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OutsideOfTheTrackBooks

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Too Many Tropes, Not Enough Cohesion

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
2 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-25-25

This felt like two different books mashed together—one that was pretty good, and another… not so much. I actually really liked the first half, which had all the makings of a solid workplace romance: billionaire boss, smart and snappy assistant, great banter. I thought I knew the direction it was heading, but then it took a sharp turn into weird.

Suddenly it was a not-quite-mafia, kidnapping mystery, surprise pregnancy, billionaire drama—and honestly, it just didn’t work. It felt like the author couldn’t pick a lane and instead tried to include every trope, which made the story feel chaotic and unfocused.

The FMC started off strong—smart, cautious, likable—but by the end she had lost everything that made her interesting. She became this helpless, cringy version of herself. And don’t get me started on the men: the MMC, her godfather, the kidnapper… every single one was a walking red flag and gave me the ick.

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Inconsistent Accents & Terribly Unlikable Characters

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
3 out of 5 stars
Historia
3 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-16-25

One of the first things he says to the FMC is that he likes her Russian accent—but the narrator doesn’t use one for her internal monologue, only when she speaks aloud. It’s odd; she does a decent Russian accent when needed, and her “man” voice is strangely more appealing than her regular female one.

My god, the MMC is unbelievably unlikable—delusionally so. Sure, he’s more realistic than the FMC, being a Bratva Boss who’s used to getting what he wants when he wants it, and he certainly acts that way.

I had higher hopes for the FMC, who I genuinely liked at the beginning of the book. Unfortunately, her character fell off as the story progressed, and she seemed increasingly willing to put her daughter in danger for the sake of a member of a man.

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Lost Me Early & Never Recovered

Total
2 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
3 out of 5 stars
Historia
2 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-15-25

I’m really disappointed, because I usually love hockey romances—but this one just didn’t work for me.

There was one moment that completely threw me off: a chapter titled “No Means Maybe.” I get that it was supposed to be a joke, but it felt really off—and in the scene, the character was saying no, and he wasn’t listening. It made me uncomfortable, and I couldn’t shake that feeling.

I also didn’t love the FMC’s narrator (just a personal preference), and some of the male side character voices felt a little overdone.

By the time the third-act breakup rolled around, I was totally done with this couple—the drama felt too over-the-top, and the mom’s “advice” didn’t help either.

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A perfect grumpy-sunshine comfort read.

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-13-25

Well, that was absolutely everything I needed. Funny, sweet, no third act breakup—just warm, fluffy, loving acceptance wrapped in a perfectly balanced grumpy-sunshine hockey romance.

Seriously, this was amazing. It gave me every single happy butterfly, smiling-at-my-Kindle-like-a-goofy feeling that I needed. Ant was the perfect grump (for a reason), and I needed my sunshine MMC—and Robbie? Robbie was absolutely that ray of sunshine.

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Seen, Understood, and a Little Wrecked

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-13-25

I don’t think there are words to fully describe how much I related to Scarlett. I’ve never felt more seen by a fictional character in my life. It wasn’t just the portrayal of an injured athlete coming back from a career- and life-altering injury—it was the anxiety, the overwhelm, the way she experienced the world. I felt it deep in my bones. There were moments I had to pause reading just because she was spiraling and it made me spiral too.

I haven’t found my Lukas yet in this life, but when I do, I hope he’s just like him. And Pen—god, I get Pen. I’m really happy with how everything turned out in the end.

This book was absolutely brilliant, and I’ll be recommending it to so many people.

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This was such a fun little novella teaser!

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-12-25

I haven’t read the other books in the series, so I didn’t really know who anyone was going in—but it was still super enjoyable. It’s spicy, flirty, and gives you just enough of a peek into the characters to make you want more.

The narrator did a great job, and honestly, based on this novella alone, I’d absolutely pick up the rest of the series.

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Book Four Magic!

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-11-25

I swear, each book in this series just gets better—Bowie and Poppy completely stole my heart! We’ve got a single dad AND a surprise pregnancy and it was everything I needed rolled into one story.

What really stood out was how mature all the characters were. They actually handled things like logical human beings, which made the story so refreshingly low angst. The spice? Hot—but it fit the story perfectly, enhancing the emotional connection rather than overpowering it.

Watching them grow together as a family was honestly so heartwarming.

Also—the narrators! JF Harding, Samantha Brentmoor, and a special appearance from Lily D. Moore did such an amazing job bringing the story to life.

If you’re looking for a sweet, low-angst, feel-good pick-me-up, this book is an absolute must.

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Fake Dating? I'm In.

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-10-25

Well, I’m officially a sucker for the fake dating trope—and this story? Dylan and Rhyland? They were amazing.

Their relationship felt inevitable in the best way, and watching them fall for each other was one of the sweetest stories I’ve read. There are a few spicy scenes, but they don’t overpower the plot. That one scene though—on the phone, in the bathroom—oh my god. That might go down as one of my favorite scenes ever.

Bonus points: there’s no miscommunication trope here, which I loved. And the actual best part? Rhyland and Gravity’s relationship. Just... oh my god. I adored the two of them together.

And yes, the title is a Swift reference, and the FMC is a Swiftie—but it’s not heavy-handed at all. Just a cute little touch that adds to the charm.

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A Strong Start with Some Missing Pieces

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
3 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-09-25

Let me start by saying—the audiobook was really well done. The narrators did an absolutely amazing job, and I loved both of their voices! Their performance definitely elevated the story.

That said, while this is listed as book one in the series, it’s actually a spin-off from another series from what I can tell, and I think that tripped me up a bit. It took me a while to settle into the story—mostly in terms of the world building, but also understanding the characters’ dynamics. I could tell there was some backstory I was missing, which made it harder to fully connect at first.

Still, I really enjoyed it! The characters were interesting and had great chemistry, and once I found my footing, I was all in. I’ll definitely be going back to read more from this author—starting with the other series, because I need the full picture!

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Mixed Feelings but Entertaining Enough.

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
2 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-06-25

Overall, this book had its moments—it got me through my spring cleaning, after all! There were definitely parts I really liked. The protective MMC was a highlight, and I appreciated that the FMC wasn’t completely falling apart the whole time. She had strength, and I liked that balance.

That said, there were a few things that kept pulling me out of the story. Not quite “ick,” but definitely “why is this here?” vibes. And we need to talk about the accents—because wow. I’m not sure which was more distracting: her questionable NY accent or what I think was meant to be British? Either way, not helping.

Also, the MMC’s refusal to communicate? My dude. You're making it so hard to root for you. Why you left, what’s going on with her stalker—you’re keeping everything to yourself and it's just frustrating. I like you! Don’t make me not like you.

But what really lost me was that third act breakup? It was honestly just ridiculous on both their parts. He totally brought it on himself, but her reaction—threatening to call the cops??—was way over the top. Then they both double down on their dramatic stances and... yeah, no thanks. It was not for me.

In the end, it wasn’t perfect, but it had just enough good to keep me going. Probably wouldn’t reread, but I don’t regret the listen.

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