Sage bids on hockey rookie Elias for one date at a charity event, thanks to a little push from Elias’s best friend. What starts as a favor to keep Elias away from a predatory woman quickly turns into an arrangement neither of them saw coming: a fake relationship. For Elias, it’s a way to dodge the puck bunnies, and for Sage, it’s a chance to gain the visibility she needs to pursue her dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer in an impossibly competitive field.

The chemistry between Sage and Elias is undeniable from the start, but their love story is beautifully complicated. Sage exudes confidence and independence, balancing her career and her role as a parental figure to her younger brother, while Elias struggles with self-doubt, both on and off the ice. His lack of confidence is reflected in his slump on the ice, much to the frustration of Sage’s uncle, the team’s coach.

What makes this story shine is Elias’s adoration for Sage. He’s drawn to her infectious confidence and finds himself wanting to be the one who cares for her, even when she insists she doesn’t need anyone. As Elias puts it: “There’s a heavy contrast between the nervous energy thrumming off me and Sage’s infectious confidence.” And wow, does he take care of her—his tenderness, patience, and love are impossible to resist.

Bal Khabra is a new-to-me author, and I’m so glad I took a chance on this book. The mix of hockey, fake dating, and a swoon-worthy romance made me want to read the first book.

Thanks to Berkley Pub for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the first book in this series. The couple from the first book is in this book. Aiden is roommates and hockey teammates with our MC Elias. He’s new to the team and just can’t catch a break. He has female fan stalkers and this is how he met Sage. Though she saved him from one, she isn’t one.
Love fake dating! She is a ballet dancer but needs a social media following to get a job and he needs a fake girlfriend so he doesn’t have to worry about salacious headlines.
This had some twists I wasn’t expecting which added to the story. They both helped each other become successful and they fell for each other in the process.
Love when they both show up for eachother even when it’s “fake”.
Also loved how Aiden and Summer were always there to help their relationship along.

Aspiring ballerina Sage Beaumont and professional hockey player Elias Westbrook enter into a mutually beneficial fake relationship to boost their careers. But when real feelings start to arise, Sage and Elias soon find that it’s difficult keeping things platonic.

Spiral is the second book in Bal Khabra’s interconnected Off the Ice series but it can be read as a standalone. Overall, this was a cute and quick read filled with some of my favorite tropes like fake dating and forced proximity roommates. I liked Sage and Elias’ slow burn romance and thought it made sense considering the heavy burdens that were weighing on each of them. There were a few frustrating moments where Elias couldn’t get out of his own way mentally, but once he untangled his feelings for Sage, it made for worthwhile groveling and spicy scenes.

Unfortunately, Elias and Sage’s tragic backstories were completely glossed over which took me out of the reading experience. Sage and Elias both went through some incredibly difficult circumstances that shaped who they became as adults, but I never felt like either of their traumas were explored deeply enough. Sage was forced to take guardianship of her brother from their drug-addicted parents and Elias was blackmailed and extorted by his biological father. Some pretty heavy stuff, yet these situations and their effects were minimally explored. It was a lot of telling and not enough showing when it came to how Sage and Elias were impacted and I wish we had been given more.

Despite that, I did enjoy Sage and Elias’ banter and found their chemistry very believable. If you’re looking for something sweet that features dance sequences and found family, then Spiral might work for you!

Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely ADORED Spiral. I should've known from the first mention of Misty Copeland that this book was going to be right up my alley. I could tell how much Bal has grown as a writer between the release of Collide and Spiral, and I can't wait to read more of her books! Sage and Elias were both so lovable, and if anything is true about me, it's that I LOVE a fake dating trope. This book was made in a lab for me to love and it worked.

Read this if you like:
•fake dating
•thoughtful men
•sports romance
•complicated family dynamics

Hockey player and ballerina start fake dating. This book was so sweet. I love a thoughtful man. I love fun banter. And I loved seeing both of them unravel for each other. Thank you Berkley for eARC!

This is my first ever Bal Khabra book and I am immensely impressed. The banter between the characters is so good it makes me feel like I actually want to be friends with them, specially Sage!!! The found family trope that hockey romance usually have is something I adore so much.

The slow burn on this one was burning 🔥 but the tension and the chemistry between Sage & Eli was undeniable. And every time they almost go all the way and let the walls they have up fall all the way they turn around and start doing something else—I was annoyed but I thought it was still cute.

If you are looking for another bingeable swoon-worthy Hockey Romance book, you will find it with this book.

My additional social media info:
IG—1060 followers
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4.5 stars!
I went into this one slightly skeptical, because I didn't love book one (Collide), however, I was very grateful that Berkley blessed me with an ARC, so I was cautiously hopeful going in, but it blew my expectations out of the water!

I loved this book. It had some little Canadianisms without stereotypes being shoved down your throat which I greatly appreciated. I believed moving away from the college setting really increased my enjoyment of this story compared to book one.

These characters were well developed with similar backgrounds that led to life outcomes on the opposite ends of the spectrum, while still connecting them in a way that allowed for deeper understanding of one another.

The FMC has guardianship of her younger brother after her parents took off to evade arrest related to drug involvement. I respect that while she was working hard to provide for her brother, she never compromised on her own dreams as a prima ballerina for the production of Swan Lake for the company of her dreams. She worked hard to make ends meet, parented a teenaged brother, refused to take handouts from her well off uncle and eventually, learned to lower her wall to be vulnerable with and accept help from the MMC.

We often read about hockey superstars in romance books, but I loved that we had the opportunity to see more of the struggles of being a professional athlete. Our MMC is painted as a playboy even though he's the furthest thing from it. He's also struggling to perform the way he, his team and team management expected him to perform under the pressure of his rookie season. Additionally, he's dealing with his own personal life issues that no one is aware of.

I loved that there was no third act break up in this story. These characters genuinely deserved to be happy and work through some of their trials with the support of one another.

I enjoyed Bal Khabra's style in this book and noticed an improvement in her writing from book one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley and Bal Khabra for the advanced copy.

I haven’t read Collide, the first in the series, but the joy of interconnected standalones 🙌This was my first book by this author and it didn’t disappoint! Sage is a struggling ballerina, Elias is a rookie hockey player who is also struggling to show his skill. She needs a bigger social media following to get the attention of ballet companies, he wants to escape the media scrutiny and pictures of him and every woman he is seen with. They enter a fake relationship, and Sage moves in with him, but it isn’t long before their friendship turns to longing.

This was a slowwwwwwburn. Probably one of the most slowburniest books I’ve read in a while. I really felt the author was putting in the work of developing their friendship and their feelings for each other which was great. I love me a forced proximity roommates situation and this delivered on the tension! Sage’s relationship with her brother was really special and I loved their moments too.

💜 fake dating
💜 roommates
💜 hockey player/ballerina
💜 found family

Different characters getting their own book in a series is one of the best blessing in the book world.

I wanted to smirk at the characters throughout this book, like yall remember this is 'fake dating' right. *wink wink*
Elias and Sage were very sweet and fitting for each other. The communication between the two of them was there right from the gecko.
Would I have loved more spicy scenes (especially because of the hot tension scenes)? Yes
But I loved the emotional connection and the character development with Sage & Elias is the true heart and what really pulled the reader in.

I LOVED THE SUMMER & AIDEN APPEARANCES!

I LOVED everything about this book! It hooked me right from the start—the plot was so cute, and I couldn’t get enough of the hockey player x ballerina dynamic. Elias Westbrook is officially a new book boyfriend of mine—everything he did for Sage made me swoon so hard. He was just so adorable. And Sage? I adored her just as much. She was such a relatable, caring character, and I especially loved how she wasn’t used to letting anyone take care of her—until Elias.

Their chemistry was absolutely off the charts, and they were perfect for each other in every way. 🥹🤍

I’ll definitely be thinking about this book for a long time!

Bal Khabra is truly an author whose quick jump from indie to trad is deserved. I loved loved loved Spiral, and just like in Collide, Khabra has created deep and complex characters without forgetting to balance them with enough humor and fun to keep the story light enough.

Their "meet cute" for the fake dating feels natural enough and the way their relationship forms as friends with just enough tension had me giggling and kicking my feet, leading to a really satisfying break of tension. I really adored this version of fake dating. And Eli's acts of service? Hello? ADORABLE top to bottom.

Khabra is an auto-read author for me now!

My favorite trope ever!!!! Loved it just finished it I don’t know what else to say right now but I would and will recommend it to everyone I know

3.5/5 ⭐️
1.5/5 🌶️

Sage and Elias Unfiltered 🥰

Such a sweet pairing. I do love a fake dating trope and this one was fun! The characters had enough chemistry for the slow burn to be realistic and not cringy. Bal Khabra continued the humor we saw in Collide. Overall, most of the pacing and banter felt spot on. I do believe the last few chapters could've had a bit more.

Thank you Berkley and #NetGalley for this ARC!

Tropes:
🩰 Fake dating
🏒 Sports Romance
🩰 Slow Burn
🏒 Forced Proximity
🩰 Found Family

Book Blurb:
Elias Westbrook, a newly drafted hockey player for the Toronto Thunder, is facing the challenges of fame and media scrutiny. With a growing fan base and too many expectations on his shoulders, he’s struggling to make his first career goal. The tabloids are reporting on his every move, including which woman he was last seen with, but all he wants to do is escape the spotlight.

Enter from stage left Sage Beaumont, an aspiring ballerina with dreams of joining the Aurora Ballet Theatre, but her lack of popularity online leaves her at a major disadvantage for securing the lead role. When Sage finds herself with the perfect opportunity to make her dreams come true by fake dating Elias, she takes her shot.

Soon enough, the flimsy fake-dating rules they set in place fall away in the face of their sizzling connection. But before things spiral out of control, Sage and Elias will have to decide if they’re willing to take the leap together or if they'll call it quits.

I'm always down for a hockey romance, and if you tell me there is fake dating, and our other main character is a ballerina, you can count me in.
I read Collided last year, and I really enjoyed it, so when I saw that Spiral was available on NetGalley, I just had to request it and hopefully get it. I'm so glad I got my hands on it, because it was such a great read.
I have to say, I really enjoyed the chemistry between Elias and Sage. They were so great together and it was so much fun to see them slowly fall for each other. They were so cure together, and I couldn't help myself smiling and giggling when reading this book. Like, who wouldn't want an Elias.
Honestly, I think I enjoyed it more than Collided, and it only makes me even more exited for the next book (Revolve, which is already on my wish list for this year).
Honestly, if you are looking for a cute hockey romance with a great couple with lots of chemistry, I think you should give this book a shot.

🏒Elias is a newly drafted NHL player who hasn’t made his first career goal. If that’s not stressful enough the media has it all wrong and is portraying him as some sort of f@ck boy.

🩰Sage is a ballerina with dreams of getting the big part in swan lake. But popularity not talent is a big factor in ballet casting.

💛When they meet at an event the pair hatch a plan to help each other achieve their goals and a fun and steamy love story unfolds.

🥰I really enjoyed this story. The writing is crisp and fun, the plot is well thought out and punchy. Sage is a very likeable character and Elias is a golden retriever in the streets but dominant in the sheets.

If you love a sports romance, this is a must read! 💛

This is the follow up to “Collide”, which is one of my favorite hockey romances. In this book, Elias is a rookie who hasn’t scored a goal yet. He’s got several assists but wants that elusive goal. He meets Sage, who is a ballerina trying to land the lead in “Swan Lake”. Sage suggests that they start fake dating. The publicity will show Sage has a stable relationship with, and will keep the paparazzi away from Eli.
Of course, fake dating turns into real feelings for the two of them, but Eli has a secret that will affect their budding relationship.
I like the slow burn aspect of their relationship, their chemistry feels natural and readers will root for the success of their relationship. 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“Sage is beautiful and strong, a ray of light in a field of darkness.”

Let’s get one thing straight—Elias Westbrook and Sage Beaumont own my heart. I went into Spiral with a bit of trepidation. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed Collide, but it left me wary. Could Bal Khabra truly deliver on all the potential hinted at in her debut? Let me just say: not only did she deliver, but she wrapped it all up in an emotional gut-punch of a romance that left me breathless, giggling, and sobbing into my coffee.


Elias Westbrook: The Ultimate Book Boyfriend
Let’s talk about Elias, shall we? This man is perfection. From baking sugar-free cupcakes for Sage’s diabetic brother to Googling ballet moves so he can support her dreams, Elias is the epitome of thoughtful. When Sage’s apartment burns down, he doesn’t just offer her a place to stay—he makes her feel at home. When she’s drunk, he even does her skincare routine for her. And the way he handles his own struggles with such quiet maturity? Swoon.

Elias isn’t just a grumpy hockey player; he’s a man who sees Sage for who she truly is and fights for her in ways that matter. Oh, and did I mention the forehead kisses? Weaponized against me. Every. Single. Time.

Sage Beaumont: A Heroine Worth Rooting For
Sage is everything I didn’t know I needed in a heroine. She’s a people-pleaser in the best way—her sacrifices are born out of love, not weakness. Her relationship with her younger brother melted me. She’s raised him on her own, and the way he stands up to Elias to ensure his sister is being treated right? Pure gold.

Sage isn’t just sweet; she’s layered. She’s fierce, vulnerable, and has a lightheartedness that draws you in. Watching her become part of Elias’s tight-knit friend group and forge a friendship with Summer from Collide was genuinely heartwarming.

The Romance
Elias and Sage’s relationship is a slow burn that’s worth every second. Their love is tender, raw, and deeply emotional. Every milestone feels earned, every moment layered with trust and vulnerability. From their first “fake” date to the moment Elias tattoos a sage plant on his finger (yes, really!), their journey is one you feel in your bones.

There’s a scene where Elias bakes Sage two birthday cakes—one for them to share and another for her to celebrate with her brother. I had to put the book down and stare at my wall because HOW. IS. HE. REAL?

The Verdict
Bal Khabra has officially cemented herself as a must-read author for me. While Spiral ran a touch long in places, it’s so close to perfect that I’m more than willing to forgive it. This book isn’t just a romance; it’s a reminder of what it means to love deeply, selflessly, and unconditionally. Elias and Sage’s story is one I’ll carry with me for a long time.

Spiral left me grinning like an idiot, clutching my Kindle, and desperate for my own Elias Westbrook. (Seriously, where can I find one? Asking for a friend.) If you love fake dating, grumpy-sunshine dynamics, and heroes who set the standard for thoughtfulness, pick this up immediately.

In my most honest opinion, this book was okay. I made it through the end just fine but it left no resounding feeling of “oh my god that was amazing.”

This book is about Elias and Sage who fall into a fake dating scheme that then turns real like in all happy ending novels with this trope. The lines here were super blurred. I felt like at some point it was just too soon, there should have been more fake than that insta love that I felt came from the characters after a couple of chapters. Something I did like was the character development, I felt like Elias and Sage both grew to fall out of their own toxic relationship with themselves at the end of the story, which is always great to see.

That’s it, I hope that anybody who reads this can enjoy it!

Thank you @berkleyromance and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was book two in the Off the Ice series. It’s always fun revisiting old characters but you don’t have to read the previous book to enjoy this one.
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This book covered several romance genres. This sports romance has opposites attract, fake dating, and forced proximity. I really enjoyed these characters, especially Eli. It was nice seeing two characters really work hard at their respective careers and support each other!

This one is out tomorrow ?
.

I had such an amazing time reading this story. I truly fell in love with Sage and Elias and the way that they clicked. Who knew I needed a ballerina/hockey romance? I didn’t see that coming.

Thank you to the author, publisher, & NetGalley for allowing me to have early access to this book!