1. I do not do spoilers unless warned.
2. Read the summary above; it will tell you what the book is about. I will not reiterate.
3. Characters are well developed. No loose ends. I love the addition of animals as characters.
4. Plot is a typical downtrodden girl meets semi-famous boy troupe love story but the story is well developed and flows easily and naturally.
5. No errors that I caught as far as editing.
6. It’s an enjoyable romance. I classify this as bubblegum for the brain: Keeps you occupied for a time and leaves you with a nice taste in your mouth.

This was an enjoyable read. The story line was interesting, the characters were fun and I was surprised at some of the turns the story took. I have enjoyed Kelly Jamieson in the past and continue to be a fan. In these crazy times it was nice to escape into this romantic tale.

This book is all about what I love to read - romance, dogs...and hockey. Otis was a sweet dog that instantly stole my heart. It almost made me want to go out and buy one just like him (but I don't think the cat would like that very much). As much as I liked Otis, it was Lilly’s and Easton’s story that I loved. Poor Lilly, as much as she tried, she couldn’t seem to hold down a job, and not because she was bad as what she did, she just had some tough breaks. And Easton, hockey was his life and he wouldn’t let go of what was the only constant in his life. So how did two people get together? Otis of course. This was a realistic story of a couple beginning a new relationship and whether they can survive the turmoil they find themselves in. I loved the start of Kelly’s new series and can't wait to read the next one.
A fun book to lighten my dreary evening - Must Love Dogs...And Hockey was just what I needed.

What can I say about this book, it was so well written, you will fall in love with the characters, and of course add in dogs and hockey and you've got a hat trick here! 5 amazing pucks for this one!

We meet Lilly, she's just lost her job, again. She's gotta find something soon because there's only so much rent she can expect her roommate and best friend to cover for her. While walking her neighbors dog, she thinks maybe she can walk dogs for a living when all of the sudden, she runs into a hot guy, Easton, with an out of control puppy. The instant attraction these two have is off the charts.

Easton saved this pup and now he's stuck with it. Not what he needs on top of dealing with his nasty coach of this team he's been traded to in New York. How will he take care of the pup when he's on road trips? When he comes across Lilly, he's insanely attracted to her. When he finds out what she's thinking of doing, he asks her if she can watch his new dog Otis while he's out of town.

You will fall in love with these two, and Kelly takes on one of the toughest topics in hockey right now and does an amazing job with it! Kudos to Kelly! Grab this one asap!

Kelly Jamieson wrote another winner. Her books are funny and well developed. I loved the MC's and thought the chemistry was on point. I would recommend this author to others.

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an independent review.
Sweet, sassy romance which was quick and easy to read, with lovable characters. The first book in a new series and I look forward to reading the next one.
4 stars

This book is great for you lovers of sports-themed romance novels. Fans of authors Rachel Gibson and Jacki Burton should give this series a try. There was a discussion of Canadian football versus the NFL that made me really want to watch some Canadian sports. If you are not a sports fan this story is still a great read and does not overwhelm you with hockey terminology nor do you even have to understand the game to get into the story. There was good chemistry between Lily and Easton and there was very low angst to this story. Easton's dog Otis gets a lot of page time and may make you want to go out and get a rescue dog. Both main characters have had trauma that they work through during the story but nothing that requires a trigger warning. This is a great light read. Lily and Easton do get a HEA but the epilogue does leave stuff open for other books in the series which is not surprising as this is book one. Easton has many interesting teammates current and past that can pop up in their own books.

Arc received by NetGalley for an honest review.

I adored this book! it was sweet and sexy, Otis definitely stole the show! one of the best books I've read from this author.

This is a lovely romance, good characters with dogs added in for a bonus.
A great read for a holiday.

4 Star review of Must Love Dogs & Hockey (Bears Hockey #1) by Kelly Jamieson
I was intrigued with the premise of this book and couldn’t wait to dive in to Must Love Dogs & Hockey. This was a well written romance which had me invested in the story from the first to the last chapter.
The chemistry between Lilly and Easton sizzles and as the intensity grows you could feel the heat. Neither of them were looking for a relationship and yet that is what happens. I loved Easton, this bad boy is swoon worthy, he made me laugh and smile and ticked the boxes for me. I also loved how Lilly gave as good as she got; she was sassy and feisty and even when the chips were down, she stepped up. The banter was witty, add in hockey, a dog and you have an entertaining story.
They both have baggage and this book is about confronting the past, accepting it and learning to trust in one another. Their journey is a rocky one but the love they will find at the end is worth it.
I loved Otis, he really brought Lilly and Easton together and they became a family. If you like dogs and hockey,then Must Love Dogs & Hockey is the book for you.
I received a copy of this book, through the publisher via NetGalley

Easton is trying to go under the radar with his calculator, but he is finding it difficult. Now he finds himself with a dog and a job that are at ends with his care.
Lily is between jobs, finding it better to be with the furry floppy eared customers was easier than the human kind, when she crashes into Easton and his new found pet.
This story is not just about love and Hockey, it is about acceptance, patience and letting your heart go.
Both Lily and Easton have to learn to trust one another for their love to grow along with Ottis and make them a family.
A perfect fill for a hockey starved fan like myself who does love dogs! A binge worthy read for 2020!!

Lets be honest here who doesn't love hockey and dogs! As soon as I saw this cover I new I needed to read this book. I love Kelly Jamieson so it was a win on all levels. When Lilly and Easton meet it is really not love at first site but I loved them together. This book is fast paced and it will pull you in the minute you start to read it, it is another great read by this author. It is funny, sweet, and hot, honestly what more could you want in a book. I highly suggest you pick up this book today because you will not be disappointed because it only leaves you wanting more. Thanks Net Galley. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.

Must Love Dogs...and Hockey is a fabulous start to the new series Bears Hockey. I loved Lily. With everything Lily has goes through you cheer her on when she decides her new job. Lily loves dogs and it really shows throughout this one with all her new ideas. There are small sparks starting to fly when it comes to Easton and Lily. I love their slow burn as they get to know you. Easton is so caring when it comes to Otis (the dog). You feel Easton change when it comes to Otis. Easton fights his demons, and less then nice couch, you get to know him and why he is the way he is. Lily and Otis seem to calm him so. If you love animals and hockey then look no further then this one. I really can't wait to get to know the men of the Bears more.

Otis is da bomb! He’s an absolutely adorable, but badly behaved pup that brings Lilly and Easton together when he tries to make friends with the dog that Lilly. Is walking. Easton ended up with Otis by accident and isn’t quite sure how to take care of him, especially since he’s a pro hockey player who is frequently out of town on road trips. When his attempt to find Otis’ owner fails, he figures he’ll need to give the dog up, but he’s growing quite attached and quickly figures out that Lilly, who knows a lot about taking care of dogs, can help him out. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s very attracted to her.

These two are so cute together. Although Lilly is a hockey fan, she’s not star-struck, and thinks Easton is pretty cocky, but as she gets to know him through Otis, she sees the good guy underneath. Neither of them is looking for a relationship, but somehow it finds them anyway and they can’t deny their pull toward each other. Easton has suffered immense loss, making him wary of giving his heart, while Lilly has been professionally devastated and is trying to reinvent herself while still holding on to her natural optimism. Together, they bring out the best in each other. This romance was both heartwarming and sweet while still pulling on the emotions. If this is the start of a new series, I’ll definitely be looking forward to the next one.

Mein Leseerlebnis

“Must love dogs … and hockey” ist ein sehr unterhaltsamer Liebesroman mit ein paar ernsteren Momenten. Die Mischung aus heiteren, teil richtig lustigen Momenten und den ernsteren war für meinen Geschmack sehr gut gewählt. Sowohl Easton als auch Lilly haben berufliche Probleme, bzw. hadern mit Erfahrungen in ihrem Berufsleben. Es war schön zu sehen, wie sie sich gegenseitig unterstützt haben und füreinander da waren.

Beide Hauptcharaktere waren mir sympathisch, auch wenn Easton zu Beginn etwas oberflächlich erschien. Das wandelte sich aber im Laufe des Buches.

Der Schreibstil ist, wie von der Autorin gewohnt, sehr angenehm, ich habe mit dem Buch ein paar angenehme Stunden verbracht. Ganz kann das Buch mit meinen Liebeslingsromanen aus dem Genre nicht mithalten, dafür hätten die Charaktere noch etwas mehr Tiefe haben müssen, es reiht sich aber auf jeden Fall bei den guten sports romances ein und hat bei mir Lust auf mehr erzeugt. 🖤🖤🖤🖤

Wer übrigens die Geschehnisse, mit denen Easton bei seiner Arbeit als Eishockey-Spieler konfrontiert wird, als übertrieben einstuft, dem kann ich versichern, dass etwas sehr ähnliches in den letzten Monaten die Welt des professionellen Eishockeys in Nordamerika (in der NHL) erschüttert hat. Fast alles, was im Buch beschrieben wird, ist tatsächlich ganz ähnlich passiert.

Für wen?

Wer unterhaltsame sports romances mag, in dem Details aus dem Sportlerleben tatsächlich eine Rolle spielen, ist hier an der richtigen Stelle. Und generell alle Leser:innen von zeitgenössischen Liebesromanen.

I’ve been in the mood for reading lighter fare lately, and Must Love Dogs... and Hockey fits perfectly into this category. There are many reasons why I believe this book could have easily been a 4-star rating for me, but there were a few issues that REALLY bothered me.

Easton and Lilly have great chemistry from the start. They’re both dog-lovers (an unexpected discovery for Easton, but it’s not long before he’s all in), especially after Easton saves a dog’s life. That dog eventually becomes his, and Easton names him Otis. The author does a lovely job of creating Otis as a vivid, lovable individual character. It’s easy to see how the trio falls for each other.
Lilly is down on her luck due to legal issues (this is glossed over, and the resolution was unbelievable), and decides to become a dog walker. In pre-pandemic NYC, this is very believable.

Easton is a professional hockey player who was traded to the New York Bears due to his anger issues and uncontrolled impulses. Because hockey is the only thing he has left, Easton fears sticking up for himself or his teammates—although the coach is emotionally and physically abusive to the players.

There’s one scene where Easton musters up the courage to tell the coach what he did was wrong. Afterward, “[m]y gaze sweeps around the rest of the room and Wendy starts clapping. Then Jammer. Then everyone is clapping.”

It’s great that Easton did his best to be an active ally, but the scene felt contrived. Don’t get me wrong; I appreciate the author’s effort to incorporate current events into her work. I applaud her for it, and I hope more authors will follow her lead.

What also doesn’t work is when Easton tells Lilly about the disturbing incident with the coach and Jammer, and this is Lilly’s reaction:
“And I see how distraught he is about the whole thing. I am falling in love. I am falling like the snowflakes outside, like leaves in the autumn and petals in the summer. Like stars that you make a wish on. I know what I would wish for. I wish for him.”

OMG, I’m so glad I read this as an ebook because I would have been tempted to throw a physical copy against the wall. Lilly comes across as being painfully superficial in this moment.

AUTHORS, PLEASE DON’T USE POC CHARACTERS AND THE VERY REAL FIGHT AGAINST RACISM TO HIGHLIGHT THE “PASSION” OF YOUR MAIN CHARACTERS.

The above passage indicates that the scene with Jammer is an easy tool for Lilly to have her “aha” moment about Easton. The juxtaposition of Easton’s raw feelings and Lilly’s reaction to his recounting of a disturbing incident is yikes. With more attentive care, and with the help of Sensitivity Readers (at least two), I believe this part of the story would have worked much better.

There are many parts of the story that worked well for me. Every scene with Otis is a delight. When Lilly and Easton get together, there may as well have been fireworks all over the place, because wow. While I wasn’t completely on board with Lilly’s struggle—I would have liked some more backstory instead of generalized, casual references—Easton’s tragedy is more fleshed out.

The middle sagged, and the ending certainly felt rushed, but in the Acknowledgements, the author admitted it was difficult to write the book this year during the pandemic. I appreciate her candidness. We all can relate and empathize.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Must love dogs…and hockey was a short and sweet weekend read! Hockey romances are my favorite despite the fact that I don’t watch sports at all.

But I loved this. I could relate to the girl character because it is hard being unemployed but I liked how strong she remained during her time and how she started up her own dog business despite the fact that that really isn’t the best movement.

I also liked the romance between her and Easton. The pacing was also well done.

I also liked the locker room type conversations that happened whenever the guys were all together. Their comments did make me laugh.

Must love dogs…and hockey was a four star rating. I hope there’s more books to follow in this series, but I’m guessing there probably is based on the last chapter.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read and review this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Loved the hockey aspect, I wish there had been a bit more honestly! The relationship between the main characters unfolded at a realistic pace which made you want to keep reading. I loved the personality of Otis and the dynamic he brought to the book. I do feel the ending left me wanting more, I hope there will be a sequel!!

I received this book free through NetGalley for my honest review.

Hockey romances are by far my all time favorite sports romance, and this one was a bit of a miss for me. The lead characters where a little flip floppy one moment from the next. The relationship between Lily and Easton grows feeling as if it's real life naturally done. I didn't connect with Lily and I thought I would having worked in the same industry for 15 yrs and seeing horrible things.
I was disappointed in that there were no real interactions with side characters. It was like hey here is a roommate, here is a team mate, etc and those relationships fell completely flat. The first two chapters grab you, and the dog (Otis) is adorable and probably my favorite character in the book. I will definitely be giving another book by this other a try to see if this was just a one off for me.

This book started off promising, but then it lost my interest and I wanted to stop reading it. I powered through a few more chapters then skipped to the last two chapters. I’m happy with the ending. I usually enjoy this author, but this book simply was not the one for me.