Flirtation or Faceoff
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Author: Leah Brunner

I requested an audio advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: After getting my heart broken, I’ve sworn off athletes forever.

Then my best friend has to go and marry an NHL player, and his teammate, Colby Knight, won’t leave me alone.

Colby is a master at scoring (on and off the ice), and he’s not used to being told no. So he takes my disinterest as an invitation to pursue me even harder. I ignore him… until I realize I can use his expertise to help me get my crush’s attention.

But now that he’s my dating coach, and we’re spending so much time together, I’m growing more and more distracted. I mean, those dimples? Very enticing.

Just when I think he might be more than just a playboy hockey player, a blast from the past comes back and reminds me why I swore off athletes in the first place.

Can I trust Colby, or is he just another jerk who will break my heart?

My Thoughts: This is the third book in the D.C. Eagles Hockey series [Passion or Penalty and Desire or Defense precedes this novel]. Even being part of a series, it can be read as a standalone, I have not read the first two books and had no issue following along, having said this, I have saved the first two audiobooks on my Hoopla account to listen to later. I think you might get more character (supporting characters for this book) enrichment by reading the first two novels in the series. Colby is the typical hockey playboy and never thinks that he will settle down, even if all of his friends are. Noel is a professor and wants to “use” Colby as her dating coach to get the attention of her true attraction, another professor at the University. What happens when their worlds collide? Can Noel get past her no dating professional athletes rule? This follows the tropes of hockey romance, enemies/friends to lovers (they were enemies at first but that only lasted a very short time, then they were friends), dating coach, fake dating, and he falls first.

This story was so sweet and had the most sexual tension than I have seen in a while. This story is in a dual narration fashion by both x and Colby, in their respective perspectives. I really enjoy when the storyline has a dual narration, you get a better picture of both sides of the equation. Noel is intelligent, compassionate, and will NOT date professional hockey players. Colby is said hockey player, he is charming, charismatic, and very swoony, and when you get to know him, you see the other side of him, kindness and compassionate. There is immediate chemistry, awesome banter, and sexual tension that blows the charts away. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, passion, and were intriguing. The supporting characters (and past characters from the series) elevate the novel to another level. The author’s writing style was complex, humorous, closed-door, had amazing steamy kissing scenes, and kept me invested from the first word to the last word. I love how the author crafted the kissing scenes and does have the plot rely on spicy scenes to carry it through. What I have loved about the hockey romances is the found family through the hockey players, their friend group, and their partners, it really just warms my heart so much.

Trigger warning of ex cheated mentioned. I have only recently began getting into the hockey romance novels and I say BRING ME ALL the hockey romance! The narrators [Alex Picard and Neill Thorne] do an amazing job at pitch and speed. Have tremendous voice variation and really brought the characters from the page to my mind running like a movie. The narrators really do bring this story to the next level. I totally binged this book at 2x rate until I was finished in a day. I cannot wait for Remmi’s story. I highly recommend picking this one up, and the prior novels for the series.

Really liked this book. First time listening to an audio book and it was so much fun. I love all hockey romances and this one was no exception.

This audiobook was so cute! I really enjoyed Noel and Colby's story. Colby's fun, flirty, somewhat pushy personality was hilarious to get to know and swoon over. Noel took longer to fall but I love that she takes her time and knows she has things to work through. It was so enjoyable to see a couple with good communication! I need to go back and read the first book of the series now!

This is the second i've read in the series and I continue to like the stories, cast of characters and hope for more. I want to read the .5 book as well now

These narrators did a WONDERFUL job at bringing Noelle and Colby to life. Leah did a great job with the banter and sarcasm with these two. Noelle really made Colby work hard to get her affections. She definitely didn’t go down without a fight!!!! At first I wasn’t quite sure if she was going to let him in and give her the love that she needed.
I about died when she had some special guests in her class all decked out in Lisa Frank supplies. This series is awesome.
Thank you to the author for my audio review copy. These words are my own.

This book follows Noel, a teacher who has had her heart broken by an athlete in the past causing her to swear off all other athletes. She meets playboy Colby who has never had a woman say no to his smirk. This is an insta-love romance which normally makes me roll my eyes but the way our girl Noel makes him work for it ... it does not feel too over the top. It is the perfect combination of bad guy meets the right girl and stubborn girl refusing to even consider him,

I will admit the dating coach bit felt a little silly but it did not take away from the story. Honestly I liked the banter and chemistry between the two characters so much that it wouldn't have mattered why they were coming together I just wanted them to keep interacting. It also showed just how far out of her mind Colby was from a prospect. Even though this is a second in the series this book can stand on its own. I will say that this book made me want to go back and read the first one because I definitely enjoyed it.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a fairly tame hockey romance with a reformed bad boy. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the series, and this book is no different. I love that the female main character is an academic and a go-getter. Her grandma is total bonus. Colby Knight is a hotshot hockey player but I love that he’s so much more than that. I think the story is really sweet and clever, and I love the fake dating/dating coach plot that happens. Colby’s interactions with his teammates. Remind me a lot of Sarah Adams’ The Cheat Sheet in a really good way. This was entertaining and fun to listen to. 4⭐️, 1.5🌶

4 stars

This man built a library in his house for the heroine because she loves reading... I mean.... 👀🤍
This was cute and funny and sweet. I love the growing our Hero had in this book and how he acknowledged his wrongs. I love that our heroine wasn't meek or weak! She was fun and smart and driven.
The found family was fantastic, too.
The narration was amazing and really make the book come to life.
Overall, this was amazing 👏
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was the absolutely adorable, read in one sitting kind of book I’ve been craving lately.
Although Mitch will always be the D.C Eagle with my heart I loved the character of Colby and Noel was the perfect girl for him.
I loved:
-The contrast of their characters and how she made him a better person even before he was on her radar.
-Grams at the Auction
-Him showing up in a sweater vest
-The dating lessons were so funny and I absolutely love how she flipped things on him after.
-Grams at the fantasy convention
-The camaraderie not just between the teammates but the friendship between the girls as well.
-Ruthie
-Did I mention Grams?

