Romancing the Grump was my first book from Proctor and I'm glad that I had met with her pen. If you know me a little you know that I love sport romances and especially hockey, and romancing the grump was the perfect hockey romance with one-bed, grumpy/sunshine, fake dating and forced proximity tropes. The other thing that intrigued me the most about this book was the chemistry between the FMC and MMC because there was definitely a chemistry! and if I can't get that sense of chemistry between the MCs in a book I'm reading, that book is a flop to me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-Op for the ARC.

If Grumpy vs Sunshine is your jam then this is the book for you and Jenny Proctor has written it perfectly! Nathan is the broody defender of the Appies ice hockey team and Summer - who, just like her name suggests, is sunshine personified - is the team's new lawyer, and even they try to fight the feelings they have for each the reader knows that in this case resistance is futile. And the friends of both Nathan and Summer seem to know it very early on too!

Romancing the Grump can totally be read as a standalone but I think that it is even better if you have read the previous books in both the Sweater Weather and the Appies series. Or, if you haven't, then this book is a fine way to start getting to know Harvest Hollow and it's wonderful residents! Highly recommended!

Grumpy-sunshine hockey romcom. Let’s gooooo!

This one is part of the Appies series but also has characters from the Hawthorne Brothers series and the Sweater Weather series as well.

Love the chemistry Summer and Nathan have with each other. Both characters have strong family ties, but the found family vibes are strong with the Appies.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for Romancing the Grump to come out April 23, 2024.

Summer Callahan was drawn to the grumpy Nathan Sanders from the moment they met. Now working for the Appies as part of the legal team, they were seeing each other more often than not. Nathan didn't like that he was drawn to her too, but circumstances forced them together in a fake dating ruse to ward off unwanted attention that Nathan was getting online.

Having had a father whose life was seemingly ruined by being a hockey player with a wife and kids, Nathan was averse to relationships and sought to fight his growing attraction for Summer.

She wasn't easily warded off though, sneaking past his defenses to the softie underneath. I loved how she'd even look for terrible dad jokes to wrangle a smile out of him. He was a good sport even though he didn't let up with his frowns 😂

It was nice getting back into the Appies' world yet again. The Dream Team with their text exchanges and their chemistry and range of personalities was a treat. I also loved seeing the Hawthorne clan and Summer's family some more. Definitely looking forward to Summer's twin sister Lucy's story 😃

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw the next installment in the Appies’ universe on NetGalley, I knew I had to request it. I absolutely adored Nathan and Summer’s story and read it all in one sitting. Their connection was so well portrayed I was hooked from the first line. Overall, a great read and I would definitely recommend diving into the Appies’ stories to all those in their hockey romance era! Thank you to Jenny Procter and NetGalley for the ARC!

This review will posted to good reads immediately and to Amazon Australia when the novel is published.

A genre that is pretty flooded right now, as the author herself says, hockey romance. But we are all here for it and loving it!
This book perfectly combines a very grumpy man with a very strong woman. Both have pasts that stop them from being truly honest with each other but as I'm coming to love both are pretty good at communicating.
I didn't love the name of the hockey team but I loved all the characters.
I will have to go back and read the others in the series.

!!!!!!!!!

Those explanation marks are my feelings about this book.

I just finished bingeing the Hawthorne series, and I could not wait for this book! I love the Appies, I love Summer, Lucy, and Aubrey, and I love the Hawthornes…so Romancing the Grump was the cherry on top 🍒.

But now… how am I going to wait for more Appies. And what will Lucy’s story be? I am super intrigued by Dumbo. I am invested in the dream team group chat. I need more of this North Carolina world stat!

Dual POV
Grumpy/sunshine
Hockey player
Only one bed
She takes care of him
Fake dating
Forced proximity

I’m submitting this review as my official job application to join the Appies team staff!
But in all seriousness, this book felt like coming home to check in on some old friends!!! Visiting the Appies and Harvest Hollow never disappoints and Jenny Proctor has held true to that with Romancing the Grump!

This book follows Summer and Nathan as they navigate through a friendship, family, hockey, fans, and of course drama and romance! The chemistry and character development are so heartwarming, and I found myself grinning constantly feeling excited for the characters as their relationship developed.
There are so many fun book tropes throughout this feel good sweet story. Including: sunshine and grump, fake dating, forced proximity, and many others!!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own!

I am definitely not a hockey fan but I’m loving this series because I fall for each new hockey hunk.
Nathan is a big snarly silent bear who disguises his teddy bear tendencies.
I love it when he stakes his claim on Summer without even realizing what he’s doing.
There were so many scenes that made me slide off my couch into a puddle on the floor and made my toes tingle but my favorite is the first real smile Summer elicited from frowny Nathan.
It’s a sweet story as Nathan comes to grips with his fears and realizes running from living just means love will find him twice as fast.

I love Jenny Proctor and the Appies series. It’s so fun meeting new players and getting the latest updates on those we met before. Also a closed door sport Romance?! Heck yes!

This one wasn’t my fav as at times the main characters felt a little immature but at the same time their chemistry and banter made it all worth while.
Highly recommend

I was so happy to see that there was a new book in the Appies universe! Summer and Nathan were a great grumpy/sunshine pairing, and I loved reading as Nathan tried to fight his feelings for her. Very interested to see if the author is going to write another book featuring another Appies player like Alec or Van.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

I liked this! it was sweet, had good pacing, and the third act conflict made sense to me. my two critiques are that I don't think summer's character was as fleshed out as it could have been (like sometimes she was a pushover and sometimes she was super strong-willed. where's the consistency?), and sometimes the writing was a tad cringe. This is an arc tho, so maybe some of those lines will get fixed. A line I did really hate though was when Nathan's brother told him to get a wife before he got fat and ugly. That made me super uncomfortable, and it felt kinda icky. Not a bad book, though. The first 75% especially was really strong.

Nathan Sanders is the resident grump for the Appies, Summer Callahan is their new in-house attorney. They have felt the pull towards each other since they met, but Nathan has fought it every step of the way and Summer is getting tired of putting herself out there for him. Circumstances make it necessary for them to fake a relationship. Can Nathan continue to resist? Will Summer continue to try and break through his defenses? You'll have to read Romancing the Grump to find out! This book is really great and I give it a strong 5 stars. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy!

Amazing!!
This book would have left me speechless. I knew it was going to be good but my did it exceed expectations.
Really loved Nathan and Summer, they were everything. It was also great to see the rest if the gang both the Appies and Hawthorne's.

P.s. I got this last night
P.s.s Thank you for the ARC

I CANNOT get enough of the Appies. I am SO excited I happened to log in to NetGalley and check the options and saw this book. LORD I actually screamed when I got approved. Guys - THIS. TEAM. IS. EVERYTHING! I am so attached to all of them and I love them all so much. Nathan got me right in the feels as I struggle with a dad who allowed his addiction to alcohol ruin his life and relationships. Unlike Nathan, I do remember "the good times" before things got bad and it has been used as a weapon against me in many an argument. These books have all packed such a punch and have been so good and gripping. I read this one in 3 hours. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get on the Appies train y'all. Its so good!

I loved this book. I love the Appies and I want books for all of them, they are such a good found family and their stories are always entertening. This couple never gave up, especially Summer, she fell even knowing that he may never be with her because of his personal problems. But she took a risk and it definitely paid off. Nathan was fighting so hard to not fall for Summer but it was pointless. He was so captivated by her that everyone could the love between them. I loved how they were all rooting for them, it was adorable. They deserved to have their love lived and I was so glad that they could do it. The whole fake relationship thing was basically a real one, Nathan just had to admit it

Get ready to SQUEAL with delight! This book has it all 😍

When I say this book has it all, I truly mean it...
🛏️ One bed moment? YEP!
😠 Broody, hot hockey player that smiles for no one but his girl? YEPP!
💋 Sizzling kisses that make you blush? YEPPP!
🤕 "Let me take care of you" moments? YEPPPP!
💀 "Touch her and die" vibes? YEPPPPP!
🤣 Fun, cute, witty, hilarious banter? YEPPPPPP!
👠 Strong, smart, relatable FMC? YEPPPPPPP!

Don't mind me... I am still swoony over here reliving the book as I type this review. Honestly, Summer (FMC) takes the cake in this book. I absolutely LOVED how she is level-headed and practical, but still allows herself to listen to her heart and take a risk on love. There is no pointless hemming and hawing with her feelings and what to do about them and I found it super refreshing.

Did you really think I wasn't going to dive into the MAN that is Nathan Sanders?! Mmmmmmmmmhmmmmmm that man is 😍🔥💪💞 There really isn't much that gets me instantly squealing like watching the walls and facade of a "grump" melt away as he falls in love. I needed like a million more epilogues so I could see him continue to step out of his "past" and into his future.

🏒 Jenny NAILED it with this book. 10000/10 - seriously clear your schedule and read this one right away.

Oh man! This was amazing!
Addictive and I COULD NOT put it down! I’m a sucker for a grumpy/sunshine romance throw in some fake dating and hockey? You get amazingness!

Nathan and Summer are amazing. From their first meeting to how they interact and the way Nathan defends Summer while struggling (refusing) to acknowledge why he is acting like this with her was amazing!
Plus it was awesome to read about an AHL team, I feel like most hockey romances I read are either college or NHL and so this was a great break from the typical hockey romances!

The bad jokes had me laughing and I just love all the characters! Like when Summer makes a joke about finally learning what enforcers do on the ice (it’s one of those you need to read it to appreciate it) but there are so many bad and puny jokes I loved it!

But in all seriousness all my peeps in their hockey romance era this is for you! (It even says so in the dedication)

An amazing story about our favourite Appies hocley player grump Nathan and the lovely lawyer Summer . Summer just been hired as the new legal counsel of the Appies and the first person she meets is Nathan who just stares at her at tells hes that she parked at his place . They had already met because she is Gracie's best friend . Summer is friendly toward him but he is very grumpy even though he really likes her because of his late father . When some fans are getting out of control Parker suggest that Summer and Nathan pretend that they are dating so the brooding Appie will be left alone . While they fake dating they start fall for each other . Will Summer make understand that what he misses from his life is she ?
I would like to read the story of July's love journey maybe with a hockey player ?
I received this book from netgalley and the publicer as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .

According to my kindle I still have 40 minutes left of this book but I had to stop and review before the ending ramps up.
This. Book. Is. Perfect.
I mean, it’s light hearted, sweet romance with enough drama to keep it from being super sugary sweet and the MMC! And the FMC! Ugh! Love them!
I know it’s the wrong sport for him and the wrong career for her, but I kept picturing T Swift and Travis K as the main characters. Maybe because I’ve been listening to her new album while reading….but I think it’s more because, for most people, when we see them together we can’t help but smile. And that’s how every single interaction of the main characters feels to me.

Just go read it! Then go back and read the rest of her books, and the other Appies book, and get in line with the rest of us for the next Appies book, 😁