One night. That was the deal. But things never go according to plan.
I’m not looking for love. Every relationship ends with the guy leaving me for their soulmate.
Then I come face to face with an ex-boyfriend and his fiancée. He makes me feel like I’m not doing anything with my life. So I tell a white lie, that I’m also engaged.
It backfires when I’m invited to his engagement party. Now I need a fake fiancé.
Enter Weston Reynolds, my brother’s best friend and teammate—the guy I’ve secretly had a crush on for years.
Except news of our “engagement” leaks, resulting in endorsement deals for Weston, and he asks me to keep up our ruse for the rest of the offseason.
The more time I spend with him, the more the lines between fake and real blur. I think he might be my forever, but I don’t know if I’m his.
Blue Line is book four in the Orlando Storm series but can be read as a standalone. Tropes: Sports, Fake Engagement, Brother’s Best Friend, Forced Proximity
Intended for audiences 18+, contains mentions of parents death (off page), discussions of side characters being pregnant.
Marissa is a contemporary romance author who loves writing relatable characters and happily ever afters. An avid hockey fan you can usually find her in front of the TV during the season cheering on her favorite NHL team. When not watching hockey you can find her in her garden, reading a novel, watching reruns of Seinfeld or completing a puzzle.
Absolutely devoured this ARC in basically one sitting. I knew I was going to adore Wes & Hadley after meeting (and seeing) them in the previous books in the series.
These two decide to be fake engaged for one night but then it turns into potential endorsement deals for Wes, so they continue the ruse for a little while. But like most fake relationships, the line gets blurred quickly for them.
I loved that Hadleys brother Holt (who was the MMC from Golden Goal) was actually "okay" with the arrangement.
2.5🌶️
These two just fit together perfectly. Wes is one of the few people who support her photography goals and wanted nothing but to watch her succeed, even if it threatened to take her away from him.
I think it's safe to say I have a new fav in this series but maybe I should reread them all just in case! 😏
Huge thank you to Marissa for the ARC. All thoughts & opinions are my own
Weston and Hadley have been friends for a while. Weston is her brother's teammate and his best friend. He considers him a brother. When Hadley fibs and desperately needs a fiancé to save face with her ex and his family, who does she ask? Weston, the man she wants but can't have. Why? It's simple, every man she dates dumps her and finds "the one" next. She knows that she couldn't survive Weston choosing someone else. She'd rather keep him off-limits than suffer the heartache of losing him.
Hadley is a professional photographer struggling to find the right career path. She feels like her photos aren't good enough especially after her ex and his parents continually called her job a hobby and made her feel less. She had taken time off to help her brother raise his daughter and now she is trying to find her place again. She is questioning her life choices and her self worth.
Weston is an only child who has found a family with his teammates. He has been searching for biological family members for years but hasn't been too successful. He has been attracted to Hadley but hasn't made a move because she is his teammates sister. When she needs a favor he us willing to help especially since it gives him an excuse to spend more time with her. To get to know her better.
Soon what started out as a one night favor became fake fiancée and living together. To Weston it was like a dream come true. He wanted Hadley to wear his mother’s ring permanently but he needed her to want that too. Hadley was scared to believe that they could become more without heartbreak. All her relationships ended and she knew that if this one ended it would break her. The more time they spent together, the more it felt real and less pretend. Hadley started to let her guard down a bit until a misunderstanding destroyed what they were building. Weston thought that he waz helping but Hadley thought that he was trying to make her change who she was to fit his plans. What do you do when you feel unworthy? Do you stay and communicate or do you run? Hadley chose to run, leaving two broken hearts not just one.
When people don't communicate with each other problems become bigger than they really are. Same as feelings, hiding how you feel usually hurts more than letting your feelings out. Hadley and Weston need to talk to each other because they are meant for each other. They are better together and they both deserve to be happy. They just need to trust in the love they built first as friends.
I loved this book and would like to thank Marissa James for the ARC. I apologize for the delay in getting my review posted.
Hadley’s not looking for love, especially since every relationship she’s had leads to her ex finding their soulmate. When she crosses her ex and his fiancée, he makes Hadley feel like she’s not making any progress in her life… so she tells a white lie – she’s also engaged. A white lie that backfires when her ex invites her to his engagement party. Hadley’s fake fiancé is a man she’s had a crush on for years… and he’s her brother’s best friend and teammate. The news of Hadley and Weston’s engagement leaks and leads to Weston receiving endorsement deals so he asks Hadley to keep up the ruse for the rest of the offseason. The more time they spend together, the more the lines blur.
BLUE LINE marks the fourth book in the Orlando Storm series and it follows Hadley and Weston (Wes). Hockey sports romances are my favorite sport romances to read, add in a fake dating/engagement scenario and we have a winning recipe.
Wes and Hadley are two people who have been in each other’s orbits for years with Hadley’s brother as their mutual meeting point. I loved seeing them connect over the course of their fake engagement. It’s beautiful to see Wes and Hadley open up to the other and watch their chemistry grow into something more. They have great chemistry and fun banter, though it does get a bit repetitive. There are several open door scenes peppered throughout – all well placed and felt natural.
The Storm team has been a pleasure to meet via each couple in the series so far and I love revisiting past couple’s via a new POV. The Storm team has created such a beautiful sense of family and community. They’re all so supportive and ready to help each other out at a moment’s notice. I am hopeful that there will be more books to come in this series!
I would like to thank the author, Marissa James, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC from Marissa James, so first - thank you so, so much for the chance to read your book before release day!
This was my first Marissa James book, but this is the 4th book in the Orlando Storm series. Of course this book can be read as a standalone, but I totally regret not starting from the beginning. Needless to say, I will be going back and reading books 1-3.
I had such a good time with this book. I went in expecting a cute hockey romance with a fake engagement twist and that's exactly what we got. With a little bit of heart. The setup is chaotic, but in the best way. Running into an ex (lol, ew!), blurting out a fake engagement, then having to find someone to play the part.
And who better than Weston Reynolds - brother's. best. friend. YES, PLEASE, HONEY!! Hockey star and not to mention, the crush she's had since forever. There was yearning. There was tension. There was forced proximity (my personal fav). There were moments that I was giggling (yes, giggling) at my Kindle because you could just feel it through the book.
If you're in the mood for a hockey romance with charm, chemistry, and a couple you can't help but to root for, this one is for you!!
Tropes: ✨ Brother's best friend ✨ Hockey romance ✨ Forced proximity
*Blue Line is book 4 in the Orlando Storm series and is an interconnected standalone. While not necessary to read books 1-3, characters and history may make more sense*
When Hadley panicked and told an ex she's engaged to one of her brother's teammates, her brother's best friend and teammate Weston happily steps in as her date. One night leads to more as word spreads and their engagement leads to brand endorsements for Weston. None of it was ever fake for Weston but can he convince Hadley of that before she runs?
I have been waiting for Wes and Hadley's story as long as Wes has loved her (the beach scene in Break Out...IYKYK) and it is my favorite yet! Fake engagement, forced proximity and brother's best friend are some of my favorite tropes and Marissa did it so well! It was sad seeing Hadley think she's not good enough for Wes given her past relationships but he continued to show up for her every step of the way. The banter between them was fun and of course my favorite found family aspect was strong. I enjoyed seeing some more side characters introduced that I'm hoping lead to future stories 👀
Tropes: ✔️ Pro Hockey Romance ✔️ Fake Engagement ✔️ Brother's Best Friend ✔️ Golden Retriever Hero ✔️ Forced Proximity ✔️ He Falls First ✔️ Found Family
*ARC review Tropes: • Brother’s best friend • He Falls First • Sports Romance / Found Family Chapter 22... that is all. 🤯🤯🤯 Honestly, I’m still reeling from this book. From the moment I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. If you’re a fan of the "best friend’s brother" trope, you need this on your TBR immediately. Wes is everything. Seeing a "he falls first" dynamic is always a win, but the way his character is written, especially with the support system he has, is so refreshing. The brotherhood and the relationship between the teammates really stole the show for me. It wasn't just about the romance; it was about a group of people who genuinely care for and show up for him and Hadley. It made the emotional stakes feel that much higher. The Spice🥵🔥 It was the perfect amount. It didn't feel forced and really added to the chemistry between the characters without taking away from the plot. The Ending: I did NOT see that plot twist coming! My jaw was on the floor. Between that and the chaos of Chapter 22, this book easily jumped into my top reads of the year. If you want a story with a lot of heart, a great team dynamic, and a plot that keeps you guessing until the very last page, go buy this.
- hockey romance - brother's best friend - forced proximity - mutual pining - fake engagement - found family - secret but not so secret feelings
Blue Line follows Holt's sister Hadley, and his teammate/best friend Wesley. They end up in a bit of a fake fiance situation and then have to navigate their way around it, while simultaneously trying not to catch feelings, because duh 😎
Wesley and Hadley are a match made in heaven, and it was so fun to watch them both give into their feelings. This book also has some plot twists which I won't spoil, but they definitely added another layer to the story. Marissa is such a great storyteller, and layers so much depth and emotion into her writing while also keeping things at a casual and easy to read pace.
