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The Good Girl Exception: An Age Gap, Forbidden College Hockey Romance
502 pages, Paperback
Published March 23, 2026
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March 25, 2026
4.5⭐️
I was so excited for this one & it absolutely didn’t let me down!! We love an age gap, hockey romance & Wilder was everything I needed! A broken man, who is jealous, and possessive. Maisie’s sweet and sunshine personality is there to step in and break down his walls!
This book was full of tension, banter, and absolute goodness that kept me loving these two. This one had spice, but also an emotional side that just tugged at my heart strings. I was so in love with these two & absolutely loved the character development this one gave.
If you’re looking for an age gap, forbidden, hockey romance with workplace and forced proximity, this one will absolutely keep you hooked!! This one was so full of heat & heart that will suck you in! Such a great read
I was so excited for this one & it absolutely didn’t let me down!! We love an age gap, hockey romance & Wilder was everything I needed! A broken man, who is jealous, and possessive. Maisie’s sweet and sunshine personality is there to step in and break down his walls!
This book was full of tension, banter, and absolute goodness that kept me loving these two. This one had spice, but also an emotional side that just tugged at my heart strings. I was so in love with these two & absolutely loved the character development this one gave.
If you’re looking for an age gap, forbidden, hockey romance with workplace and forced proximity, this one will absolutely keep you hooked!! This one was so full of heat & heart that will suck you in! Such a great read
April 3, 2026
#Review: *The Good Girl Exception* - Maren Moore - ARC [18+]
4.4/5✨
3.5/5🌶️
Maisie never thought that she would see again the man she had a fling with. She wanted to have a reckless night and she felt a different kind of connection towards the stranger from that random bar. But the surprise was jaw dropping when both of them would realize that they were going to be in each other's company really often. Why? Because Wilder Hawthorne would be the one with whom Maisie would have to work, being the Hellcats' new assistant coach. How will they handle all that tension between them, knowing that what they shared should be kept a secret because of Wilder's new job, his troubled past and because of that huge age gap between them of 13 years.
I can say from the start that this story was suuuper hot, having so many steamy scenes. I liked so much how different Maisie and Wilder were, but how well they were together 🥰. There was quite an age gap between them, making it a bit scandalous in the world Maisie was raised in. Besides that, Wilder had to face some dark parts from his past, which transformed him into the bad boy from the present. This side really touched me, Wilder's complicated past being so emotional and something hard to keep into his heart. I also liked that tension, the slow burn and all those forbidden elements, that made me keep turning those pages. Maybe I felt like this story was a tiny bit too long for my liking, but those final chapters were just the right thing to captivate my attention.
I was so happy that I've finally read this book, knowing that Maren was working on it for quite some time. It had a bit of everything, but the spice definitely stood out in this story.
So grateful for being chosen to receive one of these e-ARCs and I wanna thank Maren and her amazing thing for making it happen.
✨Tropes
▫️Age Gap
▫️Forbidden Love
▫️Bad Boy / Good Girl
▫️Opposites Attract
▫️Virgin Heroine
▫️Spicy Romance
▫️Sports Romance
▫️Hockey Coach
4.4/5✨
3.5/5🌶️
Maisie never thought that she would see again the man she had a fling with. She wanted to have a reckless night and she felt a different kind of connection towards the stranger from that random bar. But the surprise was jaw dropping when both of them would realize that they were going to be in each other's company really often. Why? Because Wilder Hawthorne would be the one with whom Maisie would have to work, being the Hellcats' new assistant coach. How will they handle all that tension between them, knowing that what they shared should be kept a secret because of Wilder's new job, his troubled past and because of that huge age gap between them of 13 years.
I can say from the start that this story was suuuper hot, having so many steamy scenes. I liked so much how different Maisie and Wilder were, but how well they were together 🥰. There was quite an age gap between them, making it a bit scandalous in the world Maisie was raised in. Besides that, Wilder had to face some dark parts from his past, which transformed him into the bad boy from the present. This side really touched me, Wilder's complicated past being so emotional and something hard to keep into his heart. I also liked that tension, the slow burn and all those forbidden elements, that made me keep turning those pages. Maybe I felt like this story was a tiny bit too long for my liking, but those final chapters were just the right thing to captivate my attention.
I was so happy that I've finally read this book, knowing that Maren was working on it for quite some time. It had a bit of everything, but the spice definitely stood out in this story.
So grateful for being chosen to receive one of these e-ARCs and I wanna thank Maren and her amazing thing for making it happen.
✨Tropes
▫️Age Gap
▫️Forbidden Love
▫️Bad Boy / Good Girl
▫️Opposites Attract
▫️Virgin Heroine
▫️Spicy Romance
▫️Sports Romance
▫️Hockey Coach
March 26, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶
I fell in love with this book! So many people can relate to the main characters in this story. Maybe not the same circumstances, but the same feelings and struggles of everyday life choices. This author wrote this story beautifully and I'm so excited to see what she writes next.
Tropes:
🏒 College Hockey Coach
🩷 Age-Gap (13.5yrs)
🏒 Forbidden Love
🩷 Bad Boy/Good Girl
🏒 Workplace Romance
🩷 One Night Stand
🏒 OTT Jealous/Possessive
🩷 Vrgn FMC
Maisie Delacroix is struggling with being the good girl everyone expects her to be. She's a preachers daughter who is expected to be good, live a quiet life. Doing what others expect of her. It's a lot of pressure on her and she wants to live outside that box that others have put her in. She's a college student at Orleans U, and she's caught in this in-between place of whether she should do as expected of her or break free and become her own person.
Wilder Hawthorne is the new hockey coach at Orleans U this year. He was just kicked out of the NHL for his temper. He going to one day make it back to the professional league, but he's struggling. His whole life he's been in and out of foster care due to his mother's addictions. He feels that he's not supposed to have anything good in his life or he'd just ruin it. He doesn't rant expect anything good in life. He's a broken man and honestly he has broken views.
Maisie has a one night stand in a bar bathroom with a stranger that she can't get off her mind now. She is take up in working a charity event with the new hockey coach that happens to be Wilder.
Wilder knows that he needs to keep his head down in this new position, and once he sees Maisie, he knows he needs to keep far away from her.
The more time they spend together, the more they want each other. He thinks that he can keep it purely physical. Yet, he becomes more possessive and jealous when she involved. We also so that broken boy inside him, because he does keep her at arms lengths. He doesn't want to hurt her, and he thinks there's no way around that. He's just destined to make the same mistakes.
Maisie also shows Wilder another side of himself. She brings out the good in him and makes him want to do better. They in a sense help each other out.
This was such a great book, and a must-read. I feel that this book has more depth and story than The Bad Boy Rule, and I loved that book. You will fall in love with Wilder and Maisie in this forbidden, age-gap, workplace romance.
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶
I fell in love with this book! So many people can relate to the main characters in this story. Maybe not the same circumstances, but the same feelings and struggles of everyday life choices. This author wrote this story beautifully and I'm so excited to see what she writes next.
Tropes:
🏒 College Hockey Coach
🩷 Age-Gap (13.5yrs)
🏒 Forbidden Love
🩷 Bad Boy/Good Girl
🏒 Workplace Romance
🩷 One Night Stand
🏒 OTT Jealous/Possessive
🩷 Vrgn FMC
Maisie Delacroix is struggling with being the good girl everyone expects her to be. She's a preachers daughter who is expected to be good, live a quiet life. Doing what others expect of her. It's a lot of pressure on her and she wants to live outside that box that others have put her in. She's a college student at Orleans U, and she's caught in this in-between place of whether she should do as expected of her or break free and become her own person.
Wilder Hawthorne is the new hockey coach at Orleans U this year. He was just kicked out of the NHL for his temper. He going to one day make it back to the professional league, but he's struggling. His whole life he's been in and out of foster care due to his mother's addictions. He feels that he's not supposed to have anything good in his life or he'd just ruin it. He doesn't rant expect anything good in life. He's a broken man and honestly he has broken views.
Maisie has a one night stand in a bar bathroom with a stranger that she can't get off her mind now. She is take up in working a charity event with the new hockey coach that happens to be Wilder.
Wilder knows that he needs to keep his head down in this new position, and once he sees Maisie, he knows he needs to keep far away from her.
The more time they spend together, the more they want each other. He thinks that he can keep it purely physical. Yet, he becomes more possessive and jealous when she involved. We also so that broken boy inside him, because he does keep her at arms lengths. He doesn't want to hurt her, and he thinks there's no way around that. He's just destined to make the same mistakes.
Maisie also shows Wilder another side of himself. She brings out the good in him and makes him want to do better. They in a sense help each other out.
This was such a great book, and a must-read. I feel that this book has more depth and story than The Bad Boy Rule, and I loved that book. You will fall in love with Wilder and Maisie in this forbidden, age-gap, workplace romance.
