~Jaylen & Lucy~

“I usually paint houses for the people I love, but every time I tried to paint your apartment, I kept seeing your face. I think my Finding Home series is complete, because when I’m with you I feel like I’ve finally found it.”

~Black cat x golden retriever
~Forced proximity
~Grief & mental health rep
~Found family

I was really excited for this book, especially since I’ve been following Lexi for a while but I was a little…underwhelmed. It was definitely a solid read, but it didn’t feel like anything new. I feel like there was a lot of the storyline that we didn’t get to see (especially about the development of their relationship, so it felt a little rushed. But then other times, I liked that certain aspects weren't too deep (the grief rep was great but it wasn't too heavy, in a good way). Overall, it was a great debut book and I’d be excited to see the series evolve (if there are plans for more!) ◡̈

This was such a fun read! I loved reading about the overall Seattle atmosphere and having the same landmarks repeated throughout the book. That part made me feel like I really knew the area as our two leads knew it.

I loved how Lucy and JJ met. It felt like they stayed true to their character from the opening scene. Seeing their whole personalities through the book was really fun. It felt like they complimented each other so well and were able to understand each other without verbal communication.

There was so much packed into this story that I felt like I truly knew both of these characters. Some of the story could have been spread out a little more, but overall I absolutely ate up this book!

Thank you to Canary Street Press for the ARC through netgalley!

Had me hooked from the first page. The diverse cast of characters, the well explored and explained world, and the witty, sarcastic, and funny dialogue were top notch. The spice was there just enough to satiate that part of the romance but didn’t drag on for too long nor did it give me the ick that a lot of spice can. It was a good blend to add to the story and intimacy of the characters. I actually felt like these characters really knew each other and built a friendship even though we didn’t have to wait long for them to get together. We spent the novel with them playing cat and mouse with their feelings and it paid off in the end. Only slightly picky negative was the timeline. It was a bit muddy for me at times where I was questioning how much time had passed at points.

This was an incredibly endearing story about two people coming together and through that helping each other go from chaos to calm in their internal worlds. At first, the story is your normal romance story—solid yet still one dimensional and then it builds and builds into something very intentional, layered, and comforting. It's a hopeful and endearing read. You will fall in love with all the characters and marvel as they overcome their struggles and past traumas. And it was a delight to see so many polarizing worlds come together and find common ground and deep love and respect for each other. A worthwhile read.

Shoot Your Shot is the incredibly fun romance between JJ, a hockey player struggling to bring his game back, and Lucy, an aspiring tattoo artist. After initially agreeing they will only have a one night stand (after all, he's only in town for one night), JJ is determined to make her his good luck charm once she seems to be the secret to improving his game.

The book has such an amazing sense of place, being really enmeshed in the LGBT community in Seattle - it's great to see a book be thoughtful about the experience of its bisexual FMC. I would definitely recommend this for fans of Elle Kennedy's Off Campus or Lana Ferguson, and I can't wait to see what is next for the author.

3 ⭐️

Lucy knows what she wants and doesn't let anyone tell her otherwise. Jaylen is all golden retriever who just wants to stay in the NHL. Lucy and Jaylen are the complete opposite from each other, but that's what makes their relationship work. Jaylen is a little lost with his NHL career, and Lucy is trying to find her footing in the tattoo world... or so we think.

I loved the LGBTQIA+ representation across the book. I also thought the mental health challenges presented were handled so well!

I didn't live it, and I didn't hate it. I think I wanted more depth from both the characters. I also wanted more hockey. I was hoping to see some more pushback on the WAGs from Lucy.

I giggled throughout the book, and it started in the very first paragraph. Great debut novel by Lexi. I can't wait to read more by her.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for providing the copy in exchange for my thoughts and opinions.

4.5 Stars rounded up

I really loved this book. Romance isn’t my preferred genre but every once in a while I like to read a fun Rom Com book and I was excited to read this one. A good hockey romance is hard to come by but this was truly wonderful. I knew Lexi would excel at the hockey portion of the story so I’m really glad her sense of humor translated well to her characters. I laughed out loud many times while reading this.

Lucy is such a great FMC and her take-no-shit attitude made for some hilarious and emotional moments and Jaylen was such a sweet character you just have no choice but to root for him. I was sucked into the book immediately with the witty banter and fast moving story and just couldn't stop reading, I had to know where Lucy and Jaylen's story ended up.

This book has incredible representation throughout and was just such a joy to read.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Publishing, and Lexi LaFleur Brown for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely jumped at the chance to read this and it did not disappoint me whatsoever. I LOVED THIS. Lucy and Jaylen (I hate that name though ugh) were fantastic and their chemistry was amazing.

I have always really enjoyed following Lexi on social media. I find her hilarious and as a huge hockey fan, I love all her insider NHL/hockey content. When I heard she was writing a book I was hesitantly optimistic because you never know when internet personalities decide to write something. This definitely exceeded expectations. It's funny and thoughtful. Lucy and Jaylen have really good chemistry and I loved reading as their connection grew. I also absolutely adored Jaylen and I think his struggles felt genuine, especially as a Black hockey player. I'm sure Lexi took inspiration from her husband in that regard and I like that it was included. It's also just a nice change of pace to read a book about a sport where the author actually knows what they are talking about.

When I heard that Dr. Lexi LaFleur Brown was writing a Hockey Romance novel I remember saying "this isn't just going to be a hockey romance, it's going to be THE Hockey Romance!"

I'm so happy to say that I was completely correct, but it is also so much more.

This book has incredibly well developed characters that break the mold for typical hockey romance personalities. Lucy's black cat energy mixed so well with Jaylen's sweet golden retriever energy. The two were a perfect definition of opposites attract and their chemistry and tension felt real and not forced. The issues each character faced outside of their relationship felt very true to life and helped me live in the moment even more so than normal. The mental health representation was done with so much thought and intention that I really appreciated.

As a long time lover of real life hockey, I was most excited to see how the wife of a former NHL player approached the topic, and it's safe to say that this is EASILY the most accurate hockey depicted in a sports romance book that I have ever read. Nothing takes me out of reading a book faster than when something incredibly unrealistic to a hockey season/game/practice/mindset. That never happened in this book and I am so eternally grateful because that meant I got to sit within the world more completely.

All that being said, you definitely don't need to be a "fan" of hockey to enjoy this book! The main character Lucy doesn't know anything about hockey at the start of the book so you can feel comfortable jumping in regardless of your knowledge level with the sport.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a copy of the ARC! I greatly enjoyed it!

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy of Shoot Your Shot

Overall: 3.5/5 out of 5 stars rounded to 4

Very sweet debut novel from the author. Any hockey romance lover would enjoy this. It has great diversity and sweet characters. Would read another by Lexi.

Lucy is on a quest for her dream tattoo apprenticeship and has decided to take a break from dating. Jaylen is hyper focused on trying to get his hockey career back on track and has no space for a relationship. After what was supposed to be a one night stand, their paths keep crossing and Jaylen starts to believe Lucy is his good luck charm and essential to his path to success. Can what starts out as simple favors to help each other out turn into something more?

I was worried this book would be just like every other hockey romance, but the author did well at making this book stand out. She wrote a diverse cast of characters with different backgrounds and struggles than are often seen in sports romances. It’s got plenty of spice, but the spice doesn’t overpower the plot. She made an increasingly saturated trope feel new again.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Being a longtime fan of hockey, I have been following Lexi for years. So to say that I was beyond excited to read this book is a massive understatement!

After years of failed relationships, Lucy has decided to give up on love and focus on her career. Meanwhile, NHL “draft bust” Jaylen is trying to find a way to stay in the sport he loves. When a one night stand with Lucy results in his signing a new contract with an NHL team the next day, Jaylen decides Lucy is the difference-maker and convinces her to be his good luck charm. However, Lucy feels like her luck is running out. She’s stuck at a job where she’s taken advantage of with no prospects of something better on the horizon.

As the two start spending more and more time together, they find an unlikely connection and learn to open up their hearts and find a future that they never could have imagined for themselves.

This book is advertised as a rom-com, and it DELIVERS on the com! I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much while reading a book! While Lucy and Jaylen were enjoyable characters, I think I might have enjoyed the supporting characters and the humor they brought to the page even more. Despite the use of humor to lighten things up in the book, there are also some deeply emotional and vulnerable moments that I believe were treated with delicate care.

Knowing who the author is and what she is known to represent, I shouldn’t be surprised that Shoot Your Shot was full of non-toxic masculinity, discussions of mental health, and praise for the LGBTQIA+ community. And although hockey isn’t know for being overly friendly or supportive of the queer community, this book made me believe that it could be one day.

Overall, a very enjoyable read that will make you laugh, cry, and cheer for the main characters to fall in love.

Tropes & Stuff:
Black Cat x Golden Retriever
He Falls First (and Harder)
One Night Stand
LGBTQIA+ Rep
Mental Health Rep
Professional Sports

3.5/5

This was pretty good for a debut novel, but I definitely think there is some room for improvement. The story flowed nicely, but I wished in some parts there was more description and showing not telling. The spicy scenes definitely left something to be desired for me.

I really enjoyed the character development and their struggles felt very relatable. Both Jaylen and Lucy felt like real people I could meet in the real world. I liked their opposites attract vibes.

Overall I enjoyed this one, but I wasn't blown away. I would definitely still read more from Lexi, I think she has the potential to really blow us away in the future.

Thank you Net Galley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

When their meet-ugly (they literally swap their most humiliating, ugliest truths about themselves over drinks) ends in a one-night stand, Lucy (an aspiring tattoo artist) and Jaylen (a professional hockey player) have no reason to believe their paths will cross again. But then Lucy ends up working on a mural for the Seattle Rainiers, the professional hockey team that's just signed Jaylen for a single-year contract. Lucy's not interested in a relationship or even friendship with Jaylen--she just wants to get this mural assignment out of the way so she can impress her boss and score a long-awaited tattoo apprenticeship. But Jaylen is convinced Lucy is his good luck charm, the reason he's been able to overcome a years-long on-ice slump and reignite his once-promising hockey career. Their one-night stand soon becomes something that means more to both of them.

I read a lot of contemporary romance, sports-related and otherwise, and this is by far one of the best I've read this year. LaFleur Brown's wit shines in this format, and her hockey and pop culture knowledge comes off as authentic rather than forced. There were moments that had me laughing out loud (my favorite: when Lucy compares Jaylen's green suit to something the Riddler would wear), but those moments were tempered by scenes that made me cry actual tears. Jaylen's struggles with anxiety and depression are sensitively depicted, while Lucy's anger at her long-absent father also rings true. It's only after they begin to confront the things holding them back that they're able to find the professional successes that have eluded them, as well as commit to one another.

A note on the hockey: many sports romances either gloss over the actual gameplay or get too deep in the weeds for casual or non-fans to follow. LaFleur Brown is a clear fan of the game and her insider knowledge is well-utilized, providing a nice balance for hockey fans and non-fans alike.

Another thing that sets Shoot Your Shot apart from many books in the hockey romance category is its representation. Though in a straight-presenting relationship with Jaylen, Lucy's identity as a bisexual woman is not glossed over. (Nor is the fact that Jaylen is Black.) In my experience, it's unusual to read a hockey romance with a male/female pairing in which one of the characters is demonstrably queer, and that queerness plays a prominent role in the narrative.

Shoot Your Shot is a delightful read, perfect for fans of Chloe Liese, Talia Hibbert, and Meryl Wilsner. I can't wait to see what LaFleur Brown writes next.

3.5 rounded up!!

i was very intrigued by this book as soon as i found out Lexi was writing it, i figured that you couldnt go wrong with a literal nhl wag and ex hockey player herself. i knew she had a lot of controversial opinions to some about booktok and hockey romances so i was excited to be able to get my hands on this early!!

i think that lexi did a phenomenal job with writing any of the hockey aspects (not that i had any doubt it wouldnt be anything but as accurate as possible), the mental health representation was handled with utmost care and the lgbtqia+ representation was SO good!!! i absolutely adored jaylens excitement during one of the scenes, he was so cute 😂

the literal only reason i am giving this a 3.5 is because i would have loved more out of quite a few different aspects of the book, for example - more details, more background, just a bit more depth in general for certain things. this was a really good debut & i honestly cant wait to see what lexi does next

I was ECSTATIC that NetGalley gave me the opportunity to read this ARC! 🥹🥳 thank you for the opportunity!

I love Dr. Lexi and all of her content, so I’ve been very excited since she announced this book! She did not disappoint!

Lucy is a total black cat, badass FMC while Jaylen is a total cinnamon roll, golden retriever MMC. I love how they are such contrasts but make so much sense as a couple. They compliment each other in the best way, and push each other to be the best version of themselves and are happy to be a part of each other’s journey.

I gave this read 4 stars, because at times the dialogue fell a little short or felt slightly incomplete, but otherwise this was such a fast, fun read and can’t wait to read her next one! 🤩

This romance novel beautifully captures the unpredictable journey of love, drawing readers into a heartwarming and authentic relationship that blossoms over time. With well-crafted characters and charming dialogue, the story balances sweet moments and emotional depth, making it easy to get lost in the unfolding connection.

3.5 rounded up to 4 because it was super cute.

I follow the author on tiktok and have seen all her videos on her husband and when i saw that she had a book coming out I ran to NetGalley to apply for the arc and I was so happy I got it!

Sports romances can be iffy for me, but I was in the mood for something cute and low angst and this hit the spot.

Jaylen and Lucy were great! I LOVED Lucy’s take no shit attitude. She was a bitch in the best way and honestly a great heroine. She was snarky and slutty and mean and she was the perfect opposite of Jaylen’s sweetness.

I loved their meet cute and how he was obsessed with her from first sight and she wanted nothing to do with him and she made him work for the right to call her his lucky charm

Safety wise….1000% safe.
Lucy had just gotten out of a 6 month relationship because she found out her girlfriend had a boyfriend and it was mentioned in the beginning (before she met Jaylen) that she basically hooked up with every male and female at the club they were at and i love that for her.
Jaylen has been in a downward spiral with his career and has been focusing on nothing but hockey for two years so while its never explicitly stated that it’s been two years for him, it’s been longer for him than for Lucy. He said that picking up women wasn’t a foreign concept to him, but not something he made a habit.

The one thing that I didn’t love was the writing. It wasn’t bad! but i felt like a lot was explained but nothing made sense to me. I found myself skipping paragraphs to get to the dialogue. I also wish there was an explanation for what happened with her boss…..unless there was and i missed it

As a hockey fan, I was really excited to read this book! I really appreciated the hockey accuracy in Shoot Your Shot, and would be interested in reading more from Lexi!