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The Rules of the Rink #2
Code Violation
Not yet published
Expected 17 Sep 26I’m in love with my brother’s ex-girlfriend.
After years of acting like Vesper Stone isn’t the girl of my dreams, I owe it to myself to be honest, even if the confession can only ever remain a secret.
There are so many reasons why I should forget about her. As the captain of the Seattle Rogues, I shouldn’t betray my only sibling, and I ought to honor the promise I made to our late mom to stand by him.
But my brother isn’t a good man, and I can’t take my eyes off the stunning bartender with sleek black hair and a smile that falters whenever she gets a text from the guy who never deserved her.
Voicing my feelings is a terrible idea. My brother isn’t only a bad person, but he’s dangerous, too, and my top priority is protecting the one girl I can never have.
But I didn’t make it as a pro hockey player without going after what I wanted, and regardless of who she is to my family, I can’t stop showing up at her apartment.
Maybe we can just be friends. I’d rather have that than lose her altogether. My brother doesn’t need to know we hang out and eat pizza while watching a movie.
But friends don’t hold their breath whenever they catch each other’s gaze, and they definitely don’t do what we did the other night …
I should walk away.
For her.
For us.
For the sake of keeping the peace.
So, why am I standing outside Vesper’s door right now, ready to lay my heart on the line? And why am I about to speak the words I vowed to take to my grave?
Because now that I’ve had her in my bed, I’ll go to war to keep her—and our baby—forever.
After years of acting like Vesper Stone isn’t the girl of my dreams, I owe it to myself to be honest, even if the confession can only ever remain a secret.
There are so many reasons why I should forget about her. As the captain of the Seattle Rogues, I shouldn’t betray my only sibling, and I ought to honor the promise I made to our late mom to stand by him.
But my brother isn’t a good man, and I can’t take my eyes off the stunning bartender with sleek black hair and a smile that falters whenever she gets a text from the guy who never deserved her.
Voicing my feelings is a terrible idea. My brother isn’t only a bad person, but he’s dangerous, too, and my top priority is protecting the one girl I can never have.
But I didn’t make it as a pro hockey player without going after what I wanted, and regardless of who she is to my family, I can’t stop showing up at her apartment.
Maybe we can just be friends. I’d rather have that than lose her altogether. My brother doesn’t need to know we hang out and eat pizza while watching a movie.
But friends don’t hold their breath whenever they catch each other’s gaze, and they definitely don’t do what we did the other night …
I should walk away.
For her.
For us.
For the sake of keeping the peace.
So, why am I standing outside Vesper’s door right now, ready to lay my heart on the line? And why am I about to speak the words I vowed to take to my grave?
Because now that I’ve had her in my bed, I’ll go to war to keep her—and our baby—forever.
350 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 17, 2026
About the author
Ruth Stilling
18 books1,037 followersRuth Stilling is a lover of all things escapism and can be mostly found with her head buried in a spicy book, writing her latest romance novel or out in the open air and nature, away from the bustle of life. As clumsy as she is crazy, Ruth enjoys creating relatable, loveable, swoon-worthy and strong willed main characters who find their happy ending. That said, she prides herself on taking her readers on emotional rollercoasters and always recommends reading her books with tissues on hand to wipe away the tears of joy, laughter and sometimes heartache.
Ruth lives in Derbyshire, England with her own personal book boyfriend (lucky girl), her six year old son and her two feisty chihuahuas.
Keep up to date with Ruth's latest content and exciting projects by following her on social media: @authorruthstilling
Ruth lives in Derbyshire, England with her own personal book boyfriend (lucky girl), her six year old son and her two feisty chihuahuas.
Keep up to date with Ruth's latest content and exciting projects by following her on social media: @authorruthstilling
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
You know what, sometimes you do pick the wrong brother. And IF you get the opportunity and the right brother comes along who says and I quote: “I want to show you why you chose the wrong brother.” Then you seize the opportunity and take the bull by the horns and you make him beg for it just like our queen Vesper. 🫠
Ok in all seriousness, I absolutely smashed this book! Straight devoured it. If you love the accidental pregnancy trope with the messiness of ex boyfriend's brother with a sprinkle of suspense then you are going to absolutely love this one! Now I will say, I loved the different spin that Ruth did with the accidental pregnancy trope. I don't want to give too much away with it but it's just slightly different and a refreshing take on the trope.
Another fun little twist to this one? The elements of suspense. As we know this is a brother's ex girlfriend trope which comes with some messiness but Silas's bother doesn't know how to let them be happy if you know what I mean. And there was always this when will he show back up element to the plot which I loved. It kept me on my toes.
As for Silas, this man is a walking talking green flag golden retriever. He isn't just a 10 but he's an 11 because this man exhibits every single love language imaginable. This man has yearned for Vesper for YEARS and he was going to do everything in his power to show her exactly why he is the better brother and give her the love that she deserves. I swooned so much in this one!
Ruth, this was another amazing book! I loved everything about it and as always, I love that you give me a hockey romance that is slightly different than the rest! I hope y'all are ready for the man that is Silas Stanton! Be prepared to swoon your pants off!
You should read this book if you like:
- Hockey Romance
- Accidental Pregnancy
- Ex Boyfriend's Brother
- Down Bad MMC
- Green Flag Golden Retriever
- He Falls First and HARD
- He's Been Yearning for YEARS!
- Lactation K!nk
Ok in all seriousness, I absolutely smashed this book! Straight devoured it. If you love the accidental pregnancy trope with the messiness of ex boyfriend's brother with a sprinkle of suspense then you are going to absolutely love this one! Now I will say, I loved the different spin that Ruth did with the accidental pregnancy trope. I don't want to give too much away with it but it's just slightly different and a refreshing take on the trope.
Another fun little twist to this one? The elements of suspense. As we know this is a brother's ex girlfriend trope which comes with some messiness but Silas's bother doesn't know how to let them be happy if you know what I mean. And there was always this when will he show back up element to the plot which I loved. It kept me on my toes.
As for Silas, this man is a walking talking green flag golden retriever. He isn't just a 10 but he's an 11 because this man exhibits every single love language imaginable. This man has yearned for Vesper for YEARS and he was going to do everything in his power to show her exactly why he is the better brother and give her the love that she deserves. I swooned so much in this one!
Ruth, this was another amazing book! I loved everything about it and as always, I love that you give me a hockey romance that is slightly different than the rest! I hope y'all are ready for the man that is Silas Stanton! Be prepared to swoon your pants off!
You should read this book if you like:
- Hockey Romance
- Accidental Pregnancy
- Ex Boyfriend's Brother
- Down Bad MMC
- Green Flag Golden Retriever
- He Falls First and HARD
- He's Been Yearning for YEARS!
- Lactation K!nk
September 11, 2026
Accidentally pregnancy, hockey romance. This was a quick cute read.I really enjoyed Code Violation by Ruth Stilling! This was a hockey romance featuring Silas, the captain of the Seattle Rogues, and Vesper, who works at a bar and is living paycheck to paycheck.
I really liked the storyline of Vesper realizing she had picked the wrong brother first, only to eventually find herself with the one who had always loved her. I loved watching their relationship develop and seeing her finally find her way to the person who had always been there for her.
Silas was definitely one of my favorite parts of this book. One moment that really stood out to me was when he made it clear that he wanted a future with Vesper too, telling her that this accidental pregnancy was meant to be, and he would take care of her and the baby.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable hockey romance with a sweet love story, and I would definitely recommend it!
The audio book was done so well wtih the dual narrators.
Thank you Hambright for the ARC and AlC
I really liked the storyline of Vesper realizing she had picked the wrong brother first, only to eventually find herself with the one who had always loved her. I loved watching their relationship develop and seeing her finally find her way to the person who had always been there for her.
Silas was definitely one of my favorite parts of this book. One moment that really stood out to me was when he made it clear that he wanted a future with Vesper too, telling her that this accidental pregnancy was meant to be, and he would take care of her and the baby.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable hockey romance with a sweet love story, and I would definitely recommend it!
The audio book was done so well wtih the dual narrators.
Thank you Hambright for the ARC and AlC
Review of advance copy
Thank you to Hambright PR for this gifted ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Code Violation is such a fun and sweet hockey romance that you can totally enjoy as a standalone even though it’s book two in the series. We follow Silas, captain of the Seattle Rogues. He’s loyal, tough, and has been hiding his feelings for his brother’s girlfriend, Vesper. He promised his late mother he’d always look out for his brother Kane, but Kane is far from a good guy. He’s toxic, abusive, and doesn't deserve Vesper at all.
Vesper is the kind of girl who’s always had to fend for herself. She works at a bar, lives paycheck to paycheck, and is finally finding the courage to walk away from a bad relationship. Silas can’t help but show up for her, slowly building a connection that starts with hanging out, pizza, and movies, pretending they’re just friends. But the tension between them is impossible to ignore, and when they finally give in to their feelings, things move fast, especially when a pregnancy comes into the picture. Silas isn’t scared of what it means; he’s ready to stand up, fight for her, and keep them safe no matter what.
What I love about this book is the elements of suspense, which hooked me up instantly. Kane doesn’t let them just be happy. He's so obsessive toward Vesper, and from Vesper's perspective, we can see how this thing makes her anxious almost the whole time.
Beyond the drama and the MC's intense chemistry, this story also has a lot of deep emotion. It’s about Vesper realizing she doesn’t always have to carry everything alone and that it’s okay to let someone care about her. And Silas is the perfect MMC. He's protective, soft where it counts, and totally smitten first.
The audiobook version is amazing too. Narrators Tristan Josiah and Raven Hawkins do such a great job. Tristan makes Silas sound tough but gentle, and Raven captures Vesper’s mix of a strong, independent woman with insecurity perfectly.
All in all, this is such a satisfying read. It’s full of the good stuff: sports romance, secret pining, a hero who falls hard, and a love worth fighting for. If these tropes match your vibe, pick it up!
Code Violation is such a fun and sweet hockey romance that you can totally enjoy as a standalone even though it’s book two in the series. We follow Silas, captain of the Seattle Rogues. He’s loyal, tough, and has been hiding his feelings for his brother’s girlfriend, Vesper. He promised his late mother he’d always look out for his brother Kane, but Kane is far from a good guy. He’s toxic, abusive, and doesn't deserve Vesper at all.
Vesper is the kind of girl who’s always had to fend for herself. She works at a bar, lives paycheck to paycheck, and is finally finding the courage to walk away from a bad relationship. Silas can’t help but show up for her, slowly building a connection that starts with hanging out, pizza, and movies, pretending they’re just friends. But the tension between them is impossible to ignore, and when they finally give in to their feelings, things move fast, especially when a pregnancy comes into the picture. Silas isn’t scared of what it means; he’s ready to stand up, fight for her, and keep them safe no matter what.
What I love about this book is the elements of suspense, which hooked me up instantly. Kane doesn’t let them just be happy. He's so obsessive toward Vesper, and from Vesper's perspective, we can see how this thing makes her anxious almost the whole time.
Beyond the drama and the MC's intense chemistry, this story also has a lot of deep emotion. It’s about Vesper realizing she doesn’t always have to carry everything alone and that it’s okay to let someone care about her. And Silas is the perfect MMC. He's protective, soft where it counts, and totally smitten first.
The audiobook version is amazing too. Narrators Tristan Josiah and Raven Hawkins do such a great job. Tristan makes Silas sound tough but gentle, and Raven captures Vesper’s mix of a strong, independent woman with insecurity perfectly.
All in all, this is such a satisfying read. It’s full of the good stuff: sports romance, secret pining, a hero who falls hard, and a love worth fighting for. If these tropes match your vibe, pick it up!
September 6, 2026
THANK YOU hambright pr for gifted ARC and ALC copy in exchange for an honest review
I think I found my new favorite kind of romance because apparently hockey romance + forbidden love + family drama is exactly what I needed
I absolutely DEVOURED this audiobook.
Silas and Vesper had me from the beginning. The whole you dated the wrong brother situation was already messy enough to get my attention, but then add years of hidden feelings, accidental pregnancy, an ex who seriously needs to GO AWAY, and just enough suspense to keep me wondering what was going to happen and i could not stop listening to this book. I spent every second of my waking hours going through this exciting story!
But SILAS. This man may have officially ruined fictional men for me. He has loved Vesper for YEARS, and when he finally gets his chance, he doesn’t waste it. He is patient, protective, completely devoted to her and somehow manages to be both ridiculously sweet and hot at the same time. The way he cared for Vesper without trying to control her or rush her after everything she had been through was probably my favorite part of their relationship. Walking green flag right there!!!!!
And I really loved Vesper. There is so much more underneath the strong personality we see on the surface. Watching her slowly realize what she actually deserves and allow herself to accept the kind of love Silas has been waiting to give her made this so much more enjoyable.
I also have to mention the accidental pregnancy trope because I wasn’t expecting it to be handled quite this way. I loved that their relationship didn’t have to follow the “normal” order for it to become something real. Their situation was messy and unconventional, but somehow it worked perfectly for them.
I think that the audio book narrators did a great job in giving this book a voice and portraying each chapter with just enough depth and clarity.
Overall i enjoyed the story and the new to me genre.
I think I found my new favorite kind of romance because apparently hockey romance + forbidden love + family drama is exactly what I needed
I absolutely DEVOURED this audiobook.
Silas and Vesper had me from the beginning. The whole you dated the wrong brother situation was already messy enough to get my attention, but then add years of hidden feelings, accidental pregnancy, an ex who seriously needs to GO AWAY, and just enough suspense to keep me wondering what was going to happen and i could not stop listening to this book. I spent every second of my waking hours going through this exciting story!
But SILAS. This man may have officially ruined fictional men for me. He has loved Vesper for YEARS, and when he finally gets his chance, he doesn’t waste it. He is patient, protective, completely devoted to her and somehow manages to be both ridiculously sweet and hot at the same time. The way he cared for Vesper without trying to control her or rush her after everything she had been through was probably my favorite part of their relationship. Walking green flag right there!!!!!
And I really loved Vesper. There is so much more underneath the strong personality we see on the surface. Watching her slowly realize what she actually deserves and allow herself to accept the kind of love Silas has been waiting to give her made this so much more enjoyable.
I also have to mention the accidental pregnancy trope because I wasn’t expecting it to be handled quite this way. I loved that their relationship didn’t have to follow the “normal” order for it to become something real. Their situation was messy and unconventional, but somehow it worked perfectly for them.
I think that the audio book narrators did a great job in giving this book a voice and portraying each chapter with just enough depth and clarity.
Overall i enjoyed the story and the new to me genre.
September 11, 2026
Silas doesn't get an easy entry into this one — Stilling drops him in already carrying the guilt. As captain of the Seattle Rogues, he made a promise to his dying mother that he'd stand by his brother no matter what, and for years he kept it, even while watching that brother treat Vesper like she was disposable. He stayed close anyway — not for his brother's sake by then, but to make sure she had someone in her corner. Loving her was never supposed to be part of the deal.
What makes this one work is that Stilling doesn't let the guilt evaporate the second the chemistry ignites. Silas isn't just fighting the "will they/won't they" — he's fighting a promise to a dead parent and a brother who was never worth the loyalty in the first place.
.
Vesper, for her part, isn't written as a prize to be fought over — she's guarded for a reason, and the book earns her thaw instead of rushing it. Add in a pregnancy twist that complicates rather than resolves things, and a found-family thread pulling in familiar faces from Stilling's earlier series, and you get a book that rewards readers who've been in the Rink world from the start.
It's steamy, it's emotionally messy in the right ways, and it closes with enough breadcrumbs about a teammate's story to make the wait for book three genuinely annoying.
If brother's-ex forbidden romance with a hockey backdrop is your trope, this delivers.
Special thanks to Hambright PR and the author for this ARC. Find this and more on my Bookstagram: instagram.com/mamareadsandreviews
September 5, 2026
Overall I enjoyed this book. Pro hockey player MMC with a deadbeat brother that emotionally abuses his girlfriend (FMC). MMC has got it bad for our FMC but she’s with his brother. FMC gets a clue and leaves the abusive relationship. I liked this part and I enjoyed that she didn’t want to jump into something else even though her friends seemed to push her and the MMC kept showing up and showed clear interest. I get where he’s coming from. He’s wanted/loved her for a long time but could never do anything cause she was with his brother. But like, give the girl some time to find herself and recover from the abusive relationship. One thing leads to another and our MMC asks our FMC not to take Plan B… hmm. This is where the story lost me sadly. I also get that our FMC was really attracted to the MMC but given how he felt about her, I didn’t care for how she treated their relationship since her feelings were minimal/physical attraction only.
I received an ebook and audiobook from HambrightPR and Netgalley. I was able to do an immersive read which I love doing. Though this one didn’t quite hit as I hoped it would. The audio was dual narrated by Raven Hawkins and Tristan Josiah. I really enjoyed both of them. They were really good. Though the sex scenes from the MMC’s POV when he was voicing the FMC were a bit rough. 4/5 for the audio, 3/5 for the story.
I received an ebook and audiobook from HambrightPR and Netgalley. I was able to do an immersive read which I love doing. Though this one didn’t quite hit as I hoped it would. The audio was dual narrated by Raven Hawkins and Tristan Josiah. I really enjoyed both of them. They were really good. Though the sex scenes from the MMC’s POV when he was voicing the FMC were a bit rough. 4/5 for the audio, 3/5 for the story.
Review of advance copy
Book 4⭐️
Audiobook: 4⭐️
Narrated by:
Raven Hawkins as Vesper aka Knockout
Tristan Josiah as Silas
I love accidental pregnancy and this one was a little different then how it was traditional done. Overall, I did enjoy the book.
There is OMD since the ex boyfriend comes and goes out of Vespers life through the book. Just know we all hate Kane. Why Vesper keep going back to him I have no idea but it drove me nuts. Silas was right there every time Kane did something to upset Vesper. Silas would and did anything for her. I think my favorite part was when he just sat there and colored with her. Silas is the biggest green flag and I loved him!!
Silas was so done bad for Vesper after the first time they meet but Vesper did not share in those feelings. It took 3 years for anything to happen between the two of them. Finally he was able to show her why she picked the wrong brother.
Tropes:
💙 Accidental pregnancy
🏒 Hockey romance
💙 Brother's ex-girlfriend
🏒 Forbidden romance
💙 Protective grumpy NHL captain
🏒 Touch her and 💀
💙 He falls first & hard
🏒 Found family
💙 No third act breakup
I felt like something was missing in this book. I think it's because at 80% she was still under 15wks pregnant so the ending of the book felt rushed. If something is marketed as accidental pregnancy I want to see most of the pregnancy. Not going from barely into her second trimester to epilogue when she has the baby. I just needed more of that part and less of everything else. I also needed more about their trip because I think seeing Vesper in the element would have made me a little softer for her. I struggled connecting with her. I can’t wait for Mason’s book but I think to much time was spent on his issues. The female narrator isn't the best doing men voices.
Thank you Ruth Stilling, Plot Twist, NetGalley, and Tator Media for the early copies. Above are my honest thoughts.
Audiobook: 4⭐️
Narrated by:
Raven Hawkins as Vesper aka Knockout
Tristan Josiah as Silas
I love accidental pregnancy and this one was a little different then how it was traditional done. Overall, I did enjoy the book.
There is OMD since the ex boyfriend comes and goes out of Vespers life through the book. Just know we all hate Kane. Why Vesper keep going back to him I have no idea but it drove me nuts. Silas was right there every time Kane did something to upset Vesper. Silas would and did anything for her. I think my favorite part was when he just sat there and colored with her. Silas is the biggest green flag and I loved him!!
Silas was so done bad for Vesper after the first time they meet but Vesper did not share in those feelings. It took 3 years for anything to happen between the two of them. Finally he was able to show her why she picked the wrong brother.
Tropes:
💙 Accidental pregnancy
🏒 Hockey romance
💙 Brother's ex-girlfriend
🏒 Forbidden romance
💙 Protective grumpy NHL captain
🏒 Touch her and 💀
💙 He falls first & hard
🏒 Found family
💙 No third act breakup
I felt like something was missing in this book. I think it's because at 80% she was still under 15wks pregnant so the ending of the book felt rushed. If something is marketed as accidental pregnancy I want to see most of the pregnancy. Not going from barely into her second trimester to epilogue when she has the baby. I just needed more of that part and less of everything else. I also needed more about their trip because I think seeing Vesper in the element would have made me a little softer for her. I struggled connecting with her. I can’t wait for Mason’s book but I think to much time was spent on his issues. The female narrator isn't the best doing men voices.
Thank you Ruth Stilling, Plot Twist, NetGalley, and Tator Media for the early copies. Above are my honest thoughts.
September 2, 2026
*** Thank you so much to Alyssa and Ruth for giving me an ARC***
WHAT CAN I SAY? I LOVED EVERY SINGLE TROPE IN THIS BOOK. ACCIDENTAL PREGNANCY WILL ALWAAAAAYS BE SUPERIOR AND YES BOY OBSESSED IS MYYYYYY ALL TIME FAVORITE!!!!!!! CAN WE JUST TALK ABOUT SILAS STANTON????? THE MAN THAT YOU ARE 😭😭😭😭🤧🤧🤧🤧 MY NEW BOOK HUSBAND!!! SORRY WILL BUT CAP WON ME OVER AT PAGE 1 LIKE I NEED HIM IN MY LIFE LIKE WHERE CAN I ORDER ONE???? And VESPER OUR STRONG WILLED HEROINE. SHES SO STRONG EVEN AFTER EVERYTHING SHES BEEN THROUGH 🥹💖😭 I LOVED THE CHEMISTRY THE SPICE THE SIDE CHARACTERS LIKE DO I NEED TO SAY MORE??? IMMM SOOOO EXCITED FOR THE NEXT BOOK!!!! THANK YOU RUTH FOR ALWAYS DELIVERING ROMANCE BOOKS 😍💕😍
WHAT CAN I SAY? I LOVED EVERY SINGLE TROPE IN THIS BOOK. ACCIDENTAL PREGNANCY WILL ALWAAAAAYS BE SUPERIOR AND YES BOY OBSESSED IS MYYYYYY ALL TIME FAVORITE!!!!!!! CAN WE JUST TALK ABOUT SILAS STANTON????? THE MAN THAT YOU ARE 😭😭😭😭🤧🤧🤧🤧 MY NEW BOOK HUSBAND!!! SORRY WILL BUT CAP WON ME OVER AT PAGE 1 LIKE I NEED HIM IN MY LIFE LIKE WHERE CAN I ORDER ONE???? And VESPER OUR STRONG WILLED HEROINE. SHES SO STRONG EVEN AFTER EVERYTHING SHES BEEN THROUGH 🥹💖😭 I LOVED THE CHEMISTRY THE SPICE THE SIDE CHARACTERS LIKE DO I NEED TO SAY MORE??? IMMM SOOOO EXCITED FOR THE NEXT BOOK!!!! THANK YOU RUTH FOR ALWAYS DELIVERING ROMANCE BOOKS 😍💕😍
September 3, 2026
First, I want to say a huge thanks to Ruth’s team for allowing me to receive this ALC & E-ARC! 🫶🏼 I read the first half with my eyeballs and listened to the second half on audio.
While I really enjoyed seeing the character development and getting to spend more time in this universe, I did feel like some parts of the story were a little rushed. I love me a short, quick read, but I found myself wishing certain moments and relationships had been fleshed out a bit more.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, and I’m always excited to see more from this universe!
While I really enjoyed seeing the character development and getting to spend more time in this universe, I did feel like some parts of the story were a little rushed. I love me a short, quick read, but I found myself wishing certain moments and relationships had been fleshed out a bit more.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, and I’m always excited to see more from this universe!
September 10, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
I really enjoyed this one! The chemistry between Silas and Vesper had me hooked, and I loved the forbidden romance, brother’s ex, and accidental pregnancy tropes. The tension was so good, and I especially loved that he fell first and HARD. ❤️
But the audiobook? SO good. Raven Hawkins and Tristan Josiah absolutely brought these characters to life and made the chemistry even better. I could have listened to them all day!
Definitely one to add to your TBR if you love hockey romance with plenty of angst, chemistry, and a swoony MMC. 🏒🖤
🎧 Releases September 17th!
I really enjoyed this one! The chemistry between Silas and Vesper had me hooked, and I loved the forbidden romance, brother’s ex, and accidental pregnancy tropes. The tension was so good, and I especially loved that he fell first and HARD. ❤️
But the audiobook? SO good. Raven Hawkins and Tristan Josiah absolutely brought these characters to life and made the chemistry even better. I could have listened to them all day!
Definitely one to add to your TBR if you love hockey romance with plenty of angst, chemistry, and a swoony MMC. 🏒🖤
🎧 Releases September 17th!
September 11, 2026
Omg I was so excited for Silas & Vespers story and it did not disappoint! I loved being back with our Rogues team and getting to know the guys on the team a little better (Mason I’m looking at you my sweet broken boy), and all the cameos with their friend group!
Silas & Vesper had such a unique accidental pregnancy story that was different from every other time I read this trope! Silas is the literal definition of a man down baddddd, and a man who falls first & harder. I loved watching him work to help Vesper see he was the one for her. They were extra spicy, and their HEA was much sweeter knowing all they had to go through to get there!!!
Silas & Vesper had such a unique accidental pregnancy story that was different from every other time I read this trope! Silas is the literal definition of a man down baddddd, and a man who falls first & harder. I loved watching him work to help Vesper see he was the one for her. They were extra spicy, and their HEA was much sweeter knowing all they had to go through to get there!!!
Want to Read
August 20, 2026NOTES:
+++
Spice Girls Bookstore
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Spice Girls Bookstore
September 10, 2026
Thank you netgalley and Tantor media for the AlC
This book had me at “have my baby” something about the accidental pregnancy trope chefs kiss
I enjoyed this book so much the tropes were done so perfectly! Who doesn’t wanna read a hockey romance where she upgrades with his BROTHER! The way this man fell in love with her first perfectionnnnn. I don’t think any book will top this one!
If you’re looking for your next book boyfriend Silas is it!
This book had me at “have my baby” something about the accidental pregnancy trope chefs kiss
I enjoyed this book so much the tropes were done so perfectly! Who doesn’t wanna read a hockey romance where she upgrades with his BROTHER! The way this man fell in love with her first perfectionnnnn. I don’t think any book will top this one!
If you’re looking for your next book boyfriend Silas is it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.75⭐️/ 4🌶️
*Thank you Ruth Stilling for providing me with an ARC of this book, I greatly appreciate it, and LOVE YOUR BOOKS!
*Check Content/ Trigger Warnings before reading.
My oh my, where do I even begin with how AMAZING THIS BOOK WAS! Ruth Stilling is unmatched with how she continues to knock my socks off with her hockey romances! Add in the fantastic characters that grace the pages of this book (and all Ruth’s other books), it was a no brainer that I immediately fell in love with every single part of Silas and Vesper’s story!
Quick side note, for some reason before reading this book, I was mistaken and believed it was going to be “accidental pregnancy, but not his baby”, oops. Thank goodness I was WRONG because, the way the accidental pregnancy trope played out in this story actually made sense for Vesper and Silas’s story together. Now, you’re probably wondering HOW the accidental pregnancy helped, and I’ll start by briefly saying…it happened in a way that normally you don’t expect when it comes to this certain trope. I think in terms of how the accidental pregnancy happened may not sound realistic to some, BUT I think it fit the narrative of Silas and Vesper’s story. In addition, Silas and Vesper’s choice with their pregnancy showed how you don’t have to go about things the “traditional” way. There are different ways to make your life how you want as well as how you want your relationship to be. Vesper and Silas’s may have gone out of order in the traditional sense, but it worked for them, and they were more than happy with it which I LOVED for them. I do think readers will find it interesting how the accidental pregnancy plays out in this story, and really puts things into perspective for Vesper and Silas’s romance.
I have EVERY. SINGLE. FICTIONAL. MAN. Ruth Stilling has ever written, but may I just say that…SILAS WAS ON ANOTHER LEVEL OF PERFECTION FOR ME! A walking green flag who was UTTERLY OBSESSED, DEVOTED, AND HAD BEEN IN LOVE WITH HIS BROTHER’S GIRLFRIEND FOR YEARS!!! (GASP) OH MY GOODNESS! Silas was literally boyfriend material, and Vesper was a lucky woman indeed. After having had a literal piece of trash as her boyfriend, Vesper found herself a PERFECT MAN which happened to be Silas, the one who had always been there. Silas was such a patient man who never forced Vesper to do things she didn’t want to do, put HER NEEDS FIRST , cared for her immensely, and showered her with love, affection, and the occasional gifts which were mighty impressive in my opinion. Silas took his time showing Vesper how much he loved her, and how he wasn’t going anywhere, she was the one for him, and it made it clear right away when he had the chance! Safe to say, Silas was the man of the honor, and lord have mercy this man had a way with words that truly made me swoon, but also burn up with the way he was also capable of speaking pure sensuality, WOO!
Vesper, my dear friend (sigh) she was initially going through it having a horrible boyfriend, but she managed to see the light, and took herself away from a bad situation. This book gave me a better understanding of who Vesper was, and despite her initial confidence and sass she had when first meeting her in book one, I was able to see the vulnerability in her in this book. I think Vesper just wanted to find someone who would be there for her, and treat her with respect which Silas did and went beyond Vesper’s expectations. Vesper was treated like an actual Queen, reverence, and adored by Silas. I also loved seeing Vesper getting to enjoy parts in her pregnancy alongside Silas which was really heartwarming. Over the course of this story, Vesper found herself not only a perfect partner, but also the start of her forming her own little family which was precious.
I always say, Ruth Stilling’s books are FANTASTIC and I still stand by that statement. Vesper and Silas’s story was an absolute joy to read, and had me feeling all kinds of emotions. From the excitement, happiness, the passion, and the love between Silas and Vesper growing over the course of this story it was all chef’s kiss! Not to mention, the found family was going strong and giving small snippets into potential stories between the other characters. I loved seeing how even in this book we STILL GOT TO SEE THE ORIGINAL CHARACTERS from Ruth’s first series which was special, but also made me realize, “omg now those characters are OLDER THAN BEFORE!”. Goes to show that having read all the books in Ruth’s stories really does have a greater effect of everything she’s written. So, from Vesper and Silas’s romance growing into a passionate and loving relationship/ family, to the lovely found family growing, and learning more about the other characters, to the overall story, this was another GREAT, FANTASTIC READ FOR ME! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
*Thank you Ruth Stilling for providing me with an ARC of this book, I greatly appreciate it, and LOVE YOUR BOOKS!
*Check Content/ Trigger Warnings before reading.
My oh my, where do I even begin with how AMAZING THIS BOOK WAS! Ruth Stilling is unmatched with how she continues to knock my socks off with her hockey romances! Add in the fantastic characters that grace the pages of this book (and all Ruth’s other books), it was a no brainer that I immediately fell in love with every single part of Silas and Vesper’s story!
Quick side note, for some reason before reading this book, I was mistaken and believed it was going to be “accidental pregnancy, but not his baby”, oops. Thank goodness I was WRONG because, the way the accidental pregnancy trope played out in this story actually made sense for Vesper and Silas’s story together. Now, you’re probably wondering HOW the accidental pregnancy helped, and I’ll start by briefly saying…it happened in a way that normally you don’t expect when it comes to this certain trope. I think in terms of how the accidental pregnancy happened may not sound realistic to some, BUT I think it fit the narrative of Silas and Vesper’s story. In addition, Silas and Vesper’s choice with their pregnancy showed how you don’t have to go about things the “traditional” way. There are different ways to make your life how you want as well as how you want your relationship to be. Vesper and Silas’s may have gone out of order in the traditional sense, but it worked for them, and they were more than happy with it which I LOVED for them. I do think readers will find it interesting how the accidental pregnancy plays out in this story, and really puts things into perspective for Vesper and Silas’s romance.
I have EVERY. SINGLE. FICTIONAL. MAN. Ruth Stilling has ever written, but may I just say that…SILAS WAS ON ANOTHER LEVEL OF PERFECTION FOR ME! A walking green flag who was UTTERLY OBSESSED, DEVOTED, AND HAD BEEN IN LOVE WITH HIS BROTHER’S GIRLFRIEND FOR YEARS!!! (GASP) OH MY GOODNESS! Silas was literally boyfriend material, and Vesper was a lucky woman indeed. After having had a literal piece of trash as her boyfriend, Vesper found herself a PERFECT MAN which happened to be Silas, the one who had always been there. Silas was such a patient man who never forced Vesper to do things she didn’t want to do, put HER NEEDS FIRST , cared for her immensely, and showered her with love, affection, and the occasional gifts which were mighty impressive in my opinion. Silas took his time showing Vesper how much he loved her, and how he wasn’t going anywhere, she was the one for him, and it made it clear right away when he had the chance! Safe to say, Silas was the man of the honor, and lord have mercy this man had a way with words that truly made me swoon, but also burn up with the way he was also capable of speaking pure sensuality, WOO!
Vesper, my dear friend (sigh) she was initially going through it having a horrible boyfriend, but she managed to see the light, and took herself away from a bad situation. This book gave me a better understanding of who Vesper was, and despite her initial confidence and sass she had when first meeting her in book one, I was able to see the vulnerability in her in this book. I think Vesper just wanted to find someone who would be there for her, and treat her with respect which Silas did and went beyond Vesper’s expectations. Vesper was treated like an actual Queen, reverence, and adored by Silas. I also loved seeing Vesper getting to enjoy parts in her pregnancy alongside Silas which was really heartwarming. Over the course of this story, Vesper found herself not only a perfect partner, but also the start of her forming her own little family which was precious.
I always say, Ruth Stilling’s books are FANTASTIC and I still stand by that statement. Vesper and Silas’s story was an absolute joy to read, and had me feeling all kinds of emotions. From the excitement, happiness, the passion, and the love between Silas and Vesper growing over the course of this story it was all chef’s kiss! Not to mention, the found family was going strong and giving small snippets into potential stories between the other characters. I loved seeing how even in this book we STILL GOT TO SEE THE ORIGINAL CHARACTERS from Ruth’s first series which was special, but also made me realize, “omg now those characters are OLDER THAN BEFORE!”. Goes to show that having read all the books in Ruth’s stories really does have a greater effect of everything she’s written. So, from Vesper and Silas’s romance growing into a passionate and loving relationship/ family, to the lovely found family growing, and learning more about the other characters, to the overall story, this was another GREAT, FANTASTIC READ FOR ME! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Code Violation by Ruth Stilling
Rules of the Rink #2
ARC + ALC | Immersive Read
Tristan Josiah & Raven Hawkins
⭐️ 4/5
🎧 4/5
🌶️ 2.5/5
This was such a fun hockey romance, and I really enjoyed experiencing it as an immersive read, listening to the audiobook while following along with the book.
Silas is the captain and a defenseman for the Seattle Rogues. Years ago, he promised his dying mother that he would always take care of his younger brother, Kane. Unfortunately, Kane is an alcoholic who has become verbally and emotionally abusive toward his girlfriend, Vesper.
Vesper has spent most of her life taking care of herself. She's guarded, independent and accustomed to living paycheck to paycheck while managing Riley's sports bar. The book opens as she's finally trying to walk away from Kane, and through flashbacks, we slowly see just how unhealthy their relationship has been.
We also discover something else: Silas has been secretly pining for Vesper for a LONG time.
When Silas and Vesper finally give in to their chemistry, their relationship gets complicated quickly, especially when a pregnancy enters the equation. But underneath the brother's-ex drama and chemistry is a story about Vesper learning that she doesn't always have to survive on her own. Silas wants to take care of her, but first she has to learn how to let someone in.
I really enjoyed the hockey aspect of this one. There's enough hockey to make a sports-romance reader happy without so much game action that a casual reader will feel lost. Instead, we see the pressures of travel and, especially, what it means for Silas to be captain. He has to walk that line between being one of the guys and being their leader, including having difficult conversations and holding his friends accountable.
And THANK YOU for not automatically sending the team to the Stanley Cup Final and having them win it. Not every fictional hockey team needs a Cup!
The found family is another highlight. The wives and girlfriends bring Vesper into their circle, while the Rogues have that interconnected team dynamic I love in a hockey series.
This can absolutely be read as a standalone. We get glimpses of the book-one couple as they prepare for their wedding, including the bachelor parties and dress fittings, without their story taking over this one. We also get some very interesting breadcrumbs for book three involving a player whose wife is filing for divorce even though he still loves her.
Tristan Josiah and Raven Hawkins were both new-to-me narrators, and I enjoyed their performances. Tristan made Silas feel protective and emotional, while Raven captured Vesper's guarded, almost stoic personality really well. Immersive reading made the experience even better because I could seamlessly move between reading and listening while keeping the voices and pronunciations consistent.
And Silas and Vesper definitely have chemistry. This isn't the spiciest romance I've read, but once these two get started, keeping their hands off each other isn't exactly their specialty.
Overall: A solid second book in the series with hockey, found family, brother's ex, he falls first, long-time pining, pregnancy, plenty of chemistry and a golden-retriever hockey captain trying to convince a fiercely independent woman that she doesn't have to do everything alone.
⭐️ 4 stars
🎧 4 stars narration
🌶️ 2.5 spice
Definitely recommend!
Rules of the Rink #2
ARC + ALC | Immersive Read
Tristan Josiah & Raven Hawkins
⭐️ 4/5
🎧 4/5
🌶️ 2.5/5
This was such a fun hockey romance, and I really enjoyed experiencing it as an immersive read, listening to the audiobook while following along with the book.
Silas is the captain and a defenseman for the Seattle Rogues. Years ago, he promised his dying mother that he would always take care of his younger brother, Kane. Unfortunately, Kane is an alcoholic who has become verbally and emotionally abusive toward his girlfriend, Vesper.
Vesper has spent most of her life taking care of herself. She's guarded, independent and accustomed to living paycheck to paycheck while managing Riley's sports bar. The book opens as she's finally trying to walk away from Kane, and through flashbacks, we slowly see just how unhealthy their relationship has been.
We also discover something else: Silas has been secretly pining for Vesper for a LONG time.
When Silas and Vesper finally give in to their chemistry, their relationship gets complicated quickly, especially when a pregnancy enters the equation. But underneath the brother's-ex drama and chemistry is a story about Vesper learning that she doesn't always have to survive on her own. Silas wants to take care of her, but first she has to learn how to let someone in.
I really enjoyed the hockey aspect of this one. There's enough hockey to make a sports-romance reader happy without so much game action that a casual reader will feel lost. Instead, we see the pressures of travel and, especially, what it means for Silas to be captain. He has to walk that line between being one of the guys and being their leader, including having difficult conversations and holding his friends accountable.
And THANK YOU for not automatically sending the team to the Stanley Cup Final and having them win it. Not every fictional hockey team needs a Cup!
The found family is another highlight. The wives and girlfriends bring Vesper into their circle, while the Rogues have that interconnected team dynamic I love in a hockey series.
This can absolutely be read as a standalone. We get glimpses of the book-one couple as they prepare for their wedding, including the bachelor parties and dress fittings, without their story taking over this one. We also get some very interesting breadcrumbs for book three involving a player whose wife is filing for divorce even though he still loves her.
Tristan Josiah and Raven Hawkins were both new-to-me narrators, and I enjoyed their performances. Tristan made Silas feel protective and emotional, while Raven captured Vesper's guarded, almost stoic personality really well. Immersive reading made the experience even better because I could seamlessly move between reading and listening while keeping the voices and pronunciations consistent.
And Silas and Vesper definitely have chemistry. This isn't the spiciest romance I've read, but once these two get started, keeping their hands off each other isn't exactly their specialty.
Overall: A solid second book in the series with hockey, found family, brother's ex, he falls first, long-time pining, pregnancy, plenty of chemistry and a golden-retriever hockey captain trying to convince a fiercely independent woman that she doesn't have to do everything alone.
⭐️ 4 stars
🎧 4 stars narration
🌶️ 2.5 spice
Definitely recommend!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🎧 DNF at 61% (5 hours into the audiobook)
First of all, let me be completely honest about my part in this one-star rating. I go out of my way not to check Goodreads when picking what to request on NetGalley so I won't be influenced by other people's opinions in any way or form. That's how I completely missed this being a surprise pregnancy. There is no synopsis on NG, but I saw hockey, a cute cover, romance, and I was immediately interested. I will never say no to good hockey romance.
Let's get the obvious thing out of the way. I would not have picked this up if I knew it was a surprise pregnancy, and I don't like this trope in general. There are so many things that could go south with it. It is not done in a way most people would be used to, and I found it odd. The pregnancy is kind of planned, but it's also completely out of nowhere. They sleep together once, without a condom, and I already smelled the twist in the air. Then they go for the morning-after pill, so I started to ease up, only for the MMC to tell the FMC not to take it? So she doesn't? And she's like, let's have this baby as friends? So odd. Not even mentioning that the MMC really does not go along with this request and starts "I love you"ing her every chance possible.
My breaking point was when she takes him to her ob-gyn appointment and he's like, "This baby will be born in the off-season, you could not be more perfect." Like, if the FMC somehow planned this? For someone googling up all of the random pregnancy facts, is the concept of time the one thing slipping between his fingers?
I would personally consider most of this a spoiler, since all of this took place by 60%, but it's all in the synopsis on Goodreads, so the writer/publisher does let you know.
I found the ex to be a cartoonish depiction of a toxic boyfriend, but with the emotional impact missing. The FMC is scared of him, but I never felt like I should really be worried for her. Most of the stuff he did is only mentioned in passing, and his biggest crime is basically not making her cum and parking where he shouldn't. The MMC is made to be his complete opposite, except he does actually have a violent past. Of course he cares for his brother only because it was his dying mother's last wish. Gallant, but at the same time, I think giving him money for booze would not qualify as "taking care of him," and I'm somehow sure his mum would agree.
The hockey theme is more of a side theme. This is definitely more of an ex's brother and toxic ex story with some planned but really not smart pregnancy. If this happened in real life, I would consider both parties insane. She gets out of an abusive relationship just to get a baby with the first guy who is somehow nice to her after sleeping together once. It's like a setup for becoming Wife-Swap material.
I've listened to the audiobook, and it was done well enough to help me listen for so long. The narrators were well chosen, but the female narrator spoke extremely slowly. She almost sounded like her slow speaking was being further slowed down. I did not have this issue with the male narrator. Usually, I don't speed audiobooks up too much, but anything under 1.5x was very annoying to listen to.
PS: Other reviews mention lactation kink, and boy, is it at the top of my ick list. I am actually glad I DNF'd before I had to face it myself.
ALC received from NetGalley.
I am leaving this review voluntarily.
First of all, let me be completely honest about my part in this one-star rating. I go out of my way not to check Goodreads when picking what to request on NetGalley so I won't be influenced by other people's opinions in any way or form. That's how I completely missed this being a surprise pregnancy. There is no synopsis on NG, but I saw hockey, a cute cover, romance, and I was immediately interested. I will never say no to good hockey romance.
Let's get the obvious thing out of the way. I would not have picked this up if I knew it was a surprise pregnancy, and I don't like this trope in general. There are so many things that could go south with it. It is not done in a way most people would be used to, and I found it odd. The pregnancy is kind of planned, but it's also completely out of nowhere. They sleep together once, without a condom, and I already smelled the twist in the air. Then they go for the morning-after pill, so I started to ease up, only for the MMC to tell the FMC not to take it? So she doesn't? And she's like, let's have this baby as friends? So odd. Not even mentioning that the MMC really does not go along with this request and starts "I love you"ing her every chance possible.
My breaking point was when she takes him to her ob-gyn appointment and he's like, "This baby will be born in the off-season, you could not be more perfect." Like, if the FMC somehow planned this? For someone googling up all of the random pregnancy facts, is the concept of time the one thing slipping between his fingers?
I would personally consider most of this a spoiler, since all of this took place by 60%, but it's all in the synopsis on Goodreads, so the writer/publisher does let you know.
I found the ex to be a cartoonish depiction of a toxic boyfriend, but with the emotional impact missing. The FMC is scared of him, but I never felt like I should really be worried for her. Most of the stuff he did is only mentioned in passing, and his biggest crime is basically not making her cum and parking where he shouldn't. The MMC is made to be his complete opposite, except he does actually have a violent past. Of course he cares for his brother only because it was his dying mother's last wish. Gallant, but at the same time, I think giving him money for booze would not qualify as "taking care of him," and I'm somehow sure his mum would agree.
The hockey theme is more of a side theme. This is definitely more of an ex's brother and toxic ex story with some planned but really not smart pregnancy. If this happened in real life, I would consider both parties insane. She gets out of an abusive relationship just to get a baby with the first guy who is somehow nice to her after sleeping together once. It's like a setup for becoming Wife-Swap material.
I've listened to the audiobook, and it was done well enough to help me listen for so long. The narrators were well chosen, but the female narrator spoke extremely slowly. She almost sounded like her slow speaking was being further slowed down. I did not have this issue with the male narrator. Usually, I don't speed audiobooks up too much, but anything under 1.5x was very annoying to listen to.
PS: Other reviews mention lactation kink, and boy, is it at the top of my ick list. I am actually glad I DNF'd before I had to face it myself.
ALC received from NetGalley.
I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
📖⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5
Hockey Romance
Accidental Pregnancy
Brother’s Ex-Girlfriend
Grumpy NHL Captain
Black Cat FMC
Golden Retriever MMC
Look at her & 💀
He falls first and hard
Pining
Man Obsessed
Age Gap (31/24)
Suspense
Found Family
Lactation K!nk
Code Violation is book 2 in The Rules of The Rink series and follows Vesper and Silas. I loved meeting them in Fair Game was could not wait to read their story!
Brothers Ex- girlfriend, accidental pregnancy and a black cat x green flag golden retriever?? Sign me up!
If you read the first book then you could already tell Silas followed Vesper like a puppy and she had this sassiness that I loved. In the story we seen her struggle to finally rid her self of her ex Kane who is a gas lighting, narcissistic pig. I wanted to see more of her sass but I think Kane and his emotional abuse may have dampened her fire.
I do feel like the story jumps right in so even though it’s an interconnected stand alone I highly recommend reading the first book.
I loved Silas “𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.” Stanton!!! This man was so down bad! He has yearned and pined for 2 years wanting Vesper and hoping to one day have a chance with her. There is plenty of drama and suspense with the ex Kane that adds to the story. He is a very unlikable character with no redeeming qualities.
The accidental pregnancy trope was done differently and I feel like it fit both Vesper and Silas and where they were at in their life even though they weren’t together at the time. I liked that Vesper wanted to take it slow and work on their friendship first before diving into a full relationship. Now, did Silas wear her down by constantly showing up for her and making her realize how she should be treated… yep! The man was obsessed but in the most endearing way!
The chemistry between them was obviously hot but I did want to see more of the romance build up. I know Silas had two years of loving her but it felt a little rushed. I loved them bonding over sitting on the couch and coloring.
I did love seeing hockey hold a good part of the story line too! There is some drama and shake up with teammates and of course we get to see past and future characters.
Now I LOVE Mason and am exited for his book(please let it be a second chance romance😬🤞🏼) and I’m glad we got to see him and learn more but I felt at times it was taking away from Vesper and Silas’s story. I would have liked more focus and screen time with them as opposed to Mason, Drew and Will (though I LOVE them) I do love the found family trope with this friend group. I’m glad Vesper has the girls because she really needed that support too.
Overall I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to see more in this series.
I did do an immersive read with the audiobook and eARC. The narrators were new to me and did a good job. I wasn’t a huge fan of the female narrator as her voice felt breathy and almost like a whisper to me. For me it didn’t match what I had envisioned as a sassy Vesper but again that is personal interpretation and preference. I prefer duet over dual when it comes to audio books just because I find it hard to stay present when an MMC voices the FMC (especially during spicy scenes)- again personal preference. The audio was still good and I would recommend along with the book!
Thank you to Ruth Stilling and team and Tantor Media for the eARC and ALC of Code Violation in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
🎧⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5
Hockey Romance
Accidental Pregnancy
Brother’s Ex-Girlfriend
Grumpy NHL Captain
Black Cat FMC
Golden Retriever MMC
Look at her & 💀
He falls first and hard
Pining
Man Obsessed
Age Gap (31/24)
Suspense
Found Family
Lactation K!nk
Code Violation is book 2 in The Rules of The Rink series and follows Vesper and Silas. I loved meeting them in Fair Game was could not wait to read their story!
Brothers Ex- girlfriend, accidental pregnancy and a black cat x green flag golden retriever?? Sign me up!
If you read the first book then you could already tell Silas followed Vesper like a puppy and she had this sassiness that I loved. In the story we seen her struggle to finally rid her self of her ex Kane who is a gas lighting, narcissistic pig. I wanted to see more of her sass but I think Kane and his emotional abuse may have dampened her fire.
I do feel like the story jumps right in so even though it’s an interconnected stand alone I highly recommend reading the first book.
I loved Silas “𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.” Stanton!!! This man was so down bad! He has yearned and pined for 2 years wanting Vesper and hoping to one day have a chance with her. There is plenty of drama and suspense with the ex Kane that adds to the story. He is a very unlikable character with no redeeming qualities.
