Oh, this was such a sweet, sweet book! I may be a weirdo, but I love a story that starts with a breakup! I feel like it helps solidify the characters former relationship trauma! Both Alexei and Kennedy are coming from fresh breakups of very serious relationships, so it seems like they shouldn't be ready to jump into another one, which they don't...technically. And of course, we all KNOW that a fake dating scheme is going to turn real, but their relationship moved slowly, and realistically! It was a SSSLLLLOOOOWWWW burn! (But not at all in a frustrating way!) There are good, understandable explanations as to why they approach life and relationships in their own screwed up ways. Despite their damage, and their third-act-breakup (because, of course there is one!) they figure out how to effectively communicate and work there their past traumas!

This is a slightly steamy book. There are a couple of descriptive scenes, but not at all overwhelming. The supporting characters are really fun, and actually add to the story. And in the end...a HEA, of course!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and rate it 5/5 stars! I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn’t put this book down. I absolutely love a hockey romance and this one did not disappoint, I highly recommend reading it. This book is released August 3, 2023. Thank you to Kathryn Kincaid, Kathryn Kincaid Publishing and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

I am so appreciative that I recieved an ARC for this book. I stayed up until 2 AM just to binge finish it. It was literal perfection. I liked it better then Elle Kennedy hockey romance novels because the secondary characters weren't as involved. I wasn't a fan of Gemma because she wore it like a badge of honour that she stalked Matt. I loved Alexei and Kennedy barbs. The low simmering and the tropes made this book my favourite hockey romance novel. Enemies to lovers and fake dating were executed perfectly. I wish this becomes a series so we can see more of Alexei and Kennedy.