Ben : On the ice I’m formidable, relentless and I lead by example. Now my coach wants me to step up as Captain – and lead the team off the ice too. But this is my worst nightmare; I’d rather play hockey naked than do any kind of public speaking! To make matters worse, my best friend’s sister has shown up out of the blue to live with us temporarily. We have a history… it’s awkward, she’s starting to invade my fantasies and I can’t seem to escape her. But maybe she could be the answer to my problems…

Mabel: Moving in with my brother was not part of my life plan, but I have no choice at the moment. I need to get away and start my life over. I just wish I didn’t have to share the condo with Ben. I thought I’d buried my teenage crush, but seeing him all the time has me fascinated with him all over again! But now he’s asking for my help to be more outgoing and confident, and basically fake it until he makes it. Sure I can help, but that would mean a lot of time alone. I need to stay strong and resist the obvious temptation.

I'm not a hockey fan, and I typically don't go for romances where the men sleep around and treat women badly (which is most hockey romances). I picked this up because a friend suggested it as something different. I'm glad I did! This is a perfect light read for a cold evening curling up with a drink and my heating blanket. 4⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

This is a first read for me by this author abd I devoured this book. I very much enjoyed these charaters and this story line, off to binge more of this authors work

Crossing the Line was my first read of 2025 and I have to say I picked a winner. From the moment I picked up this book I was hooked. Mabel and Ben were great together. Their story was emotional, funny, sweet at times and other times it was HOT and a little steamy! Kelly Jamieson did an incredible of telling their story. I would highly recommend this book. Thanks Net Galley. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I liked the characters and the side characters, but it also seemed to wrap up a llittle too quickly for my liking

As far as Hockey romances go, I found myself really enjoying this one. There was a new twist on the typical "hot hockey player meets gorgeous girl and romance follows" trope that I've found seems to be a bit more normal than not. In this one - Ben is an introvert; he's shy and unsure and just really wants to please his coach, but when he's told he's being considered for Captain, but will need to do public speaking in order to be the Captain... well - that's his worst nightmare.

Mabel is the sister of Ben's teammate, and though he's known her since they were kids he has absolutely no desire to be around her. Only, he doesn't get that luxury - he's crashing at her brothers place until his condo is ready, and Mabel - well, Mabel is escaping an abusive ex and needs a place to go. So she ends up on her brothers couch and it's not a situation either of them saw coming.

Where Ben is shy and quiet, Mabel is extroverted and shiny. She's been beaten down and gaslit to a point where she almost truly lost herself, but she works hard at finding herself again and he's there for all of it.

I LOVED the team - the entire team is a fantastic group of guys. I struggled with the nicknames vs real names for a bit, but by the end I felt pretty comfortable and that I knew the main characters. I also loved her brothers protectiveness of his sister and see that it only ever came from a place of love and confusion - confusion as to why she was suddenly single. I also loved her girlfriends and can't wait for more with them as well! Her narcissistic ex is described so well, and I love that it was really mentioned how it can beat a person down and cause harm - how it can truly prevent one from leaving because of the shame. I also absolutely loved how it was all "resolved" and how Mabel worked on healing and recovering from it one step at a time with Ben's support and hope to see a bit more about it in future books. I also liked the angle that the book had on Ben supporting a foundation that took care of abused children - though I do feel like some more advocacy could be pushed in that regards.

The things I didn't like? Much less powerful than what I did. I didn't like the hockey mansplaining and just the lack of originality but hey, it's a hockey romance and right now I know the field is absolutely saturated with those so I give the author props for trying. I also would have liked a bit more in exploring the depth of the shame - it was touched on just enough to leave me wanting more. I also am not sure in what way the author is leaning as to the next book - usually when there's a series starting you kind of have an inkling as to which way the following books may go, and what characters they may have be featured but I got none of that with this read, so who knows? The spice was - well, it was spicy but it wasn't anything off the charts, nor was it anything I hadn't read before so that was just a bit lackluster. The child loss also was completely unnecessary and for sure at least needed an intense trigger warning - and I do urge caution to anyone that reads this and has issues with that.

Overall though I really enjoyed this one and will be interested to see what comes next.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Kelly Jamieson for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Crossing the Line is an emotional tale of finding love after trauma. The male protagonist is an introvert and his love interest is his exact opposite but going through her own drama. Ice Hockey player Ben and Librarian Mabel struggle through the challenges in their lives and find each other.

This book was a page turner for me but I couldn't connect with Ben. His character didn't ring true to me. I enjoyed Mabel and her antics. I will continue to read what I believe will be a new series but this book wasn't a winner for me.

Well I can’t believe I left this little romance sat on my netgalley shelf for the last couple of months. I devoured this one in two sittings. It was such an easy read, structured by two POV of the MMC and FMC. It’s unusual for me but I really loved the personality of both characters and found that their romance developed in a way that felt natural.

Mabel has split up with her boyfriend, she thought he was her endgame but it turned out she was wrong. Not until losing her relationship does she really just how much she lost herself throughout the time spent with Julian.

Mabel decides to up and leave to move in with her brother and to her surprise, his best friend Ben. Ben, the one who avoided her when she was young and obsessed with him, who turned her down and made it clear he wasn’t interested.

Ben can’t believe Mabel is staying with them, sleeping on the sofa in barely anything, smelling sweet:fruity and being fun, caring and helpful.

Ben needs help to be more of an extrovert so he can secure a captain role of his ice hockey team. Mable is just the help he needs, but the more time they spend together the more it starts to feel like something more.

I would recommend this if:
* You like a brothers best friend troupe
* Sports romance
* Introvert vs extrovert
* Short read
* Buildable romance
* Sprinkle of spice 🌶️

⚠️ There is reference to death of an infant so please be mindful when reading!

With a team in need of a better lead
Ben could be just the one they need.
However he hates public speaking and so
Needs support and help to give it a go!

He's staying in the apartment of his best friend
When Mabel moves in, time together they'll spend.
It shouldn't be a problem except for their mutual attraction
And trying to ignore it is a real distraction!

When he enlists her help to help him with public speaking
They have more time together than they were seeking
Will this bring them together or drive them apart?
What will her brother think worries them for a start!

Temptation, attraction and fate intervene with these two,
With others involved and lots to go through
Will love find a way to bring these two together
Or will it cause friendships to sever?

Looking for a fun, ice hockey, romance?
You really need to give this one more than a chance!
If you enjoy sibling's best friend romances
Give this even more chances!

For my copy of this book I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

This is the first book I have read by Kelly Jamieson. I really liked the story and the characters I think they were really well written but I have to admit the spice in the book just made me cringe as it felt like it was added into the story for the sake of it, I personally felt that it wasn't needed in the book, I've read many a spicy book where it slotted in but that wasn't it.
Ben overall was my favourite character as the progress he made over the course of the book was really nice to read. Mabel's story with Julian was written really well without going into too much depth as it showed the reader the impact an ex can have on someone when out of the situation.

I love Kelly Jamieson’s hockey romances!

Librarian Mabel Smits never intended to move in with her brother Marek but she needed to get away from her controlling boyfriend. Marek was the best choice because her now ex-boyfriend Julian was trying to track her down to convince her to return. But she wasn’t expending that Marek’s teammate Ben Antonov was staying with him temporarily because she had a serious crush on him in high school.

Hockey player Ben Antonov had a history with Mabel but he needs help with public speaking when his coach asked him to step up with his teammates as the possible new team captain. But being around Mabel made him realize that he might be having feelings about his best friend’s sister and you shouldn’t date your best friend’s little sister.

I loved how Mabel decided that she deserved more in a relationship with someone who accepted her how she was.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Crossing the Line is a hockey romance that follows Ben, a reserved and shy hockey star, and Mabel, an outgoing woman recently out of a breakup. What they have in common is Mabel's brother and Ben's friend who they both move in with. Mabel is trying to find a fresh start and a new job while avoiding her emotionally abusive ex all while fighting an old high school crush on Ben. Ben is trying to come out of his shell and show his coaches that he can step up as the team's next captain. Ben starts to work with Mabel on how to be more social and they find themsepves fighting their attraction.

This hockey romance was all about staying true to yourself even when you are trying to improve yourself. Ben's character was sweet, shy, and frequently seen as withdrawn. He fights himself constantly to say and do the right thing and has trouble feeling comfortable with himself. He is a total cinnamon roll who is onpy comfortable with the people he knows really well. As someone with social anxiety, I loved the way the author showed us the overthinking and spiraling that the character did in social situations.

Mabel was always bright and cheerful and generally loved connecting with others. I loved her and Ben's relationship and how they played off of each other's strengths. They also built each other up and connected. Mabel was a fun and quirky charactee who was working on finding herself again after coming out of an emotionally abusive relationship where she found herself unable to be herself. Her journey in coming back to herself and standing strong in her decision made her character stand out. She was constantly being questioned by her family about why she broke up with her boyfriend and the pressure they placed on her to forgive him. I loved seeing her resist it and begin to grow back into herself.

The story was sweet and steamy. Ben and Mabel's tension and chemistry were sizzling. The story was a quick and easy read. I would definitely recommend for those who like hockey romance, forced proximity, brother's best friend, and cinnamon roll MMC.

Mein Leseerlebnis

Das Buch enthält eine an sich nett und gut zu lesende Liebesgeschichte, die mich aber nur bedingt einfangen konnte. Das lag primär daran, dass die Charaktere auf mich nicht besonders lebendig gewirkt haben. Auch wirkten beide Hauptcharaktere in ihrem Verhalten und Auftreten in sich nicht ganz rund.

Da es mir beim Lesen von Liebesromanen aber wichtig ist, die Hautpcharakter als echte Personen sehen zu können, hat mein Leseerlebnis darunter natürlich gelitten.

Darauf aufbauend konnte ich kein großes Interesse an den Geschehnissen entwickeln und hatte Probleme beim Lesen bei der Sache zu bleiben.

Nach gut der Hälfte habe ich den Roman dann abgebrochen.

Für wen?

Wer kurzweilige hockey romances mag, die nett geschrieben sind, für den könnte das Buch einen Versuch wert sein. Solltet ihr eine bessere Verbindung zu den Hauptcharakteren aufnehmen können als ich, könntet ihr eine schöne Zeit mit der Liebesgeschichte habe.

Checkt vor dem Lesen eine Leseprobe und achtet vor allem darauf, wie lebendig die Charaktere auf euch wirken.

Rule #1 Do not cross the line with best friend’s sister!! Great romance! I highly enjoyed reading this book! It had intrigue, fabulous characters, and a fantastic storyline! It was a great hockey romance! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

What a fun steamy story! A cute little (quick) read, there’s a lot of hockey romance out there so difficult to know what to pick up.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this eARC - this is my honest review*

2.5 Stars

Crossing the Line is a brother’s best friend, hockey romance set in New Jersey, USA.

Whilst I can definitely see that the author has potential, the writing here required more refinement and editing. It felt somewhat immature, despite the mid-late 20s ages of the characters. Some sentences were very stilted and cold, while others felt like they were written by a giggly 14 year old. Commas were used maybe a little too liberally.

Despite being set in the US, I could tell that the author was probably Australian by the use of vernacular (which is fine as I, too, am Australian) but took some of the believability out of the story.

There was an attempt to address difficult topics that were not given a trigger warning including child loss and domestic abuse. I don’t think either topic was particularly well executed or addressed and, particularly where the child loss was concerned, poorly integrated into the story. Some elements came out of nowhere, happened to characters just introduced, and had no bearing on the story.

Whilst Mabel was somewhat of a stereotypical, adorkable cliche, I liked Ben and the way his introversion (possibly non-neurotypical) personality was portrayed. He was relatable and sweet, with enough depth that he felt like a real person. The romance between them was unfortunately half-baked in comparison. The spice was fine, but not particularly interesting.

Overall, it wasn’t a bad book and had plenty of merit. I do think it would be benefited by further revision.

Ben and Mabel star in this opposites attract, slow burn, new adult sports romance. The tension is mostly in their different personalities and temperaments. Ben is an introvert. He’s a professional hockey player, in line for the captaincy but needs to step up with his public persona. Mabel is effusive and extroverted, but also impulsive. She and Ben meet up again when she moves in her with brother and Ben is also staying with him. Mabel has just left a toxic relationship that has made her doubt her judgment- and a bit of her sanity. Ben needs a hand with the social stuff and Mabel is on the spot.

The romance is taken up with Mabel learning how to accept herself and move on from her previous relationship while Ben is also learning some self acceptance and some new skills. There’s some external drama but mostly it’s just these two working it out - steamy 🌶🌶 and fun. I loved their first person points of view so we get to know them really well - Mabel especially is a hoot!

Thank you Kelly Jamieson, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Mabel left her relationship due to being mistreated. But when she moves in with her twin brother, she realises her teenage crush lives there to.
This book follows the concept of moving on and learning how to not give in to the past. It also looks at the beliefs in oneself and how helping others to show what matters most

Funny, sad and romantic – this story had it all…

I love this author’s hockey romances and Ben and Mabel reminded me why! They were at a crossroads in their life – both professionally and personally. Add in proximity – they were staying at her brother’s condo temporarily - and their intense mutual attraction was going to be impossible to ignore…

I loved how Mabel was so bold and bright while Ben was the quiet, introverted one. Maintaining healthy self-esteem and self-worth were not strangers to either of them. While they were content with who they were that didn’t mean they didn’t struggle to ‘fit in’. Oh man, who can’t empathize with that?? Friends, family, co-workers – they seemed to all have an opinion on what they could do differently and doesn’t that just make it harder to just be yourself?

How they worked it all out, while navigating real life at the same time, meant a story that was rich in laughter, sadness (it was life after all) and a relationship just grew stronger. Steamy, funny and oh so human… Loved it!

4.25 ⭐
1 🌶️
Tropes/themes: Hockey romance, introvert & extrovert, grumpy/sunshine
Dual POV 1st person
This story was really good! Honestly I got pulled in and didn’t write down many notes, but it was really cute and adorable and swoony. Ben is the cutest omg. His attempts at following his teammates’ dating advice is so freaking hilarious and sweet. That poem 🥹🥹🥹
My only complaints are that it needs more spice (I always say this lol) and I wish Mable would’ve told him that he is normal when they started on their extrovert lessons. Those aren’t very big deals though, and I still enjoyed reading this a lot.

Ben and Mabel were absolutely adorable! This was my first read from this author and I really enjoyed it! Their second chance-ish vibe and clear miscommunication about their past and Ben’s introvert nature is a very relatable topic! There are some minor triggers in this book for pregnancy loss, not the main characters as well as gaslighting so beware! All in all, a great read!!