Overtime

by Layne Wren

Skylar

When I move back to Tampa Bay after finishing college, I make sure to avoid the man I was in love with years ago but couldn’t have.

But when I’m desperate for an art job after weeks of looking, he and I find ourselves working together—and we’re even more drawn to each other when we shouldn’t be.

When we once made that pact to not fall in love.

Caleb Walker is my brother’s best friend and also my dad’s star hockey player. He’s someone I can’t call mine. But he makes it so hard not to break the rules of our contract.

Caleb

After a storm destroyed two wall murals in my house, I’ve been looking for the right artist to work on the replacements, but I haven’t had any luck.

Then she comes back into my life. The only woman my heart belongs to.

Her art is one of the many things about her that speak to me, that call my name.

Skylar Valley is off limits, but keeping away from her is a commitment I’m more than willing to break.

Overtime is a spicy, brother’s best friend hockey romance with coach’s daughter, friends to lovers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Genres: Sports Romance, Hockey, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Sports

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 15, 2026

Reviews

[Kara Pocock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes
🏒hockey romance🏒
🥹friends to lovers🥹
🎨hockey player & artist🎨
💋friends with benefits💋
🥵brother’s best friend/best friends sister🥵

Sky: He’s the boy I never got a chance with & the only one I still really want. When I come home from college, I never expect him needing an artist for hire to complete the mural he lost of his family. He insists my art is the only one he connects with & I agree to the contract, but when it’s clear my crush never went away things get more complicated than I planned.

Caleb: She’s my coach’s daughter, my best friend’s sister, and the one that I pushed away. I thought I could live without her but when I get my second chance to make her mine, I’m gonna do everything I can to make it worthwhile. She says it’s strictly professional, but there’s nothing professional about the glances I steal of her while she’s in my house. She’s all I want & everything I can’t have, but rules are made to be broken🥵🥵🥵🥵

Oh my gosh! Perfect read for anyone beginning hockey/spicy romances!! Download your copy as soon as you can, it is the perfect HEA weekend read💘

[Jacqueline champ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chemistry was definitely there, but during the first half I kept thinking, “Okay… this feels like the same thing over and over.” I didn’t really understand the ex who kept calling, and there wasn’t much excitement early on. That could’ve been a great opportunity to build more tension.
That said, once they finally give in, it’s so good. I felt the rush and excitement of having only certain days together and the pressure of time constraints. That intensity is what earned it the fourth star for me.

[Whitney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was okay. I didn’t love it but it wasn’t bad? I was just bored. The main characters just didn’t do it for me I love a good friends to lovers but when you have to keep saying “friend” to remind yourselves your only friends with benefits ever other sentence it becomes a bit much for me. I do love that her brother/dad just accepted it unlike most brothers best friends/couch’s daughter troupes where it’s a big blow up.

[Sadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fact that I read all her books as soon as they all came out says it all. I absolutely loved this book. But Lila and Hudson will always have my heart (sorry, not sorry)! Caleb loved sky from the beginning and you could literally see that. Don’t know why they didn’t start all this earlier, literally could’ve been together from the get go but nonetheless I loved this book and can’t wait for her other books to come out.

[Hannah M Burrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to be given the chance to review Overtime, of my own accord, through being offered an eARC.

My favourite of the series so far!
I really enjoyed the chemistry between Skylar and Caleb, they are both so cute together.
This was just a fun, sweet & spicy hockey romance.
Love to see more in this series.

[FN · Rating 4 out of 5]

You got into FWB arrangement. But you've been growing up together since forever. But you're family's friend. But you've catch feelings before. Feels messy? Yes. Cringey? Probably. Inevitable? Really. You can’t even be mad because they’re actually adorable together. Like, annoyingly adorable 😂.

Grateful for the ARC opportunity.

[Jas Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the other 2 books in this series, but I wasn’t feeling this one. The writing didn’t feel as good as the other two books, and the story didn’t have much going on. It felt like a lot of the writing was explaining what was happening rather than the characters living it and it made it difficult to get into. It wasn’t terrible, just not as good as the first two.

[Emily Hoffmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review:

Skylar and Caleb’s chemistry is amazing from start to finish! A forbidden friends-to-lovers romance?? Come on!

An amazing spicy hockey romance with an HEA

•Hockey romance
•Friends to lovers
•Hockey player & artist
•Friends with benefits
•Brother’s best friend/best friend’s sister

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put down this book! Omg the connection between the main characters, the history line, the connection with the families it was so special and beautifully written.

[Shannon Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read for me. I love the connection that the characters have with each other. This is a good place to start if you want to read a hockey romance book.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skylar and Caleb’s story is super cute.
Skylar is the twin of Caleb’s best friend, Slater.
Caleb is a famous hockey player on the team that Skylar’s dad coaches.

You should definitely read if you like:
Friends-to-Lovers
Brother’s Best Friend
Coach’s Daughter
Hockey Romance

I am so grateful to Layne Wren for allowing me the opportunity to ARC read this great book!
I will be reading more from Layne Wren.

[Tiffany Bumgardner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute

I like her being an artist.

I didn’t like how unbelievable the her being a working artist was. Too easy.

Overly fluffy for my taste but a decent read.

[Breanna Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very cute book with a little bit of spice. Watching how they found their way together was super adorable.

[Megan Carrier · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this way more than I thought would. So cute

[Jas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review: (2.5⭐️,1🌶️)