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Northern Legacy #1
Stick It
In a game built for men, I came to make history.
As the only girl on an all-male Division I hockey team, I’m not a novelty—I’m a threat. A spark in a powder keg of testosterone. But I didn’t come to play nice. I came to dominate.
I didn’t expect them…
The golden boy captain who carries the team on his shoulders.
The brooding guardian with a darkness that calls to me.
The hot and cold viper who kisses me breathless in dark corners—then acts like it never happened.
And the quiet bruiser who speaks my language in video games.
I live with them. Train with them. Compete against them.
They’re temptation wrapped in danger—
And the first ones to ever look at me like I belong.
But this game has enemies off the ice too.
And someone wants to break me for good.
Let them try.
Because I’m not just here to play.
I’m here to rewrite the rules and claim my legacy.
***Stick It is an enemies to lovers, forbidden, ice hockey romance where the FMC ends up with more than one love interest. The series consists of interconnecting standalones that can be read in any order.
As the only girl on an all-male Division I hockey team, I’m not a novelty—I’m a threat. A spark in a powder keg of testosterone. But I didn’t come to play nice. I came to dominate.
I didn’t expect them…
The golden boy captain who carries the team on his shoulders.
The brooding guardian with a darkness that calls to me.
The hot and cold viper who kisses me breathless in dark corners—then acts like it never happened.
And the quiet bruiser who speaks my language in video games.
I live with them. Train with them. Compete against them.
They’re temptation wrapped in danger—
And the first ones to ever look at me like I belong.
But this game has enemies off the ice too.
And someone wants to break me for good.
Let them try.
Because I’m not just here to play.
I’m here to rewrite the rules and claim my legacy.
***Stick It is an enemies to lovers, forbidden, ice hockey romance where the FMC ends up with more than one love interest. The series consists of interconnecting standalones that can be read in any order.
666 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2025
About the author
R.A. Smyth
26 books1,571 followersMy name is Rachel. I live in the UK with my husband and two golden retrievers, and I am an author of dark, contemporary reverse harem romance.
If you love a story with a well thought out plot and good character development that will give you all the feels, then why not give one of my series a go?
Crescentwood - high school, stalker, bully, enemies to lovers
- Three Divisions: https://books2read.com/threedivisions
- Two Forces: https://books2read.com/twoforces
- One Family: https://books2read.com/onefamily
Pacific Prep - academy, assassin FMC, brothers best friends, taboo, bully
- Broken Trust: https://books2read.com/brokentrust
- Brutal Lies: https://books2read.com/Brutallies
- Beyond Vengeance: https://books2read.com/beyondvengeance
- Break Free: https://books2read.com/BreakfreePP4
- Blurred Lines (novella): https://books2read.com/Blurredlines
Black Creek - Gang/Mafia, enemies to lovers, MM, Forced marriage
- Rebels & Rejects: https://books2read.com/rebelsandrejects
- Murder & Mayhem: https://books2read.com/murderandmayhe...
- Damaged & Deadly: https://books2read.com/damagedanddeadly
- Chaos & Carnage: https://books2read.com/chaosandcarnage
Ruthless Boys of Ridgeway - Second chance romance, Friends-enemies-lovers, college, secret society, stalker, fake dating
- Pretty Spiteful: https://books2read.com/TRBoR1
- Pretty Vile: https://books2read.com/TRBoR2
- Pretty Lethal: https://books2read.com/TRBoR3
If you love a story with a well thought out plot and good character development that will give you all the feels, then why not give one of my series a go?
Crescentwood - high school, stalker, bully, enemies to lovers
- Three Divisions: https://books2read.com/threedivisions
- Two Forces: https://books2read.com/twoforces
- One Family: https://books2read.com/onefamily
Pacific Prep - academy, assassin FMC, brothers best friends, taboo, bully
- Broken Trust: https://books2read.com/brokentrust
- Brutal Lies: https://books2read.com/Brutallies
- Beyond Vengeance: https://books2read.com/beyondvengeance
- Break Free: https://books2read.com/BreakfreePP4
- Blurred Lines (novella): https://books2read.com/Blurredlines
Black Creek - Gang/Mafia, enemies to lovers, MM, Forced marriage
- Rebels & Rejects: https://books2read.com/rebelsandrejects
- Murder & Mayhem: https://books2read.com/murderandmayhe...
- Damaged & Deadly: https://books2read.com/damagedanddeadly
- Chaos & Carnage: https://books2read.com/chaosandcarnage
Ruthless Boys of Ridgeway - Second chance romance, Friends-enemies-lovers, college, secret society, stalker, fake dating
- Pretty Spiteful: https://books2read.com/TRBoR1
- Pretty Vile: https://books2read.com/TRBoR2
- Pretty Lethal: https://books2read.com/TRBoR3
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 294 reviews
November 8, 2025
HAPPY RELEASE DAY!!
The talent that the author has to really make you like all the boys in her books always surprises me, even though there is usually one that’s extra special.
Now that I think about it, I usually only read MM for hockey, except for this author’s books! I honestly had no idea that women could technically play in the NHL (even if it’s very improbable), and it was one of my favorite things that it was not just something we had to suspend disbelief in just for the sake of the plot.
Our FMC is fighting to carve herself a place in a field that was and still is male-only, and it’s such a hopeful story!
This said, Griffin is a work of art, and his only fault is that he outshines the other guys a bit, but I love how he is the shepherd in this 5-person relationship 😹 he’s basically the daddy, but don’t tell Ethan! 😹
#Griffinisking
5 Things I loved about this book
1 Griffin
2 I found all the MMCs interesting even if Griffin was a bit overkill for them :D
3 The fact that a girl playing in the NHL is technically possible and that there are examples
4 Don’t get fooled by my reading speed, this was a great read and never boring
5 I squealed a bit at the Halston U cameo
Pre-read
I'm so excited to have been selected as part of this book's ARC team after how much I loved Halston U!! I'm starting this one now 🤩🤩🤩
The talent that the author has to really make you like all the boys in her books always surprises me, even though there is usually one that’s extra special.
Now that I think about it, I usually only read MM for hockey, except for this author’s books! I honestly had no idea that women could technically play in the NHL (even if it’s very improbable), and it was one of my favorite things that it was not just something we had to suspend disbelief in just for the sake of the plot.
Our FMC is fighting to carve herself a place in a field that was and still is male-only, and it’s such a hopeful story!
This said, Griffin is a work of art, and his only fault is that he outshines the other guys a bit, but I love how he is the shepherd in this 5-person relationship 😹 he’s basically the daddy, but don’t tell Ethan! 😹
#Griffinisking
5 Things I loved about this book
1 Griffin
2 I found all the MMCs interesting even if Griffin was a bit overkill for them :D
3 The fact that a girl playing in the NHL is technically possible and that there are examples
4 Don’t get fooled by my reading speed, this was a great read and never boring
5 I squealed a bit at the Halston U cameo
Pre-read
I'm so excited to have been selected as part of this book's ARC team after how much I loved Halston U!! I'm starting this one now 🤩🤩🤩
Read
October 4, 2025multiple scenes with one *playboy* mmc with ow,
multiple scenes with her on his lap constantly, one scene where they are grinding/dancing to each other right after fmc and mmc kiss (so reading her insecurities was awesome as if she wasn't tortured enough being the only girl in hockey team i guess), he slept with her before book starts so idk if he ever slept with someone else during the book, ow was a misogynistic person constantly made jabs at her and told her she slept with coach to get the position nobody defended her or threw her over his lap.
i honestly don't understand why in big 2025 we are still writing characters and scenes like this. is ow and playboy heroes desirable, do any of you actually believe he can change, i didn't find one mention of her past while his is talked about all the time(although i think she isn't a virgin but as soon as somebody flirts with her playboy puts a stop to it and she lets, cuz why should we believe in equality right ?), why can't we have a book without obnoxious amount of ow or ow s*x, i am honsetly so tired of so-called double standards.
multiple scenes with her on his lap constantly, one scene where they are grinding/dancing to each other right after fmc and mmc kiss (so reading her insecurities was awesome as if she wasn't tortured enough being the only girl in hockey team i guess), he slept with her before book starts so idk if he ever slept with someone else during the book, ow was a misogynistic person constantly made jabs at her and told her she slept with coach to get the position nobody defended her or threw her over his lap.
i honestly don't understand why in big 2025 we are still writing characters and scenes like this. is ow and playboy heroes desirable, do any of you actually believe he can change, i didn't find one mention of her past while his is talked about all the time(although i think she isn't a virgin but as soon as somebody flirts with her playboy puts a stop to it and she lets, cuz why should we believe in equality right ?), why can't we have a book without obnoxious amount of ow or ow s*x, i am honsetly so tired of so-called double standards.
