Short synopsis: Farrah is trying to recover from her recent divorce when she meets Bruce, the goalie who plays professional hockey with her brother.

My thoughts: I’m obsessed with the DC Eagles and the WAGs (wives and girlfriends), such a great group of supportive friends!

Farrah went through quite the journey. She found out she has PCOS and infertility issues, my heart ached for her throughout her journey. I desperately want to try one of her cupcakes, the descriptions all sounded so delicious!

Bruce was such a sweetheart, you could tell he’d had a bit of a “history” but once he met Farrah he was all in. He was there for her when she needed him, before she knew she needed him.

I actually have only read two books in this series, I can’t wait to go back and read the first two!

Read if you love: Hockey Romance • Tall men • Cupcakes • Brothers Friend • Reverse Age Gap • PCOS and Infertility stories • Curvy FMC with amazing hair

Sugar & Spice and Everything Hockey

When he's gone for her, there's not a whole lot that beats that. Leah's humor is crackling throughout this somewhat forbidden sports romance. But the highlight is definitely how much Bruce adores his teammate's sister, Farrah, from the beginning. And I might have caught feelings for a cupcake or two.

Read for:
🧁 Sports romance
🧁 Funny one-liners
🧁 Secret romance
🧁 Reverse (minimal) age gap

While the narrators aren’t my favorite, their performance is good enough to allow Leah’s banter to shine through. It definitely allowed me to inhale this book faster than I would have otherwise.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the alc. All thoughts are my own.

What you get:

Closed door / FTB romance
Pininnnnng
NHL goalie MMC x team captain's sister
Brother's best friend and teammate
5 year age gap (OWYM)
Forbidden romance
PCOS/fertility struggles
Fantastic narrators in dual (audiobook)
A hockey romance with actual hockey in it

Why I picked this up:

I haven't met a hockey romance I didn't like

What I thought (in 3 lines or less):

If you like closed door forbidden romance with a TON of pining you'll enjoy this book

While I liked this book for the most part I can't seem to understand why a grown woman in her 30s can't date whomever she wants because her big brother said so and I am frustratedddddd

I liked the PCOS and infertility rep, having PCOS myself, but using it as an entire plot device to keep the FMC from pursuing a relationship with the MMC because he "should be a dad" is exhausting and could have been cleared up with an adult conversation

This will surprise many people but I’m not a huge hockey fan. I don’t have a favourite team and don’t make a playoff bracket. But I do like to have a nightly game playing in the background. Not only does it provide noise and extra stimulation but there’s just something cozy about having one playing.

I’m telling you this because this audiobook felt just like that. Cozy and great background noise that I could listen to while doing my chores or working out. I wasn’t paying super close attention nor was I hooked on every word or plot point. The characters were cute, the banter was fun but it was overly predictable and brought nothing new to an already overdone trope/story.
While I have only read one other book in this series, that didn’t take anything away as it can for sure be read as a standalone

A Sweet and Adorable Sports Romance!

This was exactly what I needed! I’m currently reading a very intense book, and listening to this audiobook in between was absolutely fantastic. The story is sweet and heartwarming, with the perfect balance of tension, flirtation, and playful banter. Our MMC is a total golden retriever, while our heroine is trying to rediscover herself after her divorce—and he is exactly the kind of person she needs.

I loved the push and pull between them, the lighthearted feel of the story, and, of course, the best friend’s brother trope (one of my favorites!). Everything just worked so well together. If you’re looking for a low-drama, wholesome, fluffy, and spice-free romance, this is the one!

Loved stepping back into the world of the #DCEagles, especially when it was time for Bruce to have his moment in the spotlight!

Farrah is a big and beautiful woman with PCOS and as someone who has lived with PCOS all my life. I was right there with our lovely Farrah. I cried with her, I felt her pain and her emotions. I heard and understood her fears. And I knew it was a journey she needed to take.

Favourite Quote: “I know we aren’t exactly best friends. But I’d leave my phone on all night for you.”

Spicy Level - 🌶️

Note: Please read and review all trigger warnings before reading any recommended book. We love to read for our pleasure, so keep your mind, and emotions safe!

Well we've reached the end of this series which is one of my favorites and has a special place in my heart, I'm a little sad but at the same time happy that everyone has a happy ending.

I liked Bruce and Farrah, their story was good but I expected a little more and this book was a little more dramatic than the others (which are easy for me to read), the subject of Farrah's infertility is treated very well, I feel that the author was careful with this subject but still I feel that it was almost all of Farrah's personality and although I repeat I liked it, I feel that I missed a lot between the two main characters.

The narrators kept me entertained, they brought these characters to life in a very good way and that made me enjoy it a little more.

Secret or Shutout by Leah Brunner
D.C. Eagles Hockey series #4. Hockey romance. Lighthearted, slow burn. Sister of best friend troupe. Closed door. PCOS and infertility topics. Can be read as a stand-alone but couples from the previous books are included as secondary characters here.
NHL Goalie Bruce McBride meets the woman of his dreams one night in a bar. They chatted for hours, ate wings, and shared an unforgettable kiss. But it was also the night Farrah Remington signed her divorce papers so she walked away at the end of the night knowing she wasn’t ready for more.
Bruce has stayed “hands off” his team captain’s sister until she’s ready. She doesn’t want her brother to know about the new relationship yet. It might put the team dynamics at risk. But Farrah lives close to her brother and his wife and keeping secrets is never easy.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook narrated by Alex Picard and Lee Samuels. Both did a marvelous performance on their POV chapters and the various voices. I don’t expect good children’s voices from an adult and this was about par. Not bad, just not believable. Thats ok. The adults more than convinced me of their love for their partners, the excitement of the game, and ribbing of friends. There are a lot of characters but following the main couple is easy.

Adorably romantic. The hero loves romcoms and would rather spend time relaxing with the spouses than his teammates. And Bruce is always willing to help. His family, his teammates, his “little brother”, the spouses, Farrah. Whatever and whenever something is needed.
Swooning over the beautiful couple and drooling all the wonderfully described desserts.

I was gifted a copy of the audiobook from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media. I own ecopy versions of the whole series.
4.5

I wish I read the rest of the series first. I enjoyed this very much. The characters were good and it is very spicy. The narration was excellent.

All the stars! All the feels! All the hockey players!
Loved this book and all it brought to the table-brothers best friend, forbidden romance, age gap-amazing. Bruce and Farah had the most amazing tension and chemistry and I loved how protective and heroic he was, always proving himself to her when it counted. Great audio too!

The story was cute, but I was extremely annoyed by the constant back and forth of “I’m too old” yet acting extremely immature.

I haven’t read or listened to any other books of this worked and maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I did, but the FMC was so immature for talking about how old she was all the time. The whole “third act break up” and “miscommunication” trope just isn’t it.

I absolutely loved this series, and I couldn’t wait to dive into the audiobook as well! The reverse age gap trope is really starting to make a name for itself, but let me tell you, this one was done to perfection. I was completely hooked from the very first page. The chemistry between the characters was electric, and every interaction between them had me melting. It's rare that a book can keep me so captivated, but this one did it effortlessly. The emotional depth, the tension, and the way the relationship developed felt so real and beautifully executed. I was not bored for a second; if anything, I couldn't get enough. Every time I thought I couldn’t possibly love the story more, it proved me wrong. This audiobook was the perfect extension of the series, and I’m already counting down the days until I can immerse myself in this world again!

Thank you @Bookedwiththeemilys and the author for sharing an eARC, and Dreamscape & Netgalley for sharing the ALC.

I feel like I’ve read several “series conclusions” lately and they left me in my feels - Secret or Shutout is no exception. I’m so thankful that last summer I received a #gifted copy of Bethrothal or Breakaway which was my introduction to Leah’s writing – I was immediately hooked and went back and inhaled the whole DC Eagles series. The loveable crew of green-flag hockey players will always hold a special place in my heart (and my go-to rec for hockey romance).

In Secret or Shutout, we get Bruce’s story - the happy-go-lucky goalie is so happy for his friends to be paired off with their forever families, and he’s ready for that next step. When he meets a beautiful woman in a bar one night, he can’t help but feel like it’s fate – except, when they both realize the next day that she’s his captain’s little sister, going through a rough divorce. Bruce is a patient, down bad man, and he shows Farrah how steadfast his love can be through not just words but his actions (which I loved). Farrah is learning to trust her heart after her ex-husband emotionally manipulated her throughout their relationship, calling it quits on their relationship after months of struggling with fertility issues. She likes Bruce, sure, but she struggles with wondering if he going to stick around for the long haul and if his “happily ever after” is open to looking different than a fairytale.

This book includes topics that are important, common, and yet not broadly discussed - infertility, PCOS, adoption, and the emotional rollercoaster – both immediate and lifelong – that comes with the territory of these experiences. There were a few sentences that I highlighted during a particularly emotional conversation between Farrah and Bruce that perfectly captured feelings I’m currently experiencing with these topics, and I appreciate how Leah handled these emotional moments with honesty and care - it was a gift to read these and not feel so alone. These are definitely sensitive topics so read with care, but even knowing it would be challenging to read I’m so glad I did as it was a validating experience.

I've listened to the rest of this series, so rereading as an audiobook has been a joy.

2 stars
The narration was great but I just couldn't connect with the characters.
I had two big issues with this one:
1. Making our heroine's whole personality the fact that she "might" not be able to have kids because she has PCOs and although the subject was treated well and the author took her time to explain it, I don't like that it was a huge part of the conflict between our MCs.
And 2. I'm tired of the "we can't date because your brother and I are besties" trope, and I didn't read the blurb, so that's on me, but in the year of 2025 why is that still a problem?
This was cute and time and had some very deep and heartwarming moments, but it felt like a filler book, and knowing this is the final book from a series I adored made me sad it ended like this.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: 3/5 stars.

This book is a hockey romance with emotional depth paired while also dealing with the added nuances of dealing with PCOS. Although I personally do not struggle with PCOS, I do think this book showcases the trials and tribulations in a well-done way. It showcased how women can painted as overdramatic within the healthcare system and how important it is for women to be taken seriously in said system. This book also showcases how conditions such as PCOS can impact someone's life, friendships, and relationships. Brunner does an excellent job at providing a realistic exploration of the condition while still finding a way to make the relationship swoon worthy.

Narration is fantastic.
I am a fan of Leah Brunner. This is a cute romcom. Believable characters with depth. Sweet storyline. Similar to other stories but feels fresh. Definitely recommend this closed door romance.

This was a cute book. There was good angst and tension between ferrah and Bruce. I loved bruce and his determination to get her.

I absolutely loved Secret or Shutout! This book had so much heart and depth, making it an incredibly emotional and satisfying love story. The characters were so likable and enjoyable that I found myself thoroughly cheering them on throughout the entire book.

One of the standout aspects for me was the inclusion of PCOS representation. As someone who also has PCOS and has been struggling with it more lately, I deeply appreciated seeing it handled realistically and with care. It added a level of authenticity and relatability that made the story even more special.

This book checked so many of my favorite romance tropes—hockey goalie/hockey romance, forbidden love, reverse age gap, and brothers’ best friend and teammate. Plus, the way he takes care of her? Absolutely swoon-worthy. The romance was perfectly done with an unforgettable first kiss, and while it’s a fade-to-black story, the chemistry and emotional connection between the characters were undeniable.

The cameos from the first three books were such a fun touch. It’s easily tied with book one as my favorite in the series. If you love sports romance with heart, depth, and great representation, this is a must-read!

This is the fourth book in the D.C. Eagles Hockey series and the first one I’ve read. It can easily be read as a standalone, but, like me, you’ll probably want to go back and read the rest of the series because it’s such an adorable story.

How can you not be enchanted by a strapping NHL goalie who watches classic romcoms and has the most tender of hearts? And how can you not feel for a FMC whose life and dreams are shattered by things outside her control? Bruce and Farrah’s love story is sure to capture your heart as it did mine.

PCOS and infertility are major plot points in this book. Leah Brunner addresses this life altering condition with honesty and compassion. As someone who dealt with infertility, I appreciated her sensitive handling of a painful topic. Too often authors will present an unrealistic representation and resolution diminishing both the physical and emotional impact.

I thoroughly enjoyed the dual narration by Alex Picard and Lee Samuels. They brought vulnerability and charm to their roles.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC and Booked With The Emilys for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you netgalley for the ALC of this one. It was my first Leah Brunner but it won't be my last.
Bruce and Farrah are such a great couple. He's so in love with her, and he's smitten for the beginning of this book. Trigger Warning for infertility. But the way he loved her anyway. ❤️❤️