A review by ashley_recommendsromance
Cross-Checked by Julia Connors

lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Boston Rebels is the best hockey romance series ever written. And that's a hill Iโ€™ll die on. 

โญ๏ธ Rating: 5/5
๐ŸŒถ๏ธ Spice: 3/5

๐Ÿ’ Enemies to Lovers
๐Ÿ’ Grumpy x Grumpier
๐Ÿ’ Forced Proximity
๐Ÿ’ Workplace Romance
๐Ÿ’ Forbidden Romance
๐Ÿ’ Single Parent
๐Ÿ’ Found Family
๐Ÿ’ Hockey Romance
๐Ÿ’ No 3rd Act Breakup

Normally Iโ€™d be all blah blah the MMC is super hot and amazing-and he is, but(!!!!) AJ, our FMC deserves a moment of her own. I adore this woman. First, sheโ€™s the first GM in hockey. Sheโ€™s also incredibly driven and smart. She;s worked hard for career and it shows. Unfortunately, breaking the glass ceiling in her career meant putting her personal life to the side. This includes a failed marriage and lack of friends in Boston.

I absolutely adore how this friend group shows up for one another. Both our FMC and MMC come from challenging pasts and they find a way to create the most amazing support system with friends and teammates. 

This book is so perfectly paced, giving us real time action with the occasional circle back just to understand how these two went from disliking one another to not being able to keep their hands off each other. Iโ€™ve read a lot of hockey romance books, like, hundreds, and this is truly an original story that makes the reader want to keep going. This book is easy to blow through in a weekend. Itโ€™s sweet, spicy, and of course everyone ends up with their own HEA. 

This might be Julia Connors most touching and vulnerable story to date. If youโ€™ve never read any of her books before, you can most definitely start with Cross-Checked. But please, Iโ€™m begging you, go back and read the entire series. I promise you, itโ€™s worth it.