April 4, 2026
*ARC REVIEW*
i genuinely cannot put into words how much i love and adore wilder and maisie. i thought saint’s story tore me to pieces, but maren wasn’t lying when she said this book would wreck us.
maisie, the preacher’s daughter, is literal sunshine in human form. she, like her best friend lennon (who we read about in book one of the series), is trying to discover who she really is as a 20, almost 21 year old who’s so used to being this picture perfect girl because of her father’s reputation in town.
wilder, orleans university new hockey coach, is grumpy as hell because he’s back in the one town he wanted to stay as far away from due to his past. but he has no choice other than to take up the job as a new coach for his alma mater to try to save his NHL reputation and get his career back.
unintentionally, they both meet at a bar, no names shared, and have a little fun in the grungy bathroom, and maisie’s virginity? gone. the bad boy who couldn’t keep his eyes off her took it *IN THE PROLOGUE*!!! (i was literally screaming and kicking my feet like a little girl already)
one thing leads to another, and they meet on campus, and tension is immediately sky rocketing as they realize who each other is and that they can’t avoid each other because of the literacy program maisie is doing.
the bad boy and good girl made a mistake that ruined both of them (for the better in my opinion lol) and what they both want but are scared to admit is forbidden; he is the college’s 34 year old hockey coach and she’s a 20 year old student after all. wilder, a broken man, finds solace in the last person he should, which happens to be maisie.
i also wanna quickly point out how much i love the cameos from lennon, saint, and bennett. they already stole my heart in saint and lennon’s story, and did it again in this one💜
as i mentioned earlier, this book absolutely wrecked me in the best way possible. i was hooked and could not get enough (to the point where i read this 3 times before writing my review). it had everything i love in maren’s books and more. THE TENSION! THE PUSHING AND PULLING! THE “FUCK IT” MOMENTS! so so so much vulnerability. all the emotions. if anything, this book reminds us that our lives may seem dark and dreary, but that there is light on the other side, you just have to be willing to look for it. it’s about healing, from trauma, heartbreak and everything in between.
i could go on for ages about how much this book and these characters mean to me, and will definitely never shut up about it.
thank you, maren, as always, for giving me a place on your permanent ARC team and for sharing these beautiful stories with us (no matter how hard they must be to write because girl, if you make us cry i KNOW damn well you’re crying nonstop). i hope you know how much light you bring into my life🩷
5⭐️
3.5🌶️
*book 2 in the Hellcats Hockey series*
**available on Kindle Unlimited**
i genuinely cannot put into words how much i love and adore wilder and maisie. i thought saint’s story tore me to pieces, but maren wasn’t lying when she said this book would wreck us.
maisie, the preacher’s daughter, is literal sunshine in human form. she, like her best friend lennon (who we read about in book one of the series), is trying to discover who she really is as a 20, almost 21 year old who’s so used to being this picture perfect girl because of her father’s reputation in town.
wilder, orleans university new hockey coach, is grumpy as hell because he’s back in the one town he wanted to stay as far away from due to his past. but he has no choice other than to take up the job as a new coach for his alma mater to try to save his NHL reputation and get his career back.
unintentionally, they both meet at a bar, no names shared, and have a little fun in the grungy bathroom, and maisie’s virginity? gone. the bad boy who couldn’t keep his eyes off her took it *IN THE PROLOGUE*!!! (i was literally screaming and kicking my feet like a little girl already)
one thing leads to another, and they meet on campus, and tension is immediately sky rocketing as they realize who each other is and that they can’t avoid each other because of the literacy program maisie is doing.
the bad boy and good girl made a mistake that ruined both of them (for the better in my opinion lol) and what they both want but are scared to admit is forbidden; he is the college’s 34 year old hockey coach and she’s a 20 year old student after all. wilder, a broken man, finds solace in the last person he should, which happens to be maisie.
i also wanna quickly point out how much i love the cameos from lennon, saint, and bennett. they already stole my heart in saint and lennon’s story, and did it again in this one💜
as i mentioned earlier, this book absolutely wrecked me in the best way possible. i was hooked and could not get enough (to the point where i read this 3 times before writing my review). it had everything i love in maren’s books and more. THE TENSION! THE PUSHING AND PULLING! THE “FUCK IT” MOMENTS! so so so much vulnerability. all the emotions. if anything, this book reminds us that our lives may seem dark and dreary, but that there is light on the other side, you just have to be willing to look for it. it’s about healing, from trauma, heartbreak and everything in between.
i could go on for ages about how much this book and these characters mean to me, and will definitely never shut up about it.
thank you, maren, as always, for giving me a place on your permanent ARC team and for sharing these beautiful stories with us (no matter how hard they must be to write because girl, if you make us cry i KNOW damn well you’re crying nonstop). i hope you know how much light you bring into my life🩷
5⭐️
3.5🌶️
*book 2 in the Hellcats Hockey series*
**available on Kindle Unlimited**
March 26, 2026
“Those days won’t feel so dark with you. You’re sunshine, Maisie. My sunshine girl."
First, let me just say, Saint and Lennon from The Bad Boy Rule set the bar very high for me. But Wilder and Maisie are incredibly sweet together, and this book has so much heart.
Wilder completely stole the show. Sexy, broody, reserved, and deeply resilient. He’s the kind of character that lingers with you. His story made me want to reach through the pages and just hug him. Watching his growth was one of my favorite parts of the book. Once he allowed himself to both give and receive love, he really blossomed into this protective yet genuinely caring man, with dreams that go beyond hockey. I especially appreciated how he learned to be vulnerable with Maisie, to trust her and see her as his equal despite the age gap and complicated family dynamics.
Maisie, on the other hand, hides behind a polished, almost pristine exterior. She did grow on me as the story went on, and I really appreciated how consistently she showed up for Wilder and supported him. That said, I found myself wishing for a bit more depth from her. Her arc leans into self-discovery, which I liked, but I would have loved to see a stronger emotional transformation.
Their relationship is packed with tension, undeniable chemistry, and that magnetic pull that keeps you hooked, and yes, the spice definitely delivers 🥵
I did love the ending, though it felt slightly rushed.
Overall, this is a heartfelt romance with a standout male lead who absolutely carries the story.
Thank you to the author for the advanced e-copy.
First, let me just say, Saint and Lennon from The Bad Boy Rule set the bar very high for me. But Wilder and Maisie are incredibly sweet together, and this book has so much heart.
Wilder completely stole the show. Sexy, broody, reserved, and deeply resilient. He’s the kind of character that lingers with you. His story made me want to reach through the pages and just hug him. Watching his growth was one of my favorite parts of the book. Once he allowed himself to both give and receive love, he really blossomed into this protective yet genuinely caring man, with dreams that go beyond hockey. I especially appreciated how he learned to be vulnerable with Maisie, to trust her and see her as his equal despite the age gap and complicated family dynamics.
Maisie, on the other hand, hides behind a polished, almost pristine exterior. She did grow on me as the story went on, and I really appreciated how consistently she showed up for Wilder and supported him. That said, I found myself wishing for a bit more depth from her. Her arc leans into self-discovery, which I liked, but I would have loved to see a stronger emotional transformation.
Their relationship is packed with tension, undeniable chemistry, and that magnetic pull that keeps you hooked, and yes, the spice definitely delivers 🥵
I did love the ending, though it felt slightly rushed.
Overall, this is a heartfelt romance with a standout male lead who absolutely carries the story.
Thank you to the author for the advanced e-copy.
March 28, 2026
✨ARC REVIEW✨ 5⭐️ There is just something about a down bad MMC written by Maren Moore!! Maisie is ready to break out of her shell and discover her true self. Not the image of the perfect daughter she’s always felt she has to portray. One night in a bar bathroom had the potential to turn her world upside down. She just didn’t know how much at the time. Wilder was dealt a bad hand at life and has never really gotten over it. After being forced out of the NHL and sent to coach at his Alma Matter, Wilder is determined to keep his head down and do everything he can to crawl his way back to professional hockey. The one thing he didn’t expect? The bright sunshiney student that he can’t get out of his head. He doesn’t feel like he has anything to offer besides a physical relationship but Maisie might just be little spark of hope Wilder never saw coming.
I just loved these two so so much!! Oh man is Maisie the epitome of sunshine. Seeing her slowly but surely break down Wilder’s walls was EVERYTHING. They both became exactly what each other needed at the exact right time. Wilder may have fought every one of his instincts but they were no match for Maisie. I loved seeing her break out of her shell too. There was just so much goodness in this one!! Fighting those internal battles but eventually both leaning on each other and finding something even greater than they would have we’ve imagined!! GO READ THIS ONE!!
Tropes:
✨Grumpy x Sunshine
✨Hockey Coach x Student
✨Forbidden
✨Friends with Benefits
✨Age Gap
I just loved these two so so much!! Oh man is Maisie the epitome of sunshine. Seeing her slowly but surely break down Wilder’s walls was EVERYTHING. They both became exactly what each other needed at the exact right time. Wilder may have fought every one of his instincts but they were no match for Maisie. I loved seeing her break out of her shell too. There was just so much goodness in this one!! Fighting those internal battles but eventually both leaning on each other and finding something even greater than they would have we’ve imagined!! GO READ THIS ONE!!
Tropes:
✨Grumpy x Sunshine
✨Hockey Coach x Student
✨Forbidden
✨Friends with Benefits
✨Age Gap
March 27, 2026
Grumpy x sunshine, age gap, dual pot, forced proximity, bad boy x good girl, forbidden romance, secret hookups, workplace romance
I was hooked on this book from the first chapter! It opens with a bang (literally) and is making me want to go back and try to read the first book in the series that I dnf’d.
As a southern woman, I can 100% relate to all the feelings Maisie has about living up to the expectations of everyone around you. Everyone, your family and the community, has an opinion on how you should act, dress, what you should do with your life, and it can be really exhausting. Maisie wanting to do everything on her terms and having no regrets for what she is doing is a good lesson to learn at 20/21 and not at 25, start living for yourself.
Maren always knows how to punch me right in the gut, and she did that with Wilders backstory. One that is way too common in this region. The story of drug abuse, a broken home, a parent not even trying is one that I know too well from someone close to me, but seeing him being to accept that that past doesn’t define him and that he’s better than that makes me happy and I hope that others in those situations also realize that. Just because something happened to you, or because your parents are one way, doesn’t mean you are doomed.
Thank you to the author for an early read of this book. All thoughts are my own, I do not accept money fro reviews.
I was hooked on this book from the first chapter! It opens with a bang (literally) and is making me want to go back and try to read the first book in the series that I dnf’d.
As a southern woman, I can 100% relate to all the feelings Maisie has about living up to the expectations of everyone around you. Everyone, your family and the community, has an opinion on how you should act, dress, what you should do with your life, and it can be really exhausting. Maisie wanting to do everything on her terms and having no regrets for what she is doing is a good lesson to learn at 20/21 and not at 25, start living for yourself.
Maren always knows how to punch me right in the gut, and she did that with Wilders backstory. One that is way too common in this region. The story of drug abuse, a broken home, a parent not even trying is one that I know too well from someone close to me, but seeing him being to accept that that past doesn’t define him and that he’s better than that makes me happy and I hope that others in those situations also realize that. Just because something happened to you, or because your parents are one way, doesn’t mean you are doomed.
Thank you to the author for an early read of this book. All thoughts are my own, I do not accept money fro reviews.
March 29, 2026
I am so obsessed with the filthy mouth on Wilder MF “Coach” Hawthorne! Even in the moments the man was trying to avoid his feelings for Maisie, the things that came out of his mouth had me sweating!
I love so many things about Maren and her books but my favorite is when she writes a broken man! The emotion and growth that comes out of these stories keeps you hooked and down bad for these men and Wilder was no exception! Sometimes you just need a good woman to literally change your life, and Maisie did that for Wilder.
The story starts with focus on Maisie wanting to escape the expectations set on her as the good little preachers daughter and her wanting to take control of her life and live a little. Her one night of taking control is a catalyst to change everything for both her and Wilder. I loved the forbidden aspect of their relationship and the way Wilder overtime yearned for more.
The epilogue for these two was perfect but with Wilder’s growth and change of heart throughout the book, I would still live to see more of their story. Whether this universe is truly over or not, I am so grateful for the stories we have received and cannot wait to see what’s to come next!
I love so many things about Maren and her books but my favorite is when she writes a broken man! The emotion and growth that comes out of these stories keeps you hooked and down bad for these men and Wilder was no exception! Sometimes you just need a good woman to literally change your life, and Maisie did that for Wilder.
The story starts with focus on Maisie wanting to escape the expectations set on her as the good little preachers daughter and her wanting to take control of her life and live a little. Her one night of taking control is a catalyst to change everything for both her and Wilder. I loved the forbidden aspect of their relationship and the way Wilder overtime yearned for more.
The epilogue for these two was perfect but with Wilder’s growth and change of heart throughout the book, I would still live to see more of their story. Whether this universe is truly over or not, I am so grateful for the stories we have received and cannot wait to see what’s to come next!
March 26, 2026
Is this my new favorite Marren book? Yes, yes it is. Pure perfection on pages. Grumpy vs sunshine is my favorite trope and this is it!!! Masie is absolutely the most darling person. The all around good girl with the best head on her shoulders. She wants one night where she can let go and has it with Wilder. Wilder, the grumpy hot man. She never expects to see again. You silly girl, you should know better. Fate had other plans when he is the new hockey coach at her school.
You must read this age gap forbidden romance. It will give you all the emotions.
You must read this age gap forbidden romance. It will give you all the emotions.
March 27, 2026
I loved every second of this book!
Wilder was the broody, broken, “bad boy” hockey coach and former hockey star. But after his one-night stand (or hook up) with Maisie, he was down bad. And I loved seeing him fall and open up to her.
Maisie was a good girl, and she was so sweet to everyone. She had a feisty side with Wilder though.
The two of them were so different, but they were perfect for each other. And Maisie helped Wilder heal from his past.
This is definitely my new favorite book by Maren, and I’m excited to see what she writes next.
Wilder was the broody, broken, “bad boy” hockey coach and former hockey star. But after his one-night stand (or hook up) with Maisie, he was down bad. And I loved seeing him fall and open up to her.
Maisie was a good girl, and she was so sweet to everyone. She had a feisty side with Wilder though.
The two of them were so different, but they were perfect for each other. And Maisie helped Wilder heal from his past.
This is definitely my new favorite book by Maren, and I’m excited to see what she writes next.
March 25, 2026
Listen, maren writing grumpy and grouchy bad boys is HERE TO STAY. I ate this up like all of Maren’s books, but there was something wholly different about Wilder & Maisies story that will forever hold a place in my heart.
Maren didn’t shy away from hard things in this and she did it with a finesse that only she can. If there are more coming in this universe- SIGN ME UP!
CHECK THIS OUT. You will not be disappointed!
Maren didn’t shy away from hard things in this and she did it with a finesse that only she can. If there are more coming in this universe- SIGN ME UP!
CHECK THIS OUT. You will not be disappointed!
April 3, 2026
Another highly anticipated read for me this year and Maren absolutely exceeded my expectations!
Their connection, the rawness, and the vulnerability.
Phew 😮💨 my feelings were put through it, but I’d do it all again for these two.
The hard things are not shied away from in this story. I love when we get background involving the MMC and it forces him to lay it all out to the one who sees him; the one who WANTS him no matter what kind of past and childhood he had.
Maisie feels so confined to her life and she just wants, no NEEDS out. Shes so tired of her every move and choice being watched and picked apart. She’s ready to let go and find what it means to choose herself.
Get to this one ASAP! It won’t disappoint.
Their connection, the rawness, and the vulnerability.
Phew 😮💨 my feelings were put through it, but I’d do it all again for these two.
The hard things are not shied away from in this story. I love when we get background involving the MMC and it forces him to lay it all out to the one who sees him; the one who WANTS him no matter what kind of past and childhood he had.
Maisie feels so confined to her life and she just wants, no NEEDS out. Shes so tired of her every move and choice being watched and picked apart. She’s ready to let go and find what it means to choose herself.
Get to this one ASAP! It won’t disappoint.
Did Not Finish
March 29, 2026Dnf @ 31%
The only thing they both cared about was their bodies. They don’t talk, if they do they mention their one night stand that happens in chapter 1 and that’s it. I don’t care for the relationship since it doesn’t exist.
The only thing they both cared about was their bodies. They don’t talk, if they do they mention their one night stand that happens in chapter 1 and that’s it. I don’t care for the relationship since it doesn’t exist.
March 25, 2026
Maisie Delacroix is tired of being the predictable good girl everyone expects her to be. Determined to take control of her life, she throws caution to the wind and hooks up with a stranger at a bar. Weeks later, she discovers that the stranger is none other than the new hockey coach at Orleans U. Wilder Hawthorne has returned to coach after being kicked out of the NHL due to his temper. He’s back to repair his reputation and hopefully make his way back to professional hockey. But when he realizes that his one-night stand is a student, he knows he needs to keep his distance. When Maisie and Wilder are tasked with working together on a charity event, staying apart becomes nearly impossible. They eventually give in, convincing themselves it’s purely physical, but as time passes, the lines between casual and something deeper begin to blur. Giving in to their feelings could cost them everything, as their relationship is strictly forbidden.
Wilder is a deeply relatable MMC, shaped by a painful past. Growing up with a mother who struggled with addiction, he was shuffled through foster homes and never truly felt cared for. His greatest internal conflict lies in the belief that he’s destined to repeat his mother’s mistakes. He carries this quiet, persistent fear that the same darkness that consumed her lives inside him, that no matter how hard he tries, he might not be able to outrun it. That fear drives so many of his decisions, especially when it comes to Maisie. Rather than risk hurting her, he convinces himself that the best thing he can do is keep his distance. He would rather lose her by choice than stay long enough to become someone who damages her. Through Maisie, he begins to see that he is capable of something more, that he can build a life rooted in stability, trust, and real connection. Maisie is a beautifully nuanced heroine whose struggle is quieter than Wilder’s, but just as powerful. As the preacher’s daughter, her life has always come with expectations, spoken and unspoken. She’s grown up under the watchful eyes of her family and community, where every choice, every action, and even her identity feels predetermined. Over time, that kind of pressure doesn’t just guide a person, it confines them. With Wilder, she isn’t the preacher’s daughter or the girl everyone expects her to be. She’s just Maisie. That freedom is intoxicating, but also terrifying. Her growth is about learning that she’s allowed to choose herself.
In conclusion, I gave this book 5 stars because at its core, this story is about two people who believe they’re on completely different paths, each searching for something they can’t quite name, only to discover that what they truly need has been standing right in front of them all along. The student/coach dynamic undeniably adds a layer of tension and high stakes. There are real consequences tied to their connection, which forces them to constantly question their choices and hold back in ways that only intensify what they feel. Together, they challenge each other in ways no one else ever has. Wilder pushes Maisie to question the life she’s been living, while Maisie shows Wilder that he is worthy of love, stability, and something real. Ultimately, the story makes a powerful statement that sometimes the right person comes into your life at the most complicated time, under the most imperfect circumstances. But when that connection is real it has the strength to rise above the obstacles in its way.
Wilder is a deeply relatable MMC, shaped by a painful past. Growing up with a mother who struggled with addiction, he was shuffled through foster homes and never truly felt cared for. His greatest internal conflict lies in the belief that he’s destined to repeat his mother’s mistakes. He carries this quiet, persistent fear that the same darkness that consumed her lives inside him, that no matter how hard he tries, he might not be able to outrun it. That fear drives so many of his decisions, especially when it comes to Maisie. Rather than risk hurting her, he convinces himself that the best thing he can do is keep his distance. He would rather lose her by choice than stay long enough to become someone who damages her. Through Maisie, he begins to see that he is capable of something more, that he can build a life rooted in stability, trust, and real connection. Maisie is a beautifully nuanced heroine whose struggle is quieter than Wilder’s, but just as powerful. As the preacher’s daughter, her life has always come with expectations, spoken and unspoken. She’s grown up under the watchful eyes of her family and community, where every choice, every action, and even her identity feels predetermined. Over time, that kind of pressure doesn’t just guide a person, it confines them. With Wilder, she isn’t the preacher’s daughter or the girl everyone expects her to be. She’s just Maisie. That freedom is intoxicating, but also terrifying. Her growth is about learning that she’s allowed to choose herself.
In conclusion, I gave this book 5 stars because at its core, this story is about two people who believe they’re on completely different paths, each searching for something they can’t quite name, only to discover that what they truly need has been standing right in front of them all along. The student/coach dynamic undeniably adds a layer of tension and high stakes. There are real consequences tied to their connection, which forces them to constantly question their choices and hold back in ways that only intensify what they feel. Together, they challenge each other in ways no one else ever has. Wilder pushes Maisie to question the life she’s been living, while Maisie shows Wilder that he is worthy of love, stability, and something real. Ultimately, the story makes a powerful statement that sometimes the right person comes into your life at the most complicated time, under the most imperfect circumstances. But when that connection is real it has the strength to rise above the obstacles in its way.
March 26, 2026
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★★
𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: March 26 2026
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:
I went into this book expecting a fun hockey romance but what I got was something that had me completely hooked on the emotions alone.
Maren Moore really knows what she’s doing when it comes to grumpy male leads and Wilder Hawthorne might be one of my favorites she’s written. The man is guarded, rough around the edges and carrying so much weight on his shoulders that you can’t help but want to reach through the pages and hug him. And trust me, Wilder deserves the biggest hug. There’s this constant push and pull inside him that made every interaction feel so intense, like he was always one step away from either breaking or giving in.
And then there’s Maisie. I adored her. She’s soft without being weak, kind without being naive, and she has this quiet strength that made me root for her the entire time. I’m not even exaggerating when I say I wish Maisie was my best friend. She’s the kind of person who sees the good in others even when they can’t see it in themselves and that made her stand out so much.
But what truly made this book stand out was the chemistry. Wilder and Maisie’s chemistry is incredible, I loved every single second of it. The tension is elite. Every glance felt loaded, every almost touch had me holding my breath. It’s that slow burn mixed with forbidden energy that keeps you flipping pages because you need to see what happens when they finally stop holding back. And when they do? It’s everything you want it to be.
I also loved how their connection wasn’t just physical. There’s this emotional undercurrent running through their relationship that made everything feel deeper. The way Maisie looks at Wilder, like he’s more than his past, more than his mistakes, it got me every time. And Wilder…the way he tries to fight it, like he doesn’t deserve her, just made me want to shake him and comfort him at the same time.
This book gave me that feeling where you’re completely wrapped up in two people finding each other when they least expect it. It’s messy, it’s emotional, it’s intense and I loved every bit of it, I genuinely couldn’t get enough of it!!!
𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Hockey romance, age gap, college romance, grumpy/sunshine, virgin fmc, forbidden romance, coach mmc, forced proximity, opposite attract
𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: March 26 2026
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:
I went into this book expecting a fun hockey romance but what I got was something that had me completely hooked on the emotions alone.
Maren Moore really knows what she’s doing when it comes to grumpy male leads and Wilder Hawthorne might be one of my favorites she’s written. The man is guarded, rough around the edges and carrying so much weight on his shoulders that you can’t help but want to reach through the pages and hug him. And trust me, Wilder deserves the biggest hug. There’s this constant push and pull inside him that made every interaction feel so intense, like he was always one step away from either breaking or giving in.
And then there’s Maisie. I adored her. She’s soft without being weak, kind without being naive, and she has this quiet strength that made me root for her the entire time. I’m not even exaggerating when I say I wish Maisie was my best friend. She’s the kind of person who sees the good in others even when they can’t see it in themselves and that made her stand out so much.
But what truly made this book stand out was the chemistry. Wilder and Maisie’s chemistry is incredible, I loved every single second of it. The tension is elite. Every glance felt loaded, every almost touch had me holding my breath. It’s that slow burn mixed with forbidden energy that keeps you flipping pages because you need to see what happens when they finally stop holding back. And when they do? It’s everything you want it to be.
I also loved how their connection wasn’t just physical. There’s this emotional undercurrent running through their relationship that made everything feel deeper. The way Maisie looks at Wilder, like he’s more than his past, more than his mistakes, it got me every time. And Wilder…the way he tries to fight it, like he doesn’t deserve her, just made me want to shake him and comfort him at the same time.
This book gave me that feeling where you’re completely wrapped up in two people finding each other when they least expect it. It’s messy, it’s emotional, it’s intense and I loved every bit of it, I genuinely couldn’t get enough of it!!!
𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Hockey romance, age gap, college romance, grumpy/sunshine, virgin fmc, forbidden romance, coach mmc, forced proximity, opposite attract
March 27, 2026
After reading The Bad Boy Rule this book become one of my most anticipated reads. Every post for it had me fangirling and so excited. I jumped right back into the Hellcats Hockey and Orleans University world. I loved this book so dang much!
Maisie and Wilder's journey pulled me right in! These two shared an unforgettable night together and went their separate ways. Little did they know they'd be colliding once more, but this time with Wilder as a coach for the Hellcats Hockey team and Maisie as a student. OU's literacy program leads them to working together. Can they ignore what's between them? Or could they give into each other and it be worth everything?
From the start Wilder and Maisie had me blushing big time and feeling so much with them! I really enjoyed how Maisie became the team's philanthropy liaison and that she and Wilder had to work together for the program. I couldn't get enough of the coach x student, age gap, and grumpy x sunshine of it all!
I related to Maisie so much! She was such a caring person. I loved how she wanted to be a librarian. Her dedication to Orleans University literacy program shined and was so beautiful to see.
I connected with Wilder. Now coaching with the Hellcats Hockey team he was dealing with the tough aftermath of not being in the NHL. The realness that poured from him truly got me right in the chest. He'd been through a lot and I truly felt for him.
Wilder and Maisie couldn't get each other off of their minds. The chemistry between these two was undeniable and blushworthy on so many levels. Maisie and Wilder brought the intensity and every single emotion. I wanted them to be together and I was cheering them on. Both Maisie and Wilder captured my heart!
Maisie and Wilder's forbidden romance was EVERYTHING to me! I love coach and his sunshine girl with all of my heart forever!
It brought me so much joy to be back at Orleans University and reunited with the Hellcats Hockey crew, especially my favs Lennon and Saint!
I didn't want to put The Good Girl Exception down! It was filled with ALL kinds of emotions under the sun and I loved every addictive second of it. Another favorite of mine from this author for sure! 5 Stars! ☀️🏒
If you haven't dived into the Hellcats Hockey books yet, you so need to! 💜💗
*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from the author*
Maisie and Wilder's journey pulled me right in! These two shared an unforgettable night together and went their separate ways. Little did they know they'd be colliding once more, but this time with Wilder as a coach for the Hellcats Hockey team and Maisie as a student. OU's literacy program leads them to working together. Can they ignore what's between them? Or could they give into each other and it be worth everything?
From the start Wilder and Maisie had me blushing big time and feeling so much with them! I really enjoyed how Maisie became the team's philanthropy liaison and that she and Wilder had to work together for the program. I couldn't get enough of the coach x student, age gap, and grumpy x sunshine of it all!
I related to Maisie so much! She was such a caring person. I loved how she wanted to be a librarian. Her dedication to Orleans University literacy program shined and was so beautiful to see.
I connected with Wilder. Now coaching with the Hellcats Hockey team he was dealing with the tough aftermath of not being in the NHL. The realness that poured from him truly got me right in the chest. He'd been through a lot and I truly felt for him.
Wilder and Maisie couldn't get each other off of their minds. The chemistry between these two was undeniable and blushworthy on so many levels. Maisie and Wilder brought the intensity and every single emotion. I wanted them to be together and I was cheering them on. Both Maisie and Wilder captured my heart!
Maisie and Wilder's forbidden romance was EVERYTHING to me! I love coach and his sunshine girl with all of my heart forever!
It brought me so much joy to be back at Orleans University and reunited with the Hellcats Hockey crew, especially my favs Lennon and Saint!
I didn't want to put The Good Girl Exception down! It was filled with ALL kinds of emotions under the sun and I loved every addictive second of it. Another favorite of mine from this author for sure! 5 Stars! ☀️🏒
If you haven't dived into the Hellcats Hockey books yet, you so need to! 💜💗
*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from the author*
April 3, 2026
Maren Moore has done it again. I absolutely devoured The Good Girl Exception.
Maisie is tired of always being the good girl and behaving in the way that is expected of her. One night she hooks up with a handsome stranger, no strings attached. Little do they both know they will be working together very closely on a very important project.
Wilder is the new assistant coach at Orleans University, though him ending up there is not how he imagined his life going. His proudest achievement was playing in the NHL for 10 years. Wilder is known for not having a great image and unfortunately his actions lead to him being kicked out of the NHL. His plan is to lay low, do a good job at this assistant coach thing, fix his reputation and hopefully get back in the NHL.
Maisie has always maintained her good girl image; it is the only way that she knows how to be. She is a student at OU, working towards her goal of being a librarian. Maisie is assigned to run a literacy program and to be the liaison for the hockey team partnering in the program. When Maisie shows up to speak to the coach of the hockey team, she is introduced to who she will be working with to run the program, Wilder, the new assistant coach!
They are both shocked to see each other again, especially in the positions of assistant coach and student. They decide to pretend that they never hooked up because if anyone were to find out, Wilder would be fired and it would cause a lot of controversy (especially with their 13 year age gap). Of course, the tension between Maisie and Wilder is intense and watching them try to fight the feelings they have for one another had me wanting to throw my kindle.
I loved Maisie, she was strong and once she accepted the feelings that she had for Wilder, there was no going back for her. Maisie was there for Wilder and showed him what it means to be loved and to have someone have your back. There were so many times during this book that I wanted to hug Wilder, he went through so much as a child and built all the walls he needed to protect himself. Maisie chipped away through all of Wilder’s walls, even when he put more walls up in the process.
The journey that these characters went through to find their HEA was heartbreaking and beautiful. Maisie and Wilder will always hold a special place in my heart.
Maisie is tired of always being the good girl and behaving in the way that is expected of her. One night she hooks up with a handsome stranger, no strings attached. Little do they both know they will be working together very closely on a very important project.
Wilder is the new assistant coach at Orleans University, though him ending up there is not how he imagined his life going. His proudest achievement was playing in the NHL for 10 years. Wilder is known for not having a great image and unfortunately his actions lead to him being kicked out of the NHL. His plan is to lay low, do a good job at this assistant coach thing, fix his reputation and hopefully get back in the NHL.
Maisie has always maintained her good girl image; it is the only way that she knows how to be. She is a student at OU, working towards her goal of being a librarian. Maisie is assigned to run a literacy program and to be the liaison for the hockey team partnering in the program. When Maisie shows up to speak to the coach of the hockey team, she is introduced to who she will be working with to run the program, Wilder, the new assistant coach!
They are both shocked to see each other again, especially in the positions of assistant coach and student. They decide to pretend that they never hooked up because if anyone were to find out, Wilder would be fired and it would cause a lot of controversy (especially with their 13 year age gap). Of course, the tension between Maisie and Wilder is intense and watching them try to fight the feelings they have for one another had me wanting to throw my kindle.
I loved Maisie, she was strong and once she accepted the feelings that she had for Wilder, there was no going back for her. Maisie was there for Wilder and showed him what it means to be loved and to have someone have your back. There were so many times during this book that I wanted to hug Wilder, he went through so much as a child and built all the walls he needed to protect himself. Maisie chipped away through all of Wilder’s walls, even when he put more walls up in the process.
The journey that these characters went through to find their HEA was heartbreaking and beautiful. Maisie and Wilder will always hold a special place in my heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2026
Thank you Maren for the e-ARC of The Good Girl Exception!
Definitely check your triggers regarding child abuse etc. There are some heavy topics discussed regarding the MMC and his past experiences, in addition to present events.
I previously read The Bad Boy Rule and LOVED it, so I knew this book would be no different! I was so ready for Maisie's book!! I initially expected the MMC to be someone different based off the first book, but I trusted the process and love where Maren took the story.
Maise was definitely "Sunshine" and all things glass half full. I loved her positivity and how she came into her own, figuring out who she was as a person. She continually stayed true to herself despite her religious upbringing and spread positivity and kindness even when she didn't have to. The fact that she wanted to be a librarian and loved books was such a cute touch. "There's so much freedom in not caring about what anyone thinks."
Wilder was definitelyyyyy Mr. Grumpy, but when you find out why your heart truly breaks for him. The trauma from his past and not having anyone in his corner besides Camila was so sad. He had this tough exterior, but was truly a marshmallow on the inside, especially with Maisie. When he broke down at the children's home I teared up and LOVE the way Maisie handled the situation, refusing to give up on him, because that's what he truly needed. Also the sweet moment with Kori melted my heart. "One day, when you're old like me, happy places won't just be in books, they'll be real. And you won't have to pretend anymore."
THE SPICE!! THE DIRTY TALK!! It was a really good balance with the story line. I consider it a somewhat slow burn, even though we do get one spicy scene up front. "Don't interrupt me while im f**king finally able to appreciate every inch of what I'm looking at."
I love a good hockey romance and as usual Maren delivered! Ready for book three with a certain someone...cough, Bennett...hopefully! We need to see him COMMIT!
Definitely check your triggers regarding child abuse etc. There are some heavy topics discussed regarding the MMC and his past experiences, in addition to present events.
I previously read The Bad Boy Rule and LOVED it, so I knew this book would be no different! I was so ready for Maisie's book!! I initially expected the MMC to be someone different based off the first book, but I trusted the process and love where Maren took the story.
Maise was definitely "Sunshine" and all things glass half full. I loved her positivity and how she came into her own, figuring out who she was as a person. She continually stayed true to herself despite her religious upbringing and spread positivity and kindness even when she didn't have to. The fact that she wanted to be a librarian and loved books was such a cute touch. "There's so much freedom in not caring about what anyone thinks."
Wilder was definitelyyyyy Mr. Grumpy, but when you find out why your heart truly breaks for him. The trauma from his past and not having anyone in his corner besides Camila was so sad. He had this tough exterior, but was truly a marshmallow on the inside, especially with Maisie. When he broke down at the children's home I teared up and LOVE the way Maisie handled the situation, refusing to give up on him, because that's what he truly needed. Also the sweet moment with Kori melted my heart. "One day, when you're old like me, happy places won't just be in books, they'll be real. And you won't have to pretend anymore."
THE SPICE!! THE DIRTY TALK!! It was a really good balance with the story line. I consider it a somewhat slow burn, even though we do get one spicy scene up front. "Don't interrupt me while im f**king finally able to appreciate every inch of what I'm looking at."
I love a good hockey romance and as usual Maren delivered! Ready for book three with a certain someone...cough, Bennett...hopefully! We need to see him COMMIT!
March 26, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ARC REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Good Girl Exception – Maren Moore
This book completely owned me. I loved it in a way that felt personal.
Maisie… I saw so much of myself in her. Being raised with expectations, rules, and this constant pressure to stay inside the lines while quietly craving something more, something different. Watching her struggle with that push and pull, and slowly find the courage to step outside the box, was so powerful. And can we talk about her name?? I’m obsessed with Maisie.
And Wilder… WOW. His trauma felt so real and raw. Nothing about his pain was surface level. It was heavy, messy, and deeply human. His broodiness? Top tier. His protectiveness of Maisie? Absolutely EVERYTHING. The way he cared for her, the quiet moments of caretaking, the intensity, the possessiveness… I ate. it. up.
What really got me was watching both of them slowly let their walls down. Seeing all that hurt and pain transform into something soft, trusting, and beautiful? It hit HARD. And the sacrifices he made to let her in… yeah, I’m still not over that.
The chemistry between them was insane. Every glance, every touch, every moment of tension had me completely hooked. The push and pull, the “we shouldn’t but we can’t stop” energy?? Perfection.
This book delivered EVERYTHING:
✨ Age gap
✨ Forbidden romance
✨ Coach/student dynamic
✨ Tension that had me on edge
✨ Caretaking & possessiveness
✨ Emotional depth
And somehow… this was even better than book one?! I genuinely don’t know how, but it was.
Also let me back up.. when I realized who the coach was?? I literally audibly gasped 😂 I did NOT see that coming.
If you love emotional, angsty romance with depth, tension, and characters that feel real and raw, you NEED this book on your TBR immediately.
I’m still thinking about them. And I don’t think I’m recovering anytime soon.
The Good Girl Exception – Maren Moore
This book completely owned me. I loved it in a way that felt personal.
Maisie… I saw so much of myself in her. Being raised with expectations, rules, and this constant pressure to stay inside the lines while quietly craving something more, something different. Watching her struggle with that push and pull, and slowly find the courage to step outside the box, was so powerful. And can we talk about her name?? I’m obsessed with Maisie.
And Wilder… WOW. His trauma felt so real and raw. Nothing about his pain was surface level. It was heavy, messy, and deeply human. His broodiness? Top tier. His protectiveness of Maisie? Absolutely EVERYTHING. The way he cared for her, the quiet moments of caretaking, the intensity, the possessiveness… I ate. it. up.
What really got me was watching both of them slowly let their walls down. Seeing all that hurt and pain transform into something soft, trusting, and beautiful? It hit HARD. And the sacrifices he made to let her in… yeah, I’m still not over that.
The chemistry between them was insane. Every glance, every touch, every moment of tension had me completely hooked. The push and pull, the “we shouldn’t but we can’t stop” energy?? Perfection.
This book delivered EVERYTHING:
✨ Age gap
✨ Forbidden romance
✨ Coach/student dynamic
✨ Tension that had me on edge
✨ Caretaking & possessiveness
✨ Emotional depth
And somehow… this was even better than book one?! I genuinely don’t know how, but it was.
Also let me back up.. when I realized who the coach was?? I literally audibly gasped 😂 I did NOT see that coming.
If you love emotional, angsty romance with depth, tension, and characters that feel real and raw, you NEED this book on your TBR immediately.
I’m still thinking about them. And I don’t think I’m recovering anytime soon.
March 26, 2026
Student x College Hockey Coach
Work Place/Close Proximity
Age Gap
Forbidden Romance
Grumpy x Sunshine
V!rg!n Heroine
Good Girl x Bad Boy
Past trauma
Opposites attract
“Hey Coach”
“Hey Sunshine”
"I think we've already established that my restraint is razor-thin when it comes to you, so please do not fucking try me, Maisie."
"Stop looking at me like that, Maisie"
"My sunshine girl, so bright and so fucking good, has a little bit of dark in her too!"
"You pay attention to my dresses?" "I pay attention to you."
"And now that I've seen the sun, I can never go back to living in the dark."
The Good Girl Exception is book 2 in the Hellcats Hockey series by Maren Moore. Right away I’m sucked into this story and immersed! Maisie, a preacher's daughter, sets out to lose her virginity to a stranger at a bar. An unforgettable night having a one night stand with an older s€xy man. What she doesn’t realize is the older man she had a one night stand with is assistant coach Wilder. The push and pull tension between these two! Their chemistry pulled me in and when their paths cross once more while helping kids in need and sparks fly! Maisie tries to act like nothing happened but the pull and tension is too strong and when that build up explodes it’s absolutely electric!
Wilder is a broken p.od grumpy softie for Maisie and I absolutely loved him! The emotional healing journey that both Wilder and Maisie went on is so absolutely beautiful both bringing it out in each other, helping them heal. Loved the stolen moments. The desire. The forbidden tension. I devoured this! I couldn’t put this book down!
I would 💯 recommend this read. I’m loving this series! Can’t wait to see what this author writes next!
Work Place/Close Proximity
Age Gap
Forbidden Romance
Grumpy x Sunshine
V!rg!n Heroine
Good Girl x Bad Boy
Past trauma
Opposites attract
“Hey Coach”
“Hey Sunshine”
"I think we've already established that my restraint is razor-thin when it comes to you, so please do not fucking try me, Maisie."
"Stop looking at me like that, Maisie"
"My sunshine girl, so bright and so fucking good, has a little bit of dark in her too!"
"You pay attention to my dresses?" "I pay attention to you."
"And now that I've seen the sun, I can never go back to living in the dark."
The Good Girl Exception is book 2 in the Hellcats Hockey series by Maren Moore. Right away I’m sucked into this story and immersed! Maisie, a preacher's daughter, sets out to lose her virginity to a stranger at a bar. An unforgettable night having a one night stand with an older s€xy man. What she doesn’t realize is the older man she had a one night stand with is assistant coach Wilder. The push and pull tension between these two! Their chemistry pulled me in and when their paths cross once more while helping kids in need and sparks fly! Maisie tries to act like nothing happened but the pull and tension is too strong and when that build up explodes it’s absolutely electric!
Wilder is a broken p.od grumpy softie for Maisie and I absolutely loved him! The emotional healing journey that both Wilder and Maisie went on is so absolutely beautiful both bringing it out in each other, helping them heal. Loved the stolen moments. The desire. The forbidden tension. I devoured this! I couldn’t put this book down!
I would 💯 recommend this read. I’m loving this series! Can’t wait to see what this author writes next!
March 26, 2026
If you love…..
🏒Hockey Coach x Student
💕Age Gap
🏒Virgin Heroine
💕Bad boy + Good girl 🏒Grumpy-Sunshine
💕Workplace / Forced Proximity
🏒Forbidden
Then this is a MUST read!
I love me an age gap, a hockey romance, and a Wilder? But this book - WOW! Wilder delivered everything. He’s broken, jealous, a little possessive—and completely undone by Maisie. And Maisie? Total sunshine. Sweet, strong, and exactly what he needs to start tearing down those walls.
This one had it all—tension, sharp banter, and that addictive pull that keeps you fully invested in their story. Yes, there’s spice, but it’s balanced with so much emotion that it genuinely hits you right in the chest. I fell hard for these two and loved watching their growth unfold.
And listen… brace yourself, because this man will absolutely ruin you with his mouth—in more ways than one.
From Wilder’s emotional evolution to Maisie stepping into her independence, their journey together felt so earned and so satisfying. If you’re into age gap, forbidden romance, hockey vibes, workplace tension, and forced proximity… this one will have you hooked from start to finish.
So much heat, so much heart—such a good read.
Favorite Quotes:
✨ “The good is you, Wilder. You just have to let yourself believe it.”
✨ “You’re mine, Sunshine. However you wanna label that shit, you’re still mine. Call it whatever you want.”
✨ “It used to be everything to me… before you.”
✨ “That’s all I could ask for, Maisie. This is me choosing you. And choosing myself. The rest we’ll figure out as we go.”
Thank you to Maren Moore for the ARC and this unforgettable ride!!
🏒Hockey Coach x Student
💕Age Gap
🏒Virgin Heroine
💕Bad boy + Good girl 🏒Grumpy-Sunshine
💕Workplace / Forced Proximity
🏒Forbidden
Then this is a MUST read!
I love me an age gap, a hockey romance, and a Wilder? But this book - WOW! Wilder delivered everything. He’s broken, jealous, a little possessive—and completely undone by Maisie. And Maisie? Total sunshine. Sweet, strong, and exactly what he needs to start tearing down those walls.
This one had it all—tension, sharp banter, and that addictive pull that keeps you fully invested in their story. Yes, there’s spice, but it’s balanced with so much emotion that it genuinely hits you right in the chest. I fell hard for these two and loved watching their growth unfold.
And listen… brace yourself, because this man will absolutely ruin you with his mouth—in more ways than one.
From Wilder’s emotional evolution to Maisie stepping into her independence, their journey together felt so earned and so satisfying. If you’re into age gap, forbidden romance, hockey vibes, workplace tension, and forced proximity… this one will have you hooked from start to finish.
So much heat, so much heart—such a good read.
Favorite Quotes:
✨ “The good is you, Wilder. You just have to let yourself believe it.”
✨ “You’re mine, Sunshine. However you wanna label that shit, you’re still mine. Call it whatever you want.”
✨ “It used to be everything to me… before you.”
✨ “That’s all I could ask for, Maisie. This is me choosing you. And choosing myself. The rest we’ll figure out as we go.”
Thank you to Maren Moore for the ARC and this unforgettable ride!!
March 26, 2026
4.5 Stars
The Good Girl Exception, book two in the Hellcats Hockey series, written by Maren Moore, is a steamy, forbidden, age-gap college hockey romance. This is my first book by Maren, and what a pleasant surprise.
The book focuses on Maisie Delacroix and Wilder Hawthorne. Maisie, a preacher’s daughter, a student at Orleans University, and a good girl, says screw it and has a hookup with a handsome stranger at a bar. She can’t get this mysterious nameless stranger out of her head, so when she sees him on the ice as a new coach for the Hellcats, she is shocked! Wilder returns to his hometown to start a new position as a coach after being released from the NHL.
I can relate to Maisie, being a good girl and throwing caution to the wind. I did the same myself when I was her age. A big difference was that mine was not a gorgeous hockey player! LOL!! My heart breaks for Wilder as we learn more about his past and the abuse he had to endure as a child and teenager. Living in fear that he would turn into the very thing that broke him as a child.
Not only was this a spicy read, but it also had a plot! It was a great mixture of both. I really enjoyed watching Wilder melt for her, letting his defenses down. I loved the coach/student dynamic and the forbidden aspect it brings. I will have to go back and read book one to get Lennon’s, her best friend’s, story.
Thanks to Maren Moore for gifting me an eARC of The Good Girl Exception. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Good Girl Exception, book two in the Hellcats Hockey series, written by Maren Moore, is a steamy, forbidden, age-gap college hockey romance. This is my first book by Maren, and what a pleasant surprise.
