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Boston Bandits #1
Sweep Stake
KAELI REED
Kaeli Reed –type A creative genius – has spent her entire life being eclipsed by her older brother’s shadow in more ways than one. Landing the new job as social media manager for the Boston Bandits is her chance to finally step into the spotlight and devote herself to her career. It’s all smooth skating from there until an angry, heated kiss with her broody yet oddly caring enemy, Ezra Moore – the team’s captain– leads to a relationship they can’t air.
EZRA MOORE
Burned once before by love, Ezra has no intention to stake his heart again. Yet, he finds himself oddly pulled into the constant banter with the woman he claims to hate and the one he can’t have. One night with Kaeli shatters his defenses, and when it comes to her, there’s no playbook – only instincts.
When a mistake threatens to expose their clandestine romance, Kaeli must choose between guarding the future she’s fought tooth and nail for or risking it all for the one man she was never supposed to want – the man who could unravel her career.
All while battling a danger from her past that’s lurking in the dark, waiting to strike.
Kaeli Reed –type A creative genius – has spent her entire life being eclipsed by her older brother’s shadow in more ways than one. Landing the new job as social media manager for the Boston Bandits is her chance to finally step into the spotlight and devote herself to her career. It’s all smooth skating from there until an angry, heated kiss with her broody yet oddly caring enemy, Ezra Moore – the team’s captain– leads to a relationship they can’t air.
EZRA MOORE
Burned once before by love, Ezra has no intention to stake his heart again. Yet, he finds himself oddly pulled into the constant banter with the woman he claims to hate and the one he can’t have. One night with Kaeli shatters his defenses, and when it comes to her, there’s no playbook – only instincts.
When a mistake threatens to expose their clandestine romance, Kaeli must choose between guarding the future she’s fought tooth and nail for or risking it all for the one man she was never supposed to want – the man who could unravel her career.
All while battling a danger from her past that’s lurking in the dark, waiting to strike.
501 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 26, 2026
27 people are currently reading
321 people want to read
About the author
Myra Bloom
4 books32 followersAfter getting her degree in Economics Honors, Myra Bloom was compelled to write about women who make hard choices to advance in their careers and find a home in the love that understands and uplifts them.
Her books will always be sweet, swoony, and spicy with hints of thriller, and will take you into an immersive world and have you on the edge of your seat with every page you turn.
When she’s not seated in front of her screen, drafting yet another unforeseen twist, she can be found talking her family’s ears off with stories that are yet to see the light of day, watching kdramas like her life depends on it, and diving into the ever-growing list of TBR.
Find her on IG and Threads: @authormyrabloom
Her books will always be sweet, swoony, and spicy with hints of thriller, and will take you into an immersive world and have you on the edge of your seat with every page you turn.
When she’s not seated in front of her screen, drafting yet another unforeseen twist, she can be found talking her family’s ears off with stories that are yet to see the light of day, watching kdramas like her life depends on it, and diving into the ever-growing list of TBR.
Find her on IG and Threads: @authormyrabloom
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
January 23, 2026
Thank you to the author and Luna Literary for an ARC to read and review! I overall enjoyed my time reading this book and would read from this author again!
I wanted to DNF it for so long. At around 60% I actually wanted to turn the page.
I didn’t know there would be a “thriller” twist and it felt pretty random. The “twist” doesn’t add anything to the story and most of that wasn’t even sprinkled in throughout the story so it was super out of left field. But it had me turning the pages quickly!
LOTS of spice. Like, majority of the characters interacting in the first 60% was spice. I wish we got to know more about the characters outside of that, but I guess if it’s strictly hookup then that’s not their story.
Both characters are hurt from past relationships and it shows. I do like how this side of things was given care and explored between the characters. They really learned to trust and open up to each other over time. I wanted more of this type of connection.
I felt really compelled to finish the book due to this being the authors first book and being accepted for an ARC, and I'm glad I did. I will definitely read from this author again.
I just hope it’s a page-turner sooner than later. All the good bits were toward the end and I nearly didn’t even get there.
I wanted to DNF it for so long. At around 60% I actually wanted to turn the page.
I didn’t know there would be a “thriller” twist and it felt pretty random. The “twist” doesn’t add anything to the story and most of that wasn’t even sprinkled in throughout the story so it was super out of left field. But it had me turning the pages quickly!
LOTS of spice. Like, majority of the characters interacting in the first 60% was spice. I wish we got to know more about the characters outside of that, but I guess if it’s strictly hookup then that’s not their story.
Both characters are hurt from past relationships and it shows. I do like how this side of things was given care and explored between the characters. They really learned to trust and open up to each other over time. I wanted more of this type of connection.
I felt really compelled to finish the book due to this being the authors first book and being accepted for an ARC, and I'm glad I did. I will definitely read from this author again.
I just hope it’s a page-turner sooner than later. All the good bits were toward the end and I nearly didn’t even get there.
February 10, 2026
I want to note that this is a debut book, and with that, there is a lot of potential. There was so much good in this book, and I really enjoyed the romance side of this. Ezra was a little much with his overly violent tendencies, but I really enjoyed Kaeli, and I enjoyed the overall plot.
However, the ending really didn’t do it for me. Maybe if it had felt more present in the plot the whole time, but it was the one time in the arena, and then nothing, and then everything. Almost felt like a plot hole that needed to be filled so we just threw an ending in the book.
However, if you enjoy hockey romances with a side of mystery, and an easy read, this book is definitely for you
However, the ending really didn’t do it for me. Maybe if it had felt more present in the plot the whole time, but it was the one time in the arena, and then nothing, and then everything. Almost felt like a plot hole that needed to be filled so we just threw an ending in the book.
However, if you enjoy hockey romances with a side of mystery, and an easy read, this book is definitely for you
January 27, 2026
Sweep Stake is Myra Bloom’s debut novel, and in a lot of ways, you can tell. That’s not really a read (pun intended), just an honest heads-up going in. There’s clear potential here, even if the execution doesn’t always land.
The book's beginning was genuinely fun and engaging. Bloom does a great job setting up those familiar moments of physical longing and mental confusion that work so well in contemporary romance. Scenes like the field day and their time shooting content on the ice had me locked in, and I was also intrigued by the subtle allusion to something possibly going on between Ezra’s best friend and his sister. I’m already sat for that storyline.
Unfortunately, though, the back half of the book is where things began to unravel for me. Especially once the couple becomes romantically involved. At that point, the story started to take on a bit of a vertical movie vibe. In many modern enemies-to-lovers romances, the trope has shifted toward a very physical-first dynamic. I'm not the biggest proponent of that shift. But as long as the plot is still kicking, fair play to the author. Here, though, the imbalance between intimacy and plot became hard to ignore. Once the romance turned physical, the actual storyline largely fell by the wayside.
Several key elements felt underdeveloped, including Kaeli’s family, Jodi’s storyline, the reveal of Kaeli’s trauma. All the events leading up to the climax of the story. Rather than feeling earned, these moments came across as thrown in to create the illusion of a dramatic twist. While the big moment could have been impactful, it ultimately fell flat and failed to deliver the emotional payoff the story had been building toward.
That said, I do think there’s potential in Bloom’s writing. The strong opening shows she knows how to hook a reader, and I’m hopeful that as the series continues, the storytelling will become more balanced and fully realized. I’m especially curious about what’s coming next, particularly if book two focuses on Noah and Andie, hehe.
Because of the strong start but rocky execution near the end, I’m landing at a 2.75-star rating (rounded to 3 stars here since Goodreads won't do middle rating). But! This comes with the hope that future Boston Bandits books will continue to improve.
(Also, just to note... Goodreads has this book at 500 pages, but it's only 342... not sure what that's about but anyway).
The book's beginning was genuinely fun and engaging. Bloom does a great job setting up those familiar moments of physical longing and mental confusion that work so well in contemporary romance. Scenes like the field day and their time shooting content on the ice had me locked in, and I was also intrigued by the subtle allusion to something possibly going on between Ezra’s best friend and his sister. I’m already sat for that storyline.
Unfortunately, though, the back half of the book is where things began to unravel for me. Especially once the couple becomes romantically involved. At that point, the story started to take on a bit of a vertical movie vibe. In many modern enemies-to-lovers romances, the trope has shifted toward a very physical-first dynamic. I'm not the biggest proponent of that shift. But as long as the plot is still kicking, fair play to the author. Here, though, the imbalance between intimacy and plot became hard to ignore. Once the romance turned physical, the actual storyline largely fell by the wayside.
Several key elements felt underdeveloped, including Kaeli’s family, Jodi’s storyline, the reveal of Kaeli’s trauma. All the events leading up to the climax of the story. Rather than feeling earned, these moments came across as thrown in to create the illusion of a dramatic twist. While the big moment could have been impactful, it ultimately fell flat and failed to deliver the emotional payoff the story had been building toward.
That said, I do think there’s potential in Bloom’s writing. The strong opening shows she knows how to hook a reader, and I’m hopeful that as the series continues, the storytelling will become more balanced and fully realized. I’m especially curious about what’s coming next, particularly if book two focuses on Noah and Andie, hehe.
Because of the strong start but rocky execution near the end, I’m landing at a 2.75-star rating (rounded to 3 stars here since Goodreads won't do middle rating). But! This comes with the hope that future Boston Bandits books will continue to improve.
(Also, just to note... Goodreads has this book at 500 pages, but it's only 342... not sure what that's about but anyway).
January 28, 2026
*I received a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
I have read a lot of hockey romance and unfortunately this ranks as one of the worst of them. The sex scenes are poorly written, and there is a concerning lack of consent. For example, on more than one occasion Ezra slaps Kaeli 'on the pussy', but at no point have they discussed limits or a safe word beforehand. At another point Kaeli says "it hurts", and instead of checking in with her Ezra says "It'll be okay in a few seconds" and just carries on doing what he was doing. The language used is also questionable, with examples such as "drown me in your cum".
The dynamic is meant to be enemies to lovers, but really it is just two people denying they are attracted to each other and constantly insulting each other, often in very hurtful ways.
The writing is repetitive, and the use of an additional, italicised, sentence at the end of every chapter is extremely irritating.
It is never really explained why Kaeli doesn't tell anyone who her brother is, and the way that Ezra over-reacts to the way her parents treat her, after witnessing said behaviour for about 10 minues, is ridiculously over the top and very controlling.
I get that the author is trying to show that both main characters have background trauma that makes it hard for them to trust people, and particularly romantic partners, but I just don't feel that their back stories are fleshed out enough for their behaviour towards each other to be justified.
All in all, this was a very disappointing book to read, and had it not been an ARC I would have DNF at about 30% in.
I have read a lot of hockey romance and unfortunately this ranks as one of the worst of them. The sex scenes are poorly written, and there is a concerning lack of consent. For example, on more than one occasion Ezra slaps Kaeli 'on the pussy', but at no point have they discussed limits or a safe word beforehand. At another point Kaeli says "it hurts", and instead of checking in with her Ezra says "It'll be okay in a few seconds" and just carries on doing what he was doing. The language used is also questionable, with examples such as "drown me in your cum".
The dynamic is meant to be enemies to lovers, but really it is just two people denying they are attracted to each other and constantly insulting each other, often in very hurtful ways.
The writing is repetitive, and the use of an additional, italicised, sentence at the end of every chapter is extremely irritating.
It is never really explained why Kaeli doesn't tell anyone who her brother is, and the way that Ezra over-reacts to the way her parents treat her, after witnessing said behaviour for about 10 minues, is ridiculously over the top and very controlling.
I get that the author is trying to show that both main characters have background trauma that makes it hard for them to trust people, and particularly romantic partners, but I just don't feel that their back stories are fleshed out enough for their behaviour towards each other to be justified.
All in all, this was a very disappointing book to read, and had it not been an ARC I would have DNF at about 30% in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2026
I love a good enemies-to-lovers workplace romance and with this debut novel also being a hockey romance, I knew I would love it and I did! Kaeli and Ezra were off to a rocky start from the day of her interview with the Boston Bandits hockey team but soon it becomes apparent that Ezra does not dislike Kaeli at all but that he is attracted to her and enjoys being around her even with their banter. I enjoyed reading about Kaeli working for a professional hockey team and even with the struggles and pressure she experiences, she shines at her job and the team and her boss admire her for it. I appreciated how steamy this book is and how Ezra would do anything for Kaeli even when it comes to her family. I also enjoyed the little bit of suspense. Thank you to author Myra Bloom and Luna Literary Management for the opportunity to read this early!
March 3, 2026
Sweep Stake is a sports romance with a little suspense. This is Kaeli and Ezra’s story that is filled with enemies to lovers and unexpected feelings. I love the tension in the beginning and how they couldn’t stand each other due to a past mishap, but it was only one sided and the other was just jealously. I love Ezra’s sweet and protective side, but also Kaeli’s strong and independent side. I also love how close they got when they had to work together and finally got forgave each other for the past. Their story gave me all the feels and that twist in the end really pushed them to open up. I really enjoyed their story and can’t wait to read more.
I voluntarily leave an honest review of this gifted advance reader copy.
I voluntarily leave an honest review of this gifted advance reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ok, so respectfully...here comes my (brutally) honest opinion. This book is a 2/2,5 ⭐️ for me.
*might contain a spoiler*
After finishing I can conclude that this book just isn't my jam. I would never want to hurt or discourage an author, especially with their debut, but this book is rough. I'm very sorry towards the author about this review, but I truly mean what comes next respectfully and as honest feedback.
So overal the storyline is pretty good, enemies to lovers, forbidden romance and slowburning but it's not very original. As mentioned by others, there are some awkward sentences, but nothing truly hindering my reading that way. But the first time author situation shows.
The whole enemies to lovers is not really working, they are truly nasty to each other in more than 1 occasion. And when they start to turn around, everything is just physical and about s*x.
The MMC sucks. He is a big contradiction of walking red flags (quick to anger, dom and wanting to fix everything with his fists) and schoolboy (coming in his pants while dryhumping (no problem there) but then claiming that was the most sensual experience ever after having years of Puck bunnies... yeah not so believable). I'm sorry but also her constantly calling him a narcissist, as if it is a selling point. Girl NO!
The FMC is no better. Claiming to not be a sub at every chance but then running at his every beck and call. Wanting to be a strong, independent girl boss, but not doing anything when it comes to your parents situation, not filing an abuse /stalking to the police? Not standing up for yourself in many occasions, it just doesn't add up.
It was hard for me to connect with either of the MC'S, while there were a few scenes that I did truly like. The storyline felt a little blurred at places, the plot was very predictable and I honestly thing the last (abduction) part doesn't add anything to the story.
I truly think this story might have felt different if it were a paranormal story like a werewolf shifter. Then I would have expected most of the red flags and be more okay with them I guess.
I still very much want to thank the author for this ARC and hope you continue on to refine and improve your writing. The base is there, so never give up on your dreams!✌️
*might contain a spoiler*
After finishing I can conclude that this book just isn't my jam. I would never want to hurt or discourage an author, especially with their debut, but this book is rough. I'm very sorry towards the author about this review, but I truly mean what comes next respectfully and as honest feedback.
So overal the storyline is pretty good, enemies to lovers, forbidden romance and slowburning but it's not very original. As mentioned by others, there are some awkward sentences, but nothing truly hindering my reading that way. But the first time author situation shows.
The whole enemies to lovers is not really working, they are truly nasty to each other in more than 1 occasion. And when they start to turn around, everything is just physical and about s*x.
The MMC sucks. He is a big contradiction of walking red flags (quick to anger, dom and wanting to fix everything with his fists) and schoolboy (coming in his pants while dryhumping (no problem there) but then claiming that was the most sensual experience ever after having years of Puck bunnies... yeah not so believable). I'm sorry but also her constantly calling him a narcissist, as if it is a selling point. Girl NO!
The FMC is no better. Claiming to not be a sub at every chance but then running at his every beck and call. Wanting to be a strong, independent girl boss, but not doing anything when it comes to your parents situation, not filing an abuse /stalking to the police? Not standing up for yourself in many occasions, it just doesn't add up.
It was hard for me to connect with either of the MC'S, while there were a few scenes that I did truly like. The storyline felt a little blurred at places, the plot was very predictable and I honestly thing the last (abduction) part doesn't add anything to the story.
I truly think this story might have felt different if it were a paranormal story like a werewolf shifter. Then I would have expected most of the red flags and be more okay with them I guess.
