This audiobook was *chefs kiss* and I ate this book up in less than 48 hours! The narrators of this book were spectacular and did the book absolute justice.

The storyline of this book was absolutely delicious. Age gap and a sports romance with a forbidden twist is everything I love in a book. Combined with Monty’s writing is amazing!! Valor and Bishops relationship had so much depth. The growth of being a human over the span of the years.

Love & Hockey is obviously a sports romance, but not like any others that I have read. The main characters friendship started off pure and sweet. There was a huge age gap, so they met when she was a child. Things didn’t heat up until she was 17 (almost 18), but I honestly wish their romance started when she was legal instead (which is why I really was going to remove a star). HOWEVER, I absolutely loved the storyline once she was legal (which was majority of the book). I felt all the emotions while reading this. I even cried a few times. The writing is impeccable. This was my first book by Monty Jay, and I look forward to reading more. I don’t want to spoil anything so I really can’t say too much, but I will say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The ending was perfection. I will say I do believe in fate. I listened to the audiobook and both of the narrators did a great job. 🩵❄️

I would like to thank Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for giving me an ALC (which did not sway my opinions or review).

I’m just such a big fan of Monty Jay and everything she writes! So when I saw she wrote a hockey romance I had to jump on it. This one is for the girls who love the dad’s best friend and age gap tropes in their hockey romance. Definitely check the trigger warnings going In to this book. I think I enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first half just wish the girl was a bit older in the beginning. I love that FMC is a hockey player we don’t get that too much in hockey romance books and I like how this book had a lot of real life situations. Valor and Bishop are gonna take you on an emotional ride! Narrators did an amazing job especially Amy Hall.

First things first. Thank you NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the ALC. I really enjoyed this audio. I felt the narrators did a wonderful job in portraying the characters. The sound quality was crisp & clear.

Now for the book. I really ended up liking this but not without hesitation. I love a good age gap but I would be lying if I didn't have concerns with how this book started. We meet Valor who is 10 falling for Bishop, 18. At a young age she already knows that they are endgame. Their romance is one of fated love.Having built from knowing each other at a younger age.

But as you see them growing over the years, the changes they go through. The time apart & then finding themselves back in one another's life. You can see the connection these two truly have. You're able to better relate to them. And you find that their paths were always meant to cross. I definitely felt the beginning tiptoed a little too close to the line of inappropriate. But this is one of those books with a plot, where you just have to trust the process.

“I am both, the comforting hand someone needs, and the evil witch that haunts someone’s past.”

Firstly Thank NetGalley and the publisher for the audio ALC of this book. Please note this gift has not affected the way in which I have reviewed this book.

Love and Hockey by Monty Jay is book one in the Fury series, and is a 4⭐️ read.

The Audiobook out on 11th Sep 2025

—:—:—:—:—

Well…. Where to even begin with this one?

At first I wasn’t sure this book would be one I’d like. Reason being that I find age gap trope can be so badly done. The stories normally make me cringe and then I just cannot get out the head space.

However, saying this… Love and Hockey was written well, the emotions, the duel points of view were done and voices so well that I LOVED this book so much. There were tears, points I wanted to scream, and those “awww” moments we all look for in a good romance.

Credit always to Amy Hall & Benjamin Sands, their narration brought the characters to life so well, that once I finished the book (in one day), I had to go back and start it again!

Favourite Quote: “When you come from the world I come from. Handsome didn’t matter. Men of all shapes and sizers are dangerous!”

Spicy Level - 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Note: Please read and review all trigger warnings before reading any recommended book. We love to read for our pleasure, so keep your mind, and emotions safe!

Audio Book Available
Publisher: Dreamscape
Narrator: AmyHall & BenjaminSands
Release date: 11SEP2025

PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS

Okay it wasn't until I finished this book that I learned this was a debut. That being said, for a debut, this was good. I see a ton of potential in the author’s work and would not hesitate to read more (or listen as I did the audiobook for this one). However, there was a lot that stopped me from enjoying this book. I thought there was a lot of things that should've contained trigger warnings but there wasn't any at the beginning of the book.

While there are some things that were holding me back from rating this higher, I felt that this book had the emotions I enjoy reading. There were so many parts that were heavy that there really should've been warnings. ALTHOUGH maybe they just didn't read them in the Audio copy I had. There were multiple times I cringed and I'm a dark romance girlie. Be aware that it starts off with an emotional, triggering punch to the gut.

Now for that audio portion of this book. It was really well done by Benjamin Sands and Amy Hall. They both brought the characters to life. I enjoyed seeing how they portrayed the story and brought it to life.

Thank you NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

My emotions were everywhere talk about emotional damage.
This was actually so good a perfect hockey romance i think this book was laced with a side of crack because I couldn't put it down i actually loved the age gap but the fact they met when she was 10 did give me the ick. Side note how was this a debut novel? This was so well written

Love & Hockey by Monty Jay was my first read from this author, and it surprised me in the best way. I don’t usually pick up romances this heavy—I tend to reach for lighter, happier stories—so the opening took me off guard. But the writing is so strong and immersive that it pulled me in immediately.

Valor and Bishop are beautifully developed characters whose lives feel inextricably linked by fate. Their bond runs so deep it’s almost beyond comprehension. Despite the age gap, their connection never feels awkward or forced—it’s written with such care and authenticity that it becomes entirely believable.

This novel doesn’t shy away from weighty themes, including sexual assault, drug use, and mental health struggles. These elements add depth and gravity, making the story all the more impactful.

It’s not an easy romance, but it is a powerful and worthwhile one. I highly recommend reading—or listening—to it.

Thank you to Monty Jay, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the advance audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

ALC 5 stars!!

Wow okay I'm going to need 5-7 business days to recover form this one. My heart hurts :')

The tropes for this book are: hockey romance (both FMC and MMC), dad's best friend (kind of), childhood friends to lovers with an age gap, taboo, mutual healing from childhood abandonment.

The first thing i want to touch on is the age gap and friends to lovers. The FMC and MMC meet when the FMC is 10 and the MMC is 18. They form an innocent friendship through the FMC's dad who is a hockey player on the same team as the MMC. They share a bond based on parental abandonment and everything is innocent and just two souls connecting on something you can only live through to know how it feels. I can see this being an issue for people, along with a spicy scene that happens when the FMC is 17. I wish the FMC was 18 at that point so it did make me slightlyyyy uncomfy but it didnt go too far. But if I didnt know the backstory of these characters than I would have been more uncomfortable.

The fight this couple has to go through in order to have their HEA was so painful. When two souls who are made to be together just cannot find the right timing. Also the connection between the fMC and her best friend was so beautiful. TW for suicide attempt.

This book touched on so many deep issues and it is not for the light of heart. I definitely recommend reviewing the triggers first. This book ripped out my heart so many times and stomped on it, but put it back together at the end :')

This was a ALC from Netgalley, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely thought I was gonna love this cos —
1. Monty Jay
2. Hockey romance
3. Age gap

Unfortunately, I didn’t love the first 50% of the book. I think if this would’ve started when Valor was already 18 (or 17 on the verge of 18), I would’ve connected more with her and Bishop. Instead, it gave me the ick. Once I hit 50%, I started to connect more and I enjoyed the rest of the book. The part with Aurelia and everything with Valor’s mom broke my heart. Her feelings on it all were so so valid and I would’ve reacted the exact same way.

I’m leaning towards continuing the Fury series since I would love to read Aurelia’s HEA.

I listened to the audiobook and both Benjamin Sands and Amy Hall did a great job narrating.

If you are a sensitive reader, please check the trigger warnings and the way Valor and Bishop’s relationship starts, if you aren’t into borderline taboo reads, I would skip.

Thank you so much to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen and review this audiobook.

Loved this story and the narration. Amy Hall is phenomenal and I would and will highly recommend. This author is new to me but I will be reading more

**Review of *Love & Hockey* by Monty Jay**
Narrated by Benjamin Sands & Amy Hall
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was *really* good. *Love & Hockey* follows the life and love of Valor Sullivan and Bishop Maverick in a story that beautifully blends romance, personal growth, and family dynamics.

Valor is raised by a single father who fully supports her love of hockey. Through his NHL career, he becomes close friends with Bishop—a player eight years older than Valor. As Valor grows up in the world of hockey, Bishop becomes a constant presence in her life.

As adults, their relationship deepens and eventually crosses the line from friendship into something more—but the timing is all wrong. They become estranged, and the story explores the emotional fallout and journey that follows.

What really stood out was how the book also gave depth to secondary characters, especially Valor’s mother. Her story added so much heart and complexity. I found myself heartbroken for her and cheering her on, even though she wasn’t the main focus.

The writing is strong and engaging, and the narration by Benjamin Sands and Amy Hall brought the characters to life perfectly. I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a deeply emotional, slow-burn sports romance with great character development.

HOLY COW

-hockey romance
-age gap
-forbidden
-emotional
I really don’t even have the words to say much about this book. It changed me. Monty writes angst & tension in the most soul searing way that drags out every emotion possible you could be feeling. While also in such a short amount of pages, makes you feel deeply connected to these characters! I will have a piece of B + Vallie in my hearts forever!

This book had me from the very beginning. The characters were built up nicely and plenty of backstory to know who and why they are.

Valour was a super strong female lead and I loved that she walked away when she needed to. Knowing when to cut your losses is just as important as knowing when to stay. This added more depth to their relationship and set the tone for her expectations. (I'm not sure what she saw in the other guy though.)

Bishop will be a favourite book boyfriend who knows what to say and how to act (if he could just trust in love). The age gap was a tad unnerving in parts but I just went with the flow.

Overall, a page turner for me - well, I listened to it on audio so there were no actual pages being turned. The narrators did a wonderful job, especially Amy Hall whose voice was gorgeous. I really loved the way she narrated it. I'm truly looking forward to the next one in the series.

WAIT- this is Monty Jay’s DEBUT novel?! Wow. Friends, this is someone to watch, but Love and Hockey reads better than books (that I love) by authors a million books into their career. This book was RIVETING- complex, so emotionally resonant and moving, and so, so enjoyable. Love and Hockey is the Calder Memorial Trophy of debut novels- I’m floored.

If you have any doubts about investing in this new author, just read the prologue. From the first paragraph, I knew this story would have so much depth, that it would tug on so many emotions. The prologue is a gut punch- truly heartbreaking and emotionally staggering. I felt so raw, so moved yet intrigued- what an absorbing way to begin this truly beautiful love story.

Our story centers on Valor, the daughter of a legendary NHL hockey pro and up and coming hockey star in her own right. As a child, she was abandoned by her mother- so she’s always grown up just with her dad- and she’s a pistol, an endearing tomboy with a fire in her belly for her sport. Her family has always been her father’s team, which causes her to cross paths with young hotshot rookie Bishop, drafted to her father’s team at 18. She loves him instantly- but he’s 8 years older than her, but here is an unspoken connection and kinship they recognize in each other. So, despite their age difference, over the years they become unlikely friends, both in hockey and life. Valor’s love for him only grows and matures as she does, and soon Bishop is thinking of 18 year old Valor differently. They embark on a forbidden, secret romantic journey as they embrace their feelings and revel in their need for each other- their love was fated, they are soul mates. But what fate didn’t account for was baggage. Both characters have a deep fear of abandonment, of getting their hearts hurt by those that are supposed to protect them. That mutual pain connected them and helped them find safety with each other, but embarking on a romantic journey requires new trust, new vulnerability, and inspires new fear- a fear that rivals their soulmate pull. Their love story is so alluring- effervescent and heart warming in places and heart shattering in others

Both of these characters are so nuanced- so interesting and empathetic. Valor defies trope- she’s a snarky tomboy who is insecure but brash. She compensates for her wounded heart by keeping her inner circle tight and giving all of her heart to Bishop and hockey. And Bishop is SO swoony- packed with so much emotional complexity. We get to know him a bit slower, but what we find is a sweet and tender man who loves fiercely but is suffering from gaping wounds he never addressed. The linear narrative really works for the character development and chemistry. We have a variety of time periods/chapters focused on different ages of our leads, starting back when Valor was a little girl- with Jay giving us these incredibly impactful, small but momentous moments in the evolution of these two as a pair. The chemistry here is deep and evolves with our character’s journey- from mutual admiration to respectful friendship to budding attraction to deep longing and profound emotional interconnection. There is a spark between them, a magnetic pull that I could feel the force off on every page. And the emotional range is really compelling.

I was also impressed by the technical quality of Monty Jay’s writing - the pace flows beautifully, the dialogue is engaging and sharp, the plot is so well sequenced and twists unfold beautifully, and the character voice is so pronounced and compelling. The secondary characters are all so fantastic- their extended friend families add such richness to the story- both in helping us know and understand our main characters but also in bringing added layers of emotional impact as their stories seep into this one. Nico, Riggs, and Kai all were so captivating even in a secondary seat, and I’m hopeful they get their own books. AND, it is clear that MJ really loves hockey- hockey is not a random choice here, some plot device. The sport is a living breathing character- instrumental to every character, part of every moment- that love, that role of sport really is what a sports romance should be about. The way the plot comes all together is also sobrilliant- I wasn’t sure how all these elements were going to come together, but then they do- HOLY SMOKES- it was stunning. Twists I didn’t expect, tears I wasn’t expecting to cry, a deep fulfillment I didn’t even know I needed. This is a truly masterfully constructed story.

But, the emotional impact of this story- the romantic themes explored, are what I loved most and what made me feel so moved by this romance. The exploration of how fate intersects with love, how love battles with insecurities and pain, the role of acceptance and the concept of being at home in someone else’s soul all play into these characters' paths. At the center, though, is a charming nod to the power of fated love when combined with human free will. How fate can tie people together so seamlessly, so magically, that the line between their stories blurs, but fate itself is just a catalyst to love, just an open door. Being fated to love someone only draws their souls together, what marries those souls is the active choice to give that person your love freely, to trust them with it. And that is the journey of these characters- loving was easy, but giving into that love? So much harder.

This book is one of the best surprises of 2020 for me, and a great reminder of why we all need to not just stick to our usual players- I would not have wanted to miss this read! Monty Jay is clearly an incredible talent- she’s earned a new fan in me with this phenomenal debut, and I’m planning on stalking her everywhere because I’m so excited for the next in the series. If this is what this author brings to the table for a FIRST book, I can only imagine what is in store for us as she continues to evolve. Whatever it is- I’ll be one-clicking it!

Note: there are some triggering subjects in here. One, in fact, is at times triggering to me given my history, but I’m still glad I read this book. And, those elements are less within the romance of our characters and more so external of their relationship, but still play a key role.

The audio narration is fantastic and enriches the storye ven more- I really enjoyed this listen.

I love a good age gap romance. I think this one would have been fine though but I couldn't get past meeting him when she was a young teen. It just felt a little weird to me.

I really wanted to love this one the premise has so many things I usually enjoy (forbidden romance, age gap, sports drama) but for some reason, I just found myself feeling bored while reading. The setup and characters had potential, but the pacing dragged in places, and I struggled to stay invested in Bishop and Valor’s story.

That said, Monty Jay’s writing is emotional and heartfelt, and I think readers who enjoy angsty, slow burn romances with plenty of drama will get more out of this than I did. For me, it just didn’t quite click.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARL.

4 stars.

I love a good hockey romance.

After getting over the weird age gap at the start of this book. It was a nice slow burn.
The character and their development was done well.
I loved that Val was a kickass hockey player, despite everything she had gone through she was so hopeful.
I also enjoyed Bishops character it was obvious how much he cared for Val.
BUT the star of the show was really Riggs, Shes the best friend you wish you had lol I'm excited to read her book.

This is book one in the Fury Series and it was the perfect kickoff to what looks like a really emotional ride. Definitely check the trigger warnings because this story has some heavy themes, but I really liked it and recommend it.

I got completely wrapped up in Valor and Bishop’s story. Valor is tough, outspoken, and wears her love for hockey on her sleeve. I felt her hurt, her determination, and the way she tried to hold herself together when life didn’t make it easy. Bishop… he tested my patience more than once, but I couldn’t help but root for him. He is protective and frustrating all at once, and when he lets his guard down you can see just how much he loves her.

The audiobook was so good. Amy Hall nailed Valor’s voice with all her fire and vulnerability, and Benjamin Sands gave Bishop the perfect growly edge. The emotion they poured into the narration made the story hit that much harder, and I really appreciated how they kept me engaged from start to finish.

It was emotional, messy, and sometimes frustrating, but it was also beautiful to see these characters grow and fight for each other. If you love sports romance with angst, healing, and a slow build that really pays off, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the chance to listen to this ALC.

4.5 ⭐'s rounded up……I devoured this book, finished it in one sitting. Please check your triggers as this book does deal with suicide, drug abuse, and age gap where the FMC fell for the MMC at a young age.

Valor grew up without a mom and adored her hockey playing father. She becomes a great hockey player. Bishop is the young rookie who joins Valor's fathers team and becomes Valor's first love. This story had so much emotions in it.

The characters are wonderful and the pacing is great too. The narrators did a wonderful job of bring the characters to life and show the emotions that are being felt.

Bejamin Sands and Amy Hall both did a wonderful job of bringing this story to life. The emotions felt was shown in the inflection of tones. I really enjoyed the audio!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to this well written story full of trauma and growth. All my opinions are my own.