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Vancouver Storm #5
The Wild Card
Former star player Tate Ward has become easily the best coach in professional hockey, leading the Vancouver Storm team to victory. Everyone is in love with the handsome, authoritative single dad—except Jordan Hathaway, the newest staff member on the Vancouver Storm team.
Jordan was more than comfortable behind her bar at the team’s favorite watering hole. When her father threatens to sell the team, though, she’s forced to put her grievances aside and work with the man who likes everyone but her—: Coach Tate Ward.
But beneath his controlled exterior, Tate is funny, encouraging, and protective. He moves her Jordan into his guest house, trusts her with his daughter, and fires the person who made her cry. He’s her boss, and a relationship would ruin both their careers, but Jordan still finds herself dreaming of a life with Tate. As the lines between them blur and Jordan encourages him to be selfish, Tate realizes what he wants . . . is her.
Jordan was more than comfortable behind her bar at the team’s favorite watering hole. When her father threatens to sell the team, though, she’s forced to put her grievances aside and work with the man who likes everyone but her—: Coach Tate Ward.
But beneath his controlled exterior, Tate is funny, encouraging, and protective. He moves her Jordan into his guest house, trusts her with his daughter, and fires the person who made her cry. He’s her boss, and a relationship would ruin both their careers, but Jordan still finds herself dreaming of a life with Tate. As the lines between them blur and Jordan encourages him to be selfish, Tate realizes what he wants . . . is her.
471 pages, Paperback
First published February 3, 2026
About the author
Stephanie Archer
19 books13.9k followersStephanie writes spicy, hilarious rom-coms. Her books feature sharp banter, stubborn women, lots of laughs, and guaranteed HEA’s. She lives in Vancouver, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,411 reviews
February 7, 2026
3.5⭐️ Fun giggly single dad hockey romance, but was a little bored. I love this series these books are such comfort reads for me! It did fall flat in terms of chemistry at points I wanted more but I still binged it sooooooo
June 23, 2025
i've given the last 3 books in this series 5 stars... methinks this is going to be another one
edit upon reading: it was not in fact a 5 star read. very sweet book and i loved seeing everyone at the end of the book, all the previous couples. but this was a little sedate compared to the previous couple of books. i think stephanie archer is at her best when she leans into the tropes and the cheese tbh. this was a very mature romance though which i appreciated. also liked seeing Jordan thrive in the hockey world.
edit upon reading: it was not in fact a 5 star read. very sweet book and i loved seeing everyone at the end of the book, all the previous couples. but this was a little sedate compared to the previous couple of books. i think stephanie archer is at her best when she leans into the tropes and the cheese tbh. this was a very mature romance though which i appreciated. also liked seeing Jordan thrive in the hockey world.
August 1, 2025
Safe to say, mother will never disappoint when it comes to binge worthy books 🙏 each book in this series is so addictive? Like what is she lacing her words with! I just knowwwwww it’s some typa crack and I can’t wait till my next hit 👹👹👹
This book might not have been the ‘Gloves Off’ type of high but it had its own kind of effect on me. I kept finding myself smiling and wanting to come back to the book. I binged the first 50% in a couple hours and that’s rare for me these days when I’ve been so busy I can’t even read 20 pages without getting distracted.
The dynamic between the characters was adorableeeeee. This book is more on the cute side. Though I wish the sharp banter stayed the same as the first half but it did in fact change as they started catching feelings.
Overall a very sweet romance. The perfect palate cleanser 💕
***
Edit: maybe it’s not gonna be the last book omg
Update: I’m actually crying bc wdym this is gna be the last in the series 😭
This book might not have been the ‘Gloves Off’ type of high but it had its own kind of effect on me. I kept finding myself smiling and wanting to come back to the book. I binged the first 50% in a couple hours and that’s rare for me these days when I’ve been so busy I can’t even read 20 pages without getting distracted.
The dynamic between the characters was adorableeeeee. This book is more on the cute side. Though I wish the sharp banter stayed the same as the first half but it did in fact change as they started catching feelings.
Overall a very sweet romance. The perfect palate cleanser 💕
***
Edit: maybe it’s not gonna be the last book omg
Update: I’m actually crying bc wdym this is gna be the last in the series 😭
Read
June 11, 2025i have a note in my notes app from six months ago
“calling it right now book 5 will be jordan (bartender) and ward (coach)” AND I WAS RIGHT BABYYYYY IM SO EXCITED
“calling it right now book 5 will be jordan (bartender) and ward (coach)” AND I WAS RIGHT BABYYYYY IM SO EXCITED
June 28, 2025
in no world did i think this rating would start with anything lower than a 4? 😭 first, let me lament about the series being over before i get into the nitty gritty because wdym??? i can’t believe it’s done. these books took me by surprise last year with how much i adored them! i tend to not respond well to hockey romances but when i say i don’t like hockey romances, i’m NEVER talking about the vancouver storm books. i love this little world and this hockey team so very much!
having said that though, jordan and tate’s book was decent but not great? my opinion on this book will probably be unpopular and age like milk when all the 5 star ratings come flooding in, but there - i said it. it’s not the weakest book in the series but it’s far from the strongest. it was somewhat bland, especially in the first half and some of that unseasoning even carried into the second, although that half was comparatively better and the last stretch was the best. it pains me to admit that - it really does. i’m just disappointed by some of the execution - more so because it followed such a fantastic fourth installment in gloves off and it promised such immense potential from the tropes assigned and the crumbs jordan and tate served in books past (particularly in book 4 when we got the first hint of them being the final pair and what things could be like between them). i was expecting high intensity from the dislike tease, angst, a strong forbidden element (single dad, a tasteful lil age gap - h 30 H 40, coach x owner’s daughter, boss-employee vibes…hello???), and while it had some peak moments, it just could have been so much better as a whole because these elements i was anticipating to be palpable were ultimately watered down. that makes me sad to say, because i really wanted this to be the best book in the series to end things off on the highest of highs.
time for my rambles. this will be a long review because when am i not yapping?
*ON THE ROMANCE*
the romance was just okay? i was expecting so much more. i wanted explosive chemistry, sharp banter, delicious tension - but a lot of it was in half-measure. books 2-4 in this series served so much more than what this one did on all these ingredients.
this couple was let down by trying to push a variation on the dislike-to-love trope. that angle was promising when it was teased in the previous book, but then it didn’t deliver the angst and intensity i was expecting based on the crumbs. jordan’s hate towards tate felt very artificial and forced. this man was being nothing but polite and sweet to her so i didn’t get why she didn’t like him. when the reason was revealed, it felt like it had nothing to do with a direct beef with him and it was so tangential, i couldn’t connect with this logic. tate being assigned the “he likes everyone but her” trope also didn’t really feel fully thought through in the execution either because again, i felt like he was so nice to her from page 1. and even when he did have a bone to pick with her one time, he approached her with respect and immediately acquiesced to being wrong about an assumption he was making. i can’t help but contrast their dynamic against alexei and georgia’s in gloves off. those two did the hate-to-love trope so spectacularly (seriously, one of the best i’ve read in a contemporary romantic comedy setting in a long while, so good i had to read that book twice) - the mutual resentment felt so real and understandable, even more so when you get to know what drives those characters at a base level and why the slights from each side of the camp would hurt the respective mcs - but jordan and tate’s didn’t quite rise to that level of coherency (or fun). it almost didn’t make sense tbh. i wish they’d gotten a completely different trope or that the author just left the dislike angle out entirely because it was so half-baked.
the pace was meandering and the first half was incredibly repetitive. i love a slow burn but this turned into not much happening for so long, not even proper simmering. as i said up top, i don’t really think the conflict in their relationship development and push-and-pull was convincing because the forbidden element didn’t feel strong and the dislike reasons weren’t either. everyone was openly rooting for them to get together anyways too, and their rationale for holding back felt weak. all of this impacted the pace and the tension (or lack thereof). the miscommunication between them also didn’t help. had these aspects been done differently, the slow burn would have felt more intense and better paced, methinks.
there’s also some too-early lust but this was a thing in all the books so i can’t reasonably complain about it now 😅. i’ll spotlight it though. it’s one of the lesser crimes here and i could overlook it in the end, especially since the characters did know each other prior to the start of the book. it just stood out to me a little bit more in a negative light than, say, in some of the other stories, probably because i didn’t care given how much fun i was having in those.
the dialogue felt stilted and their chemistry felt canned in the earlier parts of the book, despite the notes of lust sprinkled in - but that on its own is never going to equal convincing chemistry. however, things did pick up in the second half and i felt some heat between them as the story progressed. i have to comment on the spice though, because this book felt like a very different vibe from the others. the spice felt more sporadic and less elaborate so idk why things switched up - this also made the romance feel a bit more stale and less electric than in some of the other books.
i did enjoy some of the displays in how they got closer in the second half and by the end, i did really like their love and affection for one another and felt that connection between them. i just couldn’t forget my tepid feelings about the first half and all these other points when i decided on a rating for this.
*ON THE MAIN CHARACTERS*
on jordan, it took a while for me to warm up to her in here - which i did not expect as i enjoyed her in the past books. a reticent self-sufficient black cat? she was giving such bad bitch energy before but in her own book, she came off as really obstinate and completely clueless - particularly in the earlier parts. her being totally obtuse to tate being a good guy and constantly harping on about how he hates her when there just wasn’t enough compelling evidence that he did, and her disliking him in return, had me scratching my head. even her ways of clapping back (in her one-sided beef, mind you) in the beginning to tate felt really tame and silly? the toilet paper and coffees…it just didn’t pack a punch the way, say, georgia and alexei’s antics did. sigh. as the book went on, i did grow more fond of her but man did it take a while. as positives, i liked how the book (and tate) handled her lone ranger issues, the women-in-sports-leadership piece, and the sprinkles of her grief, but i wish we got more on her relationship with her dad in her character arc. this aspect felt underdeveloped and it would have rounded out her character journey well had this element been more built up.
tate. tate tate tate. when i say i was so excited for him to be a leading man, i was frothing at the mouth for his book right from my read of the fake out (which was the first book i read in this series and it was before his book was even announced but i hoped he’d be getting his own story). he had such potential and that carried through the rest of the books…until his own? i felt like his personality got neutered. he was doing all the right things, making the right gestures etc - what you’d expect an mmc to do - but he lacked presence and a distinct personality. and that’s a wild thing for me to even say because he had so much presence as a side character, but it did not come across that way in his own book and he fell a little flat. i was also really anticipating we’d get more in-depth looks into his past, his career-ending injury, his sobriety - but it all became background information rather than getting a proper focus in the narrative. such a missed opportunity. he was a solid mmc by the end, no doubt, but i just wished for more consistency. he’s not going to be memorable compared to other leading men in this series. he should have been the daddiest of them all but he leaned too much into boring father for too long, i’m so sawri 🙈.
*ON THE REST*
bea. oh, how i adored her! she was such an endearing character, my baby. i have the strongest urge to protect her from all harm at all costs! i loved her relationship with her dad throughout the book, and i really liked how her connection with jordan was developed and how they all fit together along the way and by the end.
i also loved the found family moments 🩵. when the crew was all together, i felt so warm and fuzzy inside and didn’t want to have to say goodbye to this world after finishing this book. i also just really enjoyed whenever any of the mcs from past couples appeared, even in solo or paired moments rather than full-cast ones. of course, some of these side characters were absolute scene stealers - like my faves from books 2 and 4. phoebe was a fun addition to things as well. the ending and the epilogue were highlights of the book too - i liked how it wrapped up the series and how far the team had come from the beginning, and i’ll miss this family so much!
anyhoo, i got on with jordan and tate’s book okay enough by the end, but i didn’t LOVE it. if i had to sum up my review in one sentence, it would be i wanted more. the romance was underwhelming for the most part, but this finale did shine in other areas. i’ll probably be re-reading some of the other books in the series down the line, but the re-readability on this one will be low to non-existent, i fear. still love you stephanie, girl 🥹
—————————————————————————————————
final series rankings 📚
#1 gloves off (4) - nothing will ever compare to these two 😩. they’ve ruined me, i swear to gawwwwd. alexei my forever husband, georgia my eternal queen - you will always be famous. gone double platinum in my household. 5 ⭐️
#2 the fake out (2) - to this day, rory miller still has me doing cartwheels in his name and i don’t see that ever changing. ms archer turned me into a simp for a blonde man and that’s no easy feat. i loved him and hazel so much. book couples everywhere with a supposedly “playful” dynamic hate to see them coming because they embarrass all others. 4 ⭐️
#3 the wingman (3) - no one can ever make me hate hayden and darcy, my shaylas. they were so adorable and sexy - one of my favourite fun friends-to-lovers, even if it also had some cringe. but it was cringe i liked, i guess? because i inhaled this like it was my last meal. 4 ⭐️
#4 the wild card (5) - i’ve yapped about this one a lot as is, so i’ll shut up now 🙃. 3 ⭐️
#5 behind the net (1) - we know what this was 😂. i actually didn’t hate it, but it helped i read the others first because at least i liked pippa and jamie as side characters before i subjected myself to their book. they were cute in the end, but very cringy, waaay insta and too horny. i was genuinely concerned for how much jamie kept bricking up and all those twinges between pippa’s legs. couldn’t have been comfortable. “songbird” haunts me (not complimentary). i still have a fondness for them though, despite all this 😭. 3 ⭐️
and that’s a wrap on vancouver storm! time for stephanie to cook a lil something up for the rookie because we can’t end this party here, surely?! 😭
having said that though, jordan and tate’s book was decent but not great? my opinion on this book will probably be unpopular and age like milk when all the 5 star ratings come flooding in, but there - i said it. it’s not the weakest book in the series but it’s far from the strongest. it was somewhat bland, especially in the first half and some of that unseasoning even carried into the second, although that half was comparatively better and the last stretch was the best. it pains me to admit that - it really does. i’m just disappointed by some of the execution - more so because it followed such a fantastic fourth installment in gloves off and it promised such immense potential from the tropes assigned and the crumbs jordan and tate served in books past (particularly in book 4 when we got the first hint of them being the final pair and what things could be like between them). i was expecting high intensity from the dislike tease, angst, a strong forbidden element (single dad, a tasteful lil age gap - h 30 H 40, coach x owner’s daughter, boss-employee vibes…hello???), and while it had some peak moments, it just could have been so much better as a whole because these elements i was anticipating to be palpable were ultimately watered down. that makes me sad to say, because i really wanted this to be the best book in the series to end things off on the highest of highs.
time for my rambles. this will be a long review because when am i not yapping?
*ON THE ROMANCE*
the romance was just okay? i was expecting so much more. i wanted explosive chemistry, sharp banter, delicious tension - but a lot of it was in half-measure. books 2-4 in this series served so much more than what this one did on all these ingredients.
this couple was let down by trying to push a variation on the dislike-to-love trope. that angle was promising when it was teased in the previous book, but then it didn’t deliver the angst and intensity i was expecting based on the crumbs. jordan’s hate towards tate felt very artificial and forced. this man was being nothing but polite and sweet to her so i didn’t get why she didn’t like him. when the reason was revealed, it felt like it had nothing to do with a direct beef with him and it was so tangential, i couldn’t connect with this logic. tate being assigned the “he likes everyone but her” trope also didn’t really feel fully thought through in the execution either because again, i felt like he was so nice to her from page 1. and even when he did have a bone to pick with her one time, he approached her with respect and immediately acquiesced to being wrong about an assumption he was making. i can’t help but contrast their dynamic against alexei and georgia’s in gloves off. those two did the hate-to-love trope so spectacularly (seriously, one of the best i’ve read in a contemporary romantic comedy setting in a long while, so good i had to read that book twice) - the mutual resentment felt so real and understandable, even more so when you get to know what drives those characters at a base level and why the slights from each side of the camp would hurt the respective mcs - but jordan and tate’s didn’t quite rise to that level of coherency (or fun). it almost didn’t make sense tbh. i wish they’d gotten a completely different trope or that the author just left the dislike angle out entirely because it was so half-baked.
the pace was meandering and the first half was incredibly repetitive. i love a slow burn but this turned into not much happening for so long, not even proper simmering. as i said up top, i don’t really think the conflict in their relationship development and push-and-pull was convincing because the forbidden element didn’t feel strong and the dislike reasons weren’t either. everyone was openly rooting for them to get together anyways too, and their rationale for holding back felt weak. all of this impacted the pace and the tension (or lack thereof). the miscommunication between them also didn’t help. had these aspects been done differently, the slow burn would have felt more intense and better paced, methinks.
there’s also some too-early lust but this was a thing in all the books so i can’t reasonably complain about it now 😅. i’ll spotlight it though. it’s one of the lesser crimes here and i could overlook it in the end, especially since the characters did know each other prior to the start of the book. it just stood out to me a little bit more in a negative light than, say, in some of the other stories, probably because i didn’t care given how much fun i was having in those.
the dialogue felt stilted and their chemistry felt canned in the earlier parts of the book, despite the notes of lust sprinkled in - but that on its own is never going to equal convincing chemistry. however, things did pick up in the second half and i felt some heat between them as the story progressed. i have to comment on the spice though, because this book felt like a very different vibe from the others. the spice felt more sporadic and less elaborate so idk why things switched up - this also made the romance feel a bit more stale and less electric than in some of the other books.
i did enjoy some of the displays in how they got closer in the second half and by the end, i did really like their love and affection for one another and felt that connection between them. i just couldn’t forget my tepid feelings about the first half and all these other points when i decided on a rating for this.
*ON THE MAIN CHARACTERS*
on jordan, it took a while for me to warm up to her in here - which i did not expect as i enjoyed her in the past books. a reticent self-sufficient black cat? she was giving such bad bitch energy before but in her own book, she came off as really obstinate and completely clueless - particularly in the earlier parts. her being totally obtuse to tate being a good guy and constantly harping on about how he hates her when there just wasn’t enough compelling evidence that he did, and her disliking him in return, had me scratching my head. even her ways of clapping back (in her one-sided beef, mind you) in the beginning to tate felt really tame and silly? the toilet paper and coffees…it just didn’t pack a punch the way, say, georgia and alexei’s antics did. sigh. as the book went on, i did grow more fond of her but man did it take a while. as positives, i liked how the book (and tate) handled her lone ranger issues, the women-in-sports-leadership piece, and the sprinkles of her grief, but i wish we got more on her relationship with her dad in her character arc. this aspect felt underdeveloped and it would have rounded out her character journey well had this element been more built up.
tate. tate tate tate. when i say i was so excited for him to be a leading man, i was frothing at the mouth for his book right from my read of the fake out (which was the first book i read in this series and it was before his book was even announced but i hoped he’d be getting his own story). he had such potential and that carried through the rest of the books…until his own? i felt like his personality got neutered. he was doing all the right things, making the right gestures etc - what you’d expect an mmc to do - but he lacked presence and a distinct personality. and that’s a wild thing for me to even say because he had so much presence as a side character, but it did not come across that way in his own book and he fell a little flat. i was also really anticipating we’d get more in-depth looks into his past, his career-ending injury, his sobriety - but it all became background information rather than getting a proper focus in the narrative. such a missed opportunity. he was a solid mmc by the end, no doubt, but i just wished for more consistency. he’s not going to be memorable compared to other leading men in this series. he should have been the daddiest of them all but he leaned too much into boring father for too long, i’m so sawri 🙈.
*ON THE REST*
bea. oh, how i adored her! she was such an endearing character, my baby. i have the strongest urge to protect her from all harm at all costs! i loved her relationship with her dad throughout the book, and i really liked how her connection with jordan was developed and how they all fit together along the way and by the end.
i also loved the found family moments 🩵. when the crew was all together, i felt so warm and fuzzy inside and didn’t want to have to say goodbye to this world after finishing this book. i also just really enjoyed whenever any of the mcs from past couples appeared, even in solo or paired moments rather than full-cast ones. of course, some of these side characters were absolute scene stealers - like my faves from books 2 and 4. phoebe was a fun addition to things as well. the ending and the epilogue were highlights of the book too - i liked how it wrapped up the series and how far the team had come from the beginning, and i’ll miss this family so much!
anyhoo, i got on with jordan and tate’s book okay enough by the end, but i didn’t LOVE it. if i had to sum up my review in one sentence, it would be i wanted more. the romance was underwhelming for the most part, but this finale did shine in other areas. i’ll probably be re-reading some of the other books in the series down the line, but the re-readability on this one will be low to non-existent, i fear. still love you stephanie, girl 🥹
—————————————————————————————————
final series rankings 📚
#1 gloves off (4) - nothing will ever compare to these two 😩. they’ve ruined me, i swear to gawwwwd. alexei my forever husband, georgia my eternal queen - you will always be famous. gone double platinum in my household. 5 ⭐️
#2 the fake out (2) - to this day, rory miller still has me doing cartwheels in his name and i don’t see that ever changing. ms archer turned me into a simp for a blonde man and that’s no easy feat. i loved him and hazel so much. book couples everywhere with a supposedly “playful” dynamic hate to see them coming because they embarrass all others. 4 ⭐️
#3 the wingman (3) - no one can ever make me hate hayden and darcy, my shaylas. they were so adorable and sexy - one of my favourite fun friends-to-lovers, even if it also had some cringe. but it was cringe i liked, i guess? because i inhaled this like it was my last meal. 4 ⭐️
#4 the wild card (5) - i’ve yapped about this one a lot as is, so i’ll shut up now 🙃. 3 ⭐️
#5 behind the net (1) - we know what this was 😂. i actually didn’t hate it, but it helped i read the others first because at least i liked pippa and jamie as side characters before i subjected myself to their book. they were cute in the end, but very cringy, waaay insta and too horny. i was genuinely concerned for how much jamie kept bricking up and all those twinges between pippa’s legs. couldn’t have been comfortable. “songbird” haunts me (not complimentary). i still have a fondness for them though, despite all this 😭. 3 ⭐️
and that’s a wrap on vancouver storm! time for stephanie to cook a lil something up for the rookie because we can’t end this party here, surely?! 😭
June 23, 2025
➳ 3.75 ☆
i honestly don't know how to rate this book because on one hand, this was one of my most anticipated releases of 2026. however, this was sort of...a letdown? i was fully expecting this book to be my favorite in this series, especially after all the little snippets we got from the other books. there buildup seemed to be more interesting than the actual novel, but i do have to give props to the narration because the audiobook was so much fun. there are two main issues as to why this wasn't a full 5-star book, but i still enjoyed jordan and tate's book, nonetheless.
1. nothing really happens.
this entire book is basically just a whole lot of nothing since there is not one reason or aspect that is keeping them apart. for all the little snippets we got in the previous books, i expected something more profound and emotional, but was only left with a rather mundane slow, friends-lovers trope. the team was literally rooting for them and was their biggest shipper...tate's daughter also loved jordan and wanted her and her father to end up together...there is NO other man or other woman coming in to stir up drama...the age gap isn't even worth mentioning...so like, what was the point of all this?...to be fair, the whole book just felt sluggish and slow because while the romance was mature and worth it, there was no reason this needed to be dragged on the way it did. at the very least, i expected some jealousy or some tension...but all we got is tate obsessing over her panties and some stupid ugly cat they both took in.
2. the repetitive and recycled plot.
now, this is not a valid reason as to why this was a disappointing read, hence why i didn't take off many points here. to put bluntly—this is the exact same book stephanie has written but with a different trope. every.single.book. in this series is the literal same, minus the name change. while that isn't a huge problem—it does get become unvaried when you can't differentiate this book from the other companion novels in the same series. ex: the conflict between the main couple felt the same & the smut was also very repetitive from the prior books. i UNDERSTAND it's difficult to come up with a brand-new romance and concept for every single release, but the least i expect is some original work. this just felt like every book in the vancouver storm series mushed up into one.
overall, this was fine. i only give it 4 stars because i love this world. all seriousness, though, NOBODY is winning against my baby, gloves off.
i honestly don't know how to rate this book because on one hand, this was one of my most anticipated releases of 2026. however, this was sort of...a letdown? i was fully expecting this book to be my favorite in this series, especially after all the little snippets we got from the other books. there buildup seemed to be more interesting than the actual novel, but i do have to give props to the narration because the audiobook was so much fun. there are two main issues as to why this wasn't a full 5-star book, but i still enjoyed jordan and tate's book, nonetheless.
1. nothing really happens.
this entire book is basically just a whole lot of nothing since there is not one reason or aspect that is keeping them apart. for all the little snippets we got in the previous books, i expected something more profound and emotional, but was only left with a rather mundane slow, friends-lovers trope. the team was literally rooting for them and was their biggest shipper...tate's daughter also loved jordan and wanted her and her father to end up together...there is NO other man or other woman coming in to stir up drama...the age gap isn't even worth mentioning...so like, what was the point of all this?...to be fair, the whole book just felt sluggish and slow because while the romance was mature and worth it, there was no reason this needed to be dragged on the way it did. at the very least, i expected some jealousy or some tension...but all we got is tate obsessing over her panties and some stupid ugly cat they both took in.
2. the repetitive and recycled plot.
now, this is not a valid reason as to why this was a disappointing read, hence why i didn't take off many points here. to put bluntly—this is the exact same book stephanie has written but with a different trope. every.single.book. in this series is the literal same, minus the name change. while that isn't a huge problem—it does get become unvaried when you can't differentiate this book from the other companion novels in the same series. ex: the conflict between the main couple felt the same & the smut was also very repetitive from the prior books. i UNDERSTAND it's difficult to come up with a brand-new romance and concept for every single release, but the least i expect is some original work. this just felt like every book in the vancouver storm series mushed up into one.
overall, this was fine. i only give it 4 stars because i love this world. all seriousness, though, NOBODY is winning against my baby, gloves off.
