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Maplewood Falls #2
Weihnachtsliebe auf Wintereis (Eishockey zu Weihnachten 2)
Wenn du als Vorschullehrerin, die nirgends mehr einen Fuß in die Tür bekommt, plötzlich die schlechteste Mannschaft in der NHL trainieren sollst, kann das nichts Gutes für das diesjährige Weihnachten bedeuten.
Als wäre mein Leben und die Adventszeit dieses Jahr nicht schon beschissen genug, kommt nun also auch noch die Trainerposition in der NHL dazu.
Ich musste aus meiner Wohnung raus und wieder bei meinen Eltern einziehen.
Meine Mutter schleicht sich nachts regelmäßig in mein Zimmer, um mich im Schlaf zu beobachten, weil sie mich so sehr vermisst hat.
Und meine dem Alkohol nicht abgeneigte Oma hat sich selbst zu unserer Ausrüstungsmanagerin erklärt, damit sie in der Umkleidekabine halbnackte Eishockeyspieler begaffen kann.
Das Allerletzte, was mir dieses Weihnachten noch gefehlt hat, ist eine Horde erwachsener unbelehrbarer Kinder auf Schlittschuhen.
Der Mannschaftskapitän Fletcher Sullivan ist der schlimmste von ihnen. Muskelbepackt mit einem höhnischen Grinsen im Gesicht macht er aus jedem Training seine eigene Vorstellung vom Grinch on Ice.
Ich muss Streitereien schlichten, die Kids mit Snacks bei Laune halten und meinen Torwart aus dem Gefängnis holen und habe echt keine Zeit für jedwede Weihnachtsstimmung – oder diesen aufgeblasenen, abartig gut gebauten Mannschaftskapitän, der übrigens findet, dass ich in der NHL nichts zu suchen habe.
Ja, ich habe für die Damen-Nationalmannschaft gespielt.
Ja, ich stemme regelmäßig Gewichte.
Und ja, ich würde, ohne mit der Wimper zu zucken, einen zwei Meter großen Eishockeyspieler auf die Strafbank setzen, wenn er sich nicht an meine Anweisungen hält.
Es hat keinen Sinn, auf ein Weihnachtswunder zu hoffen. Wir verlieren. Ständig.
Aber mit Goldfisch-Crackern und Trinkpäckchen bewaffnet werde ich aus diesem Witz von einem Eishockey-Team Gewinner machen.
Auch wenn ich dabei selbst zum Grinch mutiere.
Oder schlimmer noch – mich in den Feind verliebe.
Als wäre mein Leben und die Adventszeit dieses Jahr nicht schon beschissen genug, kommt nun also auch noch die Trainerposition in der NHL dazu.
Ich musste aus meiner Wohnung raus und wieder bei meinen Eltern einziehen.
Meine Mutter schleicht sich nachts regelmäßig in mein Zimmer, um mich im Schlaf zu beobachten, weil sie mich so sehr vermisst hat.
Und meine dem Alkohol nicht abgeneigte Oma hat sich selbst zu unserer Ausrüstungsmanagerin erklärt, damit sie in der Umkleidekabine halbnackte Eishockeyspieler begaffen kann.
Das Allerletzte, was mir dieses Weihnachten noch gefehlt hat, ist eine Horde erwachsener unbelehrbarer Kinder auf Schlittschuhen.
Der Mannschaftskapitän Fletcher Sullivan ist der schlimmste von ihnen. Muskelbepackt mit einem höhnischen Grinsen im Gesicht macht er aus jedem Training seine eigene Vorstellung vom Grinch on Ice.
Ich muss Streitereien schlichten, die Kids mit Snacks bei Laune halten und meinen Torwart aus dem Gefängnis holen und habe echt keine Zeit für jedwede Weihnachtsstimmung – oder diesen aufgeblasenen, abartig gut gebauten Mannschaftskapitän, der übrigens findet, dass ich in der NHL nichts zu suchen habe.
Ja, ich habe für die Damen-Nationalmannschaft gespielt.
Ja, ich stemme regelmäßig Gewichte.
Und ja, ich würde, ohne mit der Wimper zu zucken, einen zwei Meter großen Eishockeyspieler auf die Strafbank setzen, wenn er sich nicht an meine Anweisungen hält.
Es hat keinen Sinn, auf ein Weihnachtswunder zu hoffen. Wir verlieren. Ständig.
Aber mit Goldfisch-Crackern und Trinkpäckchen bewaffnet werde ich aus diesem Witz von einem Eishockey-Team Gewinner machen.
Auch wenn ich dabei selbst zum Grinch mutiere.
Oder schlimmer noch – mich in den Feind verliebe.
401 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 18, 2025
629 people are currently reading
593 people want to read
About the author
Alina Jacobs
87 books1,615 followersIf you like steamy romantic comedies with a creative streak, then I'm your girl!
Architect by day, writer by night, I love matcha green tea, chocolate, and books! So many books…
Sign up for my mailing list to get special bonus content, free books, giveaways, and more!
http://alinajacobs.com/mailinglist.html
Architect by day, writer by night, I love matcha green tea, chocolate, and books! So many books…
Sign up for my mailing list to get special bonus content, free books, giveaways, and more!
http://alinajacobs.com/mailinglist.html
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
November 20, 2025
This book almost makes up for the atrocity that is Elf on the Edge. Enjoyed it way more than I expected to and (gasp!) a parent actually apologizes in one of her books, never thought I’d see the day.
November 28, 2025
Former preschool teacher Ellie is the PR manager for the worst NHL team in the league... until all the coaches are arrested and she's promoted to head coach. While she was on the winning women's Olympic team, she has no experience with coaching. But if these guys are going to act juvenile, she'll treat them like her students: time outs, snack times, and prizes for goals. She's determined to never date a player but for Fletcher Sullivan she's the only prize he wants. Too bad he has a hidden agenda of his own...
Ok, so suspend any knowledge you might have about hockey organizations and embrace the ridiculousness. This would never happen, only in fiction lol! But for a holiday romcom it's pretty cute! It's hilarious how the guys are basically huge toddlers and take well to her preschool style coaching. I'm glad she didn't write Fletcher as quite such a manchild as his teammates since it would be hard to mentally transition him from that to the hot love interest MMC in the end. Ellie was a strong FMC in a male dominated sport and stood up well to the hazing and heckling from the media and other teams. Overall it was a laugh out loud enjoyable romcom full of holiday spirit.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
Ok, so suspend any knowledge you might have about hockey organizations and embrace the ridiculousness. This would never happen, only in fiction lol! But for a holiday romcom it's pretty cute! It's hilarious how the guys are basically huge toddlers and take well to her preschool style coaching. I'm glad she didn't write Fletcher as quite such a manchild as his teammates since it would be hard to mentally transition him from that to the hot love interest MMC in the end. Ellie was a strong FMC in a male dominated sport and stood up well to the hazing and heckling from the media and other teams. Overall it was a laugh out loud enjoyable romcom full of holiday spirit.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
November 22, 2025
This book has so many infusions stories. 1. Did the main character and the romance interest ever actually have a conversation?
2. Why did the main character get banned from teaching preschool? We never find out !!
3. They shoved an unwrapped candy cane put her **you know where ** talk about yeast infection.
4. Her family treats her like $hit.
5. Her father is a piece of $hit and his redemption arch was half asses one sentence
Don’t waste your time.
2. Why did the main character get banned from teaching preschool? We never find out !!
3. They shoved an unwrapped candy cane put her **you know where ** talk about yeast infection.
4. Her family treats her like $hit.
5. Her father is a piece of $hit and his redemption arch was half asses one sentence
Don’t waste your time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2025
⋆｡°✩ Spoiler Free Reviews ⋆｡°✩
I’m gonna be so real, I hate read this book the whole way through. And yes, it was - and I feel - as pathetic as that sounds.
Tropes for this one; hockey romance, secret identity, massive family, romcom, banter and chaos, boss X hockey player.
Smut was 2/5 on the spice scale and its a HEA.
I’ll spoil it without spoiling it; this whole book is the FMC tryna gentle parent a hockey team full of grown men, infantilising a ‘traumatised’ hockey player who ISN’T ACTUALLY TRAUMATISED, and treating them like preschool children. I’m not kidding. It is EXACTLY as it sounds.
If that’s not enough for you? The FMC has a massive family comprising of; an asshole misogynistic dad who never apologises for being a dick, a boozy slutty grandma tryna be ‘cool’ but coming across dangerous and irresponsible and irritating, a passive Mom who lets the world float by her closed eyelids, a whole host of Aunts and Uncles but whose are they? Don’t fucking know. And siblings on the rival team who never grew up and act like dickheads the whole time. The frequent scenes where they are all together?? Overstimulation over here and I’M ONLY FUCKING READING IT?? ITS WORDS ON A PAPER HOW DOES THAT EVEN WORK???
Can’t get a sentence in, can’t go a page without someone saying some dumb shit or throwing an insult and it is categorically BEDLAM, and I don’t use that word lightly. I grew up with 2 parents and 5 siblings. I’m the eldest of 6 children. With family visiting (+ boyfriends/girlfriends etc) it got chaotic but NEVER with such a level of disrespect and insult as this bunch did. Fuck this lot with my whole chest. Nope.
I will go toe to toe with most people and Ellie is no exception. WHAT THE FUCK. Nope. Infantilising, patronising, irritating.. damn pick a struggle babe. Also constantly talking about how fat you are but phrasing it as a false positive? No from me.
Fletcher had some sense. He was an asshole for a lot of the book but valid cause Ellie pissed me tf off too. When we got the snippets of him being vulnerable? I’m down for it. And his freaky side?? Yes. Please.
I’m gonna be so real, I hate read this book the whole way through. And yes, it was - and I feel - as pathetic as that sounds.
Tropes for this one; hockey romance, secret identity, massive family, romcom, banter and chaos, boss X hockey player.
Smut was 2/5 on the spice scale and its a HEA.
I’ll spoil it without spoiling it; this whole book is the FMC tryna gentle parent a hockey team full of grown men, infantilising a ‘traumatised’ hockey player who ISN’T ACTUALLY TRAUMATISED, and treating them like preschool children. I’m not kidding. It is EXACTLY as it sounds.
If that’s not enough for you? The FMC has a massive family comprising of; an asshole misogynistic dad who never apologises for being a dick, a boozy slutty grandma tryna be ‘cool’ but coming across dangerous and irresponsible and irritating, a passive Mom who lets the world float by her closed eyelids, a whole host of Aunts and Uncles but whose are they? Don’t fucking know. And siblings on the rival team who never grew up and act like dickheads the whole time. The frequent scenes where they are all together?? Overstimulation over here and I’M ONLY FUCKING READING IT?? ITS WORDS ON A PAPER HOW DOES THAT EVEN WORK???
Can’t get a sentence in, can’t go a page without someone saying some dumb shit or throwing an insult and it is categorically BEDLAM, and I don’t use that word lightly. I grew up with 2 parents and 5 siblings. I’m the eldest of 6 children. With family visiting (+ boyfriends/girlfriends etc) it got chaotic but NEVER with such a level of disrespect and insult as this bunch did. Fuck this lot with my whole chest. Nope.
I will go toe to toe with most people and Ellie is no exception. WHAT THE FUCK. Nope. Infantilising, patronising, irritating.. damn pick a struggle babe. Also constantly talking about how fat you are but phrasing it as a false positive? No from me.
Fletcher had some sense. He was an asshole for a lot of the book but valid cause Ellie pissed me tf off too. When we got the snippets of him being vulnerable? I’m down for it. And his freaky side?? Yes. Please.
November 18, 2025
Holiday Laughter
I'm a sucker for these books. I really am. They're wild and off the rails and the families are just plain insane. Ellie's family is no different. Her granny is a lush that has far too much energy for her age. Her mother is Martha Stewart. On steroids. And the others? Unhinged wild animals. Fletcher, on the other hand, is a wily beast on a mission.
Only, those plans are derailed when Ellie the PR girl is promoted to head coach of his hockey team. Sparks fly and the rest is history.
Pros: witty banter, sweaty spice scenes, actual knowledgeable hockey details, and Christmas cheer.
Cons: Ellie's experience as a hockey player is mentioned by her family, but never acknowledged by the hockey team or players. Stop downplaying a woman's ability and turning her into Barbie girl. The characters are nearly identical to others written by the author. And the transition from dislike to like to lust to love is very abrupt.
Overall, a fun holiday read. 4 solid stars.
I'm a sucker for these books. I really am. They're wild and off the rails and the families are just plain insane. Ellie's family is no different. Her granny is a lush that has far too much energy for her age. Her mother is Martha Stewart. On steroids. And the others? Unhinged wild animals. Fletcher, on the other hand, is a wily beast on a mission.
Only, those plans are derailed when Ellie the PR girl is promoted to head coach of his hockey team. Sparks fly and the rest is history.
Pros: witty banter, sweaty spice scenes, actual knowledgeable hockey details, and Christmas cheer.
Cons: Ellie's experience as a hockey player is mentioned by her family, but never acknowledged by the hockey team or players. Stop downplaying a woman's ability and turning her into Barbie girl. The characters are nearly identical to others written by the author. And the transition from dislike to like to lust to love is very abrupt.
Overall, a fun holiday read. 4 solid stars.
November 30, 2025
I really wanted to not like it, but up until page 175 I was actually invested a decent amount. There are like 6 pages that are just something else and are horned up out the wazoo, but other than that it honestly was solid. Definitely the plot of a hallmark movie, but like the book is what it is supposed to be. Ellie and Fletcher’s ship name could be Eltcher, and I thought that was funny and worth noting. Also, I find it funny that all the hockey players are just written like children, and that giving a player a lunchables is the only way to get him to play, that is some crazy shit, but it was funny. Also the hockey puck ball scenes in it are pretty entertaining.
December 27, 2025
First off, everyone is discounting and ignoring Ellie because she is a woman. And Secondly, I adore Grandma😂😂😂 she gives no F's!! And third ..her father is getting on my nerves by acting like she's not good enough because she is a woman. And Flether pissed me off by saying hurtful things because he was 🤕 hurt. This is really my first hockey book but I think I will explore more
December 21, 2025
Laugh out loud funny romcom
January 5, 2026
Even better than the first one!
November 25, 2025
Fantastically funny, as always. I’m so here for more Granny Murray!!🤣🤣
4🌟
2🌶️
4🌟
2🌶️
December 24, 2025
I loved everything about Ellie 🫶🏻
November 30, 2025
Found it hard to read, nothing like a book full of drinking and driving.
December 21, 2025
"Only one of you looks like a real hockey player. "
What a fun, cute rom-com with plenty of great hockey action.
Loved it and love Alina Jacobs. Onto the next book!
What a fun, cute rom-com with plenty of great hockey action.
Loved it and love Alina Jacobs. Onto the next book!
December 7, 2025
That may possibly be the worst book I have ever read and I have read some absolute trash😩😂
December 26, 2025
I wanted to love this. Hockey players? Heck yes. A daycare teacher? Awesome, my profession is never in books. But this book was a hot mess.
1. There were way too many characters. We don't need to meet the FMC's entire extended family, I don't care how close they are. Then the MMC had family that would pop up occasionally. And the MMC's cousin is engaged to the FMC's cousin? i think? I couldn't keep track of who was who and got lost in dialogue when too many people were talking. Most of them were not needed and were completely unimportant to the story.
2. The character Zayne Murphy was called Zack Murphy multiple times.
3. The FMC's dad was terrible. He was more worried about the guys on the team having to deal with the taunts about having a female coach than he was about his OWN DAUGHTER being treated like crap. "I saw how the other players were treating your team. It's not fair for them to have to deal with that every game." Aww, poor grown adult men. What about the person they were terrorizing, your daughter??? He slightly redeemed himself at the end but it was too little too late.
4. The world acting like a division one college hockey player and Olympic silver medalist couldn't coach an NHL team because she's a girl.
5. The insta-love was too insta. One minute the MMC is calling the FMC annoying and hating her, the next he's realizing he loves her. They rarely even talk to each other and I don't think we see them have an actual conversation.
6. The preschool teacher stuff went a little far. Wiping off a grown man's face after they eat? Seriously? And why did she get banned from teaching??
7. The grandmother was fun but became too over the top.
This could have been fun. The guys getting excited for Lunchables and Legos was adorable and funny. But unfortunately everything else was a miss.
1. There were way too many characters. We don't need to meet the FMC's entire extended family, I don't care how close they are. Then the MMC had family that would pop up occasionally. And the MMC's cousin is engaged to the FMC's cousin? i think? I couldn't keep track of who was who and got lost in dialogue when too many people were talking. Most of them were not needed and were completely unimportant to the story.
2. The character Zayne Murphy was called Zack Murphy multiple times.
3. The FMC's dad was terrible. He was more worried about the guys on the team having to deal with the taunts about having a female coach than he was about his OWN DAUGHTER being treated like crap. "I saw how the other players were treating your team. It's not fair for them to have to deal with that every game." Aww, poor grown adult men. What about the person they were terrorizing, your daughter??? He slightly redeemed himself at the end but it was too little too late.
4. The world acting like a division one college hockey player and Olympic silver medalist couldn't coach an NHL team because she's a girl.
5. The insta-love was too insta. One minute the MMC is calling the FMC annoying and hating her, the next he's realizing he loves her. They rarely even talk to each other and I don't think we see them have an actual conversation.
6. The preschool teacher stuff went a little far. Wiping off a grown man's face after they eat? Seriously? And why did she get banned from teaching??
7. The grandmother was fun but became too over the top.
This could have been fun. The guys getting excited for Lunchables and Legos was adorable and funny. But unfortunately everything else was a miss.
November 2, 2025
Preschool teacher to NHL coach.
When Ellie Clarke moved back home and then took a job handling PR for the NHL's newest team, the Rhode Island Hockey Club, the last thing she expected was to become the NHL's first female head coach. Team Captain Fletcher Sullivan makes it clear that a woman is not suited to coach a professional hockey team. What he doesn't know is that Ellie's Olympic team took home the silver medal, and that she taught preschoolers, so a bunch of six-foot-tall hockey players don't stand a chance, nor do they intimidate her.
Oh, my goodness I laughed so hard and so long that my sides hurt. Ellie and Fletcher cracked me up with the way they snarked back and forth and danced around their obvious sexual attraction. Who knew the best way to get pro hockey "toddlers" to listen and follow instructions was to offer bribes, Ellie of course. All of the characters made me laugh and kept me entertained from the first page, and Granny Murray kept me in stitches. Ms. Jacobs is one of my favorite authors and has once again provided a laugh out loud hysterically funny, and steamy, Holiday romantic comedy that I couldn't put down. With surprising twists in the plot and a happily ever after, this book is a must-read and I highly recommend it to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by the author.
When Ellie Clarke moved back home and then took a job handling PR for the NHL's newest team, the Rhode Island Hockey Club, the last thing she expected was to become the NHL's first female head coach. Team Captain Fletcher Sullivan makes it clear that a woman is not suited to coach a professional hockey team. What he doesn't know is that Ellie's Olympic team took home the silver medal, and that she taught preschoolers, so a bunch of six-foot-tall hockey players don't stand a chance, nor do they intimidate her.
Oh, my goodness I laughed so hard and so long that my sides hurt. Ellie and Fletcher cracked me up with the way they snarked back and forth and danced around their obvious sexual attraction. Who knew the best way to get pro hockey "toddlers" to listen and follow instructions was to offer bribes, Ellie of course. All of the characters made me laugh and kept me entertained from the first page, and Granny Murray kept me in stitches. Ms. Jacobs is one of my favorite authors and has once again provided a laugh out loud hysterically funny, and steamy, Holiday romantic comedy that I couldn't put down. With surprising twists in the plot and a happily ever after, this book is a must-read and I highly recommend it to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by the author.
November 16, 2025
“You have to find happiness where you can get it, when you can get it.”
Puck Me, It’s Christmas is a wildly entertaining holiday romcom that delivers laughs, heat, and heart in equal measure. It’s enemies-to-lovers with a hockey twist, and it’s as delightfully unhinged as the title promises.
Ellie and Fletcher work for the same team—he’s the cocky player with a permanent smirk, she’s in PR but would rather be in the classroom. Their every interaction is a masterclass in snarky banter and mutual irritation… until the coach gets arrested (yes, really), and Ellie is suddenly named interim coach. That’s when the sparks stop simmering and start flying.
Their dynamic is pure chaos: flirty insults, lingering glances, and tension so thick you could slap a puck through it. Add in a cast of wacky side characters, holiday hijinks, and one very unexpected power shift, and you’ve got a romcom that’s equal parts spicy and sweet.
Puck Me, It’s Christmas is a wildly entertaining holiday romcom that delivers laughs, heat, and heart in equal measure. It’s enemies-to-lovers with a hockey twist, and it’s as delightfully unhinged as the title promises.
Ellie and Fletcher work for the same team—he’s the cocky player with a permanent smirk, she’s in PR but would rather be in the classroom. Their every interaction is a masterclass in snarky banter and mutual irritation… until the coach gets arrested (yes, really), and Ellie is suddenly named interim coach. That’s when the sparks stop simmering and start flying.
Their dynamic is pure chaos: flirty insults, lingering glances, and tension so thick you could slap a puck through it. Add in a cast of wacky side characters, holiday hijinks, and one very unexpected power shift, and you’ve got a romcom that’s equal parts spicy and sweet.
November 30, 2025
Ellie has a crazy family and I haven't read a lot of Alina Jacobs but I can see how they all loosely tie together in a intersected world. Not that any other background is needed, but her family and Harlowe (who may or may not be her cousin) are my favorite part of this book. They definitely won an extra star.
NGL this book is basically an old movie set in hockey, not baseball, with a female coach. But I love how Ellie just keeps plugging on. She's not so sunshine she cannot see the obstacles, but she also wasn't willing to just throw in the towel. She's more knowledgeable about hockey than she is given credit for and its always nice to see the underdog scrapping to earn some respect (the team and Ellie).
The romance is nice and they have good chemistry. Ellie felt a bit immature to me (not the preschool teacher thing, just a general mentality). Though Fletcher felt more mature than his age so I guess it all evens out.
NGL this book is basically an old movie set in hockey, not baseball, with a female coach. But I love how Ellie just keeps plugging on. She's not so sunshine she cannot see the obstacles, but she also wasn't willing to just throw in the towel. She's more knowledgeable about hockey than she is given credit for and its always nice to see the underdog scrapping to earn some respect (the team and Ellie).
The romance is nice and they have good chemistry. Ellie felt a bit immature to me (not the preschool teacher thing, just a general mentality). Though Fletcher felt more mature than his age so I guess it all evens out.
December 21, 2025
Ellie Clarke is a former preschool teacher turned PR rep for the NHL’s newest team…who accidentally becomes the first female head coach in the NHL. And honestly? She’s perfect for the job. Fletcher Sullivan, the team captain, makes it very clear he doesn’t think a woman belongs coaching pro hockey. What he doesn’t know is that Ellie won Olympic silver and has survived toddlers, so a locker room full of six foot hockey players doesn’t intimidate her in the slightest. Watching her wrangle these pro hockey “toddlers” with bribes and sheer confidence had me crying laughing.
The banter between Ellie and Fletcher is elite. Their snarky back and forth and dancing around their very obvious attraction was hilarious and sizzling at the same time. I laughed so hard for so long my sides actually hurt. Every side character added to the fun, but Granny Murray absolutely stole the show and kept me cracking up.
The banter between Ellie and Fletcher is elite. Their snarky back and forth and dancing around their very obvious attraction was hilarious and sizzling at the same time. I laughed so hard for so long my sides actually hurt. Every side character added to the fun, but Granny Murray absolutely stole the show and kept me cracking up.
November 22, 2025
unhinged in the best possible way!
My first holiday read of the 2025 season and of course I had to start with Alina Jacob’s! Her books are absolutely hilarious and always have me laughing until my face hurts.
Ellie is a blacklisted preschool teacher who somehow becomes the newest NHL coach to a team that is drowning. Her wild and inappropriate grandma jumps right on board to help out and hijinks follow quickly!
Fletcher isn’t even a hockey player but a plant on the team and he couldn’t be less pleased with the team and especially the new coach. Even though he tries not to he starts to bond with the team.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (low on spice but the spice is does have is explicit and hot!)
Tropes/genres:
Hockey
Enemies to lovers
Grumpy sunshine
He falls first
Coach x Player
Meddling Family
My first holiday read of the 2025 season and of course I had to start with Alina Jacob’s! Her books are absolutely hilarious and always have me laughing until my face hurts.
Ellie is a blacklisted preschool teacher who somehow becomes the newest NHL coach to a team that is drowning. Her wild and inappropriate grandma jumps right on board to help out and hijinks follow quickly!
Fletcher isn’t even a hockey player but a plant on the team and he couldn’t be less pleased with the team and especially the new coach. Even though he tries not to he starts to bond with the team.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (low on spice but the spice is does have is explicit and hot!)
Tropes/genres:
Hockey
Enemies to lovers
Grumpy sunshine
He falls first
Coach x Player
Meddling Family
November 29, 2025
I have every single one of the Alina Jacobs' Christmas books, because they are one of my favorite reads for the season (so this review might be bias). The books are a spicy read, but full of humor, a crazy/meddling family, a love for hockey, alpha males, and the most ridiculous and hilarious circumstances you can find.
I will recommend them all year around they are that good! I love that Ellie is getting her own book, after last year's Dakota story, I was so glad that she got her man even if she had to go through grammy, her family, and a kindergarden of man-children.
OMG, you will laught until tears come out, and you will swoon and gasp at the spice, but the heart of Christmas is always the center of the story!
A MUST READ!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I will recommend them all year around they are that good! I love that Ellie is getting her own book, after last year's Dakota story, I was so glad that she got her man even if she had to go through grammy, her family, and a kindergarden of man-children.
OMG, you will laught until tears come out, and you will swoon and gasp at the spice, but the heart of Christmas is always the center of the story!
A MUST READ!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 11, 2025
disappointed
Let me preface this by saying I normally LOVE this author’s novels and Ryder and Dakota were one of my favorites! So I thought this would be a similar story. I was wrong. I felt no connection to either of the main characters. And they had no real progression in their relationship, they went from not liking each other to doing it 1.5 times to saying I love you. (Yes 1.5 is the number of spicy scenes you will get out of this book) By the end of the book they had not even gone on anything that could be considered a date. The information he knew about her was mostly from looking her up online?? They never really even asked each other any questions to get to know the other better. There was more focus on the hockey plays than the romance. This was almost a DNF for me, but I powered through just to mark another book off as read.
Let me preface this by saying I normally LOVE this author’s novels and Ryder and Dakota were one of my favorites! So I thought this would be a similar story. I was wrong. I felt no connection to either of the main characters. And they had no real progression in their relationship, they went from not liking each other to doing it 1.5 times to saying I love you. (Yes 1.5 is the number of spicy scenes you will get out of this book) By the end of the book they had not even gone on anything that could be considered a date. The information he knew about her was mostly from looking her up online?? They never really even asked each other any questions to get to know the other better. There was more focus on the hockey plays than the romance. This was almost a DNF for me, but I powered through just to mark another book off as read.
November 17, 2025
A black listed kindergarten teacher moved back home and lands a job as the only female coach on a NHL team. Fletcher, the captain does not feel a woman can properly coach a hockey team. Elle has played on women's hockey and knows what she is doing. She has to buck heads with the coach and keep the team out of trouble. Her granny Murray has self enlisted herself as equipment manager. Not to help Elle, but to ogle the hot butts filling the locker room. She is a one lady laugh a minute lady. It is close to Christmas, but Elle is not enjoying the season because these men keep her busy. Busy bailing them out of jail and trouble and the coach she has labelled the Grinch. Will opposites attract, or will she become a Grinch herself? The comic relief job is all Granny Murphy!
November 20, 2025
New favorite!
By far my favorite hockey romance, hands down! From daycare to hockey coach, what could go wrong?! Fletcher and Ellie can't stand each other, and to make matters worse she's the new coach. This book totally had Little Giant/ Mighty Duck vibes; it's hilarious and so outlandish I was laughing till I cried. The team, Grandma, and Ellie's mom make the best supporting characters with non stop humorous commentary. The hockey games, fighting, snack time, and all the mayhem that comes with coaching grown men. I loved that this book focused more on the hockey and the romance was a secondary. The perfect balance of humor, outrageous moments, and dramatic secrets. Another hit by Alina Jacobs, this is why she's my favorite!
By far my favorite hockey romance, hands down! From daycare to hockey coach, what could go wrong?! Fletcher and Ellie can't stand each other, and to make matters worse she's the new coach. This book totally had Little Giant/ Mighty Duck vibes; it's hilarious and so outlandish I was laughing till I cried. The team, Grandma, and Ellie's mom make the best supporting characters with non stop humorous commentary. The hockey games, fighting, snack time, and all the mayhem that comes with coaching grown men. I loved that this book focused more on the hockey and the romance was a secondary. The perfect balance of humor, outrageous moments, and dramatic secrets. Another hit by Alina Jacobs, this is why she's my favorite!
November 27, 2025
Puck Me It’s Christmas! is a whirlwind romantic comedy that centers around the Rhode Island Hockey Club a team that hasn’t won a game yet.
Ellie who is handling their PR is tired of dealing with these man babies who are worse than the pre schoolers she used to teach.
When circumstances lead Ellie into taking on the coaches position, team Captain Fletcher Sullivan becomes even more of a pain in the ice than he already has been to her which surprisingly soon turns into something much more.
Nicely written with plenty of humor, family dynamics, drama, and passion this was another of the author’s entertaining reads that brings the reader along on some Christmas chaotic fun ending on an HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ellie who is handling their PR is tired of dealing with these man babies who are worse than the pre schoolers she used to teach.
When circumstances lead Ellie into taking on the coaches position, team Captain Fletcher Sullivan becomes even more of a pain in the ice than he already has been to her which surprisingly soon turns into something much more.
Nicely written with plenty of humor, family dynamics, drama, and passion this was another of the author’s entertaining reads that brings the reader along on some Christmas chaotic fun ending on an HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 21, 2025
This is the second book in the Maplewood Falls series. It features Ellie a former preschool teacher forced to move back home and to share her room with her wacky grandmother. She has a PR job with the local NHL hockey team. When the coach and other staff are arrested she is forced to take the coaching position. She is a former National hockey player and her father is a retired NHL goalie. Unfortunately her brother play on a rival team. Everyone expects her to fail. Including the new hotshot player Fletcher Sullivan. He has been placed on the team to spy on the owner. But this has always been his dream. But with Ellie’s calm teacher approach gets the team motivated. And when they start winning everyone is surprised. Along the way Fletcher and Ellie develop feelings. Will they get past the coach and player hurdle? Will Ellie stay on as coach? This story is a hilarious, wild ride full of steam, hockey and wonderful characters.
November 30, 2025
The second book of the Maplewood Falls series of holiday romcom’s, we follow Ellie as she takes on coaching a hockey team instead of a room full of preschoolers. But they may not be so different after she realizes the personas of the players! Especially Fletcher, the captain. Ellie has no plans of backing down, and she’s gonna show these players she can be their coach. Granny is my spirit animal! This was a hilariously fun read with a romance brewing amongst the chaos. I’m going to have to read more books from Jacobs, her characters are well written, and the comedic tones are perfect.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 3, 2025
adorable , funny, and a bit looney
They’re the gang that can’t shoot straight. Fletchers on the team through manipulation to find dirt on its owner. Ellie is a preschool teacher who’s been blacklisted and is working as PR for the hockey team, then made coach. There are assorted players who appear childlike,the rookies, some are traumatized and others are drunks, foreign speakers and just plan grumps but most are endearing. Fletcher and Ellie have chemistry but opposites attract. It’s complicated. Then there’s the crazy grandma Murray, Hudson and siblings and Gracie and other family members. It’s fun, funny, and a quick read. The audiobook adds emphasis to the chaos.
They’re the gang that can’t shoot straight. Fletchers on the team through manipulation to find dirt on its owner. Ellie is a preschool teacher who’s been blacklisted and is working as PR for the hockey team, then made coach. There are assorted players who appear childlike,the rookies, some are traumatized and others are drunks, foreign speakers and just plan grumps but most are endearing. Fletcher and Ellie have chemistry but opposites attract. It’s complicated. Then there’s the crazy grandma Murray, Hudson and siblings and Gracie and other family members. It’s fun, funny, and a quick read. The audiobook adds emphasis to the chaos.
December 8, 2025
3.5 stars
Alina Jacobs books always have the same format so I don’t mind reading them once a year. There’s always some asshole guy ™️ and a female who is easily taken advantage of (usually by her family).
It is nice to have the reappearance of her crazy granny as well as the rest of her family because they are all hilarious and it brings together characters from the other books.
The love is always too quick in jumping from hate to let’s get married and have kids but who cares. It’s a nice easy read and fun to laugh at her granny who gets shuffled around to each cousin/relative depending on the book.
Alina Jacobs books always have the same format so I don’t mind reading them once a year. There’s always some asshole guy ™️ and a female who is easily taken advantage of (usually by her family).
It is nice to have the reappearance of her crazy granny as well as the rest of her family because they are all hilarious and it brings together characters from the other books.
The love is always too quick in jumping from hate to let’s get married and have kids but who cares. It’s a nice easy read and fun to laugh at her granny who gets shuffled around to each cousin/relative depending on the book.
December 31, 2025
A good holiday read!
This was my second book by Alina Jacobs (second in the series). I loved both the MMC, Fletcher, and the FMC, Ellie. This was a cute story and I enjoyed reading about them chasing their dreams. The FMCs Dad, Nate, was horrible to her for most of the book. Im sure thats the way he was supposed to be but he was annoying. It wasnt until about 90% in the book that I started to not despise him. The FMCs family was alot to follow. They were funny but almost too much at times. I had to rewind the audiobook several times to figure out who was saying what. I liked this book/audiobook and I would read another book by Alina Jacobs.
This was my second book by Alina Jacobs (second in the series). I loved both the MMC, Fletcher, and the FMC, Ellie. This was a cute story and I enjoyed reading about them chasing their dreams. The FMCs Dad, Nate, was horrible to her for most of the book. Im sure thats the way he was supposed to be but he was annoying. It wasnt until about 90% in the book that I started to not despise him. The FMCs family was alot to follow. They were funny but almost too much at times. I had to rewind the audiobook several times to figure out who was saying what. I liked this book/audiobook and I would read another book by Alina Jacobs.
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