October 9, 2025
I've decided that the promise of a "strong FMC" is a red flag for me.
I should have known after the third review I read promised a strong FMC that didn't take any shit and didn't back down, that it was too good to be true.
Sure, she has her moments, some of them even great, but overall her strength is only in relation to hockey. In everything else it's debatable.
It's so odd to me that the storyline was her starting at a new college then going through the exact same thing the guys on her team at her old college put her through and not learning a damn thing. They were horrible to her at the old college and then one suddenly changed and was nice, wooing her into a relationship and then using it to blackmail her while the whole team secretly laughed behind her back.
So when the same thing seemingly starts happening here, but they're maybe a little less horrible (not all of them), she still falls for it. Sure, WE know that all the MMCs are really into her and aren't planning to do the same thing as the last guy but SHE doesn't know that.
And of course, after having just barely pulled their heads out of their asses and starting to act right towards her, and feel guilty for not supporting/having her back before, at the first THE VERY FIRST accusation that's thrown at them about her, three of them believe it full stop without giving her a chance to say anything about it.
Real swoony MMCs we're working with here /s
I'm gonna go ahead and let you guess how much grovel there is in this story for that and for everything before it.......
And before I get to the good parts of the story I also have to talk about the manwh0re MMC:
I can sometimes stand this trope that some women for some reason that I can't grasp seem to find sexy if the manwh0re chooses a damn lane. Instead, here we have an MMC who takes more than 3/4 of the book to even stop using the jealousy trope with OW to get under the FMC's skin. He's so jealous himself that he gets between her and any other guys that are interested in her (aside from the other MMCs), while still parading around puck bunnies, letting them sit in his lap, grinding on them, and doing who knows what else, just to get the FMC to be upset. And of course he has to pull her aside all the time and kiss her before going straight back to OW.
Istg this is why men behave the way they do irl, because we've romanticized it endlessly in books and media.
This same MMC didn't believe her that his bsf was bullying her and had actually jumped her. And for weeks she just accepted that someone she was interested in romantically would take the word of someone else over her own because she's a DOORMAT in relationships. This man wouldn't even believe her when she told him he didn't have the full or right story when he and two others were confronted with damning videos. No, he again needed the word of a man (their coach) to even start making him believe that the same friend that had been after her the entire season may have been in the wrong.
And don't get me started on the fact that he was fine with his friend broadcasting that video of her when he thought she had slept with multiple people on her previous team (it was an edited video) back before she even knew him because it hurt his feelings. This, from the manwh0re. But when the coach made him realize WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE they maybe his friend had been wrong, THEN he wanted his friend to pay for broadcasting that video.
Ffs I'm angry even typing all of this out afterwards.
It's a pity, because the rest of the story was so good. A female college hockey player?!! Her struggle on the hockey side of things was so good, and is one of two things that kept me reading. She was dedicated, intelligent, quick thinking, and she had a backstory that compelled me to cheer her on.
The changes in the way the team interacted with her as she proved she had earned her spot there was good when we saw it, but it would have been much better if it hadn't always been tied to how the MMCs were feeling about her. Would have loved to have seen more of the team outside of the MMCs.
The progression of her relationship with the goalie? Their early mornings and his silent revenge for her? His unyielding faith in her? Absolutely swoon worthy. I would have read a book just about those two, they were so good together.
Her backstory was so damn good too. It feels like it was wasted on the other three MMCs, two of which aren't worth mentioning because they either waffled throughout the story or faded into the background.
Sex scenes were so uneven between the guys, and so were the chapters. We hardly hear from the MMCs and it felt like we heard from some more than others.
I'm not complaining, though, that the sole solo scene with the manwh0re was at the very end of the book and was cut short. I feel like I was spared that.
Big HFN ending. It's the MMCs' senior year and they're all hoping to go pro....and it's her junior year. She's also hoping to go pro, but we never know if any of them are even in the running by the end of the story. We never know what they plan for the years they'd be in different states playing on different teams while she's still in college, etc. Parents are never met, do they plan to be together forever? Only one of the MMCs gave me forever vibes tbh.
I should have known after the third review I read promised a strong FMC that didn't take any shit and didn't back down, that it was too good to be true.
Sure, she has her moments, some of them even great, but overall her strength is only in relation to hockey. In everything else it's debatable.
It's so odd to me that the storyline was her starting at a new college then going through the exact same thing the guys on her team at her old college put her through and not learning a damn thing. They were horrible to her at the old college and then one suddenly changed and was nice, wooing her into a relationship and then using it to blackmail her while the whole team secretly laughed behind her back.
So when the same thing seemingly starts happening here, but they're maybe a little less horrible (not all of them), she still falls for it. Sure, WE know that all the MMCs are really into her and aren't planning to do the same thing as the last guy but SHE doesn't know that.
And of course, after having just barely pulled their heads out of their asses and starting to act right towards her, and feel guilty for not supporting/having her back before, at the first THE VERY FIRST accusation that's thrown at them about her, three of them believe it full stop without giving her a chance to say anything about it.
Real swoony MMCs we're working with here /s
I'm gonna go ahead and let you guess how much grovel there is in this story for that and for everything before it.......
And before I get to the good parts of the story I also have to talk about the manwh0re MMC:
I can sometimes stand this trope that some women for some reason that I can't grasp seem to find sexy if the manwh0re chooses a damn lane. Instead, here we have an MMC who takes more than 3/4 of the book to even stop using the jealousy trope with OW to get under the FMC's skin. He's so jealous himself that he gets between her and any other guys that are interested in her (aside from the other MMCs), while still parading around puck bunnies, letting them sit in his lap, grinding on them, and doing who knows what else, just to get the FMC to be upset. And of course he has to pull her aside all the time and kiss her before going straight back to OW.
Istg this is why men behave the way they do irl, because we've romanticized it endlessly in books and media.
This same MMC didn't believe her that his bsf was bullying her and had actually jumped her. And for weeks she just accepted that someone she was interested in romantically would take the word of someone else over her own because she's a DOORMAT in relationships. This man wouldn't even believe her when she told him he didn't have the full or right story when he and two others were confronted with damning videos. No, he again needed the word of a man (their coach) to even start making him believe that the same friend that had been after her the entire season may have been in the wrong.
And don't get me started on the fact that he was fine with his friend broadcasting that video of her when he thought she had slept with multiple people on her previous team (it was an edited video) back before she even knew him because it hurt his feelings. This, from the manwh0re. But when the coach made him realize WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE they maybe his friend had been wrong, THEN he wanted his friend to pay for broadcasting that video.
Ffs I'm angry even typing all of this out afterwards.
It's a pity, because the rest of the story was so good. A female college hockey player?!! Her struggle on the hockey side of things was so good, and is one of two things that kept me reading. She was dedicated, intelligent, quick thinking, and she had a backstory that compelled me to cheer her on.
The changes in the way the team interacted with her as she proved she had earned her spot there was good when we saw it, but it would have been much better if it hadn't always been tied to how the MMCs were feeling about her. Would have loved to have seen more of the team outside of the MMCs.
The progression of her relationship with the goalie? Their early mornings and his silent revenge for her? His unyielding faith in her? Absolutely swoon worthy. I would have read a book just about those two, they were so good together.
Her backstory was so damn good too. It feels like it was wasted on the other three MMCs, two of which aren't worth mentioning because they either waffled throughout the story or faded into the background.
Sex scenes were so uneven between the guys, and so were the chapters. We hardly hear from the MMCs and it felt like we heard from some more than others.
I'm not complaining, though, that the sole solo scene with the manwh0re was at the very end of the book and was cut short. I feel like I was spared that.
Big HFN ending. It's the MMCs' senior year and they're all hoping to go pro....and it's her junior year. She's also hoping to go pro, but we never know if any of them are even in the running by the end of the story. We never know what they plan for the years they'd be in different states playing on different teams while she's still in college, etc. Parents are never met, do they plan to be together forever? Only one of the MMCs gave me forever vibes tbh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2025
This is an angsty, sort of bully college sports RH. The heroine Dylan (21) is a girl who transferred to a new college and is joining the men’s hockey team. The team doesn’t like that. Many of the players bully her – not really the heroes, but for a while, they just let it happen. It says book 1 in a series, but it’s a standalone. Book 2 will be about her friend.
This type of book is what 3 stars were invented for. It hits the spot okay if you want this kind of premise. But it could have been better. First of all, the pacing is wack. There are 4 guys in the RH, which is too many for a standalone book, it should have been 3 guys (kick out Finn! Or, if the author wanted Finn to add in that "one of the guys sucks" drama, then kick out Jax. I liked Jax, but he didn't bring much energy to the table that was different from Griffin). The guys don’t all get equal time and relationship development with her. There’s also so much hockey stuff in this book, it does seem well researched (to my ignorant eyes), but it makes the relationship stuff feel rushed and crammed in, at the end. It felt like this needed to be a duet, not a standalone, to flesh out the characters and relationships better. And, to flesh out Dylan's backstory and trauma, which was interesting but felt undercooked.
Dylan also kept saying like, "I made a mistake to get involved with guys on my old team. I shouldn't get involved with guys on my new team." She's right! I couldn't disagree with her on that, so she seemed dumb for kissing them so easily. She needed a better reason to get involved with them, or more conflict over it before giving in. It felt like her suddenly hooking up with them was happening because the plot needed it to, rather than because it had a reason that felt natural.
Griffin, the goalie, was so much better than the other 3 guys, it made me want this to be an MF book with only him. That’s not good – its fine and normal to read an RH and have a favorite guy, but I shouldn’t be wishing it was an MF book, and that the other guys weren’t part of the relationship.
I see other reviews complaining that the guys don’t grovel enough. That’s true, but the situation isn’t as bad as they made it sound. Although, I just read and really liked Silent Flames, which also doesn’t really have a traditional “grovel,” so I might just be getting bored of the “grovel,” and fine with the lack of it. But, to me, the guys’ crime was not that bad (compared to other books I’ve read, including other books by this author). It was even semi understandable – they see doctored video footage of her, and they don’t believe her immediately. We’re in the age of AI where videos can easily be misleading. But it’s still a lot to tell somebody “don’t believe your own eyes.” So I did understand their hesitation, even though they were wrong.
I did appreciate how this book has some ridiculous stuff in it that’s totally unbelievable – that's what I'm signing up for, when I read this type of book! For example, she’s playing on the men’s hockey team, and she has to share their locker room. There’s no way this would happen IRL. Women’s locker rooms still exist, and they would make her use that. But this book doesn’t even bother to explain that. It’s like “she's using the men's locker room, just go with it.” You know what? I WILL just go with it.
Anyway, this book is nothing special, its mid, its forgettable, it could have been better. But its fine enough and does hit the spot, if you’re in the mood for this type of read.
This type of book is what 3 stars were invented for. It hits the spot okay if you want this kind of premise. But it could have been better. First of all, the pacing is wack. There are 4 guys in the RH, which is too many for a standalone book, it should have been 3 guys (kick out Finn! Or, if the author wanted Finn to add in that "one of the guys sucks" drama, then kick out Jax. I liked Jax, but he didn't bring much energy to the table that was different from Griffin). The guys don’t all get equal time and relationship development with her. There’s also so much hockey stuff in this book, it does seem well researched (to my ignorant eyes), but it makes the relationship stuff feel rushed and crammed in, at the end. It felt like this needed to be a duet, not a standalone, to flesh out the characters and relationships better. And, to flesh out Dylan's backstory and trauma, which was interesting but felt undercooked.
Dylan also kept saying like, "I made a mistake to get involved with guys on my old team. I shouldn't get involved with guys on my new team." She's right! I couldn't disagree with her on that, so she seemed dumb for kissing them so easily. She needed a better reason to get involved with them, or more conflict over it before giving in. It felt like her suddenly hooking up with them was happening because the plot needed it to, rather than because it had a reason that felt natural.
Griffin, the goalie, was so much better than the other 3 guys, it made me want this to be an MF book with only him. That’s not good – its fine and normal to read an RH and have a favorite guy, but I shouldn’t be wishing it was an MF book, and that the other guys weren’t part of the relationship.
I see other reviews complaining that the guys don’t grovel enough. That’s true, but the situation isn’t as bad as they made it sound. Although, I just read and really liked Silent Flames, which also doesn’t really have a traditional “grovel,” so I might just be getting bored of the “grovel,” and fine with the lack of it. But, to me, the guys’ crime was not that bad (compared to other books I’ve read, including other books by this author). It was even semi understandable – they see doctored video footage of her, and they don’t believe her immediately. We’re in the age of AI where videos can easily be misleading. But it’s still a lot to tell somebody “don’t believe your own eyes.” So I did understand their hesitation, even though they were wrong.
I did appreciate how this book has some ridiculous stuff in it that’s totally unbelievable – that's what I'm signing up for, when I read this type of book! For example, she’s playing on the men’s hockey team, and she has to share their locker room. There’s no way this would happen IRL. Women’s locker rooms still exist, and they would make her use that. But this book doesn’t even bother to explain that. It’s like “she's using the men's locker room, just go with it.” You know what? I WILL just go with it.
Anyway, this book is nothing special, its mid, its forgettable, it could have been better. But its fine enough and does hit the spot, if you’re in the mood for this type of read.
May 28, 2026
3.5 ***
Thanks to NetGalley for this ALC, as always my thoughts and opinions are my own, please take them with a grain of salt. Stick It is a fun, tension filled Reverse Harem, hockey driven romance. I’ve dipped my fingers into the RH trope a few times and it’s typically not my jam. I’ll admit I requested Stick It based on its cover alone. I’m a “literary puck bunny” so yeah, I saw a hockey player and hit request before I could stop myself. But, man I’m sure glad I was trigger happy because besides some minor “me” issues, I definitely recommend for RH lovers as well as fans of the hockey theme. Author was obviously knowledgable on hockey, the scenes written of their practice and game play were exciting to read. Was a bit hockey heavy, I didn’t mind but in case that’s an issue for you. Though I think it helped pull you into the story. I will say having a female playing with males, our fmc, Dylan, author didn’t show enough of the effects the physicality of this sport would play on her body. It’s unavoidable that she’d get hurt, and author didn’t put enough focus on that. Like there wasn’t any negative equity she was playing with against men, is just fantasy. I read a book similar recently about a girl playing hockey with men, and there were scenes with her being taught how to use her body to absorb some of the blows she can’t avoid getting hurt. To mitigate pain that’s guaranteed playing in this sport, especially college level, was a missed opportunity in highlighting the differences blending men and women would have. In today’s climate it’s a gamble either way. My issue with RH is we get these men who usually are all alpha male, and possessive as heck, and expect them to share one girl. I just don’t see the fairness. Haha. My bugaboo with RH, or any multiple coupling, is fairness. Time, energy and emotion. With her having to spread herself between them all, she’ll have nothing left for herself. And damn that much testosterone all the time, you’d need “me” time. So letting my RH issues go, I did like all the guys involved. They all were the same, yet so different when with Dylan. They all brought a little bit of something she needed. Though I did have a favorite. Griffin if this was a solo romance would have been my pick from the get go. His devotion to her couldn’t be questioned, while the others wavered constantly. I listened to the audio and though the female who narrated was awesome, with so many male main characters having their own chapters, I kept getting confused on who’s narration I was listening to. Male narrator possible should have been multiple people to help readers differentiate. Author has so much talent with her storytelling and attention to important details to move story along, though there was a drag for me at about 75% in. Can’t wait for the next in the series, though RH isn’t my favorite, I’m still invested with these characters and team.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ALC, as always my thoughts and opinions are my own, please take them with a grain of salt. Stick It is a fun, tension filled Reverse Harem, hockey driven romance. I’ve dipped my fingers into the RH trope a few times and it’s typically not my jam. I’ll admit I requested Stick It based on its cover alone. I’m a “literary puck bunny” so yeah, I saw a hockey player and hit request before I could stop myself. But, man I’m sure glad I was trigger happy because besides some minor “me” issues, I definitely recommend for RH lovers as well as fans of the hockey theme. Author was obviously knowledgable on hockey, the scenes written of their practice and game play were exciting to read. Was a bit hockey heavy, I didn’t mind but in case that’s an issue for you. Though I think it helped pull you into the story. I will say having a female playing with males, our fmc, Dylan, author didn’t show enough of the effects the physicality of this sport would play on her body. It’s unavoidable that she’d get hurt, and author didn’t put enough focus on that. Like there wasn’t any negative equity she was playing with against men, is just fantasy. I read a book similar recently about a girl playing hockey with men, and there were scenes with her being taught how to use her body to absorb some of the blows she can’t avoid getting hurt. To mitigate pain that’s guaranteed playing in this sport, especially college level, was a missed opportunity in highlighting the differences blending men and women would have. In today’s climate it’s a gamble either way. My issue with RH is we get these men who usually are all alpha male, and possessive as heck, and expect them to share one girl. I just don’t see the fairness. Haha. My bugaboo with RH, or any multiple coupling, is fairness. Time, energy and emotion. With her having to spread herself between them all, she’ll have nothing left for herself. And damn that much testosterone all the time, you’d need “me” time. So letting my RH issues go, I did like all the guys involved. They all were the same, yet so different when with Dylan. They all brought a little bit of something she needed. Though I did have a favorite. Griffin if this was a solo romance would have been my pick from the get go. His devotion to her couldn’t be questioned, while the others wavered constantly. I listened to the audio and though the female who narrated was awesome, with so many male main characters having their own chapters, I kept getting confused on who’s narration I was listening to. Male narrator possible should have been multiple people to help readers differentiate. Author has so much talent with her storytelling and attention to important details to move story along, though there was a drag for me at about 75% in. Can’t wait for the next in the series, though RH isn’t my favorite, I’m still invested with these characters and team.
September 30, 2025
Actually 5/5 STARS
Spice 4/5
-dark hockey romance
-bully
-why choose
-badass woman on an all-men’s team
-secret identity
-one completely UNHINGED
-everyone OTT obsessed & possessive AF
-enemies to lovers
-standalone but interconnected series
-found family
Initial thoughts:
Holy----this book absolutely ATE like Capital A-T-E! I devoured it in one sitting and refused to even come out of my room. From page one, I was hooked, and it did not let me go.
I say this twice because and not stutter and nahh— im not gasing cuz im biased and all, but yeah maybe and it’s THAT good. Rachel is definitely one of the best authors when it comes to a killer plot from beginning to end. Seriously, she writes the most badass FMCs who own their stories completely with actual character development.
It’s rare to see a female hockey player on an all-male team, and Dylan? She’s out there chasing her childhood dream, proving with her skills, talent, and big brain that she is the absolute GOAT in Hockey.
But of course, it’s not all smooth cause there will be Drama, and no she is not the DRAMA! she has to deal with hot, cocky, hockey players in her team.
- A playboy obsessed with her, sneaking her into dark corners for stolen kisses, but then gives whiplash (just cause…)
- An unhinged, lone wolf goalie who’s cold at first but will literally go to war for her.
- The captain, the golden boy, is keeping everything together and carrying all the responsibility of the team.
The tension? Delicious. The dynamics? Toxic! YOU KNOW I LOVE IT! The grovel? Worth it! I was screaming, throwing my Kindle, and then swooning like my life depended on it. I was literally glued to my Kindle.
What do I love most? This book really captures that in “man’s world,” women have to work twice as hard because most of them think we’re fragile and can’t handle the brutal ice rink. But Dylan? She’s determined and tenacious as hell. She just wants to play pro hockey because *redacted* and prove she’s an asset, not a liability.
Sure, it’s messy and toxic AF. Sometimes these guys need a reality check, but again for readers who love grovelling, yup… its there!
Recommend? Absolutely. If you want a dark hockey why choose romance with an FMC who makes cocky men eat their words and a lineup of unhinged, obsessed players who prove over and over again she’s the only one, well lucky you… its coming out tomorrow!
Spice 4/5
-dark hockey romance
-bully
-why choose
-badass woman on an all-men’s team
-secret identity
-one completely UNHINGED
-everyone OTT obsessed & possessive AF
-enemies to lovers
-standalone but interconnected series
-found family
Initial thoughts:
Holy----this book absolutely ATE like Capital A-T-E! I devoured it in one sitting and refused to even come out of my room. From page one, I was hooked, and it did not let me go.
I say this twice because and not stutter and nahh— im not gasing cuz im biased and all, but yeah maybe and it’s THAT good. Rachel is definitely one of the best authors when it comes to a killer plot from beginning to end. Seriously, she writes the most badass FMCs who own their stories completely with actual character development.
It’s rare to see a female hockey player on an all-male team, and Dylan? She’s out there chasing her childhood dream, proving with her skills, talent, and big brain that she is the absolute GOAT in Hockey.
But of course, it’s not all smooth cause there will be Drama, and no she is not the DRAMA! she has to deal with hot, cocky, hockey players in her team.
- A playboy obsessed with her, sneaking her into dark corners for stolen kisses, but then gives whiplash (just cause…)
- An unhinged, lone wolf goalie who’s cold at first but will literally go to war for her.
- The captain, the golden boy, is keeping everything together and carrying all the responsibility of the team.
The tension? Delicious. The dynamics? Toxic! YOU KNOW I LOVE IT! The grovel? Worth it! I was screaming, throwing my Kindle, and then swooning like my life depended on it. I was literally glued to my Kindle.
What do I love most? This book really captures that in “man’s world,” women have to work twice as hard because most of them think we’re fragile and can’t handle the brutal ice rink. But Dylan? She’s determined and tenacious as hell. She just wants to play pro hockey because *redacted* and prove she’s an asset, not a liability.
Sure, it’s messy and toxic AF. Sometimes these guys need a reality check, but again for readers who love grovelling, yup… its there!
Recommend? Absolutely. If you want a dark hockey why choose romance with an FMC who makes cocky men eat their words and a lineup of unhinged, obsessed players who prove over and over again she’s the only one, well lucky you… its coming out tomorrow!
October 1, 2025
Stick It is book one in the brand new why choose/college hockey romance series, Northern Legacy by @rasmythauthor I KNEW the moment I read the Author Note and Dedication that this book was going to be something special and amazing! And it was BEYOND! RA Smyth writes pure perfection! And she bled her heart on the pages of this book! I literally could not put it down and read it in less than 24
We follow Dylan Callahan-She is fierce. She is relentless. She is a survivor and a warrior. Her father was a famous NHL player and all she ever wanted was to do the same. In a world dominated by men, she is ready to take it by storm! Bring in her HOT HOT men! Omg, these men!!!! Ethan-The captain of the team that carries the weight of the team and world on his shoulders. Griffin-The broody, obsessed goalie who just falls hard and wants to give her the world.Finn-The gorgeous playboy who struggles with wanting her yet a loyalty to his best friend. Jax-Quiet but passionate in all he does including video games. The chemistry. The passion. The slow burn. The angst. As Dylan learns to finally let go, to allow herself to be taken care of and loved-It’s absolutely perfect! The way they come together to take care of her…. The possessiveness and obsession by these men, off the charts! The spicy scenes between her and each guy and her men together, HHHHOOOOTTTT!!🔥
This book will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions! It will leave you with that book coma after and you just can’t stop thinking about it! It’s just that good. This is now one of my most favorite why choose/hockey books I have ever read! I can’t wait for book two which will be her best friend Wren’s book who I have a feeling has a whole lot of secrets to unveil.
Read this book. And when you do, take two seconds to really read that Author Note and Dedication. It speaks from an author's beautiful heart♥️
Rate: 10/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 5/5🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
♥️Why Choose
🏒 Dark Hockey Romance
🏒 Bully Romance
🏰College Romance
🔥Spicy Romance
⚔️Enemies to Lovers
💜Touch-her-and-☠️
*TRULY THANK YOU Rachel for being a part of your ARC team!🖤
We follow Dylan Callahan-She is fierce. She is relentless. She is a survivor and a warrior. Her father was a famous NHL player and all she ever wanted was to do the same. In a world dominated by men, she is ready to take it by storm! Bring in her HOT HOT men! Omg, these men!!!! Ethan-The captain of the team that carries the weight of the team and world on his shoulders. Griffin-The broody, obsessed goalie who just falls hard and wants to give her the world.Finn-The gorgeous playboy who struggles with wanting her yet a loyalty to his best friend. Jax-Quiet but passionate in all he does including video games. The chemistry. The passion. The slow burn. The angst. As Dylan learns to finally let go, to allow herself to be taken care of and loved-It’s absolutely perfect! The way they come together to take care of her…. The possessiveness and obsession by these men, off the charts! The spicy scenes between her and each guy and her men together, HHHHOOOOTTTT!!🔥
This book will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions! It will leave you with that book coma after and you just can’t stop thinking about it! It’s just that good. This is now one of my most favorite why choose/hockey books I have ever read! I can’t wait for book two which will be her best friend Wren’s book who I have a feeling has a whole lot of secrets to unveil.
Read this book. And when you do, take two seconds to really read that Author Note and Dedication. It speaks from an author's beautiful heart♥️
Rate: 10/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 5/5🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
♥️Why Choose
🏒 Dark Hockey Romance
🏒 Bully Romance
🏰College Romance
🔥Spicy Romance
⚔️Enemies to Lovers
💜Touch-her-and-☠️
*TRULY THANK YOU Rachel for being a part of your ARC team!🖤
October 12, 2025
4.25⭐️
November 10, 2025
Perfection in every way 🫶🏻. The characters, the plot, the villain. Hockey and RH romance at its very best ☺️.
October 14, 2025
ARC REVIEW
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Dylan is my crease—my territory, my purpose. No matter where I am, how far I stray, I always find myself back in the blue, ready to defend what’s mine.
Five enthusiastic stars for this why-choose, dark hockey romance! I loved the banter, the steam, the angst, the danger, the action... One BA FMC and four hockey gods who fall madly in love with her.
I felt true kinship with Dylan. Like her, I was the only girl in an all-boys league, except it was soccer and not hockey. I understood her struggles. I admired Dylan's strength in the face of an entire team (and league) that was dead set on forcing her out. Luckily, my team was supportive from the get-go and had my back when targeted by the opposing players. Dylan wasn't so lucky, forced to be a lone wolf.
Dylan eventually gathered a harem of men who supported and uplifted her (lucky duck!). Griffin was the top MMC. It's hard not to fall immediately for the sulky man who becomes obsessed with his woman. He was the force that pulled the others' heads out of their asses. Thank goodness he was in Dylan's corner from the beginning.
My favorite part (besides every time Dylan kicked ass on the ice) was when the guys (excepting Griffin, of course) realized how badly they fucked up. God, I LIVE for the grovel. Very well done.
This is a mixed-burn and spicy romance. Some MMCs take a little longer than the others to fall, going from yearning to burning. MF and group scenes.
Stick It ends in a HEA for Dylan and her guys. It can be read as a complete standalone, though you can expect future interconnected stories.
Thank you, RA Smyth, for the ARC.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Dylan is my crease—my territory, my purpose. No matter where I am, how far I stray, I always find myself back in the blue, ready to defend what’s mine.
Five enthusiastic stars for this why-choose, dark hockey romance! I loved the banter, the steam, the angst, the danger, the action... One BA FMC and four hockey gods who fall madly in love with her.
I felt true kinship with Dylan. Like her, I was the only girl in an all-boys league, except it was soccer and not hockey. I understood her struggles. I admired Dylan's strength in the face of an entire team (and league) that was dead set on forcing her out. Luckily, my team was supportive from the get-go and had my back when targeted by the opposing players. Dylan wasn't so lucky, forced to be a lone wolf.
Dylan eventually gathered a harem of men who supported and uplifted her (lucky duck!). Griffin was the top MMC. It's hard not to fall immediately for the sulky man who becomes obsessed with his woman. He was the force that pulled the others' heads out of their asses. Thank goodness he was in Dylan's corner from the beginning.
My favorite part (besides every time Dylan kicked ass on the ice) was when the guys (excepting Griffin, of course) realized how badly they fucked up. God, I LIVE for the grovel. Very well done.
This is a mixed-burn and spicy romance. Some MMCs take a little longer than the others to fall, going from yearning to burning. MF and group scenes.
Stick It ends in a HEA for Dylan and her guys. It can be read as a complete standalone, though you can expect future interconnected stories.
Thank you, RA Smyth, for the ARC.
November 17, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stick It by RA Smyth
I’m not entirely convinced this was a “book issue” as much as it was a me issue. I struggle with reverse harems sometimes because I always end up gravitating toward one guy more than the others, and in this case, that was Ethan. I’ve gotten past this in other RH series because eventually one love interest does tend to stand out and pull ahead emotionally. I didn’t feel that happen here.
We basically end on the close of the season and the end of our poor FMC’s suffering, but beyond that, I didn’t feel like the plot or the relationships had much clarity or direction.
Quick summary:
After transferring to a new university for a fresh start, our FMC finds herself tangled up with several hockey players teammates, roommates, and men who all want her. Between team drama, past trauma, and territorial tension, she tries to figure out who she can trust both on and off the ice.
Now… the spice? Good. No complaints there. But it didn’t feel evenly balanced between all the guys. And one of the MMCs…I just could not stand him. Misogynistic, dismissive, and pushing the FMC away over and over because of his loyalty to another player on the team. Not to mention he refuses to believe her for about 80% of the book.
Ethan, meanwhile, felt like the only one who actually tried to know her as a person before dragging her into the bedroom or just claiming her as “his.” Everyone else’s dynamic felt surface level or selfish…more like boys jockeying for territory than building any emotional connection.
Overall? If reverse harem is your jam, definitely give it a try… a lot of readers loved this one. It just wasn’t totally my style.
I’m not entirely convinced this was a “book issue” as much as it was a me issue. I struggle with reverse harems sometimes because I always end up gravitating toward one guy more than the others, and in this case, that was Ethan. I’ve gotten past this in other RH series because eventually one love interest does tend to stand out and pull ahead emotionally. I didn’t feel that happen here.
We basically end on the close of the season and the end of our poor FMC’s suffering, but beyond that, I didn’t feel like the plot or the relationships had much clarity or direction.
Quick summary:
After transferring to a new university for a fresh start, our FMC finds herself tangled up with several hockey players teammates, roommates, and men who all want her. Between team drama, past trauma, and territorial tension, she tries to figure out who she can trust both on and off the ice.
Now… the spice? Good. No complaints there. But it didn’t feel evenly balanced between all the guys. And one of the MMCs…I just could not stand him. Misogynistic, dismissive, and pushing the FMC away over and over because of his loyalty to another player on the team. Not to mention he refuses to believe her for about 80% of the book.
Ethan, meanwhile, felt like the only one who actually tried to know her as a person before dragging her into the bedroom or just claiming her as “his.” Everyone else’s dynamic felt surface level or selfish…more like boys jockeying for territory than building any emotional connection.
Overall? If reverse harem is your jam, definitely give it a try… a lot of readers loved this one. It just wasn’t totally my style.
October 4, 2025
Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Let me just say, I loved the premise of this book and I've been dying to be able to read it. On top of that, I'm a huge fan of the previous books from this author and I had high hopes she'd handle this storyline well. And she did, don't get me wrong. And I'll even say I was extra excited to see it was a standalone and not a trilogy as a lot of her series are. But with all of that being said, I didn't love this one. The characters felt very separate to me and I felt like none of them truly got the page time the deserved. Dylan also had a pretty deep background storyline happening that would make it's way to the page but didn't go into depth. I was also kind of disappointed that we didn't really get to see her on the ice a lot. Or maybe to me it just felt like that should have been more of a central point of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed it and I did like the characters individually. Maybe I had expectations that couldn't be met or maybe I let myself get so hyped over what I thought would happen that I made it a disappointing read for myself. Either way, I'm still excited to see what will come next from this series.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Let me just say, I loved the premise of this book and I've been dying to be able to read it. On top of that, I'm a huge fan of the previous books from this author and I had high hopes she'd handle this storyline well. And she did, don't get me wrong. And I'll even say I was extra excited to see it was a standalone and not a trilogy as a lot of her series are. But with all of that being said, I didn't love this one. The characters felt very separate to me and I felt like none of them truly got the page time the deserved. Dylan also had a pretty deep background storyline happening that would make it's way to the page but didn't go into depth. I was also kind of disappointed that we didn't really get to see her on the ice a lot. Or maybe to me it just felt like that should have been more of a central point of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed it and I did like the characters individually. Maybe I had expectations that couldn't be met or maybe I let myself get so hyped over what I thought would happen that I made it a disappointing read for myself. Either way, I'm still excited to see what will come next from this series.
October 14, 2025
I have a hard time with contemporary RH books. The relationships are harder for me to envision, probably because i cant imagine them happening in real life. Add a girl playing D1 hockey, escaping brutal bullying and near-death experiences, and this book definitely felt more like a fantasy. The bool was entertaining, while also repetitive. The first half was abuse and hockey, the second half was hockey and sex. The relationships were sweet, yet undeveloped. We never learned much about the guys.
October 2, 2025
I will never ever not want to read a book by RA Smyth. Every single thing she writes is pure gold, and this story was no different. I will say Griffin…. Oh yeah. Chefs kiss!!
November 26, 2025
Dylan, Finn, Ethan, Jax, + Griffin
-whychoose sports romance
-all (including fmc) hockey players
-hidden identity
-forbidden romance
-teammates to lovers
this was a perfect whychoose standalone & to add in the sports trope it was just even more built & plotted perfectly with all the secrets & build up!! i thought the relationships, separate & together, were all developed perfectly!! i LOVEDD each & every one of the guys equally too!!
-whychoose sports romance
-all (including fmc) hockey players
-hidden identity
-forbidden romance
-teammates to lovers
this was a perfect whychoose standalone & to add in the sports trope it was just even more built & plotted perfectly with all the secrets & build up!! i thought the relationships, separate & together, were all developed perfectly!! i LOVEDD each & every one of the guys equally too!!
November 3, 2025
I've been waiting for a new R. A. Smyth book!!! I've read almost her whole catalog and she's one of my top 5 dark romance authors, Smyth's soo underrated it's ridiculous!!!!! Suffice to say, i got EXTREMELY pumped when I saw this new book of hers ❤️❤️❤️!
Like always I fricken crushed it!!!!!
💋💋💋
Like always I fricken crushed it!!!!!
💋💋💋
April 20, 2026
˙⋆✮Rating✮⋆˙
4/5 Stars
💭 Thoughts-
-ˋˏ✄┈┈The stuff this girl has had to go through just for being a women in a ¨man´s sport¨ is insanity
・┆✦ʚ¨Some men just can´t handle the fact that a women is better than they are.¨ɞ✦ ┆・
4/5 Stars
💭 Thoughts-
-ˋˏ✄┈┈The stuff this girl has had to go through just for being a women in a ¨man´s sport¨ is insanity
・┆✦ʚ¨Some men just can´t handle the fact that a women is better than they are.¨ɞ✦ ┆・
October 4, 2025
Damn this was good! Full RTC later but let it be known, you should read this book if you love a fierce FMC who doesn’t have to choose, and hot hockey men who kick ass on the ice and off.
January 23, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
September 21, 2025
I absolutely enjoyed Stick It. I love a good hockey why choose romance. FOUR GUYS? what a dream. i absolutely loved the storyline. And how more and more was revealed about the FMCs life as it goes on. She went THROUGH it. I absolutely loved the guys. They all came around in their own ways. I do wish we would have gotten more of their POVs because I wanted to know more about them. The book is emotionally heavy and there is violence in it but the moments that made me giggle helped balance it out. I really loved this book and can’t wait for the next one. thank you booksirens for this ARC.
November 10, 2025
Definitely a different plot than I was expecting and I liked how it played out. Overall I thought it was a good book. Will read the sequel whenever it comes out.
October 13, 2025
DNF @ %67
I just don’t think this book was for me
I just don’t think this book was for me
November 8, 2025
Ehh
I really wanted to love this one more than I did. The concept? Fire. A female hockey player stepping into a men’s Division I team, breaking barriers, and holding her own — that’s everything I want to see. Dylan’s strength and determination were on point, and the setup had so much potential.
But somewhere between the drama, the danger, and the spice, the story lost a bit of what I was hoping for: the connection. We didn’t really get enough time to see the guys’ relationships with Dylan grow. It felt like there was supposed to be deep chemistry and emotional layers, but most of it stayed surface-level or rushed.
The writing’s solid and the premise stands out in the genre — it just needed more focus on the relationships, less on the chaos. If the next book slows down and gives the romance room to breathe, I’d definitely give it another shot.
I really wanted to love this one more than I did. The concept? Fire. A female hockey player stepping into a men’s Division I team, breaking barriers, and holding her own — that’s everything I want to see. Dylan’s strength and determination were on point, and the setup had so much potential.
But somewhere between the drama, the danger, and the spice, the story lost a bit of what I was hoping for: the connection. We didn’t really get enough time to see the guys’ relationships with Dylan grow. It felt like there was supposed to be deep chemistry and emotional layers, but most of it stayed surface-level or rushed.
The writing’s solid and the premise stands out in the genre — it just needed more focus on the relationships, less on the chaos. If the next book slows down and gives the romance room to breathe, I’d definitely give it another shot.
March 4, 2026
The story itself was promising: a female ice hockey player … playing in the men’s league. Hell yeah, sign me up.
Of course you can expect skepticism and a bit of bullying. The FMC is described as a „badass“, surviving and especially thriving in the competitive environment. But then 200 pages in, I definitely didn’t get the feeling that she can survive on her own.
Then there were the relationships. Most of them didn’t make sense to me. The spice was not spicing😭 Mostly it just felt cringe.
And on top of that it’s college hockey. In between I had to remind myself that they’re not playing professionally. You literally see nothing from college. I just got the feeling „The big boyfriends need to protect their girlfriend“. And I wasn’t feeling that at all.
How did I survive 650 pages?!
Of course you can expect skepticism and a bit of bullying. The FMC is described as a „badass“, surviving and especially thriving in the competitive environment. But then 200 pages in, I definitely didn’t get the feeling that she can survive on her own.
Then there were the relationships. Most of them didn’t make sense to me. The spice was not spicing😭 Mostly it just felt cringe.
And on top of that it’s college hockey. In between I had to remind myself that they’re not playing professionally. You literally see nothing from college. I just got the feeling „The big boyfriends need to protect their girlfriend“. And I wasn’t feeling that at all.
How did I survive 650 pages?!
October 23, 2025
I’ve read many books with this main trope. What drew me to that one was that “women in men’s field” vibe. I like that it was different from other books of this genre in the sense of the relationship between the MC’s. I like that it wasn’t the enemies/bully to lover type, I was afraid it would go that rout me and I’m glad it didn’t.
My one issue is that the end was dragging a little.
My one issue is that the end was dragging a little.
June 1, 2026
You know what's fun ? Most of the time, in those kind of books, I just accept that the hockey is secondary and not really interesting in the story. Well... this one is the opposite. The reverse harem seemed off and I really enjoyed the hockey part! Beneath the RH, there's actually a lot of interesting discussion about what it means to be a woman trying to make a place for yourself in a sport that is still overwhelmingly male-dominated. And THAT was cool.
