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.

I heard that Romancing the Grump is part of a series, but I haven’t read any other books from it. After finishing it, I get why the author went with “Grump” for the title, but I didn’t really see Nathan as much of a grump, you know? And the chemistry between Summer and Nathan just didn’t hit me like I hoped. I was expecting more tension, but it was still a cute story with no spice. So, if you’re after a romance without all the steamy stuff, this is the one. But I was hoping for a bit more sizzle between Nathan and Summer. Something was missing there. Building that up a bit more would’ve been awesome.

I really loved all the hockey references in this book! I’m not a big hockey fan at all (I barely know the teams), but actually getting the vibe of the sport from the book was pretty cool. The author did an awesome job incorporating more of that aspect. Perhaps, this aspect helped make up for the lack of spice.

I really loved the whole “fake dating” thing in this, but honestly, I felt like Summer and Nathan needed more spark. It just didn’t click for me, and I was completely surprised when Summer ended up falling head over heels for Nathan. Like, what? What did I miss?

So, picture this: they are in the dark pantry, and I’m thinking, “Yes, this is it! The moment we’ve been waiting for.” But nope, it’s just a tiny moment. A quick touch on the elbow, maybe the waist…and then, nothing more. The slow burn was seriously slow burning!

Despite this, overall, I’d say this book deserves a solid three stars. It’s a cute and light story, after all.

Contemporary sports romance dual point of view closed door slow burn grumpy sunshine fake dating.
Sweet low angst book.

Romancing the Grump was perfect. Summer and Nathan's story was sweet, loving and absolutely romantic! It was everything one might want in a romcom! We were able to watch then become friends and then fall in love. Perfect continuation to the Appies series (which may be the only hockey team I pull for!) Jenny Proctor this was great. I can't wait to see what is next.
Content warning- there are a couple of curse words but not many. Just an FYI for readers.

4.5 Stars

Summer Callahan takes a job working as legal counsel for the Appies in hopes of a fresh start. She is immediately drawn to Nathan Sanders, the grumpiest member of the team. Despite Summer's attempts to flirt, Nathan has sworn off of relationships due to the demands of his hockey career. But when the social media frenzy surrounding his brooding pictures starts to get out of hand, it's suggested that he pretend to have a girlfriend to get the fans to cool down. Summer agrees to play the part, but she knows she's in trouble when it doesn't feel like acting at all.

I previously read A Groom of One's Own and loved it so I was delighted to get the chance to pick up Romancing the Grump. This is a sweet hockey rom com featuring grumpy x sunshine and fake dating tropes, which are some of my favorites to read. I was very much in the mood for a quick read with a happy ending and this absolutely delivered. I can't wait to read more in the Appies universe!

It was definitely a bit of a slower burn than I usually go for, but Nathan and Summer have such electric chemistry, and I loved the will-they/won’t-they vibe they had the entire time! Definitely one of my favourite sweet romances. (And Nathan Sanders? Totally made me swoon like a teenage girl.

This was my first Jenny Proctor book and I enjoyed it very much. I need to go read the rest of the Appies books.
This was a cute and fun grumpy/sunshine fake dating hockey romance. I thought they rushed to I love you and marriage but hey, it works for some.

🏒 Dive into Heartwarming Hockey Romance: "Romancing the Grump" by Jenny Proctor 🌟

💫 Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars)

🏒 The Lowdown: Nathan Sanders, the grouchiest player on the Appies minor league hockey team, meets his match in Summer Callahan, a sunshine-filled ray of light. Despite Nathan's gruff exterior, Summer is determined to melt the ice around his heart. But when a fake relationship threatens to tear them apart, will their love prevail?

💖 Why You'll Love It: "Romancing the Grump" is a delightful blend of heart, humor, and hockey romance. With endearing characters, a swoon-worthy romance, and a touch of fake dating, this closed-door rom-com is perfect for fans of sweet and steamy sports romance.

🌟 Key Tropes: Grumpy x Sunshine, Fake Dating, Hockey Romance, Workplace Romance, Caretaking, Protective Hero, Found Family

📚 Unputdownable Moments:

Nathan's transformation from grump to sweetheart
Summer's unwavering optimism and strength
Heartwarming interactions with the Appies hockey team and Summer's supportive family

📝 Final Thoughts: With its lovable characters, engaging storyline, and charming romance, "Romancing the Grump" is a feel-good read that will leave you smiling. Jenny Proctor delivers a winning combination of humor, heart, and hockey in this delightful rom-com!

🌶️ Heat Level: 🔥 (Closed-door romance with no explicit scenes)

🏒 #RomancingTheGrump #HockeyRomance #JennyProctor #ClosedDoorRomance 🌟