Secret or Shutout by Leah Brunner is a compelling romance that blends heart, tension, and drama in an unforgettable way. The story centers on Riley and Jace, two characters whose undeniable chemistry is overshadowed by the secrets they each carry. As their relationship evolves, the emotional depth of their personal struggles becomes more apparent, keeping readers invested in whether they can overcome their pasts and find trust in one another. The push and pull between their growing attraction and the obstacles they face creates a riveting journey full of suspense and tender moments. Brunner expertly weaves together themes of vulnerability, forgiveness, and personal growth, making Secret or Shutout a must-read for fans of emotional, character-driven romance.

A delightful sports romance that blends humor and heart. The chemistry between the main characters is undeniable, and the storyline keeps you engaged from start to finish. Fans of romantic comedies with a sports twist will absolutely love this one. The pacing is spot-on, the character development adds depth to the romance, making it more that just a typical sports love story.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of Secret or Shutout by Leah Brunner

Leah Brunner does it again! Each book just gets better and better!

The transition from strangers to sorta friends to more was phenomenal! The emotional and physical struggles Bruce and Farrah go through were written very well, and I could practically feel their turmoil myself as it was happening.

I love that this book is an interconnected standalone, because it’s great to see how the other characters (from previous books) are doing now! The author does a great job at keeping all the characters personalities true to the character in different books (especially Ford, Colby, and Melanie)!

I highly recommend this book if you love sweet treats, hockey, good humor, relatable characters, and found family!

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and Leah Brunner for providing me with an advanced copy of this book! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Ahhh I've been looking forward to reading this one! If you love romance with the sizzle but prefer the fade to black/closed door, this one if for you!! My only minor gripe is that Bruce is a name I reallyyyy don't like (for no reason in particular, but sometimes you have a personal vendetta against a name, you know?) and unfortunately for me, it is also the name of the male main character.
I love the PCOS representation and how it was handled by the author!
There was a slight age gap (Farrah is a few years older than Bruce), Brother's best friend, he falls first and forbidden romance tropes. Sooo a winning combination!
It was a super sweet romance and well written. I'll definitely be reading whatever Leah Brunner releases in future!

A huge thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Either I started this book at the wrong time or it wasn’t for me.
I really struggled connecting with the characters. I usually love a sport romance but I couldn’t connect with this book.
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to read this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Secret or Shutout is the fourth instalment of the D. C. Eagle’s Hockey series. This book is a slow burn, best friends sister romance that is filled with some lighthearted moments as well as heavier topics (PCOS, infertility and divorce mentioned). This book can be read as part of this series or as a standalone (as I did), but there are mentions of couples from previous books so I will definitely be circling back to finish the first three books at some point!

The chemistry between Farrah and Bruce is there from the start and really had me rooting for the relationship. Having PCOS handled in such a respectful way was such an incredible experience, as I don’t think I’ve read a book (or at least remember) in which is was discussed like this.

Overall this makes the book such a good read for me and definitely made me want to read the rest of the series!

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the eARC of this book. I leave this review honestly and voluntarily.

I was SO excited for this one!!!! I love this series and I’m sad to see it end! That said I have all the feels with this book! Leah is an amazing author and her characters are so easy to love! Farrah and Bruce are everything! Bruce is fun and flirty, Farrah has been through it but she is still trying and learning to believe in love.
I LOVED the DC Eagles and I’m sad to see the end of the series but it’s been an awesome ride!

Bruce and Farrah has lots of chemistry from the very beginning. I enjoyed the story of how they two overcome obstacles and fall in love. I also enjoyed the brotherhood of the hockey players and the friendship of the wife’s and girlfriends.

Love this Hockey romance from Leah Brunner. I felt that she did a great job portraying the true nature of dating a hockey man.

This was a sweet hockey rom-com. Light in the spice so if spice isn’t your thing this is for you!

❤️ she is older and he chases her
- Farrah is older and Bruce chases her regardless of the baggage and insecurity she has! Her past marriage was awful and heartbreaking and Bruce goes out of his way to show her that not every man is a jerk.
❤️ baker & hockey player - enough said 😂
❤️ her brothers friend
- Remi is not only Farrah’s brother and Bruce’s friend but also Bruce’s coach. So much tension with the forbidden love! It starts to take a toll on hockey and friendships.
❤️loved the Canadian references
❤️Bruce. All of him. His cockiness, his family and him being a “Big Brother” to Jackson.
❤️it brings to light a lot on PCOS

This was a sweet and sassy book and the third in the series!

Publishing date was March 27th so get your copy now!!

I really really wanted to like this book, in theory it has everything that I love - forbidden romance, NHL, he falls first; but I just ended up feeling a bit indifferent about it.

I would’ve liked to send more depth to the characters , so much of what happened to them that made their backs stories interesting seem to happen off page and we were just told about it rather than experiencing any of it and that made me not care about the characters as much as I would usually. I didn’t really feel the chemistry between them so although there were some lovely interactions and I felt like I should’ve been able to root for them I just couldn’t really get on board.

I would’ve liked to see more of the relationships with the side characters as well. One of the things I love about sports romance is the sense of the team and the relationships between the players, but I didn’t really get that from this book.

It was an easy read, there were some funny moments and some sweet moments. I didn’t hate it, it was perfectly enjoyable but just didn’t quite give me the buzz I expected.

This book was absolutely adorable, and once I started, I couldn’t stop. Farrah and Bruce shared a single kiss as strangers, but when they later realized who the other was, Farrah decided it was best not to pursue anything further. Bruce, however, had other plans. He put his heart into showing Farrah what they could have together, standing by her again and again, even as she struggled with her own personal challenges. His persistence and devotion made it impossible for her to resist. If you’re looking for a heartwarming, feel good read, this one is definitely worth it!

Absolutely loved this book! I have been waiting for Bruce’s story and this made all my dreams come true! I thought all the points of infertility, the age gap, and brother’s team mate were handled so well! I was cheering for Bruce and Farrah the whole time. Can’t wait to just reread this whole series over and over again! Wish I could really go to an Eagles game!

“Someday, when you’re older, you’ll meet a girl who randomly makes you smile like an idiot.”

Leah Brunner does it again with another sweet hockey romance! You’ll fall in love with Bruce and Farah as they navigate their way through building a relationship based on trust and cupcakes. Lots of cake 🍰

Book Information:
Title: Secret or Shutout
Author: Leah Brunner
Genre: Hockey Romance
Publisher/Indie: Indie 
Publication Date: March 27th

Tropes: 
Hockey romance
Teammate’s sister
Reverse age gap
NHL goalie
Curvy heroine
Forbidden romance
PCOS rep

I absolutely loved this book. I love how it touched on PCOS and infertility. Bruce was such a wonderful MMC & I cannot wait to read more of Leah’s work

Secret or Shutout is a super sweet hockey romance. It is book four of a series, but each title can be read as a stand-alone. I can't wait to go back and read more by Leah Brunner including the first three books in this series. Fans of Katie Bailey will enjoy!

Amazing 👏
I absolutely loved Bruce and Farrah . They were so great together. Such great chemistry and banter. I also rlly loved Farrah's relationship with the rest of the D.C Eagles women

Synopsis:
Farrah goes to a pub to forget about her problems, and ends up meeting with a gorgeous, tall blond man, and their chemistry is undeniable. But it turns out he’s a pro hockey player, along with her older brother.

Includes:
✨Brother’s Best Friend
✨Off-Limits
✨Reverse Age Gap
✨Cinnamon Roll Hero
✨Curvy FMC
✨PCO’s Rep

🌶️Heat Level:
Fade to Black
Mild Language
Innuendo
Attraction/Tension:🔥🔥🔥🔥

My Opinion:
I want to give all the stars for this one! Once again, Leah nailed it with the story, plot, tension and character development. I’m obsessed with a flirty and fun hero, and Bruce is such a joy to follow, it’s hard to not fall for him. Farrah has a beautiful story and an amazing heroine. As someone with PCO’s and Endometriosis, it’s great to see representation on page. I know that every person has their own experience, but it’s so good to feel seen and know that we are not alone. Also, you must know how amazing the chemistry and tension between the characters, and how explosive it gets every time they’re together, without any spice. I love how every character from the series has a part in the story, and the bonus scene was a great way to end it (please read it, it’s so cute!!). If you haven’t read the series yet, I couldn’t recommend enough.

TW: Infertility, Toxic Relationship (Past), Medical Emergencies, Adoption (Past).

*I received a free review copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.*

Leah Brunner knows how to write 'em folks.

Oh my goodness, this was such a fantastic ending to the D.C. Eagles series. I loved it, I loved Bruce and Farrah, I loved their intense chemistry and playful moments.

Both of the main characters felt well-rounded and deep, and it made the story just that much better. Farrah's struggle with PCOS and her vulnerability made her an instant favorite character, and I related to a lot of her struggles and insecurities. She was easy to love and easy to root for, and seeing her get her happy ending was lovely and heartwarming.

Bruce was the sweetest cinnamon roll hero, and I loved his dedication and unwavering loyalty to Farrah and the connection they shared. He was everything a book boyfriend should be and more.

There were a few moments that felt a little bit drawn out and a tad too dramatic for my tastes, but overall, the story was fun, the romance was sweet, and the kisses were so swoony.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for my copy.

Content Notes:
Language: Low
Romance: Closed-door (but lots of innuendo)
Violence: Low
Potential triggers: PCOS, infertility, divorce

I really loved this book! The PCOS represenentation was realy important and i liked how it was woven into the story (it did not feel like it was just placed there for another storyline). This book was so heartwarming and I will be reading the other books in this series!