Unfortunately this one just wasn't a hit for me. It felt a little immature in the set-up, and I don't know that I enjoy rivals to lovers, especially when it's set up as enemies. I just didn't find the enemies believable here, but rather more childhood annoyances.

calling all hockey romance fans -- this isn't one you want to miss! the golden goal was such a fun read which i highly recommended to all fans of hockey romance.

This was such a sweet and heartwarming story.
I absolutely adore how much Shaw is just absolutely utterly in love with Sutton, but she thinks they hate each other.
This was such a sweet story, watching Shaw have to figure out how to show Sutton that he really cares about her, and isn’t trying to torment her. He has to try to keep emotions in check at times, and sometimes it’s too funny.
I also really enjoyed watching Sutton be so feisty and then realizing she’s actually attracted to Shaw!
There were some really sweet & swoony moments, lots of sass & banter, and a realignment of reality.

Sutton has a long rivalrous history with Shaw from childhood. Now that she works for his hockey team, their rivalry has found a new venue to play out in.
This is my first Anna Conwell book and, while I would read another from her because the romance was tender and delightful, I could not get past the fact that Shaw Daniels was full-named for the majority of the book. It got to the point where it distracted me every time from what otherwise was just the type of book I enjoy listening to. I love the he falls first trope and, with the banter, Annah did a great job developing that. I liked the tease too for the next books in this series.
The narrators, Kim Churchill and Oliver Clarke, were a good fit for the main characters. I enjoyed this as an audiobook!
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the alc. All thoughts are my own.

I am reading this series but this book didn't quite do it for me and i'm not sure why. I still like the group and world the author has built and keep on reading

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Thank you to @netgalley and @dreamscape_media for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Sizzling Hockey Romance

The Golden Goal by Annah Conwell is a delightful romantic comedy that perfectly blends sports and romance. The story follows Shaw, a talented hockey player, and Sutton, a determined physical therapist, as they navigate their complex relationship.

Conwell's witty banter and well-developed characters make for a captivating read. The enemies-to-lovers trope is executed flawlessly, with the tension between Shaw and Sutton building throughout the story. The author's ability to blend sports action with heartwarming romance makes for a truly enjoyable reading experience.

The audiobook narration is excellent, bringing the characters to life and enhancing the overall listening experience. The narrators capture the essence of the story, making it a pleasure to listen to.

If you're a fan of sports romance, The Golden Goal is a must-read. It's a perfect blend of humor, heart, and hockey.

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #dreamscapemedia #thegoldengoal #annahconwell

Sutton Jones just got her dream job as a physical therapist for the professional hockey team, the Alabama Rockets. Everything would be perfect except her nemesis Shaw Daniels plays hockey for the Alabama Rockets. Sutton and Shaw have known each other for years. Friends? Oh no. Shaw has always been good at everything: school, life, his career - meanwhile she has had to work hard for everything. He is not shy about letting me know who always wins and always will. Sutton loves to hate him but knows because he is her twin brother Brocks best friend a relationship with him just cannot happen...can it? As they work together at the Alabama Rockets his teasing becomes flirting and their chemistry is undeniable. This books takes us through their struggle to come together in a fun and engaging way. They find a way to each other but also keeping sibling and friend relationships healthy. I loved this book. Great read. I had never listed to narrators Kim Churchill and Oliver Clarke before. They did a great job. Put his book on your must read list.

The way this audiobook had me hooked so hard and fast was insane. I’m not usually one to pick up a romance that has no spice at all in it, but the writing and the beautiful relationship between Shaw and Sutton really was so strong that you barely even notice. The narrators for this were great, and I would definitely pick up the next audio in the series if it’s as well done as this one. Seriously I loved listening to this book, and I’m happy to have found a new author I enjoy.

When the title said sweet rivals to lovers it was not kidding because even though these two loved to banter and get under each others skin it was really just a slow burn into them finally exploding with their love for each other. If you like a great love declaration scene like I do, I think you’ll find Shaw’s to your liking because man does he not hold back. We love a male character that reveals to almost everyone important that he’s fallen hard for his girl, and she’s the last one to realize it. Be ready to not be able to put this book down. The pace was so great that even though it was a slow burn I read it so fast that it didn’t feel like that long a wait for these two to finally start loving on each other. Oh man am I still swooning over them even a couple days after finishing this sweet sweet romance!

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC for an honest review.
This romance had some genuinely adorable moments, especially with Shaw’s obvious affection for Sutton—his nickname for her, "love," was heart-melting. However, a few elements didn’t sit comfortably with me. The couple’s intense physical attraction felt a bit overdone at times, and some of the make-out scenes were steamier than my preference, though the author did give a heads-up about the content. The pacing felt a bit slow, with moments I’d hoped would come sooner, like Shaw’s face-off with Sutton’s ex. Additionally, while I appreciated their chemistry, the characters’ young professionalism felt slightly far-fetched, and specific unresolved plot points left me wanting a bit more closure. While cute and engaging in parts, it wasn’t quite the perfect fit for me due to the pacing and intensity.

*The Golden Goal* by Annah Conwell is an exhilarating and heartwarming sports novel that captures the passion and determination of youth soccer. The story follows a young protagonist, whose journey both on and off the field resonates deeply with readers, illustrating the struggles and triumphs that come with pursuing one’s dreams.

Conwell's writing is vibrant and engaging, bringing to life the excitement of the game and the camaraderie among teammates. The author skillfully weaves themes of friendship, perseverance, and self-discovery throughout the narrative, making it not just a tale about soccer, but also about growing up and finding one’s place in the world.

The characters are well-developed, each with their unique challenges and aspirations, which adds depth to the story. The protagonist's determination to overcome obstacles—both personal and athletic—makes for an inspiring read. The dynamics within the team, including rivalries and alliances, are portrayed with authenticity, showcasing the importance of teamwork and support.

The pacing of the novel is well-executed, with thrilling match sequences that keep readers on the edge of their seats, balanced by quieter moments of reflection that enrich the emotional depth of the story.

Overall, *The Golden Goal* is a wonderful blend of sports action and heartfelt storytelling. It’s perfect for young adult readers and anyone who appreciates a tale of ambition, friendship, and the relentless pursuit of goals. Annah Conwell has crafted a memorable story that celebrates the joy of soccer and the journey of self-discovery, making it a must-read for fans of the genre.

I couldn't get into this one and ended up not finishing it at about 50 percent into it. I just couldn't connect to the characters

1. I enjoy romantic comedies just like anyone else, but since this was my first book by this author, I felt a bit let down. It was pretty tame, almost PG, and I prefer my rom-coms to have a bit more excitement. The plot was typical for the genre, but the love scenes were so dull that it made the story feel even less engaging. Additionally, I found it annoying that each chapter started with the characters stating their full names, as if I couldn't tell who the main male and female characters were.

Sports Romance are so good right now and hockey seems to be the biggest one.

I love a good rom-com with enemies to lover, which fit the bill perfectly in this book. It's part of a series but could be read as a stand alone I think.

The characters did seem a bit young to me, but I'm old....they always seem young. LOL

If you like spicy books, this isn't for you. There is romance and kissing, so low spice readers will eat this up!

I don’t know how she does it, but each Annah Conwell book I read is better than the last! This was an incredible start to this new series and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

This book had me laughing, gasping, face-palming, setting the book down to try and reacquaint myself with reality, and everything in between 😂 I think I could write another full novel about my love for Shaw! That man was so gone for his girl and he was the absolute sweetest in pursuing her while being plenty witty and challenging her at every turn. Sutton was a great leading lady and I loved her competence and her enthusiasm for hockey. I wished I could be watching in the stands along with her!

I adored the audio version of this book, the narrators did a fantastic job of bringing these characters to life!

Shaw Daniels has feeling for Sutton before she knew what love came to her. He had to find ways for Sutton to notice him because he would help her brother with protecting her from suitors. Their really some sweet moments were Shaw was there for Sutton and their banter and chemistry is fantastic.
NARRATED BY Kim Churchill and
Oliver Clarke
The narrators brought the story to life I just love audiobooks.

📚The Golden Goal by Annah Conwell
🎧ALC Review(Copy gifted by @dreamscape_media)
🚨While reviewed copy is gifted, opinions are always my own.
Status: Available Now, on KU

🥰Enjoyment: This was a super cute, closed door hockey romance. He falls first, like a decade first, her brother’s best friend, she decided long ago they were rivals. Sometimes I struggle with the “rival” trope when there isn’t actually any conflict that caused it, and initially with this one I was a little hesitant, but when Shaw started quietly wooing her I forgave the trope and really enjoyed myself.

The narration was pretty good, no complaints, though I was expecting the male narrator to say “pookie is looking fire tonight” (is there a single soul out there that gets this social media reference??)

If you are looking for a light closed door palate cleanser, this is perfect. (And for the record I liked it enough that I immediately started the next book in the series, The Perfect Putt, despite initially not planning to read them back to back.)

Sweet hockey romance, I enjoyed this best friends little sister /enemies to lovers. This was a closed door book which I love but it didn’t hold back on the kisses. I would recommend this one and have already read book 2 and can’t wait for the rest of the series

Sutton and Shaw were the best enemies to lovers. It’s also always fun when the guy falls first and he had to do his best to convince her that she feels the same way. Which Sutton did she just didn’t want to admit it. And to find out who really got her her dream job was just swoon worthy also. There were so many great laugh out loud moments along with surprised gasps and heart eyes sighs.
I had the pleasure of listening to this story and the narrators did such a great job bringing this story to life.
Thank you to Annah for my review copy. These words are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Annah Conwell for this audiobook.

I really enjoyed this hockey audiobook. The narrators are amazing and I can’t wait to read more by this author!