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Goal Point #1
Point of Release
Not yet published
Expected 21 May 26 This is a secret friends with benefits, reformed playboy turned cinnamon-roll romance with a guaranteed HEA.
He’s never met a goal he couldn’t hit or a woman he couldn’t charm. Until her.
CALLUM FINNIGAN is the NHL’s golden boy. A master of the chase, he’s used to shooting his shot — and scoring.
Enter: ALIA JOSHI. The shy former cricketer is nothing like Callum’s usual flings. Healing from an abusive ex and a messy divorce, she’s vulnerable, awkward, and — as his grumpy teammate’s cousin — strictly off-limits.
What starts as tipsy bonding over mojitos and potato puns soon blurs into an unexpected friendship. Callum sees her strength despite her scars; Alia sees the lonely man hidden behind jersey #23.
Their ease? Instant. Their chemistry? Crackling. His inability to curb his attraction for her? Disruptive.
Because when Alia proposes a no-strings attached affair to reclaim her independence without risking her heart, Callum faces a choice: Be the playboy he’s expected to be, or make a play for the only woman who he desires not as a fling, but a forever.
He’s never met a goal he couldn’t hit or a woman he couldn’t charm. Until her.
CALLUM FINNIGAN is the NHL’s golden boy. A master of the chase, he’s used to shooting his shot — and scoring.
Enter: ALIA JOSHI. The shy former cricketer is nothing like Callum’s usual flings. Healing from an abusive ex and a messy divorce, she’s vulnerable, awkward, and — as his grumpy teammate’s cousin — strictly off-limits.
What starts as tipsy bonding over mojitos and potato puns soon blurs into an unexpected friendship. Callum sees her strength despite her scars; Alia sees the lonely man hidden behind jersey #23.
Their ease? Instant. Their chemistry? Crackling. His inability to curb his attraction for her? Disruptive.
Because when Alia proposes a no-strings attached affair to reclaim her independence without risking her heart, Callum faces a choice: Be the playboy he’s expected to be, or make a play for the only woman who he desires not as a fling, but a forever.
- GenresHockey Romance
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 21, 2026
1 person is currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Riya Iyer
5 books105 followersRiya Iyer is an Indo-Canadian author of contemporary romances featuring South Asian characters. Her love for books and Bollywood are at the root of her stories. An incurable romantic at heart, she weaves indulgent tales of missed connections, fated meetings, steamy chemistry and epic love, always with a happily ever after.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 19, 2026
ARC Review!
When you think Spuddy, your mind instantly goes to Ross as Spudnik from Friends. What you definitely don’t imagine is a green-eyed, 6’1”, beefed-up hockey player — and yet, that is exactly who Callum Finnigan is. Now I genuinely can’t look at a potato without thinking of these main characters.
Alia absolutely wins as the FMC for me. From her Indian heritage (cue South Asian girls living out the white-boyfriend fantasy ✨), to her cricketing background, to the way she holds her own in a world overflowing with hockey-player testosterone — she is everything. She feels grounded, strong, and so easy to root for.
Callum and Alia together fit like two missing pieces of a puzzle — the kind you struggle with for days before everything suddenly clicks into place. Their chemistry is sizzling, and the way he “teaches” her? Completely swoon-worthy. Slow and steady takes on a whole new meaning here.
And then there’s the Ironhearts banter — easily one of the best parts of the book. The rest of the players are introduced so effortlessly that I’m already desperate for their stories, especially Rohan and Theo.
Special mention to Riya here because the beauty of her writing lies in how every book feels stylistically unique, while still carrying her unmistakable touch for readers who have followed her work before.
All in all, Goal Point is shaping up to be one of those series that will one day be recommended as one of the greats — I can already see it happening.
Thank you Riya and team for trusting me to read this ARC and share my absolute love for it!
Rating: Must Read
Love: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
When you think Spuddy, your mind instantly goes to Ross as Spudnik from Friends. What you definitely don’t imagine is a green-eyed, 6’1”, beefed-up hockey player — and yet, that is exactly who Callum Finnigan is. Now I genuinely can’t look at a potato without thinking of these main characters.
Alia absolutely wins as the FMC for me. From her Indian heritage (cue South Asian girls living out the white-boyfriend fantasy ✨), to her cricketing background, to the way she holds her own in a world overflowing with hockey-player testosterone — she is everything. She feels grounded, strong, and so easy to root for.
Callum and Alia together fit like two missing pieces of a puzzle — the kind you struggle with for days before everything suddenly clicks into place. Their chemistry is sizzling, and the way he “teaches” her? Completely swoon-worthy. Slow and steady takes on a whole new meaning here.
