Shootout

Ridder U Hockey #.75

by Lynn Stevens

She’s ready to put it all on the line…

Josie spent the last four years watching her best friend Evan bag puck bunnies. Sure, she judged him for it but never cared. Until now. After her ex pointed out that she runs to Evan in her darkest hours, and sometimes even her brightest, she realizes the truth: she’s in love with her best friend. And she can’t watch him score through another girl’s five-hole any longer. Not when she wants in the game.

He doesn't even see it coming…

Evan’s first thought as soon as the game ends is finding Josie. Since they met, they’ve dissected his performance on the ice. He relies on her more than his coach. More than he relies on anyone else really. So when he finds Josie after winning the big game, he’s elated to celebrate their victory… until her confession checks him headfirst into the boards.

Can Evan handle Josie’s affection or will he walk away and lose it all?

Genres: Sports Romance, Sports, Friends To Lovers, Romance, Contemporary, Hockey Romance, Novella

64 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2022

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐

Featuring ~ dual POV, college, friends to lovers, minimal steamage

Josie and Evan have been BFF's for years and have always been there for each other.
Evan is totally blindsided after a game one night when Josie finally gets the nerve to tell him she's in love with him. Will he get his head out of his a*s and realize what he needs has always been right there ~ cheering him on the whole time?

This was a sweet, super quick friends to lovers read with a dash of hockey action.

*Thanks to the author and Booksprout for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving a honest review*

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[Yas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, friends-to-lovers novella with that dash of unrequited love I go nuts for.
I liked it but had to cringe at some of the dialogue.

⭐︎☆★☆⭐︎

🗂Genre: Contemporary Romance
📕Type: Novella

🏷Tropes:
- Hockey Player
- College
- Friends to Lovers
- Unrequited Love (FMC)
- Oblivious MMC

🌶️Spice: high heat (explicit, plot < spice)

⚠️Safety: no cheating, slight owd (ow kisses H in front of h before they got together), H rejects h at first

📖Format: 3rd person, dual POV

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by Lynn Stevens. This novella was such a good read. Gives you all the emotions. Very relatable what Josie is feeling.

Josie and Evan are best friends. They do everything together. He plays Hockey and she’s right there at every game and afterwards gives him pointers and critiques in the game. But Josie is hiding a secret from him. One that could tear their friendship apart.

Evan hasn’t had a relationship since his ex Lorraine 2 years ago. But being a hot hickey player, he gets his fair share of women. After a win and qualifying for finals, Josie tells Evan she’s in love with him and kisses him. He kisses back, but then says no. Devastated, Josie walks away heartbroken. Josie’s friend Amber is trying to console her and their friend Michael is telling Evan that Evan is in love with her too. He finally realizes it. But is it too late?

Such a great novella, Josie was vulnerable but did what she had to do. I loved the ending. Can’t wait to read more by Lynn Stevens.

[Dee Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, hot, friends to lovers University read. Josie and Evan are best friends and she’s known she loves him for years but he’s “just friends”. She finally confesses her love only for him to turn her down. With some advice from his teammate and after a little reflection Evan realises that what he feels is more than friendship too but now he has to convince the best girl in the world, the one whose heart he just broke, that he’s all in too. Steamy and sweet, with an adventurous romp and a HEA that promises a bright future.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Orazi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a young adult friends to lovers romance.

Josie and Evan have been best friends since they met at Ridder University. Evan plays hockey and has his choice of puck bunnies. After the last regular season game Josie tells Evan how she feels about him. He initially rejects her not handling the news well. After talking to his buddy he realizes his feelings. Later that evening he goes to her apartment to confront her and clear up their misunderstanding. They hook up and get their HEA.. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Harriet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Josie is in love with her best friend Evan, a hockey player at the uni they both attend. They spend a lot of time together but Josie is the opposite of the girls he goes for. Another puck bunny throwing themselves at Evan is the final straw and she tells him how she feels. It doesn't go to plan.

This short is great, descriptive hockey games, well rounded characters, hot and steamy sex and a satisfactory ending that doesn't fall into the insta love trope.

A good fun time . I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[KL Cassanello · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book several months ago as part of a sports anthology. Ms. Stevens is fast becoming a go-to author for sports romances. JoJo and Evan are best friends. Just friends. They're not each others' types. Or are they? A slow burn, an unexpected confession, a misunderstanding... all nearly derail this friends to lovers couple. Communication is the key to getting them back on track in this steamy little hockey romance. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Love2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short, sexy story about a girl in love with her best friend. She finally tells him and things do not go as she had hoped. What follows is perfection. Enjoy!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[TELA666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short, fast paced friends to lovers story with a curvy girl and a hockey player who was blindsided by her admission.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hockey player Evan knows his BFF Josie will be there at every game and help critique it afterwards, but at the end of the season, she lets it out that she is in love with him. It is out of left field for him and he says no. The characters are heartwarming with great backstories and support. The storyline has drama, a slight hickup in feelings, great banter, surprises, and steam. The ending fit perfectly.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Josie has been in love with her hockey player best friend Evan for ages. It wasn’t really explained how & when it happened but she just is. He’s a bit of a player and not just in the sport’s sense. But soon Josie can’t take it anymore and tells him how she feels. After the shock Evan suddenly realises he feels the same and that’s it. This short read started off promisingly but then descended into nonsense. It was like a book of two halves. The second half being a glorified shag-fest cos that’s all they do. I can understand the need for some of it but I really don’t think it was needed and felt like lazy writing.

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josie and Evan are friends but she wants them to be more. He is popular with the puck bunnies and she can't watch that sort of thing anymore. They are about to graduate and may drift apart so this is a good time for her to tell him how she feels and find out if he feels the same. It comes as a shock to him and she is hurt by his reaction, not understanding that he needs some time to process the information. This was a nice short diversion with some sexual content. The characters seem very young but I suppose they are meant to be.

[Escape to the pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick fun read with an engaging pacy story that despite its short length, still delivers.

This short read has a great feel to it, even to the point it introduces secondary characters without you feeling they’ve stolen pages from the main characters.

Time is taken to give backstory so it feels like a super quick instalove and this definitely helps toe you in to the storyline and root for the hea that is inevitably delivered .
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Izzibella Beau · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read by Ms. Stevens, but definitely won't be my last. Shootout captured my attention from the blurb. I love older YA and NA books that may have a HEA. Shootout is the story of Josie and Evan and how their friendship turned into a little more. Evan is the big hockey player, with the ability to get any girl he wants, and Josie, well she is just 'the friend.' The time comes for Josie to open up and tell Evan how she feels, but the reaction she gets isn't the outcome she wanted. Will these two misguided hearts come together... hmm....guess you'll have to read and find out.

[Shyanne Blankenship · Rating 2 out of 5]

I fear none of the books I picked up during stuff your kindle day are going to be winners🥲

Now listen. There was about one chapter that made me go crazy. And one paragraph in said chapter that made me go absolutely feral and it was when Evan said: “Tonight, of all fucking nights, she dropped this in my lap. We were supposed to be celebrating, not fighting, not breaking up.”
When they’re friends and nothing else and he says “not breaking up”.. yeah slut me out for that man

Anyways… a majority of the book was just so depressing and had me having second hand embarrassment

[Petra Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant sport romance by Lynn Stevens. Being in love with your best friend and seeing him hook up with other girls is torture. Jocie can no longer take it and decides to lay it all open to Evan. Will they survive?. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tracy H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shootout
Ridder U Hockey

by
Lynn Stevens

Josie and Evan have always been Best friends. She is hopelessly in love with him and tells him on one of the biggest nights of his life. only to have him reject her. This was such a great story, heartfelt and romantic. I recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mulan Book Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was such a cute romance though to be honest, wanted to shake Evan for being so clueless! Josie is such a sweetheart and they were explosive together. I am really enjoying this Ridder U series as each one is truly a standalone novella.

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my fair and honest review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shootout was a quick and well written friends to lovers romance by Lynn Stevens. Josie has been in love with her best friend Evan for years but he has no idea. Josie finally realizes she can no longer keep her feelings to herself so tells him only to say no. Will Evan realize his true feelings before its too late or will he lose his best friend forever?

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I volunteered to read this ARC for an honest review. I enjoyed this quick story about Evan and Josie. They have been best friends for several years, but she's fallen in love with him. Tonight if the hockey teams big win, she's determined to tell him about her feelings. Great beginning.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rhonda Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short friends to lovers romance. Jojo has stood back and watched Evan with woman after woman bit never her. She is considered his best friend. How does he react to her confession? Read ro see what happens. Great characters and storyline.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christine Fass · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that in this book the Hockey is kind of a background character, yes Evan plays hockey but it is not really important. This was a sweet, romantic quick read. I was able to read it over my lunch break. I really liked Josie and Evan, some of the best romances are built on friendship.

[Leanne Bryson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I do like a fast paced, steamy, short read on occasion, this was just OK for me. Josie and Evan are friends, but I was curious for more about that friendship. I just felt there were some gaps for me.

I received an ARC from Booksprout and this is my honest review.

[Tonika Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best lovers are friends first, Evan and Josie have definitely proven this truth in this book. Great love story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Evan & Josie's book. It was an entertaining, fun read. I got a copy of the book. And am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

good short read

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF.