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Green Bay Bobcats #3
Defend Her Heart
Avery Chamberlin is fresh out of a toxic marriage and trying to put her life back together one step at a time.
Hired as the new play-by-play commentator for the Green Bay Bobcats, Avery is excited to start this next chapter. The only downfall—her ex-boyfriend plays for the team.
Connor Smith is the Bobcats' enforcer and if there's one thing he's good at, it's protecting the people he cares about.
After a run-in at the hospital, Connor discovers Avery is struggling to afford the tests she needs to finally get some answers about her health. He's determined to help. She's dead set on not accepting it.
With nowhere else to turn, Avery finally says "yes." Literally.
Their marriage may be fake and temporary, but Connor is ready to win back the only girl who has ever owned his heart.
Avery may not think it's real, but the more time they spend together, the more she realizes the feelings she thought disappeared years ago never quite faded.
Their past may be messy, but the future is as bright as the stars.
And if there's one thing Connor is going to do, it's defend her heart until the end of time.
Defend Her Heart is a second chance, marriage of convenience hockey romance book between a professional hockey player and the team's play-by-play commentator. This slow burn has a chronic illness rep and a guaranteed happy ending.
Hired as the new play-by-play commentator for the Green Bay Bobcats, Avery is excited to start this next chapter. The only downfall—her ex-boyfriend plays for the team.
Connor Smith is the Bobcats' enforcer and if there's one thing he's good at, it's protecting the people he cares about.
After a run-in at the hospital, Connor discovers Avery is struggling to afford the tests she needs to finally get some answers about her health. He's determined to help. She's dead set on not accepting it.
With nowhere else to turn, Avery finally says "yes." Literally.
Their marriage may be fake and temporary, but Connor is ready to win back the only girl who has ever owned his heart.
Avery may not think it's real, but the more time they spend together, the more she realizes the feelings she thought disappeared years ago never quite faded.
Their past may be messy, but the future is as bright as the stars.
And if there's one thing Connor is going to do, it's defend her heart until the end of time.
Defend Her Heart is a second chance, marriage of convenience hockey romance book between a professional hockey player and the team's play-by-play commentator. This slow burn has a chronic illness rep and a guaranteed happy ending.
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 315 reviews
August 2, 2026
5 stars, all the stars and goats, no notes, I didn’t want this to end.
Jillian is a heck of a writer and I cannot wait to read what she writes next!!
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
Jillian is a heck of a writer and I cannot wait to read what she writes next!!
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
August 13, 2026
5🌟, 3🌶️
This book made me smile like an idiot. Connor and Avery’s second chance romance was full of yearning, slow-burn tension, and the kind of emotional connection that had me completely invested. Connor’s love for Avery was everything. The little things he remembered, the way he showed up for her, and how fiercely he supported her made him an absolute book boyfriend.
Avery’s journey really touched me too. Her POTS and chronic illness representation felt thoughtful and genuine, especially the frustration of fighting to be believed and taken seriously. I loved watching her find strength again with Connor and the Bobcats by her side, and the found-family warmth added so much to the story.
I finished this with the biggest smile and a very full heart. Connor and Avery were perfection, and I loved every bit of their journey. Five stars for the romance, the representation, and the enormous feelings this gave me.
I’m officially even more attached to the Bobcats and cannot wait for the next story.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Jillian Arly and Love Notes PR for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
This book made me smile like an idiot. Connor and Avery’s second chance romance was full of yearning, slow-burn tension, and the kind of emotional connection that had me completely invested. Connor’s love for Avery was everything. The little things he remembered, the way he showed up for her, and how fiercely he supported her made him an absolute book boyfriend.
Avery’s journey really touched me too. Her POTS and chronic illness representation felt thoughtful and genuine, especially the frustration of fighting to be believed and taken seriously. I loved watching her find strength again with Connor and the Bobcats by her side, and the found-family warmth added so much to the story.
I finished this with the biggest smile and a very full heart. Connor and Avery were perfection, and I loved every bit of their journey. Five stars for the romance, the representation, and the enormous feelings this gave me.
I’m officially even more attached to the Bobcats and cannot wait for the next story.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Jillian Arly and Love Notes PR for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
August 2, 2026
I didn’t know the men in the Green Bay Bobcats series could get any better & then we met Connor. Thank you Jillian Arly for sending me an advanced reader copy of Defend Her Heart - I’m honored to be one of Arly’s Angels!
Typically second chance romances are one of the tropes I gravitate the least towards, so I was curious how I was going to enjoy Defend Her Heart. Well Arly had me smitten the minute One Tree Hill was incorporated into Avery & Connor’s backstory. It’s only one of my favorite TV shows and I don’t ever remember it being referenced in a book I’ve read before. (If you have, please give me titles!) I really did like the flashback scenes to give us the context needed in present day, it was done really well and didn’t feel jumpy like it sometimes can.
I always love the way Arly writes hockey, since she’s a former player her hockey romances include A LOT of actual hockey. It’s not just a cute plot point, actual game play is included & I LOVE IT.
I also loved the development of the female co-worker friendships & seeing some of our favorite characters again in a slightly different setting and light! It made me appreciate them all over again. Plus the chronic illness representation was very carefully and respectfully handled in my opinion and I believe is all too unfortunately relatable.
CHAPTER 18. 👀😲 Without spoiling it, it was perfect. Did I kick my feet & squeal? The answer is not no. 😊
I can’t wait to see what’s coming next in this series. I have some thoughts if there were some hints dropped!
Overall rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
Typically second chance romances are one of the tropes I gravitate the least towards, so I was curious how I was going to enjoy Defend Her Heart. Well Arly had me smitten the minute One Tree Hill was incorporated into Avery & Connor’s backstory. It’s only one of my favorite TV shows and I don’t ever remember it being referenced in a book I’ve read before. (If you have, please give me titles!) I really did like the flashback scenes to give us the context needed in present day, it was done really well and didn’t feel jumpy like it sometimes can.
I always love the way Arly writes hockey, since she’s a former player her hockey romances include A LOT of actual hockey. It’s not just a cute plot point, actual game play is included & I LOVE IT.
I also loved the development of the female co-worker friendships & seeing some of our favorite characters again in a slightly different setting and light! It made me appreciate them all over again. Plus the chronic illness representation was very carefully and respectfully handled in my opinion and I believe is all too unfortunately relatable.
CHAPTER 18. 👀😲 Without spoiling it, it was perfect. Did I kick my feet & squeal? The answer is not no. 😊
I can’t wait to see what’s coming next in this series. I have some thoughts if there were some hints dropped!
Overall rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
July 30, 2026
*Thank you to the author & Love Notes PR for the gifted arc!*
Sometimes you read a book and you feel so emotionally attached to the story and character(s) that you literally cannot stop thinking about the book. That is this book for me. I’m not sure a book has ever made me feel so seen and so heard. As a woman who battled an illness for years and took years to (finally) get some answers… I felt so connected to Avery.
Connor’s love and support from Avery reminded me so much of my husband, too. Having a partner who is so supportive and is there for you through the hardest and darkest times of your life is such an incredible thing.
On top of all of this, the actual story between these characters is amazing. A female in a male dominated position.. Avery is such an amazing, kick a** character.
All of this to say… read this book. If you never take any other book recs from me ever again. Read this one.
Thank you Jillian for writing this book. Thank you for writing this amazing representation for chronic illness. Thank you for giving us these characters. Thank you.
•THE PLAYLIST•
-WHERE IS MY HUSBAND! by RAYE
-Perfect by Ed Sheeran
-Walk This World With Me by The Home Team
-Warm Blood Pt 2 by flor
-Always Been You by Shawn Mendes
Sometimes you read a book and you feel so emotionally attached to the story and character(s) that you literally cannot stop thinking about the book. That is this book for me. I’m not sure a book has ever made me feel so seen and so heard. As a woman who battled an illness for years and took years to (finally) get some answers… I felt so connected to Avery.
Connor’s love and support from Avery reminded me so much of my husband, too. Having a partner who is so supportive and is there for you through the hardest and darkest times of your life is such an incredible thing.
On top of all of this, the actual story between these characters is amazing. A female in a male dominated position.. Avery is such an amazing, kick a** character.
All of this to say… read this book. If you never take any other book recs from me ever again. Read this one.
Thank you Jillian for writing this book. Thank you for writing this amazing representation for chronic illness. Thank you for giving us these characters. Thank you.
•THE PLAYLIST•
-WHERE IS MY HUSBAND! by RAYE
-Perfect by Ed Sheeran
-Walk This World With Me by The Home Team
-Warm Blood Pt 2 by flor
-Always Been You by Shawn Mendes
July 23, 2026
Jillian. I have one question and one question only… “What’s your favorite thing to eat after a game or practice?” I am dying to know your answer. IYKYK. Because the answer to that question is now the standard, and I fully expect every athlete to start using it immediately. This is my official petition. Also, Connor? Thank you for your service because Avery is absolutely the option.
Connor, the way you love deserves to be studied. Marrying Avery so she could get the insurance she needed, sitting beside her through every test and appointment, making sure she knew she wasn't crazy, downloading an app to track her symptoms, planning the wedding she deserved, and chasing the northern lights with her... every single act of love made me adore you even more. And the Big Dipper tattoo? My heart. Connor, we truly do not deserve you.
Avery, thank you for sharing what it's like to live with POTS and what it feels like to constantly fight to be believed. Watching someone finally listen to you, especially a doctor, was just as emotional as watching Connor stand by your side through it all. I also loved seeing a female play-by-play commentator absolutely thriving because we need so many more women like Avery in sports.
And Jillian... I have one last question. Where did Katie and Hunter go? I have my guesses, but I need to know if I'm right.
Connor, the way you love deserves to be studied. Marrying Avery so she could get the insurance she needed, sitting beside her through every test and appointment, making sure she knew she wasn't crazy, downloading an app to track her symptoms, planning the wedding she deserved, and chasing the northern lights with her... every single act of love made me adore you even more. And the Big Dipper tattoo? My heart. Connor, we truly do not deserve you.
Avery, thank you for sharing what it's like to live with POTS and what it feels like to constantly fight to be believed. Watching someone finally listen to you, especially a doctor, was just as emotional as watching Connor stand by your side through it all. I also loved seeing a female play-by-play commentator absolutely thriving because we need so many more women like Avery in sports.
And Jillian... I have one last question. Where did Katie and Hunter go? I have my guesses, but I need to know if I'm right.
July 27, 2026
Avery & Connor’s story was so perfect. I could really still feel the love and chemistry between the MCs even after all that time apart. I love a good second chance romance. I love the chronic illness representation in this book. Can’t wait for the fourth book.
Thank you Love Notes for the arc🫶🏻
Thank you Love Notes for the arc🫶🏻
August 20, 2026
“𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒌𝒚. 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔.”
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5
Okay…you guys know by now that if you say HOCKEY ROMANCE, I am immediately sat front and center. 🏒😂🖤
You don’t even need to finish the sentence.
Hockey player?
I’m listening.
But then Jillian Arly gave me a woman working IN professional hockey, absolutely dominating in a male-dominated space???
OH.
Now you REALLY have me. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Defend Her Heart was my first book by Jillian Arly and a solid 4 ⭐️ read for me.
And one of the biggest reasons this book worked for me was something I am usually VERY hesitant about…
Chronic illness representation.
We’ll get there. 🖤
First, let’s talk about Avery.
Avery Chamberlin is coming out of a toxic marriage and trying to rebuild her life when she lands a job as the new play-by-play commentator for the Green Bay Bobcats.
And I LOVED HER.
Because give me women in male-dominated careers.
Give me women walking into spaces where people don’t expect them to belong and saying…
Watch me. 💅🏻
I eat that sh*t UP.
Avery isn’t standing on the sidelines of the hockey world because she’s dating a player.
This is HER career.
She knows hockey.
She’s good at her job.
She earned her place there.
And I absolutely loved seeing that represented in a sports romance. 👏🏻🏒
There is just one tiny little complication with her shiny new job…
Her ex-boyfriend plays for the team.
😂
Because obviously.
Enter Connor Smith.
The Bobcats’ enforcer.
Professional protector.
And the man who apparently never completely got over Avery. 😩
Connor’s entire personality is basically:
Protect the people I love.
And unfortunately for Avery…
She’s still very much on that list. 🥹
After they run into each other at the hospital, Connor discovers that Avery has been struggling to afford the testing she needs to finally figure out what’s happening with her health.
He wants to help.
She says absolutely f*cking not.
He continues trying.
She continues being stubborn.
So eventually they arrive at the completely normal, reasonable solution:
GET MARRIED.
😂😂😂
Ah yes.
American healthcare.
Bringing romance readers the marriage-of-convenience trope one insurance policy at a time. 😭
Their marriage is supposed to be fake.
Temporary.
A practical arrangement.
Except Connor is basically standing there like…
👁️👄👁️
Sure, babe.
Because HE knows exactly what he wants.
He wants another chance with the only woman who has ever owned his heart.
And you guys…
THE YEARNING. 😩🧎🏻♀️
Second chance isn’t always the trope that immediately makes me lose my mind, but give me enough history, unresolved feelings and a man who never really stopped loving her?
Okay.
Now we’re talking.
I really liked the slow burn here because Avery has JUST come out of a toxic marriage.
She doesn’t need another man swooping in and magically fixing everything.
She needs time.
She needs independence.
She needs to figure out what she wants.
And Connor’s role isn’t to save her.
It’s to stand beside her while she saves herself.
THAT distinction matters. 🖤
Now…
Let’s talk about the POTS representation.
I am ALWAYS wary when chronic illness becomes part of a romance.
Because when it’s handled well, representation can make someone feel incredibly seen.
When it’s handled poorly?
It can turn into inspiration porn, a convenient plot device or a story where the character’s entire identity suddenly becomes their diagnosis.
And Jillian handled Avery with CARE.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Avery’s health affects her life.
There are limitations.
There are doctors.
There are tests.
There are financial realities.
There are moments where her body doesn’t cooperate with what she wants to do.
But Avery is never reduced to “the sick girl.”
She still has ambition.
She still has a career.
She still falls in love.
She still wants things.
She still gets to be complicated and stubborn and capable and successful.
Her chronic illness is PART of her life.
It isn’t the entirety of who she is.
And I appreciated that SO much.
Because having a chronic illness doesn’t mean you stop having dreams.
It doesn’t mean you stop being ambitious.
And it sure as hell doesn’t mean you’re incapable of absolutely dominating the career you worked your a$$ off to earn. 👏🏻🖤
Avery getting to exist in this male-dominated hockey world while navigating POTS made me love her even more.
And Connor supporting her without treating her like she’s fragile???
YES.
Sir, THAT’S how you do it. 👏🏻
He wants to protect her because that’s who Connor is, but there’s a difference between protecting someone and taking away their autonomy.
And I really appreciated that balance.
Also…
CHAPTER 18.
👀
That’s all I’m saying.
I’m not spoiling it.
I’m not explaining myself.
Those who know…
KNOW.
Did I kick my feet?
Did I squeal?
Did I briefly turn into a teenager with her first crush?
The answer is certainly not no. 😂🧎🏻♀️
I also really enjoyed the female friendships in this one.
Give me women supporting women in male-dominated spaces instead of manufacturing unnecessary competition between them.
PLEASE AND THANK YOU. 👏🏻
And another thing I appreciate about this series is that the hockey actually feels like HOCKEY.
It’s not just “he’s a hockey player” and then we never see the man touch the ice again for 300 pages. 😂
The sport matters.
The games matter.
The hockey world actually feels like part of the story.
And as a hockey romance girlie…
I NOTICE. 🏒👀
This wasn’t quite a 5-star read for me, but it was a really strong introduction to Jillian Arly.
I enjoyed the romance.
I loved Avery.
I loved seeing a woman carving out her own place in professional hockey.
And I especially appreciated how thoughtfully the chronic illness representation was handled.
If you love hockey romance, second chance, marriage of convenience, slow burn, chronic illness representation, women in sports, protective MMCs and men who never actually stopped loving their girl…
Put this one on your TBR. 🏒🖤
Jillian Arly…
You gave me hockey.
You gave me a strong FMC absolutely thriving in a male-dominated career.
You gave me thoughtful POTS representation.
And you gave me Connor Smith.
New-to-me author officially added to my radar. 👀🏒🖤
Now…about Chapter 18.
Ma’am.
I just want to talk. 😏🧎🏻♀️😂
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5
Okay…you guys know by now that if you say HOCKEY ROMANCE, I am immediately sat front and center. 🏒😂🖤
You don’t even need to finish the sentence.
Hockey player?
I’m listening.
But then Jillian Arly gave me a woman working IN professional hockey, absolutely dominating in a male-dominated space???
OH.
Now you REALLY have me. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Defend Her Heart was my first book by Jillian Arly and a solid 4 ⭐️ read for me.
And one of the biggest reasons this book worked for me was something I am usually VERY hesitant about…
Chronic illness representation.
We’ll get there. 🖤
First, let’s talk about Avery.
Avery Chamberlin is coming out of a toxic marriage and trying to rebuild her life when she lands a job as the new play-by-play commentator for the Green Bay Bobcats.
And I LOVED HER.
Because give me women in male-dominated careers.
Give me women walking into spaces where people don’t expect them to belong and saying…
Watch me. 💅🏻
I eat that sh*t UP.
Avery isn’t standing on the sidelines of the hockey world because she’s dating a player.
This is HER career.
She knows hockey.
She’s good at her job.
She earned her place there.
And I absolutely loved seeing that represented in a sports romance. 👏🏻🏒
There is just one tiny little complication with her shiny new job…
Her ex-boyfriend plays for the team.
😂
Because obviously.
Enter Connor Smith.
The Bobcats’ enforcer.
Professional protector.
And the man who apparently never completely got over Avery. 😩
Connor’s entire personality is basically:
Protect the people I love.
And unfortunately for Avery…
She’s still very much on that list. 🥹
After they run into each other at the hospital, Connor discovers that Avery has been struggling to afford the testing she needs to finally figure out what’s happening with her health.
He wants to help.
She says absolutely f*cking not.
He continues trying.
She continues being stubborn.
So eventually they arrive at the completely normal, reasonable solution:
GET MARRIED.
😂😂😂
Ah yes.
American healthcare.
Bringing romance readers the marriage-of-convenience trope one insurance policy at a time. 😭
Their marriage is supposed to be fake.
Temporary.
A practical arrangement.
Except Connor is basically standing there like…
👁️👄👁️
Sure, babe.
Because HE knows exactly what he wants.
He wants another chance with the only woman who has ever owned his heart.
And you guys…
THE YEARNING. 😩🧎🏻♀️
Second chance isn’t always the trope that immediately makes me lose my mind, but give me enough history, unresolved feelings and a man who never really stopped loving her?
Okay.
Now we’re talking.
I really liked the slow burn here because Avery has JUST come out of a toxic marriage.
She doesn’t need another man swooping in and magically fixing everything.
She needs time.
She needs independence.
She needs to figure out what she wants.
And Connor’s role isn’t to save her.
It’s to stand beside her while she saves herself.
THAT distinction matters. 🖤
Now…
Let’s talk about the POTS representation.
I am ALWAYS wary when chronic illness becomes part of a romance.
Because when it’s handled well, representation can make someone feel incredibly seen.
When it’s handled poorly?
It can turn into inspiration porn, a convenient plot device or a story where the character’s entire identity suddenly becomes their diagnosis.
And Jillian handled Avery with CARE.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Avery’s health affects her life.
There are limitations.
There are doctors.
There are tests.
There are financial realities.
There are moments where her body doesn’t cooperate with what she wants to do.
But Avery is never reduced to “the sick girl.”
She still has ambition.
She still has a career.
She still falls in love.
She still wants things.
She still gets to be complicated and stubborn and capable and successful.
Her chronic illness is PART of her life.
It isn’t the entirety of who she is.
And I appreciated that SO much.
Because having a chronic illness doesn’t mean you stop having dreams.
It doesn’t mean you stop being ambitious.
And it sure as hell doesn’t mean you’re incapable of absolutely dominating the career you worked your a$$ off to earn. 👏🏻🖤
Avery getting to exist in this male-dominated hockey world while navigating POTS made me love her even more.
And Connor supporting her without treating her like she’s fragile???
YES.
Sir, THAT’S how you do it. 👏🏻
He wants to protect her because that’s who Connor is, but there’s a difference between protecting someone and taking away their autonomy.
And I really appreciated that balance.
Also…
CHAPTER 18.
👀
That’s all I’m saying.
I’m not spoiling it.
I’m not explaining myself.
Those who know…
KNOW.
Did I kick my feet?
Did I squeal?
Did I briefly turn into a teenager with her first crush?
The answer is certainly not no. 😂🧎🏻♀️
I also really enjoyed the female friendships in this one.
Give me women supporting women in male-dominated spaces instead of manufacturing unnecessary competition between them.
PLEASE AND THANK YOU. 👏🏻
And another thing I appreciate about this series is that the hockey actually feels like HOCKEY.
It’s not just “he’s a hockey player” and then we never see the man touch the ice again for 300 pages. 😂
The sport matters.
The games matter.
The hockey world actually feels like part of the story.
And as a hockey romance girlie…
I NOTICE. 🏒👀
This wasn’t quite a 5-star read for me, but it was a really strong introduction to Jillian Arly.
I enjoyed the romance.
I loved Avery.
I loved seeing a woman carving out her own place in professional hockey.
And I especially appreciated how thoughtfully the chronic illness representation was handled.
If you love hockey romance, second chance, marriage of convenience, slow burn, chronic illness representation, women in sports, protective MMCs and men who never actually stopped loving their girl…
Put this one on your TBR. 🏒🖤
Jillian Arly…
You gave me hockey.
You gave me a strong FMC absolutely thriving in a male-dominated career.
You gave me thoughtful POTS representation.
And you gave me Connor Smith.
New-to-me author officially added to my radar. 👀🏒🖤
Now…about Chapter 18.
Ma’am.
I just want to talk. 😏🧎🏻♀️😂
August 11, 2026
Book Title: Defend Her Heart (Green Bay Bobcats Book 3)
Author: Jillian Arly
Publisher: Jillian Arly Publishing
Pub Date: August 6, 2026
Dates Read: August 1, 2026 – August 10, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔(𝚒𝚜𝚑) 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: Oh my goodness, my heart. 😭😭 This is definitely the most emotional I have ever gotten during a Jillian Arly novel, and I think Defend Her Heart might just be my new favorite of the series. Every single one makes me love it even more, and if you enjoy sports romance in the SLIGHTEST, you have to read it. Or just read it to support a spectacular indie author!
Avery’s ex gives new meaning to the word toxic, and every time he came up in the book, I found myself clenching my fists right along with Connor. It is clear from the beginning that Avery and Connor belong together forever, and through flashbacks to previous years/ages along with the current timeline, we get the complete picture of their history. The old wounds that came up were enough to leave me in tears, and then just dump Avery’s health concerns on top to make it even more emotional. I was a puddle by the end of this book, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Side Note - I immediately bought the entire series after I finished too!
🎧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬: N/A
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: N/A
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌶️🌶️.5
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Author: Jillian Arly
Publisher: Jillian Arly Publishing
Pub Date: August 6, 2026
Dates Read: August 1, 2026 – August 10, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔(𝚒𝚜𝚑) 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: Oh my goodness, my heart. 😭😭 This is definitely the most emotional I have ever gotten during a Jillian Arly novel, and I think Defend Her Heart might just be my new favorite of the series. Every single one makes me love it even more, and if you enjoy sports romance in the SLIGHTEST, you have to read it. Or just read it to support a spectacular indie author!
Avery’s ex gives new meaning to the word toxic, and every time he came up in the book, I found myself clenching my fists right along with Connor. It is clear from the beginning that Avery and Connor belong together forever, and through flashbacks to previous years/ages along with the current timeline, we get the complete picture of their history. The old wounds that came up were enough to leave me in tears, and then just dump Avery’s health concerns on top to make it even more emotional. I was a puddle by the end of this book, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Side Note - I immediately bought the entire series after I finished too!
🎧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬: N/A
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: N/A
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌶️🌶️.5
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 12, 2026
LEMME START WITH. HE DOWNLOADS THE HEART MONITOR APP ON HIS PHONE TO MAKE SURE SHE’S OKAY. Is that a micro trope? Because I’m freaking obsessed.
We follow Avery and Connor, a duo that were high school sweethearts. But their time was cut short because Connor didn’t want to hold her back. Now he’s playing hockey professionally in Green Bay. And Avery finds herself divorced and just took on a new job: first female play by play announcer for Green Bay. She’s had to retire from actually play8ing hockey because something is going on with her body - but she doesn’t know what. She can’t seem to get answers from doctors (why is this so relevant?!).
With no insurance, and testing needed for POTS and to get a diagnosis because it’s driving her mental down, Connor offers something sweet: marriage of convenience. Why not marry him, use his insurance, and get some peace of mind. While they’re not together, he still cares - hence downloading the app that she uses to monitor her heart rate on his own phone.
So we get marriage of convenience, no third act break up, hockey romance, second chance, and it’s always been you.
Jillian Arly absolutely blew it out of the park with this one. And I’m just so so proud.
A huge thank you to @lovenotes.pr and @jillianarlyauthor for an eARC in return for an honest review.
We follow Avery and Connor, a duo that were high school sweethearts. But their time was cut short because Connor didn’t want to hold her back. Now he’s playing hockey professionally in Green Bay. And Avery finds herself divorced and just took on a new job: first female play by play announcer for Green Bay. She’s had to retire from actually play8ing hockey because something is going on with her body - but she doesn’t know what. She can’t seem to get answers from doctors (why is this so relevant?!).
With no insurance, and testing needed for POTS and to get a diagnosis because it’s driving her mental down, Connor offers something sweet: marriage of convenience. Why not marry him, use his insurance, and get some peace of mind. While they’re not together, he still cares - hence downloading the app that she uses to monitor her heart rate on his own phone.
So we get marriage of convenience, no third act break up, hockey romance, second chance, and it’s always been you.
Jillian Arly absolutely blew it out of the park with this one. And I’m just so so proud.
A huge thank you to @lovenotes.pr and @jillianarlyauthor for an eARC in return for an honest review.
August 16, 2026
I Guess i have to start this with a personal acknowledgement. I am not a fan of a dual timeline/flashback chapters. Very rarely do they work out well for me when I'm reading. I hate rating a book less for them, but it really does take away from my reading experience 95% of the time and if I can avoid them, I do. I loved the first two books in this series and went into Defend Her Heart on complete trust that I would love this one as well and I did love a lot of it. I loved the present day story. I loved watching Connor and Avery find each other again. I loved watching Avery find her place with this team and connect with the other ladies and her new found family. I love a marriage of convenience… Connor is just.. how can you not love him?! While it is not a 50/50 split on the timeline, I found myself just wanting to be back in the present during the flashbacks. Do I think this is a writing issue? No. I think it is just my preference and people who like flashbacks/dual timelines will probably really love the whole thing.
August 8, 2026
Big thanks to Love Notes PR for the early copy! All opinions are my own.
After getting a divorce from her toxic ex, Avery gets hired as the Green Bay Bobcat's new play-by-play commentator. She knew her high school ex-boyfriend, Connor, played for the team but wasn't expecting to run into him much. When Avery's chronic illness symptoms flare up and she can't afford the medical tests, Connor offers to pay for them. When she refuses, he offers her something else - a marriage on paper so she can use his insurance.
This book had me GIGGLING! Avery and Conn0r were always meant to be, even if some years separated them for a bit. I loved that they found each other again. You could tell how much they both truly cared for each other even if they didn't want to admit it. I adored the yearning and how they didn't give in right away (this is truly a slow burn!). Jillian always manages to write the most bad ass woman in sports and I am truly HERE FOR IT.
I also enjoyed seeing the previous couples in the series again as well as seeing some I *hope* have a story soon!
After getting a divorce from her toxic ex, Avery gets hired as the Green Bay Bobcat's new play-by-play commentator. She knew her high school ex-boyfriend, Connor, played for the team but wasn't expecting to run into him much. When Avery's chronic illness symptoms flare up and she can't afford the medical tests, Connor offers to pay for them. When she refuses, he offers her something else - a marriage on paper so she can use his insurance.
This book had me GIGGLING! Avery and Conn0r were always meant to be, even if some years separated them for a bit. I loved that they found each other again. You could tell how much they both truly cared for each other even if they didn't want to admit it. I adored the yearning and how they didn't give in right away (this is truly a slow burn!). Jillian always manages to write the most bad ass woman in sports and I am truly HERE FOR IT.
I also enjoyed seeing the previous couples in the series again as well as seeing some I *hope* have a story soon!
August 3, 2026
arc review | 4⭐️ 2🌶️
🏒 hockey romance
💚 second chance
🏒 marriage of convenience
💚 chronic illness rep
🏒 slow burn
ugh this second chance romance between high school sweethearts who go into a marriage of convenience had so much emotion to it and it was such a beautiful read 🥹
my heart hurt for avery and what she went through with her chronic illness…i wanted to cry with her. enter her high school ex, connor, who is there for her every step of the way…ugh, love him and he was so protective and supportive and everything she needed
even though it took some time for these two to get back together their story along the way for them to find they’re way back to one another was such a good read!!! and being able to see what they’re relationship was like in the past to knowing what happened for them to breakup to getting their well deserved hea was heartwarming
also, i absolutely loved their friend group and how the girls were so welcoming to avery quickly. and i CANNOT WAIT for what’s to come of the rest of this series, especially with the easter eggs jillian put in this book 😍
𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙥𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙘 🫶🏽
🏒 hockey romance
💚 second chance
🏒 marriage of convenience
💚 chronic illness rep
🏒 slow burn
ugh this second chance romance between high school sweethearts who go into a marriage of convenience had so much emotion to it and it was such a beautiful read 🥹
my heart hurt for avery and what she went through with her chronic illness…i wanted to cry with her. enter her high school ex, connor, who is there for her every step of the way…ugh, love him and he was so protective and supportive and everything she needed
even though it took some time for these two to get back together their story along the way for them to find they’re way back to one another was such a good read!!! and being able to see what they’re relationship was like in the past to knowing what happened for them to breakup to getting their well deserved hea was heartwarming
also, i absolutely loved their friend group and how the girls were so welcoming to avery quickly. and i CANNOT WAIT for what’s to come of the rest of this series, especially with the easter eggs jillian put in this book 😍
𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙥𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙘 🫶🏽
July 29, 2026
4.25
Connor Smith is the new king of yearning!! This was soooo sweet.
First of all, Jillian did such a great job with the chronic illness representation. Avery’s journey felt real, raw, and highly emotional. I was rooting for her so hard. And Connor’s advocacy for her? His attentiveness? Protectiveness? SO GOOD.
This was a second chance romance WITH flashbacks of their past (which is a huge favorite of mine) and it was so well done!
I really enjoyed this third book in the Green Bay Bobcats series. Hockey romance fans, if you have not checked this series out yet, you neeeeeeed to! Great found family, strong women, supportive men, equally fun and emotional plots. SO GOOD.
Thank you to Jillian for the eARC!
Connor Smith is the new king of yearning!! This was soooo sweet.
First of all, Jillian did such a great job with the chronic illness representation. Avery’s journey felt real, raw, and highly emotional. I was rooting for her so hard. And Connor’s advocacy for her? His attentiveness? Protectiveness? SO GOOD.
This was a second chance romance WITH flashbacks of their past (which is a huge favorite of mine) and it was so well done!
I really enjoyed this third book in the Green Bay Bobcats series. Hockey romance fans, if you have not checked this series out yet, you neeeeeeed to! Great found family, strong women, supportive men, equally fun and emotional plots. SO GOOD.
Thank you to Jillian for the eARC!
July 30, 2026
Synopsis: Fresh out of a toxic marriage and struggling with a chronic illness, Avery Chamberlin joins the staff of the Bobcats hoping for a fresh start. The only complication is that her ex-boyfriend, Connor Smith, plays for the team. When he realizes she is struggling to afford her medical care he offers a bit of an unconventional solution - marriage.
Thoughts: My favorite fictional sports team is back! Defend Her Heart is another amazing love story set against the backdrop of the Bobcats and their big, loving found family. Avery and Connor are perfection - if you like a slow burn and a lot of yearning, you’re going to be obsessed with Connor. He is so down bad for Avery, and he will do anything to protect her. Their connection and all the little things that contribute to their love story are just the sweetest. I love the way Jillian incorporates so many small details to make her characters feel like honest to goodness real people. I related so much to Avery, from her chronic illness to her love of One Tree Hill, and, most importantly, her love of pineapple on pizza. Anyone who struggles with a chronic illness is going to feel very seen. Anyway, run to grab a copy of this fabulous book immediately!
Read this if you like:
🏒 hockey romance
🏒 chronic illness rep
🏒 second chance
🏒 marriage of convenience
🏒 slow burn
🏒 found family
Thoughts: My favorite fictional sports team is back! Defend Her Heart is another amazing love story set against the backdrop of the Bobcats and their big, loving found family. Avery and Connor are perfection - if you like a slow burn and a lot of yearning, you’re going to be obsessed with Connor. He is so down bad for Avery, and he will do anything to protect her. Their connection and all the little things that contribute to their love story are just the sweetest. I love the way Jillian incorporates so many small details to make her characters feel like honest to goodness real people. I related so much to Avery, from her chronic illness to her love of One Tree Hill, and, most importantly, her love of pineapple on pizza. Anyone who struggles with a chronic illness is going to feel very seen. Anyway, run to grab a copy of this fabulous book immediately!
Read this if you like:
🏒 hockey romance
🏒 chronic illness rep
🏒 second chance
🏒 marriage of convenience
🏒 slow burn
🏒 found family
August 3, 2026
lectora de ARC!
mi principal problema con este libro es que es un fake marriage, pero más allá de dos ocasiones contadas ellos nunca tienen que fingir estar casados. sus amigos y conocidos no lo saben, y ni siquiera fingen por un tema legal.
cuando leo este trope espero a dos personas teniendo que fingir que se aman frente a todos, sin ningún escape a sus sentimientos reales, pero me faltó eso.
hubo tanta repetición de citas pasadas que después son recreadas en el presente que se sintió como leer las mismas tres escenas veinte veces.
después me pareció muy corny, aunque eso ya es algo particular mío 🤷🏻♀️
lo que si mejoró a comparación de los dos libros anteriores (aunque esos si me gustaron más) es que no hubo third act break up, lo que se agradece.
mi principal problema con este libro es que es un fake marriage, pero más allá de dos ocasiones contadas ellos nunca tienen que fingir estar casados. sus amigos y conocidos no lo saben, y ni siquiera fingen por un tema legal.
cuando leo este trope espero a dos personas teniendo que fingir que se aman frente a todos, sin ningún escape a sus sentimientos reales, pero me faltó eso.
hubo tanta repetición de citas pasadas que después son recreadas en el presente que se sintió como leer las mismas tres escenas veinte veces.
después me pareció muy corny, aunque eso ya es algo particular mío 🤷🏻♀️
lo que si mejoró a comparación de los dos libros anteriores (aunque esos si me gustaron más) es que no hubo third act break up, lo que se agradece.
July 26, 2026
Review of advanced copy I received from author:
4.5/5⭐️
Wow, this book was amazing and made me feel lots of things. Connor reminded me of my husband just because the way Connor takes care of Avery is the same way my husband takes care of me.
I really connected with Avery and her mental health issues and past history of abuse from other men. It really made me feel heard and validated, watching that happen on the page. And how Connor took care of her in those moments, it was very well written.
I loved Connor as a character and how he treats Avery and everyone else in his life, this story was my first hockey romance ever read and I need more!
4.5/5⭐️
Wow, this book was amazing and made me feel lots of things. Connor reminded me of my husband just because the way Connor takes care of Avery is the same way my husband takes care of me.
I really connected with Avery and her mental health issues and past history of abuse from other men. It really made me feel heard and validated, watching that happen on the page. And how Connor took care of her in those moments, it was very well written.
I loved Connor as a character and how he treats Avery and everyone else in his life, this story was my first hockey romance ever read and I need more!
July 28, 2026
A million thank yous to Jillian for the PERSONALIZED ARC 💚
Ooooof she does it AGAIN.
I always think “these are my favorite characters” and then Jillian writes another book.
I thought Niko and Sadie couldn’t be topped and then we get [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] and even a [REDACTED] of my favorite [REDACTED] and my favorite color isn’t just on the cover.
I laughed, I cackled, I cried, I sobbed.
What more can I ask for?
Ooooof she does it AGAIN.
I always think “these are my favorite characters” and then Jillian writes another book.
I thought Niko and Sadie couldn’t be topped and then we get [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] and even a [REDACTED] of my favorite [REDACTED] and my favorite color isn’t just on the cover.
I laughed, I cackled, I cried, I sobbed.
What more can I ask for?
July 26, 2026
Connor is a man obsessed, and that makes ME obsessed. This second chance, marriage of convenience hockey romance had me hooked from the start.
I also loved the chronic illness rep. I didn’t know much about POTS going in, but my cousin was recently diagnosed, so it was really cool to learn more about it through a romance book.
Beyond the big tropes (second chance & marriage of convenience), I was completely obsessed with the microtropes. Which, let’s be real, are basically just Connor being obsessed with Avery in a hundred little ways:
• secret tattoo
• designs a house for her
• changes his pizza order for her
• his jersey number is for her
• he buys her a car
And DAMN Jillian Arly for that slow burn. There were multiple times I thought they were finally going to bang and… they didn’t. I was internally screaming. But it was so worth it once it finally happened. 😉
Thanks to Jillian for the ARC!
I also loved the chronic illness rep. I didn’t know much about POTS going in, but my cousin was recently diagnosed, so it was really cool to learn more about it through a romance book.
Beyond the big tropes (second chance & marriage of convenience), I was completely obsessed with the microtropes. Which, let’s be real, are basically just Connor being obsessed with Avery in a hundred little ways:
• secret tattoo
• designs a house for her
• changes his pizza order for her
• his jersey number is for her
• he buys her a car
And DAMN Jillian Arly for that slow burn. There were multiple times I thought they were finally going to bang and… they didn’t. I was internally screaming. But it was so worth it once it finally happened. 😉
Thanks to Jillian for the ARC!
August 13, 2026
I absolutely loved this book. Jillian continues to give me more favorite couples.
Here you follow Avery, a sports commentator, and Connor, a professional hockey player. They started their careers together about a decade ago, they thought it was forever but life had other plans. Yet, after a few years apart they are working for the same team.
I love a good second chance romance. The side characters were my favorite part and best giggles
🌶️🌶️/5
Here you follow Avery, a sports commentator, and Connor, a professional hockey player. They started their careers together about a decade ago, they thought it was forever but life had other plans. Yet, after a few years apart they are working for the same team.
I love a good second chance romance. The side characters were my favorite part and best giggles
🌶️🌶️/5
August 16, 2026
I absolutely loved this book!!! The storyline was everything. Childhood friends to lovers to enemies and back to lovers. Fake marriage? Yes please!
Avery: FMC, Hockey star, new diagnosis of POTS.
Connor: MMC, Hockey star, obsessed with Avery.
When Avery returns to her hometown after her horrid marriage and divorce, Connor knew he needed to look after her. He found out everything about POTS. What began as a fake marriage, turned into the perfect story of love, care, and a man that everyone dreams of.
Thank you to @lovenotespr for the ARC of this book. I absolutely loved it 😍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2026
*Thank you Jillian and love notes pr for an early copy*
An delightful read from Jillian! Characters were witty and fun to read! With all Jillian books the hockey scenes and knowledge were top notch! Had so much fun reading it
An delightful read from Jillian! Characters were witty and fun to read! With all Jillian books the hockey scenes and knowledge were top notch! Had so much fun reading it
August 26, 2026
This was EVERYTHING. The way Connor was always there, and wanted to help her through her health journey. I love a good second chance, and how we can see the love that comes slamming back when they are together. Avery and Connor are were so cute and I loved the health rep. Thank you for the ARC - enjoyed :)
August 14, 2026
Avery Connor Avery Connor AVERY AND CONNOR. I feel like every time Jillian writes a new book I get a new favorite couple. I’m a sucker for second chance and also for a man who YEARNS. Connor, baby boy, has been yearning for YEARS. Defend Her Heart is my new favorite in the Bobcats series, it follows Avery and Connor who dated when they were teens and then go their separate ways to pursue their careers in hockey and then the universe said “we bringing them back together” when Avery leaves her douchecanoe of a husband and moves to Green Bay where she got a job as a commentator for the Bobcats. The time jumps in this book are so well placed and every time we got a time jumps section…I had to grab tissues because I was going to sob…and I did A LOT. Who knew that seeing ✨Two Years Ago✨ in the beginning of a chapter will send me spiraling. The POTS representation was really well written along with Avery and Connor’s mental health through the years. What I also love about Jillian’s writing is that she writes very strong independent FMCs and I can see why the MMCs in her books are down bad for their women 🙂↕️🙂↕️🙂↕️🙂↕️
Thank you, Jillian for the arc!
Thank you, Jillian for the arc!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2026
4.5/5
A second chance where they are soulmates will always have me in a chokehold. Avery and Connor are meant to be in this book and the universe was finally like, let’s keep pushing them together, they’ll get the picture sooner or later.
When Connor meets Avery for the first time when they are 16 and 17, he tells his best friend that he will marry her one day. 10 years later, Avery comes back into his life, working as the play by play commentator for the Bobcats. Avery is not the same woman that he left 10 years ago. She is divorced (Bryan is the absolute WORST) and dealing with health issues no one is taking seriously. After these two run into each other a couple of times, some of them the worst days for Avery, Connor gives Avery a solution to her problems: marry him and they can figure out what’s going on with her together.
I was laughing over this young man stumbling over his words from the first time he even talks to Avery. This man, when I tell you, he had me enraptured in the way that he took care of Avery, Avery did not stand a chance. What do you mean he did all his research on POTS because she mentioned it once? What do you mean he fulfilled all the promises he made her when they were so young? What do you mean he keeps electrolyte mixes on him everywhere just in case? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? The ink isn’t dry in the marriage certificate and this man is like “my wife”. We protect our angry, sweet baby angel Connor Smith at all costs.
Avery in this book was so vulnerable. And the fact that she was finally able to be vulnerable because of the family she found in the Bobcats and Connor himself, speaks volumes on this found family. This woman tried her best to figure everything out herself because the last time she leaned on someone, someone who was supposed to be by her side no matter what (Bryan 🙄), he told her she was crazy and just anxious. This woman was a hockey player who was on top of the world one minute and having to have her body revolute against her in the next. Her vulnerability was also her strength.
This a slow burn with plenty of tension build up. Once Connor is unleashed and gets the green light, this man is famished and cannot get enough. This man takes her in his hands and shows her just how beautiful she still is inside and outside the bedroom.
POTS being represented in this book is so significant because I don’t think it’s talked about enough. So thank you Jillian for shining a light on the people who aren’t talked about enough and sharing some of what your sister goes through.
Thank you to Jillian Arly for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes:
✨Hockey romance
✨Second chance
✨Marriage of convenience
✨Slow burn
✨Chronic illness rep
A second chance where they are soulmates will always have me in a chokehold. Avery and Connor are meant to be in this book and the universe was finally like, let’s keep pushing them together, they’ll get the picture sooner or later.
When Connor meets Avery for the first time when they are 16 and 17, he tells his best friend that he will marry her one day. 10 years later, Avery comes back into his life, working as the play by play commentator for the Bobcats. Avery is not the same woman that he left 10 years ago. She is divorced (Bryan is the absolute WORST) and dealing with health issues no one is taking seriously. After these two run into each other a couple of times, some of them the worst days for Avery, Connor gives Avery a solution to her problems: marry him and they can figure out what’s going on with her together.
I was laughing over this young man stumbling over his words from the first time he even talks to Avery. This man, when I tell you, he had me enraptured in the way that he took care of Avery, Avery did not stand a chance. What do you mean he did all his research on POTS because she mentioned it once? What do you mean he fulfilled all the promises he made her when they were so young? What do you mean he keeps electrolyte mixes on him everywhere just in case? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? The ink isn’t dry in the marriage certificate and this man is like “my wife”. We protect our angry, sweet baby angel Connor Smith at all costs.
Avery in this book was so vulnerable. And the fact that she was finally able to be vulnerable because of the family she found in the Bobcats and Connor himself, speaks volumes on this found family. This woman tried her best to figure everything out herself because the last time she leaned on someone, someone who was supposed to be by her side no matter what (Bryan 🙄), he told her she was crazy and just anxious. This woman was a hockey player who was on top of the world one minute and having to have her body revolute against her in the next. Her vulnerability was also her strength.
This a slow burn with plenty of tension build up. Once Connor is unleashed and gets the green light, this man is famished and cannot get enough. This man takes her in his hands and shows her just how beautiful she still is inside and outside the bedroom.
POTS being represented in this book is so significant because I don’t think it’s talked about enough. So thank you Jillian for shining a light on the people who aren’t talked about enough and sharing some of what your sister goes through.
Thank you to Jillian Arly for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes:
✨Hockey romance
✨Second chance
✨Marriage of convenience
✨Slow burn
✨Chronic illness rep
Review of advance copy received from Author
💚BETA + ARC read💚
ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL AND MY FAVORITE BOOK BY JILLIAN TO DATE. Connor and Avery were EVERYTHING. If their second chance romance doesn’t have you crying, rooting for them so hard, and swooning at all the little details and flash backs, I don’t know what will.
These two have a special place in my heart, and I will forever love and think about their story.
Jillian handled not only their second chance romance but also the mental health rep and POTS representation with the UTMOST care, and I’m so glad we get to see those two aspects done so well in an incredible romance book. If you’re a chronic illness warrior, I promise Defend Her Heart will make you feel seen and heard.
I also could not get enough of all the little detailed moments that made their love story so extra special – I’m talking so much swoon, the most gorgeous declarations of love, and acts of service and care taking that will live rent free in my brain.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how much I adored all of Jillian’s beautiful odes to astronomy, the starry night sky these two fell in love under, and every time we got a little discussion about constellations. It was something I highlighted the most of and loved seeing Avery and Connor fall back in love with this connection from their past in mind.
Thank you to Jillian for making your FMCs baddies, your MMCs the most perfect book bfs, and the spice the perfect amount of chili peppers 🌶️🤭
CONNOR AND AVERY FOREVER!!!
ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL AND MY FAVORITE BOOK BY JILLIAN TO DATE. Connor and Avery were EVERYTHING. If their second chance romance doesn’t have you crying, rooting for them so hard, and swooning at all the little details and flash backs, I don’t know what will.
These two have a special place in my heart, and I will forever love and think about their story.
Jillian handled not only their second chance romance but also the mental health rep and POTS representation with the UTMOST care, and I’m so glad we get to see those two aspects done so well in an incredible romance book. If you’re a chronic illness warrior, I promise Defend Her Heart will make you feel seen and heard.
I also could not get enough of all the little detailed moments that made their love story so extra special – I’m talking so much swoon, the most gorgeous declarations of love, and acts of service and care taking that will live rent free in my brain.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how much I adored all of Jillian’s beautiful odes to astronomy, the starry night sky these two fell in love under, and every time we got a little discussion about constellations. It was something I highlighted the most of and loved seeing Avery and Connor fall back in love with this connection from their past in mind.
Thank you to Jillian for making your FMCs baddies, your MMCs the most perfect book bfs, and the spice the perfect amount of chili peppers 🌶️🤭
CONNOR AND AVERY FOREVER!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🏒 Tropes: Hockey romance, second chance, marriage of convenience, slow burn, childhood sweethearts, forced proximity, workplace romance, he falls first, found family, chronic illness representation, no third-act breakup, HEA
MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS
Thank you so much, Jillian, for the opportunity to read this one! 🥹💗
If you’ve followed me for a while, you already know that I have a very soft spot for Jillian Arly’s books, so obviously I had ridiculously high expectations going into this one.
And somehow… SHE EXCEEDED THEM.
Connor and Avery??? HELLO??? 😭
Their story was everything I wanted from a second-chance romance. Two people who loved each other when they were younger, went their separate ways, and then somehow found themselves back in each other’s orbit years later??? I AM WEAK.
The way their past and present were woven together was one of my favorite parts. Getting to see who they were then while simultaneously watching them figure out who they are now made their relationship feel so much more meaningful.
And the slow burn???
OH. MY. GOD.
This book took its TIME and I was simultaneously screaming PLEASE JUST KISS ALREADY while also begging Jillian to never make it end. 😭
Because when you have two people with THAT much history, you don't need to rush anything. Every little moment between them felt important.
And then there is AVERY.
I absolutely adored her. 🥹
I loved watching her navigate everything that had happened to her while trying to rebuild her life and figure out what she wanted for herself. Her struggles never felt like they were simply there for drama—they were genuinely part of her journey, and I really appreciated how much care went into her character.
And the chronic illness representation??? 🥹💗
I loved seeing Avery's experiences treated with compassion and having her health be an actual part of her life rather than something that magically disappears whenever the romance needs to move forward.
BUT NOW WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT CONNOR SMITH.
Because that man???
HUSBAND MATERIAL.
I HAVE NO OTHER WORDS.
Connor is exactly the kind of fictional man who makes you sit there staring at the page like:
“Oh. So THIS is the standard now?”
😭😭😭
His entire personality when it comes to Avery had me GONE.
He is protective without making her feel incapable. He pays attention. He remembers things. He shows up. He puts in the effort.
And the fact that this man has apparently been carrying feelings for Avery for YEARS???
HE WAS DOWN BAD AND I WAS EATING IT UP.
There is something so ridiculously satisfying about a man who has never actually stopped loving the woman he fell for.
Connor's devotion to Avery was probably my favorite part of his character.
Because it wasn't just about grand gestures.
It was about the little things.
The consistency.
The effort.
The way he made it clear that Avery mattered to him.
IT'S ALWAYS THE EFFORT FOR ME.
And watching Avery slowly realize that the feelings between them never really disappeared???
I WAS LOSING MY MIND.
The marriage of convenience was EVERYTHING. 😂
Did I know exactly what was going to happen?
Yes.
Did that stop me from screaming internally when it happened?
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
There is something about two people agreeing to a fake marriage when there are very obviously REAL feelings underneath it that will never stop working on me.
And because this is a Jillian Arly book, the hockey world and the found-family aspect were such a fun addition too. I love getting to spend more time around the Bobcats and seeing these characters' friendships develop across the series.
Also—
THE YEARNING.
THE PINING.
THE HISTORY.
THE “I NEVER REALLY STOPPED LOVING YOU” ENERGY.
JILLIAN, WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME???
😭😭😭
Connor and Avery's relationship felt incredibly tender underneath all the tension. There was so much love between them, even when they weren't ready to admit exactly what they were feeling.
And THAT is what made this romance work so well for me.
It wasn't just “they're attracted to each other.”
It was “this person has known me for years, understands pieces of me nobody else does, and somehow they're still the person my heart keeps choosing.”
LIKE????
EXCUSE ME???
I'M SUPPOSED TO FUNCTION AFTER READING THAT???
Side characters —
I swear Jillian's side characters make every book better. 😭
I loved getting to see more of the Green Bay Bobcats crew, and the friendships and found-family moments added so much warmth to the story.
Every time the characters were together, it genuinely felt like I was dropping back into a little world I'd already grown attached to.
And now I am sitting here thinking about the NEXT couple and wondering how I'm supposed to WAIT. 👀
Because Jillian???
THAT HINT???
You cannot just casually give me a glimpse of what's coming next and expect me to be normal about it.
I HAVE QUESTIONS.
I HAVE THEORIES.
I HAVE BEEN WAITING.
😭😭😭
Overall, Defend Her Heart was such a beautiful, emotional, ridiculously swoony second-chance romance.
Connor and Avery's journey had everything I wanted: yearning, tenderness, history, healing, friendship, hockey, and a love that somehow survived all the time and distance between them.
Connor Smith has officially joined my fictional-husband committee.
I don't make the rules.
I ate this book up.
Would I recommend it?
ABSOLUTELY.
If you love slow-burn romances where the feelings run DEEP, second chances, marriage of convenience, hockey romance, and a hero who has basically been emotionally doomed over the same woman for YEARS—
READ THIS BOOK.
Jillian Arly, you did it again. 🥹🏒💗
Overall: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🏒 Tropes: Hockey romance, second chance, marriage of convenience, slow burn, childhood sweethearts, forced proximity, workplace romance, he falls first, found family, chronic illness representation, no third-act breakup, HEA
MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS
Thank you so much, Jillian, for the opportunity to read this one! 🥹💗
If you’ve followed me for a while, you already know that I have a very soft spot for Jillian Arly’s books, so obviously I had ridiculously high expectations going into this one.
And somehow… SHE EXCEEDED THEM.
Connor and Avery??? HELLO??? 😭
Their story was everything I wanted from a second-chance romance. Two people who loved each other when they were younger, went their separate ways, and then somehow found themselves back in each other’s orbit years later??? I AM WEAK.
The way their past and present were woven together was one of my favorite parts. Getting to see who they were then while simultaneously watching them figure out who they are now made their relationship feel so much more meaningful.
And the slow burn???
OH. MY. GOD.
This book took its TIME and I was simultaneously screaming PLEASE JUST KISS ALREADY while also begging Jillian to never make it end. 😭
Because when you have two people with THAT much history, you don't need to rush anything. Every little moment between them felt important.
And then there is AVERY.
I absolutely adored her. 🥹
I loved watching her navigate everything that had happened to her while trying to rebuild her life and figure out what she wanted for herself. Her struggles never felt like they were simply there for drama—they were genuinely part of her journey, and I really appreciated how much care went into her character.
And the chronic illness representation??? 🥹💗
I loved seeing Avery's experiences treated with compassion and having her health be an actual part of her life rather than something that magically disappears whenever the romance needs to move forward.
BUT NOW WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT CONNOR SMITH.
Because that man???
HUSBAND MATERIAL.
I HAVE NO OTHER WORDS.
Connor is exactly the kind of fictional man who makes you sit there staring at the page like:
“Oh. So THIS is the standard now?”
😭😭😭
His entire personality when it comes to Avery had me GONE.
He is protective without making her feel incapable. He pays attention. He remembers things. He shows up. He puts in the effort.
And the fact that this man has apparently been carrying feelings for Avery for YEARS???
HE WAS DOWN BAD AND I WAS EATING IT UP.
There is something so ridiculously satisfying about a man who has never actually stopped loving the woman he fell for.
Connor's devotion to Avery was probably my favorite part of his character.
Because it wasn't just about grand gestures.
It was about the little things.
The consistency.
The effort.
The way he made it clear that Avery mattered to him.
IT'S ALWAYS THE EFFORT FOR ME.
And watching Avery slowly realize that the feelings between them never really disappeared???
I WAS LOSING MY MIND.
The marriage of convenience was EVERYTHING. 😂
Did I know exactly what was going to happen?
Yes.
Did that stop me from screaming internally when it happened?
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
There is something about two people agreeing to a fake marriage when there are very obviously REAL feelings underneath it that will never stop working on me.
And because this is a Jillian Arly book, the hockey world and the found-family aspect were such a fun addition too. I love getting to spend more time around the Bobcats and seeing these characters' friendships develop across the series.
Also—
THE YEARNING.
THE PINING.
THE HISTORY.
THE “I NEVER REALLY STOPPED LOVING YOU” ENERGY.
JILLIAN, WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME???
😭😭😭
Connor and Avery's relationship felt incredibly tender underneath all the tension. There was so much love between them, even when they weren't ready to admit exactly what they were feeling.
And THAT is what made this romance work so well for me.
It wasn't just “they're attracted to each other.”
It was “this person has known me for years, understands pieces of me nobody else does, and somehow they're still the person my heart keeps choosing.”
LIKE????
EXCUSE ME???
I'M SUPPOSED TO FUNCTION AFTER READING THAT???
Side characters —
I swear Jillian's side characters make every book better. 😭
I loved getting to see more of the Green Bay Bobcats crew, and the friendships and found-family moments added so much warmth to the story.
Every time the characters were together, it genuinely felt like I was dropping back into a little world I'd already grown attached to.
And now I am sitting here thinking about the NEXT couple and wondering how I'm supposed to WAIT. 👀
Because Jillian???
THAT HINT???
You cannot just casually give me a glimpse of what's coming next and expect me to be normal about it.
I HAVE QUESTIONS.
I HAVE THEORIES.
I HAVE BEEN WAITING.
😭😭😭
Overall, Defend Her Heart was such a beautiful, emotional, ridiculously swoony second-chance romance.
Connor and Avery's journey had everything I wanted: yearning, tenderness, history, healing, friendship, hockey, and a love that somehow survived all the time and distance between them.
Connor Smith has officially joined my fictional-husband committee.
I don't make the rules.
I ate this book up.
Would I recommend it?
ABSOLUTELY.
If you love slow-burn romances where the feelings run DEEP, second chances, marriage of convenience, hockey romance, and a hero who has basically been emotionally doomed over the same woman for YEARS—
READ THIS BOOK.
Jillian Arly, you did it again. 🥹🏒💗
Overall: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 8, 2026
**Contains spoilers. So avoid reading if you want no spoilers.**
I was among the lucky people to receive an arc of this book. I will be honest, I have never read anything by this author, but after reading this book, it is safe to say that I will be going back to the first two books. This is a second-chance romance, fake marriage hockey book with spice and mental health and POTC representation.
The way the mental illness was represented throughout this book from both our MMC was incredible. And also the representation of POTC in this book for our MFC was incredible as well. I have never seen such an amazing representation in the book, meaning how in-depth we went, how we understood what the characters were going through, and how they dealt with it (such as help from their teams, therapy, each other, building girl friendships, and such).
Our FMC, Avery Chamberline, has just gone through something so unbelievable with her ex-husband, and she came out on the other side because of the change she made to her life. She is a definition of a broken young woman who bloomed into a beautiful rose; it just needed a few more good thorns on her side to help her bloom even further. She was always a nice person, always never asking for help, and expected nothing from others. So when our MMC, Connor, offers to help her, she refuses. But then, when the plan began to form, it was something that made sense to her, but little did she know that this 6'5 ex-boyfriend hockey player would be her saving grace.
Our MMC, Connor Smith, is the yearner of YEARNERS. And I have read A LOT of Hockey romance where there are MMC's who are yearners, but Connor Smith? Consider my jaw on the floor and flabbergasted. The way I annotated on my Kindle more coming from Connor's actions, or what he says, or what he does, than any other characters left me speechless when I finished this book. And we are just at the beginning. When Connor is given a second chance at being in Avery's life again, man oh man does he swoop in. For a moment there, I thought I was reading a Disney prince disguised as a Hockey player 😆. The way he is so considerate, trying to help Avery, does not push her boundaries or even do anything stupid, speaks a lot of volumes about who he is. Given his background in his family history and how he tries to make up for being someone better than his parents were, to try and be a decent human being who has struggled with mental health and yet still finds a way to be considerate and compassionate towards Avery, despite being exes, goes a long way.
The one scene that made me smile so big was when Avery had her appointment for examination. She thought that she was attending the appointment alone until Connor showed up. The nurse was skeptical about him and said that they could not bring him in; he was adamant about being in the testing room and wanting to be there for Avery, despite their fake marriage and despite the agreement, he was in for the long haul. When being in the room, Avery passes out during the testing, and reading that in Connor's POV, seeing how much he wanted to react and do something but did nothing until the nurse told him it was okay, it made me feel so much and see how much Connor does truly love Avery. After Avery regain's concious, and when the testing is done, the nurse says, and I quote, "It's a good thing, dear. A man like that, who fights for you and is willing to be escorted out of a hospital for it, that right there is a keeper. You have a good man. You're one of the lucky ones." MY HEART SWOONED BECAUSE YES, AVERY DOES DESERVE HIM AND I LOVE THEM SO MUCH 😭.
Their chapters showing us their past as high school sweethearts were adorable. Them planning for the future together and how they both wanted to decorate a model of a house, because it was a project for Connor's class. I loved how we see in the present day that when Avery goes to his penthouse, it is designed the same way that they spoke about it when they were in high school.
There were so many amazing moments between Avery and Connor. In the beginning, it is hard to understand why Connor is doing what he does throughout the book, but once you keep reading and you find out the little bits and pieces of what happens between Avery and Connor in High School, you see Connor and Avery trying to make do in the world, only for the universe to bring them back together in unexpected ways.
Also loved how there was no third-act breakup. Sometimes I prefer no third-act breakups in books, and this did not have that, so I am happy about that.
One last thing: if you love Disney and Frozen, there are some references to that in the book, so that was a bonus, and I heavily resonate with a sibling loving Elsa so much.
I wish I could rate this infinity out of 5 here on Goodreads, but it's a 5/5 stars for me even though it is an infinity. I will be forever grateful for this opportunity and for reading this book. So thank you so much to Jillian Arly and her team! Avery and Connor are my new favorite couple in Hockey romance books, and I will be thinking about them for as long as I live. So, yes, get this book. Pick it up and read an amazing romance that will leave your heart pounding and swooning.
I was among the lucky people to receive an arc of this book. I will be honest, I have never read anything by this author, but after reading this book, it is safe to say that I will be going back to the first two books. This is a second-chance romance, fake marriage hockey book with spice and mental health and POTC representation.
The way the mental illness was represented throughout this book from both our MMC was incredible. And also the representation of POTC in this book for our MFC was incredible as well. I have never seen such an amazing representation in the book, meaning how in-depth we went, how we understood what the characters were going through, and how they dealt with it (such as help from their teams, therapy, each other, building girl friendships, and such).
Our FMC, Avery Chamberline, has just gone through something so unbelievable with her ex-husband, and she came out on the other side because of the change she made to her life. She is a definition of a broken young woman who bloomed into a beautiful rose; it just needed a few more good thorns on her side to help her bloom even further. She was always a nice person, always never asking for help, and expected nothing from others. So when our MMC, Connor, offers to help her, she refuses. But then, when the plan began to form, it was something that made sense to her, but little did she know that this 6'5 ex-boyfriend hockey player would be her saving grace.
Our MMC, Connor Smith, is the yearner of YEARNERS. And I have read A LOT of Hockey romance where there are MMC's who are yearners, but Connor Smith? Consider my jaw on the floor and flabbergasted. The way I annotated on my Kindle more coming from Connor's actions, or what he says, or what he does, than any other characters left me speechless when I finished this book. And we are just at the beginning. When Connor is given a second chance at being in Avery's life again, man oh man does he swoop in. For a moment there, I thought I was reading a Disney prince disguised as a Hockey player 😆. The way he is so considerate, trying to help Avery, does not push her boundaries or even do anything stupid, speaks a lot of volumes about who he is. Given his background in his family history and how he tries to make up for being someone better than his parents were, to try and be a decent human being who has struggled with mental health and yet still finds a way to be considerate and compassionate towards Avery, despite being exes, goes a long way.
The one scene that made me smile so big was when Avery had her appointment for examination. She thought that she was attending the appointment alone until Connor showed up. The nurse was skeptical about him and said that they could not bring him in; he was adamant about being in the testing room and wanting to be there for Avery, despite their fake marriage and despite the agreement, he was in for the long haul. When being in the room, Avery passes out during the testing, and reading that in Connor's POV, seeing how much he wanted to react and do something but did nothing until the nurse told him it was okay, it made me feel so much and see how much Connor does truly love Avery. After Avery regain's concious, and when the testing is done, the nurse says, and I quote, "It's a good thing, dear. A man like that, who fights for you and is willing to be escorted out of a hospital for it, that right there is a keeper. You have a good man. You're one of the lucky ones." MY HEART SWOONED BECAUSE YES, AVERY DOES DESERVE HIM AND I LOVE THEM SO MUCH 😭.
Their chapters showing us their past as high school sweethearts were adorable. Them planning for the future together and how they both wanted to decorate a model of a house, because it was a project for Connor's class. I loved how we see in the present day that when Avery goes to his penthouse, it is designed the same way that they spoke about it when they were in high school.
There were so many amazing moments between Avery and Connor. In the beginning, it is hard to understand why Connor is doing what he does throughout the book, but once you keep reading and you find out the little bits and pieces of what happens between Avery and Connor in High School, you see Connor and Avery trying to make do in the world, only for the universe to bring them back together in unexpected ways.
Also loved how there was no third-act breakup. Sometimes I prefer no third-act breakups in books, and this did not have that, so I am happy about that.
One last thing: if you love Disney and Frozen, there are some references to that in the book, so that was a bonus, and I heavily resonate with a sibling loving Elsa so much.
I wish I could rate this infinity out of 5 here on Goodreads, but it's a 5/5 stars for me even though it is an infinity. I will be forever grateful for this opportunity and for reading this book. So thank you so much to Jillian Arly and her team! Avery and Connor are my new favorite couple in Hockey romance books, and I will be thinking about them for as long as I live. So, yes, get this book. Pick it up and read an amazing romance that will leave your heart pounding and swooning.
August 14, 2026
Defend Her Heart has a storyline that could easily become too dramatic. A woman is rebuilding her life after a toxic marriage, her ex-boyfriend suddenly comes back into the picture, they end up in a marriage of convenience, and she is also dealing with a medical condition that needs immediate attention. That's a lot of moving parts, but Jilian Arly brings them together really well. The story never feels like too much, even when the emotions run high.
The story follows childhood sweethearts Avery Chamberlin and Connor Smith, who find themselves working together years after their breakup. Avery is starting over as the new play-by-play commentator for the Green Bay Bobcats, but there is one small problem. Her ex-boyfriend is one of the players.
When Connor runs into Avery at the hospital and learns that she is struggling to afford the medical tests she needs, he offers to help. Avery wants nothing to do with accepting his help, but eventually, she gives in. Literally. Their solution? Marriage.
Of course, a fake marriage with your childhood sweetheart is never going to stay simple. Connor sees it as an opportunity to win Avery back, while Avery is just trying to get through this new chapter of her life without letting old feelings get in the way. The more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to ignore what is still there between them.
Avery is the kind of protagonist you can't help but root for. She's trying to build a new life and find her footing in a career she is excited about, all while dealing with more personal struggles than she expected. Then Connor walks back into her life literally before she has even had time to settle in. Talk about terrible timing, right?
I really liked the sports backdrop here. The hockey setting gives the story a fun and specific atmosphere without taking over the romance. We get enough of the Bobcats and their world to make it feel real, but the focus stays where it should: on Avery and Connor.
I also loved that this story isn't just about the romance. Avery's health and her experience with POTS brought another layer to the story that I wasn't expecting. I personally didn't know much about POTS before reading this book, so I appreciated the small snippets throughout the story that helped explain what it is and what living with it can look like. There are also moments that show how important it is to understand and care for someone dealing with this condition. It gave me a little more awareness, and I really liked how Jilian handled that part of Avery's story. It felt like something naturally included in her life rather than just another plot device.
The second-chance romance is probably what worked best for me. Their relationship feels like it has a real history behind it, rather than the past being there simply because the story needs a reason for them to be together. You can feel that they mattered to each other long before they found themselves sharing a fake marriage.
Their past is messy, their breakup left some things unresolved, and neither of them can simply pretend those feelings are gone. I liked watching them slowly work through all of that instead of having everything magically fall back into place. It makes their relationship feel much more believable.
I also appreciated how Avery's experience with her toxic marriage was handled. It affects how she approaches Connor and their relationship, but it doesn't completely define her. Her hesitation and trust issues feel understandable, especially when she is already dealing with so many changes in her life. Watching her slowly become more comfortable with Connor and with the possibility of loving him again was one of my favorite parts.
And the romance itself? It has the kind of slow build that makes you want to keep reading. There is plenty of history between them, but they still have to figure out who they are now and whether they can leave the past where it belongs.
If you're a fan of second-chance romance, hockey romance, or marriage-of-convenience stories where things inevitably get a little less fake than planned, this one is worth checking out. Jilian Arly takes a storyline with plenty of opportunities to become overly dramatic and instead keeps it sweet, emotional, and easy to get invested in.
A huge thank you to Jilian Arly and Love Notes PR for trusting me with an advance review copy of Defend Her Heart. It truly means a lot! As always, every thought and opinion shared in this review is completely honest and my own.
The story follows childhood sweethearts Avery Chamberlin and Connor Smith, who find themselves working together years after their breakup. Avery is starting over as the new play-by-play commentator for the Green Bay Bobcats, but there is one small problem. Her ex-boyfriend is one of the players.
When Connor runs into Avery at the hospital and learns that she is struggling to afford the medical tests she needs, he offers to help. Avery wants nothing to do with accepting his help, but eventually, she gives in. Literally. Their solution? Marriage.
Of course, a fake marriage with your childhood sweetheart is never going to stay simple. Connor sees it as an opportunity to win Avery back, while Avery is just trying to get through this new chapter of her life without letting old feelings get in the way. The more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to ignore what is still there between them.
Avery is the kind of protagonist you can't help but root for. She's trying to build a new life and find her footing in a career she is excited about, all while dealing with more personal struggles than she expected. Then Connor walks back into her life literally before she has even had time to settle in. Talk about terrible timing, right?
I really liked the sports backdrop here. The hockey setting gives the story a fun and specific atmosphere without taking over the romance. We get enough of the Bobcats and their world to make it feel real, but the focus stays where it should: on Avery and Connor.
I also loved that this story isn't just about the romance. Avery's health and her experience with POTS brought another layer to the story that I wasn't expecting. I personally didn't know much about POTS before reading this book, so I appreciated the small snippets throughout the story that helped explain what it is and what living with it can look like. There are also moments that show how important it is to understand and care for someone dealing with this condition. It gave me a little more awareness, and I really liked how Jilian handled that part of Avery's story. It felt like something naturally included in her life rather than just another plot device.
The second-chance romance is probably what worked best for me. Their relationship feels like it has a real history behind it, rather than the past being there simply because the story needs a reason for them to be together. You can feel that they mattered to each other long before they found themselves sharing a fake marriage.
Their past is messy, their breakup left some things unresolved, and neither of them can simply pretend those feelings are gone. I liked watching them slowly work through all of that instead of having everything magically fall back into place. It makes their relationship feel much more believable.
I also appreciated how Avery's experience with her toxic marriage was handled. It affects how she approaches Connor and their relationship, but it doesn't completely define her. Her hesitation and trust issues feel understandable, especially when she is already dealing with so many changes in her life. Watching her slowly become more comfortable with Connor and with the possibility of loving him again was one of my favorite parts.
And the romance itself? It has the kind of slow build that makes you want to keep reading. There is plenty of history between them, but they still have to figure out who they are now and whether they can leave the past where it belongs.
If you're a fan of second-chance romance, hockey romance, or marriage-of-convenience stories where things inevitably get a little less fake than planned, this one is worth checking out. Jilian Arly takes a storyline with plenty of opportunities to become overly dramatic and instead keeps it sweet, emotional, and easy to get invested in.
A huge thank you to Jilian Arly and Love Notes PR for trusting me with an advance review copy of Defend Her Heart. It truly means a lot! As always, every thought and opinion shared in this review is completely honest and my own.
Review of advance copy
Review to follow! 💚
...........................................................
Defend her Heart 5 ⭐️ | 4 🌶️
Thanks to Love Notes PR and the author for the ARC!
Hockey romance
Marriage of convenience
Second chance
Chronic illness rep
Found family
Women in sports
“I love you bigger than the sky…” “Brighter than the stars…”
OMG, the love I have for this book! Defend her Heart is definitely my favorite from the series. And this is not just because of the love story but because I feel it was a love letter for all the Averys out there, for the women with chronic illnesses who are struggling to being seen, to being heard and to be taken seriously! So Jillian, thank you so much for putting in words how many of us feel. It’s such a rubbish feeling trying to find an answer to what is happening to our bodies, especially when we know there’s actually something wrong, but then doctors keep trying to portray these concerns as something silly or not important.
“Because you can be both. You can rock the high heels off the ice and still be a badass on it. You don’t have to hide or mask how feminine you are just because people out there might think you don’t have what it takes. For some reason, people—especially men—like to open their mouths when a pretty woman enters the hockey world. Like, just because we curl our hair or wear mascara, we can’t do the job. It’s bullshit. I wish I realized sooner that being a woman in a man’s world actually gave me so much power. Power to make a difference. Power to be a role model for those little girls who thought they had to choose between one or the other: be a hockey player or be a lady. You can be both.”
