3.5 Biscotti Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level:🌶️.5/5

I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I picked up this book. I saw that the sequel was coming out and wanted to get familiar with the characters and world before diving in. I had never read a S.J. Sylvis book on her own (only her co-writing with S. Massery), so I wasn’t sure what her solo style would be like.

At first, I marked this as a dark romance, but the more I read, the more I realized this wasn’t really dark. It has some heavy topics and difficult triggers, but nothing that makes the main characters morally gray or questionably unhinged. The darkness comes from their situations rather than their actions, particularly what Scottie has been through and what she continues to endure in her personal life. But Emery? He is a walking green flag, even though the world has painted him as a red one.

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Emery has just been traded to the Chicago Blue Devils. He is a goalie, and he is not happy about the trade. The Devils don’t have the best reputation, and it is seen as a "last-resort" move because they are the only team willing to take him after his difficult run-in with the press. His reputation has been completely twisted, making him seem problematic, violent, and a womanizer. Then we have Scottie, who is doing everything she can to survive. She works as a stripper because it is the only way she can make enough money to support her wrongfully imprisoned brother. She is desperately trying to raise money for his legal fees, since she can’t even begin to challenge his case until she pays off the previous debts. One night, Scottie hears about Emery’s reputation and tries to blackmail him. It goes horribly wrong, but instead of driving them apart, they keep getting thrown into the same space. Eventually, Emery comes up with a proposal. They should get married. It will help his public image by dealing with the press and unwanted advances from women, and in return, Scottie will get the money she so desperately needs. It is a win-win.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
This book had tension from start to finish. Scottie is a fighter in every sense of the word. She is strong, and determined, and refuses to let life break her down. She is sassy, quick-witted, and refuses to take anyone’s crap, including Emery’s. Emery starts off as a bit of a dick, but as the story unfolds, you realize that most of it is a facade. He has had to be incredibly guarded because of the situations he has been in, and he doesn’t want to be hurt or used again.

I loved that Scottie had such a heart of gold. She would literally give the shirt off her back to someone in need, and it is that selflessness that first makes Emery start to see her. His first spark of interest isn’t because she is sexy or because of her attitude. It is because he sees how much she cares about others, even when she has nothing.

The banter, the chemistry, and the way they pushed each other’s buttons felt real. It wasn’t forced, and it made their connection feel magical. You could feel the tension, the push and pull, and the slow shift from pretending to be in love to actually falling for each other.

There are dark elements, particularly around Scottie’s emotional abandonment and the difficulties she has endured. But what I loved was that Emery never tries to “fix” her. He knows Scottie wouldn’t allow it. Instead, he just stands by her, offering his strength and support without taking away her sense of doing it herself.

I could see where the plot was going from the start. It was pretty clear that Scottie’s stripper past was going to blow up in their faces at some point. It was obvious that they were going to have to deal with it publicly. I just wish they had been more prepared for that moment, rather than acting so naïve about the consequences.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Enemies to Lovers
▶ Marriage of Convenience
▶ Dual POV
▶ He Falls First
▶ Poor GirlXRich Boy
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ One Bed
▶ Hockey Romance

𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ "My Wife"
▷ Nicknames
▷ Takes Care Of Her
▷ Dressing/Undressing Help
▷ Hockey Jersey Heat
▷ Backwards Cap
▷ "Mine"

Even though the big twist was predictable, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book. I really liked it, and I am super excited to see what happens next in Rhode's Book.