Cole Hansley. Hockey god. My new boss.
I told myself I would play it safe this time… no risky shots, no heartbreak rebounds.
But working as a personal chef for the LA Vipers’ star goalie comes with one problem. Well, technically two.
His notorious reputation. And my crush.
He needs someone he can count on. I need someone who won’t break me. I’ve already lived through being second to a man’s career, and I refuse to do it again.
I don’t want fame. I don’t want the spotlight. I just want peace.
But Cole isn’t peaceful. He’s all walls and warning signs—cold, distant, impossible to figure out. And somehow, I still find myself wanting to slip past his lines of defense and find out what’s underneath the armor. Will he let me in, or will I get shut out like everything else in his life?
(ARC Review)
I loved Scoring the Pucking Goal far more than I even expected, and that’s truly saying something.
Cole Hansley has lived his entire life in survival mode. He keeps people at arm’s length, hides behind emotional walls, and convinces himself that love isn’t meant for someone like him. Abandoned, hurt, and deeply lonely, Cole never believed anyone would choose to stay…until Freya walks into his life and quietly proves him wrong.
“I’m not sure I’ve ever been this curious about another person before. Usually, I’m counting down the minutes until an interaction is over. But not with Freya. For some reason, the more time I spend with her only makes me crave more.”
Freya is broken in her own way. After a controlling, confidence-shattering relationship, she’s lost her sense of self and is terrified of giving too much of herself to anyone again. She just wants peace, safety, and the chance to rebuild, at her own pace. When she becomes Cole’s personal chef, what begins as meals shared slowly turns into something far deeper: friendship, trust, and healing.
“But I’m getting fed up with waiting. I want to see the world in full color again. I keep getting glimpses, and I want it, Case. I want it so bad. I’m fed up with the muted grays and the sadness. I want color, and laughter, and hope.”
Tracy Lorraine truly is the queen of slow burn, and this one was paced perfectly. It was never about if they’d get together, but when, and the wait made it all the sweeter. Cole calling her Whirlwind fits so perfectly, because Freya disrupts his carefully controlled life in the best possible way. She brings light where there was only quiet loneliness before. And Cole? He is all green flags. Patient, protective, reassuring, and endlessly respectful of Freya’s boundaries. Watching him consistently show up for her, without pressure, without expectations, was everything.
“I just…for the first time, possibly ever, I want to tell you. I want you to know me. The real me. All the ugly bits that make me the person I am today.”
What really stood out to me was how emotionally mature this story was. Both characters carry heavy trauma, and instead of rushing into anything, there are check-ins, conversations, and mutual understanding. It’s tender, raw, and deeply realistic, while still delivering plenty of heat once they finally cross that line. And yes…Cole’s dirty mouth? Absolutely worth the wait.
The found family in this series continues to be one of my favorite parts. The LA Vipers aren’t just teammates, they’re family, and that sense of belonging adds so much warmth and depth to the story. I laughed, I cried, I felt every ounce of their pain and healing right alongside them.
This book hit me right in the heart. It was emotional and beautifully written—easily my favorite in the LA Vipers series so far. Cole Hansley is officially one of my top-tier book boyfriends, albeit a little grumpy, and I am more than ready for Rhett’s story next.
Release Date: December 26th, 2025
Thank you to Tracy Lorraine and Deviant Hearts PR for the ARC read!