I still very much want to thank the author for this ARC and hope you continue on to refine and improve your writing. The base is there, so never give up on your dreams!✌️
January 13, 2026
ARC REVIEW
Sweep Stake is a hockey player x social media manager romance that follows Ezra & Kaeli, and it has a ‘fuck it moment’!!!! If you know me, this’ll get me every damn time & this was no exception.
ok so THE TENSION WAS TENSIONING in the best way possible all throughout this book. I truely believed for the first 30% of this book that Ezra & Kaeli HATED each other -> & so seeing them grow together was so sweet
Ezra definitely stole the show with his humour , “What even is that funny? His existence?” dead. laughing out loud , dead.
The pacing throughout was really good, but lost me a bit during the end. I did not see the plot twist like holy shit but in saying that some of it felt like an extreme jump from the initial plot point & made the pacing go from smooth to sort of disjointed.
Thankyou to Myra & her team for the ARC !
Sweep Stake is a hockey player x social media manager romance that follows Ezra & Kaeli, and it has a ‘fuck it moment’!!!! If you know me, this’ll get me every damn time & this was no exception.
ok so THE TENSION WAS TENSIONING in the best way possible all throughout this book. I truely believed for the first 30% of this book that Ezra & Kaeli HATED each other -> & so seeing them grow together was so sweet
Ezra definitely stole the show with his humour , “What even is that funny? His existence?” dead. laughing out loud , dead.
The pacing throughout was really good, but lost me a bit during the end. I did not see the plot twist like holy shit but in saying that some of it felt like an extreme jump from the initial plot point & made the pacing go from smooth to sort of disjointed.
Thankyou to Myra & her team for the ARC !
February 8, 2026
I should have DNFed the book
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of the book and spoilers ahead!
There was so much potential with the plot (enemies to lovers, secret romance) and the book fell so flat. The plot seemed rushed and all over the place. Kaeli and Ezra are very hot and cold with each other even I was getting mixed signals if they liked each other. There were a few cute, wholesome moments like Ezra talking with Ruby or Ezra teaching Kaeli how to ice skate, but those were completely overshadowed and ruined because Ezra and Kaeli decided to be snarky with each other and then they would be back to hating each other. I also found their first kiss to be underwhelming because there was no tension or build up. It was also confusing to me as a reader when the author suddenly decided to recap certain events from each other's perspective.
There are hints in the beginning of the book that Kaeli experienced something traumatic, but it isn't until page 240 that we learn she's being stalked by her former boss because he wants revenge. In two chapters, she's kidnapped, rescued, and we find out who his accomplice was. The kidnapping plot line came out of the blue and felt abrupt. If the author wanted to include it, I think she should have incorporated more moments throughout the book so there would be a buildup. Having Kaeli rescued in one chapter because Ezra could track her phone felt unrealistic. Also, the fact that the kidnappers didn't bother to check to see if Kaeli had her phone on her felt sloppy. Anyone who has watched a cop drama knows to get rid of anything that could lead to a trace.
I also found some of the word choice to be cringe and annoying. For example, why is the author using the word "unalive"? It's your own book, you can say murdered. The author also used the phrase "God!" (yes with the exclamation mark too) far too many times. I really should kept a tally, but I think it was more than 10 times. Also, why did the author feel the need to use the phrase "lady balls". The word choices not only date the book, but also come off as immature.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of the book and spoilers ahead!
There was so much potential with the plot (enemies to lovers, secret romance) and the book fell so flat. The plot seemed rushed and all over the place. Kaeli and Ezra are very hot and cold with each other even I was getting mixed signals if they liked each other. There were a few cute, wholesome moments like Ezra talking with Ruby or Ezra teaching Kaeli how to ice skate, but those were completely overshadowed and ruined because Ezra and Kaeli decided to be snarky with each other and then they would be back to hating each other. I also found their first kiss to be underwhelming because there was no tension or build up. It was also confusing to me as a reader when the author suddenly decided to recap certain events from each other's perspective.
There are hints in the beginning of the book that Kaeli experienced something traumatic, but it isn't until page 240 that we learn she's being stalked by her former boss because he wants revenge. In two chapters, she's kidnapped, rescued, and we find out who his accomplice was. The kidnapping plot line came out of the blue and felt abrupt. If the author wanted to include it, I think she should have incorporated more moments throughout the book so there would be a buildup. Having Kaeli rescued in one chapter because Ezra could track her phone felt unrealistic. Also, the fact that the kidnappers didn't bother to check to see if Kaeli had her phone on her felt sloppy. Anyone who has watched a cop drama knows to get rid of anything that could lead to a trace.
I also found some of the word choice to be cringe and annoying. For example, why is the author using the word "unalive"? It's your own book, you can say murdered. The author also used the phrase "God!" (yes with the exclamation mark too) far too many times. I really should kept a tally, but I think it was more than 10 times. Also, why did the author feel the need to use the phrase "lady balls". The word choices not only date the book, but also come off as immature.
January 26, 2026
⋆₊ 𐙚:ARC REVIEW📖🫶🏻
Kaeli made me wanna be a social media manager fr, she's a very inspiring woman who's working in a male-dominated field. I REALLY LOVE KAELI THAN THE MMC tbh😭🤏🏻 I LOVEE LOVED THE BOOK SM!!🫶🏻 When I got the arc, I was over the moon!! I LOVEE RECEIVING ARCS 😭✌🏻I just finished Sweep Stake by Myra Bloom, and I am literally SO happy help. 😭 wait so i was so convinced that they actually despised each other from the beginning but it turned out " i absolutely can't cross our professional relationship" kind of hate plus forbidden romance trope mixed with some high-stakes tension, if you love those tropes; you need to add this to your TBR right now. 📖✨
TYSM FOR @lunaliterary.management &
@authormyrabloom for the ARC !!!💌
Kaeli made me wanna be a social media manager fr, she's a very inspiring woman who's working in a male-dominated field. I REALLY LOVE KAELI THAN THE MMC tbh😭🤏🏻 I LOVEE LOVED THE BOOK SM!!🫶🏻 When I got the arc, I was over the moon!! I LOVEE RECEIVING ARCS 😭✌🏻I just finished Sweep Stake by Myra Bloom, and I am literally SO happy help. 😭 wait so i was so convinced that they actually despised each other from the beginning but it turned out " i absolutely can't cross our professional relationship" kind of hate plus forbidden romance trope mixed with some high-stakes tension, if you love those tropes; you need to add this to your TBR right now. 📖✨
TYSM FOR @lunaliterary.management &
@authormyrabloom for the ARC !!!💌
January 17, 2026
***Potential Spoilers Ahead***
I got this book as an ARC reader. This is this author’s debut novel. And it shows. The writing is a little rough and there are pretty odd phrases that I’m wondering if they are a dialogue issue. Such as instead of “leaving my hair down” she says “leaving my hair open”. Not an overall deal breaker but just a little weird to read. I had to read several sentences multiple times because my brain went “huh?”
However, with that being said. The story itself is pretty good. Lots of banter which I loved. Banter is my thing and she does it well. However there are a few things that ended up kind of cringey with the way they speak to each other and about each other. My BIGGEST annoyance, however, he calls her Feather and never tells her why! She literally asks him when they are going to meet her family and he tells her she’ll have to wait to find out and then HE NEVER TELLS HER! I also got second hand embarrassment when he threatened Kaeli’s brother. Thank goodness he actually does fell embarrassed when he discovered that he was actually her brother. I thought it hilarious that they made a bet on it.
There is a lot going on in this story. But it’s not so much that the story gets lost. The wildness at the end works but the resolution of it seemed rushed. Overall the story is good and there are some absolutely BEAUTIFUL descriptions. Like the description of loneliness that Ezra gives toward the beginning gave me chills. I know this is meant to be a series and hopefully the writing gets better as she goes.
I got this book as an ARC reader. This is this author’s debut novel. And it shows. The writing is a little rough and there are pretty odd phrases that I’m wondering if they are a dialogue issue. Such as instead of “leaving my hair down” she says “leaving my hair open”. Not an overall deal breaker but just a little weird to read. I had to read several sentences multiple times because my brain went “huh?”
However, with that being said. The story itself is pretty good. Lots of banter which I loved. Banter is my thing and she does it well. However there are a few things that ended up kind of cringey with the way they speak to each other and about each other. My BIGGEST annoyance, however, he calls her Feather and never tells her why! She literally asks him when they are going to meet her family and he tells her she’ll have to wait to find out and then HE NEVER TELLS HER! I also got second hand embarrassment when he threatened Kaeli’s brother. Thank goodness he actually does fell embarrassed when he discovered that he was actually her brother. I thought it hilarious that they made a bet on it.
There is a lot going on in this story. But it’s not so much that the story gets lost. The wildness at the end works but the resolution of it seemed rushed. Overall the story is good and there are some absolutely BEAUTIFUL descriptions. Like the description of loneliness that Ezra gives toward the beginning gave me chills. I know this is meant to be a series and hopefully the writing gets better as she goes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2025
Beta read...This book was so FUN! Unhinged hockey player meets strong social media manager, hate to lovers, workplace/proximity drama and BANTER! Oh and the spice is spicing! Add this to your TBR STAT!
soft-dnfs
January 26, 2026Soft DNFd on Jan 25th, 2026. Luckily enough to get an arc of this from the author, which I thank her for.
This is the author's debut, and I have definitely been enjoying reading it. However, I can't fully get into it (I'm sick) and the way the FMC 'hates' the MMC over something so trivial (he spilt coffee on her before her job interview...and apologized afterwards, when she said she probably wasn't going to get the job. Yet she hates him for it? Even though she got the job???) is actually kind of frustrating for me, and makes it hard to get into.
This is the author's debut, and I have definitely been enjoying reading it. However, I can't fully get into it (I'm sick) and the way the FMC 'hates' the MMC over something so trivial (he spilt coffee on her before her job interview...and apologized afterwards, when she said she probably wasn't going to get the job. Yet she hates him for it? Even though she got the job???) is actually kind of frustrating for me, and makes it hard to get into.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
ARC Review
LOVED. Absolutely loved. I am a sucker for enimies to lovers. And this is exactly what that story was. There was so much banter. There was lust and passion and so much care. I absolutely loved this book. I felt like I was experiencing everything with the characters. It was written perfectly. Although we never found out the reasoning for his nickname. I loved the characters so much and felt all their feelings and heartache.
LOVED. Absolutely loved. I am a sucker for enimies to lovers. And this is exactly what that story was. There was so much banter. There was lust and passion and so much care. I absolutely loved this book. I felt like I was experiencing everything with the characters. It was written perfectly. Although we never found out the reasoning for his nickname. I loved the characters so much and felt all their feelings and heartache.
Review of advance copy received from Author
THIS WAS FANTASTIC!!
I finished reading this book in one sitting. I could not put it down.
The tension and chemistry between Ezra was off the charts and so palpable. I was on the edge of my seat every second of it.
Seeing Ezra and Kaeli's dynamic go from enemies to lovers was such fun. In the beginning, it's so believable that they're enemies.
But when they finally kiss each other, I squealed like a school girl. And the spice was spicing!
Highly recommended!!!!
I finished reading this book in one sitting. I could not put it down.
The tension and chemistry between Ezra was off the charts and so palpable. I was on the edge of my seat every second of it.
Seeing Ezra and Kaeli's dynamic go from enemies to lovers was such fun. In the beginning, it's so believable that they're enemies.
But when they finally kiss each other, I squealed like a school girl. And the spice was spicing!
Highly recommended!!!!
January 26, 2026
I really enjoyed this story and how the characters were able to face their pasts.
Kaeli is a social media manager for the Boston Bandits and she is determined to succeed even in an atmosphere dominated by men. She has been in the shadows for her entire life and now she wants to shine on her own. Ezra is the broody hockey captain who almost cost Kaeli the opportunity to join the team and she has hated him ever since. But when they have to work together for a PR campaign, their banter and chemistry ignite. The problem is Kaeli has been guarding her career and ambitions and a relationship with Ezra could tear it all down.
I really enjoyed Kaeli's character. To me, her experience of trying to hide her discomfort, saying yes to things she didn't want to do, and making herself smaller to fit in the industry really rang true. I also felt like her characterization as mean and rude could be applied to a lot of ambitious women. Unfortunately, women are often seen as bossy or rude when they display similar ambition or confidence as men that are then called leaders or assertive. Kaeli seemed like she was trying to succeed in her industry while also not drawing negative attention. I also felt like she struggled a bit to be the strong, independent woman that she wanted to be and that really showed in her reluctance to take action especially with her parents and former boss. However, I was not put off by that because it seemed very realistic to me that a child who has been overshadowed and minimized their entire life would struggle to confront their parents even as an adult. Ezra was a bit of a puzzle to me. He really cared about the people that he considered family and wanted to take care of them, but he was also quick to anger at times and some of his banter seemed to cross the line. I did really enjoy their banter at times, but getting the other person's POV after a harsh comment made it clear that some of the comments hit very close to home. It definitely made for a convincing enemies to lovers plot though.
I will say that the foreshadowing about the twist was a little bit lacking to me. I didn't feel like there was really enough escalation before it that would make it more believable. There were a couple hints that something like that might be coming, but it seemed very sudden. However, I did really like that both of the main characters were portrayed with complicated trauma in their pasts. They had both been betrayed by people that they trusted and they had to confront those feelings in order to move forward in a relationship.
Overall, I thought this was a strong debut novel and a fun hockey read with a bit of suspense. I'm excited to see what the author does next!
I received a free advance copy of this book and am voluntarily sharing my honest review.
Kaeli is a social media manager for the Boston Bandits and she is determined to succeed even in an atmosphere dominated by men. She has been in the shadows for her entire life and now she wants to shine on her own. Ezra is the broody hockey captain who almost cost Kaeli the opportunity to join the team and she has hated him ever since. But when they have to work together for a PR campaign, their banter and chemistry ignite. The problem is Kaeli has been guarding her career and ambitions and a relationship with Ezra could tear it all down.
I really enjoyed Kaeli's character. To me, her experience of trying to hide her discomfort, saying yes to things she didn't want to do, and making herself smaller to fit in the industry really rang true. I also felt like her characterization as mean and rude could be applied to a lot of ambitious women. Unfortunately, women are often seen as bossy or rude when they display similar ambition or confidence as men that are then called leaders or assertive. Kaeli seemed like she was trying to succeed in her industry while also not drawing negative attention. I also felt like she struggled a bit to be the strong, independent woman that she wanted to be and that really showed in her reluctance to take action especially with her parents and former boss. However, I was not put off by that because it seemed very realistic to me that a child who has been overshadowed and minimized their entire life would struggle to confront their parents even as an adult. Ezra was a bit of a puzzle to me. He really cared about the people that he considered family and wanted to take care of them, but he was also quick to anger at times and some of his banter seemed to cross the line. I did really enjoy their banter at times, but getting the other person's POV after a harsh comment made it clear that some of the comments hit very close to home. It definitely made for a convincing enemies to lovers plot though.
I will say that the foreshadowing about the twist was a little bit lacking to me. I didn't feel like there was really enough escalation before it that would make it more believable. There were a couple hints that something like that might be coming, but it seemed very sudden. However, I did really like that both of the main characters were portrayed with complicated trauma in their pasts. They had both been betrayed by people that they trusted and they had to confront those feelings in order to move forward in a relationship.
Overall, I thought this was a strong debut novel and a fun hockey read with a bit of suspense. I'm excited to see what the author does next!
I received a free advance copy of this book and am voluntarily sharing my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5 🌟
Sweet Stake by Myra Bloom is a dislike-to-love, forbidden workplace romance with a very “everyone can see it but them” secret relationship. The tension? Absolutely tensioning. Like, top-tier eye contact, sharp banter, and that constant energy they're about to fight or make out energy.
For the first 30% of the book, I genuinely believed Ezra and Kaeli hated each other — and that’s honestly one of its biggest strengths. Watching that animosity slowly crack into something softer was satisfying, especially with how well-paced the buildup was… at least initially.
Kaeli, as an FMC, really stood out. A woman working in a male-dominated sports industry, constantly having to prove her worth, swallow discomfort, minimise herself, and stay quiet to survive? That part hit hard. The book does an unflinching job of showing how exhausting it is for women to exist in spaces where they’re always one mistake away from being dismissed. Reading how often Kaeli agrees to things that make her uncomfortable — out of fear of retaliation — was genuinely tough.
Ezra, on the other hand, is… complicated. His trauma and betrayal absolutely explain why he is the way he is, but explanation doesn’t equal excuse. The banter between them was sharp and fun at times, but it crossed the line more than once. They said cruel things to each other, casually, repeatedly — and the lack of real accountability made the “enemies to lovers” arc wobble for me. This wasn’t playful hatred; this was emotional damage with a side of attraction.
When they finally start turning toward each other, the emotional connection often gets overshadowed by physical chemistry. The attraction makes sense, but I wanted more conversations and fewer moments where sex felt like the shortcut around unresolved issues.
The pacing stayed solid for most of the book, but the final stretch lost me a bit. The plot twist didn’t land with the “holy shit” impact it was clearly aiming for, and the shift from smooth progression to slightly disjointed chaos was noticeable.
That said, the trauma exploration? Well done. Both characters are deeply shaped by betrayal, and the book effectively illustrates how this seeps into their relationships, communication, and self-worth.
Messy, tense, frustrating, and compelling in equal measure. I enjoyed it, I yelled at it, and I absolutely see why people would love it — but the cruelty disguised as banter and the rushed emotional resolution knocked it down a notch for me.
Sweet Stake by Myra Bloom is a dislike-to-love, forbidden workplace romance with a very “everyone can see it but them” secret relationship. The tension? Absolutely tensioning. Like, top-tier eye contact, sharp banter, and that constant energy they're about to fight or make out energy.
For the first 30% of the book, I genuinely believed Ezra and Kaeli hated each other — and that’s honestly one of its biggest strengths. Watching that animosity slowly crack into something softer was satisfying, especially with how well-paced the buildup was… at least initially.
Kaeli, as an FMC, really stood out. A woman working in a male-dominated sports industry, constantly having to prove her worth, swallow discomfort, minimise herself, and stay quiet to survive? That part hit hard. The book does an unflinching job of showing how exhausting it is for women to exist in spaces where they’re always one mistake away from being dismissed. Reading how often Kaeli agrees to things that make her uncomfortable — out of fear of retaliation — was genuinely tough.
Ezra, on the other hand, is… complicated. His trauma and betrayal absolutely explain why he is the way he is, but explanation doesn’t equal excuse. The banter between them was sharp and fun at times, but it crossed the line more than once. They said cruel things to each other, casually, repeatedly — and the lack of real accountability made the “enemies to lovers” arc wobble for me. This wasn’t playful hatred; this was emotional damage with a side of attraction.
When they finally start turning toward each other, the emotional connection often gets overshadowed by physical chemistry. The attraction makes sense, but I wanted more conversations and fewer moments where sex felt like the shortcut around unresolved issues.
The pacing stayed solid for most of the book, but the final stretch lost me a bit. The plot twist didn’t land with the “holy shit” impact it was clearly aiming for, and the shift from smooth progression to slightly disjointed chaos was noticeable.
That said, the trauma exploration? Well done. Both characters are deeply shaped by betrayal, and the book effectively illustrates how this seeps into their relationships, communication, and self-worth.
Messy, tense, frustrating, and compelling in equal measure. I enjoyed it, I yelled at it, and I absolutely see why people would love it — but the cruelty disguised as banter and the rushed emotional resolution knocked it down a notch for me.
Review of advance copy
I recieved and advanced copy of this book from Book Funnel and the author for an honest review.
I have mixed feelings about this book.
On the one hand, I love a good hockey romance, and a lot of them are similar - I will be the first to admit that.
This one feels like it needed a lot of editing going in, or maybe too much editing and not enough checking on sentence structure and clarity. There were some confusing statements, confusing situations and a very fast ascent into action towards the last 15% of this book.
While I appreciate the action and the suspense of the plot twist, I felt like it came out of nowhere because it wasn't even mentioned in passing, other than a sense of unease and the FMC feeling someone was following her. I kind of figured something out by the sheer silence of the whole thing, and then subtle hints about trauma or the way she was dressed or what colours she wore. It left my head spinning.
I think there was a big disconnect, and as a reader, I was confused and not connecting with the FMC. She was mean, she was rude, and she wasn't at all interesting...something she admits herself throughout the whole book.
The MMC was a bit of a doormat when it came to Kaeli, and in all honesty, it is getting a bit of a tired trope. Mean FMC for no reason at all or for one incident, and a MMC who just sits and takes it.
The whole stalking plot felt rushed, and I didn't understand Jodie's motivation at all for her part in it. If someone can be swayed so easily into betraying her colleague, then that's just insane.
I am being generous in giving this a 3-star rating - but honestly, it's way closer to 2 for me, and I am sorry to give such a low score.
I really think it could benefit from a voice read to clean up the sentence structure and grammatical errors, but it is an ARC copy, so hopefully these will get sorted. The tenses of the sentences also changed from one paragraph to another - with present tense, then past tense, then a combo of both in the same sentence.
I have mixed feelings about this book.
On the one hand, I love a good hockey romance, and a lot of them are similar - I will be the first to admit that.
This one feels like it needed a lot of editing going in, or maybe too much editing and not enough checking on sentence structure and clarity. There were some confusing statements, confusing situations and a very fast ascent into action towards the last 15% of this book.
While I appreciate the action and the suspense of the plot twist, I felt like it came out of nowhere because it wasn't even mentioned in passing, other than a sense of unease and the FMC feeling someone was following her. I kind of figured something out by the sheer silence of the whole thing, and then subtle hints about trauma or the way she was dressed or what colours she wore. It left my head spinning.
I think there was a big disconnect, and as a reader, I was confused and not connecting with the FMC. She was mean, she was rude, and she wasn't at all interesting...something she admits herself throughout the whole book.
The MMC was a bit of a doormat when it came to Kaeli, and in all honesty, it is getting a bit of a tired trope. Mean FMC for no reason at all or for one incident, and a MMC who just sits and takes it.
The whole stalking plot felt rushed, and I didn't understand Jodie's motivation at all for her part in it. If someone can be swayed so easily into betraying her colleague, then that's just insane.
I am being generous in giving this a 3-star rating - but honestly, it's way closer to 2 for me, and I am sorry to give such a low score.
I really think it could benefit from a voice read to clean up the sentence structure and grammatical errors, but it is an ARC copy, so hopefully these will get sorted. The tenses of the sentences also changed from one paragraph to another - with present tense, then past tense, then a combo of both in the same sentence.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
ARC gifted in exchange for review
Please pay attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book.
This book was so unhinged I love that. Take an unhinged hockey, captain and throw in the beautiful sassy social media manager for his team who hates his guts and you’ve gotten makings of a wild enemies to lovers workplace romance. That is exactly what Myra gave us. The way that the two of them be heard and picked out each other you knew that they were going to do one of two things, they were either going to kill each other or rip each other’s clothes off and you never knew which one it was going to be. While I enjoyed some of their bickering, they both often times took it too far, and it was only when you read the other perspective that you realized why these comments made the other person react in the way that they did. Both Ezra and Kaeli have experienced a lot of trauma and betrayal from people around them, people who they trust trusted. This book put a spotlight on how trauma can shape the course of your life and your relationships. It also put a spotlight on some of the horrors that women in male dominated fields, such as sports have to contend with just to do their jobs. The number of times that Kaeli agreed to something that made her uncomfortable, took on things beyond her bandwidth, minimized herself to be more palatable, and kept silent as to not cause an issue out of fear of retaliation because women are held to a different standard, was hard to read. Though those parts were very difficult for me to read, they were very important to highlight and Myra did it well. The last couple of chapters were insane and I was literally shook. The spice was phenomenal. The sexual tension could be cut with a knife and the swoony bits left me giggling and kicking my feet. Overall, this was a really good enemies to lovers hockey romance, but I again caution you to pay special attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning for your own mental health.
Please pay attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book.
This book was so unhinged I love that. Take an unhinged hockey, captain and throw in the beautiful sassy social media manager for his team who hates his guts and you’ve gotten makings of a wild enemies to lovers workplace romance. That is exactly what Myra gave us. The way that the two of them be heard and picked out each other you knew that they were going to do one of two things, they were either going to kill each other or rip each other’s clothes off and you never knew which one it was going to be. While I enjoyed some of their bickering, they both often times took it too far, and it was only when you read the other perspective that you realized why these comments made the other person react in the way that they did. Both Ezra and Kaeli have experienced a lot of trauma and betrayal from people around them, people who they trust trusted. This book put a spotlight on how trauma can shape the course of your life and your relationships. It also put a spotlight on some of the horrors that women in male dominated fields, such as sports have to contend with just to do their jobs. The number of times that Kaeli agreed to something that made her uncomfortable, took on things beyond her bandwidth, minimized herself to be more palatable, and kept silent as to not cause an issue out of fear of retaliation because women are held to a different standard, was hard to read. Though those parts were very difficult for me to read, they were very important to highlight and Myra did it well. The last couple of chapters were insane and I was literally shook. The spice was phenomenal. The sexual tension could be cut with a knife and the swoony bits left me giggling and kicking my feet. Overall, this was a really good enemies to lovers hockey romance, but I again caution you to pay special attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning for your own mental health.
February 2, 2026
First of all, this was a debut? like what. IT WAS SO FREAKING GOOD.
I love a good dislike-to-love story and this one hit the spot. With Ezra and Kaeli's constant bickering and back and forth, I was cackling but also screaming at them to just kiss already. This book is the definition of slow burn. And when I say slow burn, I mean agonizingly slow in the best way. I lost count of how many times I yelled at my kindle to just let them do something already. And when they finally did? I squealed and kicked my feet like a little school girl.
Ezra is a top tier book boyfriend. The cocky, confident hockey player act is all one big front to protect his heart. Underneath it, he’s a total sweetheart and a caretaker, and I loved watching those layers peel back and come out everytime he was in Kaeli's orbit. And the mouth on this man? He could bring me to my knees with his words alone.
While I love Ezra's teammates and the whole found family that is formed, I need to shoutout Seb. He is just the sweetest.
And then there's Kaeli. She’s fierce, sharp, and unapologetic, even while struggling with the pressure to be who others expect her to be. She had to fight hard for her place and as a woman in a male-dominated field, she constantly felt the need to prove that she belongs. But I loved how she refuses to back down and fights for her spot because she knows she's earned it.
And the shocking twist at the end?? I did not see that coming OMG. Honesty I finished this book in a day and I could talk about it for hours. While it's the first book in a series, it felt set up in a way that feels like so much more is coming for this group and I am so unbelievable excited for whatever is to come next.
I love a good dislike-to-love story and this one hit the spot. With Ezra and Kaeli's constant bickering and back and forth, I was cackling but also screaming at them to just kiss already. This book is the definition of slow burn. And when I say slow burn, I mean agonizingly slow in the best way. I lost count of how many times I yelled at my kindle to just let them do something already. And when they finally did? I squealed and kicked my feet like a little school girl.
Ezra is a top tier book boyfriend. The cocky, confident hockey player act is all one big front to protect his heart. Underneath it, he’s a total sweetheart and a caretaker, and I loved watching those layers peel back and come out everytime he was in Kaeli's orbit. And the mouth on this man? He could bring me to my knees with his words alone.
While I love Ezra's teammates and the whole found family that is formed, I need to shoutout Seb. He is just the sweetest.
And then there's Kaeli. She’s fierce, sharp, and unapologetic, even while struggling with the pressure to be who others expect her to be. She had to fight hard for her place and as a woman in a male-dominated field, she constantly felt the need to prove that she belongs. But I loved how she refuses to back down and fights for her spot because she knows she's earned it.
And the shocking twist at the end?? I did not see that coming OMG. Honesty I finished this book in a day and I could talk about it for hours. While it's the first book in a series, it felt set up in a way that feels like so much more is coming for this group and I am so unbelievable excited for whatever is to come next.
January 29, 2026
3.5 s⭐️ (MILD SPOILERS) First off I want to say, I was HOOKED up until about 55% the way through. 😅 I loved the dislike to lovers aspect it was well written. I enjoyed the moments of jealousy from Ezra.. something about a book man getting worked up over what he says he doesn’t want. There was also a hint of someone who hurt Kaeli from her past? That i assume comes back?
But I'm not sure because I DNFed ...
I liked the build up but then it lost me after the little hotel scene... plus why was Ezra so AGGRESSIVE?! 😭 JEEZ He over reacted to a couple things in my.opinion. I would've been a little scared of him too obviously.
They were so cute with their bath and forth ... 'will they, won't they?' kinda thing... but then things got too heated too fast for me. Why were yall just grinding in the car 💀 like I don't understand how I'm supposed to feel about that.. like just do it already?
Ezra had too dirty of a mouth for me at the strangest times😭 it was cringy... like sir how are you whispering these things to me in front of your family ?
I did love his nickname for her though "Feather?" it was different... we have no idea why he calls her that...
I'd probably read the next book if its about Ezra's best friend and his sister though.
Lastly, I'm a little upset I bought a "trophy: of this book and then I didn't finish it... the beginning had mr loving it but then just disappointed... so there's that
But I'm not sure because I DNFed ...
I liked the build up but then it lost me after the little hotel scene... plus why was Ezra so AGGRESSIVE?! 😭 JEEZ He over reacted to a couple things in my.opinion. I would've been a little scared of him too obviously.
They were so cute with their bath and forth ... 'will they, won't they?' kinda thing... but then things got too heated too fast for me. Why were yall just grinding in the car 💀 like I don't understand how I'm supposed to feel about that.. like just do it already?
Ezra had too dirty of a mouth for me at the strangest times😭 it was cringy... like sir how are you whispering these things to me in front of your family ?
I did love his nickname for her though "Feather?" it was different... we have no idea why he calls her that...
I'd probably read the next book if its about Ezra's best friend and his sister though.
Lastly, I'm a little upset I bought a "trophy: of this book and then I didn't finish it... the beginning had mr loving it but then just disappointed... so there's that
January 27, 2026
This book!! Oh this is more than 5 stars!
It all starts with a cup of coffee! With that I knew that this will be my favorite book!(Coffee is my life!)
Hockey romance with slooooow burn, banter, coffee, spice and some thriller moments, it can’t go wrong.
That slow burn, is truly a slow burn. I can’t even tell how many times I yelled ”just do it all ready!”, ”WHY NOT?” And ”Oh c’moon!” This book went soooo deep in my bones!
Ezra is everything and more! Hot hockey player, who acts like cocky rooster but is really such a sweetie. Hes teammates are all so great too! I am 100% sure that I will love the second book as much as this!
Kaeli, oh she is fierce! Deamn! Tho I feel sad for her thinking that she can’t be truly herself and changes herself for others. So we all are happy when she starts to be herself! And that banter between her and Ezra, cheffkiss! So hot!
But don’t you worry, you will NOT love everyone, oh no no no! I would send them to moon!
And that scene near the end! OMG HOW I DID NOT SEE THAT ONE COMING! Amazing work!
I could talk about this book for hours, and if you want to talk about it, I’m here!
Myra did so freaking good! I’m so proud and happy that I get to be part of this journey!
Stay tuned because Myra will be huge thing in the future that started here!!
It all starts with a cup of coffee! With that I knew that this will be my favorite book!(Coffee is my life!)
Hockey romance with slooooow burn, banter, coffee, spice and some thriller moments, it can’t go wrong.
That slow burn, is truly a slow burn. I can’t even tell how many times I yelled ”just do it all ready!”, ”WHY NOT?” And ”Oh c’moon!” This book went soooo deep in my bones!
Ezra is everything and more! Hot hockey player, who acts like cocky rooster but is really such a sweetie. Hes teammates are all so great too! I am 100% sure that I will love the second book as much as this!
Kaeli, oh she is fierce! Deamn! Tho I feel sad for her thinking that she can’t be truly herself and changes herself for others. So we all are happy when she starts to be herself! And that banter between her and Ezra, cheffkiss! So hot!
But don’t you worry, you will NOT love everyone, oh no no no! I would send them to moon!
And that scene near the end! OMG HOW I DID NOT SEE THAT ONE COMING! Amazing work!
I could talk about this book for hours, and if you want to talk about it, I’m here!
Myra did so freaking good! I’m so proud and happy that I get to be part of this journey!
Stay tuned because Myra will be huge thing in the future that started here!!
February 11, 2026
The fine line between love and hate proves to be very thin in this steamy hockey romance.
We dive into the lives of Ezra and Kaeli, hockey captain and social media manager for the same team.
While Kaeli seems to be getting along great with the team, Ezra is on her shit list. Tasked to put her foe in the spotlight she gets to see him in a completely different light and maybe she doesn’t dislike what she sees.
Hunkering for a smile from the sidelines, Ezra keeps close tabs on Kaeli. His old wounds reopening every time she turns her icy stare on him. When forced to spend more time together he uncovers a lot of hidden layers to Kaeli he can’t wait to peel back (literally and figuratively😏)
Thank you to the author and Luna Literary for providing me with an ARC of this book!
I love a good hockey romance, even when it has barely any actual hockey in it (those that get it, get it). I was very excited for this debut book.
While I did enjoy this read, it was very noticeably a debut. We have all the ingredients to make this a gourmet meal but the preparation made this more a home cooked comfort food.
I see a whole lot of potential in this author and I am excited to be reading her next book(s). Like a fine wine this author will only get better with time!
I wish we got to feel the hate and annoyance more instead of reading the exact feelings, I’m not a big fan of literally spelling out how characters feel at all times (constantly repeating she hates him etc.)
The thriller aspect definitely added a unique element to this book, I just hoped it would be a bigger part of the book and really kept us in suspense longer. Right now it felt like the author dipped her toes in the water but didn’t go for the plunge.
The smut scenes were where this author really shined, those were very well written and got the blood flowing. 😳 The characters are likeable but could be a bit more fleshed out.
I have high hopes that this author is going to grow more and more into herself as this series continues so I do highly recommend people to give this book a read!
We dive into the lives of Ezra and Kaeli, hockey captain and social media manager for the same team.
While Kaeli seems to be getting along great with the team, Ezra is on her shit list. Tasked to put her foe in the spotlight she gets to see him in a completely different light and maybe she doesn’t dislike what she sees.
Hunkering for a smile from the sidelines, Ezra keeps close tabs on Kaeli. His old wounds reopening every time she turns her icy stare on him. When forced to spend more time together he uncovers a lot of hidden layers to Kaeli he can’t wait to peel back (literally and figuratively😏)
Thank you to the author and Luna Literary for providing me with an ARC of this book!
I love a good hockey romance, even when it has barely any actual hockey in it (those that get it, get it). I was very excited for this debut book.
While I did enjoy this read, it was very noticeably a debut. We have all the ingredients to make this a gourmet meal but the preparation made this more a home cooked comfort food.
I see a whole lot of potential in this author and I am excited to be reading her next book(s). Like a fine wine this author will only get better with time!
I wish we got to feel the hate and annoyance more instead of reading the exact feelings, I’m not a big fan of literally spelling out how characters feel at all times (constantly repeating she hates him etc.)
The thriller aspect definitely added a unique element to this book, I just hoped it would be a bigger part of the book and really kept us in suspense longer. Right now it felt like the author dipped her toes in the water but didn’t go for the plunge.
The smut scenes were where this author really shined, those were very well written and got the blood flowing. 😳 The characters are likeable but could be a bit more fleshed out.
I have high hopes that this author is going to grow more and more into herself as this series continues so I do highly recommend people to give this book a read!
February 11, 2026
Sweep Stake by Myra Bloom is an enemies-to-lovers sports romance that delivers both heart and surprises.
While the beginning takes a little time to build, the story really picks up about a third of the way through. Once it does, you will not want to put it down. The tension builds beautifully, and I was not expecting that ending.
Not only were the main characters lovable and easy to root for, but the side characters truly shine as well. I always love seeing a team come together to support not only their teammate but also the love interest. It added so much warmth and depth to the story and made the Boston Bandits feel like more than just a team. They felt like a family.
My favorite part of the book was when Kaeli took Ezra home to meet her parents and brother. I loved how Ezra stood up for Kaeli and made her feel special instead of letting her continue to be pushed aside. That moment really solidified how much he cared about her and made me love his character even more.
I am already so curious to see who the second book in the series will focus on.
Thank you to Luna Literary and Myra Bloom for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I cannot wait to continue the Boston Bandits series with Book 2 when it becomes available.
While the beginning takes a little time to build, the story really picks up about a third of the way through. Once it does, you will not want to put it down. The tension builds beautifully, and I was not expecting that ending.
Not only were the main characters lovable and easy to root for, but the side characters truly shine as well. I always love seeing a team come together to support not only their teammate but also the love interest. It added so much warmth and depth to the story and made the Boston Bandits feel like more than just a team. They felt like a family.
My favorite part of the book was when Kaeli took Ezra home to meet her parents and brother. I loved how Ezra stood up for Kaeli and made her feel special instead of letting her continue to be pushed aside. That moment really solidified how much he cared about her and made me love his character even more.
I am already so curious to see who the second book in the series will focus on.
Thank you to Luna Literary and Myra Bloom for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I cannot wait to continue the Boston Bandits series with Book 2 when it becomes available.
Review of advance copy
Bickering never felt so good!
Kaeli Reed is dedicated to her job as social media manager for the Boston Bandits. She is fierce, independent and professional, but hides a secret from everyone.
Ezra Moore is the talented hockey player, captain of the Bandits. Even though he is portrayed as confident in and out of the ice, he hides his past scars that left him with a bruised heart and trusting issues.
Their first encounter is a disaster and fuels their hate relationship and their constant bickering for years.
But behind all of it hides a true connection and an undeniable chemistry and attraction.
Once they surrender to it, there is no going back.
Kaeli manages to knock down the walls around Ezra’s heart, but is still afraid to fully commit.
Sweep Stake is a beautiful romance with a lot of tension that explodes into true love. The way Ezra loves, protects and uplifts Kaeli will leave you swooning and wanting more.
Myra Bloom gives us a love story with banter, spice, fierce characters and a few nail-biting moments that only add to the depth of it.
You will laugh, cry and enjoy every minute of their bickering and making up.
Thank you for the ARC.
Kaeli Reed is dedicated to her job as social media manager for the Boston Bandits. She is fierce, independent and professional, but hides a secret from everyone.
Ezra Moore is the talented hockey player, captain of the Bandits. Even though he is portrayed as confident in and out of the ice, he hides his past scars that left him with a bruised heart and trusting issues.
Their first encounter is a disaster and fuels their hate relationship and their constant bickering for years.
But behind all of it hides a true connection and an undeniable chemistry and attraction.
Once they surrender to it, there is no going back.
Kaeli manages to knock down the walls around Ezra’s heart, but is still afraid to fully commit.
Sweep Stake is a beautiful romance with a lot of tension that explodes into true love. The way Ezra loves, protects and uplifts Kaeli will leave you swooning and wanting more.
Myra Bloom gives us a love story with banter, spice, fierce characters and a few nail-biting moments that only add to the depth of it.
You will laugh, cry and enjoy every minute of their bickering and making up.
Thank you for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sweep Stake
By Myra Bloom
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sweep Stake by Myra Bloom is an absolute delight that perfectly captures the "enemies-to-lovers" trope with a fresh, competitive twist! The story follows Kaeli Reed, a "type-A creative genius" who is finally stepping out from her brother’s shadow to start her dream job as the social media manager for the Boston Bandits. Her professional plans take a turn when she crosses paths with Ezra Moore, the team's broody and guarded captain who has vowed never to risk his heart again.
The chemistry between Kaeli and Ezra is electric, beginning with a heated kiss that sparks a high-stakes, forbidden workplace romance. As Kaeli fights to make a name for herself in the world of professional sports, she must balance her career ambitions with her growing attraction to the one man she was never supposed to want. Filled with witty banter, "found family" vibes, and a touch of danger from Kaeli’s past, this is the ultimate feel-good read for anyone who loves a fast-paced romance with heart and humor. I highly recommend you to pick this book up and read it or add it to your to your TBR for later.
10/10 Would recommend this book to all family and friends.
By Myra Bloom
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sweep Stake by Myra Bloom is an absolute delight that perfectly captures the "enemies-to-lovers" trope with a fresh, competitive twist! The story follows Kaeli Reed, a "type-A creative genius" who is finally stepping out from her brother’s shadow to start her dream job as the social media manager for the Boston Bandits. Her professional plans take a turn when she crosses paths with Ezra Moore, the team's broody and guarded captain who has vowed never to risk his heart again.
