This is a new author to me. I enjoyed the story. My heart went out to Nick for everything he has had to endure in his life. I loved how strong Jodie was. These two would be a perfect match. Nick struggled with wanting to let anyone into his life and Jodie was so strong that she could take it or leave it on letting new people into her life. The story had a good flow and lots of details. The romance scenes between the characters to me seemed overly descriptive. Sometimes I would read the same words just three sentences later. This was a personal turnoff for me. The other parts of the story was wonderful and made me keep reading. I would recommend this book as quick and heartfelt read.

This was a great addition to the Aces Hockey series that I could not get enough of once I started reading it. The characters were well written and believable. I just could not get enough once I started reading and look forward to more to come from this series.

Reading a Kelly Jamieson book is like coming home. Especially her Chicago Aces guys. I appreciate the depth she gives the male characters - they aren't just carbon copy alpha males. They have feelings and strong, relateable backstories. I liked Jodie in this book - but I loved Nick. Nick is a loner with a beta personality - or as beta as you get for an agressive hockey player. He isn't a playboy or a partier. He refinishes furniture, doesn't do the party scene unless it's a party for a friend. But he works hard and focuses. I think he's the only one who doesn't realize he is lonely when he meets Jodie and the super cute Zyana.

The book is sweet and sexy - with just the right amount of drama.

In other words - another perfect read from Kelly Jamieson.

What an adorable little girl.

Oh, poor guy! No wonder he's anti-social.

What the hell is she doing, interrupting a guy using a power tool?

This kid has a great vocabulary.

Jeezus. I'm so sorry, man.

That's a depressing song for the team.

His socks are fun.

Just the poor guy's luck. Feel better, baby girl.

He's not a coward, he's a martyr.

This one was predictable from the start, but it was fun to see Nick and Jodie on their journey. The added bonus was Zyana, who was cute!

I liked that quickly Jodie figured out why Nick was so standoffish and even called Nick out on things. From there it gave them a base to start to build things. I also liked how Jodie asked that they take things one day at a time, but if it need to stop, they needed to be adults and talk about things.

You knew something would happen when Nick would run scared and it sure happened. It's easy to see why Nick got so scared, I probably would have too in the same situation. While I hated that Nick ran, I did like that he played by the rules and told Jodie he couldn't do it any more. What really sucked was Nick knew even as he said the words it was the wrong thing.

I was happy that 2 conversations with a couple of hockey people brought some great insight to Nick, that he realized what was important in his life and what was missing. It made the HEA all the more happy because now Nick was finally allowing himself to be happy.

I received an arc copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review. Jodie and Nick did not start off on the right foot. She’s a bubbly single mom and he’s a taciturn hockey player on his own. But agreeing to help her do to their mutual friends Nick soon finds that his nice quiet life is too quiet. Throw in a little cuteness with her daughter and a lot of heat (she does make sex toys for a living) their relationship starts to grow. I really enjoyed this book because there was a realness about it (most people don’t have sex 24/7) even though he’s a professional athlete and she’s a “normal” woman, with a great balance of heat, humor, and emotions. I would recommend this book even if you haven’t read any other books in the series. 5 stars

I read this book in two sittings, and only because I was forced to take a break. I loved seeing the character growth. Kelly Jamieson does a wonderful job of giving enough background on the main characters that the reader can get invested in them. Knowing what was impacting Jodie and Nick had me rooting for them to overcome and find their happy every after! Plus, there is the cuteness that is Zyana, and the changing interactions she has with Nick (swoon). I'm a total sucker for a single parent romance, strong independent women, and broody men who are hiding a caring side--that's all in this book and more! If you like these elements, and sports romances, well I'd definitely recommend this book!

Another solid hockey romance from Ms. Jamieson. I've read several books by Ms. Jamieson and continue to enjoy her love of hockey and romance!

Nick and Jodie are both very likable characters. It was great to reconnect with a few other Aces from previous books too.

I would have liked to have seen Nick's brother's story flushed out earlier. While the reader is able to infer what most likely happened, I think an earlier explanation would have been helpful. For Jodie, her total aversion to "needing" anyone did begin to grate at times. Just because you are in love and partnered, does not negate your independence. Zyanna was an absolute delight! It was so fun to watch Nick turn into mush with her :-)

The writing is good, consistent, and enjoyable. I'll keep reading to see when the next Ace finds his true love!

Enjoyed reading Nick and Jodie's story. It is well written book about love, family, and feelings intertwined in the world of hockey. Nick is a hockey player who grew up in a harsh world, looking after his younger brother. His brothers suicide messing his thinking up even more. Kelly Jamieson touches on mental health issues especially depression.. Nick doesn't think he should care for anyone because he will only let them down. Jodie is a single mom of two year old, Zyanna. Can they worm their way into Nick's heart. Love, family, hockey does make a great read.

This is book 8 in a series and it easily stands alone. It stars Nick, a player on a hockey team, he is very anti social and has a painful past. He meets Jodie at a party and she is absolute opposite in that she is very social, is a single mom and is best friends with Nick's best friends (Max) new girl friend.

Jodie has moved to town from NY because her best friend is now here and in love. They own a sex toy company together. Jodie is also a single mom and her friends help her move into Nick's guest house. Which is how Jordie and Nick start to get to know each other.

The big issue between the two is that Jordie is a single mom and her daughter is her life and Nick feels he is not a family guy, in fact he feels he cannot take care of anyone but himself. So Jordie has to help him realise what a great guy he is and how blessed her and her daughter are to have him in their lives.

This was a fun and sweet romance and I really enjoyed getting to know Nick and Jordie.

With the perfect mixture of romance and hockey action, from its onset the story draws you through rapidly with its smooth dialog and intriguing characters. This is another winner in the Aces Hockey story series.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

This is the second book I've read in the Aces series. But if I'm being honest, I read the first book in the series so long ago I really don't remember it.
Hockey books are definitely my jam and I also love books with kids so I grabbed this! Jodie is a single Mom that followed her friend Kendra from New York to Chicago because Kendra is in a relationship with a guy on the Chicago Aces professional hockey team. Kendra and Jodie have their own business together - a really interesting business (they make sex toys)that we don't learn too much about, maybe they go into more detail in Kendra's book. Anyway, Jodie and her cutie pie little girl Zyana are staying with Kendra and her boyfriend Max temporarily but looking for a place of their own. In comes Max's teammate Nick. Grouchy giant Nick. Nick that happens to have a beautiful empty coach house behind his house that is move-in ready.
This is actually a really sweet story with some deep moments that were very well written. I enjoyed this book quite a bit.

I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

A steamy read.
I was surprised with how much I enjoyed it. Jodie makes the best of situations and has a little girl.

She just moves to Chicago and needs a place to live. She moves in to the coach house and Nick is the hockey player who doesn’t do commitment, hook ups only and hockey.

Liked this single mom / hockey player read.

3.5 Determined Stars
* * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
This was a winner for me. It is part of an ongoing Hockey series and I was able to jump right in.

You have a woman who has learned the hard way how life must be managed on her own terms. The foster system was the teacher. She figured out what she wanted and got it her way...a sperm bank daughter. She is happy with her life, devoted to her daughter and career.

He has been a success but the loss of his brother has rocked his world. He is in hidden pain. He thinks being the main guy with his team will be enough until she arrives and infiltrates his life. Never wanted a family of his own, never wanted to belong in a relationship but now that he is seeing her with her daughter and he is enjoying their company, he is having different thoughts...

Both of them are connecting and then they are feeling it.

This is a positive addition to the series.


A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.

I have only read one book out of this series, this is the second. I want to pick the rest of them up. I really love what I have read.

Jodie, you really have to admire her character. Single mother, a foster kid growing up, instead of making drama about it. She is a understanding women. Love her character.

Nick is the one who feels guilty about his brother death. He hasn't come to terms with it. Here comes Jodie who changes his world.

Great book. So filled with emotion!

Good story. Loner, Nick, a NHL player has just been existing and not living after the suicide of his brother fellow NHL player Aleks. Jodi a self sufficient career woman and business partner of Kendra of sex toys is a single mom by choice through sperm donor. Jodi is outspoken, talkative and speaks her mind. Nick is broody and standoffish other than around his team mates. The two have a rocky start but have mutual attraction. Jodi ends up living in Nick's coach house in back of his home with her daughter and all of Nick's thoughts about being alone, not wanting a family and hating kids, change after being around Jody and her two year old Zyana. Quick read.

This was a good read, quite fast paced, which I enjoyed. Read it on a long plane flight.

I liked the characters, and hockey seems to be very trendy to right romance around these days. I'm learning so much about the sport, ha!

Great chemistry, and I love the addition of the single mom angle.

This is a voluntary review for an arc received.

This story is about Nick Balachov an NHL hockey player, who is suffering through the grief of losing his brother. He meets Jodie, at a party held my his teammate. Nick gets drunk and passes out in Jodie’s room.

Jodie, who is a single mom and part owner of a sex toy business, has just moved from New York to Chicago to run the business with her friend and business partner Kendra.

Kendra and her boyfriend Max, who is also Nick’s teammate, convinces Nick to let Jodie and her daughter move into his coach house.

From there, Nick and Jodie become friends, and Nick starts to interact more with Jodie’s daughter.

After a huge snowstorm, the relationship starts to heat up between the two.

The both confide in each other and eventually fall in love with each other for their HEA.

This book is a stand alone. It was a quick and easy read.

Kelly Jamieson does it again! I could not put this book down.
As I started reading, I was a little skeptical about some of the main characters, but Kelly's brilliant writing style didn't take long to win me over with the main characters. All in all, it is the perfect book to give you all the tingles, all the feels, and make you believe that those with rough exteriors, can truly have the softest interior.

It’s almost hockey season and with that you know Kelly Jameson must be releasing another Aces Hockey book – and it comes just in time for warmups!
Nick Balachov doesn’t want entanglements especially in the form of a beautiful woman and her daughter. So why is he so drawn to them and how did he end up letting them stay in his coach house?
Jodie, being a single mother, is happy with her life, just moving from New York to work closer with her friend Kendra. She is wary of having a relationship and didn’t want anything to hurt her daughter. But when attraction and love strikes, it hits big. With playoffs and the Stanley Cup on the line, will their love survive?