Beck Daines has everything he needs—at least that’s what he wants everyone to believe. As the starting first baseman for the Blues, he has his dream job, amazing friends, and while he’s a romantic at heart— watching his friends find the love they deserve is more than enough. However, love for himself is an idea he’s benched for good. After his mother was diagnosed with Early-OnSet Alzheimer’s Beck stopped planning a future that could fall apart. No feelings and no forever loves to potentially forget, zero exceptions. That is, until Jensen James. The tattoo artist feels like lightning in a bottle and Beck can’t help but reach for her spark. Jensen may play as if she doesn’t feel the jolts herself but when she needs a place to stay, Beck’s is the only option. The living arrangement is temporary—just as their attraction to each other has to be. Beck doesn’t want love, and Jensen doesn’t want a relationship to control her, so why not let the lightning strike? The spark will surely fizzle… but once it hits, letting go might be impossible.
Tropes Baseball romance Black cat x golden retriever Roommates with benefits She falls first/soft for him Mental health rep MMC Found family No third act break up
⋆˙⟡ — 3.75 stars 𐙚 spoiler-free review ♡ ⤷⊹ started: january 6th, finished: january 7th
♡ ⋆。˚ thoughts guys this book was so good omg!! i definitely need to go back and read the first book because this series has been so entertaining 🤭 the banter and tension between these two were actually everything 😩 black cat x golden retriever will NEVER get old 😌 omg and the found family in this book was so cute 🥹 it really made the story feel warm and comforting, and i loved seeing how close everyone was.
♡ ⋆。˚ characters
♡ ⋆。˚ jensen ugh this girl was everything 😩 she had so many things thrown at her, but she never let that stop her. no matter what, she always pushed through whatever was going on in her life 😌 i think that’s why i loved her so much, she came off so strong and determined, and i love that in an fmc 🤭 i also loved how she wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself and protect her heart. watching her grow more confident and sure of herself throughout the story was so satisfying 🥹
♡ ⋆。˚ beck this man is such a golden retriever mmc omg 😩 now listen… beck’s story BROKE me 😭 i found myself tearing up so many times while reading, and i just wanted to give him the biggest hug ☹️ seeing him slowly open up and let someone love him made my heart melt 🥹 he deserved all the happiness 🫂
♡ ⋆。˚ jensen + beck these two complemented each other so well 🤭 one thing i loved about this book was that they were roommates with benefits, which is something i haven’t read in a long time 😌 their dynamic was so fun, flirty, and full of tension. i loved how they balanced each other out and helped each other heal without even realizing it at first 🥹 their chemistry was definitely one of my favorite parts of the book 😩
♡ ⋆。˚ final thoughts this is definitely my sign to go back and read the first book because i clearly really enjoy mollie’s writing 🤭 i loved being in this world again, and i really hope we get another book in this series!! 😌💗
thank u mollie goins and house of hearts for the arc!! ♡ ₊˚ ‿︵‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵‿︵ ˚₊
— ⋆˙⟡ pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹ i read the second book in this series by this author and LOVED it, so i have high hopes for this one 🤭 i also get to read it with joni!! i’m a little scared because we’ve heard a lot of people cried, so i have a feeling we will too 😌
this book was everything ugh literally full of swoon and emotional scenes
coming jan 16!!!
rtc!!
𐙚⋆°。⋆♡ ── pre-read i LOVE this series, if u follow me on insta you may know this but one of the my fav sports romance series ever with found family. so if u love female friendships, mental health topics, and found family definitely check this series out!! and ofc reading with madi ily and im so excited to read this with you (kinda scared bc ik we're gonna cry)
Every time I pick up a Boston Blues book, I fall harder, and this one completely ruined me.
Beck and Jensen grabbed my attention immediately, and I was all in from the start. Beck is all warmth and humor masking real fear, while Jensen is sharp, guarded, and quietly soft beneath it all. Their banter was effortless, funny, and packed with chemistry that jumped off the page.
The emotional core of this story hit harder than I expected. Beck’s family storyline, especially navigating his mom’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, was heartbreaking and handled with so much care. His fear of the future felt heavy and real, making his reluctance toward commitment deeply understandable. Jensen’s strength and determination were just as compelling, and watching her grow, chase her dreams, and slowly let her walls down added so much heart to the story.
What truly made this book shine was how grounded and healthy their relationship felt. The roommates-with-benefits tension was delicious, the communication was refreshing, and the lack of a third-act breakup made everything feel earned and safe. With found family, emotional depth, and unforgettable banter, this is a must-read.
If you love emotional, safe sports romance, do not skip this one.
~~~~
Special thanks to Mollie Goins & House of Hearts Lit. for providing this Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. ✨
Rating: ★★★★½ ARC Review: Yes I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Standalone or Series: Book 3 in a series of interconnected standalones (Boston Blues) This book can be read as a standalone, but I HIGHLY recommend reading them in order, as the other characters from the previous books play a heavy role in this story. Found family is an important aspect of this series, and the knowledge of the other characters will help you understand the relationships better.
POV: 1st Person / Dual POV Genre: Sports Romance Vibe: Slow-burn tension, emotional Pacing: medium Third-Act Breakup: No Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️ Cliffhanger: No Reread-worthy: Yes
Tropes: ✵ Black Cat x Golden Retriever ✵ She Falls First ✵ Found Family ✵ Roommates with Benefits
Favorite Quote: “I’m terrified I might regret losing you.”
Synopsis: The Boston Blues are back! Beck Daines was living his best life with his dream job and a great group of friends, until it all came crashing down. When his mom is diagnosed with Alzheimers, Beck decides to stop planning for a future in fear that he would eventually develop it too. That is, until Jensen James enters his life. Jensen is the black cat tattoo artist that he can’t help but tease and flirt with daily. When Jensen suddenly needs a place to stay with no notice, Beck steps in and offers her his spare bedroom under one condition: he does not do long-term relationships. But resisting temptation is more difficult than either of them thought, and a roommates with benefits arrangement is too hard to pass up. As their connection deepens, so do their feelings, but both are too stubborn to risk starting something more permanent. With their conflicting emotions, Beck and Jensen find themselves at a crossroad, forced to decide whether crossing the line is worth the risk.
My Thoughts: I absolutely love the entire gang of the Boston Blues! I am obsessed with this series, and this was another grand slam (pun intended) in my books!I loved that Jensen was the black cat, and that her inner soft side continued to show as she spent more and more time with Beck. Beck’s story was so well developed, and I was so sad for him and his family. It was heartbreaking watching his entire family navigate this new reality, and I really understood his emotions and reasoning for not wanting a long-term relationship. Jensen had so many obstacles thrown at her, and she continued to keep her head up and keep moving. I do wish her story was a little more developed so that we could see a bit more into why she also refused to do another long-term relationship, but we did get enough base level details to know that there was something in her past. I loved seeing her character grow and continue to succeed in her career! Jensen and Beck also had the best witty banter ever! I was laughing out loud as the two of them continued to pretend to not be able to stand each other. Their flirty scenes were just *chef’s kiss*!
The story did have some heavy topics, and I believe they were written with the utmost of care and respect. Make sure to check the content warnings!
I highly recommend this one and I cannot wait for the next book!!
This is my first book by this author, and I am officially hooked. Count me a fan for life.
The way I loved every single character except for those at the beginning tat shop...they were all perfection. I'm talking found family between friends, and family members being brought in to make it even better.
The main characters had the best personalities and mouths on them. I loved watching them snark at each other but getting to read their inner thoughts and see their actions with the others throughout this book.
Beck's story hurt my heart. His dad was the ultimate husband and father. I just wanted to hug them both. Jen has the best friend group, dog, and sister. Without giving anything away, I will say that their fears in relationships were new to me, but made the story unique.
I just can't even tell you what all I loved because this is getting too long, but just know it would be shorter to tell you what I didn't like:
I didn't like the story ending, I wanted more of these characters!
🫰🏽 Lines: There's a silver lining if you want to look at it this way, but they have to lie to ruin your hard work and reputation. Truth would ruin theirs, and there should be peace in that.
First off, I'm not "dealing" with it at all. I get to take care of your mom. It's a f•••••• privilege. 😭
I bark on command for her too. 🤣
Hey, I support women's rights and wrongs. I didn't see anything.
If someone thinks we shouldn't talk to your dog then I don't want to talk to them.
I didn't hear a no. It's settled, I'll be your date. Don't worry, I put out.
"I don't think I'll ever regret a single second with you." I'm terrified I might regret losing you.
Hit me with the hard stuff. Coke on the rocks, don't you dare get me a diet.
...I was apparently behind on this race that I never even wanted to run.
We were supposed to get each other out of our systems but instead she is my new system. She's the other part of my soul that I didn't even know was missing. 😍
(I received an arc copy, and this is my honest opinion )
Stealing You was my second Mollie Goins book and um??? I was NOT prepared. Consider me obsessed and fully seated for every book she ever writes from now on. She builds such a strong found-family cast that by the time it’s their turn, you’re already feral for their story.
Beck and Jensen are everything. The banter?? Elite. The chemistry?? Off the charts. Beck is a soft, golden-retriever MMC hiding anxiety behind humor, and Jensen is pure black-cat energy with the softest heart underneath. They’ve both been through so much, yet their relationship is rooted in communication, emotional awareness, and genuine care 🥹💖
This book is cozy, emotional, swoony, and SAFE (yes, no third act breakup). If you enjoy Liz Tomforde or Elle Kennedy or really any sports romance.. this belongs on your shelf immediately.
✨roommates-with-benefits ✨he’s pierced with sexy glasses ✨tattoo artist X pro baseball player ✨tension ✨found family ✨mental health rep
Another incredible edition to the Boston Blues Series!
I've been anxiously awaiting Becks story and he lived up to every expectation I'd set. Mollie has a way of writing characters that you fall in love with almost immediately and these two are just another example of that.
Beck & Jensen are opposites in most things, but the way they compliment one another was like two puzzle pieces fitting together. I loved the banter between them. It was fun, flirty and the friendship between them was special.
Gahhh this book made me cry, giggle and kick my feet. Honestly it's the usual reaction to anything Mollie writes.
Thank you so much Mollie for the ARC!! 5⭐️|2🌶️
•black cat x golden retriever •slutty little glasses •she falls first •roommates to lovers •slutty thigh tattoo •he’s pierced •mlb first baseman x Latina tattoo artist
BECK, SLUTTY LITTLE GLASSES, DAINES, yallllll🧎♀️That’s the review. I purposely waited to read this ARC on the first day of the year because I knew it was going to be a straight 5 star and I wanted to start the year off right. AND BOY DID I. This book is perfect.
Beck and Jensen are everything. The banter, their friendship, the flirting, everything. They make you believe in soulmates because them together is way better than them being apart. I love this series because I know I’ll get the found family aspect, plus I get to see all my favorite characters. This is a series where I truly love all characters. I don’t want to spoil anything, BUT BECK IS HOT. No questions 🥵
I can’t pick a favorite, but Jensen might be it. I just love her energy and everything about her.
𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: “I love it when you flirt with me.”
“You asked me in the office how many memories I planned on stealing, baby, I want to steal all of them.”
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲: • Baseball Romance • Black Cat / Golden Retriever • Roommates • Friends With Benefits • Found Family 🌶️🌶️.5
THANK YOU Mollie for this E-ARC in exchange for my honest review ❤️
First of all, check your content warnings. I did and then somehow completely forgot about them, so by the end of this book I was sobbing sobbing.
I loved Jensen and Beck so much. Both of them have lived through heavy moments and trauma that shaped who they are, and watching them slowly open up to each other felt so rewarding. Their connection built in such a natural way, and their banter never missed. It was sharp, playful, and had me smiling constantly.
When they finally decided to stop fighting what was happening between them, wow. The tension paid off because it was so spicy.
I’m honestly obsessed with these two and already excited to keep seeing them in the background of future books in this series because I’m definitely not ready to let them go yet.
The way I loved these two SO MUCH. They were perfect for each other and I couldn’t have asked for a better story for the two of them.
The black cat x golden retriever trope was perfect for them. Jensen is one of my favorite FMCs that Mollie has written and Beck complimented her so well. I loved the push and pull between these two. The banter was so good and the tension was insane.
This book also had some heavy topics that were touched on perfectly. The character growth Beck goes through from being closed off due to his mother’s diagnosis to then letting love in was so sweet.
I cannot wait for Adam and Mia’s story next!
🤍Baseball Romance ♥️Black Cat x Golden Retriever 🤍Roommates w/ Benefits ♥️Mental Health Rep 🤍She Falls First, He Falls Harder
Jensen and Beck were perfection. They were ROOMMATES WITH BENEFITS. sat. I love that she falls first. ALSO they’re both pierced. If you know what I mean. Both love tattoos. She’s starting a tattoo shop while also bartending. I love her.
So let me just say I SOBBED in this one. Beck’s family situation was heart wrenching. I was not functioning with how hard it hit home.
Also, no third act break up. My fav.
IMO, Mollie never does wrong. Her writing is so mature and adult romance vibes with each character. It’s a breath of fresh air not having to deal with miscommunication and childish characters in relationships.
im SICK over this FUCKING book beck and jensen might actually be two of my fav mc’s of all time like wtf kind of CRACK is in this ??? i actually cried real life tears like wtf is going on ??? can someone sedate me ????
This was such a fun read! I did think the pacing was a little off in the beginning and it felt slow at first but once it picked up the characters had me captivated.
This book ripped me to shreds. I loved it so so much, and the way I sobbed, squealed and smiled over these characters…. No notes. No criticism. They were perfect.
✨ Baseball Romance ✨ Black cat x golden retriever ✨ Tattoo Artist FMC ✨ She Falls First / He Falls Harder ✨ Roommates with Benefits
Mollie has created the best found family with this team, and each book I love their bond as a whole almost as much as I love the couple itself. Jensen is such a black cat with such a tender heart and TBH she surprised me in all the best ways… and yeah girl, I would have a crush on Beck too. Don’t blame ya. I love the fat that she fell first and that Beck was there to match her energy at every point. Plus their babies was amazing
And Beck. Beck will be hard to top. His character resonated with me so much as an only child who navigated young adulthood with a sick parent. I understand him, I love him, and all I wanted to do was see him happy.
Beck and Jensen individually were amazing but together, omg together they were even better. Friends to Lovers is my favorite and the fact that their attraction simmered between them until they gave in kept me on the edge of my seat.
Basically this series is quickly becoming one of me absolute favorites and you need to read it.
-Mollie. Why didn’t you warn me? Because I was NOT prepared AT ALL for Beck and Jensen. You had me SOBBING, laughing, smiling, and thinking (inappropriate thoughts) A LOT. What I love most about your writing is you take current FMCs & MMCs and you intertwine them with past & future FMCs & MMCs. It is my FAVORITE part of my day when I am reading your books. Now, how do I request Adam & Tripp ASAP?
-Beck “Stalker” Daines. Your story was so heartbreaking and all I wanted to do was just hold you and not let anything bad ever happen to you again. But you needed to go through all that to learn that you could be THAT guy. That guy who could be in a long-term relationship. That guy who makes others feel special and completely themselves. That guy who makes others laugh. That guy who is pierced. That guy who's flirty. That guy who knows what everyone needs but himself. And that guy who finally figures out he can be loved and can indeed have ALL the things.
-Jensen. Thank you for a million times.Thank you for not giving up and being there for Beck & yourself. Thank you for fighting and standing your ground on the things you believed and wanted out of life. Thank you for growing all at the same time. Thank you for teaching me a friendship like you and Lucie have. Thank you for letting Beck break down all of your walls. And thank you for considering your not so typical family. I love you infinitely. Now where can I find the courage to get a tattoo?
-To the moments I adore: I fear I LOVE Dottie. I wish I could run. No Kissing Rule? Hotter than I thought it would be. Missionary is ALWAYS a good idea. Storefront. NO WORDS.. Thanksgiving is my 2nd favorite now. THE wedding. I’M IN LOVE, Daddy Dex’s Office. CHEFS KISS. THE sign? CUTEST THING EVER. A backward hat? Get me EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. A Mama’s Boy? SOBBED. I wanna try those cinnamon rolls.
-Mollie Goins, you have me in a CHOKEHOLD for this series. And I cannot wait for Adam and Tripp’s books. I just know that I am going to LOVE Tripp, because playboys have my heart. I am so READY for you Adam and Tripp. And thank you to Mollie Goins and House of Hearts for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
These two were EVERYTHING I needed and more. The banter was everywhere, the found family we know and love was so big and wholesome, but then it gets deep between the main characters?? Perfection, I say.
I love a true black cat x GR dynamic and mollie NAILED it.
Beck’s dad is the lovable side character we didn’t see coming, but we’re so glad he’s here 🫶🏼
You’ll enjoy this if you love:
Baseball romance Friends with benefits Forced proximity Opposites attract Found family Lots of banter Pierced MMC with a vasectomy A bit of a rollercoaster with a HEA!
“i think he’s been my happiness for longer than i’d care to admit.”
oh, how i love this series. jensen and beck were seriously made for each other, a true match made in heaven.
first off, i need jensen so bad. seriously, she’s so hot. and she’s a tattoo artist? swoon. i’ve been looking forward to her book for what seems like forever, and now i wish i could read it for the first time again. i loved her black cat energy so much and the way she flirted/bantered with beck was everything to me. she’s definitely one of my favourite characters.
beck is horribly down bad for jensen, yet neither of them wanted to admit it for so long, and when they finally did…whew!!! beck is the definition of a golden retriever when it comes to jensen, and he complements her black cat personality SO well. there were so many times i wanted to hug him because my heart broke for him, but jensen was there for him through it all, which was so beautiful to see.
thank you so much to mollie for the e-arc! i’m impatiently waiting for the next book ⚾️💙
Well, Beck and Jensen officially have my heart…oh, and Dottie of course. 🤭❤️
I’m not sure that I can formulate a review that will do this book the justice it deserves. I loved every single second of it. Once I started it I didn’t want to put it down. It’s one of those books that just reel you in and get you invested for the very beginning.
The banter between Beck and Jensen is definitely some of the best I’ve ever read. I fell in love with both main characters and was rooting for them to overcome their fears and get their happily ever after. 👏🏻
The found family in the series is one of a kind and honestly, perfection.
Truly amazing. Mollie outdid herself with this one. This book has everything you could want in a sports romance- it’s fun, emotional, witty, spicy, and just a damn good time.
What to expect: ⚾️ Black cat x golden retriever 🍒Roommates with benefits ⚾️She falls first 🍒He’s pierced ⚾️No third act breakup 🍒Mental health rep ⚾️Found family 🍒Dog that is the actual star
This is the 3rd book in the Boston Blues series and if you haven’t read this series, you are seriously missing out! This is a baseball romance that you def need in your life. Stealing you can also be read as a standalone, but I HIGHLY recommend reading the whole series because so many characters will appear in this one. FOUND FAMILY AS ITS FINEST!
I have been dying to read about Beck and Jensen’s story and omg it did not disappoint. I loved that this book wasn’t just all spice, but that it also covered some very serious/deep topics.
Tropes ⚾️ Baseball romance ⚾️ Black cat x golden retriever ⚾️ Roommates with benefits ⚾️ She falls first/soft for him ⚾️ Mental health rep MMC ⚾️ Found family ⚾️ No third act break up
I have loved every book in the Boston Blues series - and this book did not dissapoint!
I loved Jensen & Beck so much. The way these two were SO PERFECT together!! They fought it (well Jensen mostly) so much but then when they finally gave into their chemistry, it was electric!
These two were fighting their own battles, but the way they came together to help each other through their toughest moments was pure love. Mollie wrote some really hard topics in the most heartbreakingly beautiful way.
I am so excited to see where the next couple of books takes us. Thank you to Mollie for the ARC copy!
TAKE THIS AS YOUR WARNING- you will cry a lot. You will immediately fall in love with every character (except those at Tally’s). I fear this book has destroyed me this year and it’s only the 3rd. Jensen, a badass tattoo artist, down on her luck because of assholes just needs some help. Beckham, baseball player and grieving son, has always loved the girl. Thank goodness for meddling friends, am I right?
If I could rate this a million, I would. It gives pierced dick/tit energy and its iconic.
This book was a heavy one. I definitely recommend reading the trigger warnings when it comes to deep topics. Here we have two people with their own trauma and walls. They believe they are fine on their own, only to find comfort in each other's fears. This book was healing to me and I've never been in this situation. It shows the root of not giving up, a soulmates kind of love. Now just as much emotional moments they had, there was cute banter and flirting. They worked on the balance they needed, even if it was short lived sometimes.
This book had everything you could need in a sports romance! -Whitty banter between the FMC & MMC - a BADASS FMC 🍒 - a pierced MMC 😏 - mental health representation 🖤 - a cutie pie dog! 🐕
I absolutely adored this book from the beginning and you will too! Just grab your tissues cause you're gonna need em!
Thank you thank you for the ARC! This one was cute! I loved seeing Jenson and Beck form their relationship and work through things! It was also fun seeing the other characters again. Looking forward to the next book!