THE BOYFRIEND GOAL (Love and Hockey 1) by Lauren Blakely-review & excerpt

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 21, 2024

A forbidden romance with my brother’s hockey teammate wasn’t on my to-do list when I moved across the country…
Neither was getting locked out of a friend’s place wearing next to nothing.
Or spending the night with the sexy stranger who rescues me.
But I’m trying to get out of my comfort zone so getting out of the rest of my clothes with him seems like a good way to start.
In the morning, I learn the filthy-mouthed man with the talented hands is not only the hotshot new hockey player on my brother’s team: he’s also – wait for it – my brand new roommate.
I’m a good student turned good librarian. A rule-follower. I’m not the kind of girl who does complicated flings. So we agree to another rule: friends-only.
It’s not easy though. Wes is bossy, flirty and generous.
He gives me rides to work.
Pitches in at my library’s fundraiser.
Takes care of me when I get hurt.
And looks at me like I’m the only one.
Soon, I’m falling hard for my brother’s teammate.
Especially when Wes comes to my door and tells me exactly how he’d like to break our rules.
Every single one.

••••

REVIEW: THE BOYFRIEND GOAL is the first instalment in Lauren Blakely’s contemporary, adult LOVE AND HOCKEY erotic , hockey romance series. This is twenty-seven year old, professional hockey player Wesley Bryant, and twenty-six year old, librarian Josie Winters’ story line. LOVE AND HOCKEY is set in the author’s MY HOCKEY ROMANCE world

Told from dual first person perspectives (Josie and Wes) THE BOYFRIEND GOAL follows Josie Winters as she if offered a temporary job in San Francisco, the same town where her brother Christian plays professional hockey. A temporary job needs a temporary place to stay, and Christian’s teammate Wes offers up one of his spare rooms to his teammates sister, the woman with whom Wes recently had a one-night stand. Enter Josie Winters. Josie is tagged off limits to by her big brother Christian but Josie and Wes already have history, a history no one knows anything about. Meanwhile Josie’s late aunt left our heroine a bucket list, of sorts, and Josie is determined to fulfill everything on her aunt’s behalf, a list Wes Bryant is only too happy to help complete. What ensues is the building but forbidden relationship between Wes and Josie, and the potential fall-out as Wes begins to struggle in his professional career, and the only change is the arrival of the woman with whom Wes is falling in love.

The world building follows several paths including Aunt Greta’s bucket list of things she never regretted, and Josie is resolute to complete each task with or without our story line hero. Wes Bryant never expected to fall for his teammate’s sister but forced together by convenience pushed Wes and Josie closer together.

The relationship between Josie and Wes is a forbidden romance; a forced proximity, teammates younger sister, one-night stand. Keeping their romance a secret is threatening any potential happily ever after, and when Wes’ career begins to falter, Josie knows it is only a matter of time before the blame if placed on our story line heroine. The $ex scenes are intimate, provocative and seductive.

We are introduced to Josie’s brother, and Wes’ teammate Christian Winters, Ryker Samuels and Chase Weston (Double Pucked); and Josie’s co-workers Maeve and Everly.

THE BOYFRIEND GOAL is a story of secrets and lies, determination and acceptance, family and friendships, relationships and love. The slow building, character driven premise is lively and engrossing; the characters are animated and quirky; the romance is flirty and realistic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Josie: Nice turnaround.

I smile stupidly against the dark window, so no one can see how I look right now. The glass is cool, but I’m warm everywhere. I don’t want to talk about me with Josie. Not with my teammates around. And honestly, not that much in general. I want to talk about her.  

Wesley: It was. But what are you up to? Also, it’s late. Go to bed.

Josie: That’s where I am.

Josie: Here’s your proof of bed.

She sends a picture of the lower half of the bed. Her legs are clearly under the covers. A paperback sits on the white cover. Zooming in, I read the title. Someone Else’s Ring.

Wesley: New book. Does this mean you finished the thriller? The Woman In The Hotel?

Josie: I did and the thrill was thrilling.

Wesley: How’s this one?

Josie: It reads like you f*&k.

Forget warm. I’m red hot under the collar of my dress shirt, remembering the words she wrote on hotel stationery more than a month ago. He f*&ked like a page turner that you didn’t want to put down. 

Is it just me or is Josie getting…naughtier? Bolder? More brazen? Pretty sure it’s not just me – it’s her, turning up the heat. 

I’m feeling the burn in the dark of the quiet jet, streaking across the sky. Here, it’s like no man’s land, free of consequences, devoid of risks. A place where we can flirt because of the miles between us. So I tap out a reply

Wesley: Bet I still “read” like that.

Josie: You’d keep me up all night?

Wesley: Like a page turner, Josie. Like a f*&king page turner.

A #1 New York Times Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s hot, sweet and sexy. She lives in California with her family and has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than eighty times, and she’s sold more than 2 million books. In October she’ll release HARD WOOD, a sexy, standalone romantic comedy. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Newsletter ** Goodreads