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The Unexpected Save
Zach Almardon knows the first rule of stop the puck. He can do that with his eyes closed. The second rule of don't date your teammates' sisters, or exes, or daughters. Easy. Until he meets Mackie Anderson.
Mackie Anderson knows hockey. Who wouldn't with an alternate-captain, 20-year NHL veteran for a father? But she also knows the quiet backup goalie who's been riding the bench for two years is something special.
There's just one when Zach finally works up the nerve to ask her out, he has no idea who her father is.
By the time he finds out, it's too late. He's already falling.
Now they're sneaking around, stealing moments between practices and games, pretending they're not completely obsessed with each other. Zach knows the risks—his spot on the team, his found family, everything he's worked for. Mackie knows them too.
But when a teammate's meltdown thrusts Zach into the starting position during playoffs, the pressure becomes unbearable. Add a secret relationship, a best friend who's getting suspicious, and a father who will destroy everything if he finds out?
Zach's about to learn that the hardest save of his career won't happen on the ice.
Mackie Anderson knows hockey. Who wouldn't with an alternate-captain, 20-year NHL veteran for a father? But she also knows the quiet backup goalie who's been riding the bench for two years is something special.
There's just one when Zach finally works up the nerve to ask her out, he has no idea who her father is.
By the time he finds out, it's too late. He's already falling.
Now they're sneaking around, stealing moments between practices and games, pretending they're not completely obsessed with each other. Zach knows the risks—his spot on the team, his found family, everything he's worked for. Mackie knows them too.
But when a teammate's meltdown thrusts Zach into the starting position during playoffs, the pressure becomes unbearable. Add a secret relationship, a best friend who's getting suspicious, and a father who will destroy everything if he finds out?
Zach's about to learn that the hardest save of his career won't happen on the ice.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
July 17, 2026
4🌟, 2🌶️
I had such a fun time with this one.
Forbidden hockey romances are always a favorite of mine, and Zach made this story so easy to love. He was sweet, quietly devoted, and impossible not to root for as he found his confidence both on and off the ice. Every scene with him had me smiling.
I really enjoyed the secret relationship, the hockey atmosphere, and all the found family moments that made the story feel so warm. Zach and Mackie had plenty of sweet moments together, although I did wish for a little more emotional depth and chemistry at times. I also struggled to connect with Mackie in a few places, but it never stopped me from enjoying the overall story.
Even with a few minor things that didn’t completely work for me, this was still such an entertaining read. The writing kept me turning the pages, the team dynamic was fantastic, and Zach easily became the highlight of the book.
If you’re looking for a fun hockey romance with a lovable hero and plenty of heart, this is definitely worth picking up.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Tisha Patrick and House of Hearts Lit for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
I had such a fun time with this one.
Forbidden hockey romances are always a favorite of mine, and Zach made this story so easy to love. He was sweet, quietly devoted, and impossible not to root for as he found his confidence both on and off the ice. Every scene with him had me smiling.
I really enjoyed the secret relationship, the hockey atmosphere, and all the found family moments that made the story feel so warm. Zach and Mackie had plenty of sweet moments together, although I did wish for a little more emotional depth and chemistry at times. I also struggled to connect with Mackie in a few places, but it never stopped me from enjoying the overall story.
Even with a few minor things that didn’t completely work for me, this was still such an entertaining read. The writing kept me turning the pages, the team dynamic was fantastic, and Zach easily became the highlight of the book.
If you’re looking for a fun hockey romance with a lovable hero and plenty of heart, this is definitely worth picking up.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Tisha Patrick and House of Hearts Lit for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
July 17, 2026
Thank you House of Hearts for the ARC!
🏒 Hockey romance
👀 Teammate’s daughter
🤫 Secret relationship
❤️🔥 He falls hard
✍️ Dual POV
📚 Book 5 in the ‘Seattle Puckaneers’ series
I went into this book super excited for the “teammate’s daughter” trope and how it’d play out. Sadly, it wasn’t a favorite for me. I still had a good time reading it. I’m sure this book will find many readers who will love it.
Mackie Anderson’s dad doesn’t want her to date hockey players. Jack Anderson, Alternative Captain, 20 years in the NHL doesn’t want her dealing with the schedule, the travel, and the ego stuff that comes with being a hockey wife.
Zach Almardon is the backup goalie in Mackie’s dad’s team. He knows that dating Mackie comes with risks: his spot on the team, his found (team) family, and basically everything he's worked for in his career.
Now they’re hiding. Planning when to tell her dad. Wondering how to come clean and what could possibly happen afterwards.
<3
Mackie & Zach were pretty cute and endearing. When they’re at the cafe she works at, I loved seeing him flustered and shy but also eager to talk to her and get to know her. He’s fumbling his words and rehearsing what’s he gonna say to her. It’s all pretty cutesy and funny. I could feel how into each other they were.
All the texting between Mackie & Zach had me smiling and/or giggling. They were very entertaining and amusing. I liked seeing her make him blush.
get some sleep, goalie boy
Yes, ma’am
The MMCs also had their own journey: Zach trying his best to move up from the backup goalie position, working hard to prove himself. And Mackie planning her future career and dealing with her dad’s opinion on it.
I specially liked those moments between the team. Their interactions were, most of the time, hilarious. Zach’s teammates messing with him and all that, super entertaining.
“This is incredible, Jack,” with complete conviction, because I have been coached, briefed, and threatened into this exact response. The turkey is driest thing I’ve ever eaten.
Zach’s teammate and friend, Romeo Rodriguez, was such a fun character. He had me laughing. He really showed his personality, chaotic energy and charms which made me interested in reading his and Juliette’s book.
Obviously the book had the secret relationship troop which adds a trill to the story. All the secret rendezvous and messages. Before reading I’m wondering if they’ll get to tell her dad or end up getting caught. What happened and how they dealt with it made sense to me. I did feel anxious over them going back and forth on when to tell her dad.
<3
Now where Mackie lost me…. she was moving too fast. (And Zach was more mature/patient and paced the way a bit better) Granted, she’s 18 (soon to be 19), so I can’t hold all her precipitated/immature decisions against her. She vibrated a young girl being so in love that in her head it made sense to… [MINOR SPOILER ALERT just in case - I mention stuff I cringed at. Only click to see it if you like keep reading and understand exactly what I mean. Otherwise, go enjoy the book]
There were some things that had me reading again to make sure I got it right because it seemed there were some inconsistencies. If I’m not mistaken, hopefully these “errors” are fixed/edited before publishing. Once again, I’m hiding them in case of minor spoilers (I don’t think they are, but just to be safe).
🏒 Hockey romance
👀 Teammate’s daughter
🤫 Secret relationship
❤️🔥 He falls hard
✍️ Dual POV
📚 Book 5 in the ‘Seattle Puckaneers’ series
I went into this book super excited for the “teammate’s daughter” trope and how it’d play out. Sadly, it wasn’t a favorite for me. I still had a good time reading it. I’m sure this book will find many readers who will love it.
Mackie Anderson’s dad doesn’t want her to date hockey players. Jack Anderson, Alternative Captain, 20 years in the NHL doesn’t want her dealing with the schedule, the travel, and the ego stuff that comes with being a hockey wife.
Zach Almardon is the backup goalie in Mackie’s dad’s team. He knows that dating Mackie comes with risks: his spot on the team, his found (team) family, and basically everything he's worked for in his career.
Now they’re hiding. Planning when to tell her dad. Wondering how to come clean and what could possibly happen afterwards.
<3
Mackie & Zach were pretty cute and endearing. When they’re at the cafe she works at, I loved seeing him flustered and shy but also eager to talk to her and get to know her. He’s fumbling his words and rehearsing what’s he gonna say to her. It’s all pretty cutesy and funny. I could feel how into each other they were.
All the texting between Mackie & Zach had me smiling and/or giggling. They were very entertaining and amusing. I liked seeing her make him blush.
get some sleep, goalie boy
Yes, ma’am
The MMCs also had their own journey: Zach trying his best to move up from the backup goalie position, working hard to prove himself. And Mackie planning her future career and dealing with her dad’s opinion on it.
I specially liked those moments between the team. Their interactions were, most of the time, hilarious. Zach’s teammates messing with him and all that, super entertaining.
“This is incredible, Jack,” with complete conviction, because I have been coached, briefed, and threatened into this exact response. The turkey is driest thing I’ve ever eaten.
Zach’s teammate and friend, Romeo Rodriguez, was such a fun character. He had me laughing. He really showed his personality, chaotic energy and charms which made me interested in reading his and Juliette’s book.
Obviously the book had the secret relationship troop which adds a trill to the story. All the secret rendezvous and messages. Before reading I’m wondering if they’ll get to tell her dad or end up getting caught. What happened and how they dealt with it made sense to me. I did feel anxious over them going back and forth on when to tell her dad.
<3
Now where Mackie lost me…. she was moving too fast. (And Zach was more mature/patient and paced the way a bit better) Granted, she’s 18 (soon to be 19), so I can’t hold all her precipitated/immature decisions against her. She vibrated a young girl being so in love that in her head it made sense to… [MINOR SPOILER ALERT just in case - I mention stuff I cringed at. Only click to see it if you like keep reading and understand exactly what I mean. Otherwise, go enjoy the book]
There were some things that had me reading again to make sure I got it right because it seemed there were some inconsistencies. If I’m not mistaken, hopefully these “errors” are fixed/edited before publishing. Once again, I’m hiding them in case of minor spoilers (I don’t think they are, but just to be safe).
July 15, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
📚 Book 5 in the Seattle Puckaneers Series
🏒 Hockey Romance
🗣️ Dual POV
🖤 M/F
I really wanted to love this one because I adore a good forbidden hockey romance, but this one just didn't quite hit for me.
Zach was definitely the highlight. He's sweet, patient, and impossible not to root for, especially as he's finally getting his shot at becoming the team's starting goalie. I loved watching his confidence grow both on and off the ice, and he honestly carried the story for me.
Unfortunately, I really struggled with Mackie. She came across much younger than her age, and a lot of her decisions and reactions felt immature. It made it harder for me to fully buy into the relationship because Zach felt like he was operating on a completely different level emotionally.
The secret relationship added some fun tension, especially knowing who her father was, but I found myself wanting a little more emotional depth and a little less back-and-forth. I also expected more chemistry based on the premise. The spice was definitely on the lighter side, which wasn't a bad thing, but I was hoping for a bit more payoff after all the buildup.
Overall, this wasn't a bad read by any means—it just wasn't one of my favorites in the series. Zach absolutely deserved better (sorry, I said what I said 😂), but I'm still excited to see where the Seattle Puckaneers series goes next.
**Tropes:**
🏒 Hockey Romance
💜 Secret Relationship
🏒 Forbidden Romance
💜 Teammate's Daughter
🏒 Playoff Hockey
💜 Found Family
🏒 Protective MMC
💜 He Falls Hard
🌶️🌶️/5
📚 Book 5 in the Seattle Puckaneers Series
🏒 Hockey Romance
🗣️ Dual POV
🖤 M/F
I really wanted to love this one because I adore a good forbidden hockey romance, but this one just didn't quite hit for me.
Zach was definitely the highlight. He's sweet, patient, and impossible not to root for, especially as he's finally getting his shot at becoming the team's starting goalie. I loved watching his confidence grow both on and off the ice, and he honestly carried the story for me.
Unfortunately, I really struggled with Mackie. She came across much younger than her age, and a lot of her decisions and reactions felt immature. It made it harder for me to fully buy into the relationship because Zach felt like he was operating on a completely different level emotionally.
The secret relationship added some fun tension, especially knowing who her father was, but I found myself wanting a little more emotional depth and a little less back-and-forth. I also expected more chemistry based on the premise. The spice was definitely on the lighter side, which wasn't a bad thing, but I was hoping for a bit more payoff after all the buildup.
Overall, this wasn't a bad read by any means—it just wasn't one of my favorites in the series. Zach absolutely deserved better (sorry, I said what I said 😂), but I'm still excited to see where the Seattle Puckaneers series goes next.
**Tropes:**
🏒 Hockey Romance
💜 Secret Relationship
🏒 Forbidden Romance
💜 Teammate's Daughter
🏒 Playoff Hockey
💜 Found Family
🏒 Protective MMC
💜 He Falls Hard
July 7, 2026
This was just a fun read. I really enjoyed it every time I picked up the book. I love Tisha’s writing style. Every trope of the book was written so well. And we love a queen who doesn’t write a third act break up 👑👑👑
This is the first book I read of the series and it was truly a standalone. Which is great because I didn’t need the other characters back story to fully enjoy and understand Mackie and Zach’s story. However, the other characters were mentioned just enough for me to be intrigued about their stories. So will be going back and reading those soon!!!
Thanks to Tisha Patrick and House of Hearts for the gifted copy — all opinions are my own. I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is the first book I read of the series and it was truly a standalone. Which is great because I didn’t need the other characters back story to fully enjoy and understand Mackie and Zach’s story. However, the other characters were mentioned just enough for me to be intrigued about their stories. So will be going back and reading those soon!!!
Thanks to Tisha Patrick and House of Hearts for the gifted copy — all opinions are my own. I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 13, 2026
hey Siri, play But Daddy I Love Him by Taylor Swift
loved the writing and how easy it was to understand and picture everything. loved how Tisha portrayed our girl boss Makkie as a woman in male dominated fields, wink wink nudge nudge iykyk. it was soooo cute to see how Zach fumbles and gets so flustered when something has anything to do with Makkie. he did so many things that a play-safe person like him would never do and it was all only because Makkie suggested it. i loved how forward Makkie was from the start. she never tried to hide that she has been having the largest crush on the backup goalie in her dad's team and have been secretly hyperanalysing him since 2 years ago, trying to hypothesise what kind of a person the man behind the mask is, and wow she was hella spot on. for Zach, it was more of the moment that he saw her, he knew that she was special to him. from the bar to the coffee store and finally to their first dates, it was all SO CUTE!! Makkie kinda led everything because he was just too shy to say anything but Makkie knew what he wanted to say and said it for the both of them.
Zach sounds exactly like the man of my dreams. a person who constantly analyses everything, cannot help that his brain runs replay of the game, the shot, the day, the conversation, and he trials and error every angle till he can hypothesise how he would possibly be able to save the shot. never knew a man using physics and math in a sport could be that hot. he focuses on the game even though he is not in it, he plays two games when others on the ice plays only one. not only is Zach analysing the game on court, he is mentally playing it in his head to condition himself into being forever ready in case the team needs him. outside the ice, he is such a dorkkkk!!! he takes whatever drink Makkie pushes him to take and pretends to like them. he rehearses the conversation multiple times before entering the coffee shop but forgets them instantly when Makkie starts talking to him. he lets her cheat in mini golf just because he wants to make her smile more, wants to learn and remember her laughs and ohmygod, this guys, says the sweetest things but he doesn't think of it that way. he merely just thinks he is telling the basest truth and yea i think most of the time, he accidentally speaks his mind. whooopsiesss. he is always so shy and says yes to everything but when it comes to protecting Makkie HOHOHO, HE SAID NO TO HER DAD, IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE TEAM!!!. may every lover girl find their Zach who will look at Makkie the way he does.
this is my first introduction to ice hockey and it was quite eye opening to see how a sport had such a great impact. from the players' pov, every game, every season defines their next unless you are a veteran player like Jack Anderson, it determines if you would be traded the next season or moved to the bench or stay in the first team. from the family's pov, you would have to deal with always having an absent family member, the constant anxiety whilst watching their games, not being able to be there with them or to properly understand them if anything does happen, because you dont play the sport at their level, and when its off season, they would probably be off in some team bonding too. the brotherhood between the team players were solid, especially Rodriguez and Zach. it was sooo entertaining to see how he was taunting Zach on a daily basis and especially because he noticed everything that changed in the air for Zach and kept shooting him questions about his relationship status, but it was also really sweet and wholesome of him to keep the secret and even become an accomplice to protect the love of his teammate.
