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Sticks & Stones
I can’t believe I’m actually here—Decked out in red, white, and blue, ready to play at my first ever Winter Olympic Games for Team USA’s women’s hockey team.
Nothing could possibly make this moment any better.
That is until I see who’s standing on the other side of the Olympic Village.
Tall, muscular, and devastatingly handsome—Lucas Morgan, the skip for USA’s curling team.
Luke is every woman’s dream… He’s also my brother’s best friend.
Which means he’s extremely off-limits.
When the living situation at the Olympic Village is less than ideal, Luke swoops in to save the day by snagging a hotel room nearby.
There’s one problem though…there’s only one bed.
It’s always been an unspoken rule when it comes to Luke—look, but don’t touch.
But rules don’t apply when we’re oceans away from my brother at the Winter Olympics, right?
The gold medal is mine for the taking…
So, why not Luke, too?
Sticks & Stones is a spicy, Winter Olympics Novella with a female hockey player, male curling player, one bed, brother's best friend, and a guaranteed happy ending.
Nothing could possibly make this moment any better.
That is until I see who’s standing on the other side of the Olympic Village.
Tall, muscular, and devastatingly handsome—Lucas Morgan, the skip for USA’s curling team.
Luke is every woman’s dream… He’s also my brother’s best friend.
Which means he’s extremely off-limits.
When the living situation at the Olympic Village is less than ideal, Luke swoops in to save the day by snagging a hotel room nearby.
There’s one problem though…there’s only one bed.
It’s always been an unspoken rule when it comes to Luke—look, but don’t touch.
But rules don’t apply when we’re oceans away from my brother at the Winter Olympics, right?
The gold medal is mine for the taking…
So, why not Luke, too?
Sticks & Stones is a spicy, Winter Olympics Novella with a female hockey player, male curling player, one bed, brother's best friend, and a guaranteed happy ending.
154 pages, Paperback
First published February 9, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
February 18, 2026
I loved the pacing, writing style, chemistry and connection between Charlotte and Luke. It was cute to see how they go from not knowing how the other feels to being together and being more open supporting each other. Definitely a quick, spicy read especially to read now during the Winter Olympics. I loved how the characters grow into their feelings for each other, how they go from being shy and hiding their feelings to being open to Charlotte's brother about everything.
February 11, 2026
Very cute Novella, takes place in her hockey series between Charlie/Charlotte and Luke! She is a hockey player and he is a curling player on this sweet little story takes place at the Olympics/in Olympic village. It’s basically a brother‘s best friend figuring out there in love with each other short and sweet… 25/32 little bit of an age gap! Also loved the introduction into the next bobcat book in her series.
February 12, 2026
A curling romance, absolutely!! But this was just bad. Why was their inner monologue describing curling but nothing about describing the game of hockey (which I know absolutely nothing about). Also there were some grammar/sleeping errors in the book that made think this was rushed for the Olympics.
March 5, 2026
So cute!!
September 1, 2026
🎧 4.5 stars
February 24, 2026
the best thing about this book was the curling stone images
August 25, 2026
I really enjoyed this side quest to the Bobcats series!
I put S+S on my TBR when it dropped as a surprise novella back in February 2026 (remember the Winter Olympics? So much has happened since then, it feels!). Reading Defend Her Heart (Book 3 in the Bobcats series) prompted me to hurry up and read it! Why? Because there are overlapping timelines between S+S and DHH, or you can think of S+S as a fun little side quest.
🥌 In S+S, we get a FMC hockey player (Charlie) and an MMC who is the captain or skip of the curling team (Luke). Charlie is also the little sister of the MMC in DHH (Connor), and Luke is Connor’s BFF. Still with me? Charlie and Luke are both in the Olympics, while Connor didn’t get selected due to an injury 😢
📖 Being a novella, it is short and sweet, but with plenty of exciting hockey and curling action, other non-sports action, and hints of what’s going on in DHH (🤐). I really enjoyed the expansion of the Bobcats universe, and be in a location outside of Green Bay. While the FMCs in the Bobcats universe work in sports / with professional teams, it was nice to have an active / current professional female athlete as an MC. Jillian Arly is a hockey player writing hockey romance, and I think there’s just something special about her writing about a female hockey player.
