Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is a must read. Its funny, witty, and so true! If your peri menopausal or going through the change you will recognize all the signs and think its you!
The Christmas Escape by Belinda Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Lizzie has just been laid off from her job, and finds out that her roommate is moving out of their apartment. At the same time, her best friend Shona discovers that her boyfriend is cheating on her, and she is now stuck with an expensive plane ticket to Australia for a holiday the couple were supposed to have but now definitely will not be going on. When Lizzie decides to use her severance pay to buy her friends ticket, she can’t possibly foresee the coming changes. On her first trip to the beach, Lizzie meets Jaz and his two children, when one of them accidentally injures Lizzie. Through meeting Jaz, Lizzie begins to build friendships and relationships with people in Australia, but is always cautious because she knows she will be returning to London soon. What starts as a holiday romance that is ended before it really gets started turns into a happily-ever-after in the end. This is a quick, easy read with great world building and characters that you feel like could be your best friends.
The Christmas Escape by Belinda Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Such a cute, festive read! I thoroughly enjoyed reading Lizzie’s story. Poor girl has just lost her job, her room mate is moving out, and her parents think she’s a failure. Then, an opportunity to go to Australia comes up and Lizzie can’t resist! I don’t blame her for going and seeing sights and cheering herself up over some pretty bad circumstances. She takes it all in stride though and meets Jaz. This Christmas just might be the best ever!
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
There is just enough romance and humor in this story. I love how the main characters interact with each other from the beginning to the end. There is a lot of growth development with each character. Also, the minor characters are very well placed in certain parts of the story to help the main characters out. Overall, the story is very well put together and is very easy to read and will definitely take you from reality for a few hours.
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book, y’all!! It was such a quick, fast paced read full of romance. I was in love with the characters through every second, and how Roman made it his mission to empower Olivia. The relationship between all of the main characters, sans the ex husband, was hilarious and fantastic. Highly recommend this hockey season!
The Christmas Escape by Belinda Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Christmas Escape by Belinda Williams felt like the book version of a Hallmark movie and was a quick read. Lizzie is a 32-year-old failure according the pressures of her family. To prove it she’s lost her job and her housing all within a week. Lizzie is dreading Christmas with the family so when her friend finds herself with a unusable ticket to Australia – Lizzy takes it as a sign. She quickly meets Jaz and sparks fly. The rest is a sweet, slow-burn holiday romance you’re sure to enjoy.
Reviewed by @WhisperHymer
The Christmas Escape by Belinda Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Christmas Escape was such a cute romance book. While it is a Christmas book, it takes place mostly in Australia so it is summer, and doesn’t have the traditional Hallmark channel feel to it. Lizzie is laid off and conveniently takes her friends ticket to Australia for a vacation before jumping into a job search. A misdirected football on the beach may be fate, when it brings Jaz into her life. As much as she tries to fight it, some connections are too strong to resist. This book has a happily ever after, but also ended in a way that could lead to a sequel. And I am hoping it does…
Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a cute story! It’s very enjoyable and made me laugh a time or two. I have to say that as an older woman I appreciated all the humor and comments on menopausal ailments. The characters are fun! They really have a great build of different personalities in here. Very enchanting! Not only the two main but a lot of the secondary just cracked me up.
Overall this one moves along at a good pace. Easy and quick read! I look forward to the next in the series.
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely loved this book!
What would you do if your ex husband invited you to his destination wedding and your kids are assuming you’re coming and with a date? Well read this and find out what Olivia does.
Olivia is headed to a wedding, meeting with a fake date who just so happens to be her daughters best friends father, Roman. He’s a hockey player and gorgeous as sin. What starts off as 2 strangers they quickly realize why not make the most of it and fall hard along the way.
I laughed and cried and cheered them on the whole book.
This was my first read of this duo together but I hope they write more as this was flawless!
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What does one do when they get invited to their ex-husband’s wedding? Well that’s how Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes began! The author takes us on a whirlwind of an adventure in a sometimes unusual situation. Sometimes exes are friends but most times they aren’t. And in this case Olivia had decided she wasn’t going to go… However if that happened we wouldn’t have had a book to enjoy!
Olivia was strong-armed by her daughter into going to her ex-husband’s wedding. With her insistence that they will have a date for her. Boy did she not disappoint! The most gorgeous, frustrating, specimen of a man was found waiting for Olivia when she arrived in Belize. What she didn’t know is that this man is a famous hockey player and that his daughter is her daughter’s best friend so he’s not just any stranger. Starting off on a frustrating foot she couldn’t deny how she was feeling and eventually gave in.
Roman thought his daughter was out of her mind inviting him to be a blind date at this wedding. He only agreed because his daughter would be there and he would do anything to spend time with her. A professional hockey player didn’t allow him to be present in her life. What he wasn’t expecting was a beautiful woman, that he made his mission to prove to her she’s exactly that.
Starting out as a fake date turned into something real. The chemistry is undeniable. One problem is that they live in different states. Have careers of their own so how can it progress more than the destination wedding vacation. Well that’s exactly why you’re reading, right? To find out what happens.
The author displays wonderful growth in the story especially for Olivia. Roman’s character goes through some growing pains too!
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I’m always a sucker for a sports romance. What about you?
The Christmas Escape by Belinda Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What do you do when your best friend has a non refundable ticket she can’t get out? You take a vacation of a lifetime !
Half way across the world Lizzie travels to Australia; recently unemployed, looking for a new apartment mows a better time than any.
Immediately after getting off the plane she’s struck HARD by Cupid or maybe a soccer ball. But hey it’s not that different 😉
A fast paced love story with pg romance and swoon worthy characters what’s not to love about this novella.
Enjoy your hot vacation with a quick read and some good hearted fun
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes
By: Marika Ray and Sylvie Stewart
This is such a fun book! I love a good sports romance and this definitely delivers on that. This book features amazingly well written characters who really are relatable and just enjoyable to get to know. The authors do a fantastic job with character development and moving the plot ahead at a pace that keeps you sucked in. Olivia and Roman are just really fun characters and I really enjoyed watching them get to know each other. I definitely enjoyed this book and am glad to know that it is a part of a series as I really want to read more from both of these authors!
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am 100% team Olivia and Roman.
Olivia is an older FMC that is dealing with hot flashes and crazy hormones…and now she is going to a destination wedding where her ex-husband is the groom. Enter her children who hook her up with a fake date to the wedding. How bad could it be? Sun, sand, some drinks….and a professional hockey player?!?
Roman is nearing the end of his professional career. His teammates keep getting younger and younger while…well…he isn’t. When he finds himself being Olivia’s fake date, he doesn’t expect the chemistry that these two have. However, a vacation fling is just that…right?
These two had me laughing and kept me turning the pages. Due to the age range, I found myself connecting with Olivia. (Hot flashes are no joke – take stock in a fan company!) The banter was great and the chemistry was off the charts. Both have pasts that they need to work through…and somehow they each made the other a better person. A great, entertaining book that I really enjoyed! Looking forward to the next book in the series!
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this steamy romantic comedy. It was so well written that I laughed till I cried in parts. The author’s portrayal of Olivia was a really relatable character for me as a woman who is in the beginnings of menopause. I could sympathise with her with the hot flushes and brain fog but she’s an amazing determined woman who doesn’t let it stop her. I also loved Roman. His character was so likeable how he works so hard to make Olivia see what he sees that fact that she is an attractive hot woman no matter her age, weight or what she’s going through.
Olivia’s ex husband invites her to his wedding to show off his new younger bride. Even though Olivia doesn’t want to go she does for her kids. She knows there is no way she can compete with the bride to be and the thought of spending time in her ex’s company fills her with dread.
However her daughter and her friend have a plan. Why not fight fire with fire. And they don’t come hotter than hockey player Roman.
When Roman’s daughter asks him to be a fake date for her friends mum he doesn’t think twice about accepting. After all it’s a favour to his daughter. The plan is simple pretend to date this woman, make her look good in front of her ex and bride and then return to his life. But what happens when he realises that the “fake feelings” and relationship are becoming something more. For once in his life he has found a woman who wants him for him and not his fame or status.
What will happen after the wedding? Will they get the happy ever after they both deserve or will it just be a holiday fling.
I loved this story and I was willing them to succeed. Getting older isn’t fun for anyone but it was refreshing and exciting to read a story about a older couple having such sizzling chemistry and passion.
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I fell in love with Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray and Sylvie Stewart from the very first chapter. Olivia and Roman are fun, relatable, and hilarious characters that capture your heart immediately. The fact that Olivia is menopausal and a little bit of a hot mess is fantastic and made her so lovable. And as a sports fan myself, I loved the hockey player Roman and his ability to step in and help his daughter when she asked him for a big favor. Humor and spice makes everything nice. This is a great read about hockey, hot flashes, family dynamics, and finding love again.
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Seriously adored this book!
Love a good spicy romance especially when it’s about an adult couple. Roman and Olivia finally get to experience their second chance at life with a partner in their early forties. Life as a professional athlete kept him moving, primped, pressed and primed, ready to go when necessary. Never one to settle down he kept his options open. But when his daughter calls asking for a fever he doesn’t give up the chance to do right by her now that she’s older.
Olivia a fashion mogul on the rise has never considered herself to be “ hot”. But boy is she wrong. With her ex husbands marriage invitation on her counter and two young adults for children she puts her brave face on to attend. What she wasn’t expected was Roman; the man of her dreams to come dashing in ready to be her fake date and so much more.
Highly recommend this fast paced burn friends with benefits story.
I cannot wait for book 2.
The Christmas Escape by Belinda Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely loved this sweet holiday read. Lizzie is down on her luck but is still there to help out her best friend when she needs her to. She ends up taking her non refundable ticket to Australia and decides just enjoy the holiday and regroup. She doesn’t plan on being hit in the face with a kids football. That football to the face was the best thing ever. She ends up meeting Jaz…the father of the kid who hit her. The very hot father!!! Jaz and Lizzie end up becoming friendly and hang out a few times and then Jaz invites her over for a holiday bbq lunch with a few friends which she accepts and that is when their friendship turns into more. What’s the harm In a little holiday fling when there’s an expiration date ? Usually there’s no harm in that unless feelings become involved which they clearly do. Great holiday read for a quick escape from the real world.
review by @xchellex
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first book that I have read from these authors and now they have a new fan. I love a good sports romance but this story exceeded all my expectations. This is the first book in a series that I’m going to be reading in the future. You will fall in love with these characters right from the start. The story kept my attention the whole way through. It only took me a few hours to devour this amazing story.
Olivia is loving her life until she finds out that her ex husband is getting married. Her daughter is begging her to come with her to the destination wedding. Olivia can’t tell her daughter no so she decides to go. All she needs is a date and her daughter has just the man for the job, Roman. Olivia meets Roman and she can tell that he is a ladies man right away. He has played hockey for years and now he is her fake date. Will Olivia find her new happily ever after or will this guy also play with her heart?
Review @heatherbass
View all my reviews
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What an amazing read. I absolutely loved every single minute of this book and what a writing duo these two are! This has got to be one of the best books that I have read this year. I loved everything about it. Olivia was just amazing – she was such a relatable and likeable character – I honestly adored her! I definitely want to be like Olivia! I could go on for ages about how wonderful this book is but I really don’t want to give away any spoilers but it really was just a wonderful read, light-hearted and real from beginning to end! I definitely recommend that you grab a copy today!
The Christmas Escape by Belinda Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Cute holiday story! I enjoyed meeting these two main characters. Their meet cute was delightful and they both had some hidden secrets. I like the analogy he came up with about life from his career. Turns out he is a wonderful guy! Oh and the grand gesture…I loved it! Overall a quick read that made me want to head to the beach!
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Olivia is a woman in her 40’s going through menopause and is CEO of her own business. She has recently been invited to her ex husbands wedding in Belize and her kids are just hoping she will go. After giving in and saying she will go her daughter decides she needs to be set up with a fake date so that she isn’t a laughing stock at the wedding. Holly, Olivia’s daughter and Hannah her roommate have decided that Olivia needs to be set up with Hannah’s dad, Roman LaFontaine. Roman is a professional hockey player for the Florida Storm Chasers. A fake date for her ex husbands wedding, what could possibly go wrong? Especially with both of them being big names in the public. Could she just keep this a casual week of pretending to date Roman or will she begin to fall for him?
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I read this book in a day and a half (with a FT job.) I loved it so so much. This is a second chance at love story and written so incredibly well. It’s an easy read, a page turner and such a good story. The characters were both relatable, the friends in the story were great and supportive. There was struggle, triumph, acceptance, discomfort, comedy, and growth. I have read a few of Sylvie Stewarts books but this was my first time reading Marika Ray, but I will certainly be picking up books by her in the future. It’s a good read for vacation or just sitting on your couch cuddled under the covers. I would recommend to anyone who like a good romance with a little bit of spice.
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely LOVED, LOVED this book! It was one of my favorite rom-com reads of 2023 if not one of my all-time favorites.
I loved that the characters in the book were older. Olivia is a successful engineer and is now the owner of a thriving business she built on her own. While her professional life is moving along successfully, her personal life not so much. She is a hot mess, going through that lovely time in life called perimenopause. Now, she has to go to her ex’s wedding to a younger woman in Belize. Roman is a hockey player who has had a successful career, but now he is contemplating retiring but not sure of the changes that will bring to his life. Olivia’s daughter and Roman’s daughter are college roommates, and they decide to be matchmakers, setting up Roman to be Olivia’s fake boyfriend for the week. What begins as a fake relationship might just be the HEA neither one of them was expecting!!!
How could I not love both Olivia and Roman!!! Olivia is intelligent, and her inner beauty radiates from within making her beautiful…even though she doesn’t see it. Roman is about as close to perfect as any man can get. He is so attentive to Ollie, and he knows what she needs even when she doesn’t realize it. He boosts her self-esteem and just goes along with the hot flashes and insomnia. Like Ollie, he is at a point in his life wondering what the future holds. He hasn’t always been the best father to his daughter, but he is trying to make up for the past and embark on an even better relationship with her now. The two are such an amazing support to one another.
The book was very well-written, even down to the dialogue. The authors gave me quite a few laughs. I can totally empathize with night sweats, emotional rollercoasters, and hot flashes. There wasn’t too much angst or drama, and they built a great cast of secondary characters. I’m so glad to see that this is the beginning of a series. Thank you, ladies, for showing us age is just a number, and that you can find love at any age!!!!
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I don’t know what I expected when I picked up this book but I was not disappointed. This book was such a good read
Olivia is attending her ex husbands wedding. In the effort of not showing up alone, her kids convince her she needs to take a fake date. She does no expect Roman. At all. Olivia just needs to remind herself that no matter how great it’s going, it’s not real. It can’t be. Or at least Olivia is sure it can’t be. As the week progresses, Olivia and Roman grow closer. What happens when the island vibes end and reality sneaks in?
Olivia is such a relatable character. I’m not sure I’ve read any other book where the heroine battles menopause and all of the things that come with it but it was so relatable and real. Both characters were very well written. I was pulled into the story and couldn’t put it down!
The Christmas Escape by Belinda Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Belinda Williams delivers festive romance on a silver platter. I can always guarantee when inread a book who’s main character is down on their luck, it’s going to captivate me. This book was ready wrapped in a blanket with the fireplace going and it was perfection. Funnily enough I have been obsessed with watching Bondi rescue so I was up for this Australian vacation love whirlwind. I didn’t want it to end but it was good all through. I enjoyed the drama of the story line and the roll with it attitude of the fmc. Good read!!
The Christmas Escape by Belinda Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Lose yourself in this heartwarming story of Lizzie and Jaz, a Christmas Holiday in which anything can happen. Lizzie, being a good friend buys her best friend’s ticket to Australia and her life is forever changed. Jaz a world-famous retired surfer, father and divorcee, just happens upon Lizzie in the most inopportune way. A story that has you turning the pages just to see how Lizzie and Jaz end up. Can 2 people from two different worlds figure out a way to be happy. You will just have to read and see.
The Earl, Her Reluctant Guardian by Wareeze Woodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This genre is my favorite genre to read. This story is a historical romance with a twist. The story comes together nicely with great world building and awesome characters.
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Get ready for a hilarious rollercoaster ride with “Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes”! This sizzling romance novel will have you laughing out loud as a group of feisty women take on midlife, hot flashes, and a hot hockey player. With witty banter, unexpected twists, and plenty of steamy scenes, this book is the perfect escape for anyone looking to add some spice to their reading list. Grab a fan and get ready to be swept off your feet!
<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199274583-hot-flashes-and-hockey-slashes” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1696380345l/199274583._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199274583-hot-flashes-and-hockey-slashes”>Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16856659.Marika_Ray”>Marika Ray</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5938392307″>5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Olivia is supposed to be part of the wedding ceremony for her ex husband Scott. They have two kids Holly and Dylan. Holly’s bff and roommate are trying to get Olivia a blind date for the wedding. Hannah asks her dad Roman to be the blind date. Olivia is a smart Savy business woman and tried to get out of the wedding. Olivia was not trying to hook up let alone fall in love with someone. Until Roman came along for the wedding. Olivia can’t stop thinking about Roman once they get back home but she doesn’t want to do long distance. Hannah, Holly, and Dylan drag Olivia to one of Roman’s games. At the end he decides he wants to retire and have a life with Olivia and their kids.<br />This was so cute, and funny! Definitely enjoyed this series!!
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Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oh my what an amazing first book! It’s so hard to be the bigger person when you’re going through menopause! This is the predicament Olivia finds herself in when she’s invited to her ex-husband’s wedding to his younger woman bride. But she is determined to be supportive of her children and the best for them so she goes. Of course taking a hockey player hottie as her date isn’t at all what anyone expected! The two actually connecting and supporting one another while falling for each other is just the present Olivia derserves from karma for all her rising above! This author combo team was amazing and I can’t wait to get the next book!!
