Offside Hearts (Love and Hockey #1) by Nikki Lawson

Offside Hearts (Love and Hockey #1) Reviews

• 
  Melissa Berne

  DNF @ 5%. Grinding up a strangers leg while trying to NOT have a panic attack in an elevator??? COME FUCKING ON.
• 
  Andrea 🍉

  3 ⭐ Not the best hockey romance out there.
  
  And although I'm sure it's also not the worst, there were multiple things here that didn't really work for me.
  
  First, this book is so much longer than it needs to be. It did not need to be over 450 pages. It just didn't. The only reason why I didn't DNF it it's because all the extra pages and scenes were mostly smutty, which I enjoyed but after a while even than got repetitive. Then we have the third act break up that could have easily been avoided and hinges on miscommunication and lies, which is probably my least favourite trope of all time. It was pretty bad, but I was hopeful we'd get a quick resolution.
  
  And lastly, even though Noah is 10000% a golden retriever, absolutely amazing, unicorn of a man who would die for his woman, I didn't feel like there was a real connection between him and Margo. They lusted over each other, sure, and that apparently meant also insta love for them somehow, but it felt like there was something missing. Also, he kept calling her 'baby girl'... I almost didn't make it past that.
  
  Good, but not great.
  
  ⭐⭐⭐ / 5
  🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 /5
  
  ps: that extra 0.5 in the spice is solely because I was a big fan of Noah's eggplant piercing.
• 
  Yvonne

  4⭐️ 3.5🌶️
  
  “Sunflower?”
  “Yeah?”
  “Please don’t change your mind this time. I don’t think my heart could take it.”
  
  Can a man be too perfect?🤔 Seriously, Noah is the most Cinnamon Roll Hero I’ve ever read. I certainly love my anti-heros and alphaholes, but if you want a new book boyfriend, look no further. There are zero times where he did or thought anything even remotely questionable. If you like your guys with some flaws, then this might be a little too much in the other direction for you. Was he a little cheesy at times? Sure, but the romantic in me got carried away at the sincerity of his feelings 🥰
  
  I’ll be honest, the elevator scene was a little awkward, but moving past that, I just decided to enjoy watching Noah shamelessly fawn over Margo, trying to win her over. I like instalove if done right and he definitely had me at Hello.
  
  I’ve never met a man more passionate than Noah Blake. And I feel incredibly lucky that the two things he’s most passionate about are hockey… And me.
  
  
  It’s clear that Noah was a playboy, and outside the opening scene and the shirt scene, it’s not really exploited for conflict between them, despite that being part of the reason she’s hesitant to give into him. I could have done without the shirt miscommunication scene though 🙄 My heart hurt for Noah and all the work he put into that date for her to not even give him a chance to explain, and of course he forgave her like it was nothing 🤷🏻‍♀️ 🙈
  
  I loved the spice that was hot in contrast to sweetness of their relationship. Noah has a beautifully dirty mouth. 🙌🏻🔥 (and Bonus: he’s pierced 😏)And while this was on the longer side, there was actually purpose to many of the details that at first might not be apparent, but it still could have been shorter. I also really enjoyed the actual hockey elements, not just knowing he’s part of a team, it’s part of the story.
  
  I can’t even remember how I found this book so I did read reviews and was a little nervous at what the third act break was going to be all about, because seriously, there is No Doubt about how much Noah feels for Margo. It wasn’t as bad as I was imagining and I did understand why he went through with the blackmail and Margo’s reaction was reasonable. I mean, I’d rather there not be any of this type of conflict but it seems par for the course in this kind of book, like Consider Me and Offside, and I disliked this one the least because it had some merit to it.
  
  While Noah’s goodness was borderline over the top, and there are a lot of plot lines glossed over or too easily resolved, I still really enjoyed him and Margo and I am really looking forward to Reese and Callie’s story!🫶
  
  I pretty much exclusively do audiobooks, so that’s why I gave this a try. I hadn’t previously listened to anything by these narrators but would recommend!
• 
  Bethie_books

  DNF... Boring super quickly
  
  DNF at 36%
  
  It started off really good, but fell super flat. I would have loved more push/pull from them in the beginning. They get together so fast, even though Margo "resisted" Noah. Yeah, I put that in quotations because there is hardly any resistance from Margo.
  Noah is also supposed to be this playboy manwhore who is "never setting down." Suddenly, he's talking about fate and destiny, acting like he's ready to be with someone. There is no subtle change, but like flipping a light switch.
  Also, this professional NHL team doesn't have social media people helping to boost fans/sales? Margo having to take pictures on her phone? Most of the fans are old men??? Seems super unrealistic if you ask me...😬👀🤷‍♀️
• 
  Sophie Hircock

  4.5☆
  
  “𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐬𝐨 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐧 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞����. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤… 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞.”
  
  Ugh this book was so freaking cute. Noah and Margo were PERFECT together. Noah, that man! You can find me on my knees for him🧎‍♀️
  
  Margo was just really sweet and I usually struggle to warm up to fmc's but I really enjoyed her.
  
  I also loved the fact there was so much hockey in this book.
  
  Noah visiting 3 different florists for her sunflowers though🥺
  
  Really looking forward to Callie and Reese, and praying grumpy grant gets a book too!
• 
  K

  Fire your editor, their praying on your downfall
• 
  Aleja

  Hola, te quería informar que efectivamente no devorarste, es más, ayunaste, te cagaste de hambre, tu tarea era romperla y vos la arreglaste, no serviste, sino que retiraste el plato. No sos madre, sos un concepto sin identificar.
  
  En resumen, el prota es un loco posesivo, el insta love no tiene sentido para nada, demasiado drama que sale de la nada, los plot twist super re buscados, y como que la historia no seguía un hilo, habían muchas escenas y cosas random que no aportaban nada, el romance estuvo peor que mediocre y no sé, su relación me daba fastidio.
  
  I mean, llevaban como una semana de conocerse y el prota estaba bien "esto es el destino, eres el amor de mi vida, voy a dejar de ser fuckboy por ti" re loco el tipo, la prota era muy prejuiciosa con él, en resumen todo mal. Igual quedaron muchas cosas inconclusas.
• 
  Bettylicious

  DNF at 48%
  
  I should have DNF'ed the second TikTok and Booktok was being referenced. This book is so tropey and the MCs have as much depth, chemistry, and charisma as a beige wall.
  
  The MC is supposedly a player who is so happy about his life and everything but guys, the second he sees our FMC, its rainbows, its sunshine, no other is like her and he goes celibate and monogamous just for her. Its love!
  
  And now our FMC. Guys, she, SHES NOT LIKE THE OTHER GIRLS okay? All the puck bunnies (hello old misogynistic trope!) and gurls before her. They are not like her. She is beautiful but not too beautiful, modest and kind but also kinky and slim and pretty but also has some "light curves" and also so good at giving blowjobs. She is of course so smart and driven and perfect at her job (even though she was hired as a social media manager without any experience and knowledge of any kind of sport) and her first Tiktok she does goes viral (where the MC is lifting her up Dirty Dancing style) and she is being praised as if she is the second coming of Christ for making ONE tiktok guys. I was in physical pain reading some parts of this book.
  
  Some of the hockey things are also on the wrong side. Hockey romance is not exactly accurate but the amount of downright wrong things being put in this was off-putting. NHL players don't practice 8 fucking hours a day, not during the season. Nor does the team fly commercial! On what planet?!
  
  After the first time, they slept together (a scene so boring I was skipping it) and her supposedly discovering her previously unknown praise kink I was out. I just couldn't take it anymore. Especially when I saw that I was only halfway through this mess.
  
  Life is too short to read bad books and 2023 is my year where I am no longer forcing myself to finish books that give me zero pleasure.
• 
  Cait

  Not only was the main character delusional, she also stole $20,000 from her previous employer and justified it because he wasn’t a saint & her sister was poor? What? And then the mmc’s dad blackmailed him with his girlfriends past, although she never got caught for stealing the money, they ran a background check on her and somehow knew she stole all this missing money? And how the hell did she never get caught for STEALING THE MONEY?! And the sex scenes weren’t for me and I’m just? I wasn’t feeling it unfortunately 🫠 and the mmc paid her old boss the $20,000 back plus $200,000 for interest?! Huh?! He never even talked to her about how it was wrong for her to illegally fill out documents and pocket money, he praised her for helping her sister and then paid off this guy to keep him quiet. Also, the kiss cam scene ripped off Sleet Kitten. Not saying that was a masterpiece either, but the scene was almost word for word.
• 
  Sabrina

  Get it here:
  
  Amazon US *
  Amazon UK
• 
  kat

  was very intrigued by this at first but quickly realized i would have to start a list of things i didn’t like bc it would be a lower star rating read for me:
  
  - the first meeting was a little too unrealistic for me idk
  - way too obsessed with each other way too fast jesus christ
  - him saying hockey felt more accessible to him than other sports was crazy
  - HATE that he said “you taste good” after their first kiss
  - i hate the whole “fmc has never had an orgasm from ______ before” trope like there’s something about it that rubs me the wrong way
  - i NEED people to stop unironically using the term “puck bunny” and having said “puck bunnies” be a main aspect of hockey romances
  - HATE the miscommunication over the whole shirt thing like she literally could’ve just went upstairs and asked him to clarify
  - too many unnecessary scenes
  - i got tired of coming to my notes app to type everything i didn’t like but just know it keeps getting worse and worse and i hated it
• 
  Abby McDougall

  the pierced dick wasn’t really needed lmao but i enjoyed it
• 
  Mia S.

  Wow!
  
  So yes a hockey romance, but honestly it took a twist! Cinnamon roll MMC and really rooting for him after trying to give up his playboy ways. Then a twist that came out of nowhere. Of course not spoiling, only thing I would suggest is keep going, keep going!
• 
  Jen

  DNF at 45% - Instalove, basic characters and zero plot. A few chapters are devoted to tooth pain and a root canal. I got bored.
• 
  Reem

  a fun lil read, gave me a whole new dictionary of icks 🤡
• 
  Carina Chilcott

  3.75 🌟
• 
  Kristýna

  Miluju, tohle byla absolutní bomba! Dokonalost! 🩵🩵🩵🩵
• 
  Grace Erickson

  Noah Blake is THE standard, ladies. We don’t accept less than what he’s shown that we deserve. This book was so captivating. I can’t remember the last time I’ve gasped and shouted out loud to epic plot twists like I did in this book. Usually I’m pretty good at foreshadowing and can hit the nail on the head of what’s about to go down, but I was thrown for a gnarly loop in this book. Also could’ve been because I was just so obsessed with Noah that I didn’t stand a chance at guessing the plot twist. I’m stoked to see what comes next in this series and will be purchasing the next book as soon as it’s released!
• 
  Hannah Danielle (Justagirlandherbook21 - Bookstagram)

  DNF - chapter 17 audiobook:
  מצטערת אבל לא
  לא לא לא לא לא ושוב פעם לא!
  התחיל חמוד ואז הדרדרות חדה יותר מהאייליינר שלי
  וממשיך להידרדר, וזה המשיך עד שלא יכולתי יותר
  מי שלא רוצה לקרוא ספויילר אז שתדלג:
  *
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  *
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  *
  מי יכולה להיות בהתקף חרדה, בנוסף היא חושבת על גבול הבטוחה שהיא עומדת למות כי המעלית חשוכה ועושה רעשים כאילו עומדת לקרוס, מחליטה להתחכך על יבש בבחור זר עד לכדי אורגזמה? בחייאת אני מבינה שזה פנטזיה והכל ואני לא עושה קינק שיימינג אבל מי בהתקף חרדה יוזמת סקס על יבש?
  ולמה כשהם נפגשים בשנית יש לו מחשבות של גבר ואז פתאום מחשבה של אישה, כי רק אישה יכולה לכתוב על גבר שהוא נזכר במאורע ורגע אחד הוא חושב שזה היה אחד הרגעים הכי hot as fuck שהיו לו בחיים ורגע אחרי שזה היה sweet.
  מה הקשר סוויט?! תראו לי גבר אחד שזיין על יבש חושב שזה היה רגע מתוק או מקסים. די עם זה!
  ועוד דבר נוסף - אני שונאת שמכניסים רשתות חברתיות במיוחד טיקטוק לספרים
  חאלססססס עם זה!!!!!!!
  די לדבר על טיקטוק ובוקטוק בתוך הספר אין בלתי כזה
  בקיצור לא שרדתי.
  נ.ב: שרה אם את רואה את זה צדקת! נטשתי כשנחתת😂
• 
  Marisa BG

  This was awesome! Noah and Margo are awesome! I am always looking for really great hockey romance and this went above and beyond!
• 
  Nádia (weebna)

  I’m very sad to write that it was a struggle to finish this book.
  I’m very thankful and I know I’m fortunate to receive an ARC for this but unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this story.
  The insta-love/lust already throws me off, especially when the characters have just met and engage in a physical interaction and the “one-night stand” type. It was just way too much. By chapter 8 they were both already so obsessed with each other.
  Maybe I didn’t enjoy it as much because it was too focused on smut rather than the development of a character and relationship and I’ve been looking more to that than just pure smut. I like when all of it connects and leads to such moments.
  Of course it has a 3rd act breakup that, in my opinion, too stupid. I get it, they’re young and somethings just happen but it made so sense, absolutely no sense.
  I feel like it has room to grow… It is corny and it’s a quick read with some enjoyable moments but overall, it’s not the type of book I’m in the mood for currently.
• 
  Libby Savage

  I’m supposed to read this book, set in Denver, and just accept the plot point of there being no youth girls hockey teams?
  
  And I’m supposed to overlook that the locker room conversations discussed the Glaciers, but the chapter of the game references the Titans?
  
  And I’m also supposed to believe that a professional athlete would purchase a gold-plated necklace from an antique jeweler whose shop opens at 7am??? I’m sorry but if a man put my grandmother’s sentimental locket on anything but solid 14k gold, I’d call the police.
  
  And last but not least, in what world is Seattle an hour LATER than Denver?
• 
  Tatiana Henriquez

  5 million stars for Noah Blake’s game & his 🌶️🍆. Other than that , the story was lacking & actual situations, conflict & substance lasted 2 seconds amongst a bunch of filler but, NOAH BLAKE YOU ARE A KING.
• 
  Ayanna S

  This . Was . Absolutely amazing . Noah . Is literally perfect tbh like ???? I Love him . I never understood book boyfriends , nor did I care but he's the one . Yep he's the one for me I can say that confidently lmao . But this was absolutely amazing and I understand now why this could be read as a standalone also I need to do better with updating my progress I've been distracted lmao
• 
  Lili

  This book could’ve been at least 100 pages shorter and it wouldn’t have made any difference to the story
• 
  rapha

  2.75⭐️ the baby girl and the amount of times he SNIFFED (what the fuck😀) her 🐱🐱 ruined this for me.
• 
  gudtanya

  3,5⭐️
  
  This book has given me so many emotions. It is very comfortable to read a book about healthy relationships, where the characters jointly try to overcome all difficulties, everyone learns from their mistakes and supports each other.
  
  I love sports romance, so I couldn't get past this hockey romance.
  
  Noah is the captain of the hockey team, a talented athlete, a playboy. Margo could not imagine that an awkward situation in the elevator would become fateful. When Margo finds out that she will be working with the hockey team and that Noah is the captain, she decides that she will avoid him in every possible way. It turns out that Noah is not what he seems. He is incredibly sweet, caring and attentive, he is ready to do anything for Margo, even sacrifice his own happiness and reputation. Therefore, they cannot avoid each other for a long time and begin to meet in secret from everyone. Noah and Margo are made for each other, it's impossible to deny, so they solve all misunderstandings and problems quickly.
  
  Their relationship is developing very quickly, it confused me a little. There are a lot of hot scenes in the book, through each chapter the characters have sex. It got a little annoying, so I flipped through these scenes.
  
  Nikki Lawson's debut novel turned out to be quite good, I don't regret reading it. Some moments were not for me, so I put 3,5⭐️, but I advise everyone to get acquainted with the book, maybe you will also be hooked by Noah and Margo and you will fall in love with them.
• 
  Krystal

  4.5⭐️
  When it comes to a reformed cinnamon roll playboy.. Noah Blake is the standard okay?
  
  I really enjoyed this book. From the first hook up under less than ideal places 😂, to them reunited and realizing they have to work together, the progression of the relationship- all of it, I liked. Once Noah sees Margo after their run in during a stuck elevator, he decides its fate. This was relatively low angst, of course Margo is very hesitant at first because of Noah's history but he's so quick to reassure her and show her he's serious about being only with her.
  
  The dirty talking? SOO SOO good.
  
  𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴: 𝘚𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘕𝘏𝘓 𝘏𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘺, 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱, 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺����𝘰𝘺, 𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰, 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦/𝘤𝘰𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴.
  
  𝘛𝘞: 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘭, 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘝 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳
  
  𝑯𝑶𝑵𝑶𝑹𝑨𝑩𝑳𝑬 𝑴𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵- 𝑨 𝑷𝑰𝑬𝑹𝑪𝑬𝑫 🍆
• 
  Diana

  3.5 stars
  I love hockey romance so I'm not surprised I read this so quickly but this book felt like it was stretching itself for no reason. After chapter 40 the author was just making more drama to keep the story going
  If I'm being honest, the drama does make sense and it is related to the story but the way it was written felt like the story would end and then drama would happen and then it would end and then more drama and then again and again. It felt repetitive and kinda boring.(especially the spicy scenes....I think everytime the characters were sad or fought they would just bang and get over it smh)
  Overall this is a very basic hockey romance book, nothing too good but nothing too bad either, at least it was entertaining.