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The Rebound Plan: Off the Ice, Book 3
I have one week to get my head in the game and forget about my inconvenient attraction to my teammate’s wife.
A relaxing retreat to cottage country with my teammates is the perfect way to prep for the upcoming hockey season.
Or so I thought.
Now I’m trapped in my cabin with my crush–and her jerk of a husband–where it's impossible to get space or clarity. Or get over her. And that mission becomes even harder when I learn that Shannon’s marriage is failing.
With the lines of loyalty and friendship becoming blurred, and relationships being tested in all directions, I know I need to tap the brakes hard.
Until one night when everyone else is at a party down the lake, and the team captain makes me an offer I can’t refuse…to share his wife, and have a taste of the forbidden I always assumed was forever out of reach.
The Rebound Plan is a swoony forbidden romance between a tall, growly, protective hockey player and a failed model-turned-escort-turned-WAG who needs to learn to love herself as much as she loves those around her. It's not a love triangle—you know who to root for from minute one. #TeamRuss the whole way.
A relaxing retreat to cottage country with my teammates is the perfect way to prep for the upcoming hockey season.
Or so I thought.
Now I’m trapped in my cabin with my crush–and her jerk of a husband–where it's impossible to get space or clarity. Or get over her. And that mission becomes even harder when I learn that Shannon’s marriage is failing.
With the lines of loyalty and friendship becoming blurred, and relationships being tested in all directions, I know I need to tap the brakes hard.
Until one night when everyone else is at a party down the lake, and the team captain makes me an offer I can’t refuse…to share his wife, and have a taste of the forbidden I always assumed was forever out of reach.
The Rebound Plan is a swoony forbidden romance between a tall, growly, protective hockey player and a failed model-turned-escort-turned-WAG who needs to learn to love herself as much as she loves those around her. It's not a love triangle—you know who to root for from minute one. #TeamRuss the whole way.
Audible Audio
Published July 16, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
July 17, 2026
First of all, can we have a moment for this man? 😭 He was gentle without being a pushover, confident without being cocky, and knew exactly when to step in and when to give her the space to figure things out herself. That’s my brand of book husband right there. The kind that doesn’t make you question if he likes you every five minutes.
Now… that Scottish accent/narration? Baby, it had me fighting for my life in the beginning. 💀 I was rewinding every other sentence like, “Sir, speak up.” But somewhere along the way my ears clocked in for work, and by the end I was fully onboard.
And the FMC? Oh, I love me a sexually liberated woman. No shame, no tiptoeing around her desires, just owning herself. We need more of that.
As for the ex-husband… every time that man opened his mouth I wanted to square up. The way he tried to control and suppress her had me irrationally irritated. Watching her slowly reclaim herself and realize she deserved so much more? Inject it into my veins.by the end, he doesn’t get to keep the power he thought he had, which was satisfying enough for me. Love that for him… actually, no I don’t. 🤭
As a certified slow-burn enthusiast, I would’ve happily accepted a few more moments of them just existing together and letting the relationship unfold even more. But overall? It was sweet, funny, surprisingly emotional in places, and gave me a man who communicated like he’d attended therapy instead of the School of Miscommunication.
We love to see growth. We love to see an ex get humbled. And we especially love a man who knows when to shut up, be patient, and simply show up.
Now… that Scottish accent/narration? Baby, it had me fighting for my life in the beginning. 💀 I was rewinding every other sentence like, “Sir, speak up.” But somewhere along the way my ears clocked in for work, and by the end I was fully onboard.
And the FMC? Oh, I love me a sexually liberated woman. No shame, no tiptoeing around her desires, just owning herself. We need more of that.
As for the ex-husband… every time that man opened his mouth I wanted to square up. The way he tried to control and suppress her had me irrationally irritated. Watching her slowly reclaim herself and realize she deserved so much more? Inject it into my veins.by the end, he doesn’t get to keep the power he thought he had, which was satisfying enough for me. Love that for him… actually, no I don’t. 🤭
As a certified slow-burn enthusiast, I would’ve happily accepted a few more moments of them just existing together and letting the relationship unfold even more. But overall? It was sweet, funny, surprisingly emotional in places, and gave me a man who communicated like he’d attended therapy instead of the School of Miscommunication.
We love to see growth. We love to see an ex get humbled. And we especially love a man who knows when to shut up, be patient, and simply show up.
July 22, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 4.5 Stars
This one hit me in ways I wasn't expecting.
I'll be honest...The beginning brought up some PTSD for me. Watching Shannon question herself and feel like she was the only one not seeing what was happening around her hit a little too close to home. As someone who survived a narcissistic, abusive relationship, those early chapters were uncomfortable in the most realistic way.
But once the layers of her marriage started peeling back, I completely understood why this story was told the way it was. Seeing Shannon finally experience safety, respect, and the kind of love she never knew she deserved reminded me so much of my own journey after meeting my husband. That healing arc was incredibly meaningful.
As a hockey player myself, one of my favorite parts was the WAGs' friendship. So many hockey romances focus on the brotherhood of the teammates and barely touch on the women behind the team. Here, the WAGs felt like the heart of the story. Their support, loyalty, and friendship were the glue that held everyone together, and I absolutely loved seeing that represented.
The audiobook was fantastic. Lauren Beck, Nathaniel Priestley, and Dane Anderson all delivered incredible performances. Nathaniel's Scottish accent fit Russ perfectly, Lauren captured Shannon's vulnerability and growth beautifully, and Dane made it very easy to despise Max...😬Which tells you just how well he performed the role. The duet-style narration with the third narrator for the remaining male characters made the listening experience even more immersive.
⚠️ Trigger Warnings:
Cheating/infidelity
Emotional abuse/Psychological manipulation/Gaslighting
Narcissistic abuse/Coercive control
Toxic marriage
Degradation kink (consensual, later in the romance)
The cheating aspect may be a dealbreaker for some readers, so I wanted to mention it upfront. For me, stories like this can be therapeutic because they ultimately show what healthy love, safety, and healing can look like.. But I know not everyone will want to read through those painful moments to reach the payoff.
If you enjoy hockey romance with emotional depth, protective MMCs, healing after trauma, incredible found family, and WAG friendships that feel just as important as the romance, I highly recommend this one. Russ completely stole my heart. 🖤
Thank you Netgalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
This one hit me in ways I wasn't expecting.
I'll be honest...The beginning brought up some PTSD for me. Watching Shannon question herself and feel like she was the only one not seeing what was happening around her hit a little too close to home. As someone who survived a narcissistic, abusive relationship, those early chapters were uncomfortable in the most realistic way.
But once the layers of her marriage started peeling back, I completely understood why this story was told the way it was. Seeing Shannon finally experience safety, respect, and the kind of love she never knew she deserved reminded me so much of my own journey after meeting my husband. That healing arc was incredibly meaningful.
As a hockey player myself, one of my favorite parts was the WAGs' friendship. So many hockey romances focus on the brotherhood of the teammates and barely touch on the women behind the team. Here, the WAGs felt like the heart of the story. Their support, loyalty, and friendship were the glue that held everyone together, and I absolutely loved seeing that represented.
The audiobook was fantastic. Lauren Beck, Nathaniel Priestley, and Dane Anderson all delivered incredible performances. Nathaniel's Scottish accent fit Russ perfectly, Lauren captured Shannon's vulnerability and growth beautifully, and Dane made it very easy to despise Max...😬Which tells you just how well he performed the role. The duet-style narration with the third narrator for the remaining male characters made the listening experience even more immersive.
⚠️ Trigger Warnings:
Cheating/infidelity
Emotional abuse/Psychological manipulation/Gaslighting
Narcissistic abuse/Coercive control
Toxic marriage
Degradation kink (consensual, later in the romance)
The cheating aspect may be a dealbreaker for some readers, so I wanted to mention it upfront. For me, stories like this can be therapeutic because they ultimately show what healthy love, safety, and healing can look like.. But I know not everyone will want to read through those painful moments to reach the payoff.
If you enjoy hockey romance with emotional depth, protective MMCs, healing after trauma, incredible found family, and WAG friendships that feel just as important as the romance, I highly recommend this one. Russ completely stole my heart. 🖤
Thank you Netgalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2026
I had the pleasure of receiving this as an ALC and voluntarily will be giving my honest review. This was absolutely phenomenal with the dual narration and the British accent was spot on and not over board!! You could feel all the emotions with the 3 different narrators!! This is a hockey
Romance with a love triangle and forbidden love. We have Matt who is team captain of NHL hockey league and his wife Shannon and then you have Russ Matts teammate who has a secret obsession over Matt’s wife. This story takes a turn that you never see coming with secrets and lies!! I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to read the next book as this is book 3 of 4 and can be read as a standalone.
“The Rebound Plan is a swoony forbidden romance between a tall, growly, protective hockey player and a failed model-turned-escort-turned-WAG who needs to learn to love herself as much as she loves those around her. It's not a love triangle - you know who to root for from page one. #TeamRuss the whole way.”
Romance with a love triangle and forbidden love. We have Matt who is team captain of NHL hockey league and his wife Shannon and then you have Russ Matts teammate who has a secret obsession over Matt’s wife. This story takes a turn that you never see coming with secrets and lies!! I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to read the next book as this is book 3 of 4 and can be read as a standalone.
“The Rebound Plan is a swoony forbidden romance between a tall, growly, protective hockey player and a failed model-turned-escort-turned-WAG who needs to learn to love herself as much as she loves those around her. It's not a love triangle - you know who to root for from page one. #TeamRuss the whole way.”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received ( ALC ) for the rebound plan from NetGalley in lieu for a honest review .
The Rebound plan - Ainsley Booth
Book 3 in the off the Ice series
Is a fast paced forbidden romance . Where a fun relaxing team retreat with players and their partner turns into so much more fun.
