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Hellcats Hockey #3
The Casanova Complex
Merritt
I’m done with hockey players.
Done with their egos.
Done with their lies.
Done with being the girl who isn’t good enough.
My focus is law school. My future. A life better than the one I came from.
Then I get paired with Bennett Legros in creative writing.
Orleans University's resident playboy.
The star goalie with a reputation for breaking hearts as easily as he stops pucks.
And the guy who somehow doesn’t remember the humiliating night between us sophomore year... even though I’ve never forgotten.
He’s the last person I should trust.
But when my cheating ex transfers to Orleans University and has the audacity to parade the other woman around, Bennett offers me the perfect solution.
Fake date the campus golden boy.
Make my ex jealous.
Prove I’ve moved on.
No feelings. No complications. No risk.
Except the more time I spend with the annoyingly charming goalie, the harder it becomes to remember why I disliked him in the first place.
And the more real our fake relationship feels, the more I wonder if I'm about to make the same mistake twice.
Bennett
Everyone thinks they know who I am.
The life of the party.
The flirt.
The guy who never takes anything seriously.
What nobody sees is the pressure crushing me from every direction.
My NHL dreams are slipping away.
My starting position is suddenly at risk.
And for once in my life, I’m done chasing distractions.
No more meaningless hookups.
No girls.
No exceptions.
Until Merritt St. Pierre comes crashing into my world.
My beautiful, sharp-tongued class partner.
Oh and surprise…she’s my rival’s ex.
One unexpected kiss leads to the best game of my career.
Now I need another one.
For luck, obviously.
Turns out convincing her to fake date me is way easier than getting her to actually like me.
But the more I’m around her, the less I care about lucky superstitions.
For once, this isn’t about the chase…
The girl who doesn’t seem to want me might be the only one I can't let go.
Because for the first time in my life, I'm not worried about defending the net.
I'm worried about keeping the girl.
And that’s a game I have no idea how to win.
The Casanova Complex is the third and final book in the new Hellcats Hockey series which takes place in the Orleans University world. You can read about the baseball boys available now!
I’m done with hockey players.
Done with their egos.
Done with their lies.
Done with being the girl who isn’t good enough.
My focus is law school. My future. A life better than the one I came from.
Then I get paired with Bennett Legros in creative writing.
Orleans University's resident playboy.
The star goalie with a reputation for breaking hearts as easily as he stops pucks.
And the guy who somehow doesn’t remember the humiliating night between us sophomore year... even though I’ve never forgotten.
He’s the last person I should trust.
But when my cheating ex transfers to Orleans University and has the audacity to parade the other woman around, Bennett offers me the perfect solution.
Fake date the campus golden boy.
Make my ex jealous.
Prove I’ve moved on.
No feelings. No complications. No risk.
Except the more time I spend with the annoyingly charming goalie, the harder it becomes to remember why I disliked him in the first place.
And the more real our fake relationship feels, the more I wonder if I'm about to make the same mistake twice.
Bennett
Everyone thinks they know who I am.
The life of the party.
The flirt.
The guy who never takes anything seriously.
What nobody sees is the pressure crushing me from every direction.
My NHL dreams are slipping away.
My starting position is suddenly at risk.
And for once in my life, I’m done chasing distractions.
No more meaningless hookups.
No girls.
No exceptions.
Until Merritt St. Pierre comes crashing into my world.
My beautiful, sharp-tongued class partner.
Oh and surprise…she’s my rival’s ex.
One unexpected kiss leads to the best game of my career.
Now I need another one.
For luck, obviously.
Turns out convincing her to fake date me is way easier than getting her to actually like me.
But the more I’m around her, the less I care about lucky superstitions.
For once, this isn’t about the chase…
The girl who doesn’t seem to want me might be the only one I can't let go.
Because for the first time in my life, I'm not worried about defending the net.
I'm worried about keeping the girl.
And that’s a game I have no idea how to win.
The Casanova Complex is the third and final book in the new Hellcats Hockey series which takes place in the Orleans University world. You can read about the baseball boys available now!
367 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 20, 2026
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August 24, 2026
Merritt St. Pierre, a pre-law student, is hyper-vigilant about her grades as she prepares her law school applications. So when she’s paired with none other than Bennett Legros - the fuckboy of Orleans University - she can practically see her future going up in smoke.
Despite a past he can’t recall, Merritt starts to realize there’s more to the goalie than she initially thought. And, much to her dismay, she’s developing feelings for him. And not just the angry ones!
Bennett really is a good boy. 😋 I loved how in tune he was with himself and what he wanted from life, and how he went after it even when things got hard (pun intended).
Watching their relationship grow and evolve was so satisfying because it felt natural and real. There was nothing superficial about it. Sure, they had great sexual chemistry, but you could feel that what was developing between them was the real deal.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Format: 📱
🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): New Adult, Sports
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
Length: 📚📚📚📚📚
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}
Emotions: 🙄🤭🫠🥵😍
Darkness: 🤍
Burn: 🔥🔥
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
✨ Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers, Fake Relationship, Forbidden, Forced Proximity
💫 Microtropes: ADHD/Neurodivergent Rep, Backward Hat, Black Cat, Boy Obsessed, Celibate MMC, “Fuck It”, Golden Retriever, “Good Boy”, “Good Girl”, Grey Sweatpants, Jersey Moment, Pet Name (Stabby Girl), Reformed Player
🔆 Character: Athlete, Student
💋 Kinks: 🍑, Finger Licking Good, Pearl Necklace/Spunk Art, Rimming, Spanking
🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a
🚩 Red Flags: MINE!
⛔️ Safety Squad: OM Drama (One Sided) and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page, in the past and/or present, and to main and/or side characters. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📍 Setting: College Campus - New Orleans, Louisiana 🇺🇸
📣 Type: The Casanova Complex is part of the Hellcats Hockey series of interconnected standalones.
⚠️ Warning: The angst in this slow-burn will edge you to the point of combustion!
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
Despite a past he can’t recall, Merritt starts to realize there’s more to the goalie than she initially thought. And, much to her dismay, she’s developing feelings for him. And not just the angry ones!
Bennett really is a good boy. 😋 I loved how in tune he was with himself and what he wanted from life, and how he went after it even when things got hard (pun intended).
Watching their relationship grow and evolve was so satisfying because it felt natural and real. There was nothing superficial about it. Sure, they had great sexual chemistry, but you could feel that what was developing between them was the real deal.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Format: 📱
🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): New Adult, Sports
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
Length: 📚📚📚📚📚
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}
Emotions: 🙄🤭🫠🥵😍
Darkness: 🤍
Burn: 🔥🔥
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
✨ Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers, Fake Relationship, Forbidden, Forced Proximity
💫 Microtropes: ADHD/Neurodivergent Rep, Backward Hat, Black Cat, Boy Obsessed, Celibate MMC, “Fuck It”, Golden Retriever, “Good Boy”, “Good Girl”, Grey Sweatpants, Jersey Moment, Pet Name (Stabby Girl), Reformed Player
🔆 Character: Athlete, Student
💋 Kinks: 🍑, Finger Licking Good, Pearl Necklace/Spunk Art, Rimming, Spanking
🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a
🚩 Red Flags: MINE!
⛔️ Safety Squad: OM Drama (One Sided) and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page, in the past and/or present, and to main and/or side characters. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📍 Setting: College Campus - New Orleans, Louisiana 🇺🇸
📣 Type: The Casanova Complex is part of the Hellcats Hockey series of interconnected standalones.
⚠️ Warning: The angst in this slow-burn will edge you to the point of combustion!
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
August 17, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
*rounded up
Oh sweet Bennett. My sweet angel boy. I have been waiting for his story, and I was SO ready for it!
I’ll admit, at the very beginning of the book, I was nervous that he was just going to piss me off. But nope, he absolutely did not. He is a literal golden retriever of a hockey goalie, and I adored him.
Merritt is always taking care of everyone else but herself. And while she knows how to take care of herself, she doesn’t always take care of her heart the way she should. Watching her slowly let herself relax and actually enjoy her college years was one of my favorite parts of this story.
The two of them together were honestly the sweetest thing. He got to be who he truly was with her(a silly, goofy, golden retriever of a man) and she finally got someone who let her put down some of the weight she was constantly carrying.
And if you like slow burns… this was THE slowest of burns. They had ONE kiss until a little over 60%, and oh my gosh, when that “fuck it” moment finally hit, it was worth every single second we waited. The payoff was EVERYTHING.
I absolutely adored these two, and getting his story was so worth the wait.
*rounded up
Oh sweet Bennett. My sweet angel boy. I have been waiting for his story, and I was SO ready for it!
I’ll admit, at the very beginning of the book, I was nervous that he was just going to piss me off. But nope, he absolutely did not. He is a literal golden retriever of a hockey goalie, and I adored him.
Merritt is always taking care of everyone else but herself. And while she knows how to take care of herself, she doesn’t always take care of her heart the way she should. Watching her slowly let herself relax and actually enjoy her college years was one of my favorite parts of this story.
The two of them together were honestly the sweetest thing. He got to be who he truly was with her(a silly, goofy, golden retriever of a man) and she finally got someone who let her put down some of the weight she was constantly carrying.
And if you like slow burns… this was THE slowest of burns. They had ONE kiss until a little over 60%, and oh my gosh, when that “fuck it” moment finally hit, it was worth every single second we waited. The payoff was EVERYTHING.
I absolutely adored these two, and getting his story was so worth the wait.
August 22, 2026
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── 3.85 stars
fake dating your classmate who's actually the guy who embarrassed you two years ago... and he's actually a sweetheart - nothing can go wrong right?
thanks maren / team for the arc <3
fake dating your classmate who's actually the guy who embarrassed you two years ago... and he's actually a sweetheart - nothing can go wrong right?
thanks maren / team for the arc <3
August 23, 2026
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
BENNETT LEGROS. That’s it. Full stop. No other words needed.
Bennet is probably one of my favorite ever reformed playboys l have ever read. And he’s blond so bonus points. Because what do you mean this man stopped being a playboy just for the very idea of being ready to love someone.
He hadn’t even met her yet. And when Bennett realizes that Merritt is everything he wants…. This man is full blown marriage material. He’s so good and I love him.
Also Merritt. She’s an eleven. I felt so seen by her character. The way she adapted and coped with her ADHD, gif it was done so well. And the way Bennett SAW her for exactly who she was.
I honestly don’t think I can give this book enough stars to do it justice.
I loved every single moment of this.
✨ College Hockey Romance
✨ Celibate Hero
✨ Fake Dating
✨ Rival’s Ex
✨ enemies to lovers
✨ ADHD rep
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
BENNETT LEGROS. That’s it. Full stop. No other words needed.
Bennet is probably one of my favorite ever reformed playboys l have ever read. And he’s blond so bonus points. Because what do you mean this man stopped being a playboy just for the very idea of being ready to love someone.
He hadn’t even met her yet. And when Bennett realizes that Merritt is everything he wants…. This man is full blown marriage material. He’s so good and I love him.
Also Merritt. She’s an eleven. I felt so seen by her character. The way she adapted and coped with her ADHD, gif it was done so well. And the way Bennett SAW her for exactly who she was.
I honestly don’t think I can give this book enough stars to do it justice.
I loved every single moment of this.
✨ College Hockey Romance
✨ Celibate Hero
✨ Fake Dating
✨ Rival’s Ex
✨ enemies to lovers
✨ ADHD rep
August 28, 2026
I can’t believe this is the end, but what and ending it was! I adored Merritt and Bennett so so much. Bennett’s personality has been my favorite in the previous books and I just loved getting to fully experience his golden retriever charm! I loved seeing that despite his cocky attitude at times, he’s genuinely a good guy with insecurities of his own. And getting to see that he was working on himself to be the best man he can be was everything! I absolutely loved Merritt and her stabby, black cat self as well. Her quick wit had me laughing out loud. I loved her relationship with her brother to pieces and loved how no matter what, even being dead tired, she would do anything to make sure he is taken care of! I had my doubts with Merritt and Bennett being partnered together- I mean after that first encounter how could I not? But seeing them work together and slowly form an amazing friendship turned fake relationship turned REAL relationship was everything! They were perfection!
August 15, 2026
4.5⭐️
I loved these two! Merritt is a strong & determined FMC who has a hard exterior, but is there for her people. Bennett! The golden retriever MMC! He is cocky, he is confident, but under it all he is a green flag! I loved the way he showed up for her!
These two had the best banter & chemistry that was off the charts. I really enjoyed watching these two come together & be what the other needed. Their past & the history there added depth to this story. The added complication of being forced to work together in class, just added so much tension and awkward moments. Resistance towards each other quickly turned to more & I loved it!!
This is a sweet, fun, laugh out loud story full of lovable characters & a plot that sucked me in. I also loved the added ADHD rep & how well it was done. I was loving every second of these two & was rooting for them the entire way!
Thank you Maren & team for this early arc! I am loving this series!!
I loved these two! Merritt is a strong & determined FMC who has a hard exterior, but is there for her people. Bennett! The golden retriever MMC! He is cocky, he is confident, but under it all he is a green flag! I loved the way he showed up for her!
These two had the best banter & chemistry that was off the charts. I really enjoyed watching these two come together & be what the other needed. Their past & the history there added depth to this story. The added complication of being forced to work together in class, just added so much tension and awkward moments. Resistance towards each other quickly turned to more & I loved it!!
This is a sweet, fun, laugh out loud story full of lovable characters & a plot that sucked me in. I also loved the added ADHD rep & how well it was done. I was loving every second of these two & was rooting for them the entire way!
Thank you Maren & team for this early arc! I am loving this series!!
August 15, 2026
Bennett + Merritt
-college hockey
-dislike to lovers
-fake dating
-black cat x golden retriever
-rival’s ex
-forced proximity
-celibate hero + adhd rep
okay i am OBSESSEDDDDD with bennett & a man who absolutely ownnnsss the fact that a mean girl who hates him, snaps back, & bosses him around gets him all hot & bothered!! he is EXACTLYYYY where he wants to be😎😉😏
-college hockey
-dislike to lovers
-fake dating
-black cat x golden retriever
-rival’s ex
-forced proximity
-celibate hero + adhd rep
okay i am OBSESSEDDDDD with bennett & a man who absolutely ownnnsss the fact that a mean girl who hates him, snaps back, & bosses him around gets him all hot & bothered!! he is EXACTLYYYY where he wants to be😎😉😏
August 21, 2026
Thank you to Maren Moore for the early copy of Casanova Complex. I’ve been looking forward to Bennett’s book since his appearance the previous books. I love the way he drives Saint crazy, and his continued antics did not disappoint. I zoomed through this book at lightning speed.
Merritt has a plan. Ace her classes, apply for law school, work hard, and graduate while maintaining her GPA.
Bennett becomes a complication when they get paired up for an assignment. She’s not going to let a hockey player derail her carefully laid out plans.
These two were such a fun pair. Bennett is the golden retriever to Merritt’s black cat. They could not be more opposite but they match so perfectly. I love the way they balanced each other. Bennett brought much needed levity to Merritt’s stressful life. Whereas Merritt sees past his goofy exterior and finds there’s more to the player than meets the eye.
I spent so much of this book smiling. They’re truly so sweet together. There’s something so entertaining about a reformed playbook trying to change his ways. His internal monologue had me cracking up each time he questioned being celibate. The banter between Merritt and Bennett was so much fun. I absolutely loved how down bad he was for her.
Merritt has a plan. Ace her classes, apply for law school, work hard, and graduate while maintaining her GPA.
Bennett becomes a complication when they get paired up for an assignment. She’s not going to let a hockey player derail her carefully laid out plans.
These two were such a fun pair. Bennett is the golden retriever to Merritt’s black cat. They could not be more opposite but they match so perfectly. I love the way they balanced each other. Bennett brought much needed levity to Merritt’s stressful life. Whereas Merritt sees past his goofy exterior and finds there’s more to the player than meets the eye.
I spent so much of this book smiling. They’re truly so sweet together. There’s something so entertaining about a reformed playbook trying to change his ways. His internal monologue had me cracking up each time he questioned being celibate. The banter between Merritt and Bennett was so much fun. I absolutely loved how down bad he was for her.
August 16, 2026
Another spicyyyyy bingeable hockey romance from the queen Maren Moore!!!!!
This one is all about Bennett (star hockey goalie) and Merritt (just got paired with him for the group creative writing project). Turns out they almostttt hooked up a couple of years ago but Bennett doesn’t even remember 🙄 so Merritt already hates his guts.
I fell hard for these two - between the banter, the yearning, the sass, the nicknames, and the texting….. if you’re a hockey romance girlie, this is not one to miss!!!!
Tropes:
🏒College Hockey
💕Rival’s Ex
🏒Fake Dating
💕Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🏒Forced Proximity
💕Celibate Hero
🏒Forbidden
💕Dislike to Lovers
🏒ADHD Rep
💕Reformed Playboy
🩵 “On my knees at a woman’s feet might just be my favorite place to be.”
🩵 “Sure, it’s been over six months since I kissed a girl. But somehow, she just erased every girl I’ve ever touched.”
🩵 “There are five solid reasons right there why I shouldn’t be attracted to Bennett Legros, and yet here we are.”
🩵 “Hockey isn’t my life anymore, Merritt. You are.”
This one is all about Bennett (star hockey goalie) and Merritt (just got paired with him for the group creative writing project). Turns out they almostttt hooked up a couple of years ago but Bennett doesn’t even remember 🙄 so Merritt already hates his guts.
I fell hard for these two - between the banter, the yearning, the sass, the nicknames, and the texting….. if you’re a hockey romance girlie, this is not one to miss!!!!
Tropes:
🏒College Hockey
💕Rival’s Ex
🏒Fake Dating
💕Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🏒Forced Proximity
💕Celibate Hero
🏒Forbidden
💕Dislike to Lovers
🏒ADHD Rep
💕Reformed Playboy
🩵 “On my knees at a woman’s feet might just be my favorite place to be.”
🩵 “Sure, it’s been over six months since I kissed a girl. But somehow, she just erased every girl I’ve ever touched.”
🩵 “There are five solid reasons right there why I shouldn’t be attracted to Bennett Legros, and yet here we are.”
🩵 “Hockey isn’t my life anymore, Merritt. You are.”
August 25, 2026
It is always so fun to return to Orleans University! And I couldn’t wait to finally read Bennett’s story!
Merritt wants nothing to do with Bennett after an embarrassing encounter years earlier. One that he doesn’t even remember. Plus he’s a known playboy who probably doesn’t even try in class. So when they get paired for a group project worth half her grade, when she needs to keep her GPA high to get into law school, she’s livid. But when Bennett’s new teammate he hates turns out to be her annoying ex, she kisses him to get her ex to leave her alone. Then Bennett has his best game in ages, and being a superstitious hockey player, he believes kissing her is his new lucky charm. So, they decide to fake date, and she learns he’s nothing like she thought he would be at all.
This was easily my fav of the series. It was less heavy than the first two books. The banter between Merritt & Bennett was just perfection, it was so fun to watch them fall for each other. And I squealed at the cameos from Wedding Walkoff, my fav Maren book! 😍
Thank you Maren Moore for providing the ARC for my honest review!
Merritt wants nothing to do with Bennett after an embarrassing encounter years earlier. One that he doesn’t even remember. Plus he’s a known playboy who probably doesn’t even try in class. So when they get paired for a group project worth half her grade, when she needs to keep her GPA high to get into law school, she’s livid. But when Bennett’s new teammate he hates turns out to be her annoying ex, she kisses him to get her ex to leave her alone. Then Bennett has his best game in ages, and being a superstitious hockey player, he believes kissing her is his new lucky charm. So, they decide to fake date, and she learns he’s nothing like she thought he would be at all.
This was easily my fav of the series. It was less heavy than the first two books. The banter between Merritt & Bennett was just perfection, it was so fun to watch them fall for each other. And I squealed at the cameos from Wedding Walkoff, my fav Maren book! 😍
Thank you Maren Moore for providing the ARC for my honest review!
September 8, 2026
Rating: 9/10⭐️
Spice: 2/5🌶
Tropes:Hockey; College; rivals ex; fake dating
Maren freaking Moore...
this. book. was. so. good.
I love a reformed play boy and the slow burn on this one was SO GOOD.
the tension. the chemistry. all of it. 10/10. The fact he couldn't remember her was WILD but then again it's college so like... 100% plausible.
Bennett and Merritt are complete opposites the epitome of black cat x golden retriever but my gosh, do they compliment each other in the best way. Their story is fun and flirty and I just loved it.
Spice: 2/5🌶
Tropes:Hockey; College; rivals ex; fake dating
Maren freaking Moore...
this. book. was. so. good.
I love a reformed play boy and the slow burn on this one was SO GOOD.
the tension. the chemistry. all of it. 10/10. The fact he couldn't remember her was WILD but then again it's college so like... 100% plausible.
Bennett and Merritt are complete opposites the epitome of black cat x golden retriever but my gosh, do they compliment each other in the best way. Their story is fun and flirty and I just loved it.
August 22, 2026
Maren truly did it again with a banger of a hockey romance! I’ve been (im)patiently waiting for Bennett’s story since we are first introduced to him and his love story with Merritt is now my favorite in the series.
The tension. The banter. The yearning. THE SPICE! Everything was on a whole different level and I could not get enough! I was giggling and laughing throughout this book and I loved the dynamic between these two characters SO MUCH 🙂↕️
Merritt was such a great FMC and I loved how rounded she was. The ADHD rep with her was perfectly done and made me feel seen with the struggles she’s had to face. I also loved her family so much! Her little brother was the perfect companion and her dad, though not as present as they’d hope due to him being a single parent, was supportive and loving in the scenes we do see. She’s such a driven and headstrong character and I was rooting for her the entire read.
Now Bennett… my man, my man, my man! If you like blond men who are down BAD for the FMC, please give Bennett a chance, IM BEGGING 😩 This man is everything you could ask for in a blond golden retriever MMC. He’s goofy, charming, unbelievably sweet, and the mouth on this man? He had me barking like a dog. His backstory and the familial relationships that he is struggling with made him so much more real and I was think justice was truly done for this sweetheart. I really enjoyed getting to see his growth and development from book one in the series to now!
This book is very much character-driven, but there are plot points that are explored which was nice in the in-between stages. The slow burn was mesmerizing, Merritt becoming Bennett’s good luck charm made for some steamy scenes, and overall I had such a fun time reading this book! Not to mention, the spice in this book was otherworldly 🥵 both of these characters matched each other’s freak so perfectly and the tension was THICC!
The way I’m obsessed with both of these characters should be studied. I never thought anyone would surpass Saint & Lennon, yet here we are. Do with that what you will. Thank you Maren for making me down bad for both Bennett AND Merritt.
🩵 Thank you Maren for the e-arc! All thoughts are my own. 🩷
The tension. The banter. The yearning. THE SPICE! Everything was on a whole different level and I could not get enough! I was giggling and laughing throughout this book and I loved the dynamic between these two characters SO MUCH 🙂↕️
Merritt was such a great FMC and I loved how rounded she was. The ADHD rep with her was perfectly done and made me feel seen with the struggles she’s had to face. I also loved her family so much! Her little brother was the perfect companion and her dad, though not as present as they’d hope due to him being a single parent, was supportive and loving in the scenes we do see. She’s such a driven and headstrong character and I was rooting for her the entire read.
Now Bennett… my man, my man, my man! If you like blond men who are down BAD for the FMC, please give Bennett a chance, IM BEGGING 😩 This man is everything you could ask for in a blond golden retriever MMC. He’s goofy, charming, unbelievably sweet, and the mouth on this man? He had me barking like a dog. His backstory and the familial relationships that he is struggling with made him so much more real and I was think justice was truly done for this sweetheart. I really enjoyed getting to see his growth and development from book one in the series to now!
This book is very much character-driven, but there are plot points that are explored which was nice in the in-between stages. The slow burn was mesmerizing, Merritt becoming Bennett’s good luck charm made for some steamy scenes, and overall I had such a fun time reading this book! Not to mention, the spice in this book was otherworldly 🥵 both of these characters matched each other’s freak so perfectly and the tension was THICC!
The way I’m obsessed with both of these characters should be studied. I never thought anyone would surpass Saint & Lennon, yet here we are. Do with that what you will. Thank you Maren for making me down bad for both Bennett AND Merritt.
🩵 Thank you Maren for the e-arc! All thoughts are my own. 🩷
August 28, 2026
✨@Bookish.and.Basic | BOOK REVIEW✨
First I want to say a huge thank you to Maren for letting me apart of her ARC team! I have so much love and appreciation I have for her, her team and this series!
✨ This is book #3 in the hellcats hockey series and my second fav in the series overall! I think Merritt may be my fav fmc so far she was giving a mix of Vivienne and Lennon and I absolutely loved her! She is such a bad ass and I love her!
💭 The Vibes: This is a fun spicy hockey romance that touches on the surface of some layered real life people problems! This has fake dating, adhd rep and a lot of very realistic and relatable scenes and relationships and I really enjoyed both of the mai characters and the snippets we saw from side characters!
📚 What I loved most: The way Bennett was so down bad from their first meeting- he was already so enraptured by her and it was adorable! I loved the sense of him having to break down her walls and worm his way into her heart, it was so fun to read The flirting was also SO good- I was either giggling or swooning when he called her “Mer Bear” and it was so fun & flirty every single time! The way this man researched, learned and truly always found a way to make her feel loved on more than just the surface was so good! “to be seen is to be loved” UGH lovedddd this line so much!
I also REALLY appreciated the complex family dynamics and the realistic view of what college is like. Bennett learning who he wanted to be and taking it seriously when no one else did was SO admirable and I ate it up.
Side note: I wanted more time with the families and friends and diving into more of the backstory and the complexities….so basically I could of read another 100 pages about this amazing couple and the people who make them who they are lol
⭐️ Rating: 4.25 stars
First I want to say a huge thank you to Maren for letting me apart of her ARC team! I have so much love and appreciation I have for her, her team and this series!
✨ This is book #3 in the hellcats hockey series and my second fav in the series overall! I think Merritt may be my fav fmc so far she was giving a mix of Vivienne and Lennon and I absolutely loved her! She is such a bad ass and I love her!
💭 The Vibes: This is a fun spicy hockey romance that touches on the surface of some layered real life people problems! This has fake dating, adhd rep and a lot of very realistic and relatable scenes and relationships and I really enjoyed both of the mai characters and the snippets we saw from side characters!
📚 What I loved most: The way Bennett was so down bad from their first meeting- he was already so enraptured by her and it was adorable! I loved the sense of him having to break down her walls and worm his way into her heart, it was so fun to read The flirting was also SO good- I was either giggling or swooning when he called her “Mer Bear” and it was so fun & flirty every single time! The way this man researched, learned and truly always found a way to make her feel loved on more than just the surface was so good! “to be seen is to be loved” UGH lovedddd this line so much!
I also REALLY appreciated the complex family dynamics and the realistic view of what college is like. Bennett learning who he wanted to be and taking it seriously when no one else did was SO admirable and I ate it up.
Side note: I wanted more time with the families and friends and diving into more of the backstory and the complexities….so basically I could of read another 100 pages about this amazing couple and the people who make them who they are lol
⭐️ Rating: 4.25 stars
August 20, 2026
“I’m so glad that you love me like this.” The second she crawls onto the bed, I sweep her into my arms, wrapping her up tight.
“I love you all the ways, any way there is.”
If you’ve been following my reviews for a while you know that I just LOVE Maren Moore’s books. Her characters and story lines always give me all the cozy & swoony butterflies!
“Let me make you mine, Merritt.”
Bennett Legros did down bad golden retriever, SO WELL! Literally, Bennett is a GOOD BOY, through and through. I’m pretty sure this man would walk through fire if it made Merritt giggle!
“Because I need you, and I am not too proud of a man to get on my knees and beg for what I want.”
Merritt was an absolute powerhouse of an FMC! I adored how close she was to her family and how driven she was so get into law school. She’s a woman who knows exactly what she wants and goes for it. She’s been scorned by men before and it definitely had her hackles up around Bennett. (For good reason)
Bennett treats Merritt like a queen and once they are truly together, the things she does for Bennett were equally sweet! 🥹
“I have to be dreaming because there’s no way that the girl I’ve been losing my mind over is binding me to her desk chair so she can touch me.”
I loved how the fake dating played into the story and how Bennett’s self imposed celibacy helped their relationship develop without that form of intimacy. This story was a SLOWWWW burn that was absolutely worth the wait!
“Spread your legs for me,” I rasp, watching her eyes darken from the command. “Show me what’s mine, Merritt.”
When these two started finding ways around the “rules” I was FERAL! 🥵🫠❤️🔥
“But her hesitation is for only a split second because at the core…
What’s that saying?
… Merritt matches my freak.”
If you love hockey romance with down bad men, please read this entire series! It was so great to see past couples and even a glimpse of a OU character! 🤭🩵
Tropes:
⛸️ College Hockey Romance
🐾 Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🤭 Dislike to Love
💋 Celibate Hero
📝 Class Partners
💃🏻 Forced Proximity
🥵 He 💦 in his pants
🫶🏼 Found Family
❤️🔥 Slowwww Burn
🔥 Spicy
“I love you all the ways, any way there is.”
If you’ve been following my reviews for a while you know that I just LOVE Maren Moore’s books. Her characters and story lines always give me all the cozy & swoony butterflies!
“Let me make you mine, Merritt.”
Bennett Legros did down bad golden retriever, SO WELL! Literally, Bennett is a GOOD BOY, through and through. I’m pretty sure this man would walk through fire if it made Merritt giggle!
“Because I need you, and I am not too proud of a man to get on my knees and beg for what I want.”
Merritt was an absolute powerhouse of an FMC! I adored how close she was to her family and how driven she was so get into law school. She’s a woman who knows exactly what she wants and goes for it. She’s been scorned by men before and it definitely had her hackles up around Bennett. (For good reason)
Bennett treats Merritt like a queen and once they are truly together, the things she does for Bennett were equally sweet! 🥹
“I have to be dreaming because there’s no way that the girl I’ve been losing my mind over is binding me to her desk chair so she can touch me.”
I loved how the fake dating played into the story and how Bennett’s self imposed celibacy helped their relationship develop without that form of intimacy. This story was a SLOWWWW burn that was absolutely worth the wait!
“Spread your legs for me,” I rasp, watching her eyes darken from the command. “Show me what’s mine, Merritt.”
When these two started finding ways around the “rules” I was FERAL! 🥵🫠❤️🔥
“But her hesitation is for only a split second because at the core…
What’s that saying?
… Merritt matches my freak.”
If you love hockey romance with down bad men, please read this entire series! It was so great to see past couples and even a glimpse of a OU character! 🤭🩵
Tropes:
⛸️ College Hockey Romance
🐾 Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🤭 Dislike to Love
💋 Celibate Hero
📝 Class Partners
💃🏻 Forced Proximity
🥵 He 💦 in his pants
🫶🏼 Found Family
❤️🔥 Slowwww Burn
🔥 Spicy
August 16, 2026
Without a doubt, my favorite book of the series! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I could NOT put this one down.
Bennett had me completely won over within the first chapter with, “On my knees at a woman’s feet might just be my favorite place to be.” I mean… COME ON. 😂 This man was the ultimate golden retriever and I was absolutely obsessed with him.
The banter between Bennett and Merritt was TOP TIER, and as a sucker for golden retriever × black cat energy, these two were everything. He literally had her saved as “stabby girl” 🔪 in his phone, while she had him saved as “good boy.” I mean… the accuracy. 😂
And the spice?! 🔥 Maren Moore wrote some of the hottest makeout scenes I’ve read. The chemistry between these two was absolutely INSANE.
The chemistry, the banter, the chaos—I ate up every single page. Bennett officially stole the show for me, and I’m already missing these two. 🖤🏒
Bennett had me completely won over within the first chapter with, “On my knees at a woman’s feet might just be my favorite place to be.” I mean… COME ON. 😂 This man was the ultimate golden retriever and I was absolutely obsessed with him.
The banter between Bennett and Merritt was TOP TIER, and as a sucker for golden retriever × black cat energy, these two were everything. He literally had her saved as “stabby girl” 🔪 in his phone, while she had him saved as “good boy.” I mean… the accuracy. 😂
And the spice?! 🔥 Maren Moore wrote some of the hottest makeout scenes I’ve read. The chemistry between these two was absolutely INSANE.
The chemistry, the banter, the chaos—I ate up every single page. Bennett officially stole the show for me, and I’m already missing these two. 🖤🏒
August 20, 2026
The way that I am obsessed with these two. And I know I know...I say this every time but damn it...Maren writes the best couples. I just eat them up and leave no crumbs.
What you'll Get:
- Rival's Ex
- Hockey Romance
- Black Cat x Golden Retriever
- Banter...obvs
- Spiceyyyyyyyy
- Fake Dating
I mean, do I really need to say anything more than that?! I will need approximately 5-7 business days to recover. Please and thank you!
What you'll Get:
- Rival's Ex
- Hockey Romance
- Black Cat x Golden Retriever
- Banter...obvs
- Spiceyyyyyyyy
- Fake Dating
I mean, do I really need to say anything more than that?! I will need approximately 5-7 business days to recover. Please and thank you!
August 25, 2026
4.25⭐️ This certainly scratches that sports romance itch!
September 11, 2026
More 4 1/2 🌟 Simply adored Bennett! Such a great series.
August 15, 2026
5 ⭐️
Maren knew what she was doing by saving Bennett for last, omggg!! The goodest Hellcats boy, everrr!! I knew, from when we first met Bennett in the Bad Boy Rule, I was going to be obsessed with him, and seeing him in his own book, omg, I devoured him and Merritt. They were the perfect pair, literally down to a t!
This was such a good black cat fmc x golden retriever, sunshine mmc, I was grinning over their interactions and how obsessed Bennett became over Merritt. And they matching eachother's freak, I LOVED IT!! Things got SO, SO SPICY between them, I literally felt as if I was a voyeur, reading them LMAO. I mean, the spice alone, endless stars from me 🥵
I feel bad for even saying this, but The Casanova Complex trumping The Bad Boy Rule for me, which I didn't think was even possible, I'm sorry Saintyy, Bennett Legros came and conquered!! 😵😵
I cannot thank Maren, Katie and her team for the review copy of The Casanova Complex, I had an absolute blast and I'm so excited for what Maren has next in store!!
tropes
🩵 college hockey
🏒 dislike to lovers
🩵 fake dating
🏒 black cat x golden retriever
🩵 rival’s ex
🏒 forced proximity
🩵 celibate hero + adhd rep
Maren knew what she was doing by saving Bennett for last, omggg!! The goodest Hellcats boy, everrr!! I knew, from when we first met Bennett in the Bad Boy Rule, I was going to be obsessed with him, and seeing him in his own book, omg, I devoured him and Merritt. They were the perfect pair, literally down to a t!
This was such a good black cat fmc x golden retriever, sunshine mmc, I was grinning over their interactions and how obsessed Bennett became over Merritt. And they matching eachother's freak, I LOVED IT!! Things got SO, SO SPICY between them, I literally felt as if I was a voyeur, reading them LMAO. I mean, the spice alone, endless stars from me 🥵
I feel bad for even saying this, but The Casanova Complex trumping The Bad Boy Rule for me, which I didn't think was even possible, I'm sorry Saintyy, Bennett Legros came and conquered!! 😵😵
I cannot thank Maren, Katie and her team for the review copy of The Casanova Complex, I had an absolute blast and I'm so excited for what Maren has next in store!!
tropes
🩵 college hockey
🏒 dislike to lovers
🩵 fake dating
🏒 black cat x golden retriever
🩵 rival’s ex
🏒 forced proximity
🩵 celibate hero + adhd rep
August 21, 2026
4.5 Stars
I truly adored Bennett & Merritt so dang much!! They were soooo fun together and I literally think I had a giddy smile on my face the entire time I was reading.
There is something about Maren's writing that just feels effortless to read and sucks me right in. From the first chapter I loved being in Bennett's head. This was definitely a different sort of hero compared to the first two books in this series and while it wasn't as heavy, I really appreciated how Maren showed Bennett's own struggles and also just how much he cared about and paid attention to those around him. Like this gifts!!! Perfection.
Also as someone who isn't always drawn to the golden retriever type, Maren had me really enjoying a "good boy" trope which I usually am not into so props to her haha I loved him and how down bad he was for Merritt truly right from the beginning!! So good.
And my girl Merritt! We love a stabby queen and I really loved seeing her fight for her dreams. She was definitely reluctant to let Bennett in, for good reason. But I loved how she started to let down her walls and let him truly know her. The ADHD rep was done really well I thought and I ended up really adoring her.
Now we have to talk about the BANTER! Obsessed. Immediately they were going back and forth and I just ate it up. And when this started to turn spicyyyyyyyyyy !! So hot. They had great chemistry and I really loved the pace of everything too. Made the buildup and the tension so worth it!
"Shoutout to Jane Eyre." - had me LOL
Such a fantastic addition to this series. For all my hockey romance fans out there, definitely pick this one up!
Thank you so much Maren Moore & Team for the advanced copy!
2.5 Spice
Format: eARC
What to Expect:
College Hockey Romance, Black Cat x Golden Retriever, Fake Dating, Rival's Ex, Dislike To Lovers, ADHD Rep, Celibate Hero, Banter
I truly adored Bennett & Merritt so dang much!! They were soooo fun together and I literally think I had a giddy smile on my face the entire time I was reading.
There is something about Maren's writing that just feels effortless to read and sucks me right in. From the first chapter I loved being in Bennett's head. This was definitely a different sort of hero compared to the first two books in this series and while it wasn't as heavy, I really appreciated how Maren showed Bennett's own struggles and also just how much he cared about and paid attention to those around him. Like this gifts!!! Perfection.
Also as someone who isn't always drawn to the golden retriever type, Maren had me really enjoying a "good boy" trope which I usually am not into so props to her haha I loved him and how down bad he was for Merritt truly right from the beginning!! So good.
And my girl Merritt! We love a stabby queen and I really loved seeing her fight for her dreams. She was definitely reluctant to let Bennett in, for good reason. But I loved how she started to let down her walls and let him truly know her. The ADHD rep was done really well I thought and I ended up really adoring her.
Now we have to talk about the BANTER! Obsessed. Immediately they were going back and forth and I just ate it up. And when this started to turn spicyyyyyyyyyy !! So hot. They had great chemistry and I really loved the pace of everything too. Made the buildup and the tension so worth it!
"Shoutout to Jane Eyre." - had me LOL
Such a fantastic addition to this series. For all my hockey romance fans out there, definitely pick this one up!
Thank you so much Maren Moore & Team for the advanced copy!
2.5 Spice
Format: eARC
What to Expect:
College Hockey Romance, Black Cat x Golden Retriever, Fake Dating, Rival's Ex, Dislike To Lovers, ADHD Rep, Celibate Hero, Banter
August 27, 2026
4.25 stars.
Maren Moore has done it again with "The Casanova Complex." Gosh, I LOVED this book, even though it was not exactly what I expected (complementary). It is a dislike-to-love fake dating hockey romance between Bennett (MMC) and Merritt (FMC), who almost hooked up a few years ago, but he rejected her in the middle of it, and she never forgot it. Merritt has spent the last few years actively avoiding Bennett, but he's *everywhere* on campus since he's a big-time hockey hotshot goalie, so it's hard to ignore him. Bennett has become disillusioned with life a little bit, not sure what he wants out of it. He has vowed to be celibate until he finds something, or someone, that matters more than just a one-night fling. Merritt and Bennett have now been paired up as partners in their creative writing class, and she's not going to let him skirt by without actually contributing. Merritt is driven to get into law school, and she's not going to let Bennett be the one to derail her very well thought-out plans. Little does Bennett know that Merritt's ex-boyfriend is also on his team, so the two decide to fake-date to keep him at bay and in his place. One small (or is it???) kiss between them has Bennett thinking Merritt is his lucky charm, and he has to find reasons to keep doing it, you know, for the game... riiiiiiiiiight??? Merritt might be a prickly pear on the outside, but Bennett finds a way to get through to the gooey core of her. And Bennett has a reputation as being the life of the party and a man-wh0r3, but he's actually a sensitive, protective man looking for something serious, who wants to know a deep, all-consuming love. Because of how deeply Merritt dislikes Bennett, the banter between them is so, SO good. They push each other's buttons, bicker, argue, and flirt in an effortless, charming way. It makes it all the more delicious and wonderful when they give in to their urges and realize they are falling for each other despite the odds. This story is much heavier than I expected it to be, but I didn't mind at all. In fact, I think it adds to the allure of Merritt and Bennett's story. I loved Merritt's wonderful family and the way Bennett gravitated to her little brother and her father easily. I also love the way Bennett treated Merritt like a queen. I just loved the dynamic between these two. Their chemistry and banter and the drama that happens in this book kept me engaged and reading until the entire thing was over very quickly. I devoured this one. I can't wait to go back and read the other two books in this series!!
Thank you to Maren Moore for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Maren Moore has done it again with "The Casanova Complex." Gosh, I LOVED this book, even though it was not exactly what I expected (complementary). It is a dislike-to-love fake dating hockey romance between Bennett (MMC) and Merritt (FMC), who almost hooked up a few years ago, but he rejected her in the middle of it, and she never forgot it. Merritt has spent the last few years actively avoiding Bennett, but he's *everywhere* on campus since he's a big-time hockey hotshot goalie, so it's hard to ignore him. Bennett has become disillusioned with life a little bit, not sure what he wants out of it. He has vowed to be celibate until he finds something, or someone, that matters more than just a one-night fling. Merritt and Bennett have now been paired up as partners in their creative writing class, and she's not going to let him skirt by without actually contributing. Merritt is driven to get into law school, and she's not going to let Bennett be the one to derail her very well thought-out plans. Little does Bennett know that Merritt's ex-boyfriend is also on his team, so the two decide to fake-date to keep him at bay and in his place. One small (or is it???) kiss between them has Bennett thinking Merritt is his lucky charm, and he has to find reasons to keep doing it, you know, for the game... riiiiiiiiiight??? Merritt might be a prickly pear on the outside, but Bennett finds a way to get through to the gooey core of her. And Bennett has a reputation as being the life of the party and a man-wh0r3, but he's actually a sensitive, protective man looking for something serious, who wants to know a deep, all-consuming love. Because of how deeply Merritt dislikes Bennett, the banter between them is so, SO good. They push each other's buttons, bicker, argue, and flirt in an effortless, charming way. It makes it all the more delicious and wonderful when they give in to their urges and realize they are falling for each other despite the odds. This story is much heavier than I expected it to be, but I didn't mind at all. In fact, I think it adds to the allure of Merritt and Bennett's story. I loved Merritt's wonderful family and the way Bennett gravitated to her little brother and her father easily. I also love the way Bennett treated Merritt like a queen. I just loved the dynamic between these two. Their chemistry and banter and the drama that happens in this book kept me engaged and reading until the entire thing was over very quickly. I devoured this one. I can't wait to go back and read the other two books in this series!!
Thank you to Maren Moore for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
August 21, 2026
👔 “Of fucking course, the universe would put the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in front of me when I can’t even have a taste.”
4⭐️ 2.5🌶️
I laughed out loud so many times in this book omfg 🤣
Like yes it’s a standalone meaning you can read it in any order of the series but it is sooooo worth going in order
Him calling Saint “pookie” about took. me. out LOL
Bennett is just the perfect golden retriever MMC
After only knowing the playboy lifestyle…he has sworn off the ladies to prove to himself that he truly wants a meaningful relationship moving forward
Doesn’t mean he isn’t going to be tempted REAL HARD to break thah celibacy code 😉 we’re talking:
👔 “I pull out the chocolate croissant and present it to her like it’s the Hope Diamond. “For you, my stabby queen.” Her eyes flare as she stares at the croissant before eagerly taking it from my hand and immediately biting into it. Her eyes flutter shut, and the softest, sweetest moan escapes past her lips— —and shoots straight to my dick. Motherfuuuuuucker. DOWN, BOY. WE ARE NOT GOING THERE. OFF-LIMITS. WALK AWAY SLOWLY.”
LOLLLL again I was literally laughing out loud at his inner dialogue and him calling her stabby queen is my FAVORITE. The banter is absolutely incredible
Merrit is our black cat FMC 🐈⬛ I LOVED her “stabby” tendencies 😉 her and Bennett actually had an interaction long before they left her feeling so humiliated and ashamed of herself… so when she’s paired up in class with him she is NOT HAPPY. She has goals and works so so hard and isn’t about to let this “playboy jock” ruin it for her
Their two personalities pushed together was just perfect for me. They are really both each others firsts in so many senses of the word and to watch that slowly unfold between them is so freaking cute and romantic 😭 THIS IS WHY I LOVE ROMANCE
They really just see each other. They meet each other’s needs in ways that nobody else in their lives ever really has, and watching them discover that connection was honestly my favorite part❤️
I LOVE Marens books and this absolutely lived up to the hype for me 😍
💕 You will enjoy this if you are into:
💖 golden retriever MMC x black cat FMC
💖 stabby FMCs with attitude
💖 college romance
💖 playboy MMC who swears off women
💖 LOL banter
💖 first loves
💖 insane chemistry + sexual tension
💖 he helps her with her ADHD
💖 “I’m trying VERY hard not to want you”
💖 a man who would absolutely bring you a chocolate croissant
4⭐️ 2.5🌶️
I laughed out loud so many times in this book omfg 🤣
Like yes it’s a standalone meaning you can read it in any order of the series but it is sooooo worth going in order
Him calling Saint “pookie” about took. me. out LOL
Bennett is just the perfect golden retriever MMC
After only knowing the playboy lifestyle…he has sworn off the ladies to prove to himself that he truly wants a meaningful relationship moving forward
Doesn’t mean he isn’t going to be tempted REAL HARD to break thah celibacy code 😉 we’re talking:
👔 “I pull out the chocolate croissant and present it to her like it’s the Hope Diamond. “For you, my stabby queen.” Her eyes flare as she stares at the croissant before eagerly taking it from my hand and immediately biting into it. Her eyes flutter shut, and the softest, sweetest moan escapes past her lips— —and shoots straight to my dick. Motherfuuuuuucker. DOWN, BOY. WE ARE NOT GOING THERE. OFF-LIMITS. WALK AWAY SLOWLY.”
LOLLLL again I was literally laughing out loud at his inner dialogue and him calling her stabby queen is my FAVORITE. The banter is absolutely incredible
Merrit is our black cat FMC 🐈⬛ I LOVED her “stabby” tendencies 😉 her and Bennett actually had an interaction long before they left her feeling so humiliated and ashamed of herself… so when she’s paired up in class with him she is NOT HAPPY. She has goals and works so so hard and isn’t about to let this “playboy jock” ruin it for her
Their two personalities pushed together was just perfect for me. They are really both each others firsts in so many senses of the word and to watch that slowly unfold between them is so freaking cute and romantic 😭 THIS IS WHY I LOVE ROMANCE
They really just see each other. They meet each other’s needs in ways that nobody else in their lives ever really has, and watching them discover that connection was honestly my favorite part❤️
I LOVE Marens books and this absolutely lived up to the hype for me 😍
💕 You will enjoy this if you are into:
💖 golden retriever MMC x black cat FMC
💖 stabby FMCs with attitude
💖 college romance
💖 playboy MMC who swears off women
💖 LOL banter
💖 first loves
💖 insane chemistry + sexual tension
💖 he helps her with her ADHD
💖 “I’m trying VERY hard not to want you”
💖 a man who would absolutely bring you a chocolate croissant
August 14, 2026
✨ᴀʀᴄ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ✨
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 by Maren Moore
Maren really said.. 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝙄'𝙢 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙬!
Vibes. Straight vibes. 👌🏻
This book had me kicking my feet and giggling like a little school girl. I LOVED Bennett and Merritt so so much, complete opposites yet fit together like a glove. This entire book was a good time! I loved flipping the page and seeing the text thread box. Don’t get me started on their nicknames!!👏🏻😍
Bennett is down bad, like on his knees down bad for the stabby girl and I ate it up. He is actually quiet perfect. Celibate, funny, and take responsibility for his actions. It took 0.2 seconds for Bennett to steal my heart.🥹😮💨
Merritt is straight vibes and I absolutely ADORED her!! 😍🖤
Baby when that dam finally broke at 65% - damn Bennett. He came alive and I was SAT for this man. These two were smoking HOT! The spice was SPICING y’all!🔥🥵
Bennett’s nickname for Saint took me out haha, so Maren!😂
𝘍𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨
𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴
𝘈𝘋𝘏𝘋 𝘙𝘦𝘱
𝘏𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦
𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘰
Huge thanks to Maren for the gift ARC!
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 by Maren Moore
Maren really said.. 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝙄'𝙢 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙬!
Vibes. Straight vibes. 👌🏻
This book had me kicking my feet and giggling like a little school girl. I LOVED Bennett and Merritt so so much, complete opposites yet fit together like a glove. This entire book was a good time! I loved flipping the page and seeing the text thread box. Don’t get me started on their nicknames!!👏🏻😍
Bennett is down bad, like on his knees down bad for the stabby girl and I ate it up. He is actually quiet perfect. Celibate, funny, and take responsibility for his actions. It took 0.2 seconds for Bennett to steal my heart.🥹😮💨
Merritt is straight vibes and I absolutely ADORED her!! 😍🖤
Baby when that dam finally broke at 65% - damn Bennett. He came alive and I was SAT for this man. These two were smoking HOT! The spice was SPICING y’all!🔥🥵
Bennett’s nickname for Saint took me out haha, so Maren!😂
𝘍𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨
𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴
𝘈𝘋𝘏𝘋 𝘙𝘦𝘱
𝘏𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦
𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘰
Huge thanks to Maren for the gift ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Absolutely devoured Bennett and Merritt's story in less than 24 hours and left no crumbs in sight because these two were DELICIOUS!!!
Bennett: hockey player with golden retriever energy that's usually known as the campus playboy but has been celibate for awhile...gets paired with...
Merritt: black cat ("stabby") girl on a mission to make it into law school, for their creative writing project!!! Between the forced proximity, the fact these two actually have some history to unpack, the tension, the banter, and the chemistry, these two were UNREAL. Seriously loved their characters so so much!
Ummmm, and Miss Maren, the SPICE you injected into this book?! Next level!🔥🥵 These two were incredibly hot together, and it really showed with how Maren built their relationship on friendship AND trust. They may have been fake dating, but the sparks flying off my kindle pages were anything but because these two were hotttt.
Loved being back at OU with our hockey hotties and the women that bring them to their knees... literally 🤭
Thank you so much to Maren and team for my eARC!💕
Bennett: hockey player with golden retriever energy that's usually known as the campus playboy but has been celibate for awhile...gets paired with...
Merritt: black cat ("stabby") girl on a mission to make it into law school, for their creative writing project!!! Between the forced proximity, the fact these two actually have some history to unpack, the tension, the banter, and the chemistry, these two were UNREAL. Seriously loved their characters so so much!
Ummmm, and Miss Maren, the SPICE you injected into this book?! Next level!🔥🥵 These two were incredibly hot together, and it really showed with how Maren built their relationship on friendship AND trust. They may have been fake dating, but the sparks flying off my kindle pages were anything but because these two were hotttt.
Loved being back at OU with our hockey hotties and the women that bring them to their knees... literally 🤭
Thank you so much to Maren and team for my eARC!💕
August 20, 2026
“Nothing, not a single thing in my life, has ever been as good as what it’s like with you.”
I’m absolutely speechless. This may just be my favorite Maren Moore book ever. I genuinely could not put this book down…it was just fantastic. If you’re looking for a dislike to lovers, black cat x golden retriever, hockey romance, The Casanova Complex is THE book for you. There’s no doubt in my mind that Bennett Legros will have you swooning!
Merritt and Bennett’s relationship is EVERYTHING. What starts out as forced proximity (against their will-since their Professor does not allow them to switch partners), turns into genuine friendship and love. Their connection is so beautiful and they really help each other without even knowing.
I can’t even express how much I love Bennett. He’s just perfection. I love Merritt and how she cares deeply about her family and the things that see important to her. This book is 100% worth the read and I cannot recommend it enough!
I’m absolutely speechless. This may just be my favorite Maren Moore book ever. I genuinely could not put this book down…it was just fantastic. If you’re looking for a dislike to lovers, black cat x golden retriever, hockey romance, The Casanova Complex is THE book for you. There’s no doubt in my mind that Bennett Legros will have you swooning!
Merritt and Bennett’s relationship is EVERYTHING. What starts out as forced proximity (against their will-since their Professor does not allow them to switch partners), turns into genuine friendship and love. Their connection is so beautiful and they really help each other without even knowing.
I can’t even express how much I love Bennett. He’s just perfection. I love Merritt and how she cares deeply about her family and the things that see important to her. This book is 100% worth the read and I cannot recommend it enough!
August 21, 2026
The Casanova Complex is book #3 in the Hellcats Hockey series by the lovely Maren Moore and this one might just be her spiciest to date!!!
💙Fake Dating
💙Rivals Ex
💙Celibate Hero
💙Black Cat x Golden Retriever
💙ADHD Rep
Bennett Legros waited patiently for his time to shine and he didn’t disappoint!!!! He is everything I expected and more. And Merritt Merritt Merritt? What can I say about her???? She is hands down my favorite FMC Maren has ever written!! She’s funny, spicy and sassy! These two were a perfect match!
Merritt St. Pierre has sworn off hockey players. She wants to focus on her future and school.
Bennett Legros has sworn off girls. His future is suddenly not guaranteed and he wants to prove to people he’s more than what they think.
Fake Dating has become one of my favorite tropes ever. The Casanova Complex is a phenomenal slow burn. These two will have you gasping for more after each chapter. Maren really did her thing with this book!!! It’s a must read!
💙Fake Dating
💙Rivals Ex
💙Celibate Hero
💙Black Cat x Golden Retriever
💙ADHD Rep
Bennett Legros waited patiently for his time to shine and he didn’t disappoint!!!! He is everything I expected and more. And Merritt Merritt Merritt? What can I say about her???? She is hands down my favorite FMC Maren has ever written!! She’s funny, spicy and sassy! These two were a perfect match!
Merritt St. Pierre has sworn off hockey players. She wants to focus on her future and school.
Bennett Legros has sworn off girls. His future is suddenly not guaranteed and he wants to prove to people he’s more than what they think.
Fake Dating has become one of my favorite tropes ever. The Casanova Complex is a phenomenal slow burn. These two will have you gasping for more after each chapter. Maren really did her thing with this book!!! It’s a must read!
August 28, 2026
Thank you so much for the gifted eARC. This was such a fun fake dating, dislike to lovers hockey romance! I was so excited to finally get Bennett’s story, and this reformed playboy completely won me over. He genuinely wanted to be a better man, and it was all the little things he did throughout the book that made me fall for him.
Merritt was the perfect black cat FMC . She was smart, hardworking, a little stabby, and secretly such a softie. 🖤 I loved how much she cared about her family, and seeing Bennett with them (especially her brother 🥹) made me love him even more. The Christmas scene almost had me in tears.
And fake dating with a man who was basically never faking?? Even Bennett himself said he was down bad.
Read if you like:
Dislike to lovers
Hockey romance
Spicy scenes
ADHD rep
Black cat x golden retriever
Merritt was the perfect black cat FMC . She was smart, hardworking, a little stabby, and secretly such a softie. 🖤 I loved how much she cared about her family, and seeing Bennett with them (especially her brother 🥹) made me love him even more. The Christmas scene almost had me in tears.
And fake dating with a man who was basically never faking?? Even Bennett himself said he was down bad.
Read if you like:
Dislike to lovers
Hockey romance
Spicy scenes
ADHD rep
Black cat x golden retriever
August 15, 2026
ARC READER
I was so lucky to receive an ARC of this book. Chapter one, and I was already reminded on why I love a man written by a woman. Thank you Maren! Also, it’s so refreshing to read about the ADHD rep! I obviously can’t and won’t spoiler it. But when I hear ‘adhd rep’, I always have pre-assumptions, and this one was the complete opposite! Pretty vague, I know, but it’ll make sense once you read it!
Only eight chapters in and I’m already giggling and kicking my feet, oh my god! Their first kiss, and what he calls her, it’s just perfect!
I actually cried during the Christmas Eve scene🥹
The book is such an easy read, it’s not a very thick book, but it doesn’t need to be. The story sells and feels complete. The book contains enough funny moments, but also sweet ones, sadder ones, and ones where you want to punch a certain characters straight in the balls.
I was so lucky to receive an ARC of this book. Chapter one, and I was already reminded on why I love a man written by a woman. Thank you Maren! Also, it’s so refreshing to read about the ADHD rep! I obviously can’t and won’t spoiler it. But when I hear ‘adhd rep’, I always have pre-assumptions, and this one was the complete opposite! Pretty vague, I know, but it’ll make sense once you read it!
Only eight chapters in and I’m already giggling and kicking my feet, oh my god! Their first kiss, and what he calls her, it’s just perfect!
I actually cried during the Christmas Eve scene🥹
The book is such an easy read, it’s not a very thick book, but it doesn’t need to be. The story sells and feels complete. The book contains enough funny moments, but also sweet ones, sadder ones, and ones where you want to punch a certain characters straight in the balls.
August 20, 2026
The Casanova Complex has her swooniest hero to date with his green flag vibes and his worshipping ways. Bennett coming to life to have his own story was the best surprise when announced.
Merritt was a wonderful surprise with her sharp remarks often checking Bennett and reminding him that redeeming himself isn't going to be easy after their disastrous history.
This is fake dating at it's finest with these two both having their reasons to make sure their common enemy doesn't get the chance to get one up on either of them. The romance is sweet with a nice large side of heat in the sheets with another romance hit from Maren.
Merritt was a wonderful surprise with her sharp remarks often checking Bennett and reminding him that redeeming himself isn't going to be easy after their disastrous history.
This is fake dating at it's finest with these two both having their reasons to make sure their common enemy doesn't get the chance to get one up on either of them. The romance is sweet with a nice large side of heat in the sheets with another romance hit from Maren.
August 15, 2026
🅰🆁🅲 🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆
🏒 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 🏒
✍🏼 ᴍᴀʀᴇɴ ᴍᴏᴏʀᴇ
“𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗠𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗿.”
“𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘰, 𝘎𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘦,”
I wanted to love this one so much, but it kind of just fell flat for me. There were parts I loved (the bantering text messages), but unfortunately, so much of it just didn’t land for me. I feel like Bennett deserved better, and Merritt…I just didn’t vibe with her all that much. Perhaps if there were more backstory as to why she was so guarded and closed off, her black cat vibes would’ve landed a bit better for me. I’m not sure…I just finished it feeling kind of meh.
🏒 ꜰᴀᴋᴇ ᴅᴀᴛɪɴɢ
🐈⬛ ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴄᴀᴛ x ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ʀᴇᴛʀɪᴇᴠᴇʀ
🏒 ʀɪᴠᴀʟ’ꜱ ᴇx
🐈⬛ ᴅɪꜱʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀꜱ
🏒 ᴄᴇʟɪʙᴀᴛᴇ ʜᴇʀᴏ
🐈⬛ ᴀᴅʜᴅ ʀᴇᴘ
🏒 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 🏒
✍🏼 ᴍᴀʀᴇɴ ᴍᴏᴏʀᴇ
“𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗠𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗿.”
“𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘰, 𝘎𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘦,”
I wanted to love this one so much, but it kind of just fell flat for me. There were parts I loved (the bantering text messages), but unfortunately, so much of it just didn’t land for me. I feel like Bennett deserved better, and Merritt…I just didn’t vibe with her all that much. Perhaps if there were more backstory as to why she was so guarded and closed off, her black cat vibes would’ve landed a bit better for me. I’m not sure…I just finished it feeling kind of meh.
🏒 ꜰᴀᴋᴇ ᴅᴀᴛɪɴɢ
🐈⬛ ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴄᴀᴛ x ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ʀᴇᴛʀɪᴇᴠᴇʀ
🏒 ʀɪᴠᴀʟ’ꜱ ᴇx
🐈⬛ ᴅɪꜱʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀꜱ
🏒 ᴄᴇʟɪʙᴀᴛᴇ ʜᴇʀᴏ
🐈⬛ ᴀᴅʜᴅ ʀᴇᴘ
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