July 14, 2025
well that's another series to cross off the list so there's that 😩😭....it's a maybe? so like, is Luca walker getting a book bc I'll be sat 🫣
April 4, 2026
2⭐️
What an utter disappointment. 😭
This book was a let down and a half like genuinely what happened with this one? It felt completely different to the other 4 in the series and I don't mean that in a good way.
Jordan annoyed the hell out of me. I understand she was supposed to be closed-off and guarded but she's a grown ass woman who acted like a teenager. Her personality irked me like no belief and it didn't feel like she had that authentic deepness to her compared to the other characters that were wrote about. The 2 stars were simply for Tate because that man was a gem. He was patient and loving and so caring; it was so easy to fall in love with him. I loved his dynamic with his daughter and I thought both of them were so easy to love.
What really lost me was the chemistry. I don't think that Jordan and Tate seemed to fit together like they were supposed to. This book was a slow-burn that just didn't hit the mark. I didn't feel like draw to them and I think what really didn't do it for me was how they talked to each other. Jordan couldn't have a grown up conversation if it slapped her in the face. I could definitely see how she was supposed to have her character arc as she gets more attached to the team, but it felt so....inauthentic. I had really high hopes for the Jordan and Tate duo, but she was so childish and didn't fit with Tate's grown-up and matured personality.
Another thing about this book was that it draggedddddd big time. I didn't even want to pick this up because I was so bored, which is why it took me so long to finish. It's definitely a fast read if you're into it; most of Stephanie Archer's book are. But this one was just so hard for me to finish. The plot felt clunky and the pacing was just so off. I was itching to get this book done.
I know that I'm definitely in the minority that disliked this book and I really can see the appeal to other people. But between Jordan's immaturity, the superficial chemistry, and the slow progression of the book, I can't bring myself to rate this higher. I was really anticipating this book but inevitably it just let me down. Is this my last Stephanie Archer book? Absolutely not. Sometimes there's just that one book in the series that is a complete miss even when you loved every other book. Hopefully the next book of hers will be better. 🩵
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭: ⛸️🤍
I'm not ready for this series to end I love them so much 😭
I really hope we go out with a bang with this one!
What an utter disappointment. 😭
This book was a let down and a half like genuinely what happened with this one? It felt completely different to the other 4 in the series and I don't mean that in a good way.
Jordan annoyed the hell out of me. I understand she was supposed to be closed-off and guarded but she's a grown ass woman who acted like a teenager. Her personality irked me like no belief and it didn't feel like she had that authentic deepness to her compared to the other characters that were wrote about. The 2 stars were simply for Tate because that man was a gem. He was patient and loving and so caring; it was so easy to fall in love with him. I loved his dynamic with his daughter and I thought both of them were so easy to love.
What really lost me was the chemistry. I don't think that Jordan and Tate seemed to fit together like they were supposed to. This book was a slow-burn that just didn't hit the mark. I didn't feel like draw to them and I think what really didn't do it for me was how they talked to each other. Jordan couldn't have a grown up conversation if it slapped her in the face. I could definitely see how she was supposed to have her character arc as she gets more attached to the team, but it felt so....inauthentic. I had really high hopes for the Jordan and Tate duo, but she was so childish and didn't fit with Tate's grown-up and matured personality.
Another thing about this book was that it draggedddddd big time. I didn't even want to pick this up because I was so bored, which is why it took me so long to finish. It's definitely a fast read if you're into it; most of Stephanie Archer's book are. But this one was just so hard for me to finish. The plot felt clunky and the pacing was just so off. I was itching to get this book done.
I know that I'm definitely in the minority that disliked this book and I really can see the appeal to other people. But between Jordan's immaturity, the superficial chemistry, and the slow progression of the book, I can't bring myself to rate this higher. I was really anticipating this book but inevitably it just let me down. Is this my last Stephanie Archer book? Absolutely not. Sometimes there's just that one book in the series that is a complete miss even when you loved every other book. Hopefully the next book of hers will be better. 🩵
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭: ⛸️🤍
I'm not ready for this series to end I love them so much 😭
I really hope we go out with a bang with this one!
June 18, 2026
⋆˙⟡ 2.75 ⭐️ meh. mid. whatever.
i really wish i could say the wild card lived up to my expectations, but sadly, it did not. although, to be fair, gloves off set a standard for this series that this book didn't have much hope of surpassing. still, even accounting for that, this one was painfully average.
the characters were the biggest letdown. tate is basically the human embodiment of a shrug. he never develops beyond being a “nice guy”, which is to say, he’s incredibly boring. it felt like tate forgot he was the lead in his own story, and he definitely missed the memo on requiring anything resembling a personality. he honestly felt robotic at times. meanwhile, jordan was sold as a fierce black cat heroine but showed up more like a house cat that occasionally remembers it might have opinions. and she didn’t even feel like the same character we were teased with in earlier books, which made the downgrade even more noticeable.
their relationship didn’t do much to salvage things. the chemistry existed in that same muted, background furniture kind of way: technically there, but not especially memorable and very easy to forget. by the end, i wasn’t rooting for them so much as waiting for the book to wrap itself up.
what makes it more frustrating is that stephanie archer can write couples i’m feral for *cough* alexeigeorgia *cough*. that’s the issue. compared to the tension, personality, and emotional pull of gloves off, this felt like a first draft version that forgot to add seasoning.
if i had my time again, i’d simply stop at gloves off, close the book, and walk away on a high.
i really wish i could say the wild card lived up to my expectations, but sadly, it did not. although, to be fair, gloves off set a standard for this series that this book didn't have much hope of surpassing. still, even accounting for that, this one was painfully average.
the characters were the biggest letdown. tate is basically the human embodiment of a shrug. he never develops beyond being a “nice guy”, which is to say, he’s incredibly boring. it felt like tate forgot he was the lead in his own story, and he definitely missed the memo on requiring anything resembling a personality. he honestly felt robotic at times. meanwhile, jordan was sold as a fierce black cat heroine but showed up more like a house cat that occasionally remembers it might have opinions. and she didn’t even feel like the same character we were teased with in earlier books, which made the downgrade even more noticeable.
their relationship didn’t do much to salvage things. the chemistry existed in that same muted, background furniture kind of way: technically there, but not especially memorable and very easy to forget. by the end, i wasn’t rooting for them so much as waiting for the book to wrap itself up.
what makes it more frustrating is that stephanie archer can write couples i’m feral for *cough* alexeigeorgia *cough*. that’s the issue. compared to the tension, personality, and emotional pull of gloves off, this felt like a first draft version that forgot to add seasoning.
if i had my time again, i’d simply stop at gloves off, close the book, and walk away on a high.
June 4, 2025
5 ⭐️♾️
This was so precious and so perfect, I cried multiple times and love Jordan and Tate with my entire heart. It feels surreal to say that this incredible series has come to an end. I have made friends, life-long friends because of this series, built a sisterhood because of how we bonded over this series; its characters, and how talented Stephanie is as a writer. Over the few years; I have laughed (endlessly), cried (multiple times) with The Wild Card having the highest cry count, and loved (so, so hard!!).
Like many, I have been eagerly anticipating Coach Ward and Jordan's book, having first been teased about them at the end of Gloves Off. Jordan and Tate were the perfect ending to the series; a story about love, loss, and falling in love with yourself again.
Very little was actually known about both Jordan and Tate, asides from Tate being a single dad and recovering alcoholic; a man dedicated to his hockey team and the career he has made as coach. I loved how Ross, who was Jordan's dad and Tate's coach when he played hockey was what brought them together; even if they both were against the idea.
Tate had a preconception of what he thought Jordan was like from what he had seen of her, especially when it came to the fractured, estranged relationship with her dad, but underneath her reserved nature, Jordan loved so hard; she had so much love to give, her being incorporated into the team, when she felt like she didn't fit in, and how much the team loved and appreciated her. With their increased time spent together, and Tate moving her into his guest house; he began to see a completely different side to Jordan, especially when she spent time with Bea.
I loved Jordan and Bea's relationship, so, so much! It didn't feel awkward or forced, I liked how they were both able to bond over similar interests, and it also helped Bea to come out of her shell, too. A shout also for the scene when Jordan confronted one of the bullies who picked on Bea, and Jordan called him a rat faced fuck LMAOO Jordan was so iconic and real for that!! 😂😂
This wouldn't be an iconic Stephanie Archer book without a pet, or some secondary item being the highlight of the banter, and in this case, it was Phoebe; the cat that Jordan took in as a stray, lmaoo, I swear Phoebe was the MVP for bringing Tate Jordan's underwear, omggg!! 😩😮💨 And then Daddy Ward keeping them as trophies, lmaoo, get the fuck out of here, I was literally grinning so damn hard, and Daddy's ward antics, too, had me blushing!
As tender and sweet they were, they were also very hot together, my goddd, it really wouldn't be a Stephanie Archer book without some toe-curling spice that left me blushing. Even when it wasn't spicy, just how Jordan and Tate interacted had me so full of love and happiness; Tate showering her with gifts and jewellery he secretly loved seeing her wear. Paying for her whole wardrobe, too, love, loveeed it!!
Of course, I can't not mention the other couples that made an appearance, I mean I literally kept getting emotional whenever they were mentioned on page; especially when it was Hazel and Rory; I cried, literally cried when they shared the news that they were having a baby; I cried again over the epilogue, be what do you mean they're all living within close proximity, and Rory was made head coach of the team?! It truly was one of the BEST epilogues I have ever read, my god, it was just so, so perfect.
I'm guessing from the hints that we may be getting a book about Luca, which I'm so, so curious and excited for, I hope!
Again, I just can't believe that this series has come to an end; it feels like just the other day that I was getting the opportunity to read Behind the Net, and meeting everyone, The Wild Card was truly the perfect end. There really is no other hockey series like the Vancouver Storm series, and it is one I'll fondly think about and re-read again and again.
Thank you, thank you endlessly to Stephanie and Lauren for letting me be a part of the Vancouver Storm hype team, for the arcs, alcs and championing the incredible stories Steph writes! I really cannot wait for what's next in store for Stephanie and to be part of it, too!
Tropes
coach x owner’s daughter
single dad
age gap
hockey romance
slow burn
he likes everyone by her
black cat x golden retriever
Pre-read August 2025: got accepted for an arc and alc, last book in the series, baby, let’s go daddy Ward, January can’t come soon enough!!
Pre-read August 2025: FOAMING AT THE MOUTH OVER HOW HOT THE COVER IS, Mrs Archer, you have outdone yourself!!
Pre-read June 2025: mrs stephanie archer knew exactly what she was doing saving daddy Ward for last. i’m salivating at just the thought of how down bad and obsessed Tate is going to be over Jordan; the unresolved tension, her dad being his old coach, she hating hockey, and her daddy issues, god, I’m unwell just thinking about how good it’s gonna serve!!
This was so precious and so perfect, I cried multiple times and love Jordan and Tate with my entire heart. It feels surreal to say that this incredible series has come to an end. I have made friends, life-long friends because of this series, built a sisterhood because of how we bonded over this series; its characters, and how talented Stephanie is as a writer. Over the few years; I have laughed (endlessly), cried (multiple times) with The Wild Card having the highest cry count, and loved (so, so hard!!).
Like many, I have been eagerly anticipating Coach Ward and Jordan's book, having first been teased about them at the end of Gloves Off. Jordan and Tate were the perfect ending to the series; a story about love, loss, and falling in love with yourself again.
Very little was actually known about both Jordan and Tate, asides from Tate being a single dad and recovering alcoholic; a man dedicated to his hockey team and the career he has made as coach. I loved how Ross, who was Jordan's dad and Tate's coach when he played hockey was what brought them together; even if they both were against the idea.
Tate had a preconception of what he thought Jordan was like from what he had seen of her, especially when it came to the fractured, estranged relationship with her dad, but underneath her reserved nature, Jordan loved so hard; she had so much love to give, her being incorporated into the team, when she felt like she didn't fit in, and how much the team loved and appreciated her. With their increased time spent together, and Tate moving her into his guest house; he began to see a completely different side to Jordan, especially when she spent time with Bea.
I loved Jordan and Bea's relationship, so, so much! It didn't feel awkward or forced, I liked how they were both able to bond over similar interests, and it also helped Bea to come out of her shell, too. A shout also for the scene when Jordan confronted one of the bullies who picked on Bea, and Jordan called him a rat faced fuck LMAOO Jordan was so iconic and real for that!! 😂😂
This wouldn't be an iconic Stephanie Archer book without a pet, or some secondary item being the highlight of the banter, and in this case, it was Phoebe; the cat that Jordan took in as a stray, lmaoo, I swear Phoebe was the MVP for bringing Tate Jordan's underwear, omggg!! 😩😮💨 And then Daddy Ward keeping them as trophies, lmaoo, get the fuck out of here, I was literally grinning so damn hard, and Daddy's ward antics, too, had me blushing!
