Review: A Groom of One's Own by Emma St. Clair

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

He always dreamed of getting married--but for love, not to avoid deportation.

Eli Hopkins has it all--almost. A hockey career with the wildly popular Appies. Teammates who are like brothers. The only thing he's missing is someone to share it all with. Oh--and correctly filed visa paperwork. Due to administrative error, Eli is about to lose everything. Unless he can find someone to marry him in the next thirty days. And he might have the perfect woman in mind. The only problem? He'd like to marry her for real, not simply for legal purposes. Now Eli faces the challenge of winning over a wife who thinks the marriage is in name only ...

A Groom of One's Own is a closed door marriage of convenience hockey romcom with heart and humor, sizzle but NO spice. Perfect for fans of sports romance who want a little less heat. This book connects to Just Don't Fall & Absolutely Not in Love from the Sweater Weather series, but all books can be read as standalones.

My Review

Hockey romance + modern day marriage of convenience? Yes please! Eli needs a quick fix to be able to stay in the country and continue his hockey season, and Bailey is animal shelter worker who is alone in the world except for her grandmother suffering from dementia who needs better care. I really feel like they would have ended up together anyway but the unusual circumstances accelerated their relationship. Nothing like proximity, sacrifice, and commitment mixed with complicated dynamics for amazing chemistry and romantic tension! Eli is such a light in Bailey's world, and I love how they care for each other and show it in their actions. Such a great falling-in-love story with a perfect balance of depth and humor! I'm loving the Appies players and hope the authors keep writing their stories.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Don't miss the other books featuring the Appies . . .

 

(there is a print version of the Sweater Weather books that matches the cover design theme for the Appies series)