The Vancouver Storm Series
1. Behind the net
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🏒 Hockey Romance ☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine 🗃️ Workplace Romance
❤️ Friends to Lovers 🛏️ Forced Proximity 🔥 Slow burn
🔒 Possessive MMC 🎙️ Gifted FMC 🌶️ Open-door Spice
Synopsis
Pippa desperately needs a job and to move out of her sister’s apartment - like ASAP! Her dream career in music flopped after being totally humiliated by her ex-boyfriend/famed singer/total d**che, so she’s turning to her more practical marketing degree for help. Signing on as an assistant for an NHL player sounded like the saving grace she had been hoping for - enter Jamie Streicher.
Favorites
If I had the time, I know that I could have finished this book in one sitting! I loved everything about it - the characters, the tension, the plot, the conflicts, the ENDING!! Stephanie Archer for sure knew what she was doing when she put these words on paper.
Pippa is now my future daughter’s name - so thank you, Stephanie, for that. Pippa is such a bright and loveable character from the very first page on. She may be hesitant to go for what she wants, but that girl is a dreamer. I applaud her consistent positivity and hope to be that way myself, as well!
Jamie took a minute to grow on me, but once I started to get into his POV, I fell head over heels for his grumpy charm. I feel he personifies that trend of “looks like he’ll kill you, is a cinnamon roll,” and needs to really know you before sharing his soft and goofy personality. This man is serious, charming, closed-off, empathetic, grumpy, ang giving all-in-one. What makes him truly special is his devotion and love for his mother. We LOVE a mama’s boy, but Jamie is something else. He truly cares so deeply for others and tries to avoid this due to his relationship with his mother: the one person he’s cared for more than anyone else, consistently causes him pain. It was really heart-warming to see him overcome this fear and become more open to the type of love he deserves and receives from Pippa.
And a brief moment for the beautifully written side characters in this novel! Donna and her mental health struggle added such an emotional twist to this story. Her relationship with Jamie brought in such depth to his story and I’m so pleased that we got to witness her battles firsthand, rather than hearing about them. Because of this, Pippa was able to establish a strong relationship with his mother and discover more about Jamie’s internal struggles.
I also adored Hazel’s character! She portrayed the true magic of having a sister - the teasing, the support, the guidance. Though we didn’t see much of it, the banter between she and Rory was so entertaining. I’m so excited to dive further into their characters in The Fake Out!
“Something shifts in my chest, locked into place. This is right. This is the way it’s supposed to be. I thought about her for all those years, and we found our way back to each other.”
Icks
I have not a single note or critique to offer this book. I thought it was excellently written and I adored everything about it! A lot of people, though have been upset with the “cringe nickname”. Jamie calling Pippa “Songbird” has sparked quite a bit of conversation on Goodreads. Obviously, not every nickname or pet name will be suitable for everybody. For instance, if my man called me “Songbird”, I’d probably make fun of him, because it just doesn’t make sense. Jamie creating this name for Pippa, especially in a time where she is so self-conscious of her voice, was so heartwarming. It was almost revealing of his true feelings for her early on and gave us a peek into his true character. He saw the potential within Pippa and chose to remind her as often as possible, with the sweet nickname, “Songbird.”
“I’m your goalie.’ he says. ‘I’ll block all your shots tonight.”
Final Thoughts
To read this book for the first time again would be a true gift. It had everything you could wish from a romance: spice, emotion, tension, and so much more. We dove so deep into the two main characters, beyond their relationship and into their workplace and family stressors. It was relatable, funny, and simply perfect. I definitely recommend this book for my fellow romance girlies and can’t wait to continue the series!
2. The Fake Out
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Currently reading!
Favorites
Currently reading!
“TBD”
Icks
Currently reading!
“TBD”
Final Thoughts
Currently reading!
Series Overview
I anticipate LOVING this series and can’t wait to wrap up my thoughts once I complete it. If you feel like reading with me, follow along on my Instagram for updates as to where I am in the series. Happy reading!
