While Proctor’s writing is breezy and easy to follow, the characters feel a bit flat. Noah’s gruffness lacks nuance, and Emma’s relentless cheer can sometimes feel more frustrating than endearing. The romance is sweet, but the plot moves too quickly, leaving little room for deeper emotional connection or character growth. The pacing is uneven, with some parts dragging while others rush to a resolution.

Who doesn’t love a grumpy sunshine romance? I know I do and Jenny Proctor delivered with Romancing the Grump. I loved the banter & romance!

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

Ah, yes—another delightful Appies hockey romcom! I absolutely adore this series of interconnected books featuring the players of the Appies, a fictional hockey team. Having read several of the books both by this author and others who worked on this joint series, I was excited to dive into this sweet, closed-door, no-spice romance. It truly feels like coming home, with “guest appearances” by familiar characters from both the Appies Hockey Romance series and the Sweater Weather series.

This time, we’re introduced to Nathan, the grumpy Appies defenceman, and Summer, who is as bright and lively as her name suggests. Their chemistry is palpable from the very beginning, it’s only a matter of time before their fake relationship begins to blur the lines into something more real.

As always, the Appies deliver with plenty of light-hearted banter and friendly jabs among the guys—one of my favourite parts! While this is a romance, the strong bonds between teammates are just as important.

This heartwarming read is a perfect pick for fans of contemporary sports romance, especially those who enjoy classic tropes like grumpy-sunshine and just-one-bed.

I loved this book and I love the Appies! Jenny Proctor does such a good job in clean romance of bringing the depth of her characters out to make you really FEEL the romantic tension while staying sweet. I’m a fan!

Overall I did enjoy this. I’m such a sucker for a hockey romance and no third act break up…gold I tell ya. This isn’t my first by the author but I do find I have to be in the right mood to read her books. One thing I wish I knew going in was that it was part of a series. I’m the type of person that needs to read books in order so it kind of irked me to think about what I was missing the whole time.

Overall an enjoyable read!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Tbh, I did not expect much from this novel as the high influx of hockey romance is unbelievable. But, I was really wanting a lightsome read as I just finished university and needed something that had nothing to do with the degree. I actually ended up enjoying it. It did exactly what I wanted it to do. The characters were delightful and especially for the female main character I felt like I was connected to her and new what she was like as a n individual. I was pleased with the progression of the romance as it was steadily paced, I especially liked this novels take on the one bed trope which is a personal fave but hard to be done well.

4 Stars because it did what I wanted it to do and I had a fun time.

Thank you NetGalley and JPC Publishing for providing to me the e-ARC of the book in exchange of an honest review,

3.5

This is the first time I have read a book by this author, but I was already familiar with the series as it is related to another series where different authors have their characters set in the same town. I think the concept is amazing because it allows you to discover different authors with their characters. I have already met Jolie and Lucas in The Fall Back Plan from the Sweater Weather Series, and I hope to encounter other characters as well.

The beginning of the story was entertaining to read and was the best part for me. I liked both characters and it was fun to watch the interaction between Nathan and Summer. Nathan is portrayed as the grump of the group, although in my opinion he just prefers to be alone. Summer, on the other hand, is the exact opposite of him, a bit bossy if you will. I liked that their behavior changes when they are together and that they show sides of their character that they didn’t think they had. I liked their love story and found it interesting that most of the couples mentioned in the novel begin with a fake relationship, which helps the dynamic between the two protagonists when they are forced to pretend to be together.

However, the second part of the story felt a little flat. Although the author created good moments between the two protagonists, it felt like there was little tension. Especially when Summer tells Nathan about his toxic ex-boss via text message. Since this is one of the many defining moments in their relationship, I would have expected them to face it personally; this decision personally weakened the tension in their relationship. Also, the way Summer’s ex-boss leaves with his tail between his legs felt flat. I thought there would be some conflict, but when Nathan confronted him, he left without say anything. I get that one hockey player against one common person is intimidating, but even in public his behavior left little impact.
I also was not moved by the end of the story, where Summer confesses his feelings to Nathan and gives him time to process them. I don’t know what happened, because the story started well developed, but towards the end I seemed to be missing the part that would impact the story and give meaning to Summer and Nathan's relationship.It seemed like the climax would never reach its peak, but instead remained calm. Maybe it's just the concept of the book, and it was only me who wanted to feel something. Despite this, I was satisfied with this read. The strong point of the author is the ability to create a family atmosphere among the characters, even among strangers, making the story enjoyable. I also recommend it for those who want to read a story slightly spicy or simply is passionate about sports romance.

Last but not least, I would like to say a few words about Nathan’s teammates, The Appies, particularly The Dream Team. I loved all of them. They melted my heart every time they appeared. Even though I didn't know them from the beginning of the series, I didn't feel like I was missing out at all. They were fantastic supporting characters and was easy to appreciate everyone, especially Alec. I mean, look at this part: “Honestly, my feelings are hurt”, Alec says from the foot of the bed. “All the time I’ve come in to wake you up, and you’ve never tried to spoon me.” I can’t wait to read his love story and Van’s, the last single of the group. I also look forward to starting the series from the beginning to read about the other couples.

Thank you to NetGalley and JPC Publishing for the arc.

This was a cute story about Summer Callahan, the new attorney for the Appies hockey team, and Nathan Sanders, the team's brooding defenseman. Both Summer and Nathan feel a spark between them, but Nathan is adamant about not being in a relationship because he lived through the pain of having a parent who played professional hockey, but was horrible to his family after suffering a career ending injury. Eventually, due to the rabid nature of his growing fanbase, Nathan and Summer enter into a fake relationship to combat the undue attention.

I really enjoyed reading about the development of Summer and Nathan's friendship, and seeing how they became closer due to "faking" their relationship. Summer was a straight forward individual, who was upfront with Nathan about how she felt about their attraction to each other, yet respected his wish to not enter a real relationship. Nathan had a lot of issues to deal with, namely, sharing how he felt about his father with his mother and siblings. But, it was nice to see how close he was to his teammates, and to see how they supported him.

This is a closed door romance, and very sweet. The author, Jenny Proctor, built up Summer's and Nathan's romance very well, and I look forward to reading more of her books.

I really enjoyed this book! A great grumpy x sunshine trope. Nathan was grumpy but loveable and Summer was a ray of sunshine. They have great chemistry and I loved seeing their relationship develop!

Jenny Proctor’s *Romancing the Grump* is a delightful sports romance that brings together humor, warmth, and the perfect dose of emotional tension. This book taps into the beloved fake-dating trope, blending it seamlessly with a slow-burn romance that will have readers rooting for the characters from start to finish.

The story centers on Nathan Sanders, a defenseman for the Appies hockey team known for his surly demeanor, and Summer Callahan, whose bright personality is as infectious as her name suggests. Nathan has built walls around himself, his reputation as the "grouchiest player" well-earned. However, when Summer steps into his life with her relentless charm and optimism, his world is turned upside down.

Proctor crafts Nathan as the quintessential grumpy hero—stoic and guarded, but with hidden depths that make him all the more intriguing. Summer, on the other hand, is his perfect foil: lively, determined, and full of warmth. The chemistry between these two is palpable from the start, creating a tension that sizzles with every interaction.

One of the strengths of *Romancing the Grump* is its character development. Nathan’s journey from a gruff, emotionally closed-off athlete to someone willing to let down his guard is beautifully paced and authentic. Summer’s persistence in seeing beyond Nathan’s tough exterior is both endearing and relatable, making her a heroine that readers can easily root for.

The novel is also filled with moments of humor and light-hearted banter that balance out the more emotional scenes. Proctor’s writing shines in these exchanges, making the dialogue feel natural and engaging. The hockey setting adds an extra layer of excitement, providing a dynamic backdrop for the unfolding romance.

Overall, *Romancing the Grump* is a heartwarming and enjoyable read that perfectly captures the allure of opposites attracting. Fans of contemporary romance, especially those who enjoy the fake-dating and grumpy-sunshine tropes, will find this book to be an absolute treat.

This was such a great story. Nathan is such a lovable grump. Every grump needs a sunshine and Summer is just that. She is sweet, funny, determined and she never gives up especially on Nathan. The two have undeniably chemistry from the beginning. The way they fall for each other is just the sweetest.

This was such a fun book! I am excited to read the other books in the series. A great group of characters. You'll feel like part of the group!

I don't watch hockey but I'll read hockey romances, especially if they're written by some of my favorite rom-com authors. Take a grumpy defenseman (Nathan Sanders) who doesn't care if he has that reputation and mix with a bubbly new hire on the legal team (Summer Callahan), and you get a great grumpy/sunshine, slow-burn romance that will put a smile on your face.

These two are such opposites, which makes the scenes so much fun when they have to fake a relationship to fix a social media problem. Nathan is gruff on the outside but a cinnamon roll on the inside and it was so much fun to watch Summer discover that about him. It was also fun to watch Summer melt Nathan's icy exterior. "She gives me that same flirty smile, and my heart turns over in my chest."

I love dual POV and don't think we would've learned much about Nathan without seeing his side of things since he isn't a very talkative person. I loved learning about him and seeing how he cared about his family.

This is part of the Appies hockey series and can be read as a standalone, but I think once you read it you'll want to read the other books in the series. I received a copy from the publisher/author, JPC Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

This is part of a standalone series of sports romcoms. I've read another of them, which has also been fun. It used the grumpy x sunshine, which is fun to read. I loved the lack of a 3rd act break up just as they don't always help the plot.
This was a really cute read as a whole.

"Romancing the Grump" by Jenny Proctor is an endearing contemporary romance that captivates with its blend of humor, heart, and relatable characters. The story centers around a grumpy but lovable protagonist whose world is turned upside down by an unexpected romantic interest. Proctor’s writing is both witty and heartfelt, creating a narrative that is as charming as it is engaging.

i have not dabbled in this world yet, but was really enticed by the description of the book! and after reading this, i will need to dive further into this series. i loved the MCs, the setting, the background characters etc. the plot felt like it was consistently moving forward without rushing and i appreciated the character communication to avoid unnecessary conflicts. this was a very cozy read in the hockey romance world and i enjoyed the book. i hope there will be more in the series, as there's a few single characters still in the mix!

Nathan has a well-earned reputation as a grump, but when his brooding expression goes viral and his hockey team's social media pages start to look a little too NSFW, the team's PR manager convinces him that he needs a steady girlfriend to show his rabid fans that he's off the market. Enter the team's legal counsel, Summer, the beautiful attorney who asked him out months ago... but he turned her down. Despite the sizzle of attraction between them, Nathan is worried he can't maintain both a relationship and his career and doesn't want to repeat his dad's mistakes.

Dare I say, this may be my favorite book in the Appies series so far?? I don't know why I've put it off, having already read and loved the other three books, but I'm glad I finally got around to this one. I love both Summer and Nathan's characters, and how she uses her legal skills and connections to help him in addition to the fake dating. I also how--minor spoiler--there's no lengthy third act break up (though their is a short "break") so things felt more realistic, forgivable, and progressing. I don't think I have any notes! Perfect for those looking for a closed door but not overly sweet sports romance!

Thanks to the author for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

Title: Romancing The Grump
Author: Jenny Proctor

Ch: 26 plus epilogue

Pg:358

Series: Appies 4

Genre: Rom Com

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: indie


I never thought that any of the Appies would replace Flexi as my favorite. But that was until I read Romancing the Grump and met grumpy Nathan Sanders. Grumpy sunshine has always been one of my favorite tropes. But Nathan was more than just a grumpy hockey player. And of course, Summer’s the exact opposite of him making the banter awesome.


I mean as a rom com you know how it ends but the fun is the journey the characters take to get there. And it doesn’t hurt that he loves his family. Nathan really is a grump with a heart of gold.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I really liked this book and thought it was so cute. Fake dating is my favourite trope so I devour any book with that trope. I did not really know this was a series so I was not familiar with all the side characters, but it did not bother me too much. I always enjoy fake dating and hockey romance, especially together, so I would definitely recommend this.