5 ginger Viking come to slay stars!!

Ren has had a crush on Frankie since the moment they met, but since they are coworkers the relationship is forbidden. Frankie has sworn off romantic relationships to protect herself, but being the beautiful soul that he is – Ren is determined to wait for her and carefully peel back the tough layers protecting a heart of gold. He is the sunshine to her grumpy storm cloud and they are just perfect together. 

The thing with Chloe's books is that although tropes are useful to describe what the book is about, it feels unfair to her characters to fit them in a box, because they are so much more than that. Actually, I think the main take away from this book is how people should not be put in defined, stereotypical boxes. 

Ren is this incredible, sensitive, Shakespeare loving, nerd in the body of a jock and not everything is as easy as it seems in his life. Frankie is not just a grumpy storm cloud, she is extremely resilient autistic woman, who has an amazing sense of humor, a big heart and is way too hard on herself. 

Their romance is far from easy, but the journey is beautiful, very funny and so heartwarming! It's impossible not to be invested in this story and touched by the growth of these characters. 

Don't miss this special, #ownvoices, unique story! 

*Thank you NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

This sweet and steamy (very steamy) love story between a hockey player and the team’s autistic social media manager who also has rheumatoid arthritis. It’s a struggle for each to break down the barriers between them, especially on Frankie’s side because she doesn’t want to be pitied or resented. Ren is sweet and gentlemanly (but not too gentlemanly, it is a love story) and from a big Swedish family. This is the second in a series but can be read as a stand alone. I really loved this story. The characters felt very real and not stereotypical in any way. If you don’t mind steam, this would be a great book for romance lovers.

This is such a sweet romance, but where it really shines is its characters and representation. I love reading own voices stories about autism and this was such a good one. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

A strong female lead, a hot hockey player, Harry Potter references, a love story, steam, Shakespeare, and more! The story was so well written, so funny, so pure. I loved it.

Always Only You is the story of cheerful hockey player Soren (Ren) Bergman and grumpy social media manager Francesca (Frankie) Zeferino. The author did a *FANTASTIC* job of crafting characters that have layers and layers of complexities. Ren's undercover bashfulness and love of Shakespeare. Frankie's Rheumatoid Arthritis, Autism, and fear of being a burden.

Reading this book felt like I was reading about actual people, and it's one that I will happily re-read over and over. I can't wait to read other titles from Chloe Liese!

Always Only You is a swoon-worthy, hilarious, and heartfelt love story with a magnificently no-nonsense heroine and super sweet hockey star. It’s the perfect slow-burn romance to curl up with.

Francesca "Frankie" Zeferino is a social media manager for Los Angeles Kings. She’s autistic, and living with chronic rheumatoid arthritis, but keeps it under wraps beneath a grumpy, stony-faced exterior. On the other hand, Søren "Ren" Bergman is a player on the team and the human equivalent of sunshine. He’s always smiling, always calm, and pretty much always content. Ren is basically the perfect book boyfriend. Beneath the handsome exterior, he’s patient, loyal, thoughtful. He reads Shakespeare, cooks delicious Swedish dishes, and adorably modest.

Additionally, I absolutely adore Frankie. She’s brave, intelligent, and ambitious. Despite her life-long challenges and daily struggles, she works hard and has an admirable determination to reach her goals. I love that Always Only You is an #OwnVoices story too. The portrayal of autism is authentic and truthful, for both the good moments and the bad. I like that Frankie walks with a cane and is proud to use it. A chronic illness like rheumatoid arthritis doesn’t appear often in contemporary romance, and that element of diversity is a refreshing addition to her character.

Frankie and Ren (aka ‘Zenzero’) have incredible chemistry, which makes the forbidden romance even more delightful. The two characters really are opposites. Frankie is a brooding storm while Ren is the mellow sunlight. They have very different approaches to life but an endearing and effortless dynamic. Plus, Ren seems to be the only player on the team who gets to see Frankie’s softer side, the real woman beneath the scowl.

The slow-burn atmosphere adds a captivating tension to their relationship. What I love most, is that it never becomes frustrating. The dialogue and events are so engaging, I never got bored. And I like the way the author builds their connection through comical back-and-forth and emotional heart-to-hearts. From early on, I began rooting for Frankie and Ren.

The amount of emotion surprised me in this book. Frankie struggles with trusting Ren after being hurt in the past. Based on past experiences, she convinces herself that people eventually being to resent her. Seeing a character, that's already in so much pain, purposefully hold themselves back from happiness just to spare others is all too real. While reading, her anxieties felt very honest and genuine, like the author is exposing her own vulnerabilities.

With the sentimental layer, this romance is truly a delightful read. The characters develop and mature brilliantly from their first interaction, helping to keep the entertainment going, even during the slower moments. I also had no idea Always Only You is part of an ongoing series, which only attributes to the author’s ability to create a unique love story as part of a bigger universe. This story is my first Chloe Liese read, but hopefully not my last!

Gahhh! My heart is so full! Somehow, I wound up enjoying Always Only You even more than I enjoyed Only When It's Us. Chloe Liese has been my favorite romance discovery this year and she has certainly made my reading journey an even more rewarding experience. 

I loved Willa in the first book, but the protagonist here, Frankie, owns my heart. Though I haven't read too many books featuring main characters who are on the autism spectrum, I have fond memories of the few books that I have read. Neurodivergent individuals aren't a monolith and when written authentically, they make for incredible main characters. I immediately felt a connection to Frankie and her voice. Despite her chronic rheumatoid arthritis, she has carved herself a fulfilling and independent life for herself. Chloe Liese didn't shy away from portraying her day-to-day struggles that able-bodied folks don't even spend time thinking about. It was insightful for me as a reader and certainly made me realize how privileged I am to have been born in a body that isn't attacking me with invisible pain on a daily basis. Her condition made Frankie a certified grump and she mostly kept to herself as she didn't want anyone to feel like she was a burden on them. It wasn't all bleak, however. Frankie thrived in her life even in the face of her challenges and the author illustrates all her highs through her successful career and her different relationships throughout the book.

Meeting Ren was probably one of the best encounters that could have happened to her. This big ginger Shakespeare-spouting hockey player was a giant teddy bear with the biggest heart. I could not get enough of his sunshine self and the kindness he bestowed upon everyone he met. Ren was top book-boyfriend material and he will have many of you swooning, sighing, and wishing he were real. It's an impossible task to not fall for a character who was devoted to his big lovable family and was comfortable crying and blushing in public. Ren made my cold-heart full and I just loved him so so much. Ren has also been in love with Frankie for the longest time, but because of their intertwined careers and Frankie's desire to keep people at an arm's length, he has instead been pining and waiting for her. He was respectful of Frankie and cared deeply about her and her happiness. As with Only When It's Us, the romance in Always Only You was a slow-burn one that was incredibly gratifying. Chloe Liese writes some of the best banter and I loved every moment of Ren and Frankie's interactions, especially the scenes of them being domestic. Watching Frankie come to the realization about her feelings for this man who was 100% devoted to her just filled me with the best dose of serotonin. I shipped them. HARD.

I swear guys, Always Only You is so charming and delightful. If you like the grumpy-sunshine pairing, you must give this book a read. Next up in the Bergman Brothers series is a marriage-in-trouble romance and I can hardly wait!

If she continues to write such an amazing story this series will become one of my favorites. Like girl WTF the story is amazing with amazing characters developed in such details. I loved every page of it It made me laugh and all warm in my heart. I really loved it and I hope that this amazing writing will carry on in another book. 
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley

How do I love this book?  Let me count the ways.  I love this author’s writing.  She takes on characters who have human conditions that I have not read about with other romance authors. The characters are written about with care, compassion and non-sensationalism so that each condition doesn’t become the focus nor is underplayed but is beautifully incorporated into the story.  
Frankie is autistic.  The author was so accurate with her description that I kept picturing a co-worker who is also autistic.  It was only until I read the acknowledgements that the author reveals that she is on the spectrum!  Ren grew up as an oddball with his interest in Shakespeare and his courtlier outlook on life and women.  And yet, he is a professional hockey player; a typically rough and ultra-macho profession. The slow burn romance was heartwarming to read as you follow Frankie and Ren’s journey.  I can’t wait to read Axel and Rooney’s story next!

What a great and unique romance book! So full of emotion and heart, but also really funny. Just a great Rom Com with a wonderful message of being loved as you are.

This was my first book by Chloe Liese, the second in the series but stands well on its own, centered around a family of 7 siblings. I was drawn to its blurb because I like sports romances and I ma always on the lookout for diverse MCs in them and the cover showing us a heroine using a cane also drew me in. 

This is an ownvoices story with autistic heroine who also has a chronic illness and uses a cane who works for the social media department of a professional hockey team and the hero is a lind-hearted hockey player who is a virgin and has been in love with heroine for years She is a grump who never smiles and always wears black, he is all smiles and caring and kindness. That's pretty muchmy romance catnip - grumpy / sunshine who complement each other.

I can't comment on the autism rep but I am happy to see a romance with a heroine like Frankie. She is strong an independent, has built mechanisms that help her live on her own while doing a demanding job.

Ren is lovely, kind, and gentle, a big Shakespeare nerd, essential for his team and his family. He keeps his cool on the ring and with his friends and family but gets all flustered aroudn Frankie. And I loved it. 

I absolutely loved the way he was with Frankie,supportive and caring without babying her or making her helpless in any way. At the same time, he felt too perfect, without a single weakness. Even the big conflict was all about her accepting his care and love, allowing herself to be loved the way she was.He never did anything wrong. She grew and changed in the course of the story while he stayed is perfect self from start to finish. 

Se really stood out for me. A complex character dealing with serious health issues and being underestimated and underappreciated by most people around her. She navigated falling in love and having a serious relationship for the first with the inescapable mistake from time to time.

I loved their relationship, we see a lot of them together as a couple, the changes this brings into their lives, the gradual opening up with each other. 

All that said, I also had some issues with the book. Besides the boring perfection of Ren, I felt the felt the author tried to include all the tropes and it was just too much - forced proximity, illness (hospital stay), virgin hero, confessions under the influence. This is very much a personal thing but I found some of Frankie's language and humour crass and didn't enjoy it. 

Despite these issues, I still want to read more in this series, book one h as a deaf hero and a footballer heroine and the next one is a marriage in trouble one, both sound very much right up my alley. 

CW: Hospital stay, sports trauma, medicinal drug use

This one was so sweet! I loved the budding romance in this book and also felt that it had strong autistic representation (which makes sense since it's #OwnVoices).

OMG, Ren and Frankie are two of my favorites! Loved this book so much. Ren is a hockey star hunk, although he has always pined after the standoffish Frankie. Frankie is the team's social media director, slinking around, taking photos of the guys, but always putting them in their place. She also is autistic *and* had rheumatoid arthritis, so she walks with a cane. After someone breaks into Frankie's house while the team is at a playoff game, she comes to live with Ren (as well as her adorable dog) and the sparks fly. It's hard to deny the chemistry between the two. I love the way Frankie is written (I understand this is an #ownstories book) but I especially love that Ren, the hunky hockey player, has never had a girlfriend, let alone lost his virginity. It's sweet and unexpected vs. the various hockey hunk tropes you see with all the sweaty alpha males. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for this honest review

Oh my, what a romance novel! Always Only You is perfect for fans of Talia Hibbert and Helen Hoang (a.k.a. me). It's an opposites-attract romance about Ren, a nerdy, late-blooming and hunky Swedish-American hockey player; and Frankie, his team's tough cookie social media coordinator. Told from both perspectives, I'm going to list all the reasons why I loved this book.

1. Firstly, it's an #OwnVoices book for its portrayal of autism by an autistic author. Frankie is also not only autistic - she has rheumatoid arthritis and uses a cane to get around in day-to-day life. But she doesn't let either of these diagnoses get her down, which made her a very enjoyable character. There's a scene where she's smoking medicinal marijuana that made me laugh out loud.

2. Ren is also a very likeable protagonist. I mean, he's a drop-dead gorgeous hockey player and a gentle giant that loves Shakespeare, can cook and lives on Manhattan Beach. Where can I find my own Ren, seriously?

3. At the beginning of each chapter is a song and artist that "provides another means of emotional connection." I followed the Spotify playlist and absolutely loved this concept! 

4. There's more to come! Always Only You is the second book in a series that follows the Bergman siblings (five brothers and two sisters). I cannot wait to devour this entire series.

So, if you like your romance novels to be refreshingly unique, with a side of witty dialogue and steam, do yourself a favour and read Always Only You immediately.

I actually really liked this book! It’s 3.5 stars for me. The voice of the author really shined through and it seem believable. I think we could be friends in real life.

Loved it. I read the first book in the Bergman Brothers series and totally fell in love with the characters. It was my first book by the author and I was more than happy that I got a ARC of the second book too. I loved every second Ren and Frankie's love story. A forbidden office romance is just the thing I needed to read. If you like sports romance with good characters, great characters and awesome chemistry then I highly recommend you read this. I hope you all like it as much as I did.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review the ARC.

I picked up this book because of the blurb, wondering how autism would be handled, I found this book wonderfully written! I laughed, I cried and my heart melted. Frankie with her dry sense of humor, Ren's huge heart that showed his beauty inside and out and the hilarious banter among all the characters makes this as entertaining as it is heart felt! I enjoyed the writing so much I am delving  into her other works.

Always Only You is the second installment of the Bergman Brothers series. It is an opposites-attract, forbidden love sports romance with two characters who are impossible not to fall in love with. Ren is hunky, nerdy and sweet and inexperienced while Frankie is tough, sometimes blunt and guarded. Full of humor, emotional moments and steamy scenes, it is a story of how two opposites fall in love. 

I read the first book in the series, Only When It's Us, and absolutely fell in love with Willa and Ryder. I also fell in love with Chloe Liese's writing and I was so excited when I was approved for the second book of the series. The writing is impeccable and I love how she sprinkles references from other books and writers such as Shakespeare into her stories. Chloe is also able to balance humor, emotion and sexy times into a story that is not only captivating but also realistic. Frankie and Ren are incredible characters and I found myself rooting for them and their budding romance. I also really enjoy reading about the Bergman family and seriously can't wait for more! 

#Ownvoices stories, and particularly romances, are so important and Chloe Liese absolutely knocked it out of the park. Frankie's autism and rheumatoid arthritis were portrayed in a thoughtful, accurate and honest way which is so needed in fiction. I also liked that Frankie wasn't the only character on the spectrum. We need more characters like Frankie and we need more stories like Always Only You.

Thank you Netgalley for providing the arc of this book. I picked this one up for the #letsreadownvoices readathon in Instagram.
Ren and Frankie have known each other for three years and they have been secretly attracted to each other for just as long. But work policy forbidding their relationship meant never acting on their attraction. But now finally, they might have a chance at moving forward but are they prepared for a relationship? Read to find out. 😉
I loved Ren amd Frankie!! Ren is a bag of sunshine and one of the sweetest cinnamon rolls in fiction!! He’s so adorable, with his dorky Shakespeare curses and patient understanding. Frankie is a sarcastic, witty grump who makes the perfect match for Ren and both of them together is like the bestest!! They are sooo adorable together that I just can’t...Their budding friendship and slow burn romance was just amazing and also soooo sooo sweet without ever being cheesy. I loved it soo much!! 
The portrayal of Frankie chronic illness and autism was an eye opener after reading mostly stereotypes all these years. The scene between Frankie and Ziggy, where they open up about it had me on the verge of tears but was also really really informative. This is exactly why we need more #ownvoices books! 
I would have rated this 5 stars if not for a few things that bothered me. The transitions from scene to scene in the initial chapters were quite abrupt and I had a difficult time trying to orient myself. It became better in the later chapter but the beginning had me reeling to figure out the where and when. Another thing that bothered me was the HP references. There was a sort of disclaimer given about JKR and her transphobic views in one of the early chapters but the constant Hp references in the book did make me feel uncomfortable. 
But overall it was an adorable rom com that also manages to burst some myths about neurodivergence. Looking forward to more from this author.

One of my favorite books of the year. I truly loved this book and was so excited when I got the arc. The dual point of view added to the story and I liked getting to see both of the main character's side of the story. Ren and Frankie both were amazing characters. I cannot wait to read more from this author.