Hearts and Goals

Original Six Hockey #4

by Carolyn Miller

He’s a goalie with a big heart, while she’s afraid to trust again.

After a series of tragedies, Maggie Joly’s dreams have been confined to her work at Montreal’s botanic gardens and caring for her little boy. Besides, wishing for more would simply be selfish, especially when she’s already loved well. But when a surprising workplace encounter sees her in the arms of a handsome sweet-talking stranger, she’s soon forced to reassess whether romance might still be in her future after all.


Working in this fairytale-like city is a dream come true for Beau Nash, Montreal’s new goalie. And while he’s excited to explore all his new city offers, he hadn’t counted on meeting a striking brunette with heart-melting eyes, or so quickly bonding with her and her son, even thought Maggie’s faith is a little tenuous, and shadows from the past mean she might never really be ready to love again.
An incident at the Gardens forces Beau to choose between his dream job and the woman of his dreams, while an accident on the ice invites Maggie’s deepest fears. Perhaps a Pumpkin Ball might help convince them to believe in happily-ever-afters once again.

Genres: Sports, Contemporary, Christian Romance, Christian, Fiction, Romance

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 22, 2022

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of romance, Carolyn loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her bestselling, award-winning Regency and contemporary novels are stories that offer hope, heart, and a twist of Aussie humour. Connect with her at www.carolynmillerauthor.com where you can find our more about her books, and sign up for her newsletter to be the first to know her book news.

Reviews

[Holly Bleggi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book by Carolyn Miller. I love her Regency novels so it was fun to read a contemporary and realize that she is good at writing both. I liked the story. I liked that Beau was such a nice guy and helped Maggie as she came to know God and he was there as she stepped outside of herself to make new friends. I loved the romance and that it took some time for them to have a romantic relationship. I liked that they had to become good friends first.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

[Becky of Becky's Bookshelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hearts and Goals by Carolyn Miller is book number four in her Original Six Hockey Romance Series. The book is a part of a series, but definitely a stand alone novel. Beau is a hockey goalie who has just been traded to Montreal Canadiens, and Maggie is a widowed single mom who works at Montreal’s Botanical Garden.

I greatly enjoyed both main characters. Maggie’s back story drew me in and I loved connecting with her. Beau is everything a hero should be. I must admit his long hair was super cool and added to his charms. Engaging secondary characters added to the story, and I wanted to hang out with Beau's sister Olivia! The setting of Montreal, Canada was intriguing and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the city.

I have been anxiously awaiting Beau’s story, and I I was not disappointed! For me this is a story about not letting your past dictate your future, reaching out in your community, and enjoying each day you have. I highly recommend Hearts and Goals by Carolyn Miller.

I was given a complimentary copy and not required to write a review.

[Leann Arave · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful heartwarming story. This is book 4 in this series and the first one I have read. It can be read as a standalone, but I liked it so much I would like to go back and read the other books in the series. I really loved the plot of the story. Single mom Maggie is trying to focus on doing her job, raising her son and staying invisible. When she is trying to capture the perfect shot, and climbs a tree, and gets her photo. She then realizes she hadn’t thought of the safest route down. Beau is in the right place at the right time. From then on they just seem destined to run into each other. Beau is the new goalie for the Montreal hockey team and adjusting to an new town, a new language and getting to know people. These two “opposites attract” are the least likely to fall for each other. Beau is kind, loving, gentle (even being a hulk of a man) and has a beautiful relationship with God. Maggie has struggles since her husband passed away suddenly, not knowing if God even exists. This beautiful story beings them together, through love, compassion and faith. Trials and doubt arise, will they be able to find their sweet happily ever after. Readers of sweet clean Christian romance should defiantly read this one!!

[JaneReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beau is new to Montreal and while discovering the city he meets Maggie in a couple separate incidences. They strike up a tentative friendship and slowly get to know one another. Beau is a strong Christian and we don't know where Maggie stands. She is a single mother living with her mom and 5 year old son after the passing of her husband and her father. We see Maggie discover God and learn to open herself up to others. As this is set in Montreal there were little inserts of French that threw me off each time I came across them, however it wasn't because I didn't know what was being said as that is explained, it was more because it was a different language. There is a strong faith message presented, especially about the importance of a persons relationship with God being an individual desire not because of a relationship with another person. Beau had a wonderful relationship with his mother where he felt comfortable to talk about everything. She was supportive, provided bits of wisdom and also teased him. She was probably my favourite character. Some of the feelings expressed throughout did feel a bit rushed, but the ending slowed things down and allowed time to see what would happen next. I expect to see more of these characters in future books.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Original Six Hockey series is such a fun series, packed with sweet yet swoony romances, with each book having a realistic faith thread. Hearts and Goals is a good addition to the series, which can be enjoyed even if you haven’t read the previous books in the series.

I enjoyed Beau and Maggie’s story. Beau was such a nice guy. A solid Christian who genuinely cared for Maggie and her son, Noah.

Maggie had some serious issues to overcome in this book, including grief and fear, as well as some things that happened which unfairly put her into an unfortunate spotlight. She had quite the spiritual journey as she learned what true faith in Christ meant.

I really enjoyed when Beau and Maggie’s friendship turned to more. They made a great match.

You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...

[Keren Herrera-Lyles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first story I read in this series but truly a sweet one none the less. Is the story of a single mom Maggie who works at the Botanical gardens in Montreal. Beau is the big sport guy in hockey but that hasn't gone to his head. Characters down to earth.

Maggie finds herself wondering if love can be in her future again. I enjoy how despite every situation that comes towards them, makes them come together and stronger. Is always great to see how God's love and message is perfectly blended into a story. And how the characters overcome situations because their faith gets stronger. You feel connected to this characters.

Received an complimentary ARC for my own personal thoughts.

[Paty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book of Ms. Miller contemporary romances and I loved it! I’m a big fan of her historical romances, and I wanted to try her contemporary too! I’m sorry I started a bit late, though. Even though this book can be read perfectly as a stand-alone, now I want to read the previous books in the series, to know the full story of all the hockey community. I was amazed how well developed the characters in this story are! Even some of the side characters, I want to know more of them!
Maggie Joly is a widow with a five-year-old adorable son named Noah. She doesn’t have much of a social life and still struggles with her grief sometimes. Her life is dedicated to a job she loves in Montreal’s Botanical Gardens, and her son and her mom. But a cute-meet with a famous NHL Goalie from the US, when she lands from a tree and injures her foot, will make her question if her heart is ready to love someone else. But surely a famous star like Beau Nash would never fall for an ordinary girl like her, plus her son!
Beau is new to Montreal, has still to learn a new language, know a new city and culture, get to befriend his new teammates, when he unexpectedly meets Maggie falling from the tree. Two casual encounters later, where he meets her adorable son, and discovers she’s single, he’s completely intrigued by the woman who doesn’t seem befuddled by his prestige or wealth. Even if Beau has never been arrogant or snobbish, he is accustomed to the attention, especially from women. He wants a solid woman with whom he can share his faith, but Maggie doesn’t seem as interested in something more, and he’s not sure where her faith stands. But something keeps him thinking about her and wanting to spend time with her. Will this opposites-attract match have a chance at true love?
I totally loved the story! First, the characters, which felt genuine and relatable. Maggie’s vulnerability, her insecurity in some aspects, yet her firmness in defending what is right, her love for her son, she was so endearing! I was rooting for her to win Beau’s heart and to let herself be wooed by this wonderful hero. For he was a wonderful hero: selfless, thinking of others, witty, gentle, and with a strong faith. He didn’t let the spotlight inflate him. He was truly genuine and didn’t crave to be the center of attention. I loved the way they gradually fall in love, how he was very respectful and didn’t push her. The romance was sweet, clean and tender. The way I like it! They both had obstacles in their romance and in their lives, and that made the plot of the story more engaging. I also liked that the hockey part, of which I unfortunately know little about, wasn’t the main focus, and while I learned more about it, it didn’t feel like something that totally surpassed me.
The faith thread was inspiring, and I loved the way Beau helps Maggie discover how much God loves her.
The descriptions of Montreal made want to visit and know this important and beautiful city. All in all, a great romance. Highly recommended!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but wasn’t required to post a positive review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Brittany Searfoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the fourth in the Original Six hockey series and can be read alone, but is best read after the first three books for context and characters.

Maggie Joly has a job she loves at the Botanical Gardens in Montreal, as well as a sweet son named Noah. She has a pretty busy and isolated life, until she falls out of a tree at work right in front of Beau Nash, the newest member of Montreal's hockey team. Beau is intrigued by Maggie, and he soon finds every opportunity he can to spend time with her and Noah. When Maggie and Beau begin to fall for each other, several obstacles arise that they must fight through. Will their faith and love be enough to keep them together?

I enjoyed this book just as much as the previous three in the series. The realistic characters and situations were easy to sympathize with and envision. The romance was sweet and clean, and the characters' faith featured prominently. I was encouraged by the emphasis on faith and trust in God throughout the book. Maggie's realization of God's love for her brought tears to my eyes. The characters' witty conversations and care for each other were fun and beautiful. I can recommend this book as a good inspirational romance. I am looking forward to the next installment in this series.

I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet love story that continues the Original Six Hockey series by Carolyn Miller. The setting of Montreal with the Gardens and all the French woven throughout was delightful! I enjoyed Maggie as a young widow and single mom, doing her best to make it on her own. I loved the way Beau pursued her (and Noah). I also loved how family plays such a big part in both Maggie and Noah’s lives. It was particularly very sweet to see Beau’s family there for Maggie during such a significant event and his mom’s wise advice in the afterglow of it all. It was touching to see Maggie grow in her faith and her boldness to reach out to others in her community. Topics of fear, medical trauma, trust, faith, and being bold are common themes throughout. Carolyn Miller does not shy away from real life issues while infusing them with the Gospel. One of my favorite things in this series is the online Bible study with the hockey players and the way the group of men rally around each other throughout each of the books. You will walk away blessed as a result of reading this book. I received a complimentary copy from the author and all opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the love story of Maggie Joly and Beau Nash. Maggie is a single mom who is shy of taking a chance on loving again. She is busy taking care of her little boy and knows nothing about hockey. I found it to be ironic and delightful that Beau who is interested in pursuing a relationship with her is the most talked about member of the city’s hockey team.

As Maggie and Beau get to know each other better, we see that Beau is a wonderful, caring man who will stop at nothing to protect Maggie. He is a humble man who does’t let hockey stardom change who he is and uses it for good instead. Maggie is my kind of lady because she deeply cares for her son and is a bit hesitant to take risks, but is willing to do so because she cares.

This is part of a series and can be read as a standalone, but reading the other books gives you more details of the back stories of other characters mentioned in the book. If you like sweet romances or second chance stories, you will enjoy reading this.

I was given a copy of this book and was not required to write a review. All opinions are my own.

[Jimnlori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hearts and Goals by Carolyn Miller is the fourth book in the Original Six Hockey series and a must read if you love inspirational contemporary romances that revolve around hockey.
Maggie Joly is busy raising her son and working at her job in Montreal's botanic garden when she has a very unexpected chance encounter with Beau Nash, Montreal's new goalie.
Beau is very interested in this lovely reserved lady, but he is finding winning her over extremely difficult because her past has left her a little wary. Spending time with each other may open them up to not only trusting in each other, but in God too.
I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more books by Carolyn Miller in the future.

I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.

[MJSH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been eyeing this series for some time now and when I discovered this fourth book of the series at my local library, I borrowed it and gobbled it up in two days. So much fun! Though it’s number four in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. Maggie and Beau’s sweet tender romance is sigh-worthy and swoony. Maggie’s beautiful spirit and tender heart pair perfect with Beau’s loving spirit and selfless heart. Maggie’s’ faith journey is moving and I really enjoyed how the author incorporated faith into this lovely romance book with plenty of hockey action. I learned quite a bit about hockey and botanical gardens and Montreal. I can’t wait to read the other books in the series and plan a trip to visit the charming city!

[Kaye Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carolyn Miller keeps on turning out these beautifully written, tender hearted books! I loved the wary Maggie and open hearted Beau in this story, and to see how Maggie allowed herself to open up her heart to Beau and experience the love of Jesus too is a real testament to the skill of this author.
There was humour and brilliant bantering conversations, heart stopping romance, as well as exciting descriptions (and sometimes dangerous passages of play) of hockey games. Well worth the late night/early morning read!
Thank you for the ARC and the opportunity to post my personal thoughts on this book

[Patricia Kiyono · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms Miller is a new-to-me author, and I’m not particularly into sports, but in this book I discovered a well-written story about a young widow whose experienced sorrow and whose world has been limited due to fear of opening herself up to more hurt. Maggie works in the botanical gardens in Montreal, and Beau is the new goalie. When he visits the gardens with a friend, he’s immediately smitten, but wants to be sure she’s a match spiritually. I enjoyed Beau’s interactions with his teammates as well as his family - he seems almost too good to be true!

[Judie Strachan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better every book

I think this might be my favourite. So far.....
It may help that I've been a francophile for most of my life, but I loved Maggie. And the huge growth she made through the book. I even got into the hockey more than before! (Sorry, Carolyn, I don't like violent sports. )
I can REALLY understand why Michael J Fox moved to acting!
I think Beau might be my favourite hero, too. I liked him in the other books, to, when he was in the background.
Such a good mix of sport, faith & the wonderful Jardin.

[Denise Boldt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hearts and Goals is the heart warming fourth romantic story in the Original Six Hockey Romance series. Maggie and Beau make great leading characters for a beautiful read with extra depth. Miller has skilfully written a storyline that keeps you guessing and cheering for movement forward in their lives, their relationships with God and with each other. Hearts and Goals is filled with descriptions of characters and moments, which also brings about expert character development and great romance in their relationship.

[R.j. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, man. I thought I loved book 2. But this one is making me question that choice. I loved Beau. And now I feel like I need a trip to Montreal.
The author is amazing at making me feel like I could meet these characters in real life. Not only are her descriptions of locations amazing, but her character development is amazing. I even care about the secondary characters!

[Suzette Lawes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Hit

The characters were believable as well as the situations. Maggie was shy but a spitfire when you got her riled. The dangers of hockey playing is showcased but all in all Beau was a gentle giant who loved children like Noah and Jacques. Was worth the read and would definitely recommend.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the location for this book and the descriptions that reminded me of the year I lived in Quebec. As I read this book, I got more caught up in the on ice scenes than the previous books; something about seeing the game through the eyes of the goalie truly captivated me.

[Donna Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this beautiful story! Laugh out loud moments and tears too. This story has it all. Think I may have even improved my French a little or should I say, un peu! My favourite book in the series so far, even though I enjoyed them all. I’ve never watched an ice hockey game, looked way too brutal a game to me, but I’ll have to check one out! Thank you Carolyn for a lovely few days as I immersed myself into Beau and Maggie’s world.⛸🥅📚❤️🙏🏻👏🌸🎄

[Kristina Cordova · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have absolutely enjoyed every book in this series. This was the perfect autumn read to enjoy. I always love how she adds faith and real life into her characters. Can't wait to read her next book! At this rate, I'll read anything she writes!

[Amanda Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty Good

I have slightly mixed feelings about this one. I liked it better than 3 but not as much as one and two. I did like that it didn’t give you a fake ending halfway through. It ended well.

[Mia2Four · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve really enjoyed these Christian romances taking place in the hockey community. The characters are interesting and the biblical perspective is excellent.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hearts and Goals is another great book in Carolyn Miller's Original Six Hockey series! I didn't want to put it down. I love a good single mom story so this book was right up my alley. And talk about a "meet-cute" - this book has it! Beau is a swooooony hero. Beau's mom is such a heartwarming asset to the story. And I loved Maggie's salvation scene.

If you like Christian contemporary romance, you won't want to miss this book. It's book four in the series but can be read as a stand alone.