The accidental pregnancy trope was done differently and I feel like it fit both Vesper and Silas and where they were at in their life even though they weren’t together at the time. I liked that Vesper wanted to take it slow and work on their friendship first before diving into a full relationship. Now, did Silas wear her down by constantly showing up for her and making her realize how she should be treated… yep! The man was obsessed but in the most endearing way!
The chemistry between them was obviously hot but I did want to see more of the romance build up. I know Silas had two years of loving her but it felt a little rushed. I loved them bonding over sitting on the couch and coloring.
I did love seeing hockey hold a good part of the story line too! There is some drama and shake up with teammates and of course we get to see past and future characters.
Now I LOVE Mason and am exited for his book(please let it be a second chance romance😬🤞🏼) and I’m glad we got to see him and learn more but I felt at times it was taking away from Vesper and Silas’s story. I would have liked more focus and screen time with them as opposed to Mason, Drew and Will (though I LOVE them) I do love the found family trope with this friend group. I’m glad Vesper has the girls because she really needed that support too.
Overall I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to see more in this series.
I did do an immersive read with the audiobook and eARC. The narrators were new to me and did a good job. I wasn’t a huge fan of the female narrator as her voice felt breathy and almost like a whisper to me. For me it didn’t match what I had envisioned as a sassy Vesper but again that is personal interpretation and preference. I prefer duet over dual when it comes to audio books just because I find it hard to stay present when an MMC voices the FMC (especially during spicy scenes)- again personal preference. The audio was still good and I would recommend along with the book!
Thank you to Ruth Stilling and team and Tantor Media for the eARC and ALC of Code Violation in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I listened to Code Violation by Ruth Stilling and really enjoyed this one! This was such a good combination of hockey romance, forbidden romance, pregnancy trope, suspense, and just a delicious amount of spice.
Vesper is a bartender trying to finally break free from her toxic relationship with Kane, Silas’s brother. Kane is narcissistic, controlling, and emotionally and psychologically abusive, and watching Vesper struggle to get away from him was honestly heartbreaking. Meanwhile, Silas—the captain of the Seattle Rogues—has been quietly watching from the sidelines and falling for Vesper for years. He knows exactly how complicated it would be to pursue his brother’s ex, but he’s also been the one stepping in to protect her when Kane crosses the line.
I really loved the yearning between Silas and Vesper. Forbidden romance can be a tricky trope to pull off because sometimes the reason they “can’t” be together doesn’t feel convincing, but that wasn’t the case here. Ruth Stilling did a great job here. With everything Vesper had been through with Kane, Silas stepping up and finally admitting his feelings felt completely natural, and I was rooting for these two from the very beginning.
And then we get the surprise-ish pregnancy! Pregnancy is one of my favorite tropes, and I loved how much it heightened the emotions between Vesper and Silas. The yearning, chemistry, protectiveness, and emotional stakes all felt even stronger, and I was completely invested in their relationship.
There’s also a little suspense throughout the story, especially with Kane refusing to let Vesper go and becoming increasingly threatening and stalker-ish. Some of those scenes were genuinely nerve-racking, and this is where the audiobook really stood out for me. The narrators did such an amazing job bringing the emotional and suspenseful moments to life. There were times I felt like I was right there with Vesper, especially during the scarier scenes. It honestly felt like watching a movie in my head.
I was also lucky enough to receive the eARC from Hambright PR, so I was able to do an immersive reading experience while listening to the audiobook; and WOW, it made the story even better. 🎧📖
One of my favorite things, though? NO THIRD-ACT BREAKUP.🙌🏼 As someone who is absolutely NOT a fan of third-act breakups, I was so happy to see Silas and Vesper communicate and fight for their relationship instead of unnecessarily breaking each other's hearts. And of course, I’m a sucker for a happily ever after, so seeing everything finally work out for Silas and Vesper made me very happy. 🥹❤️
I also loved the little hints throughout the story about Mason, another NHL player, and what might be coming next. Ruth was definitely dropping breadcrumbs, and I am already curious about his story!
Overall, this was such a fun and emotional hockey romance with plenty of yearning, good spice, suspense, and a romance I could really get behind. If you enjoy hockey romance, brother’s ex, forbidden romance, pregnancy trope, protective heroes, toxic exes, emotional healing, and a guaranteed HEA, definitely add this one to your TBR! 4.5⭐
And now I need Mason’s book! 👀🏒
Many thanks to NetGalley, Tantor Media, Hambright PR for the eARC and ALC!
Pub. date: Sep. 17th 2026
#CodeViolation #NetGalley
Vesper is a bartender trying to finally break free from her toxic relationship with Kane, Silas’s brother. Kane is narcissistic, controlling, and emotionally and psychologically abusive, and watching Vesper struggle to get away from him was honestly heartbreaking. Meanwhile, Silas—the captain of the Seattle Rogues—has been quietly watching from the sidelines and falling for Vesper for years. He knows exactly how complicated it would be to pursue his brother’s ex, but he’s also been the one stepping in to protect her when Kane crosses the line.
I really loved the yearning between Silas and Vesper. Forbidden romance can be a tricky trope to pull off because sometimes the reason they “can’t” be together doesn’t feel convincing, but that wasn’t the case here. Ruth Stilling did a great job here. With everything Vesper had been through with Kane, Silas stepping up and finally admitting his feelings felt completely natural, and I was rooting for these two from the very beginning.
And then we get the surprise-ish pregnancy! Pregnancy is one of my favorite tropes, and I loved how much it heightened the emotions between Vesper and Silas. The yearning, chemistry, protectiveness, and emotional stakes all felt even stronger, and I was completely invested in their relationship.
There’s also a little suspense throughout the story, especially with Kane refusing to let Vesper go and becoming increasingly threatening and stalker-ish. Some of those scenes were genuinely nerve-racking, and this is where the audiobook really stood out for me. The narrators did such an amazing job bringing the emotional and suspenseful moments to life. There were times I felt like I was right there with Vesper, especially during the scarier scenes. It honestly felt like watching a movie in my head.
I was also lucky enough to receive the eARC from Hambright PR, so I was able to do an immersive reading experience while listening to the audiobook; and WOW, it made the story even better. 🎧📖
One of my favorite things, though? NO THIRD-ACT BREAKUP.🙌🏼 As someone who is absolutely NOT a fan of third-act breakups, I was so happy to see Silas and Vesper communicate and fight for their relationship instead of unnecessarily breaking each other's hearts. And of course, I’m a sucker for a happily ever after, so seeing everything finally work out for Silas and Vesper made me very happy. 🥹❤️
I also loved the little hints throughout the story about Mason, another NHL player, and what might be coming next. Ruth was definitely dropping breadcrumbs, and I am already curious about his story!
Overall, this was such a fun and emotional hockey romance with plenty of yearning, good spice, suspense, and a romance I could really get behind. If you enjoy hockey romance, brother’s ex, forbidden romance, pregnancy trope, protective heroes, toxic exes, emotional healing, and a guaranteed HEA, definitely add this one to your TBR! 4.5⭐
And now I need Mason’s book! 👀🏒
Many thanks to NetGalley, Tantor Media, Hambright PR for the eARC and ALC!
Pub. date: Sep. 17th 2026
#CodeViolation #NetGalley
Review of advance copy
CODE VIOLATION by RUTH STILLING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Code Violation is the second (#2) book in THE RULES OF THE RINK series.
Pro hockey player and Captain of the Seattle Rogues Silas Stanton promised his late mum that he would always look out for for his brother but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to do so. Not only is his brother a drug taking drunk but he treats his ex girlfriend, Vesper Stone like dirt.
Despite his years long attraction to the dark haired, beautiful bartender, Vesper is the one woman Silas can’t have. Determined to protect her, Silas keeps showing up even when Vesper turns his friendship away. He’d rather be her friend, if that’s all that’s on offer, rather than leave her vulnerable to his brothers clutches…..
——————————
Code Violation is a swoon worthy, love bombing delight with an element of suspense running throughout from Silas’ disgusting brother. I mean seriously, from the very first page Kane’s abusive, narcissistic behaviour will have you growling at the page and frustrated that Vesper has put up with his behaviour for so long!
Turns out that Vespers childhood has left her believing that she deserves to be treated like dirt, so when Green Flag, Golden Retriever Silas appears to be too good to be true she doesn’t know how to let her guard down. As the book progresses she finally begins to recognise her own worth (thank goodness) and her strength and resilience shines through.
Silas is every girl’s dream, almost too perfect to be true. Determined to help Vesper he’ll do everything in his power to make her see how beautiful, strong and deserving she is, even if he has to keep her at arms length. He basically worships at the alter of Vesper!! He will do anything and everything to encourage her to see him as more and give her ALL the power. Of course his money doesn’t hurt (😉) - though in all honesty Vesper isn’t money led at all, rather she’s determined to keep her independence and earn her own money.
Silas’ teammates and Vesper’s girl friends add a delightful extra in the background with their own personal issues, hea’s and opinions.
As Silas and Vesper’s relationship develops so do the steamy, open door spicy scenes. They are hot, they are pretty explicit, they are expected when the chemistry burns this hot!
I read an ebook version of this book, with around 340 pages (print copy), a colourful illustrated character cover and good editing. This book releases on September 17th 2026.
With thanks to Ruth Stilling and Hambright PR for an early read of this interesting book. All comments are my own honest, unbiased opinion.
🏒 Brothers Ex
🏒 Open Door Spice 🔥🔥🔥
🏒 Hockey Romance
🏒 Suspense
🏒 Accidental Pregnancy
🏒 He Falls First And Falls Hard
🏒 Golden Retriever Hero
Code Violation is the second (#2) book in THE RULES OF THE RINK series.
Pro hockey player and Captain of the Seattle Rogues Silas Stanton promised his late mum that he would always look out for for his brother but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to do so. Not only is his brother a drug taking drunk but he treats his ex girlfriend, Vesper Stone like dirt.
Despite his years long attraction to the dark haired, beautiful bartender, Vesper is the one woman Silas can’t have. Determined to protect her, Silas keeps showing up even when Vesper turns his friendship away. He’d rather be her friend, if that’s all that’s on offer, rather than leave her vulnerable to his brothers clutches…..
——————————
Code Violation is a swoon worthy, love bombing delight with an element of suspense running throughout from Silas’ disgusting brother. I mean seriously, from the very first page Kane’s abusive, narcissistic behaviour will have you growling at the page and frustrated that Vesper has put up with his behaviour for so long!
Turns out that Vespers childhood has left her believing that she deserves to be treated like dirt, so when Green Flag, Golden Retriever Silas appears to be too good to be true she doesn’t know how to let her guard down. As the book progresses she finally begins to recognise her own worth (thank goodness) and her strength and resilience shines through.
Silas is every girl’s dream, almost too perfect to be true. Determined to help Vesper he’ll do everything in his power to make her see how beautiful, strong and deserving she is, even if he has to keep her at arms length. He basically worships at the alter of Vesper!! He will do anything and everything to encourage her to see him as more and give her ALL the power. Of course his money doesn’t hurt (😉) - though in all honesty Vesper isn’t money led at all, rather she’s determined to keep her independence and earn her own money.
Silas’ teammates and Vesper’s girl friends add a delightful extra in the background with their own personal issues, hea’s and opinions.
As Silas and Vesper’s relationship develops so do the steamy, open door spicy scenes. They are hot, they are pretty explicit, they are expected when the chemistry burns this hot!
I read an ebook version of this book, with around 340 pages (print copy), a colourful illustrated character cover and good editing. This book releases on September 17th 2026.
With thanks to Ruth Stilling and Hambright PR for an early read of this interesting book. All comments are my own honest, unbiased opinion.
🏒 Brothers Ex
🏒 Open Door Spice 🔥🔥🔥
🏒 Hockey Romance
🏒 Suspense
🏒 Accidental Pregnancy
🏒 He Falls First And Falls Hard
🏒 Golden Retriever Hero
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Everyone knows I LOVE a hockey romance… So take this as seriously as the plague when I tell you I had just started the audiobook and immediately thought, “This will be the hockey romance I DNF”. Did I jump into requesting this book because I was so excited about the prospect of a new hockey romance? Yes. Should I have paused and read that this book has my least favorite trope: an accidental pregnancy? Probably. Did I surprisingly enjoy it? Maybe… 3 ⭐️
Silas Stanton is in trouble: he’s in love with his brother’s ex-girlfriend.
As the captain of the Seattle Rogues, Silas knows the meaning of loyalty. But he’s caught between honoring the promise he made to his late mother to stand by his brother and years of knowing Vesper Stone is the girl of his dreams.
To make matters worse, his brother isn’t only a bad person, but he’s dangerous, too. Silas knows he should walk away - at a minimum, to keep Vesper safe, but something stronger than gravity always pulls him back to Vesper’s door. Friends don’t hold their breath whenever they catch each other’s gaze, and they definitely don’t do what we did the other night … When one night ends in an unbreakable bond, Silas may have to go to war with his only family left or risk losing the one he’s building.
Right off the bat, we get dropped into what feels like the middle of the story. So that, combined with the aforementioned “accidental pregnancy” trope, had me digging my heels in against liking this book. But my icy stubbornness was slowly melted by Silas and Vesper. This isn’t a true “accidental pregnancy”; this is a “girl leaves an abusive ex and finds herself falling for his hotter brother (who has been in love with her for years), and they have unprotected sex and decide to keep the baby if she’s pregnant”. The unlearning emotional abuse, the alcohol representation… It was actually very sweet. However, I secretly kept hoping Kade was part of the mafia to add some kick to the plot.
The audiobook, with narrators Raven Hawkins and Tristan Josiah, is fine in terms of audiobooks. I found that Tristan was carrying the narration, even if it was a little over the top with the Shakespearean-esque yearning. In contrast, Raven felt like she let Siri take over her narration, which made it incredibly hard to build any emotional connection to her character despite the hardships she faces.
🍻 Sports Romance (Hockey)
🏒 Forbidden Relationship
🍻 Accidental Pregnancy
🏒 YEARNING
🍻 Emotional & Substance Abuse Rep
Thank you, NetGalley, Tantor Media, and the author for the early ALC in exchange for my honest opinions!
Silas Stanton is in trouble: he’s in love with his brother’s ex-girlfriend.
As the captain of the Seattle Rogues, Silas knows the meaning of loyalty. But he’s caught between honoring the promise he made to his late mother to stand by his brother and years of knowing Vesper Stone is the girl of his dreams.
To make matters worse, his brother isn’t only a bad person, but he’s dangerous, too. Silas knows he should walk away - at a minimum, to keep Vesper safe, but something stronger than gravity always pulls him back to Vesper’s door. Friends don’t hold their breath whenever they catch each other’s gaze, and they definitely don’t do what we did the other night … When one night ends in an unbreakable bond, Silas may have to go to war with his only family left or risk losing the one he’s building.
Right off the bat, we get dropped into what feels like the middle of the story. So that, combined with the aforementioned “accidental pregnancy” trope, had me digging my heels in against liking this book. But my icy stubbornness was slowly melted by Silas and Vesper. This isn’t a true “accidental pregnancy”; this is a “girl leaves an abusive ex and finds herself falling for his hotter brother (who has been in love with her for years), and they have unprotected sex and decide to keep the baby if she’s pregnant”. The unlearning emotional abuse, the alcohol representation… It was actually very sweet. However, I secretly kept hoping Kade was part of the mafia to add some kick to the plot.
The audiobook, with narrators Raven Hawkins and Tristan Josiah, is fine in terms of audiobooks. I found that Tristan was carrying the narration, even if it was a little over the top with the Shakespearean-esque yearning. In contrast, Raven felt like she let Siri take over her narration, which made it incredibly hard to build any emotional connection to her character despite the hardships she faces.
🍻 Sports Romance (Hockey)
🏒 Forbidden Relationship
🍻 Accidental Pregnancy
🏒 YEARNING
🍻 Emotional & Substance Abuse Rep
Thank you, NetGalley, Tantor Media, and the author for the early ALC in exchange for my honest opinions!
September 12, 2026
I received Code Violation as an eARC & ALC from Hambright PR & Ruth Stilling. This was my first novel by Ruth Stilling, but it’s book #2 in her Rules of the Rink series. It’s safe to say that, after reading Code Violation, I will be going back to read book #1, Fair Game, and divulging in Drew & Will’s story.
Code Violation is a steamy hockey romance featuring Vesper Stone & NHL star and Captain of the Seattle Rogues, Silas Stanton. Vesper & Silas have know each other for a while, because Vesper was dating Silas’s brother, Kane. What she doesn’t realize is, Silas is in love with her. When Vesper & Kane break up for the millionth time and this time she swears it’s for good, Silas decides it’s time to show her that she picked the wrong brother. When a steamy one night stand turns into an accidental, but also not accidental, pregnancy, Silas pulls out all the stops, determined to love Vesper & his baby with everything he has.
There’s so much I need to say about this book, but also that I can’t say yet because it’s not been released… let me just put it this way: Silas Stanton is THE book boyfriend. The ultimate book boyfriend. I mean, come on. NHL star, hockey caption, bad boy, but also soft and gooey on the inside for his girl? Sign. Me. Up.
I absolutely loved the chemistry between Silas & Vesper. The intensity, the pining, the yearning… ugh. It was everything I needed wrapped up into one. I’m a sucker for hockey romance, and this one was absolute perfection. The story was also very unique, and something I hadn’t experienced before. The suspense was suspensing and, yeah I need to go back and read Will & Drew’s story ASAP. I’m also super intrigued by the next book in this series, as I think the ending made it super clear who it’s going to be about and when I tell you, I am SAT. It’s going to be so good, I can already tell.
My only complaint with this book is how fast I felt like it all went. Honestly, I could’ve been sat for another 300 pages if Ruth would’ve given it to us. In the end, I just found myself wanting more. More more moreee. But that’s how you know it’s a good book, when the author leaves you wanting more. There were also some cheesy, cringe-worthy moments but you know what, it’s romance. I won’t fault her for it.
All of this to say… if you love hockey romance, you need to dive into this one. It releases September 17th and you better RUN to get your hands on it. Especially with tropes like:
💙 Brother’s Ex Girlfriend
💙 Friends to Lovers
💙 He Falls First and HARD
💙 Accidental Pregnancy
💙 Touch Her & ☠️
💙 Forbidden Love
Have I convinced you yet? Okay good. Out 9.17.26!
Code Violation is a steamy hockey romance featuring Vesper Stone & NHL star and Captain of the Seattle Rogues, Silas Stanton. Vesper & Silas have know each other for a while, because Vesper was dating Silas’s brother, Kane. What she doesn’t realize is, Silas is in love with her. When Vesper & Kane break up for the millionth time and this time she swears it’s for good, Silas decides it’s time to show her that she picked the wrong brother. When a steamy one night stand turns into an accidental, but also not accidental, pregnancy, Silas pulls out all the stops, determined to love Vesper & his baby with everything he has.
There’s so much I need to say about this book, but also that I can’t say yet because it’s not been released… let me just put it this way: Silas Stanton is THE book boyfriend. The ultimate book boyfriend. I mean, come on. NHL star, hockey caption, bad boy, but also soft and gooey on the inside for his girl? Sign. Me. Up.
I absolutely loved the chemistry between Silas & Vesper. The intensity, the pining, the yearning… ugh. It was everything I needed wrapped up into one. I’m a sucker for hockey romance, and this one was absolute perfection. The story was also very unique, and something I hadn’t experienced before. The suspense was suspensing and, yeah I need to go back and read Will & Drew’s story ASAP. I’m also super intrigued by the next book in this series, as I think the ending made it super clear who it’s going to be about and when I tell you, I am SAT. It’s going to be so good, I can already tell.
My only complaint with this book is how fast I felt like it all went. Honestly, I could’ve been sat for another 300 pages if Ruth would’ve given it to us. In the end, I just found myself wanting more. More more moreee. But that’s how you know it’s a good book, when the author leaves you wanting more. There were also some cheesy, cringe-worthy moments but you know what, it’s romance. I won’t fault her for it.
All of this to say… if you love hockey romance, you need to dive into this one. It releases September 17th and you better RUN to get your hands on it. Especially with tropes like:
💙 Brother’s Ex Girlfriend
💙 Friends to Lovers
💙 He Falls First and HARD
💙 Accidental Pregnancy
💙 Touch Her & ☠️
💙 Forbidden Love
Have I convinced you yet? Okay good. Out 9.17.26!
Review of advance copy
Rating 3.5/5
Code Violation is the second book of the Rules of the Rink series, following characters we were introduced to in book one, Vesper and Silas. I absolutely loved these characters in Fair Game and couldn’t wait to see their story unfold in their own book.
Vesper manages to escape an abusive relationship, who just so happens to be pro hockey player, Silas’, brother. But Silas has no plans to leave her life just because their relationship is over because, while he’s loved her for longer than she’s known, his support for her will always come first. When their mutual attraction takes a turn and leads to an accidental pregnancy, they have to decide what happens next. Their decision making was kind of odd to me and threw me off what I thought I understood about these characters. I don’t want to spoil much about this twist, but I don’t know, I just don’t quite understand this piece of the story.
This story is full of sexual tension-turned love between our MCs, suspense of the lingering abusive ex, and found family in friendships with the hockey team and their partners. We get the full golden retriever x black cat energy with Silas and Vesper which is my favorite dynamic and is a big piece of what makes their relationship and vulnerability so authentic in its development. The side characters’ stories changed the pacing of the story some and almost felt a little distracting, but maybe this is just set up for the next book. I feel like less of this could have been included though and kept the pacing stronger.
Raven Hawkins was a great fit for Vesper’s character, however, I wasn’t a huge fan of Tristan Josiah’s portrayal of Silas. Something about this narration didn’t quite match the character I was envisioning, but this is just a personal preference.
Thank you to Hambright PR for access to this audiobook and ebook so I could have an immersive read. All opinions are my own.
Tropes:
🏒 Hockey Romance
🙅🏻 Brother's Ex-Girlfriend
🚫 Forbidden Romance
🍼 Accidental Pregnancy
🙋🏻♂️ He Falls First & Hard
❤️ No Third Act Breakup
🐈⬛ Black cat x golden retriever
Code Violation is the second book of the Rules of the Rink series, following characters we were introduced to in book one, Vesper and Silas. I absolutely loved these characters in Fair Game and couldn’t wait to see their story unfold in their own book.
Vesper manages to escape an abusive relationship, who just so happens to be pro hockey player, Silas’, brother. But Silas has no plans to leave her life just because their relationship is over because, while he’s loved her for longer than she’s known, his support for her will always come first. When their mutual attraction takes a turn and leads to an accidental pregnancy, they have to decide what happens next. Their decision making was kind of odd to me and threw me off what I thought I understood about these characters. I don’t want to spoil much about this twist, but I don’t know, I just don’t quite understand this piece of the story.
This story is full of sexual tension-turned love between our MCs, suspense of the lingering abusive ex, and found family in friendships with the hockey team and their partners. We get the full golden retriever x black cat energy with Silas and Vesper which is my favorite dynamic and is a big piece of what makes their relationship and vulnerability so authentic in its development. The side characters’ stories changed the pacing of the story some and almost felt a little distracting, but maybe this is just set up for the next book. I feel like less of this could have been included though and kept the pacing stronger.
Raven Hawkins was a great fit for Vesper’s character, however, I wasn’t a huge fan of Tristan Josiah’s portrayal of Silas. Something about this narration didn’t quite match the character I was envisioning, but this is just a personal preference.
Thank you to Hambright PR for access to this audiobook and ebook so I could have an immersive read. All opinions are my own.
Tropes:
🏒 Hockey Romance
🙅🏻 Brother's Ex-Girlfriend
🚫 Forbidden Romance
🍼 Accidental Pregnancy
🙋🏻♂️ He Falls First & Hard
❤️ No Third Act Breakup
🐈⬛ Black cat x golden retriever
September 11, 2026
ALL. THE. STARS. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝚁𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚂𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 just has this incredible way of giving me everything I could possibly want in a romance.
𝚂𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚜. 31. Hockey captain. Flawed past. Seedy half-brother. And, because apparently his life wasn’t complicated enough, he’s also in love with his half-brother’s girlfriend.
𝚅𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚛. 24. Bartender/manager. Estranged parents. Fiercely independent. Loyal to her core. And saddled with a narcissistic ex-boyfriend.
Put these two together and you get a romance that I absolutely devoured.
The 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚐𝚗𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚢 trope was also done so freaking well. It was the first time I’d read it executed in this particular way, and I am officially a fan. I loved how it was handled and how naturally it fit into their story.
And Silas… 🥹
I absolutely adore the way this man loves Vesper. With respect. With understanding. With this deeply protective instinct that never crosses into controlling. He listens. He communicates. He respects her boundaries. He makes her feel safe.
And as Vesper so perfectly put it:
“𝙳𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚘𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚜? 𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏 𝚒𝚝.”
EXACTLY. 👏🏻
And on that note… the spice is HOT. Piping freaking hot. 🔥🔥🔥
The kind of hot that had me giggling like a teenager and grinning at my Kindle like I’d completely lost the plot. I loved every single second of it.
I also did this as an immersive read, with the audiobook narrated by 𝚃𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗 𝙹𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚊𝚑 & 𝚁𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝙷𝚊𝚠𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚜 and I honestly didn’t think for a second that I wouldn’t love it. I was absolutely right. The narration was fantastic and added so much to the experience.
𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕𝚢, 𝙸 𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚕𝚢 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚎. 🎧❤️
Every time I read a Ruth Stilling book, I somehow end up declaring that this couple is my favorite, and once again I am confidently announcing that 𝚂𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚅𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚛 have stolen the crown. 👑
There genuinely isn’t a thing I would change about this book.
𝚂𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚅𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚛 are EVERYTHING. ❤️
Tropes:
🏒 𝙷𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚢 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
🙅🏻 𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛'𝚜 𝙴𝚡-𝙶𝚒𝚛𝚕𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍
🚫 𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚋𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
🍼 𝙰𝚌𝚌𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝙿𝚛𝚎𝚐𝚗𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚢
🙋🏻♂️ 𝙷𝚎 𝙵𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚜 𝙵𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 & 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚍
❤️ 𝙽𝚘 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚍 𝙰𝚌𝚝 𝙱𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚞𝚙
Audiobook narrated by ->
🎧 𝚁𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝙷𝚊𝚠𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚜
🎧 𝚃𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗 𝙹𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚊𝚑
𝚁𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚂𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 just has this incredible way of giving me everything I could possibly want in a romance.
𝚂𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚜. 31. Hockey captain. Flawed past. Seedy half-brother. And, because apparently his life wasn’t complicated enough, he’s also in love with his half-brother’s girlfriend.
𝚅𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚛. 24. Bartender/manager. Estranged parents. Fiercely independent. Loyal to her core. And saddled with a narcissistic ex-boyfriend.
Put these two together and you get a romance that I absolutely devoured.
The 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚐𝚗𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚢 trope was also done so freaking well. It was the first time I’d read it executed in this particular way, and I am officially a fan. I loved how it was handled and how naturally it fit into their story.
And Silas… 🥹
I absolutely adore the way this man loves Vesper. With respect. With understanding. With this deeply protective instinct that never crosses into controlling. He listens. He communicates. He respects her boundaries. He makes her feel safe.
And as Vesper so perfectly put it:
“𝙳𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚘𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚜? 𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏 𝚒𝚝.”
EXACTLY. 👏🏻
And on that note… the spice is HOT. Piping freaking hot. 🔥🔥🔥
The kind of hot that had me giggling like a teenager and grinning at my Kindle like I’d completely lost the plot. I loved every single second of it.
I also did this as an immersive read, with the audiobook narrated by 𝚃𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗 𝙹𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚊𝚑 & 𝚁𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝙷𝚊𝚠𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚜 and I honestly didn’t think for a second that I wouldn’t love it. I was absolutely right. The narration was fantastic and added so much to the experience.
𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕𝚢, 𝙸 𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚕𝚢 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚎. 🎧❤️
Every time I read a Ruth Stilling book, I somehow end up declaring that this couple is my favorite, and once again I am confidently announcing that 𝚂𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚅𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚛 have stolen the crown. 👑
There genuinely isn’t a thing I would change about this book.
𝚂𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚅𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚛 are EVERYTHING. ❤️
Tropes:
🏒 𝙷𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚢 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
🙅🏻 𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛'𝚜 𝙴𝚡-𝙶𝚒𝚛𝚕𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍
🚫 𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚋𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
🍼 𝙰𝚌𝚌𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝙿𝚛𝚎𝚐𝚗𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚢
🙋🏻♂️ 𝙷𝚎 𝙵𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚜 𝙵𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 & 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚍
❤️ 𝙽𝚘 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚍 𝙰𝚌𝚝 𝙱𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚞𝚙
Audiobook narrated by ->
🎧 𝚁𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝙷𝚊𝚠𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚜
🎧 𝚃𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗 𝙹𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚊𝚑
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved, loved Code Violation so much and if you ask me this is the best story that Ruth Stilling wrote so far. And after all the snippets of Silas and Vesper in Drew and Will's story I never expected that Code Violation will be so emotional and heartbreaking at one point and healing and uplifting at the same time. Silas is an ultimately good guy with a heart of gold who had a rough start in life but managed to rise above and clean his act. The only connection to that past is his half brother and Kane is definitely not a good person. The only good thing that is going on for him is his girlfriend Vesper and by the way he treated her she became soon his ex girlfriend. And Silas knowing his brother is sticking around to help Vesper and be her friend. Because Silas is a walking green flag guy personified. And the moment Vesper gave him a chance he did everything to prove that he's the right person for her. And he was her greatest friend and supporter until she let him be her significant other. Vesper had to recover from an abusive relationship and break the circle of giving second chances to her ex. Silas was fighting with the promise he gave his mum to take care of his half brother but he couldn't keep it when said brother is using him. Both Vesper and Silas fought their demons and fears and build a healthy relationship with each other. Becoming parents was the ultimate prize for them. I absolutely admired them for the strength to be there for each other and for their friends. I can't wait to read more about them in the next book in the series. Loved so much that sneak peaks on Drew and Will and all their friends. Now I can't wait for Mason's story after that preview at the end. And I'm more than curious about Tristan and June because there's so much more there. And I know that Code Violation has a playlist but the ultimate song for this story is Maddie and Tae's song Friends Don't in my opinion.
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this book.
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Vesper, our fave bartending girlie is our (new) fave hockey captain Silas’s brother’s ex-girlfriend. And LET ME TELL YOU, we’re FED with the “I want to show you why you chose the wrong brother” vibes.
The situation is messy. Silas has feelings for Vesper. Vesper had been dating his brother. But after a break up, he swoops in and 1 accidental pregnancy and a whole lot of feelings later, Silas gets his chance with her and he doesn’t let go. The man is a walking green flag and we LOVE THAT. After Vesper dealing with Kane, Silas is like a breath of fresh air and we LOOVEEE protective, caring MMCs who YEARN. He is so patient and does everything in his power to show her what she means to him and what he is willing to offer her just to show how she should be treat.
Watching her break down her walls and letting herself be loved and realising that she also loves him too made it so much more enjoyable. Even down to the details of the fact she loves to colour and HE SHARPENS HER COLOURED PENCILS WHEN HE REALISES THEY WERE DULL. (As an art girlie, I was GONE for him the second he did that.)
Adding in the messiness of Kane (who needs to take the hint and LEAVE) we get so much tension and a lot of suspense that had me gripped to see where this was heading next.
Now, accidental pregnancy - a trope which I felt Ruth wrote in a really nice way, it felt different, it wasn’t the “normal” we’d expect. It was different and took it in a way I wasn’t expecting, it was sweet and refreshing and really took this into a new avenue and depth between the characters which isn’t usual, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I adored this book. It’s an ice hockey romance that ticks all (if not more *cough*) than all the boxes. We get more found family and world building for this fab little group of friends in this world that we love, and is always - slightly different than the rest but sprinkling in little nuggets and I can’t wait to see where we see the group go next.
Thank you as always to Ruth and Plot Twist Marketing for the eARC🫶🏻
The situation is messy. Silas has feelings for Vesper. Vesper had been dating his brother. But after a break up, he swoops in and 1 accidental pregnancy and a whole lot of feelings later, Silas gets his chance with her and he doesn’t let go. The man is a walking green flag and we LOVE THAT. After Vesper dealing with Kane, Silas is like a breath of fresh air and we LOOVEEE protective, caring MMCs who YEARN. He is so patient and does everything in his power to show her what she means to him and what he is willing to offer her just to show how she should be treat.
Watching her break down her walls and letting herself be loved and realising that she also loves him too made it so much more enjoyable. Even down to the details of the fact she loves to colour and HE SHARPENS HER COLOURED PENCILS WHEN HE REALISES THEY WERE DULL. (As an art girlie, I was GONE for him the second he did that.)
Adding in the messiness of Kane (who needs to take the hint and LEAVE) we get so much tension and a lot of suspense that had me gripped to see where this was heading next.
Now, accidental pregnancy - a trope which I felt Ruth wrote in a really nice way, it felt different, it wasn’t the “normal” we’d expect. It was different and took it in a way I wasn’t expecting, it was sweet and refreshing and really took this into a new avenue and depth between the characters which isn’t usual, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I adored this book. It’s an ice hockey romance that ticks all (if not more *cough*) than all the boxes. We get more found family and world building for this fab little group of friends in this world that we love, and is always - slightly different than the rest but sprinkling in little nuggets and I can’t wait to see where we see the group go next.
Thank you as always to Ruth and Plot Twist Marketing for the eARC🫶🏻
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was fortunate to get an ARC and ALC for this book. While I rate the book a 4 Star, I give the audio a 3 star. I'll explain at the end because I don't want that to take away from the rating of the book.
I didn't read book 1, but I don't feel like I needed to, these seem like interconnected stand-alones.
This book is a very good story, the FMC Vesper deals with emotional abuse, a controlling ex and being strong enough to stand against it once and for all, while having the support of friends and The MMC Silas, a man who has loved you from afar for so long.
Silas is the captain of the Seattle Rogues hockey team and has loved Vesper, his brothers ex-girlfriend from afar for so long. He's always known his brother...half brother is a douche and that she could do better and he worries for her. He knows his brother treats her badly, so he makes it a point to be around often as a form of protection for her. While his brother never physically harmed Vesper, the damage he inflicted was more of a lasting emotional hurt.
When Vesper finally decided she was through, she wasn't going back anymore, Silas was there to pick up the pieces. He was careful not to push her into her anything, only showing her respect and that he cared.
He did eventually tell him of his feeling for her and one night they gave in to temptation and had unprotected sex. I don't want to say much here how things play out, but I have to give you that there is an accidental pregnancy, because LOVE THAT TROPE. The support Silas and Vesper receive from everyone in their corner is heartwarming.
Once Vesper realizes her feelings and then thinks to so many times in the past that she experienced his protection and caring, and how she felt happiest whenever Silas was around, she falls head over heels right along with him.
Now, for the audio, I just didn't like how the MMC always seemed to be whispering and the spicey scenes, well they could have been better, no angst in their voices. It was good in the sense of feeling emotion when they were hurting or having heartfelt conversations, reason for 3 stars, but the rest of it was just not a favorite for me.
✨️Brothers Ex-girlfriend
✨️He Falls First
✨️Hockey Captain
✨️Friends To Lovers
✨️Accidental Pregnancy
I didn't read book 1, but I don't feel like I needed to, these seem like interconnected stand-alones.
This book is a very good story, the FMC Vesper deals with emotional abuse, a controlling ex and being strong enough to stand against it once and for all, while having the support of friends and The MMC Silas, a man who has loved you from afar for so long.
Silas is the captain of the Seattle Rogues hockey team and has loved Vesper, his brothers ex-girlfriend from afar for so long. He's always known his brother...half brother is a douche and that she could do better and he worries for her. He knows his brother treats her badly, so he makes it a point to be around often as a form of protection for her. While his brother never physically harmed Vesper, the damage he inflicted was more of a lasting emotional hurt.
When Vesper finally decided she was through, she wasn't going back anymore, Silas was there to pick up the pieces. He was careful not to push her into her anything, only showing her respect and that he cared.
He did eventually tell him of his feeling for her and one night they gave in to temptation and had unprotected sex. I don't want to say much here how things play out, but I have to give you that there is an accidental pregnancy, because LOVE THAT TROPE. The support Silas and Vesper receive from everyone in their corner is heartwarming.
Once Vesper realizes her feelings and then thinks to so many times in the past that she experienced his protection and caring, and how she felt happiest whenever Silas was around, she falls head over heels right along with him.
Now, for the audio, I just didn't like how the MMC always seemed to be whispering and the spicey scenes, well they could have been better, no angst in their voices. It was good in the sense of feeling emotion when they were hurting or having heartfelt conversations, reason for 3 stars, but the rest of it was just not a favorite for me.
✨️Brothers Ex-girlfriend
✨️He Falls First
✨️Hockey Captain
✨️Friends To Lovers
✨️Accidental Pregnancy
Review of advance copy received from Author
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿
Okay, I really loved Silas and Vesper’s story. There was something about their relationship that had me completely invested from the beginning. The fact that Silas had cared about Vesper for so long and was always quietly there for her made me fall for him right along with her.
Silas is honestly such a green flag. 🥹 I loved how protective and supportive he was without trying to control Vesper. He paid attention to the little things, listened to her, respected her choices, and made her feel safe. Some of the small moments between them ended up being my favorites, especially when they were just being cute and getting to know each other in a different way.
I also really liked Vesper’s journey. Watching her slowly find her confidence again and realize what she deserved made me so happy for her. Her past relationship was difficult to read at times, but I appreciated seeing her take back her independence and start believing in herself again.
And the chemistry between these two?? 🔥🔥 Ruth definitely brought the heat. The spicy scenes were GOOD, but I especially loved that there was so much sweetness and emotion surrounding them too. Their banter, texts, little gestures, and the way Silas was completely gone for her had me smiling so many times.
🎧 AUDIOBOOK REVIEW — Code Violation
I also listened to the audiobook of Code Violation, narrated by Raven Hawkins and Tristan Josiah, and I absolutely loved their voices for Vesper and Silas. They brought the characters to life so naturally, and I really enjoyed listening to their chemistry come through.
The cute moments had me smiling, and the spicy scenes definitely hit differently in audio. 🔥 I loved the way both narrators captured the emotions between these two and made the story so easy to get lost in.
Thank you to author Ruth Stilling, to Hambright PR and to Netgalley for the advanced copy.
Okay, I really loved Silas and Vesper’s story. There was something about their relationship that had me completely invested from the beginning. The fact that Silas had cared about Vesper for so long and was always quietly there for her made me fall for him right along with her.
Silas is honestly such a green flag. 🥹 I loved how protective and supportive he was without trying to control Vesper. He paid attention to the little things, listened to her, respected her choices, and made her feel safe. Some of the small moments between them ended up being my favorites, especially when they were just being cute and getting to know each other in a different way.
I also really liked Vesper’s journey. Watching her slowly find her confidence again and realize what she deserved made me so happy for her. Her past relationship was difficult to read at times, but I appreciated seeing her take back her independence and start believing in herself again.
And the chemistry between these two?? 🔥🔥 Ruth definitely brought the heat. The spicy scenes were GOOD, but I especially loved that there was so much sweetness and emotion surrounding them too. Their banter, texts, little gestures, and the way Silas was completely gone for her had me smiling so many times.
🎧 AUDIOBOOK REVIEW — Code Violation
I also listened to the audiobook of Code Violation, narrated by Raven Hawkins and Tristan Josiah, and I absolutely loved their voices for Vesper and Silas. They brought the characters to life so naturally, and I really enjoyed listening to their chemistry come through.
The cute moments had me smiling, and the spicy scenes definitely hit differently in audio. 🔥 I loved the way both narrators captured the emotions between these two and made the story so easy to get lost in.
Thank you to author Ruth Stilling, to Hambright PR and to Netgalley for the advanced copy.
September 9, 2026
🏒 Have we officially maxed out the hockey romance universe yet? 😂
Code Violation by Ruth Stilling — ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vesper is trying to break free from a toxic relationship with her boyfriend, Kane, while his half-brother Silas—the captain of the Seattle Rogues—has been quietly pining for her for years. When Vesper and Silas finally cross that line, things get complicated FAST… especially when an unexpected pregnancy enters the picture and Kane proves he’s not exactly ready to let Vesper go.
And honestly, this one started off pretty strong for me. I’m a sucker for the brother’s ex + he falls first + golden retriever combination, and I actually really liked the surprise pregnancy storyline. That trope can be very hit or miss for me, but I thought the way it was introduced worked.
But somewhere along the way, I just started feeling like everything was a little… surface level.
I liked Silas and Vesper just fine, but I didn’t LOVE them. And maybe that’s my problem because I’ve been spoiled by some seriously elite hockey romance boyfriends. Shane. Ilya. Scott, Carter. Garrett, Adam. 🥵 Those are the men I compare everyone to, and Silas just didn’t quite get there for me.
I also struggled with some of the ways serious situations were handled. There were moments where I was thinking, Wait… really? Vesper telling Kane the baby was Silas’s while they were alone in her apartment? 😳 And then the whole $50 + sassy comment situation after he attacked them at the wedding with a knife? It just felt bizarrely childish considering how serious everything around them was.
And then there was the lactation kink.
I have read A LOT of romance, friends. 😂
And that may be one of the weirdest things I’ve ever come across.
So while I didn’t hate this one, I also didn’t fall head over heels for it. There were definitely things I enjoyed, but ultimately I needed more depth from the characters and their relationship to really connect.
Code Violation by Ruth Stilling — ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vesper is trying to break free from a toxic relationship with her boyfriend, Kane, while his half-brother Silas—the captain of the Seattle Rogues—has been quietly pining for her for years. When Vesper and Silas finally cross that line, things get complicated FAST… especially when an unexpected pregnancy enters the picture and Kane proves he’s not exactly ready to let Vesper go.
And honestly, this one started off pretty strong for me. I’m a sucker for the brother’s ex + he falls first + golden retriever combination, and I actually really liked the surprise pregnancy storyline. That trope can be very hit or miss for me, but I thought the way it was introduced worked.
But somewhere along the way, I just started feeling like everything was a little… surface level.
I liked Silas and Vesper just fine, but I didn’t LOVE them. And maybe that’s my problem because I’ve been spoiled by some seriously elite hockey romance boyfriends. Shane. Ilya. Scott, Carter. Garrett, Adam. 🥵 Those are the men I compare everyone to, and Silas just didn’t quite get there for me.
I also struggled with some of the ways serious situations were handled. There were moments where I was thinking, Wait… really? Vesper telling Kane the baby was Silas’s while they were alone in her apartment? 😳 And then the whole $50 + sassy comment situation after he attacked them at the wedding with a knife? It just felt bizarrely childish considering how serious everything around them was.
And then there was the lactation kink.
I have read A LOT of romance, friends. 😂
And that may be one of the weirdest things I’ve ever come across.
So while I didn’t hate this one, I also didn’t fall head over heels for it. There were definitely things I enjoyed, but ultimately I needed more depth from the characters and their relationship to really connect.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Breaking the Rules Was Worth It 🏒❤️
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Heat: 🔥🔥
Tears:
📚E-BOOK📚& 🎧AUDIO 🎧
🎧 Raven Hawkins & Tristan Josiah
I was lucky enough to receive both the ARC and ALC of Code Violation, and this was my first time reading Ruth Stilling. I also believe this was my first time listening to Raven Hawkins and Tristan Josiah, so I went into this one completely new to everyone involved!
Let’s start with the audio. This is a dual narration told through multiple POVs, and I thought both narrators did a really good job. The narration flowed nicely and their performances worked well with the story. There were a few moments where I personally wanted a little more emotion, but honestly, that could totally be a me thing. 😂 I'm such a mood reader, and sometimes a book just doesn't hit me emotionally as strongly depending on what mood I'm in.
As for the story itself, I really enjoyed it!
Vesper is his brother's ex-girlfriend, which automatically puts her in forbidden territory. It's basically that unwritten code you don't break—hence Code Violation. 👀 He's spent years hiding how he really feels about her, but when friendship starts turning into something neither of them can ignore, keeping those feelings buried becomes a whole lot harder.
And of course, the fact that his brother isn't exactly a good guy makes everything much more complicated.
There's romance, hockey, forbidden love, family complications and enough drama to keep me wondering what was going to happen next. But underneath everything, there's also a story about healing from the past and finding the courage to go after something you never thought you were allowed to have.
I thought it was a really cute love story with just the right amount of drama and spice. It kept me interested throughout, and even though it didn't completely grab me emotionally, I still really enjoyed my time with it.
Definitely a solid 4-star read, and I would absolutely recommend it! 🏒❤️
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Heat: 🔥🔥
Tears:
📚E-BOOK📚& 🎧AUDIO 🎧
🎧 Raven Hawkins & Tristan Josiah
I was lucky enough to receive both the ARC and ALC of Code Violation, and this was my first time reading Ruth Stilling. I also believe this was my first time listening to Raven Hawkins and Tristan Josiah, so I went into this one completely new to everyone involved!
Let’s start with the audio. This is a dual narration told through multiple POVs, and I thought both narrators did a really good job. The narration flowed nicely and their performances worked well with the story. There were a few moments where I personally wanted a little more emotion, but honestly, that could totally be a me thing. 😂 I'm such a mood reader, and sometimes a book just doesn't hit me emotionally as strongly depending on what mood I'm in.
As for the story itself, I really enjoyed it!
Vesper is his brother's ex-girlfriend, which automatically puts her in forbidden territory. It's basically that unwritten code you don't break—hence Code Violation. 👀 He's spent years hiding how he really feels about her, but when friendship starts turning into something neither of them can ignore, keeping those feelings buried becomes a whole lot harder.
And of course, the fact that his brother isn't exactly a good guy makes everything much more complicated.
There's romance, hockey, forbidden love, family complications and enough drama to keep me wondering what was going to happen next. But underneath everything, there's also a story about healing from the past and finding the courage to go after something you never thought you were allowed to have.
I thought it was a really cute love story with just the right amount of drama and spice. It kept me interested throughout, and even though it didn't completely grab me emotionally, I still really enjoyed my time with it.
Definitely a solid 4-star read, and I would absolutely recommend it! 🏒❤️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this audiobook from Tantor Media, NetGalley, and Ruth Stilling in exchange for my honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
Code Violation is a spicy hockey romance featuring a hockey captain, his brother’s ex-girlfriend, an awful ex, an unexpected pregnancy, and a hero who falls first. If you are looking for an easy listen with plenty of spice and a hockey player who is ready to give the woman he loves everything she deserves, this is one you will want to add to your list.
Silas is the captain of the Seattle Rogues, and he has been in love with Vesper for a long time. The problem is that Vesper is his brother’s girlfriend, even though his brother has never treated her the way she deserves. When their relationship finally ends, Silas is there to help Vesper, especially after his brother shows up at her doorstep and she calls Silas for help.
As Silas and Vesper spend more time together, Silas finally lays his feelings on the line. Their connection is intense from the beginning, but Vesper’s past makes it difficult for her to trust what they could have together.
This is a really good story, told by Raven Hawkins and Tristan Josiah. I enjoyed this tale, and the narrators did a great job bringing the story to life. Their performances helped bring out the tension and chemistry between Silas and Vesper. I did, however, think that when Vesper gained more confidence, that could have shined through a little more in the narration.
While I am giving this four stars, the thing that would have put this over the top for me is more of the characters’ backstory. We hear the same few facts about each character’s past, and I wish those parts had been fleshed out a little more.
But if you are looking for an easy listen with loads of spicy scenes, an unexpected pregnancy, a horrible ex, and a hockey player who falls first, then this is definitely a book you will enjoy.
Code Violation releases on audiobook September 17, 2026, from Tantor Media.
Code Violation is a spicy hockey romance featuring a hockey captain, his brother’s ex-girlfriend, an awful ex, an unexpected pregnancy, and a hero who falls first. If you are looking for an easy listen with plenty of spice and a hockey player who is ready to give the woman he loves everything she deserves, this is one you will want to add to your list.
Silas is the captain of the Seattle Rogues, and he has been in love with Vesper for a long time. The problem is that Vesper is his brother’s girlfriend, even though his brother has never treated her the way she deserves. When their relationship finally ends, Silas is there to help Vesper, especially after his brother shows up at her doorstep and she calls Silas for help.
As Silas and Vesper spend more time together, Silas finally lays his feelings on the line. Their connection is intense from the beginning, but Vesper’s past makes it difficult for her to trust what they could have together.
This is a really good story, told by Raven Hawkins and Tristan Josiah. I enjoyed this tale, and the narrators did a great job bringing the story to life. Their performances helped bring out the tension and chemistry between Silas and Vesper. I did, however, think that when Vesper gained more confidence, that could have shined through a little more in the narration.
While I am giving this four stars, the thing that would have put this over the top for me is more of the characters’ backstory. We hear the same few facts about each character’s past, and I wish those parts had been fleshed out a little more.
But if you are looking for an easy listen with loads of spicy scenes, an unexpected pregnancy, a horrible ex, and a hockey player who falls first, then this is definitely a book you will enjoy.
Code Violation releases on audiobook September 17, 2026, from Tantor Media.
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