5 Stars

An unorthodox dating app that results in a series of funny, sweet, “foot in mouth” moments.  Caleb and Zara will make you laugh, roll your eyes and tear up a bit when those vulnerable moments shine through.  Avery Flynn has written two characters that any reader that relate to, full of good intentions and faults that any good person possesses and works through on the road to finding that one person who can love us, even at our most unlovable.  I also cannot forget to mention the sweet and funny Anchovy....the perfect addition to this fantastic RomCom!

Cara - Alphas Do It Better Book Blog

Avery Flynn lights the lamp with PARENTAL GUIDANCE (Ice Knights #1).  In this novel, Hockey defenseman Caleb Stuckey gets caught in a PR nightmare. To help the situation blow over, the team requires him to participate in promoting a new dating app where his mother, Britany, has control over selecting someone whom he must go on five dates with.  This contemporary sports romance is suitable for adult readers.  

PARENTAL GUIDANCE is a fun and entertaining story.  Caleb’s Uber fiasco totally reminded me of the Ottawa Senators Uber incident in November 2018.  I think it was great that Avery Flynn used this in her story.  I thought the parental influence dating app was also an interesting spin.  Both parents had fascinating quirks that added to the novel.

I enjoyed the characters.  Caleb is a good guy.  I felt horrible about what he went through with his dyslexia.  Zara Ambrose is a vibrant character.  Her job was unique.  I like that neither of the characters initially wanted to impress the other.  I think they genuinely got to know each other that way.  I like that they had fun on their dates and confided in each other.  They had great chemistry.  I love Zera’s dog, Anchovy.  He was always doing something amusing.

PARENTAL GUIDANCE was skillfully written.  The plot was clever.  The story was easy to read and hard to put down. The epilogue was a perfect ending to the book. PARENTAL GUIDANCE is a great foundation for the Ice Knights series.  I am looking forward to Avery Flynn’s next book in the series.  I recommend this book to people who enjoy humorous/sweet sports romances.  I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

This was a fun, lightweight, enjoyable read. Zara and Caleb were something else. I loved Zara's personality and it was cute watching her come out of her shell around Caleb. She didn't want to catch feelings but she did. I honestly believe that she surprised herself at how much she was liking Caleb. I had a soft spot for Caleb as well. He was just so  darn adorable. I loved that he was not all alpha being a hockey player and all. The way he fell for Zara I just knew he could crack her shell. The secondary characters were enjoyable as well. I was waiting on Jasper and Britany to star up a relationship. Those two would be hilarious together. I absolutely loved Zara's father. He was so aloof and I couldn't help but to giggle at his antics when he was promoting all the businesses. This is a great summer read, I highly recommend it.

Arc provided  by publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

Five dates, nothing more. A means to an end...for both of them. That’s all it was supposed to be. You know what they say about best laid plans...

What do you do when you are in the middle of a PR nightmare? You join a dating app, let your mom choose the woman for you to date and then film your reactions for the world to see, hoping that this plan improves the public’s perception of you.

Caleb needed to fix the mess he got wrapped up in, but never expected Zara to help fix more than just his image. Zara was just doing the deed for her dad and to get her best friend off her back. She didn’t expect to catch feelings.

This story was fun, sweet and sexy! Caleb was a good guy just not sure how to make Zara want more from him than just five dates, because that was never going to be enough. Zara just had to decide if taking a leap of faith, was worth the risk.

I enjoy all these hockey players. The author creates wonderful characters that you want to know more about. Anchovy was a favorite. I cannot wait for the next hockey guy to get his girl!

Parental Guidance is the first addition to the Ice Knights series by Avery Flynn. The series is connected with The Hartigans and the main characters from Tomboy appear in this one. Harbor City is also mentioned and that's another series written by the author. This series will be focused on the players of Ice Knights and I am sold for it. Some of the guys were interesting and they seemed fun to have around. Our heroine, Zara, is painting miniatures and is preparing for a big event where she can meet a very important person and further her career. In order to make sure that she is gonna meet her, she agrees to join the app and do the five dates. Caleb is trying to salvage whatever he can after a nasty situation he was in. Later in the book, it's explained why he didn't do anything about what was going on in that Uber. Actually, plenty of things are not what they seem in this book and I liked that about the story. He is a big softie and I hated how Zara reacted when he messed up because he only wanted what was best for her and he was trying to help. On some level, I understand why she reacted as the did, but I couldn't be mad at him because he had the best intentions. 

The whole, allowing the parents to take over some part of the dating process was unique and fun to read. The book for most of the part was easy to read and the story had a good pace. I might not have been a fan of some stuff, but overall everything worked out well and I would recommend the book. A huge plus is that the hero is not a manwhore. He said that he slept with 15-ish women in his life and I don't think that's a big number. More points on Caleb for that. 

P.S The cover is gorgeous.

A funny, sexy and awkward story about dating in the digital age but with your parents at the helm.

3.5/5 stars. This read was quirky, honest and seductive. The main characters each had a goal to accomplish and set out to make that happen in 5 dates. But as you know, when you set parameters on your heart, it tends to go rogue.

Caleb, the pro Hockey player and Zara the miniatures artist were perfectly incompatible. Neither wanted to find true love or a relationship. But opposites certainly attracted in this rom-com and left both characters wondering how they could stick to their agreed upon restrictions.

I loved the unique personality that Zara had and her apprehension about everything that stemmed from her upbringing. Caleb had his own reasons for guarding his heart and his personal life. The two of them together was undeniably electric and made for a sweet, slow burn of emotions. I was so happy with how the story ended, and even more satisfied with the incredible epilogue!

The only reason I rated this book a 3.5 vs a 4 or 5 was due to the predictability of the story line and overall simplicity of the writing and dialogue. I just wished there was a little more substance and hearty dialogue between the two main characters. The book had me laughing, cringing, smiling and saddened. All possible emotions were laid out in this read which made it an enjoyable novel.

Such a great book, and great story! This had me hooked from the first page to the last! I absolutely loved it! Can't wait to read more of this author's books!

Such a cute and quirky light hearted read that you will enjoy. It was kind of a short read to me but still got its point across. A perfect summer read!

I give this book a solid 4 outta 5 stars. It was a fun read and I liked the premise behind it!

Meet Caleb, a hockey God that just had a video go viral of his teammates bad talking pretty much everyone and Caleb just letting it happen. This started off as a PR nightmare and spiraled into so much more. Now Caleb is a part of a dating app to try to change his image, even better, the dating app is designed to have parents be the one to pick out the dates for their children. Enter Zara, who is doing the app for her own reasons and not expecting to meet a huge giant of a man or even freaking like the guy. Now they have 5 dates they are required to go on and they both will get something out of it, but could they possibly get more than what they bargained for?

This was fun and a cool premise of having both Caleb and Zara's parents pick apart their dating life and it be something broadcasted to the whole freaking city. I liked the relationship between the two and the sexual tension. These two definitely had chemistry, but were pretty freaking awful at dating, so it was good that it was somewhat required! I enjoyed reading this and liked the set up for more books in the series, I will definitely check them out!

PS: I received this book as an ARC but am voluntarily and honestly reviewing it!

After being introduced to members of the Ice Knights hockey team in Tomboy, I was ecstatic to learn that Avery Flynn would be writing a spin-off series following different members of the team. First up is Caleb and Zara’s story with Parental Guidance. From the moment I read the blurb, I was intrigued by the concept of two strangers getting paired by a dating app, especially because it’s their parents who are choosing their prospective dates for them! If that’s not the perfect setup for a rom-com, I don’t know what is.

After a viral video put him in hot water with the Ice Knights hockey team, Caleb Stuckey is desperately in need of some positive PR. That’s when his publicist presents him with a plan to have his mother set him up on a blind date via a dating app. He has a five-date obligation to fulfill with his match, and hopefully return him to the public’s good graces in the meantime. What he doesn’t count on is meeting Zara Ambrose, a pint-sized redhead with a snarky attitude, who’s willing to go along with the publicity stunt for her own reasons. With a set deadline for their quasi-relationship and emotional barriers in place, all that’s left for Zara and Caleb to do is make it to the fifth date without breaking any of the rules they’ve put in place. But what starts as an obligation turns into an unexpected attraction, making it more difficult to keep their hearts out of the equation.

Like all of Avery Flynn’s rom-coms, Parental Guidance is humorous and lighthearted, but it’s also heartfelt and compelling, with characters that are complex and engaging, with thoroughly-developed backstories. The easygoing, quick-witted banter combined with the ever-present sexual tension between Caleb and Zara give the narrative a fun, flirty feel. If you’re in the mood for a sweet, sexy, feel-good romance, Parental Guidance is exactly what you’re looking for.

*complimentary copy provided by publisher for an honest review

Rating: 5 Stars

Caleb Stuckey has gotten himself stuck between a rock and a hard place. All because a few rookies were running their mouths and another idiot recorded it. Once that video went viral, Caleb knew he was in trouble. His punishment? Let his mother choose a date from a dating site. Somehow, this would make him and the team look better. Caleb wasn't thrilled, but he knew he had no choice.

Zara was a workaholic. So her father and best friend said, anyway. To please her friend, she agreed to join a dating site, with her father choosing her date. That should be interesting!

As it turns out, this whole thing may not be a bad idea. Caleb didn't expect to actually like the other person drawn into this fiasco. But he definitely likes Zara. Zara makes Caleb agree to a deal. A deal that will make his team look good and get her friends off of her back. But as any good deal goes, terms begin to change. Caleb and Zara definitely start to feel this could be the real deal.

I love the premise of this book and can't wait for more in this series!!

Parental Guidance by Avery Flynn is here. It’s hockey, romance, and shenanigans. A journey of acceptance, forgiveness and love both off and on the ice. This book is packed with snarky humor, hot hockey and the best dating profile ever!

One word - AWESOME! 

This story was one of the funniest I've read in a while. Zara and Caleb were match made in heaven. She was independent, sassy, quirky. I developed a girl crush on her the minute I read what she put in her profile for the dating app. And now let's talk about Caleb; can we all say SWOON real quick?!?! I found him to be hard worker, funny and he had a heart of gold doing everything he could to keep those closest to him safe and happy. 
They had amazing chemistry that was just waiting to explode. 

I thoroughly enjoyed myself while reading this story. It was captivating, funny and hot in all the right places. A perfect read on a hot summer day. 

***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***

First up thank you for approving me for this book, secondly, I am sorry I couldn't finish this one.

I was really looking forward to this book, a little bit before this one I finished another romance x hockey book so I wanted to continue those themes. Plus, the idea of a hot hockey dude far into trouble with mommy going on 5 dates and meeting a fun girl sounded right up my alley. But I am not sure if it was me (when I read this last week I was stressed out about my wedding) or if it was the writing. My main problem with the book was the fact it was very chaotic in who was talking now. For instance we would have our boy as the main lead, but in the mean time it also seemed like the girl was also the main lead given that we see things from her POV in the midst of his POV. Does that make sense? Probably not, but it didn't make sense to me either. 
It also didn't help that from the start I just wasn't a fan of either of the characters.

Jdkcjaicijddj *cue the incoherent feels*

I adored this from start to finish because it just felt real even if it was soooo fake with the whole must make my image better! And props to the author for making me cackle because that barely happens. All in all will definitely buy the finished copy and look up more of the authors work!! This is a must read!

4.5 Stars!
Parental Guidance, the first book in the Ice Knights series, is a light hearted Sports Romance-RomCom, featuring two main characters NOT looking for love or a relationship. And lucky for us they find it anyway, when they commit on going on five dates, after their parents set them up with someone they choose, on a dating app they’re forced to join. There’s also an adorable Great Dane that almost stole the story and if you’ve ever been around this breed, you’ll know what I mean! A little steamy, filled with a lot of funny and flirty banter, it’s the perfect poolside or lazy summer afternoon read. I can’t wait for more Ice Knights to come!

“Life is a banquet. Don’t starve.”

Zara Ambrose, at twenty-eight, is single by choice. Zara doesn’t do relationships, she was raised by her dad, and he wasn’t the most reliable person, so she has no desire to depend on a man. She lives with her enormous dog, Anchovy, and keeps busy working as a creative miniatures artisan; she sells her art in her Etsy shop. Zara hopes she’ll meet Helena Carlyle, a wealthy and well-known miniatures collector, someday soon and she’s convinced Mrs. Carlyle would love and buy a few of her pieces. That would put Zara on the map, a feather in her cap, so to say.

When her dad figures out he needs to appear on television, in order to obtain a SAG card (just ANOTHER one of his get-rich schemes) he tries to convince Zara to go on the Bramble dating app. He would choose her date and be interviewed, on the online dating reality TV, and it would be a win-win. Except Zara doesn’t want to date anyone, much less participate in the five-date Bramble commitment. When her best friend, Gemma, convinces her to join Bramble, with a promise to take Zara as her plus-one to a charity gala that Mrs. Carlyle will attend, she agrees.

Caleb Stuckey is a professional hockey player, with the Ice Knights. He’s the son of the famed female state champion high school hockey coach, Britany, AKA Brit the Ballbuster, and she taught him all he knows about the sport. When he’s summoned to a meeting by his coach, over an incident involving his teammates on a social media video gone viral, his mom, and team’s PR guru are called in, too. Caleb was being held accountable, for not speaking up, when the players were caught trash talking the team, the coaches, and the lack of quality puck bunnies available to them. As the senior player, he should have spoken up and reprimanded them, and now everyone agrees he needs to fix his image, by looking for a serious relationship. What could be better than dating someone his mother picks out, on Bramble? A lot of things, but if Caleb doesn’t agree, there will be consequences he’ll have to pay. So, five dates it is.

“What a pair they were. Totally blind to themselves and yet able to see the other so clearly. That was a disturbing thought.”

After Zara and Caleb are set-up by their parents they come to an agreement, a “temporary alliance” to the five-date commitment, with some rules in place. They just want to get this over with, so that their parents can let them go on with their lives, five dates and they’re done. Period. Seems simple enough!

“Life is like hockey—you put in the preparation, you put in the work, and you pray like hell that the calls will go your way.”
“And when they don’t?”
“You play harder.”

This novel was quite funny and I enjoyed it a lot. Zara was sassy and did not want anything to do with dating and Caleb was being forced into the situation because of a viral video. I think that though both characters didn't want anything to do with each other the great thing about a romcom is that they came out the other side with an HEA that had to go through a bunch of ridiculous situations to get there. This novel also had a lot of feels in it when you learn about Caleb's anxieties and what Zara went through. All in all I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone and already have.

3.5 stars! 

I was very excited to read this book. I love a little sports in my romance. 

Caleb is a proffered hockey player. And he has found himself in quite the pickle after a video has gone viral of him with his teammates saying to-so-nice things and he kinda just let it happen.  
As a way of smoothing things over and presenting a more wholesome image, it’s decided he’ll be trying this new dating app. The most fun part is his mom gets to decide who his date will be. Fun times! 

Zara Ambrose is always the dependable one in the father/ daughter relationship. Her dad asks her to help him out with a new bright idea. Once her bestie gets wind of this, she bets her to participate. What’s on the table? Well, a ticket to an event where she’ll get to meet and present her miniatures collection to one of the finest collectors. 

I think this new spin on a dating app was quite unique and interesting. 
I must admit, it took a good while for me to get into this book but once did I found some enjoyable moments. 
The characters were likeable for the most part. Zara has a strong and ambitious personality, and I found Caleb was to be sweet and charming. 
They made for a great couple with definite sparks between them. I would’ve loved for there relationship to be more developed towards the end of the book. It kind of progressed quickly. 

Parental Guidance was a fast, fun and light read.

A delightful read! Kicking off a new Ice Knights hockey series, Avery Flynn brings her signature spunk to life with a set of unlikely-to-hook up characters who are stuck going on dates through a dating app. The hockey action was a bit light, but the characters were fresh and lots of fun to watch get into one mess after another. Well developed characters, funny dialogue and lots of spice made this a really enjoyable read!

When pro hockey player Caleb Stuckey finds himself in the middle of a PR nightmare, he has to suck it up and take one for the team in order to get himself out of it and back on track before the season starts again. Turns out Lucy the PR queen has cooked up a plan with none other than his mother to help him save face and make the fans not turn on him. How embarrassing is this going to be? His mommy is going to choose a date for him while controlling his dating app? C'mon!

Zara Ambrose doesn't need a man. She's doing just fine in life on her own, and has no use for the things they bring ... or don't bring ... into her life. If only her Dad wasn't guilting her into a favor at the same time that her BFF decides it's in her best interest to blow off some steam with a date ... make that five dates ... with some hockey stud. Just what she needs!

Reviewed by Deborah from <a href="http://www.alphabookclub.org/">Alpha Book Club</a> <br><img src="https://alphabookclub.org/wp-content/uploads/Deborah.png" width="150" height="150" alt="description"/> <img src="http://alphabookclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ABC_Pinterest.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="description"/>

Zara and Caleb have been set up to go on five dates by their parents and who knew you could even do that. Caleb needs an image overhaul to get back in the good graces of the hockey community and his mom is the key to it all. She gets to pick the woman he goes on five dates with unknowingly she picks someone that just might be his perfect match. Zara is anti-love and only wants to focus on her goal of being a successful artist of miniatures. Zara’s best friend throws a challenge to use a dating app that lets her father set up her on a date. If she goes on these dates her friend will let her get her work in front of a famous collector. Zara and Caleb are total opposites in every way and after their first interaction with one another you will want to keep reading. Their dates and chemistry will keep you guessing and wondering what will happen next. As they go on the five dates, they quickly put aside the rules they made at the beginning. It’s like a tug o war with their feelings and Zara keeping her feelings close to the vest. Caleb is all in and will fight for her till the end if she will just open her heart to him.

Their story is a romantic comedy that will sometimes make you laugh but then the other times the dialogue it a little too much. I love Caleb because he is like a soft teddy bear and sexy hockey player. He is all in the first time he meets Zara and it didn’t matter what he agreed to in the beginning he wanted her. Zara was stubborn and afraid to let people get close to her. I didn’t like her that much and I so wanted to but her pride would get in the way her relationships. Both characters had past that shaped them and they had good background to give them a great sense of depth. There is good writing in this story and the romance will keep you on your toes.