The Girlfriend Zone (Love & Hockey 4) by Lauren Blakely-review & excerpt

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 26, 2025

In my defense, I had no idea the tattooed, glasses-wearing, soulful hottie I spent one perfect day—and one unforgettable night—with was a hockey star on my father’s team.

And Miles didn’t know I was the coach’s daughter.

That’s the point of a “no-work-talk” date.

But now? He’s as forbidden to me as I am to him.

When I land a new gig as the team photographer, we vow to keep it professional. We mostly succeed…except for that time after a game when he couldn’t keep his talented hands off me. But I swear, it won’t happen again.

Too much is at stake—I can’t risk my heart or my father’s team.

But when I end up living at Miles’s place to care for his pack of rescue pups, the lines blur fast. Late nights turn into stolen moments and I discover there’s more to him than I ever imagined—a man who’s genuine, thoughtful, and irresistibly real.

He looks at me like he can’t believe his luck. Touches me like he never wants to let go. And listens to my hopes and fears.

My heart’s getting dangerously attached. But if I follow it… am I putting everyone’s dreams on the line?

Tropes: coach’s daughter, the one who got away, starts with a bang, second chance vibes, age gap, forbidden hockey romance, forced proximity, workplace romance

••••

REVIEW:THE GIRLFRIEND ZONE is the fourth instalment in Lauren Blakely’s contemporary, adult LOVE AND HOCKEY erotic, hockey romance series. This is thirty-three year old, San Francisco Sea Dogs hockey player Mile Falcon, and twenty-four year old, photographer Leighton McBride, the coach’s daughter. THE GIRLFRIEND ZONE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Miles and Leighton) covering more than a year in the life, THE GIRLFRIEND ZONE follows the building but forbidden relationship between San Francisco Sea Dogs hockey player Mile Falcon, and photographer Leighton McBride, the coach’s daughter. Leighton McBride is a photographer whose clients were a no show, and when café owner Birdie suggested her grandson as a stand in model, Leighton jumped at the chance to work with Miles but unbeknownst to both Leighton and Miles, their building relationship would stop abruptly when they discover the identity and connections to the San Franciso Sea Dogs-Leighton is the coach’s daughters, and Miles is a player on the Sea Dogs team. Reluctantly going their separate ways, months will pass before the two reconnect for some anxious times, agreeing to be friends for the foreseeable future, until an opportunity presents itself, pushing our couple together.

The world building focuses on the secret relationship between Leighton and Miles. Leighton has been warned by her father to stay clear of any and all hockey players but Miles and Leighton are struggling with their attraction as Leighton becomes the official photographer for the team.

The relationship between Leighton and Miles is one of immediate attraction, set into motion by Miles’ match-making grandmother but Miles knows to become involved with the coach’s daughter could be the end of his career with the Sea Dogs, but the heart wants the woman with whom he has fallen in love. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text

The energetic secondary and supporting characters include Coach Noah McBride aka Leighton’s dad, Leighton’s sixteen year old sister Riley, and their mother Grace Adley; Miles’ mother Lauren and her husband Harvey, his grandmother Birdie, sister, Charlie and his brother Tyler, as well as several of the previous story line couples and Sea Dogs players (Christian, Rowan, Ford, Alexei, Hugo) team officials, and Leighton’s exhausting roommates Ezra and Indigo.

THE GIRLFRIEND ZONE is a story of secrets and lies, family and friendships, relationships, and love. The fast paced premise is endearing and captivating yet predictable; the romance is provocative and impassioned; the characters are determined, sassy and dynamic.

Reading Order and Previous reviews
The Boyfriend Goal
The Romance Line
The Proposal Play

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Miles
I breathe out hard, giving in to the lust that grips me, the want I feel for her…my coach’s daughter.
For a few seconds, I freeze over those words—coach’s daughter.
Don’t go there again. Get it together. Stop f*&king thinking of her.
But the dick is sometimes stronger than the will.
I ignore that voice because it doesn’t matter what I do when I’m home alone. It’s what I do when I’m with her that counts. I haven’t crossed the line again. And baggage or no baggage, we’re not going to be a thing. But her admission that she looks at the pictures too? It’s what I wanted. It’s what I needed. It’s also all I can have of her.
So what’s the harm in giving in tonight?

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

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