart, and refuses to back down from Weston’s walls—her sunshine energy shines on every page. ✦The banter between them is sharp, hilarious, and full of tension that builds until the payoff absolutely delivers. ✦Loved the small-town Florida setting and the team scandal backdrop—it made the story feel fresh. ✦The setup for Weston’s brothers has me already craving more from this triplet crew.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts 🎧 Sean Masters nailed Weston’s gruffness and hidden vulnerability, while Emma Wilder brought Harbor’s fire and confidence to life.
TROPES 🏒 Hockey Romance ☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine 💼 Workplace Romance 🔥 Enemies to Lovers 🌴 Small Town ⏳ Slow Burn 🗣️ Dirty Talk & Praise
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY When scandal-weary hockey captain Weston Reed clashes with sunshine-filled PR consultant Harbor Hayes, their no-feelings deal is tested by undeniable chemistry, small-town gossip, and a reckless mistake that could cost them both everything.
Thank you @valentinepr and @karakendrick for the arc and alc of this book!
Slap Shot Scandal is everything I want in a hockey romance…grumpy/sunshine banter, tension, and slow-burn chemistry that had me hooked from the very beginning. Kara Kendrick takes the classic enemies-to-lovers setup and layers it with small-town charm, high stakes, and just enough scandal to keep things deliciously messy….but in a good way!
✦Weston is the perfect grumpy captain—disciplined, broody, and protective, but he’s also swoony, possessive, and not shy with the dirty talk. ✦Harbor is bold, whip-smart, and refuses to back down from Weston’s walls—her sunshine energy shines on every page. ✦The banter between them is sharp, hilarious, and full of tension that builds until the payoff absolutely delivers. ✦Loved the small-town Florida setting and the team scandal backdrop—it made the story feel fresh. ✦The setup for Weston’s brothers has me already craving more from this triplet crew.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts 🎧 Sean Masters nailed Weston’s gruffness and hidden vulnerability, while Emma Wilder brought Harbor’s fire and confidence to life.
TROPES 🏒 Hockey Romance ☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine 💼 Workplace Romance 🔥 Enemies to Lovers 🌴 Small Town ⏳ Slow Burn 🗣️ Dirty Talk & Praise
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY When scandal-weary hockey captain Weston Reed clashes with sunshine-filled PR consultant Harbor Hayes, their no-feelings deal is tested by undeniable chemistry, small-town gossip, and a reckless mistake that could cost them both everything.
Thank you @valentinepr and @karakendrick for the arc and alc of this book!
November 12, 2025
cute meet cute
Loved their meet cute at the beginning. They had great chemistry, the heat was light but good. I loved their dynamics of the team and all. Good storyline nd good flow to the story. Good read.
Loved their meet cute at the beginning. They had great chemistry, the heat was light but good. I loved their dynamics of the team and all. Good storyline nd good flow to the story. Good read.
October 1, 2025
Epic and dreamy! Words to describe Weston and Harbor! They were magical full of their own driven anxieties but over come them together with the love they find in each other!
October 8, 2025
4 ⭐️
2 🌶
🎧 duet
🤍 Hockey captain x PR consultant
🏒 Grumpy x Sunshine
🤍 Workplace Romance
🏒 Enemies to Lovers
🤍 Small Town
🏒 Hockey Romance
🤍 Slow Burn
🏒 Secret relationship
Weston Steele is the team's captain (and also a triplet 🫣) Harbor is the PR consultant hired to smooth over public relations after the team is relocated to Driftwood Cove, Florida. Harbor is out to prove her she's good at her job, but the grumpy team captain isn't making things easy for her. The enemies-to-lovers and grumpy x sunshine tropes always give us the best tension and banter leading up to the 💥, including a media room hookup 🤭🫣
Duet narration by Sean Masters and Emma Wilder.
Thanks to Valentine PR for ALC.
2 🌶
🎧 duet
🤍 Hockey captain x PR consultant
🏒 Grumpy x Sunshine
🤍 Workplace Romance
🏒 Enemies to Lovers
🤍 Small Town
🏒 Hockey Romance
🤍 Slow Burn
🏒 Secret relationship
Weston Steele is the team's captain (and also a triplet 🫣) Harbor is the PR consultant hired to smooth over public relations after the team is relocated to Driftwood Cove, Florida. Harbor is out to prove her she's good at her job, but the grumpy team captain isn't making things easy for her. The enemies-to-lovers and grumpy x sunshine tropes always give us the best tension and banter leading up to the 💥, including a media room hookup 🤭🫣
Duet narration by Sean Masters and Emma Wilder.
Thanks to Valentine PR for ALC.
October 29, 2025
This was a cute read!
I really enjoyed the grumpy x sunshine dynamic between Harbor + Weston and his nickname for her, Hurricane, was absolutely adorable 🥹
There were a few parts that didn’t hold my attention as much (totally a me thing, not the author’s fault!), but I loved their chemistry and the spicy moments between them.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending but overall, this was such an enjoyable story! 💙
Thank you so much to the author for the e-ARC!
I really enjoyed the grumpy x sunshine dynamic between Harbor + Weston and his nickname for her, Hurricane, was absolutely adorable 🥹
There were a few parts that didn’t hold my attention as much (totally a me thing, not the author’s fault!), but I loved their chemistry and the spicy moments between them.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending but overall, this was such an enjoyable story! 💙
Thank you so much to the author for the e-ARC!
Currently reading
October 2, 2025Available now!
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
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Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: https://mybook.to/SlapShotScandal
Listen today!
Audible: http://bit.ly/46NVKLh
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3Uq9y9f
September 21, 2025
Slap Shot Scandal is everything you want in a hockey romance grumpy/sunshine banter, sizzling tension, and the kind of slow-burn chemistry that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Kara Kendrick takes the classic enemies-to-lovers setup and layers it with small-town charm, professional stakes, and undeniable attraction. It’s sharp, sexy, and filled with just enough scandal to keep things deliciously messy.
Weston is the grumpy hero: disciplined, guarded, and carrying the weight of his team on his shoulders. Yet beneath the tough exterior is a man capable of swoony devotion, dirty talk, and the kind of possessiveness that makes him impossible to resist. Harbor, on the other hand, is bright, bold, and whip-smart the PR consultant who refuses to back down from Weston’s brooding walls. Together, they spark, clash, and ultimately combust in a romance. Kara Kendrick builds their dynamic with care, keeping the tension tight until the payoff feels worth every moment of the wait.
The Story
Weston Reed, captain of a scandal-ridden hockey team, has built his reputation on focus and loyalty. But when the franchise is relocated to a sleepy Florida beach town, he’s paired with Harbor Hayes, a sunshine-filled PR consultant tasked with saving the team’s image. From the start, Weston and Harbor clash his broody discipline against her bold optimism but the attraction simmering between them is undeniable. Their deal is simple: no feelings, no falling, no future. Of course, rules were made to be broken. When a reckless moment between them leaks online, Weston finds himself at the center of a new scandal, one that threatens not just his career, but the woman he swore he’d never fall for.
What I Loved
✔️ The delicious grumpy x sunshine tension between Weston and Harbor.
✔️ Enemies-to-lovers banter that sizzles and feels authentic.
✔️ Weston’s protective, possessive side complete with dirty talk and swoony devotion.
✔️ Harbor’s strength, smarts, and refusal to be overshadowed.
✔️ A well-paced story with strong buildup, even if I was craving the payoff by the 75% mark. (Thankfully, the final act delivers!)
✔️ The intriguing setup for Weston’s brothers this triplet dynamic promises even more fun in future books.
🎧 Narration
Narrated by Sean Masters and Emma Wilder. Sean, as always, was phenomenal perfectly capturing Weston’s gruff intensity and emotional vulnerability. Emma, while vibrant and engaging, sometimes had pacing that felt off in the beginning, which occasionally pulled me out of the story. Still, as the book progressed, their combined performance brought Weston and Harbor’s push-pull chemistry to life, especially in the heated, intimate moments.
Tropes & Vibes
Hockey Romance 🏒
Grumpy x Sunshine
Workplace Romance
Enemies to Lovers
Small Town Setting
Slow Burn with a Fiery Payoff
Dirty Talk & Praise (“Good girl,” “Say you’re mine”)
Final Thoughts
Slap Shot Scandal is a sexy, addictive grumpy/sunshine romance that blends hockey heat with emotional payoff. Kara Kendrick gives us a hero who’s as frustrating as he is swoon-worthy, and a heroine who meets him beat for beat with fire and determination. Their banter, chemistry, and eventual surrender to each other make for a story that’s impossible to put down.
This is my first Kara Kendrick book, but definitely not my last I’m already eager for Weston’s brothers’ stories. If you love hockey romance with a side of scandal, heat, and heartfelt moments, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.
Weston is the grumpy hero: disciplined, guarded, and carrying the weight of his team on his shoulders. Yet beneath the tough exterior is a man capable of swoony devotion, dirty talk, and the kind of possessiveness that makes him impossible to resist. Harbor, on the other hand, is bright, bold, and whip-smart the PR consultant who refuses to back down from Weston’s brooding walls. Together, they spark, clash, and ultimately combust in a romance. Kara Kendrick builds their dynamic with care, keeping the tension tight until the payoff feels worth every moment of the wait.
The Story
Weston Reed, captain of a scandal-ridden hockey team, has built his reputation on focus and loyalty. But when the franchise is relocated to a sleepy Florida beach town, he’s paired with Harbor Hayes, a sunshine-filled PR consultant tasked with saving the team’s image. From the start, Weston and Harbor clash his broody discipline against her bold optimism but the attraction simmering between them is undeniable. Their deal is simple: no feelings, no falling, no future. Of course, rules were made to be broken. When a reckless moment between them leaks online, Weston finds himself at the center of a new scandal, one that threatens not just his career, but the woman he swore he’d never fall for.
What I Loved
✔️ The delicious grumpy x sunshine tension between Weston and Harbor.
✔️ Enemies-to-lovers banter that sizzles and feels authentic.
✔️ Weston’s protective, possessive side complete with dirty talk and swoony devotion.
✔️ Harbor’s strength, smarts, and refusal to be overshadowed.
✔️ A well-paced story with strong buildup, even if I was craving the payoff by the 75% mark. (Thankfully, the final act delivers!)
✔️ The intriguing setup for Weston’s brothers this triplet dynamic promises even more fun in future books.
🎧 Narration
Narrated by Sean Masters and Emma Wilder. Sean, as always, was phenomenal perfectly capturing Weston’s gruff intensity and emotional vulnerability. Emma, while vibrant and engaging, sometimes had pacing that felt off in the beginning, which occasionally pulled me out of the story. Still, as the book progressed, their combined performance brought Weston and Harbor’s push-pull chemistry to life, especially in the heated, intimate moments.
Tropes & Vibes
Hockey Romance 🏒
Grumpy x Sunshine
Workplace Romance
Enemies to Lovers
Small Town Setting
Slow Burn with a Fiery Payoff
Dirty Talk & Praise (“Good girl,” “Say you’re mine”)
Final Thoughts
Slap Shot Scandal is a sexy, addictive grumpy/sunshine romance that blends hockey heat with emotional payoff. Kara Kendrick gives us a hero who’s as frustrating as he is swoon-worthy, and a heroine who meets him beat for beat with fire and determination. Their banter, chemistry, and eventual surrender to each other make for a story that’s impossible to put down.
This is my first Kara Kendrick book, but definitely not my last I’m already eager for Weston’s brothers’ stories. If you love hockey romance with a side of scandal, heat, and heartfelt moments, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.
October 2, 2025
I absolutely loved Slap Shot Scandal, an incredible small-town grumpy/sunshine workplace romance love story, the first book in her Coastal Crushers series. Kara Kendrick has shown readers that she is an amazing storyteller and is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors to read. I was hooked from the first few pages, and it was impossible to put Slap Shot Scandal down, and I loved every moment on every page. Who does not love hot sexy men, strong females, loving families, and friends, who always support one another? Slap Shot Scandal is the story of Harbor Hayes, public consultant for the Coastal Crusher and Weston “Wes” Steele, professional hockey player, and captain for the Coastal Crushers. Following a scandal involving the wife of team’s owner, Max Prince and the head coach, Max decides to relocate his Manhattan based hockey team to Driftwood Cove, Florida. Harbor was hired to manage the scandal, relocation, and housing from Manhattan to Driftwood Cove along with Weston. Love the PR plans that she produces for the Coastal Crushers until she becomes the scandal instead of managing it. Things start to change slightly when Harbor and Weston get stuck in the elevator at one of the housing options. Conversation between Harbor and Wes flows so easily, with innuendos and playful banter, and Wes constantly flirts with Harbor. I love the text stream between Harbor and Weston and the one between Weston and his brothers and teammates Callum and Bennett, especially the contact names. I love that Weston always calls Harbor “Hurricane.” Harbor and Weston share with each other that their fathers were professional hockey players. Harbor has a difficult relationship with her father, Doug. As Harbor and Weston spend time together things change between them, but they try to keep it a secret from everyone. Bennett has a party at the house that he shares with Weston and Callum. Things escalate leading to plot twists putting their relationship and jobs in jeopardy. Harbor’s father’s reactions towards her regarding the plot twist are heart breaking. I love everything that Harbor and Weston are willing to do to resolve the plot twists, including leaving their respective jobs, and how that leads to Harbor and Weston admitting their real feelings. I loved the ending of their love story, especially all the surprises! One of my favorite parts is the epilogue that is told from Bennett’s perspective, and the surprises that are revealed. I cannot wait to read Puck Bunny’s story. I loved the bonus epilogue that takes place one year later, I love all the surprises revealed, the changes that they have made in their lives, and everything that Weston does for Harbor. I really enjoy how the book is told in the first person from the perspective of the main characters. I love getting the insight and feelings from the different characters. I love how Kara Kendrick always manages to create the "perfect" heroine, who is a strong, sassy woman on her own, to balance out the sexy, swoon worthy man. Slap Shot Scandal is filled with the heartbreaking and heartwarming moments that I have come to love and expect in a love story, and Kara Kendrick did not disappoint with the delivery, especially with the poignant and bittersweet moments as well as the plot twists and surprises that filled this page turner. I love the characters and the family dynamic in Slap Shot Scandal. I enjoy all the interactions among the characters; especially Weston and his brothers Callum and Bennett, it feels like real family love and makes me laugh at their teasing. Kara Kendrick’s descriptions are so real, I was right there with Harbor and Weston in Driftwood Cove and watching hockey games. Who does not love a friends that always have each other’s backs? I thoroughly enjoyed Slap Shot Scandal, who does not love a small-town workplace romance love story. Highly recommend this incredible love. I received an advance copy from the author.