The story follows Dylan, a talented hockey player trying to build her own career while carrying the weight of her family name. As the daughter of a hockey legend, she's constantly dealing with expectations, assumptions, and the feeling that she has to prove she belongs in ways her male counterparts never have to. The discussions around sexism in hockey, merit, and the pressure of living up to a famous last name were easily some of the strongest parts of the book for me.
I mostly liked Dylan as a protagonist. She's (kind of) resilient, determined, and carrying a lot of emotional baggage from both her family life and her hockey career. Her personal journey felt like the most developed arc in the book.
That said, there were a few moments where her characterization felt a little inconsistent to me. Given what happened to her with her previous team, I was surprised by how quickly she trusted the four guys. Considering her history, I expected a bit more hesitation and a slower build toward that level of comfort.
As for the romance, I enjoyed parts of it, but it felt a bit off, like... The smut, okay, it was there (sometimes a bit cringe but hey, we're used to it), but it sometimes felt like they were only sharing that, even though they were saying otherwise (appart from Griffin, which, despite his way-too-much-possessive behavior, seemed to really want to engage with her and really DID it).
I also wanted way more depth from the male characters. Griffin gets the most page time by far, and while that means we understand him better than the others, it also means the imbalance becomes really noticeable. By the end, I still felt like I barely knew some of the guys beyond a few personality traits.
Jackson was probably my favorite (even though I absolutely can't say why), while Finn tested my patience, especially when it came to some of the jealousy and decisions surrounding one of the book's major plot points.
And then there are some behaviors that simply didn't work for me. Griffin's possessiveness was already pushing my limits, but some of the actions from the other guys weren't much better. At one point, a tracker is put on Dylan's phone, and the book clearly wanted me to see it as protective. I absolutely did not. Your mileage may vary, but I spent a good portion of those scenes thinking, "Guys, this is not helping your case."
One thing I really wish the book had spent more time exploring is the actual relationship structure. This is a reverse harem romance, but there isn't much discussion about how everyone feels, what boundaries exist, what expectations look like, or how they're navigating this dynamic emotionally. At one point it basically felt like the conversation amounted to "So... we're sharing her?" and everyone just rolled with it. I kept waiting for deeper conversations that never really came. Especially since Griffin is a big ass possessive man but he's just ok sharing her with 3 others??? Doesn't make sense.
I also found it a little strange how little presence the rest of the hockey team has in the story. Dylan is part of a team, and hockey is such a central element of the book, but outside of the core group, the teammates often felt surprisingly absent.
The audiobook itself was enjoyable and easy to follow. My biggest challenge wasn't the narration but the character names. Having both Griffin and Finn as major POV characters should genuinely qualify as a hostile act against audiobook listeners. I spent a concerning amount of time trying to remember which one was speaking.
Overall, I had a good time with this one. The discussions about women in hockey, sexism in sports, and the pressure of legacy were genuinely compelling, and Dylan's story kept me invested. I just wish the romance dynamics had been explored in more depth and that the male characters had received the same level of development as the heroine.
The story follows Dylan, a talented hockey player trying to build her own career while carrying the weight of her family name. As the daughter of a hockey legend, she's constantly dealing with expectations, assumptions, and the feeling that she has to prove she belongs in ways her male counterparts never have to. The discussions around sexism in hockey, merit, and the pressure of living up to a famous last name were easily some of the strongest parts of the book for me.
I mostly liked Dylan as a protagonist. She's (kind of) resilient, determined, and carrying a lot of emotional baggage from both her family life and her hockey career. Her personal journey felt like the most developed arc in the book.
That said, there were a few moments where her characterization felt a little inconsistent to me. Given what happened to her with her previous team, I was surprised by how quickly she trusted the four guys. Considering her history, I expected a bit more hesitation and a slower build toward that level of comfort.
As for the romance, I enjoyed parts of it, but it felt a bit off, like... The smut, okay, it was there (sometimes a bit cringe but hey, we're used to it), but it sometimes felt like they were only sharing that, even though they were saying otherwise (appart from Griffin, which, despite his way-too-much-possessive behavior, seemed to really want to engage with her and really DID it).
I also wanted way more depth from the male characters. Griffin gets the most page time by far, and while that means we understand him better than the others, it also means the imbalance becomes really noticeable. By the end, I still felt like I barely knew some of the guys beyond a few personality traits.
Jackson was probably my favorite (even though I absolutely can't say why), while Finn tested my patience, especially when it came to some of the jealousy and decisions surrounding one of the book's major plot points.
And then there are some behaviors that simply didn't work for me. Griffin's possessiveness was already pushing my limits, but some of the actions from the other guys weren't much better. At one point, a tracker is put on Dylan's phone, and the book clearly wanted me to see it as protective. I absolutely did not. Your mileage may vary, but I spent a good portion of those scenes thinking, "Guys, this is not helping your case."
One thing I really wish the book had spent more time exploring is the actual relationship structure. This is a reverse harem romance, but there isn't much discussion about how everyone feels, what boundaries exist, what expectations look like, or how they're navigating this dynamic emotionally. At one point it basically felt like the conversation amounted to "So... we're sharing her?" and everyone just rolled with it. I kept waiting for deeper conversations that never really came. Especially since Griffin is a big ass possessive man but he's just ok sharing her with 3 others??? Doesn't make sense.
I also found it a little strange how little presence the rest of the hockey team has in the story. Dylan is part of a team, and hockey is such a central element of the book, but outside of the core group, the teammates often felt surprisingly absent.
The audiobook itself was enjoyable and easy to follow. My biggest challenge wasn't the narration but the character names. Having both Griffin and Finn as major POV characters should genuinely qualify as a hostile act against audiobook listeners. I spent a concerning amount of time trying to remember which one was speaking.
Overall, I had a good time with this one. The discussions about women in hockey, sexism in sports, and the pressure of legacy were genuinely compelling, and Dylan's story kept me invested. I just wish the romance dynamics had been explored in more depth and that the male characters had received the same level of development as the heroine.
October 8, 2025
This book was SO GOOD!!! AHHH -- I mean it had everything you could want; a woman in a predominantly male zone making names for herself, hot, hunky hockey players vying for attention, and a suspense element that will have you glued to your kindle!
I'm about to make a very controversial statement here, but Griffin is hands down my favorite hero Rachel has come up with. He's a growly teddy bear that doesn't ever connect with anyone, but he connects with Dylan. And not only that, he SEES her, and will do anything to protect her -- even from the other idiots on his team that are confused about their feelings. He is the only one out of them all who always stood by her without question and loved her loud and proud. Honestly if she had said FU to the others I wouldn't have been all that mad -- that's how much I love him!
Jax was my second favorite! The bond that hw shares with Dylan is so unique, and I loved that there was a true friendship under everything else.
Ethan was a good captain, and once he let go of the need to be in control and perfect I really started to warm up to him,.especially when everything hit the fan!
as for Finn -look, he pissed me off. I get it, he didn't want to think that the person he had been close to for years was capable of doing what he did,.but I seriously wanted to smack some sense into this boy, to the point I was YELLING at my Kindle. oy.
As for Dylan -man i just really loved her! She had been through so much, and felt so alone and isolated, and all she wanted to do was play the sport that she loved so much, and to honor her father's legacy. She never wanted to be in danger all for doing so, but I loved how she always fought back with her head held high. Shes just so fierce, and I loved that about her! But falling in love with these men also taught her that she could be soft and vulnerable, and that was just *chefs kiss*
I desperately cannot wait for Wrens book! I adored her as Dylans bff and I know her own harem is going to be AMAZING.
We even got a nice cameo with Aurora and her adorable kiddo!! I mean cmon, how precious was that?!?
I'm about to make a very controversial statement here, but Griffin is hands down my favorite hero Rachel has come up with. He's a growly teddy bear that doesn't ever connect with anyone, but he connects with Dylan. And not only that, he SEES her, and will do anything to protect her -- even from the other idiots on his team that are confused about their feelings. He is the only one out of them all who always stood by her without question and loved her loud and proud. Honestly if she had said FU to the others I wouldn't have been all that mad -- that's how much I love him!
Jax was my second favorite! The bond that hw shares with Dylan is so unique, and I loved that there was a true friendship under everything else.
Ethan was a good captain, and once he let go of the need to be in control and perfect I really started to warm up to him,.especially when everything hit the fan!
as for Finn -look, he pissed me off. I get it, he didn't want to think that the person he had been close to for years was capable of doing what he did,.but I seriously wanted to smack some sense into this boy, to the point I was YELLING at my Kindle. oy.
As for Dylan -man i just really loved her! She had been through so much, and felt so alone and isolated, and all she wanted to do was play the sport that she loved so much, and to honor her father's legacy. She never wanted to be in danger all for doing so, but I loved how she always fought back with her head held high. Shes just so fierce, and I loved that about her! But falling in love with these men also taught her that she could be soft and vulnerable, and that was just *chefs kiss*
I desperately cannot wait for Wrens book! I adored her as Dylans bff and I know her own harem is going to be AMAZING.
We even got a nice cameo with Aurora and her adorable kiddo!! I mean cmon, how precious was that?!?
October 1, 2025
Wow Stick It was just wow. I absolutely freaking loved it. I’ve always loved R. A. Smyth’s book especially Halston U series but this series is taking off to be the best.
Dylan she’s just so strong and fearless. She’s been wanting to play professional hockey since she was a little girl and nothing will stop her. Her perseverance, determination and tenacity is something to be proud of. Her father was in the NHL and now she’s trying to get there. I know she will.
Although it’s not gonna be easy. There is a lot of naysayers out there ready to mess things up for her. She’s better than some of the men on her team. Her men rally around her. Ethan the Captain of the team is trying to make everyone happy. Our broody Goalie Griffin has always supported Dylan from the beginning (hint hint he’s my favorite). Jax who loves playing video games especially with Dylan (yep she’s good at that too). Finally we have Finn who’s really torn between his attraction to Dylan and his loyalty to his loser of a best friend. I love how eventually they band together and protect and support her.
What I really loved about Stick It is that a woman can play in a man’s world. Never give up. The author really showed how hard it is but yet so fulfilling when you try and never give up. Life can have lots of challenges but it’s up to you to grab them and overcome them.
Kudos to R. A. Smyth of writing such an amazing book. I was hooked beginning to end and dealing with lots of emotions while reading it. From anger to sadness to happiness. Stick It has it all. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!!!
Dylan she’s just so strong and fearless. She’s been wanting to play professional hockey since she was a little girl and nothing will stop her. Her perseverance, determination and tenacity is something to be proud of. Her father was in the NHL and now she’s trying to get there. I know she will.
Although it’s not gonna be easy. There is a lot of naysayers out there ready to mess things up for her. She’s better than some of the men on her team. Her men rally around her. Ethan the Captain of the team is trying to make everyone happy. Our broody Goalie Griffin has always supported Dylan from the beginning (hint hint he’s my favorite). Jax who loves playing video games especially with Dylan (yep she’s good at that too). Finally we have Finn who’s really torn between his attraction to Dylan and his loyalty to his loser of a best friend. I love how eventually they band together and protect and support her.
What I really loved about Stick It is that a woman can play in a man’s world. Never give up. The author really showed how hard it is but yet so fulfilling when you try and never give up. Life can have lots of challenges but it’s up to you to grab them and overcome them.
Kudos to R. A. Smyth of writing such an amazing book. I was hooked beginning to end and dealing with lots of emotions while reading it. From anger to sadness to happiness. Stick It has it all. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!!!
September 30, 2025
This book is something special, i think for a lot of women, it will mean something more than just a romance book. Dylan just left me speechless, the amount of strength it must have taken to still show up after everything that happened and than dominate that ice hockey game. It gave me chills, goosbumps everywhere.
The amount of bad that happened in Dylan's life, the amount of bad things said and done to her... so many times i wish i could just talk to her and give her the biggest hug and tell her what an incredible woman she is. The fighter she is, is exactly what the guys saw in her aswell and that was just so beautiful. Her going from a team that does not like her or even gives her the slightest chance to a team that defends, uplifts and let's her shine, ugh tears! Like literally....
Thank god for why choose romance because do not make me choose between these men, i will not. I can understand every one of them. I love every single one of them. am i jealous of Dylan? Oh yeah i am. They all give her something different but something she needs. So i repeat do not make me choose. One moment Griffin makes me hot and bothered and the next Ethan's there with his silent strength and protectiveness, the other moment Jax's is making me kick my feet while Finn just makes me go from blushing to shouting, like they are just..... undescribable.
Now Bear and Wren those two also made this book all the more special because not only is romantic interest important in life but also the support and love from family and friends and Bear and Wren were just the sweetest and such great characters that made this book just amazing!
BTW: Kyle and Lucas can go and F themselves! The visceral reaction they both gave me... ugh!
The amount of bad that happened in Dylan's life, the amount of bad things said and done to her... so many times i wish i could just talk to her and give her the biggest hug and tell her what an incredible woman she is. The fighter she is, is exactly what the guys saw in her aswell and that was just so beautiful. Her going from a team that does not like her or even gives her the slightest chance to a team that defends, uplifts and let's her shine, ugh tears! Like literally....
Thank god for why choose romance because do not make me choose between these men, i will not. I can understand every one of them. I love every single one of them. am i jealous of Dylan? Oh yeah i am. They all give her something different but something she needs. So i repeat do not make me choose. One moment Griffin makes me hot and bothered and the next Ethan's there with his silent strength and protectiveness, the other moment Jax's is making me kick my feet while Finn just makes me go from blushing to shouting, like they are just..... undescribable.
Now Bear and Wren those two also made this book all the more special because not only is romantic interest important in life but also the support and love from family and friends and Bear and Wren were just the sweetest and such great characters that made this book just amazing!
BTW: Kyle and Lucas can go and F themselves! The visceral reaction they both gave me... ugh!
September 29, 2025
Stick It by R.A. Smyth was nothing but fire from start to finish. I literally just finished reading and already contemplating going back for round 2. For reals, this story is powerful and definitely needed to be told. For anyone who dares to dream and for those who think they can't. The icing on top is the facts thrown in throughout the story about women playing hockey or competing for any team that was originally all men. I absolutely love the epicness of girl power.
Dylan Carter is exactly the type of girl I have always wanted to be. Strong, fierce, independent, knows what she wants and grabs it with no apologies whatsoever. I love how hockey was the chosen sport for this book. I'm not the biggest fan but ai can appreciate how it shows off the brutality of characters, mentally and physically, and also the determination and strength it takes to succeed longterm.
The progression of Stick It felt so natural, starting from the guys hating the idea of a girl teammate to them slowly coming around to acceptance, to finally giving in to Dylan and what they truly wanted. I really love how different Finn, Jax, Ethan, and Griffin are on their own but still compliment each other to make one fully united group. The underlying suspense throughout Stick It was equally thrilling and kept me on my toes. The lengths that some people go to are seriously crazy but again it feels like something that could truly happen. And that ending with Wren? Heck yes I'm here for it. Her friendship with Dylan was so fresh and hilarious and I can't wait to see her side of why she loves hockey and the reasoning for avoiding all players and parties.
Dylan Carter is exactly the type of girl I have always wanted to be. Strong, fierce, independent, knows what she wants and grabs it with no apologies whatsoever. I love how hockey was the chosen sport for this book. I'm not the biggest fan but ai can appreciate how it shows off the brutality of characters, mentally and physically, and also the determination and strength it takes to succeed longterm.
The progression of Stick It felt so natural, starting from the guys hating the idea of a girl teammate to them slowly coming around to acceptance, to finally giving in to Dylan and what they truly wanted. I really love how different Finn, Jax, Ethan, and Griffin are on their own but still compliment each other to make one fully united group. The underlying suspense throughout Stick It was equally thrilling and kept me on my toes. The lengths that some people go to are seriously crazy but again it feels like something that could truly happen. And that ending with Wren? Heck yes I'm here for it. Her friendship with Dylan was so fresh and hilarious and I can't wait to see her side of why she loves hockey and the reasoning for avoiding all players and parties.
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