Where do I begin with this one....

One thing that bothered me was before Blair and Cooper met in person, when they were talking over e-mail or text, Cooper was giving very short, one-word responses and not feeding into the small talk that Blair is a fan of. However, right after they meet in person at the airport, there was plenty of small talk and times when his responses were way longer than her questions. It just seemed a bit off when only a few pages before that Cooper mentioned that he didn't want to talk to Blair and was not a fan of his new publicist, and Blair was put off slightly by the lack of responses from Cooper. The change came pretty quickly, with absolutely no build up or nothing that really signified this change in a way that made sense to me.

I guess the insta-love definitely contributed to the sudden change in Cooper's personality, but the insta-love was also portrayed in a way that wasn't as unique as I wish it was. I know there's not really many ways that it can be portrayed in a way that hasn't been done before but the "I saw her for the first time and all of the sudden I'm a different person and obsessed" thing was not my thing.

The lack of chemistry was pretty apparent, at least for me. The conversations were lackluster, banterless, an were just flat overall. The banter was literally just him constantly saying the name of the town incorrectly and her constantly correcting him. I don't get it. He's a grown man and the MMC of the book, but his main characteristics are being dry and not bothering to care.

The book was pretty short, and I feel like that contributed to the lack of content that I observed throughout the book. Everything seemed really rushed, including the romance, which was 90% of this story. Also, because the romance took up a huge part of the book, there was barely any other plot points, which definitely could have helped this book.

The good thing about the romance was that there was no third act break up in this book. But I also believe that there would not have actually been space for one. The book definitely needed to be way longer, but for the small amount of pages, it wasn't a bad book overall, just not for me.

Thank you for the eARC of this book. Due to the low rating, I will not be giving the book a star rating on GoodReads.

Cooper, a professional hockey player, meets Blair, his publicist, for the first time f-2-f when they each arrive in Maple Falls for a charity hockey tournament. Adorably, it's love at first sight. Cooper is an adorable grumpy cinnamon roll who follows Blair around like the precious, cute puppy he is. They're too cute.

I received an ARC of LOVE IN OVERTIME. I was not paid for my review.

Love in Overtime by Melissa Baldwin is the perfect blend of romance, charm, and self-discovery! From the first page, I was hooked by the relatable and witty protagonist, who navigates her life with a mix of determination and vulnerability. The author masterfully balances humor with heartfelt moments, making the story both engaging and emotionally resonant.

Baldwin’s talent for creating authentic, likable characters shines through, and the chemistry between the leads is undeniable. Their relationship develops naturally, filled with genuine emotion and the kind of tension that makes you root for them every step of the way.

One of the highlights is the setting—vividly depicted and perfect for the story’s cozy, yet dynamic atmosphere. While the pacing overall is great, there were a few moments where the plot felt a bit predictable. Some twists might have been more impactful if they weren’t so easy to see coming.

However, this didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of the book. The characters' journey of growth more than makes up for it, and the romance is everything you want in a feel-good love story.

Overall, Love in Overtime is a delightful read for anyone looking for a fun and uplifting romance.

Blair and Cooper's story has elements of workplace romance, grumpy/sunshine, he falls first, and a touch of forbidden love. It's a fun read with a broody male lead who meets the right woman to help him put down some of the walls he's built. I enjoyed the story, but I didn't feel like the conflict was substantial, and I felt like there was a lot of telling and not a lot of showing when it came to the romance, but overall Love in Overtime is another score for the Love on Thin Ice series!

Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for gifting me with an ARC to review! All opinions are my own.

Love in Overtime is book 4 in the Love on Thin Ice series by Melissa Baldwin.
I loved being back in Maple Falls with Cooper and Blair.
A sweet and charming hockey romance story that kept me turning the pages.
A fun small town romance series each book is written by multiple authors.
I absolutely adored every single thing! The characters, the plot, the writing. It was great.
I can’t wait to read the next three.

Love in Overtime is a sweet grumpy-sunshine rom com set in the lovely small town of Maple Falls. Cooper is a stoic and quiet hockey player who does not mind keeping to himself. He’s known for his hockey skills, not his smiles. He has friends and gets along well with others, he’s just not the charismatic one on the team. Lucky for him, his new publicist, Blaire, is outgoing and social enough for all of them! Blaire wants to get Cooper more publicity, especially since his team is playing in a charity event. The more time they spend together, the more things heat up (in a totally sweet way). I love their confidence and determination to go after what they want. The fall festival backdrop creates many specialty themed romantic moments that are just perfect who love the hallmark picturesque scenes. I enjoy the quick glances at other characters who have been introduced in this series, but no worries, no other plots are given away and this one holds its own as a standalone.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

This is a sweet insta-love hockey romance with zero spice. Tropes: grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity and insta love.

Cooper is the perfect grumpy sunshine. Blaire is adorable and so bubbly. Blaire is handed Cooper as a client when his publicist retires. After weeks of zoom calls they meet at Maple Falls for a charity hockey tournament that lets 6 weeks. They feel an instant connection when they meet in person. As time goes on they can no longer hide the connection they have and need to decide what the future looks like for them.

Love in Overtime is the fourth book in the Love on Thin Ice series, which is a series of small town romcoms with each volume being written by a different romance author. This one is by Melissa Baldwin.

The series take place in the small town of Maple Falls, centering around a charity hockey competition. This volume stars Blair and and Cooper. Cooper usually plays for the Tennessee Wolves, but he is coming to Maple Falls to play for the Ice Breakers. For some reason he doesn’t have the best reputation in the league and is seen as grumpy. Blair is taking over as his new publicist and it is only during this trip that he is finally meeting her face to face. Upon meeting, feelings flourish at first sight for both of them, but can they get together for a happily ever after? Well of course, it wouldn’t be much of a romance if they couldn’t, right? lol. We’ve seen both of the characters in the background of the previous books and now they take center stage. Blair bubbly positive personality makes her instantly likable, so naturally you’ll want her to find love. Cooper gets described as grumpy in the previous books and I was expecting there to be some kind of conflict or reason for this, but honestly he didn’t really come off as that much of a grump. And there wasn’t much in the way of them falling in love or anything threatening to keep them apart. So the truth is that this one comes off as more of just a sweet falling in love story. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It added another layer to the Maple Falls saga, where love in definitely in the air for … well, everyone, lol. Like the previous books, this is on the short side, making it quite easy to read in only a sitting or two. It would be really fun to see Hallmark or some other service make the entire book series into a limited series, introducing us to all the characters and allowing us to witness all of the various relationships coming together as at the same time. I can totally picture getting to see the certain events (like the party or the farmer’s market, etc.) from all the various POVs. I’d like to thank the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Love in Overtime.

I really enjoyed this story!

I thought that the story was well written and that it had a well planned out plot.

The characters were well developed and they worked well together, there was some really great interaction between them and I loved getting to know more about them as the book progressed.

It was a romantic and sexy story that had me turning the pages.

It is 4 stars from me for this one - highly recommended!

Love in Overtime is a short and sweet hockey romance that you won't want to miss. It checks off my favorite themes of small town and grumpy/sunshine together. The main characters are so great, Blair is a force of nature and Cooper needs some love.

Thank you netgalley for Love in Overtime by Melissa Baldwin

Melissa Baldwin has done it again! "Love in Overtime" is a hit! Or should I say "Gooooooollll." I wasn't sure what to expect with this hockey series, but what I discovered were characters with a lot of heart and humor, and a charming small town. I loved the sweet Hallmark style storyline and can't wait to pick up the next book in the series.

4/5 Stars

Thank you so much to Xpresso Book Tours and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this book. All reviews are my own.

Love in Overtime was a cute read and is perfect to get you over a slump or if you're just looking for a pick me up. The two leads are likeable and form a cute couple but I would have loved to see more of their relationship develop before they finally meet in person. The cast of characters are also equally likeable and I would definitely look into reading their books. Baldwin does a good job of showing the two leads consider what admitting their falling for each other means and also having them consider what they are willing to sacrifice in being together.

Love in Overtime is part of the Love on Thin Ice sweet small town hockey romcom series. It's a slow burn, grumpy-sunshine, workplace romance set in a small town with all the sizzle and chemistry, but none of the spice. There are 7 novellas in the Love on Thin Ice series, all based in the small but endearing Maple Falls.

I love the potential that Cooper and Blair have as a couple, typical grumpy hockey player meets bubbly sunshine publicist. It's short and sweet but it made for a lovely Sunday evening read.

I would have liked there to have been more detail over their weeks together as it felt like it lacked longevity and I feel like there is so much potential to build on this couple and their story - but it is a novella. I would love to see more of Cooper and Blair!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Short and sweet hockey romance. I would recommend if you want a light hearted romance. This is book 4 in a series of interconnected stand alone. Each book is from a different author and I love how each author gets to make to write their own story but in the same town.

A grumpy and sunshine romance, the story of Cooper and Blair. Both great characters and you want everything to work out for them. I liked how it was told from both points of view, and how it links to the other books in this series.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This was a nice and easy fall read with small town and grumpy to sunshine vibes. Loved the setting in Maple Falls and the reason these hockey players came to Maple Falls.

“Thank you Blair for giving me a reason to smile”. Loved this and how Blair brought Cooper out of his shell. This was a short but good read and I can’t wait for more in this series.

Yet another feel good hockey/fall romance in Maple Falls.

Short, easy read that is a perfect addition to the Love on Thin Ice series.

Something must be in the water in Maple Falls because everyone who goes there (and lives there) falls in love, ironically during fall!

The light read will keep you turning the pages, watching the love story click into place.

Cooper and Blair make a great pair, super relatable characters and likeable! Loved the dynamic they had together, and the dynamic of the other town characters involved as well.

Perfect cozy read!

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC!

When his publicist retires, Cooper reluctantly hires Blair as a replacement ahead of the Ice Breakers charity games. They have only met on Zoom, so when they meet in person, they are surprised to find that spark fly.

Read if you like:
-Coworker Romance
-Grumpy x Sunshine
-Sweet (Not Spicy) Romance

This was a cute addition to the Love on Thin Ice Series. I always love a grumpy hockey player and his sunshine girl. I wish we had been given a look at those Zoom calls though.

Really quick, cute and cozy fall read! Cooper sounds like my type a guy!! Broody and sweet! This book had me wanting to go to Washington for the fall festival haha this is part of a multi author series but can be read as a stand alone.

Received free to read via NetGalley for my honest review

I take it back, THIS was my favorite so far. I love a PR/grumpy hockey player romance. It was such a great slow burn, and so so sweet. I’m such a fan of this series, LOVE LOVE LOVE