ABOUT THE BOOK
Always a groomsmen…never a groom.
And yet, when I finally do meet the woman of my dreams – who just so happens to be older than me – it turns out, she’s completely off-limits.
And, of course, secretly dating my coach’s younger sister is the type of penalty that could completely end my career.
I guess you could say this season won’t be easy.
Especially for me, the tendy.
MY REVIEW
I have to admit, I’m not usually one to jump on the love-at-first-sight or forbidden romance bandwagon. So when I started reading this book, and it opened with some classic insta-love and awkward pickup lines, I was preparing myself for a challenging read. But to my surprise, the characters’ sincerity and genuine commitment to overcoming obstacles had me glued to the pages the whole way through.
Thayne “Jukes” Goffe completely stole the show for me. At 6′ 5″, this hockey goalie is a gentle giant who is so dedicated to Gilly, it’s honestly swoon-worthy. The maturity he displays at such a young age is such a refreshing change from the typical sports-romance heroes. He lets Gilly take the lead in their relationship, which made me appreciate his character even more. And I couldn’t help but admire his relationship with his adorable teenage brother, Bronson, as he tries to be the father figure he never had. Jukes’ struggle to balance his crazy game schedule with family time is so relatable and adds depth to his character.
Gilly is a capable dentist working with sports teams, but her personal life is somewhat lacking. I expected a lot more refinement and maturity from her at thirty-eight. To be honest, her giggling could get annoying, and I thought her ineptitude fell short. However, as her relationship with Thayne unfolds, you really see her come into her own. He encourages her to embrace her true self rather than conform to others’ expectations, which is a lovely aspect of the book and a turning point for her and her brother.
The chemistry between Jukes and Gilly is sizzling! The little gestures he makes for her are heart-melting, and his honesty and sensitivity are beyond hot. Plus, his love for music and coffee adds a fun dimension to his personality. That said, I did think the music references and the hockey slang might’ve been a bit overdone at times, as they started to take away from the dialogue rather than enhance it.
If you’re a fan of sports romances that bring together heart, heat, and humor, I definitely recommend picking up this book. It turned out to be more than I expected, and the characters left a lasting impression on me. This is the first book in this series I’ve read, and it works well on its own.
Thank you to Ms. Neal for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Dalvegan Dragons Series
1. The Owner (2023)
2. The Veteran (2024)
3. The Stud (2025)
4. The Tendy (2026)
5. The Goon (Second Chance Hockey Romance) (2027)
BUY THE BOOK
 |
 |
 |
 |
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Xavier Neal is a best-selling romance author who enjoys hopping from sub genre to sub-genre like a game of Hopscotch she can’t resist.
In between writing, she loves to read (everything from romance to self improvement books), watch movies (old and new), eat too much Tex-Mex (her Chuy’s t-shirt collection is out of control), and watch AHL hockey games LIVE (preferably against the glass whenever possible).
She currently resides happily in Texas with her bearded husband “Lumberjack”.
Follow Xavier on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, and TikTok.
BLOG TOUR ORGANIZED BY:
