Chase Lovett Wants Me

Disclaimer: I received this book at no cost from the publisher/author. I am leaving a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.

Helena Hunting hockey romance is like my own brand of designer drug. I am perpetually ravenous for her hockey stories and this one gave me such an incredible high.

Only a few authors can write a hockey romance that I go gaga for, but Helena Hunting is at the top of that short list. Most people know her for her hockey romance stories specifically and there is a good reason why. This book showcases that to a T. Hunting is a hockey romance prodigy and you know that you are always going to have a good time with her books. Her writing style is relatable and easy to read. The plot of this book sucked me right in and held me hostage from start to finish. This story was addicting! I seriously couldn't get enough of this couple. The world-building was wonderful. I was transported into this college setting with ease. The imagery was vivid and complete.

My one and only hang-up with this book was the length and pacing. It was way too fast-paced for my liking and I felt that it should have been longer. The believability of character and relationship growth is diminished when the pace is too quick and/or there isn't enough time to satisfactorily build those relationships. Everything else was *chef's kiss*.

I cannot express the utter joy I experienced at the start of the book when I realized that this book was in the same world as her Toronto Terror series. There are so many overlapping characters and I was on cloud nine the entire time. There were so many cameos as well and I lived for them! I loved seeing characters that I have already loved in her other books and how they connected with the new ones in this book. I hope with all of my being that this standalone turns into a series and we get more stories from more characters. I could see some of the setups for other potential couples in this world and I was so dazzled by it all! Bring on the hockey boys and the girls that bring them to their knees, please!

Okay, now that my fangirling is (momentarily) done, let's get into the brand-new characters. I truly enjoyed all of them. Each character was distinct and had a unique personality that I couldn't help but gravitate toward. I was so intrigued by each of the secondary characters and, again, I am so hoping they all get their own stories. I loved the depth that all of the secondary characters lent to the story. This was a very character-motivated story and the side characters really worked their magic to make the reading experience superb. Hunting writes excellent relationships in her stories, especially friendships. I was so on board with and ecstatic about the strong female friendships in this book. I also loved how Cammie was a strong female lead. She was a wallflower but knew how to stand up for herself when the occasion arose which made me so happy. Chase was the epitome of a boy-obsessed. He was such an adorable golden retriever hero. I adored him. He had it bad for Cammie and pulled out all the stops for her. He also wasn't afraid of his feelings for her and went all in.

The romance in this book was literally all the things, okay? I was just smitten with this couple. I loved the jock/wallflower dynamic. Cammie and Chase had incredible chemistry from the get-go. Their attraction was out of this world. I loved that their romance breached so many levels in this book. The spice was scorching and the building of the relationship was so organic. It was the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. The heartfelt moments were impactful and made some of the spicy scenes feel even more intense because of it. Cammie and Chase were truly a pair that was meant to be and it shows in the pages of the story so expertly.

Overall, this is a college sports romance with memorable characters, an unputdownable plot, and so much spice! I would strongly recommend reading the Toronto Terror series before diving into this one, though I will add that this book is marketed as a standalone and could definitely be read as one. However, it will be a better experience if you already know some of the side characters coming into this story. Take a hit of this story and you'll soon realize that Helena Hunting books are habit-forming. You won't be able to stop reading her masterful stories. I'm on this train for the long haul and can't wait for the next stop!