As if spending hours waiting in the DMV wasn’t bad enough, I found myself detained in a back room when I flipped out on the guy who walked in off the street and cut in front of the line when it was my turn.
And who comes to bail me out? The smiling giant who was the source of my rage.
You’d think after I lost my shit on him, he’d give me a wide berth, but instead, he’s got it into his head that we’re together.
Like the guy is seriously unhinged, showing up at my house in the middle of the night, talking about our future children, and calling me Kitten.
In an attempt to get him to leave me alone, we strike a deal. I give him one date, and if I tell him to take a hike after that, he listens.
Too bad for him, this girl’s had enough of men controlling her life. The world I ran away from was a dangerous one, but Sasha Gusev's smile might be even more deadly.
Too bad for me, this goalie only has one goal: making me his. And no is not a word in his vocabulary.
Siena is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where a love of sports is bred into a girl's DNA. Her love of romance novels came early as well. She would often accompany her romance reviewer mom to book lovers' and romance writers' conventions, where she sat in on workshops and met numerous best-selling authors. It wasn't long before she was filling notebooks with her own stories, which often starred herself and a certain real-life prince.
As luck would have it, she met and married a handsome athlete instead. After several temporary residencies in multiple states and Germany, they finally settled in Michigan, the land where youth hockey reigns supreme.
Her stories no longer feature herself but draw from her past experiences as an educator, businesswoman, fashion consultant, and world traveler when creating her strong heroines. “Oh yes,” she says with a wink and a smile, “There are bits of me in all of them.” Now, she spends her days writing happily ever afters for fictional characters and her evenings at the local hockey arenas cheering for her three children.
Following the series this focuses on the golden retriever type goalie who falls for insta love claiming the woman he upsets at the DMV is the one. And she turns out to be from the mafia however runs from the family as they only praise the men and women are only seen basically as baby makers. The story is a smutty, and ugh missing the story line on a pivotal moment! BUT I get it this sets up to a mafia story line which OMG cannot wait for! Mafia from Trap’s point of view yes please!
What to expect: 🏒 NHL Goalie MMC 🏒 Mafia Princess FMC 🏒 Golden Retriever x Black Cat 🏒 Reverse Age Gap 🏒 MCs over 25 🏒 He Falls First / Obsessed 🏒 Plus Size FMC 🏒 No third act break up
Was Goose - AKA Sasha - a little nuts (as also described by Siena’s husband according to the acknowledgments)? Absolutely. Did I eat it up? FOR SURE.
This was such a fun hockey romance story and a first of Siena Trap’s for me, and she’s won over a new fan for sure. I loved the twist of a mafia princess as the FMC, which isn’t typical for a sports romance and I thought it made it so much more original. Her writing style captivated me right away and kept me in her clutches until I finished the book and still left me wanting more.
While it was insta-love for Sasha, Gemma took time to warm up to the idea of a relationship. Once they got started, the spice was top tier - public and br33ding kink galore.
Be sure to read the trigger warnings if you have any triggers related to obsessive MMCs. If you don’t, you’ll find yourself chuckling through a lot of this book. I found Sasha’s obsessiveness incredibly endearing.
Thank you Luna Literary Management and Siena Trap for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
If you haven’t read Siena Trap yet…what are you doing? Her writing style draws me in and keeps me there every single time. I am a sucker for a goalie and Goose checks all the boxes and did not disappoint.
Goose falls instantly and falls hard for Gemma. He is such a goof ball and I was immediately in love with him. He is literally the definition of a golden retriever, doing anything and everything for Gemma until she catches up to what he feels for her. They were completely opposites but so perfect for one another. Also…kitten is one of my favorite nicknames so that had me in a puddle. I loved Gemma’s storyline and how it leads into Siena’s upcoming mafia series. Her and Goose’s chemistry was off the charts and I am glad she finally gave into her feelings towards him. She is feisty for sure, so this made for some really entertaining banter between the two.
Siena has such a way with connecting you to these characters. She has such a way of writing romances where the spice is spicin’, but still get those balanced with fast paced and engaging plots. I am sad this series is over but I am so excited for what is to come.
Overall: 4.5 Spice: 3
Tropes: Hockey Romance Golden Retriever MMC Black Cat Age Gap He Falls First and Hard Mafia Princess
This may be a bit brutal but this book was actually awful. There a plenty of things I did not like:
● reverse age gap - FMC was 37, MMC was 28.
● mafia x hockey just didn't work for me. She's a mafia princess on the run but her cousin or brother knew where she was and she went viral for the DMV incident yet her father didn't find her until she went to the MMCs game a third way into the book??
● lack of birth control or ignorance of the fact that FMC didn't wanna have unprotected sex. First time, she asked for a condom and the MMC said he'd pull out, spoiler alert - he didn't! Second time she asked for a condom and he got huffy with her? Icky. It felt a bit assaultish to me. She doesn't want children because of mafia issues and yet all the MMC wants is to knock her up.
● insta love for MMC, literally obsession but not the nice kind
● the trope comments - I hate when authors call out tropes in their books, it really takes me out of it. He literally comments about how he's the golden retriever to her black cat.
● writing is a bit waffle-y. Some of the chapters do not need to be so long winded.
● unresolved mafia issues, we're just gonna brush it under the carpet? No thanks.
I'm sure there's more, this is all I can think of right now 💀💀
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Sasha & Gemma. Theirs is a very peculiar relationship. Reverse age-gap and sunshine/grumpy.
He is like 10 golden retrievers combined. But also crazy and kinda psycho. I liked him but he confused me. Gemma is a lady I liked a lot, she stayed true to her word. I’m not a big fan of instaloves. And this case was even more weird than your average instalove. I couldn’t understand his obsession that came out of nowhere. The obsession was over the top which also affected the chemistry.
The baby fever got a bit on my nerves to be honest. It takes the focus off the romance for me and I’m not a huge fan.
Finally, I liked the introduction to a new series but I felt like some things were rushed or underdeveloped here, like our MCs past.
-Dual 1st person POV -Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Overall: 3.5/5 ⭐️ for me.
Thank you so much Siena Trap for providing this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
While I loved the two previous books that I read specifically for doing this ARC…. This one has pretty much guaranteed I’m done The MMC is psychotic and delusional, but not funny, charming or pro consent enough to hit Josh- lights out level. He’s the annoying guy who won’t leave you alone and using sex to manipulate The FMC- she’s been through it- but it also seems like she doesn’t even like the MMC at all until she suddenly loves him? Ehhh the vibes aren’t vibing Also the whole “let me fist you to prove you can trust me” was just kinda odd and killed the book
God, was this book so over the top! The MMC (and he was quite the character) goalie ‘Goose’ (aka Sasha) Gusev…hard to describe him. At times I thought he was NUTS, and almost stalkerish. Then there were times that I thought his golden retriever personality was kind of cute. Then there were times where I thought he was too controlling and possessive. And don’t get me started on his sexual kinks…🤦🏻♀️
And Gemma, the woman who he was obsessed with the moment she freaked out in anger at the DMV? She was kind of all over the place. On the run from her mafia family and trying to start a new life, she came off as hot headed, yet vulnerable and scared, but also brave. The way that Sasha tracked her down because to him she was The ONE, the one he’d been waiting for his whole life, the one he was determined to make his, and Gemma’s resistance to him, was the bulk of the story.
Throw in plenty of sexual escapades (including one particularly kinky scene that I could’ve done without (Eeek) and oh yeah don’t forget to read that bonus epilogue too if you want more kink…), throw in some mafia action from Gemma’s family (I saw that coming), and of course all the characters from the previous Indy Speed books and there you have the rest of the story.
This was one crazy read for me. There were some questions left unanswered for me (you’ll know when you read it), some things that weren’t explained that had me scratching my head and wondering. There were many times where I rolled my eyes or snickered, talked backed to my kindle, or just uttered ‘why’ or …no, that would be a spoiler.🫢 And yes, there were times where I smiled and my heart melted too. Crazy as this story often got, I still couldn’t put it down. So kudos to the author for keeping me engaged enough to stick with it.
3.5 ⭐️ After being engulfed in the world of Indy Speed, I was excited for the opportunity to read this book. Was the book good? Yes. However, it was not my favorite. Let's dive in. I liked Gemma because she is a "take no crap, I will control my own life," type of woman. She went through hell before making it on her own. I applaud her for that. Then, in comes Goose, like a whirlwind. Goose gave me the "ick" for a majority of the book. I enjoyed that he was sunshine, positivity, and silver linings, but he gave off vibes I don't care for. For me, he is too clingy and had shown stalker tendencies. He was pushy, and that is not an attractive quality in a man. When Gemma started to give in too easily to Goose, it felt like Stockholm Syndrome. I did not expect the aggression that Goose had shown sexually, and it seemed out of character for him. Sure, Gemma seemed willing, but I feel like it could have been approached differently. Their relationship felt rushed, and it would have liked to see that deeper connection develop more naturally than through disaster. I have thoroughly enjoyed every book by Siena Trap, but this one just fell short for me. I'm ready to see what other books she has in store for us.
Thank you Siena Trap for providing a free copy of Goalie Goal in exchange for my honest review.
This was such a great and refreshing sports romance! It's the third installment in a series but can be read as a standalone (I didn't read the two first and I had no trouble understanding everything- However, I'll say there are a lot of characters so I had a hard time remembering their names lol)
“Baby, I’d have married you the day I met you. You’re the one.”
Tropes :
- Mafia Princess on the run - Hockey player - Plus-size FMC - Golden retriever x Black cat - Reverse Age-Gap - Consent KING - Stalkerish tendencies - BREEDING KINK. - Obsessed MMC - Found family
“I promised you one date, remember?” “Doesn’t matter.” Sasha stuffed his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “We’re soulmates.”Crazy has entered the chat.
Sasha is absolutely nuts for her. He meets her when he tries to cut in line, and she goes off on him, yelling at him in public for trying to pass in front of her after she'd been waiting for a while. And Sasha, instead of being put off, decides that this crazy woman yelling at him is his soulmate, his future wife, and the future mother of his children. LIKE... LOL. I love him, for real. Nothing and no one could have kept him away from her, not even Gemma herself.
Why are you having this argument with him? He chased after you. Athlete or not, he clearly has no issue with your size. Might be nice to see what it’s like to be thrown around like a ragdoll.
I LOVED seeing the mafia side of the world through our FMC's POV, and then there’s the overly optimistic, brilliant life of our MMC. They're polar opposites, coming from totally different backgrounds, yet they fit together perfectly. This was such a breath of fresh air in the hockey/sports romance scene. The author's writing style hooks you right from the start. Gemma has a really hard time trusting anyone and especially men, which only makes Sasha double his effort of winning her over.
“I need you to believe me when I say I will spend a lifetime making sure you know your worth, your true value.”
Sasha is definitely a consent king. He’s so obsessed with Gemma, he can't help but remind her how beautiful she is to him—and he even gets ANGRY when she dares critique herself. While it was insta-love for Sasha, Gemma took her time warming up to the idea of a relationship. Once they got started, though, the spice was top tier!!!!
Even though it's not a dark romance, you should read the triggers warning before jumping into this.
“That might be a dealbreaker for the boys you’ve been with, but I’m a grown man. A little pussy hair isn’t going to scare me away.” Oh. My. God. LMAO can this make get any better??
Holy shit. Her pussy fried my brain. Going bare has me forgetting my own damn name!
I’ve been waiting for goose’s book and it did not disappoint! The moment I heard him say “kitten” I was giggling like a school girl. Well done Siena you did yet an amazing book.
This book missed the mark for me. I have some very mixed feelings about this book. I have now read 7 books by Siena and I've enjoyed all of them except for this one. So take this review with a grain of salt.
Goose was like 12 golden retrievers put together but in a lowkey creepy way. This story was insta-love and something about it felt icky to me. The way Gemma was like "I don't even know you." and he was like "we ARE getting married and you WILL have my kids some day." I don't know, maybe overly possessive MMCs like that just aren't for me. I wish he would have worked for it a little more and wasn't so....idk, sure of himself? when it came to her? He was just like "yep. she's it. she's the one." and like...I guess, "when you know, you know" or whatever but idk it felt icky to me the way he went about it. Again, maybe it's just not my cup of tea!
This book was SMUTTYYYYY. Siena has always been good at writing smut but this one was on another level compared to the other books of hers I have read. I think this is the first book I've ever read that had f*sting in it, which was wild.
I liked that Goose was a golden retriever goalie instead of a grumpy caveman goalie. It seems like so many times in the books I read, all goalies are grumpy and basically cavemen who only grunt at everyone else because they're just "too focused" on their job as goalie. It was refreshing to see a goalie that was more lighthearted and fun.
Gemma has been through a lot and will continue to go through a lot I have a feeling, but that's just a part of being linked to the mafia. Which, I know she can't help it..she was literally born into it. I just hope that in the next series, her dad leaves her ALONE and lets her live happily ever after with Goose.
The DMV meet cute was indeed cute and silly and memorable. I'll be thinking about it for a while.
“The man took manifestation to a new level, and I couldn’t even be mad about it. My life was so much better now that he was in it.”
4.5 ⭐️
✨Hockey Romance ✨Black Cat / Golden Retriever ✨Reverse Age Gap ✨Opposites Attract ✨Boy Obsessed
I’ve been waiting for Goose’s book for quite some time, and his story did not disappoint. It was everything I could’ve wanted for him. This was such a fun time and I’m happy both of these characters got their HEA.
Goose (Sasha) is such a goofball and is optimistic 24/7. He always has a smile on his face and his happiness is contagious to those around him. Gemma is a runaway mafia Princess wanting to start her own life without be tied down by her family name. She’s feisty, independent, and isn’t afraid of holding back. They are complete opposites, but completely perfect for each other. The affirmations and actions from Goose were beautiful and helped Gemma understand what love is. He’s patient, he’s caring, and has more determination than any book boyfriend I know. That man doesn’t give up on Gemma and I loved every moment.
I feel like the storyline was mostly character driven, which was totally fine because the character development for Gemma was incredible to read. I loved watching her slowly come out of her shell. The pacing was good, not too slow, and the characters were lovable. I love how the author incorporated a little bit of found family into the mix and showed how close the hockey team truly is. Overall, I thought this book was tons of fun. I had a great time and I can’t wait to see what Siena has in store for her next series.
If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would in a heartbeat!! My favorite book by Siena so far. The story is great, the spice is spicing, the characters are amazing, the writing is perfect. There’s not one thing I would change. Goose is the man of my dreams and Gemma’s sass cracked me up. Their chemistry is off the charts and I couldn’t get enough. And if you have the opportunity to read the bonus chapter I sooooo recommend it! Chef’s kiss!
Oh how I loved this book!! First of all, Gemma is the FMC I’ve always needed in my life… she’s as tall as me, self-proclaimed fat, Italian, and has a black cat personality - I’ve never felt more seen in a book before and I’m absolutely obsessed with her. And don’t even get me started on Sasha… if I could be in love with a fictional man, it would be him. From his puppy dog energy to his caregiver personality, he’s one of the best MMCs I’ve read in a while. I loved how well Siena rounded out the Indy Speed series with this book while also throwing us into the Bellini’s Mafia world too. As always, I continue to love Siena’s writing style - her male POVs are some of my favorite and Sasha’s blew the past ones right out of the water - all of my favorite lines in this book are his, the way he loves is special. I would highly recommend this book, everyone needs to read it.
I have been dying for Goose’s story since we met him in book 1 & he did not disappoint! This man barely had two conversations with our fmc, Gemma, and he’s got her name on the side of his hockey mask. Man is down bad.
Okay this was such a fun read, spent my whole day devouring it & what a way to close out this series!! I was giggling so much throughout.
Our mmc, Sasha (Goose), is giving golden retriever energy to his core and when he meets Gemma, with her ripping him a new one at the DMV, he makes it his mission to have her. This guy is literally calling her his girl after all she’s done is yell at him. He’s a bit delulu but look, aren’t we all? I adored seeing him show up for Gemma in every way possible. His patience and love, mixed with his larger than life personality makes him so loveable. Seriously, these Indy Speed guys really know how to make their girls the center of their universe.
Gemma is a mafia princess with a tough past, growing up in a shitty male dominated world. Her walls are literally iron clad, and she’s feisty as hell, my kinda gal. She deserves all the love Goose has to give her and trust me, that’s a lot.
This is an interconnected standalone but I highly recommend starting with book 1 to add to the overall experience…. Plus you’re going to want to meet everyone properly (especially Maddox and Bristol; my faves)! Siena has such a way with connecting you to these characters. The queen of hockey romance, where the spice is spiceeeeyy, but balanced with fast paced and engaging plots. I already know this isn’t the last of our Indy Speed family, knowing Siena they are bound to pop up in the future!
As always, thank you Siena for the arc! You never disappoint 🫶🏼
I really enjoyed this book. I mean I love a golden retriever and a morally grey man who decides what he wants and doesn’t take no for an answer and it was fun to have these 2 combine into the most delicious MMC named Sasha. There’s just something about a man who is both sweet as pie and fully unhinged in his determination to win his girl that makes my brain short-circuit.
Enter Gemma: absolute black cat energy, emotionally armoured, and ready to verbally yeet Sasha into the sun upon first meeting. Naturally, our golden retriever king takes one look at her and says, “Yep. That one. Mine.” Throw in some light stalking and boom it’s a romance for the ages.
I particularly loved the way the author handled trauma and healing. Watching Gemma slowly start to believe she’s worthy of love just because someone keeps showing up for her, again and again was so bloody beautiful.
I haven’t read the first 2 books in the series and had no issues jumping in. The side characters were fab, and now I’m mildly obsessed with everyone and will obviously be circling back for the rest.
This book also had a little heartache and made me get a little teary but it also had a whole lotta love that also made me teary.
Overall it’s worth a read if you love a hockey or mafia book but don’t want something super dark.
Fave quotes
“Promise. I’ve gotta get ready for my shift, and you probably have to get back to enjoying the perks of being born with a penis into a patriarchal society, so I’ll let you go.”
“This is what you wanted, wasn’t it? To be my little fuck doll instead of my girlfriend, right?”
“What are you saying, Kitten?” Lifting her head, she nipped at my jaw, murmuring, “I’m ready to let you take care of me, Sasha.”
Another gal who’s not stick thin and I really really rate it. It’s a nice change that it’s not about her thin waist or flat stomach but a realistic body and issues that may come along with being bigger.
At the start I was cringing and was thinking ‘oh no, will I be able to get through it?’ But I did and I’m happy I carried on.
Anyone wanting to read a hockey series - I highly recommend this - starting with the Connecticut Comet series first. Yes there’s a lot of smut but still a plot and not as hectic as Pucking Around from what I can gather.
I’ve enjoyed all 9 books I’ve read by Siena Trap and there’s more to come from the side characters which I’m excited about 😊
Okay.. like "what did I just read?!?" but in the best way possible! I really enjoyed this book! I don't get to read many mafia books where it comes from the FMC I loved their connection and his protectiveness. They are so cute! The level of spice wasn't too crazy. These two are quite opposite in many ways and it made their relationship not predictable for me
Siena has done it again. I love Goose and Gemma. Goose is everything and Gemma was great and a favorite for her take no crap attitude. Im sad this series is over but Im excited to see what else comes from Siena.
Thank you to Siena for allowing me to read this book early.
Dedication: Because we love our fictional men slightly unhinged with a smile on their face and big . . . EVERYWHERE. It’s time for our golden boy, Goose, to get his girl, and she’s not gonna know what hit her.
Gemma (FMC): 37 • Bartender • Former Organized Crime Princess • Doesn’t Trust Men • Enjoying Her First Taste at Freedom After Escaping Her Family • Never Known Love • Sasha aka Goose (MMC): 28 • NHL Goalie • Child-Like/Immature • Russian-Born • Sober by Choice • Wants to Settle Down and Start a Family ��
Tropes: 🥅 Mafia Princess x Hockey Goalie 🥃 Hockey Sports Romance 🥅 Plus-Sized FMC 🥃 Age Gap (She’s Older) 🥅 He Falls First and Harder 🥃 Black Cat x Golden Retriever 🥅 Not-So-Meet-Cute Goes Viral 🥃 He Spoils Her 🥅 He Takes Care of Her
Rating: DNF at 15% Spice: (br33ding, 🤜🏼👊🏻, public play) T/W: pregnancy (referenced), organized crime (referenced), 🔫 violence (referenced), theft (referenced ), unaliving, narcotics use (not MCs) (referenced), parental death, gambling, past self-harm (cutting, referenced), past PA from a parent (referenced), car accident, hospitalization, head trauma, coma
While Goose is a walking green flag, his actions are all red flags. Gemma repeatedly told him no, yet he persisted in pursuing her. This behavior is reminiscent of a stalker. It’s like a golden retriever refusing to stop playing ball. Unfortunately, this goose didn’t lay any golden eggs.
I received an ARC copy and wanted to leave an honest review.
Gemma and Sasha aka Goose's story. Thank you to author Siena Trap and Luna Literary Management for the gifted copy of this book. The review is my own.
Gemma is a spitfire of an FMC who let's Goose and the DMV employee have it after allowing Goose to cut in line. After waiting all day, losing hours, she had it and ended up punching an employee.
From that moment, Goose decides she is the ONE for him. He just needs to convince her. Golden retriever Goose is the best MMC I have read in some time. He is so over the top, showering her with love, affection, and a puppy. What girl could want more?
Gemma is hard to persuade. She is a mafia princess who ran away from her family. She doesn't want a relationship as in her world, wives are murdered.
Goose keeps working on Gemma, and the great sex they have exploring kinks while he earns her trust is top tier. Public, br33ding hot hot hot.
I can't wait to read the mafia series spinning off of this!
ARC READ!! 4 stars for me! Spicy with a good mix of plot!
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What to expect: 🏒 black cat, golden retriever vibes 🏒 she’s older 🏒 hockey goalie/mafia princess 🏒 no third act break up 🏒 plus size fmc
You want a man that is obsessed with taking care of his girl? Goose is for you! Loved Goose & Gemma as a couple, they complimented each other well. His bright personality with her black cat attitude. This book was a quick/easy read and can be read as a standalone.
DNF - this was cheesy and immature but tolerable until their “meet-cute” when he immediately started calling her kitten and speaking to her like she already belonged to him. Literally says to her “can’t wait to tell our kids about this” after she says no when he asks her out. I guess maybe if you’re into stalker romances you might like the vibe of the MMC but this was just not it
“Goalie Goal” is a hockey romance and the third book in the “Indy Speed Hockey series.” Aleksander “Goose” Gusev, (aka Sasha) is the goalie for the Indie Speed and all he wants is what his best friends/teammates have - a wife and a family. Gemma Bellini (aka Kitten) is a mafia princess in hiding and wants the complete opposite. She comes from a background where women are treated as a commodity and then disposable once they produce a male heir. She has to protect herself from her father or else ….
After a literal run-in at the DMV, Gemma lets loose at him when he is served before her - angry that she has been waiting all day to be served and he just walks in and gets served first! To say that Goose is smitten with Gemma is an understatement, he has decided that she is his and they will live happily ever after. In a way Sasha has a heart of gold and very loyal to those he cares about. He now includes Gemma in this circle and would do anything for her. Even though Gemma and Sasha are completely opposites, they are a perfect for each other.
“I found her. That’s all I could focus on as I tracked the raven-haired beauty being escorted across the open room into an office with a closed door. Breathing fire, flushed and losing her shit over something so trivial that I couldn’t help but laugh, was the girl I’d been waiting for.”
Gemma has her own secrets which she keeps to herself. She has her own scars, her own demons to deal with and has learnt from an early age not to trust people. For her, it is the only way to protect herself and those she cares about. Will she take a chance at happiness? Can she let him in and be able to live the life she wants? Goose is persistent and is slowly wearing her down …. can she let herself believe in the dream of happily ever after?
I absolutely loved this story - I absolutely loved Goose 🪿I was hooked by the first chapter. Siena has done it again - well done! This is a lovely book that will keep you hooked! It has fun, laughs, intrigue, twists that you do not expect, and physical attraction. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful love story 💗 From page to page, chapter to chapter, from cover to cover - you will enjoy this beautiful story! This book will not disappoint! Highly recommended 😊
If you love a well researched, well endowed, and well written romance with a hockey playing found family and interconnected series… this may be the one for you!
🥅 Hockey series 🏒 Golden retriever / black cat energy 🥅 Reverse age gap 🏒 Reformed mafia princess 🥅 Love at first… fight 🏒 Breeding k!nk
Who knew losing it at the DMV after a long morning would lead to a giant, larger-than-life hockey goalie claiming the assailant as his future wife and spending every second showing he means it? Is Gemma going to let her past get in the way of having a truly happy future? Or is she going to resist Goose in the name of newfound freedom? Read The Goalie Goal to find out!
GOOOOSE! He is my favorite goofy giant. I was so excited to hear it was his turn! However, if I was Gemma, I too, would have lost my mind at this man at the dmv 😂 But the best part is he loved it! Which had me giggling the entire time. But his certainty and chasing of Gemma? Probably one of the hottest characters ever written just for that alone. Is he delulu? Yes! Does it work for him? Also yes!
Can I add how refreshing it was that the FMC is 37 years old and confident while also still figuring her life out and working through her familial trauma? Much appreciated.
Onto the plot. Siena. WTAF??? I have not cried consistently so much in a contemporary sports romance in a long while. No spoilers. But the last 20%??? Do you hate us or love us 😭 I was taken on quite a journey. I don’t remember a lot of books like this and I really enjoyed the combination of tropes the author used.
Siena wrote us a HIT. Again! I can’t wait for the spinoff 🫣🫣🫣
Thank you Siena Trap for my advanced reader copy! This is an honest and unbiased review.
You ALREADY KNOW when the first line of the book starts out like that, IT IS GOING TO BE GOOD. And Siena has DAMN WELL done it again with this one and I AM DYING!
Ever since meeting Goose in the previous Indy Speed books, I have been clawing my way into getting his story as we OBVIOUSLY need to know the ins and outs of the gorgeous golden retriever goalie! Like whom THE FUCK wouldn’t?! And OH MY GOD WE DID AND I HAVE FALLEN MORE IN LOVE WITH HIM. UGH. Not to mention, the mouth on him and his specialities in the bedroom? Ummm… HOLY FUCKING SHIT. Of course, hearing more about his backstory was heart wrenching which made the executive decision to add him to the blanket burrito, but only on his terms.
Which in saying that the lovely Gemma DEFINITELY WAS NOT feeling his terms of course, being the absolute BAD ASS SPIT FIRE SHE IS! I was not expecting a Mafia Princess to come into Sasha’s life, but I AM SO GLAD IT DID! The chemistry, the intoxication from the both of them was PURE FIRE! And good god did it make me all up in my feels when Sasha little by little cracked Gemma’s shell to reveal who she really is underneath all the mafia family-ness that engulfed her life. IT WAS TOO FUCKING CUTE!
I’m trying not to think about the fact that this is the LITERAL end of the Indy Speed/Connecticut Comets and Remington Royals story, but I am hoping that we’ll be able to see more of these characters in the upcoming Rust Canyon and Bellini Mafia series’ because I am going to miss them SO FUCKING MUCH. I have LOVED these characters with my entire being and it’s so sad, but such a full circle moment and I am CRYING. Thank you Siena for bringing these characters to life, and I’ll ALWAYS come back for them. And don’t even get me started with the Remington Royals prequel coming soon! *screams in excitement*
From the first line, I was hooked. This book was not what I was expecting at all from the golden retriever Goose.
Sasha “Goose” Gustev is the goalie to the Indy Speed and has been watching all of his friends fall and love and have kids. And it’s everything he’s been wanting. All he needs to do is find the one.
Gemma is running from her mafia past, trying to make her own way in the world with out the likes of dangerous men. One bad day at the DMV changes her whole life.
I was laughing and loving how delusional Sasha was but man does manifest what he wants and he definitely was not taking no for an answer with Gemma.
There’s a line in this book that Gemma says, “What Sasha wants, Sasha gets. Story of my fucking life,” and it’s the truth through the whole book!
Like he know she’s a back cat and he’s a golden retriever, even mentions it to her🤣.
The inner monologues of both these characters were amazing. Gemma knew all the things that Sasha was saying were crazy, love that she’s like you belong in a straight jacket.
Not only that, Gemma running from her past, she doesn’t get how love works or what healthy relationships look like so she is super skeptical of Sasha and his friends but like she says, Sasha gets what he wants lol. Sasha shows her and he’s seriously do patient with her. Such a good book boyfriend.
Also, reverse age gap is one of my favorite tropes and throw in hockey romance, I’m a goner.
Tropes: 🥅Hockey romance 🥅Golden retriever goalie MMC 🥅Mafia princess FMC 🥅Reverse age gap 🥅Br££ding kink 🥅She’s the only one who calls him by his first name 🥅Plus sized FMC 🥅He’s obsessed with her 🥅Public 🤭 🥅No third act breakup