Taking Sides

Moonshot Hockey #3

by Rebecca Jenshak

She has one rule: never date a hockey player. But her brother's biggest rival is breaking through all her defences . . .

Conrad Shepard is Moonshot Hockey's star defenceman - but when it comes to love, he's been sitting on the bench. That is, until he starts volunteering at a high school hockey camp and meets Coach Whitney. She's beautiful, she's smart and she knows hockey.

Unfortunately, Whitney Aven has been surrounded by hockey players her entire life. Which is why she has a strict rule to never date one.

But Conrad isn't like any other man she's met. At first, she thinks he simply can't stand her. But then she realizes that behind the handsome face and unrivalled talent is a man who is shy. And when their sizzling chemistry ignites one night, she discovers that behind closed doors he is far from reserved . . .

And Whitney's no hockey player rule? Well, when she realizes Conrad is her brother's biggest rival she is suddenly caught between the two most important men in her life.

It has to stay a secret. Her brother is already known for being brutal on the ice, and she won't be the reason their rivalry turns ugly.

But when she's forced to take sides, she ends up breaking all her own rules . . .

A totally unputdownable and deliciously spicy ice hockey romance. Perfect for fans of Off Campus, Hannah Grace and Stephanie Archer!

Genres: Sports Romance, Hockey, Romance, Sports, Hockey Romance, Found Family, Forced Proximity

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 26, 2026

About the author

Rebecca Jenshak is a new adult romance author.
Sign up for her newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/rebecca...

Amazon: https://goo.gl/6VtdGu
Facebook: https://goo.gl/ix1kB2
Instagram: https://goo.gl/MQw2FW

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking Sides (Moonshot Hockey #3) Rebecca Jenshak
Book Blurb: A high school hockey coach with one firm dating rule meets the quiet pro hockey player who makes breaking it look dangerously tempting.

Rating: ****
Feels: Fun, Adorable, Sweetness, Happiness
Style: Sports Romance, Hockey, Sports, Romance, Hockey Romance
First published September 26, 2026 : 375 pages

Themes & Setting: Professional hockey team player and a high school team coach finding their way. Acceptance of each other just the way you are and support !!
FMC: Its a good thing Whitney is the kind of girl that can go for what she wants because she finds a tempting man to want !!
MMC: Really enjoyed the shy awkwardness of Conrad. Its kinda fun to have a stumbling MMC who cant talk to girls !!!
Conclusion: Oh we adore a sweet awkward guy with a heart of gold. Like literally I was laughing at some of the scenes and trauma this poor guy has just what talking to women. I can’t even say he learns how to be less awkward because that’s not our Conrad. He is the guy that helps everyone on the team and is just the sweetest !! I always love a good found family / hockey team setting and his teammates were soo fun. Come be amused and have your heart warmed at the same time as Conrad stumbles his way into Whitney’s heart !!

Favorite Quote: if I need to be the one to tell her otherwise, remind her how important she is every single day, Im happy for the job.

Book Vibes:
He Falls First
Found Family
Forced Proximity
Rivals Sister

[all.the.smut.things · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️

I absolutely loved this book. I swear this series just keeps getting better and I absolutely loved it from book one.

Conrad and Whitney were perfect and I loved them together. Conrad was such a different MMC and OMG that man was such a sweet heart. There is something about a virgin MMC that gets me every single time

Ans Whitney! I just want to be her friend. She’s the kind of FMC you want to see all the good things (and dirty talking hockey players) happen for.

✨ Hockey Romance
✨ Brother’s Rival
✨ She’s a Hockey Coach
✨ Cinnamon Roll MMC
✨ He’s a Virgin
✨ Found Family

I loved how all the tropes came together on this one and I really loved the whole friend group, I cannot wait for the neck booms and as always, if Rebecca writes it, I’m going to need it!

[Jill (readinginpjs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you Rebecca Jenshak & Podium Entertainment for the ARC & ALC, all opinions are my own.

so obsessed with this series, it’s SO GOOD!
Rebecca Jenshak is at the TOP of the sports romance genre for me, I LOVE her books so much 😍

I absolutely adored Conrad & Whitney, they were both so endearing.
I especially loved Conrad, his sweetness and innocence 🥹 I knew I’d love him from the little bits we got of him in the previous books!
Whitney was just so kind & patient with him, and I loved them together 🥰

🎧 with duet + multi cast narration, audio is definitely the way to go for this series!
Austin Stone & Lucy Rivers did a fantastic job in their roles with Conrad & Whitney, and I loved the entire cast.

✦ tropes & more:
🏒 pro hockey player
📋 high school teacher & hockey coach
💙 brother’s rival
🤍 shy v!rgin hero
🫶🏼 found family
💞 dual 1st person pov

🎧 audio + ebook | ⭐️: 5 | 🌶️: open door |

📖 Taking Sides by Rebecca Jenshak
📚 book 3 • Moonshot Hockey series
🏒: sports romance (mf)
🎙 narrated by: Austin Stone & Lucy Rivers, with Ryan Lee Dunlap, Christian Fox, Teddy Hamilton, Jason Clarke, Erin Mallon, Savannah Peachwood & Mollie Stark

*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍

[Gosia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my… 9th book by Rebecca, I think, and first I did on audio and sadly it was a huge miss for me. I have all her other books at least solid 4 stars but this one is barely making it to 2 😭😭😭

It also pains me as it was my first ARC+ALC from Podium Entertainment.
I wish Rebecca well and I will still keep her previous and next books on my tbr but this was just not it.
Leaving without star rating for now and about to post full review on GR, I will be back here with full review after the release date.

The audio performance was great! Full cast, 9,5h long, narrated in duet by Lucy Rivers and Austin Stone.

Review originally posted on NetGalley:
I wanna start with thanks to Rebecca and Podium Entertainment for both ALC and eARC.
I consider myself a fan of Rebecca, it’s 7th or 8th book of hers I read and it’s a first one I’m rating lower than 4 stars. It pains me but unfortunately I write my reviews honestly and I just can’t give this book more than 2 stars. Even 2 might be a stretch… 😬

I’m sorry, I really am 😭

I like the page count (under 300!) and audio duration (9,5h) but that was the highlight of this book, sadly.
I just couldn’t understand how Conrad was this handsome but yet THIS shy. I think Rebecca made him so shy and still a virgin to make him stand out from all the hockey players MMCs but I don’t think it worked here. It just made zero sense. And how Whitney was instantly interested in him because of his looks? It just felt too insta for me, too focused on physical attraction, and I didn’t feel any real connection between them even later in the book.


I really struggled to push through. The audio performance was really great but it’s the story itself that didn’t make me hooked and I needed to bring my attention back to the story every 30seconds. My mind just kept wandering off. It’s truly the first time this happened for me when reading one of Rebecca’s books!

I just read a different book by Rebecca a week before starting Taking Sides and I gave it solid 4 stars, so I don’t think I’m the issue here, something is just not it when it comes to this book 😔

The drama with Whit’s brother totally lost me. He was acting worse than a 5 year old and it made me roll my eyes so hard.
And the hmm… let’s call it plot twist (I don’t want to give spoilers), just no, that’s when my rating dropped to 2 stars. I don’t mind *this* trope happening but it did NOT make any sense here.

Oh and the whistle scene? What even was that. Huge ick. I was SO confused at first.

It really pains me to say this but I was either bored, rolling my eyes amor dissociating during this read. I’m devastated but it is what it is.

The audio performance was great!!! No notes for that. Full cast, 9,5h hours, easy to read with 2.0 speed (or even 2.5) *2.0 is my usual listening speed
Narrated by: Austin Stone, Lucy Rivers, Ryan Lee Dunlap, Christian Fox, Teddy Hamilton, Jason Clarke, Erin Mallon, Savannah Peachwood, Mollie
Stark

Once again big thanks to Rebecca and Podium for ALC and ARC.

[Christi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taking Sides is the 3rd standalone in the Moonshot Hockey sports romance series and I loved this one! We have a shy hockey hero and a high school hockey coach heroine (who also happens to be his rival’s sister). I devoured this book in a night and it had me emotional multiple times on behalf of the characters, ugh their pairing was everything and I’ll forever love this author’s sports romances.

