Only For Love: An opposites attract, friends to lovers, hockey romance.

by Natasha Madison

463 pages, Paperback

Published January 7, 2026

About the author

When Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author's nose isn't buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she's in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It's a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn't listen to her...

Reviews

[Emily Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love. Kirby 🫶🏻

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful rollercoaster of emotions! Kirby and Lexi were just so cute together! Lexi has left her abusive relationship and is getting her life back and spending time with her friends and family. Kirby is a hockey player who has met Lexi over the years and been secretly inlove with her since the moment he met her. I loved how Kirby helped Lexi get her life back and just supported her with everything she wanted. Lexi deserved the love that Kirby gave her. I love the entire family concept in every Natasha Madison book and this one did not disappoint.

Thank you so much to Natasha for allowing me to read this arc.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐-> ♾️🌟
🌶️🌶️.75


💕 It's Always Been You
✨️ Friend's To Lovers
💕 He Falls First
✨️ Hockey Romance
💕 Found Family
✨️ Opposites Attract



✨️ 📚 ARC 📖 REVIEW ✨️

Lexi and Kirby have got to easily be one of my favorite couples I have read! I loved their banter that I couldn't help but laugh and squeal at! I couldn't help but fall for Kirby when he quite literally couldn't have been a better match for Lexi!

Even when they weren't together he was the one to do what he could to make things easier for her, and show her how he felt for her. Even if it wasn't said how muc he cared for her, he still did what he could to show her. She was in a really bad marriage but was able to find her way out and to Kirby. He was able to show her how much he loved and appreciated her, unlike her ex-husband. He was never pushy towards her but let her grow in her freedom!

Lexi was the ultimate FMC, she was in the worst kind of relationship, but was able to see and find her way out! I admire the crap out of Lexi, not only was she in the worst marriage but she was the best she could be until she was free of him. She sprouted wings like a beautiful butterfly and Kirby was there by her side to see it first hand. He helped her grow and be the best that she could be!

I honestly couldn't get enough of Lexi and Kirby!! I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

Thank you 🫶🏻 to ✨️ Natasha Madison & The Author Agency ✨️ for the complimentary 📚 ARC 📚. ✨️ All opinions are my own, honest, and voluntary✨️.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler Alert 🚨

My favorite read of 2026 so far.

What stood out most was the very real portrayal of emotional manipulation, gaslighting, and isolation in an abusive relationship. After 20+ years working in medicine, I’ve seen this dynamic too often—especially from men in positions of authority. The warning signs felt uncomfortably familiar. If you ever see someone being isolated from friends or family, check on them. It matters.

The romance was strong, but I do wish their friendship had continued until she was officially divorced before they moved into a romantic relationship. That would have preserved their characters just a bit more for me.

I really hope future books spend more time highlighting the foundation created to support women in abusive situations. It felt like a powerful thread that could be expanded into something even more meaningful—showing how that resource grows, how it protects women, and how it becomes a place of refuge and advocacy for those going through similar circumstances.

If you’re looking to get exposure to a hockey romance, this one is very light on the hockey and very high on the romance, but it’s worth your time to give this romance a try.

🎧 Narration by Teddy Hamilton and Stephanie Rose was fantastic and really elevated the story.

[yesenia (Caligirlheartsbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve bee sitting here on the afterglow of Kirby 🥰

This second chance at love is such a good story but what else can we expect from Natasha?

Kirby and Lexi were presented in Only for Tonight. I want to say Lexi, even before that story as she is the daughter of other characters from her books. And if you know Natasha she is the queen of interconnected characters. So maybe Lexi has been mentioned in passing or as a child, but lets not go down that rabbit hole.

Kirby and Lexi meet by chance and it becomes this slowburn love story. Its and opposites attract, friends to lovers read There is an adorable cat.

It gets you hooked right from the beginning. Kirby is a total cinnamon roll MC in my opinion. After Lexi leaves her abusive relationship. Kirby is just there loving her how she should be loved. Patiently and fiercely.

I highly recommend reading Only for Tonight now to get you prepared for this beautiful story. I will not spoil the story just know it is GOOD!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my sweet Lexi. I knew this book was going to pull my heartstrings, but… wow. I love a book that shows us the damage a relationship makes instead of only telling us about it.

Lexi finally leaves her abusive husband and connects with her family and friends who she has been alienated away from. I love reading about these families who would go to battle for each other every time, I believe it’s one of Natasha’s superpowers as an author.

Kirby is a hockey player (duh), who has seen Lexi through the years and will hopefully be there when she needs him.

This book is so emotionally charged, and sweet, and funny, and full of hope. I loved the story, and the audio with @stephrosevoice and @narratedbyteddyhamilton was amazing. Stephanie brought so much more to Lexi’s story with her emotive voice, and Teddy brought kind and fierce.

[Samantha aka samsbookspam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tropes:
Hockey Romance
Friends to Lovers
Second Chance at Love
Damsel in Distress
Protective Hero
Opposites Attract
Cat Daddy

After book 1 I was SOOOO ready for Kirby and Lexis story! After Lexi finally gets out of a horrible marriage she is determined to move on and ends up taking a job for a company that is owned by Kirby. These two have a backstory that i refuse to give spoilers for but the way he plays such a huge part in her healing journey? SWOON!!! The banter in this was also chefs freakin kiss!!!!

This was narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Stephanie Rose! Two wonderful choices to bring these characters to life!

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just absolutely loved this in audiobook! Lexi is married to Trent who is a surgeon and a really really horrible husband. Kirby and Lexi meet and he ends up helping her out with the hospital fundraiser by being auctioned off as a bachelor. There's a situation that occurs that same night and Lexi pulls herself up by the boot straps and does what is needed. Fast forward 3 months and Lexi runs into Kirby again. I absolutely loved his grace he showed her and how kind and loving he was towards her, after all she had been through!

[Angelique Beaudry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was kind of shocked I didn’t love this book. There are a lot of good reviews and the book wasn’t necessarily bad but it was just kind of boring. The lead characters were cute but there just wasn’t much to it. I would definitely agree with the slow burn description.

[Lucia Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book left me with a book hangover! What a great story!

[Sophie Sosweetysocrazy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5