I really enjoyed this book. Emma st. Clair is becoming one of my go-to authors for sweet romances. This couple is so awkward but cute.

It is a marriage of convenience and dual POV and I really enjoyed both those aspects.

“You can only wear my name.”

golden retriever hockey boyfriend but also slightly possessive 👀 AND marriage of convenience 😧🙏 let me just warn you that this is closed door but it gives plenty of butterflies imo 🎀

“Always wear waterproof mascara,” Gran says. “You never know when someone’s going to break your heart.”

it's the first book of the series I read but it kinda made me want to check out the others (especially the possibly upcoming one with Van and Annie, someone let me know if it comes to exist🤩), the side characters were all so fun and interesting, special mention to Eli's mom who was the sweetest (and I really appreciated the author's note for people with chronic illness/pain 🩷)

I'll end this with an irrelevant to the review but an emotional quote that hit me :

"I’ve found one of the hardest things about losing people you care about is the guilt of remembering the things they weren’t so great at. Thinking about their flaws and disappointments makes me feel like a traitor."


[review posted on goodreads]

Eli is a hockey player who needs to find a marriage of convenience after his visa paperwork is filed incorrectly. However, the wife he has chosen believes it is just for show and not as romantic as Eli hopes it to be.

This was such a fun cute (and cringey) romcom that was very easily to digest. Eli reads like a golden retriever boyfriend and was so sweet. This connects to another series by the author so I'm tempted to read those and see what the MMC's in those are like. This was one of those books that you can read in a comfortable position, so long as you have space around you to react and blush like crazy.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read a advanced copy.

I Love the Marriage of Convenience trope, and this one being one to be able to continue playing Hockey and to help a parent in need, sure makes me like it a little more. Yes, it sucks that it starts with a Lie, but when it becomes Love, what more do we need! Bailey and Eli are what I needed to be reading! Thank You

A hockey romance with a golden retriever boy!? Sign me up! Eli is super sweet, a walking green flag. He is a mammas boy in the best possible way. And Bailey? A book lover, shy girl working at a shelter (this is where they met) and absolutely cute. I loved the ‘fake’ relationship. I adored how they put each other first and how deeply they cared not only about themselves but everyone else too. This book is definitely a “I can’t put it down because it’s just too good” book. I’ve read it in a day, and can’t wait to read the other books because I am hooked on the Appies

When Eli found out that his visa had expired… he never actually considered he could find someone to fake marry him.

But after visiting the animal shelter and getting to know Bailey better, he blurted it out to her.

Bailey had been intrigued by Eli since he started coming into the shelter, but she didn’t know anything about him. Especially not that he was a hockey player.

Usually with these fake marriages, the person at least seems semi interested in the money they’re getting paid - I love that that wasn’t a focus of this. Bailey didn’t even care there was money involved even though she really did need it.

I loved the way that Bailey and Eli progressed through their relationship. I loved that Maggie, Eli’s mom had such a special relationship with Bailey, and I even loved Annie, Eli’s sister who just showed up and hopped in bed with Bailey.

I can’t wait to read more of the applies!

While the timeline unfolds very quickl, Eli and Bailey's inevitable attraction is instant from their initial encounters. Their first kiss following the public proposal, the endearing nicknames, the excitement of wedding dress shopping, and the tender moments on their wedding day, culminating in Bailey's heartfelt rush to Eli's side—each instance brimming with sweetness and beauty!

Bailey and Eli's relationship is basically sweetness, their shared love for animals adding an extra layer of warmth to their connection

“So… maybe we can just be happily awkward together?”

Awkward is certainly one word for how cringe this book was. I had fairly high hopes when I got approved for this book on Netgalley because hockey/sports romances are essentially my bread and butter — I never get tired of them. I also love a good marriage of convenience plots. But, everything I usually love about these tropes was so poorly executed and felt nothing short of hollow.

I literally fought so hard not to DNF this book, but I somehow managed to push through just so I could provide you with this handy dandy list of things I hated the most about this book.

— The insta-love. These two knew each other for a short amount of time and yet find themselves questioning whether or not they’re truly in love fairly early on in their fake engagement scheme. Where is the slow burn? Or at the very least a realistic build-up?

— Bailey’s inner thoughts were beyond juvenile and all over the place. It felt like being in the head of a fifteen-year-old, not a grown woman.

— Eli’s personality switching from golden retriever to possessive weirdo at the drop of a hat? Complete whiplash. Especially when it came to him acting controlling about where Bailey lived and talking down about the apartment complex in a classist manner (especially since she probably makes minimum wage working at an animal shelter). Like dude… be so for real right now.

— The wacky pacing of this book? Despite Bailey and Eli having zero chemistry, every scene where they weren’t together felt completely useless. Anytime Bailey was interacting with her friends or Eli interacted with his teammates, it felt beyond tedious to be reading. Then the ending? Beyond rushed.

— The proposal scene? Gave me the absolute fucking ick and felt tacky.

— Him getting rid of her hiccups? Felt weird and uncomfortable to read. Like… what made you think this would be sexy?

— Eli carrying his disabled mother around in public rather than letting her be an independent individual and getting her a mobility aid? As a disabled person, this was probably the tipping point in the book where I wanted to DNF but my hatred and seething anger kept me pushing through. Stop infantilizing disabled people challenge, GO.

— Eli’s sister Annie crawling into bed with Bailey while she was sleeping and watching her? Why in the hell was this necessary? It wasn’t quirky or funny, it was just weird.

— Last but very not least, why did Eli’s mother not question the fact that he was marrying a woman that he had never even introduced to her despite them having an extremely close relationship? I feel like she realistically would’ve had at least some questions and it paints the mother as being ignorant and naive.

I truly wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone considering it nearly sent me into a reading slump.

This book was absolutely amazing! Emma St. Clair totally nails it with a marriage of convenience that's as believable as it is heart-fluttering! 😍

Eli's facing the ultimatum of getting married in 30 days or getting deported to Canada. With his hockey career and his mom's well-being at stake, he's willing to take the leap into a fake marriage, especially when there's someone he's already got feelings for.

This story is a perfect mix of romance, humor, well-developed characters, and loads of sweet moments. Eli and Bailey are both incredibly endearing, and watching their fake relationship blossom into something real is pure bliss!

Eli stole my heart. He's cheerful, protective, and a hopeless romantic. His devotion to his adorable mom melted me.

What I adored:
💙 Hockey romance
💙 Marriage of convenience
💙 Hot Puppy Guy
💙 Dual POV
💙 The Appies
💙 Candy bouquet
💙 Awkward Together
💙 Found family
💙 The wedding scenes
💙 Birthday extravaganza
💙 Fun side characters
💙 The epilogue

I've loved everything from Emma, but this book has become my absolute favorite. I'm counting down the days until the next book in the Appies series! 📚✨

Favorite quotes:
“One more thing—you will never be too much for the right woman. You’ll be exactly enough.”
“Awkward together” 💙

I loved getting to know Eli. He has a beautiful heart and loves helping others. I love his relationship with his sweet mom.
The way he cares for Bailey and falls for her is so sweet! He is a giant golden retriever energy wrapped up in a cinnamon roll. His big feelings, sweet gestures and care for those around him will forever endear him to me!

Bailey was a joy to get to know! Her past (and present) holds tragedy and heartache, but she is kind and thoughtful regardless of that tragedy. I loved how she opens up with Eli. She is a sweetheart who just wants somewhere safe to land. Her growth throughout this book made me root for her and want to squeeze her so many times! Her inner monologue and imagery had me cracking up half the time!

The timeline is fast but it’s clear from their first interactions that Eli and Bailey are going to fall for each other. I love their first kiss after the public proposal. The nicknames. The wedding dress shopping. The wedding day. And Bailey running to Eli’s side. So sweet and so beautiful!!

Bailey and Eli are so sweet together and the way they shared a love of animals just gave me all the warm fuzzies. 🐾

Eli's life is going pretty great. He has a position on a wildly popular hockey team he loves with a great group of teammates. His mom is getting the best care possible for her health. He is volunteering at an animal shelter in his free time. But, due to some incorrectly filed paperwork, his visa is expiring and to keep this great life he has built, he needs to get married in the next 30 days. He hates the idea though of just getting married, he's a closet romantic after all, he wants to be in love!

Bailey is an aspiring vet, putting in her time working at the animal shelter to get the experience and references needed to go to vet school. A highlight of her time at work is running into the very sweet and attractive Eli. But what's he doesn't know is that he's a big deal hockey player. And when he asks her for a favor in exchange for making her life a bit easier, she would be foolish to pass up the opportunity.
_____
Golden Retriever MMCs are my favorite! I just want to squish them in a hug. (Perhaps because I married this type of man☺️). Eli isn't afraid to share his feeling or make Bailey feel special. I loved their back and forth and nicknames for one another. They dive in deep from the start and begin to share their real life struggles even amidst this marriage of convenience situation. Which, when a rom com can balance humor and heart with real life gravity like Emma St Clair does so well, I will fly through it at lightening speed every time.

I am so pumped for the rest of this Appies series, partially because I need more Eli and Bailey!
_____
This is a closed door, kisses only rom com. It is the opening book of a spin-off series, but can be read as a stand alone.

Content warnings (from the author):
-parents passing away due to car wreck (past)
-parental abandonment (past)
-older relative with dementia (current)
-parent with chronic illness (current)

Thanks to the author for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

I really love a good golden retriever mmc in a hockey romance. But this left some story lines I wish were more fleshed out, A grandma you absolutely have to care for but then never visit once? Okay. I think we could have double downed on the character development. For me, the story was cute but it left more to be desired.

This was a really good read! Just like her previous book in this series, I really enjoyed the romance, the tension and the characters storylines throughout the book. This story follows Eli and Bailey who are arguably the sweetest couple on the planet. I enjoyed watching them slowly come to the realisation that they loved each other and it was funny how obvious it was to everyone but them. Emma can do no wrong in my eyes. I recommend this story to anyone who wants to pick up a new romance book but is over or not so keen on the regurgitated spice on every other popular book. Promise you won't miss it and you'll still enjoy the story just as much as the rest!

A marriage of convenience between a pro hockey player and an aspiring vet working at an animal shelter… What more do I have to say?

Eli is a Canadian pro hockey player for the Appies. He just found out that he has thirty days until he is deported back to Canada. That is unless he were to get married… the only problem is he has no one to marry. Getting deported will not only affect his own life and career but will also affect his mom and the illness she is battling. Bailey is in a predicament of her own. She’s in a tight financial spot while she continues to climb her way toward her goal of vet school. She works at an animal shelter and it’s the same shelter Eli happens to visit often. When Eli decides that he is going to need to get married to stay on the country, Bailey is the first person that comes to mind. They can help each other out. She is the perfect person for the job and in exchange he will give her the money she needs to accomplish her dream.

A Groom of One’s Own is a super fluffy, amazingly sweet, clean romantic comedy. It had me in all my feels and I fell in love with the characters instantly. Eli and Bailey truly are perfect for each other. They bring out the best in one another. I absolutely adored all the side characters and seeing the dynamic of their relationships grow!! This book was an easy read and a wholesome romance. Emma St. Clair has become one of my favorite authors. She knows how to write a clean romance that still has all the emotions you need to fall in love with a book. I loved everything about A groom of One’s Convenience, and I know other readers will, too!

AHH I LOVED THIS!! It made me so very happy to read a CLEAN hockey romance!! I absolutely loved this marriage of convenience love story and now I really want to read more not only from this series but also this author!! 5 STARS!!!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ok, I’m hitting the “Not for Me” button.
Marriage of convenience is my absolute favorite, and this hero is so perfectly adorable, like almost unnecessarily so. I made it to half way really trying to hang on, but just not invested enough to keep going.
And I’ll tell you why and hopefully you’re like “Well, That IS for Me” and give it a try because the writing is clever, snappy, funny (from someone who has low tolerance for cringe), and if you want a story that seems to be a series of strung together sweet gestures from a mama’s boy athlete, by all means!
I really tried here, like mention enough times how he’s basically a Viking, and I’ll start just imagining him a jousting champion and her the maiden he offers to marry to follow his liege’s command or get sent back to…Viking-dom. But for me, if there is no character arc for either, ok only if you count “He’ll never want me, right?” shy-girl-learns-to-trust predicament, if the conflict that was so external is solved just like we’re half way in love before the convenient nuptials, the HEA investment drops. I wish I could just glide along for the swoony moments without that tension, but I can’t. Glide along with the too-perfect hockey player if that’s for you!

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.

Content notes from reading up to 54%: Kissing Only, mention of parents tragic death. Mother with chronic illness. Some innuendo and secondary characters directly joke about premarital intimacy.

Normally I don't like when a marriage of convenience book has the actual marriage take place late in the book but I loved this. Everything about it was just so cute. The two of them were so oblivious to the others feelings. They couldn't imagine how the other one could like them. They just wanted the world for each otther.

What to say about this book? It left me with so many emotions but most of all speechless! This truly is my favorite book of the year! Eli and Bailey (Leelee) were so sweet! I loved them so much! Their banter was unmatched and there were so many times I laughed out loud and swooned! They gave me actual chills and goosebumps! If you haven’t read this book yet what are you doing? Go get this book and read it right now cause this is the best romance book I have ever read and I don’t think I will ever get over it! The swoony romance, the found family, the rescue doggie Doris, the hockey players I loved them all! I just finished this book and I already want to reread it! This was the first book I have read in the Appies series and I quite literally can’t wait to read them all now!

I’m so thankful to have received this ARC on such a lovely novel; so sweet and so cute! I fell in love with Eli. First time reading a book by this author, and now that I have, I’ll be reading more! Read this book if you wanna have a good time!

Well, this just became my new favorite Emma St. Clair book! I fell in love with the Appies with Emma's previous book, Just Don't Fall, and this book just amplified that even more! The story shifts focus to another member of the team with Eli and the struggles he is currently facing--deportment back to Canada which would also displace his mom who has also made Harvest Hollow her home. He has to come up with a solution fast.

Bailey works at an animal shelter and is currently trying to get into veterinary school. Orphaned at 23, she is also the sole financial caretaker for her grandma. Forced with a price increase from the nursing home, Bailey doesn't know how she is going to find the money to pay for it all.

*insert cute hockey player who happens to love dogs and visits the shelter often* and BOOM they are fake dating and she agrees to marry him to solve both of their problems.

Bailey didn't expect to catch real feelings for Eli--especially so fast. And Eli does as well, but was always labeled as "too much" in relationships so he is holding back. Will their fake marriage turn into something more?

This was my favorite line from the book:
"I’ve found one of the hardest things about losing people you care about is the guilt of remembering the things they weren’t so great at."
Which is so true.

Also, loved the cameos from Logan and Parker, and all the Appies boys. I hope all the players get their own story because I love them all! If you are looking for a swoon-worthy and clean romance, this is a great choice!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an e-copy in exchange for an honest review

This review is also cross posted to my Blog and Goodreads. If you would like to follow me on either platform, those links are in my profile.