If You Love Me DEALS
It may not officially be spring yet, but things are heating up around here! The latest instalment in Helena Huntings’ bibliography, If You Love Me, is here. The Canadian set hockey romance series is a favourite amongst fans of the genre, and this latest entry allows a sweet and charming goalie to find his happily ever after.
Thank you to Good Girls PR for providing a copy of If You Love Me for review. Minor spoilers ahead!
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If You Love Me: The Setup
ISBN: 9781989185964
Roman Hammerstein seems to have it all. Entering his final season as the star goalie for the Toronto Terror NHL team, he’s a doting father surrounded by an incredible team and friends for life. The one thing he’s been thinking about for the past 3 years? The one who got away. The dark-haired beauty named Lexi whom he spent a memorable weekend with before she disappeared from his hotel room – and his life.
What he doesn’t expect is for Lexi to come crashing back into his life in the most unexpected way possible: as his team’s new assistant coach. Turns out that Lexi is Alexandria Forrester, new member of the coaching staff for the Terror. Roman and Lexi had electric chemistry during their first meeting, and the years haven’t dulled their responses to one another.
Still reeling from a severe loss, Lexi is a newly struggling guardian to her sisters, and is working to make a name for herself as one of the few female staff members of a major hockey team. Seeing Roman again after 3 years is a gut punch she’s been hoping to avoid, and her feelings for him aren’t buried nearly as deep as she thinks they are.
The two will have to navigate their feelings, maintain a professional relationship, and make sure that no one on the team finds out about their past… what could possibly go wrong?
How the hell do people have workplace romances without everyone finding out? I might as well be wearing a shirt that reads: the goalie owns me.
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If You Love Me continues to develop Helena Hunting’s fictional Toronto Terror team, and their delightful rag-tag group of friends and partners. I’m a big fan of this group of characters, who feel even more fleshed out than her previous Pucked series. As a fellow Canadian, the relatability of the Toronto setting coupled with the backdrop of hockey certainly make this a series that’s easy to get lost in.
The novel is all things fun rom-com; here’s a list of tropes for reference:
- Hockey Romance
- Single Dad
- Second Chance
- Slow Burn
- Workplace Romance
- Boss/Employee
The Characters
We’ve had Roman for 3 previous entries in the series, and If You Love Me gives this unflappable and competent single father the chance to shine. As a character who’s a little older than his teammates, he’s taken on a sort of mentor role for characters in previous entries in the series, but this latest volume allows him to choose his own happiness with Lexi, and I love to see it.
All these months of having to stay away from you when we’re around other people has been hell.
If Roman is made to give love, Lexi is the perfect counterpart to receive it. At 29 years old, she’s had to take on the role of parent to her two younger sisters and assert herself in a male-dominated profession. I loved the balance between her drive and her vulnerability, and her relationship with her sisters was a beautiful – if slightly damaged – dynamic to read. The rebuilding of a new family unit was a wonderful addition to the story, and I adored the interactions between Lexi, her sisters, and Roman.
The Plot
I’ve been reading the Toronto Terror series since its first entry If You Hate Me was published, and I find myself enjoying every entry – and couple – more than the last. The slow burn tension and sweet interactions between Lexi and Roman are perfect, and – spoiler alert – I appreciate the lack of third act breakup for these two.
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The story strikes the right balance between yearning and plot, with a healthy dose of sweet spice thrown into the mix. While I might have preferred for the two to work out their feelings a little earlier in the narrative, If You Love Me provides a lovely respite for the pre-spring chilly temperatures we’re still experiencing up in the Great White North.
A Story of Love & Longing
If You Love Me continues to showcase Helena Hunting’s prowess for heartfelt hockey romance. A combination of a beautiful love story, lovable characters, and genuine laughs makes for a truly enjoyable time. Are romances about sweet, hot, lovable hockey stars realistic? Not really. Am I going to continue to read all future entries in the series because I love them? You bet I will.
The Review
If You Love Me
If You Love Me continues to showcase Helena Hunting’s prowess for heartfelt hockey romance.
PROS
- Plot
- Banter
- Spice
- Romance
CONS
- Pacing
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