Author: Stephanie Archer
Series: Vancouver Storm Series book #1
Category: Sports Romance
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
"Besides, there's no way he remembers me. Our high school was huge. I was the dorky music girl, always hanging with the band kids, and he was a hot hockey player." - Pippa
This was your classic grumpy x sunshine romance novel, complete with a cute dog and plenty of spice.
Pippa is a ray of delightfulness and though the beginning of the book starts at a trying point in her life, Pippa truly starts living once she meets Jamie and finds out just who she wants to be. Her positive attitude was a great contrast to Jamie's surliness and they just worked.
"Pippa is intoxicatingly pretty, and around her, my mind blanks, but I feel a twinge of excited anticipation that I haven't experienced in a long time." - Jamie
Jamie was so overwhelmed with his responsibilities, that he couldn't see beyond the trees to the bigger picture. I could almost understand his grumpiness, and reluctance, to have Pippa in his life but once he accepted he couldn't live without her, she became his rock. His character was a total marshmallow, complete with a filthy side in the bedroom.
"Pippa Hartley is standing in my living room, playing with the dog, and I can't breathe." - Jamie
Behind the Net didn't disappoint in the spice and has plenty of it. While the characters have great chemistry, I did find some of their scenes together became repetitive because of how long the book was. Jamie ended up so in love with Pippa early on that there was very little angst or drama between them when it really came down to it.
A good romantic comedy book for sure, but it lacked that "something" special to move it into a great read and review for me.
Tropes and Themes: Sports Romance, Hockey Romance, Grump x Sunshine, Forced Proximity.
Blurb
After my ex crushed my dreams in the music industry, I’m done with getting my heart broken. Working as an assistant for an NHL player was supposed to be a breeze, but nothing about Jamie Streicher is easy. He’s an intimidatingly hot, grouchy jerk who can't stand me. The guy has a massive ego. Keeping things professional will be no problem, even when he demands I move in with him.
Beneath his surliness, though, Jamie’s surprisingly sweet and protective.
When Jamie learns how bad my ex was in bed, his competitive nature flares, and he encourages and spoils me in every way. The creative spark I used to feel about songwriting? It’s back, and I’m writing music again. Between wearing his jersey at games, rowdy parties with the team, and being brave on stage again, I’m falling for him.
He could break my heart, but it might be worth it.