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Alexandria Dominion Hockey #1
The Sunshine Offensive
She worked hard to keep her life quiet. She didn't expect a hockey player to blow it wide open.
Juliette Gianelli has built her world on intention—her small plant shop, her carefully managed routine, and the fierce love she has for her ten-year-old son. After one very public heartbreak involving a jumbotron at an ice hockey game, she's learned her lesson: be invisible, stay quiet, and whatever you do, stay away from hockey. Plants don't make headlines. Hockey players? They are the headlines.
Then the city assigns NHL star Sawyer Stockton to her shop for a mandatory community outreach program—whether she wants him or not.
He's 6'3" with an easy smile, relentless optimism, and the kind of charm that probably works on everyone else. He's loud. He's public. He's everything she's spent years avoiding. And he keeps almost knocking over her succulents.
But here’s the problem: Sawyer isn't actually the disaster she thinks he is.
He shows up on time. He learns the difference between a pothos and a philodendron. He's patient with her son, who thinks he's the coolest person alive. And somewhere between teaching him how to repot a fern and watching him win over her most skeptical customers, Juliette realizes she might be in trouble.
Because the more time they spend together, the harder it gets to remember why she swore off this kind of risk. But when old wounds resurface and the spotlight threatens to return, she must decide: keep hiding in the quiet—or trust that this time, she won't be standing in it alone.
The Sunshine Offensive is a closed-door grumpy sunshine hockey romance filled with sizzling chemistry, undeniable tension, and all the heat—without the spice!
Tropes in The Sunshine Offensive are:
- Grumpy / Sunshine
- Opposites Attract
- Forced Proximity
- Single Mom Romance
- Golden Retriever MMC
- Black Cat FMC
- Found Family
- Protective Hero
- Ice Hockey Romance
Juliette Gianelli has built her world on intention—her small plant shop, her carefully managed routine, and the fierce love she has for her ten-year-old son. After one very public heartbreak involving a jumbotron at an ice hockey game, she's learned her lesson: be invisible, stay quiet, and whatever you do, stay away from hockey. Plants don't make headlines. Hockey players? They are the headlines.
Then the city assigns NHL star Sawyer Stockton to her shop for a mandatory community outreach program—whether she wants him or not.
He's 6'3" with an easy smile, relentless optimism, and the kind of charm that probably works on everyone else. He's loud. He's public. He's everything she's spent years avoiding. And he keeps almost knocking over her succulents.
But here’s the problem: Sawyer isn't actually the disaster she thinks he is.
He shows up on time. He learns the difference between a pothos and a philodendron. He's patient with her son, who thinks he's the coolest person alive. And somewhere between teaching him how to repot a fern and watching him win over her most skeptical customers, Juliette realizes she might be in trouble.
Because the more time they spend together, the harder it gets to remember why she swore off this kind of risk. But when old wounds resurface and the spotlight threatens to return, she must decide: keep hiding in the quiet—or trust that this time, she won't be standing in it alone.
The Sunshine Offensive is a closed-door grumpy sunshine hockey romance filled with sizzling chemistry, undeniable tension, and all the heat—without the spice!
Tropes in The Sunshine Offensive are:
- Grumpy / Sunshine
- Opposites Attract
- Forced Proximity
- Single Mom Romance
- Golden Retriever MMC
- Black Cat FMC
- Found Family
- Protective Hero
- Ice Hockey Romance
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2026
75 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Anne Kemp
42 books456 followersAnne Kemp is a bestselling author of romantic comedies. She loves reading (and she doesn’t it ridiculously fast, too!), gluten-free baking (because everyone needs a hobby that makes them crazy), and finding time to binge-watch her favorite shows. She grew up in Maryland but made Los Angeles her home until she encountered her own real-life meet-cute at a friend's wedding where she ended up married to one of the groomsmen. For real.
Anne now lives on the Kapiti Coast in New Zealand, and even though she was married at Mt. Doom, no…she doesn’t have a Hobbit. However, she and her husband do have a terrier named George Clooney and when she’s not writing, she’s usually with them taking a long walk on the river by their home.
You can find Anne on her website - come say hi! She’d love to hear from you: www.annekemp.com
On Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest: @missannekemp
On TikTok: @annekempauthor
You can always find her www.AnneKemp.com.
Anne now lives on the Kapiti Coast in New Zealand, and even though she was married at Mt. Doom, no…she doesn’t have a Hobbit. However, she and her husband do have a terrier named George Clooney and when she’s not writing, she’s usually with them taking a long walk on the river by their home.
You can find Anne on her website - come say hi! She’d love to hear from you: www.annekemp.com
On Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest: @missannekemp
On TikTok: @annekempauthor
You can always find her www.AnneKemp.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
April 23, 2026
This is exactly what I needed this month!
Juliette and Sawyer were great and the Springtime vibes were everything!
I did find the PTSD a little strange, but not having ever experienced it, this is likely just me.
The Plant Daddy gag was killing me and I giggled and sighed with content through this whole book!
And the side characters?
Chef's kiss👌
Much love to BookedWithTheEmilys for adding me to the tour & hooking me up with this book.
Juliette and Sawyer were great and the Springtime vibes were everything!
I did find the PTSD a little strange, but not having ever experienced it, this is likely just me.
The Plant Daddy gag was killing me and I giggled and sighed with content through this whole book!
And the side characters?
Chef's kiss👌
Much love to BookedWithTheEmilys for adding me to the tour & hooking me up with this book.
April 19, 2026
Juliette Gianelli lives a quiet life, splitting her time between her small plant shop and her (soon) 10-year-old son Theo. After a very public breakup with her son's dad, Juliette has had enough headlines in her life. She gets quite taken aback when NHL star Sawyer Stockton will do community service and work part time in her shop. So much for avoiding the headlines...
This book contains several of my favorite tropes, such as grumpy/sunshine, found family and sports romance! We got a golden retriever MMC and a black cat FMC - Saywer and Juliette are truly opposites. The protectiveness they do have in common; Juliette is protective of Theo's emotional state, and it doesn't take long before Sawyer wants to protect them both. The chemistry between these two is palpable, and I'm sitting with a smile on my face during the scenes when the big hockey player handles the plants according to Juliette's instructions. As a sports nerd I would have enjoyed if the hockey took up a bit more space, but I really like how the hockey players are always there for each other!
* I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *
This book contains several of my favorite tropes, such as grumpy/sunshine, found family and sports romance! We got a golden retriever MMC and a black cat FMC - Saywer and Juliette are truly opposites. The protectiveness they do have in common; Juliette is protective of Theo's emotional state, and it doesn't take long before Sawyer wants to protect them both. The chemistry between these two is palpable, and I'm sitting with a smile on my face during the scenes when the big hockey player handles the plants according to Juliette's instructions. As a sports nerd I would have enjoyed if the hockey took up a bit more space, but I really like how the hockey players are always there for each other!
* I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *
April 2, 2026
Well, this story was full of all of the good things! Sawyer was exactly the man that Juliette needed in her life after all that she and her son had gone through with the breakup of her marriage. I loved the way these two fell for each other and the way Sawyer treated both Juliette and Theo. When someone has been done so very wrong, it makes seeing them find love and acceptance all the sweeter. Sawyer really stepped up in a few pivotal moments and cemented himself as a "green flag hero" for sure. I loved this story from start to finish!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
April 15, 2026
Thank you, Partner @bookedwiththeemilys and @annekempauthor for the #gifted copy of this book.
This book was so cute! I loved everything about it. I laughed, giggled, and even teared up at times. It was just had everything I needed.
I really loved Juliette. She was an independent, single mom, plant shop owner. She had to deal with an ex who betrayed her in the worst way in front of the whole world. Juliette was such an amazing mom. She was doing everything she could to make sure her son, Theo, had the best life. However, due to the fact that she had to deal with such negative media attention in the past, she is very hesitant to work with the local hockey team’s star, Sawyer.
Sawyer was the ultimate golden retriever and I loved his character so much. He was the sweetest man ever and I love how much he respected Juliette and her business from the very beginning. He was amazing at getting to know Juliette and Theo. I loved how he didn’t try to the place of Theo’s dad and he never overstepped. However, he was always there for them both and it truly made me tear up.
Overall, these two were so cute together. I loved how their relationship formed naturally and all of their interactions were really fun and sweet. I loved how the whole hockey team accepted Sawyer’s love for Juliette and treated her an Theo like family. So, I would recommend this book if you love a black cat x golden retriever, opposites attract, forced proximity, single mom, found family, hockey romance.
This book was so cute! I loved everything about it. I laughed, giggled, and even teared up at times. It was just had everything I needed.
I really loved Juliette. She was an independent, single mom, plant shop owner. She had to deal with an ex who betrayed her in the worst way in front of the whole world. Juliette was such an amazing mom. She was doing everything she could to make sure her son, Theo, had the best life. However, due to the fact that she had to deal with such negative media attention in the past, she is very hesitant to work with the local hockey team’s star, Sawyer.
Sawyer was the ultimate golden retriever and I loved his character so much. He was the sweetest man ever and I love how much he respected Juliette and her business from the very beginning. He was amazing at getting to know Juliette and Theo. I loved how he didn’t try to the place of Theo’s dad and he never overstepped. However, he was always there for them both and it truly made me tear up.
Overall, these two were so cute together. I loved how their relationship formed naturally and all of their interactions were really fun and sweet. I loved how the whole hockey team accepted Sawyer’s love for Juliette and treated her an Theo like family. So, I would recommend this book if you love a black cat x golden retriever, opposites attract, forced proximity, single mom, found family, hockey romance.
April 14, 2026
Single mom, reverse grumpy sunshine, and forced proximity? Don't mind if I do!
Juliette and Sawyer are so good together. Juliette is grumpy and closed-off to the world outside of her people and shop (for fair reasons), and Sawyer is a sunshiny NHL defenseman who's sweet and humble, and in need of a little PR make-over. They're thrown together, and while Juliette wasn't excited about it at the start, Sawyer works his way into her good graces and ultimately her heart. I could not get enough of Sawyer, he is just so supportive, understanding, and kind. And their first kiss? Perfection.
I also adore all the side characters, from Juliette's friends to Sawyer's teammates, and I am so excited for the rest of the series. But let's be real, Theo's the real star of the show. I always love when the kids in single parent romcoms are believable, and Theo such an adorably realistic 9/10 year-old. And I just love his relationship with Sawyer.
Thank you so much, Anne, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved this sweet story! All opinions are my own.
Juliette and Sawyer are so good together. Juliette is grumpy and closed-off to the world outside of her people and shop (for fair reasons), and Sawyer is a sunshiny NHL defenseman who's sweet and humble, and in need of a little PR make-over. They're thrown together, and while Juliette wasn't excited about it at the start, Sawyer works his way into her good graces and ultimately her heart. I could not get enough of Sawyer, he is just so supportive, understanding, and kind. And their first kiss? Perfection.
I also adore all the side characters, from Juliette's friends to Sawyer's teammates, and I am so excited for the rest of the series. But let's be real, Theo's the real star of the show. I always love when the kids in single parent romcoms are believable, and Theo such an adorably realistic 9/10 year-old. And I just love his relationship with Sawyer.
Thank you so much, Anne, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved this sweet story! All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
rcvd an advanced reader copy from the author.
We meet plant enthusiast Juliette so is a single mother to almost 10 year old Theo. she's had a rough time as a single parent whose husband was found on a kiss cam at a hockey game with a woman who was not her. We meet Sawyer, local professional hockey player who is now doing community service for the team...at a plant shop. Juliette doesn't want the attention of having an athlete in her store...it brings too much drama to her now drama-free life. what she doesn't count on is Sawyer being fun and pleasant plus her son loves him. the more time they spend together the more Juliette sees a different side of him but she doesn't know if her heart could take it. Sawyer is enjoying his time at the store and helping with videos as it helps bring ppl to Juliettes store. there is smtg about her that makes him happy and her son is amazing Lil dude. theo's dad is in town and wants to spend time with him much to Juliette's dismay bc she knows he won't be a father and show up. Sawyer is determined to make sure Juliette and Theo are taken care of. such a cute story with heart.
We meet plant enthusiast Juliette so is a single mother to almost 10 year old Theo. she's had a rough time as a single parent whose husband was found on a kiss cam at a hockey game with a woman who was not her. We meet Sawyer, local professional hockey player who is now doing community service for the team...at a plant shop. Juliette doesn't want the attention of having an athlete in her store...it brings too much drama to her now drama-free life. what she doesn't count on is Sawyer being fun and pleasant plus her son loves him. the more time they spend together the more Juliette sees a different side of him but she doesn't know if her heart could take it. Sawyer is enjoying his time at the store and helping with videos as it helps bring ppl to Juliettes store. there is smtg about her that makes him happy and her son is amazing Lil dude. theo's dad is in town and wants to spend time with him much to Juliette's dismay bc she knows he won't be a father and show up. Sawyer is determined to make sure Juliette and Theo are taken care of. such a cute story with heart.
April 4, 2026
Is it just me, or has the romcom world absolutely exploded with hockey books lately? Honestly, I am not complaining — especially having become a self-described "social" hockey fan myself. With playoffs right around the corner, the timing on The Sunshine Offensive could not have been more perfect.
Sawyer Stockton gets his full story here after appearing in the River City Renegades series, and it was so worth the wait. While this works as a standalone, immersing yourself in the larger world from the beginning makes it even richer — just a heads up for fellow series readers.
What I loved most here was the dynamic between Sawyer and Juliette. In the beginning it's complicated and a little messy in the best way, but as trust slowly builds, it settles into something genuinely meaningful. The portrayal of single mom life felt real and honest — the challenges, the protectiveness, the way every decision runs through the lens of her son first. Sawyer showing up for both of them, consistently and without fanfare, was everything.
The chemistry is sweet, the pacing finds its groove, and the forced proximity plus grumpy/sunshine combo delivers exactly what it promises. A few story beats felt familiar, but when the execution is this warm, that's hardly a complaint.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Sawyer Stockton gets his full story here after appearing in the River City Renegades series, and it was so worth the wait. While this works as a standalone, immersing yourself in the larger world from the beginning makes it even richer — just a heads up for fellow series readers.
What I loved most here was the dynamic between Sawyer and Juliette. In the beginning it's complicated and a little messy in the best way, but as trust slowly builds, it settles into something genuinely meaningful. The portrayal of single mom life felt real and honest — the challenges, the protectiveness, the way every decision runs through the lens of her son first. Sawyer showing up for both of them, consistently and without fanfare, was everything.
The chemistry is sweet, the pacing finds its groove, and the forced proximity plus grumpy/sunshine combo delivers exactly what it promises. A few story beats felt familiar, but when the execution is this warm, that's hardly a complaint.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
April 16, 2026
Sawyer and Juliette have a great story. Juliette is a sweet but grouchy plant owner who has been let down too many times and is just trying to hold her son's world together. Sawyer is struggling to keep his upbeat personality amidst his latest issues in his hockey world. Together, they become unstoppable at life - fitting their worlds together so well that it is clearly meant to be. Sawyer is the sunshine character in this story and it is great to see this part of the typical trope turned around. It is fun to see Sawyer step up in so many ways that seem unusual in so much of the culture today. He is a great example of what a man should be - protector, provider, leader - all without being overbearing and dictatorial. It makes for a wonderful story to see him leading the way as the leading man. I enjoyed seeing this story come to its conclusion.
April 22, 2026
If you love plants, hockey, and opposites-attract romance with heart, The Sunshine Offensive by Anne Kemp is such a joy 🌿🏒☀️
“This isn’t just showing up. This is falling in love.” 💛
This story completely charmed me—set partly in a plant shop (yes please 🪴), it blends a grumpy, guarded heroine with a literal sunshine hockey star in the best way. The forced proximity works so well here, creating this slow, simmering tension that really pays off. Add in a single mom storyline, found family feels, and a very real public heartbreak, and it gives the romance so much depth.
I especially loved how soft and healing this story felt underneath the banter and chemistry. Watching these two opposites navigate life, love, and vulnerability had me smiling the whole time—and rooting hard for their happy ending.
“This isn’t just showing up. This is falling in love.” 💛
This story completely charmed me—set partly in a plant shop (yes please 🪴), it blends a grumpy, guarded heroine with a literal sunshine hockey star in the best way. The forced proximity works so well here, creating this slow, simmering tension that really pays off. Add in a single mom storyline, found family feels, and a very real public heartbreak, and it gives the romance so much depth.
I especially loved how soft and healing this story felt underneath the banter and chemistry. Watching these two opposites navigate life, love, and vulnerability had me smiling the whole time—and rooting hard for their happy ending.
April 9, 2026
The Sunshine Offensive @annekempauthor
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🫑 Kisses only
This was such a creative take on a well known viral event. I don't want to spoil it for you, but Anne delivered a beautiful story about the real people behind the scenes. I adored Juliette and Sawyer and loved watching how in tune he was to her.
Juliette is a little grumpy and very protective of what she has.. for good reason. And Sawyer continues to show up for her and Theo. This one will bring the feels!
Read if you love:
Reverse grumpy x sunshine
Hockey romance
Closed door
Single mom
Love after heartbreak
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🫑 Kisses only
This was such a creative take on a well known viral event. I don't want to spoil it for you, but Anne delivered a beautiful story about the real people behind the scenes. I adored Juliette and Sawyer and loved watching how in tune he was to her.
Juliette is a little grumpy and very protective of what she has.. for good reason. And Sawyer continues to show up for her and Theo. This one will bring the feels!
Read if you love:
Reverse grumpy x sunshine
Hockey romance
Closed door
Single mom
Love after heartbreak
Read
March 4, 2026I really enjoyed this one. The development of the characters and I really enjoyed Sawyer and her son’s sweet conversations. Also the change in each of them to healing. Beautiful.
April 4, 2026
I thought this was cute. However, the entire setup was a bit odd and felt silly and the chemistry between Sawyer and Juliette was just okay. When I put it down, I wasn’t super excited to pick it back up, but it was sweet enough.
April 3, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️
While it may be spring, where I live, it is still gray skies and colder weather. Stories that have a warm, spring vibe definitely help me enjoy the spring season and Anne Kemp did just this with her newest release. The Sunshine Offensive, book 1 in Anne’s Alexandria Dominion Hockey series, surrounds you with sweet romance, wonderful MCs, and a storyline that keeps you captivated. Anne never fails to bring depth and warmth to all her stories, which keeps me coming back for more.
Juliette hates all things hockey. After her husband was caught on a jumbotron kissing someone that wasn’t her at a hockey game, the sport just brings up a lot of emotions for her. She works hard in her plant shop, has a gigantic green thumb, and is doing everything she can to create a wonderful and stable life for her son, Theo. When she finds out a NHL star will be coming to her shop for an outreach program, she is less than thrilled. Anne wrote Juliette in a way that was easy to connect with and feel her struggles. Being a single parent isn’t easy, but she faces every challenge head on and is a wonderful example for her son.
Sawyer is a character we have met in a previous book of Anne’s and seeing him go from that book to leading man was pure joy. From the moment he stepped foot into Juliette’s plant shop, he knew he was somewhere special. While it may be love at first sight for him, he doesn’t push Juliette ever, not once. He continuously shows up for her, slowly chipping away at her defenses. What started as a way to improve his reputation quickly turns into so much more for him, something more real than he has ever felt in his life. He is a ray of sunshine in Juliette’s gray colored world. Sawyer knows Juliette is scared and hurt, but he is willing to put the work in.
Every story that Anne writes, while most of the story can be lighthearted and sweet, there are always multiple moments that bring in depth and raw emotion. It brings complexities to the MCs, making them multidimensional. They quickly become people you can root for, imagine being friends with; not just words on a piece of paper. I adore her writing style and always know her stories will leave me smiling. I am excited to see what her next book in this series will hold, but know it is going to be great!
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
🏒Grumpy x Sunshine
🪴Opposites Attract
🏒Forced Proximity
🪴Golden Retriever MMC
🏒Black Cat FMC
🪴Found Family
🏒Hockey Romance
🪴Closed Door Romance
While it may be spring, where I live, it is still gray skies and colder weather. Stories that have a warm, spring vibe definitely help me enjoy the spring season and Anne Kemp did just this with her newest release. The Sunshine Offensive, book 1 in Anne’s Alexandria Dominion Hockey series, surrounds you with sweet romance, wonderful MCs, and a storyline that keeps you captivated. Anne never fails to bring depth and warmth to all her stories, which keeps me coming back for more.
Juliette hates all things hockey. After her husband was caught on a jumbotron kissing someone that wasn’t her at a hockey game, the sport just brings up a lot of emotions for her. She works hard in her plant shop, has a gigantic green thumb, and is doing everything she can to create a wonderful and stable life for her son, Theo. When she finds out a NHL star will be coming to her shop for an outreach program, she is less than thrilled. Anne wrote Juliette in a way that was easy to connect with and feel her struggles. Being a single parent isn’t easy, but she faces every challenge head on and is a wonderful example for her son.
Sawyer is a character we have met in a previous book of Anne’s and seeing him go from that book to leading man was pure joy. From the moment he stepped foot into Juliette’s plant shop, he knew he was somewhere special. While it may be love at first sight for him, he doesn’t push Juliette ever, not once. He continuously shows up for her, slowly chipping away at her defenses. What started as a way to improve his reputation quickly turns into so much more for him, something more real than he has ever felt in his life. He is a ray of sunshine in Juliette’s gray colored world. Sawyer knows Juliette is scared and hurt, but he is willing to put the work in.
Every story that Anne writes, while most of the story can be lighthearted and sweet, there are always multiple moments that bring in depth and raw emotion. It brings complexities to the MCs, making them multidimensional. They quickly become people you can root for, imagine being friends with; not just words on a piece of paper. I adore her writing style and always know her stories will leave me smiling. I am excited to see what her next book in this series will hold, but know it is going to be great!
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
🏒Grumpy x Sunshine
🪴Opposites Attract
🏒Forced Proximity
🪴Golden Retriever MMC
🏒Black Cat FMC
🪴Found Family
🏒Hockey Romance
🪴Closed Door Romance
Review of advance copy received from Author
“You don’t chase what’s easy, you fight for what matters. If it scares you, that’s usually a sign it’s real.”
The life of Juliette Gianelli hasn't turned out the way she planned. When a jumbotron incident exposed her ex-husband, she became a single parent to her son, Theo, in a new city and with a brand new business to manage. When I picked up this book, I expected it to be a sweet romance between Juliette and Sawyer-but I didn't expect the beautiful way the author portrayed the struggles of Juliette as a single mother just trying to live a quiet, private life with her son. Trust doesn't come easily for Juliette and the last thing she wants it to be in the spotlight-when Sawyer Stockton, NHL player, shows up on her shop's doorstep and changes her life. The author did a fantastic job portraying the challenges and trials of not only being a single Mom, but of overcoming trauma and showing up for people you love. Juliette faced her trauma head on, with the help of Sawyer, because it was what was best for Theo. The chemistry between Sawyer and Juliette was sweet but also honest-complicated, nuanced, and meaningful. Sawyer showed up for Juliette and Theo throughout the book in so many ways-not just in words, but in actions. Everything he did was putting Juliette and Theo first. Even when Juliette's ex-husband showed up, Sawyer supported Juliette and trusted her to handle herself instead of swooping in and challenging her ex. I loved the way he supported both Juliette and Theo and never stopped showing up for them, even when he was struggling at times. Life is not all sunshine, but Juliette is a strong FMC who stayed focused on what's most important as she navigated grief and trauma- which is both hard work and very real. And while the romance wasn't the only focus of the book, the relationship that Sawyer and Juliette built was very sweet and meaningful. This read surprised me, in the best way!
I'm looking forward to seeing where the author takes the other members of the Dominion in the books to come in this series!
I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
The life of Juliette Gianelli hasn't turned out the way she planned. When a jumbotron incident exposed her ex-husband, she became a single parent to her son, Theo, in a new city and with a brand new business to manage. When I picked up this book, I expected it to be a sweet romance between Juliette and Sawyer-but I didn't expect the beautiful way the author portrayed the struggles of Juliette as a single mother just trying to live a quiet, private life with her son. Trust doesn't come easily for Juliette and the last thing she wants it to be in the spotlight-when Sawyer Stockton, NHL player, shows up on her shop's doorstep and changes her life. The author did a fantastic job portraying the challenges and trials of not only being a single Mom, but of overcoming trauma and showing up for people you love. Juliette faced her trauma head on, with the help of Sawyer, because it was what was best for Theo. The chemistry between Sawyer and Juliette was sweet but also honest-complicated, nuanced, and meaningful. Sawyer showed up for Juliette and Theo throughout the book in so many ways-not just in words, but in actions. Everything he did was putting Juliette and Theo first. Even when Juliette's ex-husband showed up, Sawyer supported Juliette and trusted her to handle herself instead of swooping in and challenging her ex. I loved the way he supported both Juliette and Theo and never stopped showing up for them, even when he was struggling at times. Life is not all sunshine, but Juliette is a strong FMC who stayed focused on what's most important as she navigated grief and trauma- which is both hard work and very real. And while the romance wasn't the only focus of the book, the relationship that Sawyer and Juliette built was very sweet and meaningful. This read surprised me, in the best way!
I'm looking forward to seeing where the author takes the other members of the Dominion in the books to come in this series!
I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This will put you in a warm weather mood with all of the talk of plants. I know next to nothing about plants, but Juliette Gianelli is an expert in all things green. She runs a small plant shop, and loves raising her adorable son, Theo. Romance and/or any kind of relationship is not even on her radar. She has been previously scorched by her ex-husband who was caught in a compromising position on an jumbotron at hockey game. So, not only is she not interested in romance, but she avoids hockey like the plague.
Enter NHL star Sawyer Stockton. Sawyer is going to hang out and help out at her store as a part of a community outreach program. He has been assigned to her store as a sort of goodwill ambassador while also hoping to bring more traffic into small businesses. Juliette's walls are already up and all of the doors are closed around her before she ever meets Sawyer. She has already made up her mind about him before he ever walks through the door. What she finds is that her assumptions are entirely incorrect. There is a lot more to this big, bulky hockey player than she first assumed.
This wonderful romance has the perfect blend of romance, comedy and wit, as well as an all star cast that I fell completely in love with. The hockey players and their banter gave me plenty of things to laugh about. But I think the thing I adored the most was Sawyer's attitude toward Theo and the way he made him feel special. It was chef's kiss charming and heartwarming.
The characters are so vividly drawn that they practically leap off of the page. I found myself several hours later wondering where the time went as I read this entire book in one sitting, smiling and laughing the entire time. I know I can always count on a solid story, plenty of humor and wit and characters that I will fall in love with, when I see a book with this author's name on it. She never disappoints. I look forward to more books in this series.
Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Enter NHL star Sawyer Stockton. Sawyer is going to hang out and help out at her store as a part of a community outreach program. He has been assigned to her store as a sort of goodwill ambassador while also hoping to bring more traffic into small businesses. Juliette's walls are already up and all of the doors are closed around her before she ever meets Sawyer. She has already made up her mind about him before he ever walks through the door. What she finds is that her assumptions are entirely incorrect. There is a lot more to this big, bulky hockey player than she first assumed.
This wonderful romance has the perfect blend of romance, comedy and wit, as well as an all star cast that I fell completely in love with. The hockey players and their banter gave me plenty of things to laugh about. But I think the thing I adored the most was Sawyer's attitude toward Theo and the way he made him feel special. It was chef's kiss charming and heartwarming.
The characters are so vividly drawn that they practically leap off of the page. I found myself several hours later wondering where the time went as I read this entire book in one sitting, smiling and laughing the entire time. I know I can always count on a solid story, plenty of humor and wit and characters that I will fall in love with, when I see a book with this author's name on it. She never disappoints. I look forward to more books in this series.
Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 2, 2026
💫arc review💫
5⭐️
How was this my first book by Anne Kemp?! I am OBSESSED with Juliette and Sawyer aka Plant Daddy 😂🤭🪴
I will never get over a reverse grumpy x sunshine book. I love when we get a golden retriever MMC with a black cat FMC. Sawyer was the PERFECT MMC, major green flag energy as Vivian pointed out! He continued to show up for Juliette, and her son Theo. He was patient with her and not only did he communicate how he felt, he CONSISTENTLY SHOWED UP FOR HER! We LOVE
THAT!
“Not just pretty—though she absolutely is—but she’s also stunning. In the way that I’m beginning to see how her insides match the outsides, even if it does come in a grumpy little package. She’s strong in a way that doesn’t need to announce itself. She smiles, just a little, and the world tilts. Oh yeah. I’m in trouble.”
After her ex, Juliette has every right to be wary of men. Especially gorgeous hockey players 🤤🤪 but Sawyer slowly cracked her tough exterior and began to plant roots (plant pun intended) in her heart. I loved how real Juliette’s character felt. I also really enjoyed seeing her growth not only in her relationship with Sawyer, but also just her personal growth. She began to accept help and slowly started healing from her past scars.
“Something real settles behind his hazel eyes, like he’s seeing me instead of the moment.”
I loved everything about this book. I finished it in two days. It was so addictive. I couldn’t ask for anything more in a hockey romance. It was so swoon worthy that I’m pretty sure I was smiling the whole time I read this book.
“From the moment I saw you,” he continues, voice low, steady, devastating, “I knew. Or at least I really hoped. Way down deep. That this was going to be more than I thought it was.” He smiles then, small and vulnerable, but also absolutely fearless. “Because there was something about you, Juliette Gianelli,” he says, “that had me hooked from the start. It’s not that I am falling in love with you, it’s a case of I am in love with you.”
I’m so thankful I was able to ARC read this book! I cannot wait for book 2!
5⭐️
How was this my first book by Anne Kemp?! I am OBSESSED with Juliette and Sawyer aka Plant Daddy 😂🤭🪴
I will never get over a reverse grumpy x sunshine book. I love when we get a golden retriever MMC with a black cat FMC. Sawyer was the PERFECT MMC, major green flag energy as Vivian pointed out! He continued to show up for Juliette, and her son Theo. He was patient with her and not only did he communicate how he felt, he CONSISTENTLY SHOWED UP FOR HER! We LOVE
THAT!
“Not just pretty—though she absolutely is—but she’s also stunning. In the way that I’m beginning to see how her insides match the outsides, even if it does come in a grumpy little package. She’s strong in a way that doesn’t need to announce itself. She smiles, just a little, and the world tilts. Oh yeah. I’m in trouble.”
After her ex, Juliette has every right to be wary of men. Especially gorgeous hockey players 🤤🤪 but Sawyer slowly cracked her tough exterior and began to plant roots (plant pun intended) in her heart. I loved how real Juliette’s character felt. I also really enjoyed seeing her growth not only in her relationship with Sawyer, but also just her personal growth. She began to accept help and slowly started healing from her past scars.
“Something real settles behind his hazel eyes, like he’s seeing me instead of the moment.”
I loved everything about this book. I finished it in two days. It was so addictive. I couldn’t ask for anything more in a hockey romance. It was so swoon worthy that I’m pretty sure I was smiling the whole time I read this book.
“From the moment I saw you,” he continues, voice low, steady, devastating, “I knew. Or at least I really hoped. Way down deep. That this was going to be more than I thought it was.” He smiles then, small and vulnerable, but also absolutely fearless. “Because there was something about you, Juliette Gianelli,” he says, “that had me hooked from the start. It’s not that I am falling in love with you, it’s a case of I am in love with you.”
I’m so thankful I was able to ARC read this book! I cannot wait for book 2!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2026
The first book in the Virginia Dominion Hockey series by Anne Kemp and it’s the bees knees it really is. Juliette Gianelli had a very explosively public break up with her ex on the Jumbotron. It really wasn’t her brightest moment. In fact it was bleak and one she wouldn’t want to repeat.
Her flower shop is her world now and she has some happy customers that all exhale a wow. She has a vow that she has kept for years save her and her ten year old son from tears and that’s why she has the rule. Do not get involved with hockey players nor be that fool again. Never… not this hen….
It did weather for a while until an NHL hopeful is assigned to her flower-shop by the city no less. A mandatory outreach program. So who exactly is this Stockton Sawyer bloke trying to convince of his intentions? Or impress. Whatever, it causes her hypertensions and stress.
She is not one to preach but she’s trying to keep out of the reach of this 6 foot 3 player before he does slayer her with his eyes and that’s not even while he’s on the ice, that she’s mesmerised.
Thinking at first that he’s a boor and unruly ,he proves her wrong truly. He may be loud but proud with his outburst. He’s well mannered and is respectful too. Apart from upsetting her succulents on the regular he’s actually a nice guy which has her feeling all irregular. As well as hot as the greenhouse flowers such are his powers around her flowers…
He’s great with her little boy who treats him like his best mate and is sweet as can be. He might even make it to his birthday party . That would make him the popular kid and cool at school.. His mama has to back step and accept that he’s nice. This hot hockey player who performs on ice. Slippery customer he ain’t and not as bad as she does paint.
Just when she’s re-examining what her heart was guarded for ,it comes once more to the fore and forces her to take a step back and examine the risk of losing not just her heart but that of her son with this man.
Her flower shop is her world now and she has some happy customers that all exhale a wow. She has a vow that she has kept for years save her and her ten year old son from tears and that’s why she has the rule. Do not get involved with hockey players nor be that fool again. Never… not this hen….
It did weather for a while until an NHL hopeful is assigned to her flower-shop by the city no less. A mandatory outreach program. So who exactly is this Stockton Sawyer bloke trying to convince of his intentions? Or impress. Whatever, it causes her hypertensions and stress.
She is not one to preach but she’s trying to keep out of the reach of this 6 foot 3 player before he does slayer her with his eyes and that’s not even while he’s on the ice, that she’s mesmerised.
Thinking at first that he’s a boor and unruly ,he proves her wrong truly. He may be loud but proud with his outburst. He’s well mannered and is respectful too. Apart from upsetting her succulents on the regular he’s actually a nice guy which has her feeling all irregular. As well as hot as the greenhouse flowers such are his powers around her flowers…
He’s great with her little boy who treats him like his best mate and is sweet as can be. He might even make it to his birthday party . That would make him the popular kid and cool at school.. His mama has to back step and accept that he’s nice. This hot hockey player who performs on ice. Slippery customer he ain’t and not as bad as she does paint.
Just when she’s re-examining what her heart was guarded for ,it comes once more to the fore and forces her to take a step back and examine the risk of losing not just her heart but that of her son with this man.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Anne Kemp delivers a charming start to her Virginia Dominion Hockey series with The Sunshine Offensive. Having enjoyed several of Anne's previous works, I had high expectations for Sawyer’s story, and it did not disappoint. I loved seeing Sawyer grow from the character we first met in Offside Secrets into a leading man who stole Juliette’s heart.
The story follows Sawyer, a pro hockey player, and Juliette, a protective single mother and business owner. What begins as a mandatory community outreach assignment evolves into a touching journey of healing and falling in love. Kemp handles themes of trauma and learning to love again with great care, making the eventual HEA feel truly earned.
I have read several books by Kemp and one thing she writes really well are the side characters and their friendships with the main characters. The story perfectly balances the witty camaraderie of Sawyer’s hockey world—featuring Campbell, Ty, Owen, and Liam—with the grounded, touching support system surrounding Juliette and her son, Theo.
I recommend this for readers looking for a sweet, closed-door hockey romance featuring dual POVs and authentic character growth.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Some of my favorite lines:
“I look at the man who’s just crashed into my carefully controlled life like a hockey puck through the glass — smiling, unbothered, already standing in the wreckage like it’s exactly where he belongs.”
“Our fingers brush as I take it — barely there, the lightest contact — and it still feels like a jolt straight through my chest. Electric. Immediate. Entirely unexpected and deeply wanted.”
“She sighs and I’m undone.”
“You don’t chase what’s easy, you fight for what matters. If it scares you, that’s usually a sign it’s real.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
Reader’s Notes:
*Series or Connected Books?* part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
-we first met Sawyer in The River City Renegades series, but it doesn’t need to read in order to enjoy this book
*Point Of View:* Juliette & Sawyer
*Any Cursing Or Possibly Offensive Language?* there is one use of the ‘a’ word for donkey
-there are about 2 mentions of characters flipping each other off
*Romance?* Yes! Just kisses
*Things To Know:*
–it is mentioned that a character’s marriage was destroyed by the spouse cheating on them
-it is mentioned that a character’s parent passed away a few years ago
-it is briefly mentioned that a character is married to someone of the same gender
Review:
I loved this book! Sawyer and Juliette’s story was adorable and I loved the protectiveness Sawyer had for her! I loved getting to know both of them as well as some of the Dominion’s players and Charlie (who helps Juliette in the shop). I loved that Charlie was like a father/grandfather figure to her and her son. Charlie was protective of Juliette, but he also knew that at times she needed some outside help which he delegated to Sawyer after they got to know him well. I loved the plant daddy jokes that started from Sawyer’s PR rehab at the shop. 😂 Both the aspects were he was teased about it and where women would keep coming into the the shop because of his plant videos.
I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book and who the couple will be!
Summary:
Juliette was burned by a hockey jumbotron moment with her ex and wants nothing to do with hockey now. Which is a problem with her ten year old son’s love of the game and a new hockey volunteer program coming to her door with an offer she can’t refuse. Juliette has done her best to grow in the quiet of her stationary and plant shop. But when most people pass it by, it’s hard to keep everything she wants to have available in stock at all times let alone keep her doors open for much longer. Having Sawyer, a local hockey player, come in and create buzz for her shop might be just be Juliette’s saving grace. But when her heart gets involved with Sawyer’s success or downfall, Juliette has to decide if she’s willing to put her heart on the line once again or if she’d rather protect the peace she’s created for herself.
Sawyer may be known for his skill on the ice and his model girlfriends, but now that he let his mouth get away from him in an interview, he’s known for his small moment of knocking over a potted plant. While the repercussions aren’t a big deal to him, clearly someone in PR wants his image to get fixed since they send him to volunteer his time at a local plant shop during the beginning of the hockey season. Even though he knows nothing about plants or plant care. But when Sawyer catches sight of Juliette, the shop’s owner, he decides he wants to try and make their shared situation as painless as possible for her. And in the process, Sawyer finds himself falling for a woman so unlike the women he’s entertained over the years and wishing for a chance to settle down with her. But only if she’s willing to let him into her carefully curated life.
*Series or Connected Books?* part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
-we first met Sawyer in The River City Renegades series, but it doesn’t need to read in order to enjoy this book
*Point Of View:* Juliette & Sawyer
*Any Cursing Or Possibly Offensive Language?* there is one use of the ‘a’ word for donkey
-there are about 2 mentions of characters flipping each other off
*Romance?* Yes! Just kisses
*Things To Know:*
–it is mentioned that a character’s marriage was destroyed by the spouse cheating on them
-it is mentioned that a character’s parent passed away a few years ago
-it is briefly mentioned that a character is married to someone of the same gender
Review:
I loved this book! Sawyer and Juliette’s story was adorable and I loved the protectiveness Sawyer had for her! I loved getting to know both of them as well as some of the Dominion’s players and Charlie (who helps Juliette in the shop). I loved that Charlie was like a father/grandfather figure to her and her son. Charlie was protective of Juliette, but he also knew that at times she needed some outside help which he delegated to Sawyer after they got to know him well. I loved the plant daddy jokes that started from Sawyer’s PR rehab at the shop. 😂 Both the aspects were he was teased about it and where women would keep coming into the the shop because of his plant videos.
I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book and who the couple will be!
Summary:
Juliette was burned by a hockey jumbotron moment with her ex and wants nothing to do with hockey now. Which is a problem with her ten year old son’s love of the game and a new hockey volunteer program coming to her door with an offer she can’t refuse. Juliette has done her best to grow in the quiet of her stationary and plant shop. But when most people pass it by, it’s hard to keep everything she wants to have available in stock at all times let alone keep her doors open for much longer. Having Sawyer, a local hockey player, come in and create buzz for her shop might be just be Juliette’s saving grace. But when her heart gets involved with Sawyer’s success or downfall, Juliette has to decide if she’s willing to put her heart on the line once again or if she’d rather protect the peace she’s created for herself.
Sawyer may be known for his skill on the ice and his model girlfriends, but now that he let his mouth get away from him in an interview, he’s known for his small moment of knocking over a potted plant. While the repercussions aren’t a big deal to him, clearly someone in PR wants his image to get fixed since they send him to volunteer his time at a local plant shop during the beginning of the hockey season. Even though he knows nothing about plants or plant care. But when Sawyer catches sight of Juliette, the shop’s owner, he decides he wants to try and make their shared situation as painless as possible for her. And in the process, Sawyer finds himself falling for a woman so unlike the women he’s entertained over the years and wishing for a chance to settle down with her. But only if she’s willing to let him into her carefully curated life.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I am a huge romance fan, and series are always a favorite of mine because I love spending time in a world with interconnected characters. Lately I have also been completely hooked on sports romances, especially hockey ones, so this book felt like it was made just for me. Since I had already read “Checking Mr. Wrong” and “Offside Secrets,” I had a feeling I knew the kind of story I was getting into, and I was ready for it. I am happy to say it absolutely delivered.
This book kicks off a new series, but those who have read the “River City Renegades” books will recognize a few familiar faces. Sawyer was already one of my favorite characters from that series, so I was thrilled to see him step into the spotlight here. Getting to know him better made the story even more enjoyable. Juliette was also incredibly easy to root for. As a single mom trying to balance life and financial pressures, she felt very real and relatable. Watching her slowly find moments of relief and support along the way made me even more invested in her journey.
The connection between Sawyer and Juliette felt genuine from the start, and I appreciated how their relationship developed over time. Without giving too much away, I liked seeing Juliette work through the doubts and fears that came from her past experiences. Those moments made the emotional payoff even more satisfying and showed just how much both characters had grown.
All in all, I really loved this book. It had heart, great chemistry, and characters I already want to spend more time with. If this is the start of what is coming from this new series, I am definitely all in. I cannot wait to see what happens next.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
This book kicks off a new series, but those who have read the “River City Renegades” books will recognize a few familiar faces. Sawyer was already one of my favorite characters from that series, so I was thrilled to see him step into the spotlight here. Getting to know him better made the story even more enjoyable. Juliette was also incredibly easy to root for. As a single mom trying to balance life and financial pressures, she felt very real and relatable. Watching her slowly find moments of relief and support along the way made me even more invested in her journey.
The connection between Sawyer and Juliette felt genuine from the start, and I appreciated how their relationship developed over time. Without giving too much away, I liked seeing Juliette work through the doubts and fears that came from her past experiences. Those moments made the emotional payoff even more satisfying and showed just how much both characters had grown.
All in all, I really loved this book. It had heart, great chemistry, and characters I already want to spend more time with. If this is the start of what is coming from this new series, I am definitely all in. I cannot wait to see what happens next.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
April 11, 2026
ARC REVIEW:
I received a complimentary copy (electronic) of The Sunshine Offensive via Anne Kemp and Red Bird Publishing. This is an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Juliette Gianelli’s life is being held together by the thinnest piece of thread. The single-mother and shop owner (plants/ journaling) is in desperate need of business to pick up or else she won’t be able to pull off an epic tenth birthday for her son (Theo) and keep the store afloat.
Thankfully, her community is rolling out a brand new outreach program. Pairing local businesses with professional hockey players, the town hopes to foster deep connections with the Alexandria Dominions (NHL team). Enter Sawyer Stockton, the Dominion defensive man, assigned to Juliette’s shop.
But after suffering a humiliating breakup thanks to her cheating husband and a hockey Jumbotron, Juliette wants nothing to do with the sport.
Desperate to keep her life private and avoid Sawyer’s
fame, she struggles accepting the help.
If the Coldplay Jumbotron drama of 2025 had you in a chokehold, The Sunshine Offensive by Anne Kemp is a must-read!!!
Kemp has once again stolen my heart with her exceptional writing. While it is true that I am a sucker for a hockey romcom; this one has just jumped to the top of my list. Juliette and Sawyer’s love story was the absolute sweetest. I will be thinking about their golden retriever and black cat relationship for quite some time. Plus, who doesn’t love a paternal love interest?
Be sure to read this book for:
-Grumpy/ Sunshine
-Opposites Attract
-Forced Proximity
-Found Family
*This is the first book in the Virginia Dominion Hockey Series. Thus, I am excited to meet more of the Dominion players and follow learn about their love stories!!!
I received a complimentary copy (electronic) of The Sunshine Offensive via Anne Kemp and Red Bird Publishing. This is an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Juliette Gianelli’s life is being held together by the thinnest piece of thread. The single-mother and shop owner (plants/ journaling) is in desperate need of business to pick up or else she won’t be able to pull off an epic tenth birthday for her son (Theo) and keep the store afloat.
Thankfully, her community is rolling out a brand new outreach program. Pairing local businesses with professional hockey players, the town hopes to foster deep connections with the Alexandria Dominions (NHL team). Enter Sawyer Stockton, the Dominion defensive man, assigned to Juliette’s shop.
But after suffering a humiliating breakup thanks to her cheating husband and a hockey Jumbotron, Juliette wants nothing to do with the sport.
Desperate to keep her life private and avoid Sawyer’s
fame, she struggles accepting the help.
If the Coldplay Jumbotron drama of 2025 had you in a chokehold, The Sunshine Offensive by Anne Kemp is a must-read!!!
Kemp has once again stolen my heart with her exceptional writing. While it is true that I am a sucker for a hockey romcom; this one has just jumped to the top of my list. Juliette and Sawyer’s love story was the absolute sweetest. I will be thinking about their golden retriever and black cat relationship for quite some time. Plus, who doesn’t love a paternal love interest?
Be sure to read this book for:
-Grumpy/ Sunshine
-Opposites Attract
-Forced Proximity
-Found Family
*This is the first book in the Virginia Dominion Hockey Series. Thus, I am excited to meet more of the Dominion players and follow learn about their love stories!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am so grateful to receive an advanced copy of this book for my honest review here! I love Anne’s books and was so excited to read this—let me tell you, it did not disappoint! This book covers so many topics women face in a way that is real, supportive, encouraging and entertaining.
The Sunshine Offensive by Anne Kemp is a sweet, closed door hockey romcom by Anne Kemp. The story centers on single mom Juliette and NHL star Sawyer, and is told from their dual POV.
Juliette’s single mom life is a big focus of the book, which I really enjoyed. Sawyer’s charm, charisma and sunshine is the perfect offset to Juliette’s struggles, and the banter and swoon between them made me simultaneously laugh out loud and blush hard ❤️🔥
The Sunshine Offensive is a light and quick read that still has plenty of depth and feeling. While Juliette and Sawyer’s relationship drives the story, there were so many great elements to the book! Juliette’s struggles as a single mom were relatable and real, but not overwhelming. I loved the chemistry and tension between Juliette and Sawyer, and how this fun, hilarious and HEA also navigates found family, grief, and starting over.
Some things I really enjoyed about this book:
🪴Juliette’s growth and ability to trust herself and start again
🧑🧑🧒🧒 The found family for Juliette and Sawyer
💕 Single Mom/parent struggles
🤍Inclusive representation in side characters
🐈⬛ FMC black cat/MMC golden retriever vibes
If you are a fan of romcoms, found family, wary heroines, single-mom tropes, or hockey romance, you will love this book! I highly recommend it!
The Sunshine Offensive by Anne Kemp is a sweet, closed door hockey romcom by Anne Kemp. The story centers on single mom Juliette and NHL star Sawyer, and is told from their dual POV.
Juliette’s single mom life is a big focus of the book, which I really enjoyed. Sawyer’s charm, charisma and sunshine is the perfect offset to Juliette’s struggles, and the banter and swoon between them made me simultaneously laugh out loud and blush hard ❤️🔥
The Sunshine Offensive is a light and quick read that still has plenty of depth and feeling. While Juliette and Sawyer’s relationship drives the story, there were so many great elements to the book! Juliette’s struggles as a single mom were relatable and real, but not overwhelming. I loved the chemistry and tension between Juliette and Sawyer, and how this fun, hilarious and HEA also navigates found family, grief, and starting over.
Some things I really enjoyed about this book:
🪴Juliette’s growth and ability to trust herself and start again
🧑🧑🧒🧒 The found family for Juliette and Sawyer
💕 Single Mom/parent struggles
🤍Inclusive representation in side characters
🐈⬛ FMC black cat/MMC golden retriever vibes
If you are a fan of romcoms, found family, wary heroines, single-mom tropes, or hockey romance, you will love this book! I highly recommend it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Anne did it again! Another amazing story with great characters. I loved that she brought back some folks from her other series! What I really loved was the plant shop. My mother was 3rd generation of a flower shop and a single mom of four. I know who hard (and scraping by) that work can be and Anne nailed it!
Hockey is also a big part of life as my son just stepped off the ice for his last time as a collegiate player (and her come the watery eyes). For 19 years it has been such a huge part of our lives. Anne did a great job capture the hockey side as well.
I admire the strength of Juliette when it came to ex-husband. I laughed when she didn't swoon over Sawyer, given all his female followers. Their relationship grew naturally not because of his fame. She was also a very strong, support and firm mother and balanced her behavior regarding her ex-husband in front of her son and didn't bad mouth him. In fact she was very classy on how she handled herself about the whole matter.
Sawyer, love the connection he kept with his father (no spoil alert). Made me have to swallow that lump in my throat every time. He took immediately to everyone in Juliette's life and was just an overall great guy. He was not pushy, flashy, or expected things because of his fame. He wanted an ordinary life with an amazing woman (and her son).
I really enjoyed The Sunshine Offensive, like have with all Anne's books. Super quick reach too! This one tugged at my heart a little bit more due to the setting.
I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own
Hockey is also a big part of life as my son just stepped off the ice for his last time as a collegiate player (and her come the watery eyes). For 19 years it has been such a huge part of our lives. Anne did a great job capture the hockey side as well.
I admire the strength of Juliette when it came to ex-husband. I laughed when she didn't swoon over Sawyer, given all his female followers. Their relationship grew naturally not because of his fame. She was also a very strong, support and firm mother and balanced her behavior regarding her ex-husband in front of her son and didn't bad mouth him. In fact she was very classy on how she handled herself about the whole matter.
Sawyer, love the connection he kept with his father (no spoil alert). Made me have to swallow that lump in my throat every time. He took immediately to everyone in Juliette's life and was just an overall great guy. He was not pushy, flashy, or expected things because of his fame. He wanted an ordinary life with an amazing woman (and her son).
I really enjoyed The Sunshine Offensive, like have with all Anne's books. Super quick reach too! This one tugged at my heart a little bit more due to the setting.
I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own
Review of advance copy received from Author
When we first meet Juliette and she is “clutching gas station coffee that tastes like burning mixed with regret”, I knew she was my kind of person and I was going to love her. She is a single mom who owns her own plant/stationary store. She shies away from the spotlight after a very public betrayal by her ex-husband that occurred at a hockey game..
Enter Sawyer, a local hockey player who is sent to broker some good will and community support by “working” at her plant shop after accidentally picking a fight with a plant in an interview, and losing said fight. He is given the nickname “Plant Daddy” and I love how it sticks through the entire book.
Juliette has a hard time trusting, but Sawyer worms his way into her shop assistant’s heart, her son’s heart and finally into hers. As a single mom, I found Juliette to be very relatable and felt the author did a good job portraying the management of expectations in any kind of relationship once your trust has been shattered, especially in the public way Juliette’s was. Sawyer did the one thing her ex never could, show up.
My favorite scene in the book is the first plant workshop that Sawyer gives when he is hyping himself up under his breath while the women chuckle but are super encouraging. I also love that Sawyer was the one who got to handle the mystery shopper and did so with ease, showing he had been learning more about plants than he realized.
Thank you to the author for the ARC, I loved all of the characters in this one and can’t wait to see more of them in future books!
Enter Sawyer, a local hockey player who is sent to broker some good will and community support by “working” at her plant shop after accidentally picking a fight with a plant in an interview, and losing said fight. He is given the nickname “Plant Daddy” and I love how it sticks through the entire book.
Juliette has a hard time trusting, but Sawyer worms his way into her shop assistant’s heart, her son’s heart and finally into hers. As a single mom, I found Juliette to be very relatable and felt the author did a good job portraying the management of expectations in any kind of relationship once your trust has been shattered, especially in the public way Juliette’s was. Sawyer did the one thing her ex never could, show up.
My favorite scene in the book is the first plant workshop that Sawyer gives when he is hyping himself up under his breath while the women chuckle but are super encouraging. I also love that Sawyer was the one who got to handle the mystery shopper and did so with ease, showing he had been learning more about plants than he realized.
Thank you to the author for the ARC, I loved all of the characters in this one and can’t wait to see more of them in future books!
March 14, 2026
This book was such a sweet read! Juliette is a single mom running a small plant shop, and she's built her whole world around staying invisible and quiet. After experiencing a very public heartbreak involving a jumbotron at a hockey game, she's understandably jaded and traumatized. She struggles to trust anyone, especially hockey players. So when NHL star Sawyer Stockton gets assigned to her shop for mandatory community outreach, she's not exactly thrilled. He's everything she's spent years avoiding: loud, public, and constantly almost knocking over her succulents.
But Sawyer is so much more than she expects. Yes, he's fun-loving and charming, but he's also incredibly patient and mature. He shows up on time, learns the difference between plants, and most importantly, he's absolutely wonderful with Juliette's son. I loved watching how he cared for both of them without pushing or rushing anything. He was willing to take his time and follow Juliette's lead in the relationship, which made him even more swoon-worthy. The way he slowly broke down her walls was so well done. He proved through his actions that he was trustworthy and that not all hockey players are the same.
This is a grumpy/sunshine romance that delivers on the sweetness without being saccharine. The chemistry between Juliette and Sawyer is fantastic, and there are definitely some swoony kisses that made me smile. But it stays clean and cute throughout, which I really appreciated. The forced proximity element of him working at her shop creates some great banter and tender moments. If you love hockey romances with single parent storylines and patient heroes who know how to win over both mom and kid, you'll want to read this one. Side note: there is an LGBTQ+ side character in the novel.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
5 stars
But Sawyer is so much more than she expects. Yes, he's fun-loving and charming, but he's also incredibly patient and mature. He shows up on time, learns the difference between plants, and most importantly, he's absolutely wonderful with Juliette's son. I loved watching how he cared for both of them without pushing or rushing anything. He was willing to take his time and follow Juliette's lead in the relationship, which made him even more swoon-worthy. The way he slowly broke down her walls was so well done. He proved through his actions that he was trustworthy and that not all hockey players are the same.
This is a grumpy/sunshine romance that delivers on the sweetness without being saccharine. The chemistry between Juliette and Sawyer is fantastic, and there are definitely some swoony kisses that made me smile. But it stays clean and cute throughout, which I really appreciated. The forced proximity element of him working at her shop creates some great banter and tender moments. If you love hockey romances with single parent storylines and patient heroes who know how to win over both mom and kid, you'll want to read this one. Side note: there is an LGBTQ+ side character in the novel.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a delightful story!
In this book we have Juliette who is a grumpy/cranky single mom that feels the weight of her responsibilities. We also get Sawyer who is a fun loving Hockey player and the one person you'd want in your corner.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved how Juliette and Sawyer interacted together and how their relationship grew throughout the story. I loved how Sawyer let Juliette experience her emotions, even when she tried to run/hide, but truly always had her back. I loved how both of them were protective of each other.
I also thought it was so tender when Sawyer texted his dad with anything important and thoughts close to his heart. There might have been shimmering eyes when I read this part.
I also enjoyed the side characters and I feel that they brought an a great element to the story. I am excited that at the end, it says that we are going to get Vivian and Ty's story in the next book!!
This is my first read of Anne Kemp, but I am super excited to read more of her books!
I received an advance copy and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Quotes:
"The universe has a sick sense of humor."
"Adulting is hard."
"Don't worry...I've got you."
"Maybe saying yes this time simply opens the door to something good."
"...there's never good timing for love. There's just choosing to be ready for it."
"You don't chase what's easy, you fight for what matters. If it scares you, that's usually a sign it's real."
In this book we have Juliette who is a grumpy/cranky single mom that feels the weight of her responsibilities. We also get Sawyer who is a fun loving Hockey player and the one person you'd want in your corner.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved how Juliette and Sawyer interacted together and how their relationship grew throughout the story. I loved how Sawyer let Juliette experience her emotions, even when she tried to run/hide, but truly always had her back. I loved how both of them were protective of each other.
I also thought it was so tender when Sawyer texted his dad with anything important and thoughts close to his heart. There might have been shimmering eyes when I read this part.
I also enjoyed the side characters and I feel that they brought an a great element to the story. I am excited that at the end, it says that we are going to get Vivian and Ty's story in the next book!!
This is my first read of Anne Kemp, but I am super excited to read more of her books!
I received an advance copy and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Quotes:
"The universe has a sick sense of humor."
"Adulting is hard."
"Don't worry...I've got you."
"Maybe saying yes this time simply opens the door to something good."
"...there's never good timing for love. There's just choosing to be ready for it."
"You don't chase what's easy, you fight for what matters. If it scares you, that's usually a sign it's real."
Review of advance copy received from Author
Anne Kemp always makes sure I have such a great time while reading her books. This book had me swooning so HARD!! I loved EVERYTHING about Sawyer! This book had me turning pages so quick and I hated putting it down.
Juliette is a single mom to the sweetest boy named Theo. He stole my heart right away! She owns a plant shop and when she gets the opportunity to have a hockey player help out at her store she wasn't thrilled but the publicity would help her save the store. When she meets Sawyer she thinks he's going to be like every other hockey player but he is NOTHING like she thought.
Sawyer will try to do anything he can to help Juliette with her shop even let people call him Plant Daddy and do videos about plants for her. While he's getting to know her he's also getting to know her awesome son Theo. He takes him under his wing so easily and that will have you swooning so HARD!
These two have great chemistry and are the perfect duo. I just loved everything about this story and really didn't want it to end. I loved getting to know Charlie and Vivian as well. This story will have you laughing , swooning, smiling, have some emotional moments but in the end will leave you with a happily ever after! I LOVED this ending so much and I won't forget it! I HIGHLY recommend this book and I can't wait for the next book!
Thank you Anne Kemp for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.
Juliette is a single mom to the sweetest boy named Theo. He stole my heart right away! She owns a plant shop and when she gets the opportunity to have a hockey player help out at her store she wasn't thrilled but the publicity would help her save the store. When she meets Sawyer she thinks he's going to be like every other hockey player but he is NOTHING like she thought.
Sawyer will try to do anything he can to help Juliette with her shop even let people call him Plant Daddy and do videos about plants for her. While he's getting to know her he's also getting to know her awesome son Theo. He takes him under his wing so easily and that will have you swooning so HARD!
These two have great chemistry and are the perfect duo. I just loved everything about this story and really didn't want it to end. I loved getting to know Charlie and Vivian as well. This story will have you laughing , swooning, smiling, have some emotional moments but in the end will leave you with a happily ever after! I LOVED this ending so much and I won't forget it! I HIGHLY recommend this book and I can't wait for the next book!
Thank you Anne Kemp for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.
April 10, 2026
✨The Sunshine Offensive by Anne Kemp✨
Release Date: April 2, 2026
The Sunshine Offensive is my first book by Anne Kemp, and it DEFINITELY won’t be my last. I loved this book so much 🥹 thank you Booked with the Emilys and Anne Kemp for the gifted copy! I can’t wait to grab a physical copy soon and am so excited to continue this series.
Kemp’s writing is beautiful and heartfelt. There isn’t a better way to describe it. Her characters are multidimensional, and the family they create with each other made me so happy. Found family isn’t the only favorite trope of mine shown in this book - it’s also got a black cat plant shop owner/single mom FMC and a golden retriever NHL player MMC.
Juliette and Sawyer have an instant connection when they first meet, and Juliette does everything she can to avoid falling for Sawyer’s charms. She’s also still dealing with the fallout from a very public and devastating divorce, as well as raising her son Theo on her own. But as they slowly get to know each other, and as Sawyer proves again and again that he wants to win over both Juliette and Theo, Juliette’s walls begin to crumble.
Sawyer is my new book boyfriend, I fear 🤭 he’s so patient and kind with Juliette. She literally calls him a walking green flag in the book! I loved the inverted use of grumpy x sunshine - it’s a breath of fresh air in what can sometimes feel like an oversaturated genre. I’ll be thinking about this book for a long, long time!
Release Date: April 2, 2026
The Sunshine Offensive is my first book by Anne Kemp, and it DEFINITELY won’t be my last. I loved this book so much 🥹 thank you Booked with the Emilys and Anne Kemp for the gifted copy! I can’t wait to grab a physical copy soon and am so excited to continue this series.
Kemp’s writing is beautiful and heartfelt. There isn’t a better way to describe it. Her characters are multidimensional, and the family they create with each other made me so happy. Found family isn’t the only favorite trope of mine shown in this book - it’s also got a black cat plant shop owner/single mom FMC and a golden retriever NHL player MMC.
Juliette and Sawyer have an instant connection when they first meet, and Juliette does everything she can to avoid falling for Sawyer’s charms. She’s also still dealing with the fallout from a very public and devastating divorce, as well as raising her son Theo on her own. But as they slowly get to know each other, and as Sawyer proves again and again that he wants to win over both Juliette and Theo, Juliette’s walls begin to crumble.
Sawyer is my new book boyfriend, I fear 🤭 he’s so patient and kind with Juliette. She literally calls him a walking green flag in the book! I loved the inverted use of grumpy x sunshine - it’s a breath of fresh air in what can sometimes feel like an oversaturated genre. I’ll be thinking about this book for a long, long time!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely loved The Sunshine Offensive, a clean hockey rom-com by Anne Kemp. This story pulls you in right from the very beginning and keeps you hooked all the way through.
Juliette has been through a lot in her life, and because of that she’s understandably guarded. Trust doesn’t come easily to her—especially when it comes to anyone connected to hockey. Protecting herself and, more importantly, her ten-year-old son is always her top priority.
Sawyer, on the other hand, enters the partnership with Juliette expecting it to be nothing more than a way to repair his bad PR. What starts as a simple arrangement quickly turns into something more as Sawyer begins to realize there’s much more to Juliette—and their partnership—than just business.
This book balances humor and heart perfectly. You’ll find yourself laughing one moment and swooning the next as the story unfolds. The chemistry between the characters makes their journey both entertaining and meaningful.
It’s also a closed-door romance, making it a great choice for readers who prefer clean stories. There are a few mild swear words, but overall the book keeps the romance sweet and wholesome.
If you enjoy sports rom-coms, strong but guarded heroines, charming hockey players, and heartfelt moments, this is definitely one to add to your reading list.
Juliette has been through a lot in her life, and because of that she’s understandably guarded. Trust doesn’t come easily to her—especially when it comes to anyone connected to hockey. Protecting herself and, more importantly, her ten-year-old son is always her top priority.
Sawyer, on the other hand, enters the partnership with Juliette expecting it to be nothing more than a way to repair his bad PR. What starts as a simple arrangement quickly turns into something more as Sawyer begins to realize there’s much more to Juliette—and their partnership—than just business.
This book balances humor and heart perfectly. You’ll find yourself laughing one moment and swooning the next as the story unfolds. The chemistry between the characters makes their journey both entertaining and meaningful.
It’s also a closed-door romance, making it a great choice for readers who prefer clean stories. There are a few mild swear words, but overall the book keeps the romance sweet and wholesome.
If you enjoy sports rom-coms, strong but guarded heroines, charming hockey players, and heartfelt moments, this is definitely one to add to your reading list.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This story was so sweet. Juliet was just trying to keep her business from going under and fulfill her son's needs and pay rent, and put food on the table etc... And then she had to deal with a hockey player in her store? One who appears to be rather clutzy and knows zero about plants.... Talk about taking away her ability to control her world. I loved watching her growth arc as she learned to let other people in and I loved that Sawyer also got to work through his grief over losing his father. His father seems like he was a wonderful man and taught Sawyer how to be a father which helped Juliet's son, Theo. Theo is a great kid who seems to maintain his positive attitude about life. Even though Juliet spends a good deal of the book struggling, the book overall felt joyous. Juliet struggled with some anxiety but Sawyer seemed to help her deal with that very well. I also loved Charlie. He is a secondary character but a father figure for Juliet who also recognizes how to help Juliet within the parameters that she will allow. He is great. I enjoyed the banter between Sawyer and his teammates and how they worked as a team so well. Theo's birthday was awesome.
I liked the characters except for Theo's dad who isn't a good dad. I enjoyed the story and sense of brightness throughout the story. It was an enjoyable read.
I liked the characters except for Theo's dad who isn't a good dad. I enjoyed the story and sense of brightness throughout the story. It was an enjoyable read.
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