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Here to Stay
Liam Harvey was supposed to spend his entire career with the Los Angeles Knights.
Instead, he’s traded overnight to the San Jose Threshers—no warning, no goodbye, and no phone call from the best friend he’s called captain since his first year in the NHL.
Liam finds himself in a new city, with a new locker room, a roster full of rivals, and a loneliness he can’t seem to shake.
Until a letter arrives.
Carefully curated. Covered in ridiculous stickers. Signed Lady Sugar Bottom.
Lady Sugar Bottom never meant to spill her heartbreak to a stranger. But when the chance to send an anonymous letter falls into her lap, it feels easier than saying the words out loud.
What she didn’t expect was for Liam Harvey to actually write back.
Soon their letters become the best part of Liam’s day—and the safest place for her to piece her heart back together. Between dad jokes, fun facts, grocery deliveries, and late-night monster movies, their friendship grows into something neither of them saw coming.
Liam is desperate to know who she really is.
Lady Sugar Bottom refuses to meet.
Because the moment they do… the magic might disappear.
Instead, he’s traded overnight to the San Jose Threshers—no warning, no goodbye, and no phone call from the best friend he’s called captain since his first year in the NHL.
Liam finds himself in a new city, with a new locker room, a roster full of rivals, and a loneliness he can’t seem to shake.
Until a letter arrives.
Carefully curated. Covered in ridiculous stickers. Signed Lady Sugar Bottom.
Lady Sugar Bottom never meant to spill her heartbreak to a stranger. But when the chance to send an anonymous letter falls into her lap, it feels easier than saying the words out loud.
What she didn’t expect was for Liam Harvey to actually write back.
Soon their letters become the best part of Liam’s day—and the safest place for her to piece her heart back together. Between dad jokes, fun facts, grocery deliveries, and late-night monster movies, their friendship grows into something neither of them saw coming.
Liam is desperate to know who she really is.
Lady Sugar Bottom refuses to meet.
Because the moment they do… the magic might disappear.
- GenresHockeyFriends To Lovers
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2026
About the author
Lucille James
4 books67 followersLucille James is a Southern California native who recently relocated
with her family to a small Southern town. While she will always
love and miss the West Coast vibes; food, beaches, Disney days, Ducks
Hockey and the sunny weather, she has come to love the sounds of the
South, sweet tea, rural highways, and a slower life that allows her to write
more freely.
Throughout her life, Lucille has found stories in her own experiences;
from skateparks to cheer squads; hockey games to punk shows;
fast food burger joints to Hollywood sound studios; and most importantly,
always asking the people around her: What’s your love story?
Lucille enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and
pup. In her free time Lucille loves writing, watching Rom Coms, reading,
cooking, concerts, coffee shops, and going to the roller skating rink.
with her family to a small Southern town. While she will always
love and miss the West Coast vibes; food, beaches, Disney days, Ducks
Hockey and the sunny weather, she has come to love the sounds of the
South, sweet tea, rural highways, and a slower life that allows her to write
more freely.
Throughout her life, Lucille has found stories in her own experiences;
from skateparks to cheer squads; hockey games to punk shows;
fast food burger joints to Hollywood sound studios; and most importantly,
always asking the people around her: What’s your love story?
Lucille enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and
pup. In her free time Lucille loves writing, watching Rom Coms, reading,
cooking, concerts, coffee shops, and going to the roller skating rink.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 20, 2026
Here To Stay is such a warm, emotional, and comforting hockey romance that completely pulled me in from the start. The anonymous letter-writing dynamic creates an immediate emotional intimacy between Liam and Lady Sugar Bottom, and watching their connection grow through honesty, humor, vulnerability, and everyday moments made the romance feel incredibly genuine.
Liam’s loneliness after being unexpectedly traded added a lot of emotional depth to the story. He’s struggling with losing the life and relationships he thought were permanent, and the letters slowly become his safe place in a way that felt very believable and heartfelt. On the other side, Lady Sugar Bottom’s emotional healing journey is quieter but equally impactful, especially as she slowly allows herself to trust someone again.
What really worked for me was how natural the relationship progression felt. The story takes its time building emotional connection before focusing heavily on romance, which made every moment feel earned. The smaller details like grocery deliveries, inside jokes, monster movies, and dad humor gave the relationship such a cozy, lived-in feeling.
The pacing leans softer and more character-focused rather than dramatic, but that emotional intimacy is exactly what makes the story stand out. It balances heartbreak, healing, humor, and tenderness beautifully.
Overall, this was sweet, emotional, and deeply comforting with a romance that feels built on genuine friendship and emotional safety.
Liam’s loneliness after being unexpectedly traded added a lot of emotional depth to the story. He’s struggling with losing the life and relationships he thought were permanent, and the letters slowly become his safe place in a way that felt very believable and heartfelt. On the other side, Lady Sugar Bottom’s emotional healing journey is quieter but equally impactful, especially as she slowly allows herself to trust someone again.
What really worked for me was how natural the relationship progression felt. The story takes its time building emotional connection before focusing heavily on romance, which made every moment feel earned. The smaller details like grocery deliveries, inside jokes, monster movies, and dad humor gave the relationship such a cozy, lived-in feeling.
The pacing leans softer and more character-focused rather than dramatic, but that emotional intimacy is exactly what makes the story stand out. It balances heartbreak, healing, humor, and tenderness beautifully.
Overall, this was sweet, emotional, and deeply comforting with a romance that feels built on genuine friendship and emotional safety.
May 22, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Liam was recently traded to a new hockey team and isn’t adjusting well. When he starts receiving letters from an anonymous woman, he’s intrigued. The letters turn to emails and phone calls. Eventually Liam wants to meet.
Jess was going through a rough break up and reached out to Liam. She never expected a reply. Through their pen pal friendship, she had a newfound crush. After a few hookups as friends, the vibes are off between them.
I enjoyed the mystery in the first 30% of this one. The friendship they formed was genuine. I didn’t enjoy their lack of communication when it came to their feelings. This is in 3rd person POV, but I enjoy this author’s storytelling.
Liam was recently traded to a new hockey team and isn’t adjusting well. When he starts receiving letters from an anonymous woman, he’s intrigued. The letters turn to emails and phone calls. Eventually Liam wants to meet.
Jess was going through a rough break up and reached out to Liam. She never expected a reply. Through their pen pal friendship, she had a newfound crush. After a few hookups as friends, the vibes are off between them.
I enjoyed the mystery in the first 30% of this one. The friendship they formed was genuine. I didn’t enjoy their lack of communication when it came to their feelings. This is in 3rd person POV, but I enjoy this author’s storytelling.
May 25, 2026
⭐⭐.75
ARC Review
Tropes:
Pen Pals
Hockey Player x Teacher
Long Distance
Friends to Lovers
3rd POV
I honestly had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark for me.
Liam is suddenly transferred to a different hockey team and is forced to leave his whole life behind. Unfortunately, he's not coping very well. He's honestly at rock bottom when he receives a letter from an anonymous person named "Lady Sugar Bottoms," who we later learn is Jess. Those letters become his lifeline.
I loved pen pals, and this story had a very promising start. Both Jess and Liam came into each other's lives when they needed it the most. Their letter and email exchanges were so cute, and I was grinning every time!
While the beginning was great, the story lost momentum along the way. It moved quite quickly. Liam wanted to meet almost right away and fell almost instantly for Jess. I would have preferred a bit more build-up with their emotions.
Similarly, Jess fell for Liam pretty quickly but knew she couldn't be more than friends. Liam wanted more of a friends-with-benefits situation, so Jess started pulling back in order to maintain their friendship.
I could tell fairly early on that both Jess and Liam developed feelings quickly but didn't believe the other felt the same way, so they kept it to themselves. That's fine (sort of), but the constant back-and-forth between the two characters annoyed me. Both were giving mixed signals constantly, especially Jess. She kept "placing" boundaries but then would cross them herself, only to set them again.
I skipped a few chapters toward the end, and they were still having the same conversations. They both didn't admit their feelings until two chapters before the end—just two chapters! I would have preferred them to have that heart-to-heart earlier and to be a couple for more of the book.
I enjoyed the found family vibes of the story. While both Liam and Jess were "alone" in their struggles, they both had friends to help them. Reading Liam open up to his teammates and become friends with them was cute! Jess standing up to her ex-boyfriend and realize her self-worth was absolutely amazing!
I also did like that the book was written in third person. I appreciated being able to read both characters' thoughts and emotions within the same chapter and scene without any breaks.
ARC Review
Tropes:
Pen Pals
Hockey Player x Teacher
Long Distance
Friends to Lovers
3rd POV
I honestly had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark for me.
Liam is suddenly transferred to a different hockey team and is forced to leave his whole life behind. Unfortunately, he's not coping very well. He's honestly at rock bottom when he receives a letter from an anonymous person named "Lady Sugar Bottoms," who we later learn is Jess. Those letters become his lifeline.
I loved pen pals, and this story had a very promising start. Both Jess and Liam came into each other's lives when they needed it the most. Their letter and email exchanges were so cute, and I was grinning every time!
While the beginning was great, the story lost momentum along the way. It moved quite quickly. Liam wanted to meet almost right away and fell almost instantly for Jess. I would have preferred a bit more build-up with their emotions.
Similarly, Jess fell for Liam pretty quickly but knew she couldn't be more than friends. Liam wanted more of a friends-with-benefits situation, so Jess started pulling back in order to maintain their friendship.
I could tell fairly early on that both Jess and Liam developed feelings quickly but didn't believe the other felt the same way, so they kept it to themselves. That's fine (sort of), but the constant back-and-forth between the two characters annoyed me. Both were giving mixed signals constantly, especially Jess. She kept "placing" boundaries but then would cross them herself, only to set them again.
I skipped a few chapters toward the end, and they were still having the same conversations. They both didn't admit their feelings until two chapters before the end—just two chapters! I would have preferred them to have that heart-to-heart earlier and to be a couple for more of the book.
I enjoyed the found family vibes of the story. While both Liam and Jess were "alone" in their struggles, they both had friends to help them. Reading Liam open up to his teammates and become friends with them was cute! Jess standing up to her ex-boyfriend and realize her self-worth was absolutely amazing!
I also did like that the book was written in third person. I appreciated being able to read both characters' thoughts and emotions within the same chapter and scene without any breaks.
May 27, 2026
My first Lucille James novel, but this definitely made me a fan. I enjoyed this book for so many reasons. I am not usually a fan of third person writing, but she did this so well I was able to really get into the characters and the story.
Liam Harvey is a pro hockey player who has just been traded to a new team and a new city leaving everything he knows behind. Lonely and depressed without his team and his best friend, he begins to spiral. Laying into his new teammates and drinking too much he feels isolated and alone until the first letter arrives. He ends up with a secret pen pal with only a pen name, one who is supportive and understanding, that allows him to open up and let it all out on paper.
Jessica Robinson, as we find out is an elementary teacher, and a ray of sunshine. She holds out on giving up her identity to Liam until things start to get more serious and she cannot keep it from him any longer. His letters help her as much as hers help him and they just click.
Everything about this is so well written. The whole story just flows so well that the pages just kept turning. Starting off as nothing more than pen pals then turning to more was brilliant. We get to know each of them so well, as well as the people around them, it just sucks you right into the story.
I loved both main characters. The gritty and grumpy hockey God turned into a happy golden retriever with the woman who saved him from himself and saw him as so much more. This had my emotions all over the place in the best way.
I would not have changed a thing about this and will be reading more from this author for sure.
Thank you to Luna Literary and Lucille James for the advanced copy to read and review.
Liam Harvey is a pro hockey player who has just been traded to a new team and a new city leaving everything he knows behind. Lonely and depressed without his team and his best friend, he begins to spiral. Laying into his new teammates and drinking too much he feels isolated and alone until the first letter arrives. He ends up with a secret pen pal with only a pen name, one who is supportive and understanding, that allows him to open up and let it all out on paper.
Jessica Robinson, as we find out is an elementary teacher, and a ray of sunshine. She holds out on giving up her identity to Liam until things start to get more serious and she cannot keep it from him any longer. His letters help her as much as hers help him and they just click.
Everything about this is so well written. The whole story just flows so well that the pages just kept turning. Starting off as nothing more than pen pals then turning to more was brilliant. We get to know each of them so well, as well as the people around them, it just sucks you right into the story.
I loved both main characters. The gritty and grumpy hockey God turned into a happy golden retriever with the woman who saved him from himself and saw him as so much more. This had my emotions all over the place in the best way.
I would not have changed a thing about this and will be reading more from this author for sure.
Thank you to Luna Literary and Lucille James for the advanced copy to read and review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
West Coast Hockey: Liam
As the author stated in the warning at the start, this deals with excessive alcohol and addiction. As you would expect, there are significant mental health concerns in this, so beware if this is a trigger for you. I just wish that these had been addressed in full, as this was an opportunity completely missed.
This is emotional, adorable, sweet, and so, so good!
I loved the penpal aspect. It was such an adorable way to get to know each other before developing into something more.
“Liam was something beautiful, and looks aside, he was something kind, and funny, and he checked too many boxes on a list of what she wanted in a man. Boxes that she didn’t even know she had until she met him.”
Despite Liam’s start to the story, he was such a sweet MMC, but oh my… the friend-zoning hurt. He was confusing; he was confused, and the yo-yo that their relationship was, it was a little heartbreaking.
