Review: Grumpily Ever After

Title: Grumpily Ever After

Series: Stick Taps

Author: Teagan Hunter

Release Date: January 20, 2026

Blurb:

An obstinate ex–NHL player meets his match in a cheerfully resilient wedding planner prone to chaos in this sweet and spicy romantic comedy about game-changing second chances.

Wedding planner Odette Chambers has a knack for ruining every ceremony she touches. But her latest gig could be a curse breaker. The bride is her best friend, Izzy, and the venue is a local cidery with the Pacific Northwest mountains as a beautiful backdrop. The cidery’s only rotten apple is its owner, former NHL player Noah Stevens—Izzy’s older brother and a recently divorced, fully committed grump who doesn’t believe in happy endings.

But Noah can’t say no to his hopeful little sister. His decision sends Odette barreling into his life, and she insists on making picture-perfect renovations to his cidery. She’s demanding, irritatingly optimistic, and quite possibly the prettiest woman he’s ever seen. Noah is turning Odette’s head, too, but if she wants a wedding to finally go off without a hitch, he’s a handsome distraction she can’t afford. Right?

As Noah risks a second chance at love, Odette’s luck might change as well. For better or for worse.

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Review:

Grumpily Ever After follows Noah, a grumpy ex hockey player who is recently divorced, runs the local Cidety, and is Izzy's older brother -whom he can't say no to.

Odette is Izzy's best friend, and runs a failing wedding planning business. But both come together to try and make Izzy's dream wedding happen, but will Izzy's wedding end in a happy ever after, or will it crumble around Odette & Noah?

So I thoroughly enjoyed Grumpily Ever After. Odette - Noah's story was sweet with a hint of spice. Noah was a grump who was divorced, and missed the sport he grew up playing and loving. Odette was a girl who despite her business failing, and her lack of a love life was still optimistic and believed in happily ever afters. Them together would never work. Between Noah's divorced, & Odette's curse, and there was a 12 year age gap. But all the days working together to get the Cidery wedding perfect - and their attraction to one another ignites.

As always I enjoy Teagan's books & Grumpily Ever After was no different. It brought a little spice, and some humor into a sweet small town contemporary romance novel. And it was a great read to get lost in. So if you like sweet romances, with secret hook ups, age gap, and a sprinkle of animals with fun names - then I definitely recommend Grumpily Ever After.

4 ⭐ out of 5 ⭐.

2🌶️ out of 5🌶️.

Tropes:

- rom-com

- ex NHL player

- sibling's best friend

- secret hook ups

- age gap

- grumpy/sunshine

- small town

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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