Dear Hotshot, I Hate You

Seattle Havoc #3

by Vivian Wood

The team’s hotshot just fell for the one girl who hates his guts.

Mollie Tate just wants to do her job, build her career, and stop getting introduced as Beck Tate’s little sister like it’s her full legal name. Working for the Seattle Havoc is a dream. It’s also a daily reminder that hockey players are all walking red flags with great abs.

Her ground rules are simple: don't date, flirt, or even think about hockey players. Especially not Alexander Thorne, the team's golden boy who's charming in interviews and friendly with fans but somehow reserves all his grunts and attitude just for her. He’s hot, but he’s such a jerk.

Thorne knows he's being a dick. He also knows it's the only way to keep his hands off his captain's little sister. She drives him crazy, and the only cure is kissing her until that sharp little mouth finally shuts up. Except his teammate would absolutely murder him for it.

Because the alternative is admitting that every time Mollie rolls her eyes at him, he wants to push her against a wall and find out if good girls actually taste as sweet as they look.

Tropes: sports romance, teammate's little sister, hate to love, forbidden romance, workplace romance, touch her and expire, forced proximity, bad boy player x good girl, spicy romance

Genres: Sports Romance, Hockey Romance, Sports, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Stalker, Hockey

471 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 18, 2026

About the author

Vivian likes to write about troubled, deeply flawed alpha males and the fiery, kick-ass women who bring them to their knees.

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Reviews

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 4 out of 5]

4🌟, 3🌶️

This was such an enjoyable hockey romance.

The combination of brother’s best friend, forced proximity, and years of mutual pining had me hooked from the start. Alex and Mollie’s chemistry felt effortless, and I loved watching all that tension slowly build into something more.

Alex completely won me over. He was caring, patient, protective, and so intentional in the way he treated Mollie. What I loved most was how deeply these two understood each other. Beneath all the attraction and banter was a genuine friendship and support system that made their romance feel believable and heartfelt. The slow burn worked really well for me, and the payoff was absolutely worth the wait.

I also appreciated the emotional depth woven throughout the story. Both characters had things they were carrying, and it was rewarding to watch them grow together while learning to lean on one another. This was a sweet, swoony, and emotional romance with great chemistry and plenty of lovable characters.

I finished it with a smile on my face and I’m already looking forward to reading more from this series.

~~~~

Huge thank you to the lovely author, Vivian Wood, for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨

[Kristine Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Arc Review ✨

While recovering from a fall, Mollie is working on the social media team for the Seattle Havoc where her older brother, Beck, is Captain. Throne, our MMC, is the team’s co-captain and Beck’s best friend. For years, Throne has followed Mollie’s every move, but has always kept her at arm’s length. When life starts to fall apart, Mollie is forced to move in with Throne, which puts them both to the test. 👀

Give this a try if you enjoy:

🖤Hockey Romance
🖤Forced Proximity
🖤Best Friend’s Little Sister
🖤Praise Kinks

If you’re in your Hockey Romance era, this book is worth the read! It’s also on Kindle Unlimited, which is a huge plus. It was a quick and fun story and I enjoyed my time while I read it.

[✨☠️Raging Goth 📚✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this as a free arc copy
Rating: 3⭐️
Spice: 3🌶️
Burn/Yearn: 2🔥
Darkness: 1🖤 *fyi I’m a pitch black dark romance reader so this is just my personal opinion*

🧬Genre: Contemporary Hockey Romance

📚Tropes: Hockey, Forbidden romance, Hate to Love, Bad boy player x good girl, obsessive/stalker MMC

🤏Microtropes: Forced proximity, Teammate’s little sister, Possessive MMC

😈Kinks: Spanking, Public play, He sniffs her panties & cums in his pants, Praise kink, Use your words/Beg for it

😍Fav Quotes:
- “You got me oat milk?”……”It’s just oat milk.” - but it’s not just freaking oat milk 🥹

📝Review:
- A man who acts nonchalant but secretly stalks her 🫠
- He notices every little detail that she thinks he doesn’t & secretly does his best to fix/provide her with anything she needs. Like buying her a variety of oat milk creamer because she complains about his almond milk, he notices she’s recently been out in the sun b/c new freckles have shown up on her shoulder, how she has a pair of converse in every single color, & he cooks her meals, & reinforces her aerial silks without being asked because he just noticed & was worried she’d hurt herself.
- There were times when it got a little too slow burn for me & I found it frustrating that Thorne was hyped up as this big kinky playboy but then when he gets with Mollie, he’s all like “let’s take things slow or I don’t think you’re ready for xyz”. The kinks in question were barely even there for my taste.
- The writing style wasn’t my favorite simply because I felt like there were multiple times where we tripped over the plot from one scene to the next & it didn’t quite flow properly. Kinda like the characters had an off screen conversation that the reader doesn’t get included on. Nothing too dramatic where I got frustrated or even considered dnfing, but just more like “oh that’s weird, how did we get here?”.
- HIS FLAGS ARE TOO GREEN for what I’m used to reading 😂 This may seem dark to others but to me it wasn’t dark enough as I would like for the tropes used. However, I don’t think I’m the intended audience & that’s totally okay. I still enjoyed this book & I would recommend it to someone looking for a fluffy hockey romance.
- Some things i absolutely loved in this book was the delicate way Thorne handled Mollie’s trauma, Thorne’s nurturing qualities & devoted attention to Mollie. I also really enjoyed how amazing of a father Beck is to Rosie while being a single parent. I don’t even really like kids but I adored Rosie & her dynamic with everyone. Also Gordie was the star of the whole book! I loved that dog so so much! And Indi was such an amazing example of a true girls girls friend!
- The movie theater date was seriously so swoon worthy & one of my favorite scenes! He pulled out all the stops & the way he remembered all the smallest details & how badly he wanted it to be perfect was SUPER sweet & heartwarming!
- I do want to say that I am grateful to have been chosen by the author for this arc read & while it may have not been the best fit for me, I know there’s lots of readers who will love it & I don’t regret the time I spent reading this book.

[A Court of Sprayed Edges · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I picked up a sports romance, and this one reminded me why I love them. Dear Hotshot, I Hate You was super bingeable, fun, and surprisingly emotional. This was my first Vivian Wood book, and I’ll definitely be reading more.

We follow Mollie, a former champion figure skater turned social media manager for the Seattle Havoc hockey team. She’s survived a life‑changing injury, spent years living in her brother’s hockey‑star shadow, and carried her trauma alone. She’s independent, strong, and looking for someone to finally choose her… while also swearing she will never date a hockey player. Ever.

Enter Alex — said hockey player, insanely hot, and the team’s golden boy. He’s the perfect leader, a great best friend, and based on outward appearances, he can’t stand Mollie. Or does he? She may be his best friend’s younger sister and completely off‑limits, but that doesn’t stop him from gravitating toward her

I giggled and kicked my feet through so much of this book. The tension and banter are amazing, but what really got me was how Alex shows up for Mollie — the way he listens, supports her, and helps her navigate her trauma is genuinely beautiful.

This is book three in a set of interconnected standalones, and now I absolutely need to read the first two while I wait for the next one in 2027.

[Bethany Sipes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! Thorne and Mollie were such compelling characters, and I was invested in their story from the very beginning. The way Vivian Wood handled Mollie’s past was done so well—it kept me intrigued and eager to uncover the truth right alongside her.

I also love when the MMC is completely gone for the FMC from the start, and Thorne absolutely delivered. He was head over heels for Mollie and completely obsessed with her in the best way, which made their relationship so much fun to read.

Overall, this was a fast, enjoyable read that I flew through. It definitely left me wanting more, and I’ll be going back to start the series from the beginning.

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Alexander and Mollie. He’s a hot jerk and she’s got a crush on him. But she’s also a little spitfire that just wants to not have to deal with the hot. The bickering better these two was omgosh. I couldn’t get enough of them. I was so invested in these two. Absolutely loved the way they blossomed and fell for one another. I love hockey, I love the hot guys that hide their feelings towards the cute girl that feels the same way. This was a really great read.

[Raquel Garces · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES GIRL GET IT!!

We've got brothers best friend/co-captain, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, childhood trauma and a giant love bug of a dog.

This was so good in so many ways.

It was funny, sassy, heartfelt, heartbreaking, frustrating and spicy!

I received this from the author directly after loving the first two in the series and I cannot wait for book 4!

[Kaity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love them so much <3 <3

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Vivian, for trusting me with an ARC copy of Dear Hotshot, I Hate You. The Seattle Havoc series has become one of my absolute favorite hockey romance worlds to escape into. Yes, I love the hockey players (and let’s be honest, you’ve given us some unforgettable book boyfriends 😍🏒), but what keeps me coming back are your incredible female main characters.
Each woman brings something unique to the story. They aren’t just love interests—they challenge these men, help them grow, make them confront their flaws, and ultimately bring out the very best versions of themselves. Watching these relationships unfold is one of my favorite parts of every Havoc book.
Mollie was no exception. Her strength, resilience, and determination to carve out her own identity made her such a memorable heroine, and her journey will stay with me long after I’ve turned the final page. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this book and to continue experiencing this amazing series before release day. Thank you for sharing your stories, your characters, and the world of the Seattle Havoc with us readers. I can’t wait to see what’s next! ❤️🏒📚

🚨🏒 SPOILER REVIEW 🏒🚨
Dear Hotshot, I Hate You by Vivian Wood

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Mollie is determined to make a name for herself with the Seattle Havoc, but everywhere she goes she’s known as “Beck Tate’s little sister.” Lawrd knows I know that feeling not from a sister perspective, but from a cousin perspective! And it is annoying 🙄

The last thing she needs is the team’s arrogant golden boy making her life even harder. The one and only Thorne..He seems to have made annoying her his favorite hobby.
Except… the man is battling something internally. We find out that the reason for thorn’s attitude towards Mollie isn’t because he doesn’t like her. It’s because he has been fighting his attraction to her for YEARS! Every snarky comment he makes. Every grumpy interaction. Every time he pushes her away it’s because he knows she’s completely off-limits.

UGHHHHHH THORNE, WE GET IT. 🤣🤣

She’s your captain’s little sister.
She’s off-limits.
You shouldn’t want her.

MESSAGE RECEIVED, SIR.

At this point, if I had to read “I can’t be with her because she’s Beck’s sister” one more time, I was prepared to personally fly to Seattle and hit this man with my shoe. 👟💨

Like, my guy… you’re not fooling anyone.
You’re jealous when another man talks to her.
You’re thinking about her 24/7.
You’re one eye roll away from a complete emotional breakdown.

The entire book is basically Thorne screaming, “I CAN’T HAVE HER!” while simultaneously acting like a man who would fight a grizzly bear because she said she was cold.

The denial was so strong I started wondering if he needed medical attention.

Someone take this man, sit him down, hand him a juice box, and explain that being in love isn’t actually a federal crime. 🤣🤣🤣

Once thorn finally got his head out of his 🏒The tension between these two got absolutely delicious. Watching Thorne lose his mind every time another man looked at Mollie was one of my favorite parts of the book. This man never stood a chance.

The forbidden romance aspect was pure perfection. 🤌🏻😘 Knowing Beck would probably commit homicide if he found out that not only his teammate but his best friendwas secretly involved with his sister kept the stakes high throughout the entire story.

But what really made this book special was watching Mollie finally stop seeing herself as an extension of her brother and start demanding to be seen for who she is.
The scenes involving her previous career? Whew. Without giving too much away, THAT was the moment this story went from a great romance to something that hit me deep in my soul.
The way Vivian Wood handled what happened to Mollie—the betrayal of trust, the loss of safety, the feeling of having your voice taken from you—gave me full-body chills. Because unfortunately, situations like that happen far too often in the real world.

What made it even more powerful was watching Mollie refuse to let one terrible chapter define the rest of her story. Watching her reclaim her confidence, her voice, and her future was incredibly moving. She had her friends💕

It’s easy to fall in love with the hockey player, the banter, and the romance. But Mollie’s strength? That’s what stayed with me long after I finished the book.

Now let’s move on to the man, the myth and the legend…Thorne

This man may be a hockey star, but around Mollie he’s absolutely helpless. Protective. Possessive. Obsessed. Gone.
Alexander Thorne and Gordie had me wrapped around their paws from page one. 🐾❤️

Because let’s be honest, there’s something incredibly attractive about a man who can steal your heart, but a man who’s completely devoted to his dog? That’s an entirely different level of swoon 😍

Between Thorne’s grumpy charm, his fierce loyalty, and every scene with Gordie, I was absolutely helpless. Vivian Wood knew exactly what she was doing when she gave us a hockey hotshot and his four-legged best friend.🐾

🐾😏 A man with a dog is attractive. A man whose dog instantly listens to him? That’s a whole different level of dangerous!!

The chemistry between Mollie and Thorne was electric, the banter was top-tier, and the emotional payoff was everything I wanted. By the time they finally stopped fighting their feelings, I was kicking my feet and grinning like an idiot!!!!!

If you love:
🏒 Hockey Romance
🔥 Hate-to-Love
💋 Teammate’s Little Sister
😏 A hero who falls first and falls HARD
❤️ Forbidden Romance
👊 Touch Her and Expire Energy
🏠 Forced Proximity
🌶️ Spicy Tension That Never Lets Up
🐾 Mans Best Friend

Then prepare to become completely obsessed.

Final Verdict: Vivian Wood delivered another Seattle Havoc hero to obsess over. Thorne may be the team’s hotshot, but Mollie Tate absolutely stole the spotlight💕

[Marnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot Shot Enemies-to-Lovers.

I have long loved Author Vivian Wood's books and her venture into the hockey romance trope has shown she’s comfortable writing in whatever area she chooses. DEAR HOTSHOT, I HATE YOU was everything I love in a bickering enemies-to-lovers romance with a little hockey action thrown in, and bonus points for the brother of our heroine and is a single-father of a precious daughter who means a lot to our main characters.

Mollie Tate was the vivacious much younger sister which slotted beautifully into the tropes for those who love to read age-gap, best-friends-sister and team-mates sister tropes. Since her own figure-ice-skating accident, she’d been the Seattle Havoc’s junior social media manager 12 months before, and from that first chapter, Ms Wood succinctly captured the mood and vibe of every reader who has watched the hockey warm up vids on social media;

“They want the *backsides* [sic]. The tattoos. Sweaty boys humping the ice while they stretch.”

..... annnnnnd at that moment my head replayed every vid that had shown up on my timelines 👀👀😋

TBH, I’ve become quite tired of the best-friends-sister because seriously, said friend is almost always doing his darndest to get around the plethora of women-on-offer, never thinking they’d be someone else’s sister. Thankfully Ms Wood didn't belabour this point, especially as Beckham was a single father, and, a very strong-minded Mollie got in her brother's face when he threw a wobbly. It also didn't help when their parents were awe-struck when they met Alex as Mollie's boyfriend 😂

What her family didn't know was that she also carried a heavy secret and I felt that Ms Wood dealt with everything around this sensitively and admirably.

Alexander Thorne was everything I wish for in a romantic book-boyfriend, made even better with his stalkery tendencies, 😍being an over-protective busy-body, all up in the business of the woman who’d possessed his mind for quite some time. Only he knew just how much he’d changed his behaviour since she’d become a part of the wider team and that dedication was a perfect shining star in what I loved so much about him. He’d managed to keep his feelings for Mollie buried deep, and I mean deeeeeeep because she was not only his team-mate's sister, but Beckham Tate was also Alex's best friend. Add in a 8 year age-gap and his situation seemed like he was on a hiding to none!

Both characters were profoundly written, the visual detail rounded out, even down to Mollie's love of Converse footwear, each in different colours, which Alex noted in his POV, while her description of him gave me a very clear picture of this sexy heavily tattooed hockey god and his, erm, appendage! I have to say here that Alex was as equally appreciative of Mollie down to skin level! The chemistry was strong and Ms Wood’s written hot and intimate scenes showed that while Alex wasn’t quite as dirty a talker as some of her heroes have been, he was deliciously dominant and I really loved the gentle and caring way he was with Mollie.

Secondary characters truly play an important part in putting the meat on the bones of a book and as such provide the structure on which we view the written actions and reactions of our main characters toward each other. Alex had father and family structure issues while Mollie felt invisible within her family unit for which my heart broke for her. She also felt constrained in her ability to share something she’d so far shared with no one. Her parents hadn’t been negligent as such, it was more that they’d always catered to Beckham and his impending hockey career. What I loved most was that Beckham as a single father to a young daughter showcased Alex in his element as a Godfather interacting with four-year-old Rosie, giving himself pause for thought as a potential family man afterall, as well as seeing Mollie unconditionally loving her niece.

Seriously though, their characters as they developed through the pages were loyal, introspective and generous hearted. A favourite scene was between Alex and newcomer Konstantin Kuznetsov where Alex took the initiative to reach out to him and even though it's not a romantic scene, I had tears.

His is the next book coming from Ms Wood and I can't WAIT to read it!!! Konstantin is deaf and has a cochlear implant. He arrived to the training camp with a truck-load of attitude baggage and was under a cloud of scandal. His story is a one-night-stand, surprise baby and forbidden relationship with the team's new Doctor!!! Their 👀Sneak Peek first chapter at the end of this book was blistering to say the least! 🔥🔥🔥

At the heart of DEAR HOTSHOT, I HATE YOU was the unconditional love that Alex and Mollie developed for each other, and that they stood strong together when it counted. It was a deeper yet easy to read hockey romance that contrasts to Author Vivian Wood’s darker reads but was every bit as a compelling read. Maybe because of this I was expecting stronger stalking vibes from Alex, our very romantic alpha hockey hero. Even so, this story made for 4.5 Forbidden-enemies-to-lovers Stars. I couldn’t put it down. 🖤🏒✦

[Donna reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐗𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐌𝐄 𝐒𝐖𝐎𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆, 𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆, 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐘𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅! 🏒🔥

Vivian Wood, what have you done to me?!

Because Alexander Thorne just skated straight onto my forever book boyfriend list.

This man has it BAD for Mollie and watching him try to pretend otherwise was one of my favorite parts of this entire book.
The grumpy comments.
The jealousy.
The possessiveness.
The constant irritation that only exists because he’s desperately trying not to fall harder than he already has.
Every interaction between them had me grinning like a fool.

And Mollie? I adored her.

She’s sweet without being a pushover, innocent without being naïve and determined to build a life and career that’s entirely her own. She refuses to be known as Beck Tate’s little sister and I loved watching her come into her own throughout the story.

But holy moly…put these two in the same room and sparks don’t just fly…they explode.

The tension is absolutely delicious.

The banter? Perfection.

The flirting? Top tier.

The chemistry? Off the charts.

And when circumstances force Mollie to move in with Alexander? Game over. Every shared space, every accidental touch, every lingering glance, every moment of stolen attention had me practically vibrating with anticipation. The slow burn was exquisite, and the payoff was worth every second of waiting.

What made me fall completely head over heels for Alexander wasn’t just his attraction to Mollie…it was the way he showed up for her. The way he encouraged her skating. The way he supported her when she needed someone in her corner. The way he wanted her to succeed and believed in her even when others failed her. Underneath all that swagger and confidence is a man with an enormous heart and that made him irresistible.

The storyline involving Mollie’s skating coach added so much depth and emotion to the story. Watching Alexander stand beside her while she fought for herself made me love him even more.

And don’t even get me started on the sneaking around.

The secret relationship.
The fear of Beck finding out.
The stolen moments.
The family drama.
The delicious forbidden romance vibes.
I ate up every single page.

Vivian Wood once again delivers the perfect combination of heart, humor, emotion, tension and romance. Her characters feel real, her chemistry feels electric and her stories have a way of completely consuming me until I reach the final page.

The third book in the Seattle Havoc series is just as captivating, entertaining, addictive and unforgettable as the first two. I laughed, swooned, melted and fell completely under Alexander and Mollie’s spell.

If you love hockey romances, teammate’s little sister, forced proximity, forbidden love, protective heroes, unforgettable banter and book boyfriends who will leave your heart doing cartwheels, then you need this book immediately.

Alexander Thorne, you charming, possessive, hockey playing menace…I am absolutely obsessed.

[Thorunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time Vivian Wood reader here. I went in completely blind, not knowing anything about Vivian, her books, or even this book. All I knew, from the cover, was that this would be a hockey book. That said, I do love a good brother's best friend book. Forced proximity? Who doesn't love that too. So it had all the goodies.

There were certain things about the story and characters that I was totally all about: the world and characters were all very vivid and engaging. I felt totally engrossed in the world and all the happenings. Always a terrific sign for me. The story didn't have big ups or downs - what I mean is, some books have moments where they start to drag for me and then they really pick up, only to slow down dramatically again - this really puts a damper on my reading experience. There was none of that here. Hence why I was totally engaged and invested in our two MCs. And the prequel for Konstantin's book - like whoa! The next book I will really, REALLY need to read!

All that good stuff said, I give this book a 3.5 star rating. My reasoning and gripes? There were certain elements that were repeated numerously throughout and it began to feel so repetitive (which makes me sigh and roll my eyes whilst reading), and a couple of story "facts" that weren't consistent... those types of things are elements that if they happen beyond a certain point, make me deduce points from the book. And the way those items factored into this story, I don't know if it was just because I read the arc and they hadn't been caught or fixed, but they made parts of the story feel like maybe the this was a fairly new author and it was inexperience? I don't know how else to put that into words, and I mean no disrespect by it. Honest. But I was just getting that vibe throughout the book when these certain types of elements kept happening. ... That said, once I finished the book, I looked Vivian up, only to find that she has published a lot of books... so that quickly answered my question of if she was a new author or not. Realizing she was not made me question her beta team, for not catching these things or her editor, because these things are easy catches and would make the book so much better by fixing... sorry, the editor in me is speaking now and I'm not a negative-Nelly and don't mean to criticize, I am simply trying to explain my 3.5 star rating and give honest feedback.

That all said, I did really enjoy the book with a handful of irks along the way - but as I always say, reading is subjective so what I like you might not and vice versa. And as I said at the top, I was totally engrossed in this world and characters and there were a lot of great things that I really enjoyed about the story. I do recommend it! And I cannot wait for the next book because how that little teaser left off? OMG! I need that story.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Hotshot, I Hate You by Vivian Wood is the third title in the Seattle Havoc series and it was a thoroughly entertaining read that had me hooked from the start.
Vivian Wood has weaved her writing magic with this hockey romance containing mutual pining, teammate's younger sister, forbidden workplace, hate to love, touch her and die, forced proximity, and reformed playboy x good girl elements into a steamy and spicy read with highly likeable characters.
Mollie Tate is the younger sister of co-captain Beck Tate and wants to step out from his shadow and build on her career as the team's social media coordinator all the while keeping a lid on her inconvenient crush who without fail manages to get under her skin constantly. Alexander Thorne, co-captain, her brother's best friend, team golden boy and confirmed playboy, is a walking red flag with good looks and great abs that she needs to steer well clear of.
Alex, for years, has carefully crafted and maintained his public profile. Ever since clapping eyes on Mollie Tate years ago, he has pined for her quietly, refusing to act on his attraction out of loyalty to his best friend. Once Mollie comes on board with the Havoc, he finds himself reforming his playboy ways but working with Mollie only manages to increase the tension between them as they constantly bicker and push each other's buttons.
Circumstances find Mollie temporarily sharing Alex's house and the forced proximity ramps up the unspoken simmering chemistry between them.
The plot and storyline was well written and well paced. It started out as a slow-burn between Mollie and Alex that in no way felt slow as they got to know one another better and shared truths. The initial purely physical attraction they each felt slowly incorporated a growing emotional connection and understanding of one another that only fuelled and eventually ignited with some very entertaining and memorable steamy and spicy results. They also share some emotional vulnerabilities with one another that had me invested in a well deserved HEA for them.
Of course there are some twists and turns in the story that they need to navigate and overcome in their journeys. Via the use of dual POVs throughout, we see Mollie and Alex reflect and grow as people and come to terms with the emotional baggage they each have been carrying.
There was a great cast of supporting characters that added to both the drama and humour of the storyline and with Mollie's emotional maturity and awareness and Alex's passionate protectiveness and care for Mollie, I was eagerly turning the pages from start to finish in this enjoyable, spicy romance.

I received a free ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lindsey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I absolutely love seeing a big, strong, gruff MMC absolutely fall head over heels in love. Vivian Wood provides this vibe in book 3 of her Seattle Havoc series, Dear Hotshot, I Hate You. This book has so many of my favorite things that I couldn’t wait to read it. As the secret, yet mutual, pining progresses throughout the book, hold on to your heart. As our two MCs truly get to know each other, you see how perfect they are for each other. I couldn’t put this book down because I was so excited for the moment that one of our MCs broke and gave in to their feelings. And let me tell you, Vivian made it spectacular.

Alex is co-captain on his hockey team, his best friend (Beck) being the other co-captain. He knows how to turn the charm on with fans, the media, and pretty much everyone. Everyone, except his best friend’s little sister. He is gruff and salty with her all the time, but you come to find out that is so he doesn’t do anything to mess up the best friend dynamics. As he fights the pull he has towards the FMC, you learn a lot through his POV. I loved how hard he falls and once he admits it, isn’t going to hide it any longer. He is a layered character that with each layer revealed, you learn that he has such a good heart and is an amazing man.

Mollie can’t believe that she developed a crush on her brother’s best friend, Alex. He wants nothing to do with her and he reminds her of that every chance he gets. Yet, as they are put into a situation where they are in close proximity to each other, she begins to see a different side of him. When she learns the truth, she experiences a love like never before. Mollie is such a sweet character, but reminds me of the saying “still waters run deep”. She has a lot buried inside of her that, thanks to Alex, she finally feels supported in opening up about. As she does, it is impossible to not feel the weight being lifted off her shoulders.

These two complimented one another wonderfully throughout the book. Vivian starts the book off thinking it may be an enemies to lovers romance, but quickly find out it’s not. Our MCs are crazy about each other, just guarded and loyal to their relationships with Beck. Once they get out their own ways, these two develop a relationship that is deep, caring, and worth reading about. Their story may have been a long time coming, but it was worth the wait in the end. Well done, Vivian!

As always, review any author notes before reading.

What to Expect:
🩷Hockey Romance
🏒Hotshot Athlete MMC
🩷Teammate’s Sister
🏒Hate to Love
🩷Forced Proximity
🏒Forbidden Romance
🩷Bad Boy x Good Girl
🏒Touch Her and 💀

[Krissi Boggess · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I shouldn’t be obsessed with my teammate’s little sister, but…here we are.”
Alex Thorne is the Co-Captain and Center for the Seattle Havoc Hockey team. Thorne and his other co-captain-Beck have been friends for quite a while. The past three years-Thorne has been obsessed with his teammates sister. Mollie, has also been obsessed with Thorne. Since Mollie has just been hired to be the social media contact for the Havoc, Alex sees this as his opportunity to spend more time with her. Alex offers Mollie to move in with him when her house burns down. The tension in the house is palpable. Two people that want more with each other-but are too afraid to make a move. Mollie is a v!rgin, and Alex respects this. He takes this very seriously and wants to make sure that it is special for her. I loved that he was so sensitive about this. He also carried a lot of guilt around starting anything with his best friends sister. He felt immense guilt and was constantly trying to get Mollie to come clean to her brother. I wasn’t crazy about her always putting him off-even though I understood her reasons. There was a backstory with Mollie and her previously being an ice skater. The backstory didn’t come until later in the book-even though the clues leading up to it-were kind of already leading me to know what happened and why she quit. Of course, her brother finds out in the worst possible way-and their relationship as well as his and Alex’s suffers. The story also introduces Konstantin and Alex believes he is after his position-which he kind of is. I didn’t want to like him-but his story made me cry a little. His character and lack of capabilities was so heartbreaking. It really gave an insight into why he acts the way he does.

If you are wanting a fast burn-this is not for you. The story develops a lot and the spice doesn’t start until the last quarter of the book. I’m not sure if it was because it was an unedited copy-but I feel like the sentences were very short and could’ve been developed more. As far as criticism-I think that was only mine. I am not sure if this is her regular writing style as this is the first book I have read by Vivian Wood. I would recommend this book if you are in to brothers best friend, hockey and slow burns.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Joanne Barton]

“Dear Hotshot, I Hate You” is the third book in “A Seattle Havoc Hockey Romance” series. It is everything you expect from a sports romance with a touch of alpha male thrown in. Alexander Thorne, aka Hotshot, is co-captain with his best friend Beck Tate of the Seattle Havoc hockey team. He is also the team’s golden boy and the ladies love him. Molly Tate, Beck’s sister, is employed by the Seattle Havoc’s as a Junior Social Media Manager. Previously Molly was a World National Figure skater until she had a bad fall when landing a jump in competition and broke her ankle in three places….thus, ending her career. When her apartment is destroyed by fire, Alex offers her his spare room….what can possibly happen when two people are secretly attracted to each other are living together?

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 Alex and Molly. They compliment each in some many ways - faults and all.

“I kiss him again, longer this time, my hands still on his face. He pulls me closer and kisses me back like he means it. When we finally break apart, he rests his forehead against mine. I look back at the ice over my shoulder. It gleams under the arena lights, empty and patient and waiting. It'll still be there. When I’m ready, it’ll be waiting.”

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 😊

[Lizy Frankel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mollie Tate has had a crush on Alex Thorne forever but he’s her brother’s best friend and teammate and a lot older than her and she thinks Thorne thinks of her as his best friend’s little sister.
Thorne has been storking Mollie for years and he really does have feelings for her.
Thorne was the bad boy of hockey and once Mollie started working for Seattle Havoc Hockey Team he stopped his playboy ways.
Mollie wanted to be known as her own self and to be seen as her and not as her brother’s little sister,she worked hard for that.
She was a figure skater till she had a fall during a competition that ended her career.
Mollie asked Thorne to be her first but he turned her down as he’s not sure if she sees him as just a famous hockey player who everyone wants to be with or for the man who he really is.
The two of them irritate and annoy each other and she says he’s her mortal enemy! but when the need arises Thorne is there for Mollie and she has to stay at his house with him, being forced together is proving harder for Thorne than he thought, he is very protective of Mollie and it’s driving her crazy.
Thorne did take notice of Mollie which was what she wanted and did things for her without being asked to
They couldn’t fight the Chemistry between them any longer and they finally hooked up keeping it a secret from everyone especially Beck, Mollies brother.
The story dips into the world of hockey, talks a bit about her brother Beck and his daughter Rosie and Thorne’s dog Gordie plays a major role too
Thorne wanted to tell her brother about them, she didn’t.
When a secret comes out about Mollies past and Beck finds out about them it’s rattles things but it’s good to see how protective Thorne is of her and how much he loves her
This book had everything you want and more, I found it had to put down, between the enemies to lovers, the emotions, the slow burn, the age gap, the spice.. it was another fabulous read by Vivian Wood, I recommend this book and I was beyond grateful to be chosen as a ARC reader

[Jocelynne Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was everything I want in a hockey romance—funny banter, incredible chemistry, emotional depth, and a hero who falls first and never really stands a chance.

Thorne spends years convincing himself that staying away from Mollie is the right thing to do because she's his best friend's little sister. Unfortunately for him, every sarcastic comment and grumpy interaction only hides the fact that he's completely gone for her. Watching him fight his feelings was both hilarious and incredibly satisfying.

I loved Mollie just as much. She was determined to build her own career instead of constantly being known as Beck's little sister, and I appreciated how much her personal journey mattered alongside the romance. She was strong, relatable, and had plenty of moments where she stood up for herself, making it easy to root for her happiness.

The forced proximity really brought everything together. Once these two were thrown into the same space, all those years of suppressed feelings finally started bubbling to the surface. Their banter was fantastic, the tension was off the charts, and every small moment between them felt earned.

What surprised me most was the emotional depth. Beneath the romance, the story explores healing from past trauma, finding your voice, and learning to let go of other people's expectations. Those moments gave the story extra weight and made the relationship feel even more meaningful.

And I have to mention Gordie. Every scene with Thorne's dog completely stole my heart and added the perfect balance of humor and sweetness.

Overall, this was a fantastic hockey romance with memorable characters, sizzling chemistry, laugh-out-loud moments, and plenty of heart. If you love teammate's little sister, forbidden romance, forced proximity, protective heroes, and an MMC who falls first and falls hard, this one is definitely worth picking up.

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

[Jennifer Amaral · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is pure hockey romance chaos in the best possible way 👀🏒🔥

It’s messy, flirty, infuriating, and completely addictive from the very first page.

Mollie and Thorne start off with that perfect enemies-to-lovers energy where every interaction feels like a battle of willpower disguised as conversation. She refuses to let him get under her skin… and he makes it his personal mission to get under her skin anyway.

And honestly?

He succeeds.

Thorne is exactly the kind of hockey hero who should come with a warning label.

Smug.

Charming.

Infuriatingly confident.

But the thing that makes him work so well is that you can feel how intentional his restraint is at the start—like he’s constantly one bad decision away from crossing a line he knows he shouldn’t.

Mollie, on the other hand, was so easy to root for.

She’s trying to build her own identity outside of her brother’s shadow, and I loved how fiercely she protected her boundaries, even when Thorne made that extremely difficult.

The tension between them is what makes this book shine.

It’s in the eye-rolls that last a second too long.

The arguments that feel more like foreplay than fighting.

The moments where neither of them can pretend there isn’t something there anymore.

When things finally start to shift, it feels earned rather than rushed, and that made the payoff even better.

I also loved the hockey backdrop and the team dynamics—it gave the story this extra layer of pressure, especially with the whole “don’t touch the captain’s little sister” situation hanging over everything.

This is one of those romances where the chemistry is loud even when the characters are trying to be quiet about it.

If you love hockey romance with sharp banter, forbidden attraction, and a hero who falls first but fights it every step of the way, this one delivers exactly what it promises 🏒🔥💙.

[TaylorYourShelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

⛸️🏒⛸️🏒 and 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5: keep in mind the star review is based off of MY interests!

Dear Hotshot, I Hate You is the third installment of the Seattle Havoc Series by Vivian Wood. Dear 47, You’re the Worst is book one and Dear MVP, You’re Ice Cold is book two. See my page for the review of Dear MVP.

I’ve been all over the hockey romances and I’ve been extremely lucky to work with some great authors, who’ve allowed me to read and review these books! Dear Hotshot has some of my favorite tropes: teammates sister, reformed bad boy and obsessive.

Alexander was my favorite character in this book. I loved how much he wants to do the right thing. He is honest and has integrity. He is so attentive and will make anyone swoon. I love his respect for Mollie and her brother. Granted he doesn’t always do the right thing.. but really can’t say I blame him. I’d probably do the same thing! Alexander definitely a horn dog toward the end 😂.

Alexander’s dad is just irritating but boy did he make things interesting! Beck… I’m going to just say, what did you expect!

Mollie starts off all sweet and innocent but I think she was always a closet devil 😈 and just needed the right guy to unleash with!

Her story is one that unfortunately hits too many people. An injury that causes you to lose something you love. My favorite part of her character was watching her grow and try to learn a new path.

Dear Hotshot emphasizes that everyone has something in life to deal with and it’s way easier to make it through when you have someone by your side.

⚠️: please read any trigger warnings for this book. Some readers may have a hard time reading some background information regarding one of the characters.

I am voluntarily leaving this review and all thoughts are my own!

Thanks for the advanced copy @vivianwoodswrites I love your books and am excited to read the next one 🥰

[Kazz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mollie Tate looks after the social content for the Havoc Hockey team her brother Beck is co Captain for, she loves her job, but hates the fact that she is always labelled as Beck’s younger sister! The other thing she hates is his co Captain Alex Thorne, he is the team’s golden boy, he is charming in interviews and friendly interacting with fans but she only ever got grunts from him or frowns. Mollie knows he is hot but he knows it too! Alex has had a crush on Mollie for a couple of years now, but she is his co captain and best friend’s sister and totally hands off for him. But in the year that she has been working at the club has been the hardest, seeing her almost every day, watching other players looking at her and even worse, talking to her it is driving me crazy. When there is a fire at Mollie’s apartment building and her apartment is smoke damaged, he invites her to stay at his apartment.
An exciting and captivating read that had our two main characters having super hot chemistry but reluctance to act on it, however living in the same apartment it’s not long before temptation gets the better of them and they start a hot, steamy and secret relationship. Alex wants to tell Beck but Mollie wants to keep it from him for a while yet. Their relationship while growing hot and heavy and feelings are growing deeper, not everything is perfect though, they face some challenges Alex’s father provides a shock announcement, someone from Mollie’s past causes a reaction that makes her decide to do a special post explaining to the public what happened to her back then.
I absolutely loved this book, the characters were beautifully written and totally relatable.
I received an advanced reader’s copy via BookFunnel and I am writing this review voluntarily

[Carol Gaines · Rating 4 out of 5]

The banter and bickering between these two is hilarious. It was sweet of Thorne to give mollie a place to stay. It was fun to see how things would play out with them living together seeing as they both have secret crushes on each other. Alex is overly protective of Mollie and jealous of other guys around her and flirting with her. If they didn’t have to keep things a secret he’d probably be more chill. The chemistry these two have is off the charts. And that makes the spicy scenes 🔥🔥🔥. The mouth of Alex🥵
They really see each other. Mollie sees Alex as more than the golden boy of hockey and Alex sees Mollie as her own person, not just Becks little sister. He knows things about her that most don’t because he actually pays attention. He watches and learns. He knows how much she loves skating and helps her to get back out on the ice. He even gives her an amazing birthday present.
Mollie goes through some tough times in this book and through it all she has the support her best friend Indie, and Alex. Obviously once her family finds out they are there to support her too, but Alex is the most supportive. He’s there to hold her hand when needed. He knows when to not get angry and make it about him. It’s sweet just how much he cares for her. And it’s about time someone really does. Mollie’s family means well, but they don’t see her as her own person really and they don’t give her the love and care that they should. But Alex does. He’d burn the world for her. He’d risk his career for her happiness.
They both deserved to have someone really appreciate and love them and I am happy that it was with each other. I’m hoping as time goes on Beck will be happy for them, seeing as Alex will most likely become his brother in law 😄.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“When it comes to you, I’ll go to any length to make sure you’re taken care of.”

Dear Hotshot I Hate You is the third book in the Seattle Havoc series, and it’s such a fun, emotional ride. Thorne and Mollie spark off each other from the very first page—their snarky banter, their enemies to lovers tension, and that constant undercurrent of attraction make every interaction feel electric. It’s an absolute delight.

Both of them have been secretly crushing on each other for years, but they’ve kept their distance because Thorne is Mollie’s brother’s best friend and teammate—aka the ultimate off limits zone. Not that it stops Thorne from pining like a man possessed. When I say he fell first and he fell hard, I mean this man was down bad. And once circumstances force Mollie to move in with him? Yeah… it doesn’t take long before all bets are off.

Mollie is a firecracker in every sense. She’s spent years feeling like the odd one out in her own family, and a past trauma pushed her away from the thing she once loved most. But Thorne sees her—really sees her—and he stands up for her in ways no one else ever has. He’s a walking red flag in some of his choices, but as a book boyfriend? He’s positively swoony. His mouth is filthy, his possessiveness is dialed all the way up, and once he decides he wants her, nothing is stopping him.

The banter, the tension, the chemistry—everything between them is off the charts. But what I loved most was watching them slowly lower their defenses and let themselves be vulnerable with each other. Dear Hotshot I Hate You is a delightful addition to this series, and I’m already counting down to whatever comes next.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story of Mollie & Thorne - I thought their connection was genuine and relatively realistic. Okay, except for the mild stalking part! The side characters, especially Gordie, were fun, supportive and consistent.

TW - As someone who has discovered grooming behavior with a family member by someone they believed was a trusted adult, the situation with Mollie's old coach had me completely seeing red & wanting to see more resolution there. Grateful for Indie's role in helping Mollie see that she could speak out & actually wasn't bound by the NDA she thought she had to adhere to. Empathizing with the parents & the guilt - and while I understand the position that Mollie felt she was ignored & second-fiddle to her star athlete brother, I felt a lot of resentment coming from her toward parents that hadn't known what was going on until she spoke to them & lack of understanding toward their guilt for not seeing it sooner. I would have love to have seen that developed & worked out more.

There were some parts with the MMC's family dynamics that I thought were less than believable. MMC's parents are divorced - father is former football (or is it hockey - saw some inconsistencies in the advanced copy that I hope get straightened out) and mom supposedly had some information that it seemed like she was going to drop, then never did. Perhaps that was intentional, but it felt unfinished & perhaps I just misunderstood where that was going.

There were some grammatical errors as well, which are expected & I hope to see corrected in the final.

ARC review of book from author. Overall it was an enjoyable story & piqued my interest in the other books in the series, so I look forward to what happens next (and before) this one!

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously need more stars for this one because five isn’t enough.
I was hooked from the very first chapter and absolutely devoured this book. The tension between Thorne and Mollie was everything I wanted—equal parts hilarious, frustrating, and ridiculously swoony. Their banter had me smiling one minute and kicking my feet the next, and watching all that built-up chemistry finally pay off was so worth the wait.
I’m such a sucker for a good hockey romance, but this one stood out because it wasn’t just about the romance. Mollie was easy to root for, determined to make a name for herself instead of being known as someone’s little sister, and Thorne completely stole my heart. Beneath all the cocky hockey-player confidence was someone fiercely protective who never really stood a chance once he fell for her.
The forced proximity, forbidden romance, and enemies-to-lovers vibes were executed so well that I kept telling myself “just one more chapter”… until I realized I’d finished the entire book.
And can we talk about the emotional depth? The raw emotion woven throughout the story made every moment hit that much harder. I laughed, I swooned, and I felt every bit of the characters’ highs and lows. The chemistry between them was undeniable, and the romance was packed with plenty of spice that only made their connection feel even more believable.
If you love hockey romance with incredible chemistry, emotional depth, unforgettable banter, and characters you’ll be thinking about long after you finish the last page, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. Easily one of my favorite reads of the year.

[Amanda Mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dear Hotshot, I Hate you is the third book in the Seattle Havoc series by Vivian Wood. As someone who has been in their hockey romance era since the 2010s; I was excited to have the opportunity to read this book especially since it’s a new author and series to me. On paper, I should have loved this book. Dear Hotshot, I Hate You contains all the tropes that I love hockey, brothers best friend, forbidden, age gap and spicy lessons, but unfortunately this book didn’t work for me.
One of the things that I had the most difficult when reading was the fact that there were small inconsistencies scattered throughout the book that made it difficult to follow the plot. While there was some potential for interesting plot lines, they weren’t well developed. At close to 400 pages, this book felt too long and at times I found myself having to skim the pages, since the plot was dragging
Maybe it’s because I didn’t read the first two books, but both the characters felt one dimensional to me. I wasn’t cheering for either Mollie or Alex. While reading Mollie and Alex’s story, I found myself more interested in the next books couple Konstantin and Sable.
Even though this book wasn’t for me, I could see other readers enjoying it. The spice was well written and the author took extreme care in writing about delicate topics. Thanks Vivian Wood for giving me an opportunity to read this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review

[Kelleigh C.S · Rating 4 out of 5]

May contain some spoilers- I had the opportunity to read this Advance Readers Copy.

Both Alexander Thorne and Mollie Tate battle their own inner emotional game of tug of war in Dear Hotshot, I Hate You. Mollie was a young figure skater who made it to national’s where she got hurt. Alexander Thorne is the image of the Seattle Havoc Hockey team. Thorne is a co captain with his best friend Beck Tate. Who happens to be Mollie’s older brother. After Mollie’s skating accident, Beck helped her get a Social media manager job for the Havoc Hockey team. Mollie always sworn off dating hockey players, Yet that did not stop her attraction to Alexander Thorne, It just made him off limits. Until Mollie is displaced due to a fire at her apartment and moves in with Thorne. Throughout the book Mollie thinks Thorne hates her, but deep down he has been struggling with his own emotions towards her since the day he first saw Mollie on the ice skating. To Alex, she has to be strictly off limits due to her being his best friend and co captain’s younger sister. But as readers, we all know two people who secretly have feelings for each other, will always gravitate towards one another even if they fight so desperately to stay away.

This book was cute and did have me hooked on the banter between Alexander and Mollie. The characters are extremely relatable. If you want a cute romantic read this is the book you’ll want to pick up!

[Janice M · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love any of the following I highly recommend Dear Hotshot, I Hate You by Vivian Wood!

Hotshot enemies to lovers
Forbidden romance
Forced Promixity
Years of Pining
Best Friends Little Sister
All The Spice
THE BANTER (yes it requires CAPS)
Hockey romance (including the ever popular stretches on ice ;))
Age gap

Alexander Thorne was the magically romantic type of book boyfriend every girl wants when reading. Protective, possessive, obsessed, stalkerish, and absolutely smitten with Molly Tate, his best friend's little sister. You see the problem, right? Someone is going to avoid telling Beck (her brother/his BFF). Beck will find out. He will justifiably be ticked for the lies. We all know the story. We all know how it goes, but impressively Vivian Wood added bits to it that made it seem different in ways than most stories.

“They want the backsides. The tattoos. Sweaty boys humping the ice while they stretch.”

Anyone else see the sixty million reels we've all seen of hockey players doing exactly this thing at the boy aquarium. Vivian brought it to life and had me sitting in the stands watching along with the girls (drool may have happened, but I will deny it LOL).

This is my first book by Vivian Wood and definitely will not be the last! In fact, I'm more than likely going to go read the first two books. Because I can never start with the first book in the series...

Anyhow.... GO READ THE BOOK!!!!! K, thanks!

[Audra Hull · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️/3.5
🌶/3

I received and ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I wanted to give it a higher rating, but I had a few issues with some inconsistencies in the story line. I'm giving it a 3.5 rounded to 4.

There seemed to be some confusion in regards to what actually happened to Mollie. I wasnt sure if that was intentional because she was trying to minimize her trauma or if it really did get lost in the plot.

As for some other inconsistencies, the timeline seemed shifted in some places. It tripped me up a little, but not enough to keep me from reading and enjoying.

Now for the characters. Mollie is a true baddie. She just kept on going even when life tried to throw her down. And I WISH I had a friend like Indie! She's amazing. A true ride or die.

Alex was really too hung up on his issues with his dad. I mean, his dad is a real piece of work, but I don't think it was that serious for him to be so broken over. People's dad's suck. Its a thing. Don't make it a you issue. Otherwise he was such a sweet and caring man. He really was just trying to do his best and be the best for Mollie.

Overall, an awesome book. I'm definitely going to be reading more from Vivian Wood. The spice was spicing 🔥 The banter was bantering. The MOUTH on Alex 🥵 Anyways. If you're looking for a quick read and a good time, this is the one for you!!

[Liberty Munson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book delivers a good hockey romance filled sharp banter, forbidden tension, and a hero who is a menace in the best way. Alexander Thorne is the Seattle Havoc’s golden boy, charming to everyone except Mollie Tate, his teammate’s little sister and the one woman he absolutely should not want. Their dynamic is pure enemies‑to‑lovers; every eye roll, every snarky comment, every “I can’t stand you” moment is just more kindling for the fire.

Mollie is easy to root for. She's ambitious, determined to build her own identity, and very aware that hockey players are walking red flags with great abs. Her rules are simple: don’t date hockey players, don’t flirt with hockey players, don’t think about hockey players. And Thorne? He’s hot, smug, and exactly the kind of trouble she swears she’s done with.

The chemistry is perfect and all that pent‑up frustration, forced proximity, and “touch her and expire” energy pays off in a big way. Vivian Wood leans into the tropes (teammate’s little sister, workplace romance, bad boy/good girl) and delivers them with heat and heart.

If you love sports romance with spice, tension that simmers until it snaps, and a hero who falls hard for the one woman he’s supposed to avoid, this one hits the spot. A fun, steamy addition to the Seattle Havoc world.