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

Fake dating is my favorite trope and this did not disappoint! This was a really sweet fake dating romance that I had a great time reading. I loved the relationship between Nathan and Summer, and how they fell for each other. I think it's a great angle having Nathan be a secret softie as opposed to a grump that becomes less grumpy because of the sunshine in Summer. The author did an excellent job balancing the wanting and the tension and the pining with the real feelings these two were experiencing. The chemistry between Nathan and Summer was very palpable and they worked really well together. I loved reading another hockey romance, and felt like this was really well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, JPC Publishing, and Jenny Proctor for the eARC of this book.

Sweeter than I normally read but enjoyed the grump/sunshine, marriage of convenience tropes. The fact that Nathan is so twisted up about his feelings of summer especially since he is known for a grump is amazing and the fact that summer is able to penetrate under that facade is special

This is the story of Summer (We first met her in the 'Hawthorne brothers' Series) and Nathan (Part of the 'Appies' Hockey team series). It was awesome to tie these two series together and I really enjoyed getting to read Summer's HEA. You could probably read this as a standalone but I've now gone back and started reading the rest of the Appies series (written by another author).

I liked the main characters - I thought that the story was good in that it did deal with a few issues that the characters had but didn't leave you feeling down. Definitely a good story if you just want to have a chillaxing afternoon reading a book. The side characters story did add to the main flow of the story.

I receive complimentary books for various sources including, Netgalley, Authors, and other such sources. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received compensation.

A fairly slow paced book, but one that proves you don't need spice in your rom coms to have a good rom com. it didn't have a wow factor for me, but that's probably just due to the fact that I've read a lot of hockey rom coms at this point, so I'd need something to blow me out of the water, and hockey plus grumpy sunshine isn't something new or jarring enough to make me give it a super high rating befitting of something like "this is the best book I've ever read, 5 stars!".

I need more than five stars for this fantastic book! I loved it This author is a must read with anything she puts out. The romance was sweet, intense, and extra swoony. I adore the Appies. Such a fun series. Practical Summer began a new job working for the Appies hockey team. This brought her into significant contact with Nathan, a grumpy player on the team. “I won’t not listen to my heart. It definitely gets a seat in the boardroom. But my head is chief executive, and it makes every decision with careful precision.” Their attraction and chemistry was apparent, but Nathan had a declared commitment, influenced by his past, to focusing solely on hockey and avoiding relationships. When Nathan’s fans got aggressive and out of hand the solution became a fake dating relationship with Summer. “A decoy girlfriend to help control the narrative - a love story to replace the conquest narrative that’s trending right now.” But fake dating still meant real proximity, affection, and time together which started to blur the lines between real and fake. No matter how much Nathan resisted it. “How long before it gets hard and messy and stuff just…breaks?”

The romance was excellent and had perfect intensity. Very swoony. I liked the author’s treatment of the fake relationship. Summer and Nathan were great main characters. They were layered and compelling, not to mention so very likeable. And can we talk about those Appies? I’m a sucker for fun team dynamics and friend groups. The Appies really are all that and a bag of chips too. The other wonderful group that shows up in the story is Summer’s family, which extends to include the Hawthornes. I loved revisiting those characters. There really were so many entertaining moments. Both funny and cute showed up for work in this book. There are some interesting subplots focused on Nathan’s younger brother having some difficulties and a problematic situation from Summer’s former workplace. There are elements in this story that include workplace harassment, alcohol abuse, emotional abuse, injury, juvenile criminal activity, juvenile behaviour that might be perceived as bullying/scapegoating, criminal justice proceedings, and aggressive fan behaviour. This book is part of a series focused on Appies and also ties to the Hawthorne Brothers series by the author. There is plenty of carryover but this book can be enjoyed as a standalone with no difficulty. (But why would you want to? The other books are all so good!) This is a closed door romance with mild innuendo and a handful of instances of mild harsh language.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

Title: Romancing the Grump by Jenny Proctor

Release Date: April, 23rd, 2024

4.5 Stars

Book 2 in The Appies Hockey Romance series

While this book connects to other books in the series, it stands alone and can be enjoyed independently.

"Romancing the Grump" tells the story of Nathan Sanders, known as the grouchiest player on the Appies minor league hockey team. When Summer Callahan enters his life with her cheerful demeanour, Nathan brushes her off. However, Summer is determined to break through his tough exterior, believing there's a softer side to him.

The main characters, Nathan and Summer, initially have a rocky start when they reconnect, but circumstances lead them to fake date due to Nathan's social standing. As they navigate this arrangement, their feelings deepen, drawing them closer together.

While the storyline may feel familiar, Proctor brings refreshing depth and authenticity to it. She explores themes of vulnerability, forgiveness, and the transformative nature of love, adding layers to the romance. Additionally, the supporting characters contribute to the richness of the story, enhancing the overall reading experience.


This closed-door grumpy-sunshine hockey romcom is filled with heart and humour, catering to fans of sports romance seeking a lighter read.
This is a charming read that will appeal to fans of closed-door romances and the fake dating trope. Proctor's skilful storytelling and exploration of meaningful themes make this book an enjoyable and satisfying read.



Thank you to The Publisher JPC Publishing , The Author Jenny Proctor & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

What a beautiful love story. Nathan is a grumpy hockey player and proud of it. But Summer’s smile and sunshine demeanour is dangerous to his guarded heart. Fake dating is the of his problem if he can keep his heart guarded. Summer and Nathan’s story will warm your heart and you will keep rooting for them to be brave and open their hearts.

Romancing the grump @jennyproctorbooks this book is part of a series each couple written by a different author, great idea. When the team's most grumpy player needs help taming the fans who want to tame the beast, he starts to fake dating the team's new lawyer. Who falls hard for the grumpy player who is actually the kindest man. This is a clean romance. So so good. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sweet hockey romcom with the grumpy sunshine trope that never disappoints. I really enjoyed the story and the characters. The characters never annoyed me which is a nice treat when you’re reading a slow burn romance. I will definitely be reading more in the series. I cannot wait for Lucy’s story and to find out who she ends up with. It HAS to be one of the Appies or I will revolt! While I wish there was a bit more time where they were

(spoiler)****

a real couple, the ending made up for it with the sweet proposal and adorable fact he had bought the ring three months into officially dating her. Him automatically telling summer and Lucy apart was amazing, especially when Lucy’s boyfriend could not.

End of spoilers*****

I will definitely be reading more from this author and series! A great sizzle no spice romance that did not disappoint.

Fake dating. Mr Grump and Miss Optimistic. This book was so good, so cute. Even though Nathan Sanders is a bit of grump, he was such a golden retriever energy deep down and I loved every bit of it. It was so amazing and I loved reading how they both had some of the same internal battles with how to handle what they were feeling. Communication is key though. I kind of wish there was more spice overall yet it was so cute. This book had me feeling all the feels from laughter, happiness, charm, anger, etc.

Would definitely read another of the Appies boys journey to love.

This book was an utterly charming and quick read. Summer and Nathan fit so well from the start, he just had to get over his baggage. The whole Dream Team is delightful and such a wonderful found family. I loved that he wasn’t too proud to ask for help (once he didn’t remember doing it, but it counts) and was truly just a soft heart. There is only kissing and cuddling in this book, so if that’s what you want then it’s a great option! My only “negative” was that it felt more like a novella where things progressed quickly, but I also loved that so it’s not even a complaint. Definitely would read more from this series and author.

Thank you to NetGalley and JPC Publishing for providing the ARC.

This was a really sweet fake dating romance that I just adored. I loved the relationship between Nathan and Summer, and how they learned to be in love with another. I think it's a great angle having Nathan be a secret softie as opposed to a grump that becomes less grumpy because of the sunshine. Proctor did an excellent job balancing the pining with the real feelings these two were experiencing and approached a beloved trope with a level head. Too often I feel like people rely on the sensationalist side of fake dating, but this story felt very natural to me.

This was a really great romance read that left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

I totally enjoyed the love story of Nathan and Summer. Grumpy or not, reading their story was a treat. Jenny Proctor's writing continued this series on the Appies, and it didn't disappoint. I highly recommend it. I can't wait for the next couple's story in this series. Thanks to the NetGalley for the advanced copy. #NetGalley #RomancingtheGrump