First, I'd like to start by saying thank you to Harlequin, Carina Press, and NetGalley for approving my request to read "Lucky Bounce" by Cait Nary!

I was really looking forward to reading this story because I absolutely love a single dad AND hockey romance, plus, I've always wanted to read an MM romance too. This book really had a lot of things going for it!! But unfortunately, I soon realized that the style of writing wasn't really for me. I found it difficult to connect with the characters because we never got their inner dialogues. Additionally, the writing was a little choppy at times and then that ending?? It was so abrupt. Overall, not the biggest fan :/

This was another new-to-me author and it seems she only has a few books under her belt so far. I’ll definitely be going back to read them since I enjoyed this story. There were a few things that didn’t work for me, however.

Zeke and Spencer have great chemistry and Zeke’s natural love of children and high-energy personality give him an instant connection with Spencer’s daughter, Addie. I love the awkward start to the relationship between the two men. The uncertainty that is overridden by the intense chemistry is very well written. Yet the fact that this is written in the third person with the limited internal view of only Zeke was a detriment to this story at times. Although Zeke and Spencer have distinct personalities, sometimes I would get confused about which character the narrator was talking about. I don’t know that I needed Spencer’s POV, but I feel the flow would have been better with a first-person POV for Zeke.

For the most part, this story is low angst. Spencer, as a professional athlete, is not openly gay. His teammates and family know, but it’s not common knowledge. I thought that would be a plot point in this story and it really isn’t. So even though there are some issues Zeke and Spencer have to work through, and Zeke has some anxiety issues, none of it seems insurmountable or overwhelming.

The author used some acronyms without explanation or context clues. I knew a couple but had to look one up. Maybe it shouldn’t, but that annoyed me. There is also a “joke” about Spencer’s reading ability. While Spencer has no problem reading, I found the joke in bad taste because what if he couldn’t? And what if someone reading (or listening?) to this book has a reading disability? I don’t think I’m being oversensitive when I say making fun of someone’s reading ability is not funny.

Finally, I want to stand up for Spencer. I felt as though I was told over and over that he was rude, mean, a jerk, etc. with nothing showing me that at all. I looked at Spencer as a grumpy, shy, hesitant, introvert. Sure, he may be a bit intimidating on the ice, but that’s his job. Not once did I think he was being mean or a jerk to Zeke.

Even with all the little things that didn’t sit well with me in this book, I still thoroughly enjoyed the story. It gave me all the feels I want to feel when reading a romance and I loved both of the main characters and their friends. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

Zeke is used to encountering famous parents at the school he teaches at, but when his new student is the daughter of Spencer McLeod (his absolute favorite NHL player and the guy he has a mad crush on), Zeke is more than a little overwhelmed. Especially when Spencer keeps emailing and texting him, far more than other parents do. School events throw them together at first, but Spencer and Zeke keep finding more ways to spend time together and as their friendship progresses, Zeke wonders how a potential relationship of theirs could ever work. Do a laid back gym teacher and highly focused professional hockey player even have a chance at something more?
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This book left me breathless. It made my toes curl with glee and left me so damn teary and happy all at once. Zeke was a fantastic character. He was absolutely charming and fun. I adored him from start to finish. His friendship with Jake and with his coworker, and his tentative flirting with Spencer was perfection. Spencer and Addie were this not-so-perfect family figuring things out and Zeke was the greatest compliment to their dynamic. I loved that everyone in Spencer’s orbit (except his mother) was supportive and pushing him towards a relationship and taking time for himself.

Things I loved- No third act breakup! Strong found family vibes.
Communication was not strong between them, but these are young guys figuring things out so it kind of made sense. Spencer has a lot on his plate to deal with so he seemed like he was doing his best. I put this book down happy and satisfied and wanting to read more by this author.

This was so cute, and I loved the premise of this story, unfortunately the writing wasn’t that great, and the overall plot was kind of clunky. I did really love Spencer and Zeke, and had this been a better written story, I would’ve rated it higher.

I was given an ARC by NetGalley and Carina Press. All opinions are my own.

Before I begin my review, I want to say thank you to NetGalley and Cait Nary for the opportunity to read and review this upcoming release!

“Lucky Bounce” is the story of Zeke and Spencer. Zeke is a gym teacher for a school that caters to kids of high profile people. Spencer is a hockey player whose daughter is now attending Zeke’s school. Zeke is a huge fan of hockey and an even bigger fan of Spencer. When the two first meet, there’s something there, but neither really know how to navigate their feelings. Zeke has always been told he can be too much. Meanwhile, Spencer isn’t one to talk feelings (but he is a blusher) and tends to keep conversations short. However, the more the two spend together whether it be at school events or after hockey games, the more these two prove that opposites really do attract.

This book is a light and fun romcom read. It’s written in 3rd person, but we only get Zeke’s POV. I’m rating this book 3 stars due to the fact that I didn’t really feel much of a connection between Zeke and Spencer. The writing seemed jumpy. Plus not that it’s a huge deal, but whenever Spencer talks his go to word is “whatever,” which makes it sounds like he couldn’t care less during half of the conversations. Like I said, not a big deal, but that’s just how it felt to me. Lastly, I’m not sure if this is due to how the arc was formatted or if it’s how the author writes, but I would have liked for the texts and emails to be separated from the paragraphs to make things easier to read.

Overall, this is a cute read and there were times I did laugh out loud. However, I would have liked Spencer’s POV to understand him a little better. Plus the book ends so abruptly that there really isn’t a true epilogue.

M/M hockey romance perfect for fans of The Bromance Book Club...</b></i>

This quick read has just the right amount of humor, tons of chemistry, and plenty of swoon-worthy moments to satisfy. The dynamics between single-dad, grumpy hockey star Spencer and hot-mess-sunshine PE teacher Zeke practically jump off the page, and the friends that help them get together are total #goals, serving up the humor and camaraderie fans of Lissa Bray's Bromance Book Club will enjoy. Lines like calling brussel sprouts "Satan's tiny lettuce balls" had me rolling, while moments like Spencer inadvertently and spontaneously admitting to catching feelings had me all warm and fuzzy inside. Spencer is the epitome of a grump (honestly, he puts Luke from Gilmore Girls to shame) but like Zeke figures out throughout the book, he keeps showing up in different ways, proving how much he truly cares. Although he does tell Zeke to shut up, like, a lot. Some revelations come to light that typically would lead to some serious drama, but author Cait Nary keeps the story relatively drama-free so readers can just enjoy the beginnings of this found-family romantic comedy. The HEA is a bit rushed and this invested reader definitely could've used more time with these two as an actual couple, but it was a fun read with a great combo of spice, heart, and humor. Hoping for a sequel -- I could use more Frankie! #iykyk

**Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.**

Thank you to Carina Press and Harlequin for the ARC of Lucky Bounce in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely could not put down this charming m/m romance story by Cait Nary. Read Lucky Bounce if you love giant grumpy men who swear and blush a lot but are secretly a soft grizzly bear on the inside. For those who are not sports-minded (like me), Lucky Bounce is totally accessible; a delightful parent-falls-for-teacher love story with a small garnish of hockey, which mostly exists to service the blossoming relationship.

Curl up with something cozy, warm and even steamy this winter. Highly recommend this sweet, endearing romance. Grab it when it’s out on January 9th!

This book really hit the spot. Super sweet and wonderful. Very low angst love story between a professional hockey player and his child’s gym teacher. Very cute all around. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this one a little early. A perfect little low stakes romance for the holiday season. The characters in this book acknowledge the issues that arise in a relationship between a professional athlete and a normal person, but don’t focus on them too much to the point of annoyance. The characters find more conflict within themselves than find conflict with each other, which was a difference I liked. This book is only single POV so you get a better understanding of the growth and resolution of the main character, but you can also feel it for the other one. All that combined with no 3rd act break-up made for a very wonderful romance story that I would def recommend. My only complaint was that I wanted a little more of an ending, but its abruptness doesn’t take away too much from the overall book.

I wanted to love this book since it has all the things I love - sports romance, single dad falling for his kid's teacher, some snark but it just fell a little flat for me and I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that it was all in one POV and I never really felt like I got to know Spencer. If I'm honest I didn't even feel like I knew Zeke all that much even though it's his POV. There just wasn't a lot of dimension in these characters. I loved the first few chapters, they were cute and I was enjoying this book but then not much happens for a long time. There isn't much dialogue between our two MC's and they really don't get to know each other. We don't even find out how Addie came to be until almost the end and it's hinted that's it's a big deal but Zeke and Spencer never talk about it. They don't talk about much - just have a bunch of sex. It's also hinted that Zeke has some family issues but it's never really addressed and we don't find out what/why. There really isn't even any sports in this sports romance. It's all just surface level. Also Spencer calling Zeke "Bud" all the time drove me crazy! Finally the thing that drove me the most crazy was how abruptly this book ended. I honestly thought maybe there was something wrong with the ARC I got. An epilogue would have been nice or at least an ending that wasn't quite so abrupt.

Wow I was enjoying myself and then it just abruptly ENDED??

This would have made for a great first half of a book. There was a satisfying build, and then suddenly they were together and the book ended without any conversation, plot, or actual conflict occurring within the relationship. Really odd, especially considering that the narrator's defining trait is how much of a chatterer he is. I would have expected some discussion about what the relationship was and where it was going, especially considering that a) one of the parties in the relationship is a closeted celebrity, b) there is a child involved, and c) the other party is the child's teacher!! How can you just not talk about any of that, seems very important!!!

I really enjoyed the first half of this book, the narrator is a fun character, the relationship is cute, and the writing style is fast-paced and snappy, which is just what you want from a sports romance. Unfortunately it just didn't follow through, for some reason.

Lucky Bounce is the gay hockey romance you NEED to read this year!

Lucky Bounce follows Zeke, an elementary school PE teacher, who just so happens to meet one of his favorite hockey players, the father of one of his students. When they meet and decide to start becoming a part of each other's lives, things will not be the same for either of them.

I absolutely enjoyed this romance. Like it took me a second to get the setting and the characters settled into my brain, but as soon as they were there , I couldn't put this down. Although I would definitely classify this as a slow-burn, the pay off is all too real for the readers. Cait Nary just knows how to build sexual tension. Like in an amazing way. ITS JUST SO DELICIOUS! Readers are absolutely going to be delighted with how this turns out.

There are so many reasons to love this book. It's adorable, sweet, and spicy. The spice is honestly next level in this book. If that is the one thing that convinces you to read this book, let it be that. The spice is DELECTABLE, STEAMY, CREAMY, and just 🥵🥵🥵🥵.

I really enjoyed the writing style of this novel as well. In far too many stories, it feels cookie cutter (not a bad thing), but this story didn't hinge on any classic plot device and the climax was just a good feeling in this novel.

Read this book! You won't regret it!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for giving me the opportunity to read Lucky Bounce!

This was my first dive into the hockey m/m romance genre, and I really enjoyed it. I am not sure what makes hockey such a sought after sport in this realm of books, but I didn't hate it!

I thought that the characters were well thought out and developed. Zeke and Spencer's relationship was enjoyable to see as it progressed. I kind of wish Zeke had more awareness? When I was reading I felt like he was so clueless - which both added to his charm, but was also extremely frustrating for me. Spencer also was a great representation of someone who can't communicate - like I know people like that in real life. I thought that their growth together was sweet and the feelings/pining of Zeke towards Spencer was great!

There is spice in this book, but I felt like it was rushed in some instances? I wasn't reading this book for the spice - and honestly the book itself could standalone without those scenes. However, please show me two real men with as much self control as Zeke and Spence when things finally get hot and heavy!

Overall, I enjoyed this book! I will definitely be checking out more from the author and am looking forward to exploring the world of hockey mm romance!

I figured out VERY early on that this author's writing style is just not for me. The writing felt very juvenile and choppy for me. The dialog in particular didn't flow or feel natural.

Beyond that, this book would have benefited greatly from dual narration. I don't feel like I knew Spencer at all, though both characters read fairly one-dimensional. The romance itself was pretty lacking too - it felt flat and totally lacking in any buildup or yearning.

I hate rating a book this low, especially one with a premise I expected to love, but this one was just a no for me.

*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This was a really sweet M/M hockey romance. Zeke is a gym teacher, Spencer is a famous hockey player, and Addie is the spitfire kindergartener who brings them together.

While overall enjoyable, I had some issues with this book. The writing style was rough, there were a lot of unnecessary interjections (so many inserts of “whatever”) and the dialogue was stilted. A lot of the time it didn’t even read like a spoken conversation. There was also a lot of surface level content but it lacked anything deeper; the characters were very one dimensional and there wasn’t a ton of character development. And then, of course, the abrupt ending. It was jarring how abruptly everything ended, I really disliked it.

This was overall a really enjoyable book, I read it very quickly and had a good time! Just don’t go in expecting more than what it is: a surface level fluff novel meant to kill an hour or two.

Hockey romance can be a bit overdone, unless there’s a twist on it that makes it stand out. While I wouldn’t say that the twist of the love protagonist being the hockey players daughters teacher was particularly innovating, I did find the romance and support of Spencer’s teammates heartwarming. While not the most original romance I’ve read, this still had enough angst and sweet moments to keep me engaged

I don't really like the superfan/celebrity romance dynamic, and I thought its depiction was particularly cringy here. the banter between Zeke and Spencer (as well as the constant use of hockey slang, like "chirp") felt painful, and I wasn't really invested in their story. This wasn't for me at all, but a huge hockey fan might like it.

I was so excited to read this one the premise sounded so good. I was not able to get into it unfortunately it fell flat and I couldn't connect so I had to stop reading.

I did not dislike this but it didn't quite charm me. It had some cute moments for sure, and I liked both MCs, though I didn't feel that I knew either of them all that well. I think this would have worked well as a novella or short story. As it was, parts of it really lagged because nothing really happens. And while I actually like romance books where nothing happens, what actually has to be happening in those books is a lot of character depth and relationship building. And that was lacking here, I think partly because of the single POV. But also, these MCs were likeable for sure but just not that interesting? They had chemistry but the book didn't really offer much in the way of feels. It also has a really abrupt ending, which again, I think wouldn't have been so jarring in a novella but felt odd here. The book sort of felt like a long ride to nowhere.

Even the sex scenes had some of the stuff that really does it for me, but were written in kind of a summary type way, sort of "I said a bunch of nonsense like baby, sweetheart, I'll take care of you," etc... And like while I'm happy with any degree of heat, particularly low heat, this felt like a tease because I love hearing characters say all that stuff to one another, it's where the emotion and connection come in for me, but just sort of summarizing all that rather than actually letting the reader experience the characters saying it to one another felt like a let down.

Also, just as a personal taste thing, I don't love celebrity romances where the non-famous MC actively has a thing for the celebrity ahead of time. I know some people totally go for that kind of plot, and there's certainly nothing wrong with it, but it is not my cup of tea. It's just hotter to me to have hot hockey player lend or buy the other MC a jersey or whatever rather than the other MC already having a closet full of jerseys with the famous MC's name on them because they've been thirsting after them since way before they actually met. Again, just a me thing.

My other annoyance was the kid element, which is no surprise because I nearly always hate kids in romance. Some parts of it I actually liked here because the kid was rowdy and emotional and forced some plans to be cancelled and such, which is the reality of kids. I know romance doesn't always need to be realistic, but pretending like kids are cute, precocious props makes me ragey. The issue here is that this kid is five. And one of the MCs is her gym teacher at school. Dating parents of kids in your class is already super iffy to me, even if you are the gym teacher rather than their main classroom teacher. And having the whole thing need to be secret because their parent is a celebrity not ready to go public about their sexuality is a whole other layer. Like okay, maybe this pricey private school has employees that are really good at maintaining silence about the parents. I can believe that, so maybe the teachers that know the gym teacher is dating this celeb wouldn't tell anyone. But his five year old kid is going to go to school and tell other kids that she went skating and to a museum and on other fun outings with their gym teacher! She's going to be so excited to tell other kids. And then when the gym teacher sleeps over and makes her breakfast she's going to tell them that too. And those kids are going to tell their parents. And those parents are going to gossip. So the whole element of like this being a sort of secret thing just felt off to me. Not that all celebrity romances need to have the celebrity come out publicly, but this aspect of the kid and the teacher and how that would play out just felt so unrealistic.

I feel like I had a lot of criticism here, and I really didn't dislike the book, I just think there wasn't enough depth happening for a novel and it would have made a better short story. But if you really like celebrity romance and want something very low angst with lots of cute moments and no third act breakup (YAY for books with no third act breakup!!), this might be a real winner for you.

A teacher falls for a parent of one of his students, this story has been told many times before, but this version has a nice twist. Instead of this parent being your typical parent, he is one of the stars of the Philadelphia Liberty team. This gay romance is an interesting approach to the trope that’s been done many times before and I had high hopes for it, but something just didn’t click for me. I had no connection, or, honestly, interest in the main characters. I felt no chemistry between them and had no idea how they would be together. Spencer hardly said anything besides ‘whatever’ and grumbles and we got to see too many of Zeke’s thoughts in this story. I liked the idea behind this romance, but I couldn’t connect of get into it. The ending also left me confused, maybe I missed something but it seemed a bit abrupt and with no real resolution. Maybe I just wasn’t in the right headspace to read this book right now, but it wasn’t for me. I did find it to be a quick read though.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

"Lucky Bounce" was a cute read, but something was off for me. The whole book felt kind of rushed and none of the characters got much development or depth. There were some great moments and I was rooting for Zeke and Spencer, but a 200 page book that takes place over the span of months is just not my ideal pacing.

I also didn’t love the third person writing style. Something about it just came across detached at times and put more of a focus on the events themselves than any emotions. I want all the inner dialogue and this just didn’t work for me.

I think this could’ve been way better as a dual POV. I enjoyed reading about Spencer from Zeke’s perspective, but it didn’t give me enough insight into his life and feelings. Especially since he’s the more reserved of the pair.

The book as a whole just felt almost incomplete. I was even a little bit surprised when it ended because it just sort of stopped. There were plot points that I don’t feel got resolved or addressed, and I really couldn’t tell you what the climax was because I’m not sure there was one? They just sort of met, dated, and rode off into the sunset.

If you’re looking for a low-stakes, no plot just vibes, hockey romance then this book is for you. It was a fun time, but everything was very surface level.

I did enjoy the book and I couldn’t wait to pick it up and keep reading, but I wanted so much more from it.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.