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Chicago Dark Knights #1
Skating the Blue Line
My whole life, I have only dreamt of being one thing.
A ballerina.
From the age of three, I was obsessed with tutus, leotards, pointe shoes and everything that dancing had to offer.
After years of hard work, sweat and tears, I finally was able to make the dreams of the little girl in me come true.
Years later, I’m dancing for one of the most respected companies in the world, leaving out a dream and living the best life that I could have ever imagined.
Everything was going according to how I’d mapped it out.
Except…
I hadn’t mapped out two little blue lines skating into my life after a one night stand.
Now, there’s a possibility of me losing the dream I worked so hard to achieve.
And it’s all thanks to a professional hockey player with pretty eyes and a nice smile.
PLEASE NOTE THAT IF BOOK WAS PRE-ORDERED OR PURCHASED ON MAY 11TH IT IS MISSING CHAPTERS. AN UPDATE IS AVAILABLE. IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE UPDATING YOUR COPY PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE AUTHOR VIA INSTAGRAM. A MILLION APOLOGIES FOR THIS VERY LARGE INCONVINIENCE.
A ballerina.
From the age of three, I was obsessed with tutus, leotards, pointe shoes and everything that dancing had to offer.
After years of hard work, sweat and tears, I finally was able to make the dreams of the little girl in me come true.
Years later, I’m dancing for one of the most respected companies in the world, leaving out a dream and living the best life that I could have ever imagined.
Everything was going according to how I’d mapped it out.
Except…
I hadn’t mapped out two little blue lines skating into my life after a one night stand.
Now, there’s a possibility of me losing the dream I worked so hard to achieve.
And it’s all thanks to a professional hockey player with pretty eyes and a nice smile.
PLEASE NOTE THAT IF BOOK WAS PRE-ORDERED OR PURCHASED ON MAY 11TH IT IS MISSING CHAPTERS. AN UPDATE IS AVAILABLE. IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE UPDATING YOUR COPY PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE AUTHOR VIA INSTAGRAM. A MILLION APOLOGIES FOR THIS VERY LARGE INCONVINIENCE.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 11, 2023
405 people are currently reading
1568 people want to read
About the author
Jocelyne Soto
26 books310 followersJocelyne Soto is a writer, born and raised in California. She started her writing journey in 2015 and in 2019 she published her first book. She is an independent author who loves discovering new authors on Goodreads and Amazon. She comes from a big Mexican family, and with it comes a love for all things family and food.
Jocelyne has a love for her mom’s coffee and writing. In her free time, she can be found reading a romance novel off her iPad or somewhere in the black hole of YouTube.
Jocelyne has a love for her mom’s coffee and writing. In her free time, she can be found reading a romance novel off her iPad or somewhere in the black hole of YouTube.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
June 24, 2023
Well, it was definitely...lacking in some ways.
Things also kinda happened very fast. Honestly though, zero chemistry for me. He found her mesmerising at the ballet show. She found him attractive afterward and they quickly soon fell in bed together.
Then, came the surprise baby trope. And at that point, I don't think any of these characters got the character developments they needed to convince the readers that they actually can work with each other. One party was being a sobby mess all the times and another being so placid and mild. I just had a hard time connecting between these two. It's frustrating to read the milestone or important moments between them before the baby comes and still, feeling so detached from the story.
Also, I found so many spelling mistakes in my copy. Is it only me?
Things also kinda happened very fