Offside Attraction: Sweet and Frozen - Book 1

by G. Sabul

Offside Attraction

Vitto Conti has three golden rules for No drama. No feelings. Absolutely no hockey players.Vittoria “Vitto” Conti is ready for a reset. Fresh off a trip to Sardinia, the marketing specialist for the professional hockey team, the NY Apples, is determined to keep her love life as temporary and commitment-free as possible. After all, in her world, emotions and athletes only lead to disaster.

But her well-meaning best friend, Ce, has tricked her into attending a notorious “Romantic Networking” dinner—a new experiment that matches participants with the three traits they despise most in a person.

Vitto's worst nightmares are confirmed when she is paired with a man who embodies everything she an overly intelligent, optimistic athlete.

His name? Seth Boucher.

The NHL’s reigning Golden Boy , the star forward for the NY Apples... and the one player whose face is plastered all over Vitto's office walls.

Seth is used to winning, both on and off the ice. But when his blind date recoils in visible disgust, Seth is intrigued—and determined. He doesn't recognize the witty, furious woman across the table as one of his own team employees, but he knows a challenge when he sees one.

Trapped together for a two-hour dinner, Vitto and Seth agree to a they’ll pretend they’re interested to save their friend's eccentric venture.

But as playful banter turns into electric chemistry, Vitto’s iron-clad rules start to melt away like ice under pressure. She hates his optimism and cocky charm, yet every stolen glance pulls her deeper into the kind of high-stakes, high-drama relationship she swore she’d never pursue.

She’s his absolute opposite. He’s the one person who can shatter her world.

The game is on. But when the clock runs out, will Vitto deny the unexpected connection, or will she risk everything for the kind of forbidden, scorching love that only a hockey player can offer?

376 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 31, 2025

Reviews

[Sadie Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Low key, I loved that Vi was the serial dater instead of the guy for once. It flipped the usual sports romance dynamic and made the story feel really fresh and fun.

I was absolutely howling at Seth getting completely the wrong end of the stick and going off at Vi’s dad 😭 Maybe not the smartest move when that’s potentially your future father-in-law, but honestly… I kind of respected the passion 😂

Also, can we please talk about Ivica because he might genuinely be one of my favourite characters. I need his book next immediately. His friendships with both Vitto and Seth were honestly so wholesome and added so much to the story.

There was definitely a point where I wanted to sit Vitto and Seth down and tell them to stop overthinking everything and just get together already 😭 You’re clearly good together, please stop creating problems for yourselves. They had me stressing with all the back and forth, but once they finally pulled their heads out of their asses, I absolutely loved them together.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect easy read hockey romance, I really enjoyed how fast paced it was and easy to read even if I did find myself getting frustrated with Vitto and Seth at points for not communicating. But it added to layers of depth that made their story interesting and different.

Was a very cozy read and I can’t wait to read to read more from this author ✨⭐️

[McKenzie Hilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This hockey romance had so much potential, but it ended up being a cozy 3-star read for me.
I really enjoyed the character development and the overall plot—I was definitely invested in the main relationship.
For me, the pacing felt a little rushed and choppy, especially at the beginning, and I would’ve loved more world-building early on.
If you enjoy fast-paced hockey romances that jump right into the story, this could be a great pick for you.

[Laura Book Mouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.25/5

I went into Offside Attraction completely blind and honestly? That first chapter alone had me hooked.

The premise is brilliant. A dating event designed to match people based on the traits they dislike most in a partner? I didn't even need to know anything else. I was in.

And then Seth and Vitto sit down across from each other and the chaos begins.

What surprised me most was how easy this book was to read. It flows effortlessly, and before I realised it, I was flying through chapters.

There is one particular moment early on that completely caught me off guard. When Vitto casually reveals that she's been working for the NY Apples for three years and Seth suddenly realises she works for his team... I genuinely had to stop and laugh. The man's entire reaction was priceless, and honestly, that scene alone deserves a standing ovation.

Seth was impossible not to love. He's basically a golden retriever disguised as an NHL player, and every time he appeared on page I found myself smiling.

But while I loved Seth and Vitto, I also became ridiculously attached to the side characters. Ivica completely stole my heart and I already need his book. Immediately. No negotiations. Theo also fascinated me, and every time he appeared I found myself wanting to know more. Honestly, this book introduced so many characters that I would happily follow into their own stories.

One of the things that impressed me most was how much happens in relatively few pages. At one point I was convinced the story was wrapping up nicely, only to look down and realise I was barely 40% into the book. My immediate reaction was: "Wait... what else is about to happen?"

And somehow, G. Sabul keeps the story moving without ever feeling boring.

If I had one small criticism, it would be that there were a few characters I would have loved to know better. Some relationships and side characters felt so interesting that I occasionally wanted a little more depth from them. Celine, especially, kept me intrigued throughout the entire book.

But honestly? That's a very minor complaint in a story that managed to keep me this entertained.

This book reminded me why I love discovering new authors. It's fun, addictive, charming and full of characters that feel incredibly easy to root for.

And considering I finished it already impatient to read the next book — the ARC sitting on my Kindle waiting for me — I think that says everything. 🏒🖤