Return: Second Chance Age Gap Hockey Romance

Stingrays Hockey #6

by Mari Carr

His comeback was supposed to be behind the bench—until she put his heart back in play.

Dean Fields thought he’d already played his final hockey period.

Forced to retire at twenty-nine after a brutal, career-ending injury, Dean traded skates for a clipboard, grinding his way through assistant coaching jobs across the league. He built a life in the shadows of the game he loved—controlled, disciplined, safe. Because if hockey had taught him anything, it was how quickly everything you want can be taken from you.

Coming back to Baltimore as head coach of the Stingrays was supposed to be just another step forward. It wasn’t supposed to bring her back into his life.

Vivian Hale had once been off-limits in every possible way—his teammate’s little sister, too young, too bright, and already falling for someone else. Dean had noticed her anyway. Always. But timing had been cruel, and by the time he understood what he felt, she was gone—married, building a life that had no place for him.

Now she’s back too.

Five years a widow, raising her spirited daughter Pip on her own, Vivian has spent long enough grieving the life she lost—and convincing herself it was enough. Love was something she had. Something she buried. Something she wasn’t sure she’d ever risk again.

But Dean isn’t the same man she once knew. And she isn’t the girl who watched him from afar.

What starts as familiarity—shared history, old almosts, quiet understanding—quickly turns into something deeper, something impossible to ignore. This time, there are no rules about teammates or timing. Only fear, second chances… and a little girl who might just change everything.

Dean never believed he’d get a shot at the life he once ruled out.
Vivian never thought she’d want one again.
But sometimes, the hardest thing isn’t moving on—
It’s allowing yourself to return.

Genres: Romance

233 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2026

About the author

Writing a book was number one on Mari Carr’s bucket list. A New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller, Mari’s computer is now jammed full of stories — novels, novellas, short stories and dead-ends.
Mari writes contemporary sexy romance novels. To learn more about her spicy stories, click here.
Join her newsletter so you don't miss new releases and for exclusive subscriber-only content.
Find Mari on the web at
maricarr.com
Email: mari@maricarr.com

Reviews

[Michelle the Romance Witch]

Return is truly a story of two people that are rejoining the relationship world by jumping into the deep end all at once and finding love together. A widow with a young daughter that has finally decided to allow herself to fall in love and move forward to live life once again, and in doing so finds herself losing her heart to the most unexpected of men. Vivian had a crush on Dean years ago when she first met him, but after falling in love then losing that love, she never imagined that crush could become so much more once she allowed herself to open her heart to him again and give their love a chance. Dean never looked at Vivian as anything more than a sweet young woman and his teammate and friends little sister, but once he does look at Vivian as a woman, his eyes are no longer able to see her as anything but the most interesting and beautiful creature he’s ever seen. However, with the mistakes he’s made in the past he’s not sure he deserves Vivian and Pip or the happiness that he feels building a life with them, so he’ll have to let his past go in order to forgive himself and have a chance of that beautiful future. The passion between Dean and Vivi is there from the very first moment, even when they are hiding it from those around them, and it is obvious that fire will continue burning in their relationship long into the future. I’m dying for the next story in this series because with each story it only gets better and better, but I expect nothing less from Mari Carr, especially when it involves hot hockey players.

For full review check out the blog @
https://romancewitchreviews.blogspot....

[Carissa]

I want to give this book even more stars!!! I loved this book and I could not stop reading!!! This is an amazing author and series and I cannot wait for more.

Dean is the coach of The Stingrays. His life revolves around hockey, even though he has made some room for his daughter McKenna now (we got to fall in love with her in Release). Vivian is a single mom to Pip, whose brother is Victor (we got to fall in love with him and Pip in Reclaim).

When Dean and Vivian get stranded in an airport, he is able to get a hotel room and insists she stay with him. After a night filled with getting to know each other better, one thing leads to another . . . When they get home they pretend nothing happened but neither can move on, and they decide to stop resisting each other. Finding time while he is in the middle of the hockey season, and she is very busy with work and Pip proves challenging, but they make it work, in secret.

The problem is the Vivian is unsure if she is ready to move on from losing her husband and Dean has never made anyone a priority above hockey, and feeling like he failed McKenna while growing up makes him unsure if he can ever be the man Vivian and Pip need.

Watching Dean and Vivian fall was a fantastic journey of growth and heart. I loved reading their HEA.

I cannot wait for who’s next!

[Fedora]

RETURN is the sixth in Mari Carr’s Stingrays Hockey universe. Head coach Dean Fields is satisfied with the life he’s got—coaching keeps him a part of his team, and he’s finally building a relationship with his now adult daughter. Vivian Kelly is equally content with the life she’s living with her energetic five-year-old and her protective professional hockey playing brother nearby. When the weather strands them overnight together while traveling, they choose to act on their shared attraction, neither realizing this one occasion will prove life changing for them both.

Mari Carr’s writing is warm and joyful as always, and while she never shies away from tackling deeper concerns, she handles them with a matter-of-fact hopefulness and wisdom that is irresistible. Loved seeing Vivian and Dean recognize and choose to handle the issues holding them back from their happiness, and loved seeing their friends and families and the Stingray community. Can’t wait for more from Ms Carr!

[Silke]

Return is the 6th book in the Stingrays Hockey series. Both Dean and Vivian as well as Viv's daughter Pip have apppeared as secondary characters before and I was soo happy for them to get their own shot at happiness. Dean and Vivian's story is a story of second chances - not just with each other, but also with a new love and happiness after loss, past mistakes, grief and regrets. It's a highly emotional, at times bittersweet, but always excellent read which shows the power of true love to both heal and forgive. As in the previous book, Pip is a wonderful secondary character, as are all the other members of the Stingrays family. So even though it's entirely possible to enjoy Return on its own, I highly recommed reading the series in order or at least the previous two books for additional depth and can't wait for the next one! I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elizabeth]

I loved this book, Dean and Vivian have both been in previous books as secondary characters, but this is their story and what a wonderful story it is. A destructive hurricane brings them together in the airport in Boston but there is only one bed in the last hotel room! Having a brother like Victor who is also Dean’s best friend, along with not wanting Pip to get too attached if it doesn’t work out have the effect of a barrier. Both of them are carrying grief that prevents them from fully committing and is nearly their undoing. All the characters in this series are great but Pip is amazing and I am sure everyone with children can appreciate the learning to ride a bike scene, it was perfect. This is the kind of story you never want to end.

[Mary]

Loving the Stingrays! I cannot put them down once I pick the stories. This one is no exception. I loved every bit of it from beginning to end. This is the sixth story in the hockey series. Although there are connected characters, this story can be enjoyed as a stand alone read. I was excited about this one, which is about Dean, Vivian and second chances. I enjoyed this story so much! I love the characters! This is such a good read with some drama, angst, insecurities, love, passion and much more. "Dean never believed he’d get a shot at the life he once ruled out. Vivian never thought she’d want one again. But sometimes, the hardest thing isn’t moving on—It’s allowing yourself to return."

[Jenniekenn]

I absolutely loved *Return*! Dean and Viv make such an amazing couple, and I loved the connection between them from beginning to end. Their story had so much heart, and Pip was absolutely adorable and made me love it even more. The ending completely melted my heart and left me with the biggest smile. Anytime Christmas is written into a story, I’m already happy, but then add Pádraig into the mix and it’s even better—BIG SMILE! Every time he makes an appearance, I can’t help but smile. *Return* was sweet, romantic, heartwarming, and another wonderful Mari Carr story that reminded me why I love spending time with these characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dar]

These two deserved their HEA and I was so invested in them getting it! You knew from a afar what was going to trip him up, and of course, it did. You could plainly see how she completed her healing to have a chance to enjoy love again. You were right there along with them as they were figuring it all out, even though they didn’t see that at the time. Dean and Viv carried different types of pain, and it shaped how they processed life. What they couldn’t, and didn’t, account for, was the depth of feelings they had for each other, and that, while wild, wasn’t just based on the chemistry between them <3

[Phuong]

I loved Dean and Vivian’s story so much and adorable Pip just made it even more special. These two had wonderful chemistry right from the beginning and it was great to see them give a relationship a try. This one gave me all the feels with Vivian working through her grief after losing her husband and hoping to move forward at finding love again for her and her daughter. Dean had his own demons to overcome and it was great to see him and Vivian be there for one another. I devoured this book all in one sitting because I could not put it down. Return might be my favorite book in Mari Carr’s Stingrays Hockey series so far and I’m looking forward to the next one.

[Curly Bibliophagist]

After a career ending injury, Dean's time on the ice is now spent as the head coach of the Stingrays. Right now he's sitting in the airport in Boston, trying to catch a flight back to Baltimore for the exhibition game. He's looking at a board full of flights canceled due to weather.
He hears his name called and he's shocked to see Vivian Kelly, his former teammate's little sister.

Vivian has been a widow with a young daughter for five years. She's spent enough time grieving. Maybe its time to move on.

They've both had feelings for each other but it has never been ok to act on them. Maybe now is the time.

[Didi]

A wonderful read about second chances. Dean and Vivian both have pasts and losses they struggle with and form a natural connection. A bit of forbidden feel as Vivian is Victor’s sister and Dean is his friend and coach. This was an emotional journey as both Viv and Dean get in their own way. I was rooting the throughout for their HEA. Loved the found family, banter, Pip’s exuberant ways, and the heart in this story. Cannot wait for the next book!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chris]

Return, book six in the Stingrays Hockey series is the perfect mix of sweet and spicy as Dean and Vivian get to know each other better than they ever have before. They have known one another for years but fate threw them together and what started one night while they were stranded together during a storm after their flights were canceled changed both of their futures in the best way. Yes, they had some obstacles to overcome and Vivian’s daughter to consider but in the end they both found love, happiness and a chance at a beautiful future together.

[A]

I normally don’t ready sports romances, but Mari Carr writes great stories. I love the Stingrays players. The fall hard and fast for their women. They aren’t afraid to show their caring and devoted sides. Dean became a coach after an injury. He regrets not being there for his daughter, and he doesn’t think that he is relationship material. Vivian doesn’t think that she would find love again after her husband dies. She and her daughter, Pip, open their hearts and their lives to Dean. It is a beautiful story, and I couldn’t put it down.

[NanaX8]

4.5 ⭐️
Loved this steamy, emotional, second chance romance. Dean has never had a serious relationship, Vivian is a widow with a sweet daughter. Can they navigate the rocky road of feelings he has never had, feelings of protecting her most precious joy from heartache or does old fears blow them apart? Loved it!❤️🔥❤️.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Stephanie Hutchison]

I’ve been anticipating this release since I read Reclaim. I love hockey players but having a book about the coach is amazing. It’s a best friend’s sister/second chance/age gap combination. Viv is a single parent and Dean is a confirmed bachelor but they are drawn to each other. They both have things to work through in order to make this work. Love the family and found family representation in this one.

[Christa]

Thank you Goodreads for my copy! I love a good hockey romance and a good age gap story so this was perfect for me! Return is book number 6 in the series, unfortunately for me I haven't read any of the previous books but it wasn't hard to figure out who was who and what was what. Dean is so great, especially with Vivian's little girl. It's a lovely (and sexy) story about second chances. I'm definitely going to read the others now!

[Brenda Hojonski]

Dean and Vivian's story is so good. They meet up in a Boston airport, stranded and share a room and have a one night stand that turns into more when they get home. Dean is so wonderful to Vivian as she goes through all the emotions brought on by missing her late husband and he supports Vivian sweetly through them all. Mair never disappoints in writing a great sports romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lissa]

I LOVED Dean and Vivian’s story! For me there were also many tears, especially regarding Vivian. I don’t think I’ve cried so much since Padraig’s story, but Mari Carr has a way to heal those tears and find so much hope and especially new Love. A definite 5 Stars!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angela]

I love a good second chance romance. Dean and Vivian really bring out all of the emotions. The frustration, the tiredness, the quiet, the patience, the hope, the love. And despite the struggle, they manage to power through and create a future neither expected.

[Tracy Flick]

This is a fabulous addition to this series. Vivian and Dean are wonderful together. They compliment each other so well. They were great as secondary characters and I love that they got their own story!

[Annette]

Great Age Gap Story!!

I love this book!! It’s a fun, fast and steamy read. I fell in love with little miss Pip ♥️ Dean and Vivian’s story is a great addition to the Stingray’s Hockey series. Definitely a must read!!

[Jenna]

This was a spectacular forbidden romance!!!
I loved every word!
#BestFriend'sSister
#SoGood
#🌶🌶🌶🌶
#ReadIt

[Tamara]

Another wonderful add to Stingrays Hockey series!

Loved this couple!! Coach Dean (or Dee per Pip :-) ) and Vivian (Victor, from Reclaim, sister & Dean's best friend) are wonderful together.

It was great to see Dean realize that he could date beyond "casual, loveless, temporary" and have a girlfriend. Wonderful to see Vivian realize there is more to life after loosing her husband.

That first night in Boston "International Border of Awkwardness" was great!

Can't wait for next book!

[Shannon Vaughan-Patton]

wow

Return by Mari Carr is a beautiful, emotional story about love that refuses to be forgotten. The chemistry, longing, heartbreak, and undeniable pull between the characters made this one impossible to put down. There’s something incredibly romantic about finding your way back to the person who has always held a piece of your heart. A story of second chances, deep connection, and the kind of love that can survive time and distance. Definitely one that will stay with me.