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Saint Paul Sinners #1
Your Masked Valentine
Professional matchmaker, Serena Rafferty, has dedicated her career to finding love for others, but this time, love—in the form of a six-foot-six pro hockey player—is finding her.
Bates Finnegan, leading forward for the Saint Paul Sinners, has been obsessed with his coach’s daughter since they first met last fall. Being a goody-two-shoes, she refuses his pursuits, so he takes a step back, ready to play the long game.
After months of running off her suitors, infiltrating every aspect of her life, and waiting for her favorite holiday to come around, he’s not holding back. When Serena discovers handmade valentines and presents at her door, she begins falling for her secret admirer, who’s stopping at nothing to gain her affection, including becoming the best secret-dog-dad to her mini dachshund, Freddie.
Soon, presents begin showing up inside her house, her chores magically complete, and her car somehow starts on cold, wintry mornings. Boundaries vanish completely as Serena and Bates get swept up in their intense dynamic.
Will Serena find the love she’s always dreamed of in the arms of a forbidden masked man hellbent on never letting her go?
Bates Finnegan, leading forward for the Saint Paul Sinners, has been obsessed with his coach’s daughter since they first met last fall. Being a goody-two-shoes, she refuses his pursuits, so he takes a step back, ready to play the long game.
After months of running off her suitors, infiltrating every aspect of her life, and waiting for her favorite holiday to come around, he’s not holding back. When Serena discovers handmade valentines and presents at her door, she begins falling for her secret admirer, who’s stopping at nothing to gain her affection, including becoming the best secret-dog-dad to her mini dachshund, Freddie.
Soon, presents begin showing up inside her house, her chores magically complete, and her car somehow starts on cold, wintry mornings. Boundaries vanish completely as Serena and Bates get swept up in their intense dynamic.
Will Serena find the love she’s always dreamed of in the arms of a forbidden masked man hellbent on never letting her go?
378 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2026
199 people are currently reading
1126 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 321 reviews
March 1, 2026
This book has so much potential for me but we spent about 60% of the book not knowing Bates was mask man. And when she saw Bates without the mask she was pretty much a jerk to him with her no dating hockey players. So it felt like if she didnt find out the truth would she still not dated him if he didnt push and keep showing her they are one?
He did so much as thr mask man started her car, clean, make food deliveries, delivered flowers to her dead mother's grave?!? And she wanted more time or push him away because hes a hockey player. 😭😭😭
But atleast Bates never gave up.
No ow/om drama, no cheating, slight secondary character, tiny drama, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶
Prologue
Stalking/obsession
Masked man/hidden identity
Breaking and entering
Possessive love
Hidden cameras
Exhibitionism
Forced proximity
Agonizingly cute wiener dog
Use of restraints
Toy play
Graphic sex Explicit language
Praise/degradation
Choking and breath play
Spanking
Knife play
Primal play
Light consensual non–consent (CNC) including intruder role play fantasy and
Hea
He did so much as thr mask man started her car, clean, make food deliveries, delivered flowers to her dead mother's grave?!? And she wanted more time or push him away because hes a hockey player. 😭😭😭
But atleast Bates never gave up.
No ow/om drama, no cheating, slight secondary character, tiny drama, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶
Prologue
Stalking/obsession
Masked man/hidden identity
Breaking and entering
Possessive love
Hidden cameras
Exhibitionism
Forced proximity
Agonizingly cute wiener dog
Use of restraints
Toy play
Graphic sex Explicit language
Praise/degradation
Choking and breath play
Spanking
Knife play
Primal play
Light consensual non–consent (CNC) including intruder role play fantasy and
Hea
January 16, 2026
Spoiler free ARC review!
💋ice hockey
💋coach’s daughter x player
💋dark romcom
💋masked man
💋valentines
Such a fun, dark & light hearted romcom!
The banter between the hockey players was entertaining both on and off the ice. The microtropes were written beautifully, some had me weak at the knees🥹🤭
I’m looking forward to seeing what the next book entails.. more importantly, who it entails👀
I’d definitely recommend this one if you’re in the mood for an easy read that includes dark humour & a sprinkle of rom com magic!
happy reading! 🏒
💋ice hockey
💋coach’s daughter x player
💋dark romcom
💋masked man
💋valentines
Such a fun, dark & light hearted romcom!
The banter between the hockey players was entertaining both on and off the ice. The microtropes were written beautifully, some had me weak at the knees🥹🤭
I’m looking forward to seeing what the next book entails.. more importantly, who it entails👀
I’d definitely recommend this one if you’re in the mood for an easy read that includes dark humour & a sprinkle of rom com magic!
happy reading! 🏒
February 1, 2026
Bates has my whole heart. He pushed some boundaries but knew when the line shouldn't be crossed. Serena's masked valentine had his heart in the right place, even if his actions weren't always right.
January 29, 2026
It felt like a LaCroix. I got the essence of dark romance (stalker) and comedy (kinda? Kerrigan?) but that was it. The attraction part was insta lust which is not my jam, but also there was no meat to it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3,5 star
Thanks to House of Hearts for this eARC! Here is my honest review.
When Romance Starts Watching Back
This is one of those romances that quietly plays with the thin line between mystery and obsession. That underlying unease adds an extra layer to the story and makes it more engaging than a straightforward sports romance.
The anonymous admirer, hiding behind Valentine gestures and secrecy, creates a constant sense of being watched. It’s subtle and never fully crosses into dark territory, but it lingers in the background and gives the story its edge. Especially in the first half, that tension works well and keeps the pages turning.
