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Slapshot Bride
My playbook says never touch a runaway bride.
Too bad I can’t stop thinking about stickhandling her between my sheets.
A bride in full wedding gear yanks open my car door and tells me to drive.
I’m in the middle of the season. Hockey’s golden boy.
I don’t need a gorgeous disaster moving in with me.
But one look at Riley and I decide her problems are mine.
Now she’s barefoot in my kitchen, wearing my t-shirts, and looking at me with big eyes like I hung the damn moon.
I don’t do girlfriends.
But when her toxic ex shows up, I tell that prick she’s mine.
Turns out I’m starting to mean it.
I'm getting addicted to the way she falls apart for me.
One taste of Riley was never going to be enough.
The problem? Her brother is my best friend.
Every rule says she's forbidden.
Too late. My runaway bride is already carrying my MVP.
Sorry, sweetheart.
I was never very good at following the rules.
Slapshot Bride is a steamy standalone romance. Each book in the Slapshot Series can be read independently.
You’ll find a runaway bride in desperate need of a getaway, hockey’s golden boy behind the wheel, and one impulsive rescue that turns into fake dating and a whole lot of steamy encounters neither of them saw coming.
- Hockey romance
- Runaway bride
- Fake dating
- Forced proximity
- Brother’s best friend
- Surprise pregnancy
- Protective hero who falls first
Too bad I can’t stop thinking about stickhandling her between my sheets.
A bride in full wedding gear yanks open my car door and tells me to drive.
I’m in the middle of the season. Hockey’s golden boy.
I don’t need a gorgeous disaster moving in with me.
But one look at Riley and I decide her problems are mine.
Now she’s barefoot in my kitchen, wearing my t-shirts, and looking at me with big eyes like I hung the damn moon.
I don’t do girlfriends.
But when her toxic ex shows up, I tell that prick she’s mine.
Turns out I’m starting to mean it.
I'm getting addicted to the way she falls apart for me.
One taste of Riley was never going to be enough.
The problem? Her brother is my best friend.
Every rule says she's forbidden.
Too late. My runaway bride is already carrying my MVP.
Sorry, sweetheart.
I was never very good at following the rules.
Slapshot Bride is a steamy standalone romance. Each book in the Slapshot Series can be read independently.
You’ll find a runaway bride in desperate need of a getaway, hockey’s golden boy behind the wheel, and one impulsive rescue that turns into fake dating and a whole lot of steamy encounters neither of them saw coming.
- Hockey romance
- Runaway bride
- Fake dating
- Forced proximity
- Brother’s best friend
- Surprise pregnancy
- Protective hero who falls first
- GenresHockey
391 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 21, 2026
About the author
Ellen Young
21 books38 followersEllen Young writes steamy, feel-everything billionaire romances—fast, emotional, and deliciously spicy. Her books deliver razor-sharp banter, explosive chemistry, and powerful men who fall hard for the last woman they expect. Think: fake dating gone very real, secret identities, forced proximity, surprise feelings (and sometimes surprise babies), and swoon-worthy HEAs with penthouse views. If you love big emotions, bigger wallets, and bedside-table-worthy spice, Ellen’s got you covered. (from Amazon.com)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 20, 2026
If you love hockey romance, fake dating, forced proximity and protective heroes, Slapshot Bride is one to add to your TBR!
Riley is supposed to be walking down the aisle… instead, she’s barefoot, still in her wedding gear and yanking open a stranger’s car door, desperate to get away. 😱
Enter hockey’s golden boy, who definitely doesn’t need a gorgeous runaway bride disrupting his carefully ordered life. But one look at Riley and suddenly her problems become his problems.
Before long, she’s living under his roof, wearing his T-shirts and completely under his skin. What starts as an impulsive rescue turns into fake dating, undeniable chemistry and feelings neither of them planned for. ❤️
But there’s one tiny problem…
Riley is his best friend’s sister. 🚨
As her toxic ex refuses to let go, our protective hero makes it very clear that Riley is off-limits. Except somewhere along the way, pretending she’s his becomes something he actually means.
And with a surprise pregnancy thrown into the mix, these two are about to discover that sometimes breaking the rules leads to the best kind of happily-ever-after. 🥰
✨ Hockey romance
✨ Runaway bride
✨ Fake dating
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Brother’s best friend
✨ Surprise pregnancy
✨ Protective hero who falls first
✨ Steamy chemistry
✨ A swoony happily-ever-after
I loved the whole “this is absolutely forbidden… but I’m doing it anyway” energy! The combination of hockey, forced proximity and brother’s-best-friend romance makes this such a fun, spicy and addictive read.
And let’s be honest… a protective hockey hero who falls first? Yes, please! 🏒🔥
Slapshot Bride is a steamy standalone, so you can jump straight in without needing to read the rest of the series.
Perfect for romance readers who like their love stories swoony, spicy and packed with chemistry! 💕🏒
Riley is supposed to be walking down the aisle… instead, she’s barefoot, still in her wedding gear and yanking open a stranger’s car door, desperate to get away. 😱
Enter hockey’s golden boy, who definitely doesn’t need a gorgeous runaway bride disrupting his carefully ordered life. But one look at Riley and suddenly her problems become his problems.
Before long, she’s living under his roof, wearing his T-shirts and completely under his skin. What starts as an impulsive rescue turns into fake dating, undeniable chemistry and feelings neither of them planned for. ❤️
But there’s one tiny problem…
Riley is his best friend’s sister. 🚨
As her toxic ex refuses to let go, our protective hero makes it very clear that Riley is off-limits. Except somewhere along the way, pretending she’s his becomes something he actually means.
And with a surprise pregnancy thrown into the mix, these two are about to discover that sometimes breaking the rules leads to the best kind of happily-ever-after. 🥰
✨ Hockey romance
✨ Runaway bride
✨ Fake dating
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Brother’s best friend
✨ Surprise pregnancy
✨ Protective hero who falls first
✨ Steamy chemistry
✨ A swoony happily-ever-after
I loved the whole “this is absolutely forbidden… but I’m doing it anyway” energy! The combination of hockey, forced proximity and brother’s-best-friend romance makes this such a fun, spicy and addictive read.
And let’s be honest… a protective hockey hero who falls first? Yes, please! 🏒🔥
Slapshot Bride is a steamy standalone, so you can jump straight in without needing to read the rest of the series.
Perfect for romance readers who like their love stories swoony, spicy and packed with chemistry! 💕🏒
August 21, 2026
Easton is driving home an hour after hockey practice ended, and while waiting at a red light, a woman jumps into his passenger seat, in a wedding dress. He’s never seen her before, but he can tell she doesn’t want to talk about why she’s running from her wedding. At least, not quite yet. So he takes her to his home, because he’s a good man and wants to protect her.
Riley has been with her now ex-fiancé for six years. And in that six years, he has been gaslighting her into believing that he knows best, and any attempt at her asserting herself leads to more gaslighting. He’s cheated on her more than once, even with her cousin Riley (that’s weird that there are two Rileys, right?), ON THEIR WEDDING DAY, and it’s the jolt she needs to run. She lands in the car of Easton, a man who sees her distress, doesn’t tell her she’s imagining things, and promises to give her a safe place to land.
The insidiousness of gaslighting is real, and it is damaging in a way that no one can see by looking at a person. That’s the cruelest part — isolating someone until they’re dependent on you and they thank you for taking away their agency.
Cards on the table — I loved this book. I LOVED IT. It deals with very real problems, and though Easton and Riley don’t always tell each other what they’re hiding, they make it through some really hard things and come out together at the end. I truly felt for both of them, wanting them both to just tell the truth. And they do.
This book has a lot of steam, which I really enjoyed. The intimacy between Easton and Riley didn’t feel like one-night stand material, or taking comfort with whomever was closest and willing. I think they fell in love in the first few days while she was hiding at his home, and though they have their temporary breakup, they come back stronger.
The moral of this story is, don’t let anyone else tell you who you are and what you’re capable of. Face your problems, and accept the consequences, then move on. That’s what these two sweethearts do, and I loved reading every word about it. So get the book.
Riley has been with her now ex-fiancé for six years. And in that six years, he has been gaslighting her into believing that he knows best, and any attempt at her asserting herself leads to more gaslighting. He’s cheated on her more than once, even with her cousin Riley (that’s weird that there are two Rileys, right?), ON THEIR WEDDING DAY, and it’s the jolt she needs to run. She lands in the car of Easton, a man who sees her distress, doesn’t tell her she’s imagining things, and promises to give her a safe place to land.
The insidiousness of gaslighting is real, and it is damaging in a way that no one can see by looking at a person. That’s the cruelest part — isolating someone until they’re dependent on you and they thank you for taking away their agency.
Cards on the table — I loved this book. I LOVED IT. It deals with very real problems, and though Easton and Riley don’t always tell each other what they’re hiding, they make it through some really hard things and come out together at the end. I truly felt for both of them, wanting them both to just tell the truth. And they do.
This book has a lot of steam, which I really enjoyed. The intimacy between Easton and Riley didn’t feel like one-night stand material, or taking comfort with whomever was closest and willing. I think they fell in love in the first few days while she was hiding at his home, and though they have their temporary breakup, they come back stronger.
The moral of this story is, don’t let anyone else tell you who you are and what you’re capable of. Face your problems, and accept the consequences, then move on. That’s what these two sweethearts do, and I loved reading every word about it. So get the book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed Slapshot Bride! Riley and Easton’s first meeting her jumping into his car while running away from her wedding was such a chaotic way to start the story, and I loved that Easton didn’t hesitate to help her even though he had absolutely no idea what he was getting himself into.
Easton was definitely my favorite part of this book. He was protective without being overbearing, supportive, patient, and just genuinely good to Riley when she really needed someone in her corner. I loved watching Riley slowly start to figure out what she wanted for herself after being stuck in such a controlling relationship.
I also really liked the connection between Easton and Riley’s brother Mason and the whole brother’s-best-friend element. I do think Mason overstepped but it all works out. Add in the hockey romance, fake dating, forced proximity, and surprise baby and this book had so many of my favorite tropes.
Riley and Easton were perfect together, with great chemistry and spice. I loved watching their relationship go from two strangers in a completely crazy situation to something that actually felt real.
Overall, this was a fun, emotional, easy read with a protective hockey player, a runaway bride, lots of chemistry, and a really satisfying ending. Definitely one I would recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes:
* Hockey romance
* Runaway bride
* Brother’s best friend
* Fake dating
* Friends/roommates to lovers
* Forced proximity
* Surprise baby
* Billionaire romance
* Protective MMC
* Dual POV
Easton was definitely my favorite part of this book. He was protective without being overbearing, supportive, patient, and just genuinely good to Riley when she really needed someone in her corner. I loved watching Riley slowly start to figure out what she wanted for herself after being stuck in such a controlling relationship.
I also really liked the connection between Easton and Riley’s brother Mason and the whole brother’s-best-friend element. I do think Mason overstepped but it all works out. Add in the hockey romance, fake dating, forced proximity, and surprise baby and this book had so many of my favorite tropes.
Riley and Easton were perfect together, with great chemistry and spice. I loved watching their relationship go from two strangers in a completely crazy situation to something that actually felt real.
Overall, this was a fun, emotional, easy read with a protective hockey player, a runaway bride, lots of chemistry, and a really satisfying ending. Definitely one I would recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes:
* Hockey romance
* Runaway bride
* Brother’s best friend
* Fake dating
* Friends/roommates to lovers
* Forced proximity
* Surprise baby
* Billionaire romance
* Protective MMC
* Dual POV
August 22, 2026
Riley is running away from her wedding and the life that her fiance is expecting from her, after 6 years of taking away her freedom and a few infidelities, she has decided to leave it all behind. That is how she ends in Easton's car, and he recognizes her debacle after just a few sentences, then offers unconditional help, understanding, a place to stay, and time to decide her next step.
He feels drawn to Riley, to her strength, her plight, and her need to discover herself again. But they both have a lot to deal with. He has ghosts from his past that can easily destroy his career, and a family history that has taken years to break from. She wants to stay hidden to enjoy silence by choice, her family is blinded by her past, she has no funds, no real identity, and is attracted to Easton even when she should not be feeling anything.
The close proximity, his sweet and caring demeanor, her need to make her decisions leads them to a relationship and passion that feels more like love, and they decide to fake a relationship to give her a chance to slowly enter the world by his side.
Just when you think they are about to make it, the secrets and her past come to visit, and they discover she is his best friend's little sister (half sister). Be ready for an interesting end to this story
Between a found family and hockey team dynamics. a sweet mil, and a character growth that is so earned and heartfelt.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
He feels drawn to Riley, to her strength, her plight, and her need to discover herself again. But they both have a lot to deal with. He has ghosts from his past that can easily destroy his career, and a family history that has taken years to break from. She wants to stay hidden to enjoy silence by choice, her family is blinded by her past, she has no funds, no real identity, and is attracted to Easton even when she should not be feeling anything.
The close proximity, his sweet and caring demeanor, her need to make her decisions leads them to a relationship and passion that feels more like love, and they decide to fake a relationship to give her a chance to slowly enter the world by his side.
Just when you think they are about to make it, the secrets and her past come to visit, and they discover she is his best friend's little sister (half sister). Be ready for an interesting end to this story
Between a found family and hockey team dynamics. a sweet mil, and a character growth that is so earned and heartfelt.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 31, 2026
This book is a winner!
Easton - famous and well loved hockey player is minding his own business when a woman in a wedding gown opens the passenger door of his car and climbs in. What's a man to do? Drive.
Riley knows she should have run a long time ago but she waited until the day of her wedding. Her soon-to-be husband has been emotionally abuse and she didn't know how to end it. He has hold of all her money and had pushed away all her friends. She was totally dependent on him
Easton is so sweet and caring and so protective. He sees before him a woman who needs protecting so he sets her up in his spare room. Little does he know she is his best friend's sister. Easton keeps her hidden away but one day when they open the door, there stands the horrible ex. Again, what is a man to do? Step up and proclaim her as yours. Let the fake relationship start.
They are so good together. Riley can't believe a guy can be so kind to her and not want anything in return and Easton, a confirmed bachelor, is pretty happy but sometimes good things come to an end.
I felt for Riley and her situation. When push comes to shove, she does what she feels is right to protect Easton.
I have loved every book in this series. They are well written with interesting characters who are easy to fall for. Well done.
Easton - famous and well loved hockey player is minding his own business when a woman in a wedding gown opens the passenger door of his car and climbs in. What's a man to do? Drive.
Riley knows she should have run a long time ago but she waited until the day of her wedding. Her soon-to-be husband has been emotionally abuse and she didn't know how to end it. He has hold of all her money and had pushed away all her friends. She was totally dependent on him
Easton is so sweet and caring and so protective. He sees before him a woman who needs protecting so he sets her up in his spare room. Little does he know she is his best friend's sister. Easton keeps her hidden away but one day when they open the door, there stands the horrible ex. Again, what is a man to do? Step up and proclaim her as yours. Let the fake relationship start.
They are so good together. Riley can't believe a guy can be so kind to her and not want anything in return and Easton, a confirmed bachelor, is pretty happy but sometimes good things come to an end.
I felt for Riley and her situation. When push comes to shove, she does what she feels is right to protect Easton.
I have loved every book in this series. They are well written with interesting characters who are easy to fall for. Well done.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the arc 💗
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars, great potential just a few tweaks needed for me 🫶
🥵 Fake dating
🏒 Hockey star
💗 Runaway Bride
🔥 Brothers best friend
🍼 Surprise Pregnancy
I loved the first part of this book! I was hooked by the opening chapters and would love to see some character art of when Riley got into that car 😜
I thought the first section made for a great story.
Great spice 👌 🔥
Decent plot even if we did have quite a lot of tropes stuffed in....
From there i struggled a little sadly, the book felt quite long also. There appeared to be some timing discrepancies and some things just not adding up such as the length of time they had known eachother in the car. She had her phone but the narrative was that she fleed the wedding with nothing? Couple of repetitions too made it a little harder to read. I also refuse to believe that he didnt know what his best friend of many years' sister looked like or her name? Last name even, didn't it click? I also struggled with the fact that the brother hadn't seen the photos on social media of his sister and such a famous hockey star.... just didn't add up for me sorry!
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars, great potential just a few tweaks needed for me 🫶
🥵 Fake dating
🏒 Hockey star
💗 Runaway Bride
🔥 Brothers best friend
🍼 Surprise Pregnancy
I loved the first part of this book! I was hooked by the opening chapters and would love to see some character art of when Riley got into that car 😜
I thought the first section made for a great story.
Great spice 👌 🔥
Decent plot even if we did have quite a lot of tropes stuffed in....
From there i struggled a little sadly, the book felt quite long also. There appeared to be some timing discrepancies and some things just not adding up such as the length of time they had known eachother in the car. She had her phone but the narrative was that she fleed the wedding with nothing? Couple of repetitions too made it a little harder to read. I also refuse to believe that he didnt know what his best friend of many years' sister looked like or her name? Last name even, didn't it click? I also struggled with the fact that the brother hadn't seen the photos on social media of his sister and such a famous hockey star.... just didn't add up for me sorry!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
ARC from Booksprout with my honest review...
If you love Hockey, fake dating, and a forbidden romance with your brother's best friend, then this is the book for you. Easton and Riley are so perfect. The best meet-cute ever...Riley, fleeing her own wedding, gets into a car stopped at a red light that so happens to belong to the hockey player Easton.
Easton and Riley captivate you during their journey to true love...
Easton gives her full access to his home while she is figuring out how to take her life back from her ex. During this time, she slowly starts to feel like herself again, and Easton has a lot to do with that...he is completely different from her ex.
Once her ex shows up where she is staying, the fake dating starts. This brings them even closer, and both of them are hiding from each other that they are falling in love.
There is so much I loved about this book; not only do you get the laughing, the crying, the devastation on her behalf and his, but you get the steamy scenes that make you love Easton more.
★ Hockey romance
★ Runaway bride
★ Fake dating
★ Forced proximity
★ Brother’s best friend
★ Surprise pregnancy
★ Protective hero who falls first
If you love Hockey, fake dating, and a forbidden romance with your brother's best friend, then this is the book for you. Easton and Riley are so perfect. The best meet-cute ever...Riley, fleeing her own wedding, gets into a car stopped at a red light that so happens to belong to the hockey player Easton.
Easton and Riley captivate you during their journey to true love...
Easton gives her full access to his home while she is figuring out how to take her life back from her ex. During this time, she slowly starts to feel like herself again, and Easton has a lot to do with that...he is completely different from her ex.
Once her ex shows up where she is staying, the fake dating starts. This brings them even closer, and both of them are hiding from each other that they are falling in love.
There is so much I loved about this book; not only do you get the laughing, the crying, the devastation on her behalf and his, but you get the steamy scenes that make you love Easton more.
★ Hockey romance
★ Runaway bride
★ Fake dating
★ Forced proximity
★ Brother’s best friend
★ Surprise pregnancy
★ Protective hero who falls first
Review of advance copy received from Author
Slapshot Bride by Ellen Young is a pure chaotic sweetness.
Riley and Easton’s first encounter? Absolutely chaos. She hops into his car at a red light like it’s the most normal Tuesday activity, and instead of freaking out, Easton hears her out and steps up with this steady, quietly heroic energy. It was such a memorable moment you just hope it carries throughout the book and this author delivers!
I love how Easton shows up for Riley, not in a controlling, “let me fix you” way, but in that grounded, protective, deeply respectful way that lets her breathe, explore, and rediscover who she is. He encourages her without pushing. Shields her without smothering. Unconditionally believes in her long before she believes in herself.
Riley’s journey is messy, brave, and beautiful to watch her come out of her shell. Easton doesn’t just fall in love, he helps her rise. Together, they’re magnetic, chaotic, sweet, and impossible not to root for.
Riley and Easton’s first encounter? Absolutely chaos. She hops into his car at a red light like it’s the most normal Tuesday activity, and instead of freaking out, Easton hears her out and steps up with this steady, quietly heroic energy. It was such a memorable moment you just hope it carries throughout the book and this author delivers!
I love how Easton shows up for Riley, not in a controlling, “let me fix you” way, but in that grounded, protective, deeply respectful way that lets her breathe, explore, and rediscover who she is. He encourages her without pushing. Shields her without smothering. Unconditionally believes in her long before she believes in herself.
Riley’s journey is messy, brave, and beautiful to watch her come out of her shell. Easton doesn’t just fall in love, he helps her rise. Together, they’re magnetic, chaotic, sweet, and impossible not to root for.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this book!! I was immediately hooked..... from Riley being a runaway bride... who is trapped by a manipulative ex who cheated on her, but still thinks he has all the power (ugh!) to a swoonworthy MMC hero who just happens to be there & willing to give her a ride, a home... and be there for her...
I love the characters. I love that Riley has her brother Mason... (but how do none of them recognize the connection between Mason & Easton??) and Easton.... and you really feel for Easton, with what's going on with him. But I love how their story played out & the ending.
The book is told in a dual 1st person POV.
Spice level: 3/5
*hockey romance
*runaway bride
*her ex cheated on her on the day of their wedding
*he's her brother's best friend
*she loves photography
*fake dating
*surprise baby
*friends/roommates to lovers
*sports romance
*billionaire romance
Thank you to the author (Ellen Young) & Booksprout for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
I love the characters. I love that Riley has her brother Mason... (but how do none of them recognize the connection between Mason & Easton??) and Easton.... and you really feel for Easton, with what's going on with him. But I love how their story played out & the ending.
The book is told in a dual 1st person POV.
Spice level: 3/5
*hockey romance
*runaway bride
*her ex cheated on her on the day of their wedding
*he's her brother's best friend
*she loves photography
*fake dating
*surprise baby
*friends/roommates to lovers
*sports romance
*billionaire romance
Thank you to the author (Ellen Young) & Booksprout for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
Fate Can Play Some Funny Games
A lovely rom com where the runaway bride goes from fake girlfriend to beloved wife. With all the shenanigans in between. An awful ex-fiancé, who orchestrated Riley’s life more and more in the last six years, until there was nothing personal left. Who looks to everybody like mr. Perfect and doesn’t want to let her go. Fate puts her in the car driven by Easton, a hockey professional, who realizes very quickly that Riley was in the same situation as his mother with his father and decides that he will take care of her until everything is solved.
Next to all the psychological problems that have to be dealt with, there are a lot of hockey scenes and also other relatable characters. Enjoyed the hours I spent with this story.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A lovely rom com where the runaway bride goes from fake girlfriend to beloved wife. With all the shenanigans in between. An awful ex-fiancé, who orchestrated Riley’s life more and more in the last six years, until there was nothing personal left. Who looks to everybody like mr. Perfect and doesn’t want to let her go. Fate puts her in the car driven by Easton, a hockey professional, who realizes very quickly that Riley was in the same situation as his mother with his father and decides that he will take care of her until everything is solved.
Next to all the psychological problems that have to be dealt with, there are a lot of hockey scenes and also other relatable characters. Enjoyed the hours I spent with this story.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 22, 2026
What you can expect to find in this book:
* Hockey romance
* Runaway bride
* Fake dating
*Isolated Forced proximity
*Protective MMC who falls head over heels first
* FMC who finds strength in herself
*Steamy chemistry
*A happily-ever-after
This was easily a 5 ⭐️ read for me. I enjoyed how quickly the author dove into the action. The story flowed well and moved at a good pace.
Easton is a truly swoon worthy MMC. The way he patiently unravels all the constraints the jerk of an ex placed on Riley is perfection
Riley is a wonderful example of what a FMC can do with the right support system and finding herself again.
The chemistry is off the charts for these two.
I throughly enjoyed reading this book and recommend it for all of us hockey girls that love a fake dating ship.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
* Hockey romance
* Runaway bride
* Fake dating
*Isolated Forced proximity
*Protective MMC who falls head over heels first
* FMC who finds strength in herself
*Steamy chemistry
*A happily-ever-after
This was easily a 5 ⭐️ read for me. I enjoyed how quickly the author dove into the action. The story flowed well and moved at a good pace.
Easton is a truly swoon worthy MMC. The way he patiently unravels all the constraints the jerk of an ex placed on Riley is perfection
Riley is a wonderful example of what a FMC can do with the right support system and finding herself again.
The chemistry is off the charts for these two.
I throughly enjoyed reading this book and recommend it for all of us hockey girls that love a fake dating ship.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 22, 2026
Young knows her hockey romance! Readers will not be disappointed with this one.
Riley is running from the alter. Her fiancé Preston is manipulative, controlling, and a cheater.He is not who everyone thinks he is and definitely not the man she wants to be with. On a whim she jumps into the first car she can.
Easton is surprised when a woman in a wedding gown and one shoe climbs into his car at a stop light. But something draws him to her. Clearly she is in some sort of trouble if she is running and getting in a strange car. It doesn't take long for him to see who she really is and why she needed to run.
They have along road to travel, with numerous detours, but finding their way to forever is the only thing important to them.
I received a copy of this book and I am leaving my honest review.
Riley is running from the alter. Her fiancé Preston is manipulative, controlling, and a cheater.He is not who everyone thinks he is and definitely not the man she wants to be with. On a whim she jumps into the first car she can.
Easton is surprised when a woman in a wedding gown and one shoe climbs into his car at a stop light. But something draws him to her. Clearly she is in some sort of trouble if she is running and getting in a strange car. It doesn't take long for him to see who she really is and why she needed to run.
They have along road to travel, with numerous detours, but finding their way to forever is the only thing important to them.
I received a copy of this book and I am leaving my honest review.
August 22, 2026
Few men have the thrill of having a run-away bride jump in your car at a red light. But that's what happened to Easton, so now what does he do. He decides to help her out but he also has his own problems to deal with. When both problems come to light Easton's whole career is on the line.
Easton and Riley are both well written characters. Both decided that in order to have a better and happier future they were going to have to stand up against the people trying to bring them down. They both had to figure out that sometimes the hardest thing to do is also the best thing.
Even though this is a sports story it focuses more of the relationships of team and families.
Loved this book and highly recommend.
I was honored to read an early copy and this is my honest opinion.
Easton and Riley are both well written characters. Both decided that in order to have a better and happier future they were going to have to stand up against the people trying to bring them down. They both had to figure out that sometimes the hardest thing to do is also the best thing.
Even though this is a sports story it focuses more of the relationships of team and families.
Loved this book and highly recommend.
I was honored to read an early copy and this is my honest opinion.
August 23, 2026
SO GOOD!!
If you love a runaway bride and a professional hockey god, you’re going to adore this one.
Ellen Young delivers another amazing read.
On Riley’s wedding day, she runs — literally — and crashes into a stranger’s car at a red light. Panicked, she begs him to just drive. Easton, unsure what else to do but feeling protective, brings her to his home to keep her safe.
Easton is a hockey legend carrying a disastrous past he’s been trying to shoulder alone. Riley is escaping a controlling, gaslighting fiancé and choosing herself for the first time. Meeting Easton is exactly what she needed.
He’s protective, thoughtful, and quietly caring — and the chemistry between them is off the charts.
I highly recommend this one. You will not be disappointed.
If you love a runaway bride and a professional hockey god, you’re going to adore this one.
Ellen Young delivers another amazing read.
On Riley’s wedding day, she runs — literally — and crashes into a stranger’s car at a red light. Panicked, she begs him to just drive. Easton, unsure what else to do but feeling protective, brings her to his home to keep her safe.
Easton is a hockey legend carrying a disastrous past he’s been trying to shoulder alone. Riley is escaping a controlling, gaslighting fiancé and choosing herself for the first time. Meeting Easton is exactly what she needed.
He’s protective, thoughtful, and quietly caring — and the chemistry between them is off the charts.
I highly recommend this one. You will not be disappointed.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Loved the initial meeting of Easton and Riley and it just got better from there. I enjoyed how their relationship started out as fake, but it became real for both of them. Unfortunately, there were several obstacles that got in the way of their happiness, and each made decisions based upon trying not to hurt the other. I'm glad that they worked out their issues.
Some of my favorite scenes:
🎤Easton catches Riley singing in the kitchen
🚿Easton and Riley in the bathroom
👧🏼Emma becomes a dead weight in Riley's arms when her father shows up
🏒Easton's heart-to-heart talk with Mason
😈Riley's father confronts her ex publicly
😪Mason's heart-to-heart talk with Riley
🤌🏼The ending💋
Some of my favorite scenes:
🎤Easton catches Riley singing in the kitchen
🚿Easton and Riley in the bathroom
👧🏼Emma becomes a dead weight in Riley's arms when her father shows up
🏒Easton's heart-to-heart talk with Mason
😈Riley's father confronts her ex publicly
😪Mason's heart-to-heart talk with Riley
🤌🏼The ending💋
August 27, 2026
I could not put this book down! It drew me in from the first word to the last word! This is my first book by Ellen Young and what a book!
It is based on Easton, an ice hockey player and playboy who has this random woman jump into his car at the traffic lights, in her wedding dress and tells him to drive! That random woman is Riley who has just left her wedding due to her fiancee cheating.
There is something about Riley that interests Easton who decides to take Riley back to his home.
The storyline kicks in here with a lot of emotions, spice, twists and turns. I won't tell you what happens but you need to read this book!
I am off to read Ellen's other books now 😀
It is based on Easton, an ice hockey player and playboy who has this random woman jump into his car at the traffic lights, in her wedding dress and tells him to drive! That random woman is Riley who has just left her wedding due to her fiancee cheating.
There is something about Riley that interests Easton who decides to take Riley back to his home.
The storyline kicks in here with a lot of emotions, spice, twists and turns. I won't tell you what happens but you need to read this book!
I am off to read Ellen's other books now 😀
Review of advance copy
Oh man, I can only imagine Easton's face when Riley comes crashing into his car. First, when Easton just drove, he won me over a bit—but when he was texting his mom, I fell hard. I love their dynamic; he gives her the space she needs and they just fit into each other's worlds. The moment she realized who she was sharing a house with was hilarious, but when he caught her in the shower, whew, that was next-level! Hands down one of the best hockey romances I've read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 19, 2026
This book far exceeded any expectations… page after page of interaction with these characters who I grew to adore. They are bold, full of passion and grit with the most perfect story. This book is a reminder that love doesn’t have to make sense to anyone. It just has to make sense to you. Love is allowed to be messy and wild as long as you show up authentically within it. This book made my heart so happy. Beautiful story and well worth the read if you are looking to escape the real world for a while!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
From the moment that Riley got in Easton's car in her wedding dress it was a great book. They had chemistry from the beginning and how he wanted to take care of her and protective showed how much he cared. They had their ups and downs through the book but that is how a relationship goes but it needs to make sure it has the trust too which they came to, it just took a little longer to get there. I can't wait for the next one.
Review of advance copy
I enjoyed everything about this story. The growth of both Riley and Easton was great to “watch”.
I was very happy to see mental health, as well as mental and emotional abuse, being represented in a book. This is such an important topic and often hard to identify. Great job shedding some light on the subject Ellen!
I’m usually more of a slow burn girl, but the progression of their love story kept me hooked right from the first page. I would 100% recommend this book!
I was very happy to see mental health, as well as mental and emotional abuse, being represented in a book. This is such an important topic and often hard to identify. Great job shedding some light on the subject Ellen!
I’m usually more of a slow burn girl, but the progression of their love story kept me hooked right from the first page. I would 100% recommend this book!
August 22, 2026
Loved Easton and Riley. It was so funny watching him navigate her when she jumped in his car in her wedding dress and told him to drive. And then she seemed to be awfully comfortable in his home. For as much as he said he didn’t do relationships, she had him rethinking that one fast. It didn’t take long for him to fall for her. Even after finding out she was his friends sister. This was a really great read and I enjoyed it from beginning to end.
Review of advance copy
Loved this one a lot. Loved the runaway bride right from the start. Loved Easton and how he was so protective and supportive from the first moment. The spice, hockey, family, bad moments and much more made this a great read and had me on my toes the entire time wondering what’s to come. Loved how her family protected her in the end. Ending was amazing
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was one of those half and half books for me. I loved part and didn’t really care for the other part (I’ve had two narcissists in my life). I got really mad that Easton didn’t tell Riley about the blackmail. With all his sweethearts, love and my loves I just kept waiting for him to tell her the truth. Did I see the shocker coming, yes I did. Well written with good steam. Great HEA.
August 25, 2026
I’m a big fan of hockey romances & Ellen Young’s stories, so this was an easy pick for me. Add in the runaway bride angle & brother’s best friend and you have the making of a great book. Easton & Riley are fun characters who go thru some challenges to get to their HEA. They took a little longer than I would have liked to get there, but I still really enjoyed this one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Really enjoyed reading this book. LOL the thought of some stranger, and a bride at that, just jumping in your car... if you love fake dating, hockey star, runaway bride, brother's best friend, and surprise pregnancy, you'll enjoy this
Review of advance copy
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I liked Riley's growth and how Easton was there to support her after their first unusual meeting. I'm glad they fall in love.
Review of advance copy received from Author
**ARC Read**
This book was so good!! The author took a trope that’s used a lot and put a spin on it that I really enjoyed. Easton and Riley were so cute together. Honestly it was so good and I don’t want to give anything away. If you love romance and hockey in the same book then just read this one. 📚
This book was so good!! The author took a trope that’s used a lot and put a spin on it that I really enjoyed. Easton and Riley were so cute together. Honestly it was so good and I don’t want to give anything away. If you love romance and hockey in the same book then just read this one. 📚
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5⭐️'s
This story had me hooked in the beginning but fell off somewhere in the middle for me. I'm not a super fan of the "surprise pregnancy" trope but it didn't bother me too much. The ending was cute. I've always been a sucker for a hockey romance.
This story had me hooked in the beginning but fell off somewhere in the middle for me. I'm not a super fan of the "surprise pregnancy" trope but it didn't bother me too much. The ending was cute. I've always been a sucker for a hockey romance.
August 21, 2026
I devoured this book; stayed up half the night to finish it. This is the best book I've read by Ellen. The things that Riley went through are something I know about. Anyone who's been through this wishes they had an Easton.
August 22, 2026
Ellen never misses with a hockey romance!! Easton was one of my favorite MMCs she has ever written! A random bride hops in his car at a stoplight....ok sounds good....let's take care of her! There was also a little suspense thrown in there as well!
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