The chemistry between Kaeli and Ezra is electric, beginning with a heated kiss that sparks a high-stakes, forbidden workplace romance. As Kaeli fights to make a name for herself in the world of professional sports, she must balance her career ambitions with her growing attraction to the one man she was never supposed to want. Filled with witty banter, "found family" vibes, and a touch of danger from Kaeli’s past, this is the ultimate feel-good read for anyone who loves a fast-paced romance with heart and humor. I highly recommend you to pick this book up and read it or add it to your to your TBR for later.
10/10 Would recommend this book to all family and friends.
January 26, 2026
ARC REVIEW
One thing I truly enjoy in books is banter…and Sweep Stake completely delivered 🙂↕️💖
I was smiling and kicking my feet the entire time. The tension was tensioning 👏🏻 a dislike to lover done so right.
Sweep stake follows Kaeli, a social medios manager who works for a hockey team, and Ezra, the team’s captain. The relationship didn’t start on the right foot, and they spent years of throwing comments at each other. The back and forth became their thing👀
Eventually, they’re force to work more closely, and well… we all know what happens when two people with unresolved tension and attraction are suddenly spending a lot of time together. They start to really see each other. The attraction that was already there becomes impossible to ignore…
Ezra was down bad for Kaeli, he fell first and hard. Once he realizes his feelings, he didn’t let go. He never rushed her to reciprocate the feelings, he was willing to wait for her.
Kaeli works in a male dominated sports industry and constantly had to prove her worth and capability. She hide parts of herself because people in that industry can be mean… it was hard to read about how much she was struggling with that, even though she never let it break her🥹
There were chapters where my heart genuinely ached because the banter did get harsh a times. Still, the pacing was so well done, you could feel the dislike and the desire coexisting. The flirting, the emotional growth, Ezra standing up for their relationship even to his bosses 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Overall, everything flowed beautifully. This book gave me tension, romance, and vulnerability. If you’re looking for a sport romance, dislike to love, a strong fmc with a soft side, and an mmc who sees her and chooses her every time…this is your book. I assure you that you’ll be completely charmed 🥺❤️🩹
One thing I truly enjoy in books is banter…and Sweep Stake completely delivered 🙂↕️💖
I was smiling and kicking my feet the entire time. The tension was tensioning 👏🏻 a dislike to lover done so right.
Sweep stake follows Kaeli, a social medios manager who works for a hockey team, and Ezra, the team’s captain. The relationship didn’t start on the right foot, and they spent years of throwing comments at each other. The back and forth became their thing👀
Eventually, they’re force to work more closely, and well… we all know what happens when two people with unresolved tension and attraction are suddenly spending a lot of time together. They start to really see each other. The attraction that was already there becomes impossible to ignore…
Ezra was down bad for Kaeli, he fell first and hard. Once he realizes his feelings, he didn’t let go. He never rushed her to reciprocate the feelings, he was willing to wait for her.
Kaeli works in a male dominated sports industry and constantly had to prove her worth and capability. She hide parts of herself because people in that industry can be mean… it was hard to read about how much she was struggling with that, even though she never let it break her🥹
There were chapters where my heart genuinely ached because the banter did get harsh a times. Still, the pacing was so well done, you could feel the dislike and the desire coexisting. The flirting, the emotional growth, Ezra standing up for their relationship even to his bosses 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Overall, everything flowed beautifully. This book gave me tension, romance, and vulnerability. If you’re looking for a sport romance, dislike to love, a strong fmc with a soft side, and an mmc who sees her and chooses her every time…this is your book. I assure you that you’ll be completely charmed 🥺❤️🩹
Review of advance copy
I waited a week to write this review because I struggled with how to articulate my thoughts on this book.
*****POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD*****
This book had great bones. Dislike-to-lovers and workplace romance tropes? Sign me up. The sexual tension between the two main characters was strong. They were constantly toeing the line between insulting each other and ripping each other’s clothes off. There were also some genuinely sweet moments (I especially loved the scene between the MMC and the young fan). I also appreciated the author highlighting how difficult it can be to be a woman in a male dominated field.
However, something was missing.
The writing felt a bit rough at times, and I think there were one too many plotlines (especially toward the end of the book). It was… a lot happening in fewer than 400 pages. Also, why did the MMC constantly call the FMC “feather”? Maybe that’s just a me thing, but I didn’t fully connect with the characters, which made it harder for me to stay immersed in the story.
If you decide to pick up this book, as always, please remember to check the trigger warnings.
Thank you to the author and Luna Literary for the ARC.
*****POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD*****
This book had great bones. Dislike-to-lovers and workplace romance tropes? Sign me up. The sexual tension between the two main characters was strong. They were constantly toeing the line between insulting each other and ripping each other’s clothes off. There were also some genuinely sweet moments (I especially loved the scene between the MMC and the young fan). I also appreciated the author highlighting how difficult it can be to be a woman in a male dominated field.
However, something was missing.
The writing felt a bit rough at times, and I think there were one too many plotlines (especially toward the end of the book). It was… a lot happening in fewer than 400 pages. Also, why did the MMC constantly call the FMC “feather”? Maybe that’s just a me thing, but I didn’t fully connect with the characters, which made it harder for me to stay immersed in the story.
If you decide to pick up this book, as always, please remember to check the trigger warnings.
Thank you to the author and Luna Literary for the ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
There are triggers so just have a look at those ❤️
I devoured this book in about 5/6 hours.
This is a dislike to love story with forbidden love, found family and a twist I did not see coming!!
Kaeli is an amazing FMC, she’s stubborn and feisty and dealing with the stress of being a woman in a male dominated industry, difficult family dynamics and workplace sexual harassment - leaving her with ongoing trauma, not helped by being stalked!!!
Ezra might not be my new book boyfriend but I still loved him. He is a stubborn, possessive and endearingly sweet man. He has his own past of being bullied and cheated on in a spectacular (not in a good way, but in a wow that girl didn’t hold back) way and it fuels a lot of his actions on and off the ice.
I loved the way @authormyrabloom writes, it feels like you are right there with them in their minds viewing things as they play out.
There were so many small things in this book I loved - one being the cactus!!
I need people to read this so I can talk about - please go pick it up so we can talk about Jodi!
I devoured this book in about 5/6 hours.
This is a dislike to love story with forbidden love, found family and a twist I did not see coming!!
Kaeli is an amazing FMC, she’s stubborn and feisty and dealing with the stress of being a woman in a male dominated industry, difficult family dynamics and workplace sexual harassment - leaving her with ongoing trauma, not helped by being stalked!!!
Ezra might not be my new book boyfriend but I still loved him. He is a stubborn, possessive and endearingly sweet man. He has his own past of being bullied and cheated on in a spectacular (not in a good way, but in a wow that girl didn’t hold back) way and it fuels a lot of his actions on and off the ice.
I loved the way @authormyrabloom writes, it feels like you are right there with them in their minds viewing things as they play out.
There were so many small things in this book I loved - one being the cactus!!
I need people to read this so I can talk about - please go pick it up so we can talk about Jodi!
January 19, 2026
Tropes
- Hockey Romance
- Enemies to Lovers
- No third-act breakup
- He falls first
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
This was such a fun hockey romance read!
The banter and tension in this book was chef’s kiss.
Kaeli is such a strong female protagonist, and I loved how the book sheds light on what women face in male-dominated fields.
Ezra was such a great MMC. I love how he stood up for Kaeli but also listened when she asked him to hold off and let her stand up for herself.
Overall, I loved this book. However, I think the plot twist at the end threw me off slightly, and I felt it didn’t add anything to the book. I would’ve loved it more if it had been sprinkled throughout the book to foreshadow it.
Note: Please pay attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book!
Thank you to Myra Bloom and her team for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
- Hockey Romance
- Enemies to Lovers
- No third-act breakup
- He falls first
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
This was such a fun hockey romance read!
The banter and tension in this book was chef’s kiss.
Kaeli is such a strong female protagonist, and I loved how the book sheds light on what women face in male-dominated fields.
Ezra was such a great MMC. I love how he stood up for Kaeli but also listened when she asked him to hold off and let her stand up for herself.
Overall, I loved this book. However, I think the plot twist at the end threw me off slightly, and I felt it didn’t add anything to the book. I would’ve loved it more if it had been sprinkled throughout the book to foreshadow it.
Note: Please pay attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book!
Thank you to Myra Bloom and her team for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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