And then there’s the Ironhearts banter — easily one of the best parts of the book. The rest of the players are introduced so effortlessly that I’m already desperate for their stories, especially Rohan and Theo.
Special mention to Riya here because the beauty of her writing lies in how every book feels stylistically unique, while still carrying her unmistakable touch for readers who have followed her work before.
All in all, Goal Point is shaping up to be one of those series that will one day be recommended as one of the greats — I can already see it happening.
Thank you Riya and team for trusting me to read this ARC and share my absolute love for it!
Rating: Must Read
Love: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Review of advance copy
Thank you to Love Notes PR and Riya Iyer for the ARC of Point of Release in exchange for an honest review.
Alia is recovering from a messy divorce when she meets carefree golden retriever NHL player Cal and he turns her world upside-down.
I really wanted to like this book more. The premise is tried and true, the South Aisan rep is really exciting, and the writing was stylistically unique.
However, this one just ended up falling a bit flat for me. The beginning with all the tension and build-up is really great, but then it just kind of... goes away?
Unfortunately, I couldn't find myself connecting with Alia. We really don't get to know her. Sure, we know things she likes, who she is in relation to Cal and that her divorce was messy, but we never really get to know who she is beyond those few things.
Cal is not my favorite MMC. I feel he wasn't quite up to par with what I've come to expect from the blurb. He just falls flat, basically only having two characteristics: Alia and Hockey. Maybe he's just not that deep? Just not my kind of guy.
The spice was definitely in abundance and while maybe not my cup of tea, I can definitely see a lot of people enjoying it!
I also feel like I must point out that in this book, the author makes the choice to have a character use a derogatory and offensive term without any remorse from the character, nor is there any evidence within the text that expresses that this language is inappropriate. Perhaps this will be removed by the time the book is published.
Overall, it's a quick and spicy romance and I can definitely see why people are loving this book. I think it mostly came down to personal preference for me.
Alia is recovering from a messy divorce when she meets carefree golden retriever NHL player Cal and he turns her world upside-down.
I really wanted to like this book more. The premise is tried and true, the South Aisan rep is really exciting, and the writing was stylistically unique.
However, this one just ended up falling a bit flat for me. The beginning with all the tension and build-up is really great, but then it just kind of... goes away?
Unfortunately, I couldn't find myself connecting with Alia. We really don't get to know her. Sure, we know things she likes, who she is in relation to Cal and that her divorce was messy, but we never really get to know who she is beyond those few things.
Cal is not my favorite MMC. I feel he wasn't quite up to par with what I've come to expect from the blurb. He just falls flat, basically only having two characteristics: Alia and Hockey. Maybe he's just not that deep? Just not my kind of guy.
The spice was definitely in abundance and while maybe not my cup of tea, I can definitely see a lot of people enjoying it!
I also feel like I must point out that in this book, the author makes the choice to have a character use a derogatory and offensive term without any remorse from the character, nor is there any evidence within the text that expresses that this language is inappropriate. Perhaps this will be removed by the time the book is published.
Overall, it's a quick and spicy romance and I can definitely see why people are loving this book. I think it mostly came down to personal preference for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was my first sports romance novel and what a wonderful story to introduce me to this genre!
Alia and Callum were an enjoyable read from the banter, their intimacy and the gradual build up of the relationship. The hockey team the Ironhearts were a favorite, their banter through the group chat made me feel like I was one of them.
I also want to give major props to the author, because as someone who has no sports experience at no point of the book did I ever get lost when reading about Ironhearts plays or hockey terms.
To say I'm excited for book 2 is an understatement, I can't wait!
Alia and Callum were an enjoyable read from the banter, their intimacy and the gradual build up of the relationship. The hockey team the Ironhearts were a favorite, their banter through the group chat made me feel like I was one of them.
I also want to give major props to the author, because as someone who has no sports experience at no point of the book did I ever get lost when reading about Ironhearts plays or hockey terms.
To say I'm excited for book 2 is an understatement, I can't wait!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I wasn't sure about this book at first, but it turned out to be a really beautiful story with a genuinely good guy and a woman with some genuine trauma having a go of it together. I think that the MMC really sold this story for what it needed to be and brought up expectations just that bit more. I loved the development of the FMC and her working through her past, making time for her future. I also loved the set up for a next book (I have a feeling I know who it will be *wink, and will be super excited to read that.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you for the ARC! I really enjoyed this book!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews