A Groom of One's Own is a sweet hockey romance. Eli, hockey player for the minor league team the Appies, has realized that he will deported back to Canada in 30 days. He will lose his spot on the team that has become his family and his mother will have to move back and lose all the doctors that have been helping her care for her fibromyalgia. So, of course, the only thing to do is find someone to marry. Enter Bailey, the girl that works at the animal shelter he goes to and has been slowly getting to know. When she says yes to the crazy idea they realize the marriage could be more than just a marriage of convenience.

I really enjoyed this story and the characters. The relationship between the two main characters was very believable and it was very sweet to see them become more comfortable with each other and settle into their unique relationship. I also liked that there was no miscommunication trope or third act break-up like in most romance novels. It was just a good, straightforward romance novel. The representation of medical conditions such as fibromyalgia and dementia was also welcome and I felt like I was able to connect with Bailey more because of her relationship with her Grandma. Overall, I liked this story and am excited to continue this series! Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for gifting me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5✨

Overall I enjoyed this book. It was a feel good, closed door romance with a fake marriage in order for Eli to get a visa. I wish there would've been a little more depth with all of it really. There was the owner of the team who Eli didn't like and what was his role really in this story? I felt like his side appearance wasn't relevant. Additionally the gran. She is introduced in the very beginning and then never actually seen again which was a little disappointing.

I did like Eli and Bailey's relationship and enjoyed Maggie as a side character.

This was a good book! At first, I was a little skeptical of a "marriage of convience" trope in a modern romance, but I found that it was ok.
Both protagonists, Eli and Bailey, knew each other a little bit before the start of the story as they already met at a pet shelter. This made it a little more plausible for Eli to ask Bailey (in a joking way) if she could marry him to allow him to stay in the US and not be deported to Canada. As Bailey already has a crush on him and needs money, she agrees. The marriage happened at the end of the book which I regretted as it did not leave much time —just a few short couple of weeks — for Eli and Bailey to fall in love. I'd rather both of them marry quickly and then develop feelings. It all happened a bit fast and the characters did not always communicate well and in a honest way.
All in all, this was a sweet, clean romance, with nice characters and a wholesome dog (always a bonus)!
3.75 stars

This was my second Emma St. Clair book, and I absolutely adored it! This was such a sweet marriage of convenience romance story. I related so much to Bailey’s personality, and I loved that Eli was just an absolute golden retriever of a man (I need one of those in my life lol😆). Also, after having read Just Don’t Fall, it was nice to see Logan and Parker again, as well as the other team members of the Appies hockey team, and I really look forward to read more Appies stories!

This is a CLEAN romance, meaning there’s no spice beyond kissing and there’s pretty much no foul language. Caring for family members with dementia/chronic illness does play a big role in this story, so just be aware of that if that’s a topic that triggers you (but I believe the author handled this very well).

Thank you to NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions above are my own.

I had never read a title by this author, but I had seen some around the library and decided to give it a try. I loved it! I loved it so much I had to put the other titles by this author and Jenny Proctor on hold. Cute and a fun read and not as cliché as a lot of "clean reads." Would definitely recommend the series to anyone who likes sports romance without spice (but you'd still enjoy it even if spice is usually your thing),

Eli finds out he's going to have to go back to Canada to renew his visa unless he happens to have a girlfriend he could marry in the next month to keep him here and on the Appie's team. Bailey wants to become a vet, but school is expensive and the money she currently makes goes mostly toward her grandmother's assisted living care. If only she had someone who could help her out financially? This is exactly what Eli proposes in exchange for marrying him (temporarily of course). But what if there are real feelings between them?

A fun marriage of convenience story based in my neck of the woods (Western North Carolina). Highly entertaining, thoroughly enjoyable, and I may have teared up a bit during the wedding scene...

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own

This is the second book I have read in the Appies series, and I enjoyed it as much as Parker and Logan's story.

It's a sweet story that is almost more about friendship and community than romance (although there are plenty of romantic gestures)

It's not a steamy read besides a few kisses, just a fun rom com.
My only complaint is that Doris and Gram could have had bigger roles.

Oh man...I adore the Appies and Emma St. Clair. I love the Savannah Bananas so the Appies are my kind of team and the fact that they are a hockey team? Absolutely perfect. I am officially in my hockey romance era...with no sign of exiting any time soon. And KiKi...Her sense of humor is the absolute best! I straight up laughed out loud and giggled to myself so many times through this book. It's such a feel-good and swoony read.

Eli...Man, I always think I don't love the good guys...until I read a really good one. And Eli is the most precious cinnamon roll golden retriever MMC there ever was. He is just so stinkin' sweet and eager to please. But he's also fiercely protective and loyal. What girl doesn't love a guy who encourages her to follow her dreams, but for real backs her up every step of the way? I loved Eli's relationship with his mom. He's a mama's boy, but in all the good ways instead of the bad ones. I also enjoyed how almost instantly invested Eli was in Bailey. Not necessarily a guy falls first situation, but it seemed like he fell harder faster and I was here for it!

Bailey...Bless her. The lonely characters get me every time. After all she's gone through, she absolutely deserved a fairytale ending. I loved experiencing her evolve from such a shy person into someone willing to stand up for herself and demand what she really wants. I loved that while Eli was such a good support system for her, she still figured out how to stand on her own.

Some of my favorite things...Eli's adorable nickname for Bailey, Gran (even though she's not very nice, her antics are hysterical), Bailey and Maggie's relationship (so very healing), and Annie's entire personality. I would absolutely love it if she got her own book.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this one. It took me a while after pub day to get to it, but I am so grateful. I can't wait to revisit the Appies universe real soon!

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First thought: I love the Appies! All the guys on the team are fun, but I was so excited to read Eli’s story. Throw in the adorably cute and shy Bailey, shelter dogs, fake marriage and this book is an absolute must read. So cute you’ll just melt into an ooey gooey puddle!

Eli just found out he has to leave the country in three weeks because his visa expires or he has to get married. The thing is Eli is a romantic and being a hockey player hasn’t given him the chance to meet anyone he would want to marry. Plus his mom suffers from chronic illness and her doctors and support are here, he can’t uproot her.

Bailey works at the local animal shelter and is saving money to go to vet school. She is strapped for cash as she also is the sole provider helping keep her grandma in a nursing home. The one highlight of her week is when this handsome Viking like god comes in to hang with the dogs.

This week something is off his usual happiness is clouded in worry so Bailey asks him what’s wrong and how she can help. The last thing she expected him to say was the only helped he needed was for her to marry him!

Eli and Bailey brush off that awkward encounter but fate has other plans and on the night of her bday they run into each other again. This time chemistry flies and these two are drawn together and the idea of a fake marriage doesn’t seem so far fetched. Maybe they could work out how this marriage could benefit them both.

This is a must read you don’t want to miss, the adorable awkwardness of Eli and Bailey can’t be beat.

Literally Themes you’ll find:

* Golden Retriever MMC
* Shy Animal Loving FMC
* Marriage of Convenience
* Acquaintances to Lovers
* Found Family
* Appies Hockey Team
* Nicknames
* Dual POV
* Closed Door


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This is a marriage or convenience between Eli, a professional hockey player, and Bailey, an aspiring vet. Eli needs to get married to save his visa and stay in the US and Bailey needs financial backing for veterinary school.

I really wanted to love this story and the plot was mostly great, but the whole thing felt rushed. Barely any tension. No drama. Everything seemed to move too smoothly in my opinion, and left me feeling kinda bored

i ate this book up!!! if you know me, you know hockey romances are my favorite and this one did not disappoint. i LOVE love and cannot get over eli and bailey. if you love sports romances, marriage of convenience, and forced proximity - you need to read this book.

thank you so so much to netgalley and victory editing for the arc copy of this book!!!

This book is HEARTWARMING. There's no suspense. Perfect for my cozy sunday reading. I love both Bailey and Eli's character. It is refreshing to read about reverse grumpy-sunshine, where the FMC is not all bright and the MMC has a career that is attributed to all the macho thing but is a softie inside AND outside, all the way <3
My favorite parts? Whenever Van arrives and say something. He's adorable. Sorry Eli.
There are few things I'd love to read more about Eli's mom, but this is already good and can be discussed in a book club :))
4.5/5

#AGroomofOnesOwn #NetGalley

A lovely happily ever after fiction about Eli, the most sensitive & caring hockey player & Bailey, the amazing girl striving to do good for animals. Eli needs a visa to continue playing hockey & although Eli regularly visits he animal shelter where Bailey works, he hasn't ever striked up a conversation until now. A slow burner which although is predictable on paper, you cannot help but warm to the characters. Thank you to Net Galley for he advanced copy.

This book was good for a clean romcom. It is a marriage-of-convince trope and I tend to prefer an early marriage and then the rest of the book. This book doesn’t have the marriage until about 75% through the book and it takes place over 3ish weeks! The wedding was attempted to be shown being very emotional, but everyone was still basically strangers. It didn’t fit the traditional version of the trope very well. Otherwise, it was an enjoyable read - there was minor humor, dogs, and hockey. Very lighthearted and easy read. 3.5⭐️, 0.5🌶

I loved this book. It just made me happy- low angst, cinnamon roll guy, shelter animals, good friends, book club and she’s so relatable. I stayed up way too late reading it and I’m not sorry. The characters are equal parts quirky but in a cute way and now I need to know all of their stories.

Posting to goodnotes immediately. Amazon and Instagram within the next 2-3 days. Thank you!

Was first introduced to the Appies through Sweater weather multi-author series. That was fun so I was happy there is a spin-off series. This was a fun, light read. As with all modern marriage of convienence reads there is a bit of suspending belief going on. However, if the author is good the reader can say anyway: okay, I'll buy it! That's what happened here for sure. (this author has another book in her Love cliche series with this trope. That was another fun read.) I enjoyed all the characters, the comraderie with the team, the cinnamon roll hero. Eli was a unique in a wonderful way. I thought while this might be a familiar or popular trope how the story unfolded made the read feel fresh and new.
I loved: the witt and internal dialogue, imagery, easy natural dialogue, sweet and endearing moments between the couple.
I liked the side characters and thought they added nicely to the story. Annie I was on the fence about. She did add humor but I was also put off by her lack of boundaries. That one is probably just more of a your own Pov.
Content fyi info.- closed door, no fade out intimacy but some innuendo or light non-crude joking about sleeping together before the I do's and after, kissing only described.
*thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for an advanced digital copy of the book. Opinon is 100% my own.

This was an entertaining friends to lovers, marriage of convenience sports romance!

Eli is a Canadian hockey player on a US team. He and his mom have been in the US for a few years now, and his visa is about to expire. He either has to go back to Canada for several months and risk his spot on the team, or get married to a US citizen. That seems unlikely given that he doesn’t have a girlfriend.

Bailey works at an animal rescue and wants to become a vet. Eli often comes into the shelter to spend time with the animals and see Bailey. Eli really likes her, and asks her if she’d marry him for his visa, and she agrees.

They spend a lot of time together learning about each other and have to prove to people that their marriage is real, and after a while they start to fall in love.

I love these characters! Eli loves his mom and dogs, he’s a marshmallow in a hockey player’s body. Bailey is more vulnerable than she appears, and they fit together perfectly. 4 stars.

Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was such a cute hockey romance!!! If you love a fast pace, swoony love story this is the book for you. Marriage of convenience will always be one of my favorite tropes and this book does it justice. I loved both of the main characters so much. They are likable and draw you in. The plot kept me entertained and I didn’t want to put it down.

I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading this book, super sweet, super funny, and super loving. Did I say ‘super’ too much? Well, that's because this book was my savior, preventing me from falling into an almost reader’s block.

Bailey and Eli couldn't have charmed me more as characters. Eli needs to sort out his visa; otherwise, he’ll be sent back to Canada. Bailey, on the other hand, faces financial difficulties. These two meet because Bailey works at the animal shelter where Eli frequents. He has a little crush on her, and things escalate when he jokingly proposes marriage. Let’s just say that from that moment on, they never parted ways and became even closer friends.

The story was beautiful. I can't deny that I smiled every time I read about Bailey’s interactions with the Appies (the hockey team). She found a family in all of them and in Eli’s family as well. It’s a love story that unfolds gradually, sprinkled with delightful moments.

I’ve already read the two previous books in this series, and this one definitely belongs in my favorites category

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an e-copy of this book.

I’m full of heart eyes and tears and laughter and so disappointed that it’s over! I want more time with these wonderful imaginary people!

I loved everything about this book, but I especially loved Maggie. Reading her story made me feel seen and understood and important.

Having an invisible chronic illness sometimes leaves me feeling a little useless and invisible. I can’t even begin to tell you how much this meant to me. And you nailed it Emma St. Claire!

I’m so excited more Appies stories are coming! I can’t get enough of these guys and their families. Such a fun, fabulous series!