4-4.5 stars for this one.

A really easy read where the story flowed well. Having read the author previously I already knew I liked their writing style so I could go into this knowing I would find it an easy and enjoyable read. I loved both the main characters and was soon hooked on their story. It then kept me engaged throughout. I'm not always a fan of the surprise baby story but I love grumpy heroes who fight their attraction for the heroine so this ticked that box for me big time. Loving this series and ready for more!

Absolutely loved this, as a fan of hockey romance books this did not disappoint, would love to read more from this author

This was an easy single day hockey romance with an age gap and nanny trope. It was a nice easy read for me and I really enjoyed this story. I loved the relationship that Adeline has with her family and I really enjoyed the bond that Lars has with Adeline's family. I am really glad that Vickie didn't become a larger problem in the story. It was a nice easy read during a long car ride and a great introduction to this author for me.

I love the single dad x nanny trope so I was looking forward to reading this; safe to say it did not disappoint.

It did have a little bit of a slow start but honestly, once you get past the first couple chapters you will instantly take a liking to the characters. I absolutely loved the love story between Lars and Adeline and then of course you add Mabel into the mix, what's not to like?

You get to know so much about these characters throughout. The relationship between Adeline and her dad, Theo, and also Lars and Theo is so well written, even the small conflict they have towards the end just shows the growth in Lars' character throughout the book. It just makes you fall in love with Lars a little bit more.

The ending was maybe a little rushed for some people, however I am looking forward to reading the next book already and getting to know more about some of other characters.

Hockey player ends up finding out he has a 7 month old daughter after a one night stand. In desperation, his teammate's adult daughter steps in to help as a temporary nanny. She's been crushing on him and he finally notices her. As he comes to terms with being a dad, they find a growing mutual attraction.

Tropes: age gap, hockey romance, best friend's daughter, nanny/single dad

The book was cute. Some of the writing felt awkward (for example introducing characters using first and last name and including a bio felt forced) but there was good character development and spice. Overall, a solid 3⭐️ book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this free ARC!

This book was amazing and so easy for me love. From the characters personalities to the writing just amazing! It had me hooked from the very beginning. It was funny and charming. I hockey romances have become one of my favorites and this one does not disappoint. Lars and Adeline had great chemistry I honest wish this book didn’t end. Not only were they great but I also loved the side characters! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!!

I gave Sweet Thing by Kate Meader 3 stars. I really wanted to love this one more. I mean hockey romance, age gap, single dad, and best friend’s daughter? Sounds like it should be right up my alley. But it took me a bit longer than I expected to really get into the story.

Lars, the hockey player navigating unexpected fatherhood, was definitely my favorite part. Watching him figure out this whole single dad thing felt genuine and really sweet. And baby Mabel? Total heart stealer. Those moments really won me over.

Adeline, the nanny with a complicated past, is clearly dealing with a lot. I wanted to connect with her more, but sometimes she came across a bit unsure and even a little younger than her age, especially when the drama picked up. And the miscommunication scenes? Yeah, those dragged on more than I’d like.

The romance had some really sweet moments and a nice slow build. I enjoyed seeing Lars and Adeline grow closer, but I wished there was a little more fire between them. I wanted that swoony spark that keeps you hooked. Still, their connection had enough warmth to keep me interested.

I did finish it and enjoyed parts along the way. The characters were relatable, and there’s definitely a feel-good vibe throughout. It might not be for everyone, but if you like hockey, age gaps, and family drama with some heart, there’s a lot here to enjoy!

Big thanks to Kate Meader and NetGalley for the ARC!

Single Dad/Nanny-Age Gap-Hockey Romance

This was my first novel by Kate Meader and it sure was a good one! The spice was spicing and the plot was great. I really enjoyed the story. Check your triggers as there is an assault mentioned in the story. I absolutely loved this hockey family. As I obviously came into the middle of a series with this book there was times it was a little confusing or maybe not confusing but felt like irrelevant information or mentions of side characters, but I’m sure if I knew more about them from other books I would have loved hearing tidbits about them. I did make me curious about them and want to read the other books. Maybe it made me feel left out, like I wasn’t in the know and need to read the other books so I can be in the inner circle. 😂 Overall, I loved it. Lars the sexy hockey daddy and the Adeline the nanny was a great story. I might have cried a bit, but I get emotional when the characters are brought to life and feel real to me.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for the ARC. All opinions are my own and freely given.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you love age-gap, forbidden romance with a dose of found family and swoony chemistry, Sweet Thing is a must-read.

What I loved most about this book? Adeline. She’s not the polished, put-together heroine who has it all figured out—and that’s exactly what makes her so compelling. She’s the classic oldest daughter, constantly feeling out of step with her athletic, high-achieving family. Adeline’s journey of trying to find where she belongs, of carving out her own identity beyond “Theo’s daughter,” was raw and relatable. And I loved that she was the one pursuing Lars—owning her attraction and making the first move. That tension? That chemistry? Off the charts.

Lars is equally layered. He’s not perfect, but he shows up—and that matters. He’s just had a baby (surprise!) dropped into his life, and watching him rise to the challenge of fatherhood is heart-melting. There’s no over-the-top baby mama drama here (thank you, Kate Meader!). Just real, heartfelt conflict and growth. The forbidden element—Adeline being the daughter of Lars’ teammate and best friend—adds just the right touch of angst, but the way it’s handled feels authentic rather than overblown.

And let’s talk about the side characters for a second: the protective dad/brother energy usually isn’t my favorite, but here, the cluelessness of the guys just made me laugh. They were so dumb sometimes—but in a lovable way. On the other hand, Adeline’s mom? I wanted to shake her! It was so obvious what was happening with her daughter and Lars—how did she not see it?

The emotional depth of the story is balanced by humor, heart, and heat. There’s so much longing and tenderness, especially between Lars and Adeline, and the little found family they create with baby Mabel is adorable. I do wish we got just a bit more of them as a family after the conflict—because their chemistry was that good—but overall, I couldn't stop reading.

This book hit all the right notes: strong character arcs, sizzling romance, a heroine you’ll root for, and a hero who rises to meet the moment. Sweet Thing was tender, angsty, sexy, and oh-so-satisfying. 💗

Tropes:

Age gap

Forbidden romance

Single dad / secret baby

Nanny romance

Found family

Protective dad/brother

Emotional healing

This is a great sports romance I definitely took my time reading this but it was such a sweet read and very good for a hockey romance I absolutely love the family element included within this story and I’m very much excited for this series as I also got invested in all the other characters while I read this, I’d definitely recommend this book to sports romance lovers and this is one I’d love to have on my shelf!

Loved this story - It's a perfect addition to the series and should be recommended to all fans of Elle Kennedy!

The pacing was perfect and the twists were gripping.

I WANT MORE

This was cute! My first Kate Meader book and I’ll be back for more 🥰 nothing I love more than a single dad. I wish the smutty scenes were a bit longer! Some pacing issues but I’ll read the next in the series for sure

This was my first book of Kate Meader's and I was pleasantly surprised and have every intention of making my way through the books that precede this story. I love me a good age-gap. We find out early in the book that our Sweet Thing Adeline is a bit of a fan of Lars Nyquist. And by fan, I mean she's had a crush on his Finnish bottom for a while. Not to worry friends, she's a grown woman and it was just a school girl crush. (This is hammered into our story for about 60% of the book). Another surprise, it wasn't.

She leaves out stage left and Lars embeds himself in her family unit (he was invited, obviously, this isn't that kind of story). His best, good, buddy Theo (Adeline's father) brings him into the fold while she's off enjoying her gap year in Europe. She returns and Lars finds out he's a father.

She's shoehorned in as his Nanny and obviously, they keep it professional. End of story... JK, their relationship devolves from employer/employee faster than Duckman is on the ice. (read the story, you'll get the reference). This story is very fluffy and the conflict is minor. Things do happen, but nothing too traumatic. Lars is mostly a gentleman and Adeline is old for her age. She definitely doesn't act like the youth everyone portends her to be. They are truly a sweet couple and I have no qualms with their 13 year age gap. Adeline has the best great-grandma who brings some sage advice and comic relief. If anyone annoyed me, it was her mom. I mean, really she didn't do anything terribly wrong, but she definitely made things more difficult with her attempt to advise them.

Would I recommend this book? Yes. The story is fluffy and sweet. It has minimal triggers. There's an annoying little shit of a guy on the hockey team, but he barely steps out of line. It's like a softer version of A Favor for a Favor. I find that Helena's story are a bit grittier, but we don't always want grit. This book didn't bring out the tears, so in good conscience I can't give it 5 stars.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.92
Spice: 🌶️

For full transparency, I was provided an ARC from NetGalley

Sweet Thing is an emotionally rich, heartwarming romance that took me completely by surprise—in the best possible way. At the heart of the story, Lars is a professional hockey player whose life takes an unexpected turn when he discovers he’s a father. Suddenly thrown into a world of diapers and sleepless nights, he has to grow up fast—not just as a parent, but as a person.

What really makes this book shine is the relationship that blossoms between him and his new nanny, Addy: the 22-year-old daughter of Theo a good friend and his teammate. What starts off as a practical arrangement soon becomes something much deeper.

Kate does a great job balancing heartfelt moments with playful banter, and I loved watching both characters evolve—especially seeing the tough, career-focused athlete soften as he falls in love not only with his child but with the woman helping him raise her. The emotional depth felt real, and the pacing of the romance was just right—nothing rushed, nothing forced.

If you’re into stories about unexpected parenthood, strong heroines, and hockey players who fall hard, Sweet Thing is a must-read. It’s sexy, sincere, and leaves you smiling long after you finish the last page.

Thank you Kate and Victoria for the Arc Copy!

This was quite lovely. The characters were super cute and lovable, with realistic imperfections and problems. No huge dramatism throughout the plot and Mabel’s addition to the plot (I mean, she was more or less the whole reason for the plot) was super cute.

I’ve given this 4 stars because it was a super easy read and I actually wished it was a little bit longer and more hashed out but for what it was, it deserved 4 stars!

This novel lacked the heart needed to ground its more provocative elements. Despite taking a break partway through in hopes of returning with fresh eyes, the story remained disappointingly flat. The characters felt shallow and underdeveloped, with little internal growth or genuine chemistry to hold interest.

The most troubling aspect of the book lies in its romantic setup. The 13-year age gap between the main characters is framed as “taboo” by the characters themselves and overtly sexualized, rather than explored with nuance or care. The MMC frequently compares the FMCs traits (her smile, humor, even her eyes) to those of her parents, which only intensifies the discomfort. Although their relationship doesn't begin until she’s of age, his presence in her life beforehand adds a disturbing undertone of grooming that the story never fully addresses.

Given that most NHL players are in their 20s, aging the MMC down could have preserved the emotional stakes without leaning into unsettling territory. The author could have then chosen to make the MMC a mentor of the FMC’s father instead of a best friend, maintaining the drama and implications of the relationship between the FMC and MMC.

The MMC’s nickname for the FMC, “sweet thing,” feels antiquated and more objectifying than affectionate, highlighting the overall lack of emotional intimacy between the characters. What’s meant to be a steamy, forbidden love story ends up feeling hollow and inappropriate.

In the end, the book tries to balance drama and desire but falters under the weight of its own unexamined implications. It’s a story that might have worked with more depth, sensitivity, and character development, but as written, it misses the mark.

🍼ARC review🍼

Sweet thing by @katemeader
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Oh my sweetness ! Trademark ! I could not put this down. I finished it all in one day because it was just that good. Hot hockey player, unexpected single day falling for the nanny ! Yes, this was perfection. Now I want to read the story of Trademark from the beginning. Cannot wait for the next one 💥

3.5 ⭐

Sweet Thing follows NHL star Lars and Adeline, the daughter of his coach, in a heartwarming, emotionally charged romance with a touch of forbidden love and found family.

At 35, Lars’s world is turned upside down when a former fling drops a baby—Mabel—on his doorstep, revealing she’s his daughter. Completely unprepared for fatherhood, Lars is thrown into chaos. Enter Adeline, who’s had a longtime crush on Lars since her high school days. When she steps in as Mabel’s temporary nanny, old feelings start to resurface—and the close quarters make it impossible to ignore the intense spark between them.

Age Gap ✔
Single Dad ✔
Forbidden Love ✔
Found Family ✔

I really enjoyed this story. It was touching to see Lars and Adeline not only bond with baby Mabel, but also navigate their newfound connection. The romance was engaging, and the found family element gave the book real heart.

That said, I would have loved a deeper dive into their relationship—it did feel a little surface-level at times, and I’m not usually a fan of insta-love. Still, the story had a lot of charm and warmth, and I definitely plan to pick up more of Kate Meader’s books in the future!

I continue to enjoy Kate Meader's writing style, which is very easy to read. This is an age gap, dad's best friend/teammate romance featuring the daughter of a character from the original Chicago Rebels series and a current player. It's fun, but does include the stress of the FMC's parents discovering the relationship. I enjoyed being back in Kate Meader's world.

CW: some throwaway comments around body image and also a heteronormative view of a family unit.

Running Hott
By: Serena Bell

Does forever really exist?

📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚

Oh my grandpa Hott is at it again! When two people are Seemingly so different is forever even a possibility? Why did Rhys’s grandpa need to force something so horrible? Truth he knew I’d never let the family down. Sneaky man! Then Rhys meets Eden and his past interactions as her ex’s lawyer makes everything more complicated. This book was amazing and so well thought out. The author writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some are quick witted story lines are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.

Authors Blurb: A jilted bride. A jaded divorce lawyer. A full tank of gas. What could go wrong?

Rhys: As a cutthroat New York City divorce lawyer, it’s my job to end marriages. Lifetime commitment? It’s for the birds. I do everything in my power to avoid it…until my grandfather’s will says that to save our family’s land, I have to become a wedding planner.

Worse, my first client is Eden Becker. She’s the sunshine-y disaster whose ex-husband I represented a few years ago in their divorce. Eden’s first marriage was a nightmare, so why does she think another one is a good idea?

Turns out, I’m not wrong. Her jerkwad fiancé jilts her, and as her wedding planner, I’m also her getaway vehicle. Now we’re on the road together—and all my complicated feelings about this beautiful, naive optimist are in the car, too. Along with a wild attraction I’ve been fighting since we first faced off across a conference table.

If this road trip goes on too much longer, I’m going to do something I’ll regret forever.

Like fall in love.

This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in dual POV this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know you’re 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.

Thanks Netgally for letting me read and review.📚💕