The use of cameras fits neatly into this atmosphere. It isn’t an original concept, but it doesn’t need to be. Rather than feeling like a gimmick, it blends naturally into the narrative and strengthens the feeling that Serena’s private space isn’t entirely her own. The familiarity of this trope didn’t bother me; it helped ground the tension instead of distracting from it.
At the same time, the story leans heavily on familiar romance elements. Certain plot developments are easy to anticipate, and the emotional depth of the characters doesn’t always reach as far as it could have. Some moments hint at deeper internal conflict, but don’t fully explore it.
Still, the pacing is smooth and the writing accessible. The balance between romance and suspense keeps the story moving, even when the direction becomes clear. It’s a book that knows what it wants to be and delivers exactly that: an entertaining Valentine-themed romance with a slightly unsettling edge.
'Your Masked Valentine' may not reinvent the genre, but the playful stalker undertone and mysterious setup give it a distinct flavor. An enjoyable read that lingers just long enough after the final page.
secret admirer | stalker vibes | sports romance | hockey romance | Valentine’s Day setting | mystery romance | slow burn tension | masked identity | hidden admirer | obsession undertones | romantic suspense | protective love interest | forced proximity | he falls first
Thanks to House of Hearts for this eARC! Here is my honest review.
When Romance Starts Watching Back
This is one of those romances that quietly plays with the thin line between mystery and obsession. That underlying unease adds an extra layer to the story and makes it more engaging than a straightforward sports romance.
The anonymous admirer, hiding behind Valentine gestures and secrecy, creates a constant sense of being watched. It’s subtle and never fully crosses into dark territory, but it lingers in the background and gives the story its edge. Especially in the first half, that tension works well and keeps the pages turning.
The use of cameras fits neatly into this atmosphere. It isn’t an original concept, but it doesn’t need to be. Rather than feeling like a gimmick, it blends naturally into the narrative and strengthens the feeling that Serena’s private space isn’t entirely her own. The familiarity of this trope didn’t bother me; it helped ground the tension instead of distracting from it.
At the same time, the story leans heavily on familiar romance elements. Certain plot developments are easy to anticipate, and the emotional depth of the characters doesn’t always reach as far as it could have. Some moments hint at deeper internal conflict, but don’t fully explore it.
Still, the pacing is smooth and the writing accessible. The balance between romance and suspense keeps the story moving, even when the direction becomes clear. It’s a book that knows what it wants to be and delivers exactly that: an entertaining Valentine-themed romance with a slightly unsettling edge.
'Your Masked Valentine' may not reinvent the genre, but the playful stalker undertone and mysterious setup give it a distinct flavor. An enjoyable read that lingers just long enough after the final page.
secret admirer | stalker vibes | sports romance | hockey romance | Valentine’s Day setting | mystery romance | slow burn tension | masked identity | hidden admirer | obsession undertones | romantic suspense | protective love interest | forced proximity | he falls first
February 11, 2026
3.75⭐️
Super fun, easy, fast paced read. Finished it in 1 day. Was the story anything to write home about? No. It was fairly basic. Hockey player falls for the daughter of the coach. But stalks and hides his identity from her.
All the stalking and unhinged shit the MMC Bates did to the FMC Serena was hilarious. My fav thing was that Serena didn’t care. She just went along with all the insanity. It was fun to read that part of it. If you want something super easy and unhinged, this is a good book.
The character work is a bit minimal. I didn’t really connect to the character deeply or anything. Like they aren’t super memorable and the author didn’t really do too much development in that regard. But they are still likable characters. But that’s where stories like Pucking Wong Series or Lights Out stand out in this genre. When you connect to the characters. It felt the author was toeing the line of going deeper but just didn’t go there.
Also very light on descriptions of characters. Her friend Kerrigan was never described or his friend Casper, who will get his own book was described super briefly. I wish authors just give some damn proper descriptions. It’s not hard. And it always takes me out when I can’t properly picture them in my head. Still a good read. Enjoyed it overall.
Super fun, easy, fast paced read. Finished it in 1 day. Was the story anything to write home about? No. It was fairly basic. Hockey player falls for the daughter of the coach. But stalks and hides his identity from her.
All the stalking and unhinged shit the MMC Bates did to the FMC Serena was hilarious. My fav thing was that Serena didn’t care. She just went along with all the insanity. It was fun to read that part of it. If you want something super easy and unhinged, this is a good book.
The character work is a bit minimal. I didn’t really connect to the character deeply or anything. Like they aren’t super memorable and the author didn’t really do too much development in that regard. But they are still likable characters. But that’s where stories like Pucking Wong Series or Lights Out stand out in this genre. When you connect to the characters. It felt the author was toeing the line of going deeper but just didn’t go there.
Also very light on descriptions of characters. Her friend Kerrigan was never described or his friend Casper, who will get his own book was described super briefly. I wish authors just give some damn proper descriptions. It’s not hard. And it always takes me out when I can’t properly picture them in my head. Still a good read. Enjoyed it overall.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I finished this book 24 hours after I started it. Could I have finished it sooner? Yes. But wow, what an exquisite thing I just read. This is one of the books with the biggest red flags I’ve seen in months. My dear Book Boyfriend Bates, thank you for being so incredibly morally unacceptable, because that’s exactly the kind of morality I love reading about.
I don’t even know where to start, because this book has it all. It has comedy, it has romance, because of course, it’s a romance book. It has all kinds of red flags, from stalker behavior to home intrusion. It has a very cute dog that you just want to hug and kiss all the time. It has letters, because obviously, what kind of lover doesn’t leave letters? And it also has the spiciest, craziest moments you can imagine. This book has spice, and when I say spice, I give it a 4.5 out of 5 without hesitation.
