This book made my heart happy and left me with a smile on my face. Romancing the Grump follows Nathan, the grumpiest Appies hockey player, and Summer who has recently been hired as one of the teams lawyers. The two of them agree to fake date in order to help Nathan's publicity and image, Will the fake dating turn into something real? I love that this is a closed door romance book but it still has plenty of chemistry and tension. I love the grumpy/sunshine trope and Jenny Proctor writes it perfectly! I can't wait for the next book in the series!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Summer has been hired as the new legal counsel for the Appies hockey team. Nathan is a broody grump hockey player whom she met a few months ago, and when she asked him out, he said no, so she figured he was not interested. But now the new social media trend that will hurt the team's and Nathan's image, and with his brother having legal issues, he will need her help.
This grumpy, hockey, fake dating, kinda workplace, clean romance is book 2 in the Appies series. I haven't read book 1, so yu can totally read this as a standalone (although I would be curious to know if the reason for such a crappy hockey team name as "Appies" have been picked...). And this was so good that I will absolutely go back to read book 1 (which was written by a different author) and Jenny Proctor's backlist! The chemistry, the banter and the communication between the two MCs was amazing. I was not a fan of their reason for not thinking they could be together (it felt weak), but Nathan was so perfectly swoony that I just didn't care.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Nathans brooding in the begining of this book was a bit repetitive, however his inner monolog about Summer screamed that she was the only woman to catch his eye, even when he was trying to convince himself he didnt want to date.

Summer was an instant like with her smart mouth and quick wit towards nathan. She was his equal from the very beginning.

This book has highlighted a lot of points about things not being what they appear to be from social media and is a great way to showcase the potential for not always knowing the full story. But it did waffle a lot about being honest with their feelings.

I absolutely love the sister bond that is described in the book and how much her sisters love and care about summers well-being. The character development and struggle with feelings are so relatable.

The epilogue was a bit disappointing. It was nice to see they had a happy ending, but I wish there as hust a little more to it. It was rushed and like a blurb of here is how they lived happily ever after without much thought to maybe focusing on one part of their HEA. Personally, I would have liked to see more on what happened in May as the epilogue.

All in all, I enjoyed the book.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read this book for an honest review on "Romancing the Grump"

Ahhh Hockey Romance!...I love sport romance and this is better because is set in the most beautiful small town, Harvest Hollow...home of the more amazing group of characters created by the most talented close door romance writers you could ever read
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I think this is the second, not third series set in Harvest Hollow and it's amazing, each author writes a different story with characters that also blend so good together in the same town and with each new book, new series my fanaticism continues to grows
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It has all the cozy, heart warming, cute and dreamy vibes of girlmore girls but with many, beautiful characters and this series is entirely around the Appies, the town's hockey team.
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Nathan vowed to never commit to a relationship other than Hockey, after seeing how it consumed his dad's life and dragged his family into the deepest suffering, he is determined not to make the same mistake
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But everything changes when he crosses paths with Summer again, but this time it is not only as a friend of her teammate, but as part of his team's executive team
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Sharing so much time is like playing with fire and makes it difficult to keep his scowl in place
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After having read only one book in the previous series, it already made me want to go back to read the conversations and chats of this team that seem to be more like a big family
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There is a bit of fake relationship/dating but I am more attracted to the grump-sunshine and the good chemistry between their characters and don't make me forget... hockey romance
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Thanks to Jenny Proctor and her team for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion

This is a sweet, closed-door romance that had me binge reading into the middle of the night (or should I say early morning?)

Jenny Proctor just has a way with creating characters that are swoon worthy and unforgettable. I absolutely loved the plot, main characters, and side characters in this novel.

Nathan was grumpy, but not too grumpy. He never says anything mean or disrespectful to anyone. He is genuinely a nice guy who just has Resting Grump Face. I loved him from the moment he told Summer “that’s my parking spot.” It was fate.

Summer has a back bone but she is also willing to go the extra mile for her friends, family, co-workers, and “fake” boyfriend. I was cheering for her the whole time. She deserved a happy ending. I also loved how she put the moves on Nathan first. So cute.

I’m typically a girl who loves a little spice to her novels. However, this novel has so many cute relationship-type scenes between Nathan and Summer (holding hands, her taking care of him when he got sick, him standing up for her) that I really didn’t miss the spice. I didn’t even know it was missing until the second to last chapter.

I enjoyed every moment of this novel. I can’t wait to see what happens next for the Appies!!

*An ARC was received by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a perfectly executed closed-door romance! The tension, the relatable conversations and texts... it was so good! I forgot I was reading. And even with it being closed door the kissing and the chemistry between the characters was excellent! I loved every minute of it!

quick and easy read, very cute and wholesome! definitely laughed out loud at some of the stupid jokes and overall really enjoyed it. definitely a book that’s easy to binge which is always nice

Oh my lanta, the Appies team just keeps getting better and better. I absolutely adored Nathan and Summer. He's so grumpy on the outside, but inside he's truly wishing he could be the man Summer needs. Their chemistry is off the charts and the scene with the pick up truck will make you swoon. He's a natural protector and letting someone else take care of him in hard to do, but Summer beautifully rises to the challenge. A great grumpy/sunshine fake dating story. I can't wait for more Appies books!

Romancing the Grump by Jenny Proctor
Rating: 4/5
Trope: Grumpy/Sunshine, Fake Dating.

Romancing the Grump is book two in The Appies Hockey Romance Series, however it can be read as a standalone novel.

This book tells the story of Nathan Sanders, the grumpiest player on the Appies hockey team, and Summer Callahan, the sunshine to his hard exterior.

Romancing the Grump is a cosy, closed-door, sweet romance, and a super easy read. The author also did a wonderful job of bringing this couple to life.

If you’re a fan of sweet and simple, then this one is definitely for you.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and JPC Publishing for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Seeking a getaway into a world of charm and budding romance? Dive into Romancing the Grump! 😍 This hockey romcom serves up a delightful concoction of heart, humor, and undeniable sparks.

Summer Callahan's radiant aura collides head-on with Nathan Sanders, the unyielding enigma of the Appies hockey team. ☀️❄️ Yet, when fate orchestrates their convergence through a viral social media twist, a whirlwind of unexpected chemistry ensues.

Initially a facade, their faux romance slowly transcends into genuine emotions as Summer unravels the layers of Nathan's guarded heart. 💖 With each turn of the page, you'll find yourself cheering for this unlikely duo, yearning for their faux relationship to bloom into something real.

Proctor's prose glides effortlessly, mirroring the smooth ice of the rink, while the palpable chemistry between the characters ignites the narrative! 🔥 Fear not, as this romance maintains a PG rating, making it a perfect match for enthusiasts of sports romance seeking a lighter touch.

And the cherry on top? While Romancing the Grump intertwines with the Appies Hockey Romance series, it stands as a beacon of standalone brilliance, beckoning both seasoned readers and newcomers alike to bask in Proctor's captivating realm of romance. 📖💕

Prepare to laugh, swoon, and surrender to the enchanting tale of Nathan and Summer's journey to love! 🥰

#RomancingTheGrump #HockeyRomance #BookReview

so!! good!!! i loveeee grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, and fake dating. this book was written so well and absolutely deserves all the praise it gets.

thank you for the arc!!

Sweet and clean, this was a fun hockey romance. I enjoyed the chemistry and the growth of the characters. And the kissing wasn’t half-bad either. I would read more books from Ms. Proctor in the future!

I literally devoured this book in less than a day and it was so worth it. It is a solid 4.5 stars read for me. The characters are all fun and cute and the story is so adorable yet vulnerable, the perfect balance. The grumpy sunshine trope is always a delight to read and the writing was just so flowy and smooth, it made it all better.

Jenny always delivers the most swoon-worthy books!!!! I loved every part of this. Dual POV, cinnamon roll grump, taking it all with sarcasm heroine, nerds with Catan! Finished in one day, couldn't stop! I love Nathan and how amazing he was and vulnerable. And Summer was the best and helped him. The plexi glass scene! The car hood scene! Yes!!!! It was amazing to see Jenny's other series characters making cameos! I do wish there was more about Nathan's nieces but it would have been a longggg book then!

I am definitely in my hockey romance era and I’m not even mad about it.

Let me start by saying that I feel a bit lost in the story. This is the first book I have ever read by Jenny Proctor. This is the first book of the Appies series that I am reading, and, from what I understand, this is a spin-off from the Sweater Weather series, something that is currently on my TBR list but I haven’t made it there yet. So, while this book can be read as a stand-alone, I really think that I would benefit from reading the entire series to feel more connected to all the characters and the dynamics. I’ll schedule the series into my summer beach reads for June or July and maybe come back to re-read “Romancing the Grump” and change my rating.

For now, I will say that I enjoyed this story for what it was. I must admit that while I like closed books and low-spice stories, I usually like a bit more action and dirty talk in my smut. However, if you like good kissing, this should be right up your alley. The characters are very lovable and relatable.

We have Nathan, who is a grump (a very common trope in sports romance, especially hockey). However, he really only wears the badge of a grump on the outside because he is a softy on the inside. It is clear that he cares about his teammates, whom he views almost as family, and of course, his real family, where he does anything to try to help them out. The camaraderie between the teammates goes far beyond the ice time and you can see that they are genuine friends. They are truly there for each other in bad times and smack talk each other. The subtle jabs and comic relief at the expense of each other are great laughs.

Summer is a true hero. She is a fierce female character with a heart of gold and a constant smile on her face. She joins the Appie legal team and starts to bond with the team; however, starting off on the wrong foot with Nathan. That all changes over time and she slowly starts to chip away at his grumpy armour and makes her way under his skin. Summer is attracted to Nathan and is determined to have something with him, despite his statement of not doing relationships (they always say that and it never happens. When are hockey players going to learn?) She falls first and hard

There are typical tropes that exist in romance novels, and, while I love most of them, some are repetitive (or maybe I need to read a different book as a palate cleanser) because all the stories are either starting to blend together or are immediately forgotten about in my head.

Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC copy.

i really enjoyed this one. it’s super cute and delightful. i’m a sucker for a grump x sunshine mixed sports romance with fake dating. this is a closed door romance which is refreshing and worth a read!!

Ahh, i love the appies! This series is so great and so inventive with the different author takes on each story line, but the same similarities throughout. This book was no exception, it was wonderful. It was filled with all of the feels, none of the shut, and made me smile so many times. I can't wait to visit harvest again!!!

⭐3.5

Oh, this was a good one!

I liked Nathan and Summer's story, although I'll say I wanted more chemistry between them. Yes, there is love between them, but I don't think we really saw the moment when these two finally developed feelings for each other beyond just pretending to be a couple. Everything flows well, the story is well crafted, and I appreciated that Summer helped Nathan with his brother even though he had reservations about telling her. The story is a quick read because it grabs your attention, and I can honestly say that I enjoyed it and it's perfect for passing the time.

Revisiting the Appies is a pleasure and I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!

thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you netgalley and the author for the copy of this book.

This is the first book of Jenny Proctor’s that I have read and I am already thinking about the next one I will read!

This book had a fake dating trope and I believe it was done really well! Nathan and Summer were both super cute characters and I loved reading about them together. Nathan’s hockey fans had basically made him into a sex figure but his team was supposed to be the most family friendly team. In comes Summer, the new lawyer for the Appies who had already met Nathan previously and had a crush on him. They begin fake dating because Parker (the head of marketing for the Appies) believes if the fans see that “the grump has been tamed” they will back down a little. And their relationship blooms from there!

The supporting characters like the other Appies, Lucy, Parker, etc., were all really great as well and now I wanna be friends with all of them!!

Only things I didn’t love in this book were the epilogue (i felt it was a bit rushed) and the one bed scene (i didn’t think it added to the plot).

Overall I would recommend this book if you are looking for an easy to read, super cute, closed door romance, check this one out!

Thank you to netgalley and the author for the arc of this book for my honest review.
I have loved all the books about the Appies and this was no different. There's just something about those hockey players that sucks you in.
Nathan is a famous hockey player for the Appies.
Their social media manager has decided they need to do something about the hashtag #tamethegrump when it starts to get out of control and a bit non family friendly. So she enlists in Summer to pose as his girlfriend.
Summer does so even though she knows she will probably fall in love with him since she already has feelings for him.
This book was one of my favs and I hope they continue the series about all the hockey players