Marked by the Rookie: A Small Town Hockey Romance About Second Chances

by Catalina Voss

I thought I knew what I wanted from life. Then I met the shy bookstore owner who changed everything.

Mason Reed is Pinebrook's newest hockey star—young, talented, and hiding a secret that could destroy his confidence. When he walks into Iris Walsh's cozy bookstore looking for directions, he finds something he never a woman who sees past his reputation to the man beneath.

Iris has spent two years rebuilding her life after a devastating betrayal shattered her trust in men. Her bookstore is her sanctuary, her books are her safety, and keeping her heart locked away has kept her whole.

But Mason's gentle persistence chips away at every wall she's built. He needs help conquering the learning disability he's hidden his entire career. She needs someone who makes her feel brave enough to risk everything again.

When a fake news story threatens to tear them apart, both must choose between the safety of what they've always known and the terrifying beauty of what they could become together.

In a town where everyone knows your business, can two broken hearts heal each other? Will Mason's past catch up with his dreams of a future with Iris? And when the biggest decision of his career forces them apart, will love be enough to bring them home?

Some risks are worth taking. Some love stories are worth fighting for.

A swoony small-town romance about finding courage in unexpected places and discovering that the best love stories begin with the bravest choices.

197 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2025

Reviews

[Andreza Novaes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really appreciated the book and its premises, especially the careful way in which the characters’ traumas were portrayed. That sensitivity stood out to me. That's why I'm giving 3 stars.

My biggest struggle, however, was with the continuity issues, which sometimes interrupted the flow of the story and made it harder to stay fully immersed. It felt as though I was drawn into the moment, only to pause and wonder if certain details truly aligned with what had come before.

For instance, Emma is listed several times as Jake’s stepdaughter. If you didn't read the first book, you won't notice a problem. If you did, then you'll know that Jake's story is about his ex-wife leaving him and their daughter because he wasn't focused enough on their family.

At first, Linda is going to Pinebrook for the Christmas festival, where he's reading some books to the entire town, so she can meet Iris, but then suddenly they are travelling to Chicago to meet her instead.

Later on that same trip, Iris meets Lacey (his sister). A couple of chapters later, there is a video call where Jake introduces both his mom and sister to Iris - and they already know each other.

The line "the daughter she never had" was a surprise because Linda literally had a daughter.

The airport meeting between Iris and Lacey, had the feeling of meeting someone for the 1st time but again... they had met before!!!!!

The institute is, presumably, named after his mother, but its name is Caroline, and her name was Linda.

On top of that, we even have a six-month-old baby speaking.

These details don’t take away from the heart of the story, but they do create small breaks in continuity that can pull the reader out of the experience.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this book couldn’t hold my attention at all. I had little to no interest in finishing it. The constant repetitions, inaccurate information, and inconsistent events made it difficult to enjoy the reading experience.