Mini Audiobook Review: This book has been on my radar for so long and I needed to complete a basketball romance for a bingo board and I thought this is perfect timing. And WHEWW this book! This book is heavy. I went in completely blind and had no idea how intense this was going to be. I should have known better because its Kennedy Ryan. She is such an incredible writer and if you are looking for something that had this realistic feel to it, this book is for you! Sean Crisden and Jo Raylan were excellent narrators! I was a little nervous starting the audio because it's over 13 hours but honestly I was locked in. I definitely want to keep going in the series!

Mini Book Review: I picked this book up my chance while browsing my local library. This book was such a blend of teenage antics while also learning about Korean culture. The drawings in this were really great and I thought the author did a great job explaining the ceremony that the family was going to do. I love that there was a focus on the different sets of kids and teenage issues (which even though it took place in the 80s, it felt relatable in any decade). I also love how they all remained friends in the future and that they all come back together every year to do the traditions. I recommend if you are looking for a graphic novel that has a mix of Korean culture/tradition, teenage angst and the political climate in the 80s in Korea - give this one a read!

4.5 - Thank you so much to Booked with Emilys and Jenny Proctor for the advance copy of this!

This book is out now!

I am still fairly new to Jenny's writing. My first introduction to her was the summer of 2024 when I read her boy band book (which obviously I had to read). I was very excited to learn that she was starting a new hockey series.

This one does star characters that appeared in a prior hockey series of hers but having not read it, I would never have known that was the case. So I thought Jenny did an excellent job with not putting to much (or actually none) on the book where Carter & Theo were in originally.

"I don't know how I'm going to make it nine days without touching you, but it'll help to know that at least something of mine is against your skin."

I haven't read a marriage of convenience in awhile so it was refreshing to get back into that trope. It's a similar vein as fake dating and I loved it. Sarah is originally from Canada and her student Visa is about to run out and needed to find a way to stay in the United States. Her brother Miles plays hockey in the states, her sister in law is pregnant with her 3rd kid and Sarah already has already missed so much with being in school and or out of the country. She really just wants to stay close to everyone but her options are limited on what she can do to remain in the states. Miles comes up with a plan for her to marry one of her teammates and then she can become a teacher. While being a teacher is not something she is interested in pursuing, marrying one of his teammates is something she isn't fully on board with.

Enter Carter Williamson. This dreamboat golden retriever who has the cutest meet cute over chicken nuggets. Carter is immediately smitten with Sarah. Carter is a twin and he is used to everyone wanting his brother Theo so for Sarah to click with him, he is taken aback. He falls first and he falls hard. The book explores their relationship and them getting to know one another. Things progress slow and they have set up rules/boundaries in order to protect themselves. Sarah has things she has to work through from her childhood and Carter is trying to grow out of the dependency with his brother. The two of them just have the cutest relationship. And over the course of the months, they really grew to care about one another.

"Whatever. I smell like paint and varnish." "Okay, true. But also...honeysuckle? Sometimes organes. And sometimes roses. "You're taking notes, huh?" I shrug. "Just noticing. I notice everything about you."

This couple was put through a few things especially towards the end. The moment when Sarah's sister in law Anna gives birth, Carter wanted to make sure he was there with her and just them with baby Fiona was just so cute. And then on the flip side, Sarah joined Carter in the hospital for something (not spoiling) and oh my heart! That whole setup just was too sweet for words and they just cared and loved each other so much!

My only small hiccup was about halfway through I felt like their relationship was kind of stalling as they were not communicating to one another how they were feeling. Even though they were getting to know one another, I just wanted them to move to that next level a little sooner. This is also just a Stephanie thing as I'm not a big fan of slow burns.

I love that we got to see into the future of Sarah and Carter and Jenny set up the next book perfectly! I cannot wait to see Theo get his happily ever after (and yes you know who it will be with and no I'm not saying who). I highly recommend if you are looking for a hockey romance, marriage of convenience and captain's sister x golden retriever teammate.