This book is absolutely adorable and amazing. It is based on Eli, a Canadian hockey player, with a major problem. He is facing deportation from his US home. Later, we meet Bailey, the beautiful Bailey, an inspiring vet, who faces her own set of problems.

Together, with a marriage of convenience, we go through their journey.

And we can't forget about Doris who somewhat saves Eli and Bailey.

Strongly recommend!!!!

I loved being back in the world of the Appies and getting Eli's story! These hockey players are some of the best! Eli is about to be deported, what better way to avoid it than by a marriage of convenience with the shy woman Bailey from the animal shelter he visits? Overall it was a fun and cute rom com that had me smiling and swooning the whole time. I loved how sweet and protective Eli was of Bailey, and that his mom and teammates became her family.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

What a sweet marriage of convenience story. Eli and Bailey are both such cute characters and easy to root for. In a situation that could be totally terrible, the two show thoughtfulness and kindness.

When Eli is being sent back to Canada due to Visa issues, he is willing to try anything to be able to stay close to his mom and stay on the Appie’s hockey team. In walks Bailey - the girl he’s been trying to get to know at the dog shelter. Her life is in the perfect positon for her to be willing to go along with this risky plan.

Forever “Awkward Together”

Sweet marriage of convenience, hockey romance. I enjoyed the characters and the chemistry of the two leads. The pacing was slow to begin with but picked up as the story progressed.

Bailey and Eli are both strong characters that were endearing. Eli needs to sort out his visa and Bailey, on the other hand, faces financial difficulties. The two meet at the animal shelter where Eli frequents. I loved hearing more about the Appies and the family that Bailey is able to have because of them being together.

I really enjoyed this book. Both characters are very relatable and I enjoyed reading about them. I love all the tropes that were incorporated in this book. Friends to lovers, fake marriage and close proximity. Can’t beat it!

Eli, a hockey star with the Appies, faces deportation due to visa issues. In a race against time, he seeks a marriage of convenience to save his career and future. But when he realizes he wants more than just legality, he must convince his chosen bride, Bailey, that their union can be more than a paper contract. This was a sweet book! It was a little bit unbelievable that Eli picked up a wife at a dog shelter, but I went with it. There were lots of sweet moments and Eli was such a lovable hero. 4.5 stars.

Finished this gem yesterday. I loved Eli and Bailey! The marriage of convenience storyline was fun and the banter was adorable. I love the friendships that come through in the Appies teammates… the vow of violence had me laughing out loud. Grab this one (and the stories of the other Appies) through Kindle Unlimited.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a free copy of those books in exchange for an honest review.

This is Book 1 of the Apples Series!

I was lucky enough to receive as an ARC 🥰

A Groom of One’s Own is a delightful and heartwarming romance that will leave readers smiling from ear to ear. With its charming storyline, loveable characters, and sweet romance, this book is a perfect choice for fans of closed-door marriage-of-convenience romances.

Eli Hopkins is a hockey star with everything going for him—except for a properly filed visa paperwork. When faced with the threat of deportation, he hatches a plan to marry his friend Bailey, who he secretly harbours feelings for. However, convincing Bailey that their marriage is more than just a legal arrangement proves to be a challenge. St. Clair expertly navigates the complexities of Eli and Bailey's relationship, crafting a story that is both heartwarming and humorous.

Set against the backdrop of the hockey world, A Groom of One’s Own offers a unique and engaging setting for the romance to unfold. With its witty banter and endearing camaraderie between teammates, the book captures the spirit of sports romance while also exploring themes of love, friendship, and sacrifice.

What sets this book apart is its focus on the emotional connection between the characters rather than on steamy scenes. St. Clair skilfully builds tension and chemistry between Eli and Bailey, creating a romance that feels authentic and genuine. Readers looking for a sweet and wholesome love story will find plenty to enjoy in A Groom of One’s Own.

A Groom of One’s Own is a delightful read that will leave readers feeling warm and fuzzy inside. With its heartwarming storyline, loveable characters, and sweet romance, this book is sure to capture the hearts of readers everywhere. Don't miss out on this charming and uplifting romance that proves love can conquer all—even paperwork mishaps!

I’m so happy I got to read this book, I’m seriously kicking myself for not knowing about this author sooner! Her writing style has me totally hooked. Personally, I'm all about those fake dating/fake marriage stories and hockey rom-coms, so this book was like hitting the jackpot for me. Whenever I need a break from reality, I always dive into a hockey romance, and this one didn't disappoint.

At first, I didn't realize this wasn't a standalone or the start of a series until they dropped a hint about some previous stories. But honestly, it didn't ruin the fun for me. Eli, the main guy, is just the sweetest thing ever—a real ray of sunshine who'd do anything for his loved ones. And Bailey, the leading lady, is this shy but fiercely independent woman who totally stole my heart. It was so cute seeing her open up to Eli and realize how much she actually likes having him around.

While I enjoyed the slow burn of their relationship, part of me wished they'd tied the knot sooner in the story. But hey, at least there wasn't some big breakup moment in the third act—I was seriously dreading that. Overall, "A Groom of One's Own" has got me itching to dive into the rest of the series, and you bet I'll be grabbing those previous books real soon.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Emma S. Claire and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing the eARC in exchange for a review, but all thoughts are my own*

This book was so cute and fun! I was having trouble sleeping, so I started this book and ate it up in three hours or so. Marriage of convenience meets fake dating and a hockey romance? Yes, please! It is a closed door romance, with little spice, but such a fun story. I liked the banter and story between Eli and Bailey, and their cute dog friends, including Doris. A cute, fun, and enjoyable read.

Protective Eli + Shy Bailey = cute romantic comedy. The plot is engaging and lively. It delivered as promised with a clean romance leaving this reader “twitterpatted”.

🌟 The book itself is a 5 star rating. Morally I’m giving it a 4 star rating (detail below).

❤️ I loved Eli for being protective, non-womanizing, not addicted to pornography, caring, considerate, and a healthy mom relationship. He didn’t turn his head at the women falling over him and instead was interested in the shy, sweet girl working a normal job in an animal shelter. *sigh*

❤️ I also liked Bailey for her strength and lines she wouldn’t cross to get the guy. She stood on her own and it turned Eli’s head. She was also compassionate with family values.

Inner dialog/lighthearted detail was hilarious at times and also a little uncomfortable in other times. Those times included too much description on the women falling over Eli, a comment or two of the hockey brothers flirting, the mention of OnlyFans (even though it was shot down/discouraged), and the mentions of “h***” casually mentioned.

Overall it is a fun read leaving you believing that love works all things out.

Thank you NetGalley and Create If Writing LLC for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This book was so good and the couple cemetery was electric…. The sister was so fun I laughed so much when I was reading this book. This was a quick adorable story. Once I started reading this book I couldn’t put it down!!!!
I love that this author can write cemetery like this and know she doesn’t have to have a bunch of spice in the book…..

Thank you to Netgalley and Emma S. Clair for this ARC of ‘A Groom of One’s Own’.

I don’t often read romances without spice anymore but I have no idea why. I love a hockey romance and this one was excellent. I devoured this in one sitting and have no regrets. I love a MMC that Is as sweet as Eli, it just gives you such a nice warm feeling. Like I mentioned I absolutely love this book and would definitely love to read some more from this author.

This was my first hockey romance and I am SO glad It was.

I love how their relationship progressed very naturally and the fact that the romance was the main point of the novel, the fact it had no spice was a huge bonus to me. it's refreshing for a romance to have a deeper connection.
I never felt like the book lacked anything at all, the pacing was perfect and didn't feel rushed, Emma is definitely one of my go-to authors now and I can't wait to read her other books

A lovely arranged marriage love story. I loved it from Eli to Bailey, the dogs, hockey, and all the family. An enjoyable sweet sports read. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgalley

Thank you to Netgalley for an eArc of this book!

I absolutely devoured this book and finished it in a few hours! It was everything I love in fake dating/sports romance!

The MMC of this book is the absolute sweetest and has the kindest soul, I thought these characters had a lovely relationship development and it all felt very natural!

I can’t wait to read more books by this author!

Eli Hopkins, a popular hockey player, is in trouble: an administrative error is about to deport him from the country. If he doesn't want to leave his career, his teammates and his sick mother, his only option is to get married as soon as possible. The problem is, to whom? But everything seems to become clearer when Bailey enters the picture, a girl who works at the animal shelter Eli often visits to play with the dogs and whose financial problems may be driving her to commit the folly of accepting the proposal.

What will we find?
🏑 Hockey romance
💙 Clean romance
💍​ Marriage of Convenience
🥰 The golden retriever guy
💜 Family found
👫 Dual POV

This book is ADORABLE. Eli is literally a ray of sunshine, he is very protective and always puts the needs of others before his own, especially his mother’s. And for that alone, he becomes one more deserving literary boyfriend 💜

And Bailey is amazing. She is a very strong woman who has lost her parents and has a sick grandmother. She wants to be a vet, but has a hard time being able to afford to pay for tuition and her grandmother's care.

Eli and Bailey are very cute and awkward together, which adds a lot of sweetness to the book. And they have hilarious moments, not only with each other, but also with Eli's family and teammates 💗

One of the major themes of the novel is the illnesses of the family members of both of them. I think the author has done a good job and has incorporated them in a very credible way, so that they are not just there for the sake of it.

I also really liked the fact that it is a clean romance, because I think that’s what the story demands. And I loved that in a genre where the spicy is almost a requirement, Emma has managed to drive the romance without having to forcefully add it in this book.

Perhaps what I liked least about the story is that it seems a bit instalove, since everything takes place in just one month. I wish they had at least had more time to develop the romance more slowly, I think it would have been perfect.

4,5 ⭐

Thanks to NetGallery and Emma St. Clair for this ARC in exchange for an honest review 😊

Emma St. Clair’s Just Don’t Fall was the first ARC I received and reviewed. So when I had the opportunity to review A Groom of One’s Own, a stand alone novel that follows one of the Appies hockey players featured in the Sweater Weather series, I was thrilled!

The novel begins with Eli, a member of minor hockey team, the Appies who has just learned that due to a clerical error, he will be deported back to Canada. That is unless he finds a loophole, like finding himself a bride to marry within the next 30 days. As a hopeless romantic, Eli would ideally like to marry for love. But, he may have found a potential bride in Bailey, a shy and cute woman who works at the animal shelter that Eli loves to make laugh whenever he stops by to play with the orphaned dogs. When Eli finds out that Bailey could use some financial support, he suggests they marry short-term to help both of them get through the individual issues that have been plaguing them. As the pair begin to plan their wedding and get to know each other better, it begins to feel less like a marriage of convenience. If you love romance and humour with sizzle but no spice, this book is a great one to add to your TBR. Now I need to read the rest of the Appies series to keep tabs on all the men!

"A Groom of One's Own" is a captivating novel that skillfully intertwines themes of love, family, and personal struggles. The portrayal of the protagonist's mother's fibromyalgia adds depth and realism to the story, resonating deeply with readers who may have experienced similar challenges - as is my case. The dual point of view offers a rich narrative experience, allowing readers to empathize with both characters on a profound level.

Eli's endearing qualities and vulnerabilities make him a truly memorable character, while Bailey's initial skepticism evolves into admiration as her character develops throughout the story. Despite some initial reservations, the authenticity of Bailey's journey becomes increasingly compelling, adding layers to the narrative.

The writing style is exquisite, with beautiful prose that effortlessly draws readers into the world of the characters. Despite its light tone, the novel manages to evoke a range of emotions, from heartwarming moments to those that stir butterflies in the stomach.

While some readers may have hoped for more exploration of the after-marriage aspect, the focus on the lead-up to the wedding is understandable and effectively executed. The absence of explicit scenes does not detract from the palpable chemistry between the characters, showcasing the author's skillful storytelling.

Overall, "A Groom of One's Own" is a delightful read that leaves a lasting impression. Fans of the genre will undoubtedly find themselves eager to explore more works by this talented author, solidifying her status as a new favorite among readers. One thing is certain: she's now one of mine.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC.