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

It’s the kind of romance that has it all: strong characters, witty banter, slow-burn tension, and an ending that leaves you swooning.

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.

An absolute DELIGHT. The chemistry jumped off the page, with feuding that was really foreplay, bickering that felt more like banter, and characters who revealed different sides of themselves one layer at a time. I love a good marriage of convenience romance, and this was the best kind - complete with a hero who was smitten with his wife before he even knew what was happening. The spice was smokin’, but I adored the fact that they built such a strong emotional connection as well, breaking down walls and getting to know each other in a truly meaningful way. The evolution of their relationship showcases the strength and complexity of the writing, and I was fully engaged the entire time. This is one I won’t forget anytime soon. I loved it!

The story follows Alexei, an aging hockey player who is one injury away from retirement and quite possibly deportation. He’s been pushing through pain and injuries for years, but the situation is starting to feel precarious. So when Alexei discovers that the woman he loves to hate - the bane of his existence - is in need of a temporary husband in order to receive an inheritance, a brief marriage seems like the obvious answer. Alexei and Georgia loathe each other, so there is no chance of feelings getting involved, and they both have something to gain from the arrangement. But moving in together as man and wife reveals some serious flaws in the plan. They’ve never spent any time together, and much of their hatred is rooted in assumptions during brief interactions. As Alexei gets to know Georgia better, he soon realizes he’s in over his head.

I’ve been meaning to try out Archer’s work for a while now and this blurb had me intrigued, so I dove into this with high hopes and zero expectations. It wasted no time hooking me in, and I soon found myself bingeing it at an alarming rate. Alexei and Georgia are FIRE together, both hard-headed and determined. They truly did feel hate for each other, which took its time before slowly simmering into love. They were frustrated with the way they were drawn together, and that ramped up the tension and made the spice hot AF. Somewhere along the way, Alexei fell HARD for his wife, leading to SO MANY swoonworthy moments. The story put me through my paces emotionally and kept me turning the pages. I’m definitely going to have to check out the rest of the series now - the stories are clearly better together, but this was an absolute win on its own. So, so good.

this was my first book from stephanie archer and while jumping into an interconnected standalone could’ve been a bad idea, i really wanted to get a feel for her writing four books in and i’m not certain if they had better buildup throughout the series but im left feeling a little dejected. the tropes weren’t utilized to their best potential i feel and that left me with a bit of a disconnect between our characters, particularly when it came to their romantic development. i WILL however be reading the rest of the series as i’ve heard great things!!