I really liked Jess. She was adorable, a little quirky, and so sweet. I was rooting for her to get her guy the entire way through.
On a side note… I really love Volkov. I wouldn’t say no to reading a story with him…
But… looks like Ferrah is up next… and I think it’s going to be an absolute doozy!
Strangers-to-friends-to-more
Sport romance (Pro hockey)
Friend-zone breakout
Secret identity
Slow burn
He cums in his pants
This is my first Lucille James, and it won’t be my last. Thanks for the advance copy.
As the author stated in the warning at the start, this deals with excessive alcohol and addiction. As you would expect, there are significant mental health concerns in this, so beware if this is a trigger for you. I just wish that these had been addressed in full, as this was an opportunity completely missed.
This is emotional, adorable, sweet, and so, so good!
I loved the penpal aspect. It was such an adorable way to get to know each other before developing into something more.
“Liam was something beautiful, and looks aside, he was something kind, and funny, and he checked too many boxes on a list of what she wanted in a man. Boxes that she didn’t even know she had until she met him.”
Despite Liam’s start to the story, he was such a sweet MMC, but oh my… the friend-zoning hurt. He was confusing; he was confused, and the yo-yo that their relationship was, it was a little heartbreaking.
I really liked Jess. She was adorable, a little quirky, and so sweet. I was rooting for her to get her guy the entire way through.
On a side note… I really love Volkov. I wouldn’t say no to reading a story with him…
But… looks like Ferrah is up next… and I think it’s going to be an absolute doozy!
Strangers-to-friends-to-more
Sport romance (Pro hockey)
Friend-zone breakout
Secret identity
Slow burn
He cums in his pants
This is my first Lucille James, and it won’t be my last. Thanks for the advance copy.
May 19, 2026
Here to Stay was exactly the lighthearted and perfect feels I needed in my romance read 😍 I was living for the banter between our ever hilarious Liam and sassy Lady Sugar Bottom, with the perfect sprinkle of emotions and spice throughout their love story!! They found each other right when they both needed someone the most, even if it might take them a minute to admit that to themselves… You might find yourself wanting to grab them by the shoulder and shake them a few times but that’s just because they’re so PERFECT and perfect for EACH OTHER! And we know it, and need them to know it too! Lucille has done another masterful job at making us connect so deeply to characters while providing us moments of laughter and joy that will have you giggling and kicking your feet. And maybe fanning your face… 😮💨 After reading this, I kinda wish I could find myself a six foot something hockey playing pen pal to share all my deepest secrets with (jk jk I love my husband but like… Liam 🫠) and I have a feeling everyone else is going to fall as much in love with this book as much as I have! 5⭐️ all the way, you gotta check it out now!
May 21, 2026
This book was emotional, adorable, sweet, and honestly such a comforting read 🥹
The pen pal aspect was easily one of my favorite parts. Watching Liam and Jess get to know each other through anonymous letters before anything romantic happened felt so genuine and natural. Their connection slowly building over time made me so invested in them.
Liam completely stole my heart. Even with everything he was struggling with after being traded, he was still such a kind and lovable MMC. But wow… the friend-zoning and confusion between them hurt at times 😭
And Jess was so easy to love too. She was quirky, sweet, and I spent the entire book rooting for her to finally get her happy ending.
I also appreciated that the story touched on heavier topics like addiction, alcohol abuse, and mental health struggles alongside all the sweeter moments.
This really had the perfect mix of emotional healing, slow burn tension, humor, and heartfelt moments.
If you love hockey romance, strangers-to-friends-to-more, secret identity, pen pals, and sweet emotional slow burns, definitely pick this one up 💙
The pen pal aspect was easily one of my favorite parts. Watching Liam and Jess get to know each other through anonymous letters before anything romantic happened felt so genuine and natural. Their connection slowly building over time made me so invested in them.
Liam completely stole my heart. Even with everything he was struggling with after being traded, he was still such a kind and lovable MMC. But wow… the friend-zoning and confusion between them hurt at times 😭
And Jess was so easy to love too. She was quirky, sweet, and I spent the entire book rooting for her to finally get her happy ending.
I also appreciated that the story touched on heavier topics like addiction, alcohol abuse, and mental health struggles alongside all the sweeter moments.
This really had the perfect mix of emotional healing, slow burn tension, humor, and heartfelt moments.
If you love hockey romance, strangers-to-friends-to-more, secret identity, pen pals, and sweet emotional slow burns, definitely pick this one up 💙
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is the first time I’ve read a book by this author. The book starts with an interesting plot. Since I’ve been reading a lot of books with a dual POV lately, at first it was difficult for me to get used to a book written in the third person. Once I got over that mental hurdle, the story really drew me in and at times completely captivated me, to the point that it was hard to put the book down.
However, there were moments when I felt like the story was going in circles, as if the same thing kept repeating itself. They text each other, some intimacy develops between them, they pull away, they get hurt internally, and then they meet again — but instead of talking things through, they end up sleeping together. I would have liked more depth and backstory for the characters. At times, it all felt a bit “shallow” to me.
Still, the book is interesting and definitely not something I would stop reading because of the flaws mentioned above. I’m curious to see what will happen next with Ferrah, but I’m also interested in Roman’s and Grace’s story. I’m giving this book 4 stars.
However, there were moments when I felt like the story was going in circles, as if the same thing kept repeating itself. They text each other, some intimacy develops between them, they pull away, they get hurt internally, and then they meet again — but instead of talking things through, they end up sleeping together. I would have liked more depth and backstory for the characters. At times, it all felt a bit “shallow” to me.
Still, the book is interesting and definitely not something I would stop reading because of the flaws mentioned above. I’m curious to see what will happen next with Ferrah, but I’m also interested in Roman’s and Grace’s story. I’m giving this book 4 stars.
May 19, 2026
Here to Stay by Lucille James was the perfect heartfelt sports romance that perfectly blended emotional depth and personal growth that grabbed my attention from the first chapter. In this novel, we follow the story of our heartbroken FMC affectionately known as Lady Sugar Bottom as she writes an anonymous letter that lands in our MMC Liam Harvey's lap. From the start, I really enjoyed the insta-chemistry that sparked between the FMC and MMC as they communicated through letters and phone calls. Overall, Here to Stay was an uplifting and emotionally satisfying romance. If you are a fan of sports romances with a hopeful and comforting vibes, this book is perfect for you!
I received an ARC copy from Luna Literacy. Thank you so much for giving me a chance to read and voluntarily review this novel!
I received an ARC copy from Luna Literacy. Thank you so much for giving me a chance to read and voluntarily review this novel!
May 27, 2026
ARC review
⭐️ 3.5 🌶 1.5
I was so excited for the next book of this series to come out! It was sweet, made me laugh out loud a few times, and made me feel for the characters in the beginning when they were hurting. The pen pal anonymity built suspense and had me trying to guess who LSB could be. There were times I wanted to shake Liam for making dumb decisions or saying the wrong thing, the amount of times I think these books would end so much quicker if the characters just communicated 😂. I will say there were points that fell off for me a bit, where I had to take a few days before I could pick it up again, and I felt like the book ended a little abruptly when I would have liked to see a little more of their kindled relationship.
That being said I love this series and I am honored that I was able to read a second ARC, and cannot wait for the next book!
⭐️ 3.5 🌶 1.5
I was so excited for the next book of this series to come out! It was sweet, made me laugh out loud a few times, and made me feel for the characters in the beginning when they were hurting. The pen pal anonymity built suspense and had me trying to guess who LSB could be. There were times I wanted to shake Liam for making dumb decisions or saying the wrong thing, the amount of times I think these books would end so much quicker if the characters just communicated 😂. I will say there were points that fell off for me a bit, where I had to take a few days before I could pick it up again, and I felt like the book ended a little abruptly when I would have liked to see a little more of their kindled relationship.
That being said I love this series and I am honored that I was able to read a second ARC, and cannot wait for the next book!
Read
May 6, 2026Liam Harvey es un jugador de hockey que su vida cambia de golpe cuando un traspaso inesperado lo obliga a empezar de cero en San José. Lejos de su mejor amigo, de su equipo y de la ciudad que acogió. Pronto se encuentra atrapado en una espiral de frustración, excesos y autodestrucción.
Mientras intenta encajar en su nuevo equipo y lidiar con sus propios errores, aparece algo que no esperaba: una carta anónima, directa y extrañamente cálida. Firmada por alguien que se hace llamar Lady Sugar Bottom, una mujer que también esta pasando por un mal momento, tiene el corazón roto y que decide que pueden ayudarse mutuamente.
___
No entendí a Jess en la parte final, qué más quería?
Gracias Luna Literary por el ARC.
Mientras intenta encajar en su nuevo equipo y lidiar con sus propios errores, aparece algo que no esperaba: una carta anónima, directa y extrañamente cálida. Firmada por alguien que se hace llamar Lady Sugar Bottom, una mujer que también esta pasando por un mal momento, tiene el corazón roto y que decide que pueden ayudarse mutuamente.
