Review: Empty Net

 

Title: Empty Net

Series: Seattle Serpents 

Author: Teagan Hunter 

Release Date: April 10, 2025

I have two goals this season:

1. Stop enough pucks to get the Seattle Serpents to the playoffs.

2. Don’t fall for my fake fiancée.

When Lilah Maddison’s mother keeps trying to set her up on dates she’s not interested in, she blurts out that she’s already seeing someone. The problem? She’s single.

So, I step in to help and agree to pretend to be her boyfriend for an event. But when things go awry, we’re no longer just dating—we’re engaged. Now, I have to find a way to keep her family off her back and our team in a playoff spot, all without falling in love with Lilah, which seems more impossible with each passing day.

She’s funny, driven, drop-dead gorgeous, and not afraid to make the first move. I know we’re playing a dangerous game, yet I can’t stop myself from having feelings I definitely shouldn’t be having, especially not for my fake fiancée.

It’s my job to block, make saves, and keep the puck out of my own net, but this might be one match I can’t win…and I might not want to.

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I have been feeling a bit down lately, so I was glad to get Empty Net bc Teagan's books always make me kick-my-feet-giddy. 

Fox is the goalie for Seattle Serpents and he has two goals this season: to help get Seattle Serpents to the playoffs and not fall for his fake fiancee. 

When Lilah's mother keeps trying to set Lilah up on dates she doesn't want she blurts out she's seeing someone despite being single. So fox steps in & agrees to be her fake-boyfriend. But what was supposed to be one fake-date ended up being a fake-engagement and now Fox and Lilah may be in over their heads. The rules were simple - don't fall in love - but what happens when the lines become blurred? The relationship may be fake but the feelings are real. 

So, as always, I loved Teagan's book. They always make me swoon and laugh out loud. 

Fox was a sweet southern gentleman -  who is more than just the goalie. He is a cinnamon roll & would do anything for his friends - like agree to a fake engagement to get their parents off their back. 

Lilah is driven, funny, and so much more. She may be trying to figure out what to do with her life after Auden sold the hotel where she worked with her, but she isn't afraid to speak her mind - except to her parents, which is what landed her in needing a fake boyfriend in the first place. 

This book was cute, and funny and had me swooning. I loved every second of it & loved Fox and Lilah's relationship. I loved how both characters had quirks but each accepted the other's effortlessly - without question. The this book may have had some heavy topics (emotional abuse from parents) the character does stand up to them & cut ties with them to get their HEA. It was sweet with some steam & the perfect read, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. 

If you are looking for a sports romance that will bring some humor and spice - then you need to grab Empty Net. 

4 ⭐ out of 5 ⭐. 

2 🌶️ out of 5 🌶️. 

Tropes: 

• sports romance 

• rom-com 

• cinnamon roll hero 

• he would do anything for her 

• friends to lovers 

• fake engagement 

• opposites attract 

• found family 

• "good boy" 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Hi, I’m Teagan!

I write steamy romantic comedies with lots of sarcasm and a side of heart. I love pizza, hockey, and romance novels, though not in that order. When not writing, you can find me watching entirely too many hours of Supernatural, One Tree Hill, or New Girl. I’m mildly obsessed with Halloween and prefer cooler weather. I married my high school sweetheart, and we currently live in the PNW.

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Review: Bloodguard

 

Title: Bloodguard 

Series: Old Erth 

Author: Cecy Robson 

Release Date: October 2024

One hundred years. Tens of thousands of gladiators. And today, only one will rise…

Everything in the Kingdom of Arrow is a lie.

Leith of Grey thought coming to this new land and volunteering to fight in the gladiator arena—vicious, bloodthirsty tournaments where only the strongest survive—would earn him enough gold to save his dying sister. He thought there was nothing left to lose.

He was wrong—and they took everything. His hope. His freedom. His very humanity.

All Leith has left is his battle-scarred body, fueled by rage and hardened from years of fighting for the right to live another day.

Then Leith meets Maeve, an elven royal who is everything he despises. Everything he should hate. Until the alluring princess offers him the one thing he needs most: a chance to win the coveted title of Bloodguard—and his freedom.

But in a kingdom built on secrets and lies, hope doesn’t come cheap.

Nor will his ultimate revenge…

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Leith of Grey came to Arrow, volunteering to become a gladiator, fighting in the vicious, bloodthirsty tournaments in the hopes of earning enough gold to help save his dying sister. But they took everything from him instead - his hope, freedom, humanity. 

Until he met Meave - who is an elven royal & everything he despises. Everything he should be hate until she offers him something he needs the most. A chance at winning the title Bloodguard & his freedom. 

So, I picked up this book solely bc of the title, cover & sprayed pages. As with most books, I knew nothing about it before going in. And being in a reading slump for weeks, and picking up and putting down multiple books, I didn't have high hopes for it at first. But it pleasantly surprised me. It has action, marriage of convenience, mythical creatures, political intrigue and touch her & 💀 vibes. 

I loved how grumpy Lieth was & the back & forth between Lieth & Maeve in the beginning. I enjoyed the gladiator battles Lieth had to face as well, along with the world in which they are in & the creatures within it. 

But some of the scene transitions were a bit clunky, along with some of the intimate scenes between the characters as well. They were both a little lacking in the communication department as well (I mean, I get him not trusting her in the beginning. But there was other instances too). 

Overall, while this wasn't a favorite of mine, I did enjoy it and it helped pull me out of my reading slump. 

If a gladiator romance sounds intriguing then I recommend picking up this book. 

3.5 ⭐ out of 5⭐. 

2🌶️ out of 5 🌶️.

Trigger Warnings: 

- blood/gore 

- injury detail 

- violence 

- murder/death 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Cecy (pronounced Sessy) Robson is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author who has published with Penguin, Random House, and Entangled Publishing.

As an immigrant of El Salvador with proud Nahua Pipil indigenous heritage, Cecy has worked as a registered nurse for twenty-three years and is honored to have received multiple accolades for her writing. In her free time, Cecy creates magical worlds, heart-stopping romance, and young adult adventure. Her novels have been translated into multiple languages and are featured in CHAPTERS Interactive Story app., as well as HOOKED where Cecy writes as Rosalina San Tiago.

You can find Cecy laughing, crying, and cheering on her characters as she pens her next story.

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Review: Forged in Blood

 

Title: Forged in Blood

Series: Broken Bloodlines 

Author: Sadie Kincaid

Release Date: October 2024

A dark paranormal/ fantasy romance from bestselling author, Sadie Kincaid.

Every few millennia, a child is born.

Some say they’re marked with a curse.

Others claim they possess the power of the ages.

Meet Ophelia Hart. Lover of classic literature and unicorns. An orphan with nobody in her corner—no family, no friends. But it’s her loneliness that fuels her life’s ambition to become a social worker and help the forgotten children just like her. For a foster kid with only slightly above-average grades, it feels like a pipe dream.

Except it seems that someone is looking out for Ophelia after all. When an unexpected opportunity to attend Montridge University arises, she thinks her life is finally taking a turn for the better.

Too bad she comes to the attention of the three ruthless, arrogant commanders of the Ruby Dragon Society. Three of the most feared and powerful vampires on campus.

But Ophelia doesn’t believe in vampires. Or in witches, or magic, or ancient prophecies.

Until she has no choice. Little does she know, she’s about to have her whole world turned upside down. Because there is something about Ophelia Hart. Something that captures not only the attention of the Ruby Dragon commanders, but also their powerful, enigmatic sire—Professor Alexandros Drakos.

With no idea of the power running through her veins, Ophelia must learn to trust the very men whom all others fear. And she needs to do it fast, for there are darker forces at work than those at Montridge University. Forces that were long ago Forged in Blood.

Forged in Blood is book one in a trilogy. Books 1 and 2 end on cliffhangers and book 3 is a HEA.

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So I have been in a bit of a book slump for weeks - having no idea what I have been wanting to read. I must have started nearly ten different books before putting them all down on my search for something to hold my attention when I stumbled upon Forged In Blood. 

Ophelia is a orphan who was left as a baby and went through multiple foster homes before finishing up high school. Now, with a chance at a future, she has an unexpected opportunity to attend Montridge University, and her life finally feeling like it is taking a turn for the better - until she happens across three ruthless powerful vampires. 

Xavier, Malachi & Axl have never known any one like Ophelia - but they are forbidden by their Sired Alexandrios of biting her. That doesn't mean they can't have other forms of fun with her. They are about to turn Ophelia's world upside down. But they aren't the only ones who are attracted to her... 

So, I have been wanting to read Forged in Blood for weeks - and I normally love a lot of the same tropes such as paranormal romance, bully romance & rh/why choose romance. I did enjoy the story and may want to continue it at a later date to get answers, but I didn't love it. I didn't connect as well to the characters as I had hoped I would have. We still know very little about each of the characters despite finishing a entire book out of the trilogy. 

If you like vampire romances, & hot RH with MM scenes, then this book may be right up your alley. 

3.5 ⭐ out of 5⭐. 

3🌶️ out of 5🌶️. 

Tropes: 

• paranormal romance 

• rh/why choose

• bully romance 

• dark academia 

• touch her & 💀 

• possessive/obsessive H 

• ⚔️ /MM 

• sharing 

• student/teacher 

• virgin FMC 

• fated mates

• found family 

Trigger Warnings: 

- blood Play 

- death 

- murder 

- genocide 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

I live in the UK with my husband, sons and very cute dog. 

I started writing my first novel in 2016 following the death of my middle son. I began my author career writing crime fiction and have a bestelling gangland series under a pen name, but I have always been an avid reader of romance and wondered what would happen if I tried to combine my two reading passions. The result was my first dark romance series, London Ruthless. Since then I have written a further three bestselling series’ and I’ve never looked back.

I love to write feisty heroines and morally grey, swoon-worthy alphas with filthy mouths, who would burn the world down for the ladies they love. My books have plenty of spice, angst and drama and are not for the faint hearted, but if you’d like to try for yourself, check out my books page. You can also see what’s coming soon on there too. 

I love to hear from readers so feel free to reach out on one of the many social media platforms I’m on. If you’d like to be kept up to date on what’s coming up, or are interested in exclusive teasers and reveals, then please join my Facebook readers group: Sadie’s Ladies and Sizzling Alpha’s.

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