Blue Line was all great mix of fast burn and slow burn, which I LOVED. And the spice? Oh she was spicin!
The entire Orlando Storm family makes cameos in this book too, which was so fun to see. Wes is a man obsessed and Hadley is every girls girl which lets be honest, is sooo relatable! I'm obsessed with them 😍
Blue Line Marissa James Book 4 of The Orlando Storm series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️ 🏒Hockey Romance 🩵Fake Engagement 🏒Forced Proximity 🩵Found Family 🏒Brothers Best Friend
Hadley didn’t think she would ever find love after all of her ex’s would leave her and then find the person they would marry, but when she started a fake engagement with her brothers best friend she found her forever! Wes was a complete golden retriever for Hadley even when he crossed the line with helping her get a job with his professional hockey team!
I fell in love with Hadley and Wes’s banter and her trying to find out his middle name by trying every name in the book she could think of!
Thank you Marissa James for the opportunity to read and review this arc!
💌 “That’s very deep.” She takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry I haven’t always been the nicest to you. Something about you brings out my sass.” “Ya think?” “Just admit that you enjoy it.” I chuckle. “I don’t not enjoy it, and there’s nothing to apologize for,” I repeat her words back to her because they’re true. 💌 “For fuck’s sake. I thought I was the meddler,” I mutter.
Blue Line was a really engaging sports romance that combined emotional depth with a strong, tension-filled dynamic.
Hadley and Weston’s story builds around a fake engagement that quickly becomes more complicated when real feelings come into play. The setup felt natural, especially with the added pressure from public attention once the relationship becomes known.
Hadley’s character stood out to me. Her hesitation around love, shaped by past relationships where she felt like a stepping stone, added emotional weight to her decisions and made her perspective feel very real.
Weston brought balance to the story. As her brother’s best friend, there was already history and underlying tension, and his willingness to step in and then push for something real added depth to their dynamic.
The blend of fake engagement, long-standing feelings, and emotional vulnerability made this a compelling read from beginning to end.
This was also my first time reading from this author and within this series, and it definitely made me interested in exploring more.
Oh my goodness I was completely swept up in this story. Weston and Hadley were so captivating that I was fully immersed in their journey from start to finish. Watching them finally let their guards down and be honest about their feelings was everything - their chemistry was absolutely undeniable.
And that twist at the end? I did not see it coming. I was so wrapped up in the fake engagement that it completely caught me off guard in the best way.
The found family element in this series continues to be so, so good, and I loved every bit of it. And of course, I’m always a sucker for a great nickname (just wait 😉) this book definitely delivered there too!
What To Expect: 🏒 Hockey Romance ❤️ Found Family 🏠 Forced Proximity 💍 Fake Engagement 🖤 Brother's Best Friend
When Hadley needs help getting out of an awkward situation with one of her exes, she asks Weston for his help, which he is eager to lend. Faking an engagement leads to a forced proximity situation, where both of them are terrible at hiding their true feelings and undeniable attraction. Blue Line is a sweet, romantic, spicy story that will make you laugh, swoon and root for the character’s HEA. The characters have to face their insecurities and their fears in order to face love head on and finally let themselves fall and find their other half, the person who sees, who trusts, who comforts, who supports and who never leaves. Marissa James gives us a heartfelt romance with found family, fake engagement tropes that you will love and read in one go. Thank you for the ARC.
This is the first book in the series that I’ve read and I regret not startint from the beginning. Of course, it can be read as a standalone but I like being familiar with all the characters mentioned, as well as their stories. Regardless, I had no trouble getting immersed in the plot.
This book is sweet, spicy and a quick read. I was hooked from the very beginning and I love when a book captures my attention like that. Hadley and Weston are, each in their own way, very interesting characters with all the insecurities they face on a daily basis. I really got into their everyday routine while they were living together and I absolutely LOVED reading the middle name Hadley constantly used for him 😀 This book met my expectations and motivated me to read the previous books in the series as well.
I don’t know about you but I’m a sucker for a hockey romance, and when it’s a fake relationship/faked engagement when they’ve secretly had feelings for the other - top tier. Now I’ll admit this was my first in this series, and while I know I would have been more feral for this story had I read books 1-3 I had no problems reading it as a stand alone. That being said - the way I flew through this book, the way I need more of this team story in my life you better believe I’ll be starting back at the beginning.
Without any spoilers.. this book will have you laughing at the adorable fake couple; will have you rooting for one or both of them to be brave and take that next step because when they do - it’s perfection.
Blue Line 🌶️: 4 ⭐️4 Tropes: ● Hockey Romance ● Found Family ● Brother’s Best Friend ● Golden Retriever Hero ● Forced Proximity ● Fake Engagement ● It’s always been her ● He falls first
What Weston and Hadley thought was going to be a one night fake engagement turns into a whole new web of lies after a photo of them was “leaked” to sports center. Now they have to continue the charade to help Weston with his endorsement deals. In the process both are internally fighting their attraction and crushes on each other. Weston finally gets Hadley to agree to a real date after he wins their bet. But thanks to miscommunication and fear Hadley causes a third act break up. Don’t worry Weston is a true romantic and makes sure it ends in a VERY happily ever after 😉
thank you so much Marissa for another opportunity to ARC Read for you.
it was so good to see Wes and Hadley finally get together! I feel like their story has been simmering for a hot minute and was so glad when I heard this story was going to be about them.
I really enjoyed their storyline - 2 lonely people who come together to be less lonely, and i love the plot twist that **spoiler!** their friends had been in on it the entire time. you know theyre in love when their friends all come together to make it happen.
I felt like the story was a bit shorter than id have liked - i really enjoyed their characters so really felt like i didnt get enough of them, but overall, I really liked this book!
This was such a fun and emotional fake dating romance.
The setup pulls you in right away, and the tension between the characters builds naturally as the line between fake and real begins to blur. The progression of their relationship feels believable, which makes the emotional moments land even harder.
Weston is exactly the kind of hero that works perfectly for this trope. He is protective, steady, and quietly devoted in a way that makes it impossible not to root for him. There is a great balance between lighter, swoony moments and deeper emotional layers, especially as past experiences and insecurities come into play.
Sweet, a little angsty, and full of chemistry, this is a really satisfying sports romance.
I had the pleasure of beta reading Blue Line and I absolutely adored it!
Marissa has become a close friend and I love her writing so much. She is an automatic 5 star read for me and auto buy.
Wes and Hadley have been tip toeing around each other for years, since her older brother is on the same hockey team as Wes. So when Hadley needs a fake fiancé, she immediately ask Wes for help because he’s just a friend. WRONG! Over time of exploring this fake engagement, feels start to come out and their connection grows bigger.
I love the banter and funny moments between them both.
I love this found family and seeing each character in all books playing roles.
Hadley has never been lucky in love. After every breakup, her exes move on quickly to find “the one.” So when she bumps into her latest ex and he’s getting married only a few months after their breakup, she blurts out that she’s engaged, too. This blunder leads to her using her brother’s best friend and teammate, Weston, as her fake fiancé, which gets him some endorsement deals, so they decide to continue the charade for awhile. She has a fear of commitment, and he, as an orphan, has a fear of being alone. Can they turn their fake, temporary arrangement into a real relationship? This sports, brother’s best friend/teammate, fake dating, close proximity romance is sweet and spicy, so give it a try!
Here we have Hadley and Wes! He is a hockey player and Hadley is a photographer that runs into one of her ex's and learns that he is already engaged. So she decides to say that she is engaged as well to save face(understandable) Enter Wes in the picture. I really enjoyed this story. It is a fake dating, brother's best friend romance. I really enjoyed how they started, how they like to mess with each other, the guessing of someones middle name. Always attracted to each other but never willing to cross that line. I really enjoyed this book but my only issue with it is the 3rd act breakup. It's not my cup of tea and even less when it's for miscomunication. Other than that, it is a really good story that you might enjoy!
Hadley did not have good luck with boyfriends. They always wanted her to change or didn’t take her seriously. Hadley was also out of work. She wanted to be a photographer but couldn’t get hired anywhere. Wes was a Hockeye player and Harley’s brother’s best friend. When Hadley ran into an ex and his fiancé, she said she was also engaged and was then invited to attend the engagement party. Hadley turned to Wes to be her fake boyfriend. Someone leaked a photo of Wes and Hadley and soon Wes was offered some endorsements that wanted pictures of him and his fiancé. I loved both Hadley and Wes. I loved Wes’s strength and Hadley’s sense of humor. They both had things they had to overcome. It was a great “fake engagement” book.
FMC: Hadley Abbott MMC: Weston Reynolds Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Pages: 240 Tropes: Fake Relationship, Hockey Romance, Brother’s Best Friend, Mutual Pining, Close Proximity Setting: Orlando, FL
Thoughts: This was a light, easy read. It was perfect for a summer, vacation, or relaxing read. Hadley and Wes were a fun couple but their mutual pining and lack of self-confidence really dominated the story. They both had their reasons for feeling unworthy, but I felt like a good heart-to-heart would have solved a lot of their problems. I liked the found family aspect. Wes’ family situation really resonated with me and made it easy to understand his outlook. In the end, their romance was good if a little cheesy at times.
This book I literally could not put it down. I finished it in just a few hours! I absolutely loved this series, but Blue Line was hands-down my favorite. I actually picked this book not realizing (or maybe not remembering) it was part of a series, but while it can be read as a standalone, it’s 100% worth diving into the entire Orlando Storm series. It just makes everything hit that much harder.
Wesley… sir, when you love, you LOVE hard. Hadley, thank you for finally leaving those red-flag guys in your past
If you love fake dating or the brother’s best friend trope… this is your sign. 10/10 recommend
Thank you to the author, Marissa, for the advanced copy of this book.
This is a hockey romance/fake engagement book with a twist I didn't see coming. If you're a bit of an overthinker like I am, some of the inner monologue is going to make you feel seen! Our two MCs overthink their way into a bit of a miscommunication situation, but through some tough love from their found family - they finally find their way. She's the one men date right before they find their "One", and he's feeling left behind in the romance department after watching all of his single friends couple up. They've both harbored secret crushes on each other for years - ahhh... the pining! Cute romcom movie moments together make this a satisfying read.
Ah, the old "let's pretend to be together" storyline -- it truly never gets old for me, and I think this just may be my favorite to date! Hadley runs into her ex and blurts out that she's engaged (she's not) and then has to get her brother's best friend Wes to pretend to be her fiancé. Naturally, she compares him to her crappy exes and has a million reasons why it would never work out in real life, but could it? Throw in some spicy scenes, some family issues, tacos, and so many other cute quirks that make this feel so real and relatable, and you can't help but love this book! 5 stars from me, for sure. I read the whole book in one sitting.
Hadley and Weston have had the hots for each other for a while, but neither one wanted to put themselves out there. Hadley was pushed into doing something because she ran into her ex and was invited to his engagement party. Cue the fake fiancée ruse…and Weston was more than happy to oblige her. When their relationship went more public than they expected, Hadley and Weston decided to keep things going and finally admitted they wanted something real. They had a small hiccup, but they finally decided they wanted work things out together. Spicy and sweet! Weston treated Hadley so well, and she didn’t know how to handle it. Loved it!!!
Thank you to Marissa for sending me an ARC copy to provide an honest review.
I absolutely loved the third book in the Orlando Storm series, so I had to pick this one up—especially since it includes one of my all-time favorite tropes: fake dating. Add in brother’s best friend, and I was immediately sold.
Weston completely stole my heart. He is so unbelievably down bad for Hadley, and I loved every second of it. Their chemistry was everything. What made their relationship even better was that they already had feelings for each other, but still took the time to truly get to know one another on a deeper level. Watching them learn more about each other made the romance feel so genuine and heartfelt.
And can we talk about that plot twist at the end? I did not see it coming at all. My jaw was literally on the floor.
If you love hockey romance, brother’s best friend, and fake dating, you definitely need to check this one out.
✨ARC Review✨ Oh man oh man. I knew Wes was gonna be my favorite due to Marissa’s previous book, but she absolutely nailed this storyline. I had no idea what I was in store for but the second the ARC hit my inbox I was giddy. I actually had to stop reading it for two days or else I would’ve finished it in one sitting and I knew that would’ve made me sad it was over.
By far one of my favorite fake dating/brother’s best friend hockey romance. Like how can it get any better than that?! 😊 Thank you Marissa for sharing Wes & Hadley with us!
A very cute story!! I read this as a stand alone (I haven’t read the other books in the series yet but I totally plan to now!!). It was easy to follow and could ACTUALLY be enjoyed on its over vs. in a series. Marissa does a great job of giving the series historical background without being awkward and overly explain-y. Definitely worth the read!
Wes & Hadley are too dang cute. I literally kicked my feet and giggled while reading this and just wanted them to finally get together. We love a fake dating/engaged plot
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this as an arc.
I was actually really enjoying this, ad it 1000% would have been five stars, but the the 3rd act separation was so !! fucking !! stupid !! that it immediately made me dislike the FMC, make this three stars, and hope the MMC finds someone better.
That's how stupid it was. And it was at like, 87%, which says a lot.
I honest to god hope the MMC has a huge family, because that green-flag of a man absolutely deserves a large family.