Enemies to love
Marriage of convenience
One bed
Slow burn
No third act breakup

Firstly, thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC!
I feel like I have been waiting agess for this book, but man, was the wait worth it.

Finally, Alexei’s story!
Alexei’s citizenship is a mess. Scared he’ll have to go back to Russia, he decides to get married.
Enter Georgia. The team dr. Two years ago, Georgia said she wasn’t going to treat him and recommended he retire due to his injury. It was at that point that their feud began. Both have misconceptions of each other based on their past with their exes and can’t be in the same room without jabbing each other. The tension jumps off the page.
Georgia needed to marry in order to receive her inheritance to keep funding her athlete recovery program research and Alexei’s with his citizenship, it’s a perfect match in hell(fire)

I really loved the character development in this book, especially Alexei. He shut himself off from everyone due to a past event and being scared about his impending retirement. Unwilling to let people in, Georgia slowly broke down his walls. Her telling him he had steamrolled her was really a turning point for him, and he started to reevaluate his actions.

These two needed to find each other in order to move on from their past trauma. Their toxic relationship evolves into a healthy, loving and fulfilling partnership. Once again, Stephanie didn’t let me down. I absolutely love this series and each book is better than the last.

The flowers and the meaning behind, ughhh so good!

Can’t wait for the next book, fingers crossed it’s Jordan and Ward!

omg I loved Alexie and Georgia’s story so much!! From the beginning, story pulled me in. The way that they bantered was actually was drew me to them. And then later on when it became their thing, I was kicking my feet with giddiness.

This book had all the swoon and a lot of amazing tension the whole time.

I truly enjoyed their character development and watching them embrace each other. They were just what the other person needed, and it was beautiful to see their love growing as the book went on.

Alexie is now one of my top book boyfriends 🥹

enemies to lovers EPIC goodness!! Gerogia and Alexei quite literally set the bar for hate to love chemistry for me now. the wayyy they are so imperfectly perfect for each other! I love a man who’s down bad and it’s even sweeter when he loathes himself for it. ha! for a spicy as their hate was, the tenderness they found with their fall was heady and addictive! gah I LOVE THEM. one of my top reads of 2025.

Thank you NetGalley and Random Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 4th book of Archer’s hockey series and I was so excited as it’s enemies to lovers/marriage of convenience. I’m a sucker for those tropes and was not disappointed- Alexei and Georgia had good banter and chemistry throughout the entire book. The plot is a bit predictable but it’s written well and I did appreciate no third act breakup. I think this and Wingman my be my favorites of hers.

Wow! I adored Gloves Off! It sets a fast pace from the first pace and the chemistry between Georgia and Alexi was perfect. Can't wait for Archer's next book!

Hockey romance with a marriage of convenience? Say less, I'm sold. The chemistry between the MC is off the charts hot. The slow burn tension is on point and the banter is amazing, I loled multiple times. Also, the spice is absolutely delicious. I think this is probably my favorite book in the series, that characters just did it for me.

Fake marriage? Grumpy hockey heartthrob? A heroine with zero chill and maximum sass? Sign. Me. Up.

Gloves Off is the kind of romance that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go—in the best way. Georgia and Alexei have insane chemistry, top-tier banter, and that delicious slow-burn tension that makes you kick your feet and giggle like a fool. He’s broody with a soft side, she’s chaotic and clever, and together? Pure magic.

This book is flirty, funny, and full of heart. If you love fake dating turned real feelings, plus a hot Russian hockey player who secretly worships the ground she walks on? You’re gonna devour this.

I love a good marriage of convenience romance and Archer definitely scored with Gloves Off.

I adored Georgia and Alexi from the start. The hate to love & marriage of convenience combination was great. They had so much chemistry too! Their banter and tension was top notch. I reread scenes just because I was gushing over these two so much. Plus the spice was so good!

If you want a hockey romance that's going to have you kicking and giggling at 2:00 AM, Gloves Off is your book. Highly recommend!

This is by far my favorite Stephanie Archer novel! It hit everything I love in a romance novel! Tastefully executed miscommunication/misunderstanding trope, no third act break up, fully developed characters.

Alexei is such a fun MMC. I love the depth that Archer gave to him, the pressure of being a child of immigrants and the softness that he has despite his initially cold exterior... and Georgia is an amazing FMC! I adore how Archer writes her FMCs as women who have interests and passions that they are unashamedly able to pursue. Alexei and Georgia's romance had me hooked to my kindle for an entire day! I ended up finishing the book all in one sitting... which is saying something because this book was quite long for a romance novel!

I absolutely cannot wait to read the next couple~! The little tease in the epilogue has me so excited and I know I'm going to have to wait for another year to be able to read them...

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and Stephanie Archer for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts! Marriage of convenience? Immediately yes! Alexei and Georgia absolutely despise each other but they both need to get married; Alexai needs Canadian citizenship and Georgia needs her inheritance in order to save her rehabilitation program. I also love a good slow burn and this is definitely that due to the characters not trusting each other until around 70%ish into the book. Definitely my new favorite Stephanie Archer book!


Tropes:
- Marriage of Convenience
- Enemies to Lovers
- Slow Burn

Georgia is a Dr. for the Storm hockey team and Alexie is the enforcer. They absolutely loath each other yet find themselves married each for their own reasons. One for inheritance and the other for citizenship. Hate slowly turns into lust, that then turns to love.

This is a spicy yet sweet and funny continuation in the Vancouver Storm series. Georgia and Alexie are well developed characters and their story will make you laugh out loud and swoon.

Another 5⭐ read from Stephanie Archer! I have loved every book I've read in the Vancouver Storm series!

🔥The Banter (So Good, Chefs Kiss🤌 )
💘Enemies To Lovers
💒Marriage Of Convenience
🏒 Sports Romance (Player / Team Doctor)
❤️‍🔥Slow Burn

I want to say that this is my favorite book of the series but they are all so good it's really tough to decide. The author does an excellent job of crafting bingeable romances that will have you laughing out loud and rooting for the main characters. There was excellent character development in this story and I loved the side characters.

I will absolutely be recommending this one and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you Stephanie Archer, Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine | Dell for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

So what happened is I thought I could read the ARC for this without reading the first 3, which I so could and did. Everything made sense, it was a great experience. It was such a great experience however that I read the first three and re-read this one within a week. Sleep is for the weak (or the smart idk).

I looooved this book. I am SUCH a sucker for enemies to lovers and I do love when the FMC has an impressive job. Like yes he’s a hockey player but she’s literally a doctor so if he isn’t acting right??? She’s soooo good to go.

The tension was so fun and OMG THE DAMON miscommunication had me actually giggling out loud. I love slutty little hockey romances and this is a banger!!!

Advanced copy kindly provided by publisher via Net Galley :)

💜Gloves Off💜
By Stephanie Archer

~~

- Review posted to Goodreads, BookBub, and TheStoryGraph on 3/20/25
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7384363746
https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/7e61de20-da41-439e-88e3-4b0661adb694
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/1798892354
- Review to be posted to Instagram within the week leading up to pub date, around 6/10/25
- Review to be posted to B&N and Amazon on 6/17/25

~~

Yall, I am speechless. SPEECHLESS! And obsessed. And giddy. And so utterly dazzled, I’d be willing to bet tomorrow morning’s coffee I’ll be totally hung up on Alexei and Georgia for weeks and weeks to come!

Despite being the fourth book in Stephanie Archer’s Vancouver Storm series, Gloves Off was my first ever Stephanie read and I’m kicking myself for not picking up her work until now. This queen writes steamy tension like she was genuinely made to do it. The blurb says it best. Georgia and Alexei absolutely despise one other. I’m talking quick-witted insults, reputation-damaging assumptions, the most hilariously petty little pranks, ya know all the things we adore in a good enemies to lovers romance. Real talk, these two may hate each other more than any couple I’ve ever read before. Naturally, that had me kicking my feet from the very start.

But that character growth, though! How about a round of applause for the most all-consuming character arcs I’ve read in a hot minute 👏 Paced to perfection, watching these two gradually learn what it means to do life with a teammate, to accept care with zero conditions, to let go, risk it all, and fall… My heart definitely reached melted puddle status with this one! And they way their connection grew from shockingly intense attraction, no matter how adamantly it was denied, to something so pure and precious?? Freaking swoon.

Brb while I go beg my husband to surprise me with flowers based on their meanings and dive right into Behind the Net. And in the meantime pals, place this knockout story at the top of your TBRs! June will be here before you know it 🥰

Why you’ll love Gloves Off
💜 Sports Romance
💜 Dual POV
💜 Pro Hockey Player MMC x Doctor FMC
💜 Marriage of Convenience
💜 Grumpy/Possessive MMC
💜 Loathe to Love
💜 My Wife
💜 Fluffy Sidekicks

Big thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for sharing an early copy! These are my honest thoughts 🖤

Good god Alexei Volkov the man that you are! So stubborn and full of hate fire and so so hot! I absolutely love a good enemies to lovers and throw in a marriage of convenience and I’m on board! Dr. Georgia is the most perfect opponent to go up against Alexei, she’s truly the only woman who can throw it back to him just as hard as he gives it. These two were so unbelievably fun together. The banter in this was hilarious and seeing how both of them grow and learn about each other was so sweet. How they both made assumptions for so long and eventually learned how soft and real each other could be so fun to discover. And the spice was unreal, Stephanie Archer does spice unlike anyone else! What starts as hate fucking really turns into the sweetest most honest relationship. God I just love these two so much. The entire series is an absolute banger but they just seem to keep getting better. I loved these two with my whole heart and soul. Please never stop writing in this world Stephanie, I’m too invested and would like to live here forever. Easiest 5 stars I’ve ever given.

This book has so much to love and was a speedy read for me- I just could not put the book down! I loved that this book was to the point and followed Georgia Greene and Alexei Volkov's relationship. These two are forced into a marriage of convenience but both seriously misunderstand each other but are desperate for what the marriage will be able to offer them; for Georgie, her trust fund to support her research and for Alexei, a green card to stay and play what he loves....HOCKEY!

These two are perfect for each other, they just don't know it yet.

I think in any other book, the time skips would have driven me crazy but in Gloves Off, I kept thinking... THANK GOODNESS.

The other characters help bring Georgie & Alexei together, seemingly everyone knows they love each other before they do themselves. I loved that their families got so close so quickly. Not to mention the cutest lil rabbits- Damon & Stephan, making Alexei's mansion their own <3

Gloves Off (e-arc)

Special thanks to Siegmund and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an authentic review.

First off, THIS IS MY FAVORITE IN THE SERIES. I ate this one up. I love Alexei and Georgia!! The banter- the flirting- the tension yummmmm ate it all up! Personally, the three previous books in this series almost made me stop reading BUT I’m glad I didn’t drop it yet. I just love a good hate-to-love and with the forced proximity and marriage of convenience, I couldn’t help but just fall in love with this book! Prior to starting this book, I was picking up the crumbs and scraps that Stephanie Archer left us in book 3 about Alexei and Georgia! Okay, and now some possible spoilers ahead!

Y’all he got her flowers everyday (first just to mess with her) to tell her how he felt!! I DIED. OH AND THE DAMN NICKNAME, rotten tuber, LMAO tell me why I highlighted it because I thought the same thing as Georgia, thinking it meant ‘sweetheart’ HAHAH and our boy Alexei was jealoussssss since day 1 of their marriage! Also, I love both their families so much!! Loved it when Alexei’s parents came to visit Georgia when he was away for games. And I’m a sucker for “my wife” I FOLDED.