Makkie!! Mackinnon Anderson !! such a girlboss at the fine age of 18!! love how courageous she is to go for the man she wants, how fierce she is in loving him and comforting all his spiralling. he always needed noise for his brain to be able to stop spinning but then she came into the picture and she became 'the noise' and his brain shuts down --> giving him peace!! loved that she mustered up the courage to tell her dad that she wanted to cover women's sports and calling out her dad for saying he loves her but actually only loving the version of her that he projects his daughter to be, rather than who she really is and what she really wants to do. she is truly so brave to do that.
the only thing that confused me quite a bit was the part of it being such a great deal that the two of them cannot tell her father or let anyone know that they are dating. it seemed to be giving the idea that Makkie's dad has been around too much hockey players that were absolutely assholes to their partner and would never want his precious daughter to be dating one of them. but the thing is, isnt he also a hockey player that is married to someone's daughter? LOL so its only a problem when it is HIS daughter that is in the relationship? like he was treating Zach pretty much like a son already with the way he has been mentoring him and talking about him during family dinners, and he already had such a great reaction to him dating his daughter... imagine the other hockey guys...
thanks to Tisha Patrick and House of Hearts for the gifted copy!
July 26, 2026
I love a good ice hockey romance, and Tisha Patrick absolutely delivers with this one. The story is a young, forbidden romance with all the emotional tension and excitement you’d expect from the genre. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, and the hockey setting adds an extra layer of intensity and fun. If you’re a fan of sports romance with a dash of angst and longing, this one will definitely hit the spot.
Mackie is the female lead, a whirlwind of chaos, energy, and sweetness. As the daughter of Jack Anderson, a legendary defenceman, she’s grown up surrounded by the world of ice hockey but is determined to carve out her own path beyond the NHL’s shadow. Mackie is a total tornado: unpredictable, unfiltered, and delightfully messy, which makes her impossible not to love. Her wild spirit and candid honesty are a breath of fresh air, and her chaotic energy is the perfect balance to Zach’s anxious, obsessive nature. Together, they’re magnetic, each bringing out the best (and sometimes the wildest) in the other.
Zach is the backup goalie, a steady, rule-following teammate of Mackie’s father. Hockey is his world; he’s always working hard and waiting in the wings, hoping for his chance to prove himself. Sweet, humble, and a little shy, Zach is the kind of guy who plays by the book and rarely steps out of line. That is, until a fiery redhead named Mackie bursts into his life and challenges him in ways he never saw coming. With her unpredictable energy, Mackie pushes Zach out of his comfort zone, making him question his routines and discover a whole new side of himself both on and off the ice.
These two are genuinely sweet together; they support, challenge, and push each other to be the best versions of themselves. Mackie, with her wild spirit, is willing to break her father’s rules about dating hockey players just to see Zach happy. Their dynamic is all about encouragement and unwavering loyalty, even when it means stepping outside their comfort zones. Mackie is determined to carve out her own path as a reporter in women’s hockey, fighting for her independence and identity, despite her father’s hopes that she’ll stay in his NHL world. Zach, in turn, finds the courage to take risks because Mackie believes in him, making their relationship a true partnership built on growth, love, and mutual respect.
Thank you to Tisha and House of Hearts Lit for sending me this ARC. This review is just my honest opinion. I know it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I absolutely loved it and already can’t wait for a reread. Sometimes a book just clicks with you, and this one definitely did for me.
Mackie is the female lead, a whirlwind of chaos, energy, and sweetness. As the daughter of Jack Anderson, a legendary defenceman, she’s grown up surrounded by the world of ice hockey but is determined to carve out her own path beyond the NHL’s shadow. Mackie is a total tornado: unpredictable, unfiltered, and delightfully messy, which makes her impossible not to love. Her wild spirit and candid honesty are a breath of fresh air, and her chaotic energy is the perfect balance to Zach’s anxious, obsessive nature. Together, they’re magnetic, each bringing out the best (and sometimes the wildest) in the other.
Zach is the backup goalie, a steady, rule-following teammate of Mackie’s father. Hockey is his world; he’s always working hard and waiting in the wings, hoping for his chance to prove himself. Sweet, humble, and a little shy, Zach is the kind of guy who plays by the book and rarely steps out of line. That is, until a fiery redhead named Mackie bursts into his life and challenges him in ways he never saw coming. With her unpredictable energy, Mackie pushes Zach out of his comfort zone, making him question his routines and discover a whole new side of himself both on and off the ice.
These two are genuinely sweet together; they support, challenge, and push each other to be the best versions of themselves. Mackie, with her wild spirit, is willing to break her father’s rules about dating hockey players just to see Zach happy. Their dynamic is all about encouragement and unwavering loyalty, even when it means stepping outside their comfort zones. Mackie is determined to carve out her own path as a reporter in women’s hockey, fighting for her independence and identity, despite her father’s hopes that she’ll stay in his NHL world. Zach, in turn, finds the courage to take risks because Mackie believes in him, making their relationship a true partnership built on growth, love, and mutual respect.
Thank you to Tisha and House of Hearts Lit for sending me this ARC. This review is just my honest opinion. I know it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I absolutely loved it and already can’t wait for a reread. Sometimes a book just clicks with you, and this one definitely did for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Never have I ever read a secret romance read that is as much fun or hits you as square in the heart as The Unexpected Save by Tisha Patrick!
It’s a romance where the backup goalie falls head over arse for his teammates daughter and it’s got zing; there is just no other way to explain it. It feels electric and vibrant and it had me cackling the whole way through, the warm fuzzies are prominent and adorable and feel so good, and it gives you the cutest love story while tackling a father daughter relationship and the way lies shred you up inside even when you know you’d do it again in a heartbeat because it was worth it.
This whole read is just one big treat with awesome secret dates, late night confessions, all these meaningful little moments that happen in the quiet when you least expect them, more than a few I can’t believe they just said/did that surprises from the characters, and the way Zach and Mackie just consistently and wholeheartedly choose each other, it really doesn’t get better.
There is a definite opposites attract thing going on, Mackie is an absolutely delightful riot wrapped up in utter chaos, while Zach is methodical, thorough, and calculated. And more often than not the laughs are coming from the brilliant and highly entertaining ideas that pop into Mackie’s head and how unwilling of an accomplice Zach is because he is actually incapable of saying no to her and they both know it. But it works for them and they’re both better, stronger, and steadier because of it.
As for when the truth finally comes out, loved the way it was addressed. It’s heartfelt, responsibility is accepted where it should be, space is given for people to sit with it all for a minute, but it’s also made abundantly clear that Zach and Mackie are end game and it’s not even an option for them to not be together. Just such a fantastic read that Tisha Patrick deserves all kinds of praise for.
It’s a romance where the backup goalie falls head over arse for his teammates daughter and it’s got zing; there is just no other way to explain it. It feels electric and vibrant and it had me cackling the whole way through, the warm fuzzies are prominent and adorable and feel so good, and it gives you the cutest love story while tackling a father daughter relationship and the way lies shred you up inside even when you know you’d do it again in a heartbeat because it was worth it.
This whole read is just one big treat with awesome secret dates, late night confessions, all these meaningful little moments that happen in the quiet when you least expect them, more than a few I can’t believe they just said/did that surprises from the characters, and the way Zach and Mackie just consistently and wholeheartedly choose each other, it really doesn’t get better.
There is a definite opposites attract thing going on, Mackie is an absolutely delightful riot wrapped up in utter chaos, while Zach is methodical, thorough, and calculated. And more often than not the laughs are coming from the brilliant and highly entertaining ideas that pop into Mackie’s head and how unwilling of an accomplice Zach is because he is actually incapable of saying no to her and they both know it. But it works for them and they’re both better, stronger, and steadier because of it.
As for when the truth finally comes out, loved the way it was addressed. It’s heartfelt, responsibility is accepted where it should be, space is given for people to sit with it all for a minute, but it’s also made abundantly clear that Zach and Mackie are end game and it’s not even an option for them to not be together. Just such a fantastic read that Tisha Patrick deserves all kinds of praise for.
July 17, 2026
Sometimes all you need is a sweet, comforting Hockey Romance 🏒, and The Unexpected Save delivered exactly that. 🤍
Zach Almardon has spent years being the quiet backup goalie, the guy who works hard, stays humble, and patiently waits for his chance. 🥹 From the very first chapter, it was impossible not to root for him. He's kind, respectful, a little awkward, and such a refreshing MMC in a genre often filled with cocky hockey stars. Honestly? Zach is pure golden retriever energy. ☀️🐶
Then there's Mackie, who grew up around hockey thanks to her legendary NHL father but has always wanted to carve out her own path. I loved that she wasn't intimidated by the pressure surrounding her family name and that she encouraged Zach to believe in himself every step of the way. 🥰
The secret relationship 🤫 combined with the coach's/teammate's daughter vibes, the he falls first and the constant fear of getting caught created just the right amount of tension without ever becoming overly dramatic. ❤️🔥 Watching Zach try to balance his growing feelings, his NHL dreams, and his loyalty to his teammates kept me invested from beginning to end. 🏒✨
One of my favorite things about this book was how supportive their relationship felt. ❤️ There were no unnecessary games or toxic misunderstandings, just two people who genuinely wanted the best for each other. 💕
📖 If I had one small criticism, it's that I wished for a little more emotional angst and slightly higher stakes in the final part of the story. Everything wrapped up a bit too neatly for my taste, and I would've loved to spend a little more time exploring the consequences of their secret relationship. Still, it didn't take away from how enjoyable the overall reading experience was.
⭐️ 4/5 - 🌶️3/5
Thank you to House of Hearts and Tisha Patrick for the ARC of this book. 🫶🏻
Zach Almardon has spent years being the quiet backup goalie, the guy who works hard, stays humble, and patiently waits for his chance. 🥹 From the very first chapter, it was impossible not to root for him. He's kind, respectful, a little awkward, and such a refreshing MMC in a genre often filled with cocky hockey stars. Honestly? Zach is pure golden retriever energy. ☀️🐶
Then there's Mackie, who grew up around hockey thanks to her legendary NHL father but has always wanted to carve out her own path. I loved that she wasn't intimidated by the pressure surrounding her family name and that she encouraged Zach to believe in himself every step of the way. 🥰
The secret relationship 🤫 combined with the coach's/teammate's daughter vibes, the he falls first and the constant fear of getting caught created just the right amount of tension without ever becoming overly dramatic. ❤️🔥 Watching Zach try to balance his growing feelings, his NHL dreams, and his loyalty to his teammates kept me invested from beginning to end. 🏒✨
One of my favorite things about this book was how supportive their relationship felt. ❤️ There were no unnecessary games or toxic misunderstandings, just two people who genuinely wanted the best for each other. 💕
📖 If I had one small criticism, it's that I wished for a little more emotional angst and slightly higher stakes in the final part of the story. Everything wrapped up a bit too neatly for my taste, and I would've loved to spend a little more time exploring the consequences of their secret relationship. Still, it didn't take away from how enjoyable the overall reading experience was.
⭐️ 4/5 - 🌶️3/5
Thank you to House of Hearts and Tisha Patrick for the ARC of this book. 🫶🏻
July 6, 2026
Tisha... once again, you've left me speechless. I honestly thought Rodriguez and Juju were impossible to top, but somehow you proved me wrong all over again. Every single book in this series just keeps getting better.
This series will live rent-free in my head forever. Without a doubt, it's my all-time favorite hockey romance series.
Mackie and Zach completely stole my heart, each in their own way. Zach's shyness? Come on... I was melting the entire time I was reading. He's my perfect book boyfriend—quiet, humble, disciplined, and so incredibly focused.
And then there's Mackie... she's an absolute walking tornado. 🤣 Her thoughts are chaotic, unpredictable, and completely unfiltered, but that's exactly what made me fall in love with her. And somehow, her personality is the perfect match for Zach's anxious, obsessive nature.
There were moments when I laughed out loud, and there were moments when I had to hide my face from secondhand embarrassment (that scene with the coach in the basement and the skate laces... I can't 😂).
I honestly don't know what else to say except that I can't wait for the next series. At the same time, though, I'm so sad to say goodbye to the Seattle crew. Luca will always be a Puckaneer in my heart, and I already can't wait for his book.
Thank you for this book and for this incredible series. If I could, I'd give this book 10 stars, and the entire series the highest rating imaginable. Every single one of these books has a permanent place on my Kindle, and I'll keep coming back to them over and over again—just like you always go back to your favorite comfort food. ❤️
Thanks to Tisha Patrick and House of Hearts for the gifted copy — all opinions are my own.
This series will live rent-free in my head forever. Without a doubt, it's my all-time favorite hockey romance series.
Mackie and Zach completely stole my heart, each in their own way. Zach's shyness? Come on... I was melting the entire time I was reading. He's my perfect book boyfriend—quiet, humble, disciplined, and so incredibly focused.
And then there's Mackie... she's an absolute walking tornado. 🤣 Her thoughts are chaotic, unpredictable, and completely unfiltered, but that's exactly what made me fall in love with her. And somehow, her personality is the perfect match for Zach's anxious, obsessive nature.
There were moments when I laughed out loud, and there were moments when I had to hide my face from secondhand embarrassment (that scene with the coach in the basement and the skate laces... I can't 😂).
I honestly don't know what else to say except that I can't wait for the next series. At the same time, though, I'm so sad to say goodbye to the Seattle crew. Luca will always be a Puckaneer in my heart, and I already can't wait for his book.
Thank you for this book and for this incredible series. If I could, I'd give this book 10 stars, and the entire series the highest rating imaginable. Every single one of these books has a permanent place on my Kindle, and I'll keep coming back to them over and over again—just like you always go back to your favorite comfort food. ❤️
Thanks to Tisha Patrick and House of Hearts for the gifted copy — all opinions are my own.
July 14, 2026
⭐️3
Thank you to House of Hearts Lit and the author for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 🩷
So this book I don’t know how to feel about it. What I enjoyed was that I have never read about back-up goalie before so I enjoyed seeing the pressure and responsibility that came with Zach and his career, and I have never read a book where forbidden romance was between a teammates’ daughter. So I was very excited to see how this would work but overall I just hated how it felt like the whole book centered on the forbidden relationship and when the characters were going to tell Mackie’s dad/ Zach’s teammate. I understand it’s a main plot point but it felt like that was all the book was about in a way.
I really liked Zach and Mackie. I loved seeing them together. They had so many sweet moments, and I enjoyed watching them build their relationship. All those moments of them being together were honestly the only thing that I enjoyed from this book.
Another thing is that this book was way to long to have not seen some development for Mackie. I was interested in seeing how her goal of being involved in PWHL and I just wanted to see in the end if she was achieving her goals.
Overall, I did enjoy some moments from this story, but I just couldn’t get over this whole book being centered on when Zach and Mackie would finally say they were in a relationship together.
Thank you to House of Hearts Lit and the author for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 🩷
So this book I don’t know how to feel about it. What I enjoyed was that I have never read about back-up goalie before so I enjoyed seeing the pressure and responsibility that came with Zach and his career, and I have never read a book where forbidden romance was between a teammates’ daughter. So I was very excited to see how this would work but overall I just hated how it felt like the whole book centered on the forbidden relationship and when the characters were going to tell Mackie’s dad/ Zach’s teammate. I understand it’s a main plot point but it felt like that was all the book was about in a way.
I really liked Zach and Mackie. I loved seeing them together. They had so many sweet moments, and I enjoyed watching them build their relationship. All those moments of them being together were honestly the only thing that I enjoyed from this book.
Another thing is that this book was way to long to have not seen some development for Mackie. I was interested in seeing how her goal of being involved in PWHL and I just wanted to see in the end if she was achieving her goals.
Overall, I did enjoy some moments from this story, but I just couldn’t get over this whole book being centered on when Zach and Mackie would finally say they were in a relationship together.
Review of advance copy
Loved this book and the series so far
This is book 5 of the Seattle Puckaneers series and features back up Goal tender Zach and Mackie whose father is co-captain on the same team as Zach.
He sees her across a room and goes to her rescue not knowing who she is.
However, she is smitten and has only had eyes for him for the last two years.
Thinking that he knows exactly who she is they start seeing each other.
Then realising that he doesn’t know, Mackie reveals all, devastating Zach.
When he finally finds out who she is Zach doesn’t want to harm his career, but also can’t give Mackie up.
She means too much to him so they start secretly dating and sneaking time together.
When Zach finally gets his big chance and steps up for the team, the pressure of playing and what they are doing gets to him.
Can the two make it through once all is revealed?
How will Mackie’s dad react?
I loved this story plus all of the characters in the team.
Zach was such a teddy bear who let loose at times and Mackie was so good for him, balancing him out.
With fun moments, serious ones and the depth of feelings the two had for each other this was such an enjoyable read.
The hockey part of the story was great too.
Thank you Tisha Patrick and House of Hearts for the opportunity to read this story.
This is book 5 of the Seattle Puckaneers series and features back up Goal tender Zach and Mackie whose father is co-captain on the same team as Zach.
He sees her across a room and goes to her rescue not knowing who she is.
However, she is smitten and has only had eyes for him for the last two years.
Thinking that he knows exactly who she is they start seeing each other.
Then realising that he doesn’t know, Mackie reveals all, devastating Zach.
When he finally finds out who she is Zach doesn’t want to harm his career, but also can’t give Mackie up.
She means too much to him so they start secretly dating and sneaking time together.
When Zach finally gets his big chance and steps up for the team, the pressure of playing and what they are doing gets to him.
Can the two make it through once all is revealed?
How will Mackie’s dad react?
I loved this story plus all of the characters in the team.
Zach was such a teddy bear who let loose at times and Mackie was so good for him, balancing him out.
With fun moments, serious ones and the depth of feelings the two had for each other this was such an enjoyable read.
The hockey part of the story was great too.
Thank you Tisha Patrick and House of Hearts for the opportunity to read this story.
July 6, 2026
Alright so Zach was such a great MMC - I absolutely loved him and all of the moments with him. The book genuinely had me smiling at some of the scenarios and lines which I really enjoyed. The romance is cute, some of the lines were so very highlight worthy, and I loved every side character and all of their antics throughout the book (found family vibes in the best way!!). I'm always down for a forbidden romance too so that was icing on the cake and what really drew me into the story!! We also see so much growth for Zach in his professional career and with his teammates, and even just as an individual which I adored.
However, I really struggled with the FMC in this one which is why I ended up with the 3 stars. First, I really wish she had been aged up a bit, the 18/19 age with this type of romance is really hard to do correctly and it did not work with this story. I think that was related to her maturity as well which I also struggled with - it was mostly non existent and caused so many problems. It really rubbed me the wrong way how many times she put Zach's career at risk - and not just with the dating in secret. It came off in a not good way and every single time I cringed. She acted selfishly time and time again.
Overall, if you love a forbidden sports romance, I think you should give this one a shot. There are plenty of great moments to make this a good read!
However, I really struggled with the FMC in this one which is why I ended up with the 3 stars. First, I really wish she had been aged up a bit, the 18/19 age with this type of romance is really hard to do correctly and it did not work with this story. I think that was related to her maturity as well which I also struggled with - it was mostly non existent and caused so many problems. It really rubbed me the wrong way how many times she put Zach's career at risk - and not just with the dating in secret. It came off in a not good way and every single time I cringed. She acted selfishly time and time again.
Overall, if you love a forbidden sports romance, I think you should give this one a shot. There are plenty of great moments to make this a good read!
July 17, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🏒 Hockey Romance | 🥅 Shy Goalie | 💙 Teammate's Daughter | 🤫 Secret Relationship | 🚫 Forbidden Romance | 🫶 Found Family
There's just something about a quiet, shy goalie who falls first that gets me every time.
The second Zach sees Mackie across the bar, he's completely gone for her. The only tiny problem? He has absolutely no clue that she's his teammate's daughter. Oops.
Mackie is pure sunshine and chaos while Zach is the sweet, quiet, reserved backup goalie, and they balance each other so perfectly. Their banter had me smiling the whole book, and I loved watching Zach slowly come out of his shell because of her. Their relationship felt so natural, and the secret relationship tension made it even more fun. The spice fit them perfectly.
One of my favorite parts was getting little glimpses of Rodriguez as he's starting to fall for Juliette. If you've read book four, you'll definitely appreciate those moments.
🏒 Tropes
🥅 Shy goalie MMC
💙 Teammate's daughter
🤫 Secret relationship
🚫 Forbidden romance
🏒 Hockey romance
🫶 Found family
💘 He falls first... or does he?
If you're a sucker for sweet, shy hockey heroes who are completely down bad for the sunshine girl they accidentally shouldn't be dating, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Thanks to Tisha and House of Hearts for the gifted copy — all opinions are my own.
There's just something about a quiet, shy goalie who falls first that gets me every time.
The second Zach sees Mackie across the bar, he's completely gone for her. The only tiny problem? He has absolutely no clue that she's his teammate's daughter. Oops.
Mackie is pure sunshine and chaos while Zach is the sweet, quiet, reserved backup goalie, and they balance each other so perfectly. Their banter had me smiling the whole book, and I loved watching Zach slowly come out of his shell because of her. Their relationship felt so natural, and the secret relationship tension made it even more fun. The spice fit them perfectly.
One of my favorite parts was getting little glimpses of Rodriguez as he's starting to fall for Juliette. If you've read book four, you'll definitely appreciate those moments.
🏒 Tropes
🥅 Shy goalie MMC
💙 Teammate's daughter
🤫 Secret relationship
🚫 Forbidden romance
🏒 Hockey romance
🫶 Found family
💘 He falls first... or does he?
If you're a sucker for sweet, shy hockey heroes who are completely down bad for the sunshine girl they accidentally shouldn't be dating, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Thanks to Tisha and House of Hearts for the gifted copy — all opinions are my own.
July 9, 2026
This was neither a hit nor a full miss for me. I did enjoy the overall concept, the forbidden relationship trope always hits it just felt so long and was hoping for more of a slow burn. Going through each individual playoff game started to feel very repetitive and I found myself getting frustrated with the characters. The whole arc of the secret dating your teammates daughter is obviously her dad finding out which I think was great in this book however the lead up to it was so lengthy and the back and forth arguments between Zach and Mackie truly just made mackie a bit of an unlikeable character to me. Zach wasn’t my favorite either, I enjoyed his growth in confidence as a hockey player but overall wasn’t a huge fan of his very timid personality. Rodriguez was my favorite character he was so fun and reminded me so much of Rio from the Windy City series. A hockey romance is always fun this one jsut wasnt 100% for me, maybe I would’ve enjoyed it more had I read any of the previous books in the series but it overall gave me flashbacks to wattpad fanfic from 2014.
Thank you to House of Hearts and Tisha Patrick for sending me a copy of the unexpected save for an honest review in return!
Thank you to House of Hearts and Tisha Patrick for sending me a copy of the unexpected save for an honest review in return!
July 17, 2026
The Unexpected Save by Tisha Patrick is a light hockey romance that mixes the excitement of the sport with a sweet forbidden romance.
Zach was easily my favorite part of the book. He was such a refreshing MMC because instead of being the typical cocky athlete, he's kind, humble, a little awkward, and honestly impossible not to root for. Watching him finally get his chance to become the Seattle Puckaneers' starting goalie was really rewarding. I also loved the team dynamics, the banter, and all the heartwarming moments throughout the story.
That said, it took me a while to warm up to Mackie. I usually enjoy age gap romances, but she didn't really feel as mature as I expected, and the maturity gap between her and Zach was noticeable in several scenes. The pacing also dragged a little at times.
Overall, this wasn't exactly a hit, but it also wasn't a miss. I still genuinely enjoyed my time reading it, and Zach's journey alone made it worthwhile. If you're looking for a low-angst hockey romance with a lovable golden retriever MMC and a forbidden romance, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try.
Many thanks to Tisha Patrick and House of Hearts for giving me advance access to this book. This is my honest opinion of the story.
Zach was easily my favorite part of the book. He was such a refreshing MMC because instead of being the typical cocky athlete, he's kind, humble, a little awkward, and honestly impossible not to root for. Watching him finally get his chance to become the Seattle Puckaneers' starting goalie was really rewarding. I also loved the team dynamics, the banter, and all the heartwarming moments throughout the story.
That said, it took me a while to warm up to Mackie. I usually enjoy age gap romances, but she didn't really feel as mature as I expected, and the maturity gap between her and Zach was noticeable in several scenes. The pacing also dragged a little at times.
Overall, this wasn't exactly a hit, but it also wasn't a miss. I still genuinely enjoyed my time reading it, and Zach's journey alone made it worthwhile. If you're looking for a low-angst hockey romance with a lovable golden retriever MMC and a forbidden romance, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try.
Many thanks to Tisha Patrick and House of Hearts for giving me advance access to this book. This is my honest opinion of the story.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was such a fun hockey romance! I've read the teammate's daughter trope before, but this is easily my favorite version of it. Tisha Patrick did an amazing job making the hockey feel like part of the story instead of just a backdrop. As a hockey fan myself (go Blackhawks!), I loved how hockey-heavy this book was. The game, the team dynamics, and the atmosphere all felt authentic and kept me completely invested.
The characters were the real standout for me. Both the MMC and FMC were so well developed, and their relationship grew in such a natural, believable way. Even though they're young, their communication and emotional maturity made me feel like I was reading a romance between people in their 30s. I especially appreciated the vulnerability of the MMC, while the FMC was confident, open, and secure in herself, which was such a refreshing change.
Overall, this was an engaging, heartfelt sports romance with great chemistry, strong character development, and plenty of hockey. If you enjoy hockey romances that really lean into the sport while delivering an organic love story, this one is definitely worth picking up.
The characters were the real standout for me. Both the MMC and FMC were so well developed, and their relationship grew in such a natural, believable way. Even though they're young, their communication and emotional maturity made me feel like I was reading a romance between people in their 30s. I especially appreciated the vulnerability of the MMC, while the FMC was confident, open, and secure in herself, which was such a refreshing change.
Overall, this was an engaging, heartfelt sports romance with great chemistry, strong character development, and plenty of hockey. If you enjoy hockey romances that really lean into the sport while delivering an organic love story, this one is definitely worth picking up.
July 4, 2026
Thanks to Trisha Patrick and House of Hearts for the gifted copy — all opinions are my own.
If you are looking for your next hockey romance book look no further then right here.
Zach and Mackie you have my heart that how much i love this book.
Zach is a professional hockey goalie but theres only one thing he's the back up goalie and he wants nothing more to be able to be the starter goalie.
Mackie has grown up around hockey because her dad plays for the team and he had her when he was younge.
Mackie meets zach at a bar thats for players and family of players only. id say it was it was insant lust.
The thing about this book is that there was no third act break up and from the get go you see these characters fall in love and how much they like each other there was no will they wont they you know exactly whats going to happen and I really enjoyed that.
Some of my favourite tropes in this book is the forbidden relationship also team mates daughter as well.
Id rate the spice in this book 🌶🌶🌶 out of 5.
I really enjoyed this book the friendship between zach and Rodriguez made me laugh so much.
Cant wait for the next book
If you are looking for your next hockey romance book look no further then right here.
Zach and Mackie you have my heart that how much i love this book.
Zach is a professional hockey goalie but theres only one thing he's the back up goalie and he wants nothing more to be able to be the starter goalie.
Mackie has grown up around hockey because her dad plays for the team and he had her when he was younge.
Mackie meets zach at a bar thats for players and family of players only. id say it was it was insant lust.
The thing about this book is that there was no third act break up and from the get go you see these characters fall in love and how much they like each other there was no will they wont they you know exactly whats going to happen and I really enjoyed that.
Some of my favourite tropes in this book is the forbidden relationship also team mates daughter as well.
Id rate the spice in this book 🌶🌶🌶 out of 5.
I really enjoyed this book the friendship between zach and Rodriguez made me laugh so much.
Cant wait for the next book
Review of advance copy received from Author
Zack is the back-up goalie, the level-headed guy that follows all the rules and doesn´t deviate from them, while watching his team play from the bench, until he meets a fiery red-head that challenges him every day.
Mackie is young, free-spirited and totally off limits, but she is loyal and determined to help Zack learn his value, his talent and learn how to let loose.
Their relationship is forbidden and when Zack has to step up with his team on and off the ice, the stakes get even higher.
Sneaking up, hiding secrets, lying to everyone and still choosing to face the risks, only proves how right they are for each other.
The Unexpected Save is a beautiful romance about learning who you truly are, opening up to someone else even if it can blow up your future, about choosing to stay and fight for what you believe, who you love and want to protect at all costs.
Tisha Patrick gives us an emotionally charged story about two soulmates who find each other and refuse to let go.
Thank you for the ARC.
Mackie is young, free-spirited and totally off limits, but she is loyal and determined to help Zack learn his value, his talent and learn how to let loose.
Their relationship is forbidden and when Zack has to step up with his team on and off the ice, the stakes get even higher.
Sneaking up, hiding secrets, lying to everyone and still choosing to face the risks, only proves how right they are for each other.
The Unexpected Save is a beautiful romance about learning who you truly are, opening up to someone else even if it can blow up your future, about choosing to stay and fight for what you believe, who you love and want to protect at all costs.
Tisha Patrick gives us an emotionally charged story about two soulmates who find each other and refuse to let go.
Thank you for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
-Goalie x teammates daughter
-Hockey Romance
-Secret Relationship
-forbidden relationship
This was such a good book. If you love a secret forbidden relationship where they are messing around in the same facility as her father, you will love this book. If you love when the MMC tries everything to keep the distance from the FMC until it’s too much, you will love this book!
Mackie is such a fun and flirty person. Super random but I also love that in two seconds she convinces him to get a fish. She truly gets Zack to open up more and truly be more like himself.
Zack struggles to get the nerve to ask Mackie out, which is actually extremely cute. There connection is undeniable! He also really looks up to her dad and that’s his true mentor in hockey so once he finds out who her dad is, he really struggles. But his love for her is too much so they decide to keep their relationship a secret!
I don’t want to give away any spoilers but this book is a must read!
Thank you to the author and agency for allowing me to read this advanced readers copy!
-Hockey Romance
-Secret Relationship
-forbidden relationship
This was such a good book. If you love a secret forbidden relationship where they are messing around in the same facility as her father, you will love this book. If you love when the MMC tries everything to keep the distance from the FMC until it’s too much, you will love this book!
Mackie is such a fun and flirty person. Super random but I also love that in two seconds she convinces him to get a fish. She truly gets Zack to open up more and truly be more like himself.
Zack struggles to get the nerve to ask Mackie out, which is actually extremely cute. There connection is undeniable! He also really looks up to her dad and that’s his true mentor in hockey so once he finds out who her dad is, he really struggles. But his love for her is too much so they decide to keep their relationship a secret!
I don’t want to give away any spoilers but this book is a must read!
Thank you to the author and agency for allowing me to read this advanced readers copy!
July 3, 2026
Tropes
🩵Tropes:
🩷 goalie x teammate’s daughter
🩷 secretly dating
🩷 forbidden relationship
🩷 virgin fmc
🩷 “but Daddy I love him"
This was such a fun, heartfelt hockey romance that had me smiling from beginning to end! 🏒💙
MC's (Zach and Mackie) were absolutely adorable together. Their relationship started with stolen moments and secret dates, and I couldn't help but root for them. MMC (Zach) was such a genuinely kind, hardworking MC, and having him step into the spotlight while navigating the pressure of the playoffs made his journey even more rewarding.
The secret relationship added just the right amount of tension, especially once tge FMC's famous hockey dad entered the picture. I also loved the found family vibes within the team and how supportive everyone was when it mattered most.
The romance was sweet, the chemistry was undeniable, and the hockey scenes kept the story exciting without overshadowing the emotional moments.
This is definitely one to add in your TBR.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review
🩵Tropes:
🩷 goalie x teammate’s daughter
🩷 secretly dating
🩷 forbidden relationship
🩷 virgin fmc
🩷 “but Daddy I love him"
This was such a fun, heartfelt hockey romance that had me smiling from beginning to end! 🏒💙
MC's (Zach and Mackie) were absolutely adorable together. Their relationship started with stolen moments and secret dates, and I couldn't help but root for them. MMC (Zach) was such a genuinely kind, hardworking MC, and having him step into the spotlight while navigating the pressure of the playoffs made his journey even more rewarding.
The secret relationship added just the right amount of tension, especially once tge FMC's famous hockey dad entered the picture. I also loved the found family vibes within the team and how supportive everyone was when it mattered most.
The romance was sweet, the chemistry was undeniable, and the hockey scenes kept the story exciting without overshadowing the emotional moments.
This is definitely one to add in your TBR.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review
July 16, 2026
⭐ Overall Rating: 4.5/5
🔥 Burn Level: 4.5/5
🌶️ Spice Level: 3.5/5
💧 Emotional: 4/5
This was another really good sports romance!
The Unexpected Save gives us Zach and Mackie with one major complication—she’s his teammate’s daughter.
I love a good forbidden romance, so this immediately had my attention. By the time Zach realizes exactly who Mackie’s father is, he’s already falling for her, which leads to the two of them sneaking around and stealing whatever moments they can together.
Tropes:
🏒 Hockey Romance
🚫 Forbidden Romance
👀 Teammate’s Daughter
🤫 Secret Relationship
💘 He Falls First
🥅 Goalie MMC
🏆 Sports Romance
This book absolutely devoured me in the best way. I just couldn’t put it down because I needed to keep reading and find out what was going to happen with Zach and Mackie.
If you love hockey romance mixed with forbidden love and a secret relationship, definitely give this one a try!
Thank you to House of Hearts Lit and Tisha Patrick for the opportunity to read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🔥 Burn Level: 4.5/5
🌶️ Spice Level: 3.5/5
💧 Emotional: 4/5
This was another really good sports romance!
The Unexpected Save gives us Zach and Mackie with one major complication—she’s his teammate’s daughter.
I love a good forbidden romance, so this immediately had my attention. By the time Zach realizes exactly who Mackie’s father is, he’s already falling for her, which leads to the two of them sneaking around and stealing whatever moments they can together.
Tropes:
🏒 Hockey Romance
🚫 Forbidden Romance
👀 Teammate’s Daughter
🤫 Secret Relationship
💘 He Falls First
🥅 Goalie MMC
🏆 Sports Romance
This book absolutely devoured me in the best way. I just couldn’t put it down because I needed to keep reading and find out what was going to happen with Zach and Mackie.
If you love hockey romance mixed with forbidden love and a secret relationship, definitely give this one a try!
Thank you to House of Hearts Lit and Tisha Patrick for the opportunity to read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was such a fun hockey romance. I loved that the main character was a goalie because that felt like something different from the usual hockey romance setup. Of course, there was secret dating involved, and they managed to keep their relationship hidden for quite a while. I really appreciated how the secret eventually came out and how her dad handled the situation, especially since she was the coach’s daughter.
I also loved the intensity of the hockey side of the story. Watching the team fight through wins and losses and seeing him become a permanent player on the team added so much to the story. It made the romance feel even more rewarding.
Overall, this book was cute, made me giggle quite a few times, and was an enjoyable read from start to finish. It may not be my all time favorite hockey romance, but it was definitely a fun one that I would recommend if you’re looking for something sweet, entertaining, and full of hockey drama.
I also loved the intensity of the hockey side of the story. Watching the team fight through wins and losses and seeing him become a permanent player on the team added so much to the story. It made the romance feel even more rewarding.
Overall, this book was cute, made me giggle quite a few times, and was an enjoyable read from start to finish. It may not be my all time favorite hockey romance, but it was definitely a fun one that I would recommend if you’re looking for something sweet, entertaining, and full of hockey drama.
August 11, 2026
5✨Mackie and Zach are the kind of opposites attract that make me fall in love with the romance genre all over again.
These two, I just have no notes. Mackie is chaotic, authentic and oh so endearing. She was the “light up a room” kind of FMC that I just adore. And then there is Zach, steady and down bad in a way that is utterly romantic. This story played out almost entirely in secret. And reading it felt being a fly on the wall to sweetest, non-performative love story.
There was also this undeniable tension that ran through the pages, an anticipation that comes from a forbidden romance. You know the punch line, but not when it’s coming. And I just absolutely ate up the high stakes spice this story dished out, forbidden romance meets adrenaline seeking 🫦 say less.
Tisha really ended this series with the perfect story. I am so sad to be leaving this found family and city behind, because this whole series was such a joy. And I can’t wait to dive into whatever comes next.
These two, I just have no notes. Mackie is chaotic, authentic and oh so endearing. She was the “light up a room” kind of FMC that I just adore. And then there is Zach, steady and down bad in a way that is utterly romantic. This story played out almost entirely in secret. And reading it felt being a fly on the wall to sweetest, non-performative love story.
There was also this undeniable tension that ran through the pages, an anticipation that comes from a forbidden romance. You know the punch line, but not when it’s coming. And I just absolutely ate up the high stakes spice this story dished out, forbidden romance meets adrenaline seeking 🫦 say less.
Tisha really ended this series with the perfect story. I am so sad to be leaving this found family and city behind, because this whole series was such a joy. And I can’t wait to dive into whatever comes next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Seattle Puckaneers: Zach and Mackie
He’s the backup goalie and has been riding the bench for 2 years.
Mackie challenges him and is holding onto a secret that could change their entire relationship.
I love how she brought him out of his shell. From breaking rules and getting kicked out of mini-golf, to trying new coffee flavours and… well… dating his teammates daughter.
This was chaos in a good way, and I had a ball reading this. A few more serious moments when Zach gets into his own head, but so many more moments where I just wanted to laugh out loud. The team is a wonderful family, however the drama with her father was insane… So tempting to put a hurt on him.
This actually read very quickly, and was such a delight! Even with the drama… it had me on the edge of my seat wondering when it was all finally going to resolve.
He’s the backup goalie and has been riding the bench for 2 years.
Mackie challenges him and is holding onto a secret that could change their entire relationship.
I love how she brought him out of his shell. From breaking rules and getting kicked out of mini-golf, to trying new coffee flavours and… well… dating his teammates daughter.
This was chaos in a good way, and I had a ball reading this. A few more serious moments when Zach gets into his own head, but so many more moments where I just wanted to laugh out loud. The team is a wonderful family, however the drama with her father was insane… So tempting to put a hurt on him.
This actually read very quickly, and was such a delight! Even with the drama… it had me on the edge of my seat wondering when it was all finally going to resolve.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
When Zach spots Mackie across the pub with a man holding her elbow against her wishes he intervenes with a beer and an arm around her shoulder. He has no idea who she is, she knows he’s the quiet backup goalie for the hockey team her veteran NFL father is co-captain.
She’s been watching him on the bench eyes always following the puck. Telling him he should be a great goalie.
When he finally starts to date Mackie he finds out who her father is and wants to tell him but Mackie wants to keep it quiet for now. She bakes him good luck cookies.
Their secret relationship gets harder and harder to conceal, his best friend Rodrigues is getting suspicious. When Zach becomes starter goalie after the first string goalie fold under pressure, their sneaking around could cause the end of his career.
It was always going to happen here Dad found out and it nearly tears the team apart.
The playoffs start badly, Zach struggling to stop the pucks, the team not gelling.
When Mackie flies to Miami to watch it changes Zach’s outlook and they win the match. The team arrive home on a high and their luck turns until they are in the final match .
In the final her Dad tells Zach to ‘stop the puck’ in each session, until they win in overtime.
Mackie and Zach get their HEA
She’s been watching him on the bench eyes always following the puck. Telling him he should be a great goalie.
When he finally starts to date Mackie he finds out who her father is and wants to tell him but Mackie wants to keep it quiet for now. She bakes him good luck cookies.
Their secret relationship gets harder and harder to conceal, his best friend Rodrigues is getting suspicious. When Zach becomes starter goalie after the first string goalie fold under pressure, their sneaking around could cause the end of his career.
It was always going to happen here Dad found out and it nearly tears the team apart.
The playoffs start badly, Zach struggling to stop the pucks, the team not gelling.
When Mackie flies to Miami to watch it changes Zach’s outlook and they win the match. The team arrive home on a high and their luck turns until they are in the final match .
In the final her Dad tells Zach to ‘stop the puck’ in each session, until they win in overtime.
Mackie and Zach get their HEA
July 21, 2026
Zach and Mackie's story is a great mix of chaos and fun, and was such an entertaining read.
Zach first see Mackie at the team bar one night. He rescues her from a guy being a little too persistent, and they end up outside talking. Mackie kisses Zach before she leaves, he's left thinking about her. He finds out her name the next day when he's getting coffee with his teammate. Of course he knows who she is, and who her dad is, right? Right?! By the time he's figured it out (it takes him a bit), he's already fallen for Mackie. He's ready to risk the fallout of dating his teammates daughter, risk the wrath of her dad, and potentially, his seat on his team.
Mackie is a definite chaos queen, but she knows what she wants and will fight for it. She's had a crush on the quiet goalie for awhile, and she's over the moon when they start talking and more. Some of her actions come across a little immature at times, a little rash, but she's a teenager. It happens. It doesn't change the fact that she will stand her ground. Even to her NHL veteran father when she tells him she aspires to work for the PWHL, not the NHL.
And Zach. The shy, quiet goalie whose one focus is to stop the puck. The backup goalie waiting for his chance to start and prove his worth. His brain doesn’t stop going a mile a minute unless he's around Mackie. When the time comes for him to start in the playoffs, you're rooting for him the entire time. It's hysterical how Zach simply cannot say no to Mackie. New fish? Late night meet up at the rink? As much as he wants to say no, he can't. They really do balance each other out - his calm demeanor balances the chaos that is Mackie, but that chaos also helps to bring Zach out a little more.
I love the found family with these characters, and seeing some of my favorite players from other books. And I can't forget my favorite Coach Barrett with all of his words of wisdom. While it's sad that this is the last Seattle Puckaneers book, I'm looking forward to seeing Luca's journey as he goes to a new team. Hockey romance friends, if you love a good secret dating, teammate's daughter, opposites attract, and love a goalie, add this to your TBR!
Zach first see Mackie at the team bar one night. He rescues her from a guy being a little too persistent, and they end up outside talking. Mackie kisses Zach before she leaves, he's left thinking about her. He finds out her name the next day when he's getting coffee with his teammate. Of course he knows who she is, and who her dad is, right? Right?! By the time he's figured it out (it takes him a bit), he's already fallen for Mackie. He's ready to risk the fallout of dating his teammates daughter, risk the wrath of her dad, and potentially, his seat on his team.
Mackie is a definite chaos queen, but she knows what she wants and will fight for it. She's had a crush on the quiet goalie for awhile, and she's over the moon when they start talking and more. Some of her actions come across a little immature at times, a little rash, but she's a teenager. It happens. It doesn't change the fact that she will stand her ground. Even to her NHL veteran father when she tells him she aspires to work for the PWHL, not the NHL.
And Zach. The shy, quiet goalie whose one focus is to stop the puck. The backup goalie waiting for his chance to start and prove his worth. His brain doesn’t stop going a mile a minute unless he's around Mackie. When the time comes for him to start in the playoffs, you're rooting for him the entire time. It's hysterical how Zach simply cannot say no to Mackie. New fish? Late night meet up at the rink? As much as he wants to say no, he can't. They really do balance each other out - his calm demeanor balances the chaos that is Mackie, but that chaos also helps to bring Zach out a little more.
I love the found family with these characters, and seeing some of my favorite players from other books. And I can't forget my favorite Coach Barrett with all of his words of wisdom. While it's sad that this is the last Seattle Puckaneers book, I'm looking forward to seeing Luca's journey as he goes to a new team. Hockey romance friends, if you love a good secret dating, teammate's daughter, opposites attract, and love a goalie, add this to your TBR!
July 18, 2026
I am so thankful to House of Hearts for the book, it is the perfect read for an afternoon!
A forbidden/off limits hockey romance that is addictive, cute, swoony, and just a complete ride! Zach is the back up goalie finally making it to the forefront of the team. When he meets Mackie, he is instantly attracted to her and their cute courtship starts, when feelings are starting to develop, he learns that she is the daughter of one of his heroes and now teammates, and the story ramps up from here.
Between quiet dates, hidden encounters, quiet smiles, hushed insights, their relationship keeps growing, their passion gets smoky and they do all this with the fear of being found. HE is the perfect book hockey goalie, disciplined, quiet, a bit calculating in contrast with the bubbly and chaotic Mackie who just brightens him in ways that are unexpected. Their relationship just bubbles until they have to face their truth. Be ready to be amazed!!!
Just loved this read!
A forbidden/off limits hockey romance that is addictive, cute, swoony, and just a complete ride! Zach is the back up goalie finally making it to the forefront of the team. When he meets Mackie, he is instantly attracted to her and their cute courtship starts, when feelings are starting to develop, he learns that she is the daughter of one of his heroes and now teammates, and the story ramps up from here.
Between quiet dates, hidden encounters, quiet smiles, hushed insights, their relationship keeps growing, their passion gets smoky and they do all this with the fear of being found. HE is the perfect book hockey goalie, disciplined, quiet, a bit calculating in contrast with the bubbly and chaotic Mackie who just brightens him in ways that are unexpected. Their relationship just bubbles until they have to face their truth. Be ready to be amazed!!!
Just loved this read!
July 17, 2026
"Thanks to Tisha Patrick and House of Hearts for the gifted copy — all opinions are my own.”
Ok, so, I've been sitting on this for two days lol. I really did love this book. I didn't realize that she had four others in the same standalone universe, so I had to add all of those to the ole TBR.
I'm not too big of a fan of super young MCs, but for the whole boyfriend being on the same team as the girl's dad to work, it had to be done. Regardless, it was well done and the FMC was out of high school and working toward pursuing a career.
I think the story was very well-written and the spic was spicy 🥵.
I literally read it at the pool and immediately came home and continued reading it. It's so cute too, and I love a cute story even though the MMC had some heavy baggage.
I was hoping a bit of the ending was different, but it's all good. Plot armor always wins 😂
Ok, so, I've been sitting on this for two days lol. I really did love this book. I didn't realize that she had four others in the same standalone universe, so I had to add all of those to the ole TBR.
I'm not too big of a fan of super young MCs, but for the whole boyfriend being on the same team as the girl's dad to work, it had to be done. Regardless, it was well done and the FMC was out of high school and working toward pursuing a career.
I think the story was very well-written and the spic was spicy 🥵.
I literally read it at the pool and immediately came home and continued reading it. It's so cute too, and I love a cute story even though the MMC had some heavy baggage.
I was hoping a bit of the ending was different, but it's all good. Plot armor always wins 😂
June 29, 2026
Zach is so freaking adorable I swear. Like he gets so flustered around Mackie it’s so so so cute, and especially when he can’t get the words out or he stumbles with his words. But when he’s in the moment my goodness is he sorta intense, I love the contrast. And then we have Mackie, yes she’s 18 but her personality is so upbeat and so sunshiny and she’s very much so spontaneous that she counters Zach’s personality and they just match very well together. I loved their little meet cute and how Mackie has been a little obsessed over Zach since way before they met. And even when Zach finds out who Mackie is his attraction and feelings towards her is already so far gone, like he’s down bad for her already that he can’t lose her. The hiding and “discoveries” were kinda nerve wrecking to be honest lol, and ofc the longer they prolong the inedibility the worse the outcome will be, but I'm glad that all was worked out in the end.
July 9, 2026
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you read a book in this series, fall in love with the characters and think it’s impossible to beat, that there’s no way it could get better, then you read the next book that comes out and your mind is blown.
I thought Rodriguez was my favorite chaotic character, constantly making me laugh out loud, but Mackie somehow took that to the next level. Zach is the controlled one, Mackie is the chaotic one so together they balanced each other out, and I absolutely loved their story.
Maybe this wasn’t a legit review, but more so spilling about how much I love this book, or the entire series really and I’m sad it’s now come to an end… but I’m so ready for the ride the next adventure holds.
I thought Rodriguez was my favorite chaotic character, constantly making me laugh out loud, but Mackie somehow took that to the next level. Zach is the controlled one, Mackie is the chaotic one so together they balanced each other out, and I absolutely loved their story.
Maybe this wasn’t a legit review, but more so spilling about how much I love this book, or the entire series really and I’m sad it’s now come to an end… but I’m so ready for the ride the next adventure holds.
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