Must Love Hockey

Brooklyn #5.5

by Sarina Bowen

Q: What’s the opposite of a “meet cute?”

A: Meeting a handsome guy at the very moment you’re breaking out in hives all over your body.

The mysterious allergic reaction I have at the hockey game is terrifying. But it’s just a little less terrifying when a big, strong equipment manager for the Brooklyn Bruisers saves the day.

That’s how I meet James “Jimbo” Carozza. When I’m alone and frightened, he gets me the help I need, and delivers me safely to the emergency room.

Too bad I don’t even get his number…

Genres: Romance, Sports, Sports Romance, Hockey, Novella, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

121 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 22, 2022

About the author

Sarina Bowen is the 24-time USA Today bestselling and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary fiction, including: The Five Year Lie, the True North series, and the Brooklyn Hockey series. She's the co-author of Him/Us and the WAGs series with Elle Kennedy. And more!

You can find a complete reading order list of Sarina's books on her website. Or see what's coming next from Sarina, and sign up for her newsletter so you don't miss a new book or a deal.

Reviews

[Leticia (jerseygirlsbookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Because I feel like I met you at exactly the right time."
"Why is that?"
"Because any time with you is the right time."
If you're a Sarina Bowen newsletter subscriber, this story will be familiar to you, as the author shared it there over the course of a few weeks. Still, I bought it for my collection, because I simply loved Jimbo.

This is a very cute and sweet read, and a short one as well.

James and Emily have an interesting meet cute. While it's not all sparks flying, insane chemistry and the like, there's a definite connection between them. A definite 'what if?'. But Emily is in a long-term relationship, so it will all to remain in the realm of possibility. Her boyfriend, however? What a douchecanoe. The fact that Emily got to meet a man like James only emphasizes that fact.

And James... he can win over anyone. He's the sweetest guy, attentive, friendly, loyal, and absolutely adorable and easy to swoon over. His interactions with the team were lots of fun, and even if you haven't read the other books in the series (I haven't) it can totally be read as a standalone.

This is a story about how the good guy actually does get the girl sometimes. And I know quite a few people who wouldn't mind a Jimbo in their lives.
So good!

[QuinnReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected Benefits of a Tick Bite

I absolutely LOVED this story! Sarina Bowen was kind enough to share this with her newsletter readers over the course of a few months. I looked forward to a new addition to the story every time her name popped up in my email! It’s quirky, seriously sweet (without crossing the line into sickeningly sweet), a bit steamy, and just plain fun – well, once we get past that whole potentially dying thing!

James and Emily didn’t come to be easily. Emily was in a long-term committed relationship when her world was literally flipped upside down. James won me over from the beginning. He’s warm, sweet, and genuine. Emily has needed to shake up her life a little bit but how it happened was not what she had in mind.

The banter between James and Bruisers teammates (and their partners) is AWESOME! I love how they are protective of him but also extremely welcoming of Emily, bending over backwards to try to get the two together. And his large family is very similar in that regard. I haven’t read any of the books in this series but I am now adding them all to my TBR list! I really hope to see more of these two as they got a really good HFN but I’d like to see a few years from now where that was a beautiful HEA.

[annob [on hiatus]]

Dnf @ 34%
I've liked other books by this author, but in this one I found myself wanting the guy to ditch the female MC. Not great in a romance, so dnf it is.

It also featured two of my pet peeves; internal monologues repeated in later dialogue (boring to read the same thoughts more than once) and professional athletes portrayed as eating pizza several times per week (which for me doesn't match at all with what type of diet likely required to make it in the NHL).

The excellent hockey universe created by Taylor Fitzpatrick has set my hockey romance bar high, and this novella fell well short.

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun! Loved the way the Brooklyn "family" got involved in James' love life. I would have loved a full-length for these two, but it was a great novella.

BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS

[Hilda · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I can't invite you in,” I blurt out. “I have a boyfriend.” His grin widens. “I remember. But, see, he's the wrong guy for you.” “How do you know?” I squeak. “Because the right guy is me,” he says simply.

This was everything!!! It’s currently free on kindle, run and get it! You’re welcome!

James and Emily were the cutest thing ever. Not just seeing them fall in love but seeing how the whole hockey team helped was so much fun! It was the perfect hockey romance novela. And don’t worry there was no cheating but after the way her “boyfriend” left her to die and James came in to literally save her life I would not have been mad. Just lots of laughs and hugs.

[RLbooks (in and out) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute novella that stays pretty surface level. I was in the mood for another sports novella and this had an interesting premise, I just wanted a bit more so I could feel more invested in their characters and romance. Emily (h) is at a hockey game with her boyfriend when she has a surprise allergic reaction and James (H), the team's equipment manager, rescues her. Written in first person, dual POV. No ow drama, a touch of om drama from her ex who she breaks up with during the book (their relationship was struggling before she meets the H), neither were virgins (no history given on him and she'd only been with the ex), bc used.

I had never heard of the medical condition Emily is diagnosed with so that was pretty cool to read about. James is immediately interested in Emily, but she's obviously with someone else, although she does notice his attractiveness/kindness. They hang out as friends, with the occasional appearance of James' friends (including hockey players) talking him up and nudging Emily to give him a chance, sometimes in hilarious fashion. The camarederie was funny and adorable esp with the big sports stars. Both of their families make brief appearances and I did love his large Italian family. There's one steamy scene (post breakup with the boyfriend). The story ends on a HFN with them just starting to date, which made for an easy read but also left me feeling unfinished.

[maggieandteddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

**FREEBIE ALERT** the ebook is free on all platforms. It's Novella length. The hero & heroine are so meant to be together.... in spite of several mishaps. Hurry and grab this !

IT'S LIVE!
Amazon: https://geni.us/MustLoveHockeyAmazon
Amazon paperback: https://geni.us/MLH-Amazon
Apple: https://geni.us/MustLoveHockeyApple
Google: https://geni.us/MustLoveHockeyGoogle
Kobo: https://geni.us/MustLoveHockeyKobo
Nook: https://geni.us/MustLoveHockeyNook
Note: this is the same content as the newsletter serial. It is novella length. Enjoy!
**** My review:
Jimbo's story.
Such a sweet & SWOONY story.

Everybody's favorite equipment manager is back!
Last year Must Love Hockey was an email serial. But not everyone likes to read in serial format. So now you can own the ebook from the retailer of your choice. Live on February 22nd, preorder yours here.

Paperback | Apple | Nook | Kobo | Google

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audible Review

Overall 5 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 5 out of 5 stars

So fun!
I originally read this when Sarina released it as a serial in her newsletter last year and loved it, and I still love it after listening to it!
I forgot how funny the pizza date was, it made me laugh out loud. There were some other scenes with the hcokey team that were funny, love those guys.
James is the sweetest and Charles is a jerk- to not even stay to make sure your girlfriend was okay?!? Ugh.
This was just a fun and sweet read.

The narrators were very good, I love Stephen Dexter. There were just a few times when his Brooklyn accent would drop, but other than that, he was great. Lena Lee also did a really great job with her performance.

[Arielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 I LOVE JIMBOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Stephanie Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love James with all my heart and hope we see him again <3

[Beeg Panda]

Free 11 November 2023

[Quinn's Quippy Quotes · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO. DANG. CUTE!!

I sideline that I needed a Jimbo book until just now. So sweet it makes your tooth ache! Loved it. I love how Heidi Jo is the one constant throughout this series! She is one of my favorite characters by Sarina, you can't help but love her.

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞]

kindle freebie 12/13/23

https://www.amazon.com/Must-Love-Hock...

[Claudia Fosca Stahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is no secret that I love everything Sarina Bowen writes. I especially love her Brooklyn Bruisers series despite the fact that I have never even seen a hockey game in my life. Every single one of the books in this series is a wonderful soul hug and I highly recommend it.

I loved everything about this story. I just couldn’t get enough of Emily and James. They are so wonderful together. The hockey action is pretty cool, and there’s Bruisers shenanigans to enjoy. It’s hilarious, sweet, and there’s also ice melting heat to enjoy. It’s a wonderful read.

Must Love Hockey is a novella for one of the most beloved characters in the series and is just wonderful. Jimbo is the team’s equipment manager. He’s sweet, smooth, and super swoony. He’s also a bit wicked. One hundred percent book boyfriend material.

It is a novella, but it can be read as a complete standalone. It’s a great way to get to know the wonderful characters in this fantastic hockey world, or to get a taste of the awesomeness that is Sarina Bowen’s writing. However you look at it is a win-win.

This novella was previously published as a newsletter serial, so some people might have already read it. In any case, it’s so good it’s worth having it at hand to reread. And it’s also now available in audio.

[Bona Caballero · Rating 3 out of 5]

No solo de estrellas del deporte y megamillonarios vive la lectora de romántica. En este relato corto, Sarina Bowen nos cuenta la historia de James «Jimbo» Carozza, el utillero de los Brooklyn Bruisers. Ayudará a una fan, Emily, cuando esta sufre una extraña reacción alérgica.
Se gustan, pero ella tiene novio desde hace años.
Una historia muy cuqui, con un James que es un cielo de hombre y una Emily que resulta un encanto.
Como todas las historias de la serie, se puede leer bien de forma independiente, pero la disfrutas más si has seguido las anteriores y conoces a parte de los personajes.
Reseña algo más extensa, en mi blog.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This newsletter serial novella was so good! I loved the characters. Jimbo won my heart. I really wish Bowen would turn this one into a full length novel because it was so much fun!

[Books I Flove · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a GEM!!! Everyone needs a Jimbo in their life. I would give this book a million stars if possible. This is such a 𝗙𝗨𝗡 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗪𝗢𝗢𝗡𝗬 read. I adore this story and the people!!!
Jimbo meets Emily after she attended a game and she doesn’t feel good because of an allergic reaction. He tends to her and so this begins. He’s very smitten, and it’s fun how the team reacts to this. So many laugh out loud scenes. I really really loved this cute, fun, swoon-worthy novella!!!

[Alyssa Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟.5/5 stars

Must Love Hockey is one of the cutest novellas I've read recently. James and Emily are super adorable and their connection had me heart-eye-emoji-ing all over the place! I will always love the Brooklyn Bruisers world that Sarina Bowen has created.

Seriously though, this novella was very cute and romantic.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute inclusion of side character from the fabulous hockey series. Jimbo the equipment manager saves the day when a fan takes ill from a food allergy. They both get plenty of grief/support from the rest of the team. A nice addition to the series.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable! I read it as a serial in the author's newsletter, and it was so hard to wait patiently for the next installment!

Rating: 4 stars / A-

[Laetitia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Emily and James' story! They were fun and sexy. Having the entire Brooklyn team helping James win over Emily was fun to read.

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

This is such a cute read! A standalone novella set in Sarina Bowen’s Brooklyn Bruisers world, this is a story for equipment manager, Jimbo, and it’s a quick, cute read that manages to bring the feels.

Originally offered in serial form for Sarina Bowen’s newsletter subscribers over 13 episodes, it has now been published for all to read and enjoy, and it’s a great read for fans of the series.

Emily is leaving a Bruisers game when she experiences a sudden allergic reaction. Unsure of what is happening, she’s terrified and struggling with her symptoms when Jimbo comes to her rescue. He gets her help and even escorts her to hospital and waits with her until she’s able to go home, and though he gets a little bit flirty, he’s the perfect gentleman.

And then he begins his slow and gentle pursuit. He lets Emily know where he’s at, and he’s beautifully upfront about what he wants. There are some hurdles in their way, but watching him slowly break through her walls and win her over is so freaking sweet!!!

“I can’t invite you in,” I blurt out. “I have a boyfriend.”
His grin widens. “I remember. But, see, he’s the wrong guy for you.”
“Because the right guy is me,” he says simply.
Swoon!
“But it’s okay if you’re not on board yet.”

Jimbo is a gorgeous hero. He’s such a sweetheart, and is a genuinely nice guy, but he has a bit of a wicked side, so the sexy time is sizzling! I loved watching him and Emily finally come together.

He is aided along the way by the Bruisers players, who look upon him as a little brother. In scenes that had me laughing out loud, they tease and rib, and attempt to ‘help’ him get his girl. So freaking funny, and I love seeing these boys again. I miss them! Speaking of, there’s some epic hockey moments in this one, scenes that play out brilliantly on the page, just like a movie, and that had my heart pounding. So much fun!

It’s all topped off with a happy ending, I really enjoyed this novella. It’s sweet, cute, and beautifully heartfelt.

4 stars!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jimbo finds his special someone and it is a sweet, sweet ride. I mean, not only do we get to see gentlemanly James treat Emily like the treasure she is, but we also got to see the big, rowdy Bruisers step in to help him get the girl. Kind of. Honestly, their "help" was hilarious and Emily was a good sport about it all. Plus, she got to see how her favorite hockey players (and various other people in the Bruisers orbit) came together to sing the praises of one Jimbo Carozza.

As for Emily, she meets James at a pretty rough moment. She's having an allergic reaction and she's kind of scared out of her mind. To complicate things even more, she currently has a boyfriend. Not a great boyfriend seeing as how he continually prioritizes his job over Emily, but she is committed to him and has to figure some things out before she can consider what James is offering.

I do enjoy these Bruisers and their equipment manager. They make relationships FUN if nothing else. *thumbs up*

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

Overall, I enjoyed this! I haven’t read anything Brooklyn in a long time so it was nice to be back.

I think the pacing was a tad off. The heroine breaks up with her previous boyfriend well over halfway through the novella, which didn’t give her enough time to really connect and figure things out with the hero. The end was just a bit rushed for my taste.

James/Jimbo is basically perfect. The way the team protects and loves and teases him. How he pursues the heroine, but doesn’t cross (too many) lines. I actually think it would have been an interesting conflict if he did push a little too hard or fast, but there certainly wasn’t room in the novella to sort through that.

Contains: equipment manager hero, college student / hockey fan heroine, she’s dating someone else (Wall Street a-hole who prioritizes work), win her over, grand gesture, food allergy, ER visit, chivalry, Asian heroine/white (italian-am) hero, meddling friends, big family

2/5🔥 (1 scene, but doesn’t wait til very end)

[Debbie Readsalotl Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bruisers equipment manager - Jimbo, aka James - gets his own love story!

Emily loves hockey. She's been in a relationship with her boyfriend Charles since they were 14/15. She's now 21 and trying to finish her college education while he's recently started a job at Merrill Lynch. Part of their trouble is that he's not a big hockey fan. The other part is that Emily can't remember the last time she felt like a priority in his life.

Charles leaves Emily at the rink after a game because she's not feeling well. Strike 1 for Charles. Problem is, she's not just sick, she's having an anaphylactic reaction to something she ate. James steps in and saves the day. The problem for James is that he's smitten, but he won't pressure Emily into any hard decisions.

I guess I read this out of order because it was supposed to be before Shenanigans and Love Lessons but I didn't notice anything so apparently it can stand on its own. I've really enjoyed my journey to Brooklyn with Sarina's Bruisers. I hope you'll enjoy them too.

[Capreacula · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a lovely short novel about Jimbo (James), the Bruiser's equipment manager, and Emily, a hockey fan, whom he met when she's suffering from an allergic reaction to something she ate at the game.

The book is really very short and so no real conflict can happen - which is a nice change anyway: no unnecessary complication :-)
From the moment he realizes Emily needs help, he's super supportive and a gentleman through and through. Meanwhile Emily's boyfriend is off to work on his banker career with Emily just being his side kick for events and customer service.
Emily is falling fast and hard for James, who is wooing her the oldfashioned, gentlemanly way (with hockey), but has to resovle her relationship with her bf first.
The book is too short to really get a deeper feeling for what attracts James to Emily, it's far easier to see why Emily is attracted to him (we are practically in her shoes). The involvement of the hockey players plus significant others is hilarious and one of the details I love about the series: the camaraderie of players and staff.

[Angela (Reading Frenzy Book Blog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

As with all novellas, Must Love Hockey could use a little more character exploration. I especially wanted more at the end, but it is a nice quick read.

This is Jimbo’s story, and I’ve always thought of him as the scrawny equipment manager for the Brooklyn Bruisers that the players like to rag on. I had it wrong.He’s really such a sweetheart that I could totally see someone falling for him.

James (aka Jimbo) is a more defined character than Emily, so I wasn’t sure why he falls so hard for her so fast. Although, Emily is really sweet, and their meet cute is quite…well…cute. The borderline cheating made me a bit uncomfortable, as did the speed of their relationship, but I liked them together.

This can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Recommended for fans of:
Hockey
Multicultural romance
Meet cutes

[Vivien Parry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skating into love!

When Emily Chen has an allergic reaction whilst at a hockey game, she doesn't expect to be rescued by James Carozza, the Bruins equipment guy. Staying with her at the hospital they strike up a friendship. James is attracted to Emily but as she has a boyfriend he takes the friendship route, giving her tickets to games and sending her hockey themed presents. When Emily breaks up with her boyfriend is she ready to jump straight into something with James? This was a great little read that Sarina serialized in her newsletter and in was so excited when it came out as a proper book

[Kimber · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Sweet, short novella about James aka Jimbo, who we meet throughout the Brooklyn Bruisers series. In this book, he comes to the rescue of Emily, who is in anaphylactic shock after eating a food that sets off an unknown allergy. Their time together in the ER kindles a sweet romance between the two.

This story is short, so it skims over the characters of James and Emily more than the other books in this series. I was left wanting a bit more so I could feel more invested in their characters and romance. This book has some steam towards the end, but it's fairly tame compared to other Brooklyn Bruiser stories.

I loved the fondness that the team has for Jimbo, all caring for him and pranking him like older brothers. I also enjoyed Jimbo’s boisterous and caring Italian family. This was a cute addition to the series that adds some depth to Jimbo, who makes appearances throughout the books in the Brooklyn Bruisers collection.

[Emily McNiskin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute bonus story! Jimbo has had a lot of but parts in the other books and it was fun to see his side of things. The team really loves him. Also loved the story that he saved a damsel and ended up falling for her. Emily was really lucky he was there when she needed him. Anaphylactic shock is no joke. Super fun!