This book knocked me off my feet! I love a good marriage of a convenience/enemies to lovers trope but this one eclipsed my expectations and it is my favorite from Stephanie Archer so far! Georgia and Alexi Volkov are two characters who I adored and really was rooting for the entire book! Usually with enemies to lovers, one is a little more likable than the other but in this book I loved them both!

Georgia and Alexi must enter a marriage of convenience so he can get citizenship and she can get her inheritance, but they hate each other—- I mean HATE! This is not the typical hate the other person because of some small stupid grudge. They despise each other. The first half they were so mean and snarky to each other and I loved every jab they gave. It was like playing mind games and really set the tone for the book. You also quickly learn why they hate each other and I gotta admit– valid reasons for each of them! But as every good love story goes and flows, you learn that while the reasons are valid and did start as a little misunderstanding but it was more seeded in deep rooted issues with each character and should have been resolved with a good conversation. But honestly why do that when you can enjoy the hate scenes so much, especially that hate b*ng! 🌶️ Whew!

As much as I loved the hate between these two, I admit I really liked when the switches were made and they started to actually like each other. As they both softened up I found myself liking them even more! She put him in his place when he was an assertive jerk and he kept her on her toes. It was very satisfying!

The dual narration was key in this book! I really like to hear what the characters were feeling and how they were processing things as the book moved along.

Overall a solid hockey romance about bad first impressions but once they realized they were both wrong and made some preconceived notions about the other the hate melted away and in place there was only attraction and lust and eventually love.

Huge thanks to Random House- Ballantine, NetGalley and Stephanie Archer for sharing this book’s digital advanced review copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

I've really enjoyed the entire Vancouver Storm series, and this fourth installment was no different. The second I heard about Georgia & Alexei's marriage at the end of The Wingman, I knew I wanted to read this book, and it delivered. I loved Georgia and her entire story from the disinherited parents, to the soccer team, and her sleepwalking. Alexei was a bit mean at times, but as a secret fan of the bully trope, this didn't bother me too much. I didn't entirely buy the specificity of the flower meanings, but appreciated this little detail all the same and overlooked it. Hoping for more Vancouver Storm novels in the future - hopefully featuring two - one featuring Coach Ward & Jordan and one with Luca & an interest to be named later!

4.5/5 stars

thank you Stephanie Archer for copies of the ebook and audiobook!

I am OBSESSED with this series! One of my favorite hockey romances by far. The fourth installment was absolute perfection with the grumpy enforcer Alexei and team doctor Georgia. They despise each other, constantly making jabs and are at each others throats. But when they both find themselves with a need to get married, a reluctant partnership is formed. Alexei needs Canadian citizenship for himself and his parents, especially as his days playing hockey are likely coming to an end. Georgia needs the money from her inheritance to save her sports rehab program at the hospital, but that will only be released if she gets married. What starts as a sham of a marriage soon turns into something more as they are forced to spend time with one another and see past all their preconceived notions of one another.

I ate this book up! I love a marriage of convenience with two people who really hate each other but have to put on a show around others. The way they slowly start to enjoy each other’s company is just DELICIOUS. These two have such fantastic chemistry and banter! I love how integrated the past couples are in the book as well and how we get to revisit all their romance as well!

Georgia and Alexei are such amazing FMC and MMCs. I love watching Alexei go from thinking Georgia is a spoiled rich brat, to realizing how hard working she is and how wrong he was about her. This man gets it BAD for her and I love seeing a man on his knees. He is so jealous and possessive but in the best way and he is just so so yummy. And Georgia is SUCH a baddie! She is so smart and determined and cares so much for her friends and family. She has a cause that she works hard for and I loved seeing her softness with the girls soccer team. Also, Stephen and Damon were highlights of the book.

I loved watching their romance grow throughout the book and they were HOT HOT HOT together! I love a book where the characters are kind of mean to each other but its what makes them attracted to the other. The angry flirting is so delicious!

🎧: The audio of this one was so amazing! JF Harding and Stella Hunter absolutely killed it! It is duet, and I just love when we get to see chemistry between the narrators that adds to the characterization. If you have the chance to listen to this one I highly recommend it! It is for sure one of my favorite romance audios with how well these two embraced the characters and brought them to life!

I hadn't read the other books in this series, which I don't think helped my experience, but I also don't think it hurt it. I feel like someone who was familiar with the universe probably would've had a better time, but definitely not necessary to pick up this one.

I like sports romances, and as a newer hockey fan, I was really excited to pick this one up. But from the very beginning of this book, I could tell that I wasn't going to like it. The set up was just absolutely insane and they were doing far too much all at once - having both enemies to lovers and fake dating at once just felt like a lot and entirely unbelieveable. I know that romance books require a bit of suspension of disbelief, but I felt like this one just went way too far and expected way too much of that.

And I really didn't like the characters and their dynamic. I feel like they went from lust to love way too fast with almost no development; they just all of a sudden were in love. And I found the possessiveness from Volkov to be so infuriating. And the sleepwalking was just absolutely insane, like what are we doing here?? At times, this whole scenario felt like something a middle schooler would've come up with while writing their Wattpad fanfiction.

They absolutely hated each other, and I ate it up! I was hooked on this.

It was such a fun read from start to finish. I loved how they both got so mad that they started having real feelings for one another—what a joy to read.

He was yearning and so pathetic, and I LOVED IT!!! I loved how she knew who she was and would not compromise her morals; we love a strong woman.

I’m patiently waiting for a man to have a fetish for buying me things and telling me his feelings through flowers.

What a delight this book was to read!

Now I love myself a great hockey romance. It was why I believed that this read would get me out of my slump. However, after almost three months of trying to finish this book I am calling it quits and DNFing. The more that I read the more that I felt that I couldn’t connect to the characters and their romance development felt disconnected. For some reason I absolutely disliked Alexie :/ perhaps if I continued I would have changed my mind about the MMC but I have to move onto my next read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

5 stars – Gloves Off by Stephanie Archer is the fourth book in the Vancouver Storm series. While it can be read as a stand-alone story, it flows better, and the stories of the supporting characters make more sense if read in order. I absolutely LOVED this book! I was up way way too late reading it. We have Alexei Volkov, a senior member of the Vancouver Storm hockey team who needs Canadian citizenship and one of the team doctors, Dr. Georgia Greene, who needs to be married to receive her inheritance. These two have some great banter, and tons of chemistry and some spicy bedroom time. While their relationship begins out of convenience, they both grow feelings and mature a bit as they discover misperceptions of each other. We see the relationship develop and progress beyond the convenience factor and hope they can get their HEA. Do yourself a favor and read what is easily one of the best hockey romance books of the year!

Tropes: grumpy/sunshine, fake relationship, marriage of convenience, enemies/intense dislike to lovers,

A big “Thank You” to NetGalley, Stephanie Archer and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine | Dell for allowing me to read an advance copy. This independent, honest review is happily shared.

#GlovesOff #NetGalley

A true rivals/enemies to lovers trope with marriage of convenience. Prepare for lots of banter and a slow burn! Alexei came off as very grumpy and rude, but turned out to have a heart of gold and a sweet spot for Georgia (resulting in some possessiveness/jealousy, yearning, begging/groveling (LOVE)). Georgia is a bada** and all-around great person. It's easy to root for her. They are each great individuals, but together, they are a power couple and really look to each other for support and help each other be their best selves. No 3rd act breakup, their relationship only goes up from the start of the book.

Thank you to Dell and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was HOT HOT HOT!! The Vancouver Storm series just keeps getting better and better! I loved this enemies to lovers, dual POV, marriage of convenience between Russian defencemen Alexei Volkov and team Dr Georgia Greene. The two reluctantly enter a marriage of convenience so Alexei can help keep his parents and himself in Canada should he be forced to retire and Georgia needs to be married in order to inherit 10 miliion dollars that she needs to help save an injured athlete recovery program.

The insults, the hate sex, the flowers with hidden meanings, the BUNNIES, the great cast of secondary characters, the sleep walking and the only one bed/forced proximity, 'you're MY wife' of it all made my day in the BEST way. I DEVOURED this book and I can't wait for the next one now featuring single dad team coach, Ward and I suspect Georgia's best friend, bartender Jordan who is also the team owner's daughter.

Highly recommended for fans of Tessa Bailey's Big Shots series or authors like Elle Kennedy and Elsie Silver. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. It was such a pleasure watching Georgia and Alexei realize there's a very fine line between love and hate!!

This was such a breath of fresh air. It was nuce to see a strong, level headed fmc who matched the mmc in his wits and dislike. I loved how she stood her ground and took no shit from him no matter what.

Alexei Volkiv is definitely swoonworthy in his own way. BRB, I'm gonna go get a man who gives me flowers while thinking of what each of them represents:')

The banter in the first half of this book was so entertaining. I kept reading just to see what they would say or do next to each other. Fake relationships especially with hate to lovers really brings out the good stuff.

2025 Book #72
Rating: 4.5/5
Tropes: Hockey Player x Team Doctor, Hate to Lovers, Fake Marriage
Spice: 2 (Ch 37 57 58 68 69 73 80 84)
Romance: Yes
Plot: Yes
Pages: 464

Quick Summary: A ready or not hockey romance

My Review: Gloves Off by Stephanie Archer is book #4 in the Vancouver Storm series. It is scheduled for release on 6/17/25.