___
No entendí a Jess en la parte final, qué más quería?
Gracias Luna Literary por el ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review!!
Hockey? Teacher? Fun facts? Dad jokes? Sign me up! This book is a fun and sweet pen pal story of a traded hockey player and a fresh out of a relationship teacher. Lady Sugar Bottom decides to be a mystery pen pal to Liam, who's going through a trade in the NHL. Letters, emails, and phone calls, the two have an undeniable connection. I love that the two build their trust over the course of the book, and it is a good representation of communication. The humor between the main characters and the supporting characters was entertaining. Overall, it is a good read, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a hockey, pen pal romance.
Thank you to Lucille James and Luna Literary for the ARC! Can't wait for the next book.
Hockey? Teacher? Fun facts? Dad jokes? Sign me up! This book is a fun and sweet pen pal story of a traded hockey player and a fresh out of a relationship teacher. Lady Sugar Bottom decides to be a mystery pen pal to Liam, who's going through a trade in the NHL. Letters, emails, and phone calls, the two have an undeniable connection. I love that the two build their trust over the course of the book, and it is a good representation of communication. The humor between the main characters and the supporting characters was entertaining. Overall, it is a good read, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a hockey, pen pal romance.
Thank you to Lucille James and Luna Literary for the ARC! Can't wait for the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2026
4⭐️/2🌶️
Here to Stay is the second book in the West Coast Hockey series, and follows Liam and Jess as they navigate a new team, a failed relationship, and an attraction they don’t know how to handle.
I adore the idiots to lovers trope, and this is idiots to lovers to a tee. The relationship grows as two people who are convinced they’re “just friends”, but let’s be real… they fell in love pretty fast. Those emails back and forth? Please. They’re not fooling anyone.
Filled with dad jokes, unrecognized pining, and grand gestures, Here to Stay is an adorable story that you should add to your TBR today.
Here to Stay is the second book in the West Coast Hockey series, and follows Liam and Jess as they navigate a new team, a failed relationship, and an attraction they don’t know how to handle.
I adore the idiots to lovers trope, and this is idiots to lovers to a tee. The relationship grows as two people who are convinced they’re “just friends”, but let’s be real… they fell in love pretty fast. Those emails back and forth? Please. They’re not fooling anyone.
Filled with dad jokes, unrecognized pining, and grand gestures, Here to Stay is an adorable story that you should add to your TBR today.
May 20, 2026
Review of advance copy received from author
Here To Stay by Lucille James
A West Coast Hockey Romance
Tropes
Stangers to friends to more
Hockey romance
Secret identity
Slow burn
This is about Liam and Lady Sugar Bottom (Jess). Liam has been traded and has to move city and he knows no one. Lady Sugar Bottom write a letter and that is how Liam is introduced to her. They continue to write letter back and forth getting to know each other. There is no way that I am going to spoil this for anyone. This will make you cry, laugh and think about what would happen if you were uprooted and in limbo.
Here To Stay by Lucille James
A West Coast Hockey Romance
Tropes
Stangers to friends to more
Hockey romance
Secret identity
Slow burn
This is about Liam and Lady Sugar Bottom (Jess). Liam has been traded and has to move city and he knows no one. Lady Sugar Bottom write a letter and that is how Liam is introduced to her. They continue to write letter back and forth getting to know each other. There is no way that I am going to spoil this for anyone. This will make you cry, laugh and think about what would happen if you were uprooted and in limbo.
May 24, 2026
3.5 stars!
This was a cute pen pals to friends to lovers story. I typically do not read a lot of books that are written in third person because I feel like you can emotionally connect with the characters more from first person point of view, but I did enjoy this. I think the pen pals aspect helped me connect because their correspondences were first person.
I enjoyed the friendship that Liam and Jessica built. Loved their banter, especially in their texts and phone calls. The sweet moments they shared and the way they showed up for each other at times really showed their true feelings.
Thank you to Luna Literary for the ARC!
This was a cute pen pals to friends to lovers story. I typically do not read a lot of books that are written in third person because I feel like you can emotionally connect with the characters more from first person point of view, but I did enjoy this. I think the pen pals aspect helped me connect because their correspondences were first person.
I enjoyed the friendship that Liam and Jessica built. Loved their banter, especially in their texts and phone calls. The sweet moments they shared and the way they showed up for each other at times really showed their true feelings.
Thank you to Luna Literary for the ARC!
