I woke up in Vegas with hazy memories of the night before and the hottest hockey player alive wrapped around me.
Some people come to the city of sin for gambling and partying—I did one better and left as Mrs. Travis Bennett. My annoyingly handsome and charming neighbor has been asking me out for weeks. After nearly costing me my gymnastics career, I’ve tried to stay far away from the hot, cocky hockey player.
And now I’m legally bound to him.
When the media gets wind of our whirlwind romance, we agree to stay married until my season starts to avoid a PR nightmare. I think it’s a mistake. He thinks it’s fate. And he’s doing everything he can to prove me wrong. In public, I’m wearing his ring and his jersey. At home, he’s walking around shirtless, packing my lunches, and trying his best to make my heart race. Unfortunately, he’s succeeding. This game of pretend is starting to feel a lot more real.
My new husband is keeping score, and he won’t stop until he wins my heart.
(ARC Review)
Waking up married to the hottest hockey player alive after a night in Vegas is not exactly on Hannah’s life plan, but neither is falling for her arrogant, charming neighbor who’s been relentlessly asking her out for weeks. When the media catches wind of their shock wedding, Hannah and Travis agree to stay married until her gymnastics season starts to avoid a PR nightmare. She calls it a mistake. He calls it fate. And Travis Bennett is nothing if not all-in.
“Because I just met my new neighbor and I’m pretty sure I’m in love.”
Their story gets off to the most chaotic, hilarious start when Travis literally calls the cops on Hannah because it looks like she’s breaking into the neighbor’s house, except she’s actually renting it and no one left her a key. Whoops, Travis. The fallout costs her a sponsorship and immediately sets the tone for the mountain he has to climb to earn her trust and her attention. It’s a brutal first impression, and somehow exactly what makes the slow burn even sweeter.
“You mean since you got me arrested and cost me my sponsorship? Or since you ate my dinner?” I ask with fake sweetness dripping from my tone. “So good, thanks for asking.”
Travis fell first and HARD. From the moment he sees Hannah, there’s no hesitation, no ego, no fear. Just devotion. The quiet kind that sneaks up on you. Packing her lunches. Picking her up when her car dies. Watching her favorite movies. Taking her on thoughtful, swoony dates that show just how intentional he is. And the rotating door of nicknames as he tries to find the perfect one for her? Absolute perfection. Hannah has spent her entire life being the caretaker, and realizing she finally has someone who wants to take care of her is both foreign and life-changing. Watching her slowly soften into that safety was everything.
“It’s just me and him and nothing else. Headlines, money, sponsors, proving myself, tumbling from the sky, none of it matters in this moment. And maybe that’s all any of us can ask for, moments of bliss where the world doesn’t feel so scary.”
The banter? Flawless. The flirting? Elite. The “man down bad” energy? Off the charts. The Vegas chaos, the jail mishap, the wealth vs. broke contrast, the fake-marriage-that-isn’t-really-fake at all—every piece just worked. And the spice? Let’s just say a Ferris wheel will never be the same for me again.
Seeing a deeper side of Travis beyond what we glimpse in Lucky Shot was such a gift, and his dynamic with the team, Nick, and Ruby, only made the story richer. Hannah and Travis had undeniable chemistry from page one, and their shared passion for their sports added so much depth to their connection, from training scenes to emotional breakthroughs, their love story felt earned and powerful.
“I like being obsessed with you. I feel like a better guy just being around you. I think about you nonstop.” His hands drop and he steps closer. “When you’re around, I feel like I’ve swallowed an entire flock of butterflies.”
And without giving anything away, the way Travis continues to show up for Hannah near the end of this book? That’s the kind of steady, unwavering love that sneaks up on your heart and refuses to let go. Quiet. Intentional. Permanent-feeling in the very best way.
This slow burn was so worth the wait. The found family vibes, the hilarious friend group, the emotional growth, the obsession, the tenderness—it was all perfectly balanced. I lived for this entire book, and Travis Bennett has officially claimed a spot on my top heroes of the year.
Release Date: December 11th, 2025
Thank you to Rebecca Jenshak and Valentine PR & Literary Management for the ARC read!