Overall, I felt like the characters and plot were great! And I’m ready for the next book, I have a feeling it’s going to be about Jordan and Tate <3 I can feel the tension rising between them! And also, can June 17 come any faster because I need this book in my hands!!

4.75 stars! The personal development in this book is hands down the best I’ve read in a book. Enemies to lovers in the best way & the hate sex…. HOT!!!!! The flowers & the meanings melted my heart. Volkov & Hellfire FOREVER!!

🏒 hockey romance
💒 marriage of convenience
🌻 language of flowers
💖 hate to love
😉 banter doesn't stop

Thank you to Dell Romance and Stephanie Archer for the eARC!

Alexei Volkov needs a wife to secure his Canadian citizenship with his retirement from hockey looming over his head. Georgia Greene needs access to her inheritance to fund her research program but can only get it if she's married. They both hate each other but need each other. It's perfect. 💖

This book was utter perfection! The marriage of convenience, the misunderstandings, a little groveling, and the banter? Perfect. I was crying-laughing and rolling around in bed squealing cause of how cute Alexei and Georgia were. I was utterly obsessed. Alexei not only had Georgia begging for more, but me too!! They are probably my favorite couple in this whole series. It just hit different!

I loved that Alexei and Georgia's competitive and petty banter continued throughout and didn't go away once their fake marriage turned real. A lot of books take away that banter after they get together but im so glad Stephanie Archer had them keep the jokes that now come from loving-teasing place. Their antics and little battles were very entertaining. Especially Alexei's language of flowers. He went from roasting her to romancing her!

I was obsessed with Georgia constantly poking the bear that is Alexei's jealousy. It was side splitting hilarious.

Their tender loving side was also sooo sweet. When it came to it, they understood and listened to each other well. The build up of their relationship felt so real and I honestly loved it start to end. They grew together so much, overcoming grievances from their past 🥺

Both of the characters' journeys were an amazing ride to be on. Both of them had to truly figure themselves out as their worlds expanded being both career focused people. Georgia especially with learning that she can let go of control finally. I loved that they were on this together but also independently.

Special shout out to the bunnies Damon and Stefan 🤣 they didn't really do much but they were so cute and hilarious anyways! The cast of characters also made the book as usual. I enjoyed the supportive girl friendships especially.

I loved this book a lot! It's definite reread once it comes out officially. I'm looking forward to the next book which was subtly teased throughout. I've been screaming about this potential couple since book 1!

The Vancouver Storm series is always full of fun loveable characters and delightfully spicy!

This hockey season for the Storm brings the sophisticated team doctor and the gruff defenseman together for a marriage of convenience. Georgia and Alexi hold on to their erroneous assumptions about each other with a death grip. Alexi thinks Dr. Georgia Greene is a superficial, pretentious, material girl and she believes him to be a controlling chauvinist who only sees women as accessories. These assumptions are, of course, completely false and based wholly on their own previous experiences with their exes. But he needs citizenship for himself and his parents and she needs to be married to access her inheritance or her cherished medical rehab program will be unfunded, so off to the courthouse they go.

I did really enjoy this book, but with some caveats. The main characters were so MEAN to each other at the beginning! I get an enemies-to-lovers premise, but seriously- ouch! Also, why did they let each other’s assumptions continue? Honest conversations would have solved so many misunderstandings.

Things I loved…
-They both fell HARD!
-It was a slow burn for the trust, but the spice was fire!
-Georgia’s pet bunnies were so cute and Alexi’s initial jealousy was hilarious and sweet!
-Their families were wonderful and so welcoming!
-And the SHOES! I want a pair in every color (although how she walks in them while doing doctor stuff, I’ll never understand.)
-And finally, seeing Alexi bloom while helping the girls’ soccer team and mentoring the rookie just gave me all the feels!

Stephanie Archer writes characters I’d like to know and I can’t wait for her next book! I’m guessing we get Ward and Jordan (fingers crossed)!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for providing an eARC of this book for me to review!