The Neutral Zone

by T.D. Lua

Tate Jackson is the golden boy from California: blonde hair, easy smile, and the defensive star of the Ballad U hockey team. Girls usually fall at his feet, and life has always come easily for him. But every night, he ends up at The Retro Rooster, ordering the same coffee and burger. He tells himself it’s the coffee that keeps him coming back, but really, it’s the waitress who barely spares him a glance and somehow makes him want to earn one.


Celeste is a single mom barely keeping it all together, raising her son, studying physical therapy, and working endless shifts while keeping her heart locked behind carefully built walls. One of her regulars always comes in late, ordering the same strange combo with a side of shameless flirting.
Letting someone in was never part of the plan, especially when she has more than just her own heart to protect. But the charming defenseman keeps chipping away at her defenses. The question is: can Celeste leave the safety of the neutral zone behind and take a chance on love, or will protecting her heart always come first?

ebook

Expected publication September 22, 2026

Reviews

[Holly Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great!!! I’ve read and enjoyed all of TD Lua’s books, so I was so happy to come back to this universe she’s created! Having new characters mixed in with a couple old ones always makes my heart so happy!! Everything about this was exactly what I was looking for! It was fast paced and packed with so much emotion and heart and fun!!

Tate and Celeste were the perfect welcome back!! There is truly nothing in love more than a single parent romance bc there is nothing better than watching them become a family!!! It makes my heart SO HAPPY! Tate of course was down BAD for Celeste, even in their limited interactions!! He just wanted to be around her!!! And then when he learned about her son literally nothing changed for him, but at the same time everything changed to include Rowen!!

I can’t wait to be back with whatever’s next in this series!!

Thanks so much to TD Lua for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Carys Elaine Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to T.D Lua for allowing me to be a arc reader for this book.

If your looking for a single mum romance/college hockey romance look no further then here.

Tate Jackson is the cocky playboy hockey player but he also has this softer side to him that nobody knows about hes thinks he nwed to be this big shot hockey player to get drafted.

Celest is a single mum to a 5 year old little boy who is also T1D diabetic.

Tate has had a crush celest for the past 3 years but only started to finally ask her out she shoots him down instantly because shes scared that he wont stay.


Celest has been through alot from a horrible high school boyfriend to becoming a single mum at the end of high-school and her parents disowning her as well.

The thing that I love about this book is that from the moment he met rowen which is celests little boy he fell in love with him something in his brain just clicked.

This book had some highs and lows i got a little emotional at the book but in the best way.

Id rate the spice in this book 🌶🌶🌶 out of 5.

I cant wait for more books.

[Sheridan Mullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute and very quick read. My first from this author and I really enjoyed it! I love when an MMC steps up for a single mom and becomes a father figure for her kid. Them being college age made it even sweeter because they are still so young, and being willing to take on that role is huge!

My only critique is I feel like we missed some big moments that would solidify the chemistry and depth of Tate and Celeste’s relationship. So I want more of those scenes. They would reflect back sometimes and tell the readers something happened but we never witnessed it and I found myself wishing to be in that moment wi to the characters. I wasn’t completely sold on their love because it felt like there were gaps.

I still enjoyed their story and a definitely curious to see who’s next and how their story will play out!

[HeadCanonHeadCase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tate wants a chance with Celeste, but she keeps her walls up; choosing not to date. She's too focused on taking care of her son and trying to finish school. But Tate is determined show her that he's serious about her, even as Celeste's ex seems determined to get a little revenge.

Read if you like:
-Single Mom Romance
-College Hockey Romance
-The Man Steps Up
-Emotional Third Act

The Next Season of Ballad U is off to an emotional start. Tate is such a walking green flag. I love that he educated himself on Type 1 Diabetes and wanted Celeste to share Rowan's numbers with him so that he could share so of that emotional burden with her. Celeste had her walls so high. I loved watching her let Tate in as he showed up for her time and time again. T.D. really put them through it in that third act, but it made the ending all the more satisfying.

[Macy Roque · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful and emotional story between Celeste and Tate! 🥹❤️

Celeste is a single mom working at a diner where Tate has been going every night after hockey practice. He’s secretly had a crush on her for a while, but he hasn’t made a move… until he runs into her ex outside the diner and they finally start talking.

But what happens when Tate finds out Celeste is a mom? 👀

I absolutely loved watching their relationship unfold! Their chemistry, the emotional moments, and the found-family aspect made this such a sweet and heartfelt read. 🥹💕

If you love opposites attract, golden retriever MMC, found family, Type 1 diabetes representation, single mom, and hockey romance, definitely add this one to your TBR! 🏒❤️

Thank you so much for letting me be a part of this ARC! I loved getting to read Celeste and Tate’s story! 🤍

[Nikkie White · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was my first time reading a T.D Lua book, and I was honestly amazed by it. This book was a cute, quick read.

I feel like we missed some big moments that would’ve really built the chemistry and depth of Tate and Celeste’s relationship, so I wanted more scenes like that. They’d sometimes refer back to things that happened, but we never actually saw them, and I found myself wishing I could’ve been there with the characters in those moments. I wasn’t totally sold on their love because it felt like there were gaps.

I still enjoyed their story and I’m definitely curious to see who’s next and how their story will turn out!

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words cannot describe how much I love this book!!

It has everything I love in general. A single mom. A funny kid. A man that would do anything for them. And some amazing friends.

This book had me hooked from the very first page, and I loved every second of it!

I absolutely love Tate, he was perfect throughout the whole book. There wasn't once a moment where I was like, man, this guy sucks, because he's amazing. He's caring. Considerate. Kind. And funny. Literally everything that Celeste and Ro need.

This book is truly a work of art, and I just know that I'll be thinking about this story for a long while now.

[Grainne McQueen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tate Jackson is a green flag. His support of Celeste and Rowan make a huge difference in everyone’s lives. This was a sweet story-I appreciate being on the ARC team!

[Jennifer Watts · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very cute and quick read.

[Heather Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon!