Murphy: A Hockey Romance

by Mary Warren

one night stand at a team gala, the chemistry they’ve been denying explodes. But Hillary knows what happens to women like her who cross lines at work — and Murphy has his whole career ahead of him. When a leaked photo and a family emergency force them into the open, they’ll have to decide if love is worth the risk … or if this time, the PR disaster is the happy ending.

Genres: Sports, Hockey, Romance

380 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 26, 2026

Reviews

[Robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

✨ Romance Comfort-Read Alert ✨

This review comes from a reader who loves:
🛑 No cheating / no OW-OM drama
💞 Low angst (together > apart)
🚫💔 No third-act breakup — I’m tired and I want them happy
👑 Strong FMC
💪 Take-charge MMC
🔥 Reformed playboy > current manwhore, but never manwhore is preferred
💬 Miscommunication allowed if resolved like adults
🏡 HEA ALWAYS

I read for joy, vibes, and emotional safety. If you’re here for chaos and pain… we might not be reading the same book 😌📚 I also tend not to rework the summary into reviews because chances are you’ve already read it to get to the book review part of the show.

Murphy is the last in the Glendale Magic series, and I was VERY much looking forward to it. All the books happen along the same timeline, so it was neat to see the stories that were hinted at in other books happening here.

Murph is the freaking best. He is precious, sweet, thoughtful, kind, not a manwh*re, determined, a hard worker, and down bad for Hillary. I am into the older woman/younger man...my husband is about 8 years younger than me. I fully expected to be in love with this story. I like Warren's books for the sweet, romantice, safe/easy reads they are. I love the curvy FMCs and the cinnamon roll MMCs who are down bad for their ladies.

All that to say, I felt this book fell terribly short. Firstly, it was very obvious this was co-written by ChatGPT. There were so many signs: the lack of actual dialogue that was beyond surface, the constant scent description of the room, the over use of "and this cracked something open in his chest..."...there are more, but those were the big ones.

I also felt like we didn't really get to buy-in with Murphy and Hillar b/c we got no on-page growth of their relationship. We didn't read conversations about who they were, them getting to know one another...nothing to really invest in the genuine nature of their relationship...it started as hooking up, and then we were just supposed to believe they loved each other so much, but Hillary is damaged so she pushes him away.

Honesty, the part where Hillary CONSTANTLY is telling herself she is putting an end to their relationship b/c Murph wants more/deserves more (even though they have literally NEVER discussed what he wants for his future), is too young for her, they are in different stages of life, she is too broken, she will ruin his light and ON AND ON AND ON was exhausting and so annoying. Murph, for being nearly 10 years her junior, was a hell of a lot more mature than her. It honestly gave: Hey ChatGPT: pretend you are an author of a story about a woman who is older than the guy, has a shitty family, he's got a great one, and put in A LOT of push and pull about that...for like all the chapters. Also, I don't want them to have any conversations with substance. Thanks...now write it.

I am sad that I was so disappointed in this one, especially since it is the final one. I would still say to read it b/c if anything, you can just fall in love with Murphy. Warren is always an easy/safe/fun read. Maybe I would have been less so disappointed if it weren't so clearly written, at least in part, by AI.

🔐💞👑💪🚫💬🏡
(Safe • Low Angst • Strong FMC • Take-Charge MMC • No Cheating • HEA)

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Murphy. Everything about him had me falling. Hillary was a tougher sell. She's just trying to protect herself but I hate what she puts Murphy through. I liked the two of them together though. They compliment each other. I really liked how everything worked out. I enjoyed the storyline. Overall it was a good read.

[H-A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love loved this book so much. The entire Glendale Magic series has been full of joyful, heartfelt moments with huge hockey players falling for the plus sized women in their lives and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Then Sven came along and made you think deeply about the world and swoon at the same time and honestly, I didn’t think it could be beaten for its place as my favourite of the season. I was entirely wrong, Murphy was so bloomin’ good!

I loved Hilary so much, I really identified with her and I wanted to be her best friend. Please and thank you. I loved that she was imperfect, her humanity really shone through, she gets in her own way and struggles because it makes complete sense for her to be that way to me. She’s cocooned herself in this thorny defensive structure and sold herself a protective narrative and it would be unrealistic for her to snap out of it quickly. I identified a lot with Hillary, I really wanted her to see past her own defensive lens and I think the way this was handled made sense. You were along the same bittersweet, slightly frustrating path with her to happiness and with each passing chapter, brick by brick those walls fell away, not just for the character but for the reader.

I really felt seen on the page by this book, particularly this line:

“With practiced ease, she tied that emotion up, tucked it away, and shoved it deep into the box where she kept all the feelings she couldn’t afford to deal with. Compartmentalizing was a survival skill, one she’d mastered growing up in her family.”

I wanted to wrap her up and give her a safe space to unravel the three decades of barbed wire she’d wrapped herself in. She is the best big sister, she shelters her from the pain of her parents, telling her again and again that she can handle it, that it doesn’t hurt her as much as it would her sister until she believes the lie herself.

Murphy was the most wholesome, down to earth sweet man and I couldn’t think of a better match for Hilary. She’s his safe place to land, his support when he can’t bear the load any more and he is exactly that person for her also. I loved that both characters weren’t picture perfect and they brought out something special in each other. Murphy could be seen as the quintessential nice guy, golden retriever but he was simply a human being with his own pressures and ghosts. Hillary sees him, truly sees him and he sees her. Loved it.

I loved this book if it isn’t clear from the above.

Thank you so much for the ARC, I’ll miss Glendale Magic.

[Julrenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murphy O’Rourke is pure perfection, and I need a guy like him. That’s it.

No, there’s more. At the start of the book, it’s Spring, Murphy is the rookie for the ice hockey team, The Magic, and he is crushing on the Team PR Manager, Hillary Lawson. She is ten years older and good at her job. It doesn’t leave much time to socialise, so when she has to be present at a team function, she decides to have a bit of fun.

That fun includes taking Murphy back to her hotel room. Months pass before the fun recommences, and they decide to have a summertime fling, which carries over into the fall. Hillary knows she has to end the fun part and remain friends with him, which she does. Murphy, on the other hand, has a hard time letting go.

He takes it upon himself to leave Hillary a daily treat of coffee, a muffin and a short note on her work desk. It’s his way of keeping him fresh in her mind. He’s all that Hillary thinks about, which eventually leads to them no longer being friends, just two people working in the same organisation.

What I found adorable was their nicknames for each other. He calls her Boss, and Hillary calls him Rookie, even after he is no longer the rookie of the team.

I wasn’t sure where their relationship was headed since Hillary pushes Murphy towards women his own age. I understand that Hillary wants him to have everything in life that she thinks she cannot give. All he wants is her, and it’s frustrating knowing she wants him too, but she is too focused on the happiness she thinks he should have, not the happiness they both want and deserve.

I liked how we got to meet both Hillary and Murphy’s families. You get an understanding of how they became the people they are. All Murphy wants is to be there and support his family, and it's lovely to see.

I loved reading Hillary and Murphy’s story. To have a man like Murphy wanting you. Hillary has to know she won the lottery.

Having now read this book, I need to read the other books in the series.

⭐ Ice Hockey
⭐ Sports
⭐ Plus-sized FMC
⭐ Younger Man
⭐Age Gap
🌶️ 3

[Carol Gaines · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I’m not a fan of third person writing, but this one was so good that I didn’t care. I will be going back, when I have the time, to read the other books in this series.
This book has quite a bit of spice throughout and you get some within the first few chapters. There’s obviously attraction on both parts but because of their working dynamic things haven’t happened before. Hillary kept saying them being together was wrong. She felt being with him would ruin him. He’s this golden retriever type of guy and she’s not. Her childhood wasn’t the best. Yes she had everything she needed physically but her parents weren’t there for them. They don’t support them in the things they really wanted out of life. I felt for her because I know what it’s like for parents not to show up to things that are important to you. She built these walls up and didn’t show weakness, until Murphy came along that is. She thought she dint deserve him and his brightness. Murphy is just the sweetest. When Hillary seems overwhelmed and had snapped at him he left her some treats. When they were on the road for away games and she was cold in her thin jacket he gave her his and walked away. He always showed up in some way even when she kept pushing him away. They go through some hard times together, from family issues to their own issues of trying to be together, but everything works out in the end. They get the happily ever after they both have been wanting and that they both deserve.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murphy was a hell of a way to finish off the series of the Glendale Magic. I loved so much about this book.
Murphy himself is the golden retriever MMC of my dreams. Better than a himbo, he had depth, and his story and life to get him to the NHL was really beautiful. I loved reading him interacting with his family. You can really feel the love between them, and how they take care of each other.
Hillary has been through the opposite. Her upbringing was cold. Support and love were missing for most of her life. The scenes with her family really made me want to cry for her, and block her parents so they can't use her or hurt her anymore.
From a really hot one night stand, to a recurring booty call, Murphy and Hillary didn't make the decisions I wish they would have in their relationship. I'm not usually one for the on again, off again type of romance. Something about the way Murphy never gives up, and the way Hillary can't stop pining for him is just really beautiful. Murphy is so steady and sure, and well adjusted in how he handles his frustration with her. I love seeing a character display that kind of emotional maturity from the beginning, and for it to be the 23 year old good time kinda guy? Perfection.
I did get frustrated waiting for Hillary to get out of her own way. I think it was justified though. Each time she gives in, she gets a little closer to being exactly what Murphy needs. And by the time they finally find their way back to each other, it is just, *chef's kiss*.

[Amanda McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murphy and Hillary had a one night stand after a team gala and now their chemistry is electric. However, Hillary knows how older women dating people at work are perceived and she tells herself they can’t see each other in a non-work related setting anymore. Murphy, a professional hockey player, is charming with a sweet smile and brings her coffee at her desk every morning. He doesn’t care about age, reputations, or rules and just wants to be with her. Hillary feels like starting a relationship is too much of a risk, but she is having difficulty truly saying no to what her heart desperately needs.

This book was great. You have Hillary Lawson, a hardworking, loyal, reserved, and beautiful woman that is dedicated to work and being supportive of her sister. You have Murphy O’Rourke, a charming, considerate, funny, and handsome young professional hockey player that has the reputation of being literal sunshine and loves spending time with his family and Hillary. The interactions between Hillary and Murphy are funny, genuine, spicy and sweet. There is a fair amount of angst in this book, but honestly I wasn’t perturbed by it since I could understand where Hillary and Murphy were coming from. I loved Patrick, Maddie, and Finn also. If you like found family, complex characters, plus size women representation, and age-gap workplace spicy hockey romance, then I would highly recommend you read this book. I got a copy and these opinions are my own.

[Lexi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited for the series finale, but this one ultimately fell flat for me.

The story follows Hilary, the head of PR for the Magic Glendale hockey team. She’s career-driven and highly organized, and after approaching Murphy at a gala, the two share a one-night stand neither of them can forget.

Murphy is attentive, emotionally available, and clearly invested, while Hilary repeatedly pushes him away out of denial and fear. While her internal struggle makes sense, the lack of meaningful growth or accountability became frustrating over time. Murphy consistently accepted the bare minimum, and at times felt undeserving of the way he was treated.

Murphy James O’Rourke was the standout of the book: family-oriented, protective, and deeply caring. He deserved far more emotional reciprocity and groveling than he received.

I did enjoy the interconnected timeline with the other couples and some side characters, especially Sasha. Overall, this ending didn’t deliver the emotional payoff I was hoping for to close out the series.

*Thank you for the author for the ARC!*

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a story in a series that spans all the other stories with interwoven scenes and perspectives I hadn't even considered. This book was a great example of that, as the gala that kicked off other books in this series worked its magic on this couple, too.

I also really appreciated Hillary. She isn't the most outgoing, likeable person because her motivations aren't always straightforward, and that's what I related to, because she and I have that in common. When she said, "Growing up the way I did, keeping things private was the only way to keep them safe. But even still, I think I’m just a private person," I wanted to scream, because I get it. I really, really get it. And seeing her react to that, and eventually overcome that, made this book a gift to read.

[Jessica Cam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The emotions in this book. I didn’t expect to have these feelings! Both of these characters are strong, and are used to being there for others. Murphy is a young hockey player who just happens to have eyes for the head of PR who is almost 10 years older. Hillary is so closed off and has such high walls built up. Her views on love and affection are way off but it’s based on her upbringing by her very off had rich parents. These two may seem like they don’t fit but they so do. And even though Hilary pushes Murphy away it doesn’t work. Murphy is a man on a mission, his heart is breaking because his girl just won’t admit to herself how good they are together! The love these two have was so pure and beautiful. I loved it.

[Courtney Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this for my honest review

In the final book of the Glendale Magic series our FMC is a plus size woman who is the head of PR for the hockey team, who is in desperate need to let her hair down. Our MMC is the hotshot rookie, who happens to be 10 years her junior. At a gala they end up spending the night together, and what's supposed to be just one night, kind of becomes a summer fling, with maybe a few more hook ups after that too. She struggles with not only does her family life leave her with so much baggage, but she doesn't want him to give up anything that he might want because they are in different phases of life. He wants her, but also wants to respect her decisions, but he's not giving up hope too easily.

[Reader Retiree Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the opportunity to be an ARC reader of the final installment of tbd Glendale series, Murphy. Murphy as all of the series introduces the readers to plus size women and the men who love them. Not only do they love them but they really love their bodies!!! Murphy and Natalie are an age gap black cat/golden retriever trope. Although I generally enjoy this trope at times I found Natalie’s lack of ability to connect frustrating. She is older but didn’t show maturity in this. Every attempt was made to include all of the characters in the series to tie them together and to a certain extent it seemed a bit rushed but the intent was there. Overall a solid end to a series I’ll miss!
@marywarren

[Nicole Wollin · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF’d at 62%


I really disliked this book. Which is SUCH a bummer. The story line is the most repetitive thing I’ve ever read.

Hook up, “We can’t do this”, he brings her coffee & a muffin repeat

The FMC is INFURIATING.
The MMC deserves way better and should just move on with his life.
I’m not rooting for THEM, I’m rooting for HIM, but I know they’ll end up together bc that’s just how this works, but I’d be much happier if he found love and she regretted her decisions the rest of her life.

[Shanluvs2read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murphy Stole my ❤️🏒

​Murphy is the ultimate steady hero! This hockey age-gap romance features a MMC who is wise beyond his years. Murphy’s patience and constant support for Hilary made him an instant favorite for me; he truly is the rock of this story.
​While I occasionally found myself frustrated with Hilary—I really wanted her to get out of her own way and embrace Murphy's love much sooner—I was happy to see her finally face her hang-ups. Seeing her growth and their eventual HEA was a great payoff!

[Curvy Girls Read Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black cat/golden retriever is one of my favorite tropes and I adored Murphy. I had a hard time with Hillary for much of this book and still feel like she didn't really make up for her treatment of him in the earlier stages of the book.

I did appreciate getting to see the other Glendale couples. I'm bummed Mary Warren's hockey series is coming to an end. Though I am excited for the next series and roller derby!

3.5/5

[Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This age gap story is very entertaining; Hillary and Murphy start by just having a fling. He is the rookie at the hockey team where she works. He is a very nice guy, but he is too young, so why can't she stop this? He keeps showing up and she cannot make herself not think about what could be. There are very emotional passages, where they have to decide what they want to be to each other. I enjoyed this last of the series read. You see some of the characters of the other books.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story of an older woman being with a younger man. The conflict between Hillary and Murphy made this a very angsty romance. This is the first book I've read in this series, and I will be reading the others. I received an advance readers copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Rina ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book! It was the perfect way to wrap up an awesome series. Murphy is such a sweetheart, I adore him! And I can really see myself in Hillary, so I felt a kinship with her. The story was good and I liked how it tied in to the others. I definitely recommend Murphy and the entire Glendale Magic series!

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so looking forward to reading the last book in the Glendale Magic Series and I loved it!
While I can't really relate to Hillary and her motives, it was described in a way that made me respect her decisions and felt whole, I cursed her for putting our poor MMC through the wringers.
Murphy was pure golden retriever, even if he didn't want to hear it. The dynamic and difference between the two was interesting to read.
Most of all I enjoyed all the glimpses into the story lines of all the other Magic copuples, which felt like a great service to the fans :-)

[Shanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this story. I absolutely loved Murphy, the male main character. I honestly couldn't stand Hillary, unfortunately. While I like a little bit of "will they, won't they," this was too much.

Some parts felt really repetitive, with hooking up together, stating it's the last time, hooking up again, etc.

Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book!

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an eARC!

I'm so sad to see this series come to an end, but this was a great finish! Murphy is a delight, and I loved watching him and Hillary fall in love. It was interesting watching the dynamic between the two - and to watch them complement each other and be there for each other in different ways.
I do with Taylor had been mentioned in this book more - he's my favorite!!
But I LOVE how Warren was able to create 5 such distinct couples - I'm already ready for a reread of the series!! And I can't wait to see what Warren comes up with next!

[Aidenn Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an arc and I genuinely loved it. Both characters are amazing and have their own struggles and they help each other through those struggles. I loved the cross overs of other characters from the series. Wish there was gonna be more in this series and not wanting it to end. ❤️

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reverse-age gap romance with a workplace romance.
I enjoyed the black cat/golden retriever story with a hockey romance!
A romance with character growth.
Fantastic book and fantastic series.

May be read as a standalone. Spicy scenes.

[Kersten MommyReadsForFun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect ending to a series. I loved the timeline of the story and the weaving of the other characters into the story. I was obsessed with this book from the start. Murphy was the perfect balance for Hillary and I loved seeing their relationship evolve over time.

[Helena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Warren does it again. I loved watching these two fools find their HEA. Shame this is the final book in the Glendale Magic series, but all good things must come to an end.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to the author for the ARC.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ARC REVIEW⭐️ (4.5⭐️)
I am not a reverse age gap girlie, it is honestly a trope I avoid at all cost but Mary's story may be the one that changes my mind. First, Murphy was DOWN BAD for Hillary since their one night stand at the infamous Glendale Gala. (Where all good couples begin!) Second, Hillary is a boss a$$ b!tch and I loved seeing her take charge in both their relationship and her career. Lastly, I thoroughly enjoyed all the angst and turmoil in the story because sometimes I just want a little ✨drama✨ with my romance. (That closet scene was simultaneously the HOTTEST and most heartbreaking scene I have read in a while!!) But I never for a second doubted their care and love one another, I knew holding on was worth seeing the happy ending for both of them. What a fun and heartwarming end to a series that has capture my heart. I know I will be returning to these books when I need a pick me up or just to remind myself that everyone no matter their size deserves a Happily Ever After.💜

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend if you like hockey romances, age gap romances, golden retriever mc, or secret relationships.