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New York Legends #2
Big Stick Energy
Not yet published
Expected 30 Jun 26A hockey team captain and a bubbly staffer mix business with pleasure when they start fake dating through the wedding season in this hot sports romance perfect for fans of Mariana Zapata and Elle Kennedy.
Darcy Kendrick is used to putting out fires. As an overworked admin to a hockey team, she’s seen it all. But nothing prepares her for accidentally DMing her very private, very NSFW fantasy to the subject of this fantasy: team captain Eric Tremaine. Nobody actually dies of embarrassment. Right?
But when a wedding invite puts them on a collision course with her chaotic family and his emotionally fraught past, Eric suggests a plan: they fake-date their way through the “Wedding Experience.” It’s mutually beneficial. Totally strategic. And definitely not real. Except between mini tacos, slow dances and lingering glances, Eric starts to wonder if the sharp-tongued assistant with a bottomless to-do list might be the one person who truly sees him. And for Darcy? The fire in her heart might be the only one she can’t put out.
It’s supposed to be fake. It’s supposed to be temporary. So why is it so hard to walk away?
Darcy Kendrick is used to putting out fires. As an overworked admin to a hockey team, she’s seen it all. But nothing prepares her for accidentally DMing her very private, very NSFW fantasy to the subject of this fantasy: team captain Eric Tremaine. Nobody actually dies of embarrassment. Right?
But when a wedding invite puts them on a collision course with her chaotic family and his emotionally fraught past, Eric suggests a plan: they fake-date their way through the “Wedding Experience.” It’s mutually beneficial. Totally strategic. And definitely not real. Except between mini tacos, slow dances and lingering glances, Eric starts to wonder if the sharp-tongued assistant with a bottomless to-do list might be the one person who truly sees him. And for Darcy? The fire in her heart might be the only one she can’t put out.
It’s supposed to be fake. It’s supposed to be temporary. So why is it so hard to walk away?
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 30, 2026
2187 people want to read
About the author
Sarina Bowen
104 books19.5k followers
Sarina Bowen is the 24-time USA Today bestselling and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary fiction, including: The Five Year Lie, the True North series, and the Brooklyn Hockey series. She's the co-author of Him/Us and the WAGs series with Elle Kennedy. And more!
You can find a complete reading order list of Sarina's books on her website. Or see what's coming next from Sarina, and sign up for her newsletter so you don't miss a new book or a deal.
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November 30, 2025AHHH WE GOT A COVER!!! 😱😍😍
January 25, 2026
5 stars. I really enjoyed book 1 of the series, so when the widget all of a sudden popped up in my email, I dropped all the other books I planned to read, and hopped right into this one. And let me tell you, Sarina Bowen KNOWS how to write a hockey romance. There's less ice time in this one, but still a lot of team dynamics/ shenanigans. But the big star of the book is the burgeoning relationship between Darcy (team owner's admin) and Eric (team captain). They both realize that they have to attend the same wedding (and the way this comes about is pretty hysterical), and because family affairs can be a lot, they decide to deflect the drama by pretending to be a couple. AKA... fake dating. And of course, this leads to an only one bed moment. Darcy and Eric are honestly perfect for one another. They both have VERY complicated family relationships, and they both actually have similar jobs. Darcy is essentially on call to her very needy boss, and as captain, Eric makes himself available to his teammates' every whims. Importantly, both Darcy and Eric show up for one another, in really big ways. And interestingly, they're both kind of golden retriever-esque (Eric more so), but also kinda of dirty. Don't let the illustrated cover fool you, there are definitely some open door scenes. I really enjoyed book 1, but dare I say, I enjoyed book 2 even more. Which is shocking to me, since book 1 had some suspenseful moments (I'm a sucker for romantic suspense), which was not the case in book 2.
I can 100% say that dropping all my other books to read this one was the right choice! Thanks so much to Bowen, Forever, and Netgalley for the advanced ebook in exchange for my honest review.
I can 100% say that dropping all my other books to read this one was the right choice! Thanks so much to Bowen, Forever, and Netgalley for the advanced ebook in exchange for my honest review.
March 8, 2026
The mutual crushes here were crushing! It's the classic case of she falls first, but he falls harder, and I was absolutely there for all of Eric's pining and preoccupation with Darcy. Her accidental dirty text that sets everything in motion also sets the tone for a super fun and flirty time—until this book hits you hard with all the heartfelt family drama.
Big Stick Energy was such a great blend of emotional but also cheeky—which also describes Darcy and Eric's relationship perfectly. The added risk and tension of their fake dating only made their heart-to-heart, honest talks feel more real. And before they ever have their first kiss, I was already giddy over their interactions and rooting for both of them so hard. Both of their family members are despicable, flawed, but also incredibly human. And watching the two of them navigate these tricky personal situations while confiding in, leaning on, and supporting each other made me believe in their connection wholeheartedly.
They both kind of fall into the fake dating—and it's also another classic case of both of them using it to cover up what they really want: to date, for real. When all of it starts to crumble and their weekend away ends, I loved seeing Eric put in the work to be with Darcy. He is a Good Man, Savannah! I wrote in one of my updates that even though I love my MMCs a little mean and kind of shitty at first that does not mean I don't appreciate a competent, thoughtful, and communicative man (I am a woman of duality!!) and that is where Eric squarely falls. He's the captain; he's the guy who always has it together. Until he doesn't. And when he doesn't, Darcy is the one he reaches for.
And Darcy—brilliant, independent, hard-working, and a girl after my own heart because she's a huge fan of mini foods. She was so fun, but she was also so brave. And seeing her constantly doing her best to be there for Eric in his moments of vulnerability made me adore her more. I wish she would have communicated with him a bit more towards the end of the book, especially post-amazing wedding weekend, but I can always, always respect and relate to a girl with trust issues, and seeing them work past that together was so sweet and satisfying.
I will be adding this one to my list of fake dating recommendations (never can have enough of those!), because it has everything that the perfect fake dating book requires: heaps of tension, simmering feelings, and just a dash of hilarity and drama.
﹙ three-point-five stars ﹚
— thank you to forever for the e-arc via netgalley to review!
Big Stick Energy was such a great blend of emotional but also cheeky—which also describes Darcy and Eric's relationship perfectly. The added risk and tension of their fake dating only made their heart-to-heart, honest talks feel more real. And before they ever have their first kiss, I was already giddy over their interactions and rooting for both of them so hard. Both of their family members are despicable, flawed, but also incredibly human. And watching the two of them navigate these tricky personal situations while confiding in, leaning on, and supporting each other made me believe in their connection wholeheartedly.
They both kind of fall into the fake dating—and it's also another classic case of both of them using it to cover up what they really want: to date, for real. When all of it starts to crumble and their weekend away ends, I loved seeing Eric put in the work to be with Darcy. He is a Good Man, Savannah! I wrote in one of my updates that even though I love my MMCs a little mean and kind of shitty at first that does not mean I don't appreciate a competent, thoughtful, and communicative man (I am a woman of duality!!) and that is where Eric squarely falls. He's the captain; he's the guy who always has it together. Until he doesn't. And when he doesn't, Darcy is the one he reaches for.
And Darcy—brilliant, independent, hard-working, and a girl after my own heart because she's a huge fan of mini foods. She was so fun, but she was also so brave. And seeing her constantly doing her best to be there for Eric in his moments of vulnerability made me adore her more. I wish she would have communicated with him a bit more towards the end of the book, especially post-amazing wedding weekend, but I can always, always respect and relate to a girl with trust issues, and seeing them work past that together was so sweet and satisfying.
I will be adding this one to my list of fake dating recommendations (never can have enough of those!), because it has everything that the perfect fake dating book requires: heaps of tension, simmering feelings, and just a dash of hilarity and drama.
﹙ three-point-five stars ﹚
— thank you to forever for the e-arc via netgalley to review!
February 25, 2026
I enjoyed reading Big Stick Energy! I’m always a sucker for a fake dating trope, and this one totally delivered. The characters were easy to root for, even when they were being a little stubborn. It’s definitely a little cheesy at times, but the banter and chemistry between Darcy and Eric made it impossible not to have fun with it. If you’re looking for a light, swoony, and entertaining romance, this one’s for you.
Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for the opportunity to read and review this eARC early!
Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for the opportunity to read and review this eARC early!
Want to read
November 15, 2025I'm so looking forward to this book after having just finished reading Zoe and Chase's story!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Darcy + Eric
We all remember team captain Eric and GM assistant Darcy.
Darcy has had a bit of a crush on Eric for years.
But Eric thinks that she kinda hates him - him! He, who is so nice and kind to everyone.
When a super sexy text accidentally lands in his inbox instead of Zoe's - it's on! Eric can't stop thinking about Darcy. About her thinking of him that way.
When they're both - separately - invited to a wedding near their home town ...they decide to go together.
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN...
══════════════════
That was so adorable!
Eric is this super hot golden retriever hockey captain - we can't fault Darcy for having a thing for him. Same, girl!
The season's over and now they have time to get to know each other as fake dating wedding guests. But the more time they spend together, the more real it gets.
But we also have lots of complicated family and work problems. So it won't be easy for our darlings.
I really enjoyed reading this. We don't get too much over the top drama and silly immature stuff.
This was a sweet and sparky and funny and just adorable hockey romance without too much hockey in it - loved that!
I also loved all the adorable cameos. Can't wait to read DeLuca's book next!
BIG STICK ENERGY was such a cute romance! Sparky, Funny, Sexy, Adorable...
I loved reading it! Run to your nearest bookdealer for your own Eric!
If you can't click the buy-links
from your phone - click ► HERE!
💜
💜
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Omg, Sarina has done it yet again!!! Thank you so so much to the publisher for inviting me to read and review this one early!
Now, I do have to start by saying that I did knock down one star for the third act break up, followed by months of Darcy and Eric moping around being sad because they can't talk like adults and figure out how to be together. And why did it have to take them Soo long to work through all of that??! This is my only negative note about this book. Otherwise, absolute BANGER.
I love Darcy.. she's a total badass who knows what she wants, and isn't afraid to step on some toes occasionally to stand up for herself and others. She's a BOSS. and Eric?? Man, he had it baddddd for her, and I was so here for it! I think that deep down, they both had always wanted each other, but they wouldn't let themselves get caught up in that fantasy, at least until the wedding when they pretended to be in a relationship. I knewww that would end in hurt feelings for both of them, especially with Darcy thinking that Eric doesn't do relationships and that he was just having fun with her for a while. But really? Eric was falling for her from the first kiss.
I adore Eric. He's always there for everyone else, and always puts everyone on the team and in his family before himself. But he realizes that he also needs to do something for himself, something that makes him happy. And that is being with Darcy. Once he got his head out of his ass and talked to Darcy, it all worked out!
To think this all started with a compromise to avoid each other's family drama.
Also, I HATE TESSA. she is the most obnoxious, self centered, rude person I have ever read about. And I was Soo happy when Darcy went off on her for the jet ski incident!! She totally deserved that.
Overall, this book was absolutely incredible and I cannot wait for DeLuca's book!!!
Now, I do have to start by saying that I did knock down one star for the third act break up, followed by months of Darcy and Eric moping around being sad because they can't talk like adults and figure out how to be together. And why did it have to take them Soo long to work through all of that??! This is my only negative note about this book. Otherwise, absolute BANGER.
I love Darcy.. she's a total badass who knows what she wants, and isn't afraid to step on some toes occasionally to stand up for herself and others. She's a BOSS. and Eric?? Man, he had it baddddd for her, and I was so here for it! I think that deep down, they both had always wanted each other, but they wouldn't let themselves get caught up in that fantasy, at least until the wedding when they pretended to be in a relationship. I knewww that would end in hurt feelings for both of them, especially with Darcy thinking that Eric doesn't do relationships and that he was just having fun with her for a while. But really? Eric was falling for her from the first kiss.
I adore Eric. He's always there for everyone else, and always puts everyone on the team and in his family before himself. But he realizes that he also needs to do something for himself, something that makes him happy. And that is being with Darcy. Once he got his head out of his ass and talked to Darcy, it all worked out!
To think this all started with a compromise to avoid each other's family drama.
Also, I HATE TESSA. she is the most obnoxious, self centered, rude person I have ever read about. And I was Soo happy when Darcy went off on her for the jet ski incident!! She totally deserved that.
Overall, this book was absolutely incredible and I cannot wait for DeLuca's book!!!
March 2, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book releasing in June 2026.
I could not put this down, the way this author writes just has such an ease to it. You get drawn in and don’t wanna leave. The tension, the chemistry, the banter - all great.
This book is the 2nd in the series of interconnected hockey romance standalones - this is about Darcy and Eric. Eric is the captain, the dependable, if not predictable one. He runs the team on and off the ice, but also takes responsibility for his family and their problems as well. Darcy is the outcast of her complicated family. Working as the assistant to the GM she spends a lot of time with the team and she makes sure everything is organized and running smoothly. Darcy and Eric usually keep their distance, because Darcy is prickly towards Eric - little does he know, it’s because she’s got a little crush on him. But one little mistaken click - and Darcy accidentally slides into his DMs revealing all her spicy thoughts on the man. Thus begins Eric’s awakening to noticing Darcy. Add in a lot of family drama, a wedding and a fake dating plot and it’s a love story and a mess all in one.
I could not put this down, the way this author writes just has such an ease to it. You get drawn in and don’t wanna leave. The tension, the chemistry, the banter - all great.
This book is the 2nd in the series of interconnected hockey romance standalones - this is about Darcy and Eric. Eric is the captain, the dependable, if not predictable one. He runs the team on and off the ice, but also takes responsibility for his family and their problems as well. Darcy is the outcast of her complicated family. Working as the assistant to the GM she spends a lot of time with the team and she makes sure everything is organized and running smoothly. Darcy and Eric usually keep their distance, because Darcy is prickly towards Eric - little does he know, it’s because she’s got a little crush on him. But one little mistaken click - and Darcy accidentally slides into his DMs revealing all her spicy thoughts on the man. Thus begins Eric’s awakening to noticing Darcy. Add in a lot of family drama, a wedding and a fake dating plot and it’s a love story and a mess all in one.
March 6, 2026
Omg I devoured this book, it was SO good! I really enjoyed Thrown for a Loop, but I LOVED this one! Eric Tremaine is on of the best MMCs I have read in a long time. This book has fake dating and it’s a workplace romance. The spice was great I would give it 2.5-3 out of 5 and it was written really well.
This book follows Darcy, the assistant to the GM of New York’s professional hockey team and Eric, who is the captain of the team. She accidentally slides into his DM explaining the dirty things she wants to do to him and mentions bringing him as a date to her half-brother’s wedding. He talks to her about it and reveals he is also invited to that wedding.
They decide to go to the wedding shower as dates and end up in a fake relationship. All the while, they are both trying to navigate trauma with their own families. Eric is one of the best MMCs I have read in a long time. He pays attention and shows his love in quiet ways. Darcy had a traumatic childhood and struggles with communicating her feelings with Eric (which I usually hate) but it was easy to understand where she was coming from I think.
I absolutely adored this book and cannot wait to read the next one! Thank you so much to NetGalley, Forever, and Sarina Bowen for letting me read the ARC for this book
This book follows Darcy, the assistant to the GM of New York’s professional hockey team and Eric, who is the captain of the team. She accidentally slides into his DM explaining the dirty things she wants to do to him and mentions bringing him as a date to her half-brother’s wedding. He talks to her about it and reveals he is also invited to that wedding.
They decide to go to the wedding shower as dates and end up in a fake relationship. All the while, they are both trying to navigate trauma with their own families. Eric is one of the best MMCs I have read in a long time. He pays attention and shows his love in quiet ways. Darcy had a traumatic childhood and struggles with communicating her feelings with Eric (which I usually hate) but it was easy to understand where she was coming from I think.
I absolutely adored this book and cannot wait to read the next one! Thank you so much to NetGalley, Forever, and Sarina Bowen for letting me read the ARC for this book
February 2, 2026
Thank you to Edelweiss for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This can be read as a standalone. Darcy Kendrick is the administrative assistant to the owner of a hockey team. She has a crush on the hockey captain, Eric Tremaine. She accidentally sends him an Instagram message (originally intended for her best friend) that talks about how handsome she finds him and what she wants to do to him. Darcy knows that her reputation at her job will take a hit if she starts a relationship with a player. When Eric and Darcy realize that they have to go to the same wedding, Eric suggests that they pretend to fake date to make the weekend go more smoothly. (The bride is the ex-fiancée of Eric's dead brother, and the groom is Darcy's somewhat estranged half-brother.) The chemistry between Eric and Darcy was great. I thought both characters were likable, but I was distracted with Darcy's toxic family. Her half-sister is horrible. I felt like this book built up the sexual tension, but then it fell flat. I still plan on reading the next book in the series.
Too much dysfunctional families, but I loved Darcy and Eric together. Eric's mom is struggling to cope and grieve for her eldest son who died in his early 20s. His ex-fiancée is getting married and Eric's mom . Meanwhile, Darcy
Spice rating: 3.5 out of 5 🔥 (Barely any spice?? Disappointed.)
Content: sex, toxic family, gaslighting, death of a child, depression, cheating
This can be read as a standalone. Darcy Kendrick is the administrative assistant to the owner of a hockey team. She has a crush on the hockey captain, Eric Tremaine. She accidentally sends him an Instagram message (originally intended for her best friend) that talks about how handsome she finds him and what she wants to do to him. Darcy knows that her reputation at her job will take a hit if she starts a relationship with a player. When Eric and Darcy realize that they have to go to the same wedding, Eric suggests that they pretend to fake date to make the weekend go more smoothly. (The bride is the ex-fiancée of Eric's dead brother, and the groom is Darcy's somewhat estranged half-brother.) The chemistry between Eric and Darcy was great. I thought both characters were likable, but I was distracted with Darcy's toxic family. Her half-sister is horrible. I felt like this book built up the sexual tension, but then it fell flat. I still plan on reading the next book in the series.
Too much dysfunctional families, but I loved Darcy and Eric together. Eric's mom is struggling to cope and grieve for her eldest son who died in his early 20s. His ex-fiancée is getting married and Eric's mom . Meanwhile, Darcy
Spice rating: 3.5 out of 5 🔥 (Barely any spice?? Disappointed.)
Content: sex, toxic family, gaslighting, death of a child, depression, cheating
January 26, 2026
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so when this one popped up, I immediately moved it to the top of my reading list.
Darcy is the admin for the owner of the hockey team and Eric is the team captain. When they realize they’re both attending the same wedding, they decide that fake dating is the easiest way to deal with complicated family situations.
Darcy and Eric are very relatable. They both have complicated family lives and take a lot on in order to keep the peace. Darcy is it always on call for her boss, while trying to finish college. Eric always puts his teammates and his mom first. With the help of each other, they realize it’s OK to tell their families how they feel. Zoe and Chase, from the first book, make an appearance and I enjoyed the interaction between Darcy and her best friend Zoe.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Darcy is the admin for the owner of the hockey team and Eric is the team captain. When they realize they’re both attending the same wedding, they decide that fake dating is the easiest way to deal with complicated family situations.
Darcy and Eric are very relatable. They both have complicated family lives and take a lot on in order to keep the peace. Darcy is it always on call for her boss, while trying to finish college. Eric always puts his teammates and his mom first. With the help of each other, they realize it’s OK to tell their families how they feel. Zoe and Chase, from the first book, make an appearance and I enjoyed the interaction between Darcy and her best friend Zoe.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 7, 2026
The perfect lighthearted romp to cleanse the palate. After enjoying her domestic thrillers, I decided to finally try out Bowen’s romance, and I will definitely be reading more. BSE struck a good balance between external plot and relationship focus. There were family issues, but it never veered into dramatics or heaviness. The relationship developed at a good pace - you got to see them actually get to know each other rather than purely lusting. If hockey men were actually like Eric, what a wonderful world it would be. 3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Fake dating+sports romance? Say less. When I read the description+author on NetGalley, I couldn't hit Read It fast enough! Thank you so much for the ARC, Forever.
I have been reading Sarina Bowen's books for yeaaars. Even though I haven't read them all, I feel like I've read a good chunk of them to know I can expect a good time.
I enjoyed the premise and how the fake dating came about. I felt our MCs had great chemistry, in and out of the bedroom. Oh! And I absolutely adored that we got to see a familiar friend from one of the older series 🥹
Overall, an enjoyable read! Pick this up if you're looking for something fun. 🙂
I have been reading Sarina Bowen's books for yeaaars. Even though I haven't read them all, I feel like I've read a good chunk of them to know I can expect a good time.
I enjoyed the premise and how the fake dating came about. I felt our MCs had great chemistry, in and out of the bedroom. Oh! And I absolutely adored that we got to see a familiar friend from one of the older series 🥹
Overall, an enjoyable read! Pick this up if you're looking for something fun. 🙂
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Darcy & Eric
Hockey Romance
Workplace
Forced Proximity
He Falls First
Accidental DM
Slow Burn
I really enjoyed this one!!
Darcy accidentally sends a DM to the hockey team captain, of her NSFW fantasy 🤭🤭🤭
These two are so good for each other! They have amazing chemistry and great banter!
I loved it!
Hockey Romance
Workplace
Forced Proximity
He Falls First
Accidental DM
Slow Burn
I really enjoyed this one!!
Darcy accidentally sends a DM to the hockey team captain, of her NSFW fantasy 🤭🤭🤭
These two are so good for each other! They have amazing chemistry and great banter!
I loved it!
March 15, 2026
This was a really fun read! It included some of my favorite tropes (fake dating, only one room) and the characters and story were great. I quickly got sucked into the family drama of it all and couldn’t put it down. If you enjoy a good sports/hockey romance, you won’t want to miss this one.
Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the review copy.
Pub date: June 30, 2026
Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the review copy.
Pub date: June 30, 2026
will-not-read
March 15, 2026thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review but unfortunately, i will NOT be reading this book.
anyways you can read my reasoning in my "will not read" review for book 1: thrown for a loop
anyways you can read my reasoning in my "will not read" review for book 1: thrown for a loop
February 23, 2026
i was so excited for darcy & eric's story after seeing glimpses of them in the first book of the series and this book did not disappoint! i finished this read in one day, i could not put it down 🤭 this story felt so real and i think that's why you get hooked from the start. darcy & eric are real people with real problems and watching them fall in love was beautiful. life is messy but it can also be incredible.
hockey romance ✔️
fake dating ✔️
dual pov ✔️
also let's all pull a darcy and send our crush a risky dm 🤪
thank you to netgalley for the arc!!
hockey romance ✔️
fake dating ✔️
dual pov ✔️
also let's all pull a darcy and send our crush a risky dm 🤪
thank you to netgalley for the arc!!
February 17, 2026
This is the book we and Darcy deserve!!! After falling in love with her as the ultimate bestie in Thrown for a Loop, I was so excited for her book and Sarina delivered.
Darcy is THE admin keeping the New York hockey team afloat. From managing a nightmare of a boss to the needs of each member of the team and staff, she is basically the glue holding the whole franchise together. So who can blame her for spending her minimal free time day dreaming about the team captain, Eric. Until one day when she accidentally DMs her dirtiest thoughts directly to him instead of her bestie. Inspired by her message, Eric suggests that they attend a wedding that they are both attending as a pretend couple.
The only reason that I didn't devour this in one sitting is because I desperately needed sleep. I already loved Darcy from the first book but learning more about her story made me adore her even more. Her relationship with Zoe is lovely, and her friendships with all the team and staff are so heartwarming. Eric and her chemistry is off the charts and their banter is perfect. Their arc from fake dating to real dating was addictive.
I can't wait for more stories from this universe of characters.
CW: emotional abuse
Thank you to the author and publisher for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Darcy is THE admin keeping the New York hockey team afloat. From managing a nightmare of a boss to the needs of each member of the team and staff, she is basically the glue holding the whole franchise together. So who can blame her for spending her minimal free time day dreaming about the team captain, Eric. Until one day when she accidentally DMs her dirtiest thoughts directly to him instead of her bestie. Inspired by her message, Eric suggests that they attend a wedding that they are both attending as a pretend couple.
The only reason that I didn't devour this in one sitting is because I desperately needed sleep. I already loved Darcy from the first book but learning more about her story made me adore her even more. Her relationship with Zoe is lovely, and her friendships with all the team and staff are so heartwarming. Eric and her chemistry is off the charts and their banter is perfect. Their arc from fake dating to real dating was addictive.
I can't wait for more stories from this universe of characters.
CW: emotional abuse
Thank you to the author and publisher for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an ARC from NetGalley.
I love Sarina Bowen, and this is other great hockey romance from the author. Set in the same universe as Thrown for a Loop (although you don't have to read that one to pick this one us). Both main characters have difficult families, and they team up to fake date for a family wedding weekend. I love a fake date turned romance! Really enjoyed it.
I love Sarina Bowen, and this is other great hockey romance from the author. Set in the same universe as Thrown for a Loop (although you don't have to read that one to pick this one us). Both main characters have difficult families, and they team up to fake date for a family wedding weekend. I love a fake date turned romance! Really enjoyed it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Big Stick Energy by Sarina Bowen is the ideal hockey romance! I really enjoyed book 1, Thrown For a Loop, which was one for the first ARC's I ever read. I have to say though, Big Stick Energy raised the bar even higher! The chemistry between Darcy and Eric immediately hooked me.
After an accidental DM, Darcy, the GM's assistant and Eric, the hockey team's captain, discover they are both attending a wedding in their hometown. What starts off as a road trip partner quickly turns into a fake-dating, one bed situation. I loved their banter and felt like the characters were so well written. Eric is everything you want in a book boyfriend and Darcy is such a strong lead. This story navigates grief and loss while bringing two characters together through a mutual appreciation. The support and care Eric shows Darcy was so romantic.
I am truly hooked on the New York Legends series and can't wait to see what else Sarina Bowen has in store for the other players.
After an accidental DM, Darcy, the GM's assistant and Eric, the hockey team's captain, discover they are both attending a wedding in their hometown. What starts off as a road trip partner quickly turns into a fake-dating, one bed situation. I loved their banter and felt like the characters were so well written. Eric is everything you want in a book boyfriend and Darcy is such a strong lead. This story navigates grief and loss while bringing two characters together through a mutual appreciation. The support and care Eric shows Darcy was so romantic.
I am truly hooked on the New York Legends series and can't wait to see what else Sarina Bowen has in store for the other players.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love most all hockey romance books and this one is no exception! I highly recommend to hockey romance lovers. This is book 2 in the New York Legends series, but I read as a standalone and thought it was great!
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★.5 out of 5
▹Format: 📱 eReader
I read this as a gifted eARC from NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing). This book comes out June 30, 2026.
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– About: Darcy accidentally slides into the DMs of the captain of the hockey team she’s the admin for…with an indecent fantasy that she meant to send to her best friend. Oops! But as fate would have it, the two of them are invited to the same wedding and decide that instead of dealing with their respective families alone, they would team up as fake dates to lessen the burden for each other. But when the lines of real and fake start blurring, and the wedding weekend ends, will they be able to go back to being just coworkers?
– FMC: Darcy Kendrick (aka “honey” or “baby”). Strong, red-headed hockey team admin who is also taking classes to get her degree. Has a very, very complicated family.
– MMC: Eric Tremaine. Blonde hockey captain with a heart of gold. Had never been interested in relationships but somehow always knows what Darcy wants.
– Location: Mostly NYC and Massachusetts
– POV: Dual first-person
– Spice: 2-3 open-door explicit and romantic spicy scenes
– Tropes: fake dating, workplace romance, golden retriever MMC, somewhat black-cat FMC (but not mean), light bondage, “just for the weekend”, she’s the team owner’s admin, he’s the hockey captain
– Content warning: complex family dynamics (FMC: divorced parents, half-siblings; MMC: grieving parents, dead brother), Atrial fibrillation and long QT (not in a MC)
– Representation: mental health (MC with panic attacks), MC with migraine auras
─────────────────────────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12
Now Playing: Can’t Feel My Face by The Weeknd
─────────────────────────
★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★
➼ Sports romances that are equal parts cute, funny, and emotional with a touch of spice and cheese, like The Deal by Elle Kennedy, First and Forever by Lynn Painter, and Mile High by Liz Tomforde
➼ Emotional backstories that don’t get TOO deep, but are deeper than surface level
➼ Messy, complex family dynamics
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven———✧————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn———————✧————Slow Burn
Sweet————✧———————Spicy
Light/Fluffy——————✧—————Heavy/Emotional
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
I had never read anything by this author before, but I will be now! I’m a sucker for hockey romances, but this one took me by surprise. It was well balanced with the romance, the character building, and the conflict/resolution. You may have to suspend your disbelief a bit for this one, but no more than other similar genre sports romance books.
What really stole the show here was the dynamic and chemistry between Darcy and Eric. They really were so much alike but in a way that worked for them. I am sometimes on the fence with fake dating, but I liked how it was done here. It didn’t carry their relationship like it does in other books, but actually was just a catalyst for their relationship to advance. I even loved the conflict/resolution in this book, which sometimes frustrates me in other books. There was a little bit of him chasing her affections…which SWOON.
That said, if you’re looking for hockey-heavy books, this one may not meet your criteria. This had the perfect amount *for me* which means that it was a background character vs. the main focus. BUT it still had plenty of hockey and hockey-related content (I remember reading a sports romance book one time and I cannot even recall them actually playing sports… that is not the case here).
I also am a sucker for complex families and this one had TWO. My heart broke for Eric’s mom. As it did for Darcy with her own family issues. Added the needed depth to this story.
Would I Recommend?: 100% yes—if you love sports romance. And even if you don’t. 😉
•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★.5 out of 5
▹Format: 📱 eReader
I read this as a gifted eARC from NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing). This book comes out June 30, 2026.
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– About: Darcy accidentally slides into the DMs of the captain of the hockey team she’s the admin for…with an indecent fantasy that she meant to send to her best friend. Oops! But as fate would have it, the two of them are invited to the same wedding and decide that instead of dealing with their respective families alone, they would team up as fake dates to lessen the burden for each other. But when the lines of real and fake start blurring, and the wedding weekend ends, will they be able to go back to being just coworkers?
– FMC: Darcy Kendrick (aka “honey” or “baby”). Strong, red-headed hockey team admin who is also taking classes to get her degree. Has a very, very complicated family.
– MMC: Eric Tremaine. Blonde hockey captain with a heart of gold. Had never been interested in relationships but somehow always knows what Darcy wants.
– Location: Mostly NYC and Massachusetts
– POV: Dual first-person
– Spice: 2-3 open-door explicit and romantic spicy scenes
– Tropes: fake dating, workplace romance, golden retriever MMC, somewhat black-cat FMC (but not mean), light bondage, “just for the weekend”, she’s the team owner’s admin, he’s the hockey captain
– Content warning: complex family dynamics (FMC: divorced parents, half-siblings; MMC: grieving parents, dead brother), Atrial fibrillation and long QT (not in a MC)
– Representation: mental health (MC with panic attacks), MC with migraine auras
─────────────────────────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12
Now Playing: Can’t Feel My Face by The Weeknd
╰┈➤ ❝I can’t feel my face when I’m with you, but I love it…❞
─────────────────────────
★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★
➼ Sports romances that are equal parts cute, funny, and emotional with a touch of spice and cheese, like The Deal by Elle Kennedy, First and Forever by Lynn Painter, and Mile High by Liz Tomforde
➼ Emotional backstories that don’t get TOO deep, but are deeper than surface level
➼ Messy, complex family dynamics
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven———✧————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn———————✧————Slow Burn
Sweet————✧———————Spicy
Light/Fluffy——————✧—————Heavy/Emotional
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
I had never read anything by this author before, but I will be now! I’m a sucker for hockey romances, but this one took me by surprise. It was well balanced with the romance, the character building, and the conflict/resolution. You may have to suspend your disbelief a bit for this one, but no more than other similar genre sports romance books.
What really stole the show here was the dynamic and chemistry between Darcy and Eric. They really were so much alike but in a way that worked for them. I am sometimes on the fence with fake dating, but I liked how it was done here. It didn’t carry their relationship like it does in other books, but actually was just a catalyst for their relationship to advance. I even loved the conflict/resolution in this book, which sometimes frustrates me in other books. There was a little bit of him chasing her affections…which SWOON.
That said, if you’re looking for hockey-heavy books, this one may not meet your criteria. This had the perfect amount *for me* which means that it was a background character vs. the main focus. BUT it still had plenty of hockey and hockey-related content (I remember reading a sports romance book one time and I cannot even recall them actually playing sports… that is not the case here).
I also am a sucker for complex families and this one had TWO. My heart broke for Eric’s mom. As it did for Darcy with her own family issues. Added the needed depth to this story.
Would I Recommend?: 100% yes—if you love sports romance. And even if you don’t. 😉
•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and to Forever Grand Central Publishing for the ARC of the Big Stick Energy by Sarina Bowen.
I really liked this book! And it's a great continuation of the trilogy, and the continuing expansion of Sarina Bowen's domination of hockey romance novels across the genre. (For those Heated Rivalry fans out there -- Bowen's Him and Us came out a few years earlier and are the OG, not to mention her wealth of other hockey romance novels).
Darcy, Zoe's coworker and close friend from the first book, is the admin for the team and handles all the travel logistics and the team owner's needs. Anxious about her half-brother's upcoming wedding she jokingly sends a comment on a new photo of team captain, Eric Tremaine, to Zoe about him being her date. Unwittingly, she actually has dm-ed Eric. Turns out, Eric grew up only a few towns away from Darcy, and he is actually going to the same wedding as family of the bride. The two opt to fake date through the wedding to deal with both of their family issues - but when the wedding is over, what happens next?
Now, while Darcy and Eric's family issues have been maximized to be the most dramatic/traumatic, what was comforting and relatable to me was the way these family issues weren't meant to be solved. Darcy's advice that you can't change them, you can only change how you engage with it is exactly the kind of advice I think a lot of people in their 20s/30s need to gain in dealing with their families and growing their own lives away from previous trauma. It can matter for little things and big scale life things, and it can allow for love to be there while still protecting yourself. Darcy and Eric both have reasons to be completely incapable of maintaining a healthy relationship, but Bowen doesn't let their family drama focus around that - instead she turns it into how you can be a resilient person who believes in love even if you've seen the ways love can horribly transform people you're supposed to care about. I was glad Bowen took the story this way. The drama feels contained mainly around their family issues, I was glad that Bowen wrote Darcy and Eric to be confident and capable in spite of their hardships and with the ability to be kind given the losses in their upbringings. I also liked that it was Eric who is more of the pushover and who falls first -- Darcy is such a strong character and I appreciate the boundaries she put in place for Eric as the story developed. She's someone who knows her worth and Eric had to learn his worth too.
I also appreciated that this book took place over about five months, and Darcy and Eric had long been crushing on each other, so there is a nice slow-burn aspect to it. I also liked the realistic ways both their friends call them out when the inevitable third-act-issues occur. For the parts that are maximized for drama with family, there are a lot of other parts, like Darcy's exchanges with the team owner or Eric's office hours or the players text exchanges that offered just the right amount of random levity to the overall story.
I really liked this book! And it's a great continuation of the trilogy, and the continuing expansion of Sarina Bowen's domination of hockey romance novels across the genre. (For those Heated Rivalry fans out there -- Bowen's Him and Us came out a few years earlier and are the OG, not to mention her wealth of other hockey romance novels).
Darcy, Zoe's coworker and close friend from the first book, is the admin for the team and handles all the travel logistics and the team owner's needs. Anxious about her half-brother's upcoming wedding she jokingly sends a comment on a new photo of team captain, Eric Tremaine, to Zoe about him being her date. Unwittingly, she actually has dm-ed Eric. Turns out, Eric grew up only a few towns away from Darcy, and he is actually going to the same wedding as family of the bride. The two opt to fake date through the wedding to deal with both of their family issues - but when the wedding is over, what happens next?
Now, while Darcy and Eric's family issues have been maximized to be the most dramatic/traumatic, what was comforting and relatable to me was the way these family issues weren't meant to be solved. Darcy's advice that you can't change them, you can only change how you engage with it is exactly the kind of advice I think a lot of people in their 20s/30s need to gain in dealing with their families and growing their own lives away from previous trauma. It can matter for little things and big scale life things, and it can allow for love to be there while still protecting yourself. Darcy and Eric both have reasons to be completely incapable of maintaining a healthy relationship, but Bowen doesn't let their family drama focus around that - instead she turns it into how you can be a resilient person who believes in love even if you've seen the ways love can horribly transform people you're supposed to care about. I was glad Bowen took the story this way. The drama feels contained mainly around their family issues, I was glad that Bowen wrote Darcy and Eric to be confident and capable in spite of their hardships and with the ability to be kind given the losses in their upbringings. I also liked that it was Eric who is more of the pushover and who falls first -- Darcy is such a strong character and I appreciate the boundaries she put in place for Eric as the story developed. She's someone who knows her worth and Eric had to learn his worth too.
I also appreciated that this book took place over about five months, and Darcy and Eric had long been crushing on each other, so there is a nice slow-burn aspect to it. I also liked the realistic ways both their friends call them out when the inevitable third-act-issues occur. For the parts that are maximized for drama with family, there are a lot of other parts, like Darcy's exchanges with the team owner or Eric's office hours or the players text exchanges that offered just the right amount of random levity to the overall story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Friends, if you aren’t reading Sarina Bowen books and sighing into that cup of coffee you’re having just a little too late in the day, are you even living? Big Stick Energy had me falling and falling hard for Eric Tremaine and Darcy Kendrick. As with all of Bowen’s books, these two characters are multi-faceted, doing their best, and so engaging you’ll forget they aren’t walking around out there in the “real world”. Which is probably for the best because my crush on Eric Tremaine would be debilitating.
While the hockey scenes were amazing and the found family aspect of the team and the administration so warm and delicious, the stand-out aspect of Big Stick Energy is the characters of Eric and Darcy. Eric seemed like a bit of a one-trick pony in Thrown For a Loop - super hot team captain and playboy. But we learn that his need to take care of everyone - from his rookies to his friends - is a defense mechanism. Because of family trauma, Eric makes himself available to everyone, to the point where he isn’t taking care of himself. Darcy, meanwhile, is shadowed by her own family trauma, keeping the prospect of love at arm’s length as a course of action laid out by her mom and their shared history of heartbreak and betrayal. Neither Darcy nor Eric feels like they truly belong in their families of origin, and they work hard to belong in their chosen family - the New York Legends Hockey Franchise. I loved how much they respected each other, as co-workers, as people, and as friends. I laughed out loud throughout the book and I clutched my chest throughout the book.
Oh, and do not worry. There be heat in these pages. Darcy and Eric have face-melting chemistry. Their banter is extraordinary and their spicy scenes are absolutely sizzling.
This book is absolutely marvelous. Full of compassion, shenanigans, hockey stats, away game flirting, and so many stolen looks. I laughed. I swooned. I fanned myself. I sighed contentedly. Sarina Bowen has delivered another stellar book. She’s got Big Stick Energy.
I received a copy through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.
While the hockey scenes were amazing and the found family aspect of the team and the administration so warm and delicious, the stand-out aspect of Big Stick Energy is the characters of Eric and Darcy. Eric seemed like a bit of a one-trick pony in Thrown For a Loop - super hot team captain and playboy. But we learn that his need to take care of everyone - from his rookies to his friends - is a defense mechanism. Because of family trauma, Eric makes himself available to everyone, to the point where he isn’t taking care of himself. Darcy, meanwhile, is shadowed by her own family trauma, keeping the prospect of love at arm’s length as a course of action laid out by her mom and their shared history of heartbreak and betrayal. Neither Darcy nor Eric feels like they truly belong in their families of origin, and they work hard to belong in their chosen family - the New York Legends Hockey Franchise. I loved how much they respected each other, as co-workers, as people, and as friends. I laughed out loud throughout the book and I clutched my chest throughout the book.
Oh, and do not worry. There be heat in these pages. Darcy and Eric have face-melting chemistry. Their banter is extraordinary and their spicy scenes are absolutely sizzling.
This book is absolutely marvelous. Full of compassion, shenanigans, hockey stats, away game flirting, and so many stolen looks. I laughed. I swooned. I fanned myself. I sighed contentedly. Sarina Bowen has delivered another stellar book. She’s got Big Stick Energy.
I received a copy through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Five stars for this - I loved it even more than Thrown For A Loop!
This read SO quickly! I started it at 10pm and only didn't finish it the same night because my partner forced me to put it down so I could do silly things like get to sleep at a reasonable hour. I finished it less than 12 hours later though. This is very quickly becoming one of my favorite hockey romance series, right up there with the Jacksonville Rays and DC Stars.
With this book, we pick up with Darcy and Eric who know each other professionally from the team, but not in a romantic sense (yet). Through some incredibly awkward and funny situations, they realize they'll both be attending the same wedding over the summer break, and shenanigans ensue. There are so many cute moments throughout this. I really love Sarina's writing, and she does so well with writing a full cast of characters, even those not (presumably) that will be getting their own books. Even Sharpe (Darcy's boss) has really grown on me - I do hope we maybe get a book with him in the future. There were so many interactions with side characters that felt really genuine and touched on some genuinely hard moments. I am starting to notice a bit of a theme with this series where the FMCs still end up having unresolved parental issues, though progress was definitely made.
In the ARC copy I received, there were not content warnings (hopefully just not added yet), but I will callout that does factor into the story in a few places.
Overall, I absolutely recommend this series if you are in your Hockey Romance era. You'll definitely want to start with book 1 (Thrown For A Loop) which is available now. In the meantime, I'll be waiting oh so impatiently for book 3, which is supposed to be out in Winter 2027, by which I very sincerely hope they mean January 2027 and not December 2027.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book!
This read SO quickly! I started it at 10pm and only didn't finish it the same night because my partner forced me to put it down so I could do silly things like get to sleep at a reasonable hour. I finished it less than 12 hours later though. This is very quickly becoming one of my favorite hockey romance series, right up there with the Jacksonville Rays and DC Stars.
With this book, we pick up with Darcy and Eric who know each other professionally from the team, but not in a romantic sense (yet). Through some incredibly awkward and funny situations, they realize they'll both be attending the same wedding over the summer break, and shenanigans ensue. There are so many cute moments throughout this. I really love Sarina's writing, and she does so well with writing a full cast of characters, even those not (presumably) that will be getting their own books. Even Sharpe (Darcy's boss) has really grown on me - I do hope we maybe get a book with him in the future. There were so many interactions with side characters that felt really genuine and touched on some genuinely hard moments. I am starting to notice a bit of a theme with this series where the FMCs still end up having unresolved parental issues, though progress was definitely made.
In the ARC copy I received, there were not content warnings (hopefully just not added yet), but I will callout that does factor into the story in a few places.
Overall, I absolutely recommend this series if you are in your Hockey Romance era. You'll definitely want to start with book 1 (Thrown For A Loop) which is available now. In the meantime, I'll be waiting oh so impatiently for book 3, which is supposed to be out in Winter 2027, by which I very sincerely hope they mean January 2027 and not December 2027.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you love a hockey romance with sharp banter, workplace tension, and a hero who falls completely gone first, Big Stick Energy needs a spot on your spring TBR.
Sarina Bowen takes us back to the Brooklyn hockey world, this time pairing Eric, the team’s confident, big personality forward, with Darcy, the ultra capable assistant to the general manager who keeps the entire front office running smoothly. She is organized, career focused, and absolutely not interested in getting mixed up with one of the players.
Their story starts with a total accident when Darcy sends a DM that was meant for someone else straight to Eric. Instead of awkwardly ignoring it, the two fall into an easy, hilarious back and forth that quickly becomes the best part of their days. What begins as playful messages and inside jokes slowly builds into real chemistry before they even realize how invested they are.
But once their lives overlap more at the rink, things get complicated fast. Darcy works behind the scenes and has to stay professional. Eric is very publicly part of the team and used to being underestimated. Mixing front office and players is messy, and both of them have careers they refuse to jeopardize. Keeping things casual sounds simple… until feelings show up.
I loved how grounded and mature this romance felt. Darcy is competent and never starstruck, which makes their dynamic so refreshing. And Eric? Total softie under all that swagger. The banter is top tier, the team friend group adds so much fun, and the slow build from flirty to swoony to steamy had me flying through chapters.
Big Stick Energy is equal parts fun and heartfelt and the perfect follow up to Thrown for a Loop.
Spice scale
3.5 out of 5
Open door, plenty of heat, but still story first
Tropes
Hockey romance
Workplace romance
Accidental DM meet cute
Forced proximity
He falls first
Slow burn
Found family
Teammate chaos and banter
Perfect for fans of smart, capable heroines and cinnamon roll hockey heroes with big confidence and even bigger hearts.
Sarina Bowen takes us back to the Brooklyn hockey world, this time pairing Eric, the team’s confident, big personality forward, with Darcy, the ultra capable assistant to the general manager who keeps the entire front office running smoothly. She is organized, career focused, and absolutely not interested in getting mixed up with one of the players.
Their story starts with a total accident when Darcy sends a DM that was meant for someone else straight to Eric. Instead of awkwardly ignoring it, the two fall into an easy, hilarious back and forth that quickly becomes the best part of their days. What begins as playful messages and inside jokes slowly builds into real chemistry before they even realize how invested they are.
But once their lives overlap more at the rink, things get complicated fast. Darcy works behind the scenes and has to stay professional. Eric is very publicly part of the team and used to being underestimated. Mixing front office and players is messy, and both of them have careers they refuse to jeopardize. Keeping things casual sounds simple… until feelings show up.
I loved how grounded and mature this romance felt. Darcy is competent and never starstruck, which makes their dynamic so refreshing. And Eric? Total softie under all that swagger. The banter is top tier, the team friend group adds so much fun, and the slow build from flirty to swoony to steamy had me flying through chapters.
Big Stick Energy is equal parts fun and heartfelt and the perfect follow up to Thrown for a Loop.
Spice scale
3.5 out of 5
Open door, plenty of heat, but still story first
Tropes
Hockey romance
Workplace romance
Accidental DM meet cute
Forced proximity
He falls first
Slow burn
Found family
Teammate chaos and banter
Perfect for fans of smart, capable heroines and cinnamon roll hockey heroes with big confidence and even bigger hearts.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A hockey off-season summer romance from one of my favorite hockey romance authors? Sold.
Darcy and Eric are first introduced in Thrown for a Loop, the first book in this interconnected standalone series. Darcy is the assistant to the New York Legend’s owner while Eric is the team captain. As the season ends and Darcy accidentally propositions Eric over social media, the second hand mortification is REAL. The two decide to move past the unintended message in favor of posing as dates in order to get through a challenging summer family wedding in coastal New England. Unsurprisingly, but still entertainingly, fake dating leads to real feelings as both Darcy and Eric navigate their own heavy doses of family drama.
Darcy and Eric both have swoony competency mojo coupled with some major golden retriever energy. Individually, they are both just really likeable characters. Together, they are supportive partners, and their relationship dynamic and banter is solidly sizzling. Since they are already kind, thoughtful adults, most of the conflict comes from balancing difficult family relationships burdened by past trauma, and good old-fashioned personal and professional boundaries.
I did enjoy the hijinks and yearning of the first 50% more than the back family-drama filled half. In a sea of relatives behaving poorly, I am still not over Darcy’s mother’s behavior more than anyone. But our guaranteed HEA comes through just as the new season gets underway, and sets us up for our next leading man!
For fans of Sarina Bowen’s other works, Big Stick Energy brings something a little different with the summer vibes. Readers of other sports romance authors, like Elle Kennedy or Kristin Callihan, looking to dive into an open-door hockey romance world have a good starting point with this series. With the added bonus of a sizeable crossover back catalogue to dive into while waiting for book 3!
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the advanced copy. All opinions in this review are my own.
Darcy and Eric are first introduced in Thrown for a Loop, the first book in this interconnected standalone series. Darcy is the assistant to the New York Legend’s owner while Eric is the team captain. As the season ends and Darcy accidentally propositions Eric over social media, the second hand mortification is REAL. The two decide to move past the unintended message in favor of posing as dates in order to get through a challenging summer family wedding in coastal New England. Unsurprisingly, but still entertainingly, fake dating leads to real feelings as both Darcy and Eric navigate their own heavy doses of family drama.
Darcy and Eric both have swoony competency mojo coupled with some major golden retriever energy. Individually, they are both just really likeable characters. Together, they are supportive partners, and their relationship dynamic and banter is solidly sizzling. Since they are already kind, thoughtful adults, most of the conflict comes from balancing difficult family relationships burdened by past trauma, and good old-fashioned personal and professional boundaries.
I did enjoy the hijinks and yearning of the first 50% more than the back family-drama filled half. In a sea of relatives behaving poorly, I am still not over Darcy’s mother’s behavior more than anyone. But our guaranteed HEA comes through just as the new season gets underway, and sets us up for our next leading man!
For fans of Sarina Bowen’s other works, Big Stick Energy brings something a little different with the summer vibes. Readers of other sports romance authors, like Elle Kennedy or Kristin Callihan, looking to dive into an open-door hockey romance world have a good starting point with this series. With the added bonus of a sizeable crossover back catalogue to dive into while waiting for book 3!
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the advanced copy. All opinions in this review are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 ⭐️ (rounded to 4)
This was such a cute and easy-to-read hockey romance!
I was soo excited when I got the email widget for this eARC because I really loved book one. While I still had a good time reading this, it didn’t quite hit the same way the first one did for me. I’m not sure if it was the characters that I just didn't really connect with or the pacing but something just was missing for me compared to book one. I found myself a bit bored throughout the book as things started to feel very predictable on where the story was going. I think there wasn't as much deeper emotional development between them as a couple as well as their own individual story, which I think made me less connected to what was going on. But even with all that, I still genuinely enjoyed reading this and seeing Darcy and Eric's relationship grow. I'm a sucker for a fake dating trope as it's one of my favorites, and even with the predictability of the story I still had fun reading this. Plus, throw in really good banter and some tension, which Sarina always delivers, and i'm immediately sat.
The FMC, Darcy, is the team’s hockey admin who is super organized and very much the person who is holding everything and everyone together. She’s the kind of FMC who quietly takes care of everyone else before even thinking about herself, which is very similar to how Eric is as well. Eric is the team's captain and the big hockey player who is always in the spotlight. He's definitely the golden retriever of the group. But beneath all of that fame and confident exterior he's also incredibly thoughtful and self-sacrificing. I really liked how similar they both are with not only having a bit of a complicated past and family drama but also their need to put others first.
Overall, this is a fun and feel-good hockey romance that’s super easy to binge. If you like:
- Fake dating
- Hockey admin x hockey player
- Banter
- Tension
- Accidentally DM 👀
- some spice
This is one you should definitely check out!
Thank you Forever and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
This was such a cute and easy-to-read hockey romance!
I was soo excited when I got the email widget for this eARC because I really loved book one. While I still had a good time reading this, it didn’t quite hit the same way the first one did for me. I’m not sure if it was the characters that I just didn't really connect with or the pacing but something just was missing for me compared to book one. I found myself a bit bored throughout the book as things started to feel very predictable on where the story was going. I think there wasn't as much deeper emotional development between them as a couple as well as their own individual story, which I think made me less connected to what was going on. But even with all that, I still genuinely enjoyed reading this and seeing Darcy and Eric's relationship grow. I'm a sucker for a fake dating trope as it's one of my favorites, and even with the predictability of the story I still had fun reading this. Plus, throw in really good banter and some tension, which Sarina always delivers, and i'm immediately sat.
The FMC, Darcy, is the team’s hockey admin who is super organized and very much the person who is holding everything and everyone together. She’s the kind of FMC who quietly takes care of everyone else before even thinking about herself, which is very similar to how Eric is as well. Eric is the team's captain and the big hockey player who is always in the spotlight. He's definitely the golden retriever of the group. But beneath all of that fame and confident exterior he's also incredibly thoughtful and self-sacrificing. I really liked how similar they both are with not only having a bit of a complicated past and family drama but also their need to put others first.
Overall, this is a fun and feel-good hockey romance that’s super easy to binge. If you like:
- Fake dating
- Hockey admin x hockey player
- Banter
- Tension
- Accidentally DM 👀
- some spice
This is one you should definitely check out!
Thank you Forever and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’ve been so excited to read Darcy and Eric’s story, and it did not disappoint! It was clear from the previous book that Darcy had some feelings for Eric. And when she sends a message to her best friend about her fantasy about Eric she soon realizes that she didn’t actually send the message to Zoe but to Eric himself. Though she is most definitely mortified, it may end up being the best thing she has ever done. Turns out Eric needed a bit of a wake up call when it came to Darcy. Eric and Darcy have worked together for years and it’s very clear that Eric has paid attention to Darcy. But Eric is anything but selfish. He puts others before him all the time and spends so much of his energy being the best captain he can be. Doing things from himself? Not really a thing. But the message is the start of something. Especially when he realizes that the two of them will be going to the same wedding this summer. Cue the family drama for them both. What starts as being one another’s date to fake dating, is just the beginning glimpse of what they could be together if they give themselves the chance. For Eric, he has never really dated. Never found someone who made him want to ask for more. And for Darcy, growing up she has seen what it looks like when things go bad. Can they be brave enough to take the risk? I loved these two! They were so much fun and had amazing chemistry. I loved that they were friends and how this one trip really gave them a chance to realize how much they knew one another and how much more there was to learn. They just worked together so well. And these two were clearly falling hard for one another from the start, yet neither would admit it. Another great book in this series! We have some great characters and I can’t wait for the next one!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Big Stick Energy by Sarina Bowen
New York Legends Book 2
✨ One word: Comfort-hot
Sarina Bowen simply does not miss when it comes to hockey romance, and this one might be my favorite in the series so far. There’s less on-ice action here, but the heart of this book is the relationship between Darcy and Eric and it works. Hard.
Darcy is the overworked, hyper-competent team admin who accidentally sends her very private fantasy to the one man on earth she should not send it to: team captain Eric Tremaine. Instead of dying of embarrassment, they end up with a plan. Fake date through a chaotic wedding season. Deflect family drama. Keep it professional. Totally not real.
Except it is.
Darcy and Eric are so well matched. They’re both caretakers in their own ways, always showing up for everyone else, and it was incredibly satisfying to watch them finally be seen and supported by someone who truly gets it. Their banter is sharp, the emotional beats hit, and the way they quietly choose each other over and over again made my chest ache in the best way.
Also yes, there is an only one bed moment. And yes, the illustrated cover is lying to you. This is open-door and spicy.
I loved book one, but I might love this one more. It’s warm, funny, emotionally grounded, and deeply romantic in that Sarina Bowen way where the love feels earned.
Tropes you’ll love
🏒 Hockey romance
💍 Fake dating
🛏️ Only one bed
🔥 Workplace proximity
💞 Soft caretaking energy
👨👩👧👦 Messy families
Read this if you like
If you loved Elle Kennedy, Mariana Zapata, or slow-burn sports romances with heart, humor, and heat, this one belongs on your TBR immediately.
#BigStickEnergy #SarinaBowen #HockeyRomance #ForeverReads #NetGalley #ForeverPub
New York Legends Book 2
✨ One word: Comfort-hot
Sarina Bowen simply does not miss when it comes to hockey romance, and this one might be my favorite in the series so far. There’s less on-ice action here, but the heart of this book is the relationship between Darcy and Eric and it works. Hard.
Darcy is the overworked, hyper-competent team admin who accidentally sends her very private fantasy to the one man on earth she should not send it to: team captain Eric Tremaine. Instead of dying of embarrassment, they end up with a plan. Fake date through a chaotic wedding season. Deflect family drama. Keep it professional. Totally not real.
Except it is.
Darcy and Eric are so well matched. They’re both caretakers in their own ways, always showing up for everyone else, and it was incredibly satisfying to watch them finally be seen and supported by someone who truly gets it. Their banter is sharp, the emotional beats hit, and the way they quietly choose each other over and over again made my chest ache in the best way.
Also yes, there is an only one bed moment. And yes, the illustrated cover is lying to you. This is open-door and spicy.
I loved book one, but I might love this one more. It’s warm, funny, emotionally grounded, and deeply romantic in that Sarina Bowen way where the love feels earned.
Tropes you’ll love
🏒 Hockey romance
💍 Fake dating
🛏️ Only one bed
🔥 Workplace proximity
💞 Soft caretaking energy
👨👩👧👦 Messy families
Read this if you like
If you loved Elle Kennedy, Mariana Zapata, or slow-burn sports romances with heart, humor, and heat, this one belongs on your TBR immediately.
#BigStickEnergy #SarinaBowen #HockeyRomance #ForeverReads #NetGalley #ForeverPub
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When NY Legends team admin Darcy accidentally sends a DM meant for her bestie to the object of her crush, team captain Eric, she sets into motion a chain of events that results in what is basically a perfect romance plot. The chemistry between Darcy and Eric is fierce, but underneath it runs a deep current of respect and understanding, which I really appreciated. Both of them have past family trauma to address, and it all converges at a Wedding Experience (ha!!) where Darcy's semi-estranged brother is marrying Eric's former almost sister-in-law.
The family dynamics are handled very realistically, and I loved the way Darcy and Eric supported and stood up for each other during times of high stress with their respective family members. The family members who are the antagonists in these scenarios are also really dynamic--there's no simple good/bad dichotomy to be found. They all have really understandable motivations, even if their actions end up being hurtful to others.
The Wedding Experience plot is truly hilarious! The situations were laugh-out-loud funny without being ridiculously over the top or unrealistic. Eric studying up on hedge mazes was so funny and relatable!
I also really liked that although this is a sports romance, there is relatively little time spent on the ice/during games because most of the action takes place during the off-season. The relationships of the team members and the found family aspect were really well done, and the comedic touches of the bumbling rookies were the icing on the cake.
I didn't read the first book in the series before diving in, but I wasn't lost at all. And now I will definitely go back and read it!
Thanks to Netgalley and Forever for an ARC of this book.
The family dynamics are handled very realistically, and I loved the way Darcy and Eric supported and stood up for each other during times of high stress with their respective family members. The family members who are the antagonists in these scenarios are also really dynamic--there's no simple good/bad dichotomy to be found. They all have really understandable motivations, even if their actions end up being hurtful to others.
The Wedding Experience plot is truly hilarious! The situations were laugh-out-loud funny without being ridiculously over the top or unrealistic. Eric studying up on hedge mazes was so funny and relatable!
I also really liked that although this is a sports romance, there is relatively little time spent on the ice/during games because most of the action takes place during the off-season. The relationships of the team members and the found family aspect were really well done, and the comedic touches of the bumbling rookies were the icing on the cake.
I didn't read the first book in the series before diving in, but I wasn't lost at all. And now I will definitely go back and read it!
Thanks to Netgalley and Forever for an ARC of this book.
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