I appreciate the opportunity to read Elle Kennedy's rereleased and reworked Body Check, which I believe was her first contemporary romance in 2009. I would not have known this story was written 15 years ago, because the references and language have held up well.

Overall, this was a cute, very quick read which I finished in one sitting. Because it was so quick I struggled to really feel a deep connection to the characters and to their relationship. Other than mutual attraction and bedroom chemistry, I have to suspend a bit of disbelief about them falling in love over their personalities. Brody's monster peen and dirty mouth? Sure, I feel you. Personality? Where?

The plot was so farfetched, but you probably didn't come here for some realistic romance. Spoiler: I actually appreciated that the scorned ex-wife wasn't actually the bad guy.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I already read this book and it's one of my favourites by Elle so this was a perfect excuse to read a refreshed version and Iove it even more. Elle Kennedy is an auto buy author for me .Fun,entertaining and spicy reads always guaranteed. I will always recommend her books!

Body Check was originally published in 2009, but it’s being re-released in 2024 with some revisions and a new cover. And, let me tell you, it’s such a little cotton candy treat of a book! I love sports romance and Body Check checks most of the boxes for me.

I liked the relationship, but I wish there was a liiiiittle more development between the MCs that wasn’t just sex. Small gripe, but it’s just what I prefer!

Overall, this is a pretty solid romance. Highly recommend for romance readers, especially if you like sports romance. It gets a 4/5 for me. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Body Check. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Before writing this review, I want to note that I read the 2024 version that’s been updated and has additional story added to it.

This with another great hockey romance by Elle Kennedy! Since it’s a standalone you don’t get quite as wrapped up with the characters and the team, but it’s still really engaging and you fall into the world she’s built. As an added bonus, it’s a pro hockey player, and both characters are in their late 20’s.

This was definitely not a slow burn, and I think there’s more spice than most other Kennedy books I’ve read. The book also deals with some heavier topics (infidelity (not MCs), gambling, addiction), but still manages to overall feel like a light romance.

If you love Elle Kennedy and are looking for something super spicy, this is probably for you! I really fell for her "The Deal" series, but this book didn't catch me in the same way.

As a huge Elle Kennedy fan, of course I’ll read whatever she writes. The Briar series are my favorite of Kennedy’s, but since Body Check was also hockey related, I was excited to give it a shot. The HEA was heartwarming, and the family drama was a slow burn. I didn’t feel as attached to the characters, but the hockey action was central and engaging. A fun read, I’ll recommend if somebody is waiting for the next installment of Briar et al.

Body Check is a reprinting of Elle Kennedy’s first foray into the sports/hockey romance world, written several years ago. Her craft has come a long way since writing this book. That being said, it was enjoyable, if predictable. If found the plot to be kind of basic, while somehow throwing in a solid handful of romance book tropes. I’m still glad I read it, but I’m also glad I read a lot of the author’s other books first, so I know what her more refined stories are like.

This book didn’t really sweep me away like I thought it would. It was not a bad book, but rather a case of “not for me”, in the end. I have enjoyed other hockey romance books by Elle Kennedy before so this one was disappointing, although understandably so since it was written a long time ago already.
Everything felt too cliché and over the top, the feelings of the main characters for each other got too intense too fast for my taste and there was no banter to keep me interested through it all. The spice didn’t really move me either, probably because I was not invested emotionally in the characters, and finally, there was definitely too much drama for me. The classic trope in the epilogue confirmed my feelings for this book.
To be honest, I probably would have stopped reading around the 40% mark if it hadn’t been a short read, so I pushed to the end so I would have a complete picture to review it.

i love elle and this is a quick and enjoyable read
fall in love with the charcters at the first few pages
but felt a little isolated at the end
thank you netgalley and elle for the arc

This hockey romance packed tons of spice- but with Kennedy's trademark banter and a locker room scandal that had me hanging on with baited breath, Body Check was the whole package.

📚 Body Check
✍ Elle Kennedy
📖 Sports Romance
⭐4/5
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

🙏 Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Romance and Elle Kennedy for the advanced copy of the re-released Body Check. All opinions are my own.
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🎯 What I loved: I love ambitious female main characters in romances that know what they want and Elle Kennedy always gives me main characters I can root for. I loved that Hayden's background was in art history (although I'm not sure how she became a professor before she finished her PhD...) and that she was initially immune to Brody's hockey charms. Body Check was definitely spicy and not at all a slow burn, which was kind of fun. It felt like Brody and Hayden had an immediate physical connection but then spent the book building an emotional connection. I can absolutely see the origins of Kennedy's Briar U universe in this book but enjoyed that this took place in a more NHL world and that the characters had more mature challenges than many of the college-aged characters in her future books.

🙅‍♀️ What I didn't: I knew going in that this was going to be spicy but felt like the plot was sufficient for me. If you want wayyy more plot than spice, this may not be your jam. But it's a fun one!
◾
Read if you love:
*one night stand to more
*immediate steam
*locker room scandal
*she's his team owner's daughter
*he falls first
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See also: Mile High, Flawless, Play Your Part

Apparently this is a rerelease of one of the first books Elle read, but I didn’t know it existed so I’m glad this caught my eye. I love hockey romances and this one did not disappoint. Hayden irked me a bit, as she came across as bratty and I hated that she kept telling Brody she only wanted a fling. Ma’am, you don’t only want a fling with this man, so give it a rest. He was an absolute babe and clearly worshipped her, what’s not to like? I definitely enjoyed their chemistry and banter and just wanted Hayden to get her head out of her ass. Regardless, this spice was killer and it was a quick and enjoyable read.

This is a re-worked and extended story. I love the idea of revisiting old stories and breathing new life into them. The author has a sweet blurb before the first chapter about how this came to be. I loved getting that context before I started reading!

Hayden is looking for a one night stand and meets Brody at a bar. They hook up, then go their separate ways. Only, it turns out he’s a player on her father’s professional hockey team. And Brody wants more than one night.

The B plot has to do with the team being under scrutiny after her father has some insider trading claims brought against him for gambling. It’s adds some extra thrill to the story. I had so much fun reading this!

Also, the mention of a Hummer in the first chapter was the funniest giveaway that it’s a reworked story. I haven’t heard someone mention that type of car in 10 years, so it gave me a solid laugh.

Thank you so much to the author, Harlequin, and NetGalley for my early digital copy!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for this ARC! I was so overjoyed to receive this ARC because I am a big fan of Elle Kennedy’s work. This was her first hockey romance and it was so entertaining! Hayden and Brody had such tension and chemistry that it kept me reading into the late hours of the night! It had romance, mystery and relatable characters!! I loved the genre he falls first and this book didn’t disappoint!! I works highly recommend this book and I will continue to read everything this author writes!! Thank you!!

Could a one night stand turn into forever? This was a fun and steamy book. I liked the characters and the professional hockey setting. The romance was great but the side plot involving her father did nothing for the story.

Body Check by Elle Kennedy was SUCH a fun read! I was eagerly anticipating a light-hearted and steamy read, and the book certainly lived up to my expectations. From the very beginning, the author managed to strike a perfect balance between tantalizing romance, thrilling drama, and irresistible spiciness that keeps you hooked.

While I would have liked to see more exploration of the ex-boyfriend, the novel still had plenty of gripping drama to offer. The controversies surrounding the father added an extra layer of intrigue to the plot, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Overall, Body Check was a great read that offers just the right amount of sweetness and drama to satisfy your reading cravings!

Hayden and Brody are hot. Hayden set out to have her first one night stand to forget her bland boyfriend she's on a break from in California and found Brody, a HOT hockey player who coincidentally wants what she really wants. She's only in Chicago to help her dad through his divorce, but she's torn up learning he's not who she thought he was. She knew they had drifted apart over the years, but it's much worse than she thought. Hayden and Brody's love story is a fun ride with the dad drama in the background. Overall it's an enjoyable read and I'll be laughing over the intimacy bridge for a while.

I LOVED Elle Kennedys Off Campus series and was intrigued to come across another hockey series by the author. Upon further investigation - it was her first book and it’s being re-released with extended scenes and a new cover.

This story was easy to get wrapped into, a gal + one night stand who turns out to be a professional hockey player who is one of the stars on the team her father owns but something fishy is going on with shady deals to throw games.

I love a good quick romance with an underlying plot that’s actually intriguing. A quick easy fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Who doesnt love a man with feelings! That is what I fell in love with about this book. Also I love a good hockey love story, so you cant go wrong. Honestly if you love Elle Kennedy or hockey then this book is for you. Over all the book isnt bad but mid.

Elle Kennedy has been pretty hit or miss for me over the years. I adore the Off Campus and the The Graham Diaries, but haven't always loved her other series or standalones. It does pain me to say, but I did not vibe with this one. This was some of her earlier work that was reworked, but I still didn't love this. I found both MC's to not have the chemistry or banter that they should have. Elle has come a long way since this and for that I'm really glad.

I didn’t read the original, so this is my first dip into the novel and I was not disappointed!

Although it was purely smut, let’s be real, I enjoyed the little story line it had. The chemistry between Hayden and Brody was pure fire. 🔥 I loved the he falls first trope and this was well done!

I liked that there was an air of mystery, but the conclusion wasn’t surprising. This was full of cringey parts, but I still enjoyed it overall!