This book was one of my most anticipated this year and when I received the ARC I literally screeched. I love hockey romance books and I’m so happy this didn’t disappoint. This did not read like a debut novel at all and if I didn’t follow her on social media I would have immediately looked up her backlog.

This book follows Lucy and Jayden. Both of them are kind of down on their “luck” and after meeting each other Jayden’s luck turns around so he tries to convince Lucy that she needs to be his good luck charm. Lucy obviously says no but eventually gives in and then it gets good.

Things I loved:
- How awkward they both were at some parts. I know he’s a hot shot hockey player but seeing him be so weird around someone he was into really was perfect. It really made things feel more real.
- How willing Jayden was to do everything he could to convince Lucy to be his good luck charm. The man went out of his way to complete some side quest just to be around her.
- Lucy’s character growth throughout the book. She portrays herself as a mess in the beginning but once she and Jayden hit it off she really comes into her own.

Things I liked:
- Lucy’s best friends. I liked that they both were so involved in the plot and I hope that if we receive more from Lexi their characters continue to grow.
- Jayden getting mental health help.

Overall I would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a hockey book full of quirks, charm and superstition.

I DNF"d this book so I don't necessarily have helpful feedback. I linked it in general, but I never got hooked in by the plot and had other books I wanted to prioritize more.

Shoot You Shot is a fun, fasted paced hockey romance that follows Lucy, a former artist trying to secure a career as a tattoo artist, and Jaylen, a struggling NHL player who is doing what he can to get a contract before his dreams of continuing to play in the NHL are over. After a few chance meetings, Jaylen convinces Lucy to be his god luck charm in exchange for help gaining confidence in tattooing. But what happens when a simple agreement develops into feelings getting involved?

This was such a cute and funny read! Knowing Lexi is ex hockey player herself and married to an ex hockey player, I knew she wouldn't let down on the sports side of this sports romance. And she did not. She was able to marry the sports seems so easily into the story line that it only made sense that they were there. Throughout the story, there were moments where both characters talked about and face their issues head on, which made getting to know so much easier. From the start it may be hard to picture how these two characters may have a romantic relationship, but Lexi was able to create one so real between them I was shipping them so hard in the end. With such real and lovable characters, and a fun and funny easy to follow plot line that focuses on real life issues, this was a hit!

This is Lexi LaFleur Brown’s first romance novel and I believe she is going to have a long and successful career. This is the story of a hockey player who believes his dream is about to go up in smoke and an artist who fear has made give up on her dreams. They find each other in what they believe to be one night of pleasure, but fate has other plans. Then the FMC takes a puck to the face.

Lexi’s story was entertaining and I believe that she will continue to write great stories, but I only gave this three stars because even though I enjoyed the book, it didn’t make me laugh nor did it make me feel all the feels. I could see where she was going with the story and what she wanted us to know about the characters and how their back stories shaped them into the people they were, but they still felt flat and two dimensional to me. I am not an author, so I know I really have nothing to base this opinion on other than my own personal experience reading the story, but I have read other author’s works with characters who have similar back stories and as I read I felt like I really knew those characters. This story didn’t make me feel like I knew the characters and, honestly, I didn’t feel like the characters truly knew each other.

I know this reads like a bad review, but I really don’t mean it that way and I will read other works by this author because I truly mean it when I say that I think she will get there. For a first novel, I am impressed and I am certain that as she grows as an author I will grow to enjoy her books even more.

2.5 stars

I thought this was funny and touched on some heavy topics, but the writing and overall plot just didn’t hit it for me.

Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book. There were some real laugh out loud moments that kept a smile on my face. I loved the representation in the book and the characters that were real flawed people.

Hockey, Grumpy x sunshine but reversed, and banter everything there is to love. Lucy is stubborn, off putting (on purpose), and prickly newly committed to her career. While Jaylen on the other hand is a golden retriever type coming on a spiral downwards and a career that’s in the toilet.
Lexi LaFleur Brown knows hockey and it shows, but she also knows the more complicated matters of race and sexuality in hockey. This book while a great lighthearted romance manages to weave LGBTQ and mental health inclusion, and conversations of racism beautifully. Great care was taken with these topics and it shows!
The book has great bones and Lexi LaFleur Brown has great potential for the future. The writing itself was the only let down though. The plot and characters are beautifully thought up, but much of the story is told to you rather than built upon in the writing. Everything said I’m looking forward to seeing what the author creates next!

It was a slow start, but once they gotten past the hump and had a crazy night, and not what the kind you think. They came to an understanding . That JJ is a normal good guy, who embraces strange, weird, and different. While Lucy who seems to be pan, finally allowing love in. From the small gesture of her being his lucky charm, to him falling heads over heels. Both didn't see it coming, but both love fiercely.

Of course there's a 3rd act, but predictible, the WAGs talks behind her back because she's different, and she got her own baggage and both of their hearts were collateral damage. They love each other and also know how to hurt each other.

The pacing of the first 3rd of the book was a bit slow, but it picks up nicely after that and there are spicy scenes, and they are HOT!

Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC

I really enjoyed the unexpected romance between JJ, the hockey player, and Lucy, the aspiring tattoo artist. Lucy becomes JJ's lucky charm and what starts as them being friends quickly translates to more. JJ helps Lucy work through som issues with her dad who was not always there for her. Their chemistry and natural connection builds into the sweetest relationship. I thought this was sweet but there were some inconsistencies that I picked up on but still thought it was cute. I did enjoy the diversity in this one which isn't normal in hockey books for some reason.

i really enjoyed this! i thought it was great for a debut!!

i’m a big hockey romance reader so i loved getting to read from the pov of someone whose been in the hockey world for years. lexi knows what she’s talking about and it was evident in the book!

i liked lucy & jaylen together! their relationship felt real & normal which (to me) can sometimes be hard to achieve in romance books. i can only assume lexi heavily based lucy & jaylen off of her & jt which is why they were such a good couple and i was rooting for them so hard

i hope lexi continues to write more books!

🌟3.75 Stars🌟
For a debut novel this was pretty solid. I really enjoyed the dynamic between our main characters and felt their relationship was believable. Lexi did a great job giving her main characters some emotional hang ups/trauma but she didn’t let it cycle into insufferable miscommunication. So much of the hockey romance space, especially MF, lacks any shred of diversity so it was a breath of fresh air to read a bi FMC and a black MMC. What keeps this book from being a four star for me is the writing. It wasn’t bad by any means but there were portions like as part of a joke where the author would over explain herself. Don’t worry you can trust your readers! This is a debut though, so I expect that we’ll learn and grow with the next one.

Also this is a random thing that kept standing out to me, Lucy keeps mentioning how she went on the Seattle Great Wheel when she was 7 but there’s no way that could have happened. I’m 24 and the Great Wheel wasn’t done being built until I was in middle school, from what I gathered Lucy is supposed to be in her mid/late 20s. It’s such a small detail but so much of this book felt tied to the city. In the future I think Lexi just needs to run the book by a beta reader who’s a Seattle native.

CW: on page panic attacks, historical death of a friend due to overdose, parent with a substance abuse disorder

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I thought this was a really cute book. There are some parts that I wish were longer or more detailed (sexy parts). I follow Lexi on TikTok so I know the hockey information is accurate which I enjoyed reading as a hockey fan. Im looking forward to more books by Lexi LaFleur Brown.

As a hockey fan first, I loved the accuracy. So many books have things wrong or barely mention playing hockey. From the schedules to the equipment to the contracts, it was so nice to see real aspects of the sport being included. For Lexi’s first book, I think this was an enjoyable read. However, I didn’t quite get as attached to the characters as I thought I would have. That being said, I can’t wait to see what happens in her next book(s)!

lucy is a prickly, tattooed black cat and jaylen is a anxious, sunshiny golden retriever. after a borderline meet disaster, jaylen chases down lucy because he believes she’s his good luck charm going into his new hockey season.

this is lexi’s debut, so I’m leaving some space in my rating for that. this book has its cute moments. jaylen stole the show for me. he was kind and attentive and gave lucy the space she needed to get over her (annoying) commitment phobia. I felt like lucy was kind of insensitive at times and didn’t treat him the best and it made me low key sad for jj???

the mental health rep was really well done. I loved jaylen’s journey and the therapy and panic attacks were written with care.

🎧 thank you to harlequin audio for the audiobook! I was able to read this on one day. both voice actors brought their skills and were quite emotive and engaging.

what to expect
⟢ hockey romance
⟢ black cat x golden retriever
⟢ he falls first
⟢ bi rep

This one is for the REAL hockey fans! Not only is Lexi LaFleur Brown a real life hockey wife, she has experience handling the puck herself, and that makes for an incredibly authentic read. Through a series of mishaps, Jaylen (a down on his luck NHL player and Lucy (a struggling tattoo artist) find themselves in each other’s crosshairs, and it doesn’t take long for the sparks to fly. Both spicy and sweet, Shoot Your Shot reminds the reader that when you allow yourself to love, you can let light into the darkest place. This was a super fun debut and I look forward to more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for my gifted ARC.

I absolutely freaking loved every second of reading this! I struggled putting it down, because I just didn’t want to stop reading it!

I have loved Lexi LaFleur Brown for quite a while now, ever since coming across her on TikTok. The second she announced that she had a hockey romance book coming out, I knew I needed it my life ASAP. Reading this, I could see so much of her humor throughout the entire thing. I laughed out loud twice in the first chapter alone, and knew right then I was going to love every second of reading it!

This book feels different than most hockey books, you can really feel Lexi’s knowledge and love of the sport with each word. It reads as almost a love letter to hockey and Seattle as a whole. I could go on for hours discussing all the representation seen throughout the book. It’s the first time that I have seen myself as a bi woman with diagnosed anxiety and depressed represented in a hockey book in this way.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Lexi for the honor to read this book early. I can’t wait to read the next one!

Shoot Your Shot is a delightful, steamy hockey romance. With charming MCs, along with queer rep and witty banter, Lexi LaFleur Brown’s debut romance is lots of fun.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Seattle artist Lucy and hockey player Jaylen meet in a bar the night Jaylen thinks his career is over. Lucy clearly doesn’t know who he is, and throws quips and barbs at him all night. The two hook up, and never expect to see each other again. Only Jaylen gets a reprieve and is signed by the local hockey team the next day; he runs into Lucy at the rink, where she is painting a mural. When he has a great game after Lucy wishes him luck, Jaylen is convinced Lucy is his good luck charm. He negotiates his way to good luck wishes from her before each game. But is there something more to their relationship? Yup, there absolutely is.

Lucy and Jaylen are great together. Clearly they are both relationship adverse, but the circumstances that keep throwing them together feel natural. And their chemistry is strong, whether they are exchanging banter or getting physical.

This book is special and distinct from other hockey romances. You have a writer who actually knows hockey, and it shows in every spot on hockey detail. The writing is light and funny, even when addressing heavier topics. And the queer rep is fantastic, featuring a bi FMC and queer secondary characters.

Lexi LaFleur Brown’s debut hockey romance is a fun read. If you like sassy characters who are quick with a quip, along with hockey players who actually seem to play hockey, Shoot Your Shot is a must read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Before I get into the review, a quick thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at Canary Street Press for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Shoot Your Shot is a hockey romance written by an NHL insider and hockey fan. We follow Jaylen Jones who has been struggling in the NHL for years and just found out he didn’t secure a spot with the Seattle Rainiers following a Player Try-Out. Lucy Ross is the hit he never saw coming. After their night of passion, it seems like Jaylen’s luck has turned around. He has a one-year league minimum deal in the books. But can he convince Lucy to keep the good luck flowing his way for the season? Shoot Your Shot comes out on March 10th and is available for preorders now.

Let’s start with the things I loved. I can tell that this is a true hockey fan writing this book. I’m sorry other hockey romance writers, but you just don’t got it like Lexi LaFleur Brown got it. Hockey is such a passion for me in my life, in my house, in my travel (I see that hockey trip on the horizon. I see you arenas #13 and #14. We’re coming for you.) that finally reading a book that is so obviously written by someone who knows their stuff makes you want to just give them a 5 star immediately. (The way I took a screenshot of page one of chapter 2??? I had to send it to my husband.) I loved the way that Lucy and her friends were presented in the novel. As someone in the LGBTQIA+ community, I know there’s this weird thing where we all just find each other. And I love how their presence in the novel is never questioned. It was just like “Of course Lucy is bi and her friends are a gay coffee shop owner and a lesbian who organizes charity events.” Of course. Nothing felt shoehorned in or forced in that respect. I also want to highlight the fact that this author who used to be an NHL insider took the time to show love and support to the LGBTQIA+ community in a hockey romance during a time when the NHL is struggling with how to handle Pride events at hockey games. Pride night has been an issue for the NHL for a few years with some players being bigots choosing not to participate. So, I really appreciate the author taking the time to show that this community can and is represented in the NHL. Also, I just love Jaylen. He has struggles and flaws throughout the novel, but he is also a guy with such a willingness to try. It feels like a lot of sports romances have these Alpha males who give up when things get hard. I loved seeing Jaylen being hurt by things that happened, but being willing to work on it as a unit, as a team. That was all so wonderful.

So, why doesn’t this novel get a 5 star rating from me? I found the sex scenes to be…not up my alley, we’ll say. This definitely felt like the first time the author is publishing sex scenes. Is that harsh? I don’t mean it to be. The scenes felt a little rushed and involved some stuff that I straight up don’t like. There was a moment when Jaylen tells Lucy what to do in the bedroom and adds on something like, “if you want to.” Which made me laugh. I just don’t know if that was the point. It also felt like there wasn’t enough substance to the third act breakup. Obviously, if they go in separate directions, it most likely means a breakup is on the horizon. But the scenes at the restaurant with the other girlfriends felt unnecessary. Also, the Hannah from the restaurant and from the end of the novel just felt like two separate people to me.

Overall, this is a great hockey romance for people who are fans of any romance. I am keeping my eye on this author to see what she comes out with next. I have no doubts it’s going to be amazing.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Shoot your shot is a debut novel from Lexi LaFleur Brown and what a great debut it is. It is a story about professional hockey player Jaylen Jones who is in a slump and about to be let go of his contract and Lucy a struggling tattoo artist. After one fun night together Jaylen's lucky changes and he attributes it to his time with Lucy. She agrees to be his good luck charm and their relationship begins to grow.

Read this if you like-
🌷Black Cat/Golden Retriever
🌷Interesting hockey insight
🌷 Supportive secondary characters
🌷Bi FMC representation
🌷 Supportive relationship
🌷Mental health representation
🌷He falls first
Wishes it was better-
🥀 would love a bit more chemistry
🥀as his luck increase she became more unlucky

Overall it is a great debut novel. I look forward to reading more of what Lexi writes!
4.5 rounded up to 5

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Shoot your shot is a debut novel from Lexi LaFleur Brown and what a great debut it is. It is a story about professional hockey player Jaylen Jones who is in a slump and about to be let go of his contract and Lucy a struggling tattoo artist. After one fun night together Jaylen's lucky changes and he attributes it to his time with Lucy. She agrees to be his good luck charm and their relationship begins to grow.

Read this if you like-
🌷Black Cat/Golden Retriever
🌷Interesting hockey insight
🌷 Supportive secondary characters
🌷Bi FMC representation
🌷 Supportive relationship
🌷Mental health representation
🌷He falls first
Wishes it was better-
🥀 would love a bit more chemistry
🥀as his luck increase she became more unlucky

Overall it is a great debut novel. I look forward to reading more of what Lexi writes!
4.5 rounded up to 5