On the pitch, Luca Whitford, captain of the Beckford U soccer team, is the one everyone looks to for leadership and direction. They follow his word like it’s law. In the bedroom, he’s a submissive brat who lives to be punished by his mysterious masked angel at the exclusive sex club, Euphoria.
Willow Hepburn is a studious mouse by day and a masked dominatrix by night. Dominating men feels like the only control she has in a life where she’s belittled by her mother and ignored by her stepfather and stepbrother.
When Willow makes the shock discovery that her obedient phantom—the one who takes his punishments so well—and her soccer star stepbrother are one and the same, will she come clean or is her desire too great to let go of?
Offside Hearts is a step sibling romance that includes a consensual domme/sub relationship.
Forbidden love (step-siblings), a secret sex club, soccer (football), toxic family, pearl clutching. JL Skye has done it yet again, and I'm not even surprised. She has such a way with developing characters and weaving in a plot that just pulls you all the way in and leaves you hanging on for more. I cannot wait to see where the rest of this series goes.
This is my first intro into JL's writing and I'm so glad it was.
I usually find it so hard to get into novellas and relate to or bond with the characters, as they are too short and rushed, but this story was well timed, well thought out and had the right amount of backstory, whilst still being a fast paced novella.
Luca and Willow, or Phantom and Angel, have such amazing chemistry. The spice is spicing between these two, literally from the first page (told you it was fast paced)! Also... he crawls to her! Need I say more?
Luca is a leader with everyone looking to him in his every day life as a football star (yes football, not soccer). He finds Willow or his Angel, who let's him be who he really is behind closed doors (as well as behind a mask), her good boy, her submissive. Willow is so confident in her role as dominant with Luca.
When the masks come off, and they realise they have been living together as step siblings for the past 4 years, will they still want each other?
Willow's mum is toxic, and I despise her, but her toxicity has taken a toll on Willow, to the point of her being so self-conscious she doesn't think Phantom, and Luca when discovered, will want her (the frumpy, nerdy stepsister). When Luca's dream comes knocking, what will happen with their situationship? Is his unwavering confidence enough for the both of them?
I don't want to spoil things but you need to pick this up for yourself. You get all the answers you're searching for.
A fun, fast paced, spicy read that sets the tone for JL's new series. I am seriously excited to read more.
Sweet and beautiful. Literally zero notes! For a novella the pacing was perfect, and we got full closure, I am so excited to dive into the Beckford U world after reading this prequel. JL Syke’s storytelling is beautiful and gets you hooked from the very beginning.
Spicy, delicious, deep and these two are just perfect.
I knew when I decided to save this novella to be my first read of 2026, I was going to love it. How could I not? I, however, was not prepared for how amazing this story would be or how much it would grip me and pull me in from the very beginning. Offside Hearts is the PERFECT prequel to JL Skye’s newest series, Beckford U. It’s funny and sweet and spicy and oh so naughty in all the best possible ways. Luca and Willow have stolen my heart. I never thought I would root for step-siblings to be together so hard until now. Their chemistry was off the charts and I loved them beyond words. The hot shot soccer player and the nerdy artist; opposites attract in the best way. The masked S€X club, Euphoria, is incredible and I’m really hoping we see more of it in the next books. It was the perfect setting for their meetings as Angel and Phantom and I think it will be a lot of fun to explore more of what goes on there. Possibly with Leni??? Fingers crossed. 🤞🏼 I hate Willow’s mother with a passion, but I do love that it set up for Luca to be so body positive with her. The way he worships her and builds her confidence had me grinning from ear to ear. It was so beautiful to read.
Overall, I loved this (if you couldn’t tell already) and I’m so excited to dive into this series through 2026.
Firstly I want to thank JL Skye for this amazing opportunity to read her novella offside hearts. Jennah you are amazing and omg each book I read from you I fall in love with. This amazing short novella about Luca and Willow was just perfect in all the right ways. I seriously can't wait to read the next book to this amazing series you have written.
This book had me hooked after the first chapter and wanted to read more. There were great moments in this short novella that had me giggling in places and also felt for both the main characters. The plot was really good and the spice was amazing. What will happen between these two characters and will it break any hearts.
OMFG I loved it!!! 🥰 Sports romance crashes headfirst into a masked sex club in Offside Hearts. Luca may rule the field as the football captain, but behind the mask? He kneels. He obeys. Every murmured “good boy,” every commanding “crawl to me,” has him melting at Willow’s feet. Willow is pure fire: confident, commanding, and deliciously in control. Watching her dominate Luca? Criminally hot. But the real twist? The woman Luca is losing his heart—and control—for is none other than his shy, quiet step-sister. Forbidden tension, masked desire, and off-the-charts chemistry… Trust me—you’ll want to read this one 🔥
Wow weee! That was an incredible prequel to JL Skyes Beckford University series.
Talk about hot and steamy! 🥵 Now picture this, smex club, soccer romance, BDSM, step siblings forbidden romance all in one spectacular novella. Honestly, JL Skye never misses. When I found out this was a step sibling romance, I knew I was going to love it as much as I loved Tainted Love. Sure enough, I did.
If you're into taboo romances and looking for a quick read that will leave you wanting more, Offside Hearts will scratch that itch. Im so happy there's more to come and this is part of a series because I am desperate for more!!
What a perfect novella. Offside hearts has it all. A sweet and sexy sports romance with a MMC & FMC who have so much depth and chemistry. JL makes you want to dive into the rest of the Beckford U Series. I can't wait to read the rest of this series.
Masked sex clubs. Step siblings, Soccer/football. BDSM
This sexy little novella wasted no time getting started! I’m such a sucker for a stepbrother/stepsister romance, and this one delivered. I absolutely adored how protective Luca is of Willow and the way he gently builds up her self-esteem. I’m already so excited to continue the rest of this series!