The book focuses on Maisie Delacroix and Wilder Hawthorne. Maisie, a preacher’s daughter, a student at Orleans University, and a good girl, says screw it and has a hookup with a handsome stranger at a bar. She can’t get this mysterious nameless stranger out of her head, so when she sees him on the ice as a new coach for the Hellcats, she is shocked! Wilder returns to his hometown to start a new position as a coach after being released from the NHL.
I can relate to Maisie, being a good girl and throwing caution to the wind. I did the same myself when I was her age. A big difference was that mine was not a gorgeous hockey player! LOL!! My heart breaks for Wilder as we learn more about his past and the abuse he had to endure as a child and teenager. Living in fear that he would turn into the very thing that broke him as a child.
Not only was this a spicy read, but it also had a plot! It was a great mixture of both. I really enjoyed watching Wilder melt for her, letting his defenses down. I loved the coach/student dynamic and the forbidden aspect it brings. I will have to go back and read book one to get Lennon’s, her best friend’s, story.
Thanks to Maren Moore for gifting me an eARC of The Good Girl Exception. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 26, 2026
I received this book as an arc and my honest review is below.
I fell in love with Maisie in the freaking prologue and decided right away that I would absolutely die for that girl. Thankfully there was never a moment in which I felt like I needed to protect her from anything because Wilder had. that. covered.
This was such an interesting forbidden love romance, because while they were obviously sneaking around and not telling people about their relationship, there weren't many moments in which they were close to getting caught or hiding from people, so it felt less drama-filled than most forbidden romances. Honestly until .
This book was really a journey of Wilder's. While Maisie does grow throughout the book, it's largely just convincing herself that she's allowed to want the things she wants. Wilder, on the other hand, makes intense strides at growth throughout this book, and I loved watching him realize that he could have a person to rely on outside of himself. I wish there had been a little bit more with Wilder's chosen sister (or even coach Taylor) because it feels a little bit like Maisie is Wilder's only connection to other people which feels like he's using her as a crutch in some ways, but they're so cute that I don't even really care.
Overall, this book was such a joy and really made me feel for Wilder and love Maisie. Hop
I fell in love with Maisie in the freaking prologue and decided right away that I would absolutely die for that girl. Thankfully there was never a moment in which I felt like I needed to protect her from anything because Wilder had. that. covered.
This was such an interesting forbidden love romance, because while they were obviously sneaking around and not telling people about their relationship, there weren't many moments in which they were close to getting caught or hiding from people, so it felt less drama-filled than most forbidden romances. Honestly until .
This book was really a journey of Wilder's. While Maisie does grow throughout the book, it's largely just convincing herself that she's allowed to want the things she wants. Wilder, on the other hand, makes intense strides at growth throughout this book, and I loved watching him realize that he could have a person to rely on outside of himself. I wish there had been a little bit more with Wilder's chosen sister (or even coach Taylor) because it feels a little bit like Maisie is Wilder's only connection to other people which feels like he's using her as a crutch in some ways, but they're so cute that I don't even really care.
Overall, this book was such a joy and really made me feel for Wilder and love Maisie. Hop
April 4, 2026
Maren Moore knows how to write a stellar story that will draw you in from page one and never let you go! Her storylines feel real, and her characters are always so believable and well developed. She is an author that I will drop everything and devour her books as soon as I can!
This book follows Maisie and Wilder. This is part of a world she started building with her last book (which you need to read! So good!), but it can definitely be read as a standalone. The tension and chemistry between these two is off the charts!
Maisie is a preacher’s daughter who is ready to find out who she is beyond what’s expected of her by her father’s job. Wilder is a former NHL player on a path to clean up his image and get back to what he loves. He has a past full of trauma that he has locked away.
I love the way she creates characters who develop and grow as the story goes on. I love watching the growth journey for both of them!
This is a story I kept thinking about, even when I had to put down my book and adult. Ha! The age gap trope was done superbly I love the dual POV and the texts/emails interwoven within. It has many moments that will make you swoon, laugh, hope, blush, wish you were right there with them, yell, fan yourself (so many times!) and will leave you feeling sad when it comes to a close.
This author is one you don’t want to miss-she has really mastered her writing ability-and there’s more to come! If you love your HEAs with dynamite spice and great banter, don’t miss this!
This book follows Maisie and Wilder. This is part of a world she started building with her last book (which you need to read! So good!), but it can definitely be read as a standalone. The tension and chemistry between these two is off the charts!
Maisie is a preacher’s daughter who is ready to find out who she is beyond what’s expected of her by her father’s job. Wilder is a former NHL player on a path to clean up his image and get back to what he loves. He has a past full of trauma that he has locked away.
I love the way she creates characters who develop and grow as the story goes on. I love watching the growth journey for both of them!
This is a story I kept thinking about, even when I had to put down my book and adult. Ha! The age gap trope was done superbly I love the dual POV and the texts/emails interwoven within. It has many moments that will make you swoon, laugh, hope, blush, wish you were right there with them, yell, fan yourself (so many times!) and will leave you feeling sad when it comes to a close.
This author is one you don’t want to miss-she has really mastered her writing ability-and there’s more to come! If you love your HEAs with dynamite spice and great banter, don’t miss this!
March 26, 2026
This book is everything I needed. The characters are great and you can’t help but love them from the very beginning.
Maisie Delacroix is adorable. She’s a college student who knows what she wants in life. She has been best friends with the same girl forever and they are in college together. Once her bestfriend moves out to live with her boyfriend, Maisie is alone in her apartment and looking for something more.
She decides one night to go to a bar away from campus to find someone to help her forget she’s the preacher’s daughter and still a v!rgin. She’s on the dance floor and spots someone watching her. He’s hot! He can’t keep his eyes off her so she puts on a show. He finally approaches her and starts to dance with her.
When Maisie meets the new asst coach she is supposed
To work closely with, she cannot believe it’s the same guy from the bar.
Wilder is a man who has not had the best luck, he’s been fired from the NHL and is looking for something to help his image to possibly get back into the NHL bit, being with a student who is 10 years younger, isn’t the way to achieve that. They try to keep it professional but the chemistry is too much to deny. These two are perfect.
Wilder proves how much he cares for Maisie when he needs to. This may just be something that started as casual, but the feelings these two have for eachother is anything but. I really loved these characters and as always, I absolutely loved this book. This author never disappoints.
Maisie Delacroix is adorable. She’s a college student who knows what she wants in life. She has been best friends with the same girl forever and they are in college together. Once her bestfriend moves out to live with her boyfriend, Maisie is alone in her apartment and looking for something more.
She decides one night to go to a bar away from campus to find someone to help her forget she’s the preacher’s daughter and still a v!rgin. She’s on the dance floor and spots someone watching her. He’s hot! He can’t keep his eyes off her so she puts on a show. He finally approaches her and starts to dance with her.
When Maisie meets the new asst coach she is supposed
To work closely with, she cannot believe it’s the same guy from the bar.
Wilder is a man who has not had the best luck, he’s been fired from the NHL and is looking for something to help his image to possibly get back into the NHL bit, being with a student who is 10 years younger, isn’t the way to achieve that. They try to keep it professional but the chemistry is too much to deny. These two are perfect.
Wilder proves how much he cares for Maisie when he needs to. This may just be something that started as casual, but the feelings these two have for eachother is anything but. I really loved these characters and as always, I absolutely loved this book. This author never disappoints.
March 26, 2026
✨ARC Review✨
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
🌶️
This was my first ever book by Maren. Now I want to go back and read some of her other books.
Over all, I did enjoy the story line and the characters. I had a couple things I struggled a little with. I hated how immature Wilder was for being 30+ years old. I had tried to keep in mind his upbringing. Maisie came across more mature than he was. I also didn’t like how every other word from him was a curse word. While I cuss, it felt excessive.
But I loved how soft he was with Kori. Giving her hope him in the rest of the book. That was the turning point. His whole interaction was incredibly sweet. Not the character he was in the first 46% of the book. Once he let those walls down for Maisie I couldn’t have loved him anymore than I did.
I really liked Maisie. She seems to have a good head on her shoulder. She was ready to break free from the mold she had was living in. Wilder helped her achieve that. They couldn’t have been more perfect for each other.
Another thing that I loved was all their secret moments together. These two took advantage of every time they got alone. Closet. Office. Bathroom. HOT! These stolen moments are one thing I love about a forbidden romance. Maren nailed that one in this book.
The ending for me, made the book.
What to Expect:
🏒Hockey Coach x Student
💕Age Gap
🏒Virgin Heroine
💕Bad boy + Good girl 🏒Grumpy-Sunshine
💕Workplace / Forced Proximity 🏒Forbidden
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
🌶️
This was my first ever book by Maren. Now I want to go back and read some of her other books.
Over all, I did enjoy the story line and the characters. I had a couple things I struggled a little with. I hated how immature Wilder was for being 30+ years old. I had tried to keep in mind his upbringing. Maisie came across more mature than he was. I also didn’t like how every other word from him was a curse word. While I cuss, it felt excessive.
But I loved how soft he was with Kori. Giving her hope him in the rest of the book. That was the turning point. His whole interaction was incredibly sweet. Not the character he was in the first 46% of the book. Once he let those walls down for Maisie I couldn’t have loved him anymore than I did.
I really liked Maisie. She seems to have a good head on her shoulder. She was ready to break free from the mold she had was living in. Wilder helped her achieve that. They couldn’t have been more perfect for each other.
Another thing that I loved was all their secret moments together. These two took advantage of every time they got alone. Closet. Office. Bathroom. HOT! These stolen moments are one thing I love about a forbidden romance. Maren nailed that one in this book.
The ending for me, made the book.
What to Expect:
🏒Hockey Coach x Student
💕Age Gap
🏒Virgin Heroine
💕Bad boy + Good girl 🏒Grumpy-Sunshine
💕Workplace / Forced Proximity 🏒Forbidden
March 25, 2026
C'est chaud, c'est torride, mais aussi plein d'émotions.
Maisie est touchante, cette jeune femme, fille de pasteur veut être indépendante et s'amuser. Elle en a marre d'être la gentille fille, alors ce soir c'est le grand soir. Un inconnu, une rencontre et sa première fois. C'est elle qui décide quand ça sera le moment et elle ne regrette pas un seul instant, même quand elle découvre que le bel inconnu est le nouveau coach de l'équipe universitaire de Hockey, un ancien joueur pro et qui est plus agé qu'elle.
Wilder, lui ne s'attendait pas à la retrouver et surtout ne s'attendait pas qu'elle soit étudiante et qu'ils doivent passer du temps pour un projet. Pour lui elle est hors limite, il ne doit rien se passer entre eux, ils doivent oublier ce moment.
Oui, mais voilà l'attirance est bien présente et elle est très mure pour son âge, elle voit ses failures, lui qui agrandi en foyer à cause de sa mère. Oui ils ont eu une vie différente mais elle sera là pour lui, comme il sera là pour elle.
Alors oui il y a une différence d'âge, mais elle est majeure, et il n'y a rien de vraiment d'interdit. La bonne personne entre dans votre vie, à n'importe quel moment, que ce soit dans un bon moment ou dans un mauvais moment et oui des sacrifices se feront mais ils seront reflechis.
Maisie est touchante, cette jeune femme, fille de pasteur veut être indépendante et s'amuser. Elle en a marre d'être la gentille fille, alors ce soir c'est le grand soir. Un inconnu, une rencontre et sa première fois. C'est elle qui décide quand ça sera le moment et elle ne regrette pas un seul instant, même quand elle découvre que le bel inconnu est le nouveau coach de l'équipe universitaire de Hockey, un ancien joueur pro et qui est plus agé qu'elle.
Wilder, lui ne s'attendait pas à la retrouver et surtout ne s'attendait pas qu'elle soit étudiante et qu'ils doivent passer du temps pour un projet. Pour lui elle est hors limite, il ne doit rien se passer entre eux, ils doivent oublier ce moment.
Oui, mais voilà l'attirance est bien présente et elle est très mure pour son âge, elle voit ses failures, lui qui agrandi en foyer à cause de sa mère. Oui ils ont eu une vie différente mais elle sera là pour lui, comme il sera là pour elle.
Alors oui il y a une différence d'âge, mais elle est majeure, et il n'y a rien de vraiment d'interdit. La bonne personne entre dans votre vie, à n'importe quel moment, que ce soit dans un bon moment ou dans un mauvais moment et oui des sacrifices se feront mais ils seront reflechis.
March 27, 2026
✨ 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 ✨
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗲
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
✨ hockey coach x student
🎀 forbidden
✨ age gap
🎀 virgin FMC
✨ forced proximity
🎀 grumpy/sunshine
✨ past trauma
🎀 caretaking
✨ open door romance
🎀 dual POV
𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: Maren is the queen of perfectly combining emotion with spice & this one was no different! Maisie was pure sunshine ☀️ She wants to let loose & allow herself to be happy while doing what she wants & right away in this book, she sure does that! She is known for always doing the right thing, but for one night she doesn’t do what everyone expects of her & she has a random hook up with a stranger in a bar. A couple weeks go by & she discovers that the stranger is the hockey coach at the school she attends. Wilder has found himself having to resort to coaching since his anger got the best of him while he was an athlete. I really loved how Maren ended up putting them both in a situation that required them to work with each other! Maisie challenges Wilder to change his perspective on how he views himself. She was perfect for him to change his mindset! Wilder is your broken, possessive, & grumpy, but my goodness does he become the sweetest ever once those walls are broken down! I loved this one & I am hoping we get to have more stories in the Hellcats Hockey series!
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗲
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
✨ hockey coach x student
🎀 forbidden
✨ age gap
🎀 virgin FMC
✨ forced proximity
🎀 grumpy/sunshine
✨ past trauma
🎀 caretaking
✨ open door romance
🎀 dual POV
𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: Maren is the queen of perfectly combining emotion with spice & this one was no different! Maisie was pure sunshine ☀️ She wants to let loose & allow herself to be happy while doing what she wants & right away in this book, she sure does that! She is known for always doing the right thing, but for one night she doesn’t do what everyone expects of her & she has a random hook up with a stranger in a bar. A couple weeks go by & she discovers that the stranger is the hockey coach at the school she attends. Wilder has found himself having to resort to coaching since his anger got the best of him while he was an athlete. I really loved how Maren ended up putting them both in a situation that required them to work with each other! Maisie challenges Wilder to change his perspective on how he views himself. She was perfect for him to change his mindset! Wilder is your broken, possessive, & grumpy, but my goodness does he become the sweetest ever once those walls are broken down! I loved this one & I am hoping we get to have more stories in the Hellcats Hockey series!
March 26, 2026
All. The. Feels.
I was feral for Wilder BEFORE I read this book, and he’s at the top of my book boyfriend list AFTER reading this book. I love a broken bad boy with a cinnamon roll center, and Wilder absolutely fits the bill. Raw and emotional. Steamy and swoony. This grumpy hockey coach will wreck you in all the best ways. Even better. . .his Sunshine (Maisie) will put you (and him) back together. She might be young, but she knows what she wants and she’s not afraid to go for it. The way she shows up (and stays) for Wilder was everything.
Heart, heat and a happily ever after – the perfect hat trick when it comes to any romance read; and this has all 3 in spades.
Run, don’t walk, to your nearest bookseller to pick this one up. It is a MUST READ – especially if you like forbidden romance with intense yearning, hurt/comfort, found family, and lots of delicious spice.
I haven’t stopped thinking about Maisie & Wilder, and I know you will love them just as much as I did.
Thank you so much to Maren Moore & team for the eARC and opportunity to read this book before it was released in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts & opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I was feral for Wilder BEFORE I read this book, and he’s at the top of my book boyfriend list AFTER reading this book. I love a broken bad boy with a cinnamon roll center, and Wilder absolutely fits the bill. Raw and emotional. Steamy and swoony. This grumpy hockey coach will wreck you in all the best ways. Even better. . .his Sunshine (Maisie) will put you (and him) back together. She might be young, but she knows what she wants and she’s not afraid to go for it. The way she shows up (and stays) for Wilder was everything.
Heart, heat and a happily ever after – the perfect hat trick when it comes to any romance read; and this has all 3 in spades.
Run, don’t walk, to your nearest bookseller to pick this one up. It is a MUST READ – especially if you like forbidden romance with intense yearning, hurt/comfort, found family, and lots of delicious spice.
I haven’t stopped thinking about Maisie & Wilder, and I know you will love them just as much as I did.
Thank you so much to Maren Moore & team for the eARC and opportunity to read this book before it was released in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts & opinions expressed in this review are my own.
March 26, 2026
Maisie is the perfect girl, always doing what her parents expect of her. But tonight, she is going to take her power back. Dancing in this club with the hot guys attention on her. When he walks over, she tells him she wants him and she gets what she asked for, a hot one night stand. Until she shows up to meet the new hockey coach who is going to be the liaison to the charity work she is doing with the team. It’s her mystery man, Wilder. Wilder has been thinking about her since that night and now his temptation is in front of him, but completely off limits. How long until his restraint snaps?
I LOVED this book. I read book one right before it (you don’t have to, but you should) and I knew Maren was going to be one of my favorite authors. Maisie is so strong and smart and beautiful inside and out. She is the kind of person you want in your orbit. Wilder is a broken man, but he is such a kind soul. I love how Maisie helps him see that. No third act breakup - they handle their adversity like grown ups (thank you!) The spice is fire. Absolutely scorching. The combo of a great story and great spice makes this a must read! 5/5⭐️5/5🌶️
I received an advanced copy of this book.
I LOVED this book. I read book one right before it (you don’t have to, but you should) and I knew Maren was going to be one of my favorite authors. Maisie is so strong and smart and beautiful inside and out. She is the kind of person you want in your orbit. Wilder is a broken man, but he is such a kind soul. I love how Maisie helps him see that. No third act breakup - they handle their adversity like grown ups (thank you!) The spice is fire. Absolutely scorching. The combo of a great story and great spice makes this a must read! 5/5⭐️5/5🌶️
I received an advanced copy of this book.
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