As tender and sweet they were, they were also very hot together, my goddd, it really wouldn't be a Stephanie Archer book without some toe-curling spice that left me blushing. Even when it wasn't spicy, just how Jordan and Tate interacted had me so full of love and happiness; Tate showering her with gifts and jewellery he secretly loved seeing her wear. Paying for her whole wardrobe, too, love, loveeed it!!
Of course, I can't not mention the other couples that made an appearance, I mean I literally kept getting emotional whenever they were mentioned on page; especially when it was Hazel and Rory; I cried, literally cried when they shared the news that they were having a baby; I cried again over the epilogue, be what do you mean they're all living within close proximity, and Rory was made head coach of the team?! It truly was one of the BEST epilogues I have ever read, my god, it was just so, so perfect.
I'm guessing from the hints that we may be getting a book about Luca, which I'm so, so curious and excited for, I hope!
Again, I just can't believe that this series has come to an end; it feels like just the other day that I was getting the opportunity to read Behind the Net, and meeting everyone, The Wild Card was truly the perfect end. There really is no other hockey series like the Vancouver Storm series, and it is one I'll fondly think about and re-read again and again.
Thank you, thank you endlessly to Stephanie and Lauren for letting me be a part of the Vancouver Storm hype team, for the arcs, alcs and championing the incredible stories Steph writes! I really cannot wait for what's next in store for Stephanie and to be part of it, too!
Tropes
coach x owner’s daughter
single dad
age gap
hockey romance
slow burn
he likes everyone by her
black cat x golden retriever
Pre-read August 2025: got accepted for an arc and alc, last book in the series, baby, let’s go daddy Ward, January can’t come soon enough!!
Pre-read August 2025: FOAMING AT THE MOUTH OVER HOW HOT THE COVER IS, Mrs Archer, you have outdone yourself!!
Pre-read June 2025: mrs stephanie archer knew exactly what she was doing saving daddy Ward for last. i’m salivating at just the thought of how down bad and obsessed Tate is going to be over Jordan; the unresolved tension, her dad being his old coach, she hating hockey, and her daddy issues, god, I’m unwell just thinking about how good it’s gonna serve!!
June 3, 2026
🏒3 stars. —
The Wild Card
book #5 Vancouver Storm
She fell first. But he fell harder.
I looooooove this trope oh my gawd! However, this installment of the Vancouver Storm series definitely was more on the boring side.
Tate Ward was a great coach and an even greater father so that was excellent to see, but besides that this book wasn't all that exciting. It dragged in places and some of the pacing was off. There was a ton of extra filler towards the end and Jordan was dragging her feet so much and I really didn't understand why she was so hesitant to just be with Tate. There was never a really good reason for why she was so hesitant. I think it was because she didn't want to end up hurting his daughter but it was pretty unclear. I believe if a book is going to be dragged out, there should be a damn good reason.
Besides some of the pacing issues, I really did enjoy this one. I loved seeing Tate being a dad and I loved seeing him interact with his 9 year old daughter. I just wish we got to see more one on one interactions with him and her. Their relationship was just so wholesome I just wanted to see more of it.
What we did get a perfect amount of though was Jordan and the daughter interaction. My God they were so cute. There was also no pressure on Jordan to because a mom figure for her or to be a "replacement mother" because Bea already has her biological mother and a step father who love her. It took a lot of the tension that would have been there out and we just got to enjoy them being cute together.
Shoutout to Pheebe the cat! 🐈⬛ She brought a lot of life to this book and she was so funny. And also very diabolical!!
book #5 Vancouver Storm
She fell first. But he fell harder.
I looooooove this trope oh my gawd! However, this installment of the Vancouver Storm series definitely was more on the boring side.
Tate Ward was a great coach and an even greater father so that was excellent to see, but besides that this book wasn't all that exciting. It dragged in places and some of the pacing was off. There was a ton of extra filler towards the end and Jordan was dragging her feet so much and I really didn't understand why she was so hesitant to just be with Tate. There was never a really good reason for why she was so hesitant. I think it was because she didn't want to end up hurting his daughter but it was pretty unclear. I believe if a book is going to be dragged out, there should be a damn good reason.
Besides some of the pacing issues, I really did enjoy this one. I loved seeing Tate being a dad and I loved seeing him interact with his 9 year old daughter. I just wish we got to see more one on one interactions with him and her. Their relationship was just so wholesome I just wanted to see more of it.
What we did get a perfect amount of though was Jordan and the daughter interaction. My God they were so cute. There was also no pressure on Jordan to because a mom figure for her or to be a "replacement mother" because Bea already has her biological mother and a step father who love her. It took a lot of the tension that would have been there out and we just got to enjoy them being cute together.
Shoutout to Pheebe the cat! 🐈⬛ She brought a lot of life to this book and she was so funny. And also very diabolical!!
Want to Read
August 14, 2025thank you to Stephanie and her team for the e-arc + alc 🥺 now the long wait for its arrival 🤭
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 stars
The Wild Card was such a beautiful book. It was endearingly comforting, and I inhaled every word because it was such an enjoyable and addictive read. I was waiting for Coach Tate to get his own love story, and when I read about how he’s getting paired with Jordan, I was screaming over the roof because they just make perfect sense together. The book is so good and so satisfying, because it’s the last book in the series and I always get agitated if some things are left hanging but this book was everything I expected and so much more. A perfect single-dad romance, it was so wholesome and so emotionally satisfying. The banter, the steamy romance, the high-stakes hockey moments, the ultimate found family arc, everything was perfect!
The writing in this book was so easy to read, I was hooked, and the pacing was so steady that I wasn’t bored even for a minute. The hockey aspect in this book was also written so well. I also loved how they finally won the Stanley Cup 🥺 I was crying because my babies deserved that, and it also added some good anticipated drama and thrill that I loved reading about. Stephanie is so good at not just making her hockey romances about romance, but also about actual hockey!
Tate Ward was worth the wait! A single grumpy dad who’s impossible not to love. He’s perfect in every manner, a perfect dad, a great friend, an incredible and patient lover, and an amazing coach to his players. He’s always been so controlled and professional, so watching Jordan taunt him with her bratty attitude and antics was so fun. Seeing him take care of Jordan, waiting for her to reach out to him, the way he cherished her and patiently waited for her to share her thoughts and feelings, healed something in me. He healed Jordan from how she thought she wasn’t enough, he helped her fall in love with hockey as a career again, he helped her reach her potential, and he loved her with so much unwavering devotion. And the way he was with Bea, so protective and present in her upbringing. Tate had his own fears and addictions, but he overcame those and showed up for his daughter! He’s the definition of a perfect dad!
Jordan Hathaway was so easy to love. She was first shown as this cold and unapproachable woman, but there’s so much more to her than she lets people see. She’s so good at being a guarded and independent version of herself, only relying on her own strength, hiding her loneliness because she’s scared of getting close to people and not being enough for them. She’s been hurt in the past, and that made her cautious with her feelings, but Tate was so good at prying open her heart, making her let loose and share her emotions, vulnerabilities, and fears with him. I also loved how badass she was, but also so sweet with Bea. I loved their relationship so much. Bea needed her as a friend, and Jordan was so good at encouraging and loving her. I almost teared up when Bea gave her a family drawing with Jordan included in it on Mother’s Day, and when Jordan got her a record player because they bonded over music 😭
Jordan and Tate were simply so perfect and beautiful together. Two people who make perfect sense in every way. I loved their brat x authority figure banter, how they were so good at riling each other up, and how they brought out the real version of each other. Their chemistry was hot and addictive, and the slow burn was written to perfection! It was always about emotional intimacy over physical connection between them, and I loved how the sexual tension exploded in the end. The demon cat and Miller were working overtime as their cupids, and it was hilarious how they tried to make them like each other with presentations and forced dinners. And the cat leaving Jordan’s panties at Tate’s house felt like she knew exactly how much that man needed those. I couldn’t stop laughing at those scenes.
Tate was so in check with his needs and emotionally aware, while Jordan was always running away from anything serious, but they were both lonely in their lives. Every time Jordan asked the “are you lonely, Tate?” question in her mind, only for Tate to voice it out loud in the end, and for them to confess “not anymore” to each other, it was so comforting and healing.
I adore the Storm family with all my heart, and I need more of them! It meant everything to me to see them together, becoming a big, precious found family. Hazel and Rory becoming parents was so adorable, that man makes a perfect daddy, and seeing Alexei in his girl-dad mode healed me 🥹
Stephanie Archer, please never stop writing about hockey and grumpy hot hockey players because they are my serotonin boost and I need them like I need air. I’m not going to stop emailing you until you give us a spin-off series or something, because you cannot just leave us like that!! The way Stephanie is teasing us with Easter eggs about Luca and Briar is not funny because I need their book so bad!! I’m also very interested in Kilgour’s story 👀 I know this is supposed to be the last book, but I feel like Stephanie is definitely cooking up a new hockey series. Anyway, I’m waiting (not so) patiently for her to announce her new series 😌
~~~~~~~~~~
daddy ward was worth the wait 🥹 also, stephanie, please make luca and briar happen!! we need more of the storm family! i’m also very interested in kilgour’s story 👀 i know this is supposed to be the last book, but there were so many easter eggs that it feels like stephanie is definitely cooking up a new hockey series? anyway, i’m waiting (not so) patiently for her to announce her new series 😌
The Wild Card was such a beautiful book. It was endearingly comforting, and I inhaled every word because it was such an enjoyable and addictive read. I was waiting for Coach Tate to get his own love story, and when I read about how he’s getting paired with Jordan, I was screaming over the roof because they just make perfect sense together. The book is so good and so satisfying, because it’s the last book in the series and I always get agitated if some things are left hanging but this book was everything I expected and so much more. A perfect single-dad romance, it was so wholesome and so emotionally satisfying. The banter, the steamy romance, the high-stakes hockey moments, the ultimate found family arc, everything was perfect!
The writing in this book was so easy to read, I was hooked, and the pacing was so steady that I wasn’t bored even for a minute. The hockey aspect in this book was also written so well. I also loved how they finally won the Stanley Cup 🥺 I was crying because my babies deserved that, and it also added some good anticipated drama and thrill that I loved reading about. Stephanie is so good at not just making her hockey romances about romance, but also about actual hockey!
Tate Ward was worth the wait! A single grumpy dad who’s impossible not to love. He’s perfect in every manner, a perfect dad, a great friend, an incredible and patient lover, and an amazing coach to his players. He’s always been so controlled and professional, so watching Jordan taunt him with her bratty attitude and antics was so fun. Seeing him take care of Jordan, waiting for her to reach out to him, the way he cherished her and patiently waited for her to share her thoughts and feelings, healed something in me. He healed Jordan from how she thought she wasn’t enough, he helped her fall in love with hockey as a career again, he helped her reach her potential, and he loved her with so much unwavering devotion. And the way he was with Bea, so protective and present in her upbringing. Tate had his own fears and addictions, but he overcame those and showed up for his daughter! He’s the definition of a perfect dad!
Jordan Hathaway was so easy to love. She was first shown as this cold and unapproachable woman, but there’s so much more to her than she lets people see. She’s so good at being a guarded and independent version of herself, only relying on her own strength, hiding her loneliness because she’s scared of getting close to people and not being enough for them. She’s been hurt in the past, and that made her cautious with her feelings, but Tate was so good at prying open her heart, making her let loose and share her emotions, vulnerabilities, and fears with him. I also loved how badass she was, but also so sweet with Bea. I loved their relationship so much. Bea needed her as a friend, and Jordan was so good at encouraging and loving her. I almost teared up when Bea gave her a family drawing with Jordan included in it on Mother’s Day, and when Jordan got her a record player because they bonded over music 😭
Jordan and Tate were simply so perfect and beautiful together. Two people who make perfect sense in every way. I loved their brat x authority figure banter, how they were so good at riling each other up, and how they brought out the real version of each other. Their chemistry was hot and addictive, and the slow burn was written to perfection! It was always about emotional intimacy over physical connection between them, and I loved how the sexual tension exploded in the end. The demon cat and Miller were working overtime as their cupids, and it was hilarious how they tried to make them like each other with presentations and forced dinners. And the cat leaving Jordan’s panties at Tate’s house felt like she knew exactly how much that man needed those. I couldn’t stop laughing at those scenes.
Tate was so in check with his needs and emotionally aware, while Jordan was always running away from anything serious, but they were both lonely in their lives. Every time Jordan asked the “are you lonely, Tate?” question in her mind, only for Tate to voice it out loud in the end, and for them to confess “not anymore” to each other, it was so comforting and healing.
I adore the Storm family with all my heart, and I need more of them! It meant everything to me to see them together, becoming a big, precious found family. Hazel and Rory becoming parents was so adorable, that man makes a perfect daddy, and seeing Alexei in his girl-dad mode healed me 🥹
Stephanie Archer, please never stop writing about hockey and grumpy hot hockey players because they are my serotonin boost and I need them like I need air. I’m not going to stop emailing you until you give us a spin-off series or something, because you cannot just leave us like that!! The way Stephanie is teasing us with Easter eggs about Luca and Briar is not funny because I need their book so bad!! I’m also very interested in Kilgour’s story 👀 I know this is supposed to be the last book, but I feel like Stephanie is definitely cooking up a new hockey series. Anyway, I’m waiting (not so) patiently for her to announce her new series 😌
~~~~~~~~~~
daddy ward was worth the wait 🥹 also, stephanie, please make luca and briar happen!! we need more of the storm family! i’m also very interested in kilgour’s story 👀 i know this is supposed to be the last book, but there were so many easter eggs that it feels like stephanie is definitely cooking up a new hockey series? anyway, i’m waiting (not so) patiently for her to announce her new series 😌
February 3, 2026
5 Big Daddy Energy ✨'s
The Wild Card is an addictive slow burn romance full of swoon and so many amazing moments. This is officially one of my all time favorite hockey romances! Tate and Jordan were just so good together, their chemistry and banter were off the charts. The two were just a perfect match, and I loved that their slow burn romance was so addictive and fun while also having the perfect amount of emotion. Daddy Tate was so generous and loving, it was adorable how he fell all over himself to make Jordan happy. And don’t even get me started on how lovely it was to see him fall for Jordan as she got close to his daughter and family. Now, excuse me while I go cry about the end of this series and the fact that I am not ready to let these characters go!
~Many thanks to Stephanie Archer and her team for the ARC in return for an honest review. I
The Wild Card is an addictive slow burn romance full of swoon and so many amazing moments. This is officially one of my all time favorite hockey romances! Tate and Jordan were just so good together, their chemistry and banter were off the charts. The two were just a perfect match, and I loved that their slow burn romance was so addictive and fun while also having the perfect amount of emotion. Daddy Tate was so generous and loving, it was adorable how he fell all over himself to make Jordan happy. And don’t even get me started on how lovely it was to see him fall for Jordan as she got close to his daughter and family. Now, excuse me while I go cry about the end of this series and the fact that I am not ready to let these characters go!
~Many thanks to Stephanie Archer and her team for the ARC in return for an honest review. I
February 23, 2026
this was a solid end to the series but as a person who hasn’t read the
entire
series, It was tad too long for me since it involved the entire cast of characters who I frankly just didn’t care about. Jordan’s storyline though was 🤌🤌🤌. i love reading about characters who actually support and respect each other and everyone in this book was so supportive and loving😭💗 it was nice reading about a woman in a male dominated industry and the way she handled every brick thrown in her way
February 8, 2026
this is going to be a long ass review because i’ve got shit to say, little of it good.
this was all over the place. there were so many little inconsistencies that honestly should have been caught in the editing/beta reading phase, the pace was very slow and the characters flat. a very disappointing way to end this series.
brief summary: coach ward, in his 40s, has a 9 yr old daughter and a very demanding job (coaching the hockey team). jordan, in her early 30s, owns a bar and is, as it turns out, the daughter of the owner of the hockey team. she makes a deal with her estranged father to join the organisational part of the team, meaning she has to work with coach ward, who she (allegedly) hates.
let’s start with the romance: i’m not sure how to describe it other than that the timeline was all messed up and i think this stems from the author not knowing how to make dislike/disinterest-to-lovers work. immediately in the first chapter i felt like i had no idea how these characters feel about each other, what their relationship is. they clearly don’t actually hate each other so it’s not enemies-to-lovers. but both are attracted to each other and thirsting and trying not to smile at each other’s jokes, so why are they not at least friends? both keep saying “i don’t care about him/her” but they VERY clearly do?
this unclear beginning of their relationship just leads to more inconsistencies:
● jordan thinks he’s clearly being sarcastic when he asks how she is doing, but then on the next page she thinks “he’s unfailingly good and earnest it’s annoying” - ok so was he being sarcastic or do you just find it annoying? those are two very different things and clarifying which one it is would be pretty important in establishing their dynamic.
● he thinks “i don’t want to take care of her” but he does. from the beginning. that's actually why he is even in jordan's bar in the first chapter. like that’s literally all he does and it never develops or changes.
● the whole “hatred” feels very one-sided and immature on jordan’s part. she’s always like “he doesn’t like me and i definitely don’t like him” and yet neither of them dislikes the other at all, definitely not in their actions and the way they talk to each other and think about each other. it’s so forced
● she ends up staying in a guest house on his property and is like “do i really want to sleep 50 ft apart from him? that could lead to a lot of bad decisions” LIKE WHAT DECISIONS??? BASED ON WHAT DOES SHE EVEN THINK THAT??????? like mind you SHE doesn’t know his cock twitches all the time when he thinks about her and SHE still thinks he doesn’t like her. based on nothing. but then also she thinks they’ll have sex if they’re on the same land. also based on nothing. make it make sense.
● when she starts working for the team, he hires a stylist to get her clothes (more on that later) and apparently, after literally WORKING together as EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE for LESS THAN A WEEK, he told the stylist to get her “something that makes her feel sexy and beautiful” ???????????????? ok but also he doesn’t want to take care of her. and she hates him. and he doesn’t like her. and she hates that she has to work with him. you see what i mean about their relationship being inconsistent? and like why tf did he even assume that she DOESN’T feel sexy and beautiful??? there’s NO indication of this being the case in ANYTHING jordan has said in like 5 books.
● about a third into the book, after saying he doesn’t want to take care of her and doing it anyway, he says “it’s time someone started looking after jordan” and, well, i literally almost stopped reading here. shut UP??? and like yea ok him having the realisation is okay, but then maybe don’t have him taking care of her BEFORE. i feel like from that point on would be great to start doing that. but he was doing that the whole time. so why should i care.
● chapter 33: “omg i have a crush on coach ward” you were. thinking. only a few chapters ago. that you shouldn’t sleep 50 ft apart from him. IN A SEPARATE BUILDING. because you were so horny over him. in fact, you have been lusting over him since chapter 1 and saying how nice he is. and NOW. all of a SUDDEN. you have a CRUSH?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?! UGHGHHHHHHHHH. like what if i threw my kindle OUT OF THE LITERAL WINDOW. and never read a single GODDAMN BOOK. EVER. AGAIN.
● next chapter he tells some guy who is hitting on jordan that jordan is not single. yea you read that right, he hasn’t even had The Big Realisation yes, she only JUST had it, and now we're doing the possessiveness / jealousy trope. stephanie archer when i fucking catch you
● the whole “we can’t date” spiel that they get into that lasts way too long, all about how they are colleagues and thus can’t date really doesn’t hit the same when the plot of the last 4 books has been players dating staff members lol clearly it can’t be that much of an issue
i will now go on to more general plot holes / characters being dumb /both
● she "adopts" a cat from the alley behind her bar and the cat starts stealing her panties from the guest house and bringing them to the main house. ok great. cute. fun even. whatever. like a week after this happens she sees one of the panties in coach ward’s room. and she immediately thinks “omg did he steal them” girl??????????? the cat?????????????????????? don’t piss me off. (this is when they both still “””””””hate”””””””” each other so the cat is literally the only and very obvious explanation) LIKE HOW IS YOUR FIRST THOUGHT NOT THE CAT?????????? just dumb
● some side characters just don’t fill out a main character position. jordan and ward had some chemistry in the other books but we literally learn nothing about them in this book that we didn’t already know from their small previous interactions. this is going to sound harsh but in my opinion this whole relationship could have been an epilogue in one of the other books
● one of my biggest issues with this book is how buff coach ward is. PLEASE hear me out lmao... i just don’t think it’s realistic or necessary for a retired player-turned-coach and dad in his 40s to be “more fit than most guys on the team”. like no he’s definitely actually literally not, and that’s FINE. what happened to men having normal bodies…. for the other books in this series it’s fine because they’re active players. it was still exaggerated, but here??? this man has a 12-hour workday, a daughter to take care of, and you want me to believe he goes to the gym daily?? for multiple hours??? like why is he built like arnold schwarzenegger in the 80s FOR NO REASON? at that point it’s vanity and that’s not an attractive trait for a male lead in a romance to me. this actually pissed me off so bad, which i know seems crazy, but man, just give him a normal body. he’s retired and ridiculously busy in what world would he be built like that……….. “he makes forty look good” what is wrong with looking 40 like what are we doing here man
● she has purple eyes. so.
● remember when i said he buys her clothes for the office? let’s get into it. this trope of man-buys-woman-clothing has been in every book of this series. i get it it’s cliche but romantic bla bla who cares. it was always either lingerie or a nice dress the woman wanted or, in one case, a pair of shoes for the character obsessed with a specific type of heels. personal and thoughtful. you get it. in this book, coach ward buys jordan an entire wardrobe and it feels kinda weird? first of all, she never said she needed clothes, then she doesn’t even push back on it even though based on her previous characterization she absolutely would have, and like….. it’s been less than a week. WHY are you buying her clothes? and so for the rest of the book, everytime she puts on a new outfit it’s like….. not hers. she didn’t pick it herself and coach ward didn’t pick it either (he hires a stylist). it doesn’t reflect her at all and it just feels so empty, just a trope the author wanted to throw in. later in the book jordan is wearing a necklace and goes “it’s from ward” ok why don’t we see him buying it? choosing it? why don’t we see her receiving it? reacting to it? she literally goes “it’s the exact type of jewelry i would choose if i was a jewelry person” so she ISN'T a jewelry person, but he got her jewelry anyway and we’re just going to…. ignore that because buying jewelry is romantic in general? not to mention most of it happens while coach ward is still actively like “i don’t want to take care of her because look how she treats her father” ok so stop? like who's forcing you?
● that’s another thing: jordan doesn’t speak to her father and coach ward is always like “wow it’s crazy she’s so cold to him even though he was such a good dad”. because jordan’s father is “like a father to him”, ward doesn’t once consider that jordan might have her own reasons for going no-contact. and when he finds out what happens it also doesn’t really change anything because jordan is already making amends with her dad so there’s literally no incentive for anyone to do anything with that information.
● hey also: jordan hasn’t spoken to her father in ten years and he literally has told coach ward to check up on her regularly. that’s literally why he’s in the bar in the first chapter. just a deeply weird dynamic no wonder the author had no idea how they feel about each other. but also that’s a problem of your own making, there were so many other things you could have come up with to get them together.
● overall this book tries to juggle so many themes at once. ward’s alcoholism, his absent father, his injury and retirement, jordan’s relationship with her father, her failed career in sports before owning the bar, her grief from her mother passing away etc etc and nothing is addressed properly. all just surface level.
● when he offers to let her stay in the guest house this happens: “why are you doing this?” “he sighs. ‘i want you living in a place that has working smoke detectors? your dad would too, if he knew.’ i should probably be pissed that he’s bringing my dad into this, but my mind just snags on him saying i want you.” girl. “i want you in a place with smoke detectors” is the bare fucking minimum. oh so he doesn’t want her to DIE? what a guy. the bar is in HELL
● she calls him coach ward and he’s always like “please call me tate” and so SHE DOES for multiple chapters. and then like 100 pages later he’s like “you called me tate :)” ????????? yeah dude shes’s BEEN doing that. your dick HAS been twitching because of it. like hello????
● guys remember what i said earlier, the scene where he tells the random guy that jordan isn’t single because he has his unexplained, unexamined and completely out of character moment of jealousy? afterwards he’s like “across the table, miller and volkov watch with curious impressions. did they hear what i just said?” uhm, dude. they’re across the table OBVIOUSLY they heard??????????????? i can’t do this anymore how big would this table have to be for them to not hear someone speaking across from them???
● coach ward tells jordan “you have a remarkable gift for predicting team dynamics with new players, that’s even better than years of experience in the NHL” no it’s not?????? HUH??????????????????
● like 35% into the book all the other people from previous books start trying to get them into a relationship based on literally nothing other than we needed to bring these characters back because they’re clearly more interesting than whatever is going on this book, and the whole thing was annoying and cringe and like why?? the meddling overall was very off-putting both in how persistent they were and the methods they employed
● the power goes out. he goes to get jordan from the guest house. he somehow sees IN THE DARK that she has a drawing from his daughter on her fridge. ok. whatever
● coach ward’s brother visits and is placed next to jordan in the owner’s box and when the announcer announces them the FANS start yelling “kiss! kiss! kiss!” and like??? why would the fans care about the daughter's owner and some guy she just met for the first time??? is that normal????? not to mention that miller, one of the players, also yells “kiss!” and like?? miller who less than a chapter ago was desperately trying to set up jordan and coach ward??????? are we sure?????????????????????
● they have this running joke where neither of them can take a compliment (#real #relatable #measf) and they go “when someone compliments you you say thank you” and this is fine when jordan starts it (#feminist #girlboss #slay) but when a man twice her age tells her to "say thank you" ???? EWWW (#barf #ilovemisandry #killallmen). also like the TENTH time they do this bit jordan goes “wow now i’m blushing because i remember that i said that to him in his office” meanwhile it happened like multiple times between that??? i can’t do this anymore was ANYONE paying attention to anything
● at like 80% he goes” wow she’s beautiful and kind. i can’t believe i spent years thinking she was heartless and unforgiving” you did NOT think that. your dick was hard the first time you talked to her in this book. you offered her your guest house in chapter 3. shut UP
● twice in this book she’s sucking him off and thinks “this is what i’m for. [...] a way for him to lose control and take what he needs” yikes. ugh. ew even. the other one is “this is what i am for… making tate ward come.” girl. (meaning the author this time) first of all he never once insinuated he needed to let off steam. he actually seems like a really emotionally balanced individual who just hasn’t gotten laid because he’s so busy. and neither his inner monologue nor what he communicates to her are really any indication that this is what he wants her to be. second of all, this does NOT match with the jordan’s characterisation and it’s annoying.
● he bought condoms the week she moved in. when he still thought she was “heartless” and that she hated him. ok sure that’s not weird at all
● at lunch with her estranged father he tells jordan: “you are my greatest achievement. the woman you’ve grown into, without any help from me” ok so that’s actually NOT your achievement then. hope this helps! (i’m not kidding btw that’s a direct quote he really says that)
● we also don't see jordan and her dad's relationship grow at all. it's just better at some point i guess
● coach ward lives by a lake in the middle of nowhere. as close to being off the grid and in wild nature as you can be without actually being off the grid. this woman has the nerve to say “he could use a getaway” ???? he who lives in a constant getaway?
● he gets a tattoo related to her at the end. after like a month? personal preference but tattoos as a surprise are my least favorite romance trope so obviously i hated that
● the final conflict was introduced and cleared up within less than two chapters
inconsistencies that i think should have been caught by an editor
● on her first day working for the team she’s in her new office and all the girls from the previous books who work for the team (eyeroll) walk by and they’re all like “uhm jordan what are you doing here??? do you work here omg????" and then not two paragraphs later one of them says “news has already broken that you work here now and everyone’s excited” hm????? HUH???? the news already broke???? so WHY did anyone ask????????????
● “my name sounds different on her lips” what? does she have a speech impediment? literally what does “different” mean here??
● “under his shirt, he’s bare-chested” should i just kill myself
● he tells her “i sleep better when you’re in my bed” and then not five chapters later he tells her the same thing again, worded slightly different, and this time she’s like “wow so it wasn’t just my imagination” YEA BECAUSE HE TOLD YOU GNNNGGGGGGGHH
● coach ward’s daughter gets made fun of at school and jordan talks to the ten year old boys in a really cringe little speech, anyway she calls one of them a “rat faced fuck.” yes he’s like 10. everyone applauds her for it. and then the next chapter someone tells her “you were right. he was a rat-faced fuck.” that’s the wrong emphasis. it should be “you were right. he was a rat-faced fuck.”
hey so overall i’m sure you can guess already but i’m giving this FIVE stars i have NO NOTES at ALL
series ratings
● behind the net: 2.5 stars
● the fake out: 5 stars (if you can believe it)
● the wingman: 3 stars
● gloves off: 4 stars
● the wild card: 1.5 stars (because i’m feeling generous)
this was all over the place. there were so many little inconsistencies that honestly should have been caught in the editing/beta reading phase, the pace was very slow and the characters flat. a very disappointing way to end this series.
brief summary: coach ward, in his 40s, has a 9 yr old daughter and a very demanding job (coaching the hockey team). jordan, in her early 30s, owns a bar and is, as it turns out, the daughter of the owner of the hockey team. she makes a deal with her estranged father to join the organisational part of the team, meaning she has to work with coach ward, who she (allegedly) hates.
let’s start with the romance: i’m not sure how to describe it other than that the timeline was all messed up and i think this stems from the author not knowing how to make dislike/disinterest-to-lovers work. immediately in the first chapter i felt like i had no idea how these characters feel about each other, what their relationship is. they clearly don’t actually hate each other so it’s not enemies-to-lovers. but both are attracted to each other and thirsting and trying not to smile at each other’s jokes, so why are they not at least friends? both keep saying “i don’t care about him/her” but they VERY clearly do?
this unclear beginning of their relationship just leads to more inconsistencies:
● jordan thinks he’s clearly being sarcastic when he asks how she is doing, but then on the next page she thinks “he’s unfailingly good and earnest it’s annoying” - ok so was he being sarcastic or do you just find it annoying? those are two very different things and clarifying which one it is would be pretty important in establishing their dynamic.
● he thinks “i don’t want to take care of her” but he does. from the beginning. that's actually why he is even in jordan's bar in the first chapter. like that’s literally all he does and it never develops or changes.
● the whole “hatred” feels very one-sided and immature on jordan’s part. she’s always like “he doesn’t like me and i definitely don’t like him” and yet neither of them dislikes the other at all, definitely not in their actions and the way they talk to each other and think about each other. it’s so forced
● she ends up staying in a guest house on his property and is like “do i really want to sleep 50 ft apart from him? that could lead to a lot of bad decisions” LIKE WHAT DECISIONS??? BASED ON WHAT DOES SHE EVEN THINK THAT??????? like mind you SHE doesn’t know his cock twitches all the time when he thinks about her and SHE still thinks he doesn’t like her. based on nothing. but then also she thinks they’ll have sex if they’re on the same land. also based on nothing. make it make sense.
● when she starts working for the team, he hires a stylist to get her clothes (more on that later) and apparently, after literally WORKING together as EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE for LESS THAN A WEEK, he told the stylist to get her “something that makes her feel sexy and beautiful” ???????????????? ok but also he doesn’t want to take care of her. and she hates him. and he doesn’t like her. and she hates that she has to work with him. you see what i mean about their relationship being inconsistent? and like why tf did he even assume that she DOESN’T feel sexy and beautiful??? there’s NO indication of this being the case in ANYTHING jordan has said in like 5 books.
● about a third into the book, after saying he doesn’t want to take care of her and doing it anyway, he says “it’s time someone started looking after jordan” and, well, i literally almost stopped reading here. shut UP??? and like yea ok him having the realisation is okay, but then maybe don’t have him taking care of her BEFORE. i feel like from that point on would be great to start doing that. but he was doing that the whole time. so why should i care.
● chapter 33: “omg i have a crush on coach ward” you were. thinking. only a few chapters ago. that you shouldn’t sleep 50 ft apart from him. IN A SEPARATE BUILDING. because you were so horny over him. in fact, you have been lusting over him since chapter 1 and saying how nice he is. and NOW. all of a SUDDEN. you have a CRUSH?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?! UGHGHHHHHHHHH. like what if i threw my kindle OUT OF THE LITERAL WINDOW. and never read a single GODDAMN BOOK. EVER. AGAIN.
● next chapter he tells some guy who is hitting on jordan that jordan is not single. yea you read that right, he hasn’t even had The Big Realisation yes, she only JUST had it, and now we're doing the possessiveness / jealousy trope. stephanie archer when i fucking catch you
● the whole “we can’t date” spiel that they get into that lasts way too long, all about how they are colleagues and thus can’t date really doesn’t hit the same when the plot of the last 4 books has been players dating staff members lol clearly it can’t be that much of an issue
i will now go on to more general plot holes / characters being dumb /both
● she "adopts" a cat from the alley behind her bar and the cat starts stealing her panties from the guest house and bringing them to the main house. ok great. cute. fun even. whatever. like a week after this happens she sees one of the panties in coach ward’s room. and she immediately thinks “omg did he steal them” girl??????????? the cat?????????????????????? don’t piss me off. (this is when they both still “””””””hate”””””””” each other so the cat is literally the only and very obvious explanation) LIKE HOW IS YOUR FIRST THOUGHT NOT THE CAT?????????? just dumb
● some side characters just don’t fill out a main character position. jordan and ward had some chemistry in the other books but we literally learn nothing about them in this book that we didn’t already know from their small previous interactions. this is going to sound harsh but in my opinion this whole relationship could have been an epilogue in one of the other books
● one of my biggest issues with this book is how buff coach ward is. PLEASE hear me out lmao... i just don’t think it’s realistic or necessary for a retired player-turned-coach and dad in his 40s to be “more fit than most guys on the team”. like no he’s definitely actually literally not, and that’s FINE. what happened to men having normal bodies…. for the other books in this series it’s fine because they’re active players. it was still exaggerated, but here??? this man has a 12-hour workday, a daughter to take care of, and you want me to believe he goes to the gym daily?? for multiple hours??? like why is he built like arnold schwarzenegger in the 80s FOR NO REASON? at that point it’s vanity and that’s not an attractive trait for a male lead in a romance to me. this actually pissed me off so bad, which i know seems crazy, but man, just give him a normal body. he’s retired and ridiculously busy in what world would he be built like that……….. “he makes forty look good” what is wrong with looking 40 like what are we doing here man
● she has purple eyes. so.
● remember when i said he buys her clothes for the office? let’s get into it. this trope of man-buys-woman-clothing has been in every book of this series. i get it it’s cliche but romantic bla bla who cares. it was always either lingerie or a nice dress the woman wanted or, in one case, a pair of shoes for the character obsessed with a specific type of heels. personal and thoughtful. you get it. in this book, coach ward buys jordan an entire wardrobe and it feels kinda weird? first of all, she never said she needed clothes, then she doesn’t even push back on it even though based on her previous characterization she absolutely would have, and like….. it’s been less than a week. WHY are you buying her clothes? and so for the rest of the book, everytime she puts on a new outfit it’s like….. not hers. she didn’t pick it herself and coach ward didn’t pick it either (he hires a stylist). it doesn’t reflect her at all and it just feels so empty, just a trope the author wanted to throw in. later in the book jordan is wearing a necklace and goes “it’s from ward” ok why don’t we see him buying it? choosing it? why don’t we see her receiving it? reacting to it? she literally goes “it’s the exact type of jewelry i would choose if i was a jewelry person” so she ISN'T a jewelry person, but he got her jewelry anyway and we’re just going to…. ignore that because buying jewelry is romantic in general? not to mention most of it happens while coach ward is still actively like “i don’t want to take care of her because look how she treats her father” ok so stop? like who's forcing you?
● that’s another thing: jordan doesn’t speak to her father and coach ward is always like “wow it’s crazy she’s so cold to him even though he was such a good dad”. because jordan’s father is “like a father to him”, ward doesn’t once consider that jordan might have her own reasons for going no-contact. and when he finds out what happens it also doesn’t really change anything because jordan is already making amends with her dad so there’s literally no incentive for anyone to do anything with that information.
● hey also: jordan hasn’t spoken to her father in ten years and he literally has told coach ward to check up on her regularly. that’s literally why he’s in the bar in the first chapter. just a deeply weird dynamic no wonder the author had no idea how they feel about each other. but also that’s a problem of your own making, there were so many other things you could have come up with to get them together.
● overall this book tries to juggle so many themes at once. ward’s alcoholism, his absent father, his injury and retirement, jordan’s relationship with her father, her failed career in sports before owning the bar, her grief from her mother passing away etc etc and nothing is addressed properly. all just surface level.
● when he offers to let her stay in the guest house this happens: “why are you doing this?” “he sighs. ‘i want you living in a place that has working smoke detectors? your dad would too, if he knew.’ i should probably be pissed that he’s bringing my dad into this, but my mind just snags on him saying i want you.” girl. “i want you in a place with smoke detectors” is the bare fucking minimum. oh so he doesn’t want her to DIE? what a guy. the bar is in HELL
● she calls him coach ward and he’s always like “please call me tate” and so SHE DOES for multiple chapters. and then like 100 pages later he’s like “you called me tate :)” ????????? yeah dude shes’s BEEN doing that. your dick HAS been twitching because of it. like hello????
● guys remember what i said earlier, the scene where he tells the random guy that jordan isn’t single because he has his unexplained, unexamined and completely out of character moment of jealousy? afterwards he’s like “across the table, miller and volkov watch with curious impressions. did they hear what i just said?” uhm, dude. they’re across the table OBVIOUSLY they heard??????????????? i can’t do this anymore how big would this table have to be for them to not hear someone speaking across from them???
● coach ward tells jordan “you have a remarkable gift for predicting team dynamics with new players, that’s even better than years of experience in the NHL” no it’s not?????? HUH??????????????????
● like 35% into the book all the other people from previous books start trying to get them into a relationship based on literally nothing other than we needed to bring these characters back because they’re clearly more interesting than whatever is going on this book, and the whole thing was annoying and cringe and like why?? the meddling overall was very off-putting both in how persistent they were and the methods they employed
● the power goes out. he goes to get jordan from the guest house. he somehow sees IN THE DARK that she has a drawing from his daughter on her fridge. ok. whatever
● coach ward’s brother visits and is placed next to jordan in the owner’s box and when the announcer announces them the FANS start yelling “kiss! kiss! kiss!” and like??? why would the fans care about the daughter's owner and some guy she just met for the first time??? is that normal????? not to mention that miller, one of the players, also yells “kiss!” and like?? miller who less than a chapter ago was desperately trying to set up jordan and coach ward??????? are we sure?????????????????????
● they have this running joke where neither of them can take a compliment (#real #relatable #measf) and they go “when someone compliments you you say thank you” and this is fine when jordan starts it (#feminist #girlboss #slay) but when a man twice her age tells her to "say thank you" ???? EWWW (#barf #ilovemisandry #killallmen). also like the TENTH time they do this bit jordan goes “wow now i’m blushing because i remember that i said that to him in his office” meanwhile it happened like multiple times between that??? i can’t do this anymore was ANYONE paying attention to anything
● at like 80% he goes” wow she’s beautiful and kind. i can’t believe i spent years thinking she was heartless and unforgiving” you did NOT think that. your dick was hard the first time you talked to her in this book. you offered her your guest house in chapter 3. shut UP
● twice in this book she’s sucking him off and thinks “this is what i’m for. [...] a way for him to lose control and take what he needs” yikes. ugh. ew even. the other one is “this is what i am for… making tate ward come.” girl. (meaning the author this time) first of all he never once insinuated he needed to let off steam. he actually seems like a really emotionally balanced individual who just hasn’t gotten laid because he’s so busy. and neither his inner monologue nor what he communicates to her are really any indication that this is what he wants her to be. second of all, this does NOT match with the jordan’s characterisation and it’s annoying.
● he bought condoms the week she moved in. when he still thought she was “heartless” and that she hated him. ok sure that’s not weird at all
● at lunch with her estranged father he tells jordan: “you are my greatest achievement. the woman you’ve grown into, without any help from me” ok so that’s actually NOT your achievement then. hope this helps! (i’m not kidding btw that’s a direct quote he really says that)
● we also don't see jordan and her dad's relationship grow at all. it's just better at some point i guess
● coach ward lives by a lake in the middle of nowhere. as close to being off the grid and in wild nature as you can be without actually being off the grid. this woman has the nerve to say “he could use a getaway” ???? he who lives in a constant getaway?
● he gets a tattoo related to her at the end. after like a month? personal preference but tattoos as a surprise are my least favorite romance trope so obviously i hated that
● the final conflict was introduced and cleared up within less than two chapters
inconsistencies that i think should have been caught by an editor
● on her first day working for the team she’s in her new office and all the girls from the previous books who work for the team (eyeroll) walk by and they’re all like “uhm jordan what are you doing here??? do you work here omg????" and then not two paragraphs later one of them says “news has already broken that you work here now and everyone’s excited” hm????? HUH???? the news already broke???? so WHY did anyone ask????????????
● “my name sounds different on her lips” what? does she have a speech impediment? literally what does “different” mean here??
● “under his shirt, he’s bare-chested” should i just kill myself
● he tells her “i sleep better when you’re in my bed” and then not five chapters later he tells her the same thing again, worded slightly different, and this time she’s like “wow so it wasn’t just my imagination” YEA BECAUSE HE TOLD YOU GNNNGGGGGGGHH
● coach ward’s daughter gets made fun of at school and jordan talks to the ten year old boys in a really cringe little speech, anyway she calls one of them a “rat faced fuck.” yes he’s like 10. everyone applauds her for it. and then the next chapter someone tells her “you were right. he was a rat-faced fuck.” that’s the wrong emphasis. it should be “you were right. he was a rat-faced fuck.”
hey so overall i’m sure you can guess already but i’m giving this FIVE stars i have NO NOTES at ALL
series ratings
● behind the net: 2.5 stars
● the fake out: 5 stars (if you can believe it)
● the wingman: 3 stars
● gloves off: 4 stars
● the wild card: 1.5 stars (because i’m feeling generous)
February 12, 2026
While not the worst in the series (*cough* book three), it was still not good.
The FMC Jordan never grew on me. She was honestly pretty insecure for a thirty year old and I found her to be kind of mopey as well. I really loved Tate though! He is ten years older than Jordan and I felt like his maturity shined throughout this book. He had a calm and easy-going demeanour. His relationship with his daughter Bea was also super cute.
However, there were a lot of things that irked me. It was kind of unrealistic to have Jordan, who was a bartender up to this point, manage an entire hockey team when she had no experience. I mean why did every character in this series need to be part of the Storm organization in some way? Can’t they have a life outside of hockey and do their own thing? It was starting to feel like a cult. Jordan is also apparently best friends with Georgia, but we hardly ever see them hang out. Jordan never shares anything meaningful with Georgia either and she just keeps everything to herself. It was a very superficial friendship. These are things I’ve noticed the author has done in every other book, so my annoyance has just been building gradually over time.
As for the romance, the will they/won’t they dragged on for way too long. It didn’t add anything to the story. The romance was a big focus of the book, but nothing else was going on. I was already bored by the halfway point. I kept hoping for it to get better, but it never did. We also barely got to see Jordan’s relationship with her dad. It was such a big part of her story and why she acts the way she does so it would have been great to see more of them bonding and trying to to mend their bond, but Ross was in less than 10 chapters out of a 100.
All in all, it was a disappointing end to the series. There seems to be a spinoff in the works, but I’m not convinced it’s worth my time at this point.
The FMC Jordan never grew on me. She was honestly pretty insecure for a thirty year old and I found her to be kind of mopey as well. I really loved Tate though! He is ten years older than Jordan and I felt like his maturity shined throughout this book. He had a calm and easy-going demeanour. His relationship with his daughter Bea was also super cute.
However, there were a lot of things that irked me. It was kind of unrealistic to have Jordan, who was a bartender up to this point, manage an entire hockey team when she had no experience. I mean why did every character in this series need to be part of the Storm organization in some way? Can’t they have a life outside of hockey and do their own thing? It was starting to feel like a cult. Jordan is also apparently best friends with Georgia, but we hardly ever see them hang out. Jordan never shares anything meaningful with Georgia either and she just keeps everything to herself. It was a very superficial friendship. These are things I’ve noticed the author has done in every other book, so my annoyance has just been building gradually over time.
As for the romance, the will they/won’t they dragged on for way too long. It didn’t add anything to the story. The romance was a big focus of the book, but nothing else was going on. I was already bored by the halfway point. I kept hoping for it to get better, but it never did. We also barely got to see Jordan’s relationship with her dad. It was such a big part of her story and why she acts the way she does so it would have been great to see more of them bonding and trying to to mend their bond, but Ross was in less than 10 chapters out of a 100.
All in all, it was a disappointing end to the series. There seems to be a spinoff in the works, but I’m not convinced it’s worth my time at this point.
February 4, 2026
Jordan & Tate, my beloveds!! This was the butterflies-in-my-stomach, flippy feeling, heart bursting conclusion to one of my favorite hockey romance book series, of my DREAMS. Tate Ward, I am on my knees BARKING woof woof. I think my toes might permanently be stuck in a curling position after this.
*insert selfie of me bawling my eyes out to the moment Jordan wore my soft baby Tate's jersey*
*insert selfie of me bawling my eyes out to the moment Jordan wore my soft baby Tate's jersey*
February 13, 2026
⋆˙⟡ — 4 stars
⤷⊹ started: february 13th, finished: feburary 14th
ugh i loved these two 😩 rtc!!
— ⋆˙⟡ pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
unfortunately, i think i’m falling into a slump 😔 so i’m really hoping this book is able to pull me out of it since i’ve enjoyed a few of the books in this series 😼 and i get to read this with vee!! i’m really hoping we both love this 🤭
⤷⊹ started: february 13th, finished: feburary 14th
ugh i loved these two 😩 rtc!!
— ⋆˙⟡ pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
unfortunately, i think i’m falling into a slump 😔 so i’m really hoping this book is able to pull me out of it since i’ve enjoyed a few of the books in this series 😼 and i get to read this with vee!! i’m really hoping we both love this 🤭
January 27, 2026
I lowk wanted a bit more from this one?
I felt like there wasn’t much angst, tension, or plot tbh. I missed and wanted more chaotic team dynamics instead of domestic playing house. I loved Tate but he went from no this is not right to pounding off to her thongs way too fast imo (I think it was like 50%).
I liked the outcome of the team and the season but the stakes felt so low to me.
This read as a much cozier and for lack of a better word lower stakes than the rest of the series. It really comes down to lack of tension and yearning for me.
Jordan was prickly and her character development was great. Tate as a dad and supportive coach didn’t disappoint. I just wanted more from them as a couple.
Thank you for the arc/alc!
3.75/5
I felt like there wasn’t much angst, tension, or plot tbh. I missed and wanted more chaotic team dynamics instead of domestic playing house. I loved Tate but he went from no this is not right to pounding off to her thongs way too fast imo (I think it was like 50%).
I liked the outcome of the team and the season but the stakes felt so low to me.
This read as a much cozier and for lack of a better word lower stakes than the rest of the series. It really comes down to lack of tension and yearning for me.
Jordan was prickly and her character development was great. Tate as a dad and supportive coach didn’t disappoint. I just wanted more from them as a couple.
Thank you for the arc/alc!
3.75/5
September 26, 2026
˖ ⁺ ౿ ⛸️ ⋮
4 stars
.ᐟ
⤷ a great conclusion to the vancouver storm series!
୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ my thoughts
something about these books is so addicitve—i always end up binging them 🙈 this one was so cute and probably one of my favs from the series! perhaps tied with "gloves off' <3 "the wild card" is the story of jordan and tate, the hockey team owner's daughter and the coach of the team. we follow them trying to manage the hockey team when jordan's dad decides to step down, while at the same time striving towards the stanley cup. this is an age gap, single dad, kinda forbidden romance! their relationship was built out of banter, trust, and ordinary moments, which i appreaciated:) i also love these books being set in vancouver, especially since i grew up there so it feels kind of nostalgic and patriotic in a way!
🍸 jordan hathaway
i really liked her character and how innovative she was; she just needed a little encouragement at times. i like how she learned not to let people step all over her or make her feel like things were her fault. the way she dealt with the passing of her mother and her strained relationship with her father was interesting to see. her bond with both tate and bea was sweet 🥹
🐝 tate ward
tate ward is such a girl dad and i'm so here for it 🫶 there's something about the single dad trope, i guess 🤷🏻♀️ i loved seeing him with his daughter bea, it was the cutest ever. he really cares for the people around him which was something i loved about him.
୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ concluding thoughts
overall, a nice way to wrap up the series, and i had a blast with these characters. they truly feel like a family together and i love their dynamic so much. the decision to pass the mantle onto rory felt like such a full circle moment! i'm already sad this series is over (even though i decided to skip 2 books lol...)—but i heard we're getting a spin-off of the next generation of the team's players? wink wink, luca + briar?? 👀
୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ quotes
"I can’t imagine a life without him and Bea. With them, I feel complete, like they’re what I’ve been searching for my entire life. Like we all belong together."
“I’ll wait,” he says. “A decade. A lifetime. You’re worth it. We are worth it.”
⤷ a great conclusion to the vancouver storm series!
𖥻 "we’re meant to be, aren’t we? it’s written in the stars."
୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ my thoughts
something about these books is so addicitve—i always end up binging them 🙈 this one was so cute and probably one of my favs from the series! perhaps tied with "gloves off' <3 "the wild card" is the story of jordan and tate, the hockey team owner's daughter and the coach of the team. we follow them trying to manage the hockey team when jordan's dad decides to step down, while at the same time striving towards the stanley cup. this is an age gap, single dad, kinda forbidden romance! their relationship was built out of banter, trust, and ordinary moments, which i appreaciated:) i also love these books being set in vancouver, especially since i grew up there so it feels kind of nostalgic and patriotic in a way!
🍸 jordan hathaway
i really liked her character and how innovative she was; she just needed a little encouragement at times. i like how she learned not to let people step all over her or make her feel like things were her fault. the way she dealt with the passing of her mother and her strained relationship with her father was interesting to see. her bond with both tate and bea was sweet 🥹
🐝 tate ward
tate ward is such a girl dad and i'm so here for it 🫶 there's something about the single dad trope, i guess 🤷🏻♀️ i loved seeing him with his daughter bea, it was the cutest ever. he really cares for the people around him which was something i loved about him.
୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ concluding thoughts
overall, a nice way to wrap up the series, and i had a blast with these characters. they truly feel like a family together and i love their dynamic so much. the decision to pass the mantle onto rory felt like such a full circle moment! i'm already sad this series is over (even though i decided to skip 2 books lol...)—but i heard we're getting a spin-off of the next generation of the team's players? wink wink, luca + briar?? 👀
୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ quotes
"I can’t imagine a life without him and Bea. With them, I feel complete, like they’re what I’ve been searching for my entire life. Like we all belong together."
“I’ll wait,” he says. “A decade. A lifetime. You’re worth it. We are worth it.”
