[Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for a copy of this eARC re-release in exchange for an honest review.]

Body Check was Elle Kennedy's first hockey romance book (originally released in 2009) that's being re-released with some updates. I never read the original book so I can't comment on what's changed, so I'll be reviewing this as if it's a new book.

This book is a quick and spicy read but it wasn't as memorable as Kennedy's other books. It's still enjoyable but if you've read her other books, you can tell how much she's grown as a writer.

I appreciate that the secondary characters don't always fall into roles they're expected to and that parents' are people who aren't perfect. There are some heavier topics in this book (alcoholism, white collar crimes, and infidelity) but they occur with secondary characters.

I did figure out who the 'villain' was going to be early on, but up until the end I wasn't sure how things would go with Hayden's dad. Even though this is a romance book, there's a big focus on Hayden's relationship with her father. There unfortunately was a lack of closure between these two.

Perfect if you like:
Hockey romance
He falls first
Secret dating
Love triangle (sort of?)
One night stand
Dating the boss's daughter

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin - Romance, and Elle Kennedy for the opportunity to read and review Body Check with my honest thoughts and opinions.

I was looking forward to reading a quick, hot, and spicy 'sweatpants for the brain' sports romance and this delivered! There was more depth to the characters than I was expecting, which was pleasantly surprising. I also really liked that I actually felt for the 'evil stepmother,' when normally we as readers are expected to be pitted against them. It was nice to see the FMC have the smarts to realize for herself that not everyone in her life was as they seemed and that she needed to follow her heart and not her brain in order to be happy. I really enjoyed this and I'm happy that Harlequin is stepping back onto the Romance scene with these books!

This book had me at “hockey romance” and I was pretty excited to dive right in. Though this book had plenty of spice and chemistry, the body of the story lacked substance for me. The “drama” surrounding Hayden felt melodramatic rather than added to the book and I could have done without all of it.

I enjoyed Brody and Hayden and reading them grow, not only as individuals, but as a couple. I love to read when a female lead is the one who needs convincing and the male lead is already 100% in. Those kinds of stories make for the best tension filled scenes and this author did a good job with developing their relationship

Overall this was a good, but not amazing book for me. There were lots I enjoyed and some storylines I could do without. I think this author has better hockey romance stories, but this was a good read for those looking for a short book with lots of chemistry.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Feature for the ARC

Reviewing the re-release set for July 2, 2024!

This was a very spicy and amazing hockey romance. The spice was off the charts in every way and I love the one-night-stand turned love. I’m not usually a fan of love triangles… but it wasn’t much of one anyways since Hayden didn’t really /love/ one of them.

The HEA was almost a little too happy, but that’s why we read these romances right?

A part of me just wishes that it was a bit longer and we had more time with these characters.

Thank you Elle Kennedy and Harlequin for a copy of this eARC re-release in exchange for an honest review.

This book was delightful and exactly what one wants when they pick up a hockey romance. Spicy, sweet, and swoony.

This was cute and entertaining! I definitely didn’t realise this was a reprint of an early Elle Kennedy book until started reading and thought the vibe was a bit different to her most popular books. I loved the exploration of different family dynamics and scorching spicy scenes ❤️‍🔥

Elle Kennedy is the queen of hockey romance! If she writes a hockey romance, I WILL BE READING IT!!! I am so glad some of her first work is getting published, it’s always fun to go back and see where an author has started compared to their style now. I think Elle Kennedy fans will love this one just as much as her other books🤗🫶🏼

As a fan of the Off Campus series, I was really excited for this book. I can safely say that it did not disappoint.

'Body Check' was Elle Kennedy's first hockey romance book that is being rereleased with some updates. I haven't read the original text so I cannot comment on any of these updates, but I can talk about the book itself.

I really enjoyed this book. It felt like being back in the Off Campus world, so it was almost nostalgic in a way. 'BC' has the same vibes as 'The Dare' and the other books in the series so if you enjoyed those you'll enjoy this.

I recommend this book to fans of the Off Campus series and other hockey romances, "forbidden" romances, and one night stands to lovers.

Thank you to the publisher for the e-copy.

This is a fast paced steamy read- exactly what I was hoping for!

Hayden & Brody bring the heat in this hockey romance. When Hayden is out for drinks with her best friend, they discuss that she needs a change: a one night stand to shake things up. Hayden scans the room and when her eyes land on Brody- it’s a done deal.

From first sight, Brody is completely taken with Hayden. She’s beautiful, curvaceous and confident. As a pro hockey player in the NHL, Brody is used to get whatever (and whoever!) he wants- but his days of one night stands are past and he’s looking for something more.

Throw in a criminal inquisition into Brody’s hockey team, and the plot thickens!

This was a great read- fast paced, loveable characters and great chemistry!

Elle Kennedy does hockey romances so well! It was awesome to get to read the updated, expanded version of her very first hockey romance.

Hayden has always done her best to stay away from hockey, especially after getting a position as an art history teacher and finding herself in California. When she’s back home to see her father, who owns the pro-hockey team, she doesn’t expect that she’ll have much to do with the sport. Just what’s required of her as a dutiful daughter.

When she decided to go for a one-night stand, which is completely out of her norm, she doesn’t expect her world to be rocked (in more than one way) by her chosen bedmate.

What I absolutely loved about this, was how uninhibited Hayden became with Brody. There was something about him that made it okay for her to be herself and to try the things she would have never tried with other partners. When I say it was spicy? It was spicy. I’d give it a level three out of five on the spice.

Brody was so enchanted by Hayden it was kind of sweet at times, but then other times I just was … well let’s say it was good. Better than good.

The issues with the team and Hayden’s father were frustrating. Not in the way you think. I just felt Hayden’s fear and anger about the situation and how that could impact more than just her father.

This was a definite four star read for me and I loved every minute of it. I read it over the course of two nights in bed. Super fast, and easy to read.

This book was steamy and sweet all at once. It had in-depth characters and well-thought out plot points that dealt with the loyalty between parents and their children. What I found lacking was the resolutions. I feel that there was no true resolution for Doug (not that we really care for him) and we definitely didn't get the resolution for Hayden's relationship with her father. It was a good romance, and definitely spicy, but the subplots left something to be desired.

Picture this. Your current boyfriend is about as boring as watching wet paint dry. You decide to play one night stand roulette at the bar. You score the jackpot with a hulking man with chiseled features. You take him back to your hotel and proceed to have the most mind blowing intimate night of your life. The next morning you send him on his way and refuse to give him your phone number. Fantasy fulfilled. Except, later that day you realize that the hulking man is a left wing player for the hockey team that your dad owns. That’s what happens to Hayden in Body Check by Elle Kennedy. Body Check was originally released in 2009 and was Kennedys first hockey romance. She has added more scenes and enhanced existing chapters for the rerelease hitting shelves July 2. This book is spicy from page 1. The chemistry between Hayden and Brody is sizzling and only gets hotter amid a scandal and investigation of the hockey team Brody plays for. Can they form a deeper connection that isn’t all smoldering looks and intense longing? Find out for yourself by picking up a copy when it hits shelves July 2.

It's no secret that I love hockey romance and Elle Kennedy. So, when I saw this book available on NetGalley, I just had to request it. And I'm so glad that Harlequin gave me the opportunity to read and review it. Body Check is Elle Kennedy's first hockey romance and it's been revised and expanded for this new edition.

After a one-night stand sparks a connection, Hayden's future feels more confusing than ever. Brody is not ready to let her go, but she says she isn't looking for anything more than temporary. But fate brings them back together. Brody plays for the team her father owns; the teams that is currently embroiled in a scandal. Hayden just wants to keep her head down and support her dad, but she can't seem to stay away from Brody.

If you like...
-Hockey Romance
-He Falls Frist
-One-Night Stand to Relationship
-Coach's Daughter
-Men Written by Elle Kennedy
...then this book is for you! It's a prefect blend of spice and sweetness.

I read both Off-Campus and Briar U series but I think this book comes out as a top favourite of Elle Kennedys books. Its a lot spicier than her other books, the characters seem mature and to have more real life/relatable issues in their relationship. One big difference is this is nhl compared to college/university hockey. Its a fun easy quick read. My friends arent big hockey fans but I will be recommending this one to them!

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
I always love Elle Kennedy’s books and this was no different! I was surprised to see that this is a re-released book that she expanded the story on. This was sooo good! Although their building relationship had me frustrated at times (in a good way!) they had such chemistry from the beginning and I was dying to know how it ended up! The spicy scenes are 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ as usual for her writing and I loved it! Read this in less than a day! 10/10 recommend!

Elle Kennedy knows how to write a story that drags you in and makes you not want to leave. This was a great spicy sports romance and I was all in.

This was short and sweet!

If you’ve read Elle Kennedy’s newer works you can really tell how much she has progressed and grown as an author but this was still an enjoyable read. The drama was entertaining and the romance was swoony. I do feel like the emotional progression of the romance was a bit too quick or at least happened most off page, which left me feeling whiplashed as a reader a bit but overall I enjoyed this. It hits some heavier topics like alcoholism, infidelity (not with the MCs), and white collar crimes.

I do want to thank NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of the updates and extended version of Body Check in exchange for an honest review.

Body Check will be republished this summer!

Thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin, and Elle Kennedy for this arc for an honest review!

Elle said it was her first novel, but she was already the queen of hockey romance. Suffice to say I've read this book in less than 24 hours.

I love how Brody reminded me of Dean. The man everybody wants, he lets everybody have him, but when he meets the one, he falls fast and hard. He did all his best to have a chance with Hayden, who just wanted a fling, for a change rather than just diving into a new relationship.

I also liked the drama surrounding Brody's team and the twist at the end!

the ending was a bit aprubt, I don't know if Elle wanted to write more books set in this world, or if she did, because I'm curious about whether Darcy would find the one or if she would continue with her string of one night stands!

This was a fun read. I didn’t know what to truly expect but I enjoyed this story from beginning to end. Elle Kennedy is an automatic read for me and this was no different. The spice was off the charts too!

2.5⭐️

I really loved The Deal by this author but sadly this one really just wasn't for me.

First the good stuff. I thought the sexy scenes and smut was really well done. It wasn't drawn out too far and Kennedy did a great job making the reader feel that angst with out any cringe. I really also liked the idea of Brody being on her dad's hockey team. I thought this was an interesting twist or take.

However nothing happens in this book. I was incredibly bored and was just waiting for the sexy time to save it for me. This is a republished book of her earliest work. I think she has grown a ton since this one. I Will continues to read from Elle Kennedy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin - Romance . My review is voluntarily my own.