A fun little interlude, I think you can read this as a standalone if you like, but I think you really need to read it before or after Defend Her Heart. And really, before you get to DHH, you need to read Books 1 & 2, Behind The Bench and The Perfect Assist. They’re all such wonderful stories, this really is one of my fav series!
I put S+S on my TBR when it dropped as a surprise novella back in February 2026 (remember the Winter Olympics? So much has happened since then, it feels!). Reading Defend Her Heart (Book 3 in the Bobcats series) prompted me to hurry up and read it! Why? Because there are overlapping timelines between S+S and DHH, or you can think of S+S as a fun little side quest.
🥌 In S+S, we get a FMC hockey player (Charlie) and an MMC who is the captain or skip of the curling team (Luke). Charlie is also the little sister of the MMC in DHH (Connor), and Luke is Connor’s BFF. Still with me? Charlie and Luke are both in the Olympics, while Connor didn’t get selected due to an injury 😢
📖 Being a novella, it is short and sweet, but with plenty of exciting hockey and curling action, other non-sports action, and hints of what’s going on in DHH (🤐). I really enjoyed the expansion of the Bobcats universe, and be in a location outside of Green Bay. While the FMCs in the Bobcats universe work in sports / with professional teams, it was nice to have an active / current professional female athlete as an MC. Jillian Arly is a hockey player writing hockey romance, and I think there’s just something special about her writing about a female hockey player.
A fun little interlude, I think you can read this as a standalone if you like, but I think you really need to read it before or after Defend Her Heart. And really, before you get to DHH, you need to read Books 1 & 2, Behind The Bench and The Perfect Assist. They’re all such wonderful stories, this really is one of my fav series!
February 27, 2026
Luke & Charlie are both competing in the Olympics? And he’s her brother’s best friend? And there’s only one bed? “Spectacular! Give me 14 of them right now.”
Stars: 5/5
Spice: 2/5
Luke & Charlie’s story was a short and sweet (and spicy) novella. I loved the moment that it dropped the reader into the story. It allowed the reader to pick up on the tension immediately and portrayed their history in a way that made it clear it wasn’t instalove. It made it easy to pull for these characters from the beginning. I loved every second of their story, and I loved the way that it connects back to the author’s other series. And that ending?! Sign me up for the next one pronto! Highly recommend!
CW: Listed at beginning of book
Stars: 5/5
Spice: 2/5
Luke & Charlie’s story was a short and sweet (and spicy) novella. I loved the moment that it dropped the reader into the story. It allowed the reader to pick up on the tension immediately and portrayed their history in a way that made it clear it wasn’t instalove. It made it easy to pull for these characters from the beginning. I loved every second of their story, and I loved the way that it connects back to the author’s other series. And that ending?! Sign me up for the next one pronto! Highly recommend!
CW: Listed at beginning of book
July 29, 2026
3.5⭐️
Short and sweet which I can’t really ask for anything else when it comes to a novella. This was a fun themed one that I wish I read a bit earlier when the Olympics were going on but it was still a good time nonetheless. I love any story where both characters are athletes and I felt like Charlie really got to shine as a female hockey player in this. The setting was fun the spice was good and I liked the brother’s best friend element. Plus I thought it set up the next book in the bobcat series which I’m now really excited for.
Short and sweet which I can’t really ask for anything else when it comes to a novella. This was a fun themed one that I wish I read a bit earlier when the Olympics were going on but it was still a good time nonetheless. I love any story where both characters are athletes and I felt like Charlie really got to shine as a female hockey player in this. The setting was fun the spice was good and I liked the brother’s best friend element. Plus I thought it set up the next book in the bobcat series which I’m now really excited for.
February 23, 2026
2.5 stars. I am so so sorry. This is 10000% me, I'm the problem. Don't let it put you off this book. Just for me personally. I had been watching winter olympics for 2 weeks read a million winter sports romance books one after another so at this point I was fed up. I shouldn't have read. I will say, it was a bit Insta lust, a bit cringe, a bit forced, I didn't love. If you're in the mood, totally you'll love this. Just I needed more mafia and I wasn't going to get it at the Olympics.
