Wicked Serve by Grace Reilly is a lighthearted University Hockey Romance that hits just right. Wicked Serve tells the story of Nikolai and Isabelle (Izzy) who has a summer fling and have now come across one another on campus after Nikolai transfers to the same university. And Izzy is the Hockey team captains younger sister and obviously should be off limits.

Ms. Reilly has written a wonderful story with solid characters that fits into the friends to lovers trope. The writing style fits nicely with the storyline and college romance theme.

The relationship between both main characters was nice. I liked that the MMC had someone standing up for him. Usually it’s the other way around so that was a nice refreshing breath of air. I did feel like this book was a bit too long. Otherwise college sports romance and hockey were great.

This book had so much potential but unfortunately it did not work for me. The thing that bothered me the most about this book was that there was way too much spice. Don’t get me wrong I love me some spice but not when it’s the entire plot I feel like anytime the fmc and mmc were together it was a spice scene. The insta love/lust is also something I just couldn’t vibe with. I also felt like this book was wayyyy too long and there was so much filler but somehow the important points were rushed. I want to read more books in this series but this one just wasn’t it for me.

Thank you netgalley for that arc!!

Summer fling and brothers rival!?! Say less. I live a sports romance and add in some forbidden romance and you have my attention. This is the first books I’ve read in the series and want to go back and read book 1

“If she’s sunshine, I’m the guy who hopes it never rains”.

I’m not crying you are - what a bitter sweet goodbye to the Callahan siblings…

Wicked Serve is book 4 in the Beyond the Play series. My anticipation for this story was high but Wicked Serve did not disappoint. What a great ending to this family’s story.

Wicked Serve follows Izzy and Nikolai as they rekindle their summer fling while keeping it a secret from Izzy’s brother who happens to be the captain of Nikolai’s new hockey team.

Firstly it was a treat to see snippets of all the siblings and where there are now. Secondly, Izzy may be the youngest and last sibling but she packed just as much punch as her brothers. I loved seeing her come into her own, find her passions and fight for what she loves.

Nikolai was complicated but oh so captivating. I was sold at hockey player but he really over sold himself with his growth.

This is the perfect combo of sweet but spicy with emotional depth that made it both heartbreaking and beautiful.

Thank you to Valentine PR and Grace Reilly for an ARC copy!

I really enjoyed this. It was a quick read for me. I liked the characters and the story flowed well. Hockey romance is one of my favorite genres and this one didn’t disappoint. I’ll read more from her.

So, I really liked the first half. But it felt like the story was done and I looked and had over 40% to go. I liked the characters and it was a great steamy romance, but needed to be shorter for me

For an honest (although) late review, I received an ARC of this book.

This is my first book of this author. It is the fourth in the family saga (my understanding). I didn't feel I needed the other previous stories until the beginning.

A fun, easy read rom-com book centered around the sports genre of hockey. However, the main character is a volleyball player yet in love with a hockey player.

The trials and tribulations of a summer fling turned to current challenge.....the storyline not unique but of course the author created a story.

This was just an ok for me. I didn't feel much connection to the characters and it is do was it was supposed to do - allow some time to escape!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book! The title and this beautiful cover drew me in and i was excited to read this book! I will be recommending this book to others for readers advisory.

4.5 ⭐️

OK - WHY did I wait so long to pick this up? I absolutely ate this up.
Was this a literary masterpiece? No. BUT the vibes are immaculate and I really enjoyed the entire book! I really loved our FMC & MMC, Nikolai and Izzy. I was rooting for them from the very beginning and I really just enjoyed their story to find each other.

Nikolai's character growth was outstanding. I love seeing the MMC's growth be so strong because we love an emotionally aware and working on himself king. Nikolai was ALL of that.

While I did have the best time, and the vibes were immaculate. I do not believe it needed to be as long as it was. I had a good time and didn't mind the length, but there was definitely some fluff that could have been removed. I think there was a lot of smut scenes that could have been cut from the beginning of the book to make the reader feel more tension and angst build between them. I didn't HATE it for the length, but I can see some people not picking this up because of the length.

This is book 4 in the series, but I read it as a standalone (first book by this author I've read) and I still really enjoyed it and will probably go back and read the first 3.

If you're looking for:
-Best Friend's Sister
-Hockey / Volleyball Romance
-College Romance
-Secret Relationship / 'forbidden romance'

Overall, I had a really good time with this story and it's characters! I would def recommend it to those who like bingable sports romances!

Wicked Serve by Grace Reily is a perfect conclusion to her sibling sports romance series, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint.

As the final book in the series, it brings a fresh twist by featuring both the female and male leads as athletes, which sets it apart from the others. The dynamic between the two characters is electric, with the added layers of secret friends with benefits and brother’s rival turned teammate tropes that made the romance even more engaging. The chemistry is undeniable, and the transition from casual to something deeper felt so natural. The story left my heart full, and I loved every page of this heartwarming, sports-filled journey. Highly recommend it to fans of the series and anyone who loves a feel-good romance with a sporty edge!

I absolutely loved every moment of this sports sibling romance series! The chemistry between the characters is electrifying, and the plot keeps you hooked from start to finish. The blend of sports action and heartfelt sibling dynamics adds so much depth to the story, making it impossible to put down. If you’re a fan of emotional and heartwarming tales, I highly recommend diving into this series. It’s a perfect mix of romance, sports, and family drama that will leave you craving more with every page!

Five stars for the feels ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received this book as an advanced review copy and offer my honest opinion voluntarily.

Oh, Grace, you have done it again! 𝑾𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆⁠ was the perfect ending to a fantastic and romantic series. It is bittersweet to say goodbye to the Callahan family and my friends at McKee University. I cannot express how much I enjoyed every single page of each of these books! This final book was everything I hoped for. Not only was it a beautifully deep romance, but it was also a coming-of-age journey of self-discovery and trauma healing. As with all of Grace's books, the topics are authentic and realistic. She writes in a true-to-life way that hits you in the heart. 𝑾𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆⁠ delves into the childhood trauma of abuse and its long-lasting effects on mental health. It also deals with anxiety, panic attacks, and feelings of self-doubt and self-worth. I loved following Nik and Izzy on their journey to acknowledge their love for each other and how they learned to work through their pasts and insecurities. The icing on the cake was their explosive and sizzling-hot connection and all the delicious spice!! Boy, was it freaking good! I want a man who whispers sweet and sexy words to me in Russian. Swoon!

𝑾𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆⁠ was another phenomenal book by Grace, and I'm delighted with how this series ended. The epilogue was freaking fabulous!!! The Callahan family and the 𝘽𝙚𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮 series will always be dear to my heart!

I love hockey romance and will read any I can get my hands on. They’re all usually very similar and I dont care they have hockey players so its a win,

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book!

This actually wasn't a favorite for me. I kind of struggled to get thru some parts of the book. There were parts that I did enjoy, some more than others. I actually really enjoyed the ending. It was probably my favorite part of the book.

I felt like the book was a bit too long and drawn out. There were many times it just felt repeating or like there was things that just weren't needed.

I also felt like the spice in this book was over done. It felt like more spice and less plot. I enjoy spice but I like it better when it fits in with the plot rather than it just being there for the whole book.

There were also a few ick moments for me, mostly during the spice scenes. Some of those felt off, and also not really on point with the age level of the main characters.

I really wish I would have enjoyed this book more, and it wasn't that I disliked the whole book, I enjoyed the ending and everything that they did for one another and how they matured and especially how the MMC really grew in knowing what he wanted especially when it came to his grandfather and father.

I have another book from this author on my TBR and I will probably still give it a read with an open mind!

This hockey romance packs plenty of heat and emotional tension. Nikolai, a hockey player with a scarred past, transfers to a rival school, reigniting a secret summer fling with Isabelle, the younger sister of his biggest rival. As they navigate their complicated feelings and the risks to their futures, their once-innocent connection turns into a sizzling, intense affair.

With a "friends with benefits" setup, it delivers on spicy moments and emotional drama, as both characters struggle with their pasts and the consequences of their choices. Fast-paced and steamy, it's a solid pick for fans of sports romance with plenty of tension, both on and off the ice.

This was a fun sports romance read. I’m looking forward to more books by Grace Reilly. The mmcs have good chemistry and tension.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of Wicked Serve!

I really enjoyed that there was the inclusion of both their sports and not just the MMC. I also always love a grumpy-sunshine trope. I am a huge fan of sports romances, especially hockey, and cannot quite pinpoint what felt missing for me in this one. It felt a bit clunky for me starting with their established history but bit really getting to feel it and the amount of smut felt like a distraction from story vs adding to my enjoyment.

This was my first book from this author so I will definitely give another book a try. This one just didnt fully gel with me at this moment but it might for you!

Thank you NetGalley for this review copy. Meh. Typical hockey romance, but still a great read. I'll continue to read Grace Reilly in the future!

As a fan of both hockey and volleyball, Wicked Serve promised a lot of excitement and romance, but ultimately, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
The story follows Nikolai, a hockey player forced to transfer to a rival school, and Isabelle, a volleyball player navigating her own personal and athletic challenges. Their complicated relationship, a secret summer fling turning into more, has all the makings of a great sports romance. I loved the premise, and the tension between the characters was engaging.

However, the book stumbled for me in a few key areas, particularly in the introduction. The opening chapter left me feeling disoriented; the scene wasn’t fully fleshed out, and I struggled to picture the setting and get a solid sense of the characters right away. It took me a while to get back into the flow of the story after that, and I found myself wishing for more detail and clarity, either to flesh out the introduction or, perhaps, skip it altogether to dive right into the heart of the plot.

The characters themselves were interesting, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on where the story faltered. While I liked the idea of their complicated relationship I wanted more connection, more exploration of the scars that Nikolai carried, and more tension between the characters to really make their eventual choices feel earned.

That being said, there were definitely swoon-worthy moments and some spicy scenes that fans of new adult romance will enjoy. The sports elements were solid, and I appreciated how the book blended both volleyball and hockey into the storyline. The side characters, especially Isabelle's family, were a nice touch as well, adding some fun dynamics.

Overall, Wicked Serve has a lot of potential and could be a hit for readers who enjoy sports romances with a touch of angst.

I really liked this book. I must admit that I did read this one without readying the other 3 in the series. But now I am excited to go back and read the side characters' stories. The main characters were likable, the pace was great. And there was a lot of spice!