Posted review on Goodreads 2.5.25 &
Posted review on Storygraph 2.5.25 &
Review posted on Instagram by the end of Feb

4.5 ⭐️ - First book I read in the Appies series & I really enjoyed it.

Evie is recently divorced w/ a new baby girl. She gets her dream job & moves near her best friend’s older brother. She grew up going to all his hockey games, but they haven’t seen each other since she graduated high school.

I don’t want to give too much away, but divorce, baby, hockey romance is all you need to know.

I now want to go back and read the other books in the series!

Pub Date: Jan 23rd, 2025

Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing, & Jenny Proctor for this #gifted DRC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 (Accidental 5-star read, but no regrets)

Okay, so picture this: you’re casually picking up a book, not realising it’s part of a series, and then BAM—you’re emotionally invested, grinning like an idiot, and immediately adding every other book in said series to your TBR. That was me with When Alec Met Evie.

I love hockey romances, and this one? Absolutely perfect. It’s cozy, swoony, and packed with all the best tropes. Alec and Evie’s chemistry is chef’s kiss, the banter is fun, and the overall vibe is just so heartwarming. I went in blind and came out obsessed.

If you love:
🏒 Hockey hunks with big hearts
💬 Banter that has you smirking at your Kindle
💖 A romance that feels like a warm hug
📚 Finding a book so good you immediately commit to reading everything by the author

Then trust me, you need this book. I may have stumbled into this series by accident, but it’s officially my new favorite happy-place read. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a series to devour.. 🏃‍♀️

*Also, the criticism I’ve seen on the writing? Am I missing something? This was such an easy read and I DEVOURED the writing style.

When Alec Met Evie is the perfect combination of the classic tropes, best friend’s brother, age gap and single mom wrapped up with a sports romance bow.

Evie’s fresh start move doesn’t quite go to plan when she gets to her new home, luckily her best friends brother (and former childhood crush) is there to swoop in and save the day. Evie helps Alec see there’s more to life beyond hockey, and Alec shows Evie that she doesn’t have to go it alone anymore.

I found this a super easy read and finished the whole thing in a day, it had me hooked. It can be hard to find low/no spice sports romance stories but this one has that box ticked too.

While this story is part of a series, it can definitely be read as a standalone, but I will be going back and reading the rest of the Appies books.

i read this book fairly quick because of how it made me melt.. I absolutely love Jenny Proctor’s books. This hockey romance is the 6th in this amazing series. This book can be read as a stand alone but there are a few other couples pop ups from other books throughout this story. Evie is a single mom who is starting over in North Carolina. Alec is her best friend’s brother who is a minor league hockey player in the same town. Evie has always had a crush on Alec but he didn’t see her the same way due to her age. I love the way they care about each other and there’s even a few swoon worthy moments with Alec and the baby. This is a sweet hockey romance that will have your heart melting in the best way. Thank you Jenny Proctor and NetGalley the copy of this book.

Alec knows his sister's best friend as a nice kid. But the woman he finds himself coerced into helping move to Harvest Hollow is certainly no kid! When the house she's renting turns out to have flooded, he offers one of his spare rooms - in fact, he's oddly reluctant to let her go anywhere else. But with his current hockey struggles, he has no time for dating, even if his sister hadn't warned him off. So why does he find himself happily helping out with Evie's daughter? Evie knew that being around her old crush might be awkward, but somehow spending time with Alec soon becomes the most comfortable time she's ever known. But once burned twice shy, and she has no interest in trying marriage again - right? Will Evie's move be an unmitigated disaster, or everything she never dared dream of?

Another great Appies story! Readers of the series probably don't need any further introduction, because this is as good as the rest and has the bonus of seeing a bit more of previous couples and other characters. To anyone who's new to the series, each stands alone, so you can jump in anywhere - but be warned that you'll probably want to go and read more afterwards! I'm not a big sports fan (I know, shocking), but it works well as part of the story without drowning me in it - and the team forms an important friend group, as well as a potential cause of conflict. I particularly appreciated having a baby in this one - yes, a man helping with a baby can be a delightful thing to watch. I also loved seeing Alec work through his various problems with the team, both health-related and as captain responsible for others. It's great to see a leader who's willing to listen to others and put themselves out to look out for those under them. And the growing relationship between Alec and Evie? I might have left it to last to mention, but it''s beautiful to watch. All in all, a great read - recommended.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Have gotten really into hockey lately in actual real life, so I've been doing everything I can to get my hands on every single hockey romance I can find. This one was exactly what I was looking for. It was also so exciting to see a single mom trope, as this one is not as popular within the hockey romance genre! This was refreshing and sexy and super fun.

This was such a fabulous dive into non-toxic masculinity and what it means to be there for someone. I thought she handled some big issues so deftly, and I absolutely melted at the chemistry, even if it wasn’t spicy. All the stars!

First of all, thank You Netgalley for the ARC granted to me. I loooove this series, altough this was bit less compelling for me than the others an yet it had a interesting and relevant topics, the thing is: I always keep searching for the next one to come haha!

When Alec Met Evie
By: Jenny Proctor

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🤍hockey romance
🤍best friend’s brother
🤍age gap
🤍single mom
🤍forced proximity

💋Dramatic Thoughts💋

Alec + Evie were so darn cute! This was the sweetest hockey romance book! I swear I had tears in my eyes at one point (who even am I?!?). I was dying for Alec and Evie to finally kiss but one of the perks of a slow burn is that there was no third act breakup 🤗 I literally loved the Dream Team Group Chat - it added such a fun element to this series!

One small thing I loved about this book was that Evie’s ex-mother-in-law was still so supportive of her and Juno! Petition to make all fiction MILs this supportive!

There wasn’t any spice in this hockey romance, however it surely has a spot in my top 10 hockey romances (the highest honor, honestly) 🫶🏼

💥Character Spotlight💥

Alec - the way he seamless moved into the roll of Juno’s dad without being asked? the way he constantly thought about how he could make Evie’s days easier? the way he took the twins under his wing on and off the ice? Everything about it Alec just screams GREEN FLAG and I am 👏🏼 here 👏🏼 for 👏🏼 it!!

💬Favorite Quotes💬

“A heads up for those of you who weren’t present. When Alec saw Evie for the first time, he basically swallowed his own tongue.”

“But see, you already figured out what comes next for you. You already have something else to live for.” He shrugs. “Why not just go do that now?” I already have something else to live for.

“Because I love you, and I’d rather be here supporting you than running away to prevent my own discomfort.”

Thank you to @netgalley @jennyproctorbooks and @victoryeditingngc for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

⭐️ 5/5

I WILL TAKE NO CRITICISM ABOUT THIS SERIES.

Great. Now we have that out the way, let me just say that if you haven't met Alec yet, you wouldn't understand why we love his book 🥹❤️

♡ Friends to Lovers
♡ Forced Proximity
♡ Past Trauma
♡ Found Family (hockey brothers)
♡ Smitten and Caring MMC
♡ Single Mother
♡ Hurting & Healing
♡ HEA love

We get to see Evie going through a bunch of horrible circumstances and Alec being more than happy to help with every thing he has.

If you love hockey, romance, comedy, emotional rollersoasters, hurt and healing that give loads of high tension and closed door romances, then this is for you!

(And yea, the authora in this series are so good with their romantic tension, the open door spice isn't needed).

Alec is Evie’s best friend’s older brother. Nine years older. He happens to be the captain of the minor league hockey team in the town she is doing a luthier internship in. So, of course, her best friend arranges for Alec and some teammates to help Evie move in. At the last minute, the house is in need of extensive repairs. So now Evie and her four-month-old baby are living with her childhood crush, and an abundance of chemistry.

Alec’s protective nature is stirred in the first moments he sees Evie. She has done the emotional work necessary to handle the challenges in her life, but it is so nice to have someone in her corner. And for some reason (you’ll have to read the book), baby Juno is smitten with Alec and has him wrapped around her finger. In the meantime, Alec is navigating challenges in his career and trying to be the kind of leader his team needs, which includes mentoring 18-year-old twin boys.

Reading this low angst, love-and-kindness-filled novel was a joy. It is the last in a series that I haven’t read. If you read the series, of course you will love this one, revisiting all the people you love. I loved this book all on its own.

What I loved:
🏒Alec’s tenderness with Evie and Juno
🏒Shirtless Alec holding Juno
🏒The brotherhood
🏒Kitchen time
🏒The porch swing
🏒The twins
🏒Emotionally mature MMC & FMC
🏒Great banter and kisses

Thank you @netgalley and Jenny for an ARC of this delightful story.

I absolutely loved Jenny Proctor’s “Once Upon a Boyband”. This hockey romance, which is the 6th in the series was just as sweet. I did not read the other books in the series and was fine. This book can stand alone even though the other couples pop up throughout this story.

Evie is a single mom to a 4 month old baby starting over in North Carolina. Alec is her best friend’s brother who is a professional minor league hockey player in the same town. While Evie had a crush on Alec when she was younger, Alec never really thought of her that way as he was much older. The story of how they care for each other Alec is instantly won over by Evie and her baby Juno. She is such a cute baby and there are plenty of swoony moments of Alec and the baby. This is a sweet, no spice, hockey romance which is a super easy read.

Thank you Jenny Proctor and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

Our Appies Captain finds his match . Alec is having problem with his knee but he pushes himself to play harder . Evie after a failed marriage and with a four month baby girl named Juno even though she is a talented violinist she choose to work as a luthier in Harvest Hollow where her best friends older brother lives . When her place is flooded with water Alec invites her to live at his place . Living together he sees her as a grown woman even though he is hesitant because of their 9 years gap . Evie always had a crush on Alec and now seeing him being the father figure for Juno is melting her heart . When Alec has to choose between the hockey and the life without it what will he pick ? Will Evie and Juno be in his future ?
I received this book from netgalley , the author and the publicer as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .

This was the perfect story for Alec! We’ve seen the team captain through all the Appies’ books but finally we get his story and I couldn’t be happier. Jenny has such a gift with storytelling that the words just come to life while you’re reading. It doesn’t feel like fiction, but like actual people telling their story. I couldn’t put the book down; I read it in one day.

Jennys romances are so cozy clean and comforting. this was no exception. I love me a good hockey romance and this hit the spot.

Amazing!!
Loved every bit of Alec and Evie. They got together in such a beautiful way. It was great seeing Alec in such a different way, with so much emotional depth. Loved every bit of this.

‘When Alec Met Evie’ by Jenny Proctor is a single mother x pro hockey player romance starring Alec, captain of beloved AHL team the Appies and Evie, who has moved to Harvest Hollow with her baby Juno for her career… When disaster strikes at her rental, she calls upon her best friend’s brother (and childhood crush!) for assistance and finds that he and his friendly team are more than happy to help. Alex thinks of Evie almost as a nine-years-younger-than-him sister, until he sees her beauty, maturity and responsibility shine through when she and her daughter become his housemates!

As always with this series, this book was incredibly sweet, perfectly swoony and a wonderfully quick read that made me smile a lot. I really love the characters in this series, with the focus on healthy male friendships, loyalty and strong female leads. I’m still grinning from ear-to-ear so this gets four stars from me!

I received a Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

4.25 stars rounded down

I’ve always enjoyed Jenny Proctor’s books primarily because her writing style just pulls me into the story. Her books aren’t usually full of drama but are interesting enough to keep you wanting more without the anxiety of a crazy plot.

I enjoyed this one because I loved Evie and Alec. The Appies series is so cute but these two rivaled the other couples. They had that instant chemistry, but they also worked at growing that connection. There were late nights with a crying baby, encouragement in healing and hockey, and just overall time the couple spent together doing mundane things.

The side characters are always great. I really want the twins to have their own books. Love them!

I go through phases where I love spice and times when k can do without it. Proctor’s books typically aren’t spicy, and I love that aspect. Sometimes tame romance books just work.

I highly recommend this book to all!

*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

I love this series!! This is probably my.lrast favorite of the series, but thats like saying my least favorite cupcake. It was wonderful, happy, romantic and had great chemistry and writing. Keep this series going!!!

Finally, Alec the Apple’s captain has his story. And what a story. Sharing his house with Evie, his little sister best friend’s and her four months old daughter Juno, wil changer his life forever. The way he cares for both of them while facing the possible end of his hockey career gets intertwined with hoe Evie faces a new chapter in her life as a single divorced mom, trying to do it all without help but finally letting Alec in. A true love story. y. I received an ARC cop from NetGalley and this is my honest review