IMPACT

by Caroline Easton

Kate Matthews knows better than to fall for someone like Lukas Deveraux.
He’s younger and famous, with a reputation that should send her running in the opposite direction. As a professional hockey player, Lukas has spent years living a life completely different from hers. A life Kate never imagined becoming part of.

Yet beneath the headlines and public perception, she discovers a man who makes her laugh, challenges her fears, and makes her believe in love again.

But building a future together isn't as simple as falling in love. When the realities of Lukas' past collide with the life they're creating, Kate must decide whether she's willing to risk the stability she's worked so hard to build for a chance at something extraordinary.

Because sometimes the most unexpected love stories are the ones worth fighting for.

Genres: Hockey

343 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2026

About the author

I live in the North of England with my husband and two of my three children. The eldest having flown the nest.

Dancing In The Rain was my first novel and was published in February 2013. My second book, Taking A Risk, a rock star romance novel tells the story of Alex Carter, lead singer of one of the biggest rock bands around, released in 2013.

Hopefully there will be many more books to follow once I quit messing around on all those social networking sites!

You can follow me on twitter @carolinelou70

Reviews

[Margo]

This is a well written book about very nice people who deserve to be together. However, there was an alarming passivity about the FMC that made this very frustrating for me. Even though the circumstances made sense, I just couldn’t help feeling like all she did was make peace with it. He never really had to worry about losing her – – it was just his inner turmoil.

[Belinda Slider-Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impact by Caroline Easton

Some romances pull at your heart, but Impact by Caroline Easton completely wrapped itself around mine. Lukas and Kate's story isn't built on grand gestures alone. It’s the quiet moments, hard-earned trust, and unwavering support that make their relationship feel so real.
What truly sets this book apart is Hudson. He isn't just part of the background; he's woven into every important choice and emotional turning point. Watching Lukas open his heart to Hudson was every bit as meaningful as watching him fall for Kate. Lukas had some tough decisions to make and had to learn how to adjust to a life he wasn’t familiar with. Hudson and Kate showed him he didn’t have to choose. Lukas and Hudons’s growing bond gave this story an extra layer of warmth that stayed with me long after I finished.
More than a romance, Impact is a story about healing, finding strength in the people who stand beside you, and discovering that family can be built in unexpected ways. Emotional, heartfelt, and full of hope, this one left me smiling.
Perfect for readers who love romance that balances a strong love story with meaningful family dynamics.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.

[PW · Rating 3 out of 5]

Idk if this was a good book, but it made me cry for literally 100 pages straight lol

The dialogue was really choppy to the point of distraction in the first half—like super short sentences back and forth—but idk about the second half because I was too busy crying lol


Possible spoilers below:

The ending was super rushed and unsatisfying, and we don’t get to see them talk out a solution. They don’t even get back together until after 90%

Also, Lukas saying how much he loved Kate and Hudson but not even entertaining the possibility of slowly introducing them to Felix almost made me hate him. I mean, Felix was extremely comfortable with him and he was alone with Felix a lot… why tf couldn’t Kate and Hudson be there too? He just dumps one already traumatized kid for another instead of taking 3 seconds to figure out a solution. The entire conflict could have been resolved if they’d used common sense.

That being said, it was written in a way that ripped my heart out.

[BK reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, the MMC is madly in love with the FMC, but chooses to break her and her teen son’s hearts by breaking up with them because his life with a new son is overwhelming… and he doesn’t even consider trying to fix things with her until his baby mama suggested it at 90-freaking-%???

Also, your ex shows up out of the blue with a 2 year old and you never consider a paternity test or paternal rights? He has blue eyes so he’s for sure yours?

But back to the real issue: the hero doesn’t try to have the FMC in his life until 92%. The FMC was crushed by his breaking up with her and her son got abandoned after this douche got close to them, but the ex says, “you’re happy when you talk about her” and suddenly ALL the horrible, insurmountable obstacles making their love impossible just stop existing???

This was a rage read for me, and I was pissed she took him back in the end.

[Adri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ive sat with this book in my heart and I need to say , I loved it.
More mature (emotionally) characters.
It's almost as if all the times you wanted to shout, give it a minute. They heard you. They have grace and give each other space.
It's a very emotional book and I was moved to tears more than one but never hate.
No hard feelings from me. More Empathy.
I felt so deeply for what they went through!!
Ive been waiting to read some of this author's books and Man.. What a great start!!

He left behind more than what he thought he did when he moved across the world to pursue his hockey career.
She, dazzled by his open nature and honesty gives him a chance ...
Then his past comes back and he can't turn his back on it.

[Kate Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You look like a woman a man is about to completely lose his mind over.”

What can I say about this one? It made me smile, it made me believe and it broke me only to put me back together again.

The writing in this book is absolutely superb. You felt every heartache and every smile.

“I miss her so violently it hurts.”

Falling in love with someone only to discover your past coming back to haunt you? This was done so well, and although I wanted to hate the author for it, I couldn’t. It was so beautifully written that I had my heart pounding in my chest.

Tropes: hockey romance, reverse age gap, single mother, single dad, secret baby

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️
Storyline: 💥💥💥💥
Book Hangover: 💀💀💀💀

My favourite character was Hudson

[Wendy Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conflicted plot full of emotional turmoil. Kate is calm and understanding, even when she is breaking apart. Hudson, follows most of Kate's traits, both have analytical minds that weigh everything and have a tendency to over think. He is also fiercely protective. Lucas, I felt for him, torn in so many directions. Meanwhile play has to go on. It's a book you don't put down unless forced, it's one where you totally get caught up emotionally while reading. I felt for these characters, their pain and their joy, their HEA.

[Bethany Rayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. I really enjoyed the first half, getting to know the characters, seeing their instant attraction and really feeling for Hudson and then you get to the second half of this book and seriously … I was not at all prepared for the emotional rollercoaster Caroline Easton straps us into. I was sobbing. This is a highly original, addictive Ice Hockey Romance and I can’t recommend it enough. I read a lot in this genre, and Impact stands out from the usual 👏🏻5⭐️ read