I was so happy to see that there was a new book in the Appies universe! Summer and Nathan were a great grumpy/sunshine pairing, and I loved reading as Nathan tried to fight his feelings for her. Very interested to see if the author is going to write another book featuring another Appies player like Alec or Van.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

I liked this! it was sweet, had good pacing, and the third act conflict made sense to me. my two critiques are that I don't think summer's character was as fleshed out as it could have been (like sometimes she was a pushover and sometimes she was super strong-willed. where's the consistency?), and sometimes the writing was a tad cringe. This is an arc tho, so maybe some of those lines will get fixed. A line I did really hate though was when Nathan's brother told him to get a wife before he got fat and ugly. That made me super uncomfortable, and it felt kinda icky. Not a bad book, though. The first 75% especially was really strong.

Nathan Sanders is the resident grump for the Appies, Summer Callahan is their new in-house attorney. They have felt the pull towards each other since they met, but Nathan has fought it every step of the way and Summer is getting tired of putting herself out there for him. Circumstances make it necessary for them to fake a relationship. Can Nathan continue to resist? Will Summer continue to try and break through his defenses? You'll have to read Romancing the Grump to find out! This book is really great and I give it a strong 5 stars. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy!

Amazing!!
This book would have left me speechless. I knew it was going to be good but my did it exceed expectations.
Really loved Nathan and Summer, they were everything. It was also great to see the rest if the gang both the Appies and Hawthorne's.

P.s. I got this last night
P.s.s Thank you for the ARC

I CANNOT get enough of the Appies. I am SO excited I happened to log in to NetGalley and check the options and saw this book. LORD I actually screamed when I got approved. Guys - THIS. TEAM. IS. EVERYTHING! I am so attached to all of them and I love them all so much. Nathan got me right in the feels as I struggle with a dad who allowed his addiction to alcohol ruin his life and relationships. Unlike Nathan, I do remember "the good times" before things got bad and it has been used as a weapon against me in many an argument. These books have all packed such a punch and have been so good and gripping. I read this one in 3 hours. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get on the Appies train y'all. Its so good!

I loved this book. I love the Appies and I want books for all of them, they are such a good found family and their stories are always entertening. This couple never gave up, especially Summer, she fell even knowing that he may never be with her because of his personal problems. But she took a risk and it definitely paid off. Nathan was fighting so hard to not fall for Summer but it was pointless. He was so captivated by her that everyone could the love between them. I loved how they were all rooting for them, it was adorable. They deserved to have their love lived and I was so glad that they could do it. The whole fake relationship thing was basically a real one, Nathan just had to admit it

Get ready to SQUEAL with delight! This book has it all 😍

When I say this book has it all, I truly mean it...
🛏️ One bed moment? YEP!
😠 Broody, hot hockey player that smiles for no one but his girl? YEPP!
💋 Sizzling kisses that make you blush? YEPPP!
🤕 "Let me take care of you" moments? YEPPPP!
💀 "Touch her and die" vibes? YEPPPPP!
🤣 Fun, cute, witty, hilarious banter? YEPPPPPP!
👠 Strong, smart, relatable FMC? YEPPPPPPP!

Don't mind me... I am still swoony over here reliving the book as I type this review. Honestly, Summer (FMC) takes the cake in this book. I absolutely LOVED how she is level-headed and practical, but still allows herself to listen to her heart and take a risk on love. There is no pointless hemming and hawing with her feelings and what to do about them and I found it super refreshing.

Did you really think I wasn't going to dive into the MAN that is Nathan Sanders?! Mmmmmmmmmhmmmmmm that man is 😍🔥💪💞 There really isn't much that gets me instantly squealing like watching the walls and facade of a "grump" melt away as he falls in love. I needed like a million more epilogues so I could see him continue to step out of his "past" and into his future.

🏒 Jenny NAILED it with this book. 10000/10 - seriously clear your schedule and read this one right away.

Oh man! This was amazing!
Addictive and I COULD NOT put it down! I’m a sucker for a grumpy/sunshine romance throw in some fake dating and hockey? You get amazingness!

Nathan and Summer are amazing. From their first meeting to how they interact and the way Nathan defends Summer while struggling (refusing) to acknowledge why he is acting like this with her was amazing!
Plus it was awesome to read about an AHL team, I feel like most hockey romances I read are either college or NHL and so this was a great break from the typical hockey romances!

The bad jokes had me laughing and I just love all the characters! Like when Summer makes a joke about finally learning what enforcers do on the ice (it’s one of those you need to read it to appreciate it) but there are so many bad and puny jokes I loved it!

But in all seriousness all my peeps in their hockey romance era this is for you! (It even says so in the dedication)

An amazing story about our favourite Appies hocley player grump Nathan and the lovely lawyer Summer . Summer just been hired as the new legal counsel of the Appies and the first person she meets is Nathan who just stares at her at tells hes that she parked at his place . They had already met because she is Gracie's best friend . Summer is friendly toward him but he is very grumpy even though he really likes her because of his late father . When some fans are getting out of control Parker suggest that Summer and Nathan pretend that they are dating so the brooding Appie will be left alone . While they fake dating they start fall for each other . Will Summer make understand that what he misses from his life is she ?
I would like to read the story of July's love journey maybe with a hockey player ?
I received this book from netgalley and the publicer as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .

According to my kindle I still have 40 minutes left of this book but I had to stop and review before the ending ramps up.
This. Book. Is. Perfect.
I mean, it’s light hearted, sweet romance with enough drama to keep it from being super sugary sweet and the MMC! And the FMC! Ugh! Love them!
I know it’s the wrong sport for him and the wrong career for her, but I kept picturing T Swift and Travis K as the main characters. Maybe because I’ve been listening to her new album while reading….but I think it’s more because, for most people, when we see them together we can’t help but smile. And that’s how every single interaction of the main characters feels to me.

Just go read it! Then go back and read the rest of her books, and the other Appies book, and get in line with the rest of us for the next Appies book, 😁

Hockey Romance plus Grumpy/Sunshine plus Fake Daiting? Sign me up. Immediately.

The Appies have a popularity that rivals that of teams in the NHL. When the hashtag #TameTheBroodingBeast gets out of hand and jeopardizes the team's family friendly social media presence, Social Media Manager Parker convinces Summer to pose as The Brooding Beast's girlfriend. The only problem is Nathan is the grumpiest player on the team. Summer has never seen him smile. But soon he is smiling. Just for her. And the line between for the cameras and for real is blurred.

I absolutely adore the Appies! They are my favorite fictional hockey team. These stories are so sweet and filled with the most delicious tension. They are closed door, but that doesn't mean you won't swoon as you turn the pages. I really liked Summer's story and the way not only Nathan but the whole team supported her against her former boss. A grump that is soft only for her always hits.

My first ARC and I loved it!

Romancing the Grump is the second book in the Appies series, which has one of my favorite tropes in it: fake dating! Nathan, a ice hockey player and the grumpiest of the grumpies, was really sweet and protective. He had feelings for Summer, an attorney working for the Appies, from the beginning but he held his distance for certain reasons. Summer, on the other hand, knew how she felt, she just had to be patient with Nathan to get him to stop holding back and accept his feelings for her. I loved that Summer stood by her feelings from the very first moment. The side character were amazing too. I really recommend this book to everyone who is looking for a fun and fast paced closed door-romance!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Jenny Proctor for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sunshine x Grumpy Ice Hockey Fake Dating Romance - say less!

FMC Summer Callahan start her new job as legal counsel for the Appies minor league hockey team , where she meets Grumpy MMC Nathan Sanders , again. After meeting months previously through their mutual friends, SUmmer is left with the impression that Nathan has no interest in her.

However when we get Nathan POV that is furthest from that truth. As they start working closely together and striking up an unlikely friendship, Summer agrees to help Nathan after a Tiktok hashtag gets out of hand by being his fake girlfriend.

Fake dating isn't as fake as it seems. This sweet slow-burn romance is full of humour and hidden depth but no spice.

Summer has a new job as a legal counsel for the hockey team "The Appies". When she met left defender Bathan for the first time a few months ago she felt very attracted to him but he did not serm to feel the same. Now they work for the same team they get to know each other better and there are still sparks. But Nathan is commited to not having a relationship. Things get even more complicated when Summer and Nathan have to fake a relationship to get overeager female fans off his back.
This is a sweet romance with relatable characters and a believable storyline. I liked Summer from the start but sometimes she was almost too nice. Nathan was more difficult to root for since he was just so stubborn. I loved that the book is told from dual POV. I also enjoyed that the book is losely connected to other books about the Appies and we meet familiar characters again.
If you like sweet sport romances with a grumpy-sunshine trope this book should be on your TBR.

If you love a good hockey romance, this one will not disappoint!

The chemistry between Nathan and Summer is there from the beginning, and instantly, it has you turning through the pages to see how this relationship is going to develop. Nathan is a man of few words. However, he shows strong values and goes out of his way to demonstrate these through his actions. Summer is cute, she realises very early on that she does infact have a crush on Nathan and the playful, cheeky side of her is one that really makes you smile, there is  no surprise that she can bring a smile to Nathan's face.

This book kept my interest through every page, and I found myself smiling and giggling along the way, really connecting with the story and the characters. I have a new love for grumpy/sunshine, and this has been one of my top books read this year!

"I don't know if I truly believe in soulmates, no matter how sure I was, when I first laid eyes on Nathan Sanders, that having him in my life would matter more than anything else."

oh, that was so good. in general, I prefer only a single pov (from the heroine) when it comes to grumpy/sunshine romance. the reason is that going from the male pov ruins the whole grumpy, mysterious persona. I love figuring out what the grump thinks on my own instead of being spoonfed everything. however, nathan is literally so earnest and kind that I loved being inside his head.

I thought this book was different compared to my other fake-dating romance because I thought both summer and nathan were more clear on their boundaries. there was also not a lot of that 'denying feelings because it's just a fake relationship'. summer was honest with herself about her feelings while nathan was slower than her, but it didn't feel annoying.

also, taking care of the sick trope (or whatever you call it) is my jam so I'm glad we got it.

amazon review will be posted on release day!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. Summer's unconditional love for Nathan, and her willingness to give her all to him, even if it meant risking a broken heart, was heartwarming. Witnessing Nathan's struggle to come to terms with what he once thought was impossible, and his eventual acceptance of the truth, was truly rewarding. The side characters were well-developed, and the humorous banter between the boys was a delight. I am eager to read more stories set in this world.

Romancing the Grump is the second book in the Appies series, an interconnected stand alone romance. I haven’t read any from this series or the Sweater Weather series I heard it was also somewhat connected too. It was written well to where I could see little things that would of meant more had I read the others, but also not in a way to take away from these characters and this story for someone who doesn’t know the other characters.

I honestly really enjoyed this! It’s also my first time reading anything from Jenny Proctor and I enjoyed her writing style. I also really enjoyed these two characters a lot. I felt like they had some really great chemistry & some really cute and funny banter.

I haven’t read much grumpy x sunshine romances as of yet, but this definitely made me more open to that trope because it was done so well! I really sped through this book and didn’t want to put it down, I just loved reading about these two.

Content : This is a clean closed door romance! This had kissing in it, and 2 slightly intense make out scenes.
This had only a few minor curse words.

Tropes: grumpy x sunshine, fake dating, dual pov, hockey romance

**Thank you so much to Netgalley & Jenny Proctor for allowing me to read & review this on ebook before it came out! All opinions are my own:)

It comes out Tuesday April 23rd, and I would definitely recommend checking it out when it does!

Romancing the Grump by Jenny Proctor is a terrific addition to the Appies series and gives us another couple to root for and love.

Summer is a lawyer who just left her DA position due to harassing behavior by her boss and who, when it was reported, was not given any kind of discipline or rebuke. Through her friend, she's helped land a job as an attorney for the Appies hockey team and on her first day, has a confrontation with Nathan, the team grump, who is famous in addition to his hockey skills, not smiling very often.

Both are smitten with each other, but won't admit it and then are put in a position where they are a pretend couple (my favorite trope) and Summer helps Nathan's brother with a legal situation.

I don't want to spoil it, but it's a great storyline that is easy to fall into.

I'm not gonna lie - I wish there was more spiciness in this series, but the lack of doesn't detract from the story at all and it's another sweet book in the story of the Appie men. Can I hope for Alec next?

Thank you to NetGalley and Jenny Proctor for an ARC of this book in consideration of an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to JPC Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC copy. All opinions in this review are my own.

Read if you love tension and yearning yet evenly paced romance. While this is a PG-rated romance, it stills gives a satisfying pay off and swoon worthy moments. I am still gremlin giggling over, "Summer. Let me see my name."

Jenny Proctor writes yet another cozy and sweet romance. I've read 3/4 of her books involving the Appies, and this one is my favorite. The characters are more believable and there are other subplots that kept me engaged. I'm excited to see the author carry on the Appies group. They keep getting better!

Refrain if you want sex (read: closed door romance) and if you are not a fan of pop culture references. This and the other books in the series references Tiktok heavily and even bases the series around the team's popularity on social media. A major plot point seemed inspired by the Seattle Kraken situation, which did not sit well with me.

This comes out April 23, 2024!