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Boston Rebels #4
Goal Line
As the youngest heir of the Hartmann fortune and the backup goalie for the Boston Rebels, the pro hockey team my family owns, I’ve spent my life being the peacemaker in my cutthroat family and the goalie that my teammates can depend on.
I have only one weakness: my coach’s daughter, Evangeline Wilcott.
Eva is a pairs figure skater, and my life-long best friend. I’ve always wanted more, but she friend zoned me back in high school and we’ve lived thousands of miles apart since.
Eight years later, a secret pregnancy is threatening her skating career. When she’s rushed to the hospital right before Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals, I panic. Now, my team’s loss lies solely on my shoulders and I could be traded.
When Eva needs help, suggesting we get married is the easiest split-second decision I’ve ever made. A grandchild could keep me in Boston playing for my family’s team, and I’d do anything to take care of Eva.
We agree to a marriage based on friendship, but once Eva and I are living together, all those artificial walls we’ve built start crumbling. Now, I’m making up for all the years I couldn’t call her mine.
But when her past reappears in our new life together, her happiness and my family’s reputation are both threatened. And maybe I’m not so different from my family after all, because I find there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep my wife safe and happy.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Goal Line is book 4 in the Boston Rebel series, which features interconnected standalones about the players on a fictional professional hockey team.
I have only one weakness: my coach’s daughter, Evangeline Wilcott.
Eva is a pairs figure skater, and my life-long best friend. I’ve always wanted more, but she friend zoned me back in high school and we’ve lived thousands of miles apart since.
Eight years later, a secret pregnancy is threatening her skating career. When she’s rushed to the hospital right before Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals, I panic. Now, my team’s loss lies solely on my shoulders and I could be traded.
When Eva needs help, suggesting we get married is the easiest split-second decision I’ve ever made. A grandchild could keep me in Boston playing for my family’s team, and I’d do anything to take care of Eva.
We agree to a marriage based on friendship, but once Eva and I are living together, all those artificial walls we’ve built start crumbling. Now, I’m making up for all the years I couldn’t call her mine.
But when her past reappears in our new life together, her happiness and my family’s reputation are both threatened. And maybe I’m not so different from my family after all, because I find there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep my wife safe and happy.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Goal Line is book 4 in the Boston Rebel series, which features interconnected standalones about the players on a fictional professional hockey team.
Audiobook
Published November 3, 2025
1709 people are currently reading
9432 people want to read
About the author
Julia Connors
14 books1,173 followersJulia grew up on the warm and sunny West Coast, but her first decision as an adult was to trade her flip-flops for snow boots and move to Boston.
She’s been enjoying everything that New England has to offer for over two decades, and now that she’s acclimated to the snowy winters and finally found all the places to get good sushi and tacos, she has zero regrets.
You can usually find her in front of her computer, but when she stops writing she’s most likely to be found outdoors, preferably with a pair of skis or snowshoes strapped to her feet in winter, or on a paddleboard in the summer.
She’s been enjoying everything that New England has to offer for over two decades, and now that she’s acclimated to the snowy winters and finally found all the places to get good sushi and tacos, she has zero regrets.
You can usually find her in front of her computer, but when she stops writing she’s most likely to be found outdoors, preferably with a pair of skis or snowshoes strapped to her feet in winter, or on a paddleboard in the summer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 682 reviews
August 16, 2025
There's nothing better than a friends to lovers story. The pining is top tier. Sometimes, I enjoy it more than angst.
Luke and Eva have been best friends since they were babies. Luke is now a goalie for the NHL, and Eva is a pairs figure skater. Even though its been long distance these past few years, they're still closer than ever.
While during one of the most important games of his career, Eva becomes sick. Luke panics, and the game is lost. Luke is very worried because Eva is pregnant and still keeping it from almost everyone.
This incident causes Eva to panic. How will she afford to have this baby? Luke's answer? Let's get married.
Which is crazy right? It's not his baby. They've always been just friends... or have they? Whew, I kid ya not everyone saw it but them. They were so, so blind.
Everything starts snowballing after the wedding. Eva is still practicing, and Luke is trying his best to be a better player. And then disaster happens, and suddenly everything they've been working at is in trouble. But Luke has resources. And he plays them!
Damn I loved Luke. Super golden retriever, to the detriment of himself. But he takes such food care of Eva when a lot of people wouldn't. He was such a protector, right from the first time.
When they FINALLY get together, I wanted to jump for joy. All that time spent apart. Still! they're mature enough to know now.
And dropping that tibit at the end! Whoooooo?!
Luke and Eva have been best friends since they were babies. Luke is now a goalie for the NHL, and Eva is a pairs figure skater. Even though its been long distance these past few years, they're still closer than ever.
While during one of the most important games of his career, Eva becomes sick. Luke panics, and the game is lost. Luke is very worried because Eva is pregnant and still keeping it from almost everyone.
This incident causes Eva to panic. How will she afford to have this baby? Luke's answer? Let's get married.
Which is crazy right? It's not his baby. They've always been just friends... or have they? Whew, I kid ya not everyone saw it but them. They were so, so blind.
Everything starts snowballing after the wedding. Eva is still practicing, and Luke is trying his best to be a better player. And then disaster happens, and suddenly everything they've been working at is in trouble. But Luke has resources. And he plays them!
Damn I loved Luke. Super golden retriever, to the detriment of himself. But he takes such food care of Eva when a lot of people wouldn't. He was such a protector, right from the first time.
When they FINALLY get together, I wanted to jump for joy. All that time spent apart. Still! they're mature enough to know now.
And dropping that tibit at the end! Whoooooo?!
November 4, 2025
Luke and Eva have been best friends since childhood, always there for each other through life’s highs and lows. So when Eva unexpectedly finds herself pregnant after a one night stand, Luke doesn’t think twice about stepping up to support her, even agreeing to marry her. What begins as a selfless act between best friends soon awakens long buried feelings neither of them can ignore.
As they navigate marriage, impending parenthood, and the changing dynamics of their relationship, Luke and Eva must face what their bond truly means.
Sean Masters and Savannah Peachwood are absolutely phenomenal as Luke and Eva. They perfectly capture the tenderness, chemistry, and deep rooted friendship between the two, making their journey from best friends to lovers both heartwarming and emotional.
This story is a fantastic addition to the Boston Rebels series. It's heartfelt, beautifully narrated, and an absolute must listen!
Thank you, Julia Connors for the ALC.
As they navigate marriage, impending parenthood, and the changing dynamics of their relationship, Luke and Eva must face what their bond truly means.
Sean Masters and Savannah Peachwood are absolutely phenomenal as Luke and Eva. They perfectly capture the tenderness, chemistry, and deep rooted friendship between the two, making their journey from best friends to lovers both heartwarming and emotional.
This story is a fantastic addition to the Boston Rebels series. It's heartfelt, beautifully narrated, and an absolute must listen!
Thank you, Julia Connors for the ALC.
November 3, 2025
#Review: *Goal Line* - Julia Connors - ARC/ALC [18+]
4.9/5✨
3/5🌶️
So grateful to be part of Julia's permanent ARC team and I need to thank her for this splendid e-ARC and ALC.🫶🏼
Eva and Christopher were part of the perfect skating team, but one which fooled Eva a bit regarding Christopher's feelings. That upset her so bad that she ended up making a huge mistake by having a one night stand with a complete stranger. But that wasn't all.. Unfortunately, that night would come with a surprise pregnancy too. And that could completely destroy all the plans these two had for their skating competition.
Luke was Eva's best friend even from when they were both in diapers and they always fooled people that they were more than that. Maybe they were right all along. Why? Because both of them had secret crushes for one another but were too afraid to loose what they had if they would confess their real feelings. But when Luke proposed to Eva to be his wife to solve some of their problems, things were begining to shift and lines became to be even more blurred. Will they be able to save their beautiful friendship and not complicate it by getting married?
OMG! This book was sooo good!! We had a really slow burn, a super cute golden retriever and a wonderful friendship, which slowly blossomed into such a beautiful love story. I cannot express in words how much I loved Luke, how amazing he was with Eva and how well he reacted to her surprise situation. He just stepped into the 'dad' role and it was the sweetest thing ever! This story had a bit of angst too, because Eva's life wasn't that easy thanks to her mom, who constantly tried to handle her career and every aspect of her life. Also, Luke had to overcome some things too, in order to separate his professional life from the personal one.
Ohhh, Savannah Peachwood and Sean Masters did such an amazing job with this book!! I already adored it after I just read it, but the audio made me love it even more! This duet was perfect and I had such a wonderful time listening to these beautiful voices and to get immersed again into this awesome story.🩵 Their voices and accents are so versatile and I liked how they got in the other characters skin. I loved this experience and I had such a lovely time to revisit this book🥰.
This has definitely become my favorite book by Julia Connors, adoring everything about this story! The plotline was wonderful, the characters so loveable and the whole hockey gang was so much fun🩵. I cannot wait for the next book of this series, which already feels so promising😍.
✨Tropes
#BestFriendsToLovers
#MarriageOfConvenience
#AccidentalPregnancy (not his baby)
#ForcedProximity
#GoldenRetriever
#CinnamonRoll
#BoyObsessed
#SportsRomance
#Hockey
#FigureSkating
4.9/5✨
3/5🌶️
So grateful to be part of Julia's permanent ARC team and I need to thank her for this splendid e-ARC and ALC.🫶🏼
Eva and Christopher were part of the perfect skating team, but one which fooled Eva a bit regarding Christopher's feelings. That upset her so bad that she ended up making a huge mistake by having a one night stand with a complete stranger. But that wasn't all.. Unfortunately, that night would come with a surprise pregnancy too. And that could completely destroy all the plans these two had for their skating competition.
Luke was Eva's best friend even from when they were both in diapers and they always fooled people that they were more than that. Maybe they were right all along. Why? Because both of them had secret crushes for one another but were too afraid to loose what they had if they would confess their real feelings. But when Luke proposed to Eva to be his wife to solve some of their problems, things were begining to shift and lines became to be even more blurred. Will they be able to save their beautiful friendship and not complicate it by getting married?
OMG! This book was sooo good!! We had a really slow burn, a super cute golden retriever and a wonderful friendship, which slowly blossomed into such a beautiful love story. I cannot express in words how much I loved Luke, how amazing he was with Eva and how well he reacted to her surprise situation. He just stepped into the 'dad' role and it was the sweetest thing ever! This story had a bit of angst too, because Eva's life wasn't that easy thanks to her mom, who constantly tried to handle her career and every aspect of her life. Also, Luke had to overcome some things too, in order to separate his professional life from the personal one.
Ohhh, Savannah Peachwood and Sean Masters did such an amazing job with this book!! I already adored it after I just read it, but the audio made me love it even more! This duet was perfect and I had such a wonderful time listening to these beautiful voices and to get immersed again into this awesome story.🩵 Their voices and accents are so versatile and I liked how they got in the other characters skin. I loved this experience and I had such a lovely time to revisit this book🥰.
This has definitely become my favorite book by Julia Connors, adoring everything about this story! The plotline was wonderful, the characters so loveable and the whole hockey gang was so much fun🩵. I cannot wait for the next book of this series, which already feels so promising😍.
✨Tropes
#BestFriendsToLovers
#MarriageOfConvenience
#AccidentalPregnancy (not his baby)
#ForcedProximity
#GoldenRetriever
#CinnamonRoll
#BoyObsessed
#SportsRomance
#Hockey
#FigureSkating
August 20, 2025
Goal Line by Julia Connors
4,25/5⭐
2,5/5🌶️
I've been eager to dive into this book ever since I finished Cross-Checked! Normally, I don’t gravitate toward childhood friends to lovers stories, but this one is just too cute and sweet. I absolutely adored how Luke always puts Eva first. Their friendship deepens their emotional connection, and it’s adorable how they’ve been friends since childhood. They both have feelings for each other, but have never dared to cross that line and risk ruining what they have. That is, until Eva becomes pregnant from a one-night stand, and Luke steps up to propose a marriage of convenience to support her.
Luke is a hockey goalie, still young and aiming to prove himself, especially since he's playing for a team owned by his dad. He’s such great husband material—super sweet, understanding, supportive, thoughtful, and protective. The way he goes out of his way to make Eva happy is heartwarming! He helps her chase her dreams and will do anything to protect her and the baby. From the very beginning, it’s clear that he is down bad for Eva. He treats her like a queen, and everyone around them can see how head-over-heels he is for her.
Eva is a determined figure skater with Olympic dreams. She’s beautiful, strong-willed, and incredibly hardworking! I love her drive and ambition. She’s always kept her feelings for Luke hidden, but after their marriage, things get more complicated as they grow closer. Watching their relationship evolve from friends to lovers feels so natural! I appreciated how they navigate their emotions and communicate so well, understanding each other deeply. Their friendship lays a solid foundation for their love, and it's wonderful to see them be vulnerable with one another. Overall, this book is a fantastic addition to the series! I loved seeing familiar characters return and how their friendships grow even stronger. I'm eager to read the next book!
4,25/5⭐
2,5/5🌶️
I've been eager to dive into this book ever since I finished Cross-Checked! Normally, I don’t gravitate toward childhood friends to lovers stories, but this one is just too cute and sweet. I absolutely adored how Luke always puts Eva first. Their friendship deepens their emotional connection, and it’s adorable how they’ve been friends since childhood. They both have feelings for each other, but have never dared to cross that line and risk ruining what they have. That is, until Eva becomes pregnant from a one-night stand, and Luke steps up to propose a marriage of convenience to support her.
Luke is a hockey goalie, still young and aiming to prove himself, especially since he's playing for a team owned by his dad. He’s such great husband material—super sweet, understanding, supportive, thoughtful, and protective. The way he goes out of his way to make Eva happy is heartwarming! He helps her chase her dreams and will do anything to protect her and the baby. From the very beginning, it’s clear that he is down bad for Eva. He treats her like a queen, and everyone around them can see how head-over-heels he is for her.
Eva is a determined figure skater with Olympic dreams. She’s beautiful, strong-willed, and incredibly hardworking! I love her drive and ambition. She’s always kept her feelings for Luke hidden, but after their marriage, things get more complicated as they grow closer. Watching their relationship evolve from friends to lovers feels so natural! I appreciated how they navigate their emotions and communicate so well, understanding each other deeply. Their friendship lays a solid foundation for their love, and it's wonderful to see them be vulnerable with one another. Overall, this book is a fantastic addition to the series! I loved seeing familiar characters return and how their friendships grow even stronger. I'm eager to read the next book!
November 2, 2025
Will I ever get over childhood friends-to-lovers? I don’t think so, especially when they are written like this one! Luke will do anything to support his best friend, Eve, including marrying her so she has insurance coverage during her unexpected, secret pregnancy. Struggling with the changes to her dream of being an Olympic figure skater along the unknown of pending motherhood, Eve accepts her best friend’s offer. Together they navigate their new dynamic and the romantic feelings they’ve both been harboring for each other. The spice, the feelings, the support…goodness, it’s exceptionally heartwarming! I absolutely loved the epilogues in this book, nothing like an exceptional happily ever after. 4.25 stars
Thanks to the author and Valentine PR for the eARC.
Edited 11/2/25 for audiobook:
This was a swoon worthy duet performance! Narrators Sean Masters and Savannah Peachwood brought a sweet childhood friends-to-lovers hockey romance to life. I adored their dynamic and emotions. Thanks to the author for the ALC.
Thanks to the author and Valentine PR for the eARC.
Edited 11/2/25 for audiobook:
This was a swoon worthy duet performance! Narrators Sean Masters and Savannah Peachwood brought a sweet childhood friends-to-lovers hockey romance to life. I adored their dynamic and emotions. Thanks to the author for the ALC.
August 24, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goal Line – E-ARC Review!!
Okay… okay, okay. I need to breathe because, wow, I’m overwhelmed with so many emotions right now. I’m not crying, I swear I’m not, but I feel like I’ve just cried.
And honestly? It’s beautiful when a book deserves that feeling.Goal Line deserved it — every single bit of it.
This book was spectacular. Beautiful. So full of everything.
Reading Friends to Lovers stories is never easy. There's always that card they pull — the “it’s always been you” line — but most never manage to truly make it work.
And when you add an Accidental Pregnancy that's not the hero’s? That’s tricky. Usually messy. Complicated. Full of third parties and uncomfortable dynamics.
But not here. Here, Julia executed both tropes so gracefully, so naturally. It was divine.
Julia, if you’re reading this: you outdid yourself. Truly.
my boy Luke🧎🏻♀️💚
Luke broke my heart. Into a million pieces. But then… he fixed it. With his actions, his words, his silences, the laughter he brought, and just... everything he did. My heart is whole again, and he now lives rent-free in my head. Forever.
He was a wonderful man. If I had to say anything negative about him, it would be: What the fck, man, why did you wait so long?!..... I mean… that! You know?
But at the same time, you taught me something, Luke. We’re always in such a rush to do things, we don’t stop to think about the when or the who. And for that… you earned the badge of Best Book Boyfriend.
my sweet Eva 🌸❤️
Eva was an amazing woman. It might sound like a cliché when someone says, “She’s one of the best heroines I’ve ever read,” but... she truly was.
Her situation wasn’t easy. Pregnant, in the public eye, an athlete, hiding it all for a reason… that’s heavy. It’s lonely. It’s painful.
What I loved most is that she didn’t need a man’s power to make things right. She was strong enough on her own.
She faced it, owned it, and said: this is what I don’t want — and I’m ready to change it.
That’s growth. That’s strength. That’s Eva.
Overall, this book was just… lovely. Full of love, yes, but also full of real, unconditional friendship. There’s something so comforting about seeing a group of friends who truly support you, who lift you up, who want to see you thrive.
Every single one of them added something meaningful to Luke and Eva’s journey — and I loved that.
I also appreciated the way the story weaved in the relationships with their parents. It felt genuine and moving.
And watching everyone chase their goals, overcome what held them back, and grow — that hit me hard.
Because that’s what this book is about: growth, connection, and becoming better people — as friends, as partners, and as parents.
And that Sneak Peek.........
Julia… girl.
That sneak peek of the next book? That’s giving forbidden trope, and honestly? I’m into it. I’m more than ready. No objections.
Also, Luke’s brothers? Mysterious, kind of legal, kind of not…
Are we flirting with dark romance here? Because if so: I wouldn’t be mad about it.
So yeah.
This was my honest, emotional review. And if you made it this far, here’s what I have to say:
Read the book. It’s worth every word.
Okay… okay, okay. I need to breathe because, wow, I’m overwhelmed with so many emotions right now. I’m not crying, I swear I’m not, but I feel like I’ve just cried.
And honestly? It’s beautiful when a book deserves that feeling.Goal Line deserved it — every single bit of it.
This book was spectacular. Beautiful. So full of everything.
Reading Friends to Lovers stories is never easy. There's always that card they pull — the “it’s always been you” line — but most never manage to truly make it work.
And when you add an Accidental Pregnancy that's not the hero’s? That’s tricky. Usually messy. Complicated. Full of third parties and uncomfortable dynamics.
But not here. Here, Julia executed both tropes so gracefully, so naturally. It was divine.
Julia, if you’re reading this: you outdid yourself. Truly.
my boy Luke🧎🏻♀️💚
Luke broke my heart. Into a million pieces. But then… he fixed it. With his actions, his words, his silences, the laughter he brought, and just... everything he did. My heart is whole again, and he now lives rent-free in my head. Forever.
He was a wonderful man. If I had to say anything negative about him, it would be: What the fck, man, why did you wait so long?!..... I mean… that! You know?
But at the same time, you taught me something, Luke. We’re always in such a rush to do things, we don’t stop to think about the when or the who. And for that… you earned the badge of Best Book Boyfriend.
my sweet Eva 🌸❤️
Eva was an amazing woman. It might sound like a cliché when someone says, “She’s one of the best heroines I’ve ever read,” but... she truly was.
Her situation wasn’t easy. Pregnant, in the public eye, an athlete, hiding it all for a reason… that’s heavy. It’s lonely. It’s painful.
What I loved most is that she didn’t need a man’s power to make things right. She was strong enough on her own.
She faced it, owned it, and said: this is what I don’t want — and I’m ready to change it.
That’s growth. That’s strength. That’s Eva.
Overall, this book was just… lovely. Full of love, yes, but also full of real, unconditional friendship. There’s something so comforting about seeing a group of friends who truly support you, who lift you up, who want to see you thrive.
Every single one of them added something meaningful to Luke and Eva’s journey — and I loved that.
I also appreciated the way the story weaved in the relationships with their parents. It felt genuine and moving.
And watching everyone chase their goals, overcome what held them back, and grow — that hit me hard.
Because that’s what this book is about: growth, connection, and becoming better people — as friends, as partners, and as parents.
And that Sneak Peek.........
Julia… girl.
That sneak peek of the next book? That’s giving forbidden trope, and honestly? I’m into it. I’m more than ready. No objections.
Also, Luke’s brothers? Mysterious, kind of legal, kind of not…
Are we flirting with dark romance here? Because if so: I wouldn’t be mad about it.
So yeah.
This was my honest, emotional review. And if you made it this far, here’s what I have to say:
Read the book. It’s worth every word.
August 16, 2025
I devoured Goal Line in one sitting—Julia Connors knows how to deliver on all my favorite sports romance tropes. Childhood friends-to-lovers, marriage of convenience, surprise pregnancy, and a golden retriever hockey hero? Yes, please! Luke is instantly lovable, equal parts goofy and earnest, and his determination to help Eva when life gets complicated made me root for him even more.
Eva is a strong, resilient heroine dealing with a secret pregnancy and the sudden need to ask Luke for help when her world is about to change. Their marriage of convenience starts off as a split-second decision but quickly evolves into real partnership, trust, and deep feelings. The chemistry sizzles and the slow-burn friends-to-lovers dynamic is exactly the kind of emotional payoff I love. Found family vibes and complicated friendships round out the cast—there’s just enough drama, banter, and support to make this Boston Rebels installment feel both familiar and fresh.
A few plot threads wrapped up quickly and some side stories could’ve gone deeper, but overall, Luke and Eva’s romance was sweet, heartfelt, and exactly what I wanted from a contemporary hockey love story. If you’re a sucker for sports romance with heart, low drama, and strong character growth, Goal Line scores high—and I can’t wait to see what Connors gives us next!
Eva is a strong, resilient heroine dealing with a secret pregnancy and the sudden need to ask Luke for help when her world is about to change. Their marriage of convenience starts off as a split-second decision but quickly evolves into real partnership, trust, and deep feelings. The chemistry sizzles and the slow-burn friends-to-lovers dynamic is exactly the kind of emotional payoff I love. Found family vibes and complicated friendships round out the cast—there’s just enough drama, banter, and support to make this Boston Rebels installment feel both familiar and fresh.
A few plot threads wrapped up quickly and some side stories could’ve gone deeper, but overall, Luke and Eva’s romance was sweet, heartfelt, and exactly what I wanted from a contemporary hockey love story. If you’re a sucker for sports romance with heart, low drama, and strong character growth, Goal Line scores high—and I can’t wait to see what Connors gives us next!
August 9, 2025
i love julia connors so much it’s not funny. my girl KNOWS how to write a book!!! truly not one flaw in this <3
i was so freakin excited when i found out we were getting luke and eva’s book!! this was such a good friends to lovers, and adding the accidental pregnancy of it all made it perfect! luke rode so hard for eva & the baby (i won’t spoil the name). he was NOT letting anyone mess with his family!! my protective king!
and obviously eva was flawless (as all women are). i’m so happy that she found a family in boston and that she was welcomed into the close group, like it was nothing. my girl found happiness and i love that for her <3
i know i always say i’m excited for what’s to come but you have NO IDEA how much i can’t wait for what julia writes next!!!
thank you julia for the arc!!
i was so freakin excited when i found out we were getting luke and eva’s book!! this was such a good friends to lovers, and adding the accidental pregnancy of it all made it perfect! luke rode so hard for eva & the baby (i won’t spoil the name). he was NOT letting anyone mess with his family!! my protective king!
and obviously eva was flawless (as all women are). i’m so happy that she found a family in boston and that she was welcomed into the close group, like it was nothing. my girl found happiness and i love that for her <3
i know i always say i’m excited for what’s to come but you have NO IDEA how much i can’t wait for what julia writes next!!!
thank you julia for the arc!!
August 23, 2025
This is how you properly do a friends-to-lovers romance😍
Two friends, both athletes, secretly in love with each other, decide to get married for convenience. Sounds easy enough, right? Well… living under the same roof means that all that tension won't stay hidden for long.
Luke? Sweet, caring, supportive… but also 🔥🥵 when the moment calls for it. Total golden retriever energy, and I loved every second of it.
The story touches on insecurities about failure and the fear of not living up to your parents’ standards, but ultimately gives you the warm fuzzy feeling that they’re stronger together.
If you’re a sports romance lover, obsessed with the friends-to-lovers trope, and you melt for golden retriever MMCs — this one’s for you!
---------
Thanks to Valentine PR for the ARC!
Two friends, both athletes, secretly in love with each other, decide to get married for convenience. Sounds easy enough, right? Well… living under the same roof means that all that tension won't stay hidden for long.
Luke? Sweet, caring, supportive… but also 🔥🥵 when the moment calls for it. Total golden retriever energy, and I loved every second of it.
The story touches on insecurities about failure and the fear of not living up to your parents’ standards, but ultimately gives you the warm fuzzy feeling that they’re stronger together.
If you’re a sports romance lover, obsessed with the friends-to-lovers trope, and you melt for golden retriever MMCs — this one’s for you!
---------
Thanks to Valentine PR for the ARC!
Currently reading
November 3, 2025Available now!
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: https://bit.ly/4jWnDWR
Listen today!
Audible: https://bit.ly/4hG0pEl
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3ZoOFxZ
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: https://bit.ly/4jWnDWR
Listen today!
Audible: https://bit.ly/4hG0pEl
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3ZoOFxZ
November 3, 2025
📚🎧ARC/ALC Review🎧📚
🎙️The duet performance by 🎤Sean Masters & Savannah Peachwood🎤 was incredible! 👏👏👏Both of these narrators are talented in their own right and together they were a force of nature. I *read* this story back in August of this year (2025) and it was one of the most heartfelt childhood-friends-to-more stories that I had read in a long while. There are circumstances surrounding this story that made for incredibly emotional journey in one way or another and having Sean & Savannah not just narrate this story but truly develop this story made for even more potent experience and elevated the story to new heights. It was an incredible experience listening to ⛸️💚Goal Line. 💚🏒
The power that Julia Connors wields with her pen is pure wizardry. Every single book that I have read by her has been grantastically grand, believe it, in one way or another or all the ways! I honestly wish she had a backlist of a hundred books for me to look forward to as I await her next Great Novel. She is incredibly talented and I am so lucky that I bumped into her work last year (2024) because she has yet to let me down in any capacity. Her storylines are incredibly heartfelt and thought out and she has yet, in my experience with her work, missed a single step. That’s just so rare and as a lover of romance fiction, it makes my heart very happy!
Goal Line followed the incredible ease that all the stories in this series have had. It’s amazing to me how a story that is riddled with landmines can be so expertly unfolded without a single landmine exploding in epic disaster. Was there conflict in Evie & Luke’s journey? Um…yeah!! lol It just was dealt with a sense of “adulting” that allows the reader to sink into the story and never really get twitchy. GOD, I love this woman so much! This best of friends since childhood to more has to be one of the best stories I have read of its kind in a while! I was so content that it’s ridiculous! LOL But also, the story had surprises in it so it wasn’t predictable, just natural. If that makes sense.
One other thing that Julia always delivers is big family or friends or both energy as part of her stories and those are the absolute best kind of romances, I love to get lost in. She also delivers “growth” on all fronts. Her characters grow along with the story and that is so important for me to be able to believe in them. Reading Evie & Luke grow as individuals, as friends, and as a couple made my heart soar and made me believe in their love tenfold. I cannot wait for the audiobook of this story to be available because I know Julia is going to cast a team that will elevate this story as she has in the past to the point that my poor little heart might burst! I love this team and the family they have created both as teammates and as friends! This is a story and series I can easily see myself re-experiencing over and over in the years to come! <3
🎙️The duet performance by 🎤Sean Masters & Savannah Peachwood🎤 was incredible! 👏👏👏Both of these narrators are talented in their own right and together they were a force of nature. I *read* this story back in August of this year (2025) and it was one of the most heartfelt childhood-friends-to-more stories that I had read in a long while. There are circumstances surrounding this story that made for incredibly emotional journey in one way or another and having Sean & Savannah not just narrate this story but truly develop this story made for even more potent experience and elevated the story to new heights. It was an incredible experience listening to ⛸️💚Goal Line. 💚🏒
The power that Julia Connors wields with her pen is pure wizardry. Every single book that I have read by her has been grantastically grand, believe it, in one way or another or all the ways! I honestly wish she had a backlist of a hundred books for me to look forward to as I await her next Great Novel. She is incredibly talented and I am so lucky that I bumped into her work last year (2024) because she has yet to let me down in any capacity. Her storylines are incredibly heartfelt and thought out and she has yet, in my experience with her work, missed a single step. That’s just so rare and as a lover of romance fiction, it makes my heart very happy!
Goal Line followed the incredible ease that all the stories in this series have had. It’s amazing to me how a story that is riddled with landmines can be so expertly unfolded without a single landmine exploding in epic disaster. Was there conflict in Evie & Luke’s journey? Um…yeah!! lol It just was dealt with a sense of “adulting” that allows the reader to sink into the story and never really get twitchy. GOD, I love this woman so much! This best of friends since childhood to more has to be one of the best stories I have read of its kind in a while! I was so content that it’s ridiculous! LOL But also, the story had surprises in it so it wasn’t predictable, just natural. If that makes sense.
One other thing that Julia always delivers is big family or friends or both energy as part of her stories and those are the absolute best kind of romances, I love to get lost in. She also delivers “growth” on all fronts. Her characters grow along with the story and that is so important for me to be able to believe in them. Reading Evie & Luke grow as individuals, as friends, and as a couple made my heart soar and made me believe in their love tenfold. I cannot wait for the audiobook of this story to be available because I know Julia is going to cast a team that will elevate this story as she has in the past to the point that my poor little heart might burst! I love this team and the family they have created both as teammates and as friends! This is a story and series I can easily see myself re-experiencing over and over in the years to come! <3
August 31, 2025
DNF
I thought he H was a virgin, but for me it’s a fake v. He has a playboy reputation and even tho he never put the d in the v, he did everything else with them - and those girls were the polar opposite of the h bc he always wanted the h the most.
This is the reason I hate friends to lovers.
Silver point is that the h is pregnant with another man’s baby.
But after skimming I won’t read this.
I thought he H was a virgin, but for me it’s a fake v. He has a playboy reputation and even tho he never put the d in the v, he did everything else with them - and those girls were the polar opposite of the h bc he always wanted the h the most.
This is the reason I hate friends to lovers.
Silver point is that the h is pregnant with another man’s baby.
But after skimming I won’t read this.
August 23, 2025
This was a solid 3.5 star read for me! I have been wanting to read this series for a while so was excited to jump into this one. The few challenges I had were that it was a little too long for not a whole lot happening, and I had a hard time seeing the chemistry between the characters. I have been really enjoying friends to lovers but realized after reading this one that there have to be some nuances. There has to be an underlying chemistry which I didn't fully experience when reading these two. It was very clear how Luke felt about Eva, and OMG do I LOVE a man down bad. Luke was the definition of down bad, but Eva was a harder read for me. This one took a while to manifest- nothing really happened between these two until about 60%, but Julia did a good job giving us teases and questions. Like who is going to make the first move? I did like the aspect of Eva being pregnant by someone else's baby. For some reason I kept thinking that Eva's skating partner was going to turn out bad, but luckily that didn't happen. I liked how these two came together and everything wrapped up with a pretty bow, but this did not need to be almost 500 pages. There wasn't enough conflict to justify that.
Eva has found herself in a jam. She is pregnant from a one-night stand mid-year. This was her and her skating partner's year. Now she is too scared to tell her parents what is going on. She really doesn't know what to do, and then her best friend Luke comes up with a crazy idea. To get married. To him. The boy she had a crush on all those years ago but has been trying to keep in the friend zone since then. Now she is going to be married to him with no end in sight. How are they going to make this work? He says that all marriages start with friendship why can't theirs. She doesn't know how to act now that they are living together. She doesn't now how to fight these pregnancy hormones that are telling her she wants her best friend. Her best friend who is treating her like a queen- getting her everything she needs. Providing for her. Being the dad this baby needs. And so she gives into it. She lets herself acknowledge what she is feeling which is that she wants her best friend as a real husband. The moment she realizes that what she thought about his night life is so wrong and that he has been saving himself for her- GONER. Now they are living this life together, and everything has shifted. But then Eva runs into her baby's daddy unexpectedly, and all was not as it seemed when they were together. Will he put up a fight to be a part of the baby's life? Will this all blow up in their faces? All she knows is that Luke is in her corner which makes her feel all kinds of things including invincible.
Luke has only ever wanted one thing- his best friend as more than a friend. He doesn't really know how he read everything so wrong all those years ago but ever since then he has found himself stuck. But that is ok because he wants her in his life however she will let him. But now she needs his help. She is pregnant from a one-night stand and doesn't want to face the music alone. So Luke does what he has wanted to do for YEARS- he asks her to marry him. He says that they can be friends. He wants her to set the rules, but secretly he is beyond thrilled. He is going to take this as his chance to show her how good they can be together. He is going to pull out all the stops but let her lead. He doesn't care that this baby isn't biologically his because it is HIS. Just like Eva is HIS. Because he has always been hers. He knows he has a reputation but what no one knows is that he hasn't been with anyone because they weren't Eva. And the longer they are married the more it becomes obvious that they want this. They want each other. So he comes clean explains how he has felt. How he has always felt. And that NOTHING could make him change his feelings for her. He just hopes that she feels the same way because he doesn't want this to end. He has never felt so complete so at peace.
Though this was good NOT great, it was entertaining. I liked the setting- the sports aspect. I liked the empowerment of women athletes. I liked the side characters and that we got hints of what had happened to get everyone coupled off but left me wanting more. I will probably go back and read the first few books.
Thank you to Valentine PR and Julia for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Eva has found herself in a jam. She is pregnant from a one-night stand mid-year. This was her and her skating partner's year. Now she is too scared to tell her parents what is going on. She really doesn't know what to do, and then her best friend Luke comes up with a crazy idea. To get married. To him. The boy she had a crush on all those years ago but has been trying to keep in the friend zone since then. Now she is going to be married to him with no end in sight. How are they going to make this work? He says that all marriages start with friendship why can't theirs. She doesn't know how to act now that they are living together. She doesn't now how to fight these pregnancy hormones that are telling her she wants her best friend. Her best friend who is treating her like a queen- getting her everything she needs. Providing for her. Being the dad this baby needs. And so she gives into it. She lets herself acknowledge what she is feeling which is that she wants her best friend as a real husband. The moment she realizes that what she thought about his night life is so wrong and that he has been saving himself for her- GONER. Now they are living this life together, and everything has shifted. But then Eva runs into her baby's daddy unexpectedly, and all was not as it seemed when they were together. Will he put up a fight to be a part of the baby's life? Will this all blow up in their faces? All she knows is that Luke is in her corner which makes her feel all kinds of things including invincible.
Luke has only ever wanted one thing- his best friend as more than a friend. He doesn't really know how he read everything so wrong all those years ago but ever since then he has found himself stuck. But that is ok because he wants her in his life however she will let him. But now she needs his help. She is pregnant from a one-night stand and doesn't want to face the music alone. So Luke does what he has wanted to do for YEARS- he asks her to marry him. He says that they can be friends. He wants her to set the rules, but secretly he is beyond thrilled. He is going to take this as his chance to show her how good they can be together. He is going to pull out all the stops but let her lead. He doesn't care that this baby isn't biologically his because it is HIS. Just like Eva is HIS. Because he has always been hers. He knows he has a reputation but what no one knows is that he hasn't been with anyone because they weren't Eva. And the longer they are married the more it becomes obvious that they want this. They want each other. So he comes clean explains how he has felt. How he has always felt. And that NOTHING could make him change his feelings for her. He just hopes that she feels the same way because he doesn't want this to end. He has never felt so complete so at peace.
Though this was good NOT great, it was entertaining. I liked the setting- the sports aspect. I liked the empowerment of women athletes. I liked the side characters and that we got hints of what had happened to get everyone coupled off but left me wanting more. I will probably go back and read the first few books.
Thank you to Valentine PR and Julia for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
December 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.75 stars
This honestly felt like a fated mates, invisible string hockey romance, and I ate up every single second of it.
The tropes in this book are elite. Childhood friends to lovers paired with an accidental pregnancy but not his had me fully locked in. The emotional tension, the history between them, and the way everything unfolds felt so intentional and deeply connected.
Luke is truly the MMC everyone else wishes they could be. The way he shows up for Eva over and over again without hesitation was everything. He would do whatever it takes to make sure she’s taken care of and the way he is so serious about her was everything. Add in him casually using “my wife” multiple times and yeah absolutely feral behavior in the best way.
And the spice was so good. Perfectly placed insanely hot and done in a way that just fits the story. There are so many things I want to say but I refuse to spoil it just know that every page is worth it.
If you love emotional hockey romances with soul deep connections protective MMCs and tension that pulls you in from the very first chapter Goal Line needs to be on your TBR immediately 🏒💙
This honestly felt like a fated mates, invisible string hockey romance, and I ate up every single second of it.
The tropes in this book are elite. Childhood friends to lovers paired with an accidental pregnancy but not his had me fully locked in. The emotional tension, the history between them, and the way everything unfolds felt so intentional and deeply connected.
Luke is truly the MMC everyone else wishes they could be. The way he shows up for Eva over and over again without hesitation was everything. He would do whatever it takes to make sure she’s taken care of and the way he is so serious about her was everything. Add in him casually using “my wife” multiple times and yeah absolutely feral behavior in the best way.
And the spice was so good. Perfectly placed insanely hot and done in a way that just fits the story. There are so many things I want to say but I refuse to spoil it just know that every page is worth it.
If you love emotional hockey romances with soul deep connections protective MMCs and tension that pulls you in from the very first chapter Goal Line needs to be on your TBR immediately 🏒💙
October 30, 2025
TW: sports injury, borderline ab*sive parent, preeclampsia, pregnancy related complications, miscarriage (not of FMC)(mentioned, not detailed)
Omg this was so cute. It’s very cheesy but like in a good way?
They’ve been in love with each other since they were kids but both thought it was not returned but when she ends up pregnant and worried about her health insurance he immediately is like. Problem solved. Let’s get married and honestly 10/10
It was so cute and real. I loved it immensely and I will absolutely now go back and read the stories I missed about the other players because this was good!
This is not all fun and light though. It covers some very real issues and was done excellently!
Also I listened to the audiobook and I’ve decided that Sean Masters would probably read me anything and I love Savannah Peachwood sounds! Both did a great job in this duet narration! The audiobook is highly recommended!!!
Also I think Chase Walton from Hailey Rodger’s books would get along great with Luke (both being obsessed with their women and taking the perfect opportunity to take date them)
Tropes: friends to lovers, accidental pregnancy(it’s not his), marriage of convenience(fake dating), touch her and ☠️, “it’s always been you”, “my wife”, “mine”, hockey romance, billionaire romance(family money)
Spice:🌶️🌶️.5
Steam:🔥🔥🔥🔥
Sweetness:💗💗💗💗💗
Omg this was so cute. It’s very cheesy but like in a good way?
They’ve been in love with each other since they were kids but both thought it was not returned but when she ends up pregnant and worried about her health insurance he immediately is like. Problem solved. Let’s get married and honestly 10/10
It was so cute and real. I loved it immensely and I will absolutely now go back and read the stories I missed about the other players because this was good!
This is not all fun and light though. It covers some very real issues and was done excellently!
Also I listened to the audiobook and I’ve decided that Sean Masters would probably read me anything and I love Savannah Peachwood sounds! Both did a great job in this duet narration! The audiobook is highly recommended!!!
Also I think Chase Walton from Hailey Rodger’s books would get along great with Luke (both being obsessed with their women and taking the perfect opportunity to take date them)
Tropes: friends to lovers, accidental pregnancy(it’s not his), marriage of convenience(fake dating), touch her and ☠️, “it’s always been you”, “my wife”, “mine”, hockey romance, billionaire romance(family money)
Spice:🌶️🌶️.5
Steam:🔥🔥🔥🔥
Sweetness:💗💗💗💗💗
November 3, 2025
LOVE IT 💚😍
The speed at which I devoured this audiobook. i loved every minute of it. I have been invested in this series from the beginning and I think this might just be my new favorite. I loved their whole friends to lovers vibe and however could see it but them. I also loved how protective Luke is of Eva. The narrators did a great job of bringing these characters to life and I cannot wait for the next book.
The speed at which I devoured this audiobook. i loved every minute of it. I have been invested in this series from the beginning and I think this might just be my new favorite. I loved their whole friends to lovers vibe and however could see it but them. I also loved how protective Luke is of Eva. The narrators did a great job of bringing these characters to life and I cannot wait for the next book.
November 9, 2025
• Best friends to lovers
• Accidental Pregnancy (Not his baby)
• Pregnant FMC
• Coach's daughter
• Mutual pining
• Marriage of convenience
• Forced proximity
• Vegas Wedding
• Its always been you
• "My wife"
• Good girl x Good boy
• Secret tattoo
“I don’t think that’s how you kiss your best friend”
“I think when I marry my best friend, I get to write the rules about how I kiss her.”
What an incredible addition to this series! It’s like Julia took everything I love and sprinkled it into this amazing book! I am an absolute sucker for best friends to lovers, it’s one of my all time favorite tropes! Especially when it’s also a “not his baby” trope. This book was brilliantly written. Luke and Eva’s story was perfectly unconventional, and I loved seeing them get the HEA they deserved!
Ahhhh! The mutual pining in this book was so good! Luke and Eva have been best friends since high school, and not wanting to mess up their sweet friendship, neither acted on their feelings for the other, until Eva finds herself pregnant and Luke is determined to make sure she and the baby are well taken care of.
I’m so glad Julia gave this sweet golden retriever the HEA we all needed him to have! We meet Luke in Cross-Checked, and he’s a character you can’t help but instantly fall in love with. However, this book only solidified my love for him! Luke is definitely a natural caretaker with a beautiful heart. Especially when it comes to his best friend, Eva. Getting to see the history these two shared was the icing on the cake for their HEA!
And pairing Luke with such a headstrong and beautiful FMC was so well done! I loved the bond these two shared, and watching it develop into more was so much fun. The chemistry between them was SO GOOD!!!
This book was everything I love about Julia’s writing! She always does such an incredible job capturing her characters, and I can’t wait for the next book in this series!! Morgan and Aidan’s story is next!! 😍
🎧 Audiobook Review
Duet Narration
Narrated by Savannah Peachwood and Sean Master
The two were the perfect duo for Luke and Eva!! Julia always does such an incredible job casting her audiobooks. Every time!! And getting to hear these two in duet was absolutely perfect!
Savannah did such an incredible job bringing Eva to life. Through everything Eva was going through, you could feel it in Savannah’s performance. Whether it was pining for her best friend or coming to terms with the fact she was about to be a mother. I absolutely loved her performance as Eva!
Sean’s voice fit Luke’s personality so well. His possessive and protective side came out even more in his performance. I loved how he captured Luke’s gentle but protective energy so perfectly, you could feel the love and longing in every word.
Sean and Savannah did such an incredible job with this story! So much heart went into this book through Julia’s writing and the narrators’ performances. I highly recommend listening to this audiobook!!
• Accidental Pregnancy (Not his baby)
• Pregnant FMC
• Coach's daughter
• Mutual pining
• Marriage of convenience
• Forced proximity
• Vegas Wedding
• Its always been you
• "My wife"
• Good girl x Good boy
• Secret tattoo
“I don’t think that’s how you kiss your best friend”
“I think when I marry my best friend, I get to write the rules about how I kiss her.”
What an incredible addition to this series! It’s like Julia took everything I love and sprinkled it into this amazing book! I am an absolute sucker for best friends to lovers, it’s one of my all time favorite tropes! Especially when it’s also a “not his baby” trope. This book was brilliantly written. Luke and Eva’s story was perfectly unconventional, and I loved seeing them get the HEA they deserved!
Ahhhh! The mutual pining in this book was so good! Luke and Eva have been best friends since high school, and not wanting to mess up their sweet friendship, neither acted on their feelings for the other, until Eva finds herself pregnant and Luke is determined to make sure she and the baby are well taken care of.
I’m so glad Julia gave this sweet golden retriever the HEA we all needed him to have! We meet Luke in Cross-Checked, and he’s a character you can’t help but instantly fall in love with. However, this book only solidified my love for him! Luke is definitely a natural caretaker with a beautiful heart. Especially when it comes to his best friend, Eva. Getting to see the history these two shared was the icing on the cake for their HEA!
And pairing Luke with such a headstrong and beautiful FMC was so well done! I loved the bond these two shared, and watching it develop into more was so much fun. The chemistry between them was SO GOOD!!!
This book was everything I love about Julia’s writing! She always does such an incredible job capturing her characters, and I can’t wait for the next book in this series!! Morgan and Aidan’s story is next!! 😍
🎧 Audiobook Review
Duet Narration
Narrated by Savannah Peachwood and Sean Master
The two were the perfect duo for Luke and Eva!! Julia always does such an incredible job casting her audiobooks. Every time!! And getting to hear these two in duet was absolutely perfect!
Savannah did such an incredible job bringing Eva to life. Through everything Eva was going through, you could feel it in Savannah’s performance. Whether it was pining for her best friend or coming to terms with the fact she was about to be a mother. I absolutely loved her performance as Eva!
Sean’s voice fit Luke’s personality so well. His possessive and protective side came out even more in his performance. I loved how he captured Luke’s gentle but protective energy so perfectly, you could feel the love and longing in every word.
Sean and Savannah did such an incredible job with this story! So much heart went into this book through Julia’s writing and the narrators’ performances. I highly recommend listening to this audiobook!!
September 2, 2025
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️
I don't think Julia Connors can write a book that I don't immediately add to my favorites list, and this one is no exception. I loved them. Loved them so much.
Luke and Eva were total shockers to me because we didn't know them as well as some of the other Rebels going into this, but man they made me fall hard. So hard.
Not his baby is one of my absolute favorite tropes when done well and I loved this one from start to finish.
✨ Hockey Romance
✨ Childhood Best Friends to Lovers
✨ Not his Baby / Accidental Pregnancy
✨ Marriage of Convenience
✨ Mutual Pining
What I really love about Luke and Eva's story is that there was so much running beneath the surface of their friendship that we get to watch them literally figure out as they go. Look marrying your best friend who you are in love with who is pregnant with a baby that's not yours is a boss move, but for Luke, he was going to do anything in his power to keep Eva safe and protected. Because this man was so down bad.
And Eva, watching her figure out that this man felt everything for her for so long was a journey, but one that made me swoon.
Plus this book had one of my favorite ever micro tropes and I ate that up the very moment it was revealed.
Basically I could say in a hundred different ways all the reasons I loved this book so you need to read it right now.
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️
I don't think Julia Connors can write a book that I don't immediately add to my favorites list, and this one is no exception. I loved them. Loved them so much.
Luke and Eva were total shockers to me because we didn't know them as well as some of the other Rebels going into this, but man they made me fall hard. So hard.
Not his baby is one of my absolute favorite tropes when done well and I loved this one from start to finish.
✨ Hockey Romance
✨ Childhood Best Friends to Lovers
✨ Not his Baby / Accidental Pregnancy
✨ Marriage of Convenience
✨ Mutual Pining
What I really love about Luke and Eva's story is that there was so much running beneath the surface of their friendship that we get to watch them literally figure out as they go. Look marrying your best friend who you are in love with who is pregnant with a baby that's not yours is a boss move, but for Luke, he was going to do anything in his power to keep Eva safe and protected. Because this man was so down bad.
And Eva, watching her figure out that this man felt everything for her for so long was a journey, but one that made me swoon.
Plus this book had one of my favorite ever micro tropes and I ate that up the very moment it was revealed.
Basically I could say in a hundred different ways all the reasons I loved this book so you need to read it right now.
November 4, 2025
ARC & ALC REVIEW
📚Goal Line by Julia Connors
🎤Savannah Peachwood & Sean Masters
DUET NARRATION
4.5 ⭐
Oh, man do I love a great friends to lovers story & Julia DELIVERS people! This story was SO darn sweet & these characters absolutely lovable beyond measure. The Boston Rebels series is some TOP TIER stuff ya'll. I love this series & every book is SO GOOD. Luke & Eva's story was no exception!
Luke & Eva have been in love with each other for so long & finally decided to pull their heads outta the sand and just admit it.😂 I LOVED IT! Knowing each other since they were just kids, these two have confided & relied on each other basically their whole lives. Honestly, a rather intimate relationship really. But when Eva comes home, pregnant from a one-night stand, worried about her ice-skating career and the possibility of qualifying for the Olympics, Luke steps up & offers to help, that is....he basically just says, "we're getting married, babe!" A man with direction & conviction because he sees this as a way of seeing if this "thing" between the two of them can really work.
The marriage honestly just seemed so natural. Because of their past, the intimate conversations they'd had, the ease & natural way they had with each other, this really was a no brainer and KUDOS to Luke for just taking the bull by the horns.
Their relationship has been light & fun but this story dives into some heavy & real stuff and this is one of the things I absolutely LOVE about Julia's writing. These two have to "adult" real fast & real quick and they do it so wonderfully & with maturity! Her characters grow, they develop & you just root for them so hard!
Luke has it SO BAD for this gal. I was so twitter-patted by his character. He just doted on her like a husband of the year should. He tended to her every pregnancy need & was there for her emotionally as well. We see Luke struggle mentally with the loss of a HUGE game & the many suggestions for him to seek help was fantastic. Even though this was a small part of the story, it really came with a big punch!
The found family & support these two get from their friends and family is everything. This series is full of that which is another reason it's so darn good! Luke is so DANG good! The golden-est of retrievers. I LOVED Eva's character. She was smart, driven & had big goals. Although this baby didn't come by the best of circumstances, she just knew she was meant to love this little thing, knew she wanted to be a mother to it & Luke just made the whole situation absolutely perfect. I can't choose a favorite player, don't make me but Luke is definitely in the running for one of my favorites!
🎧Let's talk audio: Ya'll, listening to Sean Masters golden retrieve his way around this story about made my ovaries revive! No joke! I could listen to this man all day & never tire. He's sweet & tender when he needs to be and when Luke needs to get possessive, WATCH OUT!🔥 His voice is a booming force of nature and I am here for every bit of it. He was the perfect contrast to the sweet & light voice of Savannah. She did such an amazing job voicing Eva. She showed so much range of emotion in this. These two paired together are seriously golden!
When these two FINALLY get together, I was screaming with delight! You just can't help yourself because they are so stinkin cute & they were always meant to be. It's SO obvious! Gah! I loved them & mark my word, Luke will end up on your list of favs without question!
Go listen to this sweet story as soon as you can. Julia's writing is fantastic & when they are brought to audio, it's SUPERB storytelling.
Thank you Julia Connors for the #gifted ARC & ALC. It's such a treat being on your team. All thoughts are my own.
📚Goal Line by Julia Connors
🎤Savannah Peachwood & Sean Masters
DUET NARRATION
4.5 ⭐
Oh, man do I love a great friends to lovers story & Julia DELIVERS people! This story was SO darn sweet & these characters absolutely lovable beyond measure. The Boston Rebels series is some TOP TIER stuff ya'll. I love this series & every book is SO GOOD. Luke & Eva's story was no exception!
Luke & Eva have been in love with each other for so long & finally decided to pull their heads outta the sand and just admit it.😂 I LOVED IT! Knowing each other since they were just kids, these two have confided & relied on each other basically their whole lives. Honestly, a rather intimate relationship really. But when Eva comes home, pregnant from a one-night stand, worried about her ice-skating career and the possibility of qualifying for the Olympics, Luke steps up & offers to help, that is....he basically just says, "we're getting married, babe!" A man with direction & conviction because he sees this as a way of seeing if this "thing" between the two of them can really work.
The marriage honestly just seemed so natural. Because of their past, the intimate conversations they'd had, the ease & natural way they had with each other, this really was a no brainer and KUDOS to Luke for just taking the bull by the horns.
Their relationship has been light & fun but this story dives into some heavy & real stuff and this is one of the things I absolutely LOVE about Julia's writing. These two have to "adult" real fast & real quick and they do it so wonderfully & with maturity! Her characters grow, they develop & you just root for them so hard!
Luke has it SO BAD for this gal. I was so twitter-patted by his character. He just doted on her like a husband of the year should. He tended to her every pregnancy need & was there for her emotionally as well. We see Luke struggle mentally with the loss of a HUGE game & the many suggestions for him to seek help was fantastic. Even though this was a small part of the story, it really came with a big punch!
The found family & support these two get from their friends and family is everything. This series is full of that which is another reason it's so darn good! Luke is so DANG good! The golden-est of retrievers. I LOVED Eva's character. She was smart, driven & had big goals. Although this baby didn't come by the best of circumstances, she just knew she was meant to love this little thing, knew she wanted to be a mother to it & Luke just made the whole situation absolutely perfect. I can't choose a favorite player, don't make me but Luke is definitely in the running for one of my favorites!
🎧Let's talk audio: Ya'll, listening to Sean Masters golden retrieve his way around this story about made my ovaries revive! No joke! I could listen to this man all day & never tire. He's sweet & tender when he needs to be and when Luke needs to get possessive, WATCH OUT!🔥 His voice is a booming force of nature and I am here for every bit of it. He was the perfect contrast to the sweet & light voice of Savannah. She did such an amazing job voicing Eva. She showed so much range of emotion in this. These two paired together are seriously golden!
When these two FINALLY get together, I was screaming with delight! You just can't help yourself because they are so stinkin cute & they were always meant to be. It's SO obvious! Gah! I loved them & mark my word, Luke will end up on your list of favs without question!
Go listen to this sweet story as soon as you can. Julia's writing is fantastic & when they are brought to audio, it's SUPERB storytelling.
Thank you Julia Connors for the #gifted ARC & ALC. It's such a treat being on your team. All thoughts are my own.
August 17, 2025
Luke has been in love with Eva since they were in high school, but he never thought she ever felt the same way so he has kept it buried deep down. Luke is a goalie in the NHL, a golden retriever MMC, the sweetest, but also a “my wife” kind of man.
Eva is a figure skater who is trying to live up to the expectations of her parents and afraid of failing them. But she’s been hiding from them that she is pregnant and she doesn’t even know the name of the father because it was a random one night stand over seas. She was in love with Luke in high school, but thought he never saw her that way and thinks he is now the playboy the way social media portrays him.
Luke suggests that they get married and plays the baby off as his to their families to help protect Eva. He would do anything for her and I love that. He is so head over heels for that woman. You watch their beautiful friendship slowly develop into something a lot more and deeper between the two. Their chemistry is special and hot. They already trust one another so explicitly, now they just have to trust each other with their hearts. It was beautiful watching them transition into this new hour Ed of marriage and parenthood.
Eva is a figure skater who is trying to live up to the expectations of her parents and afraid of failing them. But she’s been hiding from them that she is pregnant and she doesn’t even know the name of the father because it was a random one night stand over seas. She was in love with Luke in high school, but thought he never saw her that way and thinks he is now the playboy the way social media portrays him.
Luke suggests that they get married and plays the baby off as his to their families to help protect Eva. He would do anything for her and I love that. He is so head over heels for that woman. You watch their beautiful friendship slowly develop into something a lot more and deeper between the two. Their chemistry is special and hot. They already trust one another so explicitly, now they just have to trust each other with their hearts. It was beautiful watching them transition into this new hour Ed of marriage and parenthood.
August 22, 2025
Luke was my favorite character, hands down. Usually I like both MCs but always connect more and root for the heroine, so liking Luke so much more than Evie is pretty outside the norm for me. But, our boy is such a green flag hero. I loved how kind, supporting and genuine he was. He really was a great guy and he deserved to be happy and finally get the girl of his dreams.
Evie was a little harder to connect with just because she seemed so driven and hyper focused on her career and the Olympics and her surprise pregnancy felt more like a hinderance than a happy moment or feeling for her. She felt a little disconnected from her own pregnancy. And being a girl who loves this trope, I needed more of that emotional connection on page. There's also a lot of other issues both MCs tackled that felt overwhelming at times and took away from their developing romance.
Something written really well though was their friendship. I loved that they were best friends and had a history together, they really knew each other inside and out. They compliment each other so well. It just sucked that they were literally the last to know it and it took them a really long time to fess up to their real feelings for each other.
If you like dreamy green flag heroes who always say the right thing, charm you with their attention to detail and their selflessness, I can definitely recommendLuke!... I mean, Goal Line!
I really loved Luke for staying faithful and not compromising or settling for less then real love. I didn't like that Evie kept putting up excuses - and by that I mean OM - to keep her heart safe. I don't' like when a H in romance does it and now that the role has been reversed, I realize I don't like it from the woman's perception either.
SAFETY INFO:
Evie was a little harder to connect with just because she seemed so driven and hyper focused on her career and the Olympics and her surprise pregnancy felt more like a hinderance than a happy moment or feeling for her. She felt a little disconnected from her own pregnancy. And being a girl who loves this trope, I needed more of that emotional connection on page. There's also a lot of other issues both MCs tackled that felt overwhelming at times and took away from their developing romance.
Something written really well though was their friendship. I loved that they were best friends and had a history together, they really knew each other inside and out. They compliment each other so well. It just sucked that they were literally the last to know it and it took them a really long time to fess up to their real feelings for each other.
If you like dreamy green flag heroes who always say the right thing, charm you with their attention to detail and their selflessness, I can definitely recommend
I really loved Luke for staying faithful and not compromising or settling for less then real love. I didn't like that Evie kept putting up excuses - and by that I mean OM - to keep her heart safe. I don't' like when a H in romance does it and now that the role has been reversed, I realize I don't like it from the woman's perception either.
SAFETY INFO:
November 10, 2025
Goal Line by Julia Connors was such a fun hockey read!! If you like childhood friends to marriage of convenience to true love, then you will eat this up just like I did!!
Sean Masters & Savannah Peachwood brought this story to LIFE!! 10/10 on their performance!! 💯
Tropes:
🥅 childhood best friends - lovers
⛸️ figure skating FMC
🥅 hockey goalie MMC
⛸️ marriage of convenience
🥅 mutual pining
⛸️ second chance
It’s so good y’all!!!
Sean Masters & Savannah Peachwood brought this story to LIFE!! 10/10 on their performance!! 💯
Tropes:
🥅 childhood best friends - lovers
⛸️ figure skating FMC
🥅 hockey goalie MMC
⛸️ marriage of convenience
🥅 mutual pining
⛸️ second chance
It’s so good y’all!!!
August 13, 2025
I DNF’d this book, the MCs just couldn’t keep me invested in them. I usually love a hockey romance and the tropes that this one uses, but this one just didn’t do it for me.
August 7, 2025
ARC REVIEW
WOW!
There is just something about a best friend to lovers book that hits every single time.! It's probably the moment they realize how much they really are in love with each other or its probably that first spicy scene together that makes them think 'oh shit' who is this guy/girl?.
Sidenote- The tension was immaculate!
Truthfully I felt that probable's to the very depths of my soul. Julia did an amazing job highlighting their friendship and the whole transition between 'no we just friends' to 'I'm in love with you'. I love how adult they were with everything they did, well beside the obvious 'voicing the I love you' that's been there all along.
If there is one thing you should do in this month? Its read Goal Line. I promise you, you won't regret it!
WOW!
There is just something about a best friend to lovers book that hits every single time.! It's probably the moment they realize how much they really are in love with each other or its probably that first spicy scene together that makes them think 'oh shit' who is this guy/girl?.
Sidenote- The tension was immaculate!
Truthfully I felt that probable's to the very depths of my soul. Julia did an amazing job highlighting their friendship and the whole transition between 'no we just friends' to 'I'm in love with you'. I love how adult they were with everything they did, well beside the obvious 'voicing the I love you' that's been there all along.
If there is one thing you should do in this month? Its read Goal Line. I promise you, you won't regret it!
August 9, 2025
I love this series but I must admit, this one is not my favorite. Maybe my expectations were too high after the masterpiece that is Cross Checked. This was just okay for me. Hearing about Luke and Evangeline on the previous books really made me excited about this book. Two childhood bestfriends who are clearly in love with each other, the pregnancy trope (baby is not his) and marriage of convenience - I have never signed up fast enough.
Let's talk about the good first. Love Luke - protective and super supportive of Evie. He's so sweet and such a walking green flag. Him stepping up to help Evie was super endearing. Evie was a little harder to connect but I liked her eventually. Love their friendship. The way they were so comfortable with each other and was each other biggest cheerleaders. Love the team and the girlfriends. Loved seeing the couples from the previohs books.
I think one of my biggest problem with the book is that it had too many sub storylines - Evie's skating partner, her parents, her douchy baby daddy showing up, the Olympics qualifier, Luke's Stanley Cup Finals issues. I feel it was too much and made the book longer and it felt like the stories dragged on forever. It was hard to focus on the romance when you have all these things happening at the same time. The miscommunication was also concerning considering these two have been together since they were babies. They have a level of comfort that it felt funny it wasnt brought up before.
Overall, I still enjoyed the book. It just wasnt something I would pick up again to reread. Im still so excited for the next books coming out of this series.
Thank you to Valentine PR for the advance copy in exchange for my thoughts!
Let's talk about the good first. Love Luke - protective and super supportive of Evie. He's so sweet and such a walking green flag. Him stepping up to help Evie was super endearing. Evie was a little harder to connect but I liked her eventually. Love their friendship. The way they were so comfortable with each other and was each other biggest cheerleaders. Love the team and the girlfriends. Loved seeing the couples from the previohs books.
I think one of my biggest problem with the book is that it had too many sub storylines - Evie's skating partner, her parents, her douchy baby daddy showing up, the Olympics qualifier, Luke's Stanley Cup Finals issues. I feel it was too much and made the book longer and it felt like the stories dragged on forever. It was hard to focus on the romance when you have all these things happening at the same time. The miscommunication was also concerning considering these two have been together since they were babies. They have a level of comfort that it felt funny it wasnt brought up before.
Overall, I still enjoyed the book. It just wasnt something I would pick up again to reread. Im still so excited for the next books coming out of this series.
Thank you to Valentine PR for the advance copy in exchange for my thoughts!
February 1, 2025
Luke broke my heart by ending up with his bestie Evie instead of single mommy Sloane but oh well I know author is gonna make me fall in love with them anyway (I'll wait for Sloane's book)
November 4, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️.5
Goal Line is the 4th book in the Boston Rebels series, but only my second book by Julia Connors. I read the previous book and immediately became obsessed with Julia's writing and how mature her sports romances are. This one also hooked me immediately with a beautiful friends to lovers romance with all the mutual pining I love.
Luke is a goalie in the NHL, and he is also close friends with his coach's daughter Eva. She is a figure skater training for the Olympics, but her world is turned upside down with an accidental pregnancy from a one-night stand. She is worried about her training, health insurance, and disappointing her parents, so Luke offers up a marriage of convenience.
There is nothing better than a pining hero, and Luke is top tier. He has been so in love with his childhood best friend forever, and now he finally gets the opportunity to move past the friend zone with this marriage. He completely steps up and is ready to raise this child as his own. The pregnant (not his baby) trope is one of my all-time favorites. I love watching a man take care of his woman while she is pregnant and love her baby as his.
This book had so much longing, and that is something I wish we had more of in romance books. Their connection was beautiful, and I loved how they stepped up for each other. I highly recommend this book!
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
🎤Duet narration by Sean Masters & Savannah Peachwood
This audiobook had duet narration by Sean Masters and Savannah Peachwood. They did a great job bringing all the longing and mutual pining to life. The audio was so well done.
Thank you to Valentine PR for providing the ALC.
🌶️🌶️.5
Goal Line is the 4th book in the Boston Rebels series, but only my second book by Julia Connors. I read the previous book and immediately became obsessed with Julia's writing and how mature her sports romances are. This one also hooked me immediately with a beautiful friends to lovers romance with all the mutual pining I love.
Luke is a goalie in the NHL, and he is also close friends with his coach's daughter Eva. She is a figure skater training for the Olympics, but her world is turned upside down with an accidental pregnancy from a one-night stand. She is worried about her training, health insurance, and disappointing her parents, so Luke offers up a marriage of convenience.
There is nothing better than a pining hero, and Luke is top tier. He has been so in love with his childhood best friend forever, and now he finally gets the opportunity to move past the friend zone with this marriage. He completely steps up and is ready to raise this child as his own. The pregnant (not his baby) trope is one of my all-time favorites. I love watching a man take care of his woman while she is pregnant and love her baby as his.
This book had so much longing, and that is something I wish we had more of in romance books. Their connection was beautiful, and I loved how they stepped up for each other. I highly recommend this book!
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
🎤Duet narration by Sean Masters & Savannah Peachwood
This audiobook had duet narration by Sean Masters and Savannah Peachwood. They did a great job bringing all the longing and mutual pining to life. The audio was so well done.
Thank you to Valentine PR for providing the ALC.
August 4, 2025
“You’re my last love, and that’s all that matters. After the waves have eroded those cliffs and hockey is a distant memory, it will still always be you.”
This is how you do friends-to-lovers and unexpected pregnancy! Julia Connors crushes it again! Every book is this series is a banger, so be sure to read them all.
—
this and that:
♡ athlete x athlete
♡ band of brothers (teammates)
♡ big friend groups
♡ dual pov
♡ friends-to-lovers
♡ he fell first (and never stopped)
♡ hockey player x figure skater
♡ it was always you
♡ marriage of convenience
♡ mental health rep
♡ open door spice
♡ secret pregnancy
♡ surprise vegas marriage
♡ sports romance
triggers:
☞ difficulties with pregnancy
☞ infidelity (mentioned in relation to a secondary character)
☞ miscarriage (mentioned in relation to a secondary character)
☞ strained parental relationship
—
thank you to the author for the gifted review copy!
—
♡ read my reviews for books in the series:
Center Ice (book one)
The Trade Up (book 1.5 / novella)
Fake Shot (book two)
Cross-Checked (book three)
Goal Line (book four)
—
♡ find me on Instagram!
This is how you do friends-to-lovers and unexpected pregnancy! Julia Connors crushes it again! Every book is this series is a banger, so be sure to read them all.
—
this and that:
♡ athlete x athlete
♡ band of brothers (teammates)
♡ big friend groups
♡ dual pov
♡ friends-to-lovers
♡ he fell first (and never stopped)
♡ hockey player x figure skater
♡ it was always you
♡ marriage of convenience
♡ mental health rep
♡ open door spice
♡ secret pregnancy
♡ surprise vegas marriage
♡ sports romance
triggers:
☞ difficulties with pregnancy
☞ infidelity (mentioned in relation to a secondary character)
☞ miscarriage (mentioned in relation to a secondary character)
☞ strained parental relationship
—
thank you to the author for the gifted review copy!
—
♡ read my reviews for books in the series:
Center Ice (book one)
The Trade Up (book 1.5 / novella)
Fake Shot (book two)
Cross-Checked (book three)
Goal Line (book four)
—
♡ find me on Instagram!
November 3, 2025
~Alc Review~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶.5
~Goal Line~Boston Rebels Series Book 4~Julia Connors~
~Duet Narration~Sean Masters & Savannah Peachwood~
~Production~One Night Stand Studios~
"Maybe it’s because there’s one, and only one, perfect man in this world, and he’s standing right next to me—but he’s only ever wanted to be my best friend."
♡This entire interconnected stand alone series has been phenomenal but I think I have a new favorite couple! This book is one of the best childhood friends to lovers books I have read & Julia upped the game with a marriage of convenience trope as well. I'm still over here kicking my feet & swooning over this story! Luke & Eva are the definition of couple goals & their relationship truly shows the growth two people in love go through for the HEA of a lifetime.
The duet narration for this audiobook was a masterpiece! Sean did a phenomenal job bringing Luke our golden retriever goalie to life! Savannah did an impeccable job bringing Eva our newly pregnant pairs figure skater to life! Listening to this story come to life was like watching a movie in real time. Sean & Savannah truly became these characters & put on an amazing heart warming performance!
If you love a friends to lovers romance, banter, spice, & a love like no other look no further!♡
~As Always Happy Reading~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶.5
~Goal Line~Boston Rebels Series Book 4~Julia Connors~
~Duet Narration~Sean Masters & Savannah Peachwood~
~Production~One Night Stand Studios~
"Maybe it’s because there’s one, and only one, perfect man in this world, and he’s standing right next to me—but he’s only ever wanted to be my best friend."
♡This entire interconnected stand alone series has been phenomenal but I think I have a new favorite couple! This book is one of the best childhood friends to lovers books I have read & Julia upped the game with a marriage of convenience trope as well. I'm still over here kicking my feet & swooning over this story! Luke & Eva are the definition of couple goals & their relationship truly shows the growth two people in love go through for the HEA of a lifetime.
The duet narration for this audiobook was a masterpiece! Sean did a phenomenal job bringing Luke our golden retriever goalie to life! Savannah did an impeccable job bringing Eva our newly pregnant pairs figure skater to life! Listening to this story come to life was like watching a movie in real time. Sean & Savannah truly became these characters & put on an amazing heart warming performance!
If you love a friends to lovers romance, banter, spice, & a love like no other look no further!♡
~As Always Happy Reading~
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