⭐ 2.75/5

🌶️ 3/5

As an NHL fan, I’m often frustrated by hockey romances that completely disregard the actual rules and rhythm of the game—but this one was a refreshing change. While there were still a few cringe-worthy moments when it came to how hockey was portrayed, overall it was clear the author had a solid understanding of the sport. That authenticity added a lot to the experience.

Aliyah and Liam’s dynamic had great tension and sharp banter, and I appreciated that the slow burn between them lasted longer than expected. I especially loved that Liam falls first—it’s always a win for me when the guy is all in.

The addition of a mafia romance subplot was not something I’ve seen paired with sports romance before. While it was an interesting angle, and ultimately played more like a background detail than a true sub-plot.

The spice level was decent and fairly frequent. I did enjoy that scenes were written from both Aliyah and Liam’s POVs, which helped balance the emotional connection with the physical tension.