The Captain's Girl

by Ella Rose Roussel

He went away for a year. She moved into his bedroom.
He's a hockey player. She's a writer.
He's protective, She's got a stalker.

A lot can change in a year and for Carter and Penny, best friends forever, they're finding themselves wanting to cross that line of friendship into something else. When Carter finds Penny in his room, he discovers she's been keeping things from him. Still, Penny has matured a lot and her body in his jersey makes him sweat. When a stalkers contact becomes dangerous, Carter encourages Penny to move into the hockey house with the team and fake date him to protect her.

Featuring found family, a love triangle, fake dating, unrequited love and best friends to lovers.

Highest Ranking
(since publishing on Wattpad)
#1 Hockey
#1 Hockey Player
#1 Sex Scenes
#1 Music Festival
#1 Duo POV
#1 Love and Loss
#1 Fake Relationship
#2 Dual POV
#2 Alcoholism
#2 Writer
#3 Campus Life
#6 College Romance
#7 Steamy
#7 Captain
#8 Domestic Violence
#8 Sexual Themes
#10 New Adult
#11 Domestic Violence
#19 Unrequited
#22 Artist
#22 Possessiveness
#44 Romance
Read the unedited version for free on Wattpad @EllaRoseRoussel

Genres: Hockey

ebook

First published August 25, 2026

About the author

Hey dear readers, I'm Ella. I've always been a writer. It's the way I express myself, share my truth, and make sense of the world. I took a very long break from writing as I grew my family, but an accident at home resulting in a concussion in March 2026 changed everything for me. I started writing every day. It became like therapy.

Follow me if you're a fan of paranormal romance, contemporary fiction, or dark romance. (As well as a little bit of spice) I look forward to connecting with you and hearing your thoughts on the characters and your connection to them.

Human Written
All of my stories are written by me, not AI

You can read my work for free exclusively on Wattpad @EllaRoseRoussel

Reviews

[The Book Ssirren]

This one has easily become one of my favorite hockey book this year. Penny was living in Carter’s room after he’d left for a year to go to hockey camp. Having lost her mom, his mom invited her to stay. I loved that everyone around her gave a sense of family. The night Carter came home, I giggled so hard. Both have grown so much since he’d left. And boy did he notice 😉
I loved that they grew up being best friends, but those feelings were seriously starting to change for Carter. He was seeing Penny in a whole new way. I felt for Penny because she was still going through so many emotions, and at times it left her feeling all over the place. I think the way she was written in this story gave a really great representation of that. Then finding out she’s got a stalker…so Carter asks her to stay at the house with all the other hockey players, have a fake dating scenario to help protect her, all the while good attraction is just deepening.
I loved these two. Even through all of their back and forth, Penny pulling back and not knowing if she was sure of things. They never gave up on one another. This was a sweet and fun story. Filled with some giggles, some steam, ands a lot of good times. I thoroughly loved this story.

[Joanne Barton]

“The Captain's Girl” is the first book in the “Eros University Series.” This is a college hockey romance. Penny and Carter have been best friends their whole lives….their mothers are best friends and have known each other since their university days. When Penny loses her mum, she moves in with Linda and Dean, Carter’s parents, when everything gets really bad with her dad. Whilst Carter is away at hockey camp, she moves into his room. Tomorrow he will be home….

“I put on one of Carter’s jerseys. It was an older one with a few tears, but it was his, and I missed my best friend. I missed his snugly hugs, and this shirt gave me a little of that comfort.”

Carter decides to come back early and surprises Penny whilst he is getting out of the shower, standing there naked, when she walks in. He cannot help but notice that her chest is protruding a lot more….she cannot help but miss how much bulkier he has become. He has been gone for a year! She has never looked at him more than a surrogate brother until know….the feelings are mutual. “…. his eyes slowly looking over me. I was suddenly aware that I was still in his jersey and a pair of panties that said purrfect on the ass. I thought the undies were cute at the time, but now they were just embarrassing. Still, his eyes looked over me, not in disgust, shock, or pity, but more so in hunger.”

“We’d never shared a bed before, not like this, not at night.”

Now they are both attending Eros University together….deeper feelings begin to develop between them. When Penny is roofied at a party at Hockey House, the boys, whilst collecting some stuff for her, discover that her room has been trashed and also find a note from her stalker. Carter decides that she can stay in his room and pretend to be “fake dating,” hoping that this will protect her. How long will it take for their true feelings towards each other unravel? “Carter stared at me, his eyes traveled up and down my legs and then past my waist, my boobs, and then to my face. His eyes widened, my cheeks burned hot, and his lips pressed shut.”

This is a sports romance, best friends to lovers, with a touch of alpha male thrown in. Once I started reading, I could not put this book down! At times you will laugh, you will cry, get angry and frustrated - most of all, you will love the twists! This book will charm “the pants off you” and leave you going back for more. This is a lovely book that will keep you hooked! It has fun, laughs, intrigue, twists that you do not expect, and physical attraction. You will fall in love with Carter and Penny. She makes him smile and happy, he makes her forget….

“I want you to be as close to me as possible. That seemed to be all the consent he needed because then he really was on me. He pulled my shirt over my head, unclasped my bra with precision, and soon I was bare-skinned. He undressed himself until there was nothing between his body and mine. Carter’s finger stroked my cheek, and he clasped my chin with his thumb and finger, tipping my head up to kiss me more passionately. It was hard to breathe between kisses, but I worked out a rhythm and breathed into them.”

I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful love story, with all the ups, the downs, the friendship, the heartaches and most of all, what love can overcome. From page to page, chapter to chapter, from cover to cover - you will enjoy this story! This book will not disappoint!

[Emily]

I received an ARC of this book, thanks to the author, Ella Rose Roussel. This review does not contain any spoilers.

I really enjoyed the chapter names and really enjoy having page numbers in the Contents. This really helped me to prioritize my time and if I had more time to read another chapter.

I enjoyed this book despite the circumstance (stalker) of what takes place in this story. Theis circumstance was difficult to read but I was able to still enjoy the other parts of the book. I do appreciate the author giving a content warning in this book for everything that was going to be discussed/mentioned. This was helpful!

In addition to the main female lead and the main male lead, I enjoyed learning about several of the other characters and how their roles shaped the story (and overall character development of the main female and main male leads). I enjoyed the mix of hockey practice & games, college life, family time, and other relationships.

There is a fun surprise that is early in the book (I don't want to give it away) but major kudos to Ella for throwing in something fun and completely unexpected!! I can say that I have never seen this done before by an Indie Author so this was a really neat part of the story to read.

I am giving this book 4 out of 5 stars.! Congratulations Ella Roussel on the 1st book of Eros University!

[Alisha]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I absolutely loved this one! Give me a hockey romance with childhood friends, fake dating, and a hockey captain who has been secretly in love with the girl forever, and I am SOLD. 😂🏒❤️

The chemistry between these two was so good, and I loved watching their relationship develop. The childhood-friends-to-lovers trope is one of my favorites because there is already that history and connection between the characters, and this one definitely delivered. Add in the fake dating and all the hockey goodness, and I was hooked.

I really enjoyed the way their relationship had that mix of sweet, emotional, and spicy moments. The MMC was protective without being completely over the top, and I loved seeing how much he genuinely cared about her. There were definitely moments where I wanted to yell at them to just TALK to each other already 😂, but honestly, that comes with the territory of a good romance.

This was such a fun, easy read and exactly the kind of hockey romance I love picking up when I want something that will make me smile, swoon, and completely lose track of time. If you love college hockey romance, childhood friends-to-lovers, fake dating, and a protective hockey captain, definitely add this one to your TBR!

5/5 stars! 🏒💕

[Barbara]

Penny and Carter have been friends forever. Then, Penny’s mother dies, Carter moves away for hockey camp, and Penny moves into his house and his family. And when Carter comes back… well, neither one of them is exactly the way the other remembered.
The novel follows the pair as they navigate the transition from friends into something more, while danger lurks in the shadows. The premise is a good one but I thought the execution was somewhat lacking at times. Indeed, the first part of the book just goes too fast: there’s a lot of information thrown at the reader - a lot of telling rather than showing - and the constant hot and cold between the two of them gave me a bit of whiplash. Then the relationship picked up and I really enjoyed the middle section. The banter and found family of the hockey house is lovely - who wouldn’t want friends like that?
Unfortunately, the ending drags the narration down again as it’s back to rushing through details and there are a couple of instances where the psychological side effects of events in the novel should have been discussed further and instead were not (won’t give more details because of spoilers, but it wasn’t very believable).
It’s a pity, because the novel had lots of potential. Still, it’s a fun read for lovers of college romance.

[Nikki Ibarra]

The Captain’s Girl exceeded my expectations as a college hockey romance. Penny and Carter’s childhood friendship blossomed into a deep and meaningful love story. Their history, comfort, and trust with each other created a strong foundation for their romance.

Carter, the protagonist, was a complex character. Initially, he appeared to be faking a relationship with Penny, but his protective nature revealed his true feelings. I found Carter’s character development particularly compelling.

The story seamlessly blended romance with a darker suspense element. Penny’s journey through grief, trauma, fear, and friendship added emotional depth to the relationship. Her ability to open up to Carter and allow herself to love him further strengthened their bond.

While there were moments when I wanted to shake Penny and Carter and tell them to communicate openly, these moments also contributed to the tension and suspense of the story.

The combination of hockey, fake dating, childhood best friends, a protective MMC, spice, suspense, found family, and drama made this a captivating and enjoyable read. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys romance and suspenseful stories.

[Michelle]

I loved this story between Carter & Penny

They had a love/hate hot/cold attitude that was very realistically written. However it did drive me nuts - but I loved it and I belive that was the point of Ella’s writing
The characters are humansised to a real world setting. It felt realistic which I loved

Ella mentions her book Soul Tied - which is availble to read September

The story between Carter and Penny took me on a rollercoaster ride but in a good way. I rode all the highs and lows with this story

The plot keeps you guessing til the penny drops *no pun intended 😂
The Captains Girl had some hilarious LOL moments

This is just the beginning of a 7 book series and I for one CANNOT wait to read what comes next for Penny & Carter
Thank you for such a great read Ella. Looking forward to many more 💜

[Alissa Lemieux]

Greatly appreciate to have been able to have an ARC.

I personally gave it a 4.5 star review.

Best friend turned into lovers. Penny and Carter have this childhood friendship that everybody loves. They have each other’s back. Carter leaves for a year for a hockey training camp which left Penny home to deal with everything without her best friend. Thank God for Linda and Dean.

While Carter is gone, Penny lives with his parents. When he returns he finds Penny sleeping in his bed with his jersey. After a year of not seeing each other, feelings arise that weren’t there before.

They have a hot and cold relationship with each other. A situation is forced upon them and their conflicting feelings. Carter does everything he can to keep Penny safe, as well as his teammates.

Will Penny and Carter’s relationship survive through all the ups and downs ?

[Natalie]

🔥 The Captain’s Girl by Ella Rose Roussel 🔥

This book had me hooked from chapter one ! It’s kick-ass, intense, steamy and emotional, but what really stayed with me was Penny. She’s tough, but underneath that strength is a woman carrying some incredibly painful emotional trauma.

I loved watching her fight through her fears, find her strength and slowly learn to trust again. The chemistry is 🔥, the characters are addictive, and the action keeps the story moving, but it’s Penny’s emotional journey that gives this book its heart. ❤️The way Carter was so protective of Penny once he learnt the truth. Was heart warming and felt so real. 

A perfect blend of strength, passion, vulnerability and healing — with just enough badassery to keep the pages turning!can't wait to see what Ella has in store for us in her next novel. Thank you for allowing us into your writing world. 

[Angela]

The Captain’s Girl was so much more intense than I expected from a college hockey romance. Penny and Carter’s relationship has that friends-to-lovers feeling I love, especially because their history makes their connection feel real instead of rushed. Carter’s protectiveness had me hooked, but Penny’s story really got me. She goes through so much, and some parts were genuinely hard to read. The suspense added a darker layer that kept me needing to know what happened next. I also loved seeing their relationship change from friendship into something neither of them could keep denying. “I’ve got you, Pen” pretty much sums up why I loved Carter. Emotional, spicy, dark, and definitely not your typical hockey romance.

[Robin]

Such a sweet hockey romance with a little spice and a tiny bit dark. Penny and Carter have known each other their wholes lives and been best friends forever. After tragedy and some time apart, they are back together at college. Their story is full of secrets, tragedy, protection, friendship and most of all love. Ella does a lovely job of spinning their tale and drawing you into their lives. Ultimately, Carter must show that he will be there for Pen and take care of her, things she had lost when tragedy struck her family. I loved the book and look forward to Raya and Justin’s story (and dare I say the story of Beck and Max??!!). I appreciate receiving this copy from the author.

[Anne Marie Mast]

Carter and Penny (Pen) are lifelong best friends. Carter had to leave for a year long hockey program after Penny’s mom passed which was hard for their friendship. And when he comes back so they can start college, a lot has changed in their lives and they’ve both grown up in more ways than one. An attraction is there that wasn’t truly present before, but can they overcome the time they spent away from each other while also balancing these new feeling for each other? This book was really sweet, and I loved their dynamic and all the friends in the hockey house. There’s love, grief, and also some suspense! Definitely a great read!

[Iliana]

Best friends to lovers romance. I just discovered this author. I adore her writing style. Carter and Penny are amazing. This story is about tragedy and overcoming to be stronger. There is a stalking component and more that I don't want share and spoil for others, but I highly recommend this book. Can't wait for book 2 in this series.

[Angie Malfero]

Good book! Loved the story! I loved how protective Carter was of Pen. I love friends to lover stories. This is my first book by this author and will definitely be finding the next book in the series. Thank you so much!

[Jennifer Watts]

I received an ARC copy from Ella Rose Roussel, and I’m so sorry for the late review! After a year apart, it’s easy to see how the distance took a toll on Carter and Penny’s friendship. Penny went through a lot during that time.😔 I found this book super cute.

[Alicia Newby]

I enjoyed the story but the writing felt a little choppy for me and the FMC was slightly annoying.

[Mary-Anne]

I absolutely love, love, love this story.
Penny and Carter are so good for each other.
The excitement, drama and romance all perfectly balanced.
I want more!
Well done Ella Rose.

[Cherise Lear]

I absolutely loved this book! Bring on book2!!!!

[Vicki]

ARC read, review was my choice 📕
Good read, I enjoyed the backstory of the characters and enjoyed the energy of the MMC & his team mates. I would recommend for any fan of the Hockey romance genre 🩷

[Sari Book Lover]

Super grateful to have had the opportunity to read this ARC from the author - thank you Ella 😊

This was a lovely hockey romance about life-long best friends who after a year apart realise that each other have changed, grown up from the friendly kid they grown up with to an attractive adult. The reunion has some growing pains with suspenseful backstory weaved into the storyline. At the beginning of the book I would've hoped to have more descriptions of the looks of the characters (just something I personally like in the books I read so I can picture the characters in my mind - then again I should've just checked the stunning cover before reading, silly me 🤣), but as this was an advance readers copy it obviously was an unedited early version so perhaps those details may be included before publishing. For a new author this was a great story and the writing definitely improved further into the book and I was captivated by the characters. I really liked that an epilogue about a couple of the side characters was included in the end, which definitely made me keen on reading more of the series!
Looking forward reading more from Ella 🥰

[Owen Harley]

The Captain's Girl drew me in right away. The story has a wonderful sense of adventure, heart, and emotion, with characters that were easy to care about from the very beginning.

It was an enjoyable read that kept me turning the pages, and I finished it wanting more. A promising story that I'd happily recommend

[Ella Dormann]

i really liked this book. i think the dynamic between carter and penny is great, love that carter is protective of penny. it is well written, i thought the way the author wrote one of her books in was a very cute and clever way to promote it. overall a great book

[Katherine May]

All I can say is FINALLY! He finally admits it. I loved this book and cannot wait to read more!

[Ari]

The Captain’s Girl has me hooked. Ella’s writing is immersive, emotional, and addictive. Beck and Linda are amazing, Penny is such a strong character, and Carter… let’s just say he tested my patience in the best way.