Thank you to LBP LLC and NetGalley for the arc copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Farrah Remington is getting over a bad breakup. With the finalization of her divorce, she decides to blow off steam at a bar alone. Her night quickly turns into arguably one of the best when she meets a handsome blonde stranger and they make out in a booth. They're both too drunk to remember exchanging numbers or even names, so the pair go their separate ways with the sweet memory. Imagine Farrah's surprise when she sees the handsome stranger at her brother's house the next day. Turns out, he's the goalie for the D.C. Eagles Hockey and her brother is his team captain. Clearly, he's super off limits.

Over the next year and a half, Farrah and blondie Bruce fight temptation to kiss again/build any sort of relationship. Finally, their walls start to deteriorate and before long they are hiding feelings from everyone, including Farrah's overprotective brother. Bruce is ready to come clean and go public, but he doesn't want the truth to risk the team's chance at winning the Stanley Cup. Farrah has some unresolved baggage from her marriage that she can't help let getting in her way of happiness with Bruce. The pair must decide if they can overcome their fears or if their fling is the farthest they're willing to fight for.

Overall, this was a cute book. This was my introduction to Leah Brunner's work, but I have read plenty of hockey romances prior. This is definitely fade out/1 pepper in the spice department. I would've enjoyed more spice, but it didn't take from the story. I love the PCOS representation and found myself relating so hard with Farrah. As someone with PCOS, I can attest that it's very hard to accept and live with, which only someone who has it would really understand. So Leah, thank you for giving a voice to us. I am eager to see if this series continues, mainly to know if Farrah and Bruce are able to have the family they both crave.

Be really enjoyed this series, and while this book was good, it didn’t hold up to the standard of the others. I generally enjoyed the story, but I wanted more depth from the characters. There was just too much of the same repeated themes that left the characters just slightly more flat. There was also just some disconnect in the plot that left me wanting more. I didn’t feel the chemistry like in the previous novels, but it was still sweet overall. Additionally, it was nice to see previous characters come up again. 3⭐️, 1🌶

I am learning that I really like a reverse age gap. What is it about an older woman falling for a younger—but still mature—guy that gets me? I’m not sure, but I love it!!

Farrah has been through so much already, and then she goes through even more in this book. It was difficult to read at times, but I appreciated the PCOS representation and that Leah did not shy away from the difficult moments. Farrah was strong, yet vulnerable. She was scared to let herself trust again. Yet, she couldn’t help but fall for the goalie on her brother’s hockey team.

Bruce was a giant teddy bear and I loved him. I loved his secret message board antics and how they were scattered throughout the story. He was gentle and patient and took care of Farrah in the sweetest ways. He was one of those guys who would help any of his friends at the drop of a hat, and sometimes worried more about them than about himself. 

And speaking of friends, this series has such an amazing found family. They all show up for each other in the best ways and I love how there are platonic friendships between some of the women and men and just how much everyone cares for each other.

Noah and Jackson were so great and added a lot of hilarious moments. And of course, Nella was a cutie and helped Bruce show off just how sweet he was.

And the baking!! All the cakes Farrah made sounded so delicious and made me hungry every time they were mentioned 🤤

I really enjoyed the conclusion of this series, but now I’m so sad it’s over. There was a separate bonus scene set in the future that gave me some closure, but also just made me want even more of these characters 😂

Content warnings: divorce, PCOS, infertility, innuendo

(I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

This book was the perfect ending to the series. Bruce is the sweetest, all he wants is to find love and a family, as all of his friends have found their person. I loved how he showed up for Farrah and made her believe that she could trust again after going through a divorce. There was so much chemistry between them and I loved the banter. This is a closed door romance but there were still lots of kisses and it never felt like it was lacking! I would definitely recommend! It can be read as a standalone, but getting to know the other characters and their stories will make it even better!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

He falls first, the story of Farrah and Bruce. Can be convince her to give him a chance? I liked how it was told from both points of view.

Wow!! Leah Brunner has done it again! First of all, I want to say thank you so much to Leah and Netgalley for the ARC. This was one of my most anticipated reads for the year since the DC Hockey series is one of my favorite series of all time and this book delivered. It was so much fun to read and my only disappointment is that I can't read it again for the first time! I love Bruce and Farrah and their story was so real, but enjoyable to read. Leah handled the hard topics well and really showed emotional depth in these characters. I cannot say enough good things about this book. Please do yourself a favor and read these books! You won't regret it!

This was such a fun, engaging read. I thoroughly loved this book!
I didn’t want to stop reading and couldn’t wait to see how the two main characters would come together.
Brunner did such a wonderful job bringing this story to life.

Secret or Shutout is a clean, best friend's little sister, dual POV, romantic comedy. Oh, my gosh! I love Bruce - and his old truck! And Farrah, her PCOS broke my heart. So I got to mend right along with Farrah. I loved all Bruce did to show Farrah how much he cared about her and that he would show up for her. I loved all the witty banter in this book. As soon as I reached the end, I wanted to start reading it all over again. This well written book will stick with me for a long time. It is perfect in every way. I love a book with this much humor, even in difficult situations, found family with the team and charismatic characters such as Bruce and Farrah. The entire series is great, but this book is my favorite.

A fun read with a slow burn that takes its time building the happy ending we're wanting. Bruce is a sweetie and knows early on where his heart lives. Because of that he's ever so patient with Farrah as she takes a little more convincing to make sure her heart is in the right hands. Enjoy!

I love Leah Brunner. I am a proud member of her fan club. I have already and will continue to read anything that she writes. That being said, this might be one of her best books yet.

This book tackles some heavy topics, but in such a sweet way. At no point while reading did it feel too heavy. The book address PCOS (#ownstory) and infertility. The FMC, Farrah, separated from her husband because his inability to be a man and still love Farrah as they discovered her fertility problems. This story follows her accepting her reality and the reality that someone can love her no matter what her body can and cannot do. Her progress wasn’t linear or perfect, but it was healing.

Within this was obviously some fun romance. It’s completely closed door, but with more than a few innuendos (cake anyone?). Steamy but sweet. Also, brother’s best friend/best friend’s little sister was fun to explore in the DC Eagles friend group. I found the romance part of this story to be perfect as well.


Things I loved:
-Bruce McBride.
-Farrah Remington.
-Them together.
-The entire friend group dynamic. This is how an interconnected companion novel series is done. The complete look into two characters life with each book and sneak peeks into the others throughout. Their interactions are so fun!
-The exploration of their characters outside their relationship too. They were not two card stock characters whose sole purpose was to be in love. They had wants, needs, passions, and lives.

Things I didn’t love:
-the fact the book had to end at some point.
-Having to say goodbye to the DC Eagles. That bonus chapter was so sweet.


Thank you netgalley for the chance to read Secret or Shutout in exchange for my honest review.

Bruce McBride, you squishy cinnamon roll you! Bruce is an all-star MMC. He’s attentive, flirty, caring, and so, so swoon worthy! 🥰

Farrah went through a lot in her marriage so when she meets Bruce, she doesn’t trust her own judgment and worth. He has to show her he’s all-in, no matter what. Even if that means potentially putting a wedge between him and his best friend/teammate.

This series has been so fun to read - the friend group is great, the relationships in each book have been unique and entertaining all on their own, and seeing the characters throughout the series is what I love about interconnected standalones!

Check out Secret or Shutout if you enjoy:
- Brother’s best friend/teammate
- Starting over after divorce
- Sneaking around
- Found family
- Closed door romance (with some steamy kisses)
- PCOS/infertility representation
- Hot hockey goalies

5 stars! I loved this addition to the DC Eagles Hockey series. Farrah and Bruce had just a sweet story that sucked me in from the very start.

This hockey series by Leah Brunner just makes me happy. Bruce & Farrah embody every good thing about this series—genuine, mature feelings set in a fictional world that feels so real. When Bruce & Farrah initially meet, she’s fresh off the heels of a divorce and isn’t ready for any relationship. Bruce respects her, but still pursues her. The balance of pursuing her & respecting her was *perfectly* done by Brunner.

I loved the push & pull between these two characters. They could easily let all the reasons they shouldn’t be together win out, especially her struggle with PCOS & infertility. Bruce is the kind of man Farrah deserves. He is so patient, understanding, and listens well. He shows up every time for her and proves his feelings to her through his actions.

I loved how much we got of all the other DC Eagles in this book. This series truly is the epitome of found family. There was so much connection between the WAGs in this story for Farrah, with Bruce & his teammates, and in the group as a whole.

The bonus scene is a must-read, so be sure to download that at the end of the book. Brunner says it shows what comes next for the Eagles (8 years down the road), and it just made me so happy. Is it too much to hope for a spinoff series with Noah taking the lead???

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Be sure to pick this up when it comes out *TOMORROW*!

Farrah, nanny by day and baker at heart desperately tries not to notice the smoldering blonde goalie of the DC Eagles. He’s 4 years younger and doesn’t need to complicate his life with a divorcée struggling with PCOS.

Meanwhile Bruce can’t get enough of the curvy baker- if only she wasn’t the sister of his team captain!

Great fade to black romance. All the fun of a hockey romance with a sprinkle of insecurities, real life challenges of navigating infertility and a delightful found family.

Gives me FRIENDS vibes and I mean that as a compliment.

Secret or Shoutout is DC Eagles hockey goalkeeper Bruce McBride and his team captains sister Farrah’s fun and entertaining read. It was a bittersweet read because this is book four and the final book in the DC Eagles Hockey Series. I loved everything about this book from the witty banter to the team camaraderie and everything in between.
Farrah is reeling from her divorce when she bumps into Bruce in a bar. They spend the evening talking and share a kiss that neither of them can forget so imagine Bruce’s shock when he finds out the woman who is haunting his dreams is his captains sister and that makes her off limits.
Farrah has been through so much and the last thing she needs is to find out Bruce is her brother’s teammate. Needing to learn to trust and love herself again is something she is struggling to do until a loyal, sweet and flirty goalie takes her under his wing. So what happens when the feelings become to hard to resist will they take a leap of faith and cross the line….
This is a book with all the feels, I smiled, I swooned, I giggled and I cheered this couple on. I fell hard and fast for Bruce and my heart went out for Farrah but it’s the team camaraderie that takes this book to the next level.

This book had me hooked from the very first chapter. The fact that they didn't tell each other their real names, and then had a dramatic reveal the next day was amazing.

One of my favorite parts of the entire book was the humor. The fact that Bruce was trolling his trolls on the internet under a secret account had me cackling. And anytime he would talk to anyone who knew how down bad he was for Farrah was so adorable, that man didn't hide his feelings for her at all. But I really loved how much he yearned for her. He continued to pursue her, even though she was in denial about her feelings for him. Bruce was such a caring character; he was there for Farrah no matter what and did everything he could to show her how much he cared about her.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to netgalley and the author and publisher

Really enjoyable story, what’s not to love!

Will happily other books from the author after reading this book

This one has it all in a hockey playing, goofy, flirty, protective mmc. He’s everything that Farrah needs after her ex husband. I loved how we get all the insight after seeing them “meet” in Remy and Amber’s book, Betrothal or Breakaway. Poor Bruce pines away while Farrah tries so hard to keep him at arm’s length. I loved watching him slowly chip away at her insecurities to show her that she is worth fighting for.

4.5* - Rounded up to 5...

I was REALLY looking forward to Farrah and Bruce's story, but I was NOT expecting their meet-cute. And just that one scene COMPLETELY sold me on their relationship, and the inevitability of their HEA.

But their journey isn't easy. Suffering from PCOS myself, I know what mental effects this disease can have, and I could totally relate with a lot of Farrah's feelings about her body, and her inability to have children. It's a tough journey, which is really well portrayed by Leah Brunner (who has been diagnosed with PCOS herself).

But Bruce does an amazing job of proving to Farrah that she is worth a HEA. And his background also perfectly sets him up to help Farrah see the potential to still have most of what she dreams for her future.

A truly beautiful story!

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley and LBP LLC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

To be a goalie on a hockey team you often question their sanity. They are often described as a little quirky, beats to their own drum, brings smiles to the entire team and Bruce is all of those and more. Bruce is the DC Eagles Goalie. He also is one of the teammates with the biggest hearts who would do anything for anyone at a moment's notice. Which is a good and a bad thing when it involves the team captain's sister Farrah. One thing about Bruce is that he loves hard and without conditions, something Farrah isn't used to. She's in town after a failed relationship and the last thing she needs is a hockey player hitting on her. Little does she know that the best kiss of her life was with none other than Bruce McBride. Together these two navigate secret feelings that will either be accepted or rejected by others (especially Farrah's brother Remy). Farrah must come to terms with some health conditions that life has handed down to her and accept that not every guy is like her ex... two things that are extremely difficult.

Leah does an amazing job building the tension, banter and overall conflict. The characters are extremely lovable, and you can't help but cheer them both on towards their journey of finding love.

This is part of a series, and I highly recommend you read the first ones, just so you can enjoy watching the entire team fall in love.

If you love a sweet, just kissing hockey romance, with adorable French nicknames, grand gestures, moments where he takes care of her, the forbidden best friend's sister trope, and a strong group of friends this is the perfect romance for you!

Thank you Leah, LBP LLC, and NetGalley for my eBook. It was not expected for me to leave any positive feedback. These opinions are 100% my own.