Whitney is a high school JV hockey coach (and math teacher) and she meets Conrad at the start of the story when he and his teammate are at the school to help out her hockey camp for the week. She doesn’t think Conrad is into her since he barely looks at her or talks to her plus she’s always had a rule for herself to never date hockey players, so she’s very surprised when he asks her out on a date on his last day. And she then surprises them both by saying yes! Unfortunately the date goes horribly and they go their separate ways. He was shy and feeling too awkward to even speak to her so a few months later he gets his second chance to ask her out again, with the nudging from his friends.

I was obsessed with Conrad and Whitney together. Their chemistry, them being there for one another, his friends/teammates being there for him, his backstory when he was younger had me in my feels multiple times, her JV team and players were so sweet, even the harder times with her dad and brother, the Dirty Dancing, all the hockey time. Ugh I just ate this book up and it has me excited for future setups we got glimpses of!

I received an ARC, all thoughts in this review are my own.

[casey · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

A new book from Rebecca Jenshak to love is what keeps me going 😌

Being back with the Moonshot Hockey crew is always a good time, but considering I’ve been anticipating Conrad’s book since he first appeared on the page, I was EVEN MORE excited — and what a treat it was!

I absolutely adored Conrad & Whitney. I’m such a huge sucker for flustered, blushing MMCs, and Conrad was the epitome of one. This book doesn’t shy away from how awkward he is, and I loved that he was so tongue-tied around her. Despite her being his rival’s sister, he falls HARD and isn’t ashamed about it! Their support and belief in one another really bring out each of their bests, and they showed how easy love can be when you meet the right person to do life with 🥹

To no one’s surprise, I really enjoyed this book! All the warm and fuzzy, first-love type feelings Conrad and Whitney gave me were everything I needed and more. I absolutely CANNOT WAIT to be back in Moonshot with the next couple 🤩

Thank you so much to Rebecca Jenshak & her team for an ARC of this book! 💌

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

this was seriously the cutest & i love a blushing, easily-flustered mmc <3

[Jessica Paige (Exercise_Read_Repeat) · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

In the third book of the Moonshot Hockey series, we get an awkward, shy hero who is absolutely terrible with women… until he meets a hockey coach at the camp where he volunteers, who just so happens to be his rival’s sister. These two were so good together! I found myself gushing over them countless times and loved how they brought out the best in each other. They were the kind of couple who truly made each other better. Lighthearted in the best possible way!

Read for:
▪️Rival’s sister
▪️Female hockey coach
▪️Virgin MMC
▪️Cinnamon roll hero

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

4.25🌟 | 3🌶️

Give me a sweet, awkward hero and a patient heroine, and I’m already halfway sold.

Conrad was so shy, sweet, and awkward that I was rooting for him from the start. I had a feeling I’d adore him after the glimpses we got in the earlier books, and he absolutely delivered. Whitney was such a wonderful match for him too, especially with how patient and welcoming she was while he slowly came out of his shell.

Their relationship was genuinely adorable, with plenty of chemistry and tension underneath all the sweetness. I especially liked watching Conrad become more comfortable with Whitney and seeing their connection grow without losing that awkward charm that made them so cute together. Whitney understood him so well, and their dynamic felt easy and natural once he let his guard down. The found-family side was another highlight, and I loved getting more time with the hockey crew.

This was such a fun, feel-good hockey romance with a couple that was incredibly easy to root for. There were plenty of swoony moments, a sweet emotional side, and all the team and friendship dynamics I’ve come to enjoy from this series. Conrad and Whitney brought such a lovely energy to the story, and I was happy spending time with them.

Definitely another enjoyable addition to a series I’ve been having such a good time with.

~~~~

A sincere thank you to Rebecca Jenshak and her Team, Podium Entertainment, and NetGalley for the ARC! 🥰📚

I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨

[JewelsyGoolsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars. Very pleasant read overall, but a bit on the slower side with a hero so shy, he came across as on the blander side.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taking Sides is book three, and my new favorite, of the Moonshot Hockey series! I absolutely adored Conrad and Whitney and I loved every second of this book

I loved how shy and reserved Conrad was and how truly terrible he was at speaking to women. It was adorable and completely endearing. He's the sweet and awkward MMC we all love and I was really rooting for him. Whitney was the perfect match for him with her patience and understanding. They balanced each other so well and were the perfect match once Conrad was actually able to speak to her! I loved that she was also part of the hockey world too as a high school hockey coach. The moments with her team were so fun and really showed how caring and dedicated she was to her team.

There were tons of swoon worthy moments, the perfect amount of sweetness, plus some humor and good laughs. Conrad and Whitney were so easy to root for and their story was so enjoyable. I loved this series and can't wait to see more of them and their friends as the series continues.

[My Reading Era · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conrad is quiet, shy, and a little awkward around the ladies, but that doesn’t deter Whitney one bit. She finds it completely endearing, and I loved these two together! They’re both incredibly sweet, and I really enjoyed watching everything they did for Whitney’s team. Their dynamic was absolutely adorable, and they truly deserved their happily ever after together.

The full cast narration was incredible and made you feel like you were right there and a part of the team. Austin Stone and Lucy Rivers were the perfect voices for Conrad and Whitney, they completely nailed their sweet, incredibly adorable dynamic.

This was such a sweet, feel good listen, and these two are seriously the cutest. Definitely one to add to your TBR!

Thank you, Rebecca Jenshak, Podium Entertainment and Must Love Audio for the ARC/ALC.

[Amity Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

I have loved this series & this one was so good!! Whitney & Conrad were everything!! He is the insecure closed off MMC and she is the perfect match for him! She is sweet & so welcoming & I loved watching him become comfortable & opening up to her!

This is the perfect hockey romance! It was sweet, wholesome, and I loved the friend group & how they just feel like the best family!! This book had me giggling, swooning, and absolutely loving this two!! This had chemistry & so much tension with the brother’s rival trope. I had the best time reading this one. Just a fun, easy, and great read!!

[LouWeezy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read, but I definitely wanted a little more. I loved the aspect of having a shy hockey player, and she helped him come out of his shell. There were some cute elements for sure.

I suppose where it fell short was that I didn't feel like their relationship or their characters were fleshed out enough. Other than physical attraction, what made them feel connected to each other? I had to dig pretty deep to find some answers to that one. We knew a little bit about their back stories, but we didn't get to really see it play out. It felt like a lot of telling and not showing. There wasn't much build up, banter, or flirting. It kind of just...happened.

Also, I didn't really understand the virgin thing. He said he was shy and bad at talking to women, so that's why he didn't ever have sex. However, he also said he had received oral before. And based on his performance in that area, I would assume he had given it. So...was he confident enough to receive and give, but then suddenly got awkward and couldn't go all the way? That seems unlikely. He even specifically made a comment that he wasn't intentionally waiting for someone special. So, explain?

Safety squad:
-No OWD
-No OMD
-No cheating

Overall, this was cute, but it just needed more. Thank you so much for the ARC read!

[Brooke (The_Brookeshelf_) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 3.5/5

Taking Sides was a cute, feel good read, following the story of Conrad and Whitney who we were briefly introduced in the first two books of the series. I absolutely adore the Moonshot Hockey series and am always ready to dive into another book to follow the boys on this team!

Compared to the first two books of this series, Taking Sides has a very different feeling to it, making it completely unique based on Conrad’s personality. He is shy and timid, especially around women, so when he becomes infatuated with the attractive high school hockey coach while helping out with a kids summer camp, big things have to change. Whitney is literal human sunshine and sees Conrad for all he is, awkward dates and all, always willing to see past the shy outer shell and wanting to get to who he is at the core. This type of patience truly allows their relationship to bloom, plus a little help from his family—the boys on the hockey team! I love the found family elements of this series and this book is the perfect example of this.

Given that this book is very different than the first two books of the series where our MCs are intense, grumpy, broody, goofy, or confident, Conrad being a virgin and shy around women really shifted the narrative. Plus, Whitney being set in a high school, also changed the vibes all around where most interactions are happening around the kiddos. I think this combination ended up giving their story a very juvenile feeling and offered less spice or romance than I was hoping for.

While I did enjoy their story overall, I just really wanted a more mature relationship that I don’t think was possible for them to achieve when this was their first serious relationship for both of them. I also really wanted more pro hockey time, not just time centered around the high school team.

All in all, I would definitely recommend this one and hope everyone falls in love with the Moonshot Hockey series like I have!

Thank you to Podium Entertainment, Rebecca Jenshak, and her team for access to this ebook. All opinions are my own.

Tropes:
Hockey romance
Virgin MMC
Pro jockey player x high school hockey coach
Rivals sister
Forced proximity

[Kayla | Kayla Reads Smut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Y'all, I have to say, full cast narration is the way to go so round of applause to Rebecca Jenshak and all of the amazing narrators that brought this book to life! Like conversation and the banter is so much better with all of the talented narrators. Ok so I guess since we are starting with the narrators, let's talk about it.

This series is duet narration with a full cast! Conrad and Whitney are voiced by Austin Stone and Lucy Rivers. And I will say, I think they were perfect for the personalities of the characters. Conrad is this shy hockey player who also happens to be a v!rg!n. He's very soft spoken as well, which I felt like Austin did a good job with. And you can tell as the story went on, Conrad's character came out of his shell and Austin's narration reflected that. I will say though, I do think Austin was a little too flat for me at times with very minimal reflection. Lucy, she was perfect for Whitney! Now the full cast? It's stacked and truly transported me into the story. I will say this, I'm so excited for Jason Clarke to narrated his book which is the last book the series... 👀

As for the story, this one was super cute about a really shy hockey player and his rival's little sister. Our FMC is also a hockey coach for the men's high school hockey team. We love a female in sports! It was also their shared love for hockey that helped break the ice. Whitney was also perfect for Conrad because she never judged Conrad. She allowed him to be shy and helped him feel comfortable in situations that wouldn't normally put himself in.

Now with that being said, I do like more of an alpha MMC. Now Conrad does become more alpha as the book goes on but he is still a sweet golden retriever. Paired with the fact that he was a v!rg!n, I did feel like we went from zero to 100 on the sexual front real quick. But you know what, yolo.

*I would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Rebecca Jenshak and Must Love Audio for allowing me to read/listen to Taking Sides as an ARC/ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts, opinion and review. I can't wait to continue the series. I also REALLY looking forward to D-Low and Penn's books. These are the two MMCs I was most attracted to from book one in this series!

[Carmen Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I need to preface this with the fact I love Rebecca Jenshak's writing and I was anxiously awaiting Lucky Shot. Then it released and the blurb just didn't work for me and despite the fact I grabbed it on release day from KU it just kept slipping down my TBR. Then I saw the tropes and teasers for this and HAD to read it. When I realised it was book 3 I knew I had to read the others first so I've had a nice little binge read.

So Conrad I am well acquainted with from the last 2 books. And his nervousness around women made him so endearing. Here he is this famous athlete, who all our previous heroines have made mention of his beauty and he literally can't put a sentence together around women. I couldn't wait to get his POV and back story and it didn't disappoint.

Whitney was a new to us character but i loved her from the beginning. She was so baffled by Conrad's behaviour on their date but she didn't take it onboard as her issue. And she wasn't afraid to call it out or to give him another chance when he tried to explain the problem.

The two of them together were sweet and hot and their couple's journey was fun to watch. It felt real and natural and I was so invested in them. I wasn't sure how the whole Victor thing was going to play out but even that felt authentic. It wasn't perfect, but it felt realistic.

Overall, I couldn't be happier, except for if the other books were available so I could just keep right on with the Moonshot boys. And then maybe throw in Victor's book just to keep the party going.

[Amanda Blanche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this e-ARC releasing Sept 29th.

I’ve read other books by this author and always have a good time, so I was happy to get to ARC read this. All her books are sports romance. This book is hockey based - painfully shy and awkward with women NHL player MMC and feisty teacher and high school hockey coach FMC (who swears she doesn’t date hockey players). There are themes of past bullying and family issues that really add depth and meaning to the story. Lots of banter and a great crew of secondary characters that have had a book - or will have one - based on them.

Conrad is a big success in the NHL, good looking and generally a good person - total catch right? Except he can’t talk to women. Like painfully so. So when he meets Whitney at a high school hockey training camp, he’s immediately into her. Too bad he can’t say more than two words to her. With a bunch of missed signals and miscommunication - their first date isn’t the greatest. But trying to see if something is there is worth the awkward silences.

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

More 4 1/2 🌟 Taking Sides is a fun, found family hockey romance and was such an enjoyable read! Book three in Moonshot Hockey series and this one features Conrad an extremely shy especially around women hockey player and Whitney a high school hockey coach. Oh do you feel for poor Conrad at times and with the patience from Whitney his growth is admirable plus the two of them together is even better. Conrad’s friendship group truly makes this story as does the high school hockey players. When you also throw in rivals sister you just know there will be plenty of tension. If you adore a great hockey romance then I would highly recommend this one. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.

I received a complementary copy from the author.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What to Expect:
Sports (Hockey)
Rival's Sister
Found Family
Shy Hero
Hockey Coach FMC

This is book three in her Moonshot Hockey series and it is finally Conrad's time to shine! There is a small overlap with the previous books, but the backstory helps explain Conrad and Whitney's dynamic.

Whitney is a badass hockey coach and I loved seeing her in that role. She not only knew hockey because she played it previously, but she was kind and empathetic to her students. These kids lucked out having such a fantastic coach. When she goes on a date with Conrad, at first she thinks that he is not into her. But little does she know that Conrad is super shy and very much into her.

I also enjoyed the rival's sister subplot throughout the book. Conrad and Victor have always had beef for some reason, and when he found out about their relationship, they had some decisions to make. I feel like we might see a redemption journey for Victor and I would be interested in learning more.

Anyways, back to Conrad and Whitney: their chemistry was fantastic. I loved how Whitney helped Conrad open up and became a safe place for him. And I loved how Conrad fought to open up to her. Overall this was a wonderful, feel good kind of read that made my heart happy. Thank you so much to Rebecca and her team for the early copy of Taking Sides!

[Katiepatatieee_reads · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3.5🌟

I adore this whole series and the found family these guys have created, but this book was definitely my least favorite of the 3 books so far. Not to discourage anyone from reading it, it was still a cute good time. There wasn’t anything glaringly wrong with the book. I just wasn’t as invested in the couple and therefore didn’t enjoy it as much as the other 2 books.

Conrad “Shep” is a super hot virgin hockey player who doesn’t know how to talk to girls. He’s very much a golden retriever!!
Whitney is newer to town, coaching high school hockey & teaching there, and has never had a serious relationship before. She was very lovable!

They’re really adorable together, had a sweet love story. But nothing will be very memorable for me. Not every book will hit for every person and that’s okay. Still give it a shot yourself!

I will still 100% be continuing this series. I cannot wait for the next book!!

Thank you to Podium Entertainment for the amazing audiobook ALC & to Rebecca Jenshak for the eARC.

[Danielle Hooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC review✨
wellll sweet baby boy Conrad must be protected at all cost and i’m so glad he found Whitney that persevered through possibly the worst date and gave him, our sweet, shy soul a chance so he could find his happily ever after 😭

Whitney also just so happens to be Conrad’s biggest rival’s sister which, yes pls 🙂‍↔️ she’s a high school hockey coach, trying to build her own life and takes a chance on our boy who likely stares at her more than speaks the first half of their relationship, but you know, you don’t need taking while being intimate 🤭 but that is realllllly when Conrad shines *internally screaming*

the friend group in this series is so fun, Rebecca always builds the best found families and this one doesn’t disappoint. they care so deeply about each other and love to be involved in everyone’s business butttt in this case it worked out cause they helped Conrad seal the deal with Whitney! it was so beautiful to see him slowly build his confidence throughout the relationship
and for Whitney to see the pure goodness in his heart 🥹 i love them so much, must read!

[Joana (joanasbookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the best time!!! Read it in one sitting and I just love Rebecca Jenshak books. There’s something about her books that make it impossible for me to stop reading them.
Rebecca Jenshak writes the best sports romances and this one wasn’t an exception!!!

I absolutely loved both Conrad and Whitney. From the previous books I already knew I was going to love Conrad’s book and I wasn’t wrong. Both of them are so endearing and they just feel so right together.
Their story is just beautiful and it felt so natural and special.

As always, it was beautifully written and I adored the characters. Can’t wait to continue to read the rest of the series!!!

Thank you to Rebecca Jenshak and Podium Entertainment for the ARC for this one!!

[Erica]

DNF’d at 86 % due to surprise pregnancy 🙄

[Lexie · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, Happy Release Day to Rebecca Jenshak! Second, big thank you to Rebecca, NetGalley and Podium Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Speaking of said review copy, was it just me or was this review kindle copy atrocious. The formatting was horrible. Words and straight up full sentences were missing. I hope all of that was corrected in the published kindle format. Because man I struggled to get through reading certain scenes cause I was trying to piece together what was missing or what the person had fully just said.

But even with that said the overall story was still cute and enjoyable. Is it my favorite Rebecca Jenshak book? No.

Now the reason I rated this book lower than the previous ones in this series was because at times Conrad & Whitney felt way too insta-lovey. They had disastrous first date. Then re-connect not long later and all is forgotten and oh well there goes there clothes. I’m like hello?!? Can we maybe actually talk and get to know each other first. Especially since it’s revealed that Conrad is a virgin. Once that was revealed I just wanted a deeper connection between the couple. Their intimacy instead was rushed. Which is a shame because they had true moments of attraction and connection.

However, I would 100% still recommend it and I fully plan on continuing on with the series. These Moonshot boys have me hooked so I’m not going anywhere.

[kailesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you MLA and Podium for the advance copies. All thoughts are my own.

Conrad and Whitney were SO easy to fall in love with! 🥹 Conrad was such a sweet, shy, and genuine character. I loved seeing a different kind of MMC in a hockey romance, and watching him slowly come out of his shell with Whitney was such a highlight. Whitney was the perfect match for him, too. Her kindness and patience made their relationship so beautiful, and I especially loved the added layer of her being a high school teacher and hockey coach. Seeing that same patience carry over into her relationship with Conrad made her character even more lovable. The found family and sibling rivalry elements were such fun additions, too! My only wish is that we’d gotten a little more exploration of Conrad’s virginity, especially since it was promoted as a major trope, because that part of his story felt a little rushed.

🎧 The audio was FANTASTIC! Lucy Rivers and Austin Stone did such a great job bringing Whitney and Conrad to life, and the full-cast narration made the experience so much more immersive. The narrators captured their personalities and chemistry perfectlyyyy.

Overall, this was such a fun and bingeable read! I loved getting to know Conrad and Whitney as individuals and watching them find their way to each other. Their relationship was sweet and so easy to root for, and I’ll definitely be reading more of this series!

[Tima · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This story is dual POV, well written, and a sweet and steamy, brother’s rival, contemporary sports romance between Conrad, the male professional ice hockey player lead who suffers from debilitating shyness, and Whitney, the female high school ice hockey coach/math teacher lead. I enjoyed Whitney’s self esteem and her willingness to take a chance with Conrad but to draw boundaries where she deemed them necessary. I empathised with Conrad’s history, and I enjoyed Whitney’s empathy, once she understood the situation. I enjoyed Conrad’s effort to connect with her, even when it was excruciatingly difficult, and his character development. I enjoyed the relationship development, though I flinched at the awkward moments, appreciating how working through them helped the characters. I enjoyed the found/chosen family vibe of Conrad’s teammates, and the support they provided the characters. I appreciated the contrast between families and family support, and enjoyed that both characters were willing to draw lines to protect themselves and their relationship. I enjoyed the happy ending and the set up for the next story in the series.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.

[Sarahboo15 · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

Rebecca Jenshak does it again!! Hands down one of my favorite sports romance authors!! Rebecca’s writing just pulls you in and gives you all the sports and heart in the most perfect combination.

Taking Sides is book 3 in the Moonshot Hockey series and my favorite book so far! These books just keep getting better and better as each one releases!

Conrad…THAT man! The way I ate up this book. He is shy, sweet, funny and oh so awkward when it comes talking to women. I couldn’t stop kicking my feet and giggling through this whole book. No one would guess with his Prince Charming good looks that he has no idea what he’s doing when it comes to girls and dating. All it took was meeting the right girl and her patience to let Conrad be himself and open up to her.

Enter Whitney, the high school hockey coach and Conrad’s rivals sister. She’s sweet, funny, strong, smart and determined to be the best teacher and hockey coach. The way she loves her job was just so inspiring. I loved getting so much of her coaching job with the Moonshot high school hockey team. And I especially loved how Conrad and his NHL friends were so involved with the high school hockey team.

If you love hockey romance and the best found family around then this book and series is for you! I highly recommend starting from the beginning with Lucky Shot because the way this series evolves with all the side characters is absolutely amazing.

[Wendy ⏃: ✦The Life of A Book Nerd✦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moonshot Hockey series became an instant favorite after reading Lucky Shot. I wouldn't wait for my baby Conrad to get his book and the time is here!! 😭

Conrad and Danny aka D-Low end up assisting at hockey camp for local highschool and that's where he meets Whitney. But what he's doesn't know is that she's his rivals sister 🫢.

Whitney is our STEM girlie, she teaches math class and also coaches the JV team. The moment Conrad and her meet it's an instant attraction. Conrad is super shy and doesn't know how to handle the situation. Whitney thinks he's not into her, so surprised when he asks her out after the camp week.

The date is a disaster. It became really awkward, Whitney was already apprehensive to date hockey players and Conrad just froze. It wasn't until a few months later, that he got the courage to ask her for a second chance and that's when things really ramp up.

Whitney was absolutely amazing for Conrad. She showed so much patience and grace. I loved them together!! The support of their friends/his teammates was important to their relationship. I adored all the moments with them and the JV team. Can't wait for more in this series!!


Thank you so much Rebecca and Team for the ARC copy ✨.

[dee.readssss · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ALC Review* My first by Rebecca and I absolutely LOVED it!!

Conrad is literally your definition of a green flag guy. He was super shy thanks to his history with, well...people, and was so intimidated by Whitney at first that is was both comical and sad how hard he kept fumbling. I think a weaker woman wouldn't have given him another chance, but Whitney was good to her core just like Conrad. I was surprised a couple times during my read by a few surprises I wasn't expecting, but I absolutely loved the way they both played out!! I was giddy and smiling the whole listen!

Austin Stone and Lucy Rivers did a phenomenal job narrating this one. As a newish listener they really kept me engaged and I don't think I missed one word of it. I also got a ton of extra cleaning in because I just didn't want to stop listening!

I was nervous stepping into book three of a series, but when I got the ALC from Podium I was so excited to jump in. Honestly, Rebecca did such a great job as making this an interconnected standalone that I had no confusion at all missing the other books, but now I do want to go back and start at the beginning!


Tropes:
✨Hockey Romance
✨Rival’s Sister
✨Virgin MMC
✨Found Family
✨High School Hockey Coach x Shy Guy Pro Hockey Player

[Melanie (mells_view) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Flowers are nice, but hockey sticks last longer.”

Taking Sides was the perfect addition to the Moonshot Hockey series. Conrad Shepard the shy golden retriever that you are. Of course we love a fictional hockey man who is sweet as pie and down bad for his love interest, but Whitney stole my heart in this one. They both did, but I love that Whitney is so patient and understanding with Shep. She gets that from being such a great hockey coach and teacher. I also love that this is a Jenshak book, so yes we get the romance, but we also get complex emotional family/friend dynamics, and subplots that show who our characters are outside of falling in love and intimacy. The way Whitney and Conrad both care for her hockey players/students melted my heart. Plus, it’s funny in the easiest way. Agh. Such a good read and perfect for anyone who wants something sweet, emotional, and steamy.

Side note: I’m so excited for the book that’s coming next, so much mystery with those two and the tropes?!?! THAT SAID… while I will never forgive him for certain things, I’d love to see Victor get a book. I think he can earn some redemption if the author can see it.