Penalties and Proposals is a cozy small-town enemies-to-lovers hockey romance that follows Willa, a sports photographer, and Noah, an ice hockey player on a redemption tour. Penalties and Proposals had some great elements and started off strong with electric background to explain why Willa hated Noah's guts, but I was disappointed when the flip to "lovers" felt too easy and too soon. These characters needed higher stakes and a slower burn. I wasn't the biggest fan of the frequent pop culture comparisons and name-dropping, and would have appreciated a bit more of "show, not tell".

Another cute book in the series!
I liked this one because there was a little more seriousness to it.
I love the fall vibes in the series.
Both of the characters were interesting.
Overall, I really enjoyed this!

Hockey romances are still having their moment, and this recently released multi-author series capitalizes on that. If you aren’t familiar with multi-author series, each book can stand alone, but they all share a common setting. Protagonists from one book will likely be side characters in another. Stores, events, and side characters will also be repeated, allowing multiple views of the setting.

This particular series revolves around a hockey team that is put together as a fundraising event for a ranch that serves underprivileged children, with a limited season of games against a Canadian team. The Ice Breakers are based out of the small-ish fictional Western Washington town of Maple Falls (not to be confused with the real town of Maple Valley).

Unlike the Appies series, each of these books was written by a different popular sweet romance author, each with her own style. There are some differences from book to book, but nothing so serious as to mar the series.

Similar to the Appies series, all of the female main characters exist beyond their potential as romantic partners. They have actual lives, careers, and struggles.

The male main characters have various reasons for their singleness at the beginning of the series. Several have (mostly undeserved) reputations as serial daters. All are dedicated to hockey.

The situations that get the various couples together are varied and interesting. Of course, there is an element of predictability: when there are two POV characters, you know they’ll end up together. The question is: what will happen to them before they get there? Will there be a third-act breakup, or will there be something else that tests the relationship?

I find that the passage of time is a bit confusing. There is a Halloween party mentioned in several of the books, and there’s a corn maze and haunted house at Maple Fest. There is pumpkin spice everything. The Ice Breakers practice together for a while before the first of their five games, but the space between games is a bit fuzzy. Days? A week? It all seems to be over before Thanksgiving though. Especially since some of the epilogues mention Christmas lights.

Also…what’s wrong with an otter as a mascot? (If you know me, you know I adore otters.)

Possible objectionable material:
Very mild cursing. Various issues such as parental divorce or neglect, alcoholism, death of a parent, chronic illness, infidelity, sexual harassment. This is hockey, so there are injuries and the occasional fight. People drink. This is closed door romance, so we don’t see more than passionate kisses. There is a hint that sex happens.

Who might like these books:
Romance fans, hockey fans, hockey romance fans. Anyone who likes well-written books where characters grow and develop over the course of the story.

These books are also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-hockey-romcom-era-continues.html
Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing ARCs in exchange for my honest opinion.

My Thoughts:
I really liked Noah’s redemption arc here. He was honest about the faults of his past, but didn’t wallow in them. I also appreciated that Willa, once she learned the truth, adjusted her opinion of Noah.

They do, of course, have a speed bump along the way with the arrival of a self-centered actress that Noah had recently dated, but Willa faced the issue squarely and it ultimately had no impact either on her career or on her romance. Willa herself notes how far she has come since the incident when she and Noah first met, and she doesn’t let the incident get to her or make her immediately break up with Noah.

I enjoyed the moments where janitor Murray kept catching Noah talking to himself. I’d have liked to see him pop up in the other books as well.

Penalties and Proposal is the final book in the Love on Thin Ice series, set in the charming town of Maple Falls. This sweet hockey romance is part of a multi-author, standalone series, and I’ve enjoyed watching the various love stories unfold.

In this instalment, Willa, a determined sports photographer, is eager to prove her worth and earn a promotion. The charity hockey event in Maple Falls seems like the perfect opportunity to showcase her skills. However, the last thing she expects is to cross paths with Noah Beaumont, the man who derailed her career years ago. Despite her lingering resentment, Willa is determined to stay professional and get the job done.

Noah, on the other hand, has worked hard to overcome personal struggles and is set on proving he’s no longer the man Willa encountered all those years ago. With a goal of returning to the NHL, he’s not only fighting for redemption but also for Willa’s trust.

At only 172 pages, the book is a quick read and I felt the development of the romance could have been given more space. The pacing felt rushed at times, especially in terms of how quickly Willa and Noah navigated their complicated feelings toward each other.

This book touches on several familiar romance tropes, including:

Second-chance romance
Enemies-to-lovers dynamic
Small-town charm
Hockey romance

If you’re a fan of light, quick reads with an emotional twist, Penalties and Proposal will likely hit the spot, especially if you’ve enjoyed the earlier books in the Love on Thin Ice series. While it may not offer the depth of longer novels, it’s a sweet, feel-good conclusion to the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Red Bird Publishing for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this title.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read the ARC of this novella.

I love me a enemies to lovers, hockey romance. But due to the length of this book, I feel that everything happened in fast forward. I longed for more development in the characters as individuals and then in their relationship as well! I do understand that this needed to be done due to the length of the book, and the fact that I wanted MORE from this story, makes in a good one in my opinion! I loved Noah’s redemption story, and Willa’s fierce sense of family and self worth. This story definitely had 4 star potential if it was longer and a bit more developed. But still a super cute, quick read!

This was a cute and simple read. If you're looking for Hallmark movie vibes and just a make you feel happy and not have to think about much book then this is the perfect escape for you!

In Penalties and Proposal, we’re thrust into a rollercoaster of emotions as we follow Willa and Noah—a woman who’s spent years building her career after being burned by ​NHL Star, and a man grappling with the consequences of his past mistakes. Willa’s job takes her to Maple Falls to cover a charity ice hockey team, only to find herself face-to-face with the one person she never wanted to see again: Noah Beaumont.

Noah, once the poster child for professional disaster, is on a mission to prove he’s a changed man. As the narrative unfolds, it’s clear that both Willa and Noah are fighting their own battles. Willa is wary of his attempts at redemption, struggling to trust someone who once betrayed her, while Noah is desperate to show her that he’s no longer the man who ruined her career.

The tension between them is palpable, but it’s what happens as they work side by side that gives the story its heart. Noah’s journey of self-reflection and striving to overcome his past is incredibly satisfying, and Willa’s struggle with forgiveness feels real.

The setting of Maple Falls adds a charming, almost idyllic backdrop to the story​.

If you’re a fan of second-chance romances where both characters must confront their pasts to move forward, this book hits all the right notes. The pacing is well-done, keeping the reader invested in the characters’ journey without feeling rushed or drawn out. The romance is ​c​lean yet emotionally charged, and by the end, you’ll be rooting for Noah and Willa.

This was a great book. Thank you NetGalley for opportunity to read it.
#Penalties and Proposal #NetGalley

Unfortunately this was a DNF at 65%

What started out as a cute rom com fell flat. It read like an AI conglomeration of all the hallmark movies. There was no depth to the characters or plot.

A fun read, the story of Willa and Noah. Can be prove to her he's not the same guy any more and get her to give him a chance? I liked how it was told from both points of view.

This was a simple and sweet clean romance revolving around hockey and photography.

The characters were interesting and their chemistry was clear on the page.
I liked how the dialogue was realistic and kept me reading.
The blend of romance in the sports world, was perfect for contemporary romance fans!

I found the progression of plot slow, and nothing compelling happened as the characters were connecting.

I would read more from this author and I recommend this book!

This cute manga delivered an beautiful love story and was the exact definition of opposites attract!!
The main characters were super adorable and it was joyous read for me!

Thank you @netgalley for this sweet manga!

Definitely recommending this for everyone who loves the opposites attract trope !

This is my favorite story from the entire series. I love how the story of Will and Noah intertwines. I really enjoyed watching Noah mature and how he sweetly courts Will.

I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley.

Like this multi-author series and the small town it is set in, and alll lthe characters who show up in all of them, it's a simultanous series and this one is good

What a great story to finish this multiple author series, Love on Thin Ice set in Maple Falls. If you love second chance romances you will want to read Willa and Noah’s story in Penalties and Proposals (Love on Thin Ice #7). This is a series of standalone’s written by multiple authors all featuring hockey players in Maple Falls for a charity hockey tournament and I highly recommend you check this book and the series out.
Sports photographer Willa and Noah have a history and their last meeting didn’t end well but he is a changed man and he wants a second chance. But will Willa forgive and forget….one click to find out.
This book ticked all my boxes, the characters are easy to bond with, the story is well written and the banter is witty but what took this story to the next level was the chemistry this couple share.
Anne Kemp is a fairly new author to me but that’s going to chance because after reading this quick, witty and steamy read I need to check out her other works.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.

I thought I had read the whole series but was pleasantly surprised to see that I had one left. This installment, like the series, is cute and light, and focuses on hockey players all in a small town for a charity game. What I liked about this particular story was the emphasis on Willa’s career as a photographer and her hunt for an elusive bird. Where this misses for me is the lack of any real emotion – she hates him and then all of a sudden, they’re in love – there’s no conflict, no blow up, no emotion. Also, shameless plug for the author’s other books rubs me the wrong way (but I understand why it’s done). Other than that, cute and entertaining.

I think I’ve got an obsession with ice hockey romances. This book is another great hockey romance to my collection. I adored the story

I am sooooo sad I don't have more books to read in this series. I had the best time reading all of them. Will definitely re-read them all one day! LOVE!

okay so did I know this was seventh in a series? no, no I did not. Did I know that this was only 150 pages? no.
So maybe should look into arcs more before I request them.... However! I did request this while I was doing my exams so I cannot be completely at fault!
Despite all this. Penalties and Proposals was actually pretty enjoyable, I usually don't like shorter books because they usually lack build up and development, but this one worked really well ! And even though I haven't read any of the other books in the series I followed along fine, not feeling like I was missing any information.
Overall, a cute fun read that is super quick and perfect if you're trying to meet your reading goal before the end of the year !

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the free copy provided in exchange for an honest review!

A cute, short easy read! Dual POV hockey star meets photographer. Its a great options for a quick afternoon read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was another quick, fun, kissing only romance. It is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone.

This was my favourite from the series. There was a lot of depth and emotion, second chance romance, small town romance, with a happily ever after of course.

Recommended to fans of those tropes - sports romance fans may be disappointed as there is not a lot of hockey featured.