Did I read this book within one sitting? Yes, yes I did. Do I have any regrets? Absolutely not. Was I crying happy tears at the end? You bet your bottom dollar I was.

I needed a sappy love story in my life after only reading fantasy books for the past month, and Romancing the Grump was the perfect book for that. I read this book as a standalone but I am definitely going to go back and read the rest of the Appies Series. I’m a person that prefers spice in my books, but I did not mind the lack of it in this one. I do however, wish this book had an additional 200 pages because it left me wanting for more in the best way possible.

Fake dating? Forced proximity? Hockey Romance? Grumpy x Sunshine? A wholesome and respectful man? Yes please. Nathan is a whole mood and I absolutely loved this dual POV. I wish we would have seen a slower transition with his feelings rather than one conversation with his mom, but if that is my only complaint about a plot, I’ll take it.

I loved Summer throughout this book as well and thought that she was a great FMC. There was nothing weak or naive about her, however I do wish there were more details about the first timer her and Nathan met. What about the months of them thinking they would never see each other again? I also wish this book had spanned over a longer time period, but I think the way that Jenny Proctor wrote the plot worked.

Romancing the Grump was such a feel good love story, that I am desperate to read more by Proctor. I definitely recommend this book for those that want something light to read with a cute ending. Thank you so much to Net Galley, JPC Publishing, and Jenny Proctor for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

OH. MY. GOODNESS
This book was so cute and wholesome I couldn’t put it down. Both MMC Nathan, and FMC Summer start a fake relationship to save Nathan from all the negative/provocative female fan attention he had been getting. However, both MC’s learn that their relationship really doesn’t feel fake at all.

I loved this book so much. I couldn’t believe how fast I flew through it! I didn’t even know part of a series (I read it as a stand alone and it holds up) and I immediately need to read the first book now.

This book had it all: grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, workplace romance, protective MMC, fake dating, care taking when sick (her to him), found family and the cutest little HEA.

I also loved how the story was dual POV so we could get both Summer and Nathan’s take on their fake-dating (even though the feelings were flying from the beginning).

If you like swoon worthy, closed door romance (with a side of hockey players), definitely check this book out. It was such a fun and fast read!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Calling all Hockey lovers!

Nathan is a grumpy hockey player who is content to be single.
Summer is working for his hockey team as their lawyer and has to step in to be his fake girlfriend (YES this is a fake relationship book!)

You got to love a good hockey romance, and this did not disappoint with a grumpy sunshine trope too!

This book is a clean romance and perfect for those who are looking for a happy easy read.

I loved that they integrated social media and the fact that even though this was a minor league team, social media can blow people up!

If you’re looking for a happy read with characters that you are rooting for - read this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

-Grumpy sunshine
-Fake dating
-Hockey
-Closed door

Received via netgalley as an ARC copy

I love the appies, the team vibe and characters are amazing.

This book is an easy read, it flows nicely and moves smoothly between funny light hearted moments, deeper moments and back again

I intend to go back and read the other appies books 👌

I liked the book; it’s about Summer, who starts to work as a lawyer for the Appies, an ice hockeyclub, and Nathan, a professional ice hockey player. Summer has had a crush on Nathan and has tried to get his attention in the past but he didn’t react. Now they’re both working for the Appies. Soon things change because the PR manager needs a fake girlfriend for Nathan to get some over enthusiastic fans to back down. Summer has no issues volunteering for the job, and so their story begins.
I really liked the banter between Nathan and his teammates; I liked Summer going all in as a ruthless lawyer.
I found some parts in the book a bit unrealistic; for example the fact that Summer asked Nathan if she could sleep in his bed when her hotelroom had a leaking ceiling, and then they end up snuggling and spooning, after just getting reacquainted. Also that Summer very quickly in the book admits that she’s never felt like what she feels with previous boyfriends, despite the fact that they hardly spend any time together or have had any meaningful, deep conversations.
I would have liked a bit more depth in the character development; a bit more realistic way of the relationship progressing into romance. But it is a nice read, an easygoing, feel-good story without any big drama’s.
I would recommend this to someone who is looking for a clean, sweet feel-good romance void of sex and profanity. I have read more of Jenny Proctor and this certainly won’t be my last!
Thank you Netgalley, JPC Publishing and Jenny Proctor for providing an advanced copy of this book. I'm happy to leave my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved everything about this book. Grumpy-Sunshine, Fake Dating, and Hockey! I am definitely in my Hockey Era. I loved that hockey was not just an afterthought in this book. The author did a great job adding hockey in the book.

Summer has just left her horrible job and is moving to be the contract attorney for the Appies hockey team. Her best friend is dating one of the players, so she has already met most of the team. On her first day the first person she sees is the grumpy defender that she met at a party, and she has a crush on. The only problem? He doesn't seem to even like her. When some fans get a little zealous and the PR manager asks her to "fake date" she jumps at the chance to get to know him better and maybe turn "fake" into "real".

Nathan is the grumpy defender that does not think he can have both a relationship and hockey. So even though he is interested in Summer he does not believe that it would be fair to start a real relationship with her, but "fake dating" is safe. So, he goes along.

This book is a fun read that follows the relationship that is never really fake. They both show up for each other and everyone knows it was real from the start except them. They have great banter. I absolutely loved that she was always looking for jokes to make him smile and he withheld his smiles so she would not stop trying to find jokes. They were such a cute couple through the whole book.

I loved meeting all of the other characters in the book! I am hoping that they all have books of their own. This was my first Jenny Proctor book, but it will not be my last. She has a way of bringing in side characters in a way that they do not take over the story, but you are begging for more of their stories.

If I could give this story more than 5 stars I would. I cannot think of anything that would have made the story better.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

This fall there was a series called "The Sweater Weather" books by various authors. If you love sweet, cutesy romances that make you smile check it out. In that series we were introduced to the hockey world and this new breakoff series is featuring the loveable Appies team! Pause while my heart does a happy dance. Book one was written by Emma St. Clair (loved it!) and this time her writing partner, Jenny Proctor, is spotlighting another hockey teammate, the grumpy Nathan. Enter his love interest, Summer, aka Ms Sunshine, aka the new team's lawyer. There are several familiar tropes, grumpy/sunshine, fake dating (real feelings,) force proximity, work romance...yes, I've seen it before, but it was still well done and heartwarming all the same. As much as I adored our couple, the antics/bro bond of the teammates made me smile just as much.

I recommend reading all of the books in this series, but you could totally read this as a standalone. Looking forward to more from this hockey world (and I'm not even a hockey fan!)

4 stars

Romancing the Grump is the fourth book in the Appies series, and A fake dating, grumpy x sunshine, sweet hockey romance.

Closed door romances are normally not my thing, but this book sounded way too good to not want to read. And I’m SO happy that I chose to read it because it was such a good book. Summer and Nathan were such a perfect match for each other she was a ray of sunshine, and he was the grumpy hockey player. But all the other characters in the book were just amazing.

With the need to start over, Summer Callahan accepts a position as legal counsel for the Appies. The team's grumpiest member, Nathan Sanders, draws her attention right away. Summer tried to flirt, but Nathan refuses to date due to his hockey career. But then his photos started blowing up on social media and it was suggested to have a fake relationship to calm down all his admirers. Summer agreed to act as his fake girlfriend. But then she realized she was in trouble when all the acting didn’t really feel like acting at all. She has real feelings for Nathan.

A quick, funny and clean read! [read as stand alone] Thank you to Net Galley, the Publisher, and Author for an advanced copy.

I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. Nathan was the perfect grump. The kisses were swoony!!! I loved seeing the other hockey players being supportive of Nathan. The growth of the characters in the story was done really well. I loved it!

I absolutely adored this book. Nathan and Summers chemistry was there from their first meeting. This was my first “clean romance” book but even without any spicy it was 🔥🔥. Such a wholesome story with many tropes, fake dating, one bed, grumpy x sunshine, hockey, witty banter. Can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series!

This is the first book by this author that I have picked up. Apparently it’s part of a series but I realise this as I’m reading with other references to things I probably should know about. So there was that!

Secondly, let’s talk characters. Summer is pretty squeaky clean for an ex DA’s office attorney. And she’s pretty up for anything as a new attorney at her new job. She was a bit inconsistent at times. Nathan the grump wasn’t that grumpy, I didn’t think. He was nice to his teammates, a good son and brother, and grump only about 5% of the time. Otherwise he was ……. serious, driven, responsible. I wanted more grump.

Thirdly, it was a sweet, feel good story. Which sometimes for me as a more spicey book lover equates to a little more would be, … more. That is, I think it was 70% before there was a smooch. There was plenty of simmering looks and pining from Summer and attraction from Nathan, but behind that it felt a little NA to me. But those who like less might find it more, I’d you get what I mean.

Fun fake dating premise though of course risky when his whole persona was grumpy, and his followers IRL could probably have turned feral seeing him with a girlfriend.

Loved some of the hockey and the legal stuff around contracts and a lower tiered team.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for what was a fun read, that in the end left me wanting more.

I really liked this book it was goofy, silly and Cliché all in a good way . even though i would have liked it better if the MMC was more straight with his feelings but i get it . i also really liked the exboss VS the boyfriend seen but all over it's a good book

Jenny Proctor hits us with another brilliant Hockey romance.
From the start there are clear tropes such as Grumpy Sunshine. Proctor took it as a challenge for the FMC Summer to constantly have a challenge to get the MMC, Nathan, to smile. Nathan has had some past trauma with his dad, a hero to some but a bit of failure as a father, and so he believes he cannot have a relationship whilst having a hockey career.
The best thing is Summer tries not to challenge this, but obviously cannot help stopping herself from falling in love with him.
Don't we always love it when one character gets the flu and the other has to care from them. Well, we have struck gold with this book. Nathan can't help but rely on his fake girlfriend.
There are obvious hiccups for Summer as she didn't leave her last job in the nicest of ways, horrible ex-boss. But she has truly found her work family with the appies. As someone who recently has also got a new job I have found my work family too, and so the appies seem just like my people too. A home from home, fiction and reality.
I cannot wait to read another Appies book, it is bound to be another hit.

Give me all the Appies stories! For not being much of a sports romance fan, this series has hooked me completely. I can’t get enough of these genuine, caring guys who play hard yet turn to softies whenever their teammates, family, or wives/girlfriends need them. Romancing the Grump is no different. I love the grumpy/sunshine trope and Nathan is the epitome of a grump. From his monosyllabic answers to his often gruff responses, he’d scare away most women except they can’t get enough of him. So much so, that he even has his own hashtag.

Summer is the strong, vibrant woman who’s come to Harvest Hollow to be a new attorney for the Appies. Though she’s attracted to Nathan, she won’t let him get away with that grumpy facade. Deep down, as she gets to know him, she understands there’s a cinnamon roll underneath whose past has affected his relationships. But, can she crack through that tough outer shell all while agreeing to a fake relationship to end his rabid fans’ obsession with him?

I loved these two! There were so many great moments between them and I loved their slow burn romance. It developed in such a natural, gratifying way. There were so many swoony moments like Nate defending Summer, the bus ride, defending Nate, ice skating, the one bed trope, waking the dead, the sick bed, and that kiss! I also loved seeing all the Appies again.

This is definitely a must read series! I’m desperately hoping for more because I can’t get enough of these guys. Even though Romancing the Grump is part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone, but then you’ll definitely want to go back and read the previous Appies books by Emma St. Clair & Jenny Proctor. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily given.

This was my first book by Jenny Proctor, and I will definitely be reading more! I didn't realize this book was part of a series, but luckily, they can be read as standalones. After finishing, I am absolutely going to be reading the other books in this series. I don't typically read a lot of closed-door, sweet romances, but I am so glad I gave this book a chance! I found myself very invested in Summer and Nathan.

Summer just got a new job as a hockey team's new in-house legal counsel. Nathan is the "grumpy" brooding player all the hockey loving fans want to tame. When he goes viral on TikTok under the hashtag #TametheBroodingBeast, Summer reluctantly agrees to be his fake girlfriend to alleviate some of the negative attention he's getting from his female fans. Summer isn't necessarily a hopeless romantic, but she wouldn't be sad about finding love someday. Nathan is completely relationship-avoidant after his alcoholic father shared that he can't be in a successful relationship and a successful hockey career simultaneously. Will Summer and Nathan be able to avoid real feelings for one another while they fake date?

Read this if you enjoy:
Dual POV
Fake-dating
Hockey romance
Workplace romance
Grumpy x Sunshine

My first read from Jenny Proctor, I loved it! The dynamic between all the characters really made this hockey romance what it is.

If you love grumpy/sunshine, fake dating then this is definitely for you. I know this is closed door romance but I would have loved a smut scene embedded in it too, but hey, it was nice to have my imagination put to the test!

I can't wait to now go and read the rest of the series!

Thank you to net galley & ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op.

Nathan and Summer have met before but when she starts working for the hockey team he plays for they are forced to spend more time together. When they end up fake dating will it lead to more? I liked how it was told from both points of view. Looking forward to the next books in this series.

This book was a perfect hockey romance. A grumpy guy not wanting a real relationship and an outgoing girl who everyone loves. I loved how much Nathan paid attention to Summer. That he would bring her coffee in the mornings because she loved his coffee. That he teaches her to skate (CLASSIC in a hockey romance), and also volunteers with children. What was a bit more of a breath of fresh air was that he wasn’t LOADED. Like always buying her stuff. When there was the legal stuff going on with his brother he automatically thought of the financial aspect and *if* he could afford it. Seems more real-life ish which I enjoyed.
I love that despite Summer being an identical twin he always knew which one she was. AND that the fake dating trope didn’t happen until about halfway through the book. That was fun to build their rapport and all the banter and tension beforehand. More believable for them to “start dating”. OMG and the close proximity with the hotel room?? GOOD STUFF. I also find it adorable she even takes care of him when he’s sick. So easy to see they truly loved each other. But I love the growth they had.

0/5 🌶️ , and had good fun and tension. I’ll need to read the others in the series as well, when I got this book as an ARC through netgalley I didn’t realize it was a later book in the series! You can still definitely read as a standalone.