Loved it!! This book was fantastic as is the whole series!!! 5 stars!! Queenie and King were so great! I love all the characters!

Seattles honorable boyscout Goalie Kingston is brought to his knees by a whirlwind of chaos that is Queenie. A one nightstand that neither forgot. A new job that comes with the stipulation that no one is to go anywhere near the General Mangers daughter. The passion they shared us hard to ignore, though they fight valiantly against it. But King with stop at nothing to claim his Queen and he will make her his. They shared so much more than secrets and happily ever after is within their grasps. Funny, endearing, emotional and chaotic and utterly perfect in every way!

Et nous voilà donc au 3ème tome de la saga All in où Helena Hunting nous emmène de nouveau dans le milieu du hockey sur glace. J'ai adoré retrouver d'anciens personnages dont Violet et Alex et ce fut génial d'en savoir plus sur leur vie. Nos héros sauront nous offrir une comédie romantique comme je les aime.



Queenie Masterson est une jeune femme de 24 ans qui par certains côtés m'a un peu fait penser à Violet Walters que nous connaissons de la saga Pucked. Cette jeune femme a ce côté complètement fou que j'ai adoré et qui va débouler dans la vie de notre héros telle une tornade. Elle a un côté très fusionnel avec son père Jake qui saura toujours l'épauler en cas de coup dur. Ce sera le cas et c'est pour cela qu'elle va lui apporter son aide administrative dans la gestion de son équipe de joueurs professionnels . Elle ne veut pas le décevoir et on va comprendre au fur et à mesure de l'intrigue qu'elle cache des blessures secrètes. Elle n'a pas eu un modèle de famille unie en grandissant pourtant son père est son dieu vivant. A l'âge de 18 ans, elle a laissé tomber ses études pour enchaîner les désillusions mais on sent tout son potentiel. Si elle a aussi tendance à se dénigrer, nous verrons qu'elle est tout à fait capable d'avoir de très bonnes idées dans des milieux différents. J'ai aimé la relation qu'elle va tisser avec Violet ou Stevie car Queenie a réellement besoin de présences et de conseils féminins quand elle devra affronter les fantômes du passé.



Avec King, leur relation sonne comme une évidence mais pourtant , elle s'est jurée de ne plus succomber et de respecter les règles qu'elle a érigées. Si elle veut prouver sa valeur, elle ne peut pas fricoter avec un des joueurs de l'équipe de son père. Même si l'alchimie sensuelle est bien présente, on ne peut pas nier que nos deux héros sont complémentaires. King va apaiser son côté un peu sauvage et elle va le booster un peu pour qu'il cesse d'être ce boy scout bien sous tout rapport . J'ai aussi été sensible à ce qu'elle a vécu car elle a vraiment une très mauvaise opinion des autres et on va comprendre l'origine de ce mal en lisant ce roman. Avec Queenie , on va donc rire mais aussi être émue et j'espère qu'elle aura droit à sa part de bonheur. Elle semble bien engagée sur ce chemin mais elle va devoir face face à des ennemis cachés dans l'ombre et elle pourrait être très dure envers elle. Elle aura besoin de soutien, de confiance et d'amitiés et cela pourrait lui offrir cet happy end qui lui tend les bras.



Ryan "King" Kingston est un héros que j'ai adoré découvrir car il semble parfait sous toutes les coutures. Il est galant, gentil , attentionné, charmant, déroutant, engageant, chevaleresque, à votre écoute.. Bref, je pourrai continuer indéfiniment cette liste d'adjectifs qualificatifs mais il est évident qu'on va adorer ce héros qui saura nous faire rêver. Il y aura chez lui , comme chez Queenie , deux facettes et cela sera lié à son secret qui n'en est plus un pour nous lecteur. En toutes circonstances, il va garder son calme et on sera donc assez admiratif de cela. Il nous fera rire aussi à ses dépends ( juste un clin d'oeil à la scène des fraises) mais il sera avant tout attachant. Il sera très compréhensif et ouvert à l'écoute. Il accepte Queenie telle qu'elle est et c'est en total contraste avec Corey Slater, un personnage qu'on va adorer détester. Ce dernier est le parfait exemple qu'il n'y a nul besoin d'être présomptueux ou imbuvable pour faire preuve de talent. Certes , ces deux hommes n'ont pas la même position sur la glace mais King sait contrôler ses émotions et penser collectivement à son équipe. Sur le papier , nos deux héros n'ont rien à faire ensemble et pourtant , on se met à rêver qu'ils puissent régler leur soucis pour construire quelque chose de durable à deux.



Bref, si vous lisez en VO, je ne peux que vous recommandez de lire cette saga qui vous offrira trois comédies romantiques qui vous feront passer un excellent moment de détente et de lecture. Helena Hunting ne pouvait pas mieux clôturer cette saga qu'avec ce duo à la fois opposé et si complémentaire. De plus, j'ai hâte de découvrir le roman sur la fille de Violet et Alex avec qui nous faisons connaissance dans ce roman.

How much I adore this book !!!!

It's funny
It's sweet.
It's H.O.T...
And... It's so Mrs.Hunting's BABY!!!! Ahhh I thinik it will be my fave book in this series right now.

Queenie and King gave me ALL.THE.FEELS!!!! It's not a secrect, but just very big mirracle that I'm able to write aby words here...This couple, their love storY made me swooonnnnnn !!! My heart is still melting - literally !

From the first paiges I knew - it will be this kind of book, that I won't put down. Queenie & King seduced my heart, gave me a lot of fun with showing me - books are not only the books. It's also the place to find amazing time, with awesome, maybe a little imaginary people but ... , with the most impprtant thing in the background - LOVE with capital L.

Must Read title!

This book was good. A little different than what I normally like in a man but King still stole my heart. How he is just so caring and thoughtful! Queenie is a break the rules and go with the flow type of girl. A one night stand to forget about the troubles going on in their lives. Never thinking they would see each other again but then fate has different plans. King being a hockey player and Queenies dad being the GM of his team has Queenie and King meeting again. Queenie who has lost yet another job is now working for her dad as his assistant. Fighting her dads rule to not date any of the players and not being able to forget their one night together has them both in a predicament! King is play by the rules and Queenie isn’t so when they go a little too far that has King breaking out from an allergic reaction nothing can stop her dad from finding out. Then a blast from the past or should I say huge mistake comes back into Queenie’s life. Does it ruin anything king and Queenie have? Will Queenie be able to overcome and move on from what happened? True love story that had me fighting for them! Book given to me by author on netgalley

No one writes hockey live Helena Hunting. She has the ability to just suck you into this world. A Secret for a Secret is my favorite in the All In series. I was smitten with Kingston as soon as we met him in A Favor for a Favor. It’s easy to fall in love with the sweet, calm milk drinking hockey player. Kingston and Queenie make the perfectly balanced couple.
Kingston is just so...nice. I know there’s a better way to describe him, but it’s just so rare you meet a sweet, genuine nice guy. I loved him so much.

Queenie is a hot mess. An adorable hot mess, but she’s kind of all over the place. I love that Kingston is the calm to her storm. They just fit.. she gets him to loosen up a little and he grounds her. But behind closed doors, yikes!! It’s super H-O-T!!

I love that we still see familiar faces that I’ve grown super attached to. Alex and Violet will always be a part of my heart. It great to see their family grow. Their daughter Lavender plays a special part in Queenie’s life and I can’t wait to see what the future brings!!

I was excited to read Kingston's story. A milk drinking hockey player falling for the most opposite person to his straight edged personality is the best!! I have loved this series since the first book and as always Ms. Hunting captures us from the first page. I really hope there is more to this series because I love this world. An absolute must read!

Oh wow, I really loved this book! Kingston and Queenie’s story is full of emotion and feels. I adored King, he is right up there with my favorite Helena Hunting Books male characters. His gentleness, kindness and thoughtfulness, make him the whole package. I adore how he feels about his queen and his devotion to her, he sticks by her through thick and thin. I feel like these two could overcome anything, especially with such a strong connection.
I loved all the secondary characters, Jake, the crazy family. Another winner by one of my favorite authors, highly recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Not my first read by the author (she is one of my favorites) and I have read all the previous books in this series which I was in love with every single one of them!! So, you can say I was a bit excited for this one also!

Well this was a pleasant surprise, I wont lie and say that a little into it I though: oh, this is kind of a familiar trope and story line…but then I got to know King & Queenie…wow these two couldn’t be any more polar opposite. While King is the level headed, smart, concentrated and conservative type…Queenie is the rebel, act first think later, beautiful and fun woman. They came together…wait for it, NOT in a night of heat and passion…why you ask? well, if you asked the hero and heroine, THEY wouldn’t be able to recall all of it themselves. There is something about Ryan (King) Kingston that moved me, in all the funny and sexy ways. He comes off different, proper but naughty and yet still alpha and protective…you can’t not love him, honestly. Now Queenie, she is definitely reckless, but I was not prepared for that bomb. This is not a story line to take for granted, i was wowed the whole rest of the time and couldn’t get enough of it. Not your typical hockey romance with a not typical hero, you’ll love even if he’s a bit quirky.

TOP 2020 MUST READ!
Rating: ★★★★★
Romance: ♡♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Type: Book #3 of Series
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦

Much love for Goalie Ryan Kingston in book 3 of this series. I love being immersed in the hockey world. Kingston is such a sweetheart. Falling in love with Kingston is so easy. He is such a good guy and has so much respect for everyone. During a night spent drinking, which is out of the ordinary for Kingston, he meets Queenie and they hit it off immediately. Fate intervenes when they run in to each other again and their chemistry is still there and hotter than ever. This book was a fun read. I laughed out loud at times and have a serious crush on Kingston. Helena continues to score goals with her hockey world. Enjoy!!!

A Secret For A Secret by Helena Hunting is the third stand alone in her All In hockey series. An opposites attract romance between a pro at hot messes and a hockey play who keeps his life neat and tidy. Another quality hockey romance from the Queen of hockey romances Helena Hunting

Ryan 'King' Kingston is a good guy who is told a life changing secret. He decides the best way to handle the news is to go out and get drunk. He meets a charming stranger and ends up going home with her. Weeks later he runs into his one night stand at the arena and finds out quickly that he messed around with the General Manager's daughter Queenie. Queenie considers herself a mess on a good day. She is working on getting herself together while working as her father's assistant. She is brought face to face with her secret one night stand King and has to hide it as her father gave her one rule, don't get involved with any of the players. Queenie and King struggle to keep their friendship platonic and chemistry gets the best of them. Will a relationship work when there are still secrets between them?

Queenie is fantastically flawed and I love her for it. She is open with her feelings from the beginning and loosens King up in all the best ways. She is immediately taken in by his Boy Scout persona and lives to rile him in and cause chaos in his neatly organized life. But for someone whose so expressive she tends to run from her mistakes. She can be hard on herself and doubt the relationships around her but that makes her feel human because it's relatable.

Ryan Kingston is the epitome of a good guy with his khakis and his manners. He has a great relationship with his family, cares about his teammates and is head of heels for Queenie and isn't afraid to show it. His honesty made me laugh because it felt awkward in all the right ways. I loved seeing them heat up in the bedroom because it showed that he could be passionate when the time was right and respectful and sweet too. It's important that King fights for Queenie because she needs someone in her corner to support her and push her to fight for herself.

This story had all the Helena Hunting staples that I love. The story followed a strong yet messy female who meets a hockey player who sweeps her off her feet. The romance was on point but that is a given with Hunting who knows just the right amount of sweet and steam in the bedroom. You get to see the Seattle gang and their wives as well as some quality Violet Waters which is always enjoyable.

4.5/5 Stars

4.5 stars!

Ryan Kingston, the goalie for Seattle’s hockey team, finds out a huge family secret and to blow off some steam, he goes home with Queenie, the girl he only just met in the bar. The next day she is gone and he can’t get her off his mind. Fast forward six weeks and he runs into her again. As the daughter of the team’s manager, it is made clear to the team that Queenie is off limits. King and Queenie have every intention of following the rules despite their attraction but the more time they spend together, the harder it is to stay away.

This forbidden romance is so good! King and Queenie are fantastic, well-developed characters and I adored both of them. Their story is filled with the perfect amount of sugar and spice, and humor and heart. Add in the twists that rock their world and mine, this entertaining read is a great addition to the All In series.

Queenie hasn’t had the easiest life. Though she was raised by a loving father, she has a cruel mother who pops in and out of her life and brings Queenie down with every visit. It takes a toll on her self-esteem and confidence, and I hated that Queenie had to deal with the negativity. I felt her pain and understood why she looked at her life the way she did. I wanted her happiness and was rooting for her from the beginning.

King is amazing and I loved everything about him. He is a gentleman with a kind heart. An overall good guy and rule follower, he was different from the other hockey players and I loved it. He is confident with who he is and he doesn’t give into what people expect. He stays true to his nature throughout the story and I fell hard for him, especially when I saw him with Queenie. He also has dirty side that only added another dimension to his character, and I loved that too.

"Such a pretty boy. So nicely dressed, so polite. So very, very respectful. But good God, get that man’s clothes off and get him into a bed, and it’s a whole different story…I took the Boy Scout out of the polo and unleashed a very dirty man."

Queenie and King are awesome individually, as friends, and as lovers. Talk about the electric chemistry between them and the freaking sexual tension that zings off the pages. They turn up the heat and get your blood pumping from just the sizzle in the air when these two are together.

"Every time Queenie and I connect, it’s like there’s energy passing between us, the kind that keeps drawing us together, making it impossible not to give in to it."

When they finally give in, they are so good as a couple. They know how to have a good time and the humor in this story is great. They are opposites but complement each other in the best possible ways. They love unconditionally and love the imperfections that each one has, and are the perfect match.

“I want all your dark secrets to be mine to keep. I want all your pieces, all the things that make you who you are. I don’t care if you think you’re bent or broken; let me love all of you.”

Sometimes the past comes back to haunt you and Queenie and King are thrown for a loop when that very things happens. There’s a bit of drama and I loved the way King dealt with the situation. He is just so wonderful! And Queenie grows a lot at the end and finally accepts her qualities. I loved how she learned to love herself and how King was there for her every step of the way.

“You are amazing and the world is at your fingertips. The sooner you realize that, the easier it will be for you to shine like you’re supposed to.”

A Secret for a Secret is a heartwarming, butterfly inducing, emotional ride that is so much fun. I loved finally getting King and Queenie's story, and I loved seeing the other wonderful characters from the previous books in the series, as well as some Pucked cameos! Overall, I really enjoyed this one and definitely recommend it!

"He’s the calm and I’m the storm.
I’d rather have her chaos than stay stuck in the calm."

A SECRET FOR A SECRET is the third instalment in Helena Hunting’s contemporary, adult ALL IN erotic, hockey romance series focusing on the member of the NHL’s Seattle expansion team. This is thirty year old, Seattle goalie Ryan Kingston, and twenty-four year old PA / artist Queenie Masterson’s story line. A SECRET FOR A SECRET can be read as stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.


Told from dual first person perspectives (Ryan and Queenie) A SECRET FOR A SECRET follows the forbidden relationship between thirty year old, Seattle goalie Ryan Kingston, and twenty-four year old PA / artist Queenie Masterson. Queenie Masterson is the only daughter of Seattle’s General Manager Jake Masterson, and as such our heroine is off-limits to the hockey players but several weeks earlier, Queenie spend a one-night stand with sexy stranger struggling with some earth shattering news of his own, a stranger who happened to be Seattle’s first string goalie. Enter Ryan Kingston, the man with whom Queenie will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Queenie and Ryan, and the potential fall-out as Queenie’s past demands reparations, and Ryan’s past come looking for a second chance.


Ryan Kingston is the personification of perfection; a clean cut “boy-scout” who has fallen for the GM’s daughter but all is not well in Queenie’s life when her ex-boyfriend is the latest player to be traded to the Seattle team, a team that battles to accept the trade for a man whose reputation both on and off the ice precedes his introduction to his new team. A frenzy ensues when secrets and lies are released to the media, a frenzy that forces Queenie to run from the man that she loves.


The relationship between Queenie and Ryan begins as a one-night stand that will soon turn into something more, with the blessing of General Manager Jake Masterson but Queenie struggles with demons from her past, demons that are about to reveal a long-kept secret. As Ryan and Queenie’s relationship heats up, there are people in the back ground desperate to tear them apart. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.


There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including Queenie’s father Jake Masterson; her ex-boyfriend Corey Slater and his fiance Sissy, as well as Ryan’s brother Gerald, mother, and mom-ster Hannah. We are reintroduced to Bishop and Stevie (A Favor for a Favor #2), Stevie’s brother Rook ‘RJ’ Bowman and his wife Lainey ( A Lie for a Lie #1) and coach Alex Waters and his wife Violet, and their daughter Lavender.


A SECRET FOR A SECRET is a story of family, friendships, secrets and lies; a story of revelations and heart break; of acceptance and love. The premise is captivating; the romance is steamy and hot; the characters are dynamic and seductive.

THE READING CAFE: http://www.thereadingcafe.com/a-secret-for-a-secret-all-in-3-by-helena-hunting-a-review/



GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3159885878



AMAZON. COM: https://www.amazon.com/review/R2S0UBA6UMBVKD/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B08228PWK2



BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2182686801

I loved A Secret for a Secret. Ryan is such a good guy. The one time he is wild and rowdy, he ends up in bed with Queenie. As much as he’d like to keep what they have going, she vanished. When he comes face to face with the girl of his dreams he is hit with the fact that she is completely off limits. But she’s someone worth risking breaking the rules for.

I loved how well these two complemented each other. I think these two are my new favorites in the series. Can’t wait for more from Helena Hunting! She has a way of pulling you in. This is a must read, one click book!

Ryan Kingston is the rule follower, clean cut member of the team. He is the one everyone relies on to be steady, calm, and level headed: key qualities in a goalie. But the news that his family wasn’t quite what he always thought it was sent him reeling, into a very out of character night of drinking and a one-night stand. He never would have imagined the one time he stepped out of his normal he’d meet a woman, his opposite, who fascinated him long after their one night together. What he also never imagined was running into her again in the team offices to learn she is the GM’s daughter.

Queenie was dealing with her own disappointment the night she met and went home with a stranger after a night of drinking. She hates feeling like she disappoints her dad, and her latest failure has her feeling like she’s let him down yet again. But her impulsive nature means she is often toeing the line, making rash decisions and facing the consequences later. Finding out she slept with one of her dad’s players is only the latest in a series of choices she feels her father would disapprove of.

These two are opposite in personalities, but they bring out the best in the other. Ryan Kingston’s world is typically a calm, ordered place. Queenie is the perfect storm to add Their relationship isn’t threatened by anything either of them does, but by the pressures around them and hangups with the past. I found myself entertained watching as they tried to keep to the no fraternizing rule set for her by Queenie’s father.

As this series continues I feel like my bond for this group has just grown, and I enjoy returning more and more each time. The side characters give this one such a kick, and I found myself rooting at several points (in favor and against) certain interactions between the side characters.

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A Secret for a Secret (All In #3) is the final book in this amazing Pucked Series spin-off series. We’ve already met Rook, Bishop and now we meet King and Helena definitely saved the best for last. ASFAS is funny, heartfelt and steamy.  It’s real people navigating family, relationships & love, with a side of the ever sexy professional hockey. ⁣
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As usual I have no critique of Helena’s books, to me they are perfect.  However,  I want to explain what really did it for me with ASFAS and that is the character of Ryan Kingston. It was so absolutely refreshing to read a male character that isn’t a manwhore or a player.  A man who respected every woman in his life (from his mom, to his momster to Queenie). A man that was dedicated, honest and hard-working. I like reading about a reformed bad boy, I do! But god, it is so refreshing to read about simply a good man (especially an a good man who is a professional athlete) because there are so many out there and they sometimes don’t get the credit due to them.  I’m glad Helena gave us a man that we can take home to mom (I’m not because my mom would DIE if she read a romance novel but I would bring an IRL Ryan Kingston home in a heartbeat😊). ⁣
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This book had a lot of heart as Queenie learns to navigate her own feelings of self-worth.  While she had to learn to love herself fully, it was a sight to behold how much King loved her and how it helped to see herself through his eyes.  He is exactly what she deserves in life and she is exactly what he never knew he needed.  #relationshipgoals ⁣
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And of course, the icing on the cake in any Helena hockey books…..Violet.  That’s all I need to say on that. ⁣
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A Secret for A Secret has a bit of opposites attract, a touch of the forbidden romance and it’s sexy, romantic and heartfelt.  It’s light on the angst but high on the laughs. Overall, this book is romance perfection, hockey romance perfection and just perfection in general. What’s the highest star rating I can give because this is ALL THE STARS!!!! ⁣
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I received an ARC in exchange my honest opinion.⁣

On the night they meet in a bar and end up spending the night together, both Queenie Masterson and Ryan Kingston (King) are struggling with recent curve balls in their lives. She lost her job and he just found out that his "sister" is really his mom (who had him at the age of 15), a secret that was kept from him for 30 years. Talk about mommy issues! As they knock back shots and loosen up, the swap a secret for a secret, both knowing they will probably never see one another again. The next day all that's left of Queenie is a post-it note on King's doorjamb. But fate has a way of rearing it's awkward head at times, and in this case it's six weeks later.

After recently losing two waitress jobs in a row, 24 year old Queenie moves in to the bungalow on her father's property and agrees to work for him since his assistant is on leave. She was born when her dad was 20, and her mother never wanted a child, taking off and leaving her father to raise her on his own. She definitely has mommy issues as well. Oh, did I mention that her father Jake is the general manager for the Seattle NHL team? The same team, in fact, where the man she hasn't been able to stop thinking about plays goalie.

King, who dresses like a Boy Scout and drives like an old man, is a hockey goalie. He's the team member who is ultra-responsible and dependable, friendly to all the players and staff. King can't believe his bad luck (or good luck, depending how you look at it) when Queenie is introduced by their GM as his new assistant. Dating a staff member would be in poor taste, but what's worse, dating the GM's daughter would be unthinkable. But King hasn't been able to stop thinking about Queenie's flirty, sassy mouth and her beautiful body since that night of terrible decisions six weeks ago. He should have just stuck to his practice of only drinking milk and should have known the shots would lead to trouble. The current trouble, looking so fine in a dress and heels, is also being noticed by all the players on the team. And she makes is clear that they have to be just friends, no exceptions. Much like when he's in goal, King knows how to defend his ground and get what he wants. And King wants Queenie. As such, King plans to make her his, no matter the consequences.

What follows is an often hilarious forbidden romance between two very unique characters who couldn't be more suited for one another. Readers will swoon at the romance and laugh out loud when they realize King is allergic to strawberries. Just wait until you read that part!

This is the third installment in the All In series, and readers will be treated to more scenes with the beloved characters from the first two books: Rook, Lainey, Bishop, Stevie, Alex, and Violet. I would love more books in this series. Helena Hunting has a way of hooking the reader in the beginning and taking them on a wild, rocky ride, and when the ride stops, they are begging for more.

I'm a sucker for a hockey romance and this one just sucked me in! Ryan Kingston (King) has a one night stand with woman he only knows as Queenie, something he never does. She is the complete opposite of him but she draws him like a magnet. He never thought he would see her again but 6 weeks later he goes tot he first official team meeting before the season starts and there she is. The general manager's daughter and completely off limits.

I thoroughly enjoyed parts of this story. Queenie and King have this combustible chemistry that made is very steamy! This one is a sweet and cute romance without all the major angst between the major characters and I really liked that! My only drawback was that there wasn't as much laughter as I am used to with this author, I kinda missed it. These two are completely different from each other but I felt that made them perfect for each other. They held each other's weaknesses and up with their own strength's and vice versa. All in all, this one did draw me in and keep me reading from the start, I just missed the humor that I am used to. Definitely still a great read!

Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I’ll bring my chaos into your calm.”

I am fairly certain that most romance readers love the “opposites attract” trope. More than anything, this trope brings about the greatest insight into the human experience. It highlights our differences but reminds us that those differences are complements to each other. This idea runs thoughtfully through Helena Hunting’s newest book, A Secret for A Secret. If you’re like me, you ran for this book because (1) Ryan Kingston, the “perfect” friend to Shippy in Hunting’s second book of the All in Series, A Favor for a Favor was dreamy, but needed mussing and (2) Hunting was going to do what she does best: bring a heroine to mess Kingston up. And man, did Hunting deliver in this book.

What do we need to know? Ryan Kingston or King for short, is a good guy: ever-present, always thoughtful, straight-laced, a great friend, khaki and white polo shirt wearing, consummate milk drinker. There is nothing he does wrong because his life is controlled down to the food he consumes, his sleep schedule, and the cleanliness of his home. He is the kind of guy you want to take home to your family.

Huntington’s heroine in this story, Queenie, is King’s opposite. She hasn’t figured out her life. The goals she previously set for herself are derailed through her choices. She’s an artistic type who is messy, colorful, and a bit of a loner. Queenie is struggling to find her path in life. As she investigates this, she moves home to live with her father and work as his personal assistant.

One night, Queenie and Kingston meet in a bar, and there is an instant attraction. Both of them commiserate over some life challenges. As one drink leads to another and another, these two end up together for the night. When Kingston wakes up the next morning, Queenie is gone, and he believes he won’t see her again. Until he does. On the first day of practice for the season. And she’s the general manager’s daughter. These two have a keen chemistry from the start, and Kingston, the everpresent good guy, wants to do everything right, but Queenie and her little bit of chaos try to derail it. Are Queenie and Kingston a match made in heaven? If you believe in the law of opposites attracting, then you know the answer.


First off, let me say that I adore Helena Hunting. I think I signed up for an ARC of A Favor for A Favor, and this began my Helena Hunting binge-read fest. When I first began reading romance, I read Hunting’s Pucked and fell in love with her storytelling, but I hadn’t read any of the other books in the series. After AFFAF, I jumped in fast. I quickly, using a combination of e-books and audiobooks, gobbled her Pucked and All In series. She does what others such as Penny Reid do: create these grand universes of characters who interact with each other in new books. That’s my crack in the romance world. Seriously. Nothing makes me happier than for older characters to show up in later books. Think Violet and Alex in A Secret for A Secret. It illustrates Hunting’s ability to know her readers and write romance that feeds their spirits. Secondly, it’s obvious she’s able to envision her fiction beyond one book. It shows a long-game plan, not a short-term enjoyment.

Secondly, Hunting makes me laugh. Out loud. There are so many moments (one especially) that tickles your funny bone in this new story. She finds the hilarity in simple life situations. Whether it’s an allergic reaction or a dad’s reaction to his daughter with a player, there is something funny in everything. Hunting’s genius as a storyteller, though, is her ability to balance her comedy with the gravity of life. Both Kingston and Queenie are dealing with various levels of expectation. Kingston’s family expects that he will make certain decisions, while Queenie’s struggle lies in her perceived expectations of her father and the verbal abuse of her mother. This dichotomy creates moments of despair for her, as she simply doesn’t feel “good enough” under the weight of those expectations. The depth of this reality conspires with the hilarity of Kingston and Queenie’s coupling to remind readers that life is full of ups and downs. How we handle those determine what we get out of life.

Add into A Secret for A Secret...well, secrets, and you have a story that is compelling and engaging. This ARC had been sitting on my Kindle waiting for me to finish ARCs that had an earlier release date. It taunted me because I knew Kingston’s story would be a good one, and Hunting did not disappoint. While the story is a seemingly simple one: straight-laced hockey player falls for the boss’s daughter, it really isn’t. There are heavy feelings of inadequacy due to parental verbal abuse and poor decision making. The constant in this story, the one thing that makes you turn the page until the book is finished, is the way that Kingston determinedly loves Queenie. Period. While there is seeming strife between these two, Hunting has crafted a hero in Kingston that propels you into their story because his love for Queenie is vast and beautiful. He loves every part of her, even though she is different from him. I loved Hunting’s articulation of it as their story grows, so much so that I binge-read the entire book in half a day. To read Kingston love Queenie as she needs to be loved is the glory of A Secret for A Secret.

True to form, Helena Hunting has offered up another glorious hockey story. I can imagine as an author this might become boring. As a reader, though, reading Hunting’s hockey players feels right: every. single. time. She brilliantly exposes the truth of the human experience through the heroes who light up the ice and the heroines who warm their beds. At the very least, the fact that Queen and King are the heroes of A Secret for A Secret should make you run to download their story fast.

I love Ryan Kingston! When we met him as a supporting character in the first books in the series, he seemed like a fairly grounded and "tame" personality. Find out what happens when a nice, toe-the-line guy on the outside turns alpha sex god behind the bedroom doors! King and Queenie trade secrets as virtual strangers but their relationship forms and unfolds based on this very premise! So exciting to watch King fight his alpha side while he tries to do the right thing. Queenie's unfiltered self is a breath of fresh air and keeps both of them on their toes! We definitely get to see more of their respective families as they are the ones who shaped our Hero and heroine into who they are today! Love the chemistry and dynamic between these two!