Leah never misses for me. This series is so good! The narration is excellent! This book made me fall in love with her writing to the point that I own the series in every format.

I’ve kind of developed a thing for hockey romances lately and I don’t know why! “Flirtation or Faceoff” is the second book in Leah Brunner’s D.C. Eagles hockey series. I did like this one a lot more than the first book. This was mainly because I found the MMC much more enjoyable than the grumpy broody lead in the previous story.

Pro hockey player Colby falls fast for Noel, who has NO interest in dating an athlete thanks to her ex. She reluctantly enlists Colby’s help in being her dating coach, but as they spend more time together she finds her heart softening towards the flirtatious athlete. Can she learn to trust him, or will he be another guy who breaks her heart?

As with the previous book in this series, this is a clean, closed door romance. I do appreciate that it also utilized dual narration in the audiobook, though I did find the female narrator’s voicing of the male parts to be a bit grating. I think it could have been stronger as a duet narration. My rating is 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was able to read an ebook arc of this thanks to NetGalley. A fun romance. Great read. Closed-door romances aren't usually my thing, but it's written so well that I don't mind. Would read more by this author.

Thank you Netgalley, Publisher and author for giving me an opportunity to listen to this audiobook. It took me a while to finally read "Flirtation or Faceoff" because I wanted to binge through the first 2 books in the series. While I could've read the story as a standalone I'm glad I took my time to immerse myself in this hockey universe. After reading the previous books I was anticipating Colby's & Noelle's story. I'm thankful for Colby's growth throughout the story and how he treats Noelle. Love a hero who's madly in love and willing to compromise. The story itself was somewhat predictable but cute. At times I wanted to shake Noelle and tell her to wake up. Until the slight miscommunication at the almost 89 ish% mark. I'm glad the conflict didn't drag! Although in my personal opinion I wished the conflict happened a little bit earlier. Overall, I did like the story ~ and i will be continuing with the next book/series.

10/10 Colby for punching the Noelle's ex face. (I don't condone violence but it was necessary) And 10/10 for grandma for being an instigator/matchmaker. I love her! The narrators did a fantastic job and the audiobook was enjoyable :)

🎧🎧AUDIOBOOK REVIEW🎧🎧

It took me a hot-minute to get to this audio because once I realized I could start the series from the beginning with Everand, that's exactly what I did! #HappyPlace

This was an absolute delight to listen to. Both Alex Picard & Neill Thorne did a really great job with narration. The story was easy to get lost in and quite humorous. I expected there to be humor, of course, but the wit & banter between all the characters was just plain FUN! I am always here for that!

The story is more on the *sweet* side than I normally care my stories to be, but since I already knew before hand about its *closed door* nature, it barely registered!

I'm all in with this team and can't wait for the next book to be produced in audio!

I thought this was a fun romcom. I liked how much Colby likes Noel that he is willing to do anything he can to show her that he is the guy for her. I liked the matchmaking grandma and thought she was fun. I liked how Colby showed Noel that not all men are like her ex. I liked their journey to falling in love. I will definitely check out other books by this author.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

This was my first experience with the D.C. Eagles Hockey series and I enjoyed it even without the context of the previous installments.

Flirtation or Faceoff is an opposites attract, overall clean (not overly spicy), hockey romance. Noelle is an academic who has sworn off athletes, despite her best friend being married to one. Colby is a charming "playboy" of the NHL who is instantly smitten by her. I wasn't the biggest fan of the "miscommunication" usage in this book but I enjoyed their chemistry and the "he falls first" dynamic and would absolutely read another book in the series.

Enemies to lovers, fake dating & open door hockey romance. Noel finds Colby annoying & avoids him most of the time. Colby wants Noel & Noel only. When she asks him for advice & help learning how to get a guy's attention, he sees his opportunity to get a little closer.
I still love the characters & related so well to Noel. Book nerd & why has no one ever bought me shelves & a gift card to a bookstore to fill them?!?!
So many little things that made this book great. Jane Eyre & Bronte sister references. Lisa Frank & Friends. & loads of JRR Tolkien all through out. It reads better if you have read the others in the series but isn't fully necessary.

Thank you to the author and Dreamscape Media for this ALC.

Flirtation or Faceoff is my favorite hockey romance from Lean Brunner yet! I am obsessed with Colby—wow! The banter and chemistry between Colby and Noel were top-notch. I loved how the previous characters were also in this book. I wish I could be a part of their friend group and fall in love with a D.C. Eagles hockey player! I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

This was such a sweet & swoony hockey rom com. Colby is an absolute swoon-worthy sweetheart. I absolutely adored how much he showed Noelle how much he cared with his actions.
Their banter was fun & sweet. Their chemistry was great.
Gram is amazing, she’s the real MVP!

I do love sports romances, especially hockey romances, and I've read my fair share. This one was just okay. Although, for someone looking for a "clean" hockey romance (which is probably pretty hard to come by) this one will fit that bill. I liked that she was an academic and that they had an opposites attract vibe, but I also found it odd that he became so infatuated with her and was talking about forever before they really had many interactions with each other.

This story follows Colby, an NHL player, and Noel, a professor. Noel's best friend is dating Colby's teammate, and as soon as Colby is introduced to Noel, he falls hard. The rest of the story follows Colby trying to woo Noel, including an auctioned date, a fantasy convention, and dating coach shenanigans.

My favorite part about this book was the IDEA of it. It sounds good on paper, with some buzz-worthy tropes and the trendy hockey romance aspect, but unfortunately, this was ONLY good in theory, not practice.

Colby laid eyes on Noel and was convinced he was going to marry her, and it wasn't cute "love at first sight" it was weird, stalkery, and shallow. The inner dialogue that was SUPPOSED to read as romantic was completely creepy. Again, it gave the vibes of a stalker, and I really think this author should consider changing genres because she is already excellent at writing a thriller serial killer monologue.

Overall, I did not enjoy this book and don't think many people will. The writing was hard to follow because of how simple and undynamic this was. I would only recommend this to someone writing romance, to show them exactly what NOT to do.

I also wasn't a fan of the narrator. It was a combination of a badly written story with a badly narrated audiobook, and it really made the reading experience awful. Like the text, the narrator was boring, not enunciating important actions or giving the characters their own personalities. Just seems like an author writing about trendy tropes and a narrator getting through a story as fast and lazily as possible to each get their respective checks.

while i think the first book was much better i still think this one was super cute, i dont think i will be continuing the series after this one but i didnt hate it!

Noel has sworn off dating athletes after putting up with players. But her best friend just married an NHL player and his bestie, Colby, is known for sealing the deal. She decides he is just the person she needs to help her master the art of dating, so she can snag the sexy professor she works with. Is dating very that simple though? And how many dates can you go on without forming real feelings? Colby is bound and determined to turn his dating lesson with Noel into the real deal, but is she able to let her guard down with another famous player both in and off the ice?
I listened to the audiobook courtesy of @dreamscape_media and @netgalley. I love how it is narrated by Alex Picard and Neill Thorne, their voices compliment each other so well. Although it is book 2 in the DC Eagles Hockey series, it works well as a standalone. I haven't yet read book one, and I had no issues.

In the second instalment of the D.C. Eagles Hockey series by Leah Brunner, Noel finds herself swearing off athletes after a heartbreak, only to have her resolve tested when her best friend marries an NHL player. Colby Knight, a charismatic and persistent teammate of the groom, refuses to take no for an answer, leading to a series of unexpected events.

Colby, known for his prowess both on and off the ice, sees Noel's disinterest as a challenge rather than a rejection. When she realizes that Colby's skills could be the key to gaining the attention of her crush, she reluctantly accepts his offer to be her dating coach. As they spend more time together, the lines between coach and player become blurred, and Noel can't help but be drawn to Colby's charming personality and dimpled smile.

However, just as she starts to question whether Colby could be more than a playboy hockey player, a blast from the past resurfaces, forcing her to confront the reasons behind her initial decision to avoid athletes. The central dilemma unfolds as she grapples with the question of whether she can trust Colby or if he is destined to become another heartbreaker.

Leah Brunner's "Flirtation or Faceoff" promises a blend of romance, sports, and emotional complexity, with characters navigating the thin line between love and heartbreak. As the protagonist learns to trust again, readers can expect a journey filled with flirtation, unexpected twists, and the possibility of a faceoff that could change everything.

It delivers a delightful and emotionally charged instalment while exploring the complexities of romance, trust, and second chances, creating a story that will resonate with fans of sports romance. The characters, especially the determined and charismatic Colby Knight, bring the narrative to life. The chemistry between Noel and Colby is palpable, and readers will find themselves rooting for their budding romance. Brunner expertly balances the sports elements with the emotional depth of the characters, making the story engaging and relatable.

The pacing is well-crafted, with moments of flirtation and tension building up to a satisfying faceoff. The protagonist's internal struggles and the reappearance of a past figure add layers of intrigue, keeping readers invested in the outcome. Brunner's writing style is both witty and heartwarming, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant.

With its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and a perfect blend of romance and sports elements, this book is a strong addition to the D.C. Eagles Hockey series. Leah Brunner continues to prove her prowess in the genre, delivering a story that is both delightful and captivating.

As a Canadian who likes hockey, this was a let down. As a bookish smart girl, this novel was a a major disappointment. The dialogue was juvenile and boring. I honestly hoped this novel would be saved by its spice and it was barely that. Will not recommend to ANYONE.

This is my first hockey romance, and it ended up being an enjoyable read that was light and easy. I’ll be completely honest I didn’t like Colby for a long time. Even after I started seeing his true character it took me a while to warm up. Eventually, I was won over by his thoughtfulness, and his tenacity.

I’m not a big fan of playboy turned good guy, but it ended up working in this book. I did appreciate that Noel was as skeptical as I was. She didn’t immediately let him into her heart. Noel got even more points for being a book lover.

I really enjoyed the side characters, especially, the meddling granny. I loved every time she made an appearance. I was less than thrilled with Colby’s dad and found his character arc a bit unbelievable.

This is the second book in the series, but I read it without reading the first book. It wasn’t a problem at all.

I listened to the audio. I felt like the female narrator wasn’t great with male voices, but her female voices were solid. The male narrator did better, but it felt the tiniest bit stilted.

This book contains mild profanity and kissing.

🎧It’s cute, it’s sweet, and you should read/listen to it. I love that author Leah Brunner clearly states content warnings in language and spice in her books. It is such a great help. The audiobook production was well done. Love the cozy vibes, the banter, and the fun. I’m easily falling into my hockey romcom era!

Author: Leah Brunner
Publisher: Independent
Audio: Dreamscape Media

🔔Content notes: cheating, mild language, closed door/fade to black romance

Colby and Noel are so stinkin’ cute!!!

I was so excited for this audiobook, and it did not disappoint. Hockey romances are one of my favourite genres and the frenemies-to-lovers served so hard in this!!!

I love Noel and her grandmother, and Colby and his mum. Their dynamics are so sweet and fun! This book was sweetness and fun and a touch of shenanigans that I enjoyed so much :)

I LOVED this one!! Leah has such a talent and never fails to entertain me with her writing! I listened to the audiobook and loved the narration!