February 11, 2026
4.25⭐️
How is this so good for a novella? Nothing felt rushed or incomplete. Who could resist a womens hockey player and a curler story during the Winter Olympics? I thoroughly enjoyed Sticks & Stones!
How is this so good for a novella? Nothing felt rushed or incomplete. Who could resist a womens hockey player and a curler story during the Winter Olympics? I thoroughly enjoyed Sticks & Stones!
February 13, 2026
why don’t they have a zero stars option oh my word why are we writing olympic village fanfic that is just a mess of tropes with no real substance.
i wish i was a curling stone and could slide out of here
i wish i was a curling stone and could slide out of here
September 7, 2026
Such a cute, quick novella! I had a fun time, it was fast but that’s how it works in a novella, though making them know each other since childhood does help make it feel less rushed. Overall a cute time!
February 9, 2026
Such a fun and sexy novella. Love me some Luke and Charlie. And how about that ending??
February 11, 2026
can’t believe I had to wait until 80% to get to the curling
February 12, 2026
This is a very risqué novella BUT it’s about the Olympics so it counts!!! Short and sweet!!!
February 27, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ honestly a cute little story, left on a cliffhanger. Weird a bit they broke the fourth wall by acknowledging the reader but storyline was cute.
May 28, 2026
3.5⭐️ super fun little novella! brother’s best friend… two athletes living their dream at the Winter Olympics?! love <333
March 1, 2026
Another 5 Star from Jillian
Y’all! She did it again! She wrote the most amazing book about a sport not many people know about. I’m convinced she could write anything and it would be a 5 star read. The characters, the banter, the plot, the entire BOOK! Thank you Jillian for writing some amazing characters for us to fall in love with!
Y’all! She did it again! She wrote the most amazing book about a sport not many people know about. I’m convinced she could write anything and it would be a 5 star read. The characters, the banter, the plot, the entire BOOK! Thank you Jillian for writing some amazing characters for us to fall in love with!
February 22, 2026
This was fun and so good and it kept me from spiraling after my cat's death so 5 stars for that alone.
February 12, 2026
This was a really cute novella. I enjoyed the characters, and their bond/relationship with one another, and their friends/teammates.
Things I Liked:
- The sex. It wasn't monotone, but it also wasn't cheesy or cringy.
- The characters, separate and together.
Things I Didn't Like:
- The ending, focused on the brother, and not at all the MMC's reaction to, you know, winning.
Sex Stuff.
- 3 scenes (Can't remember for sure).
- Spanking, different positions. Mentions of future anal.
Things I Liked:
- The sex. It wasn't monotone, but it also wasn't cheesy or cringy.
- The characters, separate and together.
Things I Didn't Like:
- The ending, focused on the brother, and not at all the MMC's reaction to, you know, winning.
Sex Stuff.
- 3 scenes (Can't remember for sure).
- Spanking, different positions. Mentions of future anal.
March 15, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 2/5 🌶️🌶️
Why did a curling romance just absolutely wreck me in the best way? I don’t know… but here we are.
This novella was fun, chaotic, sweet, a little spicy, and completely addictive. Jillian Arly somehow took a sport most people don’t know much about and made it wildly entertaining while giving us characters that feel real, lovable, and impossible not to root for.
And the tropes?? Oh we are being FED:
Best friend’s little sister
Olympic athletes
Only one bed
Years of knowing each other before giving in
Chaotic “fuck it” moments
And what I can only describe as Olympic-level horniness
Luke Morgan (MMC) is basically everything I want in a romance hero. He has golden retriever energy, is completely obsessed with Charlie, protective in the sweetest ways, and very good in the bedroom. He calls her “baby” (automatic melting over him, and a win for me). And ladies… the man owns a Kindle. He reads. I mean… what more do we want?
One of the cutest moments is when he casually admits he prefers sleeping on the right side of the bed so he’s closer to the door in case he needs to protect her from an intruder. Sir?? The CUTENESS?? I cannot.
And Charlotte (FMC) is equally amazing. She’s bold, confident, funny, and unapologetically herself. She brings the snark, the banter, and the confidence while still being incredibly loyal & supportive. I loved how she could hang with the guys but also be such a strong, caring friend. She’s the kind of FMC I’d happily read again and again.
For a novella, this book does something I really appreciate: it manages to give us plot, backstory, tension, banter, spice, friendship, sports action, and a satisfying romance all in a shorter format. That balance is not easy, but Jillian absolutely nailed it.
And we get hockey AND curling, which was such a fun combination. The sports details felt spot-on and added so much personality to the story. Plus the teammates, friendships, and group banter were fantastic.
We even get little hints toward Green Bay Bobcats book three, which has me very excited for what’s coming next. And honestly, I’m going to need novellas for the rest of Luke’s team and Liv because I am already invested.
And then… that ending. Jillian… that ending. 🤯
So yes, please hold while I immediately go read the rest of this series while impatiently waiting for the next book.
Why did a curling romance just absolutely wreck me in the best way? I don’t know… but here we are.
This novella was fun, chaotic, sweet, a little spicy, and completely addictive. Jillian Arly somehow took a sport most people don’t know much about and made it wildly entertaining while giving us characters that feel real, lovable, and impossible not to root for.
And the tropes?? Oh we are being FED:
Best friend’s little sister
Olympic athletes
Only one bed
Years of knowing each other before giving in
Chaotic “fuck it” moments
And what I can only describe as Olympic-level horniness
Luke Morgan (MMC) is basically everything I want in a romance hero. He has golden retriever energy, is completely obsessed with Charlie, protective in the sweetest ways, and very good in the bedroom. He calls her “baby” (automatic melting over him, and a win for me). And ladies… the man owns a Kindle. He reads. I mean… what more do we want?
One of the cutest moments is when he casually admits he prefers sleeping on the right side of the bed so he’s closer to the door in case he needs to protect her from an intruder. Sir?? The CUTENESS?? I cannot.
And Charlotte (FMC) is equally amazing. She’s bold, confident, funny, and unapologetically herself. She brings the snark, the banter, and the confidence while still being incredibly loyal & supportive. I loved how she could hang with the guys but also be such a strong, caring friend. She’s the kind of FMC I’d happily read again and again.
For a novella, this book does something I really appreciate: it manages to give us plot, backstory, tension, banter, spice, friendship, sports action, and a satisfying romance all in a shorter format. That balance is not easy, but Jillian absolutely nailed it.
And we get hockey AND curling, which was such a fun combination. The sports details felt spot-on and added so much personality to the story. Plus the teammates, friendships, and group banter were fantastic.
We even get little hints toward Green Bay Bobcats book three, which has me very excited for what’s coming next. And honestly, I’m going to need novellas for the rest of Luke’s team and Liv because I am already invested.
And then… that ending. Jillian… that ending. 🤯
So yes, please hold while I immediately go read the rest of this series while impatiently waiting for the next book.
February 13, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. I’ll be honest, I had never heard of this author or any of her other books, but I was tooling around Threads, being super excited about the Winter Olympics, and bam! this was a book that was recommended. So I downloaded it…really without any preconceived thoughts about it. And y’all…I’m so happy I did!! This is great…our FMC is a badass hockey player (goodness but I love women’s hockey!!), the MMC is a seriously sexy curler, it’s a brother’s best friend trope (one of my faves!), and seriously great endings all around. I highly recommend this book! It’s short, so it’s a pretty fast read, and it was a really nice palate cleanser for me after starting a different book by a different author that I had really wanted to like but really fell short of the mark for me. This was my gold medal read after the other one didn’t even podium! (See what I did there?? lol)
Fun things to find inside:
- a kickass, Olympic-level athlete FMC
- a brother’s best friend who’s slightly older and double-take sexy (who’s also a world-class athlete)
- a solid recounting of the two sports involved - hockey and curling (I kinda really dislike it when books are marketed as “sports” romances and then the sport in question shows up as one mention on one page buried deep in the plot)
- beautiful descriptions that made my seriously in-athletic self wanna become an Olympian
- intriguing side characters
- and a brother who has a reaction to the plot that is not like most other books of this trope, and that’s a great thing! (Seriously! How her brother reacts was one of my favorite parts!!)
TLDR: A fun, flirty, sexy, short romp of a story with some great characters and a plot that really helped ramp me up and get me excited during these Winter Olympics!
Fun things to find inside:
- a kickass, Olympic-level athlete FMC
- a brother’s best friend who’s slightly older and double-take sexy (who’s also a world-class athlete)
- a solid recounting of the two sports involved - hockey and curling (I kinda really dislike it when books are marketed as “sports” romances and then the sport in question shows up as one mention on one page buried deep in the plot)
- beautiful descriptions that made my seriously in-athletic self wanna become an Olympian
- intriguing side characters
- and a brother who has a reaction to the plot that is not like most other books of this trope, and that’s a great thing! (Seriously! How her brother reacts was one of my favorite parts!!)
TLDR: A fun, flirty, sexy, short romp of a story with some great characters and a plot that really helped ramp me up and get me excited during these Winter Olympics!
March 5, 2026
-Jillian. DAMN GIRL. You really know how to write a FMC! Because I am down BAD for this FMC. So please keep writing FMC’s that are total badasses please because they are always wanted and appreciated here. Then, you know how they say you learn something new everyday? Well I definitely learned Curling in this book and I am not about it at all. So thanks for teaching me about a sport that I am suddenly in awe of. So thanks for the curling lesson and keeping FMC’s badasses.
-CHARLIE. I THINK I AM IN LOVE. Like in a hopelessly obsessed kind of way. Obsessed with that YOU are in control in the bedroom. And TRUST ME. IT’S AS HOT AS IT SOUNDS. Hopelessly love that you are pierced and he’s not. I wish I had that level of pain tolerance. And obsessed with you winning gold and getting your man. So thanks for giving me just the slightest bit of confidence in myself.
-Luke. WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO FIGHT IT? JUST GIVE IN ALREADY. Give into fucking your best friend’s little sister. Give into sleeping in that ONE BED with her. Give into that showing up to all her games. Give into winning curling gold at the olympics. And give into getting your girl. And spoiler alert: HE DID GIVE IN and I will be giving into ALL the things now in the best ways possible.
-Lastly, I NEED ANSWERS JILLAIN. Will Connor be the third book in Bobcats series? The “My Wife” Contact? Who is the FMC? Have we met her already in other books? Will one of the tropes be a marriage of convenience if Connor is the third book? See, so many questions that need answers, so thanks for making me IMMEDIATELY want more from you. Hate/Love You.xoxo
-CHARLIE. I THINK I AM IN LOVE. Like in a hopelessly obsessed kind of way. Obsessed with that YOU are in control in the bedroom. And TRUST ME. IT’S AS HOT AS IT SOUNDS. Hopelessly love that you are pierced and he’s not. I wish I had that level of pain tolerance. And obsessed with you winning gold and getting your man. So thanks for giving me just the slightest bit of confidence in myself.
-Luke. WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO FIGHT IT? JUST GIVE IN ALREADY. Give into fucking your best friend’s little sister. Give into sleeping in that ONE BED with her. Give into that showing up to all her games. Give into winning curling gold at the olympics. And give into getting your girl. And spoiler alert: HE DID GIVE IN and I will be giving into ALL the things now in the best ways possible.
-Lastly, I NEED ANSWERS JILLAIN. Will Connor be the third book in Bobcats series? The “My Wife” Contact? Who is the FMC? Have we met her already in other books? Will one of the tropes be a marriage of convenience if Connor is the third book? See, so many questions that need answers, so thanks for making me IMMEDIATELY want more from you. Hate/Love You.xoxo
February 24, 2026
This was the perfect little novella to help me get over my post Winter Olympic mood slump ❄️
The story takes place at a Winter Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden where our FMC, Charlotte accidentally runs into her long time crush Luke. Luke, our MMC, is the best friend of Charlotte’s brother and is representing the United States as the Skip of his curling team. Luke, although slightly older may also have a long outstanding attraction to Charlotte who happens to be at the Olympics playing for the United States Women’s Hockey team.
While the Olympic Village may have a promiscuous reputation Charlotte and Luke find themselves unable to stay in the poorly provided living arrangements. After many calls Luke is successful at finding a hotel to escape to while also convincing Charlotte to come along too. When they get to their room where they are hoping for individual space they are surprised to find only one queen bed in the room… 😉
Wha to expect:
🥌 Winter Olympic Novella
🏒 Female Hockey Player x Male Curling Skip
🥌 Older Brother’s Best Friend
🏒 One Bed
If you’re also feeling down that the Olympics are over and want to hang on to those feeling a little longer I would suggest checking out this novella available on KU. I enjoyed the quick read. At some points I would have liked a little bit more of the back story and a slower burn, but given that it’s a novella it was great for what I was looking for!! ♥️🤍🩵🥇
The story takes place at a Winter Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden where our FMC, Charlotte accidentally runs into her long time crush Luke. Luke, our MMC, is the best friend of Charlotte’s brother and is representing the United States as the Skip of his curling team. Luke, although slightly older may also have a long outstanding attraction to Charlotte who happens to be at the Olympics playing for the United States Women’s Hockey team.
While the Olympic Village may have a promiscuous reputation Charlotte and Luke find themselves unable to stay in the poorly provided living arrangements. After many calls Luke is successful at finding a hotel to escape to while also convincing Charlotte to come along too. When they get to their room where they are hoping for individual space they are surprised to find only one queen bed in the room… 😉
Wha to expect:
🥌 Winter Olympic Novella
🏒 Female Hockey Player x Male Curling Skip
🥌 Older Brother’s Best Friend
🏒 One Bed
If you’re also feeling down that the Olympics are over and want to hang on to those feeling a little longer I would suggest checking out this novella available on KU. I enjoyed the quick read. At some points I would have liked a little bit more of the back story and a slower burn, but given that it’s a novella it was great for what I was looking for!! ♥️🤍🩵🥇
September 28, 2026
📖🎧 Sticks and Stones
Jillian Arly is quickly becoming my go-to author for hockey romances and specifically women in hockey. She absolutely nailed this Winter Olympics romance between Charlie, a female hockey player, and Luke, a male curling skip AND Charlie's brother's best friend. Both Charlie and Luke have been secretly pining for each other for years and now they are together at the Winter Olympics. The most perfect setup!
Jillian packed so much goodness into such a small package. This wintery novella had such great pacing- it was fast while still having character and plot development, fantastic banter, hot spicy moments, and exciting sports moments. I really loved Charlie and Luke together and it was so fun to feel like you are peeking into the lives of Olympic athletes in the village. I enjoyed this one so much!
Here's what you can expect:
💙 Winter Olympics Novella
🏒 She's a Hockey Player
💙 He's a Curler
🏅 Brother's Best Friend
💙 Secret Crush
🏒 One Bed
💙 Age Gap
🏅 Open Door Spice
📚 Book: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 Audio: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥Spice Rating: ❤️🔥
🎧 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼...
Mollie Stark and Christian Leatherman narrated this spicy little novella and made it even more fun! Both of their voices were perfect for Charlie and Luke and they flowed seamlessly from chapter to chapter. It was so easy to zone out from life and zone into their voices. I didn't want it to end!
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘑𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘓𝘊. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
Spice Rating
🤍 clean romance
💗 closed door/ fade to black
❤️ spicy content (a few detailed scenes)
❤️🔥 explicit, play-by-play (major part of the plot)
🖤 graphic, more than vanilla
Jillian Arly is quickly becoming my go-to author for hockey romances and specifically women in hockey. She absolutely nailed this Winter Olympics romance between Charlie, a female hockey player, and Luke, a male curling skip AND Charlie's brother's best friend. Both Charlie and Luke have been secretly pining for each other for years and now they are together at the Winter Olympics. The most perfect setup!
Jillian packed so much goodness into such a small package. This wintery novella had such great pacing- it was fast while still having character and plot development, fantastic banter, hot spicy moments, and exciting sports moments. I really loved Charlie and Luke together and it was so fun to feel like you are peeking into the lives of Olympic athletes in the village. I enjoyed this one so much!
Here's what you can expect:
💙 Winter Olympics Novella
🏒 She's a Hockey Player
💙 He's a Curler
🏅 Brother's Best Friend
💙 Secret Crush
🏒 One Bed
💙 Age Gap
🏅 Open Door Spice
📚 Book: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 Audio: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥Spice Rating: ❤️🔥
🎧 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼...
Mollie Stark and Christian Leatherman narrated this spicy little novella and made it even more fun! Both of their voices were perfect for Charlie and Luke and they flowed seamlessly from chapter to chapter. It was so easy to zone out from life and zone into their voices. I didn't want it to end!
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘑𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘓𝘊. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
Spice Rating
🤍 clean romance
💗 closed door/ fade to black
❤️ spicy content (a few detailed scenes)
❤️🔥 explicit, play-by-play (major part of the plot)
🖤 graphic, more than vanilla
Read
May 29, 2026From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked by the Olympic setting — the excitement, the pressure, the competition, and all the chaos that comes with athletes living together during the Games. It made the romance feel even more intense because every moment between these two felt stolen.
And honestly? The chemistry was unreal.
Luke is the kind of love interest that’s impossible not to fall for — confident, protective, and secretly soft in all the right ways. Watching the “my brother’s best friend is completely off limits” tension slowly crumble was so satisfying. Add in the one bed situation and I was DONE FOR.
What I loved most was how fun and easy this book was to read. It had the perfect balance of romance, humour, tension, and emotional moments without ever feeling too heavy. I flew through it because every chapter left me wanting just one more.
Also, as a Canadian, I have to admit the USA hockey storyline had me feeling personally attacked 😂🍁 The hockey rivalry is REAL, and I was absolutely reading while internally cheering for Team Canada the entire time.
And can someone PLEASE have a book that goes into Connor being married?? Because I need that story immediately, I am invested.
And honestly? The chemistry was unreal.
Luke is the kind of love interest that’s impossible not to fall for — confident, protective, and secretly soft in all the right ways. Watching the “my brother’s best friend is completely off limits” tension slowly crumble was so satisfying. Add in the one bed situation and I was DONE FOR.
What I loved most was how fun and easy this book was to read. It had the perfect balance of romance, humour, tension, and emotional moments without ever feeling too heavy. I flew through it because every chapter left me wanting just one more.
Also, as a Canadian, I have to admit the USA hockey storyline had me feeling personally attacked 😂🍁 The hockey rivalry is REAL, and I was absolutely reading while internally cheering for Team Canada the entire time.
And can someone PLEASE have a book that goes into Connor being married?? Because I need that story immediately, I am invested.
February 11, 2026
Thank you @jillianarlyauthor for an ARC!
𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Sticks & Stones
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Jillian Arly
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: February 9, 2026
5⭐️
🏒 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 🏒
This is the perfect novella to read during the Winter Olympics! My friend Jillian knocks this novella out of the park (or hits the hockey puck into the goal?!)! This fun Winter Olympics based novella has romance, sports action, chemistry, banter, fun friends, and vulnerable moments.
Two athletes, Charlie and Luke, have made it into the Olympics for women’s hockey and curling. Luke is Charlie’s brother’s best friend and her childhood crush… and both are pleasantly surprised to run into one another. Luke is there to save the day for Charlie when she’s in a bad lodging location… leading to some forced proximity and hotel sharing.
I enjoyed the chemistry and vulnerability that quickly blossomed between these two as they supported each other on their Olympic journeys. Their romance was fun and real!
I loved the friends and teammates, all the banter, joking around and support for each other. When Charlie’s brother Connor finally shows up, there’s mystery and intrigue surrounding him and why he was late!
Pick this up for a quick spicy sports romance read! It will make you want to watch and learn curling too! 🥌
🏒 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
🇺🇸 Winter Olympics
🥌 Hockey/Curling Romance
🏒 Brother’s Best Friend
🥌 Only One Bed(room)
𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Sticks & Stones
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Jillian Arly
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: February 9, 2026
5⭐️
🏒 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 🏒
This is the perfect novella to read during the Winter Olympics! My friend Jillian knocks this novella out of the park (or hits the hockey puck into the goal?!)! This fun Winter Olympics based novella has romance, sports action, chemistry, banter, fun friends, and vulnerable moments.
Two athletes, Charlie and Luke, have made it into the Olympics for women’s hockey and curling. Luke is Charlie’s brother’s best friend and her childhood crush… and both are pleasantly surprised to run into one another. Luke is there to save the day for Charlie when she’s in a bad lodging location… leading to some forced proximity and hotel sharing.
I enjoyed the chemistry and vulnerability that quickly blossomed between these two as they supported each other on their Olympic journeys. Their romance was fun and real!
I loved the friends and teammates, all the banter, joking around and support for each other. When Charlie’s brother Connor finally shows up, there’s mystery and intrigue surrounding him and why he was late!
Pick this up for a quick spicy sports romance read! It will make you want to watch and learn curling too! 🥌
🏒 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
🇺🇸 Winter Olympics
🥌 Hockey/Curling Romance
🏒 Brother’s Best Friend
🥌 Only One Bed(room)
February 22, 2026
Charlotte Smith is representing the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team, determined to focus on the Games even if the accommodations leave a lot to be desired. She runs into her brother’s best friend Luke, now playing for the Men’s Curling Team (her crush since fifth grade) and her long-buried feelings come rushing back.
When Luke offers her the chance to escape to the hotel he found, she cautiously agrees, only to discover there’s just one bed. It’s definitely an upgrade from where she was staying, and as an elite athlete she needs proper rest, right? But sharing close quarters with the boy she’s crushed on proves to be the real challenge. These two have fantastic banter and undeniable spark. While Charlotte is very aware of her lingering feelings, Luke can’t seem to stay away either. I loved his protective streak.
I really enjoyed this winter Olympic novella! It was fun, flirty, and perfectly paced with just the right amount of spice. The descriptive writing made the Olympic setting feel vivid and realistic. A quick, cozy sports romance that really delivers.
When Luke offers her the chance to escape to the hotel he found, she cautiously agrees, only to discover there’s just one bed. It’s definitely an upgrade from where she was staying, and as an elite athlete she needs proper rest, right? But sharing close quarters with the boy she’s crushed on proves to be the real challenge. These two have fantastic banter and undeniable spark. While Charlotte is very aware of her lingering feelings, Luke can’t seem to stay away either. I loved his protective streak.
I really enjoyed this winter Olympic novella! It was fun, flirty, and perfectly paced with just the right amount of spice. The descriptive writing made the Olympic setting feel vivid and realistic. A quick, cozy sports romance that really delivers.
February 9, 2026
This novella made me so happy! We get Connor’s little sister, Charlotte, and his best friend, Luke’s HEA in this one! Read this in one sitting because it was such an easy read!
Charlotte and Luke are in Sweden for the Olympics. They both know each other are there, they just don’t know they’ve had a crush on each other for years. Once they run into each other, everything comes to a head.
The chemistry between Luke and Charlotte was undeniable. The one liners and that tension building was absolutely delicious. We really got the feeling of these two knowing each other for so long that when they finally give in, it’s just so natural. And I got to learn more about curling because before this, I had no idea. And Jillian, that ending 🤯.
Thank you to Jillian Arly for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes:
🏒Winter Olympics novella
🥌Athlete x athlete
🏒FMC hockey player
🥌MMC curling player
🏒One bed
🥌Brothers best friend
🏒Age gap
Charlotte and Luke are in Sweden for the Olympics. They both know each other are there, they just don’t know they’ve had a crush on each other for years. Once they run into each other, everything comes to a head.
The chemistry between Luke and Charlotte was undeniable. The one liners and that tension building was absolutely delicious. We really got the feeling of these two knowing each other for so long that when they finally give in, it’s just so natural. And I got to learn more about curling because before this, I had no idea. And Jillian, that ending 🤯.
Thank you to Jillian Arly for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes:
🏒Winter Olympics novella
🥌Athlete x athlete
🏒FMC hockey player
🥌MMC curling player
🏒One bed
🥌Brothers best friend
🏒Age gap
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