This one was way too insta love (lust?) for me. I didn't enjoy the fact that she was technically just on a break from her boyfriend. I didn't like that. It felt icky. I didn't feel too connected to the characters.

After a nomadic childhood spent following her hockey coach father, Hayden Houston is determined to finally figure out her own path in life. Her plans don’t include a one-night stand—especially not with Brody Croft, the star player on her dad’s hockey team. But what was supposed to be a single night of passion turns into something neither of them anticipated.

Brody is bold, loyal, and completely committed to his team. But his night with Hayden sparks a connection that feels impossible to ignore. As their budding relationship is tested by a game-fixing scandal, Hayden must decide whether Brody’s bad-boy reputation is too much for her—or if he’s the one who will finally make her stay.

Tropes
- Hockey romance
- Forbidden romance (coach’s daughter x player)
- Bad boy with a heart of gold
- Second chance at love
- Slow-burn with sizzling chemistry

Body Check scores big as a spicy, heartfelt hockey rom-com that keeps the heat on and the emotions running high. There is more story, more intensity, and even more hockey magic, making it a must-read for sports romance enthusiasts in this version.

Hayden and Brody are the kind of opposites that attract in the best way. Hayden’s struggle to carve her own identity outside of her father’s shadow is deeply relatable, while Brody’s unwavering loyalty to his team and unexpected vulnerability make him utterly swoon-worthy. Their chemistry is off the charts, with banter and emotional resonance that keeps readers hooked from the start.

The hockey backdrop adds depth and excitement, with vivid on-ice action and the palpable camaraderie of the team. The game-fixing subplot raises the stakes, testing both their relationship and their loyalties. Kennedy expertly balances the steam with genuine emotional moments, making Hayden and Brody’s journey one of both passion and personal growth.

Whether you're a die-hard fan of hockey romances or new to the genre, it delivers a winning combination of humour, heat, and heart.

More recommendations, if you loved Body Check!!
- The Deal by Elle Kennedy
- Pucked by Helena Hunting
- Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
- Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
- Playing for Keeps by Kendall Ryan

I absolutely tried and tried to read this and I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this so much - thank you! However, I literally have picked it up no less than ten times and I could not make myself read more than a page or two (or, at best times, a chapter or two) at a time.

I hate giving up but sometimes you just have to. I have no links because I did not want to negatively review something I did not finish.

I may just be over hockey romance, but I also just don't think this added anything to the genre. Hayden and Brody just didn't have enough chemistry to keep me interested.

Such a good cute read! It’s perfectly written to keep the reader intrigued! Body check was a perfect light read for me!

HELLO HOCKEY ROMANCE OBSESSION!

Hayden, home to help her dad through a messy divorce and hockey scandal, is feeling unfulfilled in her life and relationship and decides to pick up a man at the bar. Little does she know her one night stand, Brody, plays for her dad’s hockey team. Brody isn’t so sure about being a one night stand though…

I absolutely loved these two! I love how Brody did not give up on Hayden. He knew what he wanted and boy he got ittt (casually inserts Taylor Swift lyrics.) Hayden’s character growth and development was exceptional. I really felt that Hayden and Brody truly complimented and brought out the best in each other.

I think hockey may be my new favorite sport. Immediately planning a trip to a hockey game after reading Body Check.

This was a wild mix of genres with romance being the focal point but also had a touch of mystery and scandal as well. Elle Kennedy writes so well, that it just worked. Already a huge fan of her novels, it was a no brainer I had to have this book.

Fun, sassy and surprisingly light this book will have you nestled into your chair unable to put it down.

I enjoyed this cute hockey romance! It was nice that I had a bit of an extra flare with the mystery of the scandal with the hockey team and who was a part of it or not, plus the one night stand/unexpected second meeting/can’t resist each other combination compounded by the owner‘s daughter/hockey player trope. Definitely a good one to pick up if you enjoy hockey romances!

I always love to see where authors start in their careers and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing where Elle began her career as a staple in the sports romance world. This was a fun read but just wasn’t my favorite. I still enjoyed it, but enjoy the growth we see from Elle more now.

I always enjoy a hockey romance. I loved Brody's character - so sweet and sincere. I wasn't completely fond of the almost-love-triangle situation with Hayden's boyfriend (although they were on a break.) This book has plenty of steam and the storyline surrounding her father and the game-fixing adds some interest and depth to the story.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This was fun, light, sassy and spicy! Just what I was in the mood for this weekend. I loved the story between the characters, and how quickly lust turned into love. I always like it when a hero is thrown for a loop in a book. Overall, a really delightful and spicy read!

This is a good book. The two main characters are Hayden and Brody. Hayden is a professor and visiting her father in Chicago. Brody is a hockey player in Chicago. They meet in a bar and have a one night stand. They meet up the next day at the hockey arena, where Brody is at practice and Hayden is meeting her father, the team’s owner. The start dating, at first not telling anyone. They become serious and fall in love.

I love Elle Kennedy and I love spicy hockey romances! This one not one of my favourites of hers but it was still good. The banter was good and it was a quick read!

This book was so cute! I absolutely love a good hockey romance and I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends and followers!

100% best author! Hockey romance is peak and yes, I love Elle Kennedy! Intense magic romance and chemistry.

This was a steamy, fast-paced romance surrounding Hayden Houston, who finds herself caught between significant family dynamics and a sizzling attraction to Brody Croft, a star player on her dad’s hockey team. There's several engaging romance tropes - one-night stand, forbidden love, and he falls first; however some of the plot choices felt a bit far-fetched and the infidelity didn’t sit well with me. They were "on a break".

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin - Romance for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

i love elle kennedy but this book is such a let down. I know she likes to write romance books but can we at least have different tropes, I have always seen her books to be about hockey romance. I understand that this is probably her first book, the plot wasn't really there. There's a lot of steamy scenes (I don't really mind). However, Its basically one night stand turns into a long term relationship. Hayden's father owns the team that Brody plays. they have HEA

I put this own down. The writing was deeply cringe and I couldn't continue. I marked it as "read" on goodreads with no star rating

I can say with all honesty that I never intended to fall head over heels for sports romance. With little to no athletic ability myself, I couldn’t imagine finding anything interesting within the genre. Then Elle Kennedy came along and thoroughly changed my mind. Her books are always engaging and have never failed to draw me in by the end of the first chapter. Body Check was no different.

It was amazing how quickly I fell in love with the characters. Hayden and Brody were both dynamic characters that really thrived as characters within their own right. They both led interesting lives and could maintain a story on their own. Their friends and family encouraged their development and pushed the plot line along nicely.

Hayden herself was strong and independent most of the time, but occasionally her personality lacked luster. The constant struggle in her mind about her relationships were frustrating by the end because she was so focused on what she thought she wanted, that she was unwilling to give Brody a chance. For most of the book, it was nearly impossible not to root for the couple because their chemistry was palpable from the start. They really brought out the best in one another, despite Hayden’s desire to push him away.

Despite the main focus of the story being on Hayden and Brody, there were many side stories that were meant to enhance the main points. However, there were so many that it ended up bogging down the highlights of Hayden and Brody’s journey. By the end, some of the side plots were finished up so hastily that it felt forced.

Overall, this was a great book to lose myself in for a weekend and I can’t wait to read more.

3.5/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Romance for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.