Behind the Net (Vancouver Storm, #1) (2024)

it wasn’t horrible- i just got the biggest ick from “songbird”

abolish corny pet names in romance books please i am so tired

kicking, screaming, giggling, running around my room.

god gave me eyes and i chose to disgrace him by reading this

my headache was getting worse every time he called her "songbird"

2.25⭐️ the only good thing about this book was daisy, the f*cking dog.

➵ 3 stars

“𝙄 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩. 𝙄 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚, 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛, 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣.”

this is probably gonna be a very short review, because i don’t have that much to say

this is just a regular hockey romance book and hockey romances will always hit one way or another. this was surprisingly good, but again nothing special. i did enjoy this because all i needed was a hockey romance with a little spice and spice i definitely got, but if you’re looking for something more and deeper than that this book won’t satisfy you, but i’d still recommend if you’re in the mood for a cute, spicy, easy read. normally i’d write a paragraph about each main character, but as i said i don’t have that much to say. the characters were likeable and cute together, but it wasn’t any of those characters you’ll remember for the rest of your life, but that’s good too sometimes, they can’t all be nesta archeron's and dante maroni’s. when that’s said i would’ve liked the book more if he didn’t call her “my pretty assistant” every second chapter, but i’m willing to overlook that a little because i’ve been in a big ass slump and i finished this book so that means it must’ve done something right. i’m also really looking forward to the second book in this series, because i already know that bantering is gonna be great and i love the characters. i honestly think it’s time for me to get back into my hockey romance era, because i’ve missed these vibes so much.

“That girl I used to be is still in there I just have to find a way to get her out.”

“Tell me.”
“Bossy.”
“Mhm.”

“You’re surprisingly nimble”
“I’m very good with my fingers.”

“Kiss me.”

“I’m so f*cking gone for this girl.”

“You need to stop looking at me like that, songbird.”
“Or what?”
“Or I’m going to lose my mind.”

“The best songs are honest.”

“She smiles, and I fall a little harder for her.”

“I love coming home to you.”

“I don’t think I can.”
“You say what a lot, but I can’t remember the last time you were right.”

“Pippa’s my forever person.”

“Having issues doesn’t make you weak. It makes you stronger.”

maybe we can keep our clothes on for once pls

”I have feelings for you, songbird.”

UMMM

I SO ATE THIS BOOK UP. I loved their tension, their banter and THE SPICE!!

I recommend this book to YOU if you like: grumpy x sunshine, smut, hockey romance and cute moments!

5-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
GOING TO BE MY FAVORITE BOOK GOING TO RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE WHO LIKES ROMANCE EVEN A LITTLE BIT‼️‼️

Garrett Graham, I’m sorry I ever doubted you. Come home, the kids miss you.

DNF @52%

The cringe is strong with this one ☠️

If I have to read the nickname ‘songbird’ one more time I might go insane.

dnf 22%

instalove always destroying things for me 🧍

I don't think I've ever read a book with two hornier MCs, and let me tell you, I ate it up!

i genuinely don’t know why i pushed myself to read the entire thing

3.75 stars

“Pippa Hartley is standing in my living room, playing with the dog, and I can’t breathe.”

This book has everything I was craving, a grumpy hockey player, a cutest dog, perfect balance of romance and sports, wholesome moments, and immaculate spice.

The story wasn't something special, just a typical hockey romance, yet I devoured it in just two days. It's a bit long for a contemporary romance but I did not know where did those 440 pages fly by. The pacing was slow, it's a slow-burn given the fact that the character's had instant attraction to each other but the insta-lust/love was executed so well. This is my first book by Stephanie Archer and I can see myself getting used to her writing, her characters and especially her sweet and spicy stories. The writing was simple, the character's were drawn out viscerally, had depth and vulnerability that made them seem real and flawed.

“I thought you were gorgeous, too,” he murmurs, looking at me in a way that makes me feel like I can’t breathe. “Even back then.”

Pippa Hartley had been betrayed by her ex-boyfriend. He stole her confidence, faith and trust. She is an incredible singer but is struggling with music creativity until Jamie walks in her life and made her see how incredible she is. Pippa is a hard-working woman, who feels deeply and is the sweetest person. She is thoughful and kind but there is a fire to her that only Jamie can bring out. I liked seeing her growth from a being a girl with no dreams to a girl with passion that brings out real Pippa.

“I sing my heart out. I sing about wanting more, wanting to believe in myself, wanting to break free and be my own person.”

Jamie Streicher is the grumpy striker, the one who hates everyone but loves his dog and his girl, Pippa. He takes the burden of everything in his life and wants to make everything right because he felt obliged to everyone in his life. It took me a lot of time to warm up to his character because he was unnecessarily rude sometimes but once he starts showing his sweet and loving side, the one that cares for people he loves, I couldn't help but swoon over him. He was also possessive when it comes to Pippa and we love a jealous man.

“Pippa’s my forever person.”

“I love coming home to you.”

“She smiles, and I fall a little harder for her.”

: ̗̀➛ Pippa and Jamie's love story is filled with wholesomeness, sweetness, witty banter, emotional moments and perfect amount of spicy moments. Their obsession with each other runs deep, their chemistry sizzling and heavy with sexual tension and undeniable attraction. What I truly liked was how these two helped each other. How Jamie helped Pippa gain her confidence back, how he pushed her to create music just for herself because he loved her in all the ways. How Pippa made sure Jamie didn't felt alone and had her support and love. It was simply so beautiful and precious.

“You need to stop looking at me like that, songbird”
“Or what?”
“Or I’m going to lose my mind.”

The spice in this book is one of the best I have read in a while. It's perfect 🤌🏻

This also has no third-act break-up or misscommunication trope and the ending was perfect and satisfying. I am so excited for Rory and Hazel's story next 🤭 I have a feeling it's going to be my favourite in this series!

———————
Just need a cute and no brainer hockey romance 😗

Dnf’d at 60%. It was too insta-lusty and the fmc was all over him before even meeting him 😭. And somethings just didn’t make sense. They lost me from the moment he fired her and she bought him cupcakes the nest day?? If someone fired me for no reason i’d go and throw eggs at his house not gave him cupcakes 😭😭

Im sorry buket ily😭🫶🏻

Some hockey, a little bit of music, but mostly p*rn.

This was super meh, review to come!

I feel like this book was too long, and for no good reason. Cringe dialogue, cringe storyline, cringe nickname, cringe characters!! The characters also have zero chemistry. Overhyped!

if stephanie archer has no fans, i am DECEASED

she can do no wrong in my eyes and behind the net exceeded all of my expectations.

imagine you're lowkey destitute so your sister is able to swing you a job as an assistant to a pro hockey player. on day one, you knock on his door only for it to be the hockey god you crushed on in high school who seemingly has no idea who you are and is not happy you're here. EXCEPT HE TOTALLY REMEMBERS YOU AND YOU'VE RENDERED HIM SPEECHLESS.

i loved pippa. i loved her sister. i am on my KNEES for jamie.

no one writes praise and reassurance from start to finish like miss stephanie archer. 10/10 recommend.

3,25 stars
rtc later
.

thanking my gorgeous girl buket for making me start this and ALSO help me find the book after tons of research i made at school yesterday just to find it ahaha
she is an icon she is a legend and she is the moment🫂🤍

Very cute, low on angst, high on feels, WITHOUT 3RD ACT BREAKUP, featuring a doggo, lots of steam! 🙌❤️‍🔥

and i will never be listening to songbird by fleetwood mac ever again

I was so incredibly lucky to Beta read this and I adored every moment of it. Jamie and Pippa are everything to me and this book deserves a million stars!!!

After reading the ARC, I’m finally able to put into words how much I loved this book. Not only did I have the best experience beta reading, but the characters were so relatable and realistic while also being so swoony and fluffy.

Pippa and Jamie brought the HEAT & all the swoon and I had permanent smile lines on my face the whole time. The tension? Immaculate. The spice? SPICY. The relationship dynamic? So damn sweet. I loved that there wasn’t a third act breakup, and focused more on two people working together to get their HEA. Jamie was the grumpiest but also a secret softie and romantic which is my fav📚

If I haven’t convinced you to read it yet, here’s a bit of what to expect:
- he buys her things
- jealousy moments 🤌🏻
- spicy coach 🌶️
- a stray dog who is the star of the show
- the best BANTER (In classic Stephanie archer fashion)
- family love

Go add this to your tbr, read it immediately and fall in love with this new world Stephanie has written!!

The hugest shoutout to Stephanie for the ARC and opportunity to beta read.

Nothing actually happened in this book apart from them being insanely attracted to each other. I need more than that.

pov u read a book, wrote rtc, the review did in fact not come, and u forgot literally every single thing that happened in this book.

anyways, it had good vibes?

•

this
this was good

rtc besties

Solid read, just not really for me.

The characters were cute together and I enjoyed the romantic portions, especially toward the end, it was just a bit too instalust for me. It’s steamy but it happened a little too often for me.

And also sincerely, I’m tired of female characters who don’t have good sex lives before meeting the H. She was with her ex for 8 years and never came once. Like how exhausting. Of course the first time with the H she does.

The side characters were fun.

No virgins, he’s experienced but no mentions of his sex life prior
OW - no drama, but he clears up something with his ex from five years prior who he never loved, it was very nice actually and refreshing
OM - her ex causes drama and she sees him a couple of time, no issues are caused with the H, she handles it

4.5 delicious stars
Words can't describe how much i enjoyed thiiis!!!!! It was f*cking perfect!!!! But let me start from the begining!

We have the mmc Jamie, a famous hockey player (a golie) and our fmc Pippa a music addict, recently broken up and starting over her life! They used to go to highschool together 8 years ago, her two years younger than him, a music nerd-band kid, him a popular hockey kid! Now in the present: she gets the job as his personal assistant! When they first meet, he acts really closed off and she assumes he doesn't remember her...then we go to his pov:
Pippa Hartley is standing in my living room, playing with the dog, and I can’t breathe. When I opened the door, I thought I was hallucinating.
Her hair is longer. Same shy smile, same sparkling blue-gray eyes that make me forget my own name. Same soft, musical voice that I’d strain to hear back in high school while she was talking and laughing with the other band kids.
Grown up, though, she’s f*cking gorgeous.[....]I can’t f*cking think around Pippa Hartley. It’s always been like this.
AND I AM HERE SCREAMING CRYING GIGGLING THROWING UP

I honestly think that is enough reason to convince you to read it, if you are into sports romance/want to get into this PLS PLS READ IT!!!! I NEED PEOPLE TO FANFIRL OVER HERE WITH ME!!!

I am telling you, this man is OBSESSED!!! I have so many quotes highlited it is insane!! I wanted to post all of them here but now thinking about it i will leave you with that, to see all the sown worthy quotes yourself when you read this 🤭

One last (ok maybe two) spoilery part(s) that i need to say otherwise i will combust (so obciously beware, spoilers):

1. THERE IS NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP, YES YOU SAW THAT RIGHT!!!!!

2. There is a subplot with matters relating parental issues that they both resolve in the end in a very real and mature way and for anyone that might concernes, yes i kept crying and ceying bc of the relief and happiness i felt. Just puting it out there

So yeah, much more to say and rave about, but won't do it, JUST GO READ IT!!!!!!

Ok i am adding some quotes (more likely paragraphs, excuse me) bc I had a conversation with lila and i remembered some and I couldn't not add them:

Oh, yeah. She’s getting a ring. A big one. Loud and flashy. Disgustingly over-the-top. She’ll hate it, I’m sure, but I want people seeing it from a mile away. From space. I want it to signal to everyone that she’s taken.
“What are you grinning at?” she asks me, smiling.
She’s so pretty. I won’t force her to wear a ring she doesn’t like. I could never do that. She can wear whatever ring she wants.

THE WAY HE HAS THE THOUGHTS OF A POSSESSIVE CAVEMAN BUT THE MOMENT HE JEARS HER HE MELTS INTO A PUDDLE I CAN'T

“You ready to be mine?” I ask.
“Songbird.” He smiles down at me with that breathtaking smile that’s just for me. He smiles at me like I’m adorable, and like he loves me more than anything. “I always have been.”

No words just giggling

PS1: I need Hadley's and Rory's book like i need air.

PS2: I need a book about Hayden pls, this man is a tressure!!!!

PS3: I need a book about the situation between coach Ward, Jordan and Chris, pls give it to us, thankyou!

PS4: This author has another small town romance series and i can't wait to check it out and get into my small town romance era (i've never read this trope)

haven’t had a 5 star book in a while but absolutely loved this one!! i love when goal tenders get their moment in a hockey romance, i cant wait for rory and hazels story !!