Wow - this story was so much more than I expected going in (from the blurb) - it was not just a grump/sunshine, hockey romance, it was a brilliant cinnamon roll hero who never wanted to settle down that met that bossy nurse and in a second, was a changed man.

It was an angry hockey player with a 15 game suspension forced to coach a youth team that actually started to bond with the kids and really enjoyed it… plus the older sister guardian of the one player, with both of them learning so much about themselves through the whole story.

I loved every word in this book and cannot wait for the release of Passion or Penalty next month! Looking forward to that and the next single teammate to fall! I’m also going back to find her other back catalogue books (which I have most definitely been eyeing for ages), and I’m going to devour them now.

The audio version of this one was perfect, and I definitely recommend picking this up, not just the KU ebook (though I had both and read along while I listened). Dane Anderson was a great and growly Mitch, while Alex Picard was a perfect, protective, big sister and nurse Andie. Bravo to them both!

I received an advance listen copy from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, and this is my honest feedback.

Thank you NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! The Grumpy/Sunshine, Enemies-to-Lovers romance between Mitch & Andie's is everything. There is plenty sexual tension between the two and lots of laughs. I need more from these two. There is a strong family aspect to this book and learning that family is sometimes something you choose. The ending however, didn't give me enough. I really enjoyed the epilogue but I need more from Mitch and Andie!

Trigger warnings: Death of parent.

To my fellow hockey smut readers; this is a closed door romance but you still have plenty of sexual tension between the two.

A well performed clean hockey romance!

I enjoyed the story about a single guardian and a grumpy hockey star!

The narration for this audiobook was absolutely wonderful. Dane and Alex truly brought the characters to life!

The story was very enjoyable too. Mitch and Andy each have a history that haunts them. But Mitch's gets him into trouble, and he has to coach a youth hockey league as part of his penance. That's where he meets a younger player named Noah, who reminds him of himself at that age, and Noah's older sister and guardian Andy. The sparks fly, but so does the flirtation, laughter, soul-searching, and ultimately a deep and abiding love.

If you're into beauty-and-the-beast style romances, you won't want to miss this one.

Thank you to Leah Brunner, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Where do I start? I've been wanting to read Leah Brunner's hockey series for awhile.

First the audio.... Wow! Where did they find that voice for Mitch? Deep and growly. I could so picture him. There were a few times where I felt I was being read to rather than the character telling me his story, but overall great job! The female narrator was amazing as Andy as well. She also had great range with changing her voice for other characters as well. Top notch audio!

Now the story... Hockey bad boy has to coach a youth hockey team as part of a punishment. In comes a fiesty blonde who is guardian for her younger brother. Watch the sparks fly and then burn hot.

I appreciated the content warning at the beginning of the book. It mentions the language content as well as some of the heavier topics that are encountered in the story.

I was recently able to listen to the prequel novella to this book and then was super excited to receive this complimentary audio copy from Dreamscape and Netgalley. I am happy to leave an honest review.

This is such a cute rumpy Sunshine romance. With the 3rd act drama not about break up which I apricate. Plus it centers around hockey I know people are loving the hockey romance I'm honestly here for the hockey.

Andie is a ER nurse trying her best to raise her brother after there parents pass away. Noah is angry and is closed off which can you blame him. Taking it all out on the ice enter Mitch who is forced to help out coaching youth-hockey. He sees himself in Noah and his angry because thats how he got there. There bond was something I really enjoyed in this story and him and Andies slow-burn relationship was nice to see unfold. But one of my favorite parts were the team-mates of Mitch. I can't wait to see where this story goes with the other players.


But I do have one question what all did he do to get suspended for 15 games. (Thats Tom Wilson level if you know you know.)


Thank you NetGalley for this Audio Arc in Exchange for my honest Opinion

Defense or Desire by Leah Brunner
Book 2 DC Eagles
Narrators, Dane Anderson and Alex Picard
This a sweet not spicy closed door rom-com with a professional hockey player and a critical care nurse who is newly raising her tween brother.
There are issues of parental abandonment, loss and grief which I thought were handled well. There is an HEA for everyone which I like.
The female narrator was very good. The male narrator was somewhat stilted and he made the boy, Noah, sound too old for his age. However, either he improved by the latter part of the book or else I got used to him. This was a dual narration which is okay but not my favorite.
I would like to see other books added to this series.

Mitch is a defenseman for the D.C. Eagles with a grouchy personality and some anger issues that land him a 15 game suspension from the NHL. In order to rebuild his image, he is forced to coach a youth hockey team, where he meets Noah, a talented and grouchy kid that reminds Mitch of his younger self. Noah’s legal guardian is his sister Andie, and when Mitch yells at Noah for fighting with a teammate, Andie decides to give Mitch a piece of her mind. After Mitch and Andie spend more time together, Mitch offers to coach Noah one on one.

The grumpy x sunshine trope is one of my favorites, and this book delivered! I liked how Andie and Mitch went from disagreeing to bantering to flirting in the course of a month.

I loved Mitch’s interactions with Noah and how they bonded over family trauma, going to therapy, and of course, hockey. This book had lots of lovable side characters, fun banter, and bromance.

The funniest thing about this book was Mitch trying to relax by taking a bubble bath and listening to a hockey romance audiobook - a very smutty hockey romance audiobook. 😂 “If she’s such a good girl, why is she doing THAT two feet away from her dad?”

Mitch’s healing in this book was truly wonderful to read about as he was going through therapy and learning how to open up. I just wanted to give him the biggest bear hug - the hug that ends all hugs. I loved how he wasn’t perfect, but constantly tried to be better and make up for his mistakes.

“This is the hug I’ve waited for all my life. [...] A hug that makes up for a lifetime of not being held, not being loved, not being enough.”

Favorite things:

🏒 Hockey Romance
🏒 Grumpy x Sunshine
🏒 Slow Burn
🏒 Single Guardian
🏒 NO Third Act Breakup
🏒 Hugs

If you want a low drama, incredibly sweet and satisfying hockey romance, this book is for you. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook as both narrators did an amazing job at bringing the characters to life.
Thank you, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley, for providing an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me laughing out loud at times but that wasn’t enough to save it from being completely cheesy, and not in a good way. The fact that I’ve gotten all the way through this book and I’m struggling to remember the FMC’s name is not a good sign. Way too much time is spent in her thoughts and they’re not deep; not that they have to be but either they’re lust-filled or completely depressing. Mitch is grumpy and misunderstood (I’m pretty sure I’ve dated him) and while that comes across well, he still seems like a caricature. Still, this was cute enough to finish.

Thank you to Leah Brunner and Netgalley for giving me this ARC

Okay so I just started audiobooks recently and I been very picky about them. This sweet hockey romcom was the pick me up I needed to not only smile throughout the entire relationship Andy and Mitch have but to also think about how trying to heal from your past is so important to become the best version of yourself.

This book not only gives a spin to the attraction of two people but it also goes in depth about self- growth, happiness and communication. I gave this a 4 stars!! Not to mention the voices are 100% matched with their character's personalities. It has no spice but some steamy thoughts hehe

I loved it !!!

If you're looking for a sweet, innocent, heartwarming sports romance - you found it! Desire or Defense is an emotionally soothing combination of grumpy/sunshine, single guardian, and found family tropes. It's low angst and high comfort that will leave you smiling. It also covers important topics like grief, addiction, and therapy. Desire or Defense is a multifaceted, closed door romance that will appeal to readers of all kinds.

3.5⭐ Rounded up.
This was pretty good.
I love me some hockey romance, despite not being a big fan of hockey *shrugs*
I like the organic way the two MC got to know each other and the relationship was allowed developed slowly.
I will definitely be looking for more from Leah Brunner.
Much love to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for my ALC.

Mitch and Andie are just about as perfect as a couple as you can find.

I listened to an audio copy and found the narrators reflected the characters well. There were alternating points-of-view and one was gruff and prickly, while the other one was sunshine and sparkles.

Andie's spunk and sass added so much to the transformation of DC Eagle hockey star grump and hot-head, Mitch. One of the things that grasped my heart so hard was watching this duo find and form a family of their own, as both have lost their parents, but the complementing personalities and sizzling swoon captivated me. I loved watching their interactions, especially with friends, teammates, and little brother in the midst. There are so many funny and tender moments and it was pure joy to watch the growth in all aspects--healing, coaching, family, team, love, temper, and life.

Brunner has created an adorably charming story full of fascinating characters. There weren't any crazy situations--just plain cute, sweet, romance with people I want in my corner. I can't wait to find out more about this lovable team. This book hit the goal to my heart!

Content: mild+ romance (kissing, some innuendo); mild+ language; talk of death of parents/alcohol abuse/jail

Desire or Defense by Leah Brunner is a sweet, delightful, grumpy/sunshine hockey romance. I thought this was a fantastic closed-door sports romance that still had plenty of chemistry and tension.

This story follows Mitch, an NHL defenseman who is known for his temper. When he is suspended for 15 games after a fight on the ice, he is sent to be an assistant coach for a youth team. His team and manager are hoping coaching the youth team will help with his public image.

Grumpy Mitch meets his match with Andie Downsby. She is the sister and legal guardian of one of the boys on the youth-hockey team. I loved both of these characters and their complexity and growth. Mitch and Andie have a great dynamic with fun and flirty banter. One of my favorite things in a romance is when the characters write notes, texts, or emails back and forth, and the texting in this book had me grinning!

The mental health and therapy positivity was done well in this story and showed it in a positive light.

I loved the side characters including Mith’s teammates on the D.C. Eagles hockey team.

If you are looking for a grumpy/sunshine, hockey, and closed-door romance that keeps the tension high, this book is for you!

Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC and the chance to listen and review it honestly.

Spice Level: Kissing only, one fade-to-black scene.

SO CUTE
i devoured this book!! everything about it from the characters to the banter to the settings i loved it. I will definitely read the rest in the series as they come out and i’ll also definitely recommend this!!

I wanted so badly to love this yet I just think it lacked character depth. They felt very surface level and lacked emotional depth. I think there needed to be much more context up front about the characters in order to feel invested in their growth or what was ultimately served up as “growth”.

Because the context and depth felt lacking, when we get to our romantic leads texting, it felt way too aggressive and bold, totally at odds with their personalities as we’ve known them, and honestly felt like completely different characters so I just couldn’t stay committed to the story.

I really enjoy hockey romances and this was was a great listen. I did enjoy that it was done as male and female narrators but I did think the male one was a bit too grumpy and monotone. Overall it was a nice clean story and I enjoyed listening. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early release.

A sweet, emotional grumpy hero and sunshine but also spitfire heroine love story. Mitch’s temper had him suspended for fifteen games as a hockey player in the NHL. Coaching a kid’s hockey team is not his choice as well as attending a therapy doctor. But meeting Noah, a trouble teenager, and his spitfire sister can be the best thing for him. Can they melt his heart and help him face his last and have a chance at a happy future? The audiobook is great with Dane Anderson and Alex Picard.

"I think I’ve spent my entire life in the dark, until Andie stomped her way in and lit up my entire world."

- Hockey romance
- Pro hockey player x critical care nurse
- Single guardian
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Dislike to love
- Therapy rep
- Found family
- No breakup
- Dual POV

Simply put, Desire or Defense is stinking CUTE! Like if Sarah Adams wrote a hockey romance, this would be it. Mitch is a suspended NHL player and to reform his image he begins coaching younger kids... including Andie's little brother, who she's now the guardian of following their parents' death. While they immediately butt heads, Mitch takes Noah under his wing and Andie sees a different side to the broody hockey player.

Here’s everything I loved:
- The AMAZING therapy rep and how openly Mitch talked about it with Noah. The unlikely pair had a kinship that will melt your heart.
- Mitch’s character development. He was locked up tighter than a safe. But through Andie, Noah and therapy, he came to realise he was worthy of love and slowly let them all in.
- The HUG (I know, I swooned over a hug but Mitch’s speech hits you in the feels 🥹).
- Seeing Andie and Noah’s relationship develop as they slowly moved forward following their parents’ death.
- The found family vibes: "Because family looks different for everyone. Sometimes it’s not the family you’re born into, but the one you build."
- The narrators! I don’t think I’d listened to either before but they were great.

Whether you’re looking for a hockey romance or a sweet romance, Desire or Defense is for you (also, spelling defense like this is throwing me off 😅).

Thank you to Leah and Dreamscape Media for the ALC 🫶🏻.

Such a heartwarming, dual POV, grumpy/sunshine, sports romance between Andy, a nurse and Mitch, her little brother’s temporary coach and a player on a forced leave because of anger management issues.

The way I loved this book!! It’s flirty and fun but also has such great emotional depth, found family and mental health and therapy rep (him).

Wonderful on audio narrated by Dane Anderson and Alex Picard. I truly didn’t want this book to end and can’t wait to read the next book in this DC Eagles series. Recommended for fans of authors like Sarah Adams and Chloe Liese.

💋Steam level: kissing only