Levi Hunt is a Special Forces veteran who put his NHL career on hold to serve his country. So when his new Chicago Rebels bosses tell him to cooperate with the press on a profile, he’s ready to do his duty. But then he finds out he has to work with flame-haired, impossibly perky Jordan Cooke, who happens to be the widow of his best friend/fellow Green Beret. He is also reminded of the kiss they shared on the night she buried her husband/his best friend.

Jordan can't understand why the grumpy hockey player seems to despise her. But if she intends to have a career in this cutthroat sports world she has to find a way to get Levi to open up. Jordan knows how to push Levi's buttons and things will heat up between them. But getting the story will backfire and may end what was starting to grow between them.

I am not a fan of hockey or sports players, but I was intrigued when I read the summary of this story.
Glad I gave it a try.
Levi Hunt joined the Special Forces as a Green Beret, to fight for his country and now is back to the sport he loves.
Jordan Cooke, a young report , has been assigned to get a story on Levi. A story that can make her name known in the sports writing world. A world filled with backstabbing and a lot of competition.
But what I didn’t mention is that these two have a history. She is the widow of his military best friend, and the woman he kissed the night of the funeral.
The plot was engaging, and the characters complex with a strong woman character. I always enjoy seeing that .
I am looking forward to what else the author has in store for us in the next book of the series.

*I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.”
I love a good second chance story and this one has several 2nd chance themes. Of course, the H/h have s second chance although it’s different than most. They know each other but we’re never romantically involved.
Levi is a fascinating character. He grew up in a difficult situation. He earned a college scholarship in hockey but instead of going pro, he joined the Military and became a green beret. When he gets out of the military, he’s picked up by a fledgling hockey team.
It’s definitely a redemption kind of story. He served his country but cane back to claim his pro hockey dream. He also gets a second shot at a woman who he didn’t feel worthy of.
Jordan fell in love and married young only to lose her husband 2 years later to war. She picks up the pieces of her life and moves to her other dream of being a sports reporter. Where she smacks right into her husbands best friend, now a rookie for an NHL team.
This book deals with guilt, sexiual harassment, unfair workplace practices, and homelessness. I liked how the elements were woven into the story itself.
My main issue with the book was the beginning. Every story must begin somewhere but this one made me feel like I’d missed 3 or 4 chapters and I was playing catch up.
For me, there is also something missing in this author’s writing style. I cannot put my finger on it but there were times I was taken out of the story completely and had to fight my way back in.
It is a good story and I may pick up more of her books in the future.

The author's words were captivating allowing the reader to build a visual of the main characters and make you feel like you were there. The beginning may have started off a tad slow for me, but once it picked up it was impossible to put the book down. Between a budding love, hot athletes, and the hardship of women in a male dominated world the author truly created one well rounded romance novel.
I have to commend the author for breaching on a subject that can be touchy in the world of sports and journalism. The way it was weaved into the story line to bring awareness but not let it be the main narrative of a romance novel was done appropriately.

Levi is this silent but sexy military man turned professional hockey play, while Jordan is this sweet bubbly if not a little guarded journalist. While both had previous history together their worlds didn't truly collide until she needed a story to move her up the journalist chain. Once reconnected the pucks weren't the only thing beginning to fly. Between a secret romance and taking on the male dominated world of sports there is always something to keep you flipping the pages.

P.s. Fingers crossed we get a super glutes story coming our way.

Now I'm off to go read the series prior to this one.

Received an advance copy from Netgalley to provide an honest review. These words are my honest opinion.

I was a bit sad, when the Chicago Rebels series ended. Therefore, I am ecstatic to be back in this world with Meader's new series.

Who?

• Jordan - A widowed sports reporter, who was hoping to make a major splash in the Chicago hockey scene

• Levi - A former Green Beret and the oldest rookie in the NHL, who also happened to have been the best friend of Jordan's deceased husband

What?

Jordan was selected from a large pool of sports writers to profile Levi due to her connection to him, but there was more to their link than her husband, and it may diminish Jordan's credibility as a reporter .

Why?

You all know I am total trash for hockey romances, and bringing me back into the Rebels realm was icing on the cake.

I was so excited to be reunited with the characters from Meader's other books. Most were from the Chicago Rebels series, but she also pulled in a few from her Hot in Chicago series, which just added to the fun for me. I adore getting the opportunity to catch up with old friends, and Meader did a fabulous job incorporating the old characters without stealing the spotlight from the new characters.

The hero and heroine of this book were an instant hit with me. Levi had an amazing backstory, and it didn't stop with his NHL detour. Piece by piece, the full picture of Levi formed as Jordan investigated his background, and they both reveled bits of their past to each other. The things Levi did and his reasons for why he did them brought on quite a feelsplosion. That heart of gold combined with his Mount Grump persona totally endeared Levi to me.

I loved Jordan's personality too, and admired her ambition and career focus. It took a lot of fortitude to succeed in this male dominated profession, and she took her knocks like a champ. But, I admired her more for taking action, and speaking out against the bias against women in male dominated fields. She wasn't all about her career, though. Jordan was vibrant and funny, and she was able to bring out some amazing parts of Levi. I really liked them together, and was absolutely rooting for this union.

It was great seeing the veteran Rebel players again, but I also had a fantastic time getting to know the next generation of the franchise. There were so many fun and hilarious scenes shared between the guys. Their camaraderie and chemistry was a wonderful thing to witness, and I was especially fond of the bromance that developed between Theo and Levi. Theo never failed to bring a smile to my face, and I am really hoping there is a book slated in the near future for him and Elle, because there was definitely something there worth exploring.

Meader always incorporates some issues into her books, which give the story more depth. She brings many issues to the forefront of Good Guy, but I especially enjoyed the way she incorporated the issue of homelessness. It was a really feel-good part of the story for me.

All of Meader's romances have been great successes for me, and Good Guy joins the list. This was a fantastic start to the new series, and I am more than excited to read about more of the Rookie Rebels.

This was my first book from this author so I didn't quite know what to expect but I really liked it. It was heart-warming and provided an interesting and important message about sexual harassment at the workplace and the misogyny still very much present in the professional field. I did skip pages in the beginning especially but also in between just bc it took a bit too long to gain the necessary speed but I did enjoy it.

This has been a fun series to read...each story has had a deeper message contained within the stories themselves, this one was no different. In fact there were a couple different messages woven within the theme of the story, Military service, gender inequality, and homelessness. The characters were identifiable and relatable...the story moved at a fast clip with intelligent dialog and delightful banter amongst the Hockey players.

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

“She chuckled. God, he could be so adorable sometimes. All that gruff, I-ain’t-no-hero swagger muffled a softy at his core, one who was knocking at the door to the heart she’d walled up all those years ago.” (Quote from ARC)

A pleasant read, with likeable characters and an interesting insight into women, particularly reporters, in sports universe.
Levi is a great character, his grumpiness/gruffness irresistible, his honor and loyalty irrefutable, but sometimes it felt a bit cookie cutter - the “superhero disguised as a mild-mannered hockey player”. Having said that, his background as a Green Beret turned hockey player, the troubled childhood and his whole personality and ethics make for an appealing male protagonist.
I would have liked more depth in character development as, on the other hand, I felt the sex scenes were a bit overdeveloped.
There are some interesting secondary characters – Theo, Gunnar Bond (this one only mentioned) – that I hope will have their own stories in the future.

The Good: Kate Meader has a Chicago Rebels spin-off with a cross-over with the Chicago Dempseys! So much fun visiting old friends like Remy and Harper from Irresistible You and Kinsey from Flirting with Fire (although I really wanted to see my fave couple, Alex and Eli).

The Not-So-Bad: the new crew of hot hockey players stole the show from main couple Levi and Jordan. I can't wait for Theo "Superglutes" Kershaw's story - he and Elle were sparking like crazy. I really enjoyed the Chicago Rebels and am looking forward to a new batch of hockey romances. Levi's teammates added much needed fun to a sometimes slow and at other times heavy handed story.

The Bad: So Many Issues to Unpack. This book had it all and maybe a little too much: losing a spouse, parental expectations, second chance romance, sexism in the workplace, sexism in the sports world, ethics, sexual assault, homelessness, veterans. There were times that I felt characters were just lecturing about the difficulties women faced in professional sports, and in between lectures, Levi was repeatedly apologizing for offending Jordan.

Levi wasn't a bad guy; in fact, he was a lovely stoic grump harboring a years-long yen for his best friend's wife. The problem was that there were so many issues to cover in this book that Levi's slow burn for Jordan was often shuttled to the side. And because there was so little time spent on Jordan other than as a beleaguered hockey journalist, it was hard to see any real chemistry between Jordan and Levi.

Kate Meader writes great romances with strong heroines, stubborn but caring heroes, fantastic chemistry, fun banter, and believable drama. Unfortunately, there may have been a little too much drama here and not enough of the chemistry. Still, I have very high hopes for the next Rebel romance (please let it be Theo's turn!).

I feel like I always know what I'm going to get with a Kate Meader book. My hero will make me all of a flutter and my heroine will make me want to fist-pump; together they'll make me fall in love with their relationship. This book was no different. From the moment I read the backstory of these two, I was sold, there was something about the way it came over from Levi's side that really made me want them to fight for the right to be together. I hoped there was going to be no big scandal followed by an unnecessary, over angst ridden separation. Kate Meader didn't disappoint. I loved the nods to previous books and series I've read from the author and I am already eagerly awaiting the next story in this series.

Good Guy is the first book in the Rookie Rebels series by Kate Meader. This much awaited title continues the Chicago Rebels mythos. It brings to light new faces along with some of our favorite characters from the original series.

This book introduces Jordan Cooke, a tenacious and perky sports reporter. She is on an upward trajectory in her career and needs to nail her feature on Levi Hunt to secure her future in the cutthroat world of sports reporting and make her mark in the industry.

Levi Hunt is the Special Forces veteran who put his NHL career on hold to serve his country as a green beret and do his duty with honor. So, when his new bosses tell him to let the press do a profile on him, he’s ready to do his duty. Until he finds out he must work with his best friend’s widow Jordan Cooke. His chemistry with Jordan is combustible and he has a hard time keeping his mind on the ball. As he finds his footing on the ice, the explosive chemistry between him and Jordan builds up to an inferno. Things get very complicated for Jordan and Levi

Together, they must work together and work past their demons to succeed not only in their careers but also in the game of love.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

I recieved a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

So I knew going into this how it would end but I still enjoyed the story. I love Levi he's such a sweety... As are the rest of the team. Again it's obvious but what can I say I love a good romance story.

Not a huge fan of Jordan she seems to have set herself up for the fall because... Passwords people! Come on now... Always protect your info, whether it's cat photos or seriously important information about someone else or yourself... I'm sorry that's just slopping journalism... So much for protecting your sources. How did she not see the trap for exactly what it was... I know she is all about the job and focusing and what not but still... It was obvious to everyone but her.

I love how strong Harper is even though her plot point was just to stir everything up.

I'd love to get to know the other guys a lot more because Theo seems like a pretty perfect package himself *swoon*

4.5⭐

Good Guy the first book in Kate Meader's spin off from the Chicago Rebels Series got off to a great start with an interesting story about a guy who gets a second chance at a career in hockey after spending years serving his country and a girl who after losing her husband in Afghanistan gets a second chance at love and a new career. As she takes over reporting on the Rebels and her husbands best friend. Who also happens to be their new rookie.

And with very relevant topics covered, lots of warmth and heart. Not to mention engaging characters, buckets of chemistry and a fabulous romance. Good Guy was easy to read and extremely hard to put down. And I would certainly recommend it to others.

Within the sports romance genre, there is a sub-genre of a female reporter trying to get a story about an athlete. Inevitably, they will fall for each other and then have to deal with the ethical problems this creates as their secret romance inevitably becomes public. This is another novel with that basic plotline. What makes this hockey romance rise above cliches is that the athlete in this story, Levi Hunt, is a former Green Beret who enlisted in the military despite being an NCAA rising star. He turned down guaranteed fortune and fame in order to risk his life serving his country. Now he’s trying to make it as a rookie on a Chicago team.

This is clearly a great story that any sports journalist would want to write. Enter Jordan Cooke who is trying to break into the ranks of professional sports reporters. She’s given thte assignment to write a profile of Levi because of the connection she has since her husband was a member of Levi’s regiment and died in Afghanistan.

Levi is just a perfect romance hero. He combines the best of two genres of romance - the military hero and the sports hero. But his reasons for trying to keep the media at arm’s length are quite understandable and admirable. He has a rich story, but he doesn’t want to make it public just to satisfy the media and fans. He wants his hockey play to speak for itself. Well, we know that can’t last in today’s world.

