What do you think?
One Lucky Shot
Kelsea Hodges is on hookup hiatus. Amazing friends, a love-muffin feline, and a curated satchel of Richards are all the “HEA” she needs. Then hometown crush Derrick “Husky” Gamble upends her entire life.
The bad: his gaming group is down a player on the eve of competition, threatening the life-changing contract Husky’s hoping for. The worse: his friends ask Kelsea to fill in and the chemistry’s so hot they go viral. Now everything is on the line.
With social media and their friends pushing for more, Kelsea and Husky agree to play along, but the flirtier it gets, the more the lines blur. Fearing a repeat of the dating drama implosion that tanked last year’s contest, sponsors demand they keep the spice in the fantasy realm—or else.
No problem! It’s not like either of them harbors a secret crush dating back to high school…
The bad: his gaming group is down a player on the eve of competition, threatening the life-changing contract Husky’s hoping for. The worse: his friends ask Kelsea to fill in and the chemistry’s so hot they go viral. Now everything is on the line.
With social media and their friends pushing for more, Kelsea and Husky agree to play along, but the flirtier it gets, the more the lines blur. Fearing a repeat of the dating drama implosion that tanked last year’s contest, sponsors demand they keep the spice in the fantasy realm—or else.
No problem! It’s not like either of them harbors a secret crush dating back to high school…
378 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2026
About the author
J. Rhys
2 books20 followersIn their previous life, J. Rhys was an over-the-hill cog in the capitalist machine. Now they craft verbose and delicious tales capturing the utter ridiculousness that is being human and in love—especially at the same time.
When not staring blankly at their laptop screen or sacrificing gummy bears to the muses, they can be found on a couch in Ontario, covered in Cheez-its and clutching an Xbox controller. The game will likely be an RPG, and there will certainly be a cat in their lap and dogs hippo-fighting at their feet.
When not staring blankly at their laptop screen or sacrificing gummy bears to the muses, they can be found on a couch in Ontario, covered in Cheez-its and clutching an Xbox controller. The game will likely be an RPG, and there will certainly be a cat in their lap and dogs hippo-fighting at their feet.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 10, 2026
This was such a cute and fun book. Talk about original. I loved the way this incorporated gaming into a live player event. Kelsea and Husky were so great together. These two had a fire between them that just needed someone to spark that flame. And boy did this ever. I laughed and fanned myself with that spice. This really had me engrossed from beginning to end. I loved every minute of this.,
September 11, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️
This is the first time I have read J Rhys and while One Lucky Shot isn’t their first book, I was drawn in by the RPG and D and D themes of this book. They truly write a book that allows readers to become immersed into the game being played while connecting to our two MCs and the chemistry that flows between them. I really loved how J normalizes mental health within their male characters, as this is something that needs to be severely normalized. As someone who plays D and D herself, I could tell that J does love this type of gameplay themselves. The writing was true to the game, the love of it was easy to feel, and I loved the camaraderie that the group shared.
Derrick and Kelsea have chemistry in spades between them. It is pretty evident from their very first meet up. Derrick has been crushing on Kelsea for sometime and as her brother’s best friend, their time together isn’t limited. Yet, they both see a different side of each other come out as they connect within the gaming world. Both are hoping for changes to come out of the competition they are in. Derrick needs the contract that comes with winning, Kelsea needs to work on being true to herself and going after things she wants. Their relationship is believable and J brings in many details that would happen with a real person struggling with the mental health issues presented in the book.
As someone who battles anxiety herself, I felt for Derrick every time he didn’t trust himself enough to say what he wanted. While this aspect did cause a few miscommunications throughout the romance growing, it provided a beautiful look into how anxiety can truly rule a person. The fact that the characters are older showcased how many people can grow up not realizing what they struggle with and be made to feel less than for most of their life. Derrick learning to overcome this at the age he is was a breath of fresh air.
J did an amazing job writing this story and combining so many different elements into creating a wonderful read. Not only do they provide main characters I couldn’t get enough of, but the side characters are just as captivating. The friend groups are supportive, encouraging, and completely accept every one not only for who they are, but also where they are at in life. I look forward to what J writes next and hope to see more of their love of RPGs in their Lost and Found series.
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
🩷Small Town Romance
🎲Forced Proximity
🩷Gaming Contest
🎲Mental Health Rep
🩷Friends to Lovers
🎲Brother’s Best Friend
🩷Fake Dating
🎲Scarred MMC
🩷Outgoing FMC
🎲MCs in Their 40s
This is the first time I have read J Rhys and while One Lucky Shot isn’t their first book, I was drawn in by the RPG and D and D themes of this book. They truly write a book that allows readers to become immersed into the game being played while connecting to our two MCs and the chemistry that flows between them. I really loved how J normalizes mental health within their male characters, as this is something that needs to be severely normalized. As someone who plays D and D herself, I could tell that J does love this type of gameplay themselves. The writing was true to the game, the love of it was easy to feel, and I loved the camaraderie that the group shared.
Derrick and Kelsea have chemistry in spades between them. It is pretty evident from their very first meet up. Derrick has been crushing on Kelsea for sometime and as her brother’s best friend, their time together isn’t limited. Yet, they both see a different side of each other come out as they connect within the gaming world. Both are hoping for changes to come out of the competition they are in. Derrick needs the contract that comes with winning, Kelsea needs to work on being true to herself and going after things she wants. Their relationship is believable and J brings in many details that would happen with a real person struggling with the mental health issues presented in the book.
As someone who battles anxiety herself, I felt for Derrick every time he didn’t trust himself enough to say what he wanted. While this aspect did cause a few miscommunications throughout the romance growing, it provided a beautiful look into how anxiety can truly rule a person. The fact that the characters are older showcased how many people can grow up not realizing what they struggle with and be made to feel less than for most of their life. Derrick learning to overcome this at the age he is was a breath of fresh air.
J did an amazing job writing this story and combining so many different elements into creating a wonderful read. Not only do they provide main characters I couldn’t get enough of, but the side characters are just as captivating. The friend groups are supportive, encouraging, and completely accept every one not only for who they are, but also where they are at in life. I look forward to what J writes next and hope to see more of their love of RPGs in their Lost and Found series.
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
🩷Small Town Romance
🎲Forced Proximity
🩷Gaming Contest
🎲Mental Health Rep
🩷Friends to Lovers
🎲Brother’s Best Friend
🩷Fake Dating
🎲Scarred MMC
🩷Outgoing FMC
🎲MCs in Their 40s
August 31, 2026
This book had such a fun concept, I love two gamers falling in love, and the game they played which is kind of like Dungeons and Dragons was super cool. I loved how we got to read parts of their gameplay and it was so immersive too. The brothers best friend is a classic trope and I enjoyed this take on it, with Husky being this shy boy who has crushes on her for years and Kelsea being new to her how realisation and actively going for what she wants. They’ve got such a fun dynamic on and off the game show and the sexual tension was firing up as the book progressed. The plot was really fun, a great mix of both the game and the romance. However I think the ending was a little rushed and leaves some threads unfinished. One thing that irked me a little was how some issues they had since the beginning were never talked about and just kind of left there forgotten. There is not third act breakup which I am thankful for but I wish they would communicate a little more because some of their previous issues could have been very easily solved. But I do understand that their dynamic is very complicated. Husky has been though a lot, is very closed off, and has an avoidant personality (at least when it comes to confronting his feelings about his best friend’s sister). I love a broken nerdy boy and Husky delivered, he’s got quite a sad past but he went to theory which makes him so much hotter. Kelsea is also such a fun character and she knows how to put a man in his place like the queen she is. This book and a fun plot and amazing characters, I give it a 3.5/5
September 8, 2026
One Lucky Shot by J. Rhys was such a fun, spicy, and swoony read! I really enjoyed this story with a FMC who is on a strict hookup hiatus, a sexy hometown crush, and undeniable chemistry. Kelsea is perfectly fine living her best life with her friends and her cat, until her ultimate high school crush, Derrick “Husky” Gamble, completely upends her world. When his gaming group loses a player right before a massive competition, Kelsea steps in to fill the spot, and their live-streamed chemistry is so electric that they instantly go viral. To keep the momentum going, they agree to a fake-dating arrangement, but their real, secret high school feelings quickly start blurring the lines.
I really liked reading about Kelsea finding her confidence on camera, and Husky definitely knows what he wants… HER! The fake-dating and forbidden aspect made for a really awesome slow burn because the sponsors literally ban them from acting on their attraction in real life. The forced proximity and the brother's best friend dynamic created so much natural friction and great banter between them. The open-door scenes have a perfect amount of yummy spice, but the book also does a wonderful job handling deeper elements like mental health representation. It is a fast, entertaining read that keeps you hooked from start to finish.
If you want a fun contemporary sports/gaming romance with a lot of heart, I highly recommend giving it a try!
Thank you Hayling Bookstorm Ltd for the e-ARC!
I really liked reading about Kelsea finding her confidence on camera, and Husky definitely knows what he wants… HER! The fake-dating and forbidden aspect made for a really awesome slow burn because the sponsors literally ban them from acting on their attraction in real life. The forced proximity and the brother's best friend dynamic created so much natural friction and great banter between them. The open-door scenes have a perfect amount of yummy spice, but the book also does a wonderful job handling deeper elements like mental health representation. It is a fast, entertaining read that keeps you hooked from start to finish.
If you want a fun contemporary sports/gaming romance with a lot of heart, I highly recommend giving it a try!
Thank you Hayling Bookstorm Ltd for the e-ARC!
Review of advance copy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ARC REVIEW — One Lucky Shot by J. Rhys ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed One Lucky Shot! The love story was sweet, the characters were so easy to get invested in, and I absolutely loved the two main characters together.
One of my favorite parts of the book was how relatable the male main character felt, especially with the way his anxiety was written. It added another layer to his character and made him feel very real.
I also loved the female main character’s circle of friends. They added so much personality and heart to the story, and I really think they helped make the book even better overall.
As someone who isn’t a gamer, I’ll admit I was a little confused at first when the story started moving into chapters involving the game they were playing. But the further I got into the book, the more I understood what was happening, and it became much easier to follow and enjoy.
Overall, this was a great story with lovable characters, a fun romance, and a really strong friend group.
4 stars from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an ARC of One Lucky Shot thanks to Hayling Bookstorm LTD. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
@J.Rhys
@HaylingBookstormLTD
#OneLuckyShot #JRhys #ARCReview #ARCReader #AdvanceReaderCopy #BookReview #Bookstagram #RomanceReads #FourStarRead
I really enjoyed One Lucky Shot! The love story was sweet, the characters were so easy to get invested in, and I absolutely loved the two main characters together.
One of my favorite parts of the book was how relatable the male main character felt, especially with the way his anxiety was written. It added another layer to his character and made him feel very real.
I also loved the female main character’s circle of friends. They added so much personality and heart to the story, and I really think they helped make the book even better overall.
As someone who isn’t a gamer, I’ll admit I was a little confused at first when the story started moving into chapters involving the game they were playing. But the further I got into the book, the more I understood what was happening, and it became much easier to follow and enjoy.
Overall, this was a great story with lovable characters, a fun romance, and a really strong friend group.
4 stars from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an ARC of One Lucky Shot thanks to Hayling Bookstorm LTD. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
@J.Rhys
@HaylingBookstormLTD
#OneLuckyShot #JRhys #ARCReview #ARCReader #AdvanceReaderCopy #BookReview #Bookstagram #RomanceReads #FourStarRead
Review of advance copy received from Author
Lost & Found: Derrick and Kelsea
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay, I’m going with 4 stars because despite the frustration, I did enjoy this one.
There was so much pining between Derrick and Kelsea, followed by so much back-and-forth and miscommunication.
I absolutely abhor the “I love you but won’t actually do anything about it” trope, and there were definitely moments where I wanted to scream at both of them.
I really enjoyed the midlife romance aspect, their history, and the gaming/viral-video storyline. There was plenty of chemistry, and watching their friendship and attraction evolve was fun. The drama with the creepy streamer added some great tension, too.
I did struggle with the ghosting, though. I sort of understood why it happened, but I really didn't feel like it was addressed properly. It seemed like Kelsea just rolled over and accepted it, and I wanted a little more from that situation. There was a sort of confrontation, then it was just left. I mean, he alluded to being scared of her reaction, and then…. fizzle….
So yes, they frustrated me… a lot... But I still found myself invested in them and wanting them to figure their mess out.
A fun, angsty-ish midlife romance with lots of pining, chemistry, and two people who really just needed to talk.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay, I’m going with 4 stars because despite the frustration, I did enjoy this one.
There was so much pining between Derrick and Kelsea, followed by so much back-and-forth and miscommunication.
I absolutely abhor the “I love you but won’t actually do anything about it” trope, and there were definitely moments where I wanted to scream at both of them.
I really enjoyed the midlife romance aspect, their history, and the gaming/viral-video storyline. There was plenty of chemistry, and watching their friendship and attraction evolve was fun. The drama with the creepy streamer added some great tension, too.
I did struggle with the ghosting, though. I sort of understood why it happened, but I really didn't feel like it was addressed properly. It seemed like Kelsea just rolled over and accepted it, and I wanted a little more from that situation. There was a sort of confrontation, then it was just left. I mean, he alluded to being scared of her reaction, and then…. fizzle….
So yes, they frustrated me… a lot... But I still found myself invested in them and wanting them to figure their mess out.
A fun, angsty-ish midlife romance with lots of pining, chemistry, and two people who really just needed to talk.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This has been one of my favorite ARCs of the year. It’s a great blend of humor, pining, heat, and nerdiness.
What stood out the most here was the DND game. I’m not sure if it was dungeons and dragons or just a similar game that they were playing, but the author drags the reader into the game itself. This is a contemporary romance, but we also got a little fantasy from the gameplay. I’ve never read a book that has done something like that before, and I really enjoyed it.
Husky and Kelsea’s relationship was a constant will they, won’t they? It was definitely frustrating at times, especially when their main romantic conflict was just lack of communication. A good chunk of that can be blamed on Husky’s sometimes crippling anxiety. I do appreciate the mental health awareness and we love a man who goes to therapy. Kelsea also had her share of baggage as a result of her own past trauma. I do wish their relationship issues were properly talked out, but there’s no doubt that these characters’ feelings for each other ran deep. The chemistry was off the charts and both main characters were so well written. The side characters added so much to the story, especially with the humor aspect. This author has a great voice and I am looking forward to seeing what they write in the future.
What stood out the most here was the DND game. I’m not sure if it was dungeons and dragons or just a similar game that they were playing, but the author drags the reader into the game itself. This is a contemporary romance, but we also got a little fantasy from the gameplay. I’ve never read a book that has done something like that before, and I really enjoyed it.
Husky and Kelsea’s relationship was a constant will they, won’t they? It was definitely frustrating at times, especially when their main romantic conflict was just lack of communication. A good chunk of that can be blamed on Husky’s sometimes crippling anxiety. I do appreciate the mental health awareness and we love a man who goes to therapy. Kelsea also had her share of baggage as a result of her own past trauma. I do wish their relationship issues were properly talked out, but there’s no doubt that these characters’ feelings for each other ran deep. The chemistry was off the charts and both main characters were so well written. The side characters added so much to the story, especially with the humor aspect. This author has a great voice and I am looking forward to seeing what they write in the future.
September 8, 2026
One Lucky Shot is a fun, feel-good small-town-adjacent romance that combines fake dating, forced proximity, friends-to-lovers vibes, and a gaming competition into one entertaining story.
Kelsea was such an easy character to root for. I really enjoyed seeing her navigate everything being thrown at her while trying to figure out what she actually wants. Husky was also a great love interest, and the history between them made their relationship especially fun to follow.
I loved the gaming aspect of the story and how it brought the characters together. The social-media attention and the whole “pretend relationship” situation added plenty of entertaining moments, especially as the line between pretending and real feelings started getting harder to define.
Another thing I appreciated was the mental-health representation. It added some emotional depth to what could otherwise have been a purely lighthearted romance.
Overall, One Lucky Shot was a fun and entertaining read with lovable characters, plenty of tension, and a unique gaming-competition twist. If you enjoy fake dating, friends-to-lovers, forced proximity, and small-town romance, this one is definitely worth checking out!
I received an ARC of One Lucky Shot thanks to Hayling Bookstorm LTD. Thank you!
Kelsea was such an easy character to root for. I really enjoyed seeing her navigate everything being thrown at her while trying to figure out what she actually wants. Husky was also a great love interest, and the history between them made their relationship especially fun to follow.
I loved the gaming aspect of the story and how it brought the characters together. The social-media attention and the whole “pretend relationship” situation added plenty of entertaining moments, especially as the line between pretending and real feelings started getting harder to define.
Another thing I appreciated was the mental-health representation. It added some emotional depth to what could otherwise have been a purely lighthearted romance.
Overall, One Lucky Shot was a fun and entertaining read with lovable characters, plenty of tension, and a unique gaming-competition twist. If you enjoy fake dating, friends-to-lovers, forced proximity, and small-town romance, this one is definitely worth checking out!
I received an ARC of One Lucky Shot thanks to Hayling Bookstorm LTD. Thank you!
September 8, 2026
One Lucky Shot is the story of Kelsea, who is on a self-imposed break from dating, and Derrick ("Husky"), who has had a secret crush on his best friend's sister for years. He is in town for a gaming convention and has a shot at a huge contest, but one of his teammates drops out at the last minte. Kelsea agrees to step in so they don't have to forfeit, and the chemistry is immediate between the two MCs. Husky has terrible anxiety and it definitely plays a part in the distance between them, as well as miscommunication, but their forced proximity leads them to learn more about each other and lean into that chemistry. Older couple (40s), gaming (similar to D&D), mental health rep, forced proximity, second chance - if any of those tropes are your thing, you'll love this fun romance!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review
40s, single, hot nerds... the epitome of a good contemporary romance. This one brought the heat, too!
Kelsea has been on a dating hiatus after numerous failed relationships. But running into her brother's best friend, Husky, might just put an end to it.
A tabletop gaming convention with an opening on Husky's team forces these two to spend more time together than they have in years. Both carrying trauma and what they thought was unrequited longing for the other leads to sparks flying.
Although this story was with what I would call close third-person narration, which is different from my norm, I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
40s, single, hot nerds... the epitome of a good contemporary romance. This one brought the heat, too!
Kelsea has been on a dating hiatus after numerous failed relationships. But running into her brother's best friend, Husky, might just put an end to it.
A tabletop gaming convention with an opening on Husky's team forces these two to spend more time together than they have in years. Both carrying trauma and what they thought was unrequited longing for the other leads to sparks flying.
Although this story was with what I would call close third-person narration, which is different from my norm, I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
September 8, 2026
This was such a cute book! All the characters were easy to get invested in and I love the two main characters together. As someone who isn’t a dungeon and dragons player (or something similar) I was admittedly a bit confused when they go into the chapters talking about the game. It didn’t ruin the experience, however. I wish I had the same group of friends the female main character has, they’re so fun and always there for her!
I received an ARC of this thanks to Hayling Bookstorm LTD! All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way
I received an ARC of this thanks to Hayling Bookstorm LTD! All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way
Review of advance copy received from Author
One Lucky Shot is book one of the Lost and Found Series.
This gave very big Dungeons and Dragons vibes with the game they were playing. We even got to immerse ourselves in some of the scenes, in order to truly understand the game play. Husky and Kelsea were cute together. He's the shy one, who has crushed on her for a few years. Meanwhile, she is more outgoing. Their moments together were very cute.
This gave very big Dungeons and Dragons vibes with the game they were playing. We even got to immerse ourselves in some of the scenes, in order to truly understand the game play. Husky and Kelsea were cute together. He's the shy one, who has crushed on her for a few years. Meanwhile, she is more outgoing. Their moments together were very cute.
September 11, 2026
I enjoyed this book, the story was amazing and the characters were more relatable because they were older. Now the way it was written was confusing to me (just my opinion) sometimes I didnt know who was being referred to but I did love it even with me being confused. Eventually I figured things out and the story was even better! I will be looking for more books by this author.
I recieved an advance reader copy of this book for an honest voluntary review.
I recieved an advance reader copy of this book for an honest voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ok this was everything that I love. Nerdy and cute, add in some romance and kicking your feet.
I loved this concept and that it was different from other books that I’ve read previously. The plot and the pacing felt great to me.
Kelsea and Husky were amazing! I was hooked from the first page.
I genuinely wish I could read this for the first time again.
I loved this concept and that it was different from other books that I’ve read previously. The plot and the pacing felt great to me.
Kelsea and Husky were amazing! I was hooked from the first page.
I genuinely wish I could read this for the first time again.
September 7, 2026
This book took me BACKKK! I played D&D here and there in college, and while I never continued, I'll never forget how much fun I had! It was so clever, and I absolutely love the brothers best friend and later in life love that Kelsea and Husky finally found. It was such a great book, and I can't wait to see what's in store for the next one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Emotion that dares to go there. One Lucky Shot bares it's soul. From hot mess to unforgettable, love story is a road littered with hard truths and heartbreak. The drama of life and the power of love collide in the most endearing way. Kelsea and Derrick turn vulnerable into inspiring. Rhys pushes every emotion to the limit.
September 8, 2026
This is such a good romance book where two people who have known each other their whole lives finally admit their feelings when in their 40s. Also, they are playing a game with others who are also very fun and interesting. I love the other characters in this. The spice was very spicy too. This is a friends to lovers, romance book, and set in Texas and Oklahoma. Cute quick romance book!
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
This was so cute! Two gamers, a crush for years, him coming to town and NO one telling her. With attempted blackmail. This was cute and adorable with a little spice. The ending was so cute, a little rushed but it also fit for them.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 10, 2026
I had the honor of being an ARC recipient of this cute tale that combines gaming; and a spicy feisty romance. The perspective was completely fresh! Would highly recommend picking this one up that just released yesterday!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I loved this book and that it incorporated DnD into the story! This love story was great and the friends of the MCs were the best friends that everyone should have!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ughhh soo good! I loved everything about this book. Husky and Kelsea are perfect for each other 🥰 totally 100% worth the read.
September 7, 2026
This was such a good small town romance with forced proximity ..I ate this book up until the very last page. 10/10 recommend.
September 12, 2026
Review in works
September 10, 2026
What can I say....wow the writing felt like I was sitting there at the table with them.
The sexual tension had me kicking my feet. Every glance, every touch, every "we shouldn’t" moment it ate.
Plot was fun, but the romance was HOTTER.
Best friend’s brother who’s been pining for years who doesn't love a brother's best friend....lol
Shy nerdy boy and a girl who knows exactly how to put him in his place......loved it!!!!!!!!!
Yeah I devoured this.
I fell in love with these characters
The sexual tension had me kicking my feet. Every glance, every touch, every "we shouldn’t" moment it ate.
Plot was fun, but the romance was HOTTER.
Best friend’s brother who’s been pining for years who doesn't love a brother's best friend....lol
Shy nerdy boy and a girl who knows exactly how to put him in his place......loved it!!!!!!!!!
Yeah I devoured this.
I fell in love with these characters
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews