The Secret Book Boyfriend

by Ellie Hall

an this shy bookstore owner who’s never been kissed turn the grumpy hockey-playing beast who owns the building into a book boyfriend, er, book lover?

Vohn
I’m good at two things: playing and coaching hockey. Not a businessman, when I inherit a prime piece of real estate downtown, the plan is to level it to make room for a parking lot. Anyone else hate fighting to the death for a spot?

Gracie
I have two dreams: open a bookstore and find a guy who is a swoony sweetheart like the heroes in my favorite novels. As for Once Upon a Romance, achievement unlocked. I’m officially ready to match readers with the books they love.

Vohn
I get caught breaking into my building by a woman wielding a dictionary. Can’t lie. She’s adorable in those pajamas. I like what I see. Too bad I have to kick her out.

Gracie
My new landlord is a grump and a brute. Who hates books? Him. That’s who. Pages fly when we clash, but things heat up when we get stranded during a storm.

Vohn
Plot twist. Turns out I need her help and she needs mine, so I propose a fake marriage of convenience.

Gracie
Didn’t see that coming, but like in love stories, maybe if he’s my first kiss, he’ll turn into a prince.

If you enjoy clean, closed door, small town, grumpy sunshine romcom, then it’s time to meet Gracie and Vohn in this instalove standalone novella.

Genres: Novella, Hockey

156 pages, Paperback

Published May 11, 2024

About the author

Ellie Hall is a USA Today bestselling author. If only that meant she could wear a tiara and get away with it. ;) She loves puppies, books, and the ocean. Writing sweet romance with lots of firsts and fizzy feels gives her joy. Oh, and chocolate chip cookies are her fave. Ellie believes in dreaming big, working hard, and lazy Sunday afternoons spent with her family and dog in gratitude for God’s grace.

♥

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/EllieHallNL
Website: http://www.elliehallauthor.com
Facebook: http://www/facebook.com/elliehallauthor
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/elliehallauthor

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Series and suggested reading order:

The Only Us Sweet Billionaire Series
•these billionaires have everything, but will they find love...?•

1. Only a Date with a Billionaire
2. Only a Kiss with a Billionaire
3. Only a Night with a Billionaire
4. Only Forever with a Billionaire
5. Only Love with a Billionaire
6. Only Christmas with the Billionaire
7. Only New Year with the Billionaire

♥

The Hawkins Family Clean Romance Series

•five brothers, torn apart and the women who help put them back together...•

1. Second Chance in Hawk Ridge Hollow

2. Finding Forever in Hawk Ridge Hollow

3. Resort Getaway with a Bodyguard

4. Going Home to Hawk Ridge Hollow

5. Christmas in Hawk Ridge Hollow

♥

The Blue Bay Beach Reads Romance Series

•a small-town restaurant, a dating dare, and happily ever afters...•

1. Summer with the Marine

2. Summer with the Rock Star

3. Summer with the Billionaire

4. Summer with the Cowboy

5. Summer with the Carpenter

6. Summer with the Doctor

♥

Ritchie Ranch Clean Cowboy Romance Series

•Cowboy hats & kisses with small-town charm•

1. Rustling the Cowboy’s Heart

2. Lassoing the Cowboy’s Heart

3. Trusting the Cowboy’s Heart

4. Kissing the Christmas Cowboy

5. Loving the Cowboy’s Heart

6. Charming the Cowboy’s Heart

7. Saving the Cowboy’s Heart

8. Wrangling the Cowboy’s Heart

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Falling into Happily Ever After Rom Com

• Sweet, heartwarming & uplifting romantic comedy

1. An Unwanted Love Story

2. An Unexpected Love Story

3. An Unlikely Love Story

4. An Accidental Love Story

5. An Impossible Love Story

6. An Unconventional Christmas Love Story

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Forever Marriage Match

• Five friends have to find true love or else...romcom

1. Dare to Love My Grumpy Boss

2. Dare to Love the Guy Next Door

3. Dare to Love My Fake Husband

4. Dare to Love the Guy I Hate

5. Dare to Love My Best Friend

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Home Sweet Home Small Town Romantic Comedy Series

Mr. & Mrs. Fix-It Find Love

Designing Happily Ever After

The DIY Kissing Project

The True Romance Renovation

Extreme Heart Makeover

Building What's Meant to Be

♥

The Costa Brothers Cozy Christmas Comfort Romance Series

Tommy & Merry and the 12 Days of Christmas

Bruno & Gloria and the 5 Golden Rings

Luca & Ivy and the 4 Calling Birds

Gio & Joy and the 3 French Hens

Paulo & Noella and the 2 Turtle Doves

Nico & Hope and the Partridge in the Pear Tree

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The Love List Series

The Swoon List

The Not Love List

The Crush List

The Kiss List

The Naughty or Nice List

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Love, Laughs, and Mystery in Coco Key

The Romance Situation

The Romance Fiasco

The Romance Game

The Romance Gambit

The Christmas Romance Wish

♥

On the Hunt for Love

The Grump and the Girl Next Door

The Bitter Heir and the Beauty

The Secret Son and the Sweetheart

The Ex Best Friend and the Fake Fiancé

The Best Friend’s Brother and the Brain

Select titles are available in audiobook, paperback, hardcover, and large print formats. Happy reading!♥

Reviews

[Lissa Ruck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Vohn & Gracie's sweet, grumpy, caring, loving, swoony story!!!

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Este libro no es para mí, desde luego. Con esta lectura he descubierto que no me gusta cuando los personajes hacen demasiadas referencias a libros, clichés literarios, personajes… aquí era un no parar y queda raro, da mucho cringe.
No me ha encantado la verdad, los protagonistas son demasiado planos y todo pasa a un ritmo desenfrenado, además la explicación que se da al final para convencer de que lo suyo es amor de verdad no me convence.
Definitivamente no es para mí.

[Holly Dimitrie]

This book was adorable
Well written, loved the characters, loved the theme and plot and the book references in the book
It first started off with emails back and forth and that was so much fun to get into the story this way
Ellie Hall is becoming a favourite author of mine, so far no book I have read from her is bad

[Lavender Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warmhearted story with endearing characters (Grumpy/Sunshine is my favourite trope) and heartfelt moments. I loved the emails!

A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute you've got mail type story 😍

[Tales and Toils · Rating 3 out of 5]

While reading this, I could imagine this being drawn out and more added to it to make this book more substantial... in a good way! This moves rather quickly, though not at all rushed and was very "bookish" and funny. My favorite part (no spoilers) is when he wonders if she may have "had a case of the vapors or whatever women experienced in those old dramas and romance books." Some cheesy parts but a very enjoyable read!


Blurb:
Can this shy bookstore owner who’s never been kissed turn the grumpy hockey-playing beast who owns the building into a book boyfriend, er, book lover?

Vohn
I’m good at two things: playing and coaching hockey. Not a businessman, when I inherit a prime piece of real estate downtown, the plan is to level it to make room for a parking lot. Anyone else hate fighting to the death for a spot?

Gracie
I have two dreams: open a bookstore and find a guy who is a swoony sweetheart like the heroes in my favorite novels. As for Once Upon a Romance, achievement unlocked. I’m officially ready to match readers with the books they love.

Vohn
I get caught breaking into my building by a woman wielding a dictionary. Can’t lie. She’s adorable in those pajamas. I like what I see. Too bad I have to kick her out.

Gracie
My new landlord is a grump and a brute. Who hates books? Him. That’s who. Pages fly when we clash, but things heat up when we get stranded during a storm.

Vohn
Plot twist. Turns out I need her help and she needs mine, so I propose a fake marriage of convenience.

Gracie
Didn’t see that coming, but like in love stories, maybe if he’s my first kiss, he’ll turn into a prince.

#closeddoorromance #cleanromancenovels #hockeyromance #grumpysunshinetrope #secondchance #marriageofconvenience #enemiestolovers #novella

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH My GOODNESS!!! Ellie Hall what did you do to me?! 🥹 I absolutely loved this book! I’m like , I think I’ll read something light. I know I’ve got that other book she wrote, I’ll give that a whirl….. Swoon! Crafty old Foxx…. When Pride and Prejudice loving Gracie signs a lease agreement from Fred Foxx with a pay it forward promise , she could never know who her correspondence is to, only that it’s to someone who could do with a friend … She has him in mind but as her bookish fantasy boyfriend penpal opens up it’s clearly a younger man and not the old gentleman. Fred Foxx’s daughter was married to Vohn Brandt but it was Vohn who inherited his ex father in law’s building where a bookshop had its lease. Vohn a Hockey coach thinks it will be grand if he could flatten the building and lay a parking lot on the land. Heads butt and she’s not for turning when they meet. A stormy night lays ahead in more ways that one and this story may have more of a fairy than sting in the tale.. well if the shoe Fitz….I adored this so much! It was very cleverly devised and perfectly crafted by the author to squeeze every last drop of pure brilliancy sweet romance in writing to the epic swoon conclusion ! Bravo girl! And the sweet pen pal beginning? A triumph to whet our appetite to then feed our hearts with such soul 🥹

[Kaci Bonar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an expected novella from Ellie Hall, but it was so good!  It was a bold choice to start it with a series of emails, but I really loved how it set the tone of the personalities of the protagonists!

Gracie is literally sunshine and rainbows!  When she signs the lease agreement for her new bookshop, she is asked to bring that joy when emailing a ‘friend’ of her leaser!  Gracie is the embodiment of fictional heroes with her blissfulness despite all her life has thrown at her- including her grumpy new building owner!

Vohn is a grump!  There is no way around it, the man has been in the trenches with his own personal issues!  Not even the perkiness of the current inhabitant of his newly acquired building is sure to change his mind!  Despite their opposing personalities, they both find each other attractive which neither is about to act on!

Who knew tornado warnings could allow these two open up after their initial ‘meet scare’!  Somehow as the storm rages on outside, their personal storm seems to settle!  This is the perfect novella on a lazy day or if you’re simply obsessed with the grumpy/sunshine trope!  This novella also loosely ties into Ellie’s new hockey series about the Nebraska Knights!  Can’t wait to if these two pop up again as it didn’t don on me until I finished reading that I had seen Vohn’s name in “Stupid Cupid”! 

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gracie signed the lease on her bookstore. Fred Fox, the owner of the building, had her send a monthly email to an address he gave her. The person needed a little cheer in their life.

Gracie signed as BookShopGirl@email.com and sent emails to NumberThirtyThree@email.com. Exchanges touched on personal matters and likes and dislikes and each got to know the other. Both were surprised when NumberThirtyThree turned out to be Fred’s ex-son-law Vohn who got taken by Fred’s daughter Ilyssa. Fred left the building to Vohn who wanted to demolish it and put in a parking lot.

A storm caused them to seek shelter together and he remembered the comfort he got when he read Gracie’s emails. She got him reading Pride and Prejudice and he liked it.

When his work visa was messed up, he proposed they marry and have a fake relationship. Then he realized he had fallen in love with BookShopGirl and there was nothing fake about his feelings.

Gracie had never had a boyfriend and had always wanted her own Mr Darcy and her dream came true.

A sweet story with a HEA!

[Joyce Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gracie has always dreamed of opening her own bookstore. She is sunshine. Always a positive attitude. When she rents the space, Mr. Foxx has one stipulation - send an encouraging email each month to this email address. No personal information, just something positive. So she begins an email conversation with #33. Vohn is an NHL player who's wife cheated on him, took him for everything he had and then left. Mr. Foxx was his father-in-law. When he passed away, he left the building to Vohn. Vohn is determined to tear down the building and send Gracie packing. He is definitely grumpy about all the life has thrown at him. Gracie can't let her dream go without a fight so she sets out to convince Vohn that her bookstore would be better than a parking lot. When they are trapped in the building during a tornado, they realize they have been email pen pals for months. Vohn opens up to the hurts that he has had. Gracie is such a ray of sunshine. She always has something kind to say. Such a sweet, sweet book.

[Tera Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - That was a crazy train read.

**Spoilers** It crams an entire rom com plot into one day including breaking and entering, you’re evicted because I want parking not your store, a tornado, a meet cute realization, a first kiss, read Pride and Prejudice, get out you’re still evicted, possible deportation, let’s get married, I love you, first date, real proposal with a ring and a sweet gift with their married name. Throw in 3 kids in 5 years as the cherry on top. All that equals What did I just read? It wasn’t bad. It’s a super fast read that was actually kind of sweet. I liked both main characters Grace and Vohn. I would have like that plot spread out a bit. Maybe over like a week or a month. The timeline was nonsensical. Also why has an almost 30 year old woman never been kissed or had a date. That was ridiculously unrealistic and takes the virginal ingenue troupe to a new level.

[Sharon the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

“There’s no set pace for love to grow between 2 people. Trees take years to go from acorn to oak while bamboo is one of the fastest to stretch towards the sun. Both are strong and resilient and long lasting.”

This quote was a perfect explanation of insta-love. While it is not my favorite, I will look at it differently. This story, being a novella, is a faster paced love story. No one does novellas like Ellie. You get a smile and a laugh without a week long commitment.

A hockey player who had been played, a bookstore owner who is in love with book character boyfriends- come together in the most random of ways. Anonymously. It works well and is just what I needed between a couple of heavier war books.

I got his free for signing up for her newsletter.

[Sunny.Honey_Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Gracie, she was a true ray of sunshine and sweet! Of course she would own a bookstore, especially a romance themed store. The emails were fun to read.

Vohn had a sad story and I understood the walls he had built up, and they were strong. So seeing his interactions with Gracie were sweet.

The only complaint I have is we went from 0-100 real quick, which is understandable due to the length of the book but I felt the ending was super rushed as well as kinda confusing because one minute it’s “fake” then it’s not? The last email was adorable though!

Some editorial mistakes which had me rereading sentences to make them make sense, but overall would recommend!

[Shauna Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet story of unexpected romance
What happens when one person’s dream crashes into another person’s plans? Gracie had always wanted to own a bookstore and now she had her dream. She was in business after signing a lease for her building including a strange clause requiring her to write an anonymous, upbeat letter to an unknown address regularly. Vohn was surprised to say the least when he discovers his ex-father-in-law had left him a commercial building. Now Vohn wants to tear the building down and Gracie wants to keep her bookstore in the building. Everything seems at an impasse until visa problems arise and secret identities are discovered. A fun read to make you smile.

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

It amazes me how many books have a Pride and Prejudice theme. I’ve never been able to make it through the book although Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies is a great movie! One that Gracie apparently does not like!

I do like that they became pen pal email friends first. I did find it unexpected how quickly they found out that they were the pen pals.

It seems to me that this book may be one in a series given that Gracie has two friends and one of them is married to a hockey player. But if it is part of a series, I have not read the other books.

This was a quick read at only around 100 pages or so with a sweet HEA.

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but I wouldn't say it was a favourite.

There were definitely cute moments between the main love interests but I did find it read a bit like a fanfiction with Vohn constantly being described as a 'beast' or beast like by several characters in the book.

I can however see how lots of people would like it, it's a comfy romance, upbeat and sweet. It does move very quickly as others have commented, with the whole book spanning a few days.

I will admit that I was captivated enough to read it in one sitting and it only took a couple hours. So if you are looking for a quick easy romance, this book might be for you.

[Pascale’s*ARC,Unwind,Read,Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the other reviews on this book before I read the story and I have to agree with what many others said.mIt would be a great book if it wasn’t so rushed at the end. The pacing starts off very well, but then the ending suddenly rushes everything to a quick conclusion and it really takes so much away from it. It could’ve easily been a 5 star read had it been longer and more fully developed. I received this book when I signed up for the author’s newsletter. I generally really enjoy her work but this one is lacking.

[Megan (messybun.bookishfun) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little novella about a love at first sight/ you’ve got mail kind of story. They were emailing anonymously, so when they meet at first it’s almost an enemies to more, but within 24 hours they are trapped in the basement due to Nebraska tornadoes, and overnight realize they actually know each other. It then becomes almost “insta love”, but not because they had been emailing for over 6 months.

Short. But sweet. And helps piece together some more of the Nebraska Knights Hockey Town heroes stories.

Assistant coach

[Rose Garza · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️💫(2.5)
The Secret Book Boyfriend started off super cute—I loved the email exchanges and the mystery of it all. But as the story unfolded, it just felt a little too plain. I get that it was meant to be an instant love kind of romance, but something was missing for me. The connection didn’t feel fully developed, and while the concept had potential, it didn’t quite hit the emotional depth I was hoping for. Still, it had its sweet moments—just not one that totally swept me off my feet.

[Alison Ramsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gracie has finally achieved her goal of opening a bookstore but an unexpected midnight encounter with her new landlord puts that dream in jeopardy as he wants to evict her to make way for a car park. However it seems that they are not entirely the strangers they initially assumed and after a stormy night (literally) and a twist of events they have to work together. Delightful fun romance.

[Konrie Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The female lead is soo cute and quirky and the male lead is so broody and a beast. I love seeing beauty tame the beast and how often our bookshop girl references romance novels. So cute. I especially like the way they left the story (pre-epilogue). The epilogue was sweet but the ending was swoony :)

If you are a big pride and prejudice fan, you will especially love the references :)

[Denise A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this super cute, funny, feel good book!! This book was written for every girl who grew up loving to read and wanting to own a book store! I loved the characters and almost every romance book trope is mentioned in this book. Easy, delightful, lighthearted, perfect book for a lazy afternoon. I definitely recommend this book!!

[Nathalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute and quick read about Gracie, a shy bookstore owner, and Vohn, a grumpy heartbroken man, who find love with each other. This book is short, but it didn’t feel rushed and I appreciate that. I thought the email exchange in the beginning were the best part for me, and I think that cutesie banter was kind of lost after they met in person, which was an absolute shame.

[Rhondia Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy sweet clean romance, try The Secret Book Boyfriend by Ellie Hall. It all begins with a series of emails that perfectly set the stage for a meeting between grumpy Vohn and sunny Gracie. The pace of the relationship is swift but fits beautifully within the frame of the story. It was a very nice uplifting read. I received a free copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.

[Judy Samson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very sweet happily ever romance that was fun and quick to read by Author Ellie Hall. I love reading books, I was drawn to a bookstore setting, book club friendships and the hunky bad boy that owns the building the bookstore resides in. A couple unexpected twists to keep you reading.

[Marilyn Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kind of story. Very unusual, especially the landlord. Pain for real in his life, and just encouraging someone who needs it, makes her day. In spite of their very different life experiences they had the same values. It’s a “Dary” thing, kinfolk of I love the progression of events

[Amanda Croshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extremely quick read. Had such potential for a novel! I loved the characters and the meet cute. However the ending was a blur of tying up loose ends and “I love you”s but if you’ve got an hour to kill it’s a quick, clean read.

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first half of the story felt too familiar, reminding me of a few other storyline’s I’ve read recently.
But then there was the suggestion that Jane Austen had written that ‘bewitched’ line, which is only from the 2005 movie. That took all credibility from the writer for me.

[Emily Eaton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the story was cute and I enjoyed the characters. However, there were, in my opinion, too many story points introduced for it to be a novella. I wanted this to be a full length book, instead of the quick wrap up that it was.

[Mallory Holy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. It was sweet and a really nice pallet cleanser. The ending felt rushed, almost like the author wanted to keep it under a certain length. It kind of worked given the build up to the main characters meeting however it felt like something was missing.