Jordan is plucky and good-humored. And she is the one woman Levi has always been attracted to. What happens between them is inevitable in the realm of romantic fiction, but it was still a riveting read that kept me entertained from start to finish. The banter between Levi and Jordan and among the players on Levi’s team is quite entertaining. Who can resist an opening featuring one of Levi’s colleagues bemoaning how hard it is to buy pants for his overly muscular rear end?

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read with sexy love scenes. The two main characters Levi and Jordan complimented each other perfectly. Eventhough this is the first book in series, it piggybacks another series. I enjoyed visiting old friends from her other series. I am looking forward to reading more from this author. I would recommend this book.

I received an advance copy from NetGallery for my honest opinion.

I've read other books in this series, and by series, I mean the same Chicago hockey team. Just as sweet as the others, honestly. I like these because of the setting, I used to live in Chicago. And there's just something about a hot hockey romance.

I highly recommend anything from this author.

I believe that this book links to two other series by Kate Meader while at the same time being the start of a new series. I haven't read anything by Meader before, but this one certainly made me interested to go back and try the other books.
This book follows the 'in love with my best friend's woman and now he's dead' theme. I have come across this theme before a couple of times, but this was a fresh take on it. That combined with the good writing, likeable characters and the additional slant of Women working in a male-dominated world, made this a great read.
I liked both Levi and Jordan and their romance and relationship was believable and had plenty of chemistry. Levi really is the good guy, almost too good to be true at times, but he doesn't believe it himself.
Although Jordan's husband, who also happens to have been Levi's best friend, does cast a shadow between them, it isn't all that is important in this story. In many ways, I enjoyed the woman reporter storyline even more. Jordan is a little bit unwilling to push too hard and is accepting at times, but as we all know, that often is the reality of being a woman in that kind of environment. Even the most confident and forceful of us are conditioned to accept far too much.
This was a good read with a satisfying romance element and a thought-provoking look at women and equality.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Good Guy is essentially the first book in a spin-off from Kate Meader’s Chicago Rebels series which follows Levi Hunt, a Special Forces veteran who finally has an opportunity to live his dream of playing professional Hockey; albeit at the seasoned age of 30!

This story, as with so many others by this author, touches on the reality of life; service to country, sacrifice and loss, learning to accept the person you are and never allowing harassment of any kind to impede your dreams of success and happiness. Jordan was also a pleasant surprise. Journalists are quite often self-serving and intrusive in their quest for the crucial career defining story, but Jordan was a genuinely nice person with ethics and a conscience that would never allow her to destroy someone’s character simply to gain fame.

Throw into the mix Levi and Jordan’s history and the heartache that they have both endured and losses shared, this is so much more than a sports romance; Good Guy is a heartfelt, emotional and often funny account of two fabulous characters and their eventually resolve that love can happen when least expected and with someone you previously deemed totally forbidden. I can’t wait to see what Ms Meader has in store for us next!

We get another series! But it is piggybacking off of a series that we have previously loved. The Chicago Rebels. In this one we meet Levi Hunt who is now a Hockey Player but he previously was Special Forces and everybody wants to know about him and he is not the type to open up especially about that. Jordan knew him and now in order for her to get the position that she wants she has to interview him since her boss feels that is her in, but she isn't so sure since he has never liked her and he was her deceased husbands best friend and she hasn't seen him in a while. What Jordan didn't know was that Levi has always loved her but did not feel good enough for her..Your heart will bleed a little and you will root for them and get mad at times too. I loved reading about some of the previous characters even from the Firefighter books..Enjoy!

Just gets better and better!
Jordan's character was awesome, as was Levi's. Without getting in too deep into the controversy of women in what was once man's sacred territory of sports, this was very well written of the dilemmas women face, and men face as well, when mixing it up. Blurred Lines for sure. There are jerks among both sexes!
Jordan loved hockey and was very good at what she did, reporting it. The interactions between her and Levi had all the feels, their chemistry was undeniable, but deny they did just because of their positions, or hers anyway. Their past didn't help either.
I loved reading this as it brought out my feels on everything written. I honestly felt sorry for Jordan and Levi both, being exploited for no good reason, except a story that truly doesn't even matter in the grand scheme. See, I'm getting emotional just writing this--and that to me is a very good journey! When it ends in Happily Ever After, I'm good!!
I received an advance reader's copy thru Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinions