Wow! I think this might be the best book of the series. Alexei and Georgia are such a hilarious couple to read about but they also had their moments where I started tearing up. Can’t wait for their story to be out in the world, it’s a ride.

Don’t you just love it when you have a good feeling about the book you’re about to read and then you’re proven right?! I went into Gloves Off with expectations sky high and, oh boy, did Alexei and Georgia deliver!

Alexei is an hockey star for the Vancouver Storm who is looking to marry quickly to gain Canadian citizenship, and Georgia is one of Vancouver Storm’s team doctors who needs to marry just as quickly to gain access to her inheritance in order to save her athlete rehab program. What better solution than two with similar needs coming together? At least it would be simple if they didn’t hate each other so very, very much. But like the saying goes, there’s merely a thin line between love and hate…

How do I love Alexei and Georgia? Let me count the ways!
The very first scene these two share together has them staring icy daggers and exchanging chilly words with one another, but as a reader, all I felt was the heat from the very blatant flame igniting between the two! And I relished every ember of it! Alexei is convinced Georgia is nothing more than a spoiled rich girl, and Georgia sees Alexei as a demeaning, heartless man. They are so busy casting judgement upon one another that they turn blind to each other’s truth. And even so, even with that past and present history of animosity, from the onset there is also a clear pull they have towards one another. It’s so powerful, like a force of nature that cannot be defeated by mere man. Alexei and Georgia may say some mean things to each other’s faces, but they are constantly on each other’s minds. They are two souls whose eyes will connect across a crowded room, who will know the other is coming by mere footstep (or high heel in this case). In other words: the chemistry is fire!

To get to the endgame, we first must journey through a well known trope: miscommunication. The miscommunication trope is one that can tend to grate on nerves, at least on this reader’s nerves, but oh my gosh it plays SO perfectly here. This book needs it! It embraces it in a way that ensures its use to full potential. Like oh yes my heart was burning with frustration at times. There were necks I wanted to wring (looking at you, Alexei!)! I was getting hot under the collar but not for the reasons I wanted! And yet- and yet!- that feeling kept me so addicted! That feeling led to more investment because I knew once the path was clear, everything would change between Alexei and Georgia. I knew that final push would be most delectable to consume. The miscommunication lit a fire under both protagonists, but also under me because I became hooked to it and it led to an unyielding building of anticipation.

And the payoff is brilliant.

I also massively appreciate that once things are cleared up it doesn’t neuter the spice of the banter and bite between Alexei and Georgia. It just becomes a lot more playful and teasing. There is now a weight lifted from their shoulders where they can take open delight in how they poke one another. Their romance is developed beautifully from start to finish. It excited, it frustrated (in the best way!), it yearned, and it triumphed.

Simply put, I loved this one. I hold it dearly to my heart. It riled me up in the very best way! And with the deepest respect I must ask The Fake-Out to step down from the podium, because there’s a new winner in town to crown!

By book’s end there is a pretty good hint at which couple may be next. I wasn’t immediately hooked by them, but if there is one thing I know to do, that’s trust in Stephanie Archer’s writing. I won’t be surprised one bit if the next couple’s book becomes my favorite of the series!

Until then? Gloves Off reigns supreme! Brava, brava!

Thank you so kindly to Dell Romance and NetGalley for this advanced complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

ARE YOU KIDDINGGGGG MEEEEEE!!!! are you KiDdInG mEEEE!!!! alexei's growth over the course of this relationship was so freaking good. we love a man who can listen, reflect, and change his behaviors. the slow burn of marriage of convenience to actually in love felt really good – i genuinely loved their relationship and i'm going to be WAITING to see georgia and alexei in the next storm book!

I'm a BIG Stephanie Archer fan, and while I was originally skeptical of whether the author could pull off a relationship between Alexei and Georgia, Archer DELIVERED. The emotional vulnerability and pay off? Off the charts. The slow burn tension? Incredible? The BANTER? Fireworks. This is my new favorite Archer book and I'm not ashamed to say so.

Enemies to lovers? ✔
Marriage of convenience? ✔
Unresolved tension that could set the room on fire? ✔
I’ve never made it through an actual hockey game in my life—but give me a hockey romance, and I’m all in. There’s just something about the cold arenas, the hot tempers, and the slow unraveling of a tough guy’s heart that makes me swoon every time. The tension in this book is palpable from the very first chapter. Georgia and Alexei have a long history of misunderstandings and grudges, making their animosity feel raw and real. But as the story unfolds, we see those unresolved moments begin to come to light, softening their relationship in unexpected ways. Their marriage of convenience is driven by necessity—Georgia needs to be married to access her inheritance, and Alexei needs Canadian citizenship to stay after his hockey contract ends. It’s a perfect setup for an emotional, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance with plenty of banter, unresolved feelings, and heartfelt growth.

What made Alexei such a compelling character for me was the blend of vulnerability and strength Archer gave him—especially as someone raised by immigrant parents. And Georgia shines as a leading woman who knows what she wants and goes after it. I really appreciated that Archer gives her heroines lives outside of the romance, too. Their dynamic was so addictive I didn’t even notice the time passing—I finished the whole book in one go! Stephanie Archer truly has a gift for writing romance. The way her characters evolve as couples is always spot-on. In this book especially, the enemies-to-lovers arc is done so well—you go from fiery arguments to unspoken feelings to full-on love, and it all flows so naturally. Nothing feels rushed or unbelievable. Honestly, I could binge-read a dozen of her books and never get tired of them.

Thank you Stephanie Archer, Net Galley, Random House Publishing Group Ballantine, Dell for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed this! I love the entire Vancouver Storm series - The Fake Out will always be the best - and I was SO excited about this pair. The beginning was a little hard to get through, the assumptions and accusations being slung from both the main characters got old fast. I don't know if it's because I'm just not a confrontational person at all but I needed them to grow up and stop needling each other a bit quicker. I love good banter and teasing, but it got old fast.

Thankfully, once it was done I had the best time with the book. It was emotional and sweet, the growth both Georgia and Alexei showed was done well and I am an absolute sucker for sending messages and meanings with flowers. The ending with Alexei's retirement felt a bit quick, I wish it was just a decision he made not something that only happened after getting hurt but that's a very small issue.

Overall, I had so much fun with this book and will always recommend this series. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC - all opinions are my own!

This may be my favorite of the series! Each book has gotten better and better.

I was very excited to see Georgia and Alexi get together! And who doesn't love a marriage of convenience trope?!

Seeing these two learn more about not just each other, but themselves was wonderful!

If you enjoyed the other books in this series, I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to the publisher Random House Publishing Group/ Dell and to NetGalley for giving me access to an advanced electronic copy!

First off if you know me, you know I hate miscommunication tropes and this book had none. YAY! Also their relationship was super cute, Alexei with the bunnies was absolutely adorable and Georgia was such a fierce woman. I really loved their dynamic and how they each had to work through their own challenges in order to be with each other.

Stephanie Archer is one of my favorite authors. I religiously read everything she publishes. It pains me to write a review like this, but for me, this book wasn't good. We already knew the characters from the previous volumes, and I was eager to learn more about their story. Georgia was a character I couldn't wait to get to know better, and that's exactly what happened. Without a doubt, she was a strong, determined woman with very clear ideas. However, I can't say the same about Alexei. He seemed like a flat character who reminded me of a mobster at times. At first, I was accepting of him, but I started to see that we weren't making any progress. Alexei was in charge, and despite Georgia saying, "Don't tell me what to do," she went right ahead. Every time she had a problem, instead of figuring it out herself, he always ended up solving it for her. Which doesn't fit at all with the independent woman she is. She gets stuck with her car, and instead of calling her friend Jordan, Alexei shows up to rescue her. One thing I hate about romance books is when unbelievable situations arise to reach the author's desired point in the story. Something that hadn't happened to me with the author before, and it certainly happened more than once in this book. I won't name them to avoid spoilers.
Another thing I always like about romance books is seeing the personal evolution of the protagonists, and seeing how it unfolds throughout the book. Nothing like that happened here. The only evolution of the protagonists was getting to know each other and seeing that they were reliving what had happened to them with their respective exes. And speaking of which, I'm also tired of the fact that in all of the author's books, the problems they have with relationships are due to a bad ex. There could be other reasons. And linked to that, this is something more personal, but for me, every time they told us the reasons why neither of them wanted to get married, it seemed more like why you didn't want to maintain a relationship than a marriage. Maybe my perspective is completely different, but it seemed like a charade to sell me smoke.
In general, another thing I always like is good secondary characters, and here I didn't like the fact that they were forgotten at all. From what we're told at the beginning, Jordan and Georgia have an almost sisterly relationship. And for the vast majority of the book, she doesn't even appear or even mention them. And when it seemed like it couldn't get any worse, another thing I can't stand in romance books is when they talk about having children in the most inopportune contexts or situations. Stephanie was an author who did this brilliantly. But in this book, she does it on two occasions that seemed completely unjustified to me. It was definitely a huge disappointment for me, and I didn't expect the shock value I got. A good protagonist, it's a shame I didn't like him at all. And I think the general lacked that spark and magic that all of this author's books have, which keeps you smiling the whole time. 2 stars

I completely loved this. Like, giggling and kicking my feet loved this. The tension was completely unmatched, and this book also managed to be completely cute and fun. It was a one sitting read for me. Alexei and Georgia were both fully fleshed out characters, and I found myself rooting for both of them individually along with rooting for them being together. Stephanie Archer also has me PUMPED for the next book in this series. I can't wait to own a physical copy of this, because she totally rocked this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This book delivered everything I love in a slow burn romance!

Georgia and Alexei are fake married, but their nonstop bickering and growing connection make it feel anything but.

This is a TRUE enemies to lovers story, and it’s done right. I loved watching them slowly break down their assumptions about each other and seeing something real form in the process.

Georgia had me laughing out loud!! The chemistry between them felt natural and intense in all the best ways.

If you love a well paced slow burn with fire, heart, and a hilarious lead, this one is a must-read.

Thank you NetGalley and Dell for the ARC.

Book four in the Vancouver Storm series brings the heat with Georgia and Alexei. She needs her inheritance, which only unlocks if she gets married. He needs citizenship. Cue: a marriage of convenience between two people who genuinely cannot stand each other.

When they say enemies to lovers, they don’t usually mean this volatile — Georgia and Alexei absolutely do not like each other, and it’s kind of amazing. Their chemistry is off-the-charts, and the romance is seriously hot. I also loved how the story weaves in the full Storm team — the ensemble character work adds so much to the world. Honestly, I think this installment is better written than some of the earlier books, and the spicy scenes? Yeah… I wasn’t prepared.

A true hockey romance through and through. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

3.5 stars

Alexei Volkov cannot stand Dr. Georgia Greene, the doctor for the Vancouver Storm hockey team. He thinks that she is spoiled and that she doesn't think he can still play professional hockey. Georgia needs to find someone to marry in order to get money from her inheritance, and Alexei needs to marry someone to obtain Canadian citizenship. They agree to marry and then get a divorce once Alexei and his parents become citizens. The enemies-to-lovers banter between Georgia and Alexei was excellent. The characters were likable, and I thought their chemistry was really believable. Alexei and Georgia have to learn how to communicate as their fake marriage starts to feel real.

This can be read as a standalone. I have a feeling that the next book in the series is going to be about Ward and Jordan. I can't wait! Fans of the The Proposal and Mariana Zapata's sports romances will appreciate this feel-good hockey romance. The spice was a lot more intense than I expected. I liked learning about flowers and their hidden meanings, but I thought Alexei's obsession with Georgia's shoes was a bit too distracting.

Spice rating: 4 out of 5 🔥

I love a good hockey romance and I love a marriage of convenience, so Gloves Off was right up my alley! At first I wasn't sure about the main characters, but I really enjoyed watching their walls and preconceived notions of each other crack as they got to know each other and fell in love.

I haven't read any of the other books in the series, but am now planning to go back and read the rest.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book!

Stephanie Archer has been a long time favourite of mine and Gloves Off is by far one of her best.

It shines in a world of hockey romances and really stands out as a top tier. I loved that as much as it was fun and funny it was equally heartfelt and emotional.

Archer’s dialogue and character development are always impressive and the banter in Gloves Off is proof of that!

I’m also a sucker for a big quiet grumpy man <3

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First of all this book had be hooked from the first page. The perfect marriage of convenience plus hockey romance! I haven’t read the first 3 books of this series but I will be ASAP! I and such a sucker for hockey romance and marriage if convenience it isn’t even funny!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

Um about to change my name, go to medical school, and move to Canada so I can find my own Alexei.

This was the easiest 5 stars ever. My GOD. There’s just something about people who hate each other and get fake married that really gets my blood pumping!!!!

Alexei is easily the hottest man on earth. Hockey player? Big muscles? Broody? Reading at bedtime? Slurry little glasses? Dominating on the ice and in the bedroom? Sign me the fuck up. God. And the flowers!? 😭 Don’t even fucking get me started. Never have I loved a microtrope more.

Georgia was so fucking funny I was laughing out loud so many times. Her little quips and comebacks to Alexei had me DYING!!!! She’s so smart, so sassy, so independent. I love her so much and I’d love to be her best friend. Can we talk about the shoe collection??????? I think I have the same fetish as Volkov because every time she put on a pair of fuck me heels, I was drooling.

This book was everything I expected, wants, and MORE. Easily the best of the series and I’m so sad that I finished it. I wish I could go back and reread it for the first time again 😩

Thank you so much to Dell for the ARC of this book!!!! I can’t wait for book 5!!!!!!!!!

I've really been enjoying Stephanie Archers books lately and this was another great one.I hope she keeps writing them.

I’ve loved all of Stephanie Archer’s Vancouver Storm series and Gloves Off was no exception! Alexei and Georgia’s insistence that they hated each other was extremely amusing. I loved the interactions with the characters from the previous books. Bonus points from hilariously named pet rabbits 😂

I absolutely love Stephanie Archer. I think her books are so sweet and romantic with just the right amount of angst. This was another fabulous read - my only note is the misunderstanding of her financial situation/upbringing went on a bit long and there was so much hatred that was repeated constantly throughout the first few chapters and made the pacing feel a bit off. Otherwise, I felt like this was an update on a Susan Elizabeth Phillips sports rom-com. It was such a sweet, fun romance - I can't wait to see more from her. This series has been equal parts spicy and delightful.