A Groom of One’s Own was a sweet and easy read with some really heart-touching moments! I absolutely loved Eli’s golden retriever energy and Bailey’s shy nature. I think the pair complemented each other really well. The side characters were also a great addition to this story.

Thank you to NetGalley & Emma St. Clair for a copy of this book! A Groom of One’s Own is now available for purchase and on KindleUnlimited NOW!

4.0/5.0
* marriage of convenience
* no spice

A Groom of One’s Own • Emma St Clair
•••
I adore Emma St Clair’s sweet romcoms and this one was no exception. Chalk full of adorable tropes (marriage of convenience, forced proximity, one bed to name a few) this book delivered all I’ve come to expect from my favorite sweet romcoms. While apart of a series, you can definitely read it as a stand alone. You’ll fall in love with the characters and want even more when you’re finished!
•••
Premise: a Canadian hockey player stands to lose everything when his visa runs out. Jokingly management suggests he find a wife & quickly. He brushes it off but when the girl he’s been eyeing when he volunteers at the animal shelter surprisingly says yes to help him out, things just might turn around for them both.
•••
Read if:
-you’re a fan of a cinnamon roll MMC
-you love animals
-you’re looking for books with chronic illness representation
-you love a marriage of convenience romcom (cute hockey players thrown in for good measure)

I loved this book, it is everything you would want in a sweet, closed-door rom-com. I’ve enjoyed several of author Emma S. Clairs’s previous books and A Groom of One’s Own was no exception. The MMC in this book is Eli whom we are introduced to in her contribution Just Don’t Fall to the Sweater Weather collection which was a collaborative effort between the 7 authors and released in fall 2023.

Eli is the epitome of a golden retriever, he is sweet, loving and cares deeply about the people around him. There is simply no way not to fall in love with his characters. Eli has it all, wonderful friends and family (his mother is an absolute gem, loved her so much) and a successful hockey career with the Appie, that is until a clerical error puts him at risk of losing it all. Facing deportation Eli has to make some big decisions regarding his future, an off-handed comment about a marriage of convenience has him thinking but how would one even pull that off in 30 days when Eli is very much single.

Enter sweet and lovely Bailey. Bailey works at the local shelter and absolutely loves animals, she dreams of one day returning to school to fulfill her dream of becoming a vet. She is independent and used to doing things on her own. Due to a family tragedy, she is the sole caretaker for her aging grandmother and with the rising costs of the dementia facility where her grandmother lives she is starting to realize her dream of becoming a vet may never become more than a dream.

I was a little hesitant going into this book, marriage of convenience is not my favourite trope as it so easily goes wrong but I have read and loved several of Emma S. Clair’s books in the past and this was no different. The found family trope is a big part of this book and I loved every minute of it, from Bailey’s friends and Eli’s family to the brotherhood of the Appies there is plenty to go around and it really warmed my heart how they all welcomed each other into the fold.

This is a must-read for all fans of contemporary romance and rom-com, you will adore the loveable characters and the Appies brotherhood. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

Thank you to author Emma S. Clair for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I love a hockey romance, and this book did not disappoint! This was such a feel good romance, I can’t wait to read more by Emma St. Clair

This was me

50% - 3stars

74% - 4 stars

Finished the book - 5 stars

at the beginning, it was more of a instalove situation and I didnt care much about the details of where the plot was going but as soon as it hit 50%, it was getting good! 74% in, I loved how the story unfolded but I wanted more to push it to 5 stars. As soon as I read the last page, I was head over heals with Bailey and Eli. Emma St Clair did it. What a beautiful marriage of convience story. I think what also pulled my heart string was the HUGE found family trope. I obessed with the APPIES and all the guys are totally swoonworthy and not douchebags. It was refreshing to see the protective nature of Eli but it didnt shy away from a strong heroine. We need more good men written. Thank you Emma St Clair

No Language, no explicit scene , no three pages makeouts.

"awkward together"


content warnings:


*I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and the author. All opinions are my own

So sweet!

This is a hockey romance, and it's book 1 in its series, but there's a few characters from the authors' other series, Sweather Weather.

Eli Hopkins does have it all. He plays for a great team, he has a bunch of friends, and takes care of his mom (omg, you guys will love him). He's good-looking, sweet, and a great player. Oh wait, he doesn't have it all.

He just found out that he's about to be sent back to Canada. That will mean the end of his position on his hockey team.

Bailey doesn't really have it all. She does have a job she loves (some coworker excluded) working in a veterinarian office and some good friends. But she's alone supporting her grandmother, who's in a nursing home. She wants to go to college but doesn't have the money.

These two sweethearts know each other, and when secrets are revealed, they realize they might be able to help each other out. This one was really, really sweet. Both of the MCs were sweethearts! I call it the sunshine/sunshine trope. He really is one to take care of everyone, and I love that in a character. I enjoyed the book a lot. It was funny, full of sugar and animals?!

This is a classic sweet romance by classic sweet romance author Emma St. Clair.
Welcome back to the Appies saga. This hockey romance-adjacent series with the mixed collab series called Sweater Weather (check it out on Kindle Unlimited), where book 1 (Just Don’t Fall) and book 7 (Absolutely Not in Love) featured some dreamy hockey players. Have I entered my hockey romance era? Because this sure feels like it.

Okay, deep breath. Is there any scenario where I can trade in my husband for Eli Hopkins (also… what is his real name???), because this man is dreamy. In a classic situation, hunky Hop’s work visa is about to expire, and moving back to Canada is not an option. When the immigration lawyer – jokingly, maybe – suggests a green card marriage, everyone laughs it off… except Eli can’t get a certain dog shelter worker out of his head. Sweet, shy, Bailey can’t deny the hot hockey player who just wants to look after abandoned puppies and his sick mother, so really, what’s the harm in agreeing…

This charming romance is a must-read for fans of sports romance. Eli, a hot hockey player with a heart of gold, steals the show with his caring nature and adorable relationship with his mother. Bailey, the shy and introverted protagonist, blossoms in Eli's presence, making for a delightful read. Their story is a heartwarming blend of romance and personal growth, perfect for a quick and enjoyable read.

Eli Hopkins has it all; a hockey carrer with the wildly popular Appies and teammates who are like brothers. All that's missing is someone to share it with, and correctly filed visa paperwork. Unless he can find someone to marry him in the next thirty days, he'll lose everything.

Enter Bailey, the cute lady he met at the animal shelter he liked to stop by at for some "dog therapy". She was shy so he made it his mission to have her talk to him more. She had problems of her own, including the rising cost of taking care of her grandma who suffered from dementia and also saving up for vet school. So they struck up a deal which only his teammates and her close friends knew about.

I loved so many things about this story. Eli was a golden retriever with so much love to give and I loved that he found his person in Bailey who never thought he was too much. Bailey found her people and finally got to feel loved by found family.

The lead up to the wedding was exciting and the wedding itself tugged at my heartstrings. I met so many new characters and they all made the story even more enjoyable. I cannot wait for more Appies stories!

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Great read, can't wait for the rest of this series. A fake marriage story for Eli and Bailey, as Eli needs to get married for a visa, but will it end up being real?

I just loooove Emma St. Clair's romcoms because they have the perfect balance of sweetness, tenderness, and humor. A Groom of One's Own is the latest story in the Appies world, and Eli and Bailey dazzle. A marriage of convenience plot can very easily go in an unsavory direction, but this one played out so beautifully. Definitely check out this book if you enjoy fake dating with real feelings, hunky hockey players with a whole lot of heart, family-focused characters, men who plan weddings, cute puppy hijinks, and the sweetest love stories, but do yourself a favor and start at the beginning with the first book in the series, Just Don't Fall.

Thank you to the author and publisher for gifting me with an ARC to review. All opinions are my own. I loved it!!

Eli, an Appies hockey player, has it all until he realizes that his visa paperwork is going to expire and he is at risk of being deported. The only way that he can stay with no issues is if he were to get married in 30 days. He does not have a girlfriend and really does not date but there is one girl that he is interested in. Bailey works at the local animal shelter and Eli is her favorite visitor even though every time she is around him, she freezes ip. A fake marriage to Eli could also help with some of her financial problems. Maybe a fake marriage isn’t the worst idea.

Me 🤝 fake marriage hockey romances 😍 I am a sucker for fake marriage story and if it includes hockey players, I am all about it. I loved Eli’s mom and sister and thought they were great additions along with the other Appie hockey players. Some already have books so I enjoyed the glimpse into where they are now, but I also really want a book for Van. Eli wanted to support Bailey in so many ways and how he cared for her was so sweet. The relationship between Bailey and Eli’s mom was also super sweet.

First of all I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC.

I’m so happy I got to read this book because how I did not know this author before?? I’m so captivated by her writing style, and this book is 100% meant for you if you like: 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙, 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡, 𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡, 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚.

Eli is a main character that I would express as WHAT A MAN. He’s so sweet, a man that carries his heart on his sleeve, romantic, protective, and gorgeous. He takes care of his mom and is actually pretty close to her, like living with her type of close. And may I say that Eli’s mother is my absolute favorite? I can actually bet she would be yours too once you read it.

Bailey is a shy independent woman, very sweet too. She’s so used to being on her own and kinda surprises herself when she actually loves to have Eli on her corner, taking so much care of her.

They are absolutely adorable and meant for each other, like.. they belong together, probably made for each other kind of love (That’s my favorite kind).

And of course, this is a marriage of convenience book.. And hell yeah we have it!!

📌 A quick read, medium-fast paced; sweet romance, filled with a lot of fun moments and loveable characters. You’ll love it.

💌 P.s: The Appies?? Best. Team. Ever!! Van? The absolute best friend ever.

Oh how much fun I had with this book! I love love love sports romances and I am so glad I got to read this amazing story! The book is a delightful blend of romance, humor, and heartwarming moments that will leave readers feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

The fake marriage trope adds an element of tension and excitement to the story, as Eli and Bailey navigate their feelings for each other while trying to keep up appearances. Eli's romantic nature and protective instincts make him a swoon-worthy hero, while Bailey's strength and determination make her a relatable and likable heroine. The dual POV allows readers to see both characters' perspectives, adding depth and complexity to their relationship.

The hockey romance aspect of the book adds a fun and unique twist, as readers get a glimpse into the world of professional sports and the camaraderie among teammates. The banter and camaraderie among the characters adds a lighthearted and humorous touch to the story, making it a joy to read.

The wedding scene is a standout moment in the book, filled with emotion and tenderness that will tug at readers' heartstrings. It is a perfect culmination of Eli and Bailey's journey, showcasing their love and commitment to each other in a beautifully written and touching way.

Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance, with its engaging storyline, lovable characters, and perfect balance of heart and humor. It is a feel-good read that will leave readers smiling and satisfied, making it a perfect choice for anyone looking for a charming and uplifting romance novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

I loved this book! The perfect light read with lots of humor and angst - and no spice/closed doors for those that prefer that! Eli was the perfect MMC and gentleman and Bailey is a force of her own!! I loved them both together so much.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book!
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Emma st Clair is one of my top favorite romance authors. I have been in a hockey romance mood and this book was just what I wanted. It has a marriage of convenience and it was done so well! I would highly recommend this book!

Eli's dreams of making a home in Harvest Hollow are shattered when he learns that, due to an error, his visa will expire in 30 days and he'll have to return to Canada - probably destroying his career, and taking his mother away from the treatments that have been so helpful. The one possible loophole seems so far-fetched as to be not worth thinking about. After all, he doesn't even date, so there's no way he could find a bride in under a month - could he? Between big bills to care for her grandmother and future bigger bills when she finally gets into vet school, Bailey's struggling. A fake marriage to her favourite visitor to the animal shelter she works at could solve both their problems - right? Only, as they spend more time together, she begins to realise that if he doesn't come to care, there'll be an awful lot of unrequited love in this fake marriage. Can their fake marriage turn into something real, or is it the worst idea Eli's ever had?

Plenty of good clean fun, with plenty of emotion along the way. In many ways, it's just your typical fake relationship story, yet it feels fresh and new. They're both so delightfully uncertain and yet attracted that I loved watching them slowly work their way to a happily ever after (not to mention they're just nice people). And the various secondary characters add to it too: Dr Evil makes a great villain, Eli's mum has some hilarious quirkiness, not to mention Doris is quite the character. And the other (unmatched) Appies make me eager to see them get their own stories. One minor quibble: I felt like the whole visa scenario was never really tidied up. Once they get married, it's all ignored, not a hint of paperwork, or even time for it to have happened - which seems unrealistic in my limited experience of visas! There's always more paperwork - and a last-minute marriage seems like the sort of thing that might get scrutinised a little more. Nevertheless, an enjoyable read and I'm eager to read more about the Appies - despite never having watched a game of hockey in my life! Recommended.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

I love Emma St. Clair and this is my new favorite. I really enjoyed the marriage of convenience story with a hockey setting. It was a sweet and satisfying read. Loved it!

A groom of one’s own is not my first Emma S. Clair book but it is my new favourite! I love marriage convienience books especially with how sweet this one was. I also loved that it was closed door, focusing all the attention on their relationship and family

I LOVE the Appies! Emma St. Clair never disappoints!

A Groom of One’s Own is a dual POV marriage of convenience trope. Eli is a professional hockey player dealing with visa issues. Bailey is a shy animal lover. Eli is not just looking for a legal partner; he's hoping to win over his bride, for real.

As strangers to lovers basically overnight, this story is full of humor, characters with depth, fun secondary characters, and tender moments with a little romance; the flirty banter between the two as the get to know each other is excellent. Eli and Bailey are are just perfectly awkward together!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.