Scan barcode
bookspaced's review
5.0
Aah how I enjoyed this book!
I love fake relationship/fake marriage so much. Pair it with some hockey and you‘ve got me hooked!
Declan and Jade are two wonderful characters. Declan is the grumpy, quiet hockey player who ends up marrying the fun, outgoing Jade to help her out after her fiancé breaks up with her.
This story follows their lives and struggles to navigate friendship and later on a relationship while also being married and feeling the pressure from Jade‘s boss.
I really loved those two and their story. It was fun, WILD and emotional!
5⭐️
I love fake relationship/fake marriage so much. Pair it with some hockey and you‘ve got me hooked!
Declan and Jade are two wonderful characters. Declan is the grumpy, quiet hockey player who ends up marrying the fun, outgoing Jade to help her out after her fiancé breaks up with her.
This story follows their lives and struggles to navigate friendship and later on a relationship while also being married and feeling the pressure from Jade‘s boss.
I really loved those two and their story. It was fun, WILD and emotional!
5⭐️
rhhill's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
libbybull's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Declan & Jade. Marriage of convenience story. I enjoyed their story and how it progressed. Jade tried to have a third act breakup but Declan wasn’t having it
linnareads's review against another edition
3.0
This one didn't work for me unfortunately, however it seems I am in the minority. It had a bunch of amazing tropes - marriage of convenience, hockey romance, forced proximity, he falls first - but I just wasn't convinced of any chemistry between Declan and Jade. I felt like things moved too quick and scenes that I would have loved to have seen fleshed out more were over way too quickly. There were a few instances where I had to go back a reread parts because I thought I missed something, but it was just that the scene was over.
I wasn't a fan of Jade at all and Declan was just alright for me. They had their sweet moments together but I couldn't get over how Jade handled certain things and honestly felt like she was taking advantage of Declan even though he was adamant on wanting to help her.
I also didn't realize this was the middle of a series (100% my fault) and I think that caused me to struggle more than I should have with the book. There are a lot of side characters, who I am assuming we learn more about in past books, but didn't get any explanations as to who they were.
Despite all of that, it was a quick read and there were moments I enjoyed. I don't think I'll go back and read the first two books in the series or the ones in the future, but I could always change my mind!
3/5 stars ⭐️
1.5/5 spice level
I wasn't a fan of Jade at all and Declan was just alright for me. They had their sweet moments together but I couldn't get over how Jade handled certain things and honestly felt like she was taking advantage of Declan even though he was adamant on wanting to help her.
I also didn't realize this was the middle of a series (100% my fault) and I think that caused me to struggle more than I should have with the book. There are a lot of side characters, who I am assuming we learn more about in past books, but didn't get any explanations as to who they were.
Despite all of that, it was a quick read and there were moments I enjoyed. I don't think I'll go back and read the first two books in the series or the ones in the future, but I could always change my mind!
3/5 stars ⭐️
1.5/5 spice level
lucyanna's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
romancewithem's review
3.75
For the most part I enjoyed this book, however the middle part of the book I didn’t feel connected to and kinda felt like I was going into a slump. Not sure if it was the lack of communication about their real feelings or what but I just wasn’t feeling it for a minute
- hockey romance
- marriage of convenience / fake dating
- forced proximity
- hockey romance
- marriage of convenience / fake dating
- forced proximity
stucknbooks14's review against another edition
4.0
(I received an ARC for this book)
Trigger Warnings include:
addiction (past, not main character), discussions of death of a parent & guardian
Marriage of convenience AND hockey romance?! Unfortunately, Jade and I never vibed. It wasn’t that she was a bad character! I loved the chemistry between her and Declan. And I really enjoyed her bond with the girls, especially her best friend. And her time with the team! Jade just made a lot of selfish decisions. Although, I did understand why they were being made. But my own annoyance would take me out of the story. That’s absolutely a me problem!!! SO my rating has NOTHING to do with that! It’s based on all the things I DID love, which was a LOT! Declan is one of the most selfless men I have ever read! And his lack of hesitation to put others first (especially Jade) made me swoon countless times! (Man had me swooning over home improvement!) Even before they found their footing, and were barely acquaintances, they were cute! I loved their ability to be comfortable with each other from the start. For a complicated situation, they make it seem easier than it is. And every time it got more complicated? Declan never hesitated to get his hands dirty. I felt terrible for him so much of the time. He just wanted to love Jade freely! Because of my issues with Jade throughout, it left me no choice but to doubt her and her intentions. Which means when she did all the right things, it was more of a surprise than making me feel relieved. That dirty birdy rating? That’s mostly thanks to Declan’s dang mouth! There were more closed/cracked doors than I was expecting. Declan is my first bdazzled hockey player. Actually, he may be my first outside of dark romance. An every day badazzler! Their friend group is 100% supportive. And since this is my first time meeting them, they definitely did a fantastic job winning me over!
My Favorite Quotes:
• “It’s anything but a hardship to have a gorgeous girl kneeling in front of me.”
• “I doubt I’d ever work you out of my system.”
• “I like doing things that make you smile.”
• “Please don’t stay quiet. In fact, feel free to scream all you want.”
• “Tonight, all your orgasms are mine.”
7/10 Dirty Birdy
6/10 Fake Relationship
7/10 Forced Proximity
4/10 Friends to Lovers
6/10 Marriage of Convenience
3/10 Slow Burn
7/10 Sports Romance
Trigger Warnings include:
addiction (past, not main character), discussions of death of a parent & guardian
Marriage of convenience AND hockey romance?! Unfortunately, Jade and I never vibed. It wasn’t that she was a bad character! I loved the chemistry between her and Declan. And I really enjoyed her bond with the girls, especially her best friend. And her time with the team! Jade just made a lot of selfish decisions. Although, I did understand why they were being made. But my own annoyance would take me out of the story. That’s absolutely a me problem!!! SO my rating has NOTHING to do with that! It’s based on all the things I DID love, which was a LOT! Declan is one of the most selfless men I have ever read! And his lack of hesitation to put others first (especially Jade) made me swoon countless times! (Man had me swooning over home improvement!) Even before they found their footing, and were barely acquaintances, they were cute! I loved their ability to be comfortable with each other from the start. For a complicated situation, they make it seem easier than it is. And every time it got more complicated? Declan never hesitated to get his hands dirty. I felt terrible for him so much of the time. He just wanted to love Jade freely! Because of my issues with Jade throughout, it left me no choice but to doubt her and her intentions. Which means when she did all the right things, it was more of a surprise than making me feel relieved. That dirty birdy rating? That’s mostly thanks to Declan’s dang mouth! There were more closed/cracked doors than I was expecting. Declan is my first bdazzled hockey player. Actually, he may be my first outside of dark romance. An every day badazzler! Their friend group is 100% supportive. And since this is my first time meeting them, they definitely did a fantastic job winning me over!
My Favorite Quotes:
• “It’s anything but a hardship to have a gorgeous girl kneeling in front of me.”
• “I doubt I’d ever work you out of my system.”
• “I like doing things that make you smile.”
• “Please don’t stay quiet. In fact, feel free to scream all you want.”
• “Tonight, all your orgasms are mine.”
7/10 Dirty Birdy
6/10 Fake Relationship
7/10 Forced Proximity
4/10 Friends to Lovers
6/10 Marriage of Convenience
3/10 Slow Burn
7/10 Sports Romance
mafaldafg's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
syablonsky's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0