February 3, 2026
This was a strong finish to the Vancouver Storm series. I just loved getting to know Tate and Jordan more. They were both such complex and deep characters. I felt so much from them and I was rooting for them to bring home the cup with the team.
I loved seeing Jordan come into her own and fully shine in her role with the team. In fact, I loved how this series as a whole looked at different roles for women to have in sports. From statistics, medicine, and recruiting & scouting. The management side was a cool angle in this entry to the series and something that we don't always explore in hockey romance.
I loved Tate and his daughter too. Tate was such a sweet man, a great coach, and a wonderful partner to Jordan, once she started to let him in. There was a lot of misunderstanding between them at the start and Jordan was determined to leave at the end of the playoffs, but it's clear as they spend more time together, they are meant to be. The chemistry is palpable.
Overall, this was just such a great series. I think Stephanie does slow burn romances so well. These characters have my heart and I look forward to catching up with them in future spin offs, if we should be so lucky.
This was narrated in the Duet Style by Vanessa Edwin and Aaron Shedlock. They did a wonderful job and they made this audio book fly by.
4.5 Stars
2.5 on the spice scale
*Thank you to the author and for an ARC and ALC of this title.*
I loved seeing Jordan come into her own and fully shine in her role with the team. In fact, I loved how this series as a whole looked at different roles for women to have in sports. From statistics, medicine, and recruiting & scouting. The management side was a cool angle in this entry to the series and something that we don't always explore in hockey romance.
I loved Tate and his daughter too. Tate was such a sweet man, a great coach, and a wonderful partner to Jordan, once she started to let him in. There was a lot of misunderstanding between them at the start and Jordan was determined to leave at the end of the playoffs, but it's clear as they spend more time together, they are meant to be. The chemistry is palpable.
Overall, this was just such a great series. I think Stephanie does slow burn romances so well. These characters have my heart and I look forward to catching up with them in future spin offs, if we should be so lucky.
This was narrated in the Duet Style by Vanessa Edwin and Aaron Shedlock. They did a wonderful job and they made this audio book fly by.
4.5 Stars
2.5 on the spice scale
*Thank you to the author and for an ARC and ALC of this title.*
Currently Reading
June 8, 2025PLEASE GIVE ME COACH WARD’S STORY, I’LL GIVE YOU MY FIRST BORN STEPHANIE! 😭 🙏
Oh and girl after this I’m gonna need a Luca book 👀
Oh and girl after this I’m gonna need a Luca book 👀
December 23, 2025
“Are you still lonely, Jordan?” he asks against my lips. It’s the third time he’s asked me.
“No,” I answer, finally honest with him. “Not anymore. Are you lonely, Tate?”
He shakes his head, eyes on me, soft and loving. “Not anymore, honey.”
that’s it guys. this is THE BEST ending!
can’t believe i found another favorite before the year ends but it happened. in fact i would say this book is in my top 5🥹
the long awaited book for tate didn’t disappoint!! tate and jordan healed each other and won our hearts🥹 i cried so many times while reading this but especially chapter 93🥹😭💔 it was so emotional
Tate, Bea, my friends, my team, my father. I’m loved. I’m so loved.
the epilogue❤️🩹 all my babies together😭 i need more
also luca’s book👀 i’m seated😏
thank you stephanie for this amazing series[also for the arc(and thanks to netgalley for that too)] 🩷
also thanks to ri😏 love you bitch, our br’s were my highlights this year
“No,” I answer, finally honest with him. “Not anymore. Are you lonely, Tate?”
He shakes his head, eyes on me, soft and loving. “Not anymore, honey.”
that’s it guys. this is THE BEST ending!
can’t believe i found another favorite before the year ends but it happened. in fact i would say this book is in my top 5🥹
the long awaited book for tate didn’t disappoint!! tate and jordan healed each other and won our hearts🥹 i cried so many times while reading this but especially chapter 93🥹😭💔 it was so emotional
Tate, Bea, my friends, my team, my father. I’m loved. I’m so loved.
the epilogue❤️🩹 all my babies together😭 i need more
also luca’s book👀 i’m seated😏
thank you stephanie for this amazing series[also for the arc(and thanks to netgalley for that too)] 🩷
also thanks to ri😏 love you bitch, our br’s were my highlights this year
February 6, 2026
i alr miss them 😭❤️🩹
January 21, 2026
I LOVED IT 😭
I love this series so much!!!!!
I kept swinging between reading this as fast as possible and savoring every word because this is the end of the Vancouver Storm series & this group of characters
I compare every hockey romance to these books & probably will for the rest of my life. Rory Miller, I will always love you <3 <3
I love this series so much!!!!!
I kept swinging between reading this as fast as possible and savoring every word because this is the end of the Vancouver Storm series & this group of characters
I compare every hockey romance to these books & probably will for the rest of my life. Rory Miller, I will always love you <3 <3
August 13, 2026
„Maybe the good old days don’t end. They just change.“ 2.25🌟
Honestly, this was nothing new or surprising. Going into this, I expected a fun ice hockey romance, and I guess that’s what I got. I got relatively easy through this book, and it had different aspects, for example, emotional ones, family ones, romantic ones. And even though they weren’t necessarily done badly, I just couldn’t really connect with them, even though they were still technically good. So I enjoyed them, but I couldn’t really, truly, deeply relate or just, yeah, you know, love. Because I still enjoyed it though.
Jordan Hathaway was a good main character. I couldn’t relate to every aspect of her, but she had ones that were standing out. For example, her insecurities. They were relatable, and even though they were often built on miscommunication (which wasn’t dragged out in my opinion), it made them even more realistic and well written. I really appreciated her character development, and even though it wasn’t the best of all time, it’s definitely worth a mention, because I really enjoyed seeing her realizing she was good enough, and that she belonged where she was and deserved to be where she was.
Tate Ward, the love interest. If I’m being honest, for me, he isn’t quite the boyfriend material. That’s because even though I like the age gap trope, I just am not able to really, truly enjoy everything about a love interest that‘s technically how old my father could be. And even though he made Jordan happy and was good for her and with her, and I guess they match, I’m just not 100% convinced by him.
The romance was, as I said cute, but nothing too convincing for me, and even though the teasing was cute, it was a bit strange in the first few hundreds of pages how Tate always made Jordan say thank you when he did something for her, like shes an adult, she should know how to do that herself. The tension was fine and I have to admit I skipped the spice scenes, because yeah, i dont know, thanks, no thank you.
I also enjoyed reading about the side characters!:
Bea, Tate’s daughter was quite adorable. When we read the story, she’s nine years old, and she’s quite adorable. The way she unknowingly ships Tate and Jordan, helps them build their relationship, forms her own relationship with Jordan, and the cat, Phoebe. And I also really enjoyed reading about her life and problems, like the school bullies, and not only her being a random figure that was thrown in to demonstrate the single dad trope. She had such an admirable personality! And I really appreciate that she didn’t let the bullies dim her light and her bright personality.
I also thought it was really cool that in the epilogue was talked about her even though she wasn’t in the scene. (In my opinion, the epilogue should have been used differently, but whatever. I still really enjoyed that part, because she’s literally such a cool character!!)
In the epilogue, she was 15, and she was so cool. She planned studying music and some other subject I forgot, and she was still playing guitar in a band, and had a girlfriend, and she still adored the cat, Phoebe. And I thought she was just a very cool character to the story.
„It takes time to find your people, but they are out there. Keep doing things you love,“
I also really enjoyed reading about the other couples from the previous books, ESPECIALLY MY FAVORITES RORY AND HAZEL And I loved getting to know that they were pregnant. And I thought that whole sport team aspect was done really nicely. And the friendships in the story are also done well, but I think that could have been thematized more, like Jordan’s friendships with the girls. Like, maybe a tiny little bit more.
Ross, her father, I didn’t quite like though, because even though I could relate to him, he was kind of unlikable. Like, man, you didn’t show up for a decade, a whole decade. And even though I could relate to him, maybe that’s also part of why I didn’t really like him. I just couldn’t enjoy him starting to have a better relationship with Jordan. If that would‘ve happened to me in real life, maybe I‘d think differently, but right now I just don‘t care about him.
Overall, I still had a good time and I think this was exactly the easy, entertaining read I needed and craved for. Such a forgettable book though!!
“And lastly, people won’t remember what you said or did, but they’ll remember how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou
Honestly, this was nothing new or surprising. Going into this, I expected a fun ice hockey romance, and I guess that’s what I got. I got relatively easy through this book, and it had different aspects, for example, emotional ones, family ones, romantic ones. And even though they weren’t necessarily done badly, I just couldn’t really connect with them, even though they were still technically good. So I enjoyed them, but I couldn’t really, truly, deeply relate or just, yeah, you know, love. Because I still enjoyed it though.
Jordan Hathaway was a good main character. I couldn’t relate to every aspect of her, but she had ones that were standing out. For example, her insecurities. They were relatable, and even though they were often built on miscommunication (which wasn’t dragged out in my opinion), it made them even more realistic and well written. I really appreciated her character development, and even though it wasn’t the best of all time, it’s definitely worth a mention, because I really enjoyed seeing her realizing she was good enough, and that she belonged where she was and deserved to be where she was.
Tate Ward, the love interest. If I’m being honest, for me, he isn’t quite the boyfriend material. That’s because even though I like the age gap trope, I just am not able to really, truly enjoy everything about a love interest that‘s technically how old my father could be. And even though he made Jordan happy and was good for her and with her, and I guess they match, I’m just not 100% convinced by him.
The romance was, as I said cute, but nothing too convincing for me, and even though the teasing was cute, it was a bit strange in the first few hundreds of pages how Tate always made Jordan say thank you when he did something for her, like shes an adult, she should know how to do that herself. The tension was fine and I have to admit I skipped the spice scenes, because yeah, i dont know, thanks, no thank you.
I also enjoyed reading about the side characters!:
Bea, Tate’s daughter was quite adorable. When we read the story, she’s nine years old, and she’s quite adorable. The way she unknowingly ships Tate and Jordan, helps them build their relationship, forms her own relationship with Jordan, and the cat, Phoebe. And I also really enjoyed reading about her life and problems, like the school bullies, and not only her being a random figure that was thrown in to demonstrate the single dad trope. She had such an admirable personality! And I really appreciate that she didn’t let the bullies dim her light and her bright personality.
I also thought it was really cool that in the epilogue was talked about her even though she wasn’t in the scene. (In my opinion, the epilogue should have been used differently, but whatever. I still really enjoyed that part, because she’s literally such a cool character!!)
In the epilogue, she was 15, and she was so cool. She planned studying music and some other subject I forgot, and she was still playing guitar in a band, and had a girlfriend, and she still adored the cat, Phoebe. And I thought she was just a very cool character to the story.
„It takes time to find your people, but they are out there. Keep doing things you love,“
I also really enjoyed reading about the other couples from the previous books, ESPECIALLY MY FAVORITES RORY AND HAZEL And I loved getting to know that they were pregnant. And I thought that whole sport team aspect was done really nicely. And the friendships in the story are also done well, but I think that could have been thematized more, like Jordan’s friendships with the girls. Like, maybe a tiny little bit more.
Ross, her father, I didn’t quite like though, because even though I could relate to him, he was kind of unlikable. Like, man, you didn’t show up for a decade, a whole decade. And even though I could relate to him, maybe that’s also part of why I didn’t really like him. I just couldn’t enjoy him starting to have a better relationship with Jordan. If that would‘ve happened to me in real life, maybe I‘d think differently, but right now I just don‘t care about him.
Overall, I still had a good time and I think this was exactly the easy, entertaining read I needed and craved for. Such a forgettable book though!!
“And lastly, people won’t remember what you said or did, but they’ll remember how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Stephanie and her team for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read this if you like:
• hockey romance
• coach & owner's daughter
• black cat & golden retriever
• single dad
• age gap
• the most amazing found family
• slow burn & angst
• he get a tattoo for her
• spicy cat
I loved this!!! Jordan and Tate are definitely my favorites from this series, they were sooo cute! The tension and the chemistry between them is fucking hot! I adore the single dad trope and Stephanie did it sooo well!
I cried during the epilogue because I can't believe after so many amazing books this series is over. I love them all sooo much! Stephanie left some crumbs about a possible new book and I'm soo freaking excited!!!
Read this if you like:
• hockey romance
• coach & owner's daughter
• black cat & golden retriever
• single dad
• age gap
• the most amazing found family
• slow burn & angst
• he get a tattoo for her
• spicy cat
I loved this!!! Jordan and Tate are definitely my favorites from this series, they were sooo cute! The tension and the chemistry between them is fucking hot! I adore the single dad trope and Stephanie did it sooo well!
I cried during the epilogue because I can't believe after so many amazing books this series is over. I love them all sooo much! Stephanie left some crumbs about a possible new book and I'm soo freaking excited!!!
February 7, 2026
second fav in this series 🤭
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