About the Book: "The only way to get my inheritance? Marry Alexei Volkov—the grumpiest enforcer in the NHL, a brutally handsome jerk, and the last man I’d ever fall for. "

In My Own Words: A seasoned hockey player who is two steps away from retirement clashes with a fiercely independent team physician who has a heart of gold and a shoe fetish to match.

My Favorite Ahhs (coded, so as to avoid spoilers):

- All of the flowers (Color me happy!)
- The Russian terms of endearment (lol)
- Stefan and Damon (Cuteness overload!!!)
- Shoes, shoes, shoes (Thank you very much!)
- The significance of the friendship bracelets (Two-fold takeaway)
- The car situation (Aww shucks!)
- The extended family (Oh, my heart.)
- The costumes (tehehehehe...)
- The next phase (Perfect endings and beginnings)

My Final Say: Gloves Off was such a highly entertaining read. I loved it so much. The heated tension between Alexei and Georgia was scalding. Even when they didn't like each other, they were like magnets. The whole going through the fire approach via a fake relationship was genius. In the end, it made their romance burn brighter.

Also, I must say that I cannot wait to get my hands on the other books associated with this series. Both the past installments and the upcoming novels are automatic TBRs, as far as I am concerned. Next! Let's go!!!

Other: Readers who enjoy the following tropes will love this romance.

Tropes - >

Enemies to lovers
Hockey romance
Close proximity
Fake marriage
Hot & bothered
Dual POV
Grump vs sunshine
Opposites attract
They fall first/both fall together scenarios
Post injury confessions
Hidden meanings (of flowers)

Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status/Level: ❤️🌶️
Series: Yes
Note: The audiobook version of this romance cannot get here fast enough. I predict that it will be embraced heartily by all VS series followers. This #stormed reader is excited and then some.

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. It was an absolute pleasure to review. I am grateful for the opportunity. I look forward to reading more from this writer.

This novel was such a funny and lighthearted read! It is a NHL sports contemporary romance book that was really, really good! This book comes with lovable characters, a great storyline and witty banter between the two main characters. It is an enemies to lovers romance, which is one of my favorite tropes in a book! Even though these two main characters had completely different ways of thinking, they found a way to make it work between them. The character that I liked the most was Alexei Volkov. He came off as a very arrogant, grumpy and rude person. However, as the story develops more, he ends up being the complete opposite! He is actually very sweet snd charming, once you get to know the real him. This book explores the themes of trust, being in love, a marriage of convenience, second chances and overcoming past trauma! There is a miscommunication trope in this one, which is my least favorite trope. However, this author put everything together so well, that the miscommunication trope was not an issue at all for me in this one. This comes with dual points of views, which I loved! Furthermore, you can read this book as a series or as a standalone. It also has some very spicy scenes! If you love sports and romance, you will not want to miss reading this book!

“Gloves Off” is the fourth book in the Vancouver Storm Series! It is about a female doctor named Georgia and a NHL enforcer named Alexei. They get forced into a marriage of convenience with one another, that ultimately leads them into having real feelings for one another. I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars!

Anyone that is a fan of hockey romances would enjoy reading this one! Content warnings include explicit sexual content and misogyny.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Stephanie Archer and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for this electronic ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on June 17, 2025!

I often get bored with contemporary romances but this had me locked. in. I truly devoured the entire book and nothing could stop me. As a fellow Canadian, the references of home … hit close to home; so I thoroughly enjoyed those moments.

Tropes;
* Enemies to lovers
* Fake marriage / marriage of convenience
* One bed
* Hidden meanings
* New found purpose
* Sacrifice

The initial toxic dynamic between Alexei and Georgia was addicting because the banter was so witty and they truly aimed for the low blows; I giggled and twiddled my feet because I LOVE when women are mean to men. These MC’s loathed each other. This was a true enemies to lovers, emphasis on the enemies. Both MC’s begin with these predisposed ideas of each other but later learn they were terribly misguided in their judgements. Alexei is this brooding, grumpy hockey player who only has one goal in his life, to play hockey. Georgia is this bad a** doctor who has side passions that she is reasonably protective over. While entering a fake marriage/marriage of convenience for their own individual benefits, they both have to work through their past experiences and inevitably become the ultimate “my wife” and “my husband” duo.

When I say I had FUN reading this book, I mean it. My final thoughts to conclude is that my obsession with men being proved wrong was heavily re-enforced (My bf does not appreciate you for this, Stephanie). Alexei’s mom is a girls girl through and through and I love her. Seeing each MC get healthy and supportive in-laws was … healing to say the least.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC!! 💜

Release on June 17th!! 🏒💜

4 stars!!

This was such a fun and compelling hockey romance! If you love marriage of convenience and dislike to lovers (but with plenty of secret yearning and being obsessed with each other...), this is for you!!!

This entire series is a delight! I love Stephanie's writing, and this one felt different (in a good way) from the rest of the series. It's a unique and fun approach to the marriage of convenience trope. I love how much the characters truly spent time with each other and got to know each other for who they are, it made their chemistry so intense and tangible. I also loved the pacing, we truly get time to see their fake arrangement turn into a real relationship filled with a lot of love, care, and companionship.

Thank you so much, Dell Romance, Stephanie Archer, and Stephanie's team, for providing me with an arc of this book!

This one started off a bit rocky for me, but it fully recovered. Alexei is described as the grumpy hockey enforcer, but I wouldn’t describe him as grumpy. He is a straight up d*ck and I was fully convinced he could never redeem himself. But I guess that is what happens in a true enemies to lovers situation? I ate my words because this ended up being one of my favorites in the series. I couldn’t put this one down, and I absolutely loved their dynamic. I think they both went into this relationship with preconceived notions, and it was nice to learn more about why they believed what they did and to see their growth through the book. Yearning, tension, chemistry…this book had it all!

5 Stars I'm OBSESSED with Alexei and Georgia's story! I've been eagerly awaiting this installment of Stephanie Archer's Vancouver Storm series since we first met these two. Their story has immediately jumped up to the top of the list of my fave book in this series!

NHL team doctor Georgia Greene and Vancouver Storm star defenseman Alexei Volkov need to get married, and who better than to each other? Georgia needs a marriage certificate to access her trust in order to provide funding for her athletic recovery program and Alexei's marriage to a Canadian citizen would help move his own citizenship process along faster. The only problem? Georgia and Alexei hate each other ever since they first met. So how are they supposed to act like besotted newlyweds all of a sudden? In between appearances to seem like a happily married couple, they are at each other's throats and fighting is more fun than they realized. Georgia is not at all the woman he thought she was and Alexei is more caring and protective than she expected. He cuddles her in bed, cares for her pet rabbits, and calls her his wife. Maybe this fake marriage is more real than either expected.

Alexei Volkov is a top tier book boyfriend! When I first started reading Gloves Off, I never would've expected myself to say that about him, since he was so grumpy and mean to Georgia. It was so satisfying to see him realize and admit that he was wrong about her. Then he absolutely melted for his wife and I melted every time he called her "my wife." I loved their journey as they both learned to be better partners to each other. Plus, Dr. Georgia Greene is that girl. I admired her confidence and how self-assured she was in what she wants from life. An amazing book that you won't regret picking up!!

Thank you Stephanie Archer and Dell for the ARC! Gloves Off releases June 17th!

It’s important to understand that this is a TRUE hate to love situation - like they are very mean to each other 😂. Is there attraction woven in? Sure, but these two truly cannot stand each other for the first half of this book and it is SO SATISFYING to see them both eat their words.

Alexei needs to marry a Canadian to secure his citizenship, and Dr. Georgia Greene needs to marry to get her hands on her inheritance and for some reason (let’s call it fate✨) they decide they are each other’s best option.

Because they would never fall for each other. Right? WRONG!

Hateful banter that turns to flirty banter is *actually* one of my favorite micro tropes… another of my favorites? MY WIFE 🫠🫠 and this book is chock full of both.

Dr. Georgia Greene has all the qualities of my favorite kind of FMC: confident, determined, hardworking, and secure in who she is with a smart mouth. And Alexei haaaaaates that he actually loves that about her… and her lil f me heels 🤭.

I loved this book, their dynamic is one of my faves, and it was so good to be back with their little found family.

This Vancouver Storm girlie is so grateful to Stephanie Archer, Love Notes PR, and Dell Romance for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC.

Alexei and Georgia are coworkers who absolutely despise one another but decide to enter into a marriage of convenience. Georgia needs to be married to inherit and Alexei needs citizenship for him and his parents. These two got off on the very worst foot when they first met. Their reasons for the marriage and the reasons why they don’t get along are very plausible and understandable.

Marriage of convenience but also enemies to lovers are two of my favorite tropes and I love when you add them together in a hockey romance! This is the fourth book in a series but I haven’t read any of the previous books. I didn’t feel lost but I plan on reading them in the future. This book also sets up the next in the series and I will definitely be reading that!

Marriage of convenience X hockey romance?! This ate. FMC is a doctor and he’s a 36 year old hockey player on the verge of retirement. It wasn’t too insta love for me and included side stories from previous books.

Thanks NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! The book comes out June 17!