The Baby Bluff

Bar Down #2

by Cali Melle

He’s spent his whole life protecting her—he just never expected to be protecting a secret this big.

Lucy Taylor thought the hardest part of being the Hillford Ice Hawks’ new athletic trainer would be the pressure of working for a professional hockey team, but she was wrong.

It’s the pressure of starting a new job, unexpectedly pregnant after a one-night stand, knowing she’s doing it all alone.

Theo Simmons, the team’s star winger has always been her constant. Her childhood best friend and the one person who’s always been by her side. So, when he finds out about her pregnancy, he swears she won’t have to go through it by herself.

And in a split second of panic, one lie slips out to the wrong people.

The baby is his.

What starts as damage control turns into a fake relationship to keep it all from falling apart. Somewhere between prenatal appointments and building a nursery, the line they swore to never cross vanishes completely.

Theo should walk away before it goes too far, but pretending to be Lucy’s boyfriend is the easiest lie he’s ever told and the hardest to let go.

And nine months was never going to be enough for him…

Genres: Hockey, Friends To Lovers, Romance, Sports Romance, Fake Dating, Contemporary, Sports

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 17, 2026

About the author

Cali Melle is a USA Today Bestselling Author who writes sports romance that will pull at your heartstrings. You can always expect her stories to come fully equipped with heartthrobs and a happy ending, along with some steamy scenes.
In her free time, Cali can usually be found living in a magical, fantasy world with the newest book or fanfic she's reading or freezing at the ice rink while she watches her kids play hockey.

Reviews

[₊ ˚ ale ࿓ ♡ ⋆｡˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

‎ ‎ ‎ ⌗‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ──🏒🍋‍🟩🐈‍⬛ᝰ .ᐟ read.
gods, pls give me a theo, i'm begging you. theo my man, my man, my man, my baby, my baby, my baby. yassss. rtc

‎ ‎ ‎ ⌗‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ──🏒🍋‍🟩🐈‍⬛ᝰ .ᐟ pre-read.
hockey romance x fake dating x childhood friends to lovers? say less, i'm in

thanks to luna literary and cali melle for the arc

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25🌟, 3🌶️

I am such a massive sucker for a fake dating romance, and this absolute gem was an effortless binge.

Watching Theo and Lucy navigate their arrangement while realizing it was never fooling anyone, especially not themselves, made my heart so happy. From tender doctor appointments to getting the nursery ready, those quiet moments of caretaking completely stole the show, proving that their deep bond and slow burn pining carried every page with effortless charm.

While I occasionally found myself wishing the bigger emotional turning points lingered just a bit longer, the raw vulnerability of their journey still gave me all the feels. Lucy's strength is remarkable, and seeing Theo step up without a single hesitation to love and protect both her and a baby that wasn't biologically his melted me entirely. It is a wonderfully comforting reminder of how powerful it is when the person you need has been right beside you all along.

This delightful story is an easy, comforting binge that leaves you smiling long after you finish. The characters bring so much heart and soul to the page, turning a complicated situation into a gorgeous narrative about found family and true devotion.

This tender and comforting read is guaranteed to make you believe in romance all over again.

~~~~

Huge thank you to Cali Melle and Luna Literary for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨

[Yimmie♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was such a lovely read🥹💓

i loved the pacing, the characters were so likeable, and they had such a supportive circle too💖

theo was lucy’s anchor, and i loved how he was there for her every step of the way.

part of me wished they had talked about their feelings a little sooner, but i’m happy with how everything unfolded regardless.

the ending was the cutest thing🤗🩷

i love them so much 🥹


𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭:

it’s been a minute since i’ve read a hockey romance, and i need a fluffy read to fill my head.
plus, i’m such a sucker for the accidental pregnancy trope🫣
buddy read with sapphire my babyy😽😽

𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙞 𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙘🩵

[Michellelovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had all of my favorite tropes, I will always read a book if it has hockey in it. I recommend reading this book and the first book to this series.

Hockey Romance
Not His Baby
Fake Dating
Forced Proximity
Childhood Best Friends to Lovers
Virgin MMC
She has a secret tattoo

Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Ashly · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️/5
📚 Book 2 in the Bar Down Series (Interconnected Standalone)
🏒 Hockey Romance
🗣️ Dual POV
🖤 M/F

I'm such a sucker for a friends-to-lovers romance, so this one was an easy binge for me.

Theo absolutely stole the show. He's been in love with Lucy for what feels like forever, so the second she needs someone, he's there without hesitation. The fake relationship may have started as a cover-up, but let's be honest...Theo wasn't fooling anyone, especially himself. 😂

I loved watching their friendship naturally turn into something more. The little moments—doctor's appointments, getting the nursery ready, and Theo stepping up without ever making Lucy feel like a burden—were honestly my favorite parts of the book.

I did find myself wanting a little more emotional depth in a few places. Some of the bigger moments came and went pretty quickly, and I would've loved to sit with those emotions a little longer. The romance was sweet, but I wanted just a bit more payoff after all the years of pining.

The spice is definitely minimal, so if you're looking for something steamier, this probably isn't it. But honestly, it didn't need it. This story was much more about the friendship, the quiet love, and finally realizing the person you've needed has been beside you the whole time.

This was a sweet, comforting hockey romance, and Theo was 100% the reason this ended up being such an enjoyable read for me.

Tropes:
🏒 Hockey Romance
💜 Best Friends to Lovers
🏒 Fake Dating
💜 Surprise Pregnancy
🏒 He Falls First
💜 Protective MMC
🏒 Caretaking MMC
💜 Slow Burn Feelings
🏒 Found Family
💜 Interconnected Standalone
🏒 Virgin MMC

[Sapphire! 🎀 ❀ ✧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

This book was pure fluff.

The characters were sweet, and I loved how supportive they were of each other. That said, I found myself wishing we’d gotten a more in-depth look at who they were beyond the romance.
Overall, it was a lovely read, and I’m so glad Theo and Lucy finally talked about their feelings for each other… even if they definitely could have done it much sooner. 😩

I also really enjoyed the fast pacing. It was short, sharp, and easy to get through.

Thank you Luna Literary and Cali Melle for the arc

[Brandy Dunigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Baby Bluff by Cali Melle took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions that I didn’t want to get off of.

While Lucy viewed her ONS as a mistake, she never viewed the results of that ONS as a mistake. She loved her baby from the minute she saw that positive. Theo was the most selfless man, never hesitating to take on the love and responsibility of a baby that wasn’t biologically his. He didn’t care. That baby and Lucy were his.

There were a few other surprises that I won’t go into so we don’t spoil too much for the reader, but this is a must read. Cali’s characters bring so much heart, raw emotions, vulnerability and love to the story.

I highly recommend.
5 ⭐️

[maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

please god if you’re real deliver me a man like theo im begging on my hands and knees at this point

[Chelsea Mansell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Baby Bluff by Cali Melle eARC Review 💙

This one surprised me in the best way. I completely fell in love with Theo and Lucy. Theo made his way onto my top book boyfriend list. He is the greenest flag there ever was and I adore him. He stole my heart and their story just made my heart so happy.

Hockey, not his baby and fake dating. I was sold from the tropes alone, but Cali really brought it with this one.

What to expect:
Hockey romance
Not his baby
Fake dating
Childhood friends to lovers
Forced proximity
Virgin MMC

Thank you so much Cali for the arc!

#thebabybluff #calimelleauthor #calimelle #bookishcontent #bookreview

[Ciara H · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐.8 (rounded up for Goodreads)

Cali Melle never fails to make me fall in love with her writing and her characters, and The Baby Bluff is no exception. Every time I pick up one of her books, I'm reminded why she's one of my favorite romance authors. Her stories are full of heart, humor, and characters that are impossible not to become attached to.

I had a feeling Lucy and Theo were going to end up together long before their book was even announced, and it was so worth the wait. Their chemistry is absolutely incredible, and as someone who loves a good childhood best friends-to-lovers romance, this book had me hooked from the very beginning. Their relationship felt so natural, and I found myself smiling through so many of their moments together.

As for Theo... while Matty Ford is still holding onto my number one spot for the 2nd-Gen men, Theo definitely gave him a run for his money and easily earned a place in my top five Cali Melle MMCs. (Let's be honest though... nobody is ever dethroning Carson Ford 😍)

I also loved the cast of side characters. They added so much humor and life to the story, and I found myself laughing more than once. (With one very specific exception... Alex, I'm looking at you. 😒)

One of my favorite things about Cali's books is how she teases future stories and relationships without taking away from the current one. Those little moments always leave me excited to see who's next, and this book was no different.

If you've been following this series, you're going to love Lucy and Theo's story. And if you're new to Cali Melle's books, this is another fantastic reminder of why her romances are so easy to fall in love with. I already can't wait to see what she has planned next for this incredible group of characters.

[kare ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

[ arc review ]

lucy and theo have been childhood best friends and all those years ago made an agreement to not do anything or cross any lines that would ruin their friendship. well then lucy gets pregnant, not with theo's baby, but that doesn't deter him from stepping up bc he doesn't want her to go through this alone. i liked that his personal / family life was included in the story so that it wasn't so jarring for him to jump in so fast to help lucy (well that and the fact he's been in love with her since forever).

this book was really fast paced and it was a short book imo so there were parts that i felt jumped in time and things were happening quickly and could have gone into further depth. i would have maybe liked to see flashback scenes of lucy and theo, but i will say there were a few callbacks / references to their history. sorry, i'm being vague in an effort to not spoil anything.

lucy and theo were so cute and theo is one DOWN BAD man, like i could genuinely see him doing anything for lucy, and now the baby. lucy was a little stubborn and sassy yet sweet and honest but tbh i was indefferent to her bc she was lowkey not giving me a lot.

i also love me a good friend group and i really liked that in this particular group, there's a lot of childhood friendships but also includes current players of the hildford hockey team. i have my predictions for future couples hehe.

overall, this book was cute and i recommend to anyone looking for a fast paced hockey romance.

🩵 hockey romance
🩵 not his baby
🩵 childhood best friends to lovers
🩵 fake dating

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theo, my man, you have officially stolen my heart. With your all in attitude and love for Lucy you are perfection in the book boyfriend world. The walking green flag that most would love to have supporting them no matter what. You step up when you don’t need to and remind Lucy that she will always be the most important person in your world. This is a beautiful story that leaves you in all your feels as one person gets into a situation and another person who has always wanted to be there, is there and steps up. It isn’t an easy path, especially when both have only ever wanted the other, but it is a road that they walk side by side and the feelings start to show through the cracks. I love how Lucy struggles with what to do, but the support and love of not just Theo but friends and family show up for her to help her see that it will be okay. But the moment that she is able to pretend, you know that she isn’t really pretending. Neither of them really are. Both are hoping the other one will be strong enough to keep the wall up, but I love that they aren’t. This is a perfect, friends to lovers that will grip your heart and make you smile the whole time you are reading.

[Jennifer W · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just what I needed 🤭 Theo is wonderful, omg. The friends to lovers, mutual pining and just how supportive they both are of each other 🥹 he and Lucy are the sweetest. The only reason I didn’t give it the full 5⭐️ is because I felt like there never were an actual ”issue” or like a problem that set them off course. It was a bit too happy and smooth sailing for me personally but I loved it 🥰 really looking forward to next one and to read about Elena 🤭

[Nezi Reads ⭐️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so, so adorable!! 🥹

In this book we meet Theo and Lucy. They’ve known each other forever and have been best friends ever since. 🥹

I absolutely loved the unexpected pregnancy trope, and I loved seeing how Theo never hesitated to support Lucy, even though the baby wasn’t his. ❤️‍🩹

I really admire Lucy for her strength and courage, but Theo completely stole my heart. The way he takes care of her and always looks out for her is just so beautiful!

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! The friends to lovers trope is always so good in my opinion and this one blew it out of the water. I loved seeing both characters grow individually and also together and the way that they so gently fall in love is just so sweet & perfect. I’m super excited for book three and to see how this couple plays into the next book and helps those characters find love too. I absolutely love the interconnected characters and how we see glimpses of all of them in each story!

[Emlyn Knerem · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

In “The Baby Bluff” by Cali Melle, hockey star Theo Simmons finds himself in a predicament when his best friend Lucy Taylor announces she’s pregnant - and he decides he is going to take on the role of “baby daddy.” As Lucy and Theo navigate the pregnancy, they are also forced to navigate their feelings for one another - feelings that may have been brewing under the surface for much longer than they ever realized.

Thank you to Cali Melle & BookFunnel for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for The Baby Bluff!

I fell in love with Cali Melle books during her Aston Archers series, and the Bar Down series has not disappointed. I think The Baby Bluff has solidified Cali Melle being an automatic read for me. This next gen series is so entertaining. You get just enough of the parents to tie in from the original series we love without taking away from the new characters, their development, and their stories. Theo’s story mirrored his own father’s, but I love that his dad did not sugarcoat the ramifications of his decision.

I would love a family tree of sorts for future books in this series. It’s hard for my brain to remember how all of the characters are connected, whose kids belong to who, and each of their stories. A refresher would be so helpful for a very forgetful reader like me!

If you love a spicy sports romance with an incredible found family and deep emotional connections, check out the Bar Down series (and their parents in the Aston Archers series)!

[Nicole Scarborough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhh Theo and Lucy were so cute! It's not often you come across a virgin hero and the reason he was was worth it. I also love how protective he was of a baby who wasn't his biologically. The chemistry was good and it was well written.

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 Stars

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pace of this book is what makes me not absolutely love it. It felt like we were going 1,000mph BUT I did like the characters very much. I think I loved the progression of the plot so much that I didn’t care much for the smut in the book (lol) and found myself wishing those scenes would move along faster.

Can’t wait for the next book though!!

[Mona M · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review let's get into it

3.6 ⭐️
3 🌶️

this was a cute one, I absolutely love childhood friends to lovers and even better they are *best friends* and the fact that it’s two characters that came from in my top 3 faves in the Aston Archers series (Rowan - Lucy’s dad) and Nash (Theos dad) 💛 seeing the little cameos of characters you love is honestly the best :) it was an interesting twist on friends to lovers / fake dating

The whole book I was rooting for a ruiiiiin the friendship moment, and that is genuinely the whole book

I think if there’s a MMC named Theo it’s just inevitable that he will be loved 🥰

I loved Elena and Lucy’s friendship :))

I felt like a couple of the spicy scenes were unnecessary (and some of the wording just wasn’t for me) and the confession felt unfinished along with a few other things which brought my rating down but it was a really cute read

Aaaand I have theories for who the next book is about can’t wait to see if I’m right

Tropes:
Childhood best friends to lovers
Fake dating
Not his baby
Forced proximity
Hockey romance

Quotes:

“No ones perfect, but if there’s anyone who comes close to it, it’s you”

“Your hair is perfect the way it is”

“You did all these from memory?”
“I remember everything about you”


Thank you Cali for the ARC

Happy reading! - Mona 📚

And if you want more, check out the Aston Archers series

[Lindsay (LindsayTurnsThePage) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ✨ review to come!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

After absolutely loving the snippets we got of Theo and Lucy in The Plot Pact, I couldn't wait to finally read their story in The Baby Bluff. Friends-to-lovers is one of my favourite tropes when it's done well, and with all the mutual pining that had already been teased, I had high hopes for these two.

Tropes
🏒 Hockey Romance
👶 Accidental Pregnancy (Not His Baby)
💕 Best Friends to Lovers
💍 Fake Dating
🏡 Forced Proximity
❤️ Mutual Pining
💼 Workplace Romance
👨‍👩‍👧 Second Generation

Microtropes
🧢 Backwards hat
🤍 He's a Virgin
🥨 He always gets her favorite snacks
🤰 He talks to her stomach
🎨 He draws her
📝 She's kept every note he's ever written her
🖋️ Secret tattoo

One of my favorite things about this book was how believable Theo and Lucy's relationship felt. Friends-to-lovers is such a difficult trope to get right because you have to convince the reader that years of friendship naturally evolve into something more, and I completely bought it here. Their chemistry wasn't built on stolen glances or instant attraction. It came from years of knowing each other inside and out. It was obvious they had always been each other's safe place, even if neither of them wanted to admit it. And honestly, everyone around them seeing they were hopelessly in love long before they did themselves made it even better.

Theo completely stole my heart. He was everything I want in a romance hero: loyal, patient, protective, and an absolute caretaker. The fact that he stepped into the role of supportive partner without a second thought, despite knowing the baby wasn't his, said everything about the kind of person he is. Whether he was bringing Lucy her favourite snacks, talking to the baby, or simply making sure she never had to carry everything alone, his love was shown through actions rather than grand declarations. He was completely gone for Lucy, and I loved every second of it.

Lucy was just as easy to root for. Finding yourself unexpectedly pregnant while starting a demanding new job is already enough to deal with, but I admired how she handled everything that came her way. I also thought the fake dating worked surprisingly well because it never felt like they were pretending very hard. Their friendship was already so close that the line between fake and real naturally became blurrier as the story progressed, making their transition into a real relationship feel effortless.

I also really enjoyed the supporting cast. The friendships felt genuine, and I loved seeing everyone rally around Theo and Lucy throughout the pregnancy. The second-generation aspect added a fun layer to the story as well, with subtle nods to previous books rewarding readers who have followed the series from the beginning.

Still, there were a few aspects that I think could have elevated the story even further.

The biggest one was probably the lack of conflict. While I don't need constant drama in my romances, I did find myself waiting for a bigger obstacle that never really came. The story stayed fairly low stakes throughout, and I think introducing a little more external conflict would have added another layer to the emotional journey.

Because the book is also fairly short and moves at quite a fast pace, I occasionally wished certain moments had been explored in more depth. There are several time jumps throughout Lucy's pregnancy, and I found myself wanting to spend more time with both characters. Adding a few flashbacks showing more of their childhood friendship would have strengthened the emotional payoff even further.

I also would have loved to see more of both families. We spend quite a bit of time with the friend group, but after the opening chapters, the parents largely fade into the background. Considering how close and supportive everyone seemed, I expected them to play a bigger role throughout Lucy's pregnancy.

I also wasn't completely convinced by the decision to keep the truth about the baby's paternity from Lucy's parents. While I understood why the story needed that secret to make the fake-dating premise work, her parents seemed like the kind of people who would have supported her no matter what. Because of that, the secrecy felt a little harder to believe, and I found myself hoping they would eventually come clean.

Despite those small remarks, The Baby Bluff was such a fun, comforting read. It won't be the most dramatic romance you'll ever pick up, but sometimes that's exactly what you're in the mood for. If you're looking for a sweet, low-angst friends-to-lovers romance with plenty of pining, a hero who will do absolutely anything for the woman he loves, and a cast of characters that already has you excited for future books, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try.

Now... can I please have Elena and Cameron's book? I have way too many theories about those two, and I need answers.

[Laura Fabian · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC kidnly provided for the author in exchnage for an honest review

When Cali Melle announced this book and its tropes, I knew Theo was going to be my favorite male character in the series: I loved his love story with Lucy, the glimpses the author gave me into their friendship and everything they've shared over the years, the little nods to their parents' stories, and the way she's making me absolutely love this series and ALL its characters.

Lucy broke my heart from the very first chapter, not because her personal story is tragic—far from it—but because of the way Cali shows me the depth of her feelings for Theo and how she suffers believing they aren't reciprocated: I wanted to hug and comfort her from that moment on. I really liked her personality, especially because I wasn't expecting that seductive and direct side. I LOVED the story behind his tattoo, his friendship with Elena, and that, through this character, the author gave me a glimpse into her parents' story after their book ended.

Theo is my favorite character in this series, I loved EVERYTHING about him! I fell in love with the secrets he keeps about his feelings for Lucy and how they're revealed throughout the story, I love his friendship with his teammates and the way they all naturally express how much they love each other, and of course, I also really enjoyed reading about his sweet, adorable, and flirty personality. But I think what I liked most was how Theo's story with Lucy has a certain emotional connection to his parents' story, and THAT conversation between him and Nash was, without a doubt, one of the best parts of this book.

Lucy & Theo have been best friends forever, and I really liked that Cali Melle showed me that side of their relationship, it's always so obvious how important they are to each other, and how Theo is there for Lucy even when he doesn't know what's going on. And when he finds out about the pregnancy, he's even more aware that he'll never leave her alone. I love that they both have doubts about whether their feelings are reciprocated and yet they always have excellent communication. And although I really liked that the spice in this book developed little by little, I think the overall plot started a bit slower than I would have liked, even so, this pair stole my heart, and I'll always love them.

🏒Theo: 5/5
🏒Lucy: 5/5
🏒plot: 4/5
🏒love story: 4.5/5
🏒secondary characters: 5/5
🏒universe: 5/5
🏒cover: 5/5
🥵: 2/5

ARC amablemente proporcionada por la autora a cambio de una reseña honesta

Cuando Cali Melle anunció este libro y los tropes, supe que Theo iba a ser mi personaje masculino favorito de esta serie: amé su historia de amor con Lucy, los vistazos que la autora me dio a su amistad y a todo lo que han compartido a lo largo de los años, los pequeños guiños a las historias de sus papás y la manera en la que me está haciendo amar con locura esta serie y TODOS sus personajes.

Lucy me rompió el corazón desde el primer capitulo, no porque su historia personal sea trágica, ni mucho menos, si no por la manera en la que Cali me muestra lo profundo de sus sentimientos por Theo y como esta chica sufre creyendo que no son correspondidos, quise abrazarla y consolarla desde ese momento. Me gustó mucho su personalidad, especialmente porque no esperaba ese lado seductor y directo, AMÉ la historia detrás de su tatuaje, su amistad con Elena, y que, por medio de este personaje, la autora me diera un vistazo a lo que fue la historia de sus papás después de que su libro terminara.

Theo es mi personaje favorito de esta serie, me encantó TODO sobre este personaje! Me enamoraron los secretos que guarda respecto a sus sentimientos por Lucy y como se van revelando a lo largo de la historia, me encanta su amistad con sus compañeros de equipo y la manera en la que todos se expresan lo mucho que se aman con naturalidad y claro que también disfruté mucho leyendo su personalidad tan dulce, adorable y coqueta. Pero creo que lo que más me gustó fue la manera en la que la historia de Theo con Lucy tiene cierta conexión emocional con la historia de los papás de Theo, y ESA conversación entre el y Nash fue, sin dudas, de los mejor en este libro.

Lucy & Theo son mejores amigos desde siempre y me gustó mucho que Cali Melle me mostrara ese lado de su relación, que siempre se tan obvio lo importantes que son el uno para la otra y que Theo esté ahí para Lucy aún cuando no sabe qué es lo que pasa, y que cuando se entera del embarazo sea aún más consiente de que no la va a dejar sola jamás, amo que ambos tengan dudas sobre si sus sentimientos son correspondidos o no y que aún así siempre tengan excelente comunicación, y aunque me gustó mucho que el spicy en este libro se fuera construyendo poco a poco, creo que la trama en general empezó un poco más lento de lo que me hubiera gustado, aún así este par se robó mi corazón y los voy a amar siempre.

🏒Theo: 5/5
🏒Lucy: 5/5
🏒trama: 4/5
🏒historia de amor: 4.5/5
🏒personajes secundarios: 5/5
🏒universo: 5/5
🏒portada: 5/5
🥵: 2/5

[BeamieReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review 📚✨
Thank you to Luna Literary and Cali Melle for the ARC! *As always, my reviews are honest and my own opinion*

If you love:
🏒 Hockey romance
💙 Best friends to lovers
🍼 Surprise pregnancy
🎭 Fake dating
🏡 Found family
✨ A hero who's absolutely, hopelessly devoted to his girl...like DOWN BAD.
💙 NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP!!!!!!!!!
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Then what are you waiting for? This is such a cute and quick read. I think I consumed this in one setting. :)

One of the reasons I love Cali's books is that they tend to be pretty low angst/drama. I like to read to escape. Sure, sometimes I like to be on the edge of my seat, but mostly I want to feel good about what I am reading. I want to have "Ahh" moments, and this one delivered!

Quick Summary: Lucy and Theo have been BFFs their whole lives. They have secretly loved one another. Lucy sees a picture of Theo with another woman and she has a drunken ONS and gets pregnant. The dad is an asshat and blocks her. Theo is all man and steps up to help her. Lucy has also just landed a job as an athletic trainer, so she is already overwhelmed and now pregnant, thinking she's on her own.

Lucy's parents are from the book Make Your Save, and Theo's are from Make Your Play. They have been besties since birth. Friends to lovers, for me, has to be done right. I usually don't prefer it if they are friends, then decide on a FWB situation. For some reason, it cheapens it for me. Thankfully, this is NOT the case. They start out "fake" for damage control, but it's never fake.

Okay, I'm trying to gather my thoughts because Theo has me POSITIVELY GIDDY. One thing I absolutely have to mention is that this isn't your typical hockey romance.

You know the one...the hero who's slept with half the city but insists, "It's always been you." 😅 That's a trope I personally struggle with because it makes it harder for me to fully buy into that lifelong, all-consuming love. In fact, I just did a review for another book, and that was my biggest complaint-the MMC in that book claimed to have loved the FMC, but he slept with everything coming and going. I just can't with it.

Theo is the complete opposite. 🥹

Very mild spoiler ahead...

Theo is actually a virgin.

Not because he had to be, but because, in his mind, there simply wasn't anyone else. He dated here and there because he'd convinced himself Lucy would never see him as more than her best friend, but no one ever made it past a first date or into his bed.

Y'all...SWOON. 😭💙

For me, that made every single one of his actions feel even more genuine. When Theo says Lucy has always been the one, his life actually reflects that. It made his devotion, patience, and unwavering support hit so much harder.

And can we talk about this slow burn? Because it was chef's kiss. 🤌
Don't get me wrong, I was impatient, but it was really good. (Some may find it immature but there is a dry humping scene that I was here for. Just throwing it out there.)

The relationship develops over the course of Lucy's pregnancy, and I loved that neither of them rushed into anything. Their biggest obstacle wasn't whether they loved each other; it was the fear of risking the friendship that had been the foundation of their entire lives. They were each other's person long before they became lovers, and you could feel how terrifying it was for both of them to potentially lose that.

Once they finally took that leap? ✨ Pure. Magic. ✨

Theo is 100% an acts-of-service hero. He isn't constantly making grand declarations of love, he shows it. He shows up. He notices what Lucy needs before she asks. He quietly takes things off her plate, supports her, protects her, and somehow manages to make every little gesture feel incredibly romantic.

Their chemistry is undeniable, but what I loved even more was the comfort between them. They already knew each other's quirks, habits, fears, and dreams. Watching that lifelong friendship naturally evolve into something deeper made the romance feel effortless and completely believable.

Honestly...Theo has become one of my favorite book boyfriends, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. 💙

The Baby Bluff is a super cute, emotion, romantic read that is full of heart. Theo is perfection, Lucy is great (but, you don't have to do everything on your own, sis), and their story is the right mix of swoon, tension, tenderness, love, spice, and found family. It's hockey but without manwhores and with protective heroes. Add it to your list and then let me know how much you loved it!

[Briana Bailon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️/ 3-4🌶️

*Thank you to Luna Literary and Cali Melle for this ARC, I greatly appreciate it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Omg I loved this book! While the first book in this series was good, this was EVEN BETTER! Theo and Lucy were best friends since they were literal babies, grown up together, and had always been there for each other. Now, with Lucy unexpectedly becoming pregnant after a one night stand…she was left to figure her out life with the realization she was going to have a baby. Theo being the ever faithful best friend stepped up to help Lucy in whatever way he could…even going as far as claiming the Lucy’s baby was his…when it actually wasn’t his. With a bit of fake dating, forced proximity, best friends to lovers, and found family, this was a great romance that had a bit of everything you could want in a hockey romance story.

So far in this series, I have read about lovable MMC’s going above and beyond for the women they loved, and with Theo being the MMC in this book, oh boy he raised the high expectations even higher. I absolutely adored Theo from the moment he was introduced. Seeing how Theo was attentive, caring, thoughtful, and gave his every fiber of his being to be there for Lucy was everything. With the knowledge that Theo always had feelings Lucy throughout their friendship was even better since it established a strong emotional connection. I really respected and loved how Theo didn’t falter in stepping up to help Lucy with her baby and taking on the role of being a father. Theo was a natural choice to be alongside Lucy and even though it took a couple of years for them to get together, they managed it in the end with the additional bonus of forming a family. Theo was truly a great man and when you see just how much he did for Lucy and how much he cared for her so deeply, you’ll swoon over him too.

Lucy was a lovable character from the start too and I really liked her. Having to juggle her new job and a baby on the way was a bit overwhelming for Lucy at the start of this story, but with Theo’s help and support, she was able to experience her pregnancy and alter birth with ease. The thing that I really liked about Lucy was how she was just a sweet person, but also how even when she was dealing with the new changes in her life, she was still there for Theo in whatever way she could. The beauty of Theo and Lucy’s friendship was how they intimately knew each other from knowing something was wrong or needing to talk things through, or simply spending time together, they were in sync. Lucy didn’t plan to have children until later on in life, but unexpected things happen, and this happened to be one that worked out for her especially with Theo and her finally being honest about how they felt about one other as well as wanting to share a future together raising a baby. Lucy was lovely and I just had a good time reading her story and no complaints whatsoever about her.

This whole book was great. The thing I’m noticing about Cali Melle’s books, or at least so far with the two books I’ve read by her are how their fast paced and give you just enough plot and depth to keep you engaged, but you don’t feel like the story is dragging on. In other words, Cali Melle writes the perfect books to give you everything you could want, while still managing to keep it fun and unique. From the moment I read the tropes and blurb about this book, I had a good feeling about it. Theo and Lucy’s friendship was already great, but seeing the two of them navigate friendship to becoming parents, and finally giving into their mutual feelings for each other was satisfying to read over the course of this book. I also loved how despite Lucy’s baby not being Theo’s biologically, it didn’t stop him from fully loving and accepting that baby as his own. I’m telling you, Theo was amazing and I love him! This entire book was GREAT! I also loved getting to see more of the characters some of which, I have a feeling will be the main characters in the next book. As a whole, this was a book I throughly enjoyed and even found myself getting emotional at some point. Goes to show how much I really loved this book. Highly recommend!!!

[Shayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all I want to thank Luna Literary and Cali Melle for the ARC of The Baby Bluff... I read this book in a day. I couldn't put it down because I needed to know how the rest of the story played out :)

Lucy and Theo are so cute together, if you are wanting to read a romance where this is no drama between the FMC and the MMC as well as him being a walking green flag, then this book is for you. The main characters have been best friends since they were kids, and have harbored their feelings for each other but only to themselves because everyone in their respected circles knew

Lucy has a drunken one-stand night with someone after seeing a picture of Theo with another woman. In her mind, that meant her feelings towards him would never be reciprocated and ends up pregnant. The biological fathers wants nothing to do with Lucy or the baby, he ends up blocking her after she revealed the news to him. What does Theo do? He steps up for Lucy and the baby by telling everyone that it's his baby, which leads to them fake dating to sell their story

This isn't your typically hockey romance where the MMC is a "playboy" but still has the "it's always been you vibes." Spoiler Alert: Theo is actually a virgin because he waited/wanted it to be Lucy because there was no one else for him in his mind, SWOON. He dated to pass the time due to the fact he believed he'd never be with Lucy but nobody got past date number one or into his bed

Y'all... the SLOW BURN paid off big time! I thoroughly enjoyed reading and seeing how their relationship progressed throughout the book and during her pregnancy. Theo is an acts of service man, he is constantly doing things for Lucy and showing up for her whenever she needs someone but more specifically him. It does take them awhile to get over the fear of their relationship changing, which is understandable because of how important they are to each and always want to them in their lives, it's admirable tbh. Once they get over that hurdle and take the leap of faith, it's pure magic. You can feel/tell that they were meant to be together. The chemistry is 100% real but so is the comfort level between Lucy and Theo, which makes everything that much more natural between them

Theo's parents are from Make Your Play and Lucy's parents are from Make Your Save... It took me a little while to correlate that if I'm being honest haha. It was super cool seeing the parallel between the first generation and the second generation stories, it was an interesting twist but one I loved. Theo's dad isn't his bio dad so the reliability there adds a layer of understanding as well as respect you have for both Theo's father and himself. You have a man stepping up to the plate when he didn't have to but knew it was the right thing to do especially for someone they truly care about and love, SWOON

Lucy's parents are very supportive and understanding which you could tell meant a lot to Lucy as well as lifted a weight off of her shoulders. In this case your parents support is everything because you know you have people in your corner who are going to be there for you whenever you need them and that's a wonderful feeling to have. You could tell that Lucy was scared out of her mind but rightfully so and to have a circle of people who want the best for you is very reassuring

The Hockey Bros are hilarious, those boys are a lot of fun but they know how and when to be serious. They all just want what's best for each other so to have that support system especially for Lucy since she's one of the new trainers was neat especially once they find out she's pregnant. This is a found family, that I love and I can't wait to see what happens next with this group

Overall, I loved The Baby Bluff! Lucy and Theo's story was everything that I hoped for and more. Cali Melle, hats off to you for a job well done :)

Again thank you to Luna Literary and Cali Melle for the ARC, I truly appreciate it :)

[Joanne Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Baby Bluff” is the second book in the “Bar Down Series.” Theo Simmons is the star winger for the Hillford Ice Hawks. We were first introduced to Theo’s parents, Nash and Riley, in “Make You Play” in the “Aston Archers Hockey Series.” Lucy Taylor is the new athletic trainer with Hillford Ice Hawks. We first met Lucy and her parents, Rowan and Hadley, from “Make Your Save” from the “Aston Archers Hockey Series.” Theo and Lucy have been best friends for their whole lives and at the age of fourteen they made a promise that they would be friends for life.

Lucy and her best friend Elana are on a night out, having fun at a dance club. After seeing the photos online of Theo at that club in Vancouver last night, she knows that she should not be jealous, but she is….to forget about them, she has a drunken one night stand. “I’m not supposed to feel jealous of him with another woman. Seeing him with random women isn’t new, yet each time it cuts deeper. He’s my best friend and we promised we would never let anything ruin that.”

Two months latter of feeling tired and nauseous, she takes a pregnancy test….it is positive. She is going to be a mum! When Lucy decides it is time to tell her parents, Theo goes with her. When they ask who the father is…. how does she tell them that it was a one night stand and that the sperm donor wants nothing to do with the baby. When she tells her parents and it gets complicated when they ask who the father is, Theo shocks all of them by saying…. “The baby is mine.”

Lucy and Theo agree to “fake date” and telling everyone that the baby is his. Eventually, for the sake of Lucy and the baby, Theo convinces her to move in with him, with her own room. With both parties not willing to tell each other how they really feel about each, things can be a little tense at times. Will they eventually be honest with each other….

“You and Lucy have been best friends since you were kids.” He pins his gaze on me. “Will you be the one to keep my daughter afloat? Will you be the one she can lean on when things feel hard or too heavy?”
“I always have been.”

There is never a dull moment! This book is everything you expect from an alpha male and hockey romance combined. I’m very happily hooked - I did not want it to end! Once I started reading, I could not put this book down! At times you will laugh, you will cry, get angry and frustrated - most of all, you will love the twists! This book will charm “the pants off you” and leave you going back for more. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful love story.

“I breathe her in, my lips brushing hers as I push her back against the wall. It’s like I’m a man dying of thirst and she’s the answer to my prayers. I drink her in, drink drinking from her well. Lucy’s mouth melts into mine, her tongue sliding against the seam of mine as she deepens the kiss. My hands are in her hair, cradling the back of her skull as her nails dig into the back of my neck, both of us moving with desperate urgency. She tastes sweet, like cherries and I catalogue it as my new favorite flavor.”

It has fun, laughs, intrigue, twists that you do not expect, and physical attraction. You will fall in love with Theo and Lucy. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful love story. From page to page, chapter to chapter, from cover to cover - you will enjoy this beautiful story! This book will not disappoint! Highly recommended 😊

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theo and Lucy have been best friends forever but they both have been keeping secrets from each other. Sometimes secrets start out innocently but they can also cause major problems. Looks can also be deceiving, especially pictures shared by social media. Perception is reality but misconceptions and miscommunication can be just as bad as lies of omissions. Theo and Lucy are guilty of all of these and if they had been honest with each other then the situation they currently find themselves in would probably look entirely different.

Lucy has worked hard to earn her place on the team as an athletic trainer. She didn't want to use her Dad's fame or her friendships with the coach and players to get her the position. She has known Matteo and Theo for years since their Dad's played with hers for years and they remained close. Theo and Matty's sister have been her best friends since childhood. Though when it comes to matters of the heart, Theo was out of the loop because it was easier to ignore her feelings that way. She rarely dated by after seeing photographs she made a drunken decision that would change her life forever.

Theo grew up, like Matty, in the shadows of their hockey legend fathers. Their coach was family because of their fathers. Theo has been always protective of Lucy. He has also included her often as his plus one to events abd social gatherings. His teammates have speculated that there was something more but they were just friends, except in his heart. Theo might be seen in PR settings with dates but he has never found someone he wanted more than the girl who captured his heart years ago.

When Lucy needed him he was always there no questions asked. This time he reacted without thinking of the consequences or the lifelong implications. He just said "me" without any hesitation or consulting Lucy regarding how she wanted to handle her unexpected pregnancy. He did the same thing his father did and chose to be a Dad. He might not be biologically the baby's father but he promised to be his or her Dad forever. He was willing to be their for Lucy every step of the way including as her partner.

As Lucy and Theo "pretended" to be a couple they got to know each other better. Living together brought them closer and hiding their feelings became harder. Soon the truth was exposed and fake became real. In the midst of all the chaos, Theo's secrets were revealed and Lucy was faced with learning that all photographs she had seen over the years were nothing more than PR. Theo had been in love with her as long as she him. A stupid pact between friends had kept them apart for years. Some rules and promises are meant to be broken. Those made as children are definitely not meant to be forever.

I loved Theo and Lucy because they valued their friendship and didn't want to risk losing their most important person. Though letting fear of the unknown control you can be just as damaging as lies. Theo and Lucy were brought together by a baby but that baby will grow up with two loving parents because they found their voices and spoke the truth. History has a way of repeating itself with the Archers and the Ice Hawks. I love the protective nature of all the MMCs and how strong the FMCs are with or without their men!

Thank you Cali Melle for the ARC and the opportunity to review this wonderful book series!

[The Daily Main Character · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Luna Literary and Cali Melle for the ARC of this!! <3
FYI - there are spoilers ahead!!

A dual POV childhood friends to lovers romance with yearning and a golden retriever man is going to do it for me every time and this absolutely delivered. The Baby Bluff is book two in the Bar Down series but can definitely be read as a standalone. This story follows Theo and Lucy in the sweetest, most wholesome romance. He plays professional hockey and she is about to start as an athletic trainer for his team, so maybe a little workplace and forced proximity thrown in there as well. During the first few chapters we find out that our FMC is pregnant after a random one night stand and is left to fend for herself through her pregnancy. BUT in walks walking green flag Theo, to save the day. He tells everyone the baby is his to save face for her and they enter into a fake relationship to sell their story. Little do they both know, they have been yearning for each other for years, and then the tension… it was perfect. I loved how supportive and understanding our MMC was, he listened to her, he heard her and actually provided meaningful and useful support during a time where our FMC was clearly vulnerable.

"He's always been a constant in my life. The one who keeps me grounded. My rock. My safe place." STOP, I love them!!

What I love about a childhood friends to lovers romance is that there is so much history between the two characters, there is already a level of trust, they genuinely know each other, they have inside jokes, their banter and their families know each other. I think what the author did so well is showcase how each of our main characters felt so incredibly comfortable and supported by each other's parents, a true depiction of found family. There is also a strong sense of found family within the team and Lucy's friends…oh and did I mention there are group chats!!! I love a team group chat and this provided exactly what I needed, the banter was perfect! Now onto the spice, which I thought fit into the story extremely well, it was written in to add depth to the characters and added to their overall yearning for each other.

What maybe held it back from being 5 stars is that I was wanting more…maybe more of Theo and Lucy being parents, I would have liked a little more into this dynamic. But overall this was such a fun read, and if you're looking for an entertaining, well-paced hockey romance with characters you will fall in love with, I definitely recommend picking this up. Excited for what's to come in this series!

[Maxime Janssens · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ // 3🌶

The baby bluff follows Theo and Lucy, childhood best friends who made a promise a long time ago that they would never do anything to mess up their friendship. However, without knowing, both are so willing to pass that line as they are both secretly smitten with one another.

Theo, a walking green flag, kind and considerate hockey player with the pro's, has the hardest time keeping this promise he made at 14 years old, as he is completely, utterly in love with his best friend for years. Even though he keeps up appearances dating other women, they never make him feel anything, so he keeps them all at an armslength, waiting for the right girl. If only she knew how he felt.

Lucy is in love with her best friend who keeps her at armslength, being very clear they can never be more. One night, after crying over pictures of him with someone else, she gets drunk and has a one night stand. Two months later she finds out she is pregnant, and the 'dad' is not interested in playing any part. Completely panicking, Theo is the one that shows up. He joins her to the doctors, to her parents where she needs to tell the news... and slips up telling a lie that changes their lives for good. Claiming he is the dad, they start to fake date to sell this story, but the line they set so long ago becomes very blurry. Will they lose each other over this or will they both get what they have wanted for so many years?

The whole book is perfection. With a good pace the story has, whilst packed with humor and tenderness, you in awe the whole time. You keep flipping pages and are at the end before you know it, leaving you hungry for more. Theo is an MMC that sets the bar at the sky for all future book boyfriends, with his devoting, unwavering love for his girls. The way he steps up, without a smidge of condenscension or anger, but in a kind, fierce and loyal manner shows his true character. It had me swooning. Due to their lifelong friendship, Lucie and Theo know how to communicate, how to read each other and how to make each other feel safe. It makes you giddy and rooting for them the whole time. Contrary to some books with the fake dating trope, I never felt the 'just tell them and get it over with', the pace felt natural and just right. The book has the perfect balance of love, humor and heartfelt, leaving you feel full and content during the ride. The book should be a must read on everyone's TBR. I can not wait to see glimpses of them in the next book in this series.

"𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚" 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒚.