Thanks to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op,and the author for the chance to read this book.

Back to Harvest Hollow in book 6 of the Appies series. Man, this one was cute. There is nothing better than when the bachelor character in a series finds his love. There were so many great moments in this book. It wasn't all light-hearted, but the heavier moments were written well.

Jenny Proctor is one of the best kissing-only romance authors there is. Yes, the books are cheesy. However, they are incredibly sweet and showcase wonderfully kind characters and their bumps in the road. I love how Jenny didn’t shy away from mentioning the mom-body and the insecurities that can come from that. The age gap of 23 and 32 feels large, just because of how young (and with a kid) the FMC is. I loved the build throughout the novel, but felt the end was a bit too cheesy and rushed in a way… but also the main decision in the book also felt too drawn out and then anticlimactic too. I have some more mixed feelings on the last third. However, I still love this series and all these characters. There was a great chemistry to build the romance without feeling forced at all. Also, Juno sounds like the sweetest baby and added such cuteness to the story. 4.5⭐️, 1🌶

Very cute hockey rom com for the month of February! There was many laughs, loved their banter, the “dream team” groupchat and all in all definitely pulls the heartstrings. 🥹💘
I received this as an ARC ebook so I went in not reading the rest of the series but now I want to. This book was amazing I definitely recommend!


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7325037092

This is my first time reading Jenny Proctor but it will not be my last! This story was just so SWEET and gave all the warm cozy feels. Alec and Evie's story was well written and explored a lot of important themes like single parenting, blended families and career changes. If you like closed door romance then definitely check out this book!

If Hallmark were to make a hockey movie it would be When Alec Met Evie 😍

Adorable, swoon worthy to the max, slightly predictable (in the best way), a few laughs and a few moments that’ll make you tear up 💜

It’s a sweet closed door age gap romance about Evie, a single new mom, and her best friend’s older brother, Alec, a professional hockey player.

Totally recommend this one for everyone wanting a romance to make you feel all warm and fuzzy 🥰

I'm sorryyy but I can't take a team called the Appies seriously 😭 Oh you want some appie juice???

Jokes aside, this was really sweet (like a nice cup of appie juice). OKAY I'm done now, for real.

This is a no nonsense, healthy communication, baby-toting, hockey-loving, spice-free romance. The only thing that I could see as a theme some readers may not enjoy is the 9 year age gap, with Evie being only months out of college. And also his little sister's best friend, so he watched her grow up... And calls her "like a sister" in the beginning a couple times... That is always slightly ick to me.

But! Otherwise Evie and Alec are honestly a decent example of what a romance book *should be*. There is no severe miscommunications, no blow ups, no third act breakup. They push each other but also give space to process feelings. They don't expect everything to be about them. They are mature adults and ACT like it!

There was also a decent amount of hockey in it (which I feel like is pretty lacking in a bunch of sports romances) and not just set dressing of a hockey stadium!

I would definitely go back an revisit the other 5 books in this series as a sweet treat to myself.

Thanks to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Jenny Proctor for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Evie and Alex meet when she moves to town after her divorce. She should be off limits for him, as his best friends sister, but what will happen when they start to fall for each other. Looking forward to the next books in this series.

This was such a sweet hockey romance! I love a best friends brother trope and this was done so sweetly. The way Alec softened to Evie and her baby was so cute. I loved hoe their relationship progressed and Alec became a father.

Published Jan 23, 2025
ARC provided for honest review by Victory Editing via NetGally


I really enjoyed this book allot. This book finishes out the Appies hockey romance series.

Evie is recently divorced single mom who moves to the same town as her best friends brother for a apprenticeship.

Alec is a hockey player for the Appies and trying to come to terms with the possible end of his career because of a knee injury.

I really like how the charters grew through out the book. I feel that Evie had to learn to trust others to help her when she needed it and Alec had to learn that he is more than hockey. I really like how Alec really stepped up for Evie's daughter Juno.

I would definitely recommend this book to someone.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Alec Sheridan & Evie Thomas
- best friends brother
- Age gap
- Single mom FMC
- Appies Hockey Series
- Hockey Captain MMC

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Book 6 of the Appies Series - this book is so sweet and cute. After seeing Alec a lot in the other books, it was nice to see him settle down and find his person. Him with Juno is heart warming. Children find a way to teach you lessons you didn’t know you needed to learn 💕

Alec struggles with big life choices that are smacking him in the face wherever he’s ready or not. Evie is there with her own struggles with motherhood, a terrible ex husband, a career change, and living in a brand new place. But they come together to support one another in all the little and big ways they know how 💕 they also have the sweetest and best community around them.

This is a sweet, slow burn romcom with descriptive kissing and one curse word.

**Thank you so much to Jenny for letting me read this ARC via Netgalley. I received a complimentary copy. No positive review was required. All thoughts are my own.**

When Alec Met Evie is a sweet hockey romance with relatable characters –– post-divorce single mom getting back into the workforce; aging hockey player with a potentially career-ending injury –– and a heartwarming, slow-burn, best friend's older brother romance. Though I hadn't read any other Appies stories, this one was easy to follow. I loved the found family dynamic, especially Alec mentoring his teammates. Despite the solid writing, the story felt flat for me, and I struggled to connect with Evie. However, I’d recommend it to fans of light-hearted, closed-door hockey romances—especially since those are rare!

This book made me cry.

As a former athlete, I can relate to the pain of leaving and making that choice. It's nice to see a book that talks about the fear of what comes after or who you become when you leave the game.

I loved the relationship between Alec and Evie and how much they supported each other.

I loved how Alec's sister supported their relationship rather than causing drama. In all honesty I think this book is quite realistic and captured the true emotions of what was happening in the story.

The final book in The Appies series—what a bittersweet moment! While I’m sad to see the series end, When Alec Met Evie was easily my favorite of the bunch by Jenny. Proctor truly delivered with this one!

This book had so many elements I love:
✔ Pro hockey captain
✔ Age gap
✔ Best friend’s brother
✔ Single mom (with the most adorable teeny tiny baby!)
✔ Hockey romance!!!

Proctor did an amazing job weaving these tropes together into a story that felt fresh, engaging, and heartfelt. I was completely engrossed from start to finish, with no slow or dragging moments—just a perfectly paced, well-written romance that kept me hooked.

Alec and Evie’s chemistry was fantastic, and I loved how their relationship developed. The single mom aspect added so much depth, especially with a baby as precious as the one in this story. The mix of swoon-worthy moments, emotional depth, and humor made this a standout read for me.

If you love hockey romances with heart, this book (and series!) is a must-read. A fantastic conclusion to The Appies!

How I love a good sports romance!
This is my first book from Jenny, but it will not be my last for sure. I absolutely adore the characters, Alec and Evie, but what I loved the most was the found family of this story.

This has some of my favorite tropes, small town, roommates and found family. I usually don’t go for single parents, but the way it was written was so good and so emotional that made me love it so much.

The only downside I would say is that I felt it was more of an insta-love for my liking, but it was still written beautifully.

I just wished I could have read the previous books to have more background on everyone.

Such a heartwarming and touching cozy romcom!

Evie, a newly single mom moves to the small town of Harvest Hollow—where her best friend’s brother also happens to live—after being presented with a job prospect. She’s hoping for a fresh start, but what Evie doesn’t anticipate is arriving in town to a flooded house. Enter Alec, our charming cinnamon roll of a hockey player. He swoops in and saves the day, offering her a place to stay. But they can’t keep feelings under wraps for long because sparks are FLYING. But… is Evie ready to start a new relationship so soon after her divorce and a newborn to care for? And is Alec ready to take on the responsibility of being a father figure?

I absolutely LOVED this book. Alec has been a favorite character of mine since the Sweater Weather series, and seeing him fall in love was so exciting! This was more of an insta-love than I was expecting, but honestly, I’m not even mad about it because it was done so well.

I’m not usually a fan of single parent romances, but after reading this, it might just be one of my new favorite tropes! Alec’s bond with Juno, Evie’s daughter, melted me. Watching him grow attached to her—as well as Evie—was adorable, and every moment he spent with her had me swooning and smiling so big.

And don’t even get me started on Alec and Evie together! These two are most definitely a new favorite book couple of mine. Their relationship was so genuine and real. This book is a prime example of why I adore closed-door romances; there’s no unnecessary sexualization, just a pure, tender romance with plenty of sizzling tension.

This story isn’t only about Alec and Evie, though. Every character, from Juno to the twins to the hockey team to Ruth, added so much heart, and it would not be nearly the same without them.

I’m a real sucker for the found family trope, and ugh, this particular one does me in every time! The Appies hockey team players are the most welcoming and always bring so much humor to each story they’re a part of. And Evie’s neighbor, Ruth, we can’t forget to mention that lovely lady! Ruth is an elderly woman with the biggest heart, and her presence made this all so much cozier! The way she continuously showed up for Evie and her daughter was so touching and nearly had me crying because of how much it touched my heart. The depth of supporting characters really means so much more to me than anything else!

4.5 ★

I don’t even know what you could say at this point, I absolutely adore the Appies and I hope this isn’t the very last that we hear from them. However, having Alec’s book last, as the captain of Appies, was bittersweet and amazing.

“I am still absolutely positive that a relationship is the last thing I need right now. But I can’t seem to stop smiling anyway.”

Things I loved:
Evie’s determination & support
Alec’s sweetness and golden retriever attitude
Alec’s fondness of Juno
Ruth the neighbor
Texas Twins- even when I wanted to smack them
Sister Support (best friends brother)
Dream Team
Instantly Smitten
Sharing the House
Chapter 29
Violin playing- yay Gracie!
Found Family
His mom’s cinnamon rolls

“With Juno in her arms, she looks like life. Like happiness.”

Evie is adorable and strong in how she approached life after her divorce. She’s determined and Alec would do anything for her and Juno. Despite being nine years older than Evie, she is more mature and the two of them just click. Way to go for support from Megan, Alec’s sister.

“..He helped me without being asked. That while I’m caring for Juno, he’s caring for me.”

They were super sweet together, and trying to form their own little family, even with worries about Alec’s injury, hockey playing and if Juno’s dad would try to come back, they had each other and there was so much support. No third act breakup here.

“She looks at me over her shoulder and grins. “already so smitten.”
Completely, I think as I follow her into the living room. And not just with Juno.”

The perfect ending to the Appies Series. Evie and Alec were the perfect sister’s best friend/best friend’s brother friends to lovers. Jenny as always did a great job with characters. Evie is a hard working Mother who just wants what’s best for her baby and herself and moving to Harvest Hollow was just that. Alec is the Captain of the Appies and is doing the best he can keeping the rookie twins in line while also figuring out what direction his hockey career is going. There were so many laugh out loud, swooney, gasp, and cry moments. Alec and Devon meeting for the first time, that was hilarious. And I wanted to punch Devon in the face for what he said to Alec. Rude! The twins getting in trouble and one of them getting a tattoo, the twins walking in on Alec and Evie in the kitchen, Alec helping Juno go to sleep, and Evie telling the guys they need to meet Alec at the Summit. I mean, the list is endless.
Thank you Jenny and Netgalley for my review copy. These words are my own.

I liked Evie and reading from the perspective of a young mum.
It was nice that even though Evie had a rough childhood she had the support of Meghan and Alecs family.
The relationship between Alec and Evie is sweet and I enjoyed seeing it grow even if the romance is a little bit cheesy.

I love a hockey romance and it was fun reading about how the other players interact

I was lucky enough to receive as an ARC 🥰

Jenny Porter delivers an irresistibly sweet and heartwarming small-town, hockey romance in When Alec Met Evie. With a slow-burn connection, forced proximity, and an adorable baby in the mix, this story is the perfect combination of emotional depth and swoon-worthy romance.

Evie moves to North Carolina looking for a fresh start, determined to resist her childhood crush—Alec, her best friend’s protective and much older brother. But fate has other plans when her rental floods, leaving her with no choice but to move in with Alec temporarily. Sparks fly as Alec steps up to help her and her baby girl, blurring the lines between friendship and something more.

Evie’s struggle with trust and vulnerability after her divorce is beautifully portrayed, making her easy to root for. Alec, on the other hand, might be hesitant to settle down, but his actions scream devoted protector and soft-hearted hero. Watching him fall for both Evie and her daughter is absolutely heart-melting.

When Alec Met Evie is a feel-good, emotional romance about taking chances on love when you least expect it. If you enjoy protective hockey heroes, single mom tropes, and sizzling chemistry with a soft side, this book is a must-read!

So so good! Loved the characters and an amazing end to this story. So glad I got to read it!

Thank you NetGalley and Jenny Proctor!