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Colorado Dragons
Face-Off
He's the team's captain—strong, empowering, and chivalrous.
She's a decorated veteran—smart, beautiful, and fierce.
I breathe, eat, and sleep hockey. It's my duty, my honor, my privilege to give all I have to my team, for my team. Lead by example. Leave the pain on the ice, wearing blood and sweat on my jersey with pride.
No sacrifice is too big… or so I thought.
Emmeline knows true sacrifice. Face of an angel. Heart of a warrior. Marine turned coffee shoppe owner, brewing a mean cup of joe kissed by the heavens, protective of her family by choice and those in need of saving.
I thought I knew sacrifice. I had no idea. Em makes me look like an amateur.
And I can't get enough. I can't get her out of my head, not that I want to.
But she's full up. She has no need nor desire for a pro athlete who lives in the limelight and dines with celebrities and politicians.
I face off with the toughest players in the NHL, yet I can't break the ice around her heart. I'm a warrior of a different kind, and I'm prepared to go to battle for her.
1-click this angsty, heart-pounding hockey romance and fall hard for Nightly and his Emmeline.
She's a decorated veteran—smart, beautiful, and fierce.
I breathe, eat, and sleep hockey. It's my duty, my honor, my privilege to give all I have to my team, for my team. Lead by example. Leave the pain on the ice, wearing blood and sweat on my jersey with pride.
No sacrifice is too big… or so I thought.
Emmeline knows true sacrifice. Face of an angel. Heart of a warrior. Marine turned coffee shoppe owner, brewing a mean cup of joe kissed by the heavens, protective of her family by choice and those in need of saving.
I thought I knew sacrifice. I had no idea. Em makes me look like an amateur.
And I can't get enough. I can't get her out of my head, not that I want to.
But she's full up. She has no need nor desire for a pro athlete who lives in the limelight and dines with celebrities and politicians.
I face off with the toughest players in the NHL, yet I can't break the ice around her heart. I'm a warrior of a different kind, and I'm prepared to go to battle for her.
1-click this angsty, heart-pounding hockey romance and fall hard for Nightly and his Emmeline.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 13, 2026
About the author
D.M. Davis
29 books1,333 followersD.M. Davis is a Contemporary and New Adult Romance Author.
She is a Texas native, wife, and mother. Her background is Project Management, technical writing, and application development. D.M. has been a lifelong reader, and wrote poetry in her early life, but has found her true passion in writing about love and the intricate relationships between men and women.
She writes of broken hearts and second chances, of dreamers looking for more than they have and daring to reach for it.
D.M. believes it is never too late to make a change in your own life, to become the person you always wanted to be, but were afraid you were not worth the effort. You are worth it. Take a chance on you. You never know what’s possible if you don’t try. Believe in yourself as you believe in others, and see what life has to offer.
Visit her website for more details.
She is a Texas native, wife, and mother. Her background is Project Management, technical writing, and application development. D.M. has been a lifelong reader, and wrote poetry in her early life, but has found her true passion in writing about love and the intricate relationships between men and women.
She writes of broken hearts and second chances, of dreamers looking for more than they have and daring to reach for it.
D.M. believes it is never too late to make a change in your own life, to become the person you always wanted to be, but were afraid you were not worth the effort. You are worth it. Take a chance on you. You never know what’s possible if you don’t try. Believe in yourself as you believe in others, and see what life has to offer.
Visit her website for more details.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 14, 2026
Carter McNight or Nightly captain of the Colorado Dragons is ready to settle down.
Emmeline Weston retired marine, coffee shop owner, and a best friend to Bennett.
Emmeline Weston retired marine, coffee shop owner, and a best friend to Bennett.
April 13, 2026
“FACEOFF” is the first book in “The Colorado Dragons” series. Carter McNight, aka Nightly, is the captain of the Colorado Dragons Hockey Team in the NHL….he breathes, eats and sleeps hockey. All he wants is to have someone to spend the rest of his life together with someone special….“….the dream is good and alive, and its face, in the form of Emmeline - the owner with dark, silken hair unfairly bound from view on top her head and golden eyes that pierce my soul”
Emmeline owns the local coffee shop, Lotti’s Latte, which she runs with her best friend and fellow Marine, Bennett. When Carter comes into her coffee shop, Em cannot help but notice him. She has no idea who he is, but the attraction to “…. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Gorgeous hit me with a pheromone bomb, and my ovaries are dancing for the pretty man, flagging him in.”
There is never a dull moment! This book is everything you expect from a sports romance with a touch of alpha male thrown in. I’m very happily hooked - I did not want it to end! Once I started reading, I could not put this book down! At times you will laugh, you will cry, get angry and frustrated - most of all, you will love the twists! This book will charm “the pants off you” and leave you going back for more. This is a lovely book that will keep you hooked! It has fun, laughs, intrigue, twists that you do not expect, and physical attraction. You will fall in love with Carter and Emmeline. They compliment each in some many ways - faults and all.
“I’ll fight with her. I’ll fight for her. I’ll love her, on her, and for her. I’ll protect her heart and her body - not that she needs my help in that regard. She’s a warrior off the ice. I’m a warrior on. Together we’re formidable, undeniable, unbeatable.”
I was hooked by the first chapter. This is a lovely book that will keep you hooked! It has fun, laughs, intrigue, twists that you do not expect, and physical attraction. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful love story. From page to page, chapter to chapter, from cover to cover - you will enjoy this beautiful story. This book will not disappoint! Highly recommended 😊
Emmeline owns the local coffee shop, Lotti’s Latte, which she runs with her best friend and fellow Marine, Bennett. When Carter comes into her coffee shop, Em cannot help but notice him. She has no idea who he is, but the attraction to “…. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Gorgeous hit me with a pheromone bomb, and my ovaries are dancing for the pretty man, flagging him in.”
There is never a dull moment! This book is everything you expect from a sports romance with a touch of alpha male thrown in. I’m very happily hooked - I did not want it to end! Once I started reading, I could not put this book down! At times you will laugh, you will cry, get angry and frustrated - most of all, you will love the twists! This book will charm “the pants off you” and leave you going back for more. This is a lovely book that will keep you hooked! It has fun, laughs, intrigue, twists that you do not expect, and physical attraction. You will fall in love with Carter and Emmeline. They compliment each in some many ways - faults and all.
“I’ll fight with her. I’ll fight for her. I’ll love her, on her, and for her. I’ll protect her heart and her body - not that she needs my help in that regard. She’s a warrior off the ice. I’m a warrior on. Together we’re formidable, undeniable, unbeatable.”
I was hooked by the first chapter. This is a lovely book that will keep you hooked! It has fun, laughs, intrigue, twists that you do not expect, and physical attraction. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful love story. From page to page, chapter to chapter, from cover to cover - you will enjoy this beautiful story. This book will not disappoint! Highly recommended 😊
April 14, 2026
Well starting the series off with the Captain at least with this Captain was a good call. Carter McNight or Nightly as he's known in the hockey league is everything a leader should be. What's even better is that he's everything a man should be just because he can. Mrs. Davis writes some of my very favorite big softies. Soft with those they love but you better watch out if you ever do anything to get on their bad side. Also my new favorite bro-mance for this year Nightly and Bennett or Benny as he really doesn't like to be called.
Bennett is our leading lady's best friend and emotional support person. Well they are that for each other since they came back from active duty with the Marines.
Emmeline is amazing, she's a survivor, she's smart, independent, kind, giving, loyal, protective and so strong that in the end she faces her fears so she can hold on to everything she wants with Carter.
This is a great start to this shared world and I can't wait to read more.
***Please read the trigger warnings before diving in.
I have voluntarily left this review.
Bennett is our leading lady's best friend and emotional support person. Well they are that for each other since they came back from active duty with the Marines.
Emmeline is amazing, she's a survivor, she's smart, independent, kind, giving, loyal, protective and so strong that in the end she faces her fears so she can hold on to everything she wants with Carter.
This is a great start to this shared world and I can't wait to read more.
***Please read the trigger warnings before diving in.
I have voluntarily left this review.
April 12, 2026
Carter, “Nightly” McKnight is captain of Colorado Dragons hockey team. He has it all. Great career, money but there’s one thing missing… love.
Emmeline and the local coffee shop/cafe and runs it with her best friend. She was a former marine, alongside her best friend and she too is looking for something to bring spark to her life.
Then one day in walks Nightly to her cafe. There’s immediate sparks between them both. You could feel their attraction instantly. But Nightly is a reformed bad boy of hockey, looking for love and Emmeline is only interested in casual attachment.
But through spending more time together getting to know each other friendship blossoms and feelings are occurring. Can Nightly truly change his bad boy image???? Can Emmeline trust him enough to let him in to her life?
As their relationship blossoms they face obstacles no one saw coming including resurfacing an incident from Emmeline’s past that threatens to tear them apart.
I loved this book and didn’t expect to have so many emotions reading it. From laughter to sadness. You felt their connection and felt the pain that they both went through. Their back and forth banter was funny, hot, and when the secret comes to light their discussions around that meaningful.
Add into the equation the other characters. Emmeline’s old army buddy, Bennett and Nightly’s sister Willa and his teammates had you falling in love with so many people and allowed us to see family doesn’t have to be blood.
Loved it!
Rating 4.5 ⭐️ only because I didn’t want it to end
****This was an E-arc given to me by the author and Give Me Books in exchange for my honest opinion *****
Emmeline and the local coffee shop/cafe and runs it with her best friend. She was a former marine, alongside her best friend and she too is looking for something to bring spark to her life.
Then one day in walks Nightly to her cafe. There’s immediate sparks between them both. You could feel their attraction instantly. But Nightly is a reformed bad boy of hockey, looking for love and Emmeline is only interested in casual attachment.
But through spending more time together getting to know each other friendship blossoms and feelings are occurring. Can Nightly truly change his bad boy image???? Can Emmeline trust him enough to let him in to her life?
As their relationship blossoms they face obstacles no one saw coming including resurfacing an incident from Emmeline’s past that threatens to tear them apart.
I loved this book and didn’t expect to have so many emotions reading it. From laughter to sadness. You felt their connection and felt the pain that they both went through. Their back and forth banter was funny, hot, and when the secret comes to light their discussions around that meaningful.
Add into the equation the other characters. Emmeline’s old army buddy, Bennett and Nightly’s sister Willa and his teammates had you falling in love with so many people and allowed us to see family doesn’t have to be blood.
Loved it!
Rating 4.5 ⭐️ only because I didn’t want it to end
****This was an E-arc given to me by the author and Give Me Books in exchange for my honest opinion *****
April 17, 2026
This is the first book in this amazing series, and this is Carter / Nightly and Emmeline’s story.
Carter is the team captain for the hockey team, and Emmeline is a decorated veteran, a marine turned coffee shop owner. There is an instant connection between these two when they meet.
This is a well written easy to read, emotionally charged story, with family, friendships, angst, loyalty, survivor, trauma, sacrifices, healing, humour, witty banter, engaging and realistic characters, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, tragic, haunting, and unpredictable, heart-pounding hockey romance.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
Carter is the team captain for the hockey team, and Emmeline is a decorated veteran, a marine turned coffee shop owner. There is an instant connection between these two when they meet.
This is a well written easy to read, emotionally charged story, with family, friendships, angst, loyalty, survivor, trauma, sacrifices, healing, humour, witty banter, engaging and realistic characters, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, tragic, haunting, and unpredictable, heart-pounding hockey romance.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
April 22, 2026
Review by: Jennifer
(5 Stars)
I love that this is a collection from different (some new to me) authors but all writing about the same cast. This is a bit different from normal anthology stories as those are normally just short stories and with this series we are getting more (yay us). First off is Face-Off, team captain Carter and coffee shop owner/Marine (once a Marine, always a Marine) Emmaline. A very good story to kick off this series, we get a really good into to the team. Emmaline is a kick butt heroine, and I absolutely loved how Carter was with her. I give this 5 stars.
(5 Stars)
I love that this is a collection from different (some new to me) authors but all writing about the same cast. This is a bit different from normal anthology stories as those are normally just short stories and with this series we are getting more (yay us). First off is Face-Off, team captain Carter and coffee shop owner/Marine (once a Marine, always a Marine) Emmaline. A very good story to kick off this series, we get a really good into to the team. Emmaline is a kick butt heroine, and I absolutely loved how Carter was with her. I give this 5 stars.
April 17, 2026
Wow. Darn but I loved this story from beginning to end. Such strong characters in Em and Carter. Great author.
May 31, 2026
I like the writing . The story itself didn’t hit for me. The close friendship FMC shared with her BFF was a little too much. I understand what the author was going for. But there were a lot of times I thought this is about to turn into an MFM book or an MMF book. Her friend grips her waist a lot. They cuddle in bed when she’s having a panic attack.
Near the beginning of the relationship between the two main characters, they go for a run in the morning and from what I can tell that’s their only interaction with each other all day. Spending one hour together a day. The best friend has a problem with this because he’s losing all his time with her, but they work together and live next-door.
While there is a warning about mention of sexual assault if this is a sensitive topic for you, I would skip this book. While it’s not on page, it’s not super graphic, but it does give some detail on the incident. The incident happened to the FMC and it ends up being a pretty big piece of the writing . If I had known how much this was part of the story I might have skipped this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
Carter McKnight, Nightly, is the captain of the Colorado Dragons who stops in at a coffee shop and is drawn to Emmeline, Em, the owner. He is drawn to her feisty personality and the way that she protects everyone around her from the patrons to her best friend however the more he learns about her and her past the more he wants to protect her.
After leaving the Marines Em and Bennett, her best friend and teammate, opened a coffee shop together and the friendship they share is an important part of each other’s lives. Due to her past Em wasn’t looking for a relationship however Nightly shows her she can count on him even when it comes to the past she has fought so hard to overcome.
The characters of Nightly and Em are captivating and the love that Nightly and Em share is inspiring. Nightly is both patient and supportive as he loves Em for the woman she has become due to the challenges she has overcome and it only makes him love her more.
After leaving the Marines Em and Bennett, her best friend and teammate, opened a coffee shop together and the friendship they share is an important part of each other’s lives. Due to her past Em wasn’t looking for a relationship however Nightly shows her she can count on him even when it comes to the past she has fought so hard to overcome.
The characters of Nightly and Em are captivating and the love that Nightly and Em share is inspiring. Nightly is both patient and supportive as he loves Em for the woman she has become due to the challenges she has overcome and it only makes him love her more.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
A well-written opposites-attract love story that explores friendships, trauma, and a love nobody saw coming. Carter and Emmaline have a cute meet, and it takes her best friend, Bennett, to get them together. She is an ex-marine and a coffee shop owner and he is an NHL hockey player who has this pull to Em. She puts up walls around her heart and her life where he is in the spotlight and all over social media. Will these two be able to come together and admit there is a pull? Can Carter understand and accept the closeness between Em and Bennett?
Ms. Davis delivers a heartwarming romance that has you smiling from start to finish.
Ms. Davis delivers a heartwarming romance that has you smiling from start to finish.
April 15, 2026
Review:
🏒Face-Off🏒
A Colorado Dragons Novel
By D.M. Davis
🏒 Hockey Romance
🏒 Sports Romance
🏒 Emotional Read
⭐ 4/5
Carter and Emmeline
This story follows Carter and Emmeline. The Colorado Dragons team captain and the ex Marine and coffee shop owner Emmeline.
Carter lives for hockey but finally wants someone to share his life with.
When he meets Emmeline he thinks he found his special person.
Emmeline doesn’t know who he is but is attracted to him at first sight.
The story has every emotion and leaves you stunned. Especially with its revelation and twist.
Two wonderful characters who deserved their happy end.
🏒Face-Off🏒
A Colorado Dragons Novel
By D.M. Davis
🏒 Hockey Romance
🏒 Sports Romance
🏒 Emotional Read
⭐ 4/5
Carter and Emmeline
This story follows Carter and Emmeline. The Colorado Dragons team captain and the ex Marine and coffee shop owner Emmeline.
Carter lives for hockey but finally wants someone to share his life with.
When he meets Emmeline he thinks he found his special person.
Emmeline doesn’t know who he is but is attracted to him at first sight.
The story has every emotion and leaves you stunned. Especially with its revelation and twist.
Two wonderful characters who deserved their happy end.
April 22, 2026
I absolutely need to find my own Carter McNight aka Nightly as he is one fine man and just the guy for Emmeline who is also an amazing lady who doesn't let people in easily. The dynamic Emmeline and her brother from another mother Bennett is tight and would scare a lesser man off, but my man Nightly wants Emmeline and realises they are a package deal. I loved the mix of fun moments, heartfelt ones along with some steam and awesome characters.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed Emmaline and Carter's story. Nightly is a hockey superstar, Emmaline is a veteran and a warrior, running her mother's coffee shop. From the beginning, these two built a connection with just a look. Carter is looking for his ever after and now he needs to convince Em to give him a chance. Add in Em's best friend and it makes for a great storyline full of compassion and love.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Nightly and Emmeline are magic. Faceoff exudes heat, heart and angst that is as beautiful as a piece of glass. Fragile to the touch, but stronger than it looks. The emotions are raw, yet the strength is enduring. Davis breaks down the stereotypes of romance to find a love story that is unforgettable waiting in the wings.
April 22, 2026
Emmeline and Carter had a real great connection. She was a strong FMC which is always a plus in my book. Although she is not really looking for a relationship at first that changes as they go on through the story. It has been a while since I have read a story by D.M. Davis but it was reminder why I love her.
May 27, 2026
I really enjoyed Emmaline and Carter's story. Nightly is a hockey superstar, Emmaline is a veteran and a warrior, running her mother's coffee shop. From the beginning, these two built a connection with just a look. Carter is looking for his ever after and now he needs to convince Em to give him a chance. Add in Em's best friend and it makes for a great storyline full of compassion and love.
July 24, 2026
May I never find the kind of love where I fall 2nd place to the best friend.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews