Crosby

Portland Wildfire

by Sawyer Bennett

She’s here to expose hockey’s biggest flaws. He’s the complication she never planned on. Neither one is prepared for the sparks that fly every time they collide.

Juno Paxton has built her award-winning documentary career dismantling institutions people blindly worship. Her latest assignment is her most high-profile immerse herself in the league’s newest hockey expansion team—the Portland Wildfire—for an entire season and create a behind-the-scenes film the league can parade around as “authentic.”

Juno doesn’t buy it. Not the hype, not the hero worship, and definitely not the polished personas of pro athletes. She expects egos, theatrics, and plenty of manufactured grit.

What she doesn’t expect is Crosby Hale.

The Wildfire’s starting goalie is stoic, meticulously focused, and infuriatingly camera-shy. He wants nothing to do with her film, her questions, or her insistence that he “show some personality.” Unfortunately for him, the league wants Juno’s documentary to center on the enigmatic goaltender who refuses to cooperate.

But the more time Juno spends with Crosby, the more she glimpses the steady, thoughtful man beneath his guarded exterior. He isn’t the stereotype she’s built her name exposing—he’s better. The more she learns about him, the harder it becomes to keep her documentary, and her heart, objective. And for Crosby, letting Juno in feels less like a mistake and more like the beginning of something worth fighting for.

Warm, witty, and unexpectedly emotional, CROSBY launches the Portland Wildfire series with a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance between a skeptical filmmaker and the goalie determined to stay out of her spotlight… until she becomes the one thing he can’t turn away from.

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Hockey Romance, Slow Burn, Hockey

285 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 19, 2026

About the author

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.

If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).

Reviews

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 4 out of 5]

4🌟, 3🌶️

ARC Review 📖

I went into this book curious and came out completely obsessed.

Crosby, the team’s guarded captain and goalie, and Juno, the documentarian following the expansion team, start off with some tension that slowly grows into a genuine and deeply emotional connection. Their relationship builds on a solid friendship, which made every romantic moment feel natural and earned.

The world-building was one of my favorite parts of the story. The team, the new arena, and all the side characters felt vibrant and fully developed. Birdie, Crosby’s sister, was an absolute standout and added so much warmth and personality. The audiobook narration brought an extra layer of emotion and chemistry that made the story even more immersive.

What impressed me most was how fresh this new series felt from the very beginning. Even with some outside drama, the romance stayed grounded in both vulnerability and trust.

A heartfelt and addictive start to a series I know I’ll be following closely.

~~~~

ALC Review (Audiobook) 🎧

Listening to this book was an absolute treat thanks to the incredible performances by Aaron Shedlock and Amanda Stribling. They nailed the characters, bringing just the right amount of emotional depth and charm to both Crosby and Juno while making the supporting cast feel just as real. Their chemistry as narrators is fantastic, and they truly elevated the story with their perfect pacing and tone, making it a production I would happily listen to all over again.

~~~~

I was lucky enough to receive both an ARC and an ALC, and being able to immersive read and listen to this story made the whole experience even more special.

~~~~

Huge thank you to Sawyer Bennett & The Author Agency for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sawyer Bennett delivers a great slow burn romance in this latest new hockey series, the Portland Wildfire. The couple, goalie/Crosby and documentary film maker/Juno start this series off with a big win. Side characters Birdie, Crosby's sister, as well as Arch, his teammate and friend were favorites. The only downside here apart from the too soon abrupt ending was that strange focus on team owner Patrick's wealth.

I'm ready for book 2, hope it's not a long wait.

[claireesbookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something about Sawyer’s hockey book makes them so addictive and fun to read AND I am so excited for this new series because this book was a fire read! I really loved the way the ending was written HOWEVER I might’ve lost my mind if I had to read one more sentence about what the practice facility, arena, and anything to do with Patrick looks like

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crosby kicks off the Portland Wildfire Hockey series in a great way. He’s the goalie for the new expansion team and also their captain. He’s reserved and is more about the game than the spotlight. So when he meets Juno, a documentary maker, he doesn’t want anything to do with her. Although once he spends time with Juno, he sees her dedication, loyalty, vulnerability and passion which are all things he gravitates to. They were a fabulous couple and one I hope to read more about in the following books. There was no epilogue but it does end with a HEA, and that is SB’s style with these series. Each book might overlap a little so everything feels current.

I listened along to the audio whilst reading and it was exceptional. The only thing that would have been better is if it was in duet style with a full cast. Aaron Shedlock and Amanda Stribling were perfect for Crosby and Juno both hit the marks on emotions and tone throughout the whole production. I would listen to them again for sure.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the overall premise of this one. A new hockey team, a film crew following them around seeing how they build this team and how all the personalities mix.

I wasn't sure about Crosby at the start, he kinda came off as cold. And sure he was a bit that, but more it was him wanting to be as private as he could with a life that is lived in the spot light as a pro athlete, which makes sense. And if there are people in your life that don't want to listen to you, you have to have them not be in your life. This comes back at him, as his ex his now married to a team mate and there are issues. It also doesn't help that he now finds himself having to be on camera with the documentary crew as they film things, goes against what he wants as private.

Juno was so fun from the start. She had a such an easy way of getting to know the players and staff, wanting to win them over. Even made sure to not potential hurt a rink employee when an off hand remark was said to the owner. Crosby was very hard to win over for Juno, but by being herself and not having a camera shoved in his face right away, she did it. That things moved to romance for them was a bonus.

I thought the two of them handled things in a good way once things changed. Even warned the owner. That was a big help, when the drama of Crosby's ex started to come into play in a big way. I was so glad that people saw it for what it was and it looks like it will be put down quickly. I hated the fight that Crosby and Juno got in because of things though. I saw both side, hated how both of them reacted so viscerally. Glad that cooler heads prevailed and they worked things out.

It will be interesting to see where things go for the team from here.

[Katie Koziczkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crosby was an interesting book. I liked the storyline of Portland being an expansion team and seeing the team come together. I also liked the concept of the documentary about the team. Crosby is a simple guy. He devotes a good chunk of his time to being a good goalie, but otherwise he likes to keep things simple and just relax at home. I enjoyed learning about him. Juno is an interesting character. She has a sad backstory, but it's helped develop her career and get her to where she is today. She's great at her job, in particular at paying attention to people. Her and Crosby don't hit it off right away but once he becomes more open to her and why she's there, their relationship develops very quickly. They form a strong connection and seem to understand each other very well. The added drama was interesting, I just wish the ending wouldn't have been so abrupt. I'm definitely excited to read more of this series and get to know more of the players! *I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This first book in the Portland Wildfire series was a great introduction to the team. Crosby Hale
Is a superstar veteran goalie signed to be a team leader for his steady personality. Crosby avoids the spotlight and keeps most people at a careful distance.

Juno Paxton is an award winning documentarian who will be filming the inaugural season of the NHL’s newest expansion team. She has a subtle way of gaining the trust of her subjects and seeks out the truth over drama or sensationalism.

Crosby keeps his distance from Juno for as long as he can, but after a conversation in a hotel bar he discovers much more about Juno’s past when she opens up to help build trust with Crosby.

The slow and progressive deepening of their connection is the focus of this story, along with the introduction to many of the Wildfires players, the team owner and Crosby’s sister. I’m excited for what’s to come in this new series.

I received a free ARC from the author and The Author Agency; and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crosby is a good start to Sawyer's newest sports romance series, Portland Wildfire.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book and how Sawyer set everything up for the start of this series.

Crosby is the team's goalie - keeps to himself mostly as his sole focus is job - being the best goalie for his team. Juno is a journalist who was hired to make a documentary about the team, with a focus on Crosby.

Crosby wants nothing to do with the documentary, nor Juno. And well Juno doesn't exactly care for Crosby much herself. But the more time these two are forced together, they create an unexpected friendship that slowly builds to more.

I liked how the story played out and how things transpired between Juno and Crosby. They felt natural and nothing felt forced between. I will say the ending wasn't what I expected and that is the only reason I did not give this one 5 stars.

Overall, it was a great read and I am excited to see where this series goes.

[autwenreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 2nd read from this author, and I really enjoyed this one. The first few chapters honestly confused me so much that I almost DNFed it, but I’m glad I kept going because once the story picked up, I got invested fast.

I really liked Juno, she’s brave, honest, and kind. Crosby was also easy to love, loyal, confident, and very private.

My favorite part was watching their relationship slowly develop. I loved how the author handled the trust between them, and the romance felt natural and emotional without being too dramatic.

Thank you The Author Agency and Sawyer Bennett for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Liz Beal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of a brand new series by the unparalleled Sawyer Bennett and I can already tell it will be another unforgettable one.

[Reading All The Things · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, easy book. I liked both of them.
Very formula for this author. My real annoyance is the abrupt ending to all her books.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new expansion team in Oregon has players from all over the league joining together as teammates. Former teammates, rivals, and strangers have to work together to build a team from the ground up. Some of the players have chips on their shoulders from being the ones let go from their former teams, while others take the opportunity to shine.

Crosby was picked up as a free agent, ready for a change in his career and to move away from personal drama he wasn’t keen to hold onto. As the goalie, Crosby is used to watching and directing from the back. As he helps guide his new team to the beginning of their season, he does his best to stay away from the film director hired to document the way the team comes together.

Juno is never sure what story her projects are going to tell until the film comes together. She is excited to branch out and film a developing hockey team. Getting to know the players, she quickly learns who is excited for extra attention and who seems to hold back when she is around. She begins working through the players, getting to know what brought each of them to Portland. Most are willing to share, but she starts to wonder if the real story is somehow tied up in Crosby, one of the natural leaders on the team but also one who is reluctant to be interviewed.

This was very much a slow burn as Crosby avoids Juno in her professional capacity and takes some time to warm up to even speaking with her about more than surface level hockey. As they begin to get to know each other off the record, their friendship grows, but the romance is also slow to develop. They are rooted in their friendship and the knowledge of what makes the other tick, and make sure they are solid before they take their relationship public. But the public shifts perspectives, and adds stresses and triggers they thought they had avoided.

The audio narrators, Aaron Shedlock and Amanda Stribling, bring Crosby and Juno to life, adding great pacing and voice to the story. The audio adds a steady confidence to Crosby’s, and a strong sense of presence to Juno’s voice. Shedlock is on the list of my favorite narrators, and while Stribling is new to me, I can see myself picking up books she has narrated just to hear her characters. I enjoyed the way both performances balanced nicely and made both perspectives engaging.

As a new team, the Portland Wildfire has plenty of characters to develop and explore. This is a ragtag bunch, with little tying them together beyond their brand new team. As such, I can see the series growing both with individual stories and as the team gels (or doesn’t) as the season continues.

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[Anita Byars · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible beginning to the new Portland Wildfire Series, the NHL’s newest expansion team based in Beaverton, Oregon. This team boasts a diverse group of players who have been carefully selected to form a unique unit with the shared goal of achieving success and becoming a formidable force in the league. The team is backed by the best of the best, ensuring that they have the resources and talent to compete at the highest level. And I was addicted to this story from the beginning!

Crosby Hale, a free agent, joined the Wildfire after being signed with a hefty sum of money and the allure of a challenging environment. The team urgently needs a backbone and an ambassador of hockey culture…someone who commands respect and admiration, as well as a someone who the room will follow even when the room isn’t sure it wants to. Crosby has consistently proven himself to be a leader and one of the league’s top goalies.

Crosby’s consistent and steady performance under pressure will hopefully serve as a stabilizing force for his new team. However, he wasn’t expecting to deal with a documentary film crew, in his business, especially since he has built his career on shutting out distractions. Therefore, he intends to avoid their attention, as a camera is akin to a spotlight, and spotlights have a tendency to reveal the very things you’re trying to conceal. This is the most significant lesson Crosby learned from his failed relationship with Cherry, his ex-fiancée, who is now married to one of his new teammates and the reason he left his previous team.

Juno Paxton, an award-winning documentary filmmaker renowned for her integrity and honesty, embarked on a new journey with her first sports documentary. Her previous work, Sanctuary, had already garnered a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination, but this time, she was determined to create something truly unique and challenging.

As she begins filming the construction of a new expansion team from scratch, she was unsure of what the spotlight would reveal. Initially uninterested, she soon realized the potential for a captivating and thought-provoking documentary. However, as she delved deeper into the lives of the players, she discovered that not everyone sought the extra attention. Among them, one player stood out, seemingly holding back. Could this player be the real story?

This romance is a slow burn, as Crosby continuously avoids Juno in her professional life. However, as they begin to get to know each other off the record and let down their defenses, he is surprised by how enjoyable and sharp she is. Their connection develops gradually and naturally, filled with witty banter and honest conversations. After enduring what they’ve both been through, they ensure that their relationship is solid before making it public. I thoroughly enjoyed watching these two fall in love, cheering them on and the entire team along with the entire city that is behind them like never before! This is a fantastic start to this new series, brimming with drama, tension, heart, and characters that I can’t wait to learn more about.

[Luisa Rivas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know where this author gets her ideas, but she never repeats herself. I’ve read all the Cold Fury books, all the Pittsburgh Titans, and now this new Portland team, and every story feels fresh, different, and completely compelling. This one grabbed me from page one.

Juno is such an interesting heroine. She’s a talented documentarist with a reputation for integrity and honesty, and her first documentary, Sanctuary, earned Golden Globe and Oscar nominations. It was based in part on her own past, which makes her strength even more impressive. She escaped a cult at thirteen, saved other kids by speaking up, and then had to rebuild her life with foster parents who finally gave her real love. She’s grounded, smart, intuitive, and she sees people clearly — sometimes more clearly than they want.

Then we have the new expansion team in Portland, and the author’s descriptions of the stadium made me want to walk through it myself. Patrick Rowe built a place that feels like a luxury spaceship for hockey players, and every detail shows how much he cares about his team.

Crosby Hale, the goalie, is fascinating in that quiet, intense way. He avoids the spotlight, keeps to himself, and focuses only on the game. His past engagement ended because his ex wanted fame more than a real relationship, and now she’s back in his orbit in the most uncomfortable way possible, she’s now married to another team player. I was already preparing popcorn for the drama.

Juno and her friend Eddie get full access to film the team, and everyone warms up to her except Crosby — which of course makes him the most interesting one. When he finally gives her a few minutes, he’s surprised by how sharp and fun she is. Their connection builds slowly, naturally, with great banter and honest conversations. I loved watching them go from cautious to comfortable to something deeper.

A standout for me was Crosby’s sister, Birdie. Her job as a saturation diver is wild and claustrophobic, but she’s brave, funny, and loyal. She and Crosby have such a strong bond, and she adds so much heart to the story. I’m quietly shipping her with Patrick Rowe.

The romance grows in a steady, believable way — slow, then warm, then intense. And of course, Cherry (the ex) brings chaos the moment she steps into the picture. She wants attention, she wants control, and she wants to get under Crosby’s skin. The tension she creates is delicious, and the fallout is messy in all the right ways.

By the end, I was fully invested in Juno and Crosby, in the team, in the stadium, in the whole world the author is building. And now I’m counting the days until Locke Donovan’s book, because that man is pure chaos on skates and I need to see Patrick deal with Miller and his wife.

A strong start to a new series, full of heart, tension, and characters you want to follow for many books to come.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new hockey spinoff with the Portland Wildfire expansion team. This is their first year of building a team under the guidance of a billionaire owner, and they have all of the support and fancy equipment. They need to be successful, but as a new team, they’ve got to figure out how to mesh together.

Crosby is their steady and focused goalie and team captain. Hockey has been his focus, and he doesn’t want any kind of distractions from the media or anyone else. In fact, his life being put on social media blast is a personal pet peeve. He is confident, controlled, private, and guarded.

Juno is a thorough and edgy documentary maker, who is tasked by the owner to make an exceptional documentary for this new team and all the players. And she seems to be focusing on Crosby, whether he wants her to or not. She’s known for being honest, perceptive, and getting to the heart of the matter. Crosby likes to keep things under control but is going to have no choice other than to participate. But that doesn’t mean he’s going to make it easy. And she doesn’t plan on taking it easy on him.

I enjoyed seeing their dynamic change from more of a tension and avoidance on Crosby‘s part to an appreciation of her personality and her looks. It was like he was drawn to her as a magnet, even when he didn’t want to be, and then once he got there, he wanted to stay there. But he’s also ruled by this sense of honor and doing the right thing, and didn’t want to do anything inappropriate to someone now associating with the team. And it’s the same for her. She’s drawn to him initially and realizes he’s an important part of her project, but then she starts to realize how actually compelling and complex he is and how he has hidden layers to him. But it all develops organically and very naturally. They have a good rapport and a sense of humor once he lets his show.

It's a very slow-burn story about trust and being able to be their true selves with each other. These two are so well matched in personality, trust issues, work ethic, intelligence, and empathy. But there are also a few challenges in the way.

There’s a whole new team of interesting men to pick from for this new series. I know Locke is going to be next, and he is definitely one to watch as the intense enforcer of the team.

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[Bette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Story & Narration🎧Amazing New Series!

Crosby
Portland Wildfire, Book 1
By: Sawyer Bennett
Narrated by: Amanda Stribling, Aaron Shedlock

Sawyer Bennett welcomes you to Portland and her new professional hockey team, the Portland Wildfire, an expansion team looking to prove and make a name for itself to the people and the league. Owner Patrick Rowe spared no expense building his team or the facility to house them and their rink. Juno Paxton, an award-winning journalist, is doing a documentary on the team, an expose, about the team, the players on and off the ice. With a reputation for being objective and keeping things real, she goes in with an open mind, one that will look for things others don’t see, often showing things are not as they seem or as good as they say. She runs into a roadblock right off the bat, and his name is Crosby Hale, a goalie and the appointed captain of the team. The man wants nothing to do with being in the spotlight or with the media, herself included, but he could only avoid her for so long. When he finally makes time for her, she learns Crosby was nothing like she imagined he would be, and she learns there is so much more to the man the more time she spends with him. Both characters have interesting backstories, Juno’s was tragic, and she did not allow that to reflect on the person she became, and Crosby’s history included his manipulative ex-fiancée who is back in his life in a different capacity. Crosby and Juno’s story captivated my attention and tugged at my heartstrings the entire time. I loved all the layers of the story and how it all played out, with the perfect balance of drama, on and off the ice, action too, heartfelt emotions, and steamy romance. The series is off to an amazing start, and as always, Bennett’s writing, plot, and world-building are fantastic, as are the character growth and development. Thank you for another fantastic and wonderfully entertaining story and emotional rollercoaster.

🎧📚🎧 Amanda Stribling and Aaron Shedlock are the perfect cast to bring these characters to life, giving each a voice that is fitting and believable. Both embodied their characters completely, grasping every aspect of their personalities and were naturals in their roles. Shedlock’s portrayal of Crosby and Stribling’s of Juno were both remarkable, and they were equally impressive performing the roles of the side/secondary characters, too. They set the ideal tone for the story, conveyed all the characters’ emotions, and had you feeling them all. This narration duo makes an amazing team, with voices and talent that complement each other and a captivating performance that rivets you to the story. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen

[Linda Ketter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crosby is book 1 in the new Portland Wildfire hockey series and follows goalie Crosby Hale as he falls for the one person he was trying to avoid because of her profession.

Crosby has a sister who has a very unique, and dangerous, job. He loves her immensely and worries about her all of the time she is on a job. They are very close and have a fun relationship. He was picked up during the off season as a free agent to be the primary goalie, and team mentor, for the Portland Wildfire. He has never been a fan of social media, and after a previous relationship, he has no desire to be a part of it. He is a seasoned player who enjoys spending time with family and friends, but also his quiet time.

Juno grew up in a unique environment. She was 14 when she was removed from the environment and put into foster care. She went to UCLA for college and became a documentarian after graduating. She has made a name for herself in the industry for tackling tough subjects, while treating those involved with care while telling their story. She has won awards for her documentaries over the years but does not flaunt her worth.

When Crosby reports to pre-training camp for the team, he learns that the league and the owner of the Wildfire have joined forces to document the first year of a league expansion team. He is not thrilled that this is happening, but, in his mind, he does not need to give her much of his time. But Juno has other ideas.

But Juno wears Crosby down. They meet up for a short get to know each other session, where she tells him about her childhood. Everything said is off the record, just two people meeting up for a drink. When she leaves, he admits, if only to himself, that he is interested in her. He wants to know more about her. And that means spending more time with her.

Crosby does his official interview with Juno. But these two do not stop seeing each other. There is something brewing between these two.

As time goes by, Crosby gains more respect for Juno. He meets her friends from college when they are in Los Angeles. Her friends show him another side to her and make him laugh. He truly enjoys his time with her and her friends. Plus, she meets his sister and gets to know her while helping them unpack his new place. It was part of the deal for her to interview him. It also gives her another view of his personality and relationships.

But will Juno's job, which includes filming moments around the team facilities, be the straw that breaks the camel's back? Could a personal moment that never should have even happened, that was filmed, set this couple ablaze? What will be the fallout with the documentary? What will be the fallout with the team? Will the problem be addressed and resolved?

Crosby is such a great way to jump start this series. We are introduced to many of the new players in this book and seeing some of the background of the team owner.

There are so many emotions in this story. We see hope, friendship, camaraderie, tension, frustration, love, jealousy, hurt and worry.

Juno brings out a side of Crosby that needs to be set free. He is a quiet soul, but he enjoys spending time with her friends. He is protective of his privacy, but with her he tells her about his ex. He is more open and fun loving with her.

I can't wait to see more of these two in future books. And i can't wait to get more about the other players in future books. But I really want the owner's story. There is one there and I need to know it.

It has been awhile since I have listened to Aaron Shedlock and I forgot how much I enjoy his voice in my ears. I enjoyed his easy going version of Crosby. That is who I found Crosby to be. It has been ages since I have listened to Amanda Stribling. I love her as Juno. She is strong, fun loving and vulnerable all at the same time and she portrays the character beautifully.

[Trish- Late Knight Luna Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Audiobook Review**

A brand new hockey series from Sawyer Bennett… say less. “Crosby” is a heartfelt, swoony and unforgettable forced proximity, workplace, slow burn romance that was a great start to the new series.

It’s a new hockey season and there’s a new team in town. The Portland Wildfire are an expansion team for the NHL and they are building their team from the ground up. They have an owner that believes in them and even has a documentary crew around to film the whole thing. Crosby Hale is the goalie for the Wildfire and has been voted as Captain by the team. He isn’t one for the spotlight so having the documentary crew is the last thing he wants around. Juno Paxton is an award winning documentarian and she’s excited to work on this project. She wants the project to be authentic and having unrestricted access is going to help her achieve that. As she spends time with the team, she realizes that they are authentic, even the goalie who hates the spotlight. Juno slowly breaks down his walls and there is an attraction between them neither was expecting.

From the moment this series was announced, I couldn’t wait to start it. Sawyer Bennett is one of the OGs of the hockey romance genre and she never disappoints when she writes a book. Crosby is patient, genuine and an amazing teammate. He’s committed to the team and wants them to succeed just as much as the owner and the other players. Juno is a firecracker and I loved her passion for making documentaries. She had a crazy childhood that most would never go through and came out on the other side as a smart and confident woman. She might have had her doubts on how the team really was but once she started spending time with everyone, she saw how genuine they were. I loved the dynamics of the team and I’m excited for the rest of the books as they get released. Crosby and Juno’s relationship was a slow burn but worth the wait as they figured things out. The attraction was there from the beginning and only grew as they spent time together as Juno worked on the documentary. Crosby’s sister, Birdie, is a certified baddie and I hope we get more from her in the future. The ending was perfect for them and I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Aaron Shedlock and Amanda Stribling narrated this audiobook and I loved listening to them bringing Crosby and Juno to life. Aaron’s narration was patient and genuine just like Crosby and he brought the goalie alive perfectly. Amanda was fantastic as Juno. She was fun, passionate and vulnerable just like Juno.

[canadian_girlreadfeastrepeat Basra]

🎧🏒 ALC/ARC REVIEW 🏒🎧
⭐⭐⭐✨ 3.5 stars — fun, emotional, and worth the read
Crosby - the Portland Wildfire
Sawyer Bennett
Narration By: Juno Paxton and Crosby Hale
The Author Agency

Juno Paxton and Crosby Hale absolutely brought this story to life. They captured every emotion, every bit of tension, and all the chemistry between the characters perfectly. Their performances pulled me right into the story and made this audiobook incredibly easy to binge. They added so much personality and depth that elevated the entire listening experience.

This brand-new hockey romance series follows a fresh expansion team filled with complicated personalities, emotional baggage, team dynamics, and all the drama that comes with life both on and off the ice.

This was my first book by Sawyer Bennett, and it definitely won't be my last. What I loved most is that this story is about so much more than hockey. It focuses on people chasing success, carrying emotional scars, and trying to balance life, career, and relationships.

Crosby isn't just the team's goalie he's also carrying the responsibility of being captain. Then there’s Juno, an award-winning documentary filmmaker who has built a successful name for herself. Her newest project gives her full behind-the-scenes access to the Portland Wildfire expansion team, allowing her to get close to the players and earn their trust… well, almost all of them.

For reasons tied to his past, Crosby wants nothing to do with being part of the documentary. After dealing with an ex-fiancée who thrived on attention and the spotlight, he’s built walls around himself that he has no intention of taking down.

Watching Juno slowly break through those walls and seeing their friendship naturally grow was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their relationship development felt authentic and enjoyable to follow.

The one thing that left me wanting more was the ending. It felt a little rushed considering how much attention was placed on the tension surrounding Crosby’s ex and her connection to one of his teammates. There felt like there was more story left to tell which honestly just has me excited and hoping future books in the series expand on it.

Overall, this was still absolutely worth the read/listen, and I’m excited to see where this series goes next. 🏒✨

Thank you The Author Agency & Sawyer Bennett for allowing me to review a copy of this book the ARC and ALC are both amazing.

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

CROSBY is the first instalment in Sawyer Bennett’s contemporary, adult PORTLAND WILDFIRE erotic, hockey romance series, a spin off, set in the author’s numerous interconnected hockey series. This is Portland Wildfire goalie Crosby Hale, and documentarian Juno Paxton’s story line.


Told from dual first person perspectives (June and Crosby) CROSBY follows the introduction of the new NHL expansion team the Portland Wildfire,and their owner Patrick Rowe. JunoPaxton is an award winning documentary filmmaker, and the Portland Wildfire is her latest project.Spending one year with the team, Juno is hoping to learn a little bit about management, the players, their significant others and the people behind the scenes but getting access to goalie Crosby Hale is proving harder than she could have ever imagined. Crosby’s past has followed our hero to Portland, and the spiral finds itself forcing a confrontation that Crosby never expected.


The world building focuses on the building camaraderie and friendships, previous entanglements and relationships, and the potential fall-out when lies threaten any chance for a struggle-free season.


The relationship between Juno and Crosby begins acrimoniously as Crosby struggles with Juno’s persistent and potentially invasive questions. Crosby doesn’t like to be the centre of attention but the past is determined to pull Crosby into a myriad of troubles. Juno knows that to cross a line has the potential to affect her professional integrity but Crosby and Juno are determined to prove there is more than a passing fling. The $ex scenes are impassioned and provocative without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.


There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, energetic and dynamic secondary and supporting characters including the members of the Portland Wildfire, owner Patrick Rowe, management, coaching staff, family and friends-a few familiar faces and mentions keep the interconnected series cohesive.


CROSBY is a story of betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, family and friendships, relationships and love. The character driven premise is detailed, edgy and captivating but there is little to no conflict resolution-the reader is left hanging wondering what will happen; the romance is seductive and passionate; the characters are desperate, determined and charismatic.


copy supplied for review

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crosby was such an immersive hockey romance and honestly one of those books where the emotional tension slowly builds until you’re completely invested in the characters.

And experiencing this as both an ARC and ALC honestly made the story even better because the audiobook narration brought so much life and emotion into every scene.

Crosby and Juno were such an interesting pairing because they came from completely different worlds emotionally and professionally.

Juno is an award-winning documentarian known for exposing and dismantling institutions people blindly admire and trust, so going into the world of professional hockey already put her in a complicated position. She expected ego, manufactured personalities, and surface-level answers.

What she didn’t expect was Crosby.

Crosby was such a strong MMC because underneath his guarded and reserved personality was someone carrying emotional damage from his past relationship. As captain and goalie, he already carries pressure on and off the ice, but emotionally he keeps everyone at a distance after what he’s been through.

Watching Juno slowly break through those walls was honestly one of my favorite parts of the book.

The tension between them was written SO well because it never felt rushed. Their chemistry slowly built through conversations, vulnerability, frustration, and emotional intimacy, which made every moment between them feel stronger.

And honestly? Birdie absolutely stole scenes whenever she appeared. She brought such warmth and emotional comfort to the story that you could genuinely feel through the pages and through the audiobook performances.

The audiobook narrators did an incredible job bringing the story to life. The chemistry, emotional tension, quieter vulnerable moments, and intensity all felt even stronger while listening to it. It made the entire experience feel so immersive.

This book balanced:
🏒 Hockey romance
🎥 Documentarian FMC
🖤 Guarded MMC
🔥 Slow-burn tension
✨ Emotional chemistry
🎧 Amazing audiobook narration
💔 Healing & vulnerability

If you enjoy sports romances with emotional depth, slow-burn chemistry, guarded MMCs, and strong character-driven relationships, I definitely recommend this one.

⭐️ 4.5/5
🔥 4/5
🌶️ 3/5
💧 4/5

Thank you to The Author Agency, Sawyer Bennett, and the publishers for the ARC & ALC opportunity. All opinions are my own.

[Dali · Rating 5 out of 5]

🏒🎥 A camera-shy hockey goalie and the documentarian determined to expose the truth? Yeah… I was hooked immediately.

Read if you like:
✨ Hockey romance
🎥 Opposites attract
🔥 Slow-burn tension
🏒 Grumpy goalie energy
💬 Banter + emotional depth
👀 Behind-the-scenes sports world vibes

📚 Juno Paxton built her career exposing the truth behind institutions people blindly worship, and her newest project takes her inside hockey’s newest expansion team: the Portland Wildfire. She expects ego, manufactured drama, and polished PR personas. What she doesn’t expect is Crosby Hale—the team’s guarded, intensely private goalie who wants absolutely nothing to do with her documentary.

👨 Crosby is such a compelling hero in that quiet, intense, emotionally reserved way. He avoids attention, hates cameras, and focuses solely on hockey… until Juno starts slipping past all his defenses. And Juno? She’s smart, grounded, observant, and impossible not to admire. Her background adds so much depth to her character and explains why she sees people so clearly.

💞 The romance builds slowly and naturally, which made every moment between them feel earned. Their connection grows through conversations, trust, and curiosity rather than instant attraction alone, and I loved watching them go from cautious and guarded to genuinely vulnerable with each other.

👧 One of my favorite things about this book was the world-building around the Portland Wildfire. The team dynamics, the incredible stadium details, the side characters (especially Crosby’s sister Birdie 👀) all made this feel like the beginning of something much bigger. And yes… I am already waiting impatiently for future books in this series.

✍️ Sawyer Bennett somehow continues to make every hockey romance feel fresh. After so many books in her hockey worlds, I’m still impressed by how different each story feels. The writing is warm, witty, emotional, and immersive without relying on unnecessary drama.

🌟 Crosby is a strong start to a brand-new hockey romance series full of chemistry, emotional depth, found-family team vibes, and characters you immediately want more of. Slow burn done right. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📲 QOTD: Do you prefer your hockey romance heroes loud and chaotic… or quiet and emotionally guarded like Crosby? 👀

#Crosby #SawyerBennett #HockeyRomance #SportsRomance #Bookstagram

[Franci N (Franci's Fabulous Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 She Makes Him Unravel Stars!

This is the perfect start to a new series. New characters to fall in love with, a new team that’s getting to know each other, settling some potential grievances and all of it in front of a camera. This book focuses on Crosby the seasoned Goalie of the new expansion team the Portland Wildfire and Juno Paxton an award-winning documentarian. Talk about two people that you wouldn’t think would fit together… at least that’s what I thought anyway. How wrong I was.

Crosby is a private man and having a camera following him just makes him grumpy and standoffish, until he has a conversation with Juno that makes him rethink this entire project. Juno has a past that is devastating at best which makes her very leery of trusting people in general and men in particular. For her Crosby is so multi-layered that she’s extremely interested in peeling back all his layers.

I loved how their story builds. We get to see how the walls both of them have built around each other slowly come down. There’s a connection building between both of them that they try so hard to at first ignore, but then when they give in, they face the battle of do they keep it a secret or do they come out in the open? Needless to say, any decision they make has consequences.

I had the pleasure of listening to Aaron Shedlock and Amanda Stribling bring Crosby and Juno to life. They’re both so masterful in their narration that I truly felt I was in Portland in the arena, on the plane or at Crosby’s house. There are a lot of emotions in this book, especially when the past comes calling and both narrators do a phenomenal job of bringing the listener into each and every line and scene.

Ms. Bennett has given us a story that at moments had me chuckling out loud, sighing and swooning and then cursing under my breath when there are some questionable actions by certain people. This book does a wonderful job of introducing us to the entire team and who I think will have their own books. I could be wrong, but I’m hoping not. If you want to get into a series from the very beginning, you’re a hockey lover and are looking for a story that will keep you captivated from beginning to end, this is the book you need to read!

[Ria Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant beginning to a new series

A new city and a new team, Portland Wildfire Sawyer Bennett's new hockey series had a brilliant beginning with CROSBY. Add in the audio and I was in seventh heaven. This forced proximity, opposites attract, slow burn, workplace romance was emotional, humourous, and non-stop entertaining.

He's a camera shy goalie and she's a documentarian, what happens when their worlds collide? Crosby Hale is a quiet, confident, private person who avoids being in the spotlight. Juno Paxton is in Portland to make a documentary on the NHL's new expansion team. She's an observer, objective in her reporting, she doesn't chase her stories ... and Crosby Hale has her attention.

Crosby does everything to avoid being interviewed by Juno, but after seeing how his teammates are with her and how she openly talks to them he finally relents. Crosby finds himself surprisingly comfortable in Juno's presence, she puts him at ease and he begins to open up to her. A friendship slowly develops, one which is based on trust, where they share their vulnerabilities and dreams. As their chemistry builds, so too does their desire. I loved this couple, there was no major drama, they were just two people who found an unexpected connecion and built on it.

Amanda Stribling and Aaron Shedlock were the narrators for CROSBY and their portrayals of Crosby and Juno were sublime. They brilliantly brought to life the banter, emotions, passion, and personalities of all the characters with such ease. Their voices ensured listening was an absolute pleasure.

CROSBY was a wonderful read. Sawyer Bennett always delivers characters with emotional depth and vulnerabilities, side characters who supply the wisdom and humour, a team which becomes a family, and a romance which is heartfelt. Next up is Donovan Locke's story, Locke , he's hockey's bad boy and he has me intrigued.

Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction

✨✨✨✨✨ FIVE STARS

[Rachel Nahabedian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: Loved It

This was such a fantastic start to the series. The ending did feel a little unfinished, but honestly I’m hoping that means book two gives us even more Crosby and Juno because I’m not ready to let these two go yet.

It’s no secret that I love hockey goalies, but Crosby is a very different kind of goalie MMC. He’s not quirky, chaotic, or the loud class clown type. He’s quiet, steady, and dependable. The kind of man whose entire team votes him captain because they trust him completely. And honestly, a goalie captain should tell you everything you need to know about him. Once Crosby makes up his mind, that’s it. No second-guessing, no “what ifs.” He sees Juno standing in front of him and once he decides he wants her, he focuses on building a future with her.

And Juno? What a character. She's one of the most interesting FMCs I've read in such a long time! Being raised in a cult, escaping at 14, helping bring the entire thing down, and then essentially raising herself into the strong, successful woman she becomes? Incredible. But now that all the family drama is resurfacing, you start to see the cracks beneath the composed exterior and Crosby being there to support her through that.

That said, I still feel like there are a lot of unresolved threads, especially surrounding the Cherry situation. Did that drama actually end? Is it still ongoing? And what happened with the documentary Juno was filming? I really wanted more closure there because it feels like there’s still so much left to unpack with her past and her family.

Even so, I’m already desperate for book two because this expansion team has serious potential to become one of my favorite hockey romance groups.

And the audiobook? So good. Aaron Shedlock perfectly captured Crosby’s calm, controlled exterior while still letting you feel the rage and emotion simmering underneath. Amanda Stribling absolutely nailed Juno’s cool, collected persona that’s clearly masking someone who’s been forced to be strong for far too long.

Thank you, Sawyer, for the ALC.

[Lara Phoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Audio Rating: 🎧🎧🎧
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Narrator(s): Aaron Shedlock & Amanda Stribling
Narration Type: Dual

Tropes:
Hockey Romance
Forced Proximity
Reluctant Hero
Slow Burn
Workplace Romance
Opposites Attract
Found Family
Emotionally Guarded Hero
Bold, Unapologetic Heroine

Review:
Thank you to Sawyer Bennett and The Author Agency for the ALC! 🩷🖤

Narrated by Aaron Shedlock & Amanda Stribling in dual POV. A returning narrator and a new narrator for me.

I really enjoyed Crosby, and especially loved the dynamic between Crosby and Juno. Their relationship felt honest and natural, which made the slow burn work really well for me. I was screaming for them to just kiss already half way through I must admit!

And Sawyer Bennett absolutely knows how to create a villain because I instantly disliked Cherry 😅 Every scene with her had me internally rolling my eyes.

But honestly? Birdie completely stole some scenes for me. Her comment about Cherry’s Halloween costume —
“Good job on making Rapunzel look slutty.”
Absolute ICON behaviour 😂 I genuinely spat my drink out laughing.

I also loved the way Sawyer described the settings and locations throughout the book. Everything felt really vivid and immersive, which made it easy to fall into the story and picture the world around the characters.

The spice is definitely on the lower side compared to a lot of what I normally read, but it fit the story well and still felt intimate and meaningful.

My only real issue was that the ending felt a little rushed for me. After all the build-up, I wanted more time with Crosby and Juno actually together, and I especially wanted more fallout involving Cherry and Miller because I am definitely invested there now 👀

Hopefully the next book gives us a bit more of that because I absolutely need to know what happens next.

Overall though, such a solid slow burn romance with great character dynamics and some genuinely hilarious moments.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, let me say that Crosby and Juno are a solid couple. Their chemistry isn't exactly exploding off the page--they kind of go from sort of interested in each other to feeling like an established, comfortable couple already--but they're good together. Their black moment was a bit of a nonentity and resolved ridiculously quickly (and at the literal last minute--good thing we'd already seen them comfortable in their relationship or I would have genuinely felt cheated), but given what we knew about both of them it didn't feel disingenuous. I would have liked to have seen Juno's personal life/past get a better resolution, but I understand why she made the choice she did there.

We don't learn a ton about the other players on the team--Crosby's BFF Arch gets the most page time, though the next book isn't his--I'm looking forward to getting to know more of them as the series (and their season) continues.

This was OK as a series starter--hopefully the parts that most slowed me down as a reader (absolutely constant descriptions of the fabulousness of the training facility, arena, private plane, etc. of the team and its owner--we get it; he's crazy rich and all of the above is unbelievably opulent and no expense was ever spared) will be absent from subsequent books, so we can get right to the story and focus there...? Overall there was a lot of description going on all over the book--Crosby and Juno also do a whole lot of explaining in their internal monologues, and TBH that made the book drag a bit too. I really wanted a whole lot more doing and a lot less thinking overall; I started reading the audio version but ended up switching to the ebook since I can read faster than the narrators narrate. No shade on the narrators--they both did a good job--the story's narrative style just wasn't quite my cup of tea.

Still, I'm happy to be part of a new hockey town with the Portland Wildfire!

Rating: 3 1/2 stars / C+

[b cozy book lounge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crosby is a solid start to what feels like a very promising new hockey romance series.

As the first book in the series, a lot of the story focuses on setting the stage for the new expansion team, the Portland Wildfires, and the incredible vision behind it. From the state-of-the-art performance facility to the players’ plane and even Patrick Rowe’s home, it’s clear no expense has been spared in creating something bigger and better than what other hockey teams have.

Crosby, the goalie and captain of the team, was such a refreshing MMC. Calm, collected, and deeply devoted to hockey and his teammates, he prefers to stay out of the spotlight and keep his private life guarded. But when award-winning documentary filmmaker Juno Paxton arrives to capture the inside story of building an expansion team from the ground up, Crosby quickly becomes her key focus, even if he’s resistant to letting her in.

I really appreciated the way Sawyer Bennett developed the relationship between Juno and Crosby. This is very much a slow burn, and it was beautifully written watching two people naturally gravitate toward each other, building trust and connection before romance. Juno’s patience, sensitivity, and integrity made her such a great match for Crosby, especially as she respected his boundaries instead of pushing too hard.

The added layer of drama with Crosby’s ex-fiancée, Cherry, now married to teammate Miller and always chasing the spotlight, brought tension to the background without overwhelming the story.

🎧I also listened to the audiobook, and Aaron Shedlock as Crosby and Amanda Stribling as Juno captured the calmness and personalities of the characters so well. My only wish? A duet narration style would have made it even better.

By the end, I was left feeling like there is still so much more to Juno and Crosby’s story, and I’m excited to see where Sawyer Bennett takes this series next.

[Julie Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the audio for this story – the vocal performances were wonderful! This is a great start to a new series about the new hockey franchise, the Portland Wildfire. The author does a great job developing all the side characters enough to make them intriguing and I am hopeful they star in future books!

This story is about star goalie Crosby Hale who is the mature and stabilizing force behind the new team. His teammates vote him in as Captain. This is a rag tag expansion team that is starting to come together and has a fabulous new area in Beaverton, Oregon courtesy of billionaire owner Patrick Rowe.

Juno Paxton is an award-winning documentary filmmaker hired by the team owner to film the entire first season – getting full behind the scenes access. Juno had a rough backstory – she grew up in a cult and would have been one of the elderly leaders wives when she turned 14. She escaped, exposed the group to law enforcement, and was abandoned by her parents. She is a confident and strong woman, yet it’s hard for her to trust.

Crosby struggles with trust also after a bad breakup with his former fame chasing ex-fiancée, Cherry. He avoids Juno and she is persistent in trying to get to know him and document his story. Things get complicated when Cherry resurfaces with her new husband Miller Parks, who is now Crosby’s teammate. I loved how Crosby and Juno’s relationship developed over time and more and more of their walls came down. They have so much in common and are perfect together.

One of the most fascinating side characters is Crosby’s sister, Birdie. She works on a platform in middle of Gulf of Mexico as a commercial saturation diver supporting offshore oil. I hope she gets her own book in this series.

[Nikki Dunlap · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this expecting a fun hockey romance, but what I got was a surprisingly layered story with emotional depth, sharp chemistry, and one of the most quietly lovable heroes I’ve read in a while.

Crosby Hale is the kind of MMC who doesn’t need to be loud to command attention. He’s private, disciplined, and completely uncomfortable being the center of anything outside the rink. Watching him slowly open up to Juno felt natural and incredibly rewarding.

And Juno? I loved her. She’s driven, observant, and determined to look beneath the polished image professional sports try to sell. Her dynamic with Crosby worked so well because neither of them was trying to impress the other at first—they just slowly became people the other couldn’t ignore.

The romance is definitely a slower burn, but it fits these characters perfectly. Their connection builds through trust, conversations, vulnerability, and all those small moments that end up meaning everything. No over-the-top drama, just two guarded people finding something real together.

One thing that really stood out to me was the atmosphere of the Portland Wildfire organization. The team interactions, locker room energy, and side characters made the world feel lived-in and set up the series in such a strong way. I already know I’m going to get attached to this team.

I also listened to parts of the audiobook, and the narration added so much emotion to the story. Crosby’s quiet intensity especially came through perfectly.

If you love:
✨ emotionally guarded heroes
🏒 hockey romance
🎥 opposites attract vibes
🩷 slow-burn chemistry
👀 found-family/team dynamics

…this one is absolutely worth picking up.

Thank you Sawyer Bennett and The Author Agency for this ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion.