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Philia Players #1
Quiver
Katarina Narvaez has everything going for her—a new job as a neurology physician assistant at a well-known medical facility in Philadelphia and an attractive neighbor with the most striking green eyes who is quickly becoming one of her favorite people.
Until she discovers her new patient, whom she inherited from the previous neurologist, is none other than said green-eyed neighbor, Alessandro De Laurentiis, who happens to live with multiple sclerosis. Oh, and he’s on her brother’s hockey team, the Philly Scarlets.
The rules are clear—this relationship is off-limits, and Kat isn’t ready to risk her career for a man she just met. But Ale isn’t willing to quit that easily and refuses to give up until he convinces her that their connection is worth the risk. Seeing no other way to make it work, Kat decides to drop Ale as a patient so they can continue to foster their newfound relationship. But with the media hounding them for stories and prying into their lives, Kat and Ale are forced to live their budding romance in the eyes of the public.
When one nosy reporter decides to dig deeper, she sets off a series of misfortune for the couple and forces Kat to relive events from her past that she wants to keep buried.
Will the threats, lies, and manipulations of the media keep Kat and Ale apart? Or will they find their happily ever after in and out of the press?
Until she discovers her new patient, whom she inherited from the previous neurologist, is none other than said green-eyed neighbor, Alessandro De Laurentiis, who happens to live with multiple sclerosis. Oh, and he’s on her brother’s hockey team, the Philly Scarlets.
The rules are clear—this relationship is off-limits, and Kat isn’t ready to risk her career for a man she just met. But Ale isn’t willing to quit that easily and refuses to give up until he convinces her that their connection is worth the risk. Seeing no other way to make it work, Kat decides to drop Ale as a patient so they can continue to foster their newfound relationship. But with the media hounding them for stories and prying into their lives, Kat and Ale are forced to live their budding romance in the eyes of the public.
When one nosy reporter decides to dig deeper, she sets off a series of misfortune for the couple and forces Kat to relive events from her past that she wants to keep buried.
Will the threats, lies, and manipulations of the media keep Kat and Ale apart? Or will they find their happily ever after in and out of the press?
418 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 8, 2024
167 people are currently reading
1707 people want to read
About the author
Giuliana Victoria
10 books206 followersGiuliana Victoria is an author based in Pennsylvania who shares her readers’ deep love of all things romance. She’s a full-time physician assistant, whose passion lies in being there for her patients during their most vulnerable moments.
When Giuliana isn’t writing swoon-worthy book boyfriends, she can be found yelling about human rights on Threads, hiking with her three large breed rescue dogs, and, of course, curled up with a good book beside her husband, the best “book boyfriend” there is.
When Giuliana isn’t writing swoon-worthy book boyfriends, she can be found yelling about human rights on Threads, hiking with her three large breed rescue dogs, and, of course, curled up with a good book beside her husband, the best “book boyfriend” there is.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
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November 7, 2024
4 ⭐️ I just finished this absolute gem of a book and I can't wait to get my hands on Book 2 of this series!
This book is a standalone, but the series continues with the FMC's Brother and her Best Friend! I am so excited. Now, what to say about this book. I think there's is something truly special about books that create such a gentle and loving world that (especially in weeks like the ones we are living now) make me want to stay cozy inside the world the author creates and neves leave.
Here we find our MMC, Ale, who's a professional Hockey played with MS and the biggest, fluffiest heart out there. He is truly written by a woman because men like that don't exist in this world but one can dream lol. Kat is our FMC and I loved that her job was inspired by the author's irl job!
This book is THE found family book (and there's plenty of drama and trauma to go with it), so be mindful of that going into it. I adore books with adoption stories in them, especially those that don't shy away from the fact that although adoption can be the biggest, most wonderful thing to ever happen to a family, it can also the the worst, most traumatic experience for those going through it. Most times, there's not one without the other.
This is the first ever book I've read from Giuliana Victoria, but it most certainly won't be the last!
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5 - The spice is hottttt with five Ts hahahaha - Ale goes from teddy bear to daddy in a split second. If it wasn't so fun I'd probably have whiplash.
ps: I WANT A GIANNI BOOK SO BAD! I need to see Pickles! You can't just introduce him and leave! That ending was such a tease!!!
This book is a standalone, but the series continues with the FMC's Brother and her Best Friend! I am so excited. Now, what to say about this book. I think there's is something truly special about books that create such a gentle and loving world that (especially in weeks like the ones we are living now) make me want to stay cozy inside the world the author creates and neves leave.
Here we find our MMC, Ale, who's a professional Hockey played with MS and the biggest, fluffiest heart out there. He is truly written by a woman because men like that don't exist in this world but one can dream lol. Kat is our FMC and I loved that her job was inspired by the author's irl job!
This book is THE found family book (and there's plenty of drama and trauma to go with it), so be mindful of that going into it. I adore books with adoption stories in them, especially those that don't shy away from the fact that although adoption can be the biggest, most wonderful thing to ever happen to a family, it can also the the worst, most traumatic experience for those going through it. Most times, there's not one without the other.
This is the first ever book I've read from Giuliana Victoria, but it most certainly won't be the last!
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5 - The spice is hottttt with five Ts hahahaha - Ale goes from teddy bear to daddy in a split second. If it wasn't so fun I'd probably have whiplash.
ps: I WANT A GIANNI BOOK SO BAD! I need to see Pickles! You can't just introduce him and leave! That ending was such a tease!!!
April 5, 2024
✨ B O O K • R E V I E W ✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I had the opportunity to read this book as an ARC and I am so grateful I got to. Quiver made my heart swell with emotions, this author writes so beautifully and so descriptive, she had me feeling every emotion the characters were feeling.
If you look up green flag in the dictionary there would be a picture of Alessandro. This man is seriously every women’s dream. He is so thoughtful and would give you the shirt off his back. I was falling in love with him right along with Kat.
Katrina was a FMC that I could relate so much to. Every anxious thought she had? I’ve been there. She wears her heart on her sleeve and I’m so glad that takes a hold of her anxiety and decides to give Ale a shot.
I loved how the author incorporated multiple sorosis into the story, it was amazing to read about the struggles that come with it.
All of the side characters were *chefs kiss* I can’t pick a favourite because they each held an important part of the story.
The spice, phew! Ale has a dirty mouth on him and I loved every second of it. The sexual tension between these two was thick and I was jumping for joy when something finally happened!
And yes! Happy tears were shed at the end!
There is so much I want to say about this book but I don’t want to give any spoilers! If you like sports romance you definitely need to check this one out when it releases because it is not like any other I’ve ever read, and I mean that in a wonderful way!
✨ Quiver releases on May 10th ✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I had the opportunity to read this book as an ARC and I am so grateful I got to. Quiver made my heart swell with emotions, this author writes so beautifully and so descriptive, she had me feeling every emotion the characters were feeling.
If you look up green flag in the dictionary there would be a picture of Alessandro. This man is seriously every women’s dream. He is so thoughtful and would give you the shirt off his back. I was falling in love with him right along with Kat.
Katrina was a FMC that I could relate so much to. Every anxious thought she had? I’ve been there. She wears her heart on her sleeve and I’m so glad that takes a hold of her anxiety and decides to give Ale a shot.
I loved how the author incorporated multiple sorosis into the story, it was amazing to read about the struggles that come with it.
All of the side characters were *chefs kiss* I can’t pick a favourite because they each held an important part of the story.
The spice, phew! Ale has a dirty mouth on him and I loved every second of it. The sexual tension between these two was thick and I was jumping for joy when something finally happened!
And yes! Happy tears were shed at the end!
There is so much I want to say about this book but I don’t want to give any spoilers! If you like sports romance you definitely need to check this one out when it releases because it is not like any other I’ve ever read, and I mean that in a wonderful way!
✨ Quiver releases on May 10th ✨
March 28, 2024
I had the absolute honor of getting this masterpiece early & it did NOT disappoint one bit. Giuliana Victoria absolutely puts you as the reader directly into Ale & Kat’s heads. It makes you feel like you are actually living their lives! I can not actually believe that this is her FIRST BOOK!!! Knowing this is her debut novel……we all better buckle up because I am sure they are just going to continue getting better and better.
Plot=no holes. Spice=🥵. Easter Eggs=🥰 playlist=🔥
Let’s talk about Ale…..A LITERAL WALKING GREEN FLAG. He is an incredible MMC who is a hockey player, yet hockey isn’t his entire life. Kat is a great FMC who has trauma that Ale really helps her deal with & supports her the entire time. Both characters really compliment each other so freaking well…I need more.
Lastly, the spice…….is SPICY🌶️ & SO HOT! It left me begging for more, literally. So hot, so perfect with the plot, filthy mouths, love, lust, everything you could want in spice.
I am speechless over how much I love this book, seriously.
Plot=no holes. Spice=🥵. Easter Eggs=🥰 playlist=🔥
Let’s talk about Ale…..A LITERAL WALKING GREEN FLAG. He is an incredible MMC who is a hockey player, yet hockey isn’t his entire life. Kat is a great FMC who has trauma that Ale really helps her deal with & supports her the entire time. Both characters really compliment each other so freaking well…I need more.
Lastly, the spice…….is SPICY🌶️ & SO HOT! It left me begging for more, literally. So hot, so perfect with the plot, filthy mouths, love, lust, everything you could want in spice.
I am speechless over how much I love this book, seriously.
April 7, 2024
Quiver by Giuliana Victoria is her debut novel and the first book in the Philia Players series and it did not disappoint! I’m a sucker for any hockey romance, but I also loved seeing our FMC as a badass PA working in neurology! Having just moved to Philadelphia, Kat definitely didn’t think her first night would involve being locked out of her apartment and meeting her hot neighbor, Ale. After this awkward first impression, Ale’s generosity has him inviting her to stay in his guest room until she can get into her apartment the next day - and neither of them can get their mind off of one another.
I absolutely LOVE Alessandro and he is quite literally the epitome of a perfect man - sweet, caring, loves his family, thoughtful, honest, and so amazingly hot! As his story unfolds, it makes me love him even more! And that dirty mouth of his is absolutely sinful, but the sexual tension building between him and Kat was *chefs kiss*!
I also really enjoyed how this book included some heavier topics into the character’s stories and how they have worked through or are working through things. It definitely makes it more relatable when reading.
Quiver releases on May 10th and if you’re a hockey romance lover, you definitely need to read this book! This book easily gets 4.5 stars from me!
Thank you so much to Giuliana for allowing to be part of the ARC team for Quiver! All opinions are my own.
I absolutely LOVE Alessandro and he is quite literally the epitome of a perfect man - sweet, caring, loves his family, thoughtful, honest, and so amazingly hot! As his story unfolds, it makes me love him even more! And that dirty mouth of his is absolutely sinful, but the sexual tension building between him and Kat was *chefs kiss*!
I also really enjoyed how this book included some heavier topics into the character’s stories and how they have worked through or are working through things. It definitely makes it more relatable when reading.
Quiver releases on May 10th and if you’re a hockey romance lover, you definitely need to read this book! This book easily gets 4.5 stars from me!
Thank you so much to Giuliana for allowing to be part of the ARC team for Quiver! All opinions are my own.
May 10, 2024
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2.5 🌶️ 🌶️
Tropes:
🩺 mental health rep
🏒 hockey romance
🩺hilarious best friends
🏒brothers teammate
🩺dual pov
🏒tragic past
🩺cinnamon roll Mmc
🏒open spice
Alessandro is the ultimate Cinnamon roll, family guy, dirty talking hockey player🤤. He is a walking green flag✅✅
Katatina is a sassy physician assistant with a tragic past. She struggles with panic attacks and her mental health.
Their meet cute was awkward yet so wholesome and funny. Kat is returning home to Philly for her new job as a physician assistant. Kas (Kat’s hockey player brother) gets her an apt right next door to his teammate- Alessandro. Alessandro also known as Ale is the super hot neighbor. The attraction between them is like fireworks. Ale who secretly keeps his health condition - Multiple sclerosis from his teammates even his best friend Kas. Ale suddenly becomes Kat’s new patient. Kat is super conflicted on her attraction to Ale. She knows that Ale is off limits because he is her patient but also her brother’s teammate. Little does she know her brother is totally for them getting together. The more Ale and Kat spend time together and get to know one another, both of their barriers slowly come down. Kat decides to transfer Ale as her patient to another doctor to pursue their relationship. Although their relationship was blooming there were some hiccups. Dating a sexy popular hockey player is not for the faint of heart. The constant spotlight and media attention was draining and overwhelming for Kat. This made her second guess if she could handle the spotlight and the possibility of her tragic family past coming out. This causes her to have mental break down and anxiety. Through-out the book, Ale struggled with his health- MS. He was fighting to keep his career going while battling MS in secrecy. This worried Kat tremendously because she didn’t want to be him get hurt or hurt other due to them knowing the true nature of his condition. Ale and Kat struggle mentally and physically yet they both found the strength to lean on each other for support.
It was so heartwarming, that Ale’s family was so welcoming Kat to their family. Because she lost her parents in a tragic way, Kat was so moved by their kind gesture and acceptance. I could feel the emotion in the pages of how touched she was by the love she felt.
I wish I could john Ale’s mom and sister in law’s smut slut club.
I was shocked to read/find out that Kat is of Filipino descent- which is so cool and something I resonate with because I am Filipino too. I like reading about her Lola- grandma. Also her brother- Kas is so stinkin cute for being supportive of her and ale relationship. I’m totally here for a supportive brother.
I really enjoyed this book. It gave me all the feel- spice, angst, emotion, banter, family and friend bonding. It was just the perfect mix of emotions and tropes. This book was written so tastefully.
Congrats on your debut book🫶🏽 can’t wait for Kas and Aiyana’s story.
2.5 🌶️ 🌶️
Tropes:
🩺 mental health rep
🏒 hockey romance
🩺hilarious best friends
🏒brothers teammate
🩺dual pov
🏒tragic past
🩺cinnamon roll Mmc
🏒open spice
Alessandro is the ultimate Cinnamon roll, family guy, dirty talking hockey player🤤. He is a walking green flag✅✅
Katatina is a sassy physician assistant with a tragic past. She struggles with panic attacks and her mental health.
Their meet cute was awkward yet so wholesome and funny. Kat is returning home to Philly for her new job as a physician assistant. Kas (Kat’s hockey player brother) gets her an apt right next door to his teammate- Alessandro. Alessandro also known as Ale is the super hot neighbor. The attraction between them is like fireworks. Ale who secretly keeps his health condition - Multiple sclerosis from his teammates even his best friend Kas. Ale suddenly becomes Kat’s new patient. Kat is super conflicted on her attraction to Ale. She knows that Ale is off limits because he is her patient but also her brother’s teammate. Little does she know her brother is totally for them getting together. The more Ale and Kat spend time together and get to know one another, both of their barriers slowly come down. Kat decides to transfer Ale as her patient to another doctor to pursue their relationship. Although their relationship was blooming there were some hiccups. Dating a sexy popular hockey player is not for the faint of heart. The constant spotlight and media attention was draining and overwhelming for Kat. This made her second guess if she could handle the spotlight and the possibility of her tragic family past coming out. This causes her to have mental break down and anxiety. Through-out the book, Ale struggled with his health- MS. He was fighting to keep his career going while battling MS in secrecy. This worried Kat tremendously because she didn’t want to be him get hurt or hurt other due to them knowing the true nature of his condition. Ale and Kat struggle mentally and physically yet they both found the strength to lean on each other for support.
It was so heartwarming, that Ale’s family was so welcoming Kat to their family. Because she lost her parents in a tragic way, Kat was so moved by their kind gesture and acceptance. I could feel the emotion in the pages of how touched she was by the love she felt.
I wish I could john Ale’s mom and sister in law’s smut slut club.
I was shocked to read/find out that Kat is of Filipino descent- which is so cool and something I resonate with because I am Filipino too. I like reading about her Lola- grandma. Also her brother- Kas is so stinkin cute for being supportive of her and ale relationship. I’m totally here for a supportive brother.
I really enjoyed this book. It gave me all the feel- spice, angst, emotion, banter, family and friend bonding. It was just the perfect mix of emotions and tropes. This book was written so tastefully.
Congrats on your debut book🫶🏽 can’t wait for Kas and Aiyana’s story.
April 6, 2024
I’ve never wanted a book to hurry up to see what happens & slow down because I didn’t want it to end. But goooooodlord, did this book make me feel that way.
This is the most feel good, inclusive, well written, perfectly balanced book that absolutely every single person needs in their life. I gave a play by play to my non-reader husband and he even agreed that it was amazing.
I’ve never loved side characters as much as I love every single one in this. I cannot wait to catch up on all of their lives in the future as well.
Thank you Giuliana for giving us this found family.
This is the most feel good, inclusive, well written, perfectly balanced book that absolutely every single person needs in their life. I gave a play by play to my non-reader husband and he even agreed that it was amazing.
I’ve never loved side characters as much as I love every single one in this. I cannot wait to catch up on all of their lives in the future as well.
Thank you Giuliana for giving us this found family.
May 10, 2024
this book was so GOOOD!!!! the banter..fantastic. the storyline.. amazing. the representation.. perfect. the spicy scenes.. top tier! i really love that this book had disability reps and is accurate in the feelings of dealing with them! also these are some of my favorite tropes! i cannot wait to for the rest of these series so i can keep reading about this beautiful family! 🧡🧡🧡
April 4, 2024
Giuliana's debut novel Quiver literally blew me away. I've been invested in both the main characters for some time now due to following Quiver's instagram journey so when I received an early ARC I was beyond elated.
I absolutely love Ale, he is the epitome of a good man and Kat was relatable and frustrating (in all of the best ways). The story was easy to read and digest, the family dynamics were so beautiful to read and the friendships were equally wonderful. I appreciated the mental health focus and the journey one takes to either work through it or have others literally champion it for you.
I cannot wait for the next books because I am 100% on board and fully support Giuliana. I highly recommend this to those of you that have people in your corner that bring light and for those of you who need to fall in love with a man that will take care of you, mind, body and soul.
I absolutely love Ale, he is the epitome of a good man and Kat was relatable and frustrating (in all of the best ways). The story was easy to read and digest, the family dynamics were so beautiful to read and the friendships were equally wonderful. I appreciated the mental health focus and the journey one takes to either work through it or have others literally champion it for you.
I cannot wait for the next books because I am 100% on board and fully support Giuliana. I highly recommend this to those of you that have people in your corner that bring light and for those of you who need to fall in love with a man that will take care of you, mind, body and soul.
April 12, 2024
Bee: What a beautiful love story. Truly. I love the representation of not only chronic illnesses but
also mental health issues. I loved how different
the backstories were for both MCs. Both Kat and Ale were so swoon worthy and you could feel their chemistry from their first interaction. The found family aspect was amazing and all the side characters were beautifully involved without overshadowing Kat & Ale. Also - the ethnicity and feature diversity in the characters *CLAPS HANDS* Done amazingly.
Nik: I’ve been waiting a long time for this one and it was so worth it! Kat and Ale complemented each other so well and brought the best out in each other. I loved seeing how Ale understood Kat and never made her feel lesser with her anxiety struggles. I also loved the way Kat let Ale decide things for himself and encouraged him to trust his body. Quiver was so well done and the ending was perfect!! We love an extended epilogue. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the crew is up to in the next books!
also mental health issues. I loved how different
the backstories were for both MCs. Both Kat and Ale were so swoon worthy and you could feel their chemistry from their first interaction. The found family aspect was amazing and all the side characters were beautifully involved without overshadowing Kat & Ale. Also - the ethnicity and feature diversity in the characters *CLAPS HANDS* Done amazingly.
Nik: I’ve been waiting a long time for this one and it was so worth it! Kat and Ale complemented each other so well and brought the best out in each other. I loved seeing how Ale understood Kat and never made her feel lesser with her anxiety struggles. I also loved the way Kat let Ale decide things for himself and encouraged him to trust his body. Quiver was so well done and the ending was perfect!! We love an extended epilogue. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the crew is up to in the next books!
May 16, 2024
4.5/5 stars💐 omg I LOVEDDDD it!! The representation in this book was so amazing to read about and I always love it. the tropes throughout this book were chefs kiss 💋 overall this book was really good and I enjoyed reading it the whole time. If I didn’t have to Ale and Kat are the best couple ever and I love them so much. They were 100% meant to be together and I loved reading their story and what they went through to get to the happy ending. actually do life things everyday i probably would have finished it in like a day because I just never wanted to stop reading. The found family in this book was top tier and if you know me you know how much I adore a good found family! I am so excited for the second book!! I definitely recommend it because I loved this story💞
May 5, 2024
Special thank you to Giuliana Victoria for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4/5
I really enjoyed reading Quiver!
You could tell that Ale and Kat had chemistry from the very beginning and I love them together. I'm glad we got a dual POV!
One thing I really liked is that there were multiple types of representation in the book. From mental illness, to MS, and more.
Overall I think the Quiver was a good read and I definitely recommend it. Especially if you love sports romances.
I look forward to reading more by Giuliana Victoria in the future!
4/5
I really enjoyed reading Quiver!
You could tell that Ale and Kat had chemistry from the very beginning and I love them together. I'm glad we got a dual POV!
One thing I really liked is that there were multiple types of representation in the book. From mental illness, to MS, and more.
Overall I think the Quiver was a good read and I definitely recommend it. Especially if you love sports romances.
I look forward to reading more by Giuliana Victoria in the future!
April 7, 2024
This book was just perfection I related so much to the main characters thank you for my advanced copy
February 1, 2025
Ganz ok! Mal ne kleine Autorin unterstützen und Buch war kostenlos
January 2, 2025
2.5 ⭐️: despite the low rating I didn’t hate this book there was just so many things about it that annoyed me.
1. Why does everyone have to have some sort of condition- I have no problem with representation, I picked this up when I saw that the MMC had MS! However, in this book there is also OCD, Anxiety, ADHD, Heterochromia, Spina Bifida, Poliosis, all within one circle which is not very likely and most of these do not really add to the story, adding to my next point.
2. This book was just wayyy too wordy. It could’ve been much shorter. The dialogue was not that well written and seemed just very unnatural and annoyed me. I think part of that has to go with trying to make the characters super progressive. As someone who is pretty liberal, I do not pick up books to see the FMC complain about baby it’s cold outside being controversial, or saying that men shouldn’t be the only one planning dates and that she’s soooo happy her BFF is likeminded in that fashion. Literally what’s the point of adding this??? Just more random words that don’t help the dialogue.
3. I am very critical of hockey romances as someone who likes hockey. I believe I read something in a review of mile high where they said that hockey players in public does NOT draw a crowd, there are not paparazzis and people following them like that which is so true and this book also succumbed to this misconception. No one cares about who a hockey player is dating. This has also been backed by one of my fave hockey wags (and the only one I keep up with). Also spoiler; FMC would not be able to jump over the boards at a hockey game with the amount of people there and the glass and it’s just not feasible as it’s designed to keep the puck in the rink and fans out???? Also with this scene, it could’ve been more emotionally evoking. The main conflict was glossed over which confuses me because there were like 3 pages explaining what MMC bedroom looks like. Also why was the focus of Alessandro’s info being leaked about comforting Katerina and not the person whose this is mainly affecting????
4. Also 3 part epilogue(basically 4)…for what??
This was my longest review yet and I swear it sounds like I hated this book but I didn’t there were just little things that really irked my nerves. This book just seemed like it tried to be everything and it made it seem very unrealistic and a big stretch. Part of me wants to read the 2nd book just to hear about Kas and Aiyana but idk if I can do it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2025
⥼~-✰-~⥽ ☽ ˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊☾ ⥼~-✰-~⥽
Started: 4th September 2025
Finished: 9th September 2025 ✩‧₊꒰ ⊹ ࣪—˚Final thoughts .𖥔 ݁ ˖༘⋆𐦍⊹₊ ⋆｡"𝚍𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚞𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚕𝚎𝚎𝚙?"𖥔 ݁ ˖༘⋆𐦍⊹₊ ⋆｡˚
╭⊹ ₊ "𝙄 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣𝙩 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚".
˚ ┊✦ what a wild ride this book has been to say I got this inspiration to read this book for a challenge on story graph it certainly didn’t disappoint I would always suggest with books like these to read the content and authors note before hand always important to do so! It was slightly intimidating aswell when reading the content warning but this was so well done what the author wrote!
I love that we have our main male character Lead ale aka alessandro who’s a professional hockey player which is hello!! 🤩he just seems the most gentle human being known to man how caring he is off the pitch. I do feel like series like these need good attention but very in depth with mental health and issues which people do need to be cautious when reading this if you think can handle it then it’s worth the read but always have that space of mind when reading it can be triggering!
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹ "“𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙤𝙗𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙏𝙑 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝙈𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙨,”
˚ ┊✦ ᴋᴀᴛᴀʀɪɴᴀ
I feel like Katarina was a hard one to like considering her mood swings she always had. I did feel bad for her how she struggles in life especially with her mother situation putting a toll on the rest of her family being distant about that conversation.
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹ ᴀʟᴇssᴀɴᴅʀᴏ ˚ ┊✦ i loved how insecure alessandro was he turned into a right gentlemen not pushing katarina by not pressuring her to do things she doesn’t want to do. I do feel like hhe deserved more air time in this book it was all about. Katarina which is understandable considering the background issues she had but I wanted to know more about him how and wy he wanted to be a hockey professional how he got his mental health issues what caused them as males its not spoken a lot about and I do think its important that males deserve to be heard swell this is what I found lacking here that it is mentioned he has an illness but need more context honestly.
╭⊹ ₊ "𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛,𝙆𝙖𝙩. 𝙂𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙞 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧".
˚┊✦ Romance - Epilogue
The romance was so cute but very fast paced to say at the beginning they had real sexual attention the connection grew stronger by the minute even when they were with friends they always took time together to talk to each other. The scenes together were intimately spicy like holy dang could it even get hotter in them scenes especially using kinky toys together like damn okay getting too comfortable together already 🤭
I love how the author did so well explaining that there are other illnesses out there when it comes to mental health and it’s always okay to talk about it not be shamed of who you are I just love that the one thing I just wished more on is ales family history aswell as we got to know katarina a lot more in this book felt like he was just in the shadows for her being her number 1 only got little information about his background but not much as I liked to be I loved him so much just took a while love both characters I would say it roughly took me 200 pgs to get into the story line was definitely slow burn in first 100 pages or so!
I loved how when yku got over the first half of it being a slow burn itself the story of this was so unique and awing so well done I’m taking my time when it comes to series like this when it’s so In depth with mental health topic it can be a lot information to handle and overwhelming which books like these good to take breaks in between. The spice was just always top notch how the characters always connect so well after they do the deed 🤭
The down fall for me is some slight repetitive but it’s to be expected but I do like that especially with books like these if you miss something important it kind of refreshing your mind.
I cannot wait to see how this series ends and progress in the other books I love her writing she gained a new reader for sure and I’m thankful for story graph aswell having this series on a bonus challenge which I would never picked this book up !
⋆.𐙚 ̊𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐⋆.𐙚 ̊ ╰┈➤ Family Trauma ╰┈➤domestic violence ╰┈➤attempted homicide
╰┈➤suicide
╰┈➤mental health/chronic illness
╭ ✦ • ⥼~-✰-~⥽ ☽ ˚𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛 𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 & 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐✩•̩̩͙˚＊☾ ⥼~-✰-~⥽
│ ⊹ ⭐️5 ⊹ 🌶4.5
╰ ✦ •⥼~-✰-~⥽ ☽ ˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊☾ ⥼~-✰-~⥽
🍂⭒˚.⋆ 🍂 ⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆ 🍂 ⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆ 🍂 ⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆ 🍂 ⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆ 🍂 ⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆ 🍂 ⋆⭒˚.⋆ 🍂 ⋆⭒˚.⋆ 🍂 ⋆⭒
Finished: 9th September 2025 ✩‧₊꒰ ⊹ ࣪—˚Final thoughts .𖥔 ݁ ˖༘⋆𐦍⊹₊ ⋆｡"𝚍𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚞𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚕𝚎𝚎𝚙?"𖥔 ݁ ˖༘⋆𐦍⊹₊ ⋆｡˚
╭⊹ ₊ "𝙄 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣𝙩 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚".
˚ ┊✦ what a wild ride this book has been to say I got this inspiration to read this book for a challenge on story graph it certainly didn’t disappoint I would always suggest with books like these to read the content and authors note before hand always important to do so! It was slightly intimidating aswell when reading the content warning but this was so well done what the author wrote!
I love that we have our main male character Lead ale aka alessandro who’s a professional hockey player which is hello!! 🤩he just seems the most gentle human being known to man how caring he is off the pitch. I do feel like series like these need good attention but very in depth with mental health and issues which people do need to be cautious when reading this if you think can handle it then it’s worth the read but always have that space of mind when reading it can be triggering!
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹ "“𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙤𝙗𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙏𝙑 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝙈𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙨,”
˚ ┊✦ ᴋᴀᴛᴀʀɪɴᴀ
I feel like Katarina was a hard one to like considering her mood swings she always had. I did feel bad for her how she struggles in life especially with her mother situation putting a toll on the rest of her family being distant about that conversation.
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹ ᴀʟᴇssᴀɴᴅʀᴏ ˚ ┊✦ i loved how insecure alessandro was he turned into a right gentlemen not pushing katarina by not pressuring her to do things she doesn’t want to do. I do feel like hhe deserved more air time in this book it was all about. Katarina which is understandable considering the background issues she had but I wanted to know more about him how and wy he wanted to be a hockey professional how he got his mental health issues what caused them as males its not spoken a lot about and I do think its important that males deserve to be heard swell this is what I found lacking here that it is mentioned he has an illness but need more context honestly.
╭⊹ ₊ "𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛,𝙆𝙖𝙩. 𝙂𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙞 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧".
˚┊✦ Romance - Epilogue
The romance was so cute but very fast paced to say at the beginning they had real sexual attention the connection grew stronger by the minute even when they were with friends they always took time together to talk to each other. The scenes together were intimately spicy like holy dang could it even get hotter in them scenes especially using kinky toys together like damn okay getting too comfortable together already 🤭
I love how the author did so well explaining that there are other illnesses out there when it comes to mental health and it’s always okay to talk about it not be shamed of who you are I just love that the one thing I just wished more on is ales family history aswell as we got to know katarina a lot more in this book felt like he was just in the shadows for her being her number 1 only got little information about his background but not much as I liked to be I loved him so much just took a while love both characters I would say it roughly took me 200 pgs to get into the story line was definitely slow burn in first 100 pages or so!
I loved how when yku got over the first half of it being a slow burn itself the story of this was so unique and awing so well done I’m taking my time when it comes to series like this when it’s so In depth with mental health topic it can be a lot information to handle and overwhelming which books like these good to take breaks in between. The spice was just always top notch how the characters always connect so well after they do the deed 🤭
The down fall for me is some slight repetitive but it’s to be expected but I do like that especially with books like these if you miss something important it kind of refreshing your mind.
I cannot wait to see how this series ends and progress in the other books I love her writing she gained a new reader for sure and I’m thankful for story graph aswell having this series on a bonus challenge which I would never picked this book up !
⋆.𐙚 ̊𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐⋆.𐙚 ̊ ╰┈➤ Family Trauma ╰┈➤domestic violence ╰┈➤attempted homicide
╰┈➤suicide
╰┈➤mental health/chronic illness
╭ ✦ • ⥼~-✰-~⥽ ☽ ˚𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛 𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 & 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐✩•̩̩͙˚＊☾ ⥼~-✰-~⥽
│ ⊹ ⭐️5 ⊹ 🌶4.5
╰ ✦ •⥼~-✰-~⥽ ☽ ˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊☾ ⥼~-✰-~⥽
🍂⭒˚.⋆ 🍂 ⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆ 🍂 ⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆ 🍂 ⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆ 🍂 ⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆ 🍂 ⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆ 🍂 ⋆⭒˚.⋆ 🍂 ⋆⭒˚.⋆ 🍂 ⋆⭒
December 11, 2024
I'm not sure why I put off reading Quiver for so long—this was a cover buy a few months ago (but now I've seen the hardcover and want those…), and it's been on/off my TBR since. I'm so glad I finally sat down and gave this the attention it deserved!
Kat and Ale were so great together. Dynamic, mostly decent communicators, and considerate of one another's needs. They had a very adult relationship that was equal parts cheesy and spicy. They communicated so well in the beginning that their inability to communicate at the end felt unnatural to me and out of place, therefore difficult for me to buy. But when you create characters that are flawed but together, so close to perfect, I can see why drama has to arise eventually lol.
I loved the chronic illness representation as well as the anxiety rep—as someone who lives with both, I am always in search of fiction that highlights this. I am also a South Jersey native, so Philly is extremely familiar to me—as are the most loving and accepting Italian-American families—and it was nice to feel ~at home~ with these characters. With that said, I wish that more attention had been given to Kat and Kassian's Puerto Rican and Filipino heritages, and that their family unit felt more dynamic beyond the traumas they endured. I also wish that Kat's poliosis had been highlighted more, mostly because I'd never heard of it—and I'm assuming others haven't as well—and while it's not something that needs to be harped on, it could have been expanded in a way that invites conversation and seeks to normalize this.
Like I said, I didn't buy the third act drama. The lack of clarity surrounding who hacked the hospital's data and for what reasons were not revealed, and the scene where Gloria and Aiya address the media was a little cringe to me for some reason? I think Kat's anxiety that steeped her into inaction was very realistic but boy was it frustrating to read!
The pacing of the story worked for me, as did the ways Ale and Kat grew throughout the story. The spice was plentiful but the content within the scenes got repetitive for me after a bit. I'm pretty sure this is the first hockey romance I've ever read, and I didn't hate that aspect as much as I'd expected to lol. Ale was such a green flag, cinnamon roll cutie pie puddin' pop and he was just perfect, what can I say?
My only critique is there was a LOT of repetition. We get Katarina's anxiety/meds explained and re-explained several times. We get Alessandro's meds and symptoms explained to us several times. While I recognize (and appreciate) that providing as much information as possible when writing disability rep is needed, it eventually felt like filler. I wish there was more Tank; we needed repetition when it came to him. I'm looking forward to reading more by Victoria!
4.5 ⭐️s
3.5 🌶️
Kat and Ale were so great together. Dynamic, mostly decent communicators, and considerate of one another's needs. They had a very adult relationship that was equal parts cheesy and spicy. They communicated so well in the beginning that their inability to communicate at the end felt unnatural to me and out of place, therefore difficult for me to buy. But when you create characters that are flawed but together, so close to perfect, I can see why drama has to arise eventually lol.
I loved the chronic illness representation as well as the anxiety rep—as someone who lives with both, I am always in search of fiction that highlights this. I am also a South Jersey native, so Philly is extremely familiar to me—as are the most loving and accepting Italian-American families—and it was nice to feel ~at home~ with these characters. With that said, I wish that more attention had been given to Kat and Kassian's Puerto Rican and Filipino heritages, and that their family unit felt more dynamic beyond the traumas they endured. I also wish that Kat's poliosis had been highlighted more, mostly because I'd never heard of it—and I'm assuming others haven't as well—and while it's not something that needs to be harped on, it could have been expanded in a way that invites conversation and seeks to normalize this.
Like I said, I didn't buy the third act drama. The lack of clarity surrounding who hacked the hospital's data and for what reasons were not revealed, and the scene where Gloria and Aiya address the media was a little cringe to me for some reason? I think Kat's anxiety that steeped her into inaction was very realistic but boy was it frustrating to read!
The pacing of the story worked for me, as did the ways Ale and Kat grew throughout the story. The spice was plentiful but the content within the scenes got repetitive for me after a bit. I'm pretty sure this is the first hockey romance I've ever read, and I didn't hate that aspect as much as I'd expected to lol. Ale was such a green flag, cinnamon roll cutie pie puddin' pop and he was just perfect, what can I say?
My only critique is there was a LOT of repetition. We get Katarina's anxiety/meds explained and re-explained several times. We get Alessandro's meds and symptoms explained to us several times. While I recognize (and appreciate) that providing as much information as possible when writing disability rep is needed, it eventually felt like filler. I wish there was more Tank; we needed repetition when it came to him. I'm looking forward to reading more by Victoria!
4.5 ⭐️s
3.5 🌶️
April 15, 2024
ARC REVIEW
4.5/5
How on earth is this a debut novel?! Seriously?!
I've read quite a few debut novels over the past year and this easily became a top 5 for me. I never expect a debut to be perfect but this was utter perfection! Chef's kiss 💋
I am a huge sucker for a hockey romance with a dirty talking cinnamon roll MMC. Add to it that it's brother's best friend, I'm sold. However, this is not a typical brother's bff. What do I mean by that? You'll have to read to find out.
This book follows Katarina and Alessandro (Ale). Katarina is returning home to Philly for a job as a PA in a medical centre after graduating. Her brother lives in Philly, where he plays pro hockey with Ale, who just so happens to be Katarina's neighbour.
First of all, their meet-cute was so wholesome and funny. Everything about Kat and Ale individually and as a couple is endearing. They complemented each other so well and made me feel all giddy. And when the spice got going, it realllllllly got going 🔥
Not everything is smooth sailing for them though, as they have to face external pressures as well as their own secrets but they do get their HEA.
A big thank you to Giuliana Victoria for sending me this ARC. I am looking forward to the next one in this series.
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Tropes/themes
🏒 Hockey Romance
🏒 Cinnamon Roll MMC
📚🩺 Bookworm/Physician Assistant FMC
💉Chronic Illness Rep
🧠Mental Health Rep
🥰Twin Brother's Best friend/Teammate
❤️Big Family- MMC
💕Found Family- FMC
😂Hilarious Best Friends
💞Dual POV
🔪Touch Her and 💀
❤️🔥Mutual Pining
🫶🏻He Falls First, and Harder
🔗 Forced Proximity
❌Forbidden Love
🥹Tragic Past
4.5/5
How on earth is this a debut novel?! Seriously?!
I've read quite a few debut novels over the past year and this easily became a top 5 for me. I never expect a debut to be perfect but this was utter perfection! Chef's kiss 💋
I am a huge sucker for a hockey romance with a dirty talking cinnamon roll MMC. Add to it that it's brother's best friend, I'm sold. However, this is not a typical brother's bff. What do I mean by that? You'll have to read to find out.
This book follows Katarina and Alessandro (Ale). Katarina is returning home to Philly for a job as a PA in a medical centre after graduating. Her brother lives in Philly, where he plays pro hockey with Ale, who just so happens to be Katarina's neighbour.
First of all, their meet-cute was so wholesome and funny. Everything about Kat and Ale individually and as a couple is endearing. They complemented each other so well and made me feel all giddy. And when the spice got going, it realllllllly got going 🔥
Not everything is smooth sailing for them though, as they have to face external pressures as well as their own secrets but they do get their HEA.
A big thank you to Giuliana Victoria for sending me this ARC. I am looking forward to the next one in this series.
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Tropes/themes
🏒 Hockey Romance
🏒 Cinnamon Roll MMC
📚🩺 Bookworm/Physician Assistant FMC
💉Chronic Illness Rep
🧠Mental Health Rep
🥰Twin Brother's Best friend/Teammate
❤️Big Family- MMC
💕Found Family- FMC
😂Hilarious Best Friends
💞Dual POV
🔪Touch Her and 💀
❤️🔥Mutual Pining
🫶🏻He Falls First, and Harder
🔗 Forced Proximity
❌Forbidden Love
🥹Tragic Past
May 25, 2024
Book Review
Author Giuliana Victoria
Published May 10, 2024
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Katrina (Kat) she has a twin brother Kas and he plays for the Philly Scarlets! She is moving to Philly to be closer to her twin! She attended school in California. Kat works as a Neurology PA!!
Alessandro (Ale) he also plays on the Philly Scarlets! Ale is Kat's penthouse neighbor!
Ale becomes Kat's patient. Ale fell hard first! He stopped being her patient so they can see each other. I found that so sweet and cute!!
I really feel like I can relate to Kat in so many ways:
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Sets routines
Loves to read
Does yoga
Personally: colorful and bright
Kind
Determined
"She's sweet, sometimes timid, caring to a fault, sensitive, and unbelievably understanding, all while being boisterous, stubborn, a real shit-talker, and a sassy pain in my ass".
Kat and Ale end up getting engaged and adopted a girl and a boy!!
Kat worked so hard and achieved her dream job to start a free clinic for patients and there's also a greenhouse attached so they can grow vegetables and fruits!! Her hard work paid off for her!
Kat and Ale were absolutely adorable together! I really loved the ending and this book!! It was so good!
Has anyone else read this book?
Author Giuliana Victoria
Published May 10, 2024
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Katrina (Kat) she has a twin brother Kas and he plays for the Philly Scarlets! She is moving to Philly to be closer to her twin! She attended school in California. Kat works as a Neurology PA!!
Alessandro (Ale) he also plays on the Philly Scarlets! Ale is Kat's penthouse neighbor!
Ale becomes Kat's patient. Ale fell hard first! He stopped being her patient so they can see each other. I found that so sweet and cute!!
I really feel like I can relate to Kat in so many ways:
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Sets routines
Loves to read
Does yoga
Personally: colorful and bright
Kind
Determined
"She's sweet, sometimes timid, caring to a fault, sensitive, and unbelievably understanding, all while being boisterous, stubborn, a real shit-talker, and a sassy pain in my ass".
Kat and Ale end up getting engaged and adopted a girl and a boy!!
Kat worked so hard and achieved her dream job to start a free clinic for patients and there's also a greenhouse attached so they can grow vegetables and fruits!! Her hard work paid off for her!
Kat and Ale were absolutely adorable together! I really loved the ending and this book!! It was so good!
Has anyone else read this book?
August 10, 2024
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Wow. This story is emotional.
Alessandro / Ale and Katarina / kat have quite an amazing story. Ale is the man we all hope to have patient, committed, family focused and filthy mouthed. Kat was so strong and fought her own struggles with anxiety and panic, she still showed incredible strength and resilience to be patient with herself.
Ale is a hockey player trying to chase his Stanley cup and fighting his genetics. Kat returns home to her twin brother and moves in across the hallway from Ale. Kat’s brother may have played match maker in getting them to meet but it was instant sparks.
There is so much and I don’t want to give away the wonderful pieces. But Kat is resilient and strong and Ale is sexy and patient. Ale’s family is also an amazing part of this story and I hope we see more of them.
Also don’t get me started on Tank - I am a sucker for a grey faced Pitbull. It’s family and friendship and love through thick and thin all in one amazing book
#quiver #giulianavictoria
#AdultRomance #spicyromance #ContemporaryRomance #SportsRomance #Athlete #readers
#bookstagram #readersofinstagram #books #romancebooks #booksta #romance #bookworm #booklover #lovetoread #sportsromance
#contemporaryromance #spicybookstagram
#romancereader
May 11, 2024
Quiver is Giuliana Victorias debut novel. It is the first book in the Philia Players series and it captivated me. I love hockey romance especially one with a strong FMC. Kat has been through a lot of trauma in her life, yet she persevered and became a neurosurgery PA and loves helping others. Her twin brother, Kas, bought a penthouse for her to live in. It’s conveniently located across the hall from Ale, one of his hockey teammates.
Ale is the perfect gentleman, loves his family, caring, thoughtful, and gorgeous.
When they meet they both are intrigued and feel things they haven’t before, but both keep it to themselves. The tension between the two can be felt immediately and the sexual tension and spice followed. It was amazing.
The character development, inclusion of mental health issues and MS, real life relationship and life issues, along with an amazing plot really made it relatable.
Definitely go read this book, especially if you love a relatable romance. Thank you Giuliana for the ARC.
Ale is the perfect gentleman, loves his family, caring, thoughtful, and gorgeous.
When they meet they both are intrigued and feel things they haven’t before, but both keep it to themselves. The tension between the two can be felt immediately and the sexual tension and spice followed. It was amazing.
The character development, inclusion of mental health issues and MS, real life relationship and life issues, along with an amazing plot really made it relatable.
Definitely go read this book, especially if you love a relatable romance. Thank you Giuliana for the ARC.
May 11, 2024
ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
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HAPPY RELEASE DAY! I’m glad there’s already plans for a book two, because I need it immediately!! I loved this book - if you know me, you know about my utter obsession with anything hockey romance.
Ale is the green flag of all green flags - and I am here for it! He is so obsessed with Kat it’s adorable - and I am feeling incredibly single 👏 so thank you!!
I really enjoyed the writing and I was seriously giggling and kicking my feet throughout much of this book! And the spice!!! 🥵😮💨 I was not disappointed it was GOOD! the only reason this isn’t a 5 ⭐️ for me is there were some parts I found more face paced for my preference. I really enjoyed this read & i’m so excited to see more of Kas & Aiyana!!
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HAPPY RELEASE DAY! I’m glad there’s already plans for a book two, because I need it immediately!! I loved this book - if you know me, you know about my utter obsession with anything hockey romance.
Ale is the green flag of all green flags - and I am here for it! He is so obsessed with Kat it’s adorable - and I am feeling incredibly single 👏 so thank you!!
I really enjoyed the writing and I was seriously giggling and kicking my feet throughout much of this book! And the spice!!! 🥵😮💨 I was not disappointed it was GOOD! the only reason this isn’t a 5 ⭐️ for me is there were some parts I found more face paced for my preference. I really enjoyed this read & i’m so excited to see more of Kas & Aiyana!!
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April 7, 2024
I am so grateful that I got to read Giuliana's debut book baby as an arc. It's so beautifully written, it had me feeling every emotion along with the characters.
Everyone needs Alessandro in their life. He's such a thoughtful and kind man, you'll be falling in love with him from the start. Ohh and his dirty mouth will have you blushing 🤭
Katarina has some trauma in her past and Ale is nothing but supportive of her. Ale's family is bloody amazing, I loved them all 😍 they accept Kat into their lives with open arms and it's just what Kat needs in her life.
Without going too in depth and spoiling things, I'll just say that I really loved this book and I can't wait for more from Giuliana. Definitely recommend this one
Everyone needs Alessandro in their life. He's such a thoughtful and kind man, you'll be falling in love with him from the start. Ohh and his dirty mouth will have you blushing 🤭
Katarina has some trauma in her past and Ale is nothing but supportive of her. Ale's family is bloody amazing, I loved them all 😍 they accept Kat into their lives with open arms and it's just what Kat needs in her life.
Without going too in depth and spoiling things, I'll just say that I really loved this book and I can't wait for more from Giuliana. Definitely recommend this one
April 4, 2025
4/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶️
Great dialogue and banter. Very cutesy, slowish burn. The spice is good, but all fairly vanilla. Great dirty talk. I did say great dialogue. 😜 This is horny AND sad…but not more sad than horny. Definitely lots of heavy stuff in here, but there is enough lightness in here too. There’s a Table of Cocktents for goodness sake.
Content warning: attempted drink tampering, attempted homicide (technically murder suicide? Recounted), attempted sexual assault, chronic illness, domestic violence (recounted), family trauma, gun violence (recounted), mental health issues, seizure, suicide (recounted).
2/5 🌶️
Great dialogue and banter. Very cutesy, slowish burn. The spice is good, but all fairly vanilla. Great dirty talk. I did say great dialogue. 😜 This is horny AND sad…but not more sad than horny. Definitely lots of heavy stuff in here, but there is enough lightness in here too. There’s a Table of Cocktents for goodness sake.
Content warning: attempted drink tampering, attempted homicide (technically murder suicide? Recounted), attempted sexual assault, chronic illness, domestic violence (recounted), family trauma, gun violence (recounted), mental health issues, seizure, suicide (recounted).
December 25, 2024
3.7⭐️
Un libro en el que el protagonista es deportista, no es mujeriego y no se cree un regalo del cielo... ¡Obviamente lo iba a leer!
Un libro en el que el protagonista es deportista, no es mujeriego y no se cree un regalo del cielo... ¡Obviamente lo iba a leer!
April 4, 2024
Loved the pacing of the book and the smut is soo good and spicy and mmc has such a dirty mouth 😋 and can't believe this is her debut novel
November 2, 2024
This was such a sweet and heartwarming story.
And Alessandro is the poster boy for green flag, if that man exists in real life I need him to DM me ASAP.
And Alessandro is the poster boy for green flag, if that man exists in real life I need him to DM me ASAP.
August 6, 2024
This book was perfect in all the best ways. The found family vibes, such pure and non-toxic friendship between mmc & fmc's brother but also the pure connection between everyone. I loved the representation that was shown in the book with regards to MS and the uncertainty it brings. This book made me smile and cry at the same time.
May 15, 2024
Tank gets infinity stars. Kat, babe, you should thank your lucky stars that you went radio silent on your mans and your only “punishment” was hot sex. Ale, Kas, no notes, keep being perfect.
January 20, 2025
Quase quatro estrelas. Acho que no final começou realmente a ficar melhor, mas o inicio que me prendeu logo... logo a seguir bem que me desmotivou
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