Mini Monday Review: He Shoots, He Scores... My Heart

-

📘 Wicked Serve by Grace Reilly

“He’s my brother’s biggest hockey rival… but he’s bringing the heat for me.” 🏒🏐💋

⭐ Rating: 4/5 

💘 Tropes: Brother’s rival, sports romance, forced proximity, secret relationship.

📝 Mini Review:

This sizzling college sports romance gave me all the feels! Nikolai and Izzy’s story is a delicious mix of forbidden tension, secret summer flings, and second chances—with a hefty dose of angst and swoon. Nik is the broody, protective hockey player with a scarred past, and Izzy is the determined, sunshiney volleyball player trying to protect her heart (and her team loyalty 😅)..

What I loved:

🏒 Rivals-to-lovers tension

🌞 Sunshine x Broody vibes

🔥 Spicy but soft moments

🐨 Yes, there’s an adorable koala moment?!

📚 Perfect for fans of secret romance and sports-centered banter.

Grace Reilly’s writing always blends heat with heart, and Wicked Serve definitely served both. I was cheering (and maybe blushing 👀) from the sidelines!

What I didn’t love:

🌀 The pacing felt a little uneven in parts—some moments flew by too quickly while others lingered longer than needed.

🧊 I wish we had more time to see deeper emotional healing for Nikolai beyond his connection with Izzy.

💬 A few side characters felt underused (especially Izzy’s teammates—I wanted more volleyball girl gang moments!).

Still, those were small bumps in a story that had me hooked from start to finish. 💗

☕ Coffee Pairing: A vanilla latte with cinnamon foam—smooth, warm, and just the right amount of kick. Like their chemistry? Unmatched.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


- Next Monday’s Brew: 

If forbidden love, stolen glances, and bad boys falling hard are your thing, Don’t Let Me Fall by Kelsie Rae is the kind of emotional chaos you’ll devour in one sitting.

He’s the villain in someone else’s story—but hers? He wants to be the exception.

He’s her tutor, her boyfriend’s best friend, and the guy she shouldn’t want... but that tension? Electric.

This one’s packed with slow-burn angst, secret feels, and that gut-wrenching "we shouldn't, but I want to" energy.

☕ Coffee Pairing: Mocha with a shot of espresso—bittersweet and bold, with an extra jolt of heart-racing tension. It’s the kind of brew that keeps you up late, just like this story will.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

📖 Favorite Friday: My Top 5 Romance Reads (So Far This Year)

-
Image
📖 Favorite Friday: My Top 5 Romance Reads: (So Far This Year) 💘 1. Betting on You by Lynn Painter Why I loved it:  I loved how this book felt like a full-on rom-com, it was funny, heartfelt, and impossible to put down. Bailey and Charlie’s relationship completely won me over, especially the way he truly saw her & her little nickname for her "Glasses" . With so many twists and turns, I devoured it in just a few hours! Favorite Quote:  “When you’re in the room, every single cell in my body – every nerve, every muscle, every breath – is lost in you.”  💘 2. Throttled by Lauren Asher (One of My Favorite Authors! Also #1 in Series) Why I loved it: This was my first Formula 1 romance, and I know there probably aren’t many out there! Noah is kind of a mess, but he’s got such a good heart. He’s also Maya’s brother’s teammate (and not exactly his biggest fan), which makes things very complicated. Everyone warns her to stay far away, but of course, she can’t. Watching their r...
Read more

📚☕ Two for Tuesday: Tropes That Bring the Heat

-
Image
Let’s talk about two romances that bring enemies, lies, and longing to a whole new level. If you’re into emotional chaos (with a happy ending, of course), these two belong on your TBR: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 💘 Enemies with Benefits / Forbidden Romance 📖 Twisted Hate by Ana Huang Rating : 5/5 ⭐ 💭 I read Twisted Hate in one sitting—couldn't put it down. Josh Chen is pure chaos and I loved every second. Jules and Josh can’t stand each other—but they also can’t stay away. She’s a fiery law student. He’s a cocky future doctor (and her best friend’s brother 😬). When they agree to a no-strings “enemies with benefits” arrangement, things get messy fast . Sharp banter, sizzling tension, and surprising emotional depth make this one totally unputdownable. Favorite Quote: "You drive me crazy, Red." He cupped my face, his voice low and rough. "But I'd go insane wi...
Read more

A Second Chance at Love: Love and Other Words Review

-
Image
  This book made me cry in public. Twice. If you believe in second chances and soulmates, Love and Other Words will leave a mark. Title: Love and Other Words Author: Christina Lauren Genre: Contemporary Romance Pages: 450 Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  Some books don’t just tell a love story — they take your heart, break it, and carefully stitch it back together. Love and Other Words did exactly that. If you’ve ever had a first love you couldn’t forget, or wondered what might’ve happened if things had gone differently... this one’s for you.  After more than a decade apart, childhood sweethearts Macy and Elliot reconnect by chance. As they slowly rebuild trust, they’re forced to revisit the heartbreak that tore them apart — and the love that never really went away. Told in a dual timeline style, this story explores the power of words, memory, and unfinished love. I adored how strong Macy and Elliot's feelings for eachother were. Their connection from friendship to young love was be...
Read more