Another Tessa Bailey book that had me devouring it! I loved how Sig and Chloe met and couldn't get enough of their energy together. But when their world is rocked later that evening, I felt for them. As the story develops, I love how Chloe comes into her own independence and has so much growth. And even though they are told their relationship is forbidden, I really just wanted them to say screw it anyways. Overall, I read this quickly and have enjoyed this series!

Read if you enjoy: hockey romance, forbidden, future step-siblings, protective mmc, slow burn, she falls hard but he falls harder

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, NetGalley, and Tessa Bailey for letting me read/review an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I loved Sig and Chloe when we met them in the Au Pair Affair and was hoping to see their story come to life.

Once again Tessa Bailey does not disappoint with the chemistry, banter and tension in this fun, steamy story. Sig and Chloe are too cute and I haven’t wanted a HEA for a couple as much as did for these two.

If you're a fan of Tessa’s books, you'll definitely enjoy this one.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy!

𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐛𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐲
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★★

I was so excited to dive into this hockey romance featuring Chloe and Sig. Their insta love and undeniable chemistry had me hooked from the start. I loved that Chloe came to Sig’s rescue at the country club without even knowing him and right away their connection blossomed.

I wasn’t a fan of how their situation turned so quickly and the fact it turned forbidden before it really got anywhere. I did love how Sig stepped up and supported Chloe, all he did to get her on her feet in Boston and how protective he was of her.

The chemistry and the buildup between the two of them through the book was seriously soo good!! I just wish the relationship part wasn’t so weird. Especially since in the end Sig’s dad could have easily ended his suffering by telling him the truth. Once things finally panned out I adored how the book wrapped up.

mutually obsessed and possessive mc’s who border on taboo for 92% of the book???? hiiii <3 this was such a fun and easy read. i love tessa and how consistent she is in her stories, despite how different they can be. there’s just a FEELING when reading a tessa bailey book. I had a wonderful time!!

🌶️🌶️🌶️
🏒 Oh Sig and Chloe. The angst I felt while reading your love story 😩
🛍️ I love these two characters so much and they are so perfect for each other! I wanted to fight the world that tried to come between them. There were times that made me want to cry because there love was so beautiful and also because I was so sad for the angst the characters were going through.
🏒 Tessa knows how to make me laugh, cry, turn me on, and fill me with joy! Highly recommend and looks like we might get another one in this series? 👀 I hope so!
🛍️ I loved getting to see Tallulah and Burgess through the story. I would have loved to see Wells and Josephine from book one but maybe if we get more books? 👀
⚾ Pitch Perfect coming September I think 🤩

The hockey man of my dreams!!! Tessa did not miss with this one. I thought the step sibling trope was well done and the chemistry between the main characters was undeniable.

I was curious about Sig and Chloe from the second we met them in the Au Pair Affair and finally getting to know their story was worth the wait. Tessa has a skill in making the books enjoyable to read, spicy enough to put a blush on my face, and believable enough that I can pretend it might happen in real life. I enjoyed reading this and am so grateful for the opportunity to review it early!

I was obsessed I read this in almost one day. This might have been one of my favorite Tessa Bailey books I definitely preordered a copy for myself.

This is my first Tessa Bailey experience and I honestly don’t know how I got here; reading an ARC of a book that’s third in an interconnected series. I didn’t even peek at the blurb or tropes before diving in and it may have worked out for the best because I had a great time.

Chloe is an FMC I don’t normally read about/gravitate towards, but her growth seemed so genuine that it’s hard not to fall in love with her. At first glance, and by her own admittance, she’s a spoiled rich girl that doesn’t think about all that’s done for her. It’s admirable to read about her trying to turn it around and become independent. It’s then easy to be annoyed at Sig for continuing to shelter and spoil her in Boston, to his own detriment seemingly, but as both of their intentions and feelings become more clear it easy to forgive. Sig is everything you want in a handsome, burly hockey player: protective, attentive, supportive, and downright devoted. It’s nice to see him eventually work on his own insecurities rather than just hide them, making him entirely too well-rounded and drool worthy 🤤

I think the chemistry between Sig and Chloe was fantastic and this was an instant connection that was actually believable for me - a feat in itself. The taboo step-sibling trope was heavily diluted with them meeting before knowing their parents were in a relationship, the majority of the story happening before their parents marriage, and the fact they were 25+ when this all happened so they didn’t grow up together. With all of that, I barely consider it taboo and I personally don’t understand why it’s made such a big deal in the book… but hey, I dabble in the dark romance so maybe I don’t count.

Overall, this was a fun and enjoyable introduction to Tessa Bailey [for me] and I am excited to backtrack and read more!

I received an ARC of this novel on NetGalley and a big thanks to the publisher and author for a chance to read and review.

⭐️ 4/5
🌶️ 2.5/5

I actually really enjoyed this, especially since it's set in Boston and the hockey team is clearly based on the Bruins. It's Tessa Bailey so you know the spice is SPICY. While that was enjoyable, the plot here was actually more captivating to me. You can actually feel the chemistry between Sig and Chloe, but I also loved their witty banter. Some of the side characters also cracked me up, especially the rookies on Sig's hockey team. This is the 3rd book in the Big Shots series - I haven't read the other ones but now I definitely want to!

5⭐️! I loved Sig and Chloe ever since we got snippets of them earlier in the series. The banter is next level. 🤗 Sig’s alpha confidence is hot. He’s the definition of “if he wanted to he would”. Sig taking care of Chloe is next level. The sexual tension is thiiiiick - the chemistry is out of this world. It was a slow burn but the payoff was hot AF 🥵🥵🥵🫠🫠🫠. I knew Sig would have a mouth on him but okaaay Chloe. 🤭 Tessa really had me heartbroken for them towards the end and thank goodness for the HEA. I would’ve screamed otherwise. Sig and Chloe really had me in a chokehold from chapter one and I loved every second of their story!

Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and publisher for providing the ARC!

I loved this book even more then I thought I would. Being outside Boston I truly appreciate all the little New England references. I love the touch and die attitude of the mmc. I also appreciated that Chloe wasn't just your typical spoiled rich girl. This was my favorite of the Boston series. In my top 5 of her books.

This book was filled with tension and passion!! You could feel the intense chemistry between the main characters in the best way. The step sibling plot line got a little icky in my brain sometimes if I thought about it too much but the love between them was too pure and beautiful to not root for them!

Will always be a sucker for a man who would burn down the world for his love, and Sid is no exception, even if she might become his stepsister. The lovely city of Boston, a cute dog named Pierre, and a perfect harp definitely takes this book over the edge from where I thought it would go.

“I’d spit on a man for calling you pretty. You’re extraordinary. The first and last of your kind.” -Sig

It was so good! When we met Sig and Chloe in the Au Pair Affair, I wasn’t sure how Tessa was going to work this out. You knew the tension between these two was out of control but you weren’t sure exactly why.
This book was so good! I was nervous and anxious through most of it (okay like all of it) but it was so so so good!
Sig is a hockey player who is headed to meet up with his kind of estranged dad and his dad’s new girlfriend. On the way to his dad’s house he meets his dream girl, Chloe.
Chloe is a protege on the harp and because of that her mom has sheltered her from the world. When Chloe meet Sig at her country club she feels this spark she’s never felt before.
Unfortunately, after Chloe and Sig meet they end up at dinner together, with their parents because surprise! Their parents are getting married. The rest of the book felt like soul crushing chaos with splashes of humor and spice so that you didn’t give up hope. It was fantastic!

uhmmm
so. ick factor times 1000. i do NOT care what that paternity test says, this book was goddamn fucked. you simply can’t put two people together, say they’re gonna be related/already are and be like oh yea it’s fine they’re hooking up.
ALSO I HATE SIG WTFFFFFF
this overprotective asshole is so misogynistic, idc abt the occasional “women are powerful!!” comment, it does NOT make up for the stupid imploding ego traced all over every interaction with this idiotic man.

OMIGOD I FORGOT ABT HOW BAD THE PACING WAS FUCK THE PACING

In true Tessa Bailey fashion, this was hot, hilarious, and such a good time!! 🤭 I devoured this book faster than I drink my daily coffee and that’s saying something. Sig and Chloe has an instant connection, despite finding out they’re going to be step siblings soon after meeting. I absolutely loved their story. Sig was SO OBSESSED with Chloe, like would do anything and everything for her. He is easily one of my favorite Tessa Bailey MMCs to date.

Tessa Bailey always brings the heat, and while this one wasn’t my favorite, it still had its moments. The story follows two future step-siblings who meet as adults and fall for each other—only to decide they can’t be together because it would look “weird.” This conflict dominates the plot, and honestly, I struggled with it.

The chemistry between the leads was electric—easily the highlight of the book. But their connection felt more like lust than love, and the FMC came across as overly dependent, which made their dynamic feel a bit one-sided.

Overall, while this book didn’t completely click for me, I can see others loving it for the swoon-worthy moments and fiery tension. Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy!

"Always my dream girl. Always mine"💖✨
This book was such a fun and wild ride, just like all of Tessa Bailey's books!!!! I love her style so much, and the chemistry between Sig and Chloe was seriously on fire!!!
Sig was so sweet and completely head-over-heels for Chloe, which made their moments together super cute and exciting to read.
But I have to admit, the step-sibling thing didn't really work for me this time around. I love forbidden romance, but I just couldn't get into the whole "they can't be together because it's weird" situation!!! They're adults who met before their parents even started dating, so it felt a little forced. I just didn't think it needed to be that big of a deal!!!
The story was really fast-paced too, and I think it would have been even better if things slowed down a little bit. It felt like everything happened so quickly!!!! But even with that, I still loved every second of it because Tessa Bailey always delivers such fun, steamy stories that make you want to keep reading!!!!
If you're a fan of her books, you'll definitely enjoy this one too!!!! Even though the step-sibling trope wasn't my favorite, it was still a really good story overal!!!
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

Forbidden romance + Insta-love + Slow burn

The tropes in this book are not ones I would usually pick up, but as I’ve said before, if Tessa writes it, I’m going to read it! This was different though in the fact that our main characters meet before they know their parents are engaged. So much tension and pining for one another in this book

Tons of character growth on both sides and Sig was so supportive of Chloe. Chloe was a little unbearable at times but I did feel that she got better as the story went on.

Their story was a rollercoaster but I enjoyed it so much! My favorite thing might be a jealous Sig but buying out all of her favorite pop tarts from the store near her building so he has a reason to come over was also top tier. Definitely one you should pick up if you’ve enjoyed the other books in this series!

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC!!! 🫶🏼

Standout Quotes-
“I wish for this same exact birthday next year, except you’ll be wearing a wedding ring. Mine.”

“At least a hundred of them, maybe more. Strawberry only. They’d all been purchased in the North End at every deli and grocery store in a ten-block radius of Chloe’s apartment. She could never find them herself. The stores were always cleaned out. All because sometimes Sig needed an actual reason to show up at her place that wasn’t I needed to see you so I could breathe—and the Tarts were his ticket.”

‘“You aren’t in charge of my love life.” “I am your love life, Chloe.”’ ❤️