Bruce and Farrah has lots of chemistry from the very beginning. I enjoyed the story of how they two overcome obstacles and fall in love. I also enjoyed the brotherhood of the hockey players and the friendship of the wife’s and girlfriends.

Love this Hockey romance from Leah Brunner. I felt that she did a great job portraying the true nature of dating a hockey man.

This was a sweet hockey rom-com. Light in the spice so if spice isn’t your thing this is for you!

❤️ she is older and he chases her
- Farrah is older and Bruce chases her regardless of the baggage and insecurity she has! Her past marriage was awful and heartbreaking and Bruce goes out of his way to show her that not every man is a jerk.
❤️ baker & hockey player - enough said 😂
❤️ her brothers friend
- Remi is not only Farrah’s brother and Bruce’s friend but also Bruce’s coach. So much tension with the forbidden love! It starts to take a toll on hockey and friendships.
❤️loved the Canadian references
❤️Bruce. All of him. His cockiness, his family and him being a “Big Brother” to Jackson.
❤️it brings to light a lot on PCOS

This was a sweet and sassy book and the third in the series!

Publishing date was March 27th so get your copy now!!

I really really wanted to like this book, in theory it has everything that I love - forbidden romance, NHL, he falls first; but I just ended up feeling a bit indifferent about it.

I would’ve liked to send more depth to the characters , so much of what happened to them that made their backs stories interesting seem to happen off page and we were just told about it rather than experiencing any of it and that made me not care about the characters as much as I would usually. I didn’t really feel the chemistry between them so although there were some lovely interactions and I felt like I should’ve been able to root for them I just couldn’t really get on board.

I would’ve liked to see more of the relationships with the side characters as well. One of the things I love about sports romance is the sense of the team and the relationships between the players, but I didn’t really get that from this book.

It was an easy read, there were some funny moments and some sweet moments. I didn’t hate it, it was perfectly enjoyable but just didn’t quite give me the buzz I expected.

This book was absolutely adorable, and once I started, I couldn’t stop. Farrah and Bruce shared a single kiss as strangers, but when they later realized who the other was, Farrah decided it was best not to pursue anything further. Bruce, however, had other plans. He put his heart into showing Farrah what they could have together, standing by her again and again, even as she struggled with her own personal challenges. His persistence and devotion made it impossible for her to resist. If you’re looking for a heartwarming, feel good read, this one is definitely worth it!

Absolutely loved this book! I have been waiting for Bruce’s story and this made all my dreams come true! I thought all the points of infertility, the age gap, and brother’s team mate were handled so well! I was cheering for Bruce and Farrah the whole time. Can’t wait to just reread this whole series over and over again! Wish I could really go to an Eagles game!

“Someday, when you’re older, you’ll meet a girl who randomly makes you smile like an idiot.”

Leah Brunner does it again with another sweet hockey romance! You’ll fall in love with Bruce and Farah as they navigate their way through building a relationship based on trust and cupcakes. Lots of cake 🍰

Book Information:
Title: Secret or Shutout
Author: Leah Brunner
Genre: Hockey Romance
Publisher/Indie: Indie 
Publication Date: March 27th

Tropes: 
Hockey romance
Teammate’s sister
Reverse age gap
NHL goalie
Curvy heroine
Forbidden romance
PCOS rep

I absolutely loved this book. I love how it touched on PCOS and infertility. Bruce was such a wonderful MMC & I cannot wait to read more of Leah’s work

Secret or Shutout is a super sweet hockey romance. It is book four of a series, but each title can be read as a stand-alone. I can't wait to go back and read more by Leah Brunner including the first three books in this series. Fans of Katie Bailey will enjoy!

Amazing 👏
I absolutely loved Bruce and Farrah . They were so great together. Such great chemistry and banter. I also rlly loved Farrah's relationship with the rest of the D.C Eagles women

Synopsis:
Farrah goes to a pub to forget about her problems, and ends up meeting with a gorgeous, tall blond man, and their chemistry is undeniable. But it turns out he’s a pro hockey player, along with her older brother.

Includes:
✨Brother’s Best Friend
✨Off-Limits
✨Reverse Age Gap
✨Cinnamon Roll Hero
✨Curvy FMC
✨PCO’s Rep

🌶️Heat Level:
Fade to Black
Mild Language
Innuendo
Attraction/Tension:🔥🔥🔥🔥

My Opinion:
I want to give all the stars for this one! Once again, Leah nailed it with the story, plot, tension and character development. I’m obsessed with a flirty and fun hero, and Bruce is such a joy to follow, it’s hard to not fall for him. Farrah has a beautiful story and an amazing heroine. As someone with PCO’s and Endometriosis, it’s great to see representation on page. I know that every person has their own experience, but it’s so good to feel seen and know that we are not alone. Also, you must know how amazing the chemistry and tension between the characters, and how explosive it gets every time they’re together, without any spice. I love how every character from the series has a part in the story, and the bonus scene was a great way to end it (please read it, it’s so cute!!). If you haven’t read the series yet, I couldn’t recommend enough.

TW: Infertility, Toxic Relationship (Past), Medical Emergencies, Adoption (Past).

*I received a free review copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.*

Leah Brunner knows how to write 'em folks.

Oh my goodness, this was such a fantastic ending to the D.C. Eagles series. I loved it, I loved Bruce and Farrah, I loved their intense chemistry and playful moments.

Both of the main characters felt well-rounded and deep, and it made the story just that much better. Farrah's struggle with PCOS and her vulnerability made her an instant favorite character, and I related to a lot of her struggles and insecurities. She was easy to love and easy to root for, and seeing her get her happy ending was lovely and heartwarming.

Bruce was the sweetest cinnamon roll hero, and I loved his dedication and unwavering loyalty to Farrah and the connection they shared. He was everything a book boyfriend should be and more.

There were a few moments that felt a little bit drawn out and a tad too dramatic for my tastes, but overall, the story was fun, the romance was sweet, and the kisses were so swoony.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for my copy.

Content Notes:
Language: Low
Romance: Closed-door (but lots of innuendo)
Violence: Low
Potential triggers: PCOS, infertility, divorce

I really loved this book! The PCOS represenentation was realy important and i liked how it was woven into the story (it did not feel like it was just placed there for another storyline). This book was so heartwarming and I will be reading the other books in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this book. I enjoyed yet another book of Hockey romance with it being secret romance and fade to black scenes. Which was not anything i ever read before and its perfect like that. I enjoyed the storyline and characters and the fact that it was yet another hockey romance that caught my eye with just the blurb. The story was one of my favorites and one i would read again.

The author has PCOS herself but said Farrah's journey is different from hers. And that's totally fine. The grief around not being able to get pregnant easily was palpable, and I liked that, it made sense. But the story did not have a complete focus on the (in)ability to become pregnant. There was also medical gaslighting! Even though the term was not used. It was clear; the doctor brushed her off and told her the pain she was in could not be that severe (ruptured cyst). Farrah's emotional journey centered around her (in)ability to give a man children for the most part. But I'm glad the physical pain and medical gaslighting were not glossed over!

I would have loved to see Farrah talk with another person with PCOS. To give her perspective, hope, community, validation. Having your pain and grief and stuggles validated by someone who knows exactly what you are going through is SO powerful. A conversation/friendship like that would have made this book much stronger in my opinion!

Farrah felt really alone in her struggles. Not just because her old friends chose her ex-husband over her. But also because she has no chronic illness girlies in her life. Us chronically ill people need each other for (mental) support! And I missed that in this story. Even if you don't have these people in your area, we usually seek it out online. Because we need community. People who truly GET IT.

The hockey Wives & Girlfriends were amazing to Farrah. Really included her. And that was sweet. But they will never understand what it's like, until they become chronically ill themselves. Likewise with Bruce. He really took care of her. Treated her right. He wants to be (and actually is) there for her. Wants to make her see how he is not like her ex-husband. That he will not leave her. But Farrah has her grief to work through. Has a distorted selfimage because of the emotional scars of her past relationship. And Bruce can support her to the best of his abilities. But he will never truly get it or understand it.

I just wish Farrah had a chronic illness buddy. It would have been super healthy for her, emotionally as well! But that did not happen. It made everything harder for her. And that made me a little sad! Because I know it could have been better and more healing for her. Because having someone who gets it heals a piece of you.

Apart from that, the romance was cute! Closed door but plenty of chemistry. It was very family centered and heteronormative. Always husband/wive, never partner. 'Feminine health' instead of health. Because not only "females" have PCOS. Trans people too, intersex people too... It definitely caught my eye. I would have liked to see more inclusive language.

Secret or Shutout is the 4th book in the D.C. Eagles Hockey series. It is a group of interconnected standalone books, each following a member of the D.C. Eagles hockey team.
This book follows Farrah Remington, baker and sister of the D.C. Eagles captain, and Bruce McBride, goalie for the Eagles and the captain's best friend. Bruce and Farrah have a meet-cute as strangers in a dimly lit bar as strangers, only later do they find out they are not strangers at all. Farrah is off limits as far as the team is concerned, however, Bruce doesn't seem to see her that way. I absolutely loved Bruce McBride more than I had originally thought I would. He might be my favorite player now! Also, going into the book, I thought I might not like the age gap between Bruce and Farrah (Bruce is younger); however, I actually ended up loving this fun twist on a classic trope. Brunner also writes with so much tenderness and heart for Farrah, who deals with PCOS and infertility. I appreciate her care in dealing with these hard topics. As always, Brunner writes the hockey portions of the book to balance out the romance in a way that is fun to read and easy to understand. I also loved getting to see the rest of the team mentioned in this book.
Secret or Shutout is dual POV. I loved having both characters' points of view in this story. Brunner writes Bruce McBride so well.
Content: fade to black, mentions of PCOS and infertility
Thank you to NetGalley. These are my own opinions, and I was not required to leave a review.

Secret or Shutout is the long-awaited final story in Leah Brunner’s DC Eagles Hockey series. It’s a forbidden romance with a reverse age-gap. This series contains a novella, Passion or Penalty, and Desire or Defense, Flirtation or Faceoff, and Betrothal or Breakaway. This story will be enjoyed more if read/listened to after the earlier stories. This is a closed-door sports romance told in dual POV, with some mild cursing (no F-bombs).

31-year-old Farrah Remington is the younger sister of Ford “Remi” Remington, Captain of the D.C. Eagles hockey team. She was introduced in Betrothal or Breakaway because she moved in with Remi and his wife, Amber, to be a nanny for their infant daughter, Nella. Farrah is recently divorced and has relocated from their hometown in Ohio. On the evening after her divorce is final, Farrah goes to Charlie’s Bar to drink her sorrows away. She meets a handsome man, and they talk, flirt, eat chicken wings, and share the best kiss of their lives. The only thing they don’t do is reveal their names or occupations. The next day she is shocked when the Nordic kissing god walks into her brother’s house, and she learns that he’s the 26-year-old goalie.

6'6 Bruce McBride is a giant blond loudmouth NHL goalie who loves women. He was adopted as a newborn by a small dark-skinned couple who had a daughter, Avery. The McBride’s loved the big fair-skinned super-sized baby boy and encouraged him in his hockey career. He moved to Washington, DC from Quebec, Canada, knowing no one. He became close friends with some of his older teammates, who have all married and settled down. Bruce wants to find a good woman to settle down with too. When he started feeling lonely, he signed up for Big Brothers, Big Sisters and was matched with a boy in foster care, Jackson. Bruce is the only one in his friend group who doesn’t live in the cul-de-sac; instead, he lives in a penthouse condo in downtown DC.

Bruce is instantly smitten with the beautiful Farrah and is so disappointed when he discovers that she is Remi’s sister. The players have a rule about their sisters being off-limits as romantic partners. While Bruce has been a “player” in his love life, he stopped dating after he met Farrah. He secretly admired her from afar for 18 months, while she got over her broken marriage. When the other players’ wives found out about his crush, they arranged things so that Farrah and Bruce could spend time together and get to know each other.

Farrah and Bruce pretend that they never met, and certainly never kissed. Farrah is dealing with infertility and reproductive problems and is afraid that no other man will ever want her. After 18 months, Bruce wears her down and she secretly spends time with him. However, she knows that her brother will explode if he finds out, and she’s concerned about the age gap between herself and Bruce. The DC Eagles have made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs, so they are especially cautious about causing conflict between the teammates.

Secret or Shutout is my favorite story in the DC Eagles Hockey series. Bruce was such an attention-getter from the first book, and I have been waiting for him to finally meet his match. Farrah’s reproductive health issues and fears about infertility are a relevant topic for many readers, providing a realistic storyline. Remi’s protectiveness towards Farrah is admirable, and the reader waits anxiously for the inevitable clash between Remi and Bruce when their secret relationship is exposed. The descriptions of Farrah’s baking creations were so clear that I wanted to get out my baking pans!

While I enjoyed all of the stories in this series, I believe that Farrah and Bruce had the most chemistry. It was wonderful to see earlier characters in the series, and Secret or Shutout was an excellent conclusion to this hockey romance series. I really appreciate this author for creating the first closed-door hockey romance series; previously hockey romances were all spicy.

I received an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and LBP, LLC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️

Book four of the DC Eagles Hockey by Leah Brunner does not disappoint. Continuing the amazing storytelling that has taken place in the previous three books, Secret or Shoutout brings vibes of forbidden romance, older love interests, and laugh out loud moments. Giving readers a wide range of emotions, Leah doesn’t hold back in this second chance (for one) romance that I couldn’t put down.

I knew I was going to like Bruce immediately. The goalie for the Eagles, he is a giant cinnamon roll with a heart of gold. His love of the game and his team is evident as you get to know him throughout the book. As he tries to win over Farrah, I loved seeing him be vulnerable with her and allow her to be her. Letting her come to him, not pushing her until she is ready, but still being there for her as a friend created lovely reading filled with romance and tension.

Farrah is newly divorced and although the kiss between her and Bruce is amazing, she isn’t sure she’s ready for more yet. When they find out they have a mutual connection, that also slows her down when it comes to possibly wanting more. As she continues to get to know Bruce, keeping their relationship quiet for now, she can’t believe that she has found someone who makes her feel beautiful. Especially since these areas are where she felt lacking in her marriage.

I loved this story! Plenty of romance, banter, and tension; but closed door spice makes it a book all can enjoy. I loved the reminder of meeting someone where they are at and loving a person for all of them. Bruce helps Farrah see she is perfect as is, and the things she struggles with make her who she is. Leah provides wonderful characters, great team dynamics, and a love story that is worth the read.

As always, review any author notes before reading.

Tropes:
🏒Hockey Romance
💟Reverse Age Gap
🏒Teammate's Sister
💟Hockey MMC x Curvy FMC
🏒Off Limits Romance
💟Forbidden Romance
🏒PCOS Representation
💟Love After Divorce

A billion stars!!!! This is one of my favorite hockey romance series and my emotions are all over the place!! This book had me super emotional and then super glued my heart back together. It was heavier than I was expecting but it’s such a beautiful story. Bruce had me in tears. He flew up to the top of my book boyfriend’s list. The way he loves Farrah and was fighting her made my heart swoon. Farrah’s story was heartbreaking. I ached for her so much. It’s such a realistic story and I feel like it’s so important for woman to read. We put such pressure on having children, i understood exactly where she was coming from even during the hard and angsty moments. Ugh this book was beautiful I can’t rave enough about it. I can’t wait to see what Leah Brunner does next, I desperately want a Noah book!! I need more of this world I’m not ready to say goodbye!!!! I recommend this book to any romance lover, it’s perfection!

I feel like I'm in the minority on this one but this was my least favorite of the series.

I didn't feel any chemistry between Bruce and Farrah.

Also, if I had a brother and he reacted the way Farrah's brother did after she was in the literal emergency room in debilitating pain but his only concern was the fact that she slept in Bruce's guest room I would be LIVID.