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Boston Grizzlies Hockey Club #2.5
Defenseless: Edizione Italiana (Boston Grizzlies Hockey Club (Edizione Italiana) Vol. 4)
Ryan Logan has been in love with Hailey MacGregor for a decade. She has no idea.
As the Boston Grizzlies’ star defenseman, Ryan plays it cool on and off the ice. But when his ten-year high school reunion rolls around, he sees a chance to finally spend time with the one woman he’s never been able to get over—his best friend’s little sister.
The last thing Hailey wants is to go back to her hometown, but when Ryan asks, she finds herself agreeing to go home with him. Living with multiple chronic illnesses has taught her to be careful with her energy—and even more careful with her heart. She’ll never act on her inconvenient crush on the cute hockey player who lives next door.
He’s been saving his first time for her. She’s always been too sick to date. Both are hiding pieces of themselves. And both about to discover what happens when years of unspoken feelings finally break the surface.
Her brother will never approve of them. But the longer they sneak around, the more difficult it is to come clean.
The rules say she’s off-limits. His heart says she’s the only one who matters.
Defenseless is a best friend’s little sister, they’re both virgins, friends to lovers hockey romance with strong themes of found family and acceptance.
As the Boston Grizzlies’ star defenseman, Ryan plays it cool on and off the ice. But when his ten-year high school reunion rolls around, he sees a chance to finally spend time with the one woman he’s never been able to get over—his best friend’s little sister.
The last thing Hailey wants is to go back to her hometown, but when Ryan asks, she finds herself agreeing to go home with him. Living with multiple chronic illnesses has taught her to be careful with her energy—and even more careful with her heart. She’ll never act on her inconvenient crush on the cute hockey player who lives next door.
He’s been saving his first time for her. She’s always been too sick to date. Both are hiding pieces of themselves. And both about to discover what happens when years of unspoken feelings finally break the surface.
Her brother will never approve of them. But the longer they sneak around, the more difficult it is to come clean.
The rules say she’s off-limits. His heart says she’s the only one who matters.
Defenseless is a best friend’s little sister, they’re both virgins, friends to lovers hockey romance with strong themes of found family and acceptance.
233 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 18, 2026
65 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 19, 2025
Ryan has been in love with Hailey since high school, but he's never acted on his feelings. Not only is she his best friend, but her brother is his teammate. But when Hailey decides she wants to start dating, Ryan knows it's time to make his move.
Read if you like:
-Childhood Best Friends to Lovers
-Brother's Teammate
-It's Always Been You
-Mutual Pining
-Virgin FMC & MMC
-Demisexual MMC
-Chronic Illness Rep
Defenseless felt like a gift just for me. It had all my favorite tropes. I had to pinch myself a few times because it felt like it was just too good to be true. I adore the way Allie Lasky writes. Both Ryan and Hailey were so relatable. I was rooting for them since before I even picked up their book and I'm so happy that Defenseless did them justice. I can't recommend this one enough!
Read if you like:
-Childhood Best Friends to Lovers
-Brother's Teammate
-It's Always Been You
-Mutual Pining
-Virgin FMC & MMC
-Demisexual MMC
-Chronic Illness Rep
Defenseless felt like a gift just for me. It had all my favorite tropes. I had to pinch myself a few times because it felt like it was just too good to be true. I adore the way Allie Lasky writes. Both Ryan and Hailey were so relatable. I was rooting for them since before I even picked up their book and I'm so happy that Defenseless did them justice. I can't recommend this one enough!
February 17, 2026
Hailey (28)
Ryan (28)
Hailey is Ryan’s best friends sister, him and her brother play professional hockey together.
Dual Virgins- He is Demi sexual and only has been into her
They kissed when they were 15 once and then never spoke about it, she has kissed one other person after and no idea how many he has but he said he has tried but felt nothing
Unfortunately Hailey can’t have kids due to all her health conditions so they have to use condoms as she can’t have any sort of birth control with her health either.
Ryan (28)
Hailey is Ryan’s best friends sister, him and her brother play professional hockey together.
Dual Virgins- He is Demi sexual and only has been into her
They kissed when they were 15 once and then never spoke about it, she has kissed one other person after and no idea how many he has but he said he has tried but felt nothing
Unfortunately Hailey can’t have kids due to all her health conditions so they have to use condoms as she can’t have any sort of birth control with her health either.
January 4, 2026
A Charming Romance.
Due to health problems Hailey has never had a boyfriend and she supposes that her best friend has no romantic interest in her as he has never addressed their kiss ten years earlier. However that is definitely not the case and a New Year’s kiss gives him hope of a relationship between them. The only stumbling block is Hailey’s protective older brother…
I received a complimentary copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Due to health problems Hailey has never had a boyfriend and she supposes that her best friend has no romantic interest in her as he has never addressed their kiss ten years earlier. However that is definitely not the case and a New Year’s kiss gives him hope of a relationship between them. The only stumbling block is Hailey’s protective older brother…
I received a complimentary copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 11, 2025
3.5 star rounded up for the great disability rep for chronic illness.
3 stars for the story which is a nice low drama brother's best friend hockey romance plus .5 for the grown up communication and lack of misunderstandings & and Ryan's lifelong devotion
3 stars for the story which is a nice low drama brother's best friend hockey romance plus .5 for the grown up communication and lack of misunderstandings & and Ryan's lifelong devotion
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ryan Logan is the perfect book boyfriend. Would highly recommend reading this book to fall in love with both him and Hailey. They are a perfect mixture of cute and strength coming together.
Can't wait to read Aidan's story in the future.
Can't wait to read Aidan's story in the future.
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January 26, 2026My friend grabbed this for me for the POTS/EDS representation! It has a couple of spicy scenes and mentions, but I think the scenes were fairly easy to skip over. Overall, a quick and easy read, but it’s nice to see some disability rep without infantilization
January 3, 2026
4,5/5 ⭐️🩷
Review of advance copy received from Author
5/5 This book was perfection.
TROPES:
-childhood friends to lovers
-MMC is demisexual
-FMC has several chronic illnesses
-dual virgins
-brother’s best friend
-hockey
Omgggg. This book was amazing! I’m a sucker for friends to lovers, especially with unrequited love being on both sides. 🥹 And the fact the MMC was demisexual & a virgin by choice- because he wanted to wait for the FMC? Perfection.
I also loved the chronic illness rep. The FMC has endometriosis, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, and Ehler’s-Danlos Syndrome. The MMC accepted for her who she was and did not want to change her ONE. BIT. 👏🏻
Mutual yearning? Lots of tension? Spice? Comedy and romance? This book has it all.
SAFETY:
dual virgins
no OM/OW (she goes on a date but nothing happens!)
no cheating/sharing
happy ending with a cute epilogue! 🖤
I got this book from The Fictional Heroes Library as a (legit) free download from the author. Can’t wait to read more by this author!
TROPES:
-childhood friends to lovers
-MMC is demisexual
-FMC has several chronic illnesses
-dual virgins
-brother’s best friend
-hockey
Omgggg. This book was amazing! I’m a sucker for friends to lovers, especially with unrequited love being on both sides. 🥹 And the fact the MMC was demisexual & a virgin by choice- because he wanted to wait for the FMC? Perfection.
I also loved the chronic illness rep. The FMC has endometriosis, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, and Ehler’s-Danlos Syndrome. The MMC accepted for her who she was and did not want to change her ONE. BIT. 👏🏻
Mutual yearning? Lots of tension? Spice? Comedy and romance? This book has it all.
SAFETY:
dual virgins
no OM/OW (she goes on a date but nothing happens!)
no cheating/sharing
happy ending with a cute epilogue! 🖤
I got this book from The Fictional Heroes Library as a (legit) free download from the author. Can’t wait to read more by this author!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews