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

Another fun entry in the Appies hockey series. This is the perfect rice krispies trear of a book; its cozy, homey, sweet, and impossible not to like. There's not too much complexity, but it's still hard to resist. Very little of this book is realistic but in the best gauzey way. Curl up with a blanket and this book on a rainy Saturday and you won't be disappointed. Alwx.is yet another sweet yet masculine hockey player. There is a bit of an age gap between he and Evie but they have a lor.od chemistry. I like the lecel.of emotional intelligence both of these characters has. There was no instalove; many examples of them slowing down their pace and talking through differences. I truly appreciate that they both acted like adults. 3.5 stars of an enjoyable read. Thanks to Net Galley and Jenny Proctor for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

When Alec Met Evie is the sixth 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 released her sequels, A Groom of One’s Own (Eli’s story) and Runaway Bride and Prejudice (Van’s story). When Alec Met Evie is the sequel to Jenny Proctor’s Absolutely Not in Love (Felix’s story) and Romancing the Grump (Nathan’s story). Each book can be read as a stand-alone but will be enjoyed more if read in order. Each story is closed door and told in dual POV.

23-year-old Evie Turner is a hardworking divorcee who is trying to improve her circumstances for her 40-month-old daughter, Juno. Although Evie is a graduate of Juilliard and is a professional violinist, she believes that if she completes a paid internship as a luthier, she will have more flexibility repairing stringed instruments and have less childcare expenses. So she accepts a nine-month internship in Harvest Hollow, North Carolina, leaving behind everyone she knows in Buffalo, New York.

Evie’s ex-husband, Devon, was a classmate at Devon, who had Broadway dreams and wasn’t interested in fatherhood. Evie’s constant throughout her life has been her best friend, Megan Sheridan, and the loving Sheridan family. While Evie’s parents are good people, they had their hands full with her older brother’s antics and her younger brother’s childhood cancer. When Evie arrives in Harvest Hollow, she is dismayed to discover that her rental house is flooded and temporarily uninhabitable. Her new neighbor, Ruth, is the aunt of the Appies manager, and offers friendship and her babysitting services. Megan’s older brother and Evie’s secret childhood crush, Alec Sheridan, comes to the rescue.

32-year-old Alec Sheridan is the Captain of the popular Appies hockey team. While his skills are good enough to play in the NHL, he prefers the laidback, fan-friendly AHL league. Alec has had three surgeries on his knee, and it’s giving him trouble now, although only his trainers know. He previously dated a lady he met while traveling, but their long-distance relationship was more work than either wanted to put in. He lives in a large four bedroom home in a gated community, primarily to maintain some distance from his fans.

When Alec and a few teammates arrive at Evie’s rental home and discover the flooding, Alec offers Evie one of his spare bedrooms. He has always considered Evie as another younger sister, because she was always there with his sister, Megan, and he is blown away by the grown-up Evie’s beauty. Evie stays out of Alec’s way and he realizes that he enjoys her company and wants to spend time with her and Juno. Meanwhile Evie knows that while her broken heart is mending, the timing isn’t good for her to get involved with another man, no matter how wonderful Alec is.

Alec gets roped into hosting a pair of 18-year-old twins from Texas, rookies on the Appies, at his home because they are immature and need some guidance. Having a house full of people makes Alec realize that he would like to settle down, but he continues to worry about the age gap. Alec and Evie have some major challenges if they want to build a future together. Alec is one injury away from his career ending, and there’s the possibility that Evie’s ex-husband is going to regret his abandonment of her. Megan is not against Alec and Evie becoming romantic, but she is concerned about Evie’s bruised heart.

When Alec Met Evie is this author’s best story yet! The genuine thoughts and emotions expressed by Evie and Alec are what elevate this story above other romantic comedies. I really like Evie because she is doing her best to deal with unfortunate circumstances, but she’s definitely not “a hot mess”. Alec seems perfect to others, but he’s struggling with his fears about his career and knee injury, and Evie is the only one who notices. There are many humorous scenes but no heartbreaking angst.

When Alec Met Evie is closed-door, so romantic scenes are limited to kissing. There is a light sprinkle of profanity, but no F-bombs. Readers don’t have to know anything about hockey to enjoy these Appies stories; the dynamic and banter between the teammates is what makes these stories so special. The continuing storyline of the Appies hockey team is great; the reader sees more of characters introduced or featured in earlier books. I sincerely hope that this author continues writing more books in this series!

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

Set in the fictional town of Harvest Hollow, North Carolina, Evie and her infant daughter Juno move to town so she can start a new job. Sparks fly when she meets her best friend's older brother Alec again when he comes to help her move in. I have absolutely loved the Appies series, so to see the captain finally have his moment was so rewarding!

What I loved:
💜 Professional hockey player hero / captain of the team
💜 Single mom and luthier/violinist heroine
💜 Nine year age gap
💜 A different take on best friend's sibling
💜 Calming Juno down with Alec's voice
💜 "Apples"
💜 The Texas Twins
💜 Forced Proximity
💜 "Dream Team" text thread
💜 Firefighters + a tiny Dalmatian
💜 "Real men aren't afraid of boybands or therapy"
💜 Appie merch for his girls

4.5 / 5 stars

Closed door / kissing only

Thank you to NetGalley, Jenny Proctor, and Victoria Editing Co-Op for the eARC!

So fun to revisit the Appies with a best friend's brother, childhood crush, age gap single mom romance!

When Evie moves to harvest hallow post her divorce with 4 month old Juno, her bestie ropes in her brother on the Appies, Alec, to help her settle into her house. Knowing full well, Evie had a crush on Alec all growing up (despite him being 9 years her senior). A plumbing disaster making her new home initially inhabitable, Alec offers to have her stay with him because 'it's what his sister would have him do,' or is it? Even though they haven't seen each other in years, they're both very taken with each other from the get go. It was great to get to watch them reconnect, and grow as friends to more and see how positively sweet Alec eas with Juno.

While this series has been exceptionally light hearted, the content warning at the beginning did lead me to think this would have much heavier undertones, quickly clear to be about Evie's ex husband. And that was not the case what so ever. I was waiting for the book to break my heart so it could be out back together (and i was genuinely excited for this to be the case) but it didn't get to that point at all. It was still a very light hearted and quick closed door romance, with all the found family and positively sweet vibes one could hope for and I can't wait for the series to continue!



Thank you Netgalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC in exchange for my review!