grumpy sunshine books never fails me!!! this book is so so good! the characters are super loveable and i adore them so much, super swoony that i can't stop smiling, giggling, and kicking my feet!! the found family between the hockey teammates is so wholesome and i was having so much fun reading this book! there is no single reason that makes me not to love this book!

🏒grumpy x sunshine
🏒 fake dating
🏒 hockey romance
🏒workplace romance
🏒 she takes care of him while she sick
🏒 he saves her from creepy ex-boss
🏒 found family and funny hockey teammates

(im still smiling while writing this review because aaaah i love them so much! nathansummer forever<33)

This was an ARC from Netgalley!

I thoroughly enjoyed this HEA Hockey story… it was a first for me from this author… I loved Nathan and Summers story and now need to go find the other books for the other Appie Players

4.5 stars

I absolutely loved reading Romancing the Grump! Summer and Nathan were such incredible, well-rounded characters that I couldn't help but fall in love with. From the very first chapter, I knew I'd love Summer because the way her internal monologue was written was just so relatable. On top of that, she had fire and spice to her character that I just don't see often enough. Yes, that did start to reduce as she fell in love with Nathan and she became a bit more soppy, but it reared its head over and over when she was protecting those she loved, so I knew the fire was still there. As for Nathan, he was a frustrating hero in that he refused to admit his feelings, but I think that's a big part of why I loved the story so much. In his POVs and in his moments with Summer, there was so much pining and tension, which really added anticipation to the read as I would hope with each chapter that they would just let themselves fall for each other. I think their relationship was really well paced, although I do wish that they had a bit of time as a legit couple before they went their separate ways, just so that I could have had a little bit of a pay-off before the third-act separation. Other than that though, their relationship was so tension-fuelled and I loved seeing them try to fight their feelings for each other. As for the side characters, I immediately want to find out if there are more books in this world because I love so many of the side characters. I want to find out about their relationships and all these different fake dating situations that seemed to have been going on. I don't think I got enough time with Summer and Nathan's families to fall in love with them, but I definitely loved the found family in the hockey team. All in all, this was such an enjoyable read, with emotional depth and so much tension that I just really loved.

This book was so sweet! A 3.75 ⭐️
Nathan and Summer are adorable. Nathan has his guard up because of his father and Summer is falling hard and fast. Nathan fights his feeling but he can't escape them. This was a fast pace read, a cute story, light read, closed doors, fake dating trope and hockey themed. I really enjoyed the read.

LOVED LOVED LOVED this book!! summer and nathan’s story had me smiling so hard. forever and always a hockey romance girlie. 🏒⛸️❄️🤍

Romancing the Grump is the fourth book in the Appies hockey team series which is shared between authors Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor. The first two books were also in the Sweater Weather series, a connected closed-door rom-com series by various authors. Emma St. Clair began the Appies series with Just Don’t Fall and then recently released her follow-up A Groom of One’s Own, which is Eli’s story. Romancing the Grump is the sequel to Jenny Proctor’s Absolutely Not in Love, which is Felix’s story. Each book can be read as a stand-alone but will be enjoyed more if read in order.

Summer Callahan is a smart attorney who has just left her job in the District Attorney’s office to work for the Appies, a professional hockey team in Harvest Hollow, North Carolina. Summer’s sister is Audrey Hawthorne, who is married to movie star Flint Hawthorne. They are featured in How to Kiss a Movie Star from The Hawthorne Brothers series.

Nathan Sanders is the grouchy defenseman on the Appies hockey team. He has noticed Summer flirting with him when he’s hanging out with his teammate Felix and his girlfriend Gracie, but he just ignores her. Nathan continues to ignore her when she becomes the in-house legal counsel for his hockey team. But he can’t help noticing that she is beautiful, smart, and charming.

A viral social media post about Nathan requires Summer to step in and become Nathan's fake girlfriend. She doesn’t mind helping out the team because she is so attracted to him. She is convinced that she can wear Nathan down and make their relationship a real one because they have a lot of chemistry. Nathan doesn’t want to date during hockey season and generally avoids relationships because of past family drama.

Romancing the Grump is unusual for a rom-com because the female is pursuing the male character. The reader knows that Summer will get her happy ending with Nathan, but it will take a while to get there. The “getting there” is excellent, with some humorous scenes but no heartbreaking angst. The continuing storyline of the Appies hockey team is great; the reader sees more of characters introduced or featured in earlier books. Somehow each new couple becomes my favorite.

Romancing the Grump is closed-door, so romantic scenes are limited to kissing. There is a light sprinkle of profanity, but no F-bombs. Every story in the Sweater Weather/Appies series is well-written with engaging characters that leave readers asking for more! Clean romance doesn’t equal boring.

After I ordered a paperback copy of the book from Amazon, I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) e-book from NetGalley and JPC Publishing for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I LOVE a good hockey romance and this book delivers. Fake dating + grumpy hockey player + team attorney + forced proximity. This is the first book I’ve read of Jenny Proctor but it won’t be the last. She creates a story so immersive that you are invested in the characters and the appies team, and it makes you want to see if your home has a minor league hockey team! This book is perfect for readers who love the sweet romance, charm, and witty banter of Abby Jimenez and the hockey romance of Elle Kennedy!

This can absolutely be read as a stand-alone (as I did) but I’m sure the story is even better when read as the series.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, JPC Publishing, and Jenny Proctor- thank you!

There are a lot of hockey romance books but this one is worth the read. It is cute without being super cheesy and keeps you hooked the whole time. Nathen and Summer are just adorable and text book grumpy/sunshine characters. There isn't a lot of spice in the book (only kissing) but you don't miss it. The plot and characters are strong enough to carry the book and not feel like it is lacking any of that romance.
If you enjoy the following tropes you will enjoy this book
Sport romance
Grump/sunshine relationship
Workplace romance
Fake dating

I will definitely be picking up more books by Jenny Proctor!

The couples in the other Appies stories are so loveable, and Romancing the Grump is no different. Nathan and Summer are the perfect grumpy/sunshine pair! The tension and chemistry are amazing! This is a book I'd definitely recommend to my big romance reading friends and one I want on my shelf! I prefer books to not have any swearing, but atleast the words were minor and infrequent.

This was my first read from Jenny Proctor and it definitely won't be my last.
This closed door ice hockey romance made me swoon and included all of my favourite tropes
- grumpy x sunshine
- fake dating
- one bed
- work place romance
As the author said herself ice hockey romances are an over saturated market at the moment but this sweet rom com is worth the read.
Summer moves to town to start her new job as the Appies hockey team's newest legal advisor and as the title says tries to romance the grump.
This grumpy x sunshine was done perfectly the MMC did not come off as mean or rude at all.
Summer trying to get Nathan to smile and when he finally did made me SWOON!
The closed door aspect is not something i usually lean towards but this still felt very much like an adult romance and was executed perfectly.

I think the best word that sums up this book is cute. I don't read a lot of YA romance so I knew going into it I wasn't going to be getting a Elle Kennedyesqe hockey romance, but this was an easy, fun read overall.

So, things I liked:
✅ Fake dating (the superior trope)
✅ Grumpy x sunshine
✅ Hockey romance (another fav)
✅ Her taking care of him when he's sick (I was obsessed with that moment in The Hating Game, and I've been chasing that high ever since)
✅ There's really not a third act break up. Because the FMC is an adult and is able to use her words. So refreshing.

Things I didn't love:
❌ The whole reason for fake dating was a little ridiculous. A hashtag is trending that the social media manager doesn't like so her solution is to have Nathan get a fake girlfriend.
❌ The Epilogue. I thought it was rushed and made Summer seem annoying (I'd say more, but I don't want to spoil anything)
❌ Is there any point in having the "only one bed" moment if no one get naked? (In my humble opinion, no there isn't).

There's lots of secondary characters and most of them I liked. I'm sure it's a lot more exciting when all these random people pop up from her other books for people who have actually read them (I have not so I didn't know squat about anyone).

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Grumpy/Sunshine....

This was a really sweet, nicely done, hockey, grumpy/sunshine.
Nathan is the grump, a tough nut to crack (he better be goey on the inside).
Summer is the eternally chipper, perky, endlessly happy to Nathan's grumpiness.
She is only too happy to be his partner in faking it.
4.5

I will immediately be going back and reading book 1 of this series. I love a good grumpy x sunshine trope, and this delivered perfectly. I love books that have spice, and can sometimes struggle with closed door romances, BUT, I had absolutely no problem with that for this book. I have been devouring hockey romances lately, and this was a perfect addition to my hockey romance era.

I can't wait to read more from this series!

This story is delightfully sweet while also giving us the grumpy but also very sweet hero we all want (or at least I do). I also really enjoyed coming back to the Appies team and seeing some characters I liked from previous books!

I loved Nathan's character and how while he was grumpy he also cared about his team, family and most of all Summer. It can be hard in a contemporary romance to have stakes to keep the characters apart when it's clear they are both interested from the beginning. However, I felt like Jenny Proctor did a good job explaining why Nathan was so hesitant.

I really enjoyed how confident and smart Summer was. I haven't read the book about her sister from the Sweater Weather series but I really enjoyed meeting her family and I'd love to go back and read that one! I enjoyed that Summer and her twin didn't like men who couldn't tell them apart. That is a really creative way to find out much someone cares!

Fans of sweet hockey romance or sweet small town romance will love this one! I really enjoy a series of interconnected standalones and I'm excited to read more from Jenny Proctor. I think this is the perfect type of book for fans of adult romance who want a closed door story.

🌶️ - Only kissing in this one with no scenes where more occurred. Could be safe for teens but is a story about adults written for adults.

I’m definitely in my hockey rom-com phase and I’m not even a little sad about it when it means reading delicious romances like this one. I love the Appies Series and I think this is my favourite so far. There’s just something about a grump in fiction that makes you there for the journey and the partial melting of their gruff exterior.

Summer is the new contract lawyer who has come to work for the team and Nathan is a hockey player who has some overly exuberant female fans. In perfect rom-com form the best way to combat this problem is of course a fake dating situation.

I loved the dynamic of grumpy Nathan and cheerful Summer and how even though he’d never admit it she got under his skin (in a good way) from the beginning. Summer gives as good as she gets and holds her own and it’s absolutely delightful.
Will she succeed at her mission to make Nathan smile? Will he be able to deal with the past and let her in?

Another thing I loved is that besides the romance we really do get so much of the team in this one. There’s such a great found family dynamic between the guys and of course the women in their lives and getting to see how they all root for each other and support one another is such a nice element to this series. And yes…there are text threads!

Oh and this is closed door but whoooo that chemistry is 🔥


Thank you so much to Jenny Proctor and Net Galley for an advance review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Tropes:
🏒 Forced Proximity
🏒 Grumpy x Sunshine
🏒 Closed door romance

I am a Jenny Proctor fan and while I will read anything she writes, I really didn’t expect to read this in one sitting (I need another Appies love story pronto).
Nathan really tried not to fall for Summer but how could he not? She was flirty and despite his surly demeanour, she keeps showing up for him (which he secretly loves).

Summer makes Nathan see that he really can have it all and I thoroughly enjoyed their chemistry from start to finish. Summer was strong and independent, and I envy her ability to keep on chasing after what she wants despite the risks.

This book had me chuckling to myself and I loved the inclusion of their text messages and the dual POV, it made me love the characters more and root for their HEA.

If you’re usually an open door romance reader I still think you could enjoy this book as Summer and Nathans banter, flirting and pining (sometimes reluctantly) created enough tension I actually forgot there wasn’t any spicy scenes.

I simply cannot wait for the next instalment in the Appies series and I’m so thankful I was able to read this ARC via NetGalley.

Will I read anything by Jenny Proctor? Yes. Undoubtedly. Will I run to get a new book in the Appies series? No. I’m chartering a private jet because I can’t wait that long!

Summer (back from the How To Kiss A Movie Star/Hawthorne series) has come to work for the Appies as their new legal counsel. But her first day doesn’t goes as plan when she almost gets hit by a speeding car in the parking lot. Enter brooding, silent, all around muscle man Nathan. His surly attitude, unsurprising, hides his panic over how to talk to the beautiful lawyer. But it doesn’t matter anyway, after all, Nathan knows that relationships and hockey don’t mix. But when fans online start taking things too far, Harper (YAY) comes up with a plan, show that Nathan is off the market, and while Summer is apprehensive (she knows what happens when two people fake date), how can she say no to the chance of dating her not so subtle crush.

Siiiiigh. I just love these books, and the epilogue was AMAZING. Pumped to see that Alec and Van’s stories are being written because I just want to stay in the Appie universe forever!

3.5 Stars

🏒 The vibes:
- hockey romance
- Fake dating
- Taking care of him when he’s sick
- Family dysfunction

🥅 My thoughts:
I rarely turn down a hockey closed door romance. I was excited to read this one because I’ve enjoyed the Appies in previous books. Summer and Nathan were both instantly attracted to eachother but when Nathan expresses that he won’t be in a relationship while playing hockey, Summer is very disappointed but pretty relentless in her pursuit of him.

🏒 There were some very cute moments that I loved between Nathan and Summer, especially when she took care of him when he was sick. I loved Nathan in general (though I wouldn’t consider him a grump by any means). I liked seeing him with his family; I really enjoyed the entire plot line involving his family past dysfunction and the resolution with that entire situation. My favorite part of the book is Nathan and his journey of learning how to let Summer get past his walls.

🥅 There’s a lot of social media/tik tok in the plot which isn’t my favorite element (probably because I’m old). I didn’t love the emphasis on TikTok, and this book made me dislike Parker’s job and judgment, to be honest. It made me question if pushing atheletes in Tik Tok should be a thing. I don’t think that’s the point of the book- but it definitely made me weary of it. Again- I’m old 😂🙈.

🥅 My main gripe aside from a heavy Tik Tok plot- is a personal preference thing but I’m learning that I don’t love when it’s the FMC that is chasing the MMC or being the primary pursuer. I think I prefer he falls first/harder than the opposite of that- so that was an element that wasn’t my favorite. The attraction and pursuit was instant and I typically prefer a slower progression, but overall I still enjoyed this book and would continue reading anything Appies related.

Release date: April 23, 2024.

Thank you so much to Jenny Proctor, NetGalley, and JPC Publishing for the gifted copy.


*note- posted on bookbub, Instagram stories on 4/23/24 and saved permanently on Story Reviews highlights, goodreads, Amazon, and Storygraph. Links provided.

The Appies continue to rule! I loved this book as much as the others. Nathan was an intriguing character with all the broodiness and yet he’s the biggest softie behind that armor. Summer was a badass girlboss and the perfect love interest for Nathan. I really liked their dynamic and the instant attraction. One of my favourite moments was when Summer (and the guys) tried to wake Nathan up in his hotel room. It was kind of funny and sweet at the same time. I was glad they could figure out things by the end. The epilogue and the bonus epilogue were both really sweet.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of the book.

Oh what a sweet cute, absolutely adorable book! I loved Nathan and Summer. The entire plot of their relationship is fun, a mix of predictable and unpredictable, and just so much fun. I loved their small moments most of all, when summer tries to wake Nathan up, or when they would text each other, both caring for each other so much from the beginning!

The epilogue was so sweet, easily my favorite chapter, I loved how it was written in the future, and the way it shared their story in the future!

I’m so hoping to see books for the rest of the team, and can’t wait to see what comes next!