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Appies #5
Runaway Bride and Prejudice
There's one rule smart hockey players know not to break: never, and I mean, NEVER date the coach's daughter. But no one ever accused Van of being smart.
When the mouthy bad boy of the Appies catches the groom cheating on the coach's daughter, he can't just walk away. Not on her wedding day.
Maybe his own relationships are casual, but he would never cheat and never treat wedding vows so carelessly. Not after he and his sisters watched their divorced parents cycle through marriage after marriage.
But forcing the groom to come clean sets off a chain reaction Van couldn't have expected.
Ending with a black eye, an unexpected trip to Florida with one runaway bride, and a secret bargain struck with Coach.
A bargain that may just jeopardize the very real and very inconvenient feelings he's developing for the very last person he ever should.
When the mouthy bad boy of the Appies catches the groom cheating on the coach's daughter, he can't just walk away. Not on her wedding day.
Maybe his own relationships are casual, but he would never cheat and never treat wedding vows so carelessly. Not after he and his sisters watched their divorced parents cycle through marriage after marriage.
But forcing the groom to come clean sets off a chain reaction Van couldn't have expected.
Ending with a black eye, an unexpected trip to Florida with one runaway bride, and a secret bargain struck with Coach.
A bargain that may just jeopardize the very real and very inconvenient feelings he's developing for the very last person he ever should.
418 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2024
1244 people are currently reading
5431 people want to read
About the author
Emma St. Clair
63 books3,948 followersEmma St. Clair is a USA Today Bestselling Author who loves sassy heroines, witty banter, and love stories with heart and humor. She has an MFA in Fiction and lives in Katy, Texas (go, Tigers!) with her hubby, five children, and Great Dane. Her favorite place to write is tapping on her phone while on the elliptical machine. No Emmas have been hurt in the writing of these novels. (Yet.)
Want a free novella? Grab Upping the Ante here: https://emmastclair.com/ante
You can follow the day-to-day on instagram @kikimojo.
Want a free novella? Grab Upping the Ante here: https://emmastclair.com/ante
You can follow the day-to-day on instagram @kikimojo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 726 reviews
September 1, 2024
Runaway Bride and Prejudice by Emma St. Clair - 5 Stars
In The Appies Series but can be read as a Standalone
BLOG POST: https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...
WHAT A GREAT BOOK YALL! I loved this one so much. The way Emma writes her sweet rom-coms is CHEF'S KISS. The characters have depth and you really grow to love them. I could NOT put this book down, it's one of my fav rom-coms now!
In this one we have Van, who is the bad boy image guy on the Appies hockey team. Amelia is getting married when Van finds her fiancé cheating on her. The wedding is broke off, but Amelia is going to go on her honeymoon trip anyway.... Van is driving her to the airport when her Dad asks him to go with her on the trip to keep her safe. The one rule? Don't get any romantic ideas....but Van can't help but fall for the Coach's daughter.....
This book has the BANTER, friendships, sweet romance and laugh out loud moments you want in a rom-com! Seeing Van and Amelia really get to know one another and fall in love was so great! The side texts with the guys and Van's sisters showing up was hilarious! LOVED those moments with them!
ALSO...CHAPTER 17!! TOOK ME OUT. I did not see how that way going to go and LOVE how Emma brought so much to this story from that!
Highly recommend!
Read if you love:
🏒Hockey Sports Romance (APPIES!)
🏒Clean, Closed Door Rom-Coms
🏒Bad Boy MMC and Rule Following FMC
🏒BANTER!
🏒Opposites Attract
🏒Nicknames for Each Other
🏒Runaway Bride Trope
🏒Funny Side Characters and Sisters
It's official to say, if Emma writes it, I will read it! Thank you to the author for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In The Appies Series but can be read as a Standalone
BLOG POST: https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...
WHAT A GREAT BOOK YALL! I loved this one so much. The way Emma writes her sweet rom-coms is CHEF'S KISS. The characters have depth and you really grow to love them. I could NOT put this book down, it's one of my fav rom-coms now!
In this one we have Van, who is the bad boy image guy on the Appies hockey team. Amelia is getting married when Van finds her fiancé cheating on her. The wedding is broke off, but Amelia is going to go on her honeymoon trip anyway.... Van is driving her to the airport when her Dad asks him to go with her on the trip to keep her safe. The one rule? Don't get any romantic ideas....but Van can't help but fall for the Coach's daughter.....
This book has the BANTER, friendships, sweet romance and laugh out loud moments you want in a rom-com! Seeing Van and Amelia really get to know one another and fall in love was so great! The side texts with the guys and Van's sisters showing up was hilarious! LOVED those moments with them!
ALSO...CHAPTER 17!! TOOK ME OUT. I did not see how that way going to go and LOVE how Emma brought so much to this story from that!
Highly recommend!
Read if you love:
🏒Hockey Sports Romance (APPIES!)
🏒Clean, Closed Door Rom-Coms
🏒Bad Boy MMC and Rule Following FMC
🏒BANTER!
🏒Opposites Attract
🏒Nicknames for Each Other
🏒Runaway Bride Trope
🏒Funny Side Characters and Sisters
It's official to say, if Emma writes it, I will read it! Thank you to the author for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 29, 2024
I devoured this last night in one sitting. It has everything I love: insta love, fresh spin on a trope you don't see often (jilted/runaway bride), swoony hero, and microtrope of that's my wife. Sooo good. This is Emma St. Clair at her finest.
September 4, 2024
All the stars for Van's story! This book had me hooked from start to finish. It’s everything I wanted and more!
You've got a coach’s daughter with a wedding that goes totally off the rails, and Van, the charming "bad boy" of the Appies hockey team. Their romance is full of fun banter, teasing, and swoony moments that’ll have you grinning from ear to ear. Plus, you get fun hockey teammate text threads and some no-nonsense sisters!
Van is now my favorite player on the Appies—he’s got way more depth than you’d expect, and it’s just perfect. This book had me snorting, cackling, and staying up way too late to finish it!
I won’t spoil anything, so go in blind; it might just surprise you. And yes, Van is totally right about rereads and audiobooks.
Read this if you like:
🏒 Bad boy x rule following good girl
🏒 Runaway bride
🏒 Forced proximity
🏒 Opposites attract
🚨🚨 TW: Death of parent, parental neglect, cheating (not between MCs)
You've got a coach’s daughter with a wedding that goes totally off the rails, and Van, the charming "bad boy" of the Appies hockey team. Their romance is full of fun banter, teasing, and swoony moments that’ll have you grinning from ear to ear. Plus, you get fun hockey teammate text threads and some no-nonsense sisters!
Van is now my favorite player on the Appies—he’s got way more depth than you’d expect, and it’s just perfect. This book had me snorting, cackling, and staying up way too late to finish it!
I won’t spoil anything, so go in blind; it might just surprise you. And yes, Van is totally right about rereads and audiobooks.
Read this if you like:
🏒 Bad boy x rule following good girl
🏒 Runaway bride
🏒 Forced proximity
🏒 Opposites attract
🚨🚨 TW: Death of parent, parental neglect, cheating (not between MCs)
February 12, 2025
Bad boy hockey star Robert Van de Kamp has a thing for the coach’s daughter who is set to marry her fiancee. That is until he’s caught cheating on her on her wedding day. Desperate to escape the limelight, Amelia escapes to Florida on what should have been her honeymoon, accompanied by Van.
Oh my gosh, this book is super cute! As a huge fan of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, I feel as though I was destined to like this one, but although it is similar, Emma St. Clair did a great job of taking inspiration but not the plot.
It also has such a fun mashup of a few of the classic romance tropes mixed with some that are more common in spicy/dark romance, proving yet again that a romance does not need to be doors off the hinges open to have the same impact. These characters had a ton of chemistry, and our playboy MC Van was a really fun take on the stereotypical alpha male, especially when it came to protecting Amelia. And the trope that ends up being a twist in here was fabulous.
Read if you like:
▪️forbidden romance
▪️coach’s daughter
▪️he falls first
▪️runaway bride
▪️one bed
▪️forced proximity
▪️touch her and die vibes
▪️hockey romance
Thank you Emma St. Clair for the gifted copy.
Oh my gosh, this book is super cute! As a huge fan of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, I feel as though I was destined to like this one, but although it is similar, Emma St. Clair did a great job of taking inspiration but not the plot.
It also has such a fun mashup of a few of the classic romance tropes mixed with some that are more common in spicy/dark romance, proving yet again that a romance does not need to be doors off the hinges open to have the same impact. These characters had a ton of chemistry, and our playboy MC Van was a really fun take on the stereotypical alpha male, especially when it came to protecting Amelia. And the trope that ends up being a twist in here was fabulous.
Read if you like:
▪️forbidden romance
▪️coach’s daughter
▪️he falls first
▪️runaway bride
▪️one bed
▪️forced proximity
▪️touch her and die vibes
▪️hockey romance
Thank you Emma St. Clair for the gifted copy.
August 26, 2024
First : I love the Appies
Second: THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING
Third: Emma St Clair is a FREAKING GENIUS
Fourth: this was supposed to be a happy book ( it is) but 98% I was bawling (ik I am an emotional mess)
Fifth: Did I mention I love the Appies ?
That’s it.
I should get an Olympic medal on how fast I devoured this book
Second: THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING
Third: Emma St Clair is a FREAKING GENIUS
Fourth: this was supposed to be a happy book ( it is) but 98% I was bawling (ik I am an emotional mess)
Fifth: Did I mention I love the Appies ?
That’s it.
I should get an Olympic medal on how fast I devoured this book
January 30, 2026
I think we all collectively fell for Van a little bit in Eli’s book (shoutout AGOOO!)
But then this just sealed it!
A mouthy bad boy with heart?! *squeal*
His loyalty, his protection, and his wanting Amelia to be her FULL self?! Ohhhh I die.
From Amelia & Van’s first interaction there was just a ✨spark✨! And ehehehehe how I loved watching it snap, crackle, pop throughout the whole book. (The good. The bad. And the ugly)
This story was a RIIIIDDDEEE from beginning to end, and it really just had me giggling & kicking my feet the whole time!
When Amelia FINALLY got a bit of a backbone to stand up to her dad — I might’ve cheered a little bit! (But as a people pleaser…I get her)
BUT A MOMENT WHERE THE GIRL STANDS UP FOR WHAT SHE WANTS. AND ITS HHHHIIIIIMMMM!!! Yeah. Yeah. I’m here for that micro trope!
(And I’ll aallllwwwaaayyysssss be a SUCKER for a jersey declaration moment!! - you can pry them out of my cold dead hands!)
I just wanted to hug them both. Since they’re…well…fake - I hugged the book instead. (Cause THAT makes me more normal 🙄)
The Appies series deserves ALL the love! And I will always be a loud & proud fan!
Also…secret marriage might be a new thing for me…
5/5 stars!
*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*
But then this just sealed it!
A mouthy bad boy with heart?! *squeal*
His loyalty, his protection, and his wanting Amelia to be her FULL self?! Ohhhh I die.
From Amelia & Van’s first interaction there was just a ✨spark✨! And ehehehehe how I loved watching it snap, crackle, pop throughout the whole book. (The good. The bad. And the ugly)
This story was a RIIIIDDDEEE from beginning to end, and it really just had me giggling & kicking my feet the whole time!
When Amelia FINALLY got a bit of a backbone to stand up to her dad — I might’ve cheered a little bit! (But as a people pleaser…I get her)
BUT A MOMENT WHERE THE GIRL STANDS UP FOR WHAT SHE WANTS. AND ITS HHHHIIIIIMMMM!!! Yeah. Yeah. I’m here for that micro trope!
(And I’ll aallllwwwaaayyysssss be a SUCKER for a jersey declaration moment!! - you can pry them out of my cold dead hands!)
I just wanted to hug them both. Since they’re…well…fake - I hugged the book instead. (Cause THAT makes me more normal 🙄)
The Appies series deserves ALL the love! And I will always be a loud & proud fan!
Also…secret marriage might be a new thing for me…
5/5 stars!
*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*
January 14, 2025
I read this book last summer and my ears were recently treated to a deliciously sweet dual narrator that left my heart pitter-pattering.
Van is perfection and Rock Engle made him come to life. Emily Ellet did a phenomenal job of portraying Amelia and everything that I loved about this book hit me with full force as I listened to it.
These two characters are so much fun, especially as they banter and battle fierce attraction. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again–Emma St Clair knows how to write and brings every emotion and romantic feeling to a book, allowing for the most amazing and beautiful story to unfold. Do yourself a favor and grab it--NOW AVAILABLE in audio!
******************
“Step aside, Julia Roberts–there’s a new runaway bride in town.”
Where do I even start?! I was an immediate fan of the Appies hockey team and I’ve been dying to feast my eyes on the bad boy of the team–the “Deadpool on the team of Captain Americas with a couple of Wolverines.” Van is what literal dreams are made of because while he may have a mouth on him and push his coach’s buttons, his core is ooey, gooey goodness and I couldn’t get enough and I was there for every electrically magnetic second of this sweet story.
When his coach’s daughter’s wedding comes crashing down around her, Van is there to help Amelia make the escape and move on and what a swoon-filled adventure ensues. In the midst of the crisis, Mills showcases her fun, sweet, spunky nature and is finally permitted to fly and did I mention I was there for it? Because I sure was.
Emma St Clair knows how to write and brings every emotion and romantic feeling to a book, allowing for the most amazing and beautiful story to unfold. Found family? ✅Over protective and hilarious sisters? ✅Sizzling kisses? ✅ Sparks that threaten to combust on nearly every page? ✅
Van is my new favorite Appie and I’m just going to be over here savoring my book hangover for the days to come. Although I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, I also purchased a book for myself.
Content: swoony kisses, some mild innuendo
Van is perfection and Rock Engle made him come to life. Emily Ellet did a phenomenal job of portraying Amelia and everything that I loved about this book hit me with full force as I listened to it.
These two characters are so much fun, especially as they banter and battle fierce attraction. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again–Emma St Clair knows how to write and brings every emotion and romantic feeling to a book, allowing for the most amazing and beautiful story to unfold. Do yourself a favor and grab it--NOW AVAILABLE in audio!
******************
“Step aside, Julia Roberts–there’s a new runaway bride in town.”
Where do I even start?! I was an immediate fan of the Appies hockey team and I’ve been dying to feast my eyes on the bad boy of the team–the “Deadpool on the team of Captain Americas with a couple of Wolverines.” Van is what literal dreams are made of because while he may have a mouth on him and push his coach’s buttons, his core is ooey, gooey goodness and I couldn’t get enough and I was there for every electrically magnetic second of this sweet story.
When his coach’s daughter’s wedding comes crashing down around her, Van is there to help Amelia make the escape and move on and what a swoon-filled adventure ensues. In the midst of the crisis, Mills showcases her fun, sweet, spunky nature and is finally permitted to fly and did I mention I was there for it? Because I sure was.
Emma St Clair knows how to write and brings every emotion and romantic feeling to a book, allowing for the most amazing and beautiful story to unfold. Found family? ✅Over protective and hilarious sisters? ✅Sizzling kisses? ✅ Sparks that threaten to combust on nearly every page? ✅
Van is my new favorite Appie and I’m just going to be over here savoring my book hangover for the days to come. Although I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, I also purchased a book for myself.
Content: swoony kisses, some mild innuendo
August 30, 2024
3.5⭐️
Amé la parte de la novia fugitiva, pero en la parte de prejuicio hubo cosas que no me gustaron como se trataron.
Amé la parte de la novia fugitiva, pero en la parte de prejuicio hubo cosas que no me gustaron como se trataron.
September 1, 2024
4.5 stars!
SOOOOO GOOD!! Those text threads 💀💀🤣🤣
SOOOOO GOOD!! Those text threads 💀💀🤣🤣
June 13, 2025
Cute story about falling in love with The coach's daughter. The MMC happens to also be the coach's least liked player on the team. It doesn't help that coach has already made it clear to his players, stay away from his daughter. As Fate will have it the MMC quickly realizes how hard it's going to be to stay away, especially after running away together so what was supposed to be the FMC's honeymoon.
This book in the series focuses on Van who we get to know throughout the series. Van is the one who comes off as the bad boy of the team, but we see glimpses of what's deep beneath the surface with him. He's more than his reputation. The FMC Amelia has always been one to follow the rules, do what Daddy says, not really make decisions for herself, but she finally takes risk and makes the one choice for herself that matters the most and that is loving Van no matter what.
The FMC is also a runaway Bride after catching her fiance/groom to be cheating on her she decides to run off with the MMC where there are elements of forced proximity, and insta Love entwined into one cutesy rom-com.
This book in the series focuses on Van who we get to know throughout the series. Van is the one who comes off as the bad boy of the team, but we see glimpses of what's deep beneath the surface with him. He's more than his reputation. The FMC Amelia has always been one to follow the rules, do what Daddy says, not really make decisions for herself, but she finally takes risk and makes the one choice for herself that matters the most and that is loving Van no matter what.
The FMC is also a runaway Bride after catching her fiance/groom to be cheating on her she decides to run off with the MMC where there are elements of forced proximity, and insta Love entwined into one cutesy rom-com.
September 1, 2024
Thank you to the author for an eARC.
HI, I LOVE THIS BOOK.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
It was absolutely everything I could have hoped for when I was thinking about Van’s story. I devoured this read. And I feel like it’s hard to even put my words down because I don’t want to spoil a thing about this book. This is truly a best read blind book and trust me, it will DELIVER.
I loved getting Van’s perspective. A character I have been waiting to know and understand better. I loved the layers and journey. He’s such a charming man and I could not get enough of his heated and swoony actions. His love language is physical touch, and you. can. tell. Also I got a jersey moment which is one of my favorite tropes in sports romance so of course I went feral when that happened.
And I liked Amelia a lot too. She was slightly frustrating but in that way that is totally relatable and had me sitting there going, yeah I’d respond the same way too. I loved that she found her courage and voice in the end and got a chance to live her love story.
I’m always obsessed with any interactions involving the Appies and the text threads were *chefs kiss*. One of my forever favorite fictional hockey teams. I LOVED Van’s sisters too. They were the perfect balance for him and I loved seeing them take Amelia into their family.
I honestly could just keep going. I loved this book. It’s always hard for me to choose a favorite Emma St. Clair book but this definitely ranks up there.
Overall audience notes:
- Sports Romance
- Language: low
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low
- Content Warnings: physical altercations, loss of a parent (recounted from past), divorce, cheating (not between the two leads in any way)
HI, I LOVE THIS BOOK.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
It was absolutely everything I could have hoped for when I was thinking about Van’s story. I devoured this read. And I feel like it’s hard to even put my words down because I don’t want to spoil a thing about this book. This is truly a best read blind book and trust me, it will DELIVER.
I loved getting Van’s perspective. A character I have been waiting to know and understand better. I loved the layers and journey. He’s such a charming man and I could not get enough of his heated and swoony actions. His love language is physical touch, and you. can. tell. Also I got a jersey moment which is one of my favorite tropes in sports romance so of course I went feral when that happened.
And I liked Amelia a lot too. She was slightly frustrating but in that way that is totally relatable and had me sitting there going, yeah I’d respond the same way too. I loved that she found her courage and voice in the end and got a chance to live her love story.
I’m always obsessed with any interactions involving the Appies and the text threads were *chefs kiss*. One of my forever favorite fictional hockey teams. I LOVED Van’s sisters too. They were the perfect balance for him and I loved seeing them take Amelia into their family.
I honestly could just keep going. I loved this book. It’s always hard for me to choose a favorite Emma St. Clair book but this definitely ranks up there.
Overall audience notes:
- Sports Romance
- Language: low
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low
- Content Warnings: physical altercations, loss of a parent (recounted from past), divorce, cheating (not between the two leads in any way)
January 14, 2025
I reread via audio. The dual POV narration was excellent!
What a fabulous story! It’s been getting so many rave reviews, and they’re all so well-deserved!
It’s funny, witty, and incredibly swoony. The characters were lovable, the storyline was addicting, and there was an amazing plot twist that I did not see coming. I loved every minute of it!
All the Appies players know their coach’s most important rule: stay away from his daughter.
Van and Amelia met previously and immediately hit it off, but when he discovers she’s the daughter of his coach, he knows there’s no possible future with her.
A few years later, when Van catches the groom cheating on Amelia on their wedding day, there’s no question that he’s going to intervene.
This leads him to a black eye, an unexpected trip to Florida with the runaway bride, and a second chance with the woman he never got over.
What I loved:
Hockey romance
Bad boy & rule following good girl
Nicknames
Dual POV
Forced proximity
Shopping at WalMart
Team players text threads
Chapter 17
Van's sisters
Hockey game
The epilogue
Van and Amelia's love story is magical, and one you don’t want to miss! If you enjoy closed door romances with lots of sizzle but no spice, I highly recommend it!
I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.
What a fabulous story! It’s been getting so many rave reviews, and they’re all so well-deserved!
It’s funny, witty, and incredibly swoony. The characters were lovable, the storyline was addicting, and there was an amazing plot twist that I did not see coming. I loved every minute of it!
All the Appies players know their coach’s most important rule: stay away from his daughter.
Van and Amelia met previously and immediately hit it off, but when he discovers she’s the daughter of his coach, he knows there’s no possible future with her.
A few years later, when Van catches the groom cheating on Amelia on their wedding day, there’s no question that he’s going to intervene.
This leads him to a black eye, an unexpected trip to Florida with the runaway bride, and a second chance with the woman he never got over.
What I loved:
Hockey romance
Bad boy & rule following good girl
Nicknames
Dual POV
Forced proximity
Shopping at WalMart
Team players text threads
Chapter 17
Van's sisters
Hockey game
The epilogue
Van and Amelia's love story is magical, and one you don’t want to miss! If you enjoy closed door romances with lots of sizzle but no spice, I highly recommend it!
I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.
August 28, 2024
I couldn’t put this down! 🤍Thank you @kikimojo for the arc of this Runaway Bride and Prejudice!🤍
Emma St. Clair has done it again, and I am head over heels for the Appies! I needed a heartwarming, fun binge-read and this story perfectly fit the bill.
Van and Amelia had SO much chemistry and I was just a puddle of feels. I loved watching the two of them grow and fall for each other.
I’m also a the biggest fan of great friendships in books and this series has had no shortage of that.
If you love:
• hockey players
• a runaway bride
• the coach’s daughter
• a vacation
★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
Steam: kissing
Emma St. Clair has done it again, and I am head over heels for the Appies! I needed a heartwarming, fun binge-read and this story perfectly fit the bill.
Van and Amelia had SO much chemistry and I was just a puddle of feels. I loved watching the two of them grow and fall for each other.
I’m also a the biggest fan of great friendships in books and this series has had no shortage of that.
If you love:
• hockey players
• a runaway bride
• the coach’s daughter
• a vacation
★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
Steam: kissing
August 27, 2024
Aaahhhhh. What to say about this dish of a book? Do people say dish anymore? Probably not. I think that died in the 50s or something. But still this book is...well, it's pure delight with a couple little twists along the way.
Coach's least favorite player and the coach's daughter. Need I say more? I can't say more because spoilers. Read the book. Trust me when I say you want to. I couldn't put it down!
~I was given a complimentary copy of this book. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.~
Coach's least favorite player and the coach's daughter. Need I say more? I can't say more because spoilers. Read the book. Trust me when I say you want to. I couldn't put it down!
~I was given a complimentary copy of this book. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.~
October 13, 2024
Runaway Bride and Prejudice by Emma St. Clair is a delightful rom-com filled with swoony moments. It is part of a series, but you can read it without having read the other books in the series. Van knows not to date the coach’s daughter so he has given her a wide berth. But what happens when he catches her fiancé on their wedding day kissing someone else? Help! Amelia has been a rule follower her whole life. She does what her father wants, the world wants and what she thinks her friends wants. What is she going to do when her whole life implodes on her wedding day?
I just kept smiling as I read the story. It had all the feels for me including engaging characters, great dialogue, and a sweet setting. The chemistry between Van and Amelia was electric and practically jumped off the page. The author does a great job creating memorable moments between the characters! I enjoyed getting to know the other team members of the Appies Hockey team. Van’s sisters were so fun to get to know and I enjoyed their relationship with Van. I loved the themes of found family, personal change, and redemption.
Runaway Bride and Prejudice by Emma St Clair will be a highlight of 2024 for me. I loved the chemistry, characters, and banter in the story. I was inspired to go back and read the other books in the series. I highly recommend.
I was given a complimentary copy of the book and not required to write a positive review.
I just kept smiling as I read the story. It had all the feels for me including engaging characters, great dialogue, and a sweet setting. The chemistry between Van and Amelia was electric and practically jumped off the page. The author does a great job creating memorable moments between the characters! I enjoyed getting to know the other team members of the Appies Hockey team. Van’s sisters were so fun to get to know and I enjoyed their relationship with Van. I loved the themes of found family, personal change, and redemption.
Runaway Bride and Prejudice by Emma St Clair will be a highlight of 2024 for me. I loved the chemistry, characters, and banter in the story. I was inspired to go back and read the other books in the series. I highly recommend.
I was given a complimentary copy of the book and not required to write a positive review.
January 13, 2025
I absolutely loved this book and it was so good on audio. Although part of a series, it totally stands on its own.
The characters were so great, I loved them all. This was a perfect hockey romance with the MCs tough guy exterior, fantastic teammates who gave him endless grief through nonstop teasing, and a pure heart of gold.
The audio narration was superb. I loved the dual narration which really brought the dual POV to life.
The characters were so great, I loved them all. This was a perfect hockey romance with the MCs tough guy exterior, fantastic teammates who gave him endless grief through nonstop teasing, and a pure heart of gold.
The audio narration was superb. I loved the dual narration which really brought the dual POV to life.
August 31, 2024
Um, what?! This had everything you would expect from Emma St. Clair and more! Closed door romance, the best banter, found family, animal encounters, and characters with so much depth. While being a fun romcom it also deals with cheating fiancés, parent death (past) and parent divorce and bad relationship examples. Amelia is a good girl and discovers courage. Van has a bad boy reputation but you can see it's just a mask. I experienced all the emotions and several jaw dropping moments. Learning more about Van and having the Appies text thread made me love this fictional hockey team even more!
August 27, 2024
Genre: sports romcom
Content: cheating fiancé, 2 instances of mild language, grief resulting from death of parent (past), makeouts, implied intimacy between a married couple
It’s time for another Appies love story, y’all!!!! This time, we get to know Van and why he is the way that he is. Van comes off as flirty, casual and cocky but underneath that carefully cultivated image is a man with a heart of gold who has childhood trauma stemming from his parents’ divorce and multiple remarriages.
Amelia is a people pleaser who has always gone along with what her dad wanted, particularly after losing her mom. She *almost* goes through with a wedding that she feels uncertain about just because it seemed like it made her dad happy.
Thankfully, Van doesn’t let that happen. After he catches Amelia’s fiancé cheating literally AT THE CHURCH, he forces him to come clean. This ends up with Van driving Amelia to their airport for her honeymoon, and then accompanying her. What could happen in a situation like that?! You’ll just have to read this TOMORROW to find out!
Favorite Quotes:
🚩 Anyone with a frontal lobe knows telling women to calm down is the equivalent of waving a whole barrage of red flags at an angry bull.
😴 "Nothing like a good angry nap when you need one." "You take angry naps?" I ask. "Oh, yeah. I also post-game nap, sleepy nap, sad nap—you name it, I'll nap it."
⚠️ He's like a genetically engineered apex predator-all the languid, powerful movements of a jungle cat mixed with the paralyzing venom of a snake bite. That's the only explanation for the way I'm sitting here, slack-jawed and totally unable to do more than blink.
😏 "For the record, jealousy looks hot on you, Mills.”
❤️ "I don't come close to being good enough for Amelia. But if she were mine? I would never let her go. I would spend every waking day and every single breath just hoping I could show her the love she deserves."
🫠 He made me smile. Even laugh. He wiped tears from my cheeks in a bathroom stall. Who does that? The kind of guy you keep. That's who.
😍 I was thinking about how Van, more than anyone in my life including my dad, made me feel more like myself. That it was okay to be myself, whoever myself happened to be.
*I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own. No positive review was required.
Content: cheating fiancé, 2 instances of mild language, grief resulting from death of parent (past), makeouts, implied intimacy between a married couple
It’s time for another Appies love story, y’all!!!! This time, we get to know Van and why he is the way that he is. Van comes off as flirty, casual and cocky but underneath that carefully cultivated image is a man with a heart of gold who has childhood trauma stemming from his parents’ divorce and multiple remarriages.
Amelia is a people pleaser who has always gone along with what her dad wanted, particularly after losing her mom. She *almost* goes through with a wedding that she feels uncertain about just because it seemed like it made her dad happy.
Thankfully, Van doesn’t let that happen. After he catches Amelia’s fiancé cheating literally AT THE CHURCH, he forces him to come clean. This ends up with Van driving Amelia to their airport for her honeymoon, and then accompanying her. What could happen in a situation like that?! You’ll just have to read this TOMORROW to find out!
Favorite Quotes:
🚩 Anyone with a frontal lobe knows telling women to calm down is the equivalent of waving a whole barrage of red flags at an angry bull.
😴 "Nothing like a good angry nap when you need one." "You take angry naps?" I ask. "Oh, yeah. I also post-game nap, sleepy nap, sad nap—you name it, I'll nap it."
⚠️ He's like a genetically engineered apex predator-all the languid, powerful movements of a jungle cat mixed with the paralyzing venom of a snake bite. That's the only explanation for the way I'm sitting here, slack-jawed and totally unable to do more than blink.
😏 "For the record, jealousy looks hot on you, Mills.”
❤️ "I don't come close to being good enough for Amelia. But if she were mine? I would never let her go. I would spend every waking day and every single breath just hoping I could show her the love she deserves."
🫠 He made me smile. Even laugh. He wiped tears from my cheeks in a bathroom stall. Who does that? The kind of guy you keep. That's who.
😍 I was thinking about how Van, more than anyone in my life including my dad, made me feel more like myself. That it was okay to be myself, whoever myself happened to be.
*I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own. No positive review was required.
August 28, 2024
{Thank you to the author, @kikimojo, for my gifted e-copy in exchange for an honest review.}
Happy Release Day to Runaway Bride and Prejudice! This was one of my most highly anticipated releases of the year. I cannot tell you how excited I was to start reading my arc!
Oh my goodness. WHAT. A. RIDE. This book was everything I hoped for and more. Just when I thought I couldn’t become a bigger Appies fan, we got this book!
I was so excited to get to know Van better, and I loved him even more than I expected to. Emma St. Clair put so much depth into these characters and they felt so very real. I loved Van, and I loved Amelia just as much! Van and Amelia together? Amazing.
I could really gush about how fantastic this book was all day, but I don’t want to spoil anything! Go into this book as blind as possible–you won’t regret it, I promise!
Read this immediately if you love:
-sweet/clean hockey romance
-forbidden love trope (coaches daughter)
-dual POV
-forced proximity
-a runaway bride
-opposites attract
-(misunderstood) bad boy x good girl
Did I mention that I loved this book?
Read this! Runaway Bride and Prejudice available for purchase today and is also available on KU, if you have a subscription.
Happy Release Day to Runaway Bride and Prejudice! This was one of my most highly anticipated releases of the year. I cannot tell you how excited I was to start reading my arc!
Oh my goodness. WHAT. A. RIDE. This book was everything I hoped for and more. Just when I thought I couldn’t become a bigger Appies fan, we got this book!
I was so excited to get to know Van better, and I loved him even more than I expected to. Emma St. Clair put so much depth into these characters and they felt so very real. I loved Van, and I loved Amelia just as much! Van and Amelia together? Amazing.
I could really gush about how fantastic this book was all day, but I don’t want to spoil anything! Go into this book as blind as possible–you won’t regret it, I promise!
Read this immediately if you love:
-sweet/clean hockey romance
-forbidden love trope (coaches daughter)
-dual POV
-forced proximity
-a runaway bride
-opposites attract
-(misunderstood) bad boy x good girl
Did I mention that I loved this book?
Read this! Runaway Bride and Prejudice available for purchase today and is also available on KU, if you have a subscription.
January 3, 2025
Reread via audio! Great dual POV narration.
Holy cow, what a ride! Van and Mills literally start off running and I am here for every bit of it. A runaway bride from a cheating groom, a bad boy hockey player who is way more than meets the eye, some faking, some pretending, CHAPTER 17, yeah, that is all I will say. It’s a story that will make you laugh, swoon, feel lots of feels, and adore the ending.
Holy cow, what a ride! Van and Mills literally start off running and I am here for every bit of it. A runaway bride from a cheating groom, a bad boy hockey player who is way more than meets the eye, some faking, some pretending, CHAPTER 17, yeah, that is all I will say. It’s a story that will make you laugh, swoon, feel lots of feels, and adore the ending.
Read
January 15, 2025it is actually a very cute,funny, swoony, and sweet story but the miscommunication is stressing me out
January 14, 2025
Another funny but heartfelt instalment in the Appies Hockey universe, this book features Van, a supposed playboy on the team who steps up when the Coach's daughter finds out her husband to be was cheating on her with her cousin. In an effort to help (and as a favor to the coach), Van takes Amelia on her honeymoon.
What follows is an only one bed, forced proximity closed door romance with tons of chemistry between the leads and sweet moments of bonding.
My only quibble was the traditional third act breakup/miscommunication. However this was great on audio narrated by Rock Engle and Emily Ellet and had fun cameos from other team members.
Highly recommended for fans of Lyssa Kay Adams Bromance Book club series. Huge thanks to the author for an early ALC copy in exchange for my honest review!
This can be read as a standalone if you haven't read any of the other Appies books but do yourself a favor and treat yourself to these fun hockey players and the women who are their match in every way.
What follows is an only one bed, forced proximity closed door romance with tons of chemistry between the leads and sweet moments of bonding.
My only quibble was the traditional third act breakup/miscommunication. However this was great on audio narrated by Rock Engle and Emily Ellet and had fun cameos from other team members.
Highly recommended for fans of Lyssa Kay Adams Bromance Book club series. Huge thanks to the author for an early ALC copy in exchange for my honest review!
This can be read as a standalone if you haven't read any of the other Appies books but do yourself a favor and treat yourself to these fun hockey players and the women who are their match in every way.
September 14, 2024
Absolutely loved this one!
April 27, 2025
This is a fun series. Each book can be read as a standalone (which I love) but also has interconnecting characters (which is handled in a great way). I thought this was a fun, quick read. I liked the characters and love the setting. Fun romance!
Content Rated PG
Romance: Clean, kissing
Language: None
Violence: Very mild
Content Rated PG
Romance: Clean, kissing
Language: None
Violence: Very mild
October 9, 2024
3.5⭐️
I started into this book with super high hopes after just having finished Logan’s story, which was superb by the way. Welllll…things didn’t go quite as I’d hoped. I feel like this book had a lot of fluff and not a whole lot of oomph, if you know what I mean. It just felt lacking in some way, like I had just read a bunch of drivel. Now I’m not necessarily saying I disliked the book, I just didn’t particularly like it either. It was one of those books I didn’t really feel any real motivation to read.
So after saying all that, this book did have quite a few fun scenes. The beginning was certainly filled with lots of action and fun plot lines. Van was your typical misunderstood “bad boy” and Amelia was the “off-limits” girl. Of course in a dramatic turn of events, they end up on a tropical vacation together and sparks start flying! Things are going just fine and dandy until the morning it’s time to head home, which happens to also be the morning after a surprising turn of events 🫢 Now begins the break up period where lots of miscommunication tends to ensue. Thankfully I didn’t feel like this book did too bad with that. There towards the end the story wrapped up pretty good.
“𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎, 𝚜𝚘 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚖𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝.”
“𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚙𝚎𝚌 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚙𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠.”
“𝙰𝚕𝚕’𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚒𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢.”
Top moments:
👰🏼♀️ Van getting hit in the head with an angel statue
👰🏼♀️ Van saving Amelia and taking her on a scenic drive
👰🏼♀️ Recipe for a bad boy
👰🏼♀️ Shopping in Walmart at 10 pm
👰🏼♀️ Rules for being a runaway bride
👰🏼♀️ Pinching
👰🏼♀️ Zip-lining over alligators
👰🏼♀️ Evenings on the beach
👰🏼♀️ “Hotshot”
👰🏼♀️ “Third time’s the charm!”
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me with this arc. All opinions are purely my own.
I started into this book with super high hopes after just having finished Logan’s story, which was superb by the way. Welllll…things didn’t go quite as I’d hoped. I feel like this book had a lot of fluff and not a whole lot of oomph, if you know what I mean. It just felt lacking in some way, like I had just read a bunch of drivel. Now I’m not necessarily saying I disliked the book, I just didn’t particularly like it either. It was one of those books I didn’t really feel any real motivation to read.
So after saying all that, this book did have quite a few fun scenes. The beginning was certainly filled with lots of action and fun plot lines. Van was your typical misunderstood “bad boy” and Amelia was the “off-limits” girl. Of course in a dramatic turn of events, they end up on a tropical vacation together and sparks start flying! Things are going just fine and dandy until the morning it’s time to head home, which happens to also be the morning after a surprising turn of events 🫢 Now begins the break up period where lots of miscommunication tends to ensue. Thankfully I didn’t feel like this book did too bad with that. There towards the end the story wrapped up pretty good.
“𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎, 𝚜𝚘 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚖𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝.”
“𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚙𝚎𝚌 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚙𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠.”
“𝙰𝚕𝚕’𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚒𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢.”
Top moments:
👰🏼♀️ Van getting hit in the head with an angel statue
👰🏼♀️ Van saving Amelia and taking her on a scenic drive
👰🏼♀️ Recipe for a bad boy
👰🏼♀️ Shopping in Walmart at 10 pm
👰🏼♀️ Rules for being a runaway bride
👰🏼♀️ Pinching
👰🏼♀️ Zip-lining over alligators
👰🏼♀️ Evenings on the beach
👰🏼♀️ “Hotshot”
👰🏼♀️ “Third time’s the charm!”
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me with this arc. All opinions are purely my own.
December 26, 2024
Edited to add:
Just listened to an advanced copy of the audiobook. I love audiobooks! The narrators did a nice job with this one. It is dual narration. Rock Engle is thr male narrator. I don't mind listening to him read, but he is starting to make all the characters he reads sound the same. He gives them all the same inflections. I did listen at a faster speed than usual because I'd read the book already.
I just finished and am going to try to type a review while all the feelings are still flowing!
Loved this book from cover to cover, plus some... READ THAT BONUS SCENE!
I've been a big fan of Emma St Clair's books for years. This one may just become my favorite. I loved the family/sibling aspect. It definitely reminded me of my 2 sisters and brother. I know which one of us would correspond to those in this story too!
Emma keeps throwing things at us from all different directions. It's so fun, I as long it isn't you getting the black eye! Sit back and enjoy this ride.
This is part of the Appies series of books but can be read as a standalone story. They are all so good though, and it's fun seeing Van the Bad Boy in the pervious books before finding out about his layers in this one. I also enjoyed seeing the team members and their interactions again. Love this group! And you don't need to know anything about hockey or Jane Austin to enjoy this book.
Thanks to the author for the advanced digital copy of this book. I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review...
And don't forget that bonus scene!
Just listened to an advanced copy of the audiobook. I love audiobooks! The narrators did a nice job with this one. It is dual narration. Rock Engle is thr male narrator. I don't mind listening to him read, but he is starting to make all the characters he reads sound the same. He gives them all the same inflections. I did listen at a faster speed than usual because I'd read the book already.
I just finished and am going to try to type a review while all the feelings are still flowing!
Loved this book from cover to cover, plus some... READ THAT BONUS SCENE!
I've been a big fan of Emma St Clair's books for years. This one may just become my favorite. I loved the family/sibling aspect. It definitely reminded me of my 2 sisters and brother. I know which one of us would correspond to those in this story too!
Emma keeps throwing things at us from all different directions. It's so fun, I as long it isn't you getting the black eye! Sit back and enjoy this ride.
This is part of the Appies series of books but can be read as a standalone story. They are all so good though, and it's fun seeing Van the Bad Boy in the pervious books before finding out about his layers in this one. I also enjoyed seeing the team members and their interactions again. Love this group! And you don't need to know anything about hockey or Jane Austin to enjoy this book.
Thanks to the author for the advanced digital copy of this book. I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review...
And don't forget that bonus scene!
September 24, 2024
I’m in my Appie era and I just can’t get enough! The way this one opened was so intriguing and unique and the unpredictability never stopped! The entire book was like an adventure full of surprises. And I just have to say umm ch. 17!? I was so not expecting that!
Van has been the playboy/bad boy in the previous books and I wasn’t always his biggest fan but this book showed me he was more. He is charming, protective, and such a sweetheart inside. I completely fell in love with him and this guy is now high on my list of book boyfriends.
I really could not get enough of Mills and Van. From the start it was like these two had known each other forever. They were so natural together and I loved the progression of their relationship. Not to mention those swoony kisses.
There was just so much to love about this one! It was funny, full of Banty dialogue and quite frankly hard to put down. From the opening, to ice cream cones, alligators, and Keanu Reeves references the book was full of amazing moments. Just one beautiful surprise after another and the ending was so perfect!
If one of the Appies was going to fall for the coach’s daughter I’m glad it was Van!
As you can probably tell I loved this one so much and highly recommend you pick it up.
I received a complimentary copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Van has been the playboy/bad boy in the previous books and I wasn’t always his biggest fan but this book showed me he was more. He is charming, protective, and such a sweetheart inside. I completely fell in love with him and this guy is now high on my list of book boyfriends.
I really could not get enough of Mills and Van. From the start it was like these two had known each other forever. They were so natural together and I loved the progression of their relationship. Not to mention those swoony kisses.
There was just so much to love about this one! It was funny, full of Banty dialogue and quite frankly hard to put down. From the opening, to ice cream cones, alligators, and Keanu Reeves references the book was full of amazing moments. Just one beautiful surprise after another and the ending was so perfect!
If one of the Appies was going to fall for the coach’s daughter I’m glad it was Van!
As you can probably tell I loved this one so much and highly recommend you pick it up.
I received a complimentary copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 14, 2024
I don't really know what to say about this series, except I love it! It is almost hockey season, so this was the perfect time to read this.
The one liners in here are great, and The Office reference made me laugh out loud. The banter was, of course, on par. I also loved the group texts from the "Dream Team"
This book was a little different than some of the other books in the series, but it was a fun read.
We need Alec's story, and then this series would really be complete, in my opinion.
The one liners in here are great, and The Office reference made me laugh out loud. The banter was, of course, on par. I also loved the group texts from the "Dream Team"
This book was a little different than some of the other books in the series, but it was a fun read.
We need Alec's story, and then this series would really be complete, in my opinion.
September 18, 2024
Van knows one rule: never date the coach's daughter. But when he catches her groom cheating on her wedding day, he can't stay silent. His actions lead to a fight, a runaway bride, and a secret deal with Coach. Now, Van must juggle his growing feelings—and the risk they pose.
Gators and players and sisters, oh my! I never knew what was going to happen next! And while that’s normally not a characteristic I’d want in a romcom—aren’t we here for the cookie-cutter romantic gestures?—the pacing was so delightfully fun I couldn’t get enough. The characters are fine. The romance is fine. But what made the story good was the engaging flow to the plot. From the twists to the turns, everything about the writing was stunning. This is romcom prose perfection.
I want more Walmart clothing runs + dragon tattoos + face paint + crazy family members + smug hockey players. I want more Appies.
Perfect for you if you like:
Vacation forced proximity
Flirty + mouthy hockey players
Runaway bride & coach’s daughter
Similar to:
Flirtation or Faceoff by Leah Brunner
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Rebel Summer by Cindy Steel
⛔️closed door romance (kisses only)
⚠️ mild TWs: previous death of parent, previous parental neglect, cheating boyfriend, some punching, some pinching, Keanu Reeves criticism
Gators and players and sisters, oh my! I never knew what was going to happen next! And while that’s normally not a characteristic I’d want in a romcom—aren’t we here for the cookie-cutter romantic gestures?—the pacing was so delightfully fun I couldn’t get enough. The characters are fine. The romance is fine. But what made the story good was the engaging flow to the plot. From the twists to the turns, everything about the writing was stunning. This is romcom prose perfection.
I want more Walmart clothing runs + dragon tattoos + face paint + crazy family members + smug hockey players. I want more Appies.
Perfect for you if you like:
Vacation forced proximity
Flirty + mouthy hockey players
Runaway bride & coach’s daughter
Similar to:
Flirtation or Faceoff by Leah Brunner
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Rebel Summer by Cindy Steel
⛔️closed door romance (kisses only)
⚠️ mild TWs: previous death of parent, previous parental neglect, cheating boyfriend, some punching, some pinching, Keanu Reeves criticism
March 16, 2025
“People say when one door closes, another one opens. And maybe that’s true. But I wanna know what people say when one door opens and you find the groom hooking up with someone who’s not the bride—less than an hour before the wedding.”
This was my most anticipated book of the series - since I LOVE Van, and it didn’t disappoint. I was obsessed with how far and fast he fell for Amelia - their relationship was just so good!
The way he’s written off as the team’s bad boy, but he is in fact the most romantic and was just waiting for the right woman to have a relationship with! From start to finish this book was a whirlwind - much like their relationship! By far my favourite book of the series.
If you’re looking for a closed door hockey romance, I’d really recommend this series. Cute and wholesome reads.
This was my most anticipated book of the series - since I LOVE Van, and it didn’t disappoint. I was obsessed with how far and fast he fell for Amelia - their relationship was just so good!
The way he’s written off as the team’s bad boy, but he is in fact the most romantic and was just waiting for the right woman to have a relationship with! From start to finish this book was a whirlwind - much like their relationship! By far my favourite book of the series.
If you’re looking for a closed door hockey romance, I’d really recommend this series. Cute and wholesome reads.
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