This book was great! I was enraptured with the story from the very beginning. Josh and Sara had such easy chemistry and banter you couldn't stop it from sucking you in. From the moment they sat down to do the podcast together I devoured every page, sentence and word that followed. This is a great beginning to the Bears series and I hope we get to read a book about the other members of the team as well. I do like that both Sara and Josh had some challenges they had to overcome and that they were real and relatable.

I do find it hard to read a book that reminds me of the Humboldt Bronco's tragedy! Growing up in a hockey family that tragedy hit close to home for me as we were regularly travelling across our province for hockey. I must admit it's been hard to separate fiction from reality. However, the two stories so far have been great plots overall.

4.5 star TOP PICK of 2020

The themes in You Had Me at Hockey by Kelly Jamieson about the need for communication and the lesson that everyone's experience is their own took this book to a level that transcended a romance read.
One the surface Sara Carringon and Josh Heller seem like polar opposites but both a quirky and accept their flaws... making them so very endearing.

It becomes very clear the reader from the first meeting filled with amazing banter that these two have a connection and I adored that as a reader we were so much apart of these two getting to know each and got to be part of them learning to share each other's space.

Josh's backstory is current and heartbreaking....and well I do not want to say more as I want the reader to experience it as I did.. revealed slowly and laced with raw emotions....

Oh...make sure to bring tissues... because Carter and his trading cards... man.. my heart...

Longtime readers of Jamieson will recognize the last name Heller....personally I read and adored her Heller brothers series years ago and was so happy to read about the next generation; Josh is Tag’s son from Faceoff!

I really hope we get more from the Bears Hockey Universe because Jamieson, hockey, and NYC is a hat trick!

ps.....Hunter needs a happy

Josh Heller is not happy about being traded to a New York team. He likes his world organized and planned out and a trade is going to be disruptive, but when he meets vlogger Sara, he thinks maybe New York won't be so bad.

Sara is a successful social media star. She keeps herself busy with lots of work to help deal with the depression she faces at times. I loved this aspect of the story and how Josh and Sara's deal with their issues with Josh being a planner to deal with a traumatic event in his past and Sara's full schedule that keeps her from slipping into depression. They are both high-functioning, yet carrying around some challenges. It was easy to relate to them from that perspective.

This is a sweet romance between two people who aren't expecting it. I really liked that about it, and there's plenty of humor and chemistry between Josh and Sara. They both have issues they are dealing with and I loved Josh's growth while he resolves the issues with his teammate. The concept of fear is one that people can relate to.

Overall, this was a sweet opposites-attract sort of story. It's an easy read and I really liked Josh and Sara and their individual stories and how they are together.

2.5 stars

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

I really liked Kelly Jamieson’s previous book, another ARC I requested randomly based on the cover, so I decided why not try book two, You Had Me at Hockey? And while this book has some redeeming features, I found this to be a bit of a dud.

The characters are reasonably interesting. I particularly liked Sara and getting insight into her life as a YouTube influencer. Given the bad reputations of some of the real life influencers, I like that Sara is still so real and isn’t afraid to embrace the fact that she’s “weird,” and yet still is professional and unpretentious about her career. And Josh wasn’t bad either, although I wasn’t super connected to him as a character.

I get what Jamieson was trying to do in establishing an opposites-attract relationship between the more detail oriented hockey player and the chaotic influencer. But it never really translated well in execution. They say they like each other, they have good sex, but I don’t get a sense that there’s anything more than that to their relationship.

I think this is another case where the book just wasn’t for me, and I wanted more from the relationship development than the book could give me. I feel like if you like a steamy romance and are willing to accept it for what it is, you’ll likely enjoy this more than I did.

I really liked this story! Josh has a routine and he definitely likes to stick with it. He doesn't like change, so when he is New York it seems like it is the worst thing that could have happened to him. And him meeting Sara seemed to throw things into even more chaos from his point of view. I might have laughed at him quite a few times! Him and Sara have this chemistry that I really liked. She is quirky and funny and I really liked her! They definitely seemed to bring about the best in each other, which I really liked! They helped each other see beyond their own limitations, which was even better. This story was just fun and quirky and I was drawn in from the start. Definitely well worth the read!

This was funny and cute and quirky and sexy and just heartwarming. I loved the meet between Sara and Josh and seeing their differences and how they complemented each other. This is sweet and heartwarming.

This was a sweet, low-angst romance the proves the old adage, opposites attract. Josh is a driven, highly organized hockey player who experienced career and life threatening injuries as a teen player in a team bus accident with multiple fatalities. Ever since, he has held tightly to control over all aspects of his life. He's not comfortable unless everything in his life is tightly planned and fully anticipated. When the book opens, he's thrown for a loop when he's unexpectedly traded from his current (and only) team in Dallas to an NYC team. Soon after he arrives, he's asked to do some publicity by appearing on a podcast with Sara, an influencer and lifestyle vlogger. Sara is one of those people who seems to have no filter and no plan. She's all about spontaneity and following wherever her impulses lead her and has built a very successful brand in doing so. When these two meet on her podcast, much to both their surprise, sparks fly and they find themselves clicking big time. But it's a challenge for Josh to embrace spontaneity, while Sara has been burned in the past by others wanting her to tone down her personality and be more conforming and she doesn't want that to happen with Josh.

Watching these two negotiate their differences and form a close relationship was a delight. They balance each other out and have so much fun together in the middle of podcasts, bad poetry readings and skating lessons. They both start out wary of a relationship, but they just can't help themselves and both find themselves unexpectedly "catching feelings". As always with Kelly's books, although there are some emotional issues to be dealt with, it's all done with a light touch that doesn't bog down the romance. I found it just as enjoyable as the first book in the series (although missing the adorable dog this time) and I'm looking forward to the next one.

4
Where to start. I enjoyed this book, falling in love with the characters and watching their hearts grow fond of each other. Josh has a lot of baggage and though Sarah is perfect for him, she’s not his usual type. Sarah is still learning her way, and though she has some things to work through herself, she embraces who she is and shows the world it’s okay to be yourself.
Together they grow and blossom with hurdles and I loved watching that through each character’s eyes.
I would recommend this HEA.

Social Influencer, Hockey, Opposites Attract

3.5 stars

You Had Me at Hockey is the 2nd book about the NY Bears. It is a standalone book with strong tie ins to book 1 (Must Love Dogs and Hockey.

This book centers in Josh and Sara. For the most part, I liked both of these characters. Josh is a little uptight and Sara is very much a free spirit, but they seem to balance each other well. I enjoyed getting to know both characters and seeing them evolve.

My one complaint is that the story between Josh and Sara seemed to stall a little bit. The idea of both of them being busy, traveling, missing each other, etc was important to establish, but there were places where it felt repeated a little too much.

Overall, this is an entertaining read that also touches on a couple of important issues. I was glad to see Josh resolved his conflict with Easton (from book 1) and I’m curious if we will see more of these characters in future Bear books.

You Had Me At Hockey
Kelly Jamieson
Contemporary Romance / Sports Romance – Hockey
3.5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐️✨


Josh Heller was in a bad accident as a teenager, one that left him unsure if he’d ever be able to play hockey again. He was lucky enough to recover physically and is now following in his family’s footsteps as a professional Hockey player, but the impact of his earlier accident has been long term. He is a careful planner, and fairly spontaneity and risk averse as a result.

When his team trades him to New York, Josh is thrown off – he does not like things that do not go to plan. He soon meets Sara, a quirky, spontaneous and free-spirited social media influencer. Can she help him come out of his shell?

This book was the second in a series and I had not read the first yet, luckily this is one of those tie together but can read out of order series – same world, but it did not trip me up to have not read book 1 yet. (Although, full disclosure I did purchase book one to start reading next! 😊) Now, if you are like me and enjoy fun, fast (and steamy 🔥) contemporary, sports romances – especially hockey ones – this book is going to be for you!

I went through this read really quickly, it was fun and satisfying and had enough steam to make me blush a bit. I thought the characters were both interesting and had good backstories – I was particularly interested in Josh’s and (no spoilers!) was very happy with how one aspect of his played out.

The romance was a memorable one – their first date was one that stands out. I enjoyed seeing them learn to share their vulnerabilities with one another and fall into a relationship that seemed to bring out the best in both. They had some cute banter and from the start I was on board for the romance between them. I was surprised by one of the tropes that came up (which I can not say without spoilers), it’s usually one I do not enjoy to be honest, but it was handled better than in some.

I liked the alternating POVs and was initially a little worried because I liked Josh right off, but was unsure about Sara. Sara, was a bit different and not someone I find entirely relatable, however I was pleasantly surprised to end up still really enjoying and appreciating her.

Overall, looking for a fun, fast, steamy hockey romance read? Definitely pick this one up. In the meantime, I’m excited to check out more books from this author soon.

** I was lucky enough to receive an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review from @NetGalley and @RandomHouse

First let me say, I loved Josh as a character. I related to him a lot. He had anxiety when things weren't planned out, or plans changed. He gets thrown for a loop when he is traded and has to leave immediately to go play hockey in New York. Not only that but one of his ex-best friends also play for that team.

While Josh is getting settled in his new city he is also trying to gain good will to his new team and is tasked with some publicity for exposure. While doing a podcast interview he meets Sara.

Sara is a fun loving YouTuber who makes videos that are real and honest, that show the quirky side of her personality. She is interviewing a hockey star and little did she know they would have so much easy banter and chemistry.

I loved their banter and their sort of give and take of each others challenges. There were a lot of funny moments when they try to go on dates that provided some comic relief. I was not a fan of her being a virgin, I think it added nothing to the story and if anything it made me dislike that whole part of the story line.

Overall if you love imperfect quirky characters, relatable issues like anxiety and depression, with an HEA I think you would like this story.

Trigger Warning: Cancer, trauma, grief, depression, and anxiety.

Jamieson makes it easy to get caught up in the game and lose your heart in the process. Josh and Sara are sure to keep the laughs coming. You Had Me at Hockey enchants with humor and entertains with romance. With a light heart and an open mind, Jamieson and company score a winning goal.

You Had Me at Hockey is the second book in the Bears Hockey series by Kelly Jamieson. A story of opposites attracts when two very different people on paper share an undeniable chemistry. The characters are easy to relate to and fun to read as their lives come together to create a wonderful love story. I can't wait to read the next book in the Bears Hockey series.

Sara is chaos personified, Josh likes to plan. However they clicked immediately, with a natural chemistry, and I really appreciated their meet-cute.

A little awkward, cute and funny, a promising story to come for these two.

Sara is a breath of fresh air, unfiltered, real and authentic, living one moment at a time. As a social influencer, she loves to share her experiences with them but lacks a bit of esteem. It was interesting to see both sides, with all the good and the bad.
I appreciated to see more than her cool job but nonetheless difficult and demanding.

Josh likes stability, the peace and quiet.
Being traded, living in a new city was disrupting his plans and mostly meeting Sara literally turned his world upside down. He is selfless and caring but still affected by this tragic accident when he was younger, he likes to be in control and his routine was important.

The author gave greater depth to the characters, describing Sara’s struggles and Josh's traumatic experience. As much I enjoyed those parts, I felt like the transitions between chapters or sometimes changing POV were a little abrupt. It was sometimes disconcerting. The issues between Josh and his former teammate, Easton were brought up so many times in the story but never really explaining why they ended that way. It felt dragged out and revealed a little late to me.

However I enjoyed seeing them sharing their vulnerabilities, not playing games and falling into a relationship that brought the best in each other. There were definitely things that the author did well and somehow I wanted Josh and Sara’s connection to be stronger, I could feel how strong when it came to intimacy but outside of it, I needed more.

Sports romance, opposites attract, great chemistry damn You almost Had Me At Hockey…

Sexy and entertaining with these like-able and endearing characters, I had a hard time putting this down. I laughed, I cried, and rooted for these two opposites. Captivated from the first page to the last I loved this heartwarming romance.

Josh and Sara are incredibly sweet together and I loved their chemistry. These two trying to figure each other out in the beginning is adorable. I was expecting this player of a man but who I got was incredibly closed off, due to a traumatic event in his youth. I loved his character development and his growth throughout the story. Watching his struggle was so endearing as his feelings for Sara developed. I liked Sara a lot she seemed to be very perceptive to his needs and was so forgiving and so real. I loved this story of healing and opening their heart and letting love in. It was totally enjoyable, a fun and sexy read.

Kelly Jamieson knows how to write sexy hockey sport romance that simply charms. Wonderful heroines. Lickable heroes. And romance that makes a girl swoon.

Sara’s a life blogger/influencer and is set up to interview a new to New York hockey player for a podcast where they meet. They laugh and connect with attraction simmering between them, even though they’re quite different. There were a lot of fun moments of humor, but there was a deeper emotional side to the story, too. Josh has some personal battles stemming from a tragedy that almost stole his life and career. His past and another personal connection he made in this book had me tearing up quite a bit.

Josh was a bit buttoned up, but underneath a sweet gentleman. He did like to have control over situations and was big on planning ahead which made Sara a woman he theoretically wouldn’t mesh with, but she was a breath of fresh air for him. Helped Josh get out of his comfort zone and have fun. He was able to introduce her to some new experiences, too. Very sexy experiences!

Sara was sweet, quirky and with a zest for life and new experiences. I liked that she felt comfortable in her own skin, but as any normal woman dealt with self-doubt and esteem issues from time to time which made her very relatable.

You Had Me at Hockey was cute, sweet, but also pretty darn hot! It was a pleasing blend of sizzling romance, lighthearted fun, and deeper emotions. Now I’d like to go back and read the first book!

You Had Me at Hockey is a fantastic read. You will love Josh and Sara so much. Josh is a sweetheart. I love his connection with Sara from the very start. He will make you smile and laugh out loud. Sara is fantastic as she takes Josh under her wings and shows him the city. I love how Sara helps Josh move past and heal his relationship with Easton. This is such a fun wonderful read that I couldn't put down.

Josh is a Pro Hockey Player who survived a bad accident as a teen that has made him cautious and rather serious about life. Sara is a Social Media influencer who has built her following based on being completely real and authentic; cooking disasters, zits, and all. She is up for anything and rarely plans things out. When these two meet for an interview the sparks fly and Sara makes it her mission to coax a smile out of this grumpy hockey player.

I LOVED these characters! They are so real and flawed and wonderful! Sara is completely authentic and is always up for a new experience, but we also come to realize that she gets her feelings hurt by online trolls and feels immense pressure to deliver for her audience. Author Kelly Jamieson perfectly captures the life of a inherently cheery person who also struggles with clinical depression. Sara spoke to me because I have that same seemingly incongruent situation. I am the most upbeat, enthusiastic, happy person you have ever met who also sometimes is gripped with depression that drags me into a hole of laying in bed, overanalyzing everything, and crying. These two sides are hard to reconcile and yet completely real and Jamieson wrote it with skill and heart.

Josh is also wonderfully complex. He is giving and selfless and sweet. But as his story unfolds we come to gain clarity on a major part of his life in which he has been unable to consider anyone outside of himself. We see how, in this instance, he is selfish and stubborn, but we also understand WHY and love him more for it.

I took a star off because Sara loses her virginity in this book and it could not be any LESS realistic. I....just....*sigh* If authors want to de-virgin a leading lady in their book I just want it to be remotely realistic. Not a three orgasm, zero discomfort, let's-have-sex-4-more-times-before-the-sun-rises, situation. Listen, there doesn't have to be bleeding and tears, but COME ON.

This is the 2nd book in the series, but is excellent as a standalone. I did read the first book (and I loved it), but you really don't have to and you won't feel lost.

TRIGGERS: fatal car accident, pediatric cancer, clinical depression, online bullying

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I will be honest. I haven’t’ read the first book in this series before I read this one but I loved this book! The perfect winter hockey romance! I loved the two characters Sara, a social media influencer, and Josh a defensemen for the Bears hockey team. They meet while Sara is interviewing Josh for her podcast and sparks fly immediately. There is such good humor and innuendo right off the bat in this book! They build a friendship as they fall for each other and it was amazing. And the steam in this one! Seriously I am so happy I read this book. I read this entire book in the span of a day - its a quick read that devoured. I received this book through NetGalley and I have been in a NetGalley slump lately with not picking great ones but this was fun, entertaining and so enjoyable. I definitely need to read the first in this series and then some of the many other books Kelly Jamieson has written.

Really enjoyable second book in Jameson's Bears Hockey series. Because of what happened in his past, Josh insists on planning everything. Getting traded throws him off, but his life gets shaken up even more when he meets Sara. She's so spontaneous and unfiltered. When they meet to record a podcast together, there's instant chemistry. As they spend more time together, Sara helps Josh loosen up and have more fun, and he helps her focus and gain confidence. There are some serious moments in here, but overall it was a fun book. Although probably not necessary, I recommend reading the first book in the series to understand some background.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.