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My Brother's Enemy
Tyler Griffin is gorgeous, ruthless, and arrogant.
He’s also one of the best hockey players in the National Hockey League.
Not known to be a fighter on the ice, he has no problem dropping the gloves at the same time.
The sweet side of he has a twin sister that he would do anything for, including disregarding any rules if they mean he can’t protect who he loves.
I know all of this about Tyler because I know him.
We grew up in neighboring towns.
He played against my brothers and ironically, he still does because my brothers are also NHL franchise stars.
The rivalry was in high school.
We’re all adults now.
That means certain grudges should be forgotten…
Wrong.
The rivalry is very much alive.
The hatred is visceral between my brothers and Tyler.
As for myself, I have my own complicated relationship with my brothers.
But things are about to get heated because the NHL team that I recently accepted a position to work for just traded for a certain star Tyler Griffin.
He’s the enemy to both of my brothers, but he’s also mine.
A/ This is a 111k word standalone. New characters. Check TW in the beginning of the book.
He’s also one of the best hockey players in the National Hockey League.
Not known to be a fighter on the ice, he has no problem dropping the gloves at the same time.
The sweet side of he has a twin sister that he would do anything for, including disregarding any rules if they mean he can’t protect who he loves.
I know all of this about Tyler because I know him.
We grew up in neighboring towns.
He played against my brothers and ironically, he still does because my brothers are also NHL franchise stars.
The rivalry was in high school.
We’re all adults now.
That means certain grudges should be forgotten…
Wrong.
The rivalry is very much alive.
The hatred is visceral between my brothers and Tyler.
As for myself, I have my own complicated relationship with my brothers.
But things are about to get heated because the NHL team that I recently accepted a position to work for just traded for a certain star Tyler Griffin.
He’s the enemy to both of my brothers, but he’s also mine.
A/ This is a 111k word standalone. New characters. Check TW in the beginning of the book.
496 pages, Paperback
First published November 13, 2025
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863 people want to read
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November 16, 2025
📚'𝙼𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚂'📚 can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔* MY BROTHER'S ENEMY °❀⋆.ೃ࿔* Is a full length standalone work place hockey romance book by author Tijan. Spoken in dual POVs. In this you'll meet Rain & Tyler.
As soon as this hot baby went live off I went to grab it..This is one (like anything this author writes) I've been anticipating. The cover, the blurb, the author, and those feels I know are going to come at me, she's been one of my unicorn authors for years, so it goes without saying, whatever she writes, I will read it..
Not going to lie, a few things kind of got my hackles raised a bit, it took me a wee while to connect with Rain, she appeared younger than her years, I had to mentally shake myself and remember that she wasn’t a teenager she was a full grown adult. Then the time frame of 12 years before the brother grew some and mended their relationship. All those wasted years where Rain held onto that bitterness as it festered away inside, then I felt like she forgave him too quickly. He was still some of the cause of those emotional scars she carried.
His indifference
His inability to speak out
I would’ve liked a showdown between her, the eldest brother and the father.
But…
There was a lot of good within this book which outweighed everything else, I loved how the hockey gods rallied together showcasing what being part of their family looked like.
And admittedly I did tear up more than once, which is also why my rating is what it is.
I loved Tyler from the get go, when a family member was in crises no questions asked, he was there, dropping everything and changing teams, leaving everything behind to be a supportive brother to his twin sister and niece. It showcased unity, family, which is what Rain sorely had missed out on with her own siblings.
This book gave me many mixed emotions
Parts I couldn't comprehend and compartmentalise them
Other parts I loved
Parts where I teared up
Other parts where I loved these two together.
BBt all in all I loved being back in this authors orbit.
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔* MY BROTHER'S ENEMY °❀⋆.ೃ࿔* Is a full length standalone work place hockey romance book by author Tijan. Spoken in dual POVs. In this you'll meet Rain & Tyler.
As soon as this hot baby went live off I went to grab it..This is one (like anything this author writes) I've been anticipating. The cover, the blurb, the author, and those feels I know are going to come at me, she's been one of my unicorn authors for years, so it goes without saying, whatever she writes, I will read it..
Not going to lie, a few things kind of got my hackles raised a bit, it took me a wee while to connect with Rain, she appeared younger than her years, I had to mentally shake myself and remember that she wasn’t a teenager she was a full grown adult. Then the time frame of 12 years before the brother grew some and mended their relationship. All those wasted years where Rain held onto that bitterness as it festered away inside, then I felt like she forgave him too quickly. He was still some of the cause of those emotional scars she carried.
His indifference
His inability to speak out
I would’ve liked a showdown between her, the eldest brother and the father.
But…
There was a lot of good within this book which outweighed everything else, I loved how the hockey gods rallied together showcasing what being part of their family looked like.
And admittedly I did tear up more than once, which is also why my rating is what it is.
I loved Tyler from the get go, when a family member was in crises no questions asked, he was there, dropping everything and changing teams, leaving everything behind to be a supportive brother to his twin sister and niece. It showcased unity, family, which is what Rain sorely had missed out on with her own siblings.
This book gave me many mixed emotions
Parts I couldn't comprehend and compartmentalise them
Other parts I loved
Parts where I teared up
Other parts where I loved these two together.
BBt all in all I loved being back in this authors orbit.
November 13, 2025
Rain was a brainless twat, and Tyler lacked the balls to be any kind of impressive hero. Had this been set in high school, this kind of drama would have worked well. But they’re all adults. With careers. Acting like kids. Rain being a psychologist didn’t ring true, and I was too pissed when she kept allowing him to blame her for the issues he had with her brothers. Gotta love it when the heroine is always the one to suffer the consequences while the hero gets off scot-free 🙄 And the woe-is-me martyr heroines? They bore me. Just like Rain did. Also, Dane apologising and trying to come off as the decent one doesn’t make any sense. Because why didn’t he reach out or try to fix things between them anytime during the 12 years they didn’t see each other? Why now? Because she’s in the spotlight? Thought so. 🙄🙄
I don’t have time for this shit.
I don’t have time for this shit.
December 31, 2025
From Rivals to Romance: A Sports Love Story
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💜💚❤️🩷
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📔📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋😀😍🤓🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Duet Narration
🎧 Audiobook Review: My Brother’s Enemy
Author: Tijan
Genre: Sports Romance
Narrators: Andi Arndt and Tor Thom
🦸🏼♀️ The Heroine: Dylan Rain Conners
Dylan Rain Conners is a woman caught between strength and vulnerability. Living in Kansas City, she impulsively buys a handgun — a decision that shocks even herself, since she can’t bear to touch it, let alone use it for the purpose she intended. Rain is a respected sports psychologist and behavioral consultant, known for her discretion when working with professional teams. With a doctorate in professional athletics, she’s built a career on trust and confidentiality. When a call from Minnesota — the place she spent half her life — pulls her back, she agrees to meet the mysterious caller, knowing that athletes often guard their need for therapy like a secret.
🦸🏻♂️ The Hero: Tyler Griffin
Tyler Griffin is the quintessential hockey star — drafted five years ago, leading New York to five consecutive Stanley Cups, and living under the glare of fame. But beneath the spotlight lies a man scarred by loss. A call from his twin sister Skylar shatters him, echoing the morning he learned of his parents’ fatal accident. His regret deepens when he discovers a hookup filming him for gossip fodder, a reminder of how fame can erode trust. Tyler’s world shifts in that moment, forcing him to confront heartbreak and reevaluate the life he’s built.
📚 The Plot
Rain’s return to Minnesota brings her face-to-face with Mal Benwa, a former hockey player turned representative for the Minnesota Gray Wolves NHL tea. Though wary of hockey — her estranged brothers are NHL stars, and her family ties are fractured — Mal tempts her with an irresistible offer: a lucrative role helping the Gray’s transform into champions. Rain accepts, but only under strict conditions: her family connections must remain hidden, and she will avoid games against her brothers’ teams.
What she doesn’t realize is that the team’s newest trade is none other than Tyler Griffin — the boy from the next town over, her brothers’ fiercest rival, and the man she secretly crushed on in high school. Their collision course is inevitable, and sparks fly as past grudges, buried pain, and undeniable attraction intertwine.
🌟 Strengths
• Rain’s lingering high school crush on Tyler adds delicious tension, rekindled in adulthood with even more intensity.
• Both protagonists carry heavy emotional baggage, making their growth authentic and compelling.
• The story thrives on originality and unpredictability, with twists that genuinely surprise.
• Watching a famous athlete wrestle with jealousy flips the usual sports-romance dynamic, adding fresh energy.
• Strong character development extends beyond the leads, with supporting characters enriching the narrative.
💔 Limitations
• Rain’s struggles are poignant, but her tendency to dwell on her pain occasionally slows the pacing. While her grief feels real and lasting, the repetition risks overshadowing her resilience.
🎙️ Narration
Told in dual POV through duet narration, the audiobook features Tor Thom and Andi Arndt. Though their voices sound slightly older than the characters, both deliver performances full of nuance. Arndt’s clear, emotive tone captures Rain’s vulnerability beautifully, while Thom’s deep, commanding voice embodies Tyler’s physical presence and emotional turmoil. His ability to differentiate characters keeps the listening experience natural and immersive.
💬 Final Assessment
This audiobook blends sports, romance, and emotional healing into a story that feels both intimate and unpredictable. Rain and Tyler’s journey is layered with family estrangement, fame’s pitfalls, and the ache of unresolved attraction. With strong narration and surprising twists, it’s a sports romance that stands out for its originality and emotional depth.
I voluntarily listened to & reviewed an advanced copy of this audiobook. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💜💚❤️🩷
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📔📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋😀😍🤓🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Duet Narration
🎧 Audiobook Review: My Brother’s Enemy
Author: Tijan
Genre: Sports Romance
Narrators: Andi Arndt and Tor Thom
🦸🏼♀️ The Heroine: Dylan Rain Conners
Dylan Rain Conners is a woman caught between strength and vulnerability. Living in Kansas City, she impulsively buys a handgun — a decision that shocks even herself, since she can’t bear to touch it, let alone use it for the purpose she intended. Rain is a respected sports psychologist and behavioral consultant, known for her discretion when working with professional teams. With a doctorate in professional athletics, she’s built a career on trust and confidentiality. When a call from Minnesota — the place she spent half her life — pulls her back, she agrees to meet the mysterious caller, knowing that athletes often guard their need for therapy like a secret.
🦸🏻♂️ The Hero: Tyler Griffin
Tyler Griffin is the quintessential hockey star — drafted five years ago, leading New York to five consecutive Stanley Cups, and living under the glare of fame. But beneath the spotlight lies a man scarred by loss. A call from his twin sister Skylar shatters him, echoing the morning he learned of his parents’ fatal accident. His regret deepens when he discovers a hookup filming him for gossip fodder, a reminder of how fame can erode trust. Tyler’s world shifts in that moment, forcing him to confront heartbreak and reevaluate the life he’s built.
📚 The Plot
Rain’s return to Minnesota brings her face-to-face with Mal Benwa, a former hockey player turned representative for the Minnesota Gray Wolves NHL tea. Though wary of hockey — her estranged brothers are NHL stars, and her family ties are fractured — Mal tempts her with an irresistible offer: a lucrative role helping the Gray’s transform into champions. Rain accepts, but only under strict conditions: her family connections must remain hidden, and she will avoid games against her brothers’ teams.
What she doesn’t realize is that the team’s newest trade is none other than Tyler Griffin — the boy from the next town over, her brothers’ fiercest rival, and the man she secretly crushed on in high school. Their collision course is inevitable, and sparks fly as past grudges, buried pain, and undeniable attraction intertwine.
🌟 Strengths
• Rain’s lingering high school crush on Tyler adds delicious tension, rekindled in adulthood with even more intensity.
• Both protagonists carry heavy emotional baggage, making their growth authentic and compelling.
• The story thrives on originality and unpredictability, with twists that genuinely surprise.
• Watching a famous athlete wrestle with jealousy flips the usual sports-romance dynamic, adding fresh energy.
• Strong character development extends beyond the leads, with supporting characters enriching the narrative.
💔 Limitations
• Rain’s struggles are poignant, but her tendency to dwell on her pain occasionally slows the pacing. While her grief feels real and lasting, the repetition risks overshadowing her resilience.
🎙️ Narration
Told in dual POV through duet narration, the audiobook features Tor Thom and Andi Arndt. Though their voices sound slightly older than the characters, both deliver performances full of nuance. Arndt’s clear, emotive tone captures Rain’s vulnerability beautifully, while Thom’s deep, commanding voice embodies Tyler’s physical presence and emotional turmoil. His ability to differentiate characters keeps the listening experience natural and immersive.
💬 Final Assessment
This audiobook blends sports, romance, and emotional healing into a story that feels both intimate and unpredictable. Rain and Tyler’s journey is layered with family estrangement, fame’s pitfalls, and the ache of unresolved attraction. With strong narration and surprising twists, it’s a sports romance that stands out for its originality and emotional depth.
I voluntarily listened to & reviewed an advanced copy of this audiobook. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
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November 16, 2025
4.5🌟, 4 🌶️
I wasn't expecting a hockey romance to feel this real and this gut-level emotional, but wow - My Brother's Enemy completely caught me off guard in the best way. It pulls you in with its honesty, its weight, and a connection between two people who needed each other long before they ever met.
Rain Connors returns home to join a new NHL team as their sports psychologist, while Tyler Griffin - a hometown legend and lifelong rival of her brothers - comes back for reasons he'd never choose. They've been orbiting the same world for years without ever meeting, and when they finally do, the chemistry is instant, magnetic, and impossible to ignore. Both are carrying deep trauma, but their reactions and choices feel so believable that you can't help but root for them through every rough moment.
What really stays with you, though, is the healing.
Rain's story is heartbreaking and validating, and Tyler's loyalty and intensity only make their connection stronger. The found family moments, the respect for the sport, and the emotional depth give the romance real weight.
It's impactful, hopeful, and beautifully written - just make sure you check the trigger warnings, because this one goes deep.
~~~~
Many thanks to Tijan & Valentine PR for providing this Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. ✨
I wasn't expecting a hockey romance to feel this real and this gut-level emotional, but wow - My Brother's Enemy completely caught me off guard in the best way. It pulls you in with its honesty, its weight, and a connection between two people who needed each other long before they ever met.
Rain Connors returns home to join a new NHL team as their sports psychologist, while Tyler Griffin - a hometown legend and lifelong rival of her brothers - comes back for reasons he'd never choose. They've been orbiting the same world for years without ever meeting, and when they finally do, the chemistry is instant, magnetic, and impossible to ignore. Both are carrying deep trauma, but their reactions and choices feel so believable that you can't help but root for them through every rough moment.
What really stays with you, though, is the healing.
Rain's story is heartbreaking and validating, and Tyler's loyalty and intensity only make their connection stronger. The found family moments, the respect for the sport, and the emotional depth give the romance real weight.
It's impactful, hopeful, and beautifully written - just make sure you check the trigger warnings, because this one goes deep.
~~~~
Many thanks to Tijan & Valentine PR for providing this Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. ✨
November 4, 2025
I did receive an ARC for my honest review.
It feels like too long since I’ve read a book that gave me this same feeling, being obsessed and thinking about picking up the book when I wasn’t reading it. This adult hockey romance has tough topics it discusses and revolves around but I found it helped make this story feel tangible and meaningful without just being used for shock value. So check your triggers with this one.
Rain is a career centered sports psychologist that works with the NFL. She gets offered an opportunity to return to the world of NHL to work with a newer team that is trying to find their way. Tyler is a hockey legend that has personal reasons for returning home to play for the said new NHL team. They both return to their hometown to work for the same team.
I loved them together! There was a bit of insta-lust but who wouldn’t be affected by all that? I appreciated how the characters feelings and reactions to what was happening in the book didn’t feel over the top or too much. It was believable the whole journey.
The found family in this book made me so happy to see and is one of my favorite tropes. A true “hockey family” with this team!
If you are looking for a deep sports romance that will make feel each emotion throughly then this is one you need to pick up.
It feels like too long since I’ve read a book that gave me this same feeling, being obsessed and thinking about picking up the book when I wasn’t reading it. This adult hockey romance has tough topics it discusses and revolves around but I found it helped make this story feel tangible and meaningful without just being used for shock value. So check your triggers with this one.
Rain is a career centered sports psychologist that works with the NFL. She gets offered an opportunity to return to the world of NHL to work with a newer team that is trying to find their way. Tyler is a hockey legend that has personal reasons for returning home to play for the said new NHL team. They both return to their hometown to work for the same team.
I loved them together! There was a bit of insta-lust but who wouldn’t be affected by all that? I appreciated how the characters feelings and reactions to what was happening in the book didn’t feel over the top or too much. It was believable the whole journey.
The found family in this book made me so happy to see and is one of my favorite tropes. A true “hockey family” with this team!
If you are looking for a deep sports romance that will make feel each emotion throughly then this is one you need to pick up.
December 23, 2025
First of all, I listened to the audiobook and I love the narrators. Secondly, I love the book even more. Reasons unknown to me, I also love a misunderstood heroine and Rain has an epic backstory that will have you crying your eyes out when it all comes out. To me, that is what made this book epic. The emotional and at times gut wrenching scenes the author wrenched out of these characters made this book so much more than a hockey book. Add in the many side characters that left me wanting more. I would love to get a book by several that made an impact. For all these reasons, I'm sure I'll be re-listening to the audiobook often.
November 16, 2025
This one was such an easy, one-sitting read. I flew through it in a single day and enjoyed it immensely! The premise alone — a hockey player meets a sports psychologist, turning into a workplace romance — had me hooked from the start. Tijan’s signature writing style? Sign me up every time.
What really stood out was the mental-health representation. It added so much depth and made the story especially compelling. The mix of emotions, angst, and family drama hit that perfect balance, and I genuinely liked both main characters.
And honestly, the fact that it’s a standalone felt refreshing. Sometimes a series can come with so many past characters that it’s hard to keep track. Here, I could just sink in and enjoy the story without worrying about mixing anyone up.
All in all, a good solid read.
What really stood out was the mental-health representation. It added so much depth and made the story especially compelling. The mix of emotions, angst, and family drama hit that perfect balance, and I genuinely liked both main characters.
And honestly, the fact that it’s a standalone felt refreshing. Sometimes a series can come with so many past characters that it’s hard to keep track. Here, I could just sink in and enjoy the story without worrying about mixing anyone up.
All in all, a good solid read.
November 16, 2025
3.5/5.0
This is a completely bi-polar book so it will depend on a person’s taste and preferences as to whether they will like it or not. The life part of the book is five star all the way. Absolutely riveting, emotional and can’t put down. The “romance” part of the book is non existent. It’s sex. Only sex. Obviously sex = love. The end. So, let’s break it down just a bit.
Rain grew up in the most horrid home imaginable. But it wasn’t the “normal” types of abuse, it was the most extreme neglect imaginable along with emotional abuse…. And this is where Tijan absolutely SHINES! She can completely gut the reader right along with the characters and she does with this one, folks. It’s real, and heart-wrenching and enraging all at once. Rain’s journey brings the reader to tears all while teaching them so much about mental health and the effects it can have. And it’s on a subject very few think about but is so very important.
The “romance” (sex) aspect of the book begins almost page one. Tyler has no idea who Rain is and neither have ever had any interaction at all (she did have a crush on him when she was very young, from afar). But within the first few words exchanged, they are going at it. Now here’s the catch - this is despite the fact that she will lose her job, there will be huge fall out along with a plethora of horrid things happen (and she knows it). Still, her body overtakes her brain and makes her give him sex anyway (not even exaggerating, check my notes section, there’s proof). This wild sex continues every time they run into each other (with her screaming loudly IN HER HEAD this is a bad thing) until the obvious happens. But the kicker? They are in LOVE! And, the problem with that is the reader has not seen one iota of proof because there hasn’t been a single conversation getting to know each other on the page. But the book is close to 50% sex, so that must suffice.
See? Which wins out? I LOVE some of the book and absolutely HATE the other. Mainly because I still hold out hope that today’s women have enough of a brain in their heads to use them.
This is a completely bi-polar book so it will depend on a person’s taste and preferences as to whether they will like it or not. The life part of the book is five star all the way. Absolutely riveting, emotional and can’t put down. The “romance” part of the book is non existent. It’s sex. Only sex. Obviously sex = love. The end. So, let’s break it down just a bit.
Rain grew up in the most horrid home imaginable. But it wasn’t the “normal” types of abuse, it was the most extreme neglect imaginable along with emotional abuse…. And this is where Tijan absolutely SHINES! She can completely gut the reader right along with the characters and she does with this one, folks. It’s real, and heart-wrenching and enraging all at once. Rain’s journey brings the reader to tears all while teaching them so much about mental health and the effects it can have. And it’s on a subject very few think about but is so very important.
The “romance” (sex) aspect of the book begins almost page one. Tyler has no idea who Rain is and neither have ever had any interaction at all (she did have a crush on him when she was very young, from afar). But within the first few words exchanged, they are going at it. Now here’s the catch - this is despite the fact that she will lose her job, there will be huge fall out along with a plethora of horrid things happen (and she knows it). Still, her body overtakes her brain and makes her give him sex anyway (not even exaggerating, check my notes section, there’s proof). This wild sex continues every time they run into each other (with her screaming loudly IN HER HEAD this is a bad thing) until the obvious happens. But the kicker? They are in LOVE! And, the problem with that is the reader has not seen one iota of proof because there hasn’t been a single conversation getting to know each other on the page. But the book is close to 50% sex, so that must suffice.
See? Which wins out? I LOVE some of the book and absolutely HATE the other. Mainly because I still hold out hope that today’s women have enough of a brain in their heads to use them.
November 15, 2025
ARC Review - 3 ★
⋆˚࿔ i think this is my first book by tijan and it is not bad at all. i have to say, this story was enjoyable and surprisingly memorable. rain’s struggle growing up abandoned by her own family felt heavy and real. the way she carries the feeling of being the lost child, the forgotten one, is written with raw and emotional depth. even after years have passed and she is older, she is still deeply affected by her past and you can feel that trauma in every layer of her character. then we have tyler, the mmc, who has been taking care of his family for so long and would move mountains for them. when his world collides with rain, he instantly feels the need to protect her from everything.
i liked the chemistry between rain and tyler. it felt natural and never forced. their tension, their connection, the push and pull between them made their relationship fun to follow. despite this being an enjoyable read, there were moments that felt lacking. sometimes tyler made rain feel left out whenever he was around his family and even if she did not say it, you can tell it hurt her deeply. he also did not really grovel when he messed up. instead, he went straight into fucking like he was driven more by lust than understanding. i honestly wish there had been more scenes of them simply being together without everything turning into sex.
Thank you to Tijan & Valentine PR for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
⋆˚࿔ i think this is my first book by tijan and it is not bad at all. i have to say, this story was enjoyable and surprisingly memorable. rain’s struggle growing up abandoned by her own family felt heavy and real. the way she carries the feeling of being the lost child, the forgotten one, is written with raw and emotional depth. even after years have passed and she is older, she is still deeply affected by her past and you can feel that trauma in every layer of her character. then we have tyler, the mmc, who has been taking care of his family for so long and would move mountains for them. when his world collides with rain, he instantly feels the need to protect her from everything.
i liked the chemistry between rain and tyler. it felt natural and never forced. their tension, their connection, the push and pull between them made their relationship fun to follow. despite this being an enjoyable read, there were moments that felt lacking. sometimes tyler made rain feel left out whenever he was around his family and even if she did not say it, you can tell it hurt her deeply. he also did not really grovel when he messed up. instead, he went straight into fucking like he was driven more by lust than understanding. i honestly wish there had been more scenes of them simply being together without everything turning into sex.
Thank you to Tijan & Valentine PR for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
November 24, 2025
⚠️Trigger warning: suicide and self harm, child abuse⚠️
I would say this was a 3.5 star rating. It wasn’t bad but I feel like it was missing something….idk what that might be though…
I enjoyed the read. It gave validation for what many go through in varying levels of course. So much emphasis on the sex with these two characters. I get it though! They are hot and hot together! But I didn’t go into this read with this in mind. I just desired something different. It’s a me thing yall! Promise.
I enjoyed both main characters. They had a great dynamic. Side characters came through.
The plot was interesting. Definitely some surprises that I wasn’t expecting. Love that for Ms. Rain.
3.5 star rating. Wasn’t Tijan’s best but wasn’t her worst either.
I would say this was a 3.5 star rating. It wasn’t bad but I feel like it was missing something….idk what that might be though…
I enjoyed the read. It gave validation for what many go through in varying levels of course. So much emphasis on the sex with these two characters. I get it though! They are hot and hot together! But I didn’t go into this read with this in mind. I just desired something different. It’s a me thing yall! Promise.
I enjoyed both main characters. They had a great dynamic. Side characters came through.
The plot was interesting. Definitely some surprises that I wasn’t expecting. Love that for Ms. Rain.
3.5 star rating. Wasn’t Tijan’s best but wasn’t her worst either.
November 20, 2025
***4,5 "Forever!!!" stars***
"Where have you been all my life?"
"Lost."
"Not anymore..."
I have loved everything that I have read by this author, and this new story wasn't the exception...
I also love it when Tijan is writing a story about ages above the 30s...
Tyler and Rain were amazing together or separately and in the Gray wolves hockey team, they had found an amazing family that made them feel safe and I loved that for both of them....
Yep, he was her brothers' rival since high school, but there was a connection between these two that it was impossible to get denied, even though they tried!!!
The lust was instant, but their love had built up slowly and I enjoyed their ride very much!!!
"This was going to end in destruction. Mine. My career."
Rain is a sports psychologist and she is working mostly with football players... But now, a new opportunity is arising in a smaller hockey team and she can't not accept to return back into the hockey world that she used to love so much in the past...
Tyler is a top hockey player but for personal reasons, he has to leave his team and to get transferred in a smaller one...
He was Rain's brothers' rival and their hatred never ceased to exist even now, after so many years...
But Rain's relationship with her own brothers are very complicated....
How can these two exist into the same environment when lust snd duty, secrets and half truths are about to change everything for both of them???
"There were things between us we could never get past..."
I loved Rain and Tyler very much!!! They were perfect for each other...
Tyler was so loveable!!!! This man was fiercely protective and in my eyes he was a true warrior... A man that you could count on him, no matter what...
Rain could do miracles in her job, but she had issues... Unbareable trauma that was keeping her away from living... Tyler came like a hurricane into her life and changed everything that she thought she knew... and that was amazing, but it was very hard of her to let go and my heart was hurting for her...
"I'm no one's weak spot."
"I'm starting to think you might be mine."
I honestly hated Rain's family... They were awful!!! And I might have unresolved issues with them....
But I have fallen in love with their found family... Their hockey family was incredible and I fell so hard in love with all these guys!!! Mal too!!! Coach and his wife also!!! Erik and Skylar!!!
This was an amazing ride and I have enjoyed Tyler and Rain's journey very much, even though there were some ugly bumps in the way...
"I was damn proud to be a Gray Wolf."
**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**
"Where have you been all my life?"
"Lost."
"Not anymore..."
I have loved everything that I have read by this author, and this new story wasn't the exception...
I also love it when Tijan is writing a story about ages above the 30s...
Tyler and Rain were amazing together or separately and in the Gray wolves hockey team, they had found an amazing family that made them feel safe and I loved that for both of them....
Yep, he was her brothers' rival since high school, but there was a connection between these two that it was impossible to get denied, even though they tried!!!
The lust was instant, but their love had built up slowly and I enjoyed their ride very much!!!
"This was going to end in destruction. Mine. My career."
Rain is a sports psychologist and she is working mostly with football players... But now, a new opportunity is arising in a smaller hockey team and she can't not accept to return back into the hockey world that she used to love so much in the past...
Tyler is a top hockey player but for personal reasons, he has to leave his team and to get transferred in a smaller one...
He was Rain's brothers' rival and their hatred never ceased to exist even now, after so many years...
But Rain's relationship with her own brothers are very complicated....
How can these two exist into the same environment when lust snd duty, secrets and half truths are about to change everything for both of them???
"There were things between us we could never get past..."
I loved Rain and Tyler very much!!! They were perfect for each other...
Tyler was so loveable!!!! This man was fiercely protective and in my eyes he was a true warrior... A man that you could count on him, no matter what...
Rain could do miracles in her job, but she had issues... Unbareable trauma that was keeping her away from living... Tyler came like a hurricane into her life and changed everything that she thought she knew... and that was amazing, but it was very hard of her to let go and my heart was hurting for her...
"I'm no one's weak spot."
"I'm starting to think you might be mine."
I honestly hated Rain's family... They were awful!!! And I might have unresolved issues with them....
But I have fallen in love with their found family... Their hockey family was incredible and I fell so hard in love with all these guys!!! Mal too!!! Coach and his wife also!!! Erik and Skylar!!!
This was an amazing ride and I have enjoyed Tyler and Rain's journey very much, even though there were some ugly bumps in the way...
"I was damn proud to be a Gray Wolf."
**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**
November 26, 2025
Two things I love- Tijan and hockey romances- making for a fun, medium angst filled time. As always she’s pretty heavy on the spice, but the scenes weren’t out there in craziness. Told in alternating POV’s, I really liked both our main characters. Tyler, an NHL hockey player just traded to a new team for personal reasons. And Rain held close so much of her childhood pain she wouldn’t open enough to let anybody in. The spark was instant, but it thankfully wasn’t instalove. Though there was a scene written where they first make contact and I was wondering how we’d gotten from a to b in just a pages time. As Tijan has been more hits than misses for me, I’ll always pick up her latest as I try to read through her backlog.
November 14, 2025
This story was…. A lot. I really wanted to love it, because the storyline was amazing and I love a good mental health rep. But there was sooo much happening that I felt confused a lot of the time. I felt like this could have been a favorite of mine, but the execution of details just wasn’t there for me. I really did love the back story of the characters and their history, I just felt that a lot of the added details were there for effect and didn’t fit for me.
With that said, I read the whole story in two days because I wanted to see what would happen and see if everyone got a HEA. I love Tijan, this one just wasn’t a favorite of mine
With that said, I read the whole story in two days because I wanted to see what would happen and see if everyone got a HEA. I love Tijan, this one just wasn’t a favorite of mine
November 15, 2025
Hooked from chapter one.
Emotional, romance, professional hockey, found family and more. Tijan writes with such care with her characters struggle with mental health. I loved both the FMC and MMC and how the dual POV let the reader feel how they are dealing with their emotions and relationship.I also appreciate that they are adults in their careers and learning more about themselves and family dynamics.
The plot twists, drama, emotions and found family are things I expect from this author and they were perfect in this story.
A must read.
Tijan writes it, I read it.
Emotional, romance, professional hockey, found family and more. Tijan writes with such care with her characters struggle with mental health. I loved both the FMC and MMC and how the dual POV let the reader feel how they are dealing with their emotions and relationship.I also appreciate that they are adults in their careers and learning more about themselves and family dynamics.
The plot twists, drama, emotions and found family are things I expect from this author and they were perfect in this story.
A must read.
Tijan writes it, I read it.
November 14, 2025
So so sad. Tijan used to be a comfort author for me. The last few books I’ve read have been horrendous. Either using AI or someone else is writing these books. Don’t think I’ll be able to read another release by this author.
November 5, 2025
I wasn’t prepared for how deeply this story would impact me, it was absolutely amazing! My Brother's Enemy by Tijan. A book you become obsessed with and think about when you aren't reading it. If you love an emotional, angsty, raw, obsessed and passionate hockey romance, YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!
Rain Connors is a sports psychologist who gets an amazing offer to come to the NHL to work with a newer team in her hometown. Tyler Griffin is a hockey legend, he’s arrogant, he’s fierce on the ice, but he also loves his family more than anything. Through horrible circumstances, he returns back home to play for his hometown team. Rain’s two brothers were rivals with Tyler growing up and they are both now big NHL stars. So her coming back home and to the NHL is a huge and hard decision for her. These two are both dealing with an immense amount of trials and trauma. Your heart will break for these two. Rain was written so beautifully. To never be loved, to be and feel so alone, it broke me. The lost child role. It was so raw and painful. And Tyler's pure devotion for his family from such a young age. These two deserved the world and watching them heal was so good! Their attraction is pretty instant. The obstacles they face are pretty rough at times. But when these two finally give in, the passion is pure fire!
There is a great side cast of characters. Some are greatly involved in the trauma of everything and they bring so much to this book. I just can't even summarize everything in this book, there were so many moments. This book is raw, it's real, you will laugh, cry and every other possible emotion. Their pain, growth, and mental battles reflect real life in such a powerful way. Tijan handles mental health with such care and accuracy. I was thinking today as I finished this book about my beginning in reading romance years ago. And there were two authors. LJ Shen and Tijan that brought me into this whole world. Carter Reed, a true Tijan classic, where it all began. And through the years I have literally read every book she writes, she just has this style that can't fully be described. You wrote something so tragically beautiful, your heart and soul are all over these pages. This will go down as a favorite always. GO READ THIS BOOK!
Rate: 10/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 4/5🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🖤 Hockey romance
💛 Alpha hero
🖤 Bad boy / good girl
💛 Enemies to lovers
🖤 Emotional healing
💛 Mental illness representation
🖤 Tragic past
💛 Touch her and die
*THANK YOU Tijan and Valentine PR for my ARC!🖤
Rain Connors is a sports psychologist who gets an amazing offer to come to the NHL to work with a newer team in her hometown. Tyler Griffin is a hockey legend, he’s arrogant, he’s fierce on the ice, but he also loves his family more than anything. Through horrible circumstances, he returns back home to play for his hometown team. Rain’s two brothers were rivals with Tyler growing up and they are both now big NHL stars. So her coming back home and to the NHL is a huge and hard decision for her. These two are both dealing with an immense amount of trials and trauma. Your heart will break for these two. Rain was written so beautifully. To never be loved, to be and feel so alone, it broke me. The lost child role. It was so raw and painful. And Tyler's pure devotion for his family from such a young age. These two deserved the world and watching them heal was so good! Their attraction is pretty instant. The obstacles they face are pretty rough at times. But when these two finally give in, the passion is pure fire!
There is a great side cast of characters. Some are greatly involved in the trauma of everything and they bring so much to this book. I just can't even summarize everything in this book, there were so many moments. This book is raw, it's real, you will laugh, cry and every other possible emotion. Their pain, growth, and mental battles reflect real life in such a powerful way. Tijan handles mental health with such care and accuracy. I was thinking today as I finished this book about my beginning in reading romance years ago. And there were two authors. LJ Shen and Tijan that brought me into this whole world. Carter Reed, a true Tijan classic, where it all began. And through the years I have literally read every book she writes, she just has this style that can't fully be described. You wrote something so tragically beautiful, your heart and soul are all over these pages. This will go down as a favorite always. GO READ THIS BOOK!
Rate: 10/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 4/5🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🖤 Hockey romance
💛 Alpha hero
🖤 Bad boy / good girl
💛 Enemies to lovers
🖤 Emotional healing
💛 Mental illness representation
🖤 Tragic past
💛 Touch her and die
*THANK YOU Tijan and Valentine PR for my ARC!🖤
December 11, 2025
Update: I did a reread but this time with the audiobook and I loved it even more! Andi Arndt and Tor Thom narrated this in dual narration and did an amazing job. Thor Thom's deep voice was perfect for Tyler. These narrators brought the story to life and they nailed the emotions and the connection between Tyler and Rain.
Thank you Tijan, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of this audiobook. I voluntarily listened and gave an honest review.
If you like an emotional hockey romance, then this one is a must read! Wow, I was completely blindsided by how emotional it made me! I was not expecting that level of feels. I always seem to really connect with books that openly talk about mental health, and this one definitely hit home.
This story had me hooked. I was drawn in from the very first page and didn't put it down until the final word!
I absolutely loved the two main characters, Tyler and Rain. They were both dealing with some heavy family issues, and watching their connection grow while navigating everything was just the best. It felt so genuine and filled with raw emotions.
This book was basically a checklist of all my favorite tropes so maybe that's why I'm so obsessed with it! If you love a book that tackles deep subjects while delivering an amazing, addictive story, definitely give My Brother's Enemy a shot! I really hope this is a part of an interconnected series!
Thank you Valentine PR and Tijan for an ARC of this book! I voluntarily read and gave an honest review.
Thank you Tijan, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of this audiobook. I voluntarily listened and gave an honest review.
If you like an emotional hockey romance, then this one is a must read! Wow, I was completely blindsided by how emotional it made me! I was not expecting that level of feels. I always seem to really connect with books that openly talk about mental health, and this one definitely hit home.
This story had me hooked. I was drawn in from the very first page and didn't put it down until the final word!
I absolutely loved the two main characters, Tyler and Rain. They were both dealing with some heavy family issues, and watching their connection grow while navigating everything was just the best. It felt so genuine and filled with raw emotions.
This book was basically a checklist of all my favorite tropes so maybe that's why I'm so obsessed with it! If you love a book that tackles deep subjects while delivering an amazing, addictive story, definitely give My Brother's Enemy a shot! I really hope this is a part of an interconnected series!
Thank you Valentine PR and Tijan for an ARC of this book! I voluntarily read and gave an honest review.
November 20, 2025
#Review: My Brother's Enemy - Tijan - ARC [18+]
4.6/5✨
3/5🌶️
I haven't had the chance to read anything by Tijan until now and I was delighted by the story hidden behind the pages of this book. I must thank Tijan and Valentine Pr for accepting me for this e-ARC.🩵
Rain Connors was a sports psychologist consultant and one offer was about to change her life. Meanwhile, hockey player Taylor Griffin was also about to make a huge change in his career, for his sister and niece. There was an old, unknown connection between Rain and Taylor, one that wasn't that pretty and which generated pain. The long story short - they grew up in neighbouring towns and Taylor and Rain's brothers had a huge feud, one which was still continuing in the present days. They were also part of NHL world and when their paths crossed, things were always explosive.
Because of those new job changes in their lives, Rain and Taylor were about to be in each other's presence way often than they realised. But did Taylor knew who Rain was in fact? How will that close proximity play into their story?
Honestly, I wasn't prepared for that super complicated life story Rain had. It was so emotional and I don't really know what to think about everything, now that I have the whole picture of her life. I felt so, so sorry for her because of all the things she had to endure and all the struggles she had to face. On the other side, Taylor was the kind of protective guy who would do anything for the ones he loved. That was exactly why he uprooted his entire life, just to help his sister and niece, who really needed him. Slowly, he became protective of Rain as well, sensing that she was hiding something deeper when he looked into her pain-filled eyes. Those hidden secrets have definitely surprised me and they just kept on coming throughout this book. It was mind-blowing to learn everything about Rain and I just loved how Taylor reacted to everything in the end.
This was a hockey rivalry story, with no expiration date, that was so mesmerising to follow. I was fascinated by the characters' story, curious about what happened there to get to that present situation. This story was pretty emotional and had many triggering factors, which is why I recommend reading the list of triggers before diving into this book.
✨Tropes
#ForbiddenRomance
#HiddenSecrets
#TragicPast
#MentalHealth
#HockeyPlayer
#ReturningHome
#LoatheToLove
#SportsRomance
#ForcedProximity
4.6/5✨
3/5🌶️
I haven't had the chance to read anything by Tijan until now and I was delighted by the story hidden behind the pages of this book. I must thank Tijan and Valentine Pr for accepting me for this e-ARC.🩵
Rain Connors was a sports psychologist consultant and one offer was about to change her life. Meanwhile, hockey player Taylor Griffin was also about to make a huge change in his career, for his sister and niece. There was an old, unknown connection between Rain and Taylor, one that wasn't that pretty and which generated pain. The long story short - they grew up in neighbouring towns and Taylor and Rain's brothers had a huge feud, one which was still continuing in the present days. They were also part of NHL world and when their paths crossed, things were always explosive.
Because of those new job changes in their lives, Rain and Taylor were about to be in each other's presence way often than they realised. But did Taylor knew who Rain was in fact? How will that close proximity play into their story?
Honestly, I wasn't prepared for that super complicated life story Rain had. It was so emotional and I don't really know what to think about everything, now that I have the whole picture of her life. I felt so, so sorry for her because of all the things she had to endure and all the struggles she had to face. On the other side, Taylor was the kind of protective guy who would do anything for the ones he loved. That was exactly why he uprooted his entire life, just to help his sister and niece, who really needed him. Slowly, he became protective of Rain as well, sensing that she was hiding something deeper when he looked into her pain-filled eyes. Those hidden secrets have definitely surprised me and they just kept on coming throughout this book. It was mind-blowing to learn everything about Rain and I just loved how Taylor reacted to everything in the end.
This was a hockey rivalry story, with no expiration date, that was so mesmerising to follow. I was fascinated by the characters' story, curious about what happened there to get to that present situation. This story was pretty emotional and had many triggering factors, which is why I recommend reading the list of triggers before diving into this book.
✨Tropes
#ForbiddenRomance
#HiddenSecrets
#TragicPast
#MentalHealth
#HockeyPlayer
#ReturningHome
#LoatheToLove
#SportsRomance
#ForcedProximity
December 23, 2025
Wow, this one is definitely one for the books. I love getting to know Rain and Tyler. I wasn’t sure how things were going to go, but Tyler sure did show up for Rain. I love how fierce he was when it came to Rain. I loved seeing the family on the hockey team. I especially love Eric. He was a hoot and I loved his humor. He’s the friend that every girl needs. This one made me cry, laugh, and swoon. I loved every second of it.
The narrators, Andi Arndt, and Tor Thom did a wonderful job portraying their characters. The tones and inflections were spot on. I could really feel their emotions coming through clearly. They breathed life into their characters and I love their story so much due to the talented dual narration. This one is perfect for lovers of stand alone novels with complex characters, lots of family drama, rivalry, steamy scenes and hockey.
A very special thanks to Dreamscape Media + Netgalley for the gifted ALC.
The narrators, Andi Arndt, and Tor Thom did a wonderful job portraying their characters. The tones and inflections were spot on. I could really feel their emotions coming through clearly. They breathed life into their characters and I love their story so much due to the talented dual narration. This one is perfect for lovers of stand alone novels with complex characters, lots of family drama, rivalry, steamy scenes and hockey.
A very special thanks to Dreamscape Media + Netgalley for the gifted ALC.
December 23, 2025
I have been obsessed with Tijan’s books ever since her Fallen Crest series.
Her MMCs and FMCs are amazing! Her books always draws me in with how realistic they feel. They are always emotional , angsty, extremely steamy and suspenseful.
Her latest, My Brother’s enemy…I devoured it. It’s definitely one of my favourite books for the year 2025.
Tropes:
🏒 Alpha Hero protector
🏒 Hockey Romance
🏒 Touch Her and Die
🏒 Workplace Romance
🏒 Rival’s Sister
🏒 Mental Illness rep
🏒Emotional Healing
🏒 Tortured Heroine
Her MMCs and FMCs are amazing! Her books always draws me in with how realistic they feel. They are always emotional , angsty, extremely steamy and suspenseful.
Her latest, My Brother’s enemy…I devoured it. It’s definitely one of my favourite books for the year 2025.
Tropes:
🏒 Alpha Hero protector
🏒 Hockey Romance
🏒 Touch Her and Die
🏒 Workplace Romance
🏒 Rival’s Sister
🏒 Mental Illness rep
🏒Emotional Healing
🏒 Tortured Heroine
December 29, 2025
I'm usually a big fan of Tijan's books and have been for many years, but this one was just OK for me. Unfortunately, I wasn't particularly invested in the characters.
November 5, 2025
• 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 •
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5
Tijan does not disappoint, and I am a lucky girl. She must have a magic recipe to writing books I love, because she keeps doing it every time and puts the right amount of everything I would want, and not even know I needed, in there. I can't praise this book enough, it kept me up reading at night and has some twists I did not see coming. Now the emotional and psychological aspect of the book was heartbreakingly beautiful and even funny at times. The characters are believable and feel so realistic. I also loved how it all revolved around hockey as well. Could a girl ask for anything more? I just read the book and honestly, I want to read it again just to get to experience it again.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
A lot of my reviews are also available with photo at my Bookstagram: @justmyfantasyworld
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5
Tijan does not disappoint, and I am a lucky girl. She must have a magic recipe to writing books I love, because she keeps doing it every time and puts the right amount of everything I would want, and not even know I needed, in there. I can't praise this book enough, it kept me up reading at night and has some twists I did not see coming. Now the emotional and psychological aspect of the book was heartbreakingly beautiful and even funny at times. The characters are believable and feel so realistic. I also loved how it all revolved around hockey as well. Could a girl ask for anything more? I just read the book and honestly, I want to read it again just to get to experience it again.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
A lot of my reviews are also available with photo at my Bookstagram: @justmyfantasyworld
November 4, 2025
Hockey romance is propaganda I will always fall for.
Full of workplace romance, hockey found family, forbidden love, and family trauma, this book was a quick, fun read. I loved the different characters, especially the main character, Rain. These characters had depth to them which I haven’t encountered a lot in sports romance books. There was also such an interesting dynamic between the characters and their families which was quite well written. My only complaint is the I couldn’t feel the chemistry between the two main characters as much as I was hoping to. While I did feel a disconnect from that aspect of the story, I still had a fun time reading this book.
Thank you Valentine PR for the review copy!
Full of workplace romance, hockey found family, forbidden love, and family trauma, this book was a quick, fun read. I loved the different characters, especially the main character, Rain. These characters had depth to them which I haven’t encountered a lot in sports romance books. There was also such an interesting dynamic between the characters and their families which was quite well written. My only complaint is the I couldn’t feel the chemistry between the two main characters as much as I was hoping to. While I did feel a disconnect from that aspect of the story, I still had a fun time reading this book.
Thank you Valentine PR for the review copy!
December 15, 2025
Justo lo que buscaba algo fácil de leer.
January 15, 2026
Hockey rivalries, family drama, crazy chemistry, oh my! This was just what I needed. There was a lot going on, and I loved getting to know these characters. My heart broke for Rain and the neglect she suffered through as a child. No one ever told this girl they loved her 😭 Tyler is a loyal, possessive alpha, and I love how he showed up for his people. There was a complexity to them as individuals, and their relationship that I really enjoyed. And the hockey world in this book is so good! I love the character connections.
I am thankful I had the audio for this one! Andi Arndt and Tor Thom did a great job bringing these characters to life!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 ⇣
Hockey romance
Enemies to lovers
Emotional healing
Mental health rep
Possessive alpha hero
Tragic past
Secret hookups
Return to hometown
Workplace
Angst
Dual POV
Spice
Thank you Valentine PR and Tijan for the advanced copy!
I am thankful I had the audio for this one! Andi Arndt and Tor Thom did a great job bringing these characters to life!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 ⇣
Hockey romance
Enemies to lovers
Emotional healing
Mental health rep
Possessive alpha hero
Tragic past
Secret hookups
Return to hometown
Workplace
Angst
Dual POV
Spice
Thank you Valentine PR and Tijan for the advanced copy!
November 17, 2025
Woooooo! Finally another good Tijan book! 🙌🏼 I'd gone on a Tijan break after reading 3-4 disappointing books in a row, but this one was fantastic. I enjoyed seeing the ways Tijan has grown and adapted as an author while still maintaining her style. I feel like hockey/sports romance is really where this author excels. I think every sports related book and certainly every hockey related book she's written has been excellent. I love that she's started doing dual first PoV, having the H's pov really helps me feel his investment in the relationship beyond what the heroines perspective offers. Spice wise, this was some of the best spice from a Tijan book I've ever read. To be honest, I don't necessarily expect much from Tijan in the way of sex scenes, that's not why I read her books, but there were a few notably hot scenes in this one.
One thing that is signature Tijan, her heroines usually having some sort of neurodivergence or trauma related mental disorder, but a welcomed difference I noticed here was that this heroine is not the standard "pick me" "sHE's dIFfeREnT!" FMC, making her more mature and relatable, but no less exceptional. I like highly skilled heroines, so that particular character type has only mildly annoyed me in the past and was never a deal breaker for me, but I certainly appreciated the difference.
However, even though the heroine wasn't a pick-me or a Mary Sue exactly, her trauma was so....weirdly extreme, it defied belief. At the level of casual cruelty her brothers and father displayed it seems really improbable that they never physically or sexually abused her. Her father is so strangely and inexplicably extreme, ignoring her very existence, yet getting mad when she eats...then we find out he apparently has a good relationship with all his granddaughters, so apparently he's only cruel to Rain, but we never find out why. I get the author was trying to convey that it doesn't matter the reason, no child deserves to be treated like that, but still there was an odd lack of closure there that may have just been a narrative choice to give the realism that sometimes people are just assholes and you never get closure. I personally appreciate that closure in fiction specifically because we rarely get the opportunity in real life.I anticipated and enjoyed her reconciliation with her brother Dane, though it baffled me that Dane didn't cut his father off and let him be around his daughters when he knew how psychologically abusive he was to Rain.
The one other disappointment I felt was the way the H reacted to h finally opening up and telling him that she was the sister of the Conner brothers. If he'd found out from someone other than her or she was forced to tell him, his reaction would have been justified, but to immediately ghost her without even asking any questions, saying he needed time to think or ANYTHING after she was voluntarily honest with him showed terrible communication skills and a real lack of maturity on his part. I could have been okay with it after he calmed and thought about it rationally if he had come back, groveled and asked to hear what she had to say, but instead he comes back at her with angry hate sex and childish demands that is really more appropriate for one of Tijan's highschool H's, not a 32 year old man who has had to be responsible for his sister and niece most of her life. After all the cruelty and indifference she suffered, the h deserved better. Even after all this, she ended up having to chase after him before he turned it around and that was incredibly unsatisfying. Luckily, that's his last hoorah of immaturity and assholery in my opinion and he DOES become a great boyfriend and protector.
Overall, I was happy to find I enjoyed this book greatly. I hope Tijan leans into writing more hockey romances. I know the market is saturated with them right now, but so few of them do a good job incorporating hockey as the main focal point of the story and instead seem to stick it in as an after thought just to try to cash in on the hockey romance craze. Tijan not only did this, but added in little nuances about the NHL, like the US and Canadian anthem being played at a game between Minnesota and Montreal, and about hockey in general that demonstrated a solid understanding of the sport, which seems increasingly difficult to find these days.
One thing that is signature Tijan, her heroines usually having some sort of neurodivergence or trauma related mental disorder, but a welcomed difference I noticed here was that this heroine is not the standard "pick me" "sHE's dIFfeREnT!" FMC, making her more mature and relatable, but no less exceptional. I like highly skilled heroines, so that particular character type has only mildly annoyed me in the past and was never a deal breaker for me, but I certainly appreciated the difference.
However, even though the heroine wasn't a pick-me or a Mary Sue exactly, her trauma was so....weirdly extreme, it defied belief. At the level of casual cruelty her brothers and father displayed it seems really improbable that they never physically or sexually abused her. Her father is so strangely and inexplicably extreme, ignoring her very existence, yet getting mad when she eats...then we find out he apparently has a good relationship with all his granddaughters, so apparently he's only cruel to Rain, but we never find out why. I get the author was trying to convey that it doesn't matter the reason, no child deserves to be treated like that, but still there was an odd lack of closure there that may have just been a narrative choice to give the realism that sometimes people are just assholes and you never get closure. I personally appreciate that closure in fiction specifically because we rarely get the opportunity in real life.I anticipated and enjoyed her reconciliation with her brother Dane, though it baffled me that Dane didn't cut his father off and let him be around his daughters when he knew how psychologically abusive he was to Rain.
The one other disappointment I felt was the way the H reacted to h finally opening up and telling him that she was the sister of the Conner brothers. If he'd found out from someone other than her or she was forced to tell him, his reaction would have been justified, but to immediately ghost her without even asking any questions, saying he needed time to think or ANYTHING after she was voluntarily honest with him showed terrible communication skills and a real lack of maturity on his part. I could have been okay with it after he calmed and thought about it rationally if he had come back, groveled and asked to hear what she had to say, but instead he comes back at her with angry hate sex and childish demands that is really more appropriate for one of Tijan's highschool H's, not a 32 year old man who has had to be responsible for his sister and niece most of her life. After all the cruelty and indifference she suffered, the h deserved better. Even after all this, she ended up having to chase after him before he turned it around and that was incredibly unsatisfying. Luckily, that's his last hoorah of immaturity and assholery in my opinion and he DOES become a great boyfriend and protector.
Overall, I was happy to find I enjoyed this book greatly. I hope Tijan leans into writing more hockey romances. I know the market is saturated with them right now, but so few of them do a good job incorporating hockey as the main focal point of the story and instead seem to stick it in as an after thought just to try to cash in on the hockey romance craze. Tijan not only did this, but added in little nuances about the NHL, like the US and Canadian anthem being played at a game between Minnesota and Montreal, and about hockey in general that demonstrated a solid understanding of the sport, which seems increasingly difficult to find these days.
November 16, 2025
My Brother’s Enemy is a standalone hockey romance from Tijan. It is an angsty tale about
Dylan Rain Connors, a sports psychologist and NHL player Tyler ‘Griff’ Griffin. A forbidden love in many aspects, plus family drama and trauma, workplace issues, secrets to be revealed and surprises along the way. This couple will pull at your heartstrings as they try to put the past behind them and have the relationship they both ultimately want. The author tackles some tough themes and shows how someones mental health can impact their daily life. You will go through a rollercoaster of emotions as the story unfolds and I found myself laughing and then crying at many scenes.
Rain has been working as a consultant helping professional players and their teams in the NFL. Then she gets a call offering her a job working with an NHL team back in her hometown. The Grays are a newer team who should be winning games so need her help. She decides it’s too good an opportunity to turn down, although she knows it will dredge up memories from her past. Her childhood was horrendous so she is estranged from her family, however, her two brothers both play in the NHL so she demands no-one can know her connection to them.
Tyler is one of the top NHL players and has been with his team since he was drafted. He has been looking after his twin sister Skylar and his niece Zoey since he was eighteen so his family mean everything to him and he’s very protective of them. An unexpected phone call changes everything and he makes a sudden and unprecedented move to become a Gray Wolf player.
Finding out Tyler has also returned home and is now a Gray player is another complication for Rain because the high school rivalry and hatred between him and her brothers has carried over into the NHL. He falls for her at first sight. He is cocky and always get what he wants and he wants her. He realises it’s getting more than a crazy connection and his feelings are actually real.
She thinks Tyler is gorgeous but finds it hard to accept his affection even though he makes her feel wanted. She’s a loner and has built up high walls around herself due to the damage done by her family. A relationship with a player is unprofessional and If they are found out her career is in ruins but the temptation for both becomes too much.
What will Tyler do when he finds out who she really is. She is meant to be his enemy but now he loves her. What will happen when the Grays play her brother’s teams. What will the couple sacrifice for their relationship. Can they move past everything and be together?
There are some great side characters who bring so much to the story. Many have secrets which
provide some good twists when revealed, some are understanding and supportive, and others are so funny. I loved how she finds a family with the team and with new friends who won’t let her hide away anymore. Follow Rain and Tyler as they overcome all the trauma and obstacles in their way.
Her heart breaking childhood, his love for his family and the camaraderie of the team makes this an enthralling read.
Dylan Rain Connors, a sports psychologist and NHL player Tyler ‘Griff’ Griffin. A forbidden love in many aspects, plus family drama and trauma, workplace issues, secrets to be revealed and surprises along the way. This couple will pull at your heartstrings as they try to put the past behind them and have the relationship they both ultimately want. The author tackles some tough themes and shows how someones mental health can impact their daily life. You will go through a rollercoaster of emotions as the story unfolds and I found myself laughing and then crying at many scenes.
Rain has been working as a consultant helping professional players and their teams in the NFL. Then she gets a call offering her a job working with an NHL team back in her hometown. The Grays are a newer team who should be winning games so need her help. She decides it’s too good an opportunity to turn down, although she knows it will dredge up memories from her past. Her childhood was horrendous so she is estranged from her family, however, her two brothers both play in the NHL so she demands no-one can know her connection to them.
Tyler is one of the top NHL players and has been with his team since he was drafted. He has been looking after his twin sister Skylar and his niece Zoey since he was eighteen so his family mean everything to him and he’s very protective of them. An unexpected phone call changes everything and he makes a sudden and unprecedented move to become a Gray Wolf player.
Finding out Tyler has also returned home and is now a Gray player is another complication for Rain because the high school rivalry and hatred between him and her brothers has carried over into the NHL. He falls for her at first sight. He is cocky and always get what he wants and he wants her. He realises it’s getting more than a crazy connection and his feelings are actually real.
She thinks Tyler is gorgeous but finds it hard to accept his affection even though he makes her feel wanted. She’s a loner and has built up high walls around herself due to the damage done by her family. A relationship with a player is unprofessional and If they are found out her career is in ruins but the temptation for both becomes too much.
What will Tyler do when he finds out who she really is. She is meant to be his enemy but now he loves her. What will happen when the Grays play her brother’s teams. What will the couple sacrifice for their relationship. Can they move past everything and be together?
There are some great side characters who bring so much to the story. Many have secrets which
provide some good twists when revealed, some are understanding and supportive, and others are so funny. I loved how she finds a family with the team and with new friends who won’t let her hide away anymore. Follow Rain and Tyler as they overcome all the trauma and obstacles in their way.
Her heart breaking childhood, his love for his family and the camaraderie of the team makes this an enthralling read.
December 26, 2025
2.75
I love hockey romance and I love the tropes this book came with. Which is why I tried to stick with it even after I noticed how much I struggled with the dynamic between the characters.
Ultimately, I did not finish it as I think it might have turned me towards an aversion that would’ve left me with an unfair rating out of anger.
PLOT
While some plot choices eluded me, I did like the overall set up and choice of conflicts.
I feel like there is more to the situation with her brothers that might come up later in the book and I found this tension intriguing. The history of pining also helped build padding for what was a promising plot.
I think my major issues lay with the characters.
CHARACTERS
The MMC was just plain toxic in my opinion. And I am, amongst other things, an avid dark romance reader. I do love my men - across genres - with red flags. But this was the shade of red I personally do not enjoy.
To me, he was lacking the traits and behavioural patterns that justify the fictional toxicity and make it desirable. This turned the read into one focused on spice only and at the cost of any believable romance arc. And while this doesn’t have to be a bad thing, I don't think it was the intention of the book.
The FMC was supposed to be a psychologist yet ended up acting against her values and principles without hesitation to a point where it collided so much with her introspective self perception that I was confused as to how much of this was her character arc and development and how much was just inconsistency for the sake of conflict and plot.
WRITING
I liked the writing style and the narration was done very well - unsurprisingly, as Andi Arndt and Tor Thom are both great narrators in my opinion. Their performances also helped connect to the characters at least a bit.
---
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and Tijan for an ALC of this book.
I love hockey romance and I love the tropes this book came with. Which is why I tried to stick with it even after I noticed how much I struggled with the dynamic between the characters.
Ultimately, I did not finish it as I think it might have turned me towards an aversion that would’ve left me with an unfair rating out of anger.
PLOT
While some plot choices eluded me, I did like the overall set up and choice of conflicts.
I feel like there is more to the situation with her brothers that might come up later in the book and I found this tension intriguing. The history of pining also helped build padding for what was a promising plot.
I think my major issues lay with the characters.
CHARACTERS
The MMC was just plain toxic in my opinion. And I am, amongst other things, an avid dark romance reader. I do love my men - across genres - with red flags. But this was the shade of red I personally do not enjoy.
To me, he was lacking the traits and behavioural patterns that justify the fictional toxicity and make it desirable. This turned the read into one focused on spice only and at the cost of any believable romance arc. And while this doesn’t have to be a bad thing, I don't think it was the intention of the book.
The FMC was supposed to be a psychologist yet ended up acting against her values and principles without hesitation to a point where it collided so much with her introspective self perception that I was confused as to how much of this was her character arc and development and how much was just inconsistency for the sake of conflict and plot.
WRITING
I liked the writing style and the narration was done very well - unsurprisingly, as Andi Arndt and Tor Thom are both great narrators in my opinion. Their performances also helped connect to the characters at least a bit.
---
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and Tijan for an ALC of this book.
November 20, 2025
After a long, long, too long time actually, I read a book written by Tijan, otherwise one of my favorite authors.
My Brother's Enemy is such a wonderful book.
Hockey players with a soul and a broken girl from those who should protect her.
Rain grew up invisible, verbally and psychologically destroyed, and now carries those wounds with her.
Tyler struggles with his problems that cause him to change club, city, and life.
Their lives meet when she comes to work at his new club as a sports psychologist consultant.
Even though they know they shouldn't, they get into a relationship. They support each other in everything life throws their way.
When the truth that was hidden is found out, Tyler reacts too judgmentally towards Rain, which she doesn't deserve, but their connection still wins in the end.
Wonderful and sad, with a touch of humor, this book talks about a topic that is rarely heard about—the lost child syndrome.
I had teary eyes and a tight heart halfway through the book.
“𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆—𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈’𝒔 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒈𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒖𝒑. 𝑰 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰’𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒍𝒚.”
I like all the characters, except for three of them, who I would rather strangle with my bare hands.
If you're looking for found family, hockey, forbidden romance, where the characters carry their traumas but heal together, this is the book for you.
Be sure to look for trigger warnings.
------
I did receive an ARC for my honest review.
Thanks to Tijan & Valentine PR.
.
My Brother's Enemy is such a wonderful book.
Hockey players with a soul and a broken girl from those who should protect her.
Rain grew up invisible, verbally and psychologically destroyed, and now carries those wounds with her.
Tyler struggles with his problems that cause him to change club, city, and life.
Their lives meet when she comes to work at his new club as a sports psychologist consultant.
Even though they know they shouldn't, they get into a relationship. They support each other in everything life throws their way.
When the truth that was hidden is found out, Tyler reacts too judgmentally towards Rain, which she doesn't deserve, but their connection still wins in the end.
Wonderful and sad, with a touch of humor, this book talks about a topic that is rarely heard about—the lost child syndrome.
I had teary eyes and a tight heart halfway through the book.
“𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆—𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈’𝒔 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒈𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒖𝒑. 𝑰 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰’𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒍𝒚.”
I like all the characters, except for three of them, who I would rather strangle with my bare hands.
If you're looking for found family, hockey, forbidden romance, where the characters carry their traumas but heal together, this is the book for you.
Be sure to look for trigger warnings.
------
I did receive an ARC for my honest review.
Thanks to Tijan & Valentine PR.
.
November 15, 2025
Another one completely worth it…
I loved this one, and honestly the only reason it got a star off was due to editing issues. I realize I’m being a bit unfair but it’s my rating system and I’m sticking to it…
Anyway, San Diego used to have the Gulls hockey team, and since I worked at the arena, I always got in for free. I fell in love with hockey way back then, over fifty years ago, and I still love the game. Yes I’m old…
SPOILER
The romance part was slightly marred by none of these people articulating that the father didn’t like her because SHE WASN’T HIS! And he passed that dislike down to his sons. Good grief, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to get this.
END SPOILERS
So there are also a couple of unfinished things, in my opinion. The older brother, Daniel, clearly has personal issues if he can’t even remain faithful to his wife. Plus there are also alcohol problems probably. Nothing about him as the years have passed. And Rain should have been in lots of therapy for her mental health, but I don’t think that’s mentioned either. Then the issue with the father, and then meeting the bio dad, wasn’t described much at all. And what about Skylar and her daughter?
My problem is that I really liked these characters and I needed to know more…
Highly recommended, and I loved this story. I’d like to see more with this family.
I loved this one, and honestly the only reason it got a star off was due to editing issues. I realize I’m being a bit unfair but it’s my rating system and I’m sticking to it…
Anyway, San Diego used to have the Gulls hockey team, and since I worked at the arena, I always got in for free. I fell in love with hockey way back then, over fifty years ago, and I still love the game. Yes I’m old…
SPOILER
The romance part was slightly marred by none of these people articulating that the father didn’t like her because SHE WASN’T HIS! And he passed that dislike down to his sons. Good grief, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to get this.
END SPOILERS
So there are also a couple of unfinished things, in my opinion. The older brother, Daniel, clearly has personal issues if he can’t even remain faithful to his wife. Plus there are also alcohol problems probably. Nothing about him as the years have passed. And Rain should have been in lots of therapy for her mental health, but I don’t think that’s mentioned either. Then the issue with the father, and then meeting the bio dad, wasn’t described much at all. And what about Skylar and her daughter?
My problem is that I really liked these characters and I needed to know more…
Highly recommended, and I loved this story. I’d like to see more with this family.
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