Avery Chamberlain, the first-ever female play-by-play commentator, what a badass you are! There’s nothing I love more than an FMC who’s determined to come stronger than ever after having terrible obstacles during the years. My heat felt so bad for her at the beginning, knowing her story with her shitty ex-husband and how he dismissed what she was feeling, how he convinced even the doctors. It might sound repetitive, but I absolutely felt identified with her. There’s nothing worse to feel like you can’t trust your body anymore, that there’s not an answer to what you’re feeling, to what it hurts, and even worse, having people around you who put down all your feelings and make you feel like you’re just dramatic or crazy. Stay away from people like that. I was happy to see how she got the answers she needed, and yes, I know there was still some work to do, but Avery finally had that big relief. She was finally surrounded by people who loved and supported her…and that brings me to Connor, obviously.
“What you’re doing now, as the first-ever female play-by-play commentator, you are that role model.” I gesture at her. “You know hockey better than anyone on the planet. You get on that mic every night and bring the game to life for everyone watching it on their TVs at home, and you look beautiful doing it. I’m not saying that looks matter, because they don’t. But you aren’t hiding who you are anymore either, and that’s something to be proud of. I’m so proud of you.”
Connor Smith, THE MAN YOU ARE! This man is the perfect definition of book boyfriend, or husband in this case. Since we had that little glimpse in the previous book and the novella about Connors sister, I knew this man was going to be down so hard, and he fucking delivered! After how things ended between him and Avery, having her back in his life was a big shock, and he knew, very deeply, that this was their second chance and there was no way he would lose her again. And when he stepped in to help Avery so she could afford the doctor tests and appointments, God, my heart was just loving him more and more. How he made sure to be with Avery in every appointment, how he researched and informed himself about Avery’s diagnosis, so he could help her. 10 OUT OF 10!
“We’re a family here in Green Bay. And I know you haven’t even officially started, but now that you’re here, that makes you one of us. You are part of our family, and there’s no place I’d rather be right now than here with you.”
Sandy, my love! Who wouldn’t like to have a friend like her! She was one of my favorite characters from this book too. The way she embraced and supported Avery was so wholesome. And not just her, Ellie, Sloane and Katie (and Tamara!), were exactly what Avery needed. A big and lovely net of support. The kind of friendship you know is going to last forever and ever, and that they’ll be there for you no matter what. Let’s GO, GIRL POWER!
Normally I’m not such a fan of second chance romances because sometimes, the reasons for the previous break up or the communication they have after seeing each other again, is terrible, but this didn’t happen. Once Avery was free from that horrible marriage and her and Connor were back to being in each other lives, it was clear they were mean to happen. I love the little flashbacks and how some parallels play after. And when they decided to give it another try, BLOODY FIREWORKS, that’s all I saw while reading. Their chemistry, the love they previously shared, everything was there to be explored once again.
In general, I loved the book, it was such a romantic story between two characters who were hurt before but that after a long time, they found their way back together and mended everything that was broken.
What happened to Katie and Hunter…? I can’t wait for the next book!…
...........................................................
Defend her Heart 5 ⭐️ | 4 🌶️
Thanks to Love Notes PR and the author for the ARC!
Hockey romance
Marriage of convenience
Second chance
Chronic illness rep
Found family
Women in sports
“I love you bigger than the sky…” “Brighter than the stars…”
OMG, the love I have for this book! Defend her Heart is definitely my favorite from the series. And this is not just because of the love story but because I feel it was a love letter for all the Averys out there, for the women with chronic illnesses who are struggling to being seen, to being heard and to be taken seriously! So Jillian, thank you so much for putting in words how many of us feel. It’s such a rubbish feeling trying to find an answer to what is happening to our bodies, especially when we know there’s actually something wrong, but then doctors keep trying to portray these concerns as something silly or not important.
“Because you can be both. You can rock the high heels off the ice and still be a badass on it. You don’t have to hide or mask how feminine you are just because people out there might think you don’t have what it takes. For some reason, people—especially men—like to open their mouths when a pretty woman enters the hockey world. Like, just because we curl our hair or wear mascara, we can’t do the job. It’s bullshit. I wish I realized sooner that being a woman in a man’s world actually gave me so much power. Power to make a difference. Power to be a role model for those little girls who thought they had to choose between one or the other: be a hockey player or be a lady. You can be both.”
Avery Chamberlain, the first-ever female play-by-play commentator, what a badass you are! There’s nothing I love more than an FMC who’s determined to come stronger than ever after having terrible obstacles during the years. My heat felt so bad for her at the beginning, knowing her story with her shitty ex-husband and how he dismissed what she was feeling, how he convinced even the doctors. It might sound repetitive, but I absolutely felt identified with her. There’s nothing worse to feel like you can’t trust your body anymore, that there’s not an answer to what you’re feeling, to what it hurts, and even worse, having people around you who put down all your feelings and make you feel like you’re just dramatic or crazy. Stay away from people like that. I was happy to see how she got the answers she needed, and yes, I know there was still some work to do, but Avery finally had that big relief. She was finally surrounded by people who loved and supported her…and that brings me to Connor, obviously.
“What you’re doing now, as the first-ever female play-by-play commentator, you are that role model.” I gesture at her. “You know hockey better than anyone on the planet. You get on that mic every night and bring the game to life for everyone watching it on their TVs at home, and you look beautiful doing it. I’m not saying that looks matter, because they don’t. But you aren’t hiding who you are anymore either, and that’s something to be proud of. I’m so proud of you.”
Connor Smith, THE MAN YOU ARE! This man is the perfect definition of book boyfriend, or husband in this case. Since we had that little glimpse in the previous book and the novella about Connors sister, I knew this man was going to be down so hard, and he fucking delivered! After how things ended between him and Avery, having her back in his life was a big shock, and he knew, very deeply, that this was their second chance and there was no way he would lose her again. And when he stepped in to help Avery so she could afford the doctor tests and appointments, God, my heart was just loving him more and more. How he made sure to be with Avery in every appointment, how he researched and informed himself about Avery’s diagnosis, so he could help her. 10 OUT OF 10!
“We’re a family here in Green Bay. And I know you haven’t even officially started, but now that you’re here, that makes you one of us. You are part of our family, and there’s no place I’d rather be right now than here with you.”
Sandy, my love! Who wouldn’t like to have a friend like her! She was one of my favorite characters from this book too. The way she embraced and supported Avery was so wholesome. And not just her, Ellie, Sloane and Katie (and Tamara!), were exactly what Avery needed. A big and lovely net of support. The kind of friendship you know is going to last forever and ever, and that they’ll be there for you no matter what. Let’s GO, GIRL POWER!
Normally I’m not such a fan of second chance romances because sometimes, the reasons for the previous break up or the communication they have after seeing each other again, is terrible, but this didn’t happen. Once Avery was free from that horrible marriage and her and Connor were back to being in each other lives, it was clear they were mean to happen. I love the little flashbacks and how some parallels play after. And when they decided to give it another try, BLOODY FIREWORKS, that’s all I saw while reading. Their chemistry, the love they previously shared, everything was there to be explored once again.
In general, I loved the book, it was such a romantic story between two characters who were hurt before but that after a long time, they found their way back together and mended everything that was broken.
What happened to Katie and Hunter…? I can’t wait for the next book!…
August 31, 2026
“I love you bigger than the sky. Brighter than the stars.”
First we had Lincoln, then Niko, and now Connor. The men in this series just keep getting better and BETTER. 😭🤌🏻 And as a certified second-chance romance devotee, a couple finding their way back to each other after more than a decade? THAT is just the cherry on top. Because the growth, the history, the yearning, and everything Avery and Connor had to overcome to find their way back to each other made their story all the more beautiful.
Avery, a former PWHL player now working as the play-by-play commentator for the Bobcats, comes face-to-face with Connor—the boy she gave all her firsts to and the man who let her go all those years ago—on her very first day at her new job. But so much has changed since they last knew each other. Avery has lived an entire life since then, one filled with a marriage, heartbreak, and struggles Connor knew nothing about. I really admired her strength throughout this book because, honestly, my heart hurt for her. The chronic illness representation and the frustration of constantly fighting to be heard and believed were handled so beautifully. She was strong not because she never struggled, but because she continued fighting through it all.
“Loving him has never been the hard part.”
And Connor Smith... WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN? We'd seen him in the previous books as the grumpy one who rarely smiled, except when it came to Sophie, his best friend's daughter. But the moment Avery—the woman he never stopped loving—was back in front of him, everything changed. We get glimpses into their past and why he chose to let her go, and while I didn't necessarily agree with his decision, I understood where it came from. He loved her fiercely enough to believe letting her chase her dreams without him was the right thing to do, even if his own struggles and trauma played a part in that decision. But the Connor standing in front of Avery now was different. Stronger—not just physically, but emotionally too. And this time, he was determined not to let her go.
“This marriage may have started as a farce, but you’re mine, and I have every intention of keeping you all to myself.”
The way this man loved and cared for Avery??? I AM UNWELL. 😭 Marrying her so she could get the insurance she desperately needed, sitting beside her through every appointment and test, making sure she never felt like she was crazy, downloading an app to track her symptoms, and keeping electrolytes with him everywhere??? And that's not even all. The way he designed his home exactly how they had once drawn and dreamed about, the way he called her freckles his Big Dipper and then INKED THEM ON HIS CHEST??? MY HEART. 😭 He even planned the wedding she deserved and chased the northern lights with her. Every little act of love felt so intentional, and the best part was that he showed up for her without expecting anything in return. Well... except maybe the hope that one day she would choose him again. 🥹
“What’s your favorite thing to eat after a game or practice?”
“My wife.”
THE FRIENDSHIPS!!! Honestly, the friendships and found-family aspect will always be one of my favourite parts of hockey romances, and this series does it SO well. Both the male and female friendships that bloomed throughout the book felt genuinely special, and seeing everyone stand beside Avery made my heart so full.
“This isn't just a promise to love you for the rest of my life, I already did that a long time ago. This is a promise that no matter how far we may drift apart, you'll always be my North Star, Aves.”
Connor and Avery's relationship was filled with so much history, love, and quiet yearning. Their marriage might have begun as a means to help Avery, but the love underneath it had always been there, waiting for them to finally find their way back. This book was beautiful, emotional, and touched so many parts of my heart. Connor didn't just defend Avery's heart—he spent the entire book proving that he would protect it, choose it, and love it for as long as she let him.
Connor Smith, you beautiful, grumpy, electrolyte-carrying, freckle-tattooing man... WE TRULY DO NOT DESERVE YOU. 😭🫶🏻
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