October 2, 2025
ARC review. Slap Shot Scandal is book one in the Coastal Crusher series by Kara Kendrick. I was honored to receive an ARC of this book and I devoured it. I truly couldn't put it down. The story centers around Weston, our MMC, and Harbor, our FMC. Weston is the captain of his hockey team. They are based in New York and have just lost the last game of the season. But that's not the worst thing that happens that day. They learn their coach was having an affair with the team owner's wife and was also illegally betting against the team. In an effort to at the very least move on from the scandals and attempt to redeem the team, the owner hires Harbor, a PR consultant to attempt to fix the team's image. Part of the plan is to move the team to Florida, rename the team, promote volunteer opportunities between the team and the new community in Florida, etc. Essentially, anything to redeem the team in the eyes of the public. The team is wary of these changes. In order for the transition to be successful, Harbor has to get the team captain (Weston) on board. This will not be easy as Weston doubts many of the changes and the two initially butt heads. However, as they continue to work together, they find an undeniable spark between them. Weston, unlike his other two triplet brothers on the team, has avoided relationships to focus completely on hockey. He takes his job as team captain seriously and never wants there to be any distractions. Harbor is the daughter of the most renowned hockey coach of all time. A father who is toxic is his demand for perfection from his daughter. He constantly points out her flaws, doubts her abilities, and belittles her. Harbor knows she should cut ties with his toxicity, but she has an unhealthy desire to somehow please him and make him proud. I loved the discussions throughout the book that she sought therapy for these issues. Due to the pressure her father has put on her, as well as the pressure she puts on herself to be perfect and to prove to her father that she can succeed in her career, Harbor has put relationships completely on the back burner and believes it has to stay that way. She feels she has to ignore the sparks she feels with Weston in order to focus on the job. After all, she was hired to eliminate scandal from the team, not create it by entering into a relationship with the star captain of the team. There's a push and pull between the characters which was truly written so well. I loved it when they finally gave in to their feelings. The love scenes were spicy, yes, which was glorious, but it was more than that. They were just written so well, you could feel these characters' struggle and the ultimate give in to their feelings and attraction. Watching these two fall in love was a little bit magical in my opinion. I loved it. So well done. Of course, their relationship is discovered and it causes a scandal, but at the end of the day, Weston shows Harbor how far he's willing to go to keep her and that was beautiful to read. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone that loves a sports romance. There's also a bit of a forbidden romance in there, as well as some comedy (Weston's interactions with his brothers are absolutely hilarious). This was a delightful read, please check it out!
October 14, 2025
When is a New York Hockey team no longer a New York venue ? When it’s moved to a sleepy place called Driftwood Cove off the Florida coast . It hasn’t much to boast as yet but there’s not a scandal attached I’ll bet. Not like the taint left by the ex coach and why the onus is on Harbor Hayes to set things straight and show them new ways how to approach them. PR guru she is extraordinaire and Weston Steel just don’t go there …or if you can’t help falling for the blonde beauty do your duty to the team first before you quench your manly thirst. It’s a job she takes very seriously indeed . Make her hockey coach father proud she is wanting to do . A sort of look dad I can get by without you sort of affair . No I wasn’t implying that but well there’s a new scandal about to hit the team if they’re not careful and they wouldn’t want that and that’s a fact stat! The new owner who moved the team to their new location has hired bubbly Harbor to whip the team’s image into shape. She knows hockey as well as any man on the team ,more I’d guess of some . This is what’s eating the grumpy captain I’d say because he has to stand up and be counted like all the rest and this isn’t not something he’s happy to ingest . He’s made his way albeit grumpy ,by knowing lines and drills and laser focus but he’s a little jumpy about her ways this Hayes chick but finally relents a little and soon sees all too clear that this team and maybe him she holds dear. You see he was thrown from day one ,so infuriating was she that one minute he wanted her gone and the next to be his hon. Wonder which one won? Then read this excellent book . It’s a whole lot more than hockey but it has a lot and it’s stacking as well as packing the heat ,it’s got heart and it sure is neat. The writing of course is top shelf you know ,where the Slap Shot does soar when they score and the cute thing is when there’s Scandal no more . Maybe the team will gel together more ,come up with winning ways thanks to this bubbly PR gal called Harbor Hayes…Kara Kendrick writes these hockey books so well she loves the game as well as the lovers she creates and their heat you can tell. These stories of hers and her hockey team are supreme and leave my face a great big beam of a grin as soon as I began reading one of her books . Just can’t help getting immersed in at my first looks. The story flows so fluently it’s like gliding on ice after a new cut . New fresh and a good feeling in your gut that this is going to be so good and of course having read a Kara Kendrick book before you know exactly what you signed up for and your heart is already at soar. Because you know they’re gonna score these characters of hers and are well described with humour and heat and descriptively neat.
September 20, 2025
Slapshot Scandal is a 5 star read that delivers the drama, the spice and all things nice.
Weston and Harbor are just brilliant, the dislike for one another turns hot and heavy and I'm here for it.
Weston is the team captain, and after hearing the scandal that's broken out he's a bit down trodden. Not knowing how to help his team or whats going to happen in the wake of the scandal leaves him off kilter.
Enter Harbor a PR consultant hired to fix the team's image and change the narrative. The only issue Weston doesn't want to be overly cooperative with her, especially when he finds out his entire life is being turned upside down and moved from NY to Florida.
Weston is a hyper focused, strong locked in player. He's highly disciplined and doesn't allow for distractions. Harbor is a disturbance to that routine and peace, because she's the biggest distraction. What's even scarier for Weston, he's happy for her to be.
Harbor has the need to prove herself, after being brow beaten by her overly successful hockey coach of a Father his locker room style parenting has left her with an overwhelming need to show him she's capable.
Fighting her desire for Weston to provide a flawless PR refresh is the goal, only Weston is proving difficult to ignore and Harbor isn't sure she wants to keep pushing him away.
The sexual chemistry between Weston and Harbor is off the charts. It want a will they/won't they, but a when will they? And what I enjoyed about their push pull was that Weston's brothers knew what was happening and we're their to push Weston into action and get his girl. I can't wait to get Callum and Bennett's books I know I'll devour them in one go as well.
What to expect
🏒 Series Starter
🏒 Dual POV
🏒 Off Limits Romance
🏒 Hockey Romance
🏒 Hockey Player x Team PR
🏒 Steamy Scenes
🏒 Dislike to Lovers
🏒 Workplace Romance
🏒 Banter
🏒 "Good Girl"
🏒 Family Drama (both Dad's are just urgh)
🏒 Found Family (hockey team)
🏒 Small Town Romance
🏒 Slow Burn (but when it kicks off its hot)
🏒 Grumpy x Sunshine
🏒 Mutual Pining
🏒 Romance
🏒 No OW Drama
🏒 No Third Act Breakup (implications but no actual leaving)
🏒 Close Proximity
🏒 Interlinking Characters
🏒 Interconnected Standalone
🏒HEAs
I thoroughly enjoyed Slapshot Scandal. I didn't want to put it down because Harbor and Weston had sucked me into their world easily from the moment of that first team meeting I knew I had to devour it.
I can't wait to see where the series goes next, I just hope Bennett is ready for Tori.
Weston and Harbor are just brilliant, the dislike for one another turns hot and heavy and I'm here for it.
Weston is the team captain, and after hearing the scandal that's broken out he's a bit down trodden. Not knowing how to help his team or whats going to happen in the wake of the scandal leaves him off kilter.
Enter Harbor a PR consultant hired to fix the team's image and change the narrative. The only issue Weston doesn't want to be overly cooperative with her, especially when he finds out his entire life is being turned upside down and moved from NY to Florida.
Weston is a hyper focused, strong locked in player. He's highly disciplined and doesn't allow for distractions. Harbor is a disturbance to that routine and peace, because she's the biggest distraction. What's even scarier for Weston, he's happy for her to be.
Harbor has the need to prove herself, after being brow beaten by her overly successful hockey coach of a Father his locker room style parenting has left her with an overwhelming need to show him she's capable.
Fighting her desire for Weston to provide a flawless PR refresh is the goal, only Weston is proving difficult to ignore and Harbor isn't sure she wants to keep pushing him away.
The sexual chemistry between Weston and Harbor is off the charts. It want a will they/won't they, but a when will they? And what I enjoyed about their push pull was that Weston's brothers knew what was happening and we're their to push Weston into action and get his girl. I can't wait to get Callum and Bennett's books I know I'll devour them in one go as well.
What to expect
🏒 Series Starter
🏒 Dual POV
🏒 Off Limits Romance
🏒 Hockey Romance
🏒 Hockey Player x Team PR
🏒 Steamy Scenes
🏒 Dislike to Lovers
🏒 Workplace Romance
🏒 Banter
🏒 "Good Girl"
🏒 Family Drama (both Dad's are just urgh)
🏒 Found Family (hockey team)
🏒 Small Town Romance
🏒 Slow Burn (but when it kicks off its hot)
🏒 Grumpy x Sunshine
🏒 Mutual Pining
🏒 Romance
🏒 No OW Drama
🏒 No Third Act Breakup (implications but no actual leaving)
🏒 Close Proximity
🏒 Interlinking Characters
🏒 Interconnected Standalone
🏒HEAs
I thoroughly enjoyed Slapshot Scandal. I didn't want to put it down because Harbor and Weston had sucked me into their world easily from the moment of that first team meeting I knew I had to devour it.
I can't wait to see where the series goes next, I just hope Bennett is ready for Tori.
October 2, 2025
Another great book by Kara Kendrick! I really enjoyed the start of this series. The plot is very well written, well paced, an emotional rollercoaster ride with very likable main and supporting characters, conflict, obstacles, and steamy love scenes. The tropes are:
- Sports romance
- Hockey romance
- Workplace romance
- Enemies to lovers
- Opposites attract
- Grumpy-sunshine
- Off-limits
- Forbidden romance
I immediately fell in love with the two main characters. The push-and-pull tension, the sizzling chemistry, their longing and inner conflicts were palpable throughout the book. Harbor is a strong, bright and ambitious heroine who is trying to step out of the shadow of her overbearing father, and Weston is a disciplined, responsible, swoonworthy hero who lives for his job and position as captain. I empathized with them and found their happy ending against all odds heartwarming.
After a scandal involving the coach rocks the league and the team, the team owner decides to relocate the team to a small town in Florida, change its name, and polish up its reputation and image with the help of newly hired PR consultant Harbor Hayes.
Weston Steele, the team captain, is against the plans. He doesn't want to relocate, and he certainly doesn't want the bubbly Miss Sunshine who gets under his skin telling him what he and his team can and can't do.
Harbor Hayes wants to make a name for herself in the hockey world and prove to her father that she's a good PR consultant even without his protection. Even though Weston constantly contradicts her, she feels attracted to him. But her professional duties come before her personal desires, and a relationship with the team captain is absolutely off-limits.
But soon they can no longer resist their desire and agree to a secret affair without commitments. Anything else would lead to another scandal that could cost them both their jobs...
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys forbidden love hockey romances with endearing protagonists, tension, banter, LOL moments and steam, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series!
Thank you Kara Kendrick and Valentine Press for the ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.
#KaraKendrick #HockeyRomance #SportsRomance #EnemiestoLovers #SmallTownRomance #Valentineprlm
@authorkarakendrick
@valentine_pr_
- Sports romance
- Hockey romance
- Workplace romance
- Enemies to lovers
- Opposites attract
- Grumpy-sunshine
- Off-limits
- Forbidden romance
I immediately fell in love with the two main characters. The push-and-pull tension, the sizzling chemistry, their longing and inner conflicts were palpable throughout the book. Harbor is a strong, bright and ambitious heroine who is trying to step out of the shadow of her overbearing father, and Weston is a disciplined, responsible, swoonworthy hero who lives for his job and position as captain. I empathized with them and found their happy ending against all odds heartwarming.
After a scandal involving the coach rocks the league and the team, the team owner decides to relocate the team to a small town in Florida, change its name, and polish up its reputation and image with the help of newly hired PR consultant Harbor Hayes.
Weston Steele, the team captain, is against the plans. He doesn't want to relocate, and he certainly doesn't want the bubbly Miss Sunshine who gets under his skin telling him what he and his team can and can't do.
Harbor Hayes wants to make a name for herself in the hockey world and prove to her father that she's a good PR consultant even without his protection. Even though Weston constantly contradicts her, she feels attracted to him. But her professional duties come before her personal desires, and a relationship with the team captain is absolutely off-limits.
But soon they can no longer resist their desire and agree to a secret affair without commitments. Anything else would lead to another scandal that could cost them both their jobs...
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys forbidden love hockey romances with endearing protagonists, tension, banter, LOL moments and steam, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series!
Thank you Kara Kendrick and Valentine Press for the ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.
#KaraKendrick #HockeyRomance #SportsRomance #EnemiestoLovers #SmallTownRomance #Valentineprlm
@authorkarakendrick
@valentine_pr_
October 5, 2025
ARC Review of Slap Shot Scandal Book 1 in the Coastal Crushers Series by Kara Kendrick. I loved this book I really enjoyed reading it, it was so good It is a 5 star read for me. I am obsessed with hockey romances, also I loved the grumpy/sunshine trope in this book it was so well done and enjoyable. I love the back and forth between Weston and Harbor, I also love a good nickname and love that he nicknames Harbor hurricane. This is a slow burn, spicy, grumpy/sunshine, hockey captain, PR consultant, forced proximity, workplace, small town romance. This is Weston and Harbor's story. Weston is a triplet and he and his two brothers are all on the same pro hockey team. Weston is captain of the team newly renamed the Coastal Crushers. Harbor is a PR consultant for the team and was just hired to improve the team’s image after a scandal involving their coach. Because of the scandal the teams owner is relocating the team from NYC to the small town of Driftwood Cove in Florida. Weston is not happy with all the changes especially the relocation. He underestimates Harbor thinking she knows nothing about hockey not realizing her dad is one of the greatest hockey coaches of all time. Weston fights Harbor at every turn on everything from the new mascot to community outreach events. Harbor’s dad is also not supportive of her move or her taking the job with the team. Harbor needs this to be successful to prove herself, this would be the biggest achievement so far of her career if she succeeds in turning the team around. Even though Weston initially doesn’t like Harbor he is attracted to her and they more they work together the more he can’t help the pull he feels toward her, Harbor is attracted to Weston too but they definitely can’t cross that line since she works for the team and it’s too risky they both have a lot to lose. But some things are worth the risk and Weston is ready to risk it all for Harbor to prove to her that they are worth the risk and can be great together. They try to keep their relationship a secret but a scandal at a party at the triplets house puts them in the spotlight and their jobs on the line. I don’t usually like third act break ups but this one was quick and I love the HEA that came after I love how Weston fights for Harbor. This was a great book I love the triplets and all their banter and their relationship with each other. I can’t wait for Bennetts book he cracked me up in this one.
October 1, 2025
This is my first read for Kara Kendrick and overall she gave me fun, and flirty, and just enough spicy to keep me rooting for Harbor and Weston every time.
Harbor puts a lot of pressure on herself to be a the best and professional when it comes to every job. So, when the job of her career gets handed to her, she knows it’s not going to be easy, especially when it’s to PR a hockey team that is going through the scandal of the decade in the league. Even though Harbor’s reputation is pristine, her dad doesn’t think this is a job for his daughter that is just trying to smear his last name. In the middle of handling the scandal, working on a hockey team moving to a small town in Florida, Harbor finds herself attracted to Weston, the captain on the team. An attraction she is very much trying to avoid, but the steam between them is becoming too much, and a night together with no talks of the future is just what they need. Too bad scandals have a way of showing up with this team and Harbor is about to find herself in the middle of the one she is trying clean up.
Weston has a duty as a Captain of his hockey to make sure there are no distractions and to give everything he has to the game during the season. He never thought his friend and head coach would end up scandalized and in turn pushing his team into a rebrand and rehoming. Weston finds himself getting schooled in PR by the infuriating, hot, determined, women he should definitely stay away from. However, he finds himself in a new town, distracted and very much attracted to the one person he needs to stay away from. Best laid plans and all that because when the attraction becomes too much, one night is made to get it all out of his system. Too bad one night is not enough when it comes to Weston. He finds himself open to Harbor as a distraction, because sometimes distractions can be good, if only he can get Harbor on board with his plan.
I am excited for this series to continue!! Started with a great foundation with Harbor and Weston and can’t wait to see what the others get up to. I mean a hockey team in a small town in Florida.. what could go wrong, or right!
Harbor puts a lot of pressure on herself to be a the best and professional when it comes to every job. So, when the job of her career gets handed to her, she knows it’s not going to be easy, especially when it’s to PR a hockey team that is going through the scandal of the decade in the league. Even though Harbor’s reputation is pristine, her dad doesn’t think this is a job for his daughter that is just trying to smear his last name. In the middle of handling the scandal, working on a hockey team moving to a small town in Florida, Harbor finds herself attracted to Weston, the captain on the team. An attraction she is very much trying to avoid, but the steam between them is becoming too much, and a night together with no talks of the future is just what they need. Too bad scandals have a way of showing up with this team and Harbor is about to find herself in the middle of the one she is trying clean up.
Weston has a duty as a Captain of his hockey to make sure there are no distractions and to give everything he has to the game during the season. He never thought his friend and head coach would end up scandalized and in turn pushing his team into a rebrand and rehoming. Weston finds himself getting schooled in PR by the infuriating, hot, determined, women he should definitely stay away from. However, he finds himself in a new town, distracted and very much attracted to the one person he needs to stay away from. Best laid plans and all that because when the attraction becomes too much, one night is made to get it all out of his system. Too bad one night is not enough when it comes to Weston. He finds himself open to Harbor as a distraction, because sometimes distractions can be good, if only he can get Harbor on board with his plan.
I am excited for this series to continue!! Started with a great foundation with Harbor and Weston and can’t wait to see what the others get up to. I mean a hockey team in a small town in Florida.. what could go wrong, or right!
October 4, 2025
BETA REVIEW
Slapshot Scandal
Read if you love:
Hockey Romance
Enemies to Lovers
Team Scandal
Grumpy x Sunshine
Forbidden/Workplace
He Falls First
F*ck It Moment
After a scandal involving their Coach leaves the team in shambles, Harbor Hayes, a PR consultant, is hired to rebrand the team. The new Coastal Crushers lead by team captain, Weston Steele, are back on the ice and ready to get to work.
Harbor Hayes, daughter of a legendary Hockey Coach, is used to cleaning up PR messes. She is quick on her feet, independent, and confident in her abilities to reform this team. Little does she know, the icy blue eyes staring back at her in the team meeting will be her biggest hurdle yet.
Weston Steele lives and breathes hockey. The gorgeous team leader has sworn off relationships, putting all his focus on his career. With stolen glances and building tension, Harbor unknowingly melts his cold heart and just when he’s ready to give his heart away another scandal breaks, this time it’s his heart on the line.
My thoughts:
Kara Kendrick crushed it with Coastal Crushers book 1! I devoured this book within hours. He falls first will get me every single time.
Thick tension leads to flirty banter and the way Harbor unravels Weston was utter perfection. The mutual pining and “almost” moments before finally a “F*ck It” moment that had me blushing and kicking my feet! These two were perfect together!
Harbor’s determination and grit proves that she is right where she belongs [I loved her name, btw] She has worked tirelessly to make it in a male dominated world. She has a heart of gold and no “quit” in her!
Weston’s protective nature and caring side stole my heart. He’s the whole package, with his gorgeous smirk and filthy mouth, Weston is the ultimate book boyfriend! I loved the way he called her out for looking and that nickname, swoon!
The sibling love in this book was top tier! Weston’s brother Bennett was an absolute delight! He kept Weston on his toes and me laughing the entire book! [I cannot wait for his book] Harbor’s sister Piper was a whole vibe too!
Slapshot Scandal
Read if you love:
Hockey Romance
Enemies to Lovers
Team Scandal
Grumpy x Sunshine
Forbidden/Workplace
He Falls First
F*ck It Moment
After a scandal involving their Coach leaves the team in shambles, Harbor Hayes, a PR consultant, is hired to rebrand the team. The new Coastal Crushers lead by team captain, Weston Steele, are back on the ice and ready to get to work.
Harbor Hayes, daughter of a legendary Hockey Coach, is used to cleaning up PR messes. She is quick on her feet, independent, and confident in her abilities to reform this team. Little does she know, the icy blue eyes staring back at her in the team meeting will be her biggest hurdle yet.
Weston Steele lives and breathes hockey. The gorgeous team leader has sworn off relationships, putting all his focus on his career. With stolen glances and building tension, Harbor unknowingly melts his cold heart and just when he’s ready to give his heart away another scandal breaks, this time it’s his heart on the line.
My thoughts:
Kara Kendrick crushed it with Coastal Crushers book 1! I devoured this book within hours. He falls first will get me every single time.
Thick tension leads to flirty banter and the way Harbor unravels Weston was utter perfection. The mutual pining and “almost” moments before finally a “F*ck It” moment that had me blushing and kicking my feet! These two were perfect together!
Harbor’s determination and grit proves that she is right where she belongs [I loved her name, btw] She has worked tirelessly to make it in a male dominated world. She has a heart of gold and no “quit” in her!
Weston’s protective nature and caring side stole my heart. He’s the whole package, with his gorgeous smirk and filthy mouth, Weston is the ultimate book boyfriend! I loved the way he called her out for looking and that nickname, swoon!
The sibling love in this book was top tier! Weston’s brother Bennett was an absolute delight! He kept Weston on his toes and me laughing the entire book! [I cannot wait for his book] Harbor’s sister Piper was a whole vibe too!
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