In conclusion, I loved this book. It’s spectacular. Their story unfolds in a way that’s both really funny and solid at the same time. If you read the synopsis, you get a sense of the theme, and when the problem finally shows up, it happens in the least chaotic way possible, and that’s exactly what I loved. At the end of the day, this is a book with all the hallmarks of Dark Romance. It’s dark, especially because of the stalker theme, which is the main focus, but it’s executed spectacularly.
Now I have so many questions about who the next protagonists will be, because obviously I want to read book two as soon as possible. I’m so thankful to the author for letting me read this advanced copy, because honestly… I am so in love. Hockey player, a mask, and a super dark story… that’s exactly where I always want to be.
thank you Pru and thank you House of Hearts for this ARC!!
I don’t even know where to start, because this book has it all. It has comedy, it has romance, because of course, it’s a romance book. It has all kinds of red flags, from stalker behavior to home intrusion. It has a very cute dog that you just want to hug and kiss all the time. It has letters, because obviously, what kind of lover doesn’t leave letters? And it also has the spiciest, craziest moments you can imagine. This book has spice, and when I say spice, I give it a 4.5 out of 5 without hesitation.
In conclusion, I loved this book. It’s spectacular. Their story unfolds in a way that’s both really funny and solid at the same time. If you read the synopsis, you get a sense of the theme, and when the problem finally shows up, it happens in the least chaotic way possible, and that’s exactly what I loved. At the end of the day, this is a book with all the hallmarks of Dark Romance. It’s dark, especially because of the stalker theme, which is the main focus, but it’s executed spectacularly.
Now I have so many questions about who the next protagonists will be, because obviously I want to read book two as soon as possible. I’m so thankful to the author for letting me read this advanced copy, because honestly… I am so in love. Hockey player, a mask, and a super dark story… that’s exactly where I always want to be.
thank you Pru and thank you House of Hearts for this ARC!!
February 2, 2026
The perfect dark valentines rom-com doesn't exis...
Pru Schuyler, you have outdone yourself. I devoured this book and loved every moment of Serena and Bates' story. I haven't laughed, giggled, kicked my feet, swooned, and melted from the heat like this in a long time.
I freaking loved everything about this book. If you love your men unhinged and obsessed Bates is the man. I love him so much. He is OTT perfection.
Some of my favorite things:
He refers to her dog as their son and breaks in to cuddle with him.
He makes her handmade valentines.
Their friends are unhinged.
He falls first and so hard.
Tropes:
Stalking
Hockey Player
Coach's daughter
Possessive/Obsessed MMC
Spicy
Mental health rep
Primal play
Masked man
Dual POV
Check TW
Thank you House of Hearts PR and Pru Schuyler for the opportunity to read this book.
Pru Schuyler, you have outdone yourself. I devoured this book and loved every moment of Serena and Bates' story. I haven't laughed, giggled, kicked my feet, swooned, and melted from the heat like this in a long time.
I freaking loved everything about this book. If you love your men unhinged and obsessed Bates is the man. I love him so much. He is OTT perfection.
Some of my favorite things:
He refers to her dog as their son and breaks in to cuddle with him.
He makes her handmade valentines.
Their friends are unhinged.
He falls first and so hard.
Tropes:
Stalking
Hockey Player
Coach's daughter
Possessive/Obsessed MMC
Spicy
Mental health rep
Primal play
Masked man
Dual POV
Check TW
Thank you House of Hearts PR and Pru Schuyler for the opportunity to read this book.
February 21, 2026
𖤐⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ 1 stars ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆𖤐
Too many plot holes to me to just ignore and also this book made me learn what a PLOT HOLE is, yeah it was that bad and also very boring and very much lacking the rom-com part of the book 🧐
Too many plot holes to me to just ignore and also this book made me learn what a PLOT HOLE is, yeah it was that bad and also very boring and very much lacking the rom-com part of the book 🧐
February 10, 2026
The cover in this book really drew me into what the book was about and it being a dark stalker hockey romcom like okay this is a new style for me and it actually was soo good.
Despite there being grammar issues I think it was a pretty good read.
And it being a Minnesota book it made my heart feel good because I love reading books from my state and it was so cool.
And the masked valentine girlll he was so hot I can’t like basically doing everything for his girl (she didn’t know she was his) that type of stuff and I ate it up like he was so down bad for my girl Serena like YESSSSS!! And him saying he thought her dog was their son like okayy!! And he’s so kinky and he loved her from the very start and I loved this book and it being February and almost Valentine’s Day it was such a good book to read during this time and my love for hockey rn like ahhhh
Character growth and just overall the chemistry like the hate to love aspect was also so good and I just loved them together and how obsessive he was like ugh I can’t get over himmmmm
I am actually excited to see what this series has to offer and I have a feeling who it might be if she does it by teammates and I can’t wait and I hope she continues the holiday themes cause that was so good.
Overall this was a good read, hot hockey stalker man like ahh and it was spicy and just overall a good book to read.
Despite there being grammar issues I think it was a pretty good read.
And it being a Minnesota book it made my heart feel good because I love reading books from my state and it was so cool.
And the masked valentine girlll he was so hot I can’t like basically doing everything for his girl (she didn’t know she was his) that type of stuff and I ate it up like he was so down bad for my girl Serena like YESSSSS!! And him saying he thought her dog was their son like okayy!! And he’s so kinky and he loved her from the very start and I loved this book and it being February and almost Valentine’s Day it was such a good book to read during this time and my love for hockey rn like ahhhh
Character growth and just overall the chemistry like the hate to love aspect was also so good and I just loved them together and how obsessive he was like ugh I can’t get over himmmmm
I am actually excited to see what this series has to offer and I have a feeling who it might be if she does it by teammates and I can’t wait and I hope she continues the holiday themes cause that was so good.
Overall this was a good read, hot hockey stalker man like ahh and it was spicy and just overall a good book to read.
February 13, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
* Hockey player x matchmaker
* Coach’s daughter
* Dark stalker romance
* Primal play
* Knife play
Is Bates Finnegan insanely unhinged? Yes. Would I be ok with the stuff he does if this were real life? For sure not. Did I absolutely eat this story up anyway? HELLL YESSSS. I truly was here for the stalker vibes.
This was all I want in a dark romance rom com. I loved that Serena would call herself out in her head for doing all the things she shouldn’t. It reminded me of that scene in Scary Movie when she’s yelling at the movie theater screen. Even with the spice, the banter and the tension we still got a look at the more vulnerable sides of both main characters and I feel that made me love them more. Casper and Kol were great and I’m so happy to see we’ll get more of these boys.
My only complaint is the timeline was a little hard to follow. I know we started the story in February but the letters started sometime in January I believe. And I couldn’t keep track of how close we were getting to Valentine’s Day. That’s truly my only issue and the thing that kept me from giving it a full 5 star.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
* Hockey player x matchmaker
* Coach’s daughter
* Dark stalker romance
* Primal play
* Knife play
Is Bates Finnegan insanely unhinged? Yes. Would I be ok with the stuff he does if this were real life? For sure not. Did I absolutely eat this story up anyway? HELLL YESSSS. I truly was here for the stalker vibes.
This was all I want in a dark romance rom com. I loved that Serena would call herself out in her head for doing all the things she shouldn’t. It reminded me of that scene in Scary Movie when she’s yelling at the movie theater screen. Even with the spice, the banter and the tension we still got a look at the more vulnerable sides of both main characters and I feel that made me love them more. Casper and Kol were great and I’m so happy to see we’ll get more of these boys.
My only complaint is the timeline was a little hard to follow. I know we started the story in February but the letters started sometime in January I believe. And I couldn’t keep track of how close we were getting to Valentine’s Day. That’s truly my only issue and the thing that kept me from giving it a full 5 star.
February 3, 2026
Your Masked Valentine ARC Review
5⭐️
5🌶️
This book was perfect! It was spicy, sweet, and funny!
I absolutely fell in love with Bates and Serena and how twistedly in love they were! They matched each others freak and I really loved that!
If I had any couple to compare it to it would definitely be Josh and Aly from Lights Out, completely with a little Fred/Freddie of their own!!
The spice fit the story so well and I loved how often they shook up the scenes with different fantasies and scenarios. It never got old for me.
The supporting characters were also so hilarious! I loved Kerrigan and I hope she gets a book along with Kol and Cas! They were all just such great friends and I loved the role the friends played in Bate’s plans.
Overall I just can’t wait for the next installment of this delightfully dark and sinful series!
January 18, 2026
⭐️3.9 🌶️3
When I say this was such a fun and refreshing quick read for me. Whew I love me some good banter and I love when the leads appear opposites, but when you find out they’re both parts of the same puzzle is just chefs kiss👏🏾
When I say this was such a fun and refreshing quick read for me. Whew I love me some good banter and I love when the leads appear opposites, but when you find out they’re both parts of the same puzzle is just chefs kiss👏🏾
February 7, 2026
Good to read if you’re after a quick rom-com valentine fun with a masked stalker!
February 9, 2026
Very Lights Out vibes but make it hockey & Valentine’s Day! Funny banter, hidden identity, forbidden (coaches daughter) & he wears a maskkk🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
March 6, 2026
- Stalker
- Hockey romance
- Coach’s daughter
- Mask kink
H meets the h at a gala, and he’s instantly hooked. h turns him down since she has a rule where she doesn’t date her fathers players. But that don’t stop the H.
Safety
- No owd and no info about H last time.
- h only had two boyfriend and never did the casual hook up.
- Didn’t get the manwh*re vibe
- Both celibate since meeting each other
-
- Hockey romance
- Coach’s daughter
- Mask kink
H meets the h at a gala, and he’s instantly hooked. h turns him down since she has a rule where she doesn’t date her fathers players. But that don’t stop the H.
Safety
- No owd and no info about H last time.
- h only had two boyfriend and never did the casual hook up.
- Didn’t get the manwh*re vibe
- Both celibate since meeting each other
-
January 20, 2026
It was so much fun! It you liked “light out” but mafia plot felt wrong for you, you definitely should try this one. It was such a cute story! I loved it!
February 2, 2026
4.5 stars
I got an ARC of this book and it was amazing! Starting the book I was instantly captivated. One of those books that I convinced myself that if I reached a certain point that I could put it down to sleep or whatnot.
Every character was perfection. Bates is the perfect stalker personality to make the reader like him. Reading how obsessed and caring he is makes me wonder where men like that are.
Serena I really enjoyed as a character. She’s so innocent in pretending that everything is normal. Meanwhile I’m screaming at her through my screen, like girl!!
But truly they work perfectly together. You’ll want to check the warnings before starting this book unless you’re a season pro with dark romances this book is perfect.
I got an ARC of this book and it was amazing! Starting the book I was instantly captivated. One of those books that I convinced myself that if I reached a certain point that I could put it down to sleep or whatnot.
Every character was perfection. Bates is the perfect stalker personality to make the reader like him. Reading how obsessed and caring he is makes me wonder where men like that are.
Serena I really enjoyed as a character. She’s so innocent in pretending that everything is normal. Meanwhile I’m screaming at her through my screen, like girl!!
But truly they work perfectly together. You’ll want to check the warnings before starting this book unless you’re a season pro with dark romances this book is perfect.
January 16, 2026
Gah, I'm disappointed to have to DNF this cause this stalker romcom would typically be right up my alley bubt...
Within the first 27%, I've spotted grammatical errors that pulled me out of the story and wordy paragraphs that were hard for me to follow. In one chapter, I'm reading from Bates (our MMC) POV, we suddenly switch to Serena's POV, literally for like four sentences and then back to Bates. I wonder if the author wrote in Serena's POV originally??
I'm sure the story gets better, but I can't overlook this, and I can't imagine how the rest of the writing is going to go.
I thought we’d at least get some slow-burning, spicy chemistry building, but nope. They start getting dirty with each other, a handful of chapters in which, personally, just ruined the vibe for me.
Within the first 27%, I've spotted grammatical errors that pulled me out of the story and wordy paragraphs that were hard for me to follow. In one chapter, I'm reading from Bates (our MMC) POV, we suddenly switch to Serena's POV, literally for like four sentences and then back to Bates. I wonder if the author wrote in Serena's POV originally??
I'm sure the story gets better, but I can't overlook this, and I can't imagine how the rest of the writing is going to go.
I thought we’d at least get some slow-burning, spicy chemistry building, but nope. They start getting dirty with each other, a handful of chapters in which, personally, just ruined the vibe for me.
January 28, 2026
i guess minnesota has its own lights out??
January 19, 2026
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review
It was so fun and funny reading Serena's p.o.v specially her inner monologue about being the main character in a horror movie, because same.
And Bates was such a interesting and crazy character that you can't help but falling for him just like Serena.
I had so much fun reading Serena and Bates.
Really want to know more about Cas and Kol and Ker.
Special mention to Freddie - love him!
It was so fun and funny reading Serena's p.o.v specially her inner monologue about being the main character in a horror movie, because same.
And Bates was such a interesting and crazy character that you can't help but falling for him just like Serena.
I had so much fun reading Serena and Bates.
Really want to know more about Cas and Kol and Ker.
Special mention to Freddie - love him!
March 8, 2026
"𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵, 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐, 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶.
𝘉𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦; 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘯 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦."
Let me start my review by telling you this was a solid 2,5/3 star read for me. Your Masked Valentine by Pru Schuyler had a concept that felt new and refreshing within the dark romance genre, and it was incredibly easy to read. I finished it in a single day, which already says a lot about the pacing. I also have to mention the cover because it’s honestly adorable—the pink and red color palette fits the Valentine’s theme perfectly and immediately caught my attention. For me, this book worked best as a palate cleanser. It’s short, quick, and very easy to get through, but I wouldn’t go into it expecting something that will completely blow you away. The story doesn’t really focus on deep character development, a complex storyline, or shocking plot twists. Instead, it leans more into being a fast, easy, smutty read with some darker themes and trigger warnings sprinkled throughout. It leans heavily into insta-lust and obsessive attraction right from the start, which isn't a bad thing, but I like my (dark)romance with a little more backbone and story. So if you don’t expect a deeply layered story or complex character arcs, than you’ll probably have a good time with it.
"𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘺,𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥."
𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒅:
• One thing I did enjoy was the bromance in this book. It was fun to see those friendships on the page, and it honestly made me feel like the author is already setting things up for at least two more books in this series. The side characters definitely have that “future main character” energy, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we see more of their stories later on.
• I also liked Bates as a character. The way he took care of Serena had its sweet moments, even if his actions didn’t always make complete sense and were, let’s be honest, a major red flag at times. Still, that protective and attentive behavior is very on-brand for dark romance, so it didn’t feel completely out of place in the story.
• I also agree with some of the other reviews that mentioned the book giving Lights Out vibes. I think that comparison mostly comes from the “stalker who secretly takes care of you” trope like cleaning your house, ordering food, and generally watching over the heroine from the shadows. That element definitely felt familiar. However, I would say you shouldn’t go into this expecting the same level of depth when it comes to the storyline or character backgrounds.
𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒅:
• The emotional foundation between Serena and Bates just didn’t feel strong enough for me, which made it harder to fully invest in the romance as it developed. Because of that, the relationship sometimes felt more driven by physical attraction than emotional connection. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you’re looking for something quick and spicy, but it did make the story feel a little surface-level to me.
• Serena; yeah ... I didn't like her. I can understand her not wanting to date hockey players but where is the major emotional depth behind it? Where is her huge plot twist reason for this? Her father not wanting her to date the players when she was a teenager feels like a lacking reason when she is a grown up woman who has her own business. Also, her hate for Bates felt empty and I truly couldn't understand it because he didn't do anything to deserve it.
𝘉𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦; 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘯 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦."
Let me start my review by telling you this was a solid 2,5/3 star read for me. Your Masked Valentine by Pru Schuyler had a concept that felt new and refreshing within the dark romance genre, and it was incredibly easy to read. I finished it in a single day, which already says a lot about the pacing. I also have to mention the cover because it’s honestly adorable—the pink and red color palette fits the Valentine’s theme perfectly and immediately caught my attention. For me, this book worked best as a palate cleanser. It’s short, quick, and very easy to get through, but I wouldn’t go into it expecting something that will completely blow you away. The story doesn’t really focus on deep character development, a complex storyline, or shocking plot twists. Instead, it leans more into being a fast, easy, smutty read with some darker themes and trigger warnings sprinkled throughout. It leans heavily into insta-lust and obsessive attraction right from the start, which isn't a bad thing, but I like my (dark)romance with a little more backbone and story. So if you don’t expect a deeply layered story or complex character arcs, than you’ll probably have a good time with it.
"𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘺,𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥."
𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒅:
• One thing I did enjoy was the bromance in this book. It was fun to see those friendships on the page, and it honestly made me feel like the author is already setting things up for at least two more books in this series. The side characters definitely have that “future main character” energy, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we see more of their stories later on.
