Cowboy Casual by Holly Renee | Book Review

[ad/gifted - I received an eARC for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.]

Title & Author: Cowboy Casual by Holly Renee 

My rating: 4/5

Publication date: 7th October 2025

Blurb:

Blaire Monroe is the only woman I've ever loved, and the only one I've let break my heart.

It's been ten years since she ran from this town, chasing a life that didn't include the cowboy next door who blurred the line between best friend and something more.

Now she's back.

Fresh off a busted engagement and hiding out on her grandmother's crumbling strawberry farm like the past never happened.

Like she doesn't still linger in every part of me I've spent years trying to erase.

But Blaire isn't the kind of girl you forget.

She's wildfire: reckless, untamed, and impossible to hold without getting scorched.

We collide the second we're in the same room.

Too much heat. Too much history. Not nearly enough distance.

The tension crackles, the pull is impossible, and before long, we're right back where we swore we'd never be—pressed against the wall, her hands in my hair, my mouth on hers like I've been starving for a decade.

I tell myself I can handle it.

But the truth is, this cowboy was never meant for casual.

Not with her. And sure as hell not again.

Review:

Cowboy Casual is the first book in the Calloway Ranch series and oh my goodness, I can't wait for more! I love when the first in a series makes you also adore the supporting characters and gets you excited for their books.

Blaire Monroe has just discovered that her fiancé Grant has been cheating on her for the past year. Her father, Senator Monroe, took her from her life on her grandmother June's strawberry farm a decade ago, promising her a great education, good job and the promise of marrying a good man.

On discovering Grant's infidelity, she goes back to June's, and very quickly bumps into her childhood sweetheart, cowboy Colt Calloway, who was all too happy for her to leave all those years ago. She has never understood why and is still hurt by it.

I LOVED this! Colt is a mustached single dad and his book is a proper slow burn, second chance romance.

The supporting characters are fantastic and the relationship between Blaire and Colt was written very well, and properly explored both of their feelings both now and what happened ten years ago.

I love when a single dad book does not just forget about the child. Colt's daughter Ruby was a big part of the book and even how Blaire integrated into her life was so sweet.

I can't wait for Hunter's book!

Revolve by Bal Khabra | Book Review

[This post contains affiliate links.]

Title & Author: Revolve by Bal Khabra 

My rating: 4/5

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Publication date: 14th October 2025

Blurb:

Sierra Romanova was an Olympic figure skater before a life-altering accident left her with panic attacks every time she enters the rink. Now, back for her final year at Dalton University, she's ready to reclaim the spotlight.

Kicked off his hockey team for reckless behaviour, Dylan Donovan has little to no chance of making it to the National Hockey League draft. But Dylan's whole world revolves around the ice so, if hockey is forbidden, at least there's figure skating.

When Sierra finds herself in desperate need of a new partner, the only person who can match her skill is none other than the cocky hockey player who refuses to cut her any slack.

On the ice, their chemistry is electric. But can they stand the heat off the rink?

Review:

I absolutely loved Collide and Spiral, the previous two books in the Off The Ice series, but I think Revolve might just be my favourite!

Dylan Donovan has been suspended from the hockey team for failing a drug test which also includes no rink time at all. Sierra Romanova is a talented figure skater who is getting back into skating following a brutal fall. She is determined to compete again but after her previous partner just left her following the accident, she needs to find someone quick.

What she doesn't realise is that before ice hockey, Dylan used to skate with his sister so the two are put together thanks to their coaches. 

Both characters backstories are very emotional, Sierra with her accident and Dylan with his parents. Dylan is a typical playboy but something is different about Sierra and I particularly enjoyed how she really was not sold on him at the beginning. Their relationship development was beautiful.

Sierra is such a strong character and you could feel her turmoil about not being enough and how she thought about her scars. Dylan was just what she needed.

A really lovely romance!

Spiral by Bal Khabra | Book Review

[This post contains affiliate links.]

Title & Author: Spiral by Bal Khabra 

My rating: 4/5

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Publication date: 28th January 2025

Blurb:

Elias Westbrook, a newly drafted hockey player for the Toronto Thunder, is facing the challenges of fame and media scrutiny. The tabloids are reporting on his every move, including which woman he was last seen with, but all he wants to do is escape the spotlight.

Enter from stage left Sage Beaumont, an aspiring ballerina whose lack of popularity online has put her at a major disadvantage for securing the roles she dreams of. When Sage finds herself with the chance to change her luck by fake-dating Elias, she takes her shot.

Soon enough, the flimsy rules they set in place fall away. But before things can spiral out of control, Sage and Elias will have to decide if they're willing to take the leap together or if they'll have to call it quits.

Review:

There are so many things I love about this book!

Spiral is the second novel in the Off The Ice series, featuring Elias Westbrook who has recently joined ice hockey team Toronto Thunder. Although great with the assists, he has yet to score a career goal. He is under the microscope with the boss and the media scrutiny he gets isn't helping either. 

Sage Beaumont is a ballerina trying to land her dream role. When her uncle, the general manager of Toronto Thunder, asks her to perform at an event, she meets Elias. She could use his status to gain popularity for her ballet auditions and he could use a steady girlfriend to keep the tabloids away. What can go wrong with fake dating?

I absolutely adored Sage's character. She has had a troubled childhood, has worked so hard for herself while also being her brother's guardian (who is also diabetic so props for that representation!). Elias's character arc was one of my favourites and I loved how he slowly let Sage in, something he has struggled to do.

The two really come together to help each other out but also push each other to be the best they can be. I really enjoyed Sage's ballet scenes, despite not knowing a lot about ballet myself, but what ties this book all together is the found family aspect between the main characters and the supporting ones.

The Ending Is The Best Part by Lamia Zain | Book Review

[ad/gifted - I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.]

Title & Author: The Ending Is The Best Part by Lamia Zain

My rating: 4/5

Publisher: Corvus

Publication date: 2nd October 2025

Blurb:

Yara and Xander are both writers on a major TV series. But that's where the similarities end.

Yara loves romance, but Xander doesn't see the point. He is only interested in the greats: Kubrick, Scorsese, Tarantino. He doesn't have Instagram, hasn't read a book published this century.

When they're tasked with writing the season finale together, they know the episode needs them both - romance and drama, head and heart.

Can they put aside their differences to create something remarkable?

Review:

This book was written as part of 'BookTok Made Me Write It', where TikTok users got to vote on key aspects of the book. You can really tell because it just screams that it was written for the BookTok community - and I ATE it up.

Yara Aslan is a junior screenwriter working on a popular television show. Her parents haven't really been supportive of her job, thinking it is just something she will do for a while and they have hopes of her becoming a lawyer. When tasked with the opportunity of writing the season finale of the show and to have her name proudly displayed as the writer, she thinks this could just be the opportunity to show them that her career is serious.

When her boss Meagan pairs her up with her office nemesis Xander Woods, stating that both of their ideas will gel well together, Yara is less than enthused and doesn't want his name being listed first.

This book has everything you would want in a romance novel. It is closed door for those who don't like spice, it is enemies-to-lovers with the forced proximity and "only one bed" tropes but it also has heart. Although just a short novel - I read it in one sitting - there is a lot of depth to the characters. Something that I really enjoy. It shows that you don't need lots of words to make someone feel. Each has their problems, it shows that relationships take trust and time and I especially loved the parallels with Yara and Xander and the characters they were writing about.

A very enjoyable read! 

Collide by Bal Khabra | Book Review

[This post contains affiliate links.]

Title & Author: Collide by Bal Khabra 

My rating: 4/5

Publisher: Bloomsbury 

Publication date: 16th January 2024

Blurb: 

When Summer Preston's professor issues her with an ultimatum, she finds herself on an unexpected collision course with hockey captain Aiden Crawford.

Summer hates everything about hockey, for good reason, but she isn't going to let that stand in the way of her becoming a sports psychologist.

Aiden loves being the hockey captain, except when his team's reckless mistakes risk jeopardising their entire season. When Coach puts him forward for a research paper as punishment, he has no choice but to accept.

Summer can't stand his blasé approach to life, and Aiden doesn't understand her uptight, scheduled one. They are off to a rocky start, and provoking each other – it turns out – is what they do best.

As sparks fly, neither wants to be the one to give in. Can they get everything they want – including each other?

Review:

I love an ice hockey romance, and this was such a fun and heartwarming read!

Summer Preston, a sports psychology student with an avid hatred of ice hockey, gets pushed by her advisor into working with Aiden Crawford, the captain of the college ice hockey team. Aiden, who has taken the blame for his teammates’ party fiasco, becomes the subject of Summer’s research project. Neither of them are particularly thrilled about it, but sparks start to fly.

What I really enjoyed about this story was the depth beyond the romance. Summer and Aiden aren’t just stereotypes, they’re layered characters with real backstories. I liked learning why Summer avoids hockey and seeing Aiden’s struggles rooted in his past.

The dynamic definitely gives dislike-to-lovers, and while their relationship development was sweet and satisfying, what surprised me most was the humour. The banter didn’t just come from Summer and Aiden’s witty back-and-forth, but also from the whole team, something that always makes me excited for subsequent books.

If you enjoy sports romances with equal parts swoon, banter, and heart, this one is worth picking up!