It was a good book. Nothing too deep. Summer is a new attorney for the Appies, and Nathan is the grouchiest player on the team. Perfect one day read and a sweet closed-door romance.

•Slow burn
•friends to lovers
•fake dating
•Hockey romance
•Workplace romance
•GrumpyXSunshine

This book really had it all.
I absolutely loved it. The characters were amazing! I love a grumpy MMC and Nathan did not disappoint.
Summer was a true ray of sunshine and just what Nathan needed in his life.
The anticipation of will they won’t they was written so well and they got the HEA they deserved

Super cute, sweet closed door romance! Forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, and dual POV. SLOWWWWWW burn. This is the first book I have read of this series and am happy to report it can be read as a standalone! It references the first meeting between the main characters, since the book starts at their second meeting. Normally I don’t enjoy this, because it feels like you missed too much, but this is not the case with Romancing the Grump. All it did was make me want to read the other books . 🏒

The thing I enjoyed most about Summer and Nathan’s relationship was their open dialogue and respect and support for one another. Both characters had a lot of character development and you were often feeling what they were feeling. This book had me smiling, laughing a few times, and left me overall entertained.

Wow. Wow. Wow. Just Wow.
I inhaled this book so fast. Finished it in a couple of hours. It was THAT GOOD!

Summer and Nathan are just *chef's kiss* ok?
Let me tell you why.

The characters are written so well! I love that the book starts from their second meeting, they have a sort of past (not gonna tell you, you'll have to read) that adds depth, it's not just a random love at first sight, out of no where kind of thing.

Summers' character is fierce and spicy, and she knows what she wants.
I love how bold she is. She tests Nathan's boundaries, waiting to see when they'll break, and he'll give in.
I love how she pulls all of his strings and can push him to the edge and play with his emotions just to test how far she can get (in a very playful, easy-going banter that presses all the right buttons).

Nathan's character development is written impeccably as well. His inner turmoils and struggles are well written and give you a deep perspective over his character.
I love the chapters in Nathan's pov, where you can just see the struggle in his mind, he literally tries to convince himself he doesn't want her which is adorable, but come on who are you trying to play here?

Regarding the love story, beware, it's a VERY slow burn, but it's written exceptionally! The struggle, the emotional rollercoaster, the attempt not to succumb to their emotion and hide the feeling that are growing. I felt the angst they felt. It's literally one of the only times I enjoyed reading a fake relationship book, especially when I didn't know it was going to be a fake relationship book when I first started it. But I got addicted so fast I finished it in a couple of hours!

The slow burn killed me. I was screaming at the book numerous times for them to kiss already! The tension was so intense!!! But I loved every second of it.

Regarding the hockey plot, though I understand nothing in hockey, it's OK cause you don't really need to know anything about it to read this book. It's just basic terminology and position names. You'll survive. I promise.

The book ended on such a sweet note! I loved the epilogue, but that's all im going to say about it.
The book was funny, light, romantic and easy-going, it was a very fun read and I absolutely love it! I might even read it again and would definitely recommend it to my bookish friends 🧡

⛸️Duel POV
⛸️Fake dating
⛸️Forced Proximity
⛸️Grumpy x Sunshine
⛸️Workplace romance
⛸️Closed door romance

This is the first novel iv read from author Jenny Proctor & I absolutely enjoyed reading it. It had my complete attention the whole way through, it was definitely a hard to put down book because I just wanted to keep reading. I adored both Summer & Nathan, such a beautiful connection between both of them. I felt every emotion especially with Summer being vulnerable & taking a risk knowing what she did. Nathan learning the truth about what he thought his childhood was like, slowly opening up & knocking down the walls he’s had up for so many years. Summer is so patient, understanding & supportive. Nathan is attentive & so caring though he may come across as a grump they brought the best out of each other.

Being the first closed book romance iv read it has me wanting to read more. This book is definitely in my top favourite books.

Thank you NetGalley & Jenny Procter for the ARC ebook.

This book was exactly what it said it was, a sweet hockey romance and I'm not mad about it!! It was cute and I really enjoyed all the secondary characters. I am a sucker for grumpy/sunshine and the fake dating trope and this did not disappoint! I loved how mature the main characters were and how supportive the side characters were. It was refreshing not to have a third act breakup because the FMC was actually able to use her words. That being said, it wasn't anything new or exciting but still really enjoyable. It was cozy and comforting.

Didn't realise fitness part of a series but was easy enlightened as a stand alpnr . I loved the love at first sight and the mutual respect between both characters was beautiful!

Synopsis: Despite Summer’s attraction to Nathan, she agrees to be his pretend girlfriend to change the narrative around Nathan’s image.
Review: The sweetest grump I ever did read! Despite Nathan’s grumpy exterior, he was such a kind softie from the start. I absolutely LOVED reading Nathan’s POV, so much so that I wish there was more. The pacing of the book was perfect; slow enough to make you feel Nathan and Summer’s angst, without dragging. I don’t know anything about hockey, but Jenny Proctor did an excellent job including hockey related content without making me feel lost. This can be read as a standalone or as part of the Appies Hockey Romance series by @jennyproctorbooks and @kikimojo.
BONUS: There is an extra chapter available on Jenny Proctor’s website.
Thank you @netgalley and @jennyproctorbooks for sending me a review copy of #RomancingtheGrump. I can not wait to read more!
#netgalley #arc #arcreview

Received as an ARC in return for my honest review.

🏒 Ice hockey romance
🏒 Closed door
🏒 Grumpy x Sunshine
🏒 Fake dating
🏒 Forced proximity

If smut in your books isn’t your bag but you still want a contemporary romance then this one will definitely tick the boxes for you. It was well written with great characters and a solid overarching storyline. Personally I like smut in my books so felt it was slightly lacking but I was aware of this going into the book so wouldn’t mark it down because of this.

I’d love to see stories for all the other players on the team, the side characters are what made this book for me.

Delightful! I found myself wishing there was a little more on-[age spice, but that's a me issue: this book was clearly marketed as a RomCom and it delivers sweetness and heat in levels that are more than appropriate for its category. A great option for readers who are drawn to the hockey genre but want to enjoy the fantasy with something that's not R rated.

Romancing the Grump" is a delightful addition to the Appies Hockey Romance series, offering readers a fresh take on the enemies-to-lovers trope. Nathan and Summer's dynamic is both entertaining and heartwarming, with their banter and chemistry driving the narrative forward. What sets this book apart is its ability to balance humor and romance without relying on steamy scenes, making it a perfect choice for readers who prefer a lighter, more wholesome romance. The author skillfully navigates the complexities of Nathan's character, gradually revealing his vulnerabilities beneath the grumpy facade, which adds depth to the story. Overall, "Romancing the Grump" is a feel-good read that leaves you with a smile, proving that love can soften even the grumpiest of hearts.

this was so sweet! i loved the first book in the series and this one felt like such a good continuation of that, but also stands by itself so nicely too. i loved seeing characters from the first book and getting to know them from the perspective of our two main characters.

i do think that, while i love the fake dating trope, the amount of couples that started out fake and proceeded to fall in love was a little much for one book. the characters were realistic and more heavy topics were dealt with so delicately, but this made it feel a little more fake and i couldn’t fully get into it for that reason.

overall i think this book was very sweet and i enjoyed reading it, and i particularly liked the way more difficult topics were handled.

thank you so much to netgalley, the publisher and the author for the arc 🫶🏻

this was really cute! I liked the grumpy sunshine and the romance between nathan and summer! overall fun and the writing was ok

First of all, Thank You so much Netgalley for the ARC granted to me. I have read the first book of this new hockey series and I was looking forward to check it out this second one, and I simply loved sport romances and Jenny Proctor is Slaaaaying with this new series of her. Summer and Nathan's story has a "Beauty and the beast" vibes (without the drama part haha) which made me love even more the narrative. The author could handle beautifully with the delicate themes such as addiction, family issues, the question aboout falling in love and vulnerability, and so on. I might suspect that this second book has gotten my heart in a way that has turned it into my favorite (so far) from the series. I can't wait to read the next one soon!

Jenny Proctor delivers a delightful hockey romance with 'Romancing The Beast,' a charming tale of fake dating and unlikely love set within the world of the Appies hockey team. As Summer, the new lawyer for the team, is tasked with managing the grumpiest player, Nathan, known as the Brooding Beast, sparks fly amidst their fake relationship.

I was immediately drawn into the fast-paced narrative, which wastes no time in plunging readers into Summer and Nathan's dynamic. Proctor skillfully balances the tropes of fake dating and forced proximity, creating a storyline that feels fresh and engaging within the hockey romance genre. What sets this book apart is its closed-door approach, providing a refreshing twist that adds depth to the romance.

One aspect I particularly appreciated was the characters' pre-existing connection, which adds a layer of believability to their burgeoning relationship. Despite their initial reluctance, it's clear that Summer and Nathan are drawn to each other, navigating their feelings amidst the pressures of public perception and personal reservations.

Proctor's writing style is both fun and fluffy, making for an enjoyable and lighthearted read. While the book may not be your typical cheesy romance, it still delivers on the promise of a heartwarming story filled with humor and warmth.

In conclusion, 'Romancing The Grump' is a must-read for fans of hockey romances, offering a fresh take on familiar tropes with its fast-paced plot and endearing characters. Jenny Proctor's latest installment in the Sweater Weather series is sure to leave readers eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the Appies' adventures. Thank you to JPC publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is cute, but I struggled to get into it. I’m hoping the main reason will be fixed in the final copy but the first paragraph of the arc was very bad. It changed from past tense to present in the same sentence and the whole thing was a bit of a mess. The rest of the book only has=d minor issues but they stood out too much after that. The book got better after the first few chapters but it never completely drew me in. There was a few too many relationships that started out fake for me, but overall it was fun and cute. I liked that they good both help each other out rather than the relationship being too heavily one sided. I also loved the side characters.

4.5 ⭐️

This was blushingly good!! No spice so it is a YA/Teen book and I absolutely loved that the author nailed it without having steamy scenes. I honestly did not want to stop reading this to get some sleep but had to. Never once did I get bored. The blushing and giggles were top notch!

I do want to say that I read the digital ARC from NetGalley. I did get it 2 days after the publication date but who cares… I’m in my hockey era and would’ve bought this book regardless! I haven’t read the first book, which is written by a different author, so now that’s on my list to read.

Tropes:
- He’s a grump… but at the same time he isn’t because that’s just his appearance/facial expressions 😂

- fake dating… we all know where fake dating leads 😏😊

-close proximity… she’s one of the lawyers for the team that deals with brand contracts/endorsements.

- last but not least… it’s a hockey romance 🥰

The scene where he was warming up for a game and they put their heads on the plastic screen that hockey stadiums have but each of them on opposites sides… she’s on the seating side and he’s of course on the ice. And they just stare at each other with a smile and he gives her the biggest full on teeth smile that she has ever seen on him, let alone anyone has seen on him 🥰😍 that was just super cute. Oh this happened while they were “fake dating” of course but you could feel that it was real between them!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review. 🫶


Okay wow this was my first ARC and i’m so happy it was because it was perfect for me! Hockey romances are my favorite, after all 💁‍♀️ I really enjoyed this book! What I liked is the fact that we don’t get a first kiss until half way through the story. It really builds up the relationship beforehand and I can appreciate that. I’m not the biggest fan of couples in books immediately getting together.

I will forever be a grumpy x sunshine trope girly! Nathan the FMC is a grumpy little bootyhole and Summer the FMC is a cutesy girl ready to break down his walls. And that she did! I loved seeing Nathan having a soft spot for summer at all times🥺 Summer never gave up on Nathan and showed him why he deserved to be accepting of love 💜 Their story of getting together is truly just so sweet and had me giggling and kicking my feet at 1am 🤭🫣
“ I will never not know what it feels like to hold her like this, to have her mouth against mine. A blessing and a curse.” I MEAN SERIOUSLY THIS WAS AFTER THE FIRST KISS 😩 Nathan the man that you are.

This isn’t a 5 star for me just because this is truly just a romance and I wanted a little spice 🤭 BUT that was my fault for not knowing. (At this point I just assume all romances have spice lol). So if you want a cute fluffy romance this is for you!💜 brb gonna go read the first one now…. oops!

“Just give me a minute to put my heart back inside my chest”
me after reading that book.

Romancing the Grump 🥅🏒💙

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Sports Romance
Author: Jenny Proctor

“But if you’re willing to gamble on someone as screwed up as I am, I want to try. I want to try to love you like you deserve.”

Summer is the new lawyer for the Appies hockey team. Nathan is the grumpiest player on the team and is known as the Brooding Beast. After a hashtag brings some bad press for Nathan, they begin fake dating. Will she be able to crack through his tough exterior? Can they convince the public of their relationship without either of them getting hurt?

I LOVED this book! It was my first hockey romance to read, but it definitely won’t be my last. I was grinning ear to ear the whole time and couldn’t put it down. Jenny Proctor does a great job of building tension without any actual spice. If you are looking for a clean/closed door romance, this is your book!

This book is part of the Appies hockey romance series but can be read as a stand alone. I love this team of guys and hope we get a book for each one of them!

I’ve waited so long for this book lol not really that long but still. SO WORTH THE WAIT. I absolutely love this series.