May 26, 2026
This book had me hooked from page one!! I breezes through it and found myself wanting to read it during any spare moment I had. The characters are loveable and vulnerable and this was the best friends to lovers I have read in a while! I'm such a sucker for the pen pal/written exchange trope. Book one made me smile so much my cheeks hurt. Book two made me cry. Book three pulled at my heart and made me reminiscent of those hard moments in life and how navigating through tough times, you need good people around to support you. Cannot wait to see what is next with these West Coast Hockey players!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
It was an engaging story! I really enjoy the Pen Pal trope, especially how she keeps her name a secret to maintain the magic. I went into this book without realizing it was the third installment in a series, and I found it was written in the third person. Although I appreciated the cover and the tropes, I struggled to connect with the narrative. I still managed to read the whole book, and while it was good, I found the third-person perspective to be a bit challenging for my taste.
Thank you for this amazing opportunity to read your eARC, and I am happy to provide my honest review in return.
Thank you for this amazing opportunity to read your eARC, and I am happy to provide my honest review in return.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5⭐️
I received this book as an ARC, and I'm leaving an honest review voluntarily.
This book was cute. It wasn't as emotionally deep as it could have been...to me. The characters were good together and had chemistry. Just wish it would have been more deep in connection and emotions.
The biggest frustration for me in reading this was it was written in third-person, but each chapter wasn't labeled as "Jess" or "Liam". That got confusing at times because the majority of books I read are first-person POV. I prefer that writing style for a more immersive reading experience.
I received this book as an ARC, and I'm leaving an honest review voluntarily.
This book was cute. It wasn't as emotionally deep as it could have been...to me. The characters were good together and had chemistry. Just wish it would have been more deep in connection and emotions.
The biggest frustration for me in reading this was it was written in third-person, but each chapter wasn't labeled as "Jess" or "Liam". That got confusing at times because the majority of books I read are first-person POV. I prefer that writing style for a more immersive reading experience.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
ARC Review
Hockey romance is my favorite genre and this story was super cute with the pen pal aspect. I couldn’t wait to read those pages. Plus who doesn’t like fun facts and dad jokes?! Those were fantastic throughout the entire story.
I thought both characters were great, but I truly enjoyed how the author portrayed Liam as this vulnerable and emotional hockey player due to being traded. You don’t always get to see that side of men in stories.
This book is written in third point of view which might not be for everyone, but I didn’t mind.
Hockey romance is my favorite genre and this story was super cute with the pen pal aspect. I couldn’t wait to read those pages. Plus who doesn’t like fun facts and dad jokes?! Those were fantastic throughout the entire story.
I thought both characters were great, but I truly enjoyed how the author portrayed Liam as this vulnerable and emotional hockey player due to being traded. You don’t always get to see that side of men in stories.
This book is written in third point of view which might not be for everyone, but I didn’t mind.
May 20, 2026
As an ARC reader, I really enjoyed this one! Here To Stay by Lucille James had such a fun and emotional mix of romance, tension, and heartfelt moments. Liam and Jess had amazing chemistry from the very beginning, and I loved how the pen pal connection blended into the secret identity storyline. The friends-with-benefits dynamic kept things spicy while still allowing the emotional side of their relationship to grow naturally.
The hockey player x teacher pairing worked so well, and Liam completely stole my heart. A sweet, entertaining romance with just the right amount of angst and swoon!
The hockey player x teacher pairing worked so well, and Liam completely stole my heart. A sweet, entertaining romance with just the right amount of angst and swoon!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was such a good book! I dont love how long it took for things to actually come together. But I loved the banter and the spicy scenes. The friendship they grew together showed so much care and compassion. I dont typically like third person because I feel like I dont to experience the feelings of the characters. THAT BEING SAID, the author did an amazing job of showing the feelings and emotions, making sure you felt what they did.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had to DNF this book:( I am sure other people will eat this book up. The plot is phenomenal, it was just hard for me to connect since it is in third person. I felt like i was having to reread every page before moving on. But don’t let this review discourage you ! Just because I had to DNF doesn’t mean you won’t like this book. If you are a fan of books that will make you giggle you should definitely read this book!!
May 19, 2026
I love me some Lucille James hockey romance!!! This is the third book that I’ve read by her and I could not get enough! The hardships that Liam goes through, the back and forth conversations between Liam and Lady Sugarbottom, the humor and the spice!!! I love that this began as a simple letter and turned into two people realizing that they truly needed and wanted each other. 5⭐️s all the way!!!! Can’t wait until book 4!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I’ve never read a pen pal anonymous style romance book before but I really loved this, it was a really sweet heartfelt romance.I enjoyed how the main characters build a connection and supported each other through a difficult time. I also think the banter and chemistry between the characters was great and I found myself routing for their happy ending.
I liked both the characters, watching them realise how deep in this relationship they had become and realise that they was each others safe space was so cute. I do have to say Liam is so simple the poor boy took so long to realise what his feelings were 🤣
This book is 3rd person pov which I don’t always enjoy but this was written well and I found it easy to follow.
Thank you Lucille James and Luna Literary for the ARC
I liked both the characters, watching them realise how deep in this relationship they had become and realise that they was each others safe space was so cute. I do have to say Liam is so simple the poor boy took so long to realise what his feelings were 🤣
This book is 3rd person pov which I don’t always enjoy but this was written well and I found it easy to follow.
Thank you Lucille James and Luna Literary for the ARC
Review of advance copy
Here To Stay is a cute romance. Jess and Liam are engaging characters but for me, I couldn’t get invested in the them. The friendship they built was great but the back and forth was heartbreaking.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First of all Lucille you are my all time favorite hockey romance author!!!!
The moment this book was announced I patiently waited for it. The moment I got my hands on it I devoured this book! I could not, would not put this book down!!! I absolutely loved every minute of reading this. Yes, I’ve read it three times but that’s beside the point. The point is this book is beautiful written and pulls a reader in. You get to feel and watch all the emotions and struggles each character goes through. The frustration and heart break I felt from Liam was so deep. I just wanted to hug and throttle the man and then enter Lady Sugar Bottom (still giggle at the nickname). Her helping him and him helping her was chefs kiss perfection! I loved how she did fun facts and he did dad jokes(can never go wrong with dad jokes) and the secret friend who connected them together made me squeal cause I was not expecting that!
Now I’m gonna go reread the other two books and then jump back into this one.
I highly recommend this book, well all of them to anyone who loves sweet, dramatic hockey romance!
The moment this book was announced I patiently waited for it. The moment I got my hands on it I devoured this book! I could not, would not put this book down!!! I absolutely loved every minute of reading this. Yes, I’ve read it three times but that’s beside the point. The point is this book is beautiful written and pulls a reader in. You get to feel and watch all the emotions and struggles each character goes through. The frustration and heart break I felt from Liam was so deep. I just wanted to hug and throttle the man and then enter Lady Sugar Bottom (still giggle at the nickname). Her helping him and him helping her was chefs kiss perfection! I loved how she did fun facts and he did dad jokes(can never go wrong with dad jokes) and the secret friend who connected them together made me squeal cause I was not expecting that!
Now I’m gonna go reread the other two books and then jump back into this one.
I highly recommend this book, well all of them to anyone who loves sweet, dramatic hockey romance!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Fun facts and dad jokes 😍 this is such a sweet hockey romance
Beautifully written characters, both with struggles, heartbreak and emotional frustrations. They become pen pals and together they help each other through the tough times with great chemistry and lots of banter
Thank you Lucille for the ARC opportunity 💕
❤️ How I Rate Books
⭐ didn't like it
⭐⭐ it was ok
⭐⭐⭐ I liked it
⭐⭐⭐⭐Loved it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazing! Will reread!
Beautifully written characters, both with struggles, heartbreak and emotional frustrations. They become pen pals and together they help each other through the tough times with great chemistry and lots of banter
Thank you Lucille for the ARC opportunity 💕
❤️ How I Rate Books
⭐ didn't like it
⭐⭐ it was ok
⭐⭐⭐ I liked it
⭐⭐⭐⭐Loved it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazing! Will reread!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had the pleasure of beta reading this book.
Lucille has a way with words that just brings out the emotions in you. I love reading her work and getting to know her characters.
Liam has been traded to a new team and is having a hard time. He receives a letter that changes his out look on being traded and opens his mind to new beginnings.
Last sugar bottom just wants to make him open up and be more himself.
The banter is top tier with these two.
🏒 Pen Pals
💜 Secret Identity
🏒 Hockey Player X Teacher
💜 Friends with Benefits
🏒Dad Jokes
Lucille has a way with words that just brings out the emotions in you. I love reading her work and getting to know her characters.
Liam has been traded to a new team and is having a hard time. He receives a letter that changes his out look on being traded and opens his mind to new beginnings.
Last sugar bottom just wants to make him open up and be more himself.
The banter is top tier with these two.
🏒 Pen Pals
💜 Secret Identity
🏒 Hockey Player X Teacher
💜 Friends with Benefits
🏒Dad Jokes
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