Thank you to Leah Brunner for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Update: I was able to listen to the audiobook version and I enjoyed it just as much the second time through. Alex Picard and Neill Thorne did a fantastic job of bringing Noel and Colby to life. Thank you to NetGalley for the Audio Review Copy

Mini Review:
I love this series it’s the second in the series but can be read as a stand alone. Everyone needs a Colby Knight in their life. He sets his heart in getting the girl of his dreams. Things I love: Colby having Noelle’s back, the banter, Noelle’s Grandma, & the team scheming to help Colby. Things I dislike nothing go grab this series. ❤️❤️❤️
This is a dual POV & fade-to-black romance. This book contains mild language. Trigger warnings: cheating exes.
The narrator’s were great.

2.5 stars

After getting to know Noel (the FMC) briefly in a previous book in the series, I was so excited for her to get a book. She came off as a tough, take no nonsense, strong, indecent women and I was so ready for her to make Colby work for getting a date. Instead, Noel came off as insecure and boy/relationship obsessed (not with Colby, but with a fellow professor she works with). It felt desperate and truly infuriating. Colby was fine, and I had no major problems with him. I just wish the characters and plot had been more developed.

“𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐫. 𝐍𝐨𝐞𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐤, 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥.” 

Leah Brunner's Flirtation or Faceoff is a slow-burning romance that centers on Dr. Noel Woodcock, a history professor, and Colby Knight, a professional hockey player.

This was my first audiobook, and I'm still not sure if I enjoyed it or not because I had to get the kindle edition since my attention kept wandering.

Grams and little Ruthie were the only things that I found the most interesting. Grams, because even though she payed matchmaker for Noel and Colby, I still don't understand how she had $18,000 that she could so easily give away. And although I wish Leah would have spent a little more time with her, little Ruthie was simply too cute and I adored her.

Though I did love Colby. I adored his strong feelings for Noel and everything he did to win her over.

I couldn't get into the writing; it seemed as though the main characters, in particular, were in their early twenties instead of their early thirties. Also, I felt that for a sports romance, it was really lengthy and had a lot of pointless scenes.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and to the author, Leah Brunner, for providing me with this audio copy in exchange for an honest review.*

I loved Colby and Noel's story. Loved how he took her special places and showed interest in the things she liked. Loved the narrators. They were great.

Very cute! I like the way Leah Brunner weaves all the tropes into Flirtation or Faceoff. The main characters are sweet, and matched perfectly for each other. But boy, does Noel make Colby work for it!

I haven't read the earlier novels in this series, but Flirtation or Faceoff works perfectly as as standalone. However, I've already reserved the first two books from my library and I'm looking forward to reading them as soon as possible.

I listened to the audio version of this one, and Alex Picard and Neill Thorne do a marvelous job performing it.

I was thrilled to be chosen to listen to Flirtation or Faceoff after getting to listen to Desire or Defense! For a clean romcom, it needs to have a story that delivers..and this one certainly does. If you love hockey romance, fake dating turned real dating and a MMC who falls hard and fast, this one is for you. I look forward to reading more Leah Brunner! Also, I love dual POV with male & female narrators - the narration was great! This can be read as a standalone, but I'd recommend you read them all :)

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ALC!

Hockey players? Found family? Bookish FMC? If these things appeal to you then this is the book for you! Colby was such a puppy dog, and I loved him! Noel seemed so harsh at the beginning, but she truly grew on me by about halfway through! The female friendships in this book were so real and true, and that was one of the best parts!

If you’re looking for your next hockey romcom, look no further, you’ve found it. Noel is kinda grinchy (sorry for the Christmas reference but we are just so close to the holiday haha) and Colby is the “bad boy.” (Side note: Honestly, he’s giving Golden Retriever not bad boy, at least for Noel.) Noel wants nothing to do with Colby, having been burned by a Hockey love in the past but Colby wont take a hint. Noel ends up needing help catching her nerdy love interests eye and Colby agrees to help her “practice” dating.

I generally steer clear of fade to black because while I do love the angst, it’s the final cumulative *ahem* that makes it all come together for me. That being said, I really didn’t feel like this story was lacking anything. I also didn’t realize that this was the second book in the series, so that little note that says the book can be read as a standalone? It’s accurate.

I will definitely be looking to see about reading the first novel in this series now and can’t wait for any future ones, as well!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

This one was just okay for me. I didn’t think the characters were super developed and the writing was just ok. I was disappointed that there wasn’t very much spice. The characters just didn’t seem their age. I just think the story wasn’t for me. I thought the narrators did a good job. Huge thanks to Netgalley and the audiobook publisher for allowing me to listen and review this book.

I have loved every audiobook I have listened to from Leah Brunner. This book was probably my favorite I really love it. I cannot wait for the rest of the series.