THE HOCKEY PROBLEM
Off the Ice Book 1
Kendall Ryan
Coming March 26th!
About the Book
He’s the NHL’s most guarded single dad.
She’s the one woman who can’t afford to fall for him.
Tori Wells didn’t fight her way into the NHL just to become another cautionary tale. As a team physical therapist, she lives by strict rules: heal the players, protect her career, and never—ever—cross the line with a hockey player.
Then she’s assigned to Zayden Bishop.
On the ice, he’s untouchable—a French-Canadian superstar with a reputation for being cold, private, and impossible to read. Off the ice, he’s a devoted single father running on discipline, stubbornness, and too little sleep. Until a serious shoulder injury threatens his season—and the stability he’s built for his six-year-old daughter.
Tori is in charge of his rehab. Full oversight. Daily sessions.
No room for mistakes.
No room for attraction.
Except Zayden isn’t what she expected.
The more time they spend together—early mornings, quiet road trips, late-night conversations—the harder it becomes to pretend this is just professional. Because Zayden doesn’t just need his shoulder fixed. He needs someone who sees the man behind the jersey.
And Tori is dangerously close to becoming that someone.
Crossing the line could cost her everything she’s worked for. And Zayden can’t risk bringing anyone into his daughter’s life unless he’s certain they’ll stay.
Single Dad
Hockey Player
Forced Proximity
Workplace Romance
Emotionally Guarded Hero
Slow Burn Intimacy
Competent Heroine
Touch-Starved Hero
Caretaking Trope (Injury Recovery → Caregiving)
He Falls First / He Falls Harder
French-Canadian Hero
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Sometimes I really hate my brain. I picked this book up and at 10%, 20%, 30% I just could not get into this book. But I also couldn’t not finish it so it has taken me a week to read it. Which sucks because I am a big fan of the author.
The writing was good and the banter was hilarious. But I didn’t feel the chemistry between Lucy and Harris at all. It felt like there was nothing but banter and snark and a few random times they slept together.
The whole relationship was just rushed. It didn’t really feel like insta love or insta lust. Other than a few laugh out loud moments at the banter I really struggled with all of it.
The Hotshot by Piper Rayne is now live!
One minute I’m a single labor and delivery nurse living a quiet life and the next, I’m navigating guardianship hearings, meltdowns, and homework I’m pretty sure requires a math degree.
Enter Hayes Carlisle.
My best friend’s older brother.
Chicago Colts newest catcher.
And the man I once kissed and immediately pretended I didn’t.
So, when the custody battle I’ve been dreading becomes a reality, I shouldn’t be surprised that Hayes swoops in with a wild idea—a fake relationship. According to him, pretending we’re together will polish his image and prove to the court I’m not taking on an instant family alone.
But pretending to be Hayes’ girlfriend is a terrible idea.
Because he remembers how to make me laugh.
Because he looks at me like our kiss wasn’t a one-time mistake.
Because the kids start asking him to read bedtime stories.
Because my heart starts wanting things my life doesn’t have room for.
I can manage the chaos. I can fight for these kids.
But pretending not to fall for Hayes Carlisle?
That might be the one thing I can’t do.
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or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Duet Narration by: JF Harding & CJ Bloom
Also Featuring: Teddy Hamilton, Sean Masters, Connor Crais, Erin Mallon, Willa Jaymes, Meg Sylvan & Austin Stone
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/41QEV0V
Forever Undone by J. Saman is now live!
USA Today bestselling author J. Saman delivers steam, feels, and laughs in this enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience romance about a hotshot single dad surgeon and the feisty nurse he'll do anything to protect.
I never should have agreed to marry my older brother's best friend, but I was in a bit of a jam.
Aston Hughes is gorgeous, arrogant, and irritatingly broody. The single dad is also the new trauma surgeon at my hospital and my temporary roommate.
Two years ago, we shared a mistaken kiss during a blackout, and nothing's been right between us since.
So really, I shouldn't have said yes when he suggested a marriage of convenience.
But after leaving my bad ex behind, I discover I'm pregnant with his baby, and I'm scared.
Aston offers to marry me as protection from my ex in exchange for helping out with his daughter, who needs more stability in her life after recently losing her mother. It's an unfortunate no-brainer.
Only what starts as a simple business arrangement quickly turns messy. Heated. Soon he's no longer fighting with me but for me as he calls me his wife and claims my baby as his.
Except nothing is that simple or easy for any of us.
Now here I am, falling for the hotshot doctor and his daughter while our lives come undone around us.
My Review
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or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Audible: https://bit.ly/3MbCWPW
Narrated by: CJ Bloom and JF Harding
This was such a weird thing for me. I don't think I've read any other books by this author and I generally shy away from billionaires and medical tropes but the teasers for this and the trope list just had me dying to read it so I begged for an ARC and was lucky enough to be gifted one.
And now I have a new author to obsess over because this very much reminded me of Bella Matthews and Natasha Madison and the list goes on, who write large families all interconnected but all completely able to stand alone. And I can’t wait to add the authors library into my TBR. For those days I just want an easy, sweet, entertaining read.
But for now I’ll tell you my thoughts on Aston and Skylar. They were both super likeable and easy to relate to, even if I absolutely don't come from a huge, rich, well known family and know nothing about working in the medical field. I liked them. I could see me sitting around having dinner and talking about their work and the crazy things our kids have done.
Their first interaction was hot. And I kind of didn't get the initial animosity over it. But then time moves on and they are thrown back together and it really flowed and was believable in a completely hallmark movie meets reality kind of way. And the drama and storyline had me wanting to turn the pages. While also being sweet and cozy like a warm hug. I really enjoyed it.
