Everett Betts has it superstar professional hockey player status, a padded bank account, and a reputation that ensures his nights are never lonely. That is, until his team’s new owner decides Everett’s bad-boy image needs a serious overhaul. His punishment? Mandatory “volunteering” with his childhood pee-wee hockey league—and a blunt shape up or ship out. Completely out of his depth, Everett finds himself coaching a pack of wildly energetic nine-year-olds who don’t care one bit about his fame.
Roxana Ellis is on the verge of finally being accepted into the Ph.D. program of her dreams. All that stands between her and a life-changing opportunity is one brutal semester, a pig of a professor, and endless late nights waiting tables. She tells herself the misogyny and exhaustion will be worth it—because once she makes it through, she can finally give her daughter the life she deserves.
After a string of impulsive decisions, Everett and Roxana find themselves fake-dating, much to the delight of Roxana’s hockey-obsessed daughter, Darcy.
As forced proximity turns into genuine connection, this unlikely couple begins to fall for each other in very real ways. But when old fears and impossible choices threaten what they’re building, Everett and Roxana must decide whether they’re willing to risk their hearts—and turn an elaborate deke into a true shutout.
Lola Kate lives in the southeast with her husband and son. When she is not daydreaming about what her characters are up to, you can find her watching Bravo, listening to true crime podcasts, or drawing.
In an alternate universe, Lola might teach small children or be an amateur cult expert. In this one, she is happy to share her love of modern romance novels.
I expected so much more from this and that had me skimming the last 40% :( I did love how all in Ev was once he got his act together but the chemistry wasn’t totally there for me. Some parts were just cringe and others just glossed over when there could’ve been so much more development.
I’ve read a lot of sports romances lately, especially hockey, and Mighty Dekes by Lola Kate Bolen was such a refreshing change. Yes, it is a hockey romance, but it focuses more on hockey star Everett being volunteered by his team’s owners to coach a Pee Wee team, the Ribbit Wranglers. Sound familiar? Think Gordon Bombay.
When a bully from Everett’s past shows up at the first practice, he blurts out that he is dating one of the players’ moms, Roxana. Luckily for him, Rox has a kind heart, sees exactly how cruel the bully is, and plays along. This fake dating, single mom, slow burn romance pulls you in, and you will find yourself rooting for Everett to outgrow his hockey playboy ways and figure out what really matters.
This story especially resonated with me through Rox’s journey as a single mom. Like my own mom growing up, Rox does everything she can to make Darcy’s life easier and support her dreams of playing Pee Wee hockey, all while going to school and working. It really highlights how strong and selfless she is.
I loved this story so much that I gave it 4.75 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend it, especially if you love sports romances but are starting to feel burned out on the usual formula. It is funny, heartfelt, and genuinely entertaining from start to finish.
Thank you Good Girls PR and Lola Kate Bolen for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. As a fellow fan of The Mighty Ducks who also always wanted a better ending for Charlie’s mom, this story delivered exactly that kind of satisfaction.
Mighty Dekes by Lola Kate Bolen found me exactly when I needed it, and it hasn’t left my thoughts since This single-mom, sports romance is comfort and heat wrapped into one. Roxana is fierce, vulnerable, and beautifully real as she juggles motherhood with the risk of opening her heart again. Then there’s Everett: famous hockey star, Darcy’s coach, and absolutely lethal with a flirty one-liner. On the ice he’s a pro; with Roxana, he’s patient, attentive, and impossible not to fall for. Their chemistry crackles from page one, banter that bites, glances that linger, and a slow burn that’s worth every second.
The secret weapon is Darcy. Wise beyond her years, she reads emotions like a pro and becomes the world’s tiniest, most determined matchmaker for her mom and coach. Her scenes add humor, heart, and zero cringe. She’s the soul of the book.
Bolen blends spicy moments with genuine sweetness without ever feeling forced. The hockey backdrop brings energy, but the story’s core is trust, found family, and learning to choose love again. No exhausting miscommunication, just growth that feels real.
The happily-ever-after? Wholesome, earned, and utterly satisfying. If you want single-mom trope, flirty banter, spicy-sweet tension, and a love story that hugs you back, Mighty Dekes scores every goal.
This book had all the nostalgia of The Mighty Ducks in the form of a modern rom-com! I loved it so much I flew through the pages.
Roxana is such a good mom. Being a teenage mom was clearly not easy for her, but there is nothing she wouldn't do for her daughter, including dating the playboy hockey player. She is raising a sweet little girl who is wise beyond her years!
Everett and Roxana are a perfect match. Their banter was quick and flowed naturally. The way she stands up for him and he supports her is truly remarkable. Their chemistry is evident right from the start. (She calls him a Good Boy 🥵)
Everett is a softie at heart. The relationship with his dad was so sweet.The way he showed up for "his girls" was heartwarming. The man buys a purple SUV and researches booster seats before offering them a ride!
I enjoyed following along on their fake dating journey and loved the character development.
Tropes: Fake dating, single mom, alzheimer's rep, he falls first, hockey romance, found family, reformed playboy, women in STEM
Thank you Lola Kate Bolen and Good Girls PR for the gifted eARC. All opinions are my own.
4 ⭐️ Read First I want to Thank the author Lola Kate Bolen and Good Girls PR for giving me an ARC of this book!!📕 I wasn’t sure at first if I would like it but getting more into the book I loved it.😍 I felt sad for Everett and all he went through when he was younger and also when he was older with taking care of his dad and also with his career too. I also felt sorry for Roxana for stuff that happened to her in this book but I also loved how strong she was for herself and her daughter during it. Loved Everett being the coach for a local peewee team in this book. I liked the side characters in this book too. Loved Darcy and Roxana’s mom and daughter relationship through out this book. And Darcy is so cute 🥰. And even though Everett and Roxana were fake dating at first I loved when they fell in love with each other. Because I loved the romance between them. And I loved how Everett was there for both Darcy and Roxana and also took care of them too. And I was happy that they got an happy ending together. And I also recommend this book to people who like single parent and sports romance read.
This was a refreshing take on a hockey romance. I tend to read a lot of sports romances, especially hockey romances, and this was a nice change of pace from the typical ones I read. It focused more on the MMC coaching a PeeWee league team that the FMC’s daughter was on.
I loved Everett and Roxana, but the scene stealer in this book was Roxana’s daughter, Darcy! She is wiser than her age, not afraid to say what’s on her mind or leave you with a truth bomb. She is also the tiniest little matchmaker.
Now to Everett and Roxana. Their relationship starts out rough. Then he proposes a fake dating relationship to improve his image with the team's new owners, since a picture makes it look like they are an item. Roxana is hesitant, against it, but eventually agrees, and then they slowly grow into friends. Their relationship is so genuine, which makes this book even better. It is believable that they slowly fell for each other. They bring out the best in each other and really support each other in what they want to do. They are a perfect match!
I will say I want more! I love the ending, but I want to see more of their life farther down the road!
Thank you to Lola and GoodGirls PR for an eARC copy of Might Dekes!
Who doesn’t love a bad boy hockey player who falls for the single mom?!?
After a series of unfortunate events that land him in the sin bin quite often, the owner of the Wood Ducks decides that Everette Betts needs some reforming. The reformation comes in the form of coaching the Ribbit Wrangelrs, a peewee hockey team that definitely needs a boost. Everette isn’t thrilled about this, that is until he meets Roxana, the mom of Darcy, one of his new players.
Roxana and Darcy have been on their own for a while. Super self sufficient, Rox gets things done on a wing and a prayer while momming, going to school and working at the local diner.
When Everette’s high school nemesis coaches the opposing peewee team Ev and Roxana end up in a fake dating situation. But how long before things aren’t fake anymore?
This was a fun, fast read. It's Mighty Ducks but with all the good stuff of a modern romance, conflicted characters, and lots of 'I'll look after you'.
Honestly, some may say it's too fast, and bits are missing (how did we get from here to there, or why are we in next week already!?) but I really needed to get from the grumpy meet cute to the 'omg I'm in love with them' faster than can turn my reader on, and this delivered.
It also had some themes that were close to home (I have to stop picking up 'parents with dementia' storylines 🤦) and a single mom absolutely bossing it, so it was a bit different to the yummy single dad trope.
I enjoy supporting this author, so very thankful that I was able to read this as an ARC (and thanks to GoodGirls PR for sending it out!).
If you're into hockey romance, but want a bit of something different, and something nice and fast paced, this might tick a box.
An adorably sweet and short read in all the style of a good Rom-Com!
This is very “He falls first AND Harder” and believe me, Rox really makes him work for it, for the first half of the book I wasn’t even sure she liked him at all haha but when he shows his real personality, not his fuckboy “doesn’t care about anything” mascara, but his true face… he’s very sweet, perseverant and really caring… he really is all in and you know, his looks don’t hurt either! Hah
They are really good for each other, risking to sound cheesy I think he starts to really live and thrive till he meets her and her daughter. But the big star of the book is Darcy (Roxy’s daughter), firstly, her name… as a Pride and Prejudice fan? I was in love immediately haha but she’s such an emphatic, clever, a little witty but adorable 9 years old!
Thanks to Good Girls PR and the author for the copy, all of my opinions are my own.
Mighty Dekes is a charming, feel good sports romance that blends humor, heart, and just the right amount of spice.
The story follows Everett Betts, a professional hockey player forced into coaching a pee-wee team as part of a much needed image makeover, and Roxana Ellis, a hardworking single mom juggling school, work, and raising her daughter.
What begins as a fake dating arrangement quickly evolves into something deeper as the two navigate their growing connection.
Beneath his playboy reputation is someone capable of real care and growth, and watching him step into a more grounded, supportive role especially with Roxana and her daughter was beautiful.
Roxana's determination, resilience, and dedication to her daughter make her easy to root for, and her dynamic with Everett creates a balanced and engaging relationship.
A sweet, entertaining romance with strong character growth, lovable dynamics, and a perfect mix of heart and humor.
Thank you Lola Kate Bolen and Good Girls PR for an ARC of Mighty Dekes. I love a good sports romance, and this one held up to the all my favorites. In this novel, we meet Roxana and Everett. Roxana is a single mom, working and going to school to help give her daughter a great life. Everett is a hockey player who is known for his fighting on the ice and other extracurricular activities (😉😉). Everett finds himself being required to coach a youth hockey team to help his image. Here, he is met with the hot waitress from the diner and her daughter, Darcy. To save face with his ex bully who happens to be the father of a player on an opposing team, Everett wrangles Roxana into a fake dating situation. This is a short, but fun read. I usually like a little more development, but given with how fast paced and short of a read this is, I didn’t mind the pacing. The spicy scenes are few, but dang are they spicy.
Lola Kate gave us all the tropes for this little number - It is jam packed full of banter. Roxy gives out total boss babe vibes right from the get go, she’s a single mum to the sassiest smart mouthed 9yr old, Darcy, and it’s no surprise she’s so smart when her mum is just as smart, putting herself through college and working towards a PHD. When she meets Everett, his charm doesn’t work on her but our Ev loves a challenge, he’ll do anything to get into her orbit, even if it’s a bit of fake dating. A fun quick read with beautiful family found vibes, not just with Ev, Rox and Darcy but with Everett’s team too.
I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own.
I've been craving a hockey romance lately and Lola Kate Bolen gave me everything I was wanting and more with Mighty Dekes!
I LOVE a single parent romance and this book truly delivered. Rox deserves everything in the world and I'm glad Everett was the one to give it to her. And her adorable girl, Darcy, was just so fun. I loved that Everett was hooked by both of them from the very beginning. And, don't get me started on that epilogue *swoony sigh*
I just loved these characters and the peewee hockey league and everything in between. This truly scratched the hockey romance itch I've been having the past few weeks and I sat down and read the whole thing in less than two days.
Thank you Good Girls PR and LKB for the advanced review copy!
Thanks Good Girls PR for the eARC of Mighty Dekes by Lola Kate Bolen!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Single Mom x Hockey Player Reformed Playboy Fake dating He Falls First
I devoured this is less than 24 hours. This one hit quite close to home for me. Roxana has life thrown at her and she perseveres. She does whats right and shows how strong she is. This story had me in my feels for sure. Everett Betts was written by a woman that's for sure. He cares, falls first and hard, all in for his girls. He learns and proves his care and love for them. I loved the single mom x hockey player and how they grew their relationship from the fake dating even if there was denial of what was happening. The Ribbit Wranglers side of this story was so heartfelt and adorable I couldn't stop gushing over Ev.
This was my first book by Lola and I absolutely devoured it and loved it so much!!! She wrote the single mom trope perfectly! I loved how completely devoted Everett was to not just Roxana but to Darcy as well despite always having been a playboy in the past. I loved how he embraced being Darcy’s coach for the peewee league even though he was dreading it. This was truly a great read and one I feel like I will be rereading in the future because it was that good! If you are like me and love a single mom romance with hockey this one is top tier!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this as an ARC!
This book did not disappoint!! The banter between the characters had me cackling all the way through! Their first meeting (at the diner) may be my favorite first meeting. The sassiness from not only Rox, but Darcy too had me in love with both of them!
The characters' development in the book was very well done and I loved to see the two of them grapple with their past loves and giving trust to one another to not hurt them.
I loved this book and it may be my next favorite hockey romance!
3.5⭐️ I honestly just wanted more to the story! More background, more development of the relationship, just moreeee. I honestly loved how down bad Everett was once they got into their “relationship” and I loved that he so readily accepted and understood that Darcy was a non negotiable in Rox’s life and immediately made plans with her in mind.
Thank you Good Girls PR and the author for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.
I thought this was so adorable. I loved the relationship between ev and Darcy. I definitely felt the chemistry simmering between ev and roxy. I liked how quick he was to be fully on board with taking care of Roxy and Darcy in any way he could. Overall such a fun enjoyable read and can’t wait to read more from this author.
Everett and Roxana were such a unexpectedly perfect match. I loved the whole setup; grumpy superstar hockey player forced into community service, exhausted single mom trying to secure her future, and a fake-dating situation that turns into something way more meaningful. The chemistry between them felt natural and so easy to root for.
Everett could have easily been all swagger, but seeing him with the kids and slowly figuring out how to show up for someone else made him so lovable. And Roxana felt incredibly real; tired, determined, smart, and doing everything she can for her daughter. Their relationship had great tension, but it also had tenderness, which made the romance hit even harder.
If you love hockey romance with fake dating, single parent vibes, and a hero who falls hard after acting like he has everything under control, this is a really sweet and satisfying read.
Thank you so much to Good girls pr for letting me an arc reader