• I also liked Bates as a character. The way he took care of Serena had its sweet moments, even if his actions didn’t always make complete sense and were, let’s be honest, a major red flag at times. Still, that protective and attentive behavior is very on-brand for dark romance, so it didn’t feel completely out of place in the story.
• I also agree with some of the other reviews that mentioned the book giving Lights Out vibes. I think that comparison mostly comes from the “stalker who secretly takes care of you” trope like cleaning your house, ordering food, and generally watching over the heroine from the shadows. That element definitely felt familiar. However, I would say you shouldn’t go into this expecting the same level of depth when it comes to the storyline or character backgrounds.
𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒅:
• The emotional foundation between Serena and Bates just didn’t feel strong enough for me, which made it harder to fully invest in the romance as it developed. Because of that, the relationship sometimes felt more driven by physical attraction than emotional connection. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you’re looking for something quick and spicy, but it did make the story feel a little surface-level to me.
• Serena; yeah ... I didn't like her. I can understand her not wanting to date hockey players but where is the major emotional depth behind it? Where is her huge plot twist reason for this? Her father not wanting her to date the players when she was a teenager feels like a lacking reason when she is a grown up woman who has her own business. Also, her hate for Bates felt empty and I truly couldn't understand it because he didn't do anything to deserve it.
January 15, 2026
THIS BOOK WAS PERFECT!! NO NOTES OF CRITICISM AND IF YOU HAVE ANY YOU BETTER NOT TELL ME CAUSE I’LL JUST THINK YOU HAVE BAD TASTE!! Bates and Serena had so much chemistry! The banter was incredible!! Im really in my stalker romance era and throw in hockey romance which you know I love and together they make an incredible duo!
I love Bates so so much! THE MAN IS EVERYTHING TO ME!! I mean he literally cleans her house for her and does her chores as well as starts her car when it’s cold outside!!! This man has literally stolen my heart and he’s going to keep it!! In sports romances one of my favorite tropes included is found family within the team and I LOVE THE CODE OF SILENCE GROUP CHAT!! CAS AND KOL are the best wingmen to Bates and it’s so hot that they help him with all his plans to win over Serena’s heart!!
I really love that Serena is a matchmaker and started her own company with her best friend Kerrigan! Who can I say was so supportive and was the best wingwomen anyone could ask for!! Also let’s talk about the cutest animal sidekick ever in Freddie the dachshund!!! I really love the bond that he has with Bates!! Also how obsessed Bates is with him aswell as her!! Like he’s his son!! He buy him toys and comes over to cuddle with him when he doesn’t go to work with Serena! Honestly if only real men could ever live up to the expectations that this man has set!! THE SPICE WAS SPICY AND I WAS HERE FOR EVERY MOMENT!!
Thank you so much House of Hearts and Pru for letting me read and review this book before it releases!! PRU YOU KEEP TOPPING YOURSELF!! My new favorite book from her!
I love Bates so so much! THE MAN IS EVERYTHING TO ME!! I mean he literally cleans her house for her and does her chores as well as starts her car when it’s cold outside!!! This man has literally stolen my heart and he’s going to keep it!! In sports romances one of my favorite tropes included is found family within the team and I LOVE THE CODE OF SILENCE GROUP CHAT!! CAS AND KOL are the best wingmen to Bates and it’s so hot that they help him with all his plans to win over Serena’s heart!!
I really love that Serena is a matchmaker and started her own company with her best friend Kerrigan! Who can I say was so supportive and was the best wingwomen anyone could ask for!! Also let’s talk about the cutest animal sidekick ever in Freddie the dachshund!!! I really love the bond that he has with Bates!! Also how obsessed Bates is with him aswell as her!! Like he’s his son!! He buy him toys and comes over to cuddle with him when he doesn’t go to work with Serena! Honestly if only real men could ever live up to the expectations that this man has set!! THE SPICE WAS SPICY AND I WAS HERE FOR EVERY MOMENT!!
Thank you so much House of Hearts and Pru for letting me read and review this book before it releases!! PRU YOU KEEP TOPPING YOURSELF!! My new favorite book from her!
January 15, 2026
This book had me chuckling all the way through. It makes me want a masked stalker…as long as he’s a hot six foot six hockey player and is totally obsessed with me. Let’s be real just give me Bates Finnegan and I’ll be happy 😍
Bates is obsessed with Serena from the moment they meet and honestly I love the lengths he goes too to make her his. It’s true commitment and I’m here for it. I loved the unhinged personality of Bates, he was unapologetically himself.
I didn’t fully vibe with Serena. When she interacts with Bates (without the mask) she’s just a bitch to him and honestly there was no need. He was nice, polite and took the rejection well after their first meeting, but for her to be rude to him after that was uncalled for.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The stalker tendencies, the cameras, the spicy games and of course Bates cleaning her entire house, making sure she’s looked after and spending time with Freddie (Serena’s dog). It was a super fun book.
Thank you to Pru and House of Hearts Lit for the ARC.
Bates is obsessed with Serena from the moment they meet and honestly I love the lengths he goes too to make her his. It’s true commitment and I’m here for it. I loved the unhinged personality of Bates, he was unapologetically himself.
I didn’t fully vibe with Serena. When she interacts with Bates (without the mask) she’s just a bitch to him and honestly there was no need. He was nice, polite and took the rejection well after their first meeting, but for her to be rude to him after that was uncalled for.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The stalker tendencies, the cameras, the spicy games and of course Bates cleaning her entire house, making sure she’s looked after and spending time with Freddie (Serena’s dog). It was a super fun book.
Thank you to Pru and House of Hearts Lit for the ARC.
February 1, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️.5/5
📚 Book #1 of the Interconnected Standalone Series "Saint Paul Sinners"
🏒 Hockey Romance
🗣️ Dual POV
🖤 M/F
Honestly this was such an enjoyable "dark romcom" masked stalker read. The banter was great, the level of unhinged that Bates is, was just perfect for Serena and their love for Freddie was compatible. Bates was seriously perfect, I love an obsessed MMC who knows just the right buttons to push and wears his little morally grey heart on his sleeve. I mean this man cleaned her bathroom!!! also had his best friends help him create tons of valentines that he could write notes on and leave for her because Valentine's Day is her favorite holiday. If you are looking for a cute, enjoyable, fast stalker read this holiday season, I highly recommend giving this a go. Im super stoked to read the next book and really badly want it to be Kerrington and Kol 🤞🏻
Tropes:
🖤 He Falls First And Harder
🏒 Hockey Player x Match Maker
🖤 Unhinged Masked Stalker
🏒 He Makes Her Homemade Valentines
🖤 Coaches Daughter x Player
🌶️🌶️.5/5
📚 Book #1 of the Interconnected Standalone Series "Saint Paul Sinners"
🏒 Hockey Romance
🗣️ Dual POV
🖤 M/F
Honestly this was such an enjoyable "dark romcom" masked stalker read. The banter was great, the level of unhinged that Bates is, was just perfect for Serena and their love for Freddie was compatible. Bates was seriously perfect, I love an obsessed MMC who knows just the right buttons to push and wears his little morally grey heart on his sleeve. I mean this man cleaned her bathroom!!! also had his best friends help him create tons of valentines that he could write notes on and leave for her because Valentine's Day is her favorite holiday. If you are looking for a cute, enjoyable, fast stalker read this holiday season, I highly recommend giving this a go. Im super stoked to read the next book and really badly want it to be Kerrington and Kol 🤞🏻
Tropes:
🖤 He Falls First And Harder
🏒 Hockey Player x Match Maker
🖤 Unhinged Masked Stalker
🏒 He Makes Her Homemade Valentines
🖤 Coaches Daughter x Player
January 25, 2026
3.5 / 5
Thank you House of Hearts lit for the ARC!
Blurb: This one was a fun little read. This story follows Serena Rafferty and her masked valentine stalker who happens to be, Bates Finnigan, a hockey player her dad coaches. Coach Rafferty has one rule, Serena is off limits to the players. However, this doesn’t stop Bates from getting what he wants.
Review: This was def a cute lil Valentine vibe read. I thought the story was fun. I loved the banter between the two characters, it made the story entertaining. This book was also really spicy, which I expected nothing less from a stalker romance 🤭 This book gave HEAVY Lights Out energy, but with a hockey flare to it. Definitely different, but it was a nice little switch up.
What this book has:
🏒 Hockey Player Stalker MMC x MatchMaker FMC
💌 Forbidden Romance
🏒 Stalker Romance/Mask Kink
💌 Love letters
🏒 Dachshund named Freddie
💌 Funny side characters
🏒 Banter
💌 Open Door Spice
🏒 Knife Play
💌 Dual POV
Thank you House of Hearts lit for the ARC!
Blurb: This one was a fun little read. This story follows Serena Rafferty and her masked valentine stalker who happens to be, Bates Finnigan, a hockey player her dad coaches. Coach Rafferty has one rule, Serena is off limits to the players. However, this doesn’t stop Bates from getting what he wants.
Review: This was def a cute lil Valentine vibe read. I thought the story was fun. I loved the banter between the two characters, it made the story entertaining. This book was also really spicy, which I expected nothing less from a stalker romance 🤭 This book gave HEAVY Lights Out energy, but with a hockey flare to it. Definitely different, but it was a nice little switch up.
What this book has:
🏒 Hockey Player Stalker MMC x MatchMaker FMC
💌 Forbidden Romance
🏒 Stalker Romance/Mask Kink
💌 Love letters
🏒 Dachshund named Freddie
💌 Funny side characters
🏒 Banter
💌 Open Door Spice
🏒 Knife Play
💌 Dual POV
February 2, 2026
ARC REVIEW🏒 Available now on KU!
Thank you so much Pru Schuyler and House of Hearts for the ARC opportunity! I knew from 40% in this was gonna be a 5 star read for me🤭
Rating: ★★★★★
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Tropes: Coaches Daughter, Stalker, Masked Man, Possessive MMC
What a perfect read to start off the Valentines
vibe this month. It had spice, angst, and moments that I was literally laughing out loud. If you liked Lights Out, add this to
your TBR immediately.
Can I just say, Bates Finnegan, the mouth on that man.. I was giggling and kicking my feet oh my
GOSH. The notes? The little favours? His love
for Freddie? Safe to say Bates has made his way onto my book boyfriend list.
If you know me you know I LOVE an animal side character, so of course Freddie instantly melted my heart. I’m so excited to read more of Pru’s work!
Thank you so much Pru Schuyler and House of Hearts for the ARC opportunity! I knew from 40% in this was gonna be a 5 star read for me🤭
Rating: ★★★★★
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Tropes: Coaches Daughter, Stalker, Masked Man, Possessive MMC
What a perfect read to start off the Valentines
vibe this month. It had spice, angst, and moments that I was literally laughing out loud. If you liked Lights Out, add this to
your TBR immediately.
Can I just say, Bates Finnegan, the mouth on that man.. I was giggling and kicking my feet oh my
GOSH. The notes? The little favours? His love
for Freddie? Safe to say Bates has made his way onto my book boyfriend list.
If you know me you know I LOVE an animal side character, so of course Freddie instantly melted my heart. I’m so excited to read more of Pru’s work!
March 3, 2026
Good thing I know red flags are only fun and okay in books!
Bates has been infatuated with Serena since he first met her.....problem is she's his coaches daughter and REFUSES to date players on her dads team. So Bates comes up with another strategy....stalking (ok hear me out its NOT violent stalker vibes). He's become her masked stalker, leaving notes and gifts daily at her house. Serena....knowing this is obviously wrong, seems to be just as enamored as Bates even though she doesn't know its him. On top of leaving notes (sometimes delivered by his masked friends), Bates does her laundry, sends groceries, comes in and plays with her dog when she's not there and even remotely warms up her car before she leaves the house and work every day ( super cute right?!?!?!).
Serena is a matchmaker with her friend and when their company is hosting a masked mixer, Bates recruits his friends to go with him. Serena is ecstatic her masked man is here but also hesitant because....well who wants to see their stalker in real life, especially at their place of employment?!?!
Bates continues to play the long game, patiently waiting for the chance he can reveal himself to Serena. As Bates keeps inching closer and closer to possibly revealing himself, Serena learns the truth when Bates accidently leaves behind a piece of his keychain. Serena's obviously pissed its Bates given her rule.....and tries to address her feelings, her STRONG feelings and wrap her mind around the fact that its been Bates the whole time.
Serena has spent almost all of her life being her dad’s #1 since the loss of her mother at a young age. Her dad hasn’t dated or moved on and Serena feels that she can’t be happy unless he’s happy. But her dad truly just wants his daughter to be happy no matter what the situation and is honestly her biggest cheerleader. So when he finds out about her and Bates, he goes from “happy go lucky” dad to “hurt my kid and I’ll kill you” dad (which we LOVE).
Serena eventually caves in and gives Bates a chance and NOT her masked man she's been slightly obsessing over. The two of them are an absolute match.....although getting together in an unconventional way, the two of them are 100% made for each other.
Thank you House of Hearts Lit and Pru Schyuler for an ARC of this book in exchange for my review!
Bates has been infatuated with Serena since he first met her.....problem is she's his coaches daughter and REFUSES to date players on her dads team. So Bates comes up with another strategy....stalking (ok hear me out its NOT violent stalker vibes). He's become her masked stalker, leaving notes and gifts daily at her house. Serena....knowing this is obviously wrong, seems to be just as enamored as Bates even though she doesn't know its him. On top of leaving notes (sometimes delivered by his masked friends), Bates does her laundry, sends groceries, comes in and plays with her dog when she's not there and even remotely warms up her car before she leaves the house and work every day ( super cute right?!?!?!).
Serena is a matchmaker with her friend and when their company is hosting a masked mixer, Bates recruits his friends to go with him. Serena is ecstatic her masked man is here but also hesitant because....well who wants to see their stalker in real life, especially at their place of employment?!?!
Bates continues to play the long game, patiently waiting for the chance he can reveal himself to Serena. As Bates keeps inching closer and closer to possibly revealing himself, Serena learns the truth when Bates accidently leaves behind a piece of his keychain. Serena's obviously pissed its Bates given her rule.....and tries to address her feelings, her STRONG feelings and wrap her mind around the fact that its been Bates the whole time.
Serena has spent almost all of her life being her dad’s #1 since the loss of her mother at a young age. Her dad hasn’t dated or moved on and Serena feels that she can’t be happy unless he’s happy. But her dad truly just wants his daughter to be happy no matter what the situation and is honestly her biggest cheerleader. So when he finds out about her and Bates, he goes from “happy go lucky” dad to “hurt my kid and I’ll kill you” dad (which we LOVE).
Serena eventually caves in and gives Bates a chance and NOT her masked man she's been slightly obsessing over. The two of them are an absolute match.....although getting together in an unconventional way, the two of them are 100% made for each other.
Thank you House of Hearts Lit and Pru Schyuler for an ARC of this book in exchange for my review!
Review of advance copy
This was my first Pru Schuyler book and I already want to read her whole back list!
Well damn this book is wild it had me hooked from the very first chapter!!
A stalker hockey with a bit of comedy. Bates and Serena were truly excellent together. I loved all the banter and chemistry between them was written so well. This book also had its unhinged moments. I was turning the pages so fast that if I had a physical book I would have ripped it because I needed to know more right away. I never wanted this book to end it was that good!!
Well damn this book is wild it had me hooked from the very first chapter!!
A stalker hockey with a bit of comedy. Bates and Serena were truly excellent together. I loved all the banter and chemistry between them was written so well. This book also had its unhinged moments. I was turning the pages so fast that if I had a physical book I would have ripped it because I needed to know more right away. I never wanted this book to end it was that good!!
January 14, 2026
Bates / Serena & Freddie !!! Jesus I AM OBSESSED !!!
This was absolutely the best most amazing dark romance rom com EVER !!!!!!
Serena - obsessed with love and Valentine’s Day - rule follower but falls in love with her masked stalker and her dog Freddie
Bates - resident HOCKEY BAD BOY- plays for Serena’s father’s team, & utterly obsessed with Serena and her dog Freddie
And the connections they have when he keeps showing up for her as her masked stalker 🥵😍. EPIC !! But Freddy Krueger lol I swear I never laughed so hard lmfaoooo. GREAT READ !
This was absolutely the best most amazing dark romance rom com EVER !!!!!!
Serena - obsessed with love and Valentine’s Day - rule follower but falls in love with her masked stalker and her dog Freddie
Bates - resident HOCKEY BAD BOY- plays for Serena’s father’s team, & utterly obsessed with Serena and her dog Freddie
And the connections they have when he keeps showing up for her as her masked stalker 🥵😍. EPIC !! But Freddy Krueger lol I swear I never laughed so hard lmfaoooo. GREAT READ !
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