The Penalty Box was a cute and fun read. I am usually not that interested in romantic books but this was a actually kind of sweet. I think cheesy romance is good every now and then.

The author did a good job of building up the interest in the different characters. They could have had a little bit more depth to them, but I did not outright dislike any of them, which is something I think authors sometimes struggle with.

The overall plot was fun and quirky. There was a big build-up. I believe anyone who enjoys a good romance will like reading this book.

In the Penalty Box sounded like it would be right up my alley: hockey romance, enemies to lovers, etc., and it was a cute romance. It just wasn't a favorite.

Willow and (especially) Brodie both had multiple issues and conflicts to deal with beyond figure skating and hockey, and I appreciated they had to work through those things. On the other hand, while I realized this was YA and the characters were high schoolers, there was a lack of maturity in many instances that made me feel they were even younger. I also didn't feel like there was much character growth or development from beginning to end.

The romance aspect itself was cute, as I mentioned earlier, but sometimes the descriptors used by Brodie and Willow about the other person seemed juvenile. In fact, some of the word choices in general and how repetitive they were could have been improved upon.

The indication that this was an enemies to lovers romance (with Brodie being frigid toward Willow) was misleading. I never got that vibe. They were always drawn to each other, and if anything there was only slight animosity underlying the attraction at the beginning.

Overall, it was a sweet story. I just had issues with some things, but it will definitely be a story others will enjoy more fully.

***I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley.***

I am SO SAD that I didn't like this book. It was set up to be a great sports romance book that just flopped for me.

The main reason I didn't enjoy this book was that the two main characters felt like the same person! Let me explain. The book alternated between the POVs of Brodie and Willow. I'm glad each chapter was labeled because otherwise, I think I would have thought it was the same person. The way they talked and their thoughts and everything sounded the same. Other than the fact that one was a hockey player and one a figure skater, they had the same voice.

Also, all they could really say about each other was that the other person was "hot". I needed more from them than that! The romance was lacking, to say the least. There were some cute and heated moments, but in the end, it just fell short.

I enjoyed the storyline. I liked seeing Willow grow as a hockey player and both develop as people. I wish the above issues could have been resolved because then the storyline would have really shined.

Overall, I am super disappointed by this one. I've enjoyed books by both authors and so I had hoped for more.

This was an easy read that was fairly predictable but still fun. Willow is a figure skater who suffered a big injury and is trying to get back to her full strength. Brodie is a hockey player who's team needs a goalie and Willow happens to have some talent. They fall for each other, but have to keep it a secret from their teammates and Willow is still holding on to her skating dreams.

I thought this took place in college and it felt like it through most of the story. It barely mentioned the high school and I think the authors should have bumped this up to the college level. Either way, I liked the romance between Willow and Brodie and the way they both care so much for their families and friends. The plot has a good amount of drama and hockey action and it was cool seeing Willow get better at goalie.

I enjoyed reading this and I'm looking forward to more books from these authors!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In the Penalty Box was a pretty likable and predictable book for me. The one thing that I just couldn't wrap my mind about: the fact that these kids are in High School. Not sure why my brain was thinking this would be a college type romance but it did.

In it, you will meet Willow and Brodie. She used to be one of the best figure skaters in the nation until the day she hurt her Achilles. He is a hockey star for his league and school team. So them meeting on or around the ice rink was going to happen one day. It was all kinds of awkward but they seem to make it work.

After some bantering and messing around, she winds up playing goalie for his league team. Most of the guys are on board with it but two of them just don't like it. They think they will be the laughing joke of Hockey. Or maybe they are just sexist pigs because they don't realize that girls are capable of doing anything that their heart desires. Guys also.

Of course there's a forbidden romance that doesn't really go too far. Then there's plenty of drama on and off the ice. But have no fear, the end is coming near and it's predictably cute. Definitely enjoyed this nice and easy read and I look forward to the next book by this author!

This book was received as an ARC from Entangled Publishing, LLC - Entangled: Teen in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love a good teen romance story and while I was reading on, I could not help but let the movie THE CUTTING EDGE pop up in my head instead this time it's vice versa. A figure skater turned into a hockey player and not just any hockey player but the best goalie on their team. I loved the story of how at first Brodie and and Willow first met in having a little resentment towards eachother to always having eachother on their minds and wondering what will happen when either Willow's rehab is complete or the hockey season is over? A wonderful teen romance novel that is sure to put a smile on your face and we all need that during this time.

We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

Cute YA romance with hockey and figure skating. I enjoyed the relationship between Brodie and Willow for the most part. Willow was so single-minded about figure skating it did get irritating. The rapport between most of the team members and Willow was good and realistic. Although the book didn't have any major surprises it was a good read

I had higher hopes for this story. I enjoyed the hockey aspects of the story and thought I’d enjoy the figure skater/hockey player romance but the story felt really drawn out and there wasn’t anything “special” to keep me engaged. It felt a little long and could have been sharper.

This young adult sports romance had me hooked from the first chapter. I loved following Willow on her quest to rehab as an Olympic hopeful in ice skating, and getting her workouts in while joining a hockey team. The sports switch was so unexpected and yet read as a natural progression for Willow. Enter Brodie, the Wind, and we have the perfect mix of tension and competition. I loved their developing friendship as they both seemed to push each other and yet found ways to lift each other up. The tug between the dreams they had for their own lives, and the reality they face due to circumstances outside of their control added a layer to the romance that caused just enough reader anxiety to hook me in while rooting wildly for them. And that ending!! Totally satisfying! Highly recommended!

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy for the purpose of review.

Whoa! I didn't really know hockey books were so fun and addictive. I totally enjoyed reading about Willow and Brodie 🙂. I love small towns and sign me up for small town romances and hockey anytime . The book was so cute and memorable as it told the story of dating independent Willow and Brodie who we assumed (by we I mean me ) was cocky but turned out to be a sweetheart. I drew from the book that sometimes we have to make the best of every situation. Huge thanks to Entangled Teen for my ARC.

3.5 stars. Slight spoilers...

This was a cute YA sports romance with a very strong female lead character. Willow, our MC, is a very dedicated and driven figure skater who suffers a big injury leading to months of PT and recovery. She goes back to her hometown to recover, meeting Brodie and his pack of hockey friends in the process.

I really enjoyed Willow and Brodie’s developing friendship, Willow’s close friendship with her local friend as well as her foster sister friend. I also really enjoyed Willow’s interactions with them hockey team and how they came to realize that each other’s misconceptions were wrong (figure skaters vs. hockey players). Brodie is going through some personal family drama, but he’s a great guy, not letting that get in the way of spending valuable time helping Willow with her injury recovery, as well as leading the hockey team to victory, not to mention being a great friend to many and older brother. The synopsis is slightly misleading since Brodie isn’t frigid at all, which seems to be the problem for most of the story... The drama towards the end was a bit *gasp*dramatic :) but considering it’s YA, I was expecting it.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would definitely read more from this author.

I love a good sports romance novel. This sweet young adult romance shinned a light on the pressure off high school sports and the unpredictable life they face on a daily bases.

Thanks to Entangled Publishing and Netgally for gifting me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

I loved that this YA novel featured a strong, driven, independent leading female character who offered much more than just fulfilling the "female love interest" role. Aspiring Olympic figure skater Willow Covington is recovering from an achilles injury that results in her leaving her Denver training facility for Wisconsin. Willow stays with her grandfather in his hockey-loving small town while she focuses on regaining her strength and technique.

When an ice rink meet-cute leads to Willow literally falling head-over-heels for the hometown hockey hero, she keeps her eyes set on the prize: her quick recovery and return to the skating circuit. This is not a time for dating distractions.

Brodie Windom needs to have another stand-out hockey season if he wants to keep his dream and family legacy alive. The pressure of making it onto the Boston College hockey team paired with his past ice princess heartbreaks tells him to steer clear of this crush he's developing.

But when an unexpected injury leaves the goalie position open, Brodie convinces Willow this will be great for her strength and conditioning. Willow agrees, much to the dismay of some of her new teammates. Between hours of extra practice, ice time, and the new school year, Brodie and Willow can't help but fall for one another.
Will their coach's "no fraternizing with teammates" rule and their own self-disciplines be enough to keep them apart? Or will they realize that the support they can offer one another through family drama, setbacks, and training be what brings them even closer?

This YA sports romance has so much depth to it. Even the teammate characters are portrayed with enough uniqueness that sets them apart. A great lesson for YA readers that there is much more to love in a person beyond what you see (or hear in small town gossip), and that we all have challenges that take time- and trust, to unpack.

**I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

The Quick Cut: A teen girl who finds her figure skating career sidelined by an injury ends up joining a hockey team and falling for the captain.

A Real Review:
Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

We all have plans for our future, many of which involve pursuing dreams. When things go wrong and we find those dreams dashed, it can be heartbreaking. Do you find a new path to pursue or try to create a new one to your original plans? This is the reality for Willow.

Willow has already had a successful beginning to her figure skating career, but it comes crashing to a halt when an Achilles heel injury puts her on the sidelines. When her injury puts her off the path to the Olympics, she ends up wrapped up with a hockey team missing a player. Can she successfully turn her skating into a new venture or will she find disaster again?

This is a cute story that is advertised as a romance, but in actuality is a contemporary story. Most of the storyline revolves around Willow joining the hockey team and the unexpected drama it brings. There is a strong romantic subplot, but that's as close as it gets. As much as I enjoyed the material, it felt a bit too long.

Willow is determined and on a career path when life goes wrong. Like those of us who are passionate about our path, she only has eyes for what can get her back on track. Seeing how she responds to unanticipated options gets intriguing, especially when she misses what's staring her in the face.

Brodie is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. The additional subplot involving the drama of his family (particularly his father) adds another layer to the character. It's nice to see the romantic interest be a more rounded character.

A cute contemporary story that adds an adorable romantic twist.

My rating: 3.5 out of 5

Willow and Brodie’s story blew me away! I loved this sweet small town romance!

I was not expecting this story and it packed cute surprises! What I loved though is that these two teenagers were trying their best to get through life! Brodie and Willow both had some challenges to face but I loved how they leaned on one another! They built a friendship and through that they discovered more! As they navigated their secrets both had to make some tough choices that didn’t affect just the now but also the future.

I loved Willows independence and her no nonsense attitude! She spoke her mind and she wasn’t scared to take chances! Brodie was equally as amazing. He was a protector and he was someone you could always rely on but he wasn’t a cocky jerk! He had a beautiful heart full of love to give!

This is a standard Entangled Teen novel: dual 1st person POV, lots of kissing, lots of family drama from both sides. Nothing bad, by any means, but nothing too special either. It's a cute premise and Willow and Brodie have a lot of chemistry that was written really well. (The Homecoming football game scene was phenomenally written with tension and angst that leapt off the page. I highly commend the authors for how they portrayed this scene!)
I thought Willow would be joining some sort of pickup or rec league with low expectations and standards, not joining the town's club team and then varsity level high school team. I don't know a ton about hockey, but I know playing goalie is tough. And I'd imagine coming in from spending 15ish years figure skating would make it much more difficult than the book described to becoming a great goalie like Willow was supposed to be. I don't mind suspending belief over certain things to enjoy what an author (or authors) has written, but this was a little to far fetched for me.
Also, Caleb's asthma. Maybe it's because mine is low grade asthma, but I've never heard of any 8 year old having it so badly that they can't even rough house with their older brother in their own home. Again, I'm willing to suspend disbelief, but that was too much.
The back stories and family drama on both ends broke my heart. I know kids go through things like that, and it definitely wasn't anything like my childhood was, but I always wonder a little when the characters come from such rough towns. I think everyone but Preach had some seriously messed up parents. I know it's YA, but guys, parents can be good and loving too. Promise. This is something that is slowly but surely becoming huge plot points for Entangled Teen novels.
Finally, and slight spoilers ahead, I got to chapter 28 and then skipped ahead to chapter 40 to skim to the end and didn't miss anything. Because they start off with such great chemistry, they get together halfway through the book and sneak around behind the team's back. (Because of course, fraternizing with teammates is a no no.) So then it was just "Oh I like him but I'll be leaving soon." "I know she's leaving soon but I really want to kiss her." It plateau'd for me I guess. Which stinks because it came in with some great chemistry that kept me wanting to turn the page. But then the build up? angst? tension? I'm not sure, but something seemed to leave the story then and unfortunately for me, that made the plot stall a bit. Perhaps this was also because I read it over two days when I normally like to finish books like these in one (preferably in one sitting even).
But ultimately, it was cute, it was fairly clean sexually, it has cussing, it has references to alcohol and underaged alcohol, and a lot of the hard, deeper, darker stuff was handled really well.
Would I recommend it? Yes, as long as you like sports because it is heavily featured. And though it is explained excellently, you do still have to have some interest or knowledge in order to picture the tension of the games. Would I re-read this? Yes. But I will do my best to read it in more of one sitting/day next time for sure. Do I still love these YA sports infused novels from Entangled? Oh yes.

In the Penalty Box was a sweet sports romance with two engaging leads.

I really liked Willow and Brodie, both as separate characters and together. I am not into sports at all, but I was still able to relate to Willow's despair over her injury, and having all her future plans derailed. I enjoyed her determination and grit, especially when dealing with joining a team of all guys.
Brodie is a charming and sweet male lead and I was impressed with how he dealt with all the crap life handed him.

It was quite predictable, like a hallmark movie, but that wasn't a bad thing for me. It was a sweet romance that I really enjoyed.

I'd definitely read another sports romance from these authors, though I still don't like sports.

Thank you Entangled Publishing for the ebook arc in exchange for an honest review.

In The Penalty Box by Lynn Rush Kelly Anne Blount

Yay this book was so cute! I loved it! I really hope they write more from this book make it a series! Next book Pax! All the characters where great and went together so well!!

5 Stars

What a charming YA book - watching Brodie and Willow trying to be both themselves as they are and then also to grow was lovely. I adored the hockey/figure skating as well.

In the Penalty Box by Lynn Rush and Kelly Anne Blount is about a girl named Willow who lost your skating career, breaking her Achilles. Almost a year later, she’s back in her home town meeting a very hot hockey player Brodie, from the very family that owns the rink that kick started her career. And so Willow’s rehab turns into guarding a hockey goal and dodging pucks. But Brodie is trying- key word trying- to focus on making it to Boston College for hockey, his senior year. And he’s all about making his goal. Until Willow enters the picture. Too bad coach has a no dating rule. But we all know, rules are meant to be broken.

The first few chapters are really hooking and I’m grateful for that because I’m automatically turned off if I’m not hooked in soon. The alternating point of views add a little extra zest that the plot needed. You get the view of a girl with high expectations and lots of pressure from a career already in place because of the hard work of working class parents. Versus the view of a boy who is working to continue a family legacy and keep a little brother included and less lonely. In my opinion though, the characters needed a little more depth. I felt they only had one thing going on in their lives when in reality there a multiple and all are hard to juggle.
At a first glance, the plot isn’t very hooking for me. But once you get a feel for everything, you appreciate the plot a bit more. The setting was interesting and due to where I live, hockey and skating are very big and popular things. So this was very relatable for me.
Overall this book was an enjoyable, fun and quick read! There was definitely some faults or holes but it was interesting and a good hook.