Russ can’t help but have feeling for the captain wife but feelings can ruin everything .
Their connect and tension was from the get go and I was quite invested
Really enjoy this audio
The Rebound plan - Ainsley Booth
Book 3 in the off the Ice series
Is a fast paced forbidden romance . Where a fun relaxing team retreat with players and their partner turns into so much more fun.
Russ can’t help but have feeling for the captain wife but feelings can ruin everything .
Their connect and tension was from the get go and I was quite invested
Really enjoy this audio
July 21, 2026
Thank you @NetGalley and @VictoryEditing for the ALC. OMG, this was spicy. Russ wants Shannon but she is married to the captain of his hockey team and off limits. He respects that until he sees that shannon is no longer happy in her marriage and maybe he can help pick up the pieces if things don't work out. A fun read.
August 2, 2026
DNF, 1 star.
What I liked:
The pacing of the narration (both male&female) and the Scottish accent of the male narrator.
What I didn’t like:
The plot is horrible. I was so excited for this book, I loved Kieran and Harper’s story from The Playing Game (book 1), so I was very, very disappointed by Ainsley Booth’s plot choices in The Rebound Plan.
The FMC is sex trafficked by her asshole hockey star husband. She very clearly doesn’t consent and her „no” is ignored and yet it’s somehow supposed to be a regular hockey romance book?
This book should have been described appropriately with clear trigger warnings.
Our FMC, Shannon, is an ex-model who used to date (or, given how her past is described in the book, I should say entertain) billionaires and now she’s married to Max, an NHL player. She wanted to leave her wild past behind her and live in security and luxury. To achieve that, Shannon put herself in a role of a cliché obedient wife, an aesthetically pleasing WAG, who devotes her life to managing her demanding husband’s every possible need, desire and preference, so that he wouldn’t throw a tantrum every other minute.
Max, her hockey husband, is a cheating asshole with a humongous ego. From the first book of this series I remember how Kieran (the MMC of book one) had a specific tactic to compliment Max before a game or practice to put him in a good mood, so that Max would actually pass the freaking puck to his own teammates instead of hogging it unnecessarily (because everyone is clear on the fact that emotionally Shannon’s husband is a toddler. Why was he selected as a team captain remains a mystery to me, as there were other big stars on that team clearly more suited for the C role).
Our MMC, Russ, is Max’s teammate. He’s had a crush on Shannon since he met her, because she’s the most beautiful woman ever and has a calm presence. He’s a bland good guy with barely any personality traits (but he’s very big and has a Scottish accent).
I found it extremely weird and creepy how FMC’s childhood was described. ”Because for Shannon flirting has led to sex since she was fourteen years old. (…) When you’re the prettiest girl north of Lansing, you don’t take no for an answer. Not when your libido is in charge”. We’re talking about a 14 year old(!!!).
Then, talking about her modeling years (18-23): I quickly learned how to make ends meet. I was sometimes a girlfriend for a night. A weekend. A full week on a yacht in the Mediterranean could pay my rent for a year. And I was suited to it. I liked the intense sex that was part of the lifestyle. I liked being wild. It felt like I was giving the middle finger to everyone back home who told me I wouldn’t amount to anything because I was too slutty-a horrible thing for a fourteen-year-old to have thrown at them”.
The Author continues Shannon’s recollections of her late teens and early 20s: „At the level I socialized at, the men don’t need to hire sex workers. There are always young women like me willing to do it “for free”, knowing that we’ll get a new wardrobe out of an adventurous romp in a private dressing room, that our rent will be covered discreetly if we’re good enough. I was very good.
Shannon (and her story) gave me so many icks. She was proud to have been a great escort during her late teens / early 20s, and then she became a WAG trad wife to an asshole hockey millionaire. For the life of me I cannot empathize with her, each of her choices (and her interpretation of them) is ridiculous to me. Her rebellious ”fuck you” to her small town critics (who didn’t approve her being openly sexually active at 14 and shamed her for it - which was shitty, sure) was becoming a high end sex worker. Yay, that’ll show them! And then she chose to marry a rich asshole who treated her like shit, so that she could become his pretty doormat in his pretty house. Because girl power, right?
We meet Shannon when she’s around 30. She seems like an intelligent woman, yet she’s so easily manipulated, mostly by herself and her toxic spin on everything. Even as a grown ass woman with endless resources and access she was still so entangled in her bullshit, it was very hard for me to cheer for her. No self awareness, not one moment of „wait a second”. She’s been married for 8 years to a cheater who treated her like a pretty object. Her story and POV was so disappointing and sad, yet it was also kind of shown as a *success* because we women are free to make our own choices and look where she is now, in a luxury car with her luxurious possessions, that’s a win, right?
It made me so sad for her, it made me very angry at the Author, it made me roll my eyes so much.
Also, talking about an early teenager intense sex life is disgusting, can we at least all agree on that?
I will not spend more time on writing about the many forms of abuse from her husband, this book was wrong on so many levels. There are many dark romances I enjoyed, this was not it, plus it’s not marketed appropriately, and the teenage stuff, yuckkkk - all in all this book was unfortunately a huge disappointment.
~~~~~~~~~~~
This audiobook was provided to me by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op in exchange for my honest review.
What I liked:
The pacing of the narration (both male&female) and the Scottish accent of the male narrator.
What I didn’t like:
The plot is horrible. I was so excited for this book, I loved Kieran and Harper’s story from The Playing Game (book 1), so I was very, very disappointed by Ainsley Booth’s plot choices in The Rebound Plan.
The FMC is sex trafficked by her asshole hockey star husband. She very clearly doesn’t consent and her „no” is ignored and yet it’s somehow supposed to be a regular hockey romance book?
This book should have been described appropriately with clear trigger warnings.
Our FMC, Shannon, is an ex-model who used to date (or, given how her past is described in the book, I should say entertain) billionaires and now she’s married to Max, an NHL player. She wanted to leave her wild past behind her and live in security and luxury. To achieve that, Shannon put herself in a role of a cliché obedient wife, an aesthetically pleasing WAG, who devotes her life to managing her demanding husband’s every possible need, desire and preference, so that he wouldn’t throw a tantrum every other minute.
Max, her hockey husband, is a cheating asshole with a humongous ego. From the first book of this series I remember how Kieran (the MMC of book one) had a specific tactic to compliment Max before a game or practice to put him in a good mood, so that Max would actually pass the freaking puck to his own teammates instead of hogging it unnecessarily (because everyone is clear on the fact that emotionally Shannon’s husband is a toddler. Why was he selected as a team captain remains a mystery to me, as there were other big stars on that team clearly more suited for the C role).
Our MMC, Russ, is Max’s teammate. He’s had a crush on Shannon since he met her, because she’s the most beautiful woman ever and has a calm presence. He’s a bland good guy with barely any personality traits (but he’s very big and has a Scottish accent).
I found it extremely weird and creepy how FMC’s childhood was described. ”Because for Shannon flirting has led to sex since she was fourteen years old. (…) When you’re the prettiest girl north of Lansing, you don’t take no for an answer. Not when your libido is in charge”. We’re talking about a 14 year old(!!!).
Then, talking about her modeling years (18-23): I quickly learned how to make ends meet. I was sometimes a girlfriend for a night. A weekend. A full week on a yacht in the Mediterranean could pay my rent for a year. And I was suited to it. I liked the intense sex that was part of the lifestyle. I liked being wild. It felt like I was giving the middle finger to everyone back home who told me I wouldn’t amount to anything because I was too slutty-a horrible thing for a fourteen-year-old to have thrown at them”.
The Author continues Shannon’s recollections of her late teens and early 20s: „At the level I socialized at, the men don’t need to hire sex workers. There are always young women like me willing to do it “for free”, knowing that we’ll get a new wardrobe out of an adventurous romp in a private dressing room, that our rent will be covered discreetly if we’re good enough. I was very good.
Shannon (and her story) gave me so many icks. She was proud to have been a great escort during her late teens / early 20s, and then she became a WAG trad wife to an asshole hockey millionaire. For the life of me I cannot empathize with her, each of her choices (and her interpretation of them) is ridiculous to me. Her rebellious ”fuck you” to her small town critics (who didn’t approve her being openly sexually active at 14 and shamed her for it - which was shitty, sure) was becoming a high end sex worker. Yay, that’ll show them! And then she chose to marry a rich asshole who treated her like shit, so that she could become his pretty doormat in his pretty house. Because girl power, right?
We meet Shannon when she’s around 30. She seems like an intelligent woman, yet she’s so easily manipulated, mostly by herself and her toxic spin on everything. Even as a grown ass woman with endless resources and access she was still so entangled in her bullshit, it was very hard for me to cheer for her. No self awareness, not one moment of „wait a second”. She’s been married for 8 years to a cheater who treated her like a pretty object. Her story and POV was so disappointing and sad, yet it was also kind of shown as a *success* because we women are free to make our own choices and look where she is now, in a luxury car with her luxurious possessions, that’s a win, right?
It made me so sad for her, it made me very angry at the Author, it made me roll my eyes so much.
Also, talking about an early teenager intense sex life is disgusting, can we at least all agree on that?
I will not spend more time on writing about the many forms of abuse from her husband, this book was wrong on so many levels. There are many dark romances I enjoyed, this was not it, plus it’s not marketed appropriately, and the teenage stuff, yuckkkk - all in all this book was unfortunately a huge disappointment.
~~~~~~~~~~~
This audiobook was provided to me by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op in exchange for my honest review.
July 6, 2026
The Rebound Plan audiobook is a strong 4+ stars for me. Loved the duet narration, and the Scottish accent was perfect (not over the top). While the book is part of the Off the Ice series, I read it as a standalone and didn't feel I was missing out, although I would like to read the rest now!
Here we focuses on 2 veteran hockey pros, Russ our MMC, and Max our villain & team captain. Max's wife, Shannon, is our FMC, and we get the most character depth and growth from her. The story starts with Russ already pining for Shannon, and she appreciates the attention and sweetness Russ shows her. Russ is protective and sweet. He's a decent player nearing the end of his career, and he's ready to settle down. Russ knows he shouldn't obsess over his captain's wife, and he's trying to be a good man and teammate. Then, one fateful night, Russ is thrust further into obsession when Max allows him to really see the true colors of the marriage, and Shannon sees both men, fully.
This is primarily Shannon’s story. She’s a beautiful girl from nowheresville, who thought she'd make it big as a model/actress by moving to New York. It seems she always used her looks to her advantage, and when the career wasn't panning out in NY, those looks came in handy to help have her expenses paid. She "dated" the rich, and Max seemed to be in the market for a trophy wife when he came across her. Years later, she's made herself out to be the best WAG she can be, but stuck in a foreign country with a non-paying career and in a loveless marriage to a toxic man. She's given up her existing life, her past, and her identity to play the role of #1 WAG, supporting her husband's dream and career for the stability that offers her; but what happens when it's just not worth it anymore?
As compared to other hockey romances, this wasn't smut-centered, and our FMC faced circumstances that were a bit dark (without being a dark romance). The story was slow-burn with cute banter and inner dialog, with just 2 particularly spiced-up scenes. I felt the build-up to the first scene was a bit slow, and the end felt like it should have either ended sooner with a clean wrap, or extended further, as the end details we were given felt told in a rush, and not fully explained. That being said, we do have a HEA.
I would recommend this as an audiobook, as the duet narration really pulls the story in. The narrators did a great job.
Thank you to Ainsley Booth, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for the ALC!
#TheReboundPlan #NetGalley
Here we focuses on 2 veteran hockey pros, Russ our MMC, and Max our villain & team captain. Max's wife, Shannon, is our FMC, and we get the most character depth and growth from her. The story starts with Russ already pining for Shannon, and she appreciates the attention and sweetness Russ shows her. Russ is protective and sweet. He's a decent player nearing the end of his career, and he's ready to settle down. Russ knows he shouldn't obsess over his captain's wife, and he's trying to be a good man and teammate. Then, one fateful night, Russ is thrust further into obsession when Max allows him to really see the true colors of the marriage, and Shannon sees both men, fully.
This is primarily Shannon’s story. She’s a beautiful girl from nowheresville, who thought she'd make it big as a model/actress by moving to New York. It seems she always used her looks to her advantage, and when the career wasn't panning out in NY, those looks came in handy to help have her expenses paid. She "dated" the rich, and Max seemed to be in the market for a trophy wife when he came across her. Years later, she's made herself out to be the best WAG she can be, but stuck in a foreign country with a non-paying career and in a loveless marriage to a toxic man. She's given up her existing life, her past, and her identity to play the role of #1 WAG, supporting her husband's dream and career for the stability that offers her; but what happens when it's just not worth it anymore?
As compared to other hockey romances, this wasn't smut-centered, and our FMC faced circumstances that were a bit dark (without being a dark romance). The story was slow-burn with cute banter and inner dialog, with just 2 particularly spiced-up scenes. I felt the build-up to the first scene was a bit slow, and the end felt like it should have either ended sooner with a clean wrap, or extended further, as the end details we were given felt told in a rush, and not fully explained. That being said, we do have a HEA.
I would recommend this as an audiobook, as the duet narration really pulls the story in. The narrators did a great job.
Thank you to Ainsley Booth, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for the ALC!
#TheReboundPlan #NetGalley
July 17, 2026
✨ALC Review✨ - 3
This one was… alright. I didn’t dislike it, but I also never found myself completely invested.
Can we please start with the fact that her husband literally included rules about how she had to dress in their marriage contract… and she thought they were in love?? Girl. 😭 I would’ve smacked that man upside the head because what the actual fuck? That isn’t romantic, that’s controlling and abusive. He is such a giant douchecanoe.
The supporting characters were probably my favorite part of the book. Emery was hilarious and had me laughing more than once, Kylie was an incredible friend, and Rusty had some of the best one-liners. “How about the man that makes her cum during sex… because that’s sure as fuck not her husband.” okayyyyy sassy rusty 😏
The romance itself was a little hit-or-miss for me. I liked the chemistry and the longing between Russ and the FMC, but once they finally got together, everything moved way too quickly. Even though they don’t officially become a couple until around the 80% mark, it somehow still felt instalovey because they immediately jumped from giving in to their feelings to talking about forever.
I think what I was missing was a middle stage. I wanted to see them actually date, learn about each other, and decide they wanted forever instead of skipping straight to it. The same goes for the ending. After so much emphasis on her needing to find herself and stand on her own after leaving an abusive marriage, it felt strange that she was married again just a few months later. I would’ve preferred seeing her enjoy that independence for a while before taking such a big step.
The audiobook was decent overall, but it definitely needed one more editing pass. There were multiple occasions where either both narrators read the same line or an entire line was repeated. One mistake is easy to overlook, but it happened often enough that I started noticing it.
Overall, this was a perfectly fine read, but it never really wowed me. I enjoyed some of the side characters more than the romance itself, and while there were moments I liked, I don’t think this is one I’ll remember for very long.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for letting me listen to this one early.
This one was… alright. I didn’t dislike it, but I also never found myself completely invested.
Can we please start with the fact that her husband literally included rules about how she had to dress in their marriage contract… and she thought they were in love?? Girl. 😭 I would’ve smacked that man upside the head because what the actual fuck? That isn’t romantic, that’s controlling and abusive. He is such a giant douchecanoe.
The supporting characters were probably my favorite part of the book. Emery was hilarious and had me laughing more than once, Kylie was an incredible friend, and Rusty had some of the best one-liners. “How about the man that makes her cum during sex… because that’s sure as fuck not her husband.” okayyyyy sassy rusty 😏
The romance itself was a little hit-or-miss for me. I liked the chemistry and the longing between Russ and the FMC, but once they finally got together, everything moved way too quickly. Even though they don’t officially become a couple until around the 80% mark, it somehow still felt instalovey because they immediately jumped from giving in to their feelings to talking about forever.
I think what I was missing was a middle stage. I wanted to see them actually date, learn about each other, and decide they wanted forever instead of skipping straight to it. The same goes for the ending. After so much emphasis on her needing to find herself and stand on her own after leaving an abusive marriage, it felt strange that she was married again just a few months later. I would’ve preferred seeing her enjoy that independence for a while before taking such a big step.
The audiobook was decent overall, but it definitely needed one more editing pass. There were multiple occasions where either both narrators read the same line or an entire line was repeated. One mistake is easy to overlook, but it happened often enough that I started noticing it.
Overall, this was a perfectly fine read, but it never really wowed me. I enjoyed some of the side characters more than the romance itself, and while there were moments I liked, I don’t think this is one I’ll remember for very long.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for letting me listen to this one early.
July 19, 2026
"Wear my number every night. And know that once you're free, I'm going to claim you for myself."
Shannon & Russ. This is messy (in the BEST way)! Shannon is married and her husband is really kind of horrible. We learn about her background and figure out maybe why he feels he has the right but uggggghhhhhh. Shannon's husband, Max, is Russ' captain on their hockey team. One night, Russ gets an invite he can't refuse. Things with Max don't get easier on the team. Things with Shannon get harder in a different way.
I started reading this and was a little hesitant because I don't usually go for cheating tropes, but don't worry - that's not really what this is. Maybe a little emotionally, but trust me when I tell you that it's okay. I enjoyed this book and don't want to give anything else away so I'm not going to comment too much on what's in it, but I do love how Ainsley Booth wove these three lives together and really made sure we disliked the right person. I love Russ and Shannon and the growth they were both going through was incredible and so touching to read.
I read Book 2 of this series, The Scoring Secret and it was also so good! Love her writing style and the depth of her characters. I've read a couple other books by this author and it's always a good time.
I did an immersive read with the ebook (available on KU) and the audiobook and just wow. Lauren Beck, Nathaniel Priestley, and Dane Anderson did an amazing job with these characters (and all the supporting characters as well). when Nathaniel Priestly started speaking in that Scottish accent, I was weak! Whoa whoa whoa. Completely unlike any other male narrator I've heard who usually goes heavy and loud with the accents, this one made me want to scoot in a little closer to hear him better because it was so good. Lauren & Nathaniel definitely had chemistry and their performances had me sat the entire time. Dane who performed Max and the other male supporting characters was perfect - especially making Max a jerk!!
what to expect:
*angst & yearning
*hockey romance
*forbidden love
*he falls first (and so hard!)
"...it wasn't lunacy on any level. It was simpler than all of that. I met you, and I was yours."
*I received a complimentary ALC and my review is voluntary. Thank you to the author!
Shannon & Russ. This is messy (in the BEST way)! Shannon is married and her husband is really kind of horrible. We learn about her background and figure out maybe why he feels he has the right but uggggghhhhhh. Shannon's husband, Max, is Russ' captain on their hockey team. One night, Russ gets an invite he can't refuse. Things with Max don't get easier on the team. Things with Shannon get harder in a different way.
I started reading this and was a little hesitant because I don't usually go for cheating tropes, but don't worry - that's not really what this is. Maybe a little emotionally, but trust me when I tell you that it's okay. I enjoyed this book and don't want to give anything else away so I'm not going to comment too much on what's in it, but I do love how Ainsley Booth wove these three lives together and really made sure we disliked the right person. I love Russ and Shannon and the growth they were both going through was incredible and so touching to read.
I read Book 2 of this series, The Scoring Secret and it was also so good! Love her writing style and the depth of her characters. I've read a couple other books by this author and it's always a good time.
I did an immersive read with the ebook (available on KU) and the audiobook and just wow. Lauren Beck, Nathaniel Priestley, and Dane Anderson did an amazing job with these characters (and all the supporting characters as well). when Nathaniel Priestly started speaking in that Scottish accent, I was weak! Whoa whoa whoa. Completely unlike any other male narrator I've heard who usually goes heavy and loud with the accents, this one made me want to scoot in a little closer to hear him better because it was so good. Lauren & Nathaniel definitely had chemistry and their performances had me sat the entire time. Dane who performed Max and the other male supporting characters was perfect - especially making Max a jerk!!
what to expect:
*angst & yearning
*hockey romance
*forbidden love
*he falls first (and so hard!)
"...it wasn't lunacy on any level. It was simpler than all of that. I met you, and I was yours."
*I received a complimentary ALC and my review is voluntary. Thank you to the author!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Rebound Plan is book 3 of 4 in the Off the Ice series, a contemporary hockey romance centered on NHL veteran Forward Russ Armstrong and his team captain's wife Shannon Tilman. What starts as an internal battle against unwanted attraction turns into an external faceoff of undeniable truths about careers, relationships, and love.
This is not a lighthearted or romcom story that is typical of a hockey romance. It is heavily dramatized with heavy themes of being stuck in a loveless marriage with a red flag spouse (implied infidelity, emotional abuse/gaslighting, slut shaming, misogyny) a dubcon threesome scene, blackmail, and sexual coercion. These elements take up the majority of the story for plot and character development purposes.
Despite these uncomfortable situations, the story itself is well-written and paced appropriately. Characters, situations, actions, and consequences were purposely written as realistic with some dialogue and actions being embellished (but not OTT) for the purposes of being a work of fiction. In other words, this book makes all the momentous, joyous, and satisfying highs worth clawing through the heartbreaking and agonizing lows.
The audiobook specifically was well done by all 3 narrators. You can really feel the gamut of emotions each character felt making me that much more invested in the story. I normally shy away from Scottish accents because it can be hard for me to follow especially when it's spoken fast and/or using Scottish terms but Nathaniel Priestley did such a great job of not laying it on thick. Dane Anderson's voicing of Max Tilman was done so well because I absolutely had nothing but hate and disgust for that character.
I highly recommend listening to this audiobook once it comes out (~July '26) if you want an immersive experience of the emotional roller coaster this book demonstrates so well. This is my first Ainsley Booth book and I plan to read/listen to the rest of this series.
The ALC of the audiobook was provided by Netgalley, Victory Editing, and Ainsley Booth in exchange for my honest review of the story and the production of the audiobook.
This is not a lighthearted or romcom story that is typical of a hockey romance. It is heavily dramatized with heavy themes of being stuck in a loveless marriage with a red flag spouse (implied infidelity, emotional abuse/gaslighting, slut shaming, misogyny) a dubcon threesome scene, blackmail, and sexual coercion. These elements take up the majority of the story for plot and character development purposes.
Despite these uncomfortable situations, the story itself is well-written and paced appropriately. Characters, situations, actions, and consequences were purposely written as realistic with some dialogue and actions being embellished (but not OTT) for the purposes of being a work of fiction. In other words, this book makes all the momentous, joyous, and satisfying highs worth clawing through the heartbreaking and agonizing lows.
The audiobook specifically was well done by all 3 narrators. You can really feel the gamut of emotions each character felt making me that much more invested in the story. I normally shy away from Scottish accents because it can be hard for me to follow especially when it's spoken fast and/or using Scottish terms but Nathaniel Priestley did such a great job of not laying it on thick. Dane Anderson's voicing of Max Tilman was done so well because I absolutely had nothing but hate and disgust for that character.
I highly recommend listening to this audiobook once it comes out (~July '26) if you want an immersive experience of the emotional roller coaster this book demonstrates so well. This is my first Ainsley Booth book and I plan to read/listen to the rest of this series.
The ALC of the audiobook was provided by Netgalley, Victory Editing, and Ainsley Booth in exchange for my honest review of the story and the production of the audiobook.
August 5, 2026
After listening to the Scoring Secret, I became invested in this team and the characters. I was glad to go back to Canada and be with the team again. I adored Russ. He's got so much control over himself and his feelings that as you get through the book, you can see little cracks begin to break through the control. The relationship dynamic was also done well. Shannon was the most relatable FMC. She wanted to be loved. She wanted to be more than just a trophy wife. She longed to make her marriage work. She was not looking for someone else to love, she just wanted her husband to love her. He loved himself. He loved the idea of her on his arm. He was the definition of a narcissistic man.
Rus and Shan together was a study in yearning, slow burn, tension, need and forbidden desire. I wasn't sure how Ainsley Booth was going to pull off the rebound of the breakup, but the way she did made the whole thing work. I like that there wasn't really cheating going on between Rus and Shan. It was a kindled fire that sloooow burned through 80% of the story. When the heat hit though, ugh Russ is a whole lot of yummy!
The audiobook was great. I adored the multi-cast, (even though Robert Hatchet didn't reprise his role as Ty yeah that's a big sigh over here because he's so good as Ty) but Dane Anderson was a rockstar with all the other voices and brought a definite cocky jerk attitude to Max. Nathaniel Priestley made Russ absolutely perfect. His intonation and accent added to the audio making the story feel both immersive and emotional. Lauren Beck gave a fabulous performance showing all the various feelings Shan was going through in a skilled and powerful way, using pacing and inflection to show how she was struggling. I could feel the way Shan was in the scene because of Lauren's narration. She also did a great job voicing all the other WAGs.
Together, Lauren and Nathaniel had a fabulous chemistry and the heat in their sensual scenes was absolutely smokin' hot.
I am excited to read Emory's book next because she was the fun in this whole story. A big thank you to the author for the early listen.
Rus and Shan together was a study in yearning, slow burn, tension, need and forbidden desire. I wasn't sure how Ainsley Booth was going to pull off the rebound of the breakup, but the way she did made the whole thing work. I like that there wasn't really cheating going on between Rus and Shan. It was a kindled fire that sloooow burned through 80% of the story. When the heat hit though, ugh Russ is a whole lot of yummy!
The audiobook was great. I adored the multi-cast, (even though Robert Hatchet didn't reprise his role as Ty yeah that's a big sigh over here because he's so good as Ty) but Dane Anderson was a rockstar with all the other voices and brought a definite cocky jerk attitude to Max. Nathaniel Priestley made Russ absolutely perfect. His intonation and accent added to the audio making the story feel both immersive and emotional. Lauren Beck gave a fabulous performance showing all the various feelings Shan was going through in a skilled and powerful way, using pacing and inflection to show how she was struggling. I could feel the way Shan was in the scene because of Lauren's narration. She also did a great job voicing all the other WAGs.
Together, Lauren and Nathaniel had a fabulous chemistry and the heat in their sensual scenes was absolutely smokin' hot.
I am excited to read Emory's book next because she was the fun in this whole story. A big thank you to the author for the early listen.
Review of advance copy
The Rebound Plan is an intense and sophisticated departure from the typical hockey romance. Rather than leaning into the lighthearted tropes often associated with the genre, the author crafts a heavily dramatized exploration of a crumbling marriage and the forbidden attraction that arises in its wake. The story follows Shannon, trapped in an emotionally abusive marriage with NHL captain Max, and the budding connection with his teammate, Russ, who has harbored a secret obsession with her.
The pacing is deliberate, allowing the heavier themes—including gaslighting, manipulation, and coercion—to serve as the foundation for the characters' growth. The dialogue is sharp and balanced, effectively interspersing moments of levity with agonizing emotional lows. The central conflict, particularly a pivotal scene at a cottage pool, is executed with high tension and narrative precision. It is a raw, emotionally charged journey that manages to make the eventual highs feel immensely earned after navigating the heartbreaking lows.
The production quality of the audiobook, performed by Nathaniel Priestley, Lauren Beck, and Dane Anderson, is exceptional. Each narrator brings a distinct, layered performance to their character that significantly elevates the experience. Nathaniel Priestley’s restrained use of a Scottish accent provides a grounded, broody intensity to Russ that is perfectly balanced by Lauren Beck’s warm, emotive portrayal of Shannon’s loneliness and yearning. Dane Anderson’s performance as Max is equally effective, delivering such a snarl-filled, villainous tone that it is impossible not to feel genuine hostility toward the character from the very first chapter.
While this is book three of a four-part series, it works perfectly as a standalone. It is a beautifully written, emotionally charged slow burn that balances sharp, sarcastic dialogue with profound intensity. For readers looking for a hockey romance that breaks the mold and keeps them fully invested in every emotional beat, this audiobook is highly recommended.
The pacing is deliberate, allowing the heavier themes—including gaslighting, manipulation, and coercion—to serve as the foundation for the characters' growth. The dialogue is sharp and balanced, effectively interspersing moments of levity with agonizing emotional lows. The central conflict, particularly a pivotal scene at a cottage pool, is executed with high tension and narrative precision. It is a raw, emotionally charged journey that manages to make the eventual highs feel immensely earned after navigating the heartbreaking lows.
The production quality of the audiobook, performed by Nathaniel Priestley, Lauren Beck, and Dane Anderson, is exceptional. Each narrator brings a distinct, layered performance to their character that significantly elevates the experience. Nathaniel Priestley’s restrained use of a Scottish accent provides a grounded, broody intensity to Russ that is perfectly balanced by Lauren Beck’s warm, emotive portrayal of Shannon’s loneliness and yearning. Dane Anderson’s performance as Max is equally effective, delivering such a snarl-filled, villainous tone that it is impossible not to feel genuine hostility toward the character from the very first chapter.
While this is book three of a four-part series, it works perfectly as a standalone. It is a beautifully written, emotionally charged slow burn that balances sharp, sarcastic dialogue with profound intensity. For readers looking for a hockey romance that breaks the mold and keeps them fully invested in every emotional beat, this audiobook is highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m going to be honest—I was more than a little nervous going into this one. I should’ve known (and to be fair, I remembered pretty quickly), I was in the incredibly capable hands of an excellent storyteller. Once I picked this up, I did not put it down until PAST the end (there’s a bonus epilogue), my good night sleep be damned.
I don’t think I’ve ever read such a cathartic ‘she upgrades from her ex’ story, and the way Ainsley Booth navigates some very delicate dynamics should be studied. Having read previous books in this series, I was already rooting for Shannon, but once I saw what she was really going through, I was aching for her to not just find her person, but rediscover her value and self-worth—no one was more deserving of a happily ever after than her.
No one, that is, apart from Mr. Swoony himself, Russ Armstrong. This man PINES. YEARNS. He may even put Fitzwilliam Darcy to shame there. And listening to the audiobook? Oh my wordy—I love a spellbound and star-crossed Scotsman. Everything about him was ‘chef’s kiss.’ The way he cared about Shannon, the way he became whatever she needed him to be, his patience, his dedication, his protectiveness… Safe to say, I fell fast and hard.
Again, having listened to the audiobook, I have to talk about what an experience it is. The duet narration with the wildly talented narrators, Nathaniel Priestley, Lauren Beck, and Dane Anderson, honestly felt like I was right in the midst of it all, not watching a movie, but going through it alongside friends. Plus, like I said, that Scottish accent? It’s probably embarrassing how much it made my heart flutter and cheeks blush. But here we are.
I need to go take a nap because this book really did destroy my sleep schedule, but I have zero regrets. Five stars—would do it again. (I probably will, too.)
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to lose sleep listening to this ALC in exchange for my honest review.
I don’t think I’ve ever read such a cathartic ‘she upgrades from her ex’ story, and the way Ainsley Booth navigates some very delicate dynamics should be studied. Having read previous books in this series, I was already rooting for Shannon, but once I saw what she was really going through, I was aching for her to not just find her person, but rediscover her value and self-worth—no one was more deserving of a happily ever after than her.
No one, that is, apart from Mr. Swoony himself, Russ Armstrong. This man PINES. YEARNS. He may even put Fitzwilliam Darcy to shame there. And listening to the audiobook? Oh my wordy—I love a spellbound and star-crossed Scotsman. Everything about him was ‘chef’s kiss.’ The way he cared about Shannon, the way he became whatever she needed him to be, his patience, his dedication, his protectiveness… Safe to say, I fell fast and hard.
Again, having listened to the audiobook, I have to talk about what an experience it is. The duet narration with the wildly talented narrators, Nathaniel Priestley, Lauren Beck, and Dane Anderson, honestly felt like I was right in the midst of it all, not watching a movie, but going through it alongside friends. Plus, like I said, that Scottish accent? It’s probably embarrassing how much it made my heart flutter and cheeks blush. But here we are.
I need to go take a nap because this book really did destroy my sleep schedule, but I have zero regrets. Five stars—would do it again. (I probably will, too.)
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to lose sleep listening to this ALC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
For the year he’s been playing for the Hamilton Highlanders, Russ has been drawn to his captain’s wife. While he knows he can never act on his feelings, watching the way she is so often discarded or mistreated burns. When the team decides to have an unofficial retreat at his new cottage, and bring their partners along, he tries to resist the attraction, but when he accidentally finds out their marriage is failling, it leads to an invitation he can’t refuse. In the aftermath, everything changes, but all Russ knows for sure is he’s not ready to let her go.
For 8 years, Shannon has been Max’s perfect wife, if only she had a perfect husband to go along with it. Having molded herself into his idea of what a WAG should be, she has left so much of who she was before, not that he’s afraid to throw her past in her face anytime it suits him. Since moving to Hamilton, she’s built a connection with Russ, but has always kept her distance out of respect for her marriage, not that her husband grants her the same courtesy. Their time at the cottage changed that, and once the lines were crossed, Shannon knows there’s no going back.
I received an early copy of this audiobook from @NetGalley and I absolutely loved it! While this book may seem like it could be a love triangle, it very quickly becomes clear that it’s anything but. While Max revealed his problematic behaviour early on in the series, in this book we really see his narcissistic side shine, and learn the extent to which he’s gaslighted and manipulated Shannon. I love that as much as they both know her marriage is over, neither Russ or Shannon is willing to cross that line, but even more than that, I loved how Russ loves every part of her, past and present, and doesn’t expect her to be anything other than her authentic self. The only thing I would have changed in this story is the epilogue, as it felt like a little rushed. Or maybe I’m just not ready to let go of these two.
For 8 years, Shannon has been Max’s perfect wife, if only she had a perfect husband to go along with it. Having molded herself into his idea of what a WAG should be, she has left so much of who she was before, not that he’s afraid to throw her past in her face anytime it suits him. Since moving to Hamilton, she’s built a connection with Russ, but has always kept her distance out of respect for her marriage, not that her husband grants her the same courtesy. Their time at the cottage changed that, and once the lines were crossed, Shannon knows there’s no going back.
I received an early copy of this audiobook from @NetGalley and I absolutely loved it! While this book may seem like it could be a love triangle, it very quickly becomes clear that it’s anything but. While Max revealed his problematic behaviour early on in the series, in this book we really see his narcissistic side shine, and learn the extent to which he’s gaslighted and manipulated Shannon. I love that as much as they both know her marriage is over, neither Russ or Shannon is willing to cross that line, but even more than that, I loved how Russ loves every part of her, past and present, and doesn’t expect her to be anything other than her authentic self. The only thing I would have changed in this story is the epilogue, as it felt like a little rushed. Or maybe I’m just not ready to let go of these two.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC/ALC review
“If you need to ken a secret about me, Shan, let it be that I'm definitely not a good boy.”
The story follows Shannon, Max and Russ. Shannon is the wife of the NHL captain Max and Russ is part of the team. When the team gathers for a retreat at Russ's new cottage, Shannon and Russ find themselves trapped in close quarters forcing them to confront their growing attraction. On the other hand is Shannon her marriage to Max crumbling. She is lonely and yearning for something more. The attraction combined with loyalties makes that both Shannon as Russ are with conflicted in how to proceed.
Firstly: Omg, that pool scene! I did not see that one coming. The tension, the conflicts, this was a brilliantly done scene.
Ainsley did a very good job in portraying our main characters and their characters. I was so mad at Max, and Russ, he has my heart. Same goes for Shannon, I felt her desperation and loneliness. The emotional depth in this book is amazingly described in a way that I could almost feel it myself.
The dialogue in this book was engaging and sharp. It was a great balance between the heavier moments and the lighter sarcastic ones.
A beautifully written, emotionally charged, satisfying slow burn!
Audio book – 5 stars
This book is narrated by Nathaniel Priestley, Lauren Beck and Dane Anderson. This was a delight to listen to. I could very much appreciate the Scottish accent for Russ, portrayed by Nathaniel. It adds to his broody intensity. Panty melting! I also think it was a perfect contradiction to Lauren's warm tone that brought Shannon to live. Dane did a perfect snarl like tone for Max, making him feel like a villain from the start. The way these narrators managed to bring the book alive added to the overall experience of this book. I highly recommend giving it a listen.
“If you need to ken a secret about me, Shan, let it be that I'm definitely not a good boy.”
The story follows Shannon, Max and Russ. Shannon is the wife of the NHL captain Max and Russ is part of the team. When the team gathers for a retreat at Russ's new cottage, Shannon and Russ find themselves trapped in close quarters forcing them to confront their growing attraction. On the other hand is Shannon her marriage to Max crumbling. She is lonely and yearning for something more. The attraction combined with loyalties makes that both Shannon as Russ are with conflicted in how to proceed.
Firstly: Omg, that pool scene! I did not see that one coming. The tension, the conflicts, this was a brilliantly done scene.
Ainsley did a very good job in portraying our main characters and their characters. I was so mad at Max, and Russ, he has my heart. Same goes for Shannon, I felt her desperation and loneliness. The emotional depth in this book is amazingly described in a way that I could almost feel it myself.
The dialogue in this book was engaging and sharp. It was a great balance between the heavier moments and the lighter sarcastic ones.
A beautifully written, emotionally charged, satisfying slow burn!
Audio book – 5 stars
This book is narrated by Nathaniel Priestley, Lauren Beck and Dane Anderson. This was a delight to listen to. I could very much appreciate the Scottish accent for Russ, portrayed by Nathaniel. It adds to his broody intensity. Panty melting! I also think it was a perfect contradiction to Lauren's warm tone that brought Shannon to live. Dane did a perfect snarl like tone for Max, making him feel like a villain from the start. The way these narrators managed to bring the book alive added to the overall experience of this book. I highly recommend giving it a listen.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✨ALC review✨
4⭐⭐⭐⭐
2🌶️🌶️
4🎧🎧🎧🎧
Duet Narration
Thank you to Netgalley, Ainsley Booth, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest opinion!
The Rebound Plan is a hockey romance with a forbidden love, lots of yearning, and a killer love triangle. If you're in the mood for swooning from a tall, protective Scottish man with a delicious accent do your ears a favor and listen to this!
Shannon, an ex model turned WAG, is married to Max, the captain of the hockey team. Their marriage looks like it's perfect, however, the nature of it starts to show when Max's toxic behavior is discovered by Russ. Russ has always been attracted to Shannon, but never has he followed through to her being married to his teammate. Their banter and easy going relationship leads to Shannon to develop feelings for him and she learns that he too has feelings for her.
I loved seeing Shannon's character growth, she went from being dependent on Max to breaking out of that and gaining some of her independence back. She was honestly a very well rounded and relatable FMC. I hated Max, but it's good because it just shows how WELL the author wrote him out to be. He was such a POS husband, always belittling Shannon and making her feel unworthy. Russ, MY MAN! He made me wanna move to Scotland and settle down with a man out there: the accent, the PINING, and his protective demeanor had me melted in a puddle.
The story was well written, and fast paced - overall enjoyable. It does have some heavy themese such as but not limited to: manipulation, gaslighting, slut shaming, and implied cheating (from the husband).
Overall I highly recommend listening to the audiobook for an immersive experience.
4⭐⭐⭐⭐
2🌶️🌶️
4🎧🎧🎧🎧
Duet Narration
Thank you to Netgalley, Ainsley Booth, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest opinion!
The Rebound Plan is a hockey romance with a forbidden love, lots of yearning, and a killer love triangle. If you're in the mood for swooning from a tall, protective Scottish man with a delicious accent do your ears a favor and listen to this!
Shannon, an ex model turned WAG, is married to Max, the captain of the hockey team. Their marriage looks like it's perfect, however, the nature of it starts to show when Max's toxic behavior is discovered by Russ. Russ has always been attracted to Shannon, but never has he followed through to her being married to his teammate. Their banter and easy going relationship leads to Shannon to develop feelings for him and she learns that he too has feelings for her.
I loved seeing Shannon's character growth, she went from being dependent on Max to breaking out of that and gaining some of her independence back. She was honestly a very well rounded and relatable FMC. I hated Max, but it's good because it just shows how WELL the author wrote him out to be. He was such a POS husband, always belittling Shannon and making her feel unworthy. Russ, MY MAN! He made me wanna move to Scotland and settle down with a man out there: the accent, the PINING, and his protective demeanor had me melted in a puddle.
The story was well written, and fast paced - overall enjoyable. It does have some heavy themese such as but not limited to: manipulation, gaslighting, slut shaming, and implied cheating (from the husband).
Overall I highly recommend listening to the audiobook for an immersive experience.
July 21, 2026
Shannon Tilman is trapped in her marriage to Hamilton Highlanders captain Max. From the outside, their relationship looks picture-perfect, but for Shannon it's all just for show. Max was supposed to be her escape from her past, but instead she's left wanting so much more.
Originally from Scotland, Russ Armstrong has built a life for himself as a forward on the Hamilton Highlanders hockey team. Things are going so well that when the opportunity to buy a cabin in the woods comes up, he jumps at the chance. The only problem? The entire hockey team has invited themselves for a weekend getaway, which means being stuck with his off-limits crush, Shannon Tilman.
The Rebound Plan is book three in the Off The Ice series. I was hesitant to jump into the series partway through, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well Ainsley Booth introduced the characters and relationships. I never felt lost, and it was easy to become invested in the story without having read the previous books.
I absolutely adored Shannon and Russ, especially watching their relationship slowly blossom throughout the novel. Shannon, in particular, had incredible character growth from beginning to end, and I found myself constantly wishing I could help her escape her awful husband.
The duet narration was phenomenal and did an excellent job of bringing the story to life. It really helped capture the emotion and chemistry between the characters.
The secondary characters were a welcome addition that added depth to the overall story. Now that I’ve had a chance to meet some of the supporting characters, I’m excited to circle back to the beginning of this series & get to know the Hamilton Highlanders better.
Originally from Scotland, Russ Armstrong has built a life for himself as a forward on the Hamilton Highlanders hockey team. Things are going so well that when the opportunity to buy a cabin in the woods comes up, he jumps at the chance. The only problem? The entire hockey team has invited themselves for a weekend getaway, which means being stuck with his off-limits crush, Shannon Tilman.
The Rebound Plan is book three in the Off The Ice series. I was hesitant to jump into the series partway through, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well Ainsley Booth introduced the characters and relationships. I never felt lost, and it was easy to become invested in the story without having read the previous books.
I absolutely adored Shannon and Russ, especially watching their relationship slowly blossom throughout the novel. Shannon, in particular, had incredible character growth from beginning to end, and I found myself constantly wishing I could help her escape her awful husband.
The duet narration was phenomenal and did an excellent job of bringing the story to life. It really helped capture the emotion and chemistry between the characters.
The secondary characters were a welcome addition that added depth to the overall story. Now that I’ve had a chance to meet some of the supporting characters, I’m excited to circle back to the beginning of this series & get to know the Hamilton Highlanders better.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐
Love triangles aren’t usually my thing, but I was totally here for this broken one.
On the surface, Max and Shannon have a perfect marriage, but behind closed doors it’s toxic and exhausting. Russ, kind and steady, has loved Shannon from afar for a year, and when a team retreat brings them together, the cracks in her marriage become impossible to ignore.
I appreciated how this story explored what happens to a professional athlete’s wife after divorce. Shannon’s identity and support system are tied to the team, and losing that means losing her community.
I loved the found family aspect and Shannon’s realization that she needed therapy and self‑work. Russ’s devotion was heart‑melting, and watching Shannon drop her mask and accept herself was beautiful.
However, I didn’t feel the full emotional highs and lows I expected, and their relationship moved very quickly. I also wanted more closure with Max and deeper insight into Shannon’s therapy journey.
Still, I devoured this audiobook. The twist near the end shocked me, and the sweet conclusion sealed the found‑family theme perfectly.
The duet narration was excellent. Nathaniel Priestly’s accents were fantastic, Lauren Beck conveyed Shannon’s emotion beautifully, and Dane Anderson’s voice for Max added great contrast.
Note for listeners: the audiobook and eBook chapter numbers don’t match, and there’s a brief line mix‑up in chapter 50 that’s easy to miss.
Thank you to Ainsley Booth, Victory Editing NetGalley Co‑op, and NetGalley for the ALC.
Love triangles aren’t usually my thing, but I was totally here for this broken one.
On the surface, Max and Shannon have a perfect marriage, but behind closed doors it’s toxic and exhausting. Russ, kind and steady, has loved Shannon from afar for a year, and when a team retreat brings them together, the cracks in her marriage become impossible to ignore.
I appreciated how this story explored what happens to a professional athlete’s wife after divorce. Shannon’s identity and support system are tied to the team, and losing that means losing her community.
I loved the found family aspect and Shannon’s realization that she needed therapy and self‑work. Russ’s devotion was heart‑melting, and watching Shannon drop her mask and accept herself was beautiful.
However, I didn’t feel the full emotional highs and lows I expected, and their relationship moved very quickly. I also wanted more closure with Max and deeper insight into Shannon’s therapy journey.
Still, I devoured this audiobook. The twist near the end shocked me, and the sweet conclusion sealed the found‑family theme perfectly.
The duet narration was excellent. Nathaniel Priestly’s accents were fantastic, Lauren Beck conveyed Shannon’s emotion beautifully, and Dane Anderson’s voice for Max added great contrast.
Note for listeners: the audiobook and eBook chapter numbers don’t match, and there’s a brief line mix‑up in chapter 50 that’s easy to miss.
Thank you to Ainsley Booth, Victory Editing NetGalley Co‑op, and NetGalley for the ALC.
July 26, 2026
I am completely blown away. This is the second audiobook I’ve listened to by Ainsley Booth in this series, and I have loved them both. But The Rebound Plan is on a whole other level—it is easily one of the best audiobooks I have listened to this entire year, and it has easily cracked my top five favourite audiobooks of all time.
The production is flawless. I really enjoy dual narration, and the three narrators did a fantastic job bringing this story to life. Their performance was absolute perfection.
The story itself is a swoony, forbidden hockey romance featuring a love triangle. It follows Shannon, a failed model-turned-escort-turned-WAG who is constantly reminded of her past by her husband, Max. Frankly, Max is an arrogant, self-absorbed, and narcissistic man-child.
Enter Ross. In my opinion, Ross is the absolute ultimate book boyfriend. He is hot, sexy, kind, sweet, respectful, and completely loving. He is the tall, growly, protective hockey player Shannon truly deserves as she navigates her journey toward learning to love herself as much as she loves those around her.
I’ll admit I was a little hesitant at first because I don't usually go for cheating tropes. If you are worried about that too, don't be! That's not really what this is. There is perhaps a little emotional crossover, but trust me when I tell you that it is completely okay and handled so well.
I cannot recommend this audiobook enough. Put it on your listening list immediately!
The production is flawless. I really enjoy dual narration, and the three narrators did a fantastic job bringing this story to life. Their performance was absolute perfection.
The story itself is a swoony, forbidden hockey romance featuring a love triangle. It follows Shannon, a failed model-turned-escort-turned-WAG who is constantly reminded of her past by her husband, Max. Frankly, Max is an arrogant, self-absorbed, and narcissistic man-child.
Enter Ross. In my opinion, Ross is the absolute ultimate book boyfriend. He is hot, sexy, kind, sweet, respectful, and completely loving. He is the tall, growly, protective hockey player Shannon truly deserves as she navigates her journey toward learning to love herself as much as she loves those around her.
I’ll admit I was a little hesitant at first because I don't usually go for cheating tropes. If you are worried about that too, don't be! That's not really what this is. There is perhaps a little emotional crossover, but trust me when I tell you that it is completely okay and handled so well.
I cannot recommend this audiobook enough. Put it on your listening list immediately!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Rebound Plan by Ainsley Booth caught me by complete surprise. From the moment I hit play, Nathaniel Priestley’s Scottish narration as Russ Armstrong completely swept me up. All of a sudden, I’m looking up one-way tickets to Scotland.
Russ is the NHL teammate of Shannon’s husband, Max. Who is Shannon? She’s the woman Russ is hopelessly in love with. She’s the picture-perfect WAG. It’s just too bad Max is the picture-perfect jerk.
Russ is trying to be respectful. He really is. The problem is there’s a magnetic pull between him and Shannon that makes fighting it nearly impossible. No pun intended. But when a team weekend at Russ’s cabin gets…interesting, navigating this love triangle becomes even more complicated.
I thought this was an incredibly well-done audiobook. The novel is wonderfully written, which makes it even more compelling when paired with three outstanding narrators: Nathaniel Priestley, Dane Anderson, and Lauren Beck. Russ’s possessive, protective nature combined with Shannon’s confidence and emotional maturity created some seriously spicy chemistry. And the Alpha male energy between Max and Russ added to the plot line.
I highly recommend this audiobook. Like I said, it surprised me in the best possible way.
Thank you to Ainsley Booth, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for the ALC.
Russ is the NHL teammate of Shannon’s husband, Max. Who is Shannon? She’s the woman Russ is hopelessly in love with. She’s the picture-perfect WAG. It’s just too bad Max is the picture-perfect jerk.
Russ is trying to be respectful. He really is. The problem is there’s a magnetic pull between him and Shannon that makes fighting it nearly impossible. No pun intended. But when a team weekend at Russ’s cabin gets…interesting, navigating this love triangle becomes even more complicated.
I thought this was an incredibly well-done audiobook. The novel is wonderfully written, which makes it even more compelling when paired with three outstanding narrators: Nathaniel Priestley, Dane Anderson, and Lauren Beck. Russ’s possessive, protective nature combined with Shannon’s confidence and emotional maturity created some seriously spicy chemistry. And the Alpha male energy between Max and Russ added to the plot line.
I highly recommend this audiobook. Like I said, it surprised me in the best possible way.
Thank you to Ainsley Booth, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for the ALC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Loved this couple
This is book 3 of the Off the Ice series and throws us into an unrequited love story between Russ and Shannon.
Shannon however does not know of the feelings Russ has for her, as she is unhappily married, living with her hockey player husband Max.
Max treats her as a commodity that can best get him to where he wants to be and not like a wife.
Talking down to her and expecting her to always do as he says.
She is sick of being downtrodden and asks for a divorce.
Russ was a goner from the first moment he set eyes on gorgeous Shannon, but knew nothing could ever come of it.
It never stopped him thinking of her though and when an opportunity later arose as her marriage broke down they became friends, then more.
I loved the depths of feelings that Russ displayed to Shannon, showing her the way a woman should be treated by a person that adored her.
An enjoyable story filled with fun, drama, emotions and steam, with a great friendship group, loveable characters plus a horrible husband.
I had the please of listening to the audiobook narrated in duet by Nathaniel Priestley and Lauren Beck plus also with Dane Anderson.
I loved all of their performances and thoroughly enjoyed their interpretations.
Thank you Ainsley Booth for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.
This is book 3 of the Off the Ice series and throws us into an unrequited love story between Russ and Shannon.
Shannon however does not know of the feelings Russ has for her, as she is unhappily married, living with her hockey player husband Max.
Max treats her as a commodity that can best get him to where he wants to be and not like a wife.
Talking down to her and expecting her to always do as he says.
She is sick of being downtrodden and asks for a divorce.
Russ was a goner from the first moment he set eyes on gorgeous Shannon, but knew nothing could ever come of it.
It never stopped him thinking of her though and when an opportunity later arose as her marriage broke down they became friends, then more.
I loved the depths of feelings that Russ displayed to Shannon, showing her the way a woman should be treated by a person that adored her.
An enjoyable story filled with fun, drama, emotions and steam, with a great friendship group, loveable characters plus a horrible husband.
I had the please of listening to the audiobook narrated in duet by Nathaniel Priestley and Lauren Beck plus also with Dane Anderson.
I loved all of their performances and thoroughly enjoyed their interpretations.
Thank you Ainsley Booth for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.
July 20, 2026
ALC REVIEW
Duet Narration by Lauren Beck, Nathaniel Priestley, and Dane Anderson
3/3.5 Stars
The Rebound Plan features Shannon, the captain's wife, Max, the villain and team captain, and Russ, his teammate. This was a forbidden, slow-burn story where the focus is really on Shannon and her coming to accept that her marriage to Max is no longer what she desires. Shannon and Russ form a friendship, and he is there for her when it counts. Russ was gentle yet strong and protective when needed. A team trip, unexpected connections, and events had things falling into place and giving Shannon the push she needed to make a change. The story moved kind of slow for me until around 60%, when we start getting more of Shannon and Russ. Max was not a nice man, so it was easy to cheer for Russ! Overall, this was a decent listen, but I wish the story had kept me a little more invested like the previous book did.
The Duet narration performed by Lauren Beck, Nathaniel Priestley, and Dane Anderson was excellent. My first listen wth Nathaniel Priestley, and he was enjoyable to listen to. All three narrators were well cast for these characters. They delivered strong performances, with their voices meshing well. The narration definitely kept me more involved in the storyline and the push to keep going.
Duet Narration by Lauren Beck, Nathaniel Priestley, and Dane Anderson
3/3.5 Stars
The Rebound Plan features Shannon, the captain's wife, Max, the villain and team captain, and Russ, his teammate. This was a forbidden, slow-burn story where the focus is really on Shannon and her coming to accept that her marriage to Max is no longer what she desires. Shannon and Russ form a friendship, and he is there for her when it counts. Russ was gentle yet strong and protective when needed. A team trip, unexpected connections, and events had things falling into place and giving Shannon the push she needed to make a change. The story moved kind of slow for me until around 60%, when we start getting more of Shannon and Russ. Max was not a nice man, so it was easy to cheer for Russ! Overall, this was a decent listen, but I wish the story had kept me a little more invested like the previous book did.
The Duet narration performed by Lauren Beck, Nathaniel Priestley, and Dane Anderson was excellent. My first listen wth Nathaniel Priestley, and he was enjoyable to listen to. All three narrators were well cast for these characters. They delivered strong performances, with their voices meshing well. The narration definitely kept me more involved in the storyline and the push to keep going.
August 4, 2026
What else can I say except that this audiobook completely swept me away? From the very beginning, I was rooting for Shannon and Russel. The way Russel yearns for her, quietly but with so much intensity, had me clutching my headphones. And Shannon finally having a man treat her right, with the tenderness and respect she deserved all along, was both heart‑warming and empowering.
Listening to it on audio made the emotions hit even harder. The narrator captured every ounce of longing, every spark of chemistry, and every vulnerable moment between them. It wasn’t just a story I read, it was one I felt. The sighs, the pauses, the way the voices carried the tension turned the romance into something unforgettable.
I even found myself drifting off into daydreams, forgetting I was supposed to be busy with other things. The audio would just replay in my head, and suddenly I was lost in Shannon and Russel’s world, imagining their scenes over and over. That is how deeply this story got under my skin.
By the end, I was completely invested, smiling through the swoon‑worthy scenes and tearing up at the raw, heartfelt ones. It is not just a rebound plan, it is a reminder of how love can heal, transform, and make you believe in second chances. Honestly, this audiobook is the kind of experience that makes you fall in love with romance all over again
Listening to it on audio made the emotions hit even harder. The narrator captured every ounce of longing, every spark of chemistry, and every vulnerable moment between them. It wasn’t just a story I read, it was one I felt. The sighs, the pauses, the way the voices carried the tension turned the romance into something unforgettable.
I even found myself drifting off into daydreams, forgetting I was supposed to be busy with other things. The audio would just replay in my head, and suddenly I was lost in Shannon and Russel’s world, imagining their scenes over and over. That is how deeply this story got under my skin.
By the end, I was completely invested, smiling through the swoon‑worthy scenes and tearing up at the raw, heartfelt ones. It is not just a rebound plan, it is a reminder of how love can heal, transform, and make you believe in second chances. Honestly, this audiobook is the kind of experience that makes you fall in love with romance all over again
June 26, 2026
The Rebound Plan by Ainsley Booth
An absolute must-add to your TBR list! Let me start by saying this book had me completely clutching my pearls—and honestly, it doesn’t take much to get me there, but The Rebound Plan took things to a whole new level!
If you are a fan of a deliciously complex, high-stakes romantic tangle, this book is 100% for you. The dynamic is incredible: imagine being married to one man who is not only willing but enthusiastic about sharing you with the exact man you’ve been secretly craving. The tension, the chemistry, and the emotional stakes were absolutely off the charts.
The Verdict: I almost have no words for how brilliantly this was written. Ainsley Booth delivers a story that is as deeply captivating as it is scorching hot.
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a well-crafted, spicy, and unforgettable romance.
Key Highlights:
Tropes: Shared/Wife sharing, unique marriage dynamic, secret crush.
Pacing: Fast, gripping, and impossible to put down.
Writing Style: Exceptional character chemistry and brilliant pacing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review.
An absolute must-add to your TBR list! Let me start by saying this book had me completely clutching my pearls—and honestly, it doesn’t take much to get me there, but The Rebound Plan took things to a whole new level!
If you are a fan of a deliciously complex, high-stakes romantic tangle, this book is 100% for you. The dynamic is incredible: imagine being married to one man who is not only willing but enthusiastic about sharing you with the exact man you’ve been secretly craving. The tension, the chemistry, and the emotional stakes were absolutely off the charts.
The Verdict: I almost have no words for how brilliantly this was written. Ainsley Booth delivers a story that is as deeply captivating as it is scorching hot.
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a well-crafted, spicy, and unforgettable romance.
Key Highlights:
Tropes: Shared/Wife sharing, unique marriage dynamic, secret crush.
Pacing: Fast, gripping, and impossible to put down.
Writing Style: Exceptional character chemistry and brilliant pacing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2026
audio / 4.5* / netgalley
I love triangle with secrets, secrets I could never have anticipated!
The story starts out with a disgruntled marriage, and an undeniable attraction to a fellow player, what happens at the cottage is something dreams are made of. ENJOY.
The love triangle turns into more of a hostage marriage and Shannon really needs to find the strength to put her happiness first - actual happiness - for once in her life. Whether Russ is going to be part of that happiness, is something only time will tell.
This is not your typical WAG/Hockey romance, nor is it a typical love triangle - it was great, spicy and full of plot. Set in Canada as well!
This was my first book by Ainsley Booth, and I can guarantee you it will not be my last. I look forward to catching up on the entire series and seeing what happens next!
The narration by Nathaniel Preistley, Lauren Beck and Dane Anderson was top tier - the Scottish accent for Russ was downright perfect.
I received a gifted audio copy of this book in advance of it’s release from Victory Editing via NetGalley in exchange for my review - all opinions are my own. Thank you for the honour to review this book! I love being introduced to new to me authors, and narrators.
I love triangle with secrets, secrets I could never have anticipated!
The story starts out with a disgruntled marriage, and an undeniable attraction to a fellow player, what happens at the cottage is something dreams are made of. ENJOY.
The love triangle turns into more of a hostage marriage and Shannon really needs to find the strength to put her happiness first - actual happiness - for once in her life. Whether Russ is going to be part of that happiness, is something only time will tell.
This is not your typical WAG/Hockey romance, nor is it a typical love triangle - it was great, spicy and full of plot. Set in Canada as well!
This was my first book by Ainsley Booth, and I can guarantee you it will not be my last. I look forward to catching up on the entire series and seeing what happens next!
The narration by Nathaniel Preistley, Lauren Beck and Dane Anderson was top tier - the Scottish accent for Russ was downright perfect.
I received a gifted audio copy of this book in advance of it’s release from Victory Editing via NetGalley in exchange for my review - all opinions are my own. Thank you for the honour to review this book! I love being introduced to new to me authors, and narrators.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Rebound Plan is an emotional, beautifully narrated hockey romance that surprised me in the best way. I hadn’t realised Ainsley Booth is a pen name for an author I often read, so discovering that connection made this experience even more enjoyable, I’m excited to continue exploring her books under both names. This story blends forbidden romance, friendship, healing and self discovery. The themes of loveless marriage and finding the courage to choose yourself are handled with care, making the emotional roller coaster feel authentic and well earned. The narration is a standout. Nathaniel Priestley, Lauren Beck and Dane Anderson bring so much emotion and tone to the characters that it elevates the entire experience. Even though this is Book 3 in the Off the Ice series, I didn’t feel lost at all it works perfectly as a standalone. That said, I’ll definitely be going back to read the first two books because I’m now fully invested in this world. A well written, heartfelt hockey romance with strong narration and a compelling emotional journey.
I would like to thank the author, narrators, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for my copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review.
#TheReboundPlan #NetGalley.
I would like to thank the author, narrators, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for my copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review.
#TheReboundPlan #NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Rebound Plan by Ainsley Booth is one of those books that grabs you from page one and doesn't let go. The premise is clear right away, which I loved, but what really surprised me was how unpredictable the story felt as it unfolded. Even after reading the synopsis, I truly didn't know how everything would play out-and that made it such a page-turner.
What makes this book stand out in the series is how unexpected it is. I'll be honest, the second book didn't quite hit the same mark for me, but this one brought back everything I loved from the first. The ending especially caught me off guard in the best way.
The narration is fantastic-especially in duet style. It added so much depth and personality to the characters, making the emotional moments feel even more real. If you enjoy audiobooks, this one is absolutely worth it.
This is a must-read, especially if you're looking for a strong male main character who isn't the typical "hero saves the day" type. Instead, he supports and empowers the female main character through a complicated and emotional journey, which made the story feel even more meaningful.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.
#NetGalley #TheReboundPlan #AinsleyBooth #Audible
What makes this book stand out in the series is how unexpected it is. I'll be honest, the second book didn't quite hit the same mark for me, but this one brought back everything I loved from the first. The ending especially caught me off guard in the best way.
The narration is fantastic-especially in duet style. It added so much depth and personality to the characters, making the emotional moments feel even more real. If you enjoy audiobooks, this one is absolutely worth it.
This is a must-read, especially if you're looking for a strong male main character who isn't the typical "hero saves the day" type. Instead, he supports and empowers the female main character through a complicated and emotional journey, which made the story feel even more meaningful.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.
#NetGalley #TheReboundPlan #AinsleyBooth #Audible
July 24, 2026
I received an ALC; All opinions are my own.
4.5 ⭐️ for the story
Narrators definitely helped round it up to 5⭐️
I saw Hockey Romance and ran to this one!!
This is a true forbidden romance where we see FMC Shannon who is in a failing marriage with Max our MMC's teammate.
Then MMC, Russ, who has a crush on his teammates wife and decides to have a retreat at his country cottage with the team to prep before their upcoming season... only now this puts Shannon in close proximity to Russ...
One night everyone else leaves the cabin to a party down the lake and Shannon's husband, Max, makes Russ and offer to share...
Just like the name of the series, we definitely see more about what happens behind the scenes, off the ice, in this romance. We see the struggles Shannon has to navigate with her marriage and we see the friendships that form between the wives and girlfriends of the hockey players. Loved the story, it was very engaging and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
The book was not overly spicy.. but when the spice hit it definitelyturned up the heat!!
I have to say the narrators were top tier in this one and they truly made this book great! They embodied the characters and they delivered with authentic emotions that I was able to connect with.
4.5 ⭐️ for the story
Narrators definitely helped round it up to 5⭐️
I saw Hockey Romance and ran to this one!!
This is a true forbidden romance where we see FMC Shannon who is in a failing marriage with Max our MMC's teammate.
Then MMC, Russ, who has a crush on his teammates wife and decides to have a retreat at his country cottage with the team to prep before their upcoming season... only now this puts Shannon in close proximity to Russ...
One night everyone else leaves the cabin to a party down the lake and Shannon's husband, Max, makes Russ and offer to share...
Just like the name of the series, we definitely see more about what happens behind the scenes, off the ice, in this romance. We see the struggles Shannon has to navigate with her marriage and we see the friendships that form between the wives and girlfriends of the hockey players. Loved the story, it was very engaging and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
The book was not overly spicy.. but when the spice hit it definitelyturned up the heat!!
I have to say the narrators were top tier in this one and they truly made this book great! They embodied the characters and they delivered with authentic emotions that I was able to connect with.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Welcome back to Hamilton and the Highlanders hockey team. The Rebound Plan is an emotional story about following and supporting someone else’s career /dream and how it affects the relationship. Max and Shannon have been married/together for about eight years. She realized recently after being around some loving couples how broken and toxic her relationship with Max actually is. Meanwhile, Russ has been quietly lusting after/loving her since he met her last year. After she decides to leave Max, things start to happen. Can Russ convince Shannon they are meant to be?
The duet narration by Lauren Beck, Nathaniel Priestly and Dane Anderson was extraordinary. Lauren Beck was absolutely magnificent as beautiful, sweet, kind, strong Shannon and sweet, playful Emery. All of her hurt, pain, uncertainty, vulnerability, strength, intelligence, passion and love were clearly evident in her voice. Nathaniel Priestly was superb as loving, caring, protective Russ. His Scottish accent is divine. I love how he supported and loved Shannon. Dane Anderson was spectacular as grumpy, arrogant, a-hole Max and all of the nice guys on the hockey team. Brilliant performance. I highly recommend listening to this audiobook.
Thanks to Ainsley Booth for this ALC.
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Story 5 stars Narration 5 stars
The duet narration by Lauren Beck, Nathaniel Priestly and Dane Anderson was extraordinary. Lauren Beck was absolutely magnificent as beautiful, sweet, kind, strong Shannon and sweet, playful Emery. All of her hurt, pain, uncertainty, vulnerability, strength, intelligence, passion and love were clearly evident in her voice. Nathaniel Priestly was superb as loving, caring, protective Russ. His Scottish accent is divine. I love how he supported and loved Shannon. Dane Anderson was spectacular as grumpy, arrogant, a-hole Max and all of the nice guys on the hockey team. Brilliant performance. I highly recommend listening to this audiobook.
Thanks to Ainsley Booth for this ALC.
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Story 5 stars Narration 5 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Rebound Plan is the third book in an interconnected series, Off the Ice. I did not read the other books, and I was able to follow the story. With that said, I enjoyed this so much I will be going back to read the rest of the series.
Shannon is married to the captain of the hockey team. We quickly learn that the marriage isn't ideal and he is a jerk. As the wife the captain, Shannon makes it her life to be the best WAG devotes herself to be the best hockey wife. We are also introduced to another hockey player on the team, Russ. Russ and Shannon had an undeniable connection, but Russ makes it clear that wives are off limit.
I will be honest I sent a majority of the time upset with Shannon. She was frustrating but it made the character growth more enjoyable. Russ, on the other hand, I loved from the very beginning. He is protective and an overall good guy.
The audiobook was wonderful. It's duet narration style with a Scottish accent. The accent was perfection! Ainsley Booth is a new to me author, but I will definitely be reading more of her backlog.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
Shannon is married to the captain of the hockey team. We quickly learn that the marriage isn't ideal and he is a jerk. As the wife the captain, Shannon makes it her life to be the best WAG devotes herself to be the best hockey wife. We are also introduced to another hockey player on the team, Russ. Russ and Shannon had an undeniable connection, but Russ makes it clear that wives are off limit.
I will be honest I sent a majority of the time upset with Shannon. She was frustrating but it made the character growth more enjoyable. Russ, on the other hand, I loved from the very beginning. He is protective and an overall good guy.
The audiobook was wonderful. It's duet narration style with a Scottish accent. The accent was perfection! Ainsley Booth is a new to me author, but I will definitely be reading more of her backlog.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
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