It was so cool reading Elle Kennedy's first book and first hockey romance as well! I thought Hayden and Brady's story was really cute (and very very spicy) and the conflict throughout the book was interesting. I did feel that the progression of Hayden and Brady's story was a little rushed and would've enjoyed to see more of a progression.

I love a good hockey romance but this one just wasn't my favorite. It didn't hit the spot like they usually do. It was just missing something for me to make it just that more enjoyable. It still was just not the best in my opinion.

I thought the romance between Hayden and Brody was nice. Brody enjoyed the intelligent conversations he could have with Hayden, and she enjoyed his forthrightness and comfortable sexuality, which contrasts with her reserved art historian boyfriend back home (they were "on a break" so I wouldn't call this cheating, YMMV.) After a childhood traveling constantly with her hockey coach father, I thought her reluctance to forge a meaningful relationship with a ever traveling player was understandable, and so it didn't grate on me like the push away trope can.

I did however find the scandal suspense plot nigh ridiculous and her father's alcoholism treated unrealistically. If only a pouty face and a "I'm disappointed in you" prompted a drunk to acknowledge a problem and sober up. I gather that she didn't want to take up a short book with the realities of alcoholism, but if you're not going to do it right, why bother in the first place? Was it so important her already flawed dad also be an alcoholic?

All told, it was a fun book about hockey and love, but it's ultimately quite forgettable.

Hayden wants nothing to do with hockey after seeing how it changed her dads life and consumed it. When she unintentionally hooks up with Brody Croft, who she had no idea was a hockey player and much less one on the team her dad owns, she thinks she has made a huge mistake. She is shocked by how much chemistry they have in and out of the bedroom but when a massive scandal breaks involving her dad and Brody knows something, she is worried that he will not protect her family.

You could definitely tell that this was earlier in Elle Kennedy's writing career, but it brought the normal spice and hockey banter that we know and love from her. I loved the redemption for her dad at the end and how Hayden realized that her step-mother was not the monster that she thought she was.

3.5/5

Hayden is going through some things and just wants one night, Brody is on board at first, until they realize they're connected in a potentially unfortunate way. This is not the Elle Kennedy I'm used to reading, it was still good, just not quite what I was expecting. It's spicy and has a good bit of drama, the pacing is quick, and of course I adore a no strings and then they both catch feelings trope. Overall a pretty good read.

Elle Kennedy’s first hockey romance is getting a fresh look and being rereleased on July 2, 2024!!! This story follows Hayden who grew up in the hockey world with her now team owner father. Hayden may have never been interested in hockey, but when her dad asks her for help as he navigates his divorce she is more than happy to be there for him. While visiting her father, Hayden has a one night stand with Brody, imagine her surprise when she finds out he is a star player on her dad’s team. Despite her trying to keep her distance from all things hockey and trying to rebuild her relationship with her dad, things don’t go as she expects. This story was so good I finished it in one day! Make sure you have this book on your tbr!

Elle Kennedy can do no wrong in my eyes with her books! I love her writing style and her characters even more so. This book had everything I was looking for in a hockey romance and I’m so glad I got the chance to read it!

This story is about Hayden and Brody and I will say the original harlequin cover did not lead me to want to read it but the rebranding works. This is a hockey romance and its done pretty well. It has just enough hockey in it to be considered a sports romance but heavy on the romance to not make us feel like we are watching the game. I don’t know why I haven’t read this book before because it was not very shocking that I loved the story. It was short, sweet, hot and perfect. Only Hayden would go looking for a one night stand and find the only man who wants to settle down .. its was so sweet.. why did it end and why isn’t this a series.

The plot was really cohesive and well-written, that was the strongest point of the book for me. It took me a little while to really get into the main romance, but their hea and their third act makeup were really sweet <3

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

This was such a fun, short, spicy read! Hayden and Brody were so fun, and I loved their story! I will read whatever Elle Kennedy writes and live every second of it.

As a fan of Elle Kennedy's Briar U and Off Campus series, I was excited to review this updated release of "Body Check." This was Kennedy's first book deal and while at times I felt like that was obvious after having read so much of her more recent work, it was also completely endearing. This book comes in as a pretty short novel - I read it in a matter of hours. It was all of the fun and steamy sexiness Kennedy is known for along with a sweet, somewhat insta-love (even if the FMC tries to resist at first). This book definitely felt more young than her Briar U and Off-Campus books even though the main characters are in their late 20s, but I would guess that's because Kennedy was in her early 20s when she wrote it. I'd definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a quick and sweet but steamy hockey romance.

Thank you to #Harlequin and #NetGalley for the e-galley in exchange for my honest feedback! Mark your calendars - this updated release of #BodyCheck will be available July 2nd!

4 Stars

This was a fun super quick little hockey romance! I saw on Elle’s instagram that this was actually her first ever hockey romance, and after reading her most recent hockey romance, The Dixon Rule, this month, it was amazing to see how far she has come with her writing.

Elle Kennedy is the queen of hockey romance. I don’t make the rules she just is. Her writing is amazing and the way she does hockey romance doesn’t make me cringe. After reading the Off Campus series I knew I had to check out this book. Thank you so much NetGalley and Harlequin romance for this ARC.

Talk about HOT. This book will have you kicking your feet and screaming because it’s so good! Elle Kennedy is such an amazing author. So grateful to have had the opportunity to read this!

I enjoyed myself reading this short, pretty spicy hockey romance from Elle. It lacked some of the depth I’ve seen from her other books with this trope, but I had the best time. If you’re looking for something fun and quick, this definitely hits the mark.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am always a sucker for hockey romance books and this was no exception. Anything Elle Kennedy writes I just eat up and this was no exception! Perfect book to read in the fall time! Was obsessed with the chemistry between Brody and Hayden! I loved how it is in dual pov got to get a sense of what the characters were thinking and feeling!

Thank you Net Galley for This ARC 🖤

• Whenever I see a Romance about Hockey, it’s an immediate yes for me. Something about those Hockey Players🥵

•Body Check is Elle Kennedy’s First Hockey Romance she had written in her Early Twenties and it is being Re-published with expanded content.

• This book was Adorable and Brody is such a sweet Golden Retriever that you absolutely fall in love with. He and Hayden’s chemistry is off the charts and will make you absolutely swoon. The Spice was great, the plot was great and The banter between Hayden and Brody made me giggle a few times.

If you haven’t read this one yet, I definitely recommend🖤

I need to "body check" myself after this book because 🥵 Elle Kennedy left me steaming.

If the previous sentence grabbed your attention, then trust me when I say you have to read this book. You know what I love about a steamy romance? It’s not just about the spicy scenes; it’s about the plot, character development, and a beautiful HEA.

Hayden is an art professor at Berkeley in California who travels to Chicago to see her father, who owns the Warriors hockey team. She doesn't want anything to do with sports since that's all her father talks about, but after he asks for her company while he divorces, she can't say no. Enter Brody, a hockey player for the Warriors (duh), whom she meets at a bar... and they have a STEAMY one-night stand.

I'll leave it at that without spoilers, but their chemistry is palpable, and the way he WANTS her and basically begs is what made me read this book in 24 hours. They explore not only their chemistry but also their desires while trying not to fall for each other. I gobbled it up. 📚❤️‍🔥

This book was Elle Kennedy's first hockey romance, and to be honest, I loved it so much! I really hope she continues eventually with professional hockey books because, even though I love a good old college romance, I prefer the age range that professional hockey books have❤️

Tropes:
🏒Hockey Romance
🏒One-night stand
🏒He falls first and HARD
🏒Secretly "dating"
🏒Strangers to lovers
🏒Team's owner daughter x Hockey Player
🏒Kinky scenes hehe

Thank you Netgalley, Harlequin - Romance and Elle Kennedy for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am a fan of Elle Kennedy and really enjoy her hockey romance novels. Body Check is the newest book by Ms. Kennedy and is very good. Hayden is our h, and she is taking the summer off from teaching at Berkley to support her father as he goes through a nasty divorce. Brody is our swooney H, and he is a hockey star on Hayden's father's hockey team. They first meet in a bar and Hayden approaches Brody for a one night stand. That night is off the charts for both of them, but Hayden's life is too crazy to add a hockey star into the mix, so she doesn't give him her number. Fate intervenes and the two are able to reconnect and the story takes off from there. I really enjoy the interactions of Hayden and Brody, those scenes are excellent. I am normally a fan of the other plots that go on in romance novels outside of the romance, but for some reason, the divorce etc. in this book really took away from the main story for me. I think a lot of people will enjoy it, it just wasn't for me and so I'm giving this one 4 stars. Thank you NetGalley and Elle Kennedy for an advanced copy for this honest review.

I could definitely tell that this was a re-release of Elle Kennedy's first contemporary/sports romance. While I never read the original book, there were moments where the language and dynamics felt dated. While this what I find so charming about her Off Campus series, it wasn't as charming here. If this is a re-release, I can only assume the worst of the dated material was changed so I am nervous to see how the original story reads!

I was surprised to see more depth to the side plot lines, and enjoyed exploring those topics alongside the romance between the main characters. This was a good, fun time - but nothing incredibly emotional or serious. I really enjoy a book like this every once in awhile and it hit the spot!