Claimed By Three: A Why Choose Hockey Romance

by Riley Keenan

Maggie has rules. Don't burn down the inherited bakery. And absolutely, under no circumstances, fall for the three hockey players living upstairs. She breaks both of them—spectacularly, deliciously, and completely on purpose.

My grandmother left me a bakery, a stack of secret recipes, and apparently, three professional hockey players.

I don't do surprises; I do spreadsheets and five-year plans that definitely don't include moving to Minnesota. But Grandma Rose's will is keep Sweet Rose's Bakery open for six months, or lose everything.

A burst pipe forces three players into the apartments above my shop. And the slow, devastating realization that I'm falling for all of them.

There's Cal, whose quiet competence makes me feel capable instead of chaotic. Dex, the team enforcer with gentle hands and a passion for romance novels that makes my heart do dangerous things. And Nik, whose superstitions I once mocked but whose dry humor and soft vulnerability now keep me up at night.

They're not competing for me. They're choosing me. Together.

I’ve spent years shrinking myself in relationships, but these three are asking me to expand. But when my ex and predatory team management start circling the bakery, protecting my own heart seems less important than protecting theirs.

I came to sell a bakery. Now I'm discovering that the biggest risk isn't loving three men at once.

It's letting them love me back.

This is a small town, why choose romance about found family, fresh starts, and the courage to claim your own happily ever after.

Genres: Why Choose

301 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 3, 2026

Reviews

[Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Nik. There is nothing else that needs to be said.


I enjoyed reading this and almost did it in one sitting. The characters were amazing, the story was great and the fact that I laughed AND cried, I'll call it a win.

Nik > Cal = Dex.

[Hannah Salvadge · Rating 2 out of 5]

I genuinely wanted to love this so much. It started off SO strong. There was so much potential for this story in the first 25% of the book. The issue came with the last 75%.

- Continuity errors GALORE. How are they in a restaurant one second, and then literally the next line the FMC is talking about how they are in the bedroom? Magic? And how is Cal standing next to you and in the same sentence Cal walks into the bakery? I was originally willing to let it go because things happen, it’s supposed to be a fun small town hockey romance… but by the 12 continuity error I couldn’t ignore it. Literally EVERY CHAPTER.

- Hockey was advertised… this book was like the author held the book near a hockey game and whispered “hockey” on it. These guys are supposed to be professional hockey players. So why is it that like 95% of the book is them working in the bakery with the bare minimum of hockey so that the author can say it’s a “hockey” romance. No. It’s a small town romance with a small side of hockey.

- Conflict resolution is RAPID. One paragraph there is a conflict… the next there is an immediate resolution. I’m sorry, but I don’t think publishing a book takes a day or two? I could be wrong, but I sincerely doubt that’s how fast it goes…

- The only reason we know who Dex is is because the author describes him as a giant. There is no physical description of Cal and Nik other than massive. Who is who?

- Spice scenes are approached robotically with little to no passion in the scene. These guys LOVE her. So why isn’t that able to be felt in the spicy scenes? And AGAIN WITH THE CONTINUITY ERRORS.

This book had SO much potential. If the author pulled this book, took her time, and actually plotted out her plot points and followed a legitimate timeline, I would have LOVED this. Like I said, the first 25% was pretty good! It was promising! But after that, things went downhill and downhill FAST. It felt like the author was rushing the whole last 75% of the book.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one started out strong. Maggie has inherited the bakery her grandmother ran and finds herself stuck in the small town for six months, thanks to a clause in the will. She quickly realizes that she has more to contend with than trying to replicate her grandmother’s famous cinnamon rolls recipe. Three hockey players, Cal, Dex and Nik, are moving into the small apartments above the shop and they very quickly become intertwined in Maggie’s life.

I found myself enjoying the first part of the book, and appreciated the POC representation thanks to Maggie and her grandmother, even if it was only mentioned in passing. But about a third of the way in, when the romance started heating up between the four main characters, the book started to lose a bit of its appeal. It began to feel more like the author was telling us what was happening rather than letting us feel it. (And the few spicy scenes read almost like a playbook, which wasn’t very sexy at all.) The conflicts the characters dealt with felt generic and were resolved far too quickly, as well.

So, while it started well, the emotional connection just wasn’t there for me in the end. I respected the author’s mental health rep and felt there was potential in the story, but thought the book tried to include too much. And ultimately I just felt it needed more heart and more heat.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Maggie has rules. Don't burn down the inherited bakery. And absolutely, under no circumstances, fall for the three hockey players living upstairs. She breaks both of them—spectacularly, deliciously, and completely on purpose.'

Luv'd everything about this story!

The characters drove the storyline and they were so very appealing and likeable and perfectly steamy together. Plot was well written and straightforward. World building was solidly drawn. All in all a great read! Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[chris fike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a page turner for me .. one of my favorite tropes cause who wouldn’t want to be claimed by more?

Through it all the theme was growth .. each MC and the FMC all grew through their personal struggles and insecurities.

Grandma Rose knew that the 4 of them needed each other and put them in place for it to happen.

They don’t let fear keep them from perusing what they want ..

Completely enjoyed this book and was sad it ended.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Reanna Abare · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book had potential. There wasn’t enough pov from the men. Nik only got two chapters. When issues would come up it was a paragraph and then it would be done. It felt rushed. I am used to more spicy in a why choose well so that I as different. Not in a bad way. There was nothing about hockey in a way it was just mentioned as a throw around. They all fell in love so quickly without any context about getting to know each other.

[Carolyn Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

New to me author I found on Booksprout. Starting out, I was interested. Then there were pages and pages of annoying reading faces and eyes, etc for what people were feeling. Either I got use to ignoring it or it stopped and the rest of the book was pretty good. Although the talk about sharing was kind of stilted and not organic like in other books I’ve read. Interesting characters and good steam.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 11%

[Lexi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

this was so very sweet and cute but i just got bored towards the middle. the ending was so adorable tho xx

[Elianna Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was what i needed i think. just a quick read and it was fairly okay!

[Crazy4bookscruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

ANY REGRETS?! NO!

Fast paced but also it gave enough of each part of their journey to fulfill your brain.

Loved their love and glad they enjoyed their life.

[Tricia Poots · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is just a very sweet romantic book. Yes it’s Why Choose. A little slice. But so sweet. Nice afternoon feel good read.