A Royally Good Hockey Romance

A Secret For A Secret By Helena Hunting

Dear Reader,

It’s no secret: I LOVE Helena Hunting’s A Secret For A Secret!

This final book in the All In trilogy is my favourite; and that’s saying something because I am a personalized-jersey-wearing fan of A Lie For A Lie and A Favor For A Favor (the jersey doesn’t exist, but Helena Hunting does have a Society 6 shop, FYI). I think part of the bonus charm of A Secret For A Secret is that I started falling in love with Ryan Kingston earlier in the series thanks to his friendship with Bishop. I have room reserved in my heart just for goodie-goodie heroes who also happen to be smokin’ hot hockey players. The goalie is like the drummer in a rock star romance, you understand?

Maybe you don’t, but know this: Queenie and King (yes, really) met at a bar, where they were both: ready, willing and able to drink their cares away solo. But drinking with a sexy stranger and exchanging details of your secret shame? What could possibly go wrong? Before we know it, (and believe me, we really want to know it), King awakens to a shiny new day, an empty bed, and a keepsake pair of torn panties to show for his pity party. What’s a good guy to do but worry that he may have gifted his one-night-stand with a little too much of his good thing?

Oops, did I type that last part out loud?

No worries, this is Romancelandia! King and Queenie meet again – after all, she’s the daughter of his hockey team’s general manager, #Awkward – and they go over the evidence of what they both fondly recall was a night well spent (pun not intended); no regrets.

Mmmm, okay one regret: that whole one-night-stand part.

If you’re tempted to go by the synopsis for this book, and based even then on the first chapter, I’ll forgive you if you expect this might be a slow-burning sweet ride to a sexy HEA between our heroes. But, this is Helena Hunting we’re reading here, so there is always more grit than meets the back cover teaser. Definitely a beach read, but also a rainy-day read, a break-from-news read, and absolutely a hockey-romance-fandom read, with a little extra something special for us PUCKED beavers (or bunny hookers, no judgement). I wouldn’t call it a break-from-reality read because the goons, both literal and figurative, that our heroes faceoff with have tripped up people I know in real life. AND those of a friend I chattered away with about the book at 1 a.m. Let’s also label this a friends-talking-to-friends read, too then! We call that Book Club in my house. There are snacks. Anyway, it gets compellingly real when you least expect it to. I did point out this is a Helena Hunting book, right? If you don’t understand what I mean yet, Dear Reader, you’ve got some books to read!

For those who like a little extra heat with their Romance, keep your cold glass of water nearby for Queenie and King’s many, many memories of that special night. What is it about WORDS? *Swoon*

I fell hard and fast for both Queenie and King, for their relationship and their stoic journeys as individuals to self-confidence and acceptance. The fact that they fall in love with themselves, as well as each other is why my marshmallow heart gives this book extra room to glow. We all need courage to break the mould and follow our own dreams, no matter where our circles of influence think we’d best serve. At every stage of my life I’ve had to reach for some of that courage. I hope you’re as inspired by Queenie and King’s story as I am.

Love From,
The True North

P.S. Have you heard the news that Helena Hunting is writing a PUCKED-related next generation sequel? Pre-order now on KOBO for just $3.

If you’ve already pre-ordered and don’t know what to do with your next $3, I’d love a ko-fi. This blog is fueled by tea and spare time eked out of my freelancer career. Many thanks for reading!