Publisher's Weekly Review
Gibson's seventh Seattle Chinooks hockey romance delightfully recycles her premise from Simply Irresistible (1998). NHL star Sean Knox gets tangled up with a runaway bride who happens to be the daughter of his coach, John Kowalsky. Lexie Kowalsky has no choice but to bolt from her live-TV wedding extravaganza. She initially joined the Gettin' Hitched reality show to promote her dog clothing boutique, but her competitive spirit (and beauty) propelled her to the altar without really getting to know her groom. It's an easy decision to jump on the same small plane Sean is taking to visit his mother in tiny Sandspit, Canada. Lexie doesn't recognize Sean, who wonders whether he should spill the beans, but he doesn't intend to get involved with Lexie, as he's walking on eggshells getting to know his new coach. Intentions fall by the wayside once he gets Lexie out of her gown and stops resisting the warm, intelligent woman with a strange dog and a knack for handling his wacky mother. Gibson fans will adore cameos by previous protagonists in this cheerful, quick-paced tale. (Jan.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
When Lexie Kowalsky abandons her reality TV groom at the altar in Seattle and hops on a seaplane to Canada, she shares the flight with handsome Sean Knox, who joins her on a crazy roller coaster of publicity, spin, and romance until they realize they're truly in love.Lexie joined a reality wedding show to garner a little free publicity for her designer pet-clothing business but is stunned when, thanks to her competitive nature, she wins the groom. When true reality hitsshe's expected to marry a man she doesn't loveshe flees, jumping aboard a seaplane preparing for takeoff. There, she meets Sean, who's headed to Sandspit, Canada, to visit his hypochondriac mother. Sean and Lexie share an immediate attraction, but Sean is determined to keep his distance. Not only is she swimming in drama, but she also happens to be the daughter of John Kowalsky, head coach of his professional hockey team, the Chinooks. However, a photo of Lexie and her "mystery man" goes viral, turning public opinion against her and threatening her business. Back in Seattle, Lexie convinces Sean to pose as the love of her life and the reason she couldn't marry her TV groom, which forces them to navigate their families, the television audience, and the Seattle social scene. Somewhere along the way they fall in love, but the journey to figuring it out and admitting it is both heart-wrenching and funny. Gibson's (Just Kiss Me, 2016, etc.) Chinooks have been a favorite romance series for two decades, and this, the next chapter for Lexie and her parents, the stars of Book 1, is a highly satisfying revisit. Gibson blends emotional and comic details without turning farcical or melodramatic, showing subtlety and finesse in her storytelling and characterization.A perfect balance of heat, humor, quirkiness, and refinement. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gibson fans will be excited to read this second-generation romance. John and Georgeanne, from Simply Irresistible (1998), are not excited that their daughter, Lexie, is starring on a Bachelor-style reality show. The scene then switches to the new Seattle Chinook hockey player, Sean, on a helicopter, watching Lexie run toward the aircraft in high heels and a huge wedding dress, having bolted from her wedding after winning the show. Her plan is to escape to a small Canadian town, where Sean is heading, skipping out in the middle of the season to make sure his hypochondriac mother is not really dying, irritating his coach, Lexie's dad. Lexie and Sean generate fun chemistry as they agree to pretend to be together so Lexie's business can survive the fallout from her abandonment of the show. Their arc from somewhat selfish people to a successful couple adds depth to the story, which so cleverly echoes that of Lexie's parents. Gibson delivers her trademark sexy, zany fun. Fans of Susan Elizabeth Phillips' football series will also enjoy this.--Alessio, Amy Copyright 2017 Booklist
Library Journal Review
Call this Chinooks Hockey: The Next Generation, as Gibson returns to her popular series with the daughter of the protagonists from the 1988 opener, Simply Irresistible. We first meet Lexie Kowalsky as she is on the run from her "dream" wedding as the winner of the reality TV series Gettin' Hitched-because she doesn't want to "get hitched," at least not to a man she barely knows and certainly doesn't love. But her escape, still in her slightly trashy wedding gown, finds her jumping headfirst onto a friend's chartered plane. Already aboard is Sean Knox, the newest player on the Seattle Chinooks hockey team, coached by her dad. And even though it is lust at first sight, Sean is on his way to visit his crazy mother in tiny Sandspit, BC, and doesn't have time to rescue a ditzy reality show wannabe. Still, their forced proximity shows him that Lexie is far removed from his assumptions and that her kind of lunacy is something he can't live without. Verdict The chemistry between Lexie and Sean is enough to melt any ice rink, and their push-pull on-again, off-again fake relationship sizzles on the page. Highly recommended for lovers of rom-coms and sports romances and anyone who has a love/hate relationship with reality TV. [Previewed in Joyce Sparrow's "Love Is All Around," LJ 10/15/17.]-Marlene Harris, Reading Reality, Duluth, GA © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
