Crossing the line is a brother’s best friend, ice hockey romance.
Mabel just got out of a toxic relationship and is trying to find herself again and lands on her brothers doorstep.
Ben is also staying with her brother while his apartment is being renovated.
They both have their own issues, Mabel boyfriend has made her doubt herself and she needs to find herself. The coaches want Ben to be the next captain and are pushing him to be more outgoing.
Ben and Mabel both have a crush on each other, and staying in such close quarters is not helping matters. When Ben needs an extrovert coach, he can’t think of a better person than Mabel, making them spend even more time together.
I found this to be a wonderful read. Ben is a shy and introvert guy vs Mabel who is an extrovert. Together they balance each other and bring out the best in each other. This was a heartwarming and spicy read. I absolutely loved Ben’s team mates and I hope they each get their own stories.

I was ecstatic to be back in Kelly Jameison’s hockey world! Oh how I love how she writes hockey. One of the reasons that I simply adore her books is because they are filled with characters that are not afraid of their feelings, work through them like adults, and are people you genuinely wish you could be friends with. And Crossing the Line was absolutely no different- even though we are on a new team in a new city.
Let’s start with Mabel. She has always been viewed as the quirky flighty sibling and friend. But in reality is very accomplished in her career as a librarian. She is well educated and has a variety of interests. She also has a light around her that draws people to her, but that light has been dimmed a little over the last few years. Fresh out of a toxic relationship she lands on her twin brother, Marek’s couch.
Ben Antonov is living his childhood dream of playing professional hockey with his best friend Marek, or Smitty. However, there is pressure on Ben to be more outgoing and engage with the community more which is not at all in Ben’s wheelhouse. In addition, his best friend, Marek’s twin, arrives in town crashing on their couch. It brings back all his old feelings he once had for….but something is not right with Mabel and he’s the one that notices.
I love the history that Mabel and Ben share- and how their perceptions of one another are so different from what the other thinks it is. These two immediately start to build a friendship and see that the other one has strengths and attributes the other doesn’t have. I really love how Ben was so open and honest about what he sees are his shortcomings, when really those are things that draw most people to him, Mabel included. Ben has a giant heart and is able to see so much, including how much Mabel is hurting and keeping from those closest to her. Mabel and Ben give into their romantic feelings and OH MY GOODNESS. Ben…sweet Jesus this man! The chemistry that this duo have not only between the sheets but outside of them make them such an amazing pair. They truly bring out the best in one another. If you enjoy a brother's best friend, throw in hockey, a book loving librarian, with well developed characters this most definitely is the book for you! Also, if Kelly is a new to you author this is a fantastic place to start but know you will be doing a binge of her other books!

If, like me, you're a sport's romance junkie Crossing the Line is perfect and highly readable.

Following the break up of a bad relationship, Mabel temporarily moves in with her professional hockey playing brother who has a team mate residing in his spare room, leaving the couch as Mabel's only option.

The story of Mable and Ben, as it progresses, is beautifully sweet and uplifting. It is so easy for the reader to recognise how well they fit together.

Building each other up and having each others' backs is a common theme throughout the story in both the relationship between the two main characters and, The Storm Ben's ice hockey team.

I'll certainly be back to Kelly Jamieson's stories, especially if more players from The Storm have their chance at an HEA.

I'm rounding up from 3.5. Mabel leaves an abusive relationship and goes to stay with her brother. Ben has been friends with Mabel's brother Malek since high school and is staying with him until his condo is ready. Ben is a shy introvert and Mabel is the complete opposite. Ben asks Mabel to help him come out of his shell and they grow closer. It was a little frustrating with some of the slang used in the story since the words used weren't in existence when they were supposedly said. Rizz is a word that just needs to disappear, but I digress. Both characters have baggage and seem to bond over it. There's of course some conflict and it's handled pretty well to get us where we need to. Carson's story was brief and had me curious as to what happens to him.

I really enjoyed this book and the message it sent. On the surface, Ben is perfect and has it all. He is a professional hockey player, waiting for his condo to be ready to move in to, and he isn’t hurting when it comes to women. But, nobody actually sees him or understands him. On the flip side, Mabel is looked at as flighty and unreliable. Again, no one sees who she really is.

I loved the chemistry between Ben and Mabel, and how they had a past unrequited, or was it, attraction to each other. They both end up staying with her brother/his teammate and he ‘hires’ her to help him be more outgoing. Being extremely introverted makes it hard for him to not be awkward in social settings, but he has the chance to be the captain, so he needs to figure it out. As they spend time together they start seeing each other in a different way and realize what happened in the past might not be what it seemed.

This was a really good book, and I was glad to see her stand up for herself with her ex, instead of having the men in her life take care of it for her. I also appreciated how Ben stood up for her, even if it could ruin his shot at the captain role. I wish there would have been more resolution with her parents. I can’t wait for more in this series. I received an ARC and this is my honest, voluntary review.

A hockey romance with a sweet soft hearted MMC and social butterfly FMC. I really enjoyed the awkward and shyness of Ben, how Mabel pulled him out of his shell and how perfectly the meshed together. Ben was the perfect man following Mabel’s previously toxic relationship, how sweet and caring he was, while showing up for her in ways she wasn’t used to. I wish there was more banter, chemistry and an edge with this one. After reading so many hockey romances the bar was high, though i really did enjoy this one it fell flat in some places.

Crossing the Line by Kelly Jamieson is about a shy hockey player and his roommate/teammate’s sister. After receiving an ultimatum about attending a faculty dinner instead of supporting her BFF at a difficult time, Mabel Smits has had enough and finally gets the nerve to leave him. Ending the relationship means she has to leave her librarian job, which she loves, and move in with her twin brother Smitty; unaware that Smitty has offered his spare room to his best friend and ice hockey team mate Ben Antonov while Ben is waiting for his own apartment to become free.

Ben is a leader on the ice, but shy, , socially awkward, and not comfortable speaking up. As one of the players in contention to become the captain next year, but as a introvert he hates speaking to the press, doesn’t know how to handle small talk, and nor feel comfortable speaking up in the locker room. Being his complete opposite Mabel offers to coach him, allowing these two to become closer; awakening feelings from their crushes when they were kids. Mabel agrees to coach Ben with how to talk to others, while Ben noticed that Mabel was no longer her fun, confident, outgoing self. Little by little he gets the story from her, how her ex was controlling and abusive, changing her into the person he believed she should be. While helping each other finding ways to be who they needed to be, their attraction grow. Mabel and Ben support each other, emphasizing their values, and accepting their flaws without judgment. A story that reminds us: you don’t need to change to be accepted, and that imperfection is part of what makes each of us unique.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #Boldwood #CrossingTheLine

Great hockey romance! An excellent read...lots of emotion, great characters and a happily ever after. I have read a couple of different books by Kelly Jamieson and she does not disappoint. I really enjoy her writing style, plots and overall character development.

This book follows Ben and Mabel who have known each other for years but haven't seen each other in a while. Ben is best friends with Mabel's brother, his teammate in the NHL and his temporary roommate until his condo is ready. When Mabel needs a temporary place to live, she ends up on the couch at her brother's...in the same condo as Ben...her childhood crush. Mabel is definitely quirky, outgoing and doesn't meet a person who can't be a future friend. However she has lost herself a bit in the last year or so due an emotional abusive ex who won't leave her alone. Ben on the other hand is the most introverted person you will ever meet; he will always chose to be by himself over a large gathering. When the team manager/owner consider him for captain of his team, they tell him he needs to do more with the public, media and his team socially. His solution? Get Mabel to coach him to be more outgoing. She balks at first as she doesn't want to get too invested but eventually goes all in. As the two work together and learn more about each other, past hurts get some explanation and a connection is formed.

But nothing is ever that easy. Can Mabel trust love again? Can Ben be more open and communicative in a relationship? And when the ex comes looking around, how will both handle it?

Overall a great read. Lots of emotion and heart. Plus hockey! Would definitely recommend.

This had some of our favourite aspects of a contemporary hockey romance: close proximity; brother's best friend/roommate; extrovert-introvert; hot hockey players and more.

After a disastrous end to a toxic relationship has librarian Mabel fleeing both her job and her city, she ends up camped on her hockey-playing brother's couch attempting to start over. The only problem...her brother's friend, and current houseguest, Ben.

Need I say more?

I initially found the writing style a little stilted but quickly adapted, and I enjoyed Mabel & Ben's building tension, as well as their appreciation of each other just as they were.

Crossing the Line
By Kelly Jamieson

If you like forbidden romance (best friend/ sibling) with a little Enemies to lovers thrown in this would be a good fit for you.

Ben is so ready to step up as a leader on his team, he's a strong player, the only problem is he freezes up with put on the spot. He rather have 100 pucks shot at him than deal with questions from the media, and small talk, hard pass. To add fuel to his current situation he has zero privacy while he waits on his new apartment and his teammates sister just started couch surfing. But maybe that will turn into a silver lining.

Mabel didn't have leaving a job she loved and moving in with her brother on her to do list. Starting over is hard, but she made the choice to put herself first. And now she's faced with a new dilemma, living with her high school crush. Could her life get any more compilated? Yes, helping him deal with his social issues while trying to ignore the attraction that is definitely not in her head. Because crossing the line means there is no turning back.

I read this book as an arc and I thought it was pretty good. I will say at times it seemed as though it may have been written by a teenager in love but with the deeper aspects of abuse the author changed and became more mature sounding. With the contrast of youthfulness and matures i think this book was a pretty good and easy read.

Mabel goes to stay with her brother after a breakup up, but doesn’t expect his best friend, her former teenage crush to be staying with him.

They couldn’t be more different, she is bubbly and full of life. He is shy and introverted, but somehow they seem to be attracted to each other.

She is trying to rebuild her life after having her confidence knocked, Ben shows her that she is an amazing women. He needs to be more outgoing for his job and she helps him with this while making him see he is good enough already.

When their attraction starts to heat up, her brother does add a little bit of complication to things.

Their pasts do get in their way a little along the way, but I liked how they worked it out.

This was a sweet story with a nice level of heat and likeable characters.

3.5 ⭐️

Brothers best friend…say less! Crossing the line was such a fun read for me. Whilst there were some things I didn’t truly enjoy, the base line and plot was written very well.

I LOVED how Ben wasn’t the stereotypical hockey wh0r3 and was just the quiet boy nobody really paid attention too. Mabel is the complete opposite which means they are a match made in heaven! Both characters had great character development throughout.

For me I struggled with the writing style overall and it prevented me from really getting into the book. At times things felt forced and not refined

Thank you to Netgalley and Kelly Jamieson for this ARC 🫶

Crossing The Line is a brother’s best friend romance and I’m really hoping it’s the start of a new series. This is librarian Mabel Smits and star hockey player Ben Antonov’s story.
Mabel has walked away from her job and her abusive boyfriend to start afresh. The only place she has to go is her twin brother Marek’s apartment but she has no idea her high school crush is also living there while he waits for his apartment to be ready. From the moment she moves in sparks fly and when she spends time with Ben helping him with his confidence with public speaking feelings soon come into play.
But how will her brother react when he finds out what’s happening while he is not around and what happens when Mabel’s ex turns up ……….
One click this gem to find out.

I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley.

This fell flat for me as the writing style felt quite immature. This felt especially jarring against the darker topics in the story (emotional abuse, baby loss & child abuse) which felt shoe-horned in, especially as this was marketed as a hockey romance.

The romance was fine, but the “spicier” scenes I found quite uncomfortable to read as some of the descriptions felt clinical, and I found myself cringing.

Overall, the main characters were likeable and I enjoyed their development, but I wouldn’t really recommended this book due to the ways in which it fell short for me.

DNF -- I liked Ben and Mabel. I didn't love that the ex-boyfriend subplot wasn't mentioned in the synopsis because I might not have picked this up if it had been. However, I enjoyed the characters enough to keep reading until chapter 20. Dead babies should automatically require a content warning in my opinion, even if they don't belong to the MCs. I absolutely would have passed on this if I had known. There were other ways for Ben to show leadership without sticking that in.

I liked this story of Ben and Mabel. Ben is the shy one, which I feel is more common than one would think and Mabel, well Mabel was one who I would aspire to be, confident, outgoing, and ready to tackle Ben’s issues of not believing in himself. I am a fan of hockey and Ms. Jamieson’s series. This book was refreshing and one I won't soon forget.

I think the character flaws in this are too over the top and not very realistic, but I still enjoyed the story. Like, come on. No one is THAT introverted. And no one else is THAT extroverted. Idk it just felt like a little much to me.

I haven't read this author before but when I checked my kindle there are 6 going back a decade...oops well I meant to. While I was reading I recognised a phrase and thought oh this author is Canadian. She even nailed her Aussies in the story.

I really enjoyed this hockey romance, the characters' honesty and vulnerabilities.
Off the ice this was a wonderful love story, two characters totally opposite in personalities. The introvert and the extrovert.
I will say I wanted a bit more at the end on Mabel and her new career.
All in all I truely enjoyed this read :)

Spicy, descriptive, and everything in between., it gave me everything I needed and then some. Story line works, it is believable and it makes sense. Both characters have depth and do not come across as superficial or unrealistic.