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Hold the Line is a spicy, emotional hockey romance featuring a protective single dad, strong divorced heroine, neighbors-to-lovers tension, found family feels, and a slow burn that hurts so good before the payoff.

When Tate Bridges is brutally traded to New York, all he can do is focus on hockey and raising his nine-year-old son the best he can. Love isnt a part of the plan. and neither is she.
Allison Campbell is a freshly divorced PR agent for the Bruisers. After the emotional wreckage her ex left behind, she's determined to make it through on her own. That means securing her promotion so she can provide for her son. She can't let anything get in her way.
But when you live next door.. lines blur. We both know this is a bad idea. We both have too much to lose.
When it all comes crashing down.. Can they hold the line?
Found Family
lovable side characters
group chat
HEA
Single Dad/ Single Mom
Toxic Ex
Healing
No cheating/ ow drama between main characters, All the longing, HEA guaranteed.
Welcome to the The Bruisers Hockey Series 🖤

345 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 9, 2026

28 people are currently reading
102 people want to read

About the author

Aurora Knight

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5 stars
42 (46%)
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30 (33%)
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12 (13%)
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2 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Profile Image for Wendy Rich.
9 reviews2 followers
February 14, 2026
If you like hockey and romance this is the book for you

I was lucky enough to get an ARC look at this book. The characters are well developed and you get a decent insight into them. The story flows easily and is well written.
Had to circle back a few times with secondary characters to see who the author was referring to. A roster in the beginning of the book would be helpful listing the teams names so that when they're referred to by their last names it's easy to figure out who's who.
All in all it's a great story that I would recommend over and over again. Looking forward to reading the other players stories in the upcoming books.
Profile Image for Kirsty.
538 reviews10 followers
February 18, 2026
Tate Bridges is not just a hockey hero. He is a dad first. Brutally traded to New York, pride dented, life uprooted, he narrows his world down to two things: the game and his nine year old son. Love is not on the roster. He is all gruff edges and quiet devotion, the kind of man who shows up instead of talking big. Watching him navigate single fatherhood while carrying the weight of that trade made him feel so grounded and real.

And then there is Allison Campbell. Freshly divorced. Determined. Smart. A PR agent who has already survived emotional wreckage and refuses to let anything derail her promotion or her ability to provide for her own son. She is not looking for a savior. She is building her own stability brick by brick.

Of course they live next door.

The neighbors to lovers tension is immaculate. Shared driveways. Accidental run ins. Late night conversations that linger a little too long. You can feel the awareness between them from the start, but it is layered with hesitation. They both have too much to lose. Kids involved. Careers on the line. Wounds that are still healing.

The slow burn is exquisite. It aches. It stretches. Every almost touch, every protective moment, every look across the hallway feels loaded. Tate being protective but never overbearing? Allison holding her ground and demanding respect? Yes please. The chemistry builds and builds until you are practically begging them to stop pretending.

And the found family vibes? Elite. The kids. The lovable side characters. The group chat chaos. It all adds warmth and humor to balance the heavier themes of toxic exes and rebuilding trust. It feels like stepping into a community that closes ranks when it matters most.

What I loved most is that this story understands healing is not linear. They both carry baggage. They both make mistakes. But there is no cheap drama between them. No cheating nonsense. Just longing, vulnerability, and two parents choosing to risk their hearts again.

When everything comes crashing down, the emotional punch is real. But the way they fight for each other? That is the magic.
1 review
February 19, 2026
A charming, fast-paced romance with a side of found family.

​If you’re looking for a romance that feels like a warm hug, Hold the Line is a winner. It’s a sweet story that proves sometimes the person you’re looking for is just a house, locker room—or a hallway—away.
​Mixing neighbors, co-workers, and a hockey setting made for great organic tension.
​Family First: The family bonding elements were the highlight for me and added so much depth to the characters.
​The Romance: I absolutely loved the emotional build-up. It felt grounded and incredibly sweet to watch them navigate their feelings for each other.
​The "Meh" Factor
​The only thing that pulled me out of the story was the dialogue transitions. At times, the "bouncing" between characters made it hard to follow who was speaking. Additionally, the story felt very fast—almost too fast—which made me wish some moments had a bit more time to breathe.
​Final Verdict
​A solid 4-star read for fans of low-angst hockey romances and stories that prioritize emotional connection and "found family" vibes.
​Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Aurora Knight. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Patricia Noblet.
Author 7 books39 followers
March 3, 2026
DNF at 48%.
It bothers me to do this, but I'd better give up on reading.
There's a cute side to this novel with the kids (even if the Kids' pov were not useful)... But everything happens way too fast. Tate moves in with his son (9 years old) next door to Allison and her son (9 years old too). Basically, they meet, find each other attractive, and only a few days later: she's already imagining herself as the mother of his son, his son mistakenly calls her "mom," their sons are best friends and consider each other brothers, Allison's son would be happy that Tate marry his mother... In such a short time, all the players are already friends with Tate and okay to push Allison in Tate's arms. Allison is an adult and she was married for several years to a player who constantly cheated on her, but she'd never "kissed with tongue" before Tate. Allison's ex tries to annoy Tate by saying him Tate is "enjoying his sloppy seconds". And then Tate responds in a stupid and disrespectful way towards Allison (vulgar way). That's where I give up.
I'm still giving it two stars because the writing isn't bad. It's just the story that's not for me. 😔
Profile Image for Melissa.
81 reviews3 followers
February 15, 2026
Traded… not so bad

Hold The Line
By Aurora Knight
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

Tate gets traded from Texas to New York for the Bruisers hockey away from all his family and support system for his 9 yr old son Matty.
New neighbors Allison PR agent who is also running the team's social media platforms and her son Hudson. Her brother Ronan is the goalie of the team.
They go thru ups and downs and Hudson’s bio dad is a jerk. I love how this story unfolded.
Tates mother talking about the butterfly effect regarding her and Owen’s romance. “So anyways, Owen used to say I was a butterfly that flapped her wings in Texas and changed his life up in Minnesota.” She gives me a warm smile and wipes a tear from her eye at the memory.” I absolutely love this was written into the book. It fit so well.
I applaud how Aurora Knight wrote this story between these two and their kids. A definite HEA that was very well written and very well deserved for our MMC and FMC. 100% recommend and can’t wait for the next books. I want Ronan story 💙
Profile Image for Cassi Smith.
185 reviews
March 5, 2026
If you love hockey romance with a little attitude and a lot of chemistry, this one is definitely worth picking up.

From the beginning, the story pulled me in with the tension between the characters. The hero has that classic hockey-player confidence—cocky, intense, and used to getting what he wants—but there’s also a protective side to him that really comes out as the story progresses. Watching that tough exterior crack a little was one of my favorite parts.

The chemistry between the two main characters was strong right from the start. Their banter felt natural, and there were plenty of moments that had me smiling (and a few that definitely turned up the heat). I also liked the team dynamics and getting a glimpse into the Bruisers locker room—it made the world feel more real and sets up the rest of the series nicely.

Overall, this was a fun hockey romance with good tension, solid spice, and characters that kept me invested. I’m definitely curious to see where the rest of the Bruisers series goes from here.
Profile Image for Kevin.
62 reviews
February 19, 2026
Hold the Line by Aurora Knight was a solid read for me. As a hockey romance, it hits the mark—there’s enough of the on-ice grit to ground the story, but it really shines in the relationships off the ice. Tate and Allison felt real, not overdone, and the way the kids were woven into their dynamic added a layer you don’t always get in this genre. It gave the story a bit more heart and made the stakes feel genuine.

The chemistry between Tate and Allison was strong right from the start, and yeah—the spicy scenes were top notch. They didn’t feel forced or thrown in just for the sake of it; they actually built on the connection between the characters, which I appreciated.

Overall, it’s just a great hockey romance. Easy to get into, moves at a good pace, and leaves you feeling like you got your money’s worth. Definitely one I’d recommend if you’re into sports romance with a bit of substance behind it.
11 reviews
February 22, 2026
Great New Hockey Series!!!

Read this if you love:
• 🏒 Professional Hockey with heart.
• 👨‍👦 Single Dad + Single Mom (The ultimate trope!).
• 👯‍♂️ Meddling kids bringing all the Parent Trap chaos.
• 🔥 Spicy tension from page one.
• 👬 Elite side characters and locker room banter.
The "Meet-Cute" (Or Meet-Cringe?):
Forget a handshake or a polite "hello." Our heroine gets a full-blown introduction to the hero’s butterfly ass tattoo before she even sees his face. It is the absolute best way to kick off a "good guy" romance—with a hilarious, permanent reminder that he’s got a sense of humor (and clearly lost a very specific bet).
The Verdict: A total power play. It’s sweet, it’s steamy, and it’s a reminder that love after kids is just as magical (and messy) as the first time around. This is a 5-star start to what is clearly going to be an amazing series!
40 reviews1 follower
February 16, 2026
Great start to a new series!

The minute Tate met Alli, he wanted to get to know more. She was more hesitant, having just gotten divorced from her cheating ex. Being new neighbors, working for the same hockey team, and their two young sons instantly becoming best friends, they find themselves spending more and more time together, and their feelings start to grow. When Allison's new promotion is threatened by their budding relationship, she finds herself having to choose between stability for her son, or love and happiness with the defenseman she has fallen for. Hold the Line is filled with characters that I can't wait to get to know more about as the Bruisers Hockey series continues, but I think it's definitely Matty and Hudson who stole my heart!
6 reviews
March 5, 2026
Love me a great hockey love story....add the cowboy in and it's gold!
This is a quick read. Once you start, you can't put it down.

Tate gets traded to NY from Texas & has to leave with his son while the rest of his family remains in Texas. It's an easy transition though. Matty & Tate settle quickly. The team accepted Tate right away & their easy banter has you laughing out loud! It's how I picture a real team to gel together & have each other's backs.

I wish we got a little more background on Tate & Matty. What's with the butterfly tattoo? And although it's understood that TJ is a jerk and gets what's coming to him, I would have liked to read about it. Loved the part with Tate chirping at TJ!! Seems like a typical "locker room" guy thing.

Good amount of romance & spice. 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Got enough on the side characters to make me excited to read the next books.

Overall, awesome book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
61 reviews
March 7, 2026
There were a lot of things I liked about this book but the writing style took away from the story a bit for me. It didn’t flow as nicely as I would have liked and was a bit choppy. The OM drama also fell flat for me, they kept getting brushed over with no real resolution or confrontation so it didn’t seem like there was much point to them when they didn’t add to the story. I loved the relationship between the FMC and MMC and their kids. I loved the POVs from the boys as well. I’d give this a 2/5 🌶️. There was as few scenes but were not to long or descriptive but they were spaced out nicely through out the story.

I liked the side characters and will consider continuing the series when the next book comes out.
Profile Image for Cristina.
31 reviews4 followers
March 13, 2026
Beautiful story

Beautiful story. Sometime, single mothers are afraid of loving again, of opening the door to love because of their fear of being hurt again. Allison is a single mother who works hard to provide financially and emotionally to her son Hudson. Tate is a single dad who happens to be a Hockey player and gets traded from Texas to New York. Destiny brings them together by making the neighbors and their kids best friends.

I enjoyed this book. As a single mom I felt identified with Alli, with her fears and apprehensions. Tate is a perfect gentleman and an amazing dad to his son and to Hudson. He never gives up in his quest to get the girl and the family they deserve. The spice level is about a 3/5.
Profile Image for Kelsey Seltzer.
26 reviews2 followers
February 19, 2026
I LOVEEEED this book! Like almost cancelled plans because I couldn’t put it down, loved it.

The sexual tension between Tate & Alli right from the start was almost palpable. The single mom/dad, forbidden love trope was well written. I loved getting the POV from the kids about their parent’s relationship.

I feel like the character development for the main characters was great throughout the entire book. There are a lot of side characters, which got a little confusing, but was fairly easy to figure out when I looked back a bit.

If you love sports romance with a great HEA, this one is for you. Can’t wait for the rest of this series to be released!


*I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Valerie Kleinow.
25 reviews1 follower
March 6, 2026
Hold the line

I love a good hockey romance I’m a sucker for them. This book introduces us to the Bruisers hockey team - they are all great guys (except for 1). We meet Alli a kick as FMC who works pr for the team is recently divorced and has a young son. Our MMC Tate is a good ole southern boy who is a single father and is completely drool worthy. The side characters are great they all vibe so well together and you genuinely want each one to be happy. The slow burn between Alli and Tate was so satisfying.
I think this story line was packed with every emotion available and I really enjoyed myself reading it.
I 100% recommend this book if you enjoy fun banter, found family, supportive parents, hockey, the boy aquarium and HEA!
22 reviews
February 20, 2026
Tate and Alli

Tate and Alli end up.as next door neighbors, and develop an instant attraction. Each having a 10 year old son who become best buds. It's a very cute story. I also enjoyed getting a little look into Tate's teammates back stories as well.

The writing is good, however this author needs an editor with a better knowledge of sentence structure and punctuality. I had a hard time following some of the dialog, and some of the descriptive narration left me a bit confused.

Bottom line, I would recommend.
Profile Image for Taylor Faubel .
10 reviews1 follower
February 12, 2026
LOVE LOVE LOVE

This was my first book by Aurora that I have read and I am praying this turns into a series! Tate is the ideal golden retriever simp! Falls in love with girl next door, is such an amazing role model to his son and his new friend! The relationships that you see slowly build over time throughout this book were to die for!! I cannot wait to see what else this author has in store!!

Plot: 5/5
Spice: 3/5
Profile Image for Kay.
30 reviews
February 18, 2026
Slow Burn, worth the scorch marks

Multiple Views

Wronged woman, single mom
Single Dad, hockey player

Cute story, funny kids add to the storyline.
Divorced mom trying to find love again while working as PR for hockey team
Next door neighbor happens to be smokin hot hockey player.

A little confusing at times but that can be me

Side characters make you want to know more about them!
Profile Image for Gabby West.
2 reviews
February 28, 2026
I cannot wait to read more from this author and more from this series!

Tate Bridges is definition of “if he wanted to, he would”

If you love hockey romances with a found family aspect, you’re gonna wanna read Hold The Line. Tate and Allison are two really well written and well developed characters. Their story was sweet, spicy, and yet grounded with real world obstacles to overcome.

I can’t wait to see what the rest of the series brings!
9 reviews
March 4, 2026
I absolutely love this book! If you like He Falls First and He would Burn the World for Her, then this is your book! The kids are so cute! The guys' group chat is great! Got confused by a few names of secondary characters, but it was quick to figure out. I devoured this book in a few short hours! I'm ready for the rest of the series! Hockey books are one of my favorite genres - if they are done well. This book is definitely done well!
Profile Image for Caitlyn Vestal.
9 reviews
February 12, 2026
Fun Sports Romance! 2.5 stars

This was a perfect fast-paced sports romance! A great time and funny side characters that actually made me LOL. There were quite a few plot holes and technical/grammatical errors that took me out of the moment so I have to rate it a 2.5. But overall an enjoyable & easy read with a non-problematic mmc!
Profile Image for Delaney Frazier.
64 reviews3 followers
March 5, 2026
This was such a fun read! Tate is a hockey player who has just been traded and has to move across the country with his son. Not long after settling in, his son becomes friends with the neighbor’s kid, who just happens to have a beautiful mom that Tate can’t help but notice.

Allie’s life is already a bit overwhelming since she works with her ex husband and baby daddy, but that doesn’t stop Tate from deciding he’s all in. He’s determined to make Allie his. Luckily, their sons have built a brotherly bond and seem to feel the same way and even try to hatch a little plan of their own.

This was such an enjoyable read, and I can’t wait to see what else is in store for this group!
Profile Image for Melissa FJ.
202 reviews4 followers
March 5, 2026
DNF @36%

Plot seems ok, this needs heavy editing of grammar and sentence structure (nearly DNF at 2% due to it being difficult to follow some areas). Timing of scenes could use some tweaking, many page re reads to ensure I didn’t miss something.
I had to put it down after the second kids POV, sorry just way too OTT how his chapters were
Profile Image for Emily-Rose Brlevich .
145 reviews14 followers
March 23, 2026
great story with alot of potential.
I enjoyed the idea of the story, I just feel it needed more depth to it with the flow of the story.
I loved the characters and enjoyed their connection.
A few parts had me asking questions which I feel never got answered. nonetheless a great book by this author.
3 reviews
February 12, 2026
Ate this book up in less then 12 hours.

This book was so good. It's got the banter a guy's group chat that will make you laugh out loud. It has a man with a southern accent with the Darlin. And she calls him Daddy.

Love love this book can't wait for others.
1 review
February 14, 2026
AMAZING

This book was absolutely amazing. There was a great storyline and just the right amount of spice. I loved how the author even included the point of view from the kids in the book. Would highly recommend this book and this author. I can’t wait for her next book!!
3 reviews2 followers
February 20, 2026
Hold The Line by Aurora Knight - Great first book to The Bruisers Series.
The story follows Tate a single father who plays hockey that gets traded to another team where they have to start fresh on their own. He is instantly attracted to his newly divorced neighbour who’s son becomes best friends with Tate’s son. I love how their relationship grows between them and also includes the kids meddling to get them together. The spicy parts are 🌶️🌶️🌶️. It has a HEA.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
2 reviews
February 24, 2026
I really loved it so much!!

Honestly, I loved this book and it's characters... Their story, how it was constructed, them...
I'm really loving the little boys here! They're so funny
Once I started reading it I couldn't stop...
The story was easy to read through it was complex and so well written
Profile Image for Amanda Peters.
59 reviews1 follower
February 26, 2026
I was lucky to receive an ARC copy for this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was an engaging, sweet story that kept me interested from beginning to end. athe controversies, the relationships and the resolve were all exactly what I was looking for. I devoured this book in about 2 days!!
Profile Image for Katarina Reece.
45 reviews2 followers
March 6, 2026
I’ve come to realize, sports romances are kinda my thing 😂😂 I accidentally read this in one day 🫣. If you love fast paced, spicy hockey romances, this one is for you!! Two single parents with kids the same age who happen to live across the street from each other and then find out they’re technically co-workers at the same time?! There’s tension, drama and love all wrapped up into it
8 reviews
February 23, 2026
I received this as an advanced reader copy from the author. I really loved getting to know Tate and Alli in Hold the Line. Their story felt sincere and emotionally rich, especially as they navigated through being single parents, embraced a second chance, and tried to create something steady and lasting for their families.
There was humor and vulnerability written into the characters which made it easy to relate to the them. I appreciated the inclusion of a couple of chapters from Matty and Huddy’s POV!

I am looking forward to reading Ronan’s book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews

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