Why You'll Love This
A single mom who has zero interest in being charmed — and a hockey player who can't stop trying anyway.
- Great if you want: sports romance with a grounded, no-nonsense female lead
- The experience: warm and fast-moving with enough tension to keep pages turning
- The writing: Gayle balances team dynamics and romance without letting either feel rushed
- Skip if: persistent pursuit tropes wear thin for you
About This Book
Brenden Campbell has fought his way back from injury with one goal: prove he belongs on the Portland Storm's roster for good. What he didn't plan on was Rachel Shaw, the general manager's sharp, self-possessed new assistant who has her own future to build and zero patience for charming hockey players who think a smile is enough. She's a single mother with hard-earned wisdom and real stakes — and she isn't the type to be swept off her feet. That tension between a man learning to fight for something beyond the game and a woman who's already learned the cost of trusting the wrong person gives this romance a genuine emotional pull.
Catherine Gayle writes hockey romance with an insider's feel for team culture and the particular pressures athletes carry, which grounds even the sweetest moments in something tangible. What sets this second Portland Storm installment apart is its balance — Rachel's wariness never tips into obstinacy, and Brenden's persistence never slides into pushiness. The pacing is confident, the banter has actual wit, and the emotional payoff is earned rather than handed over. Readers who like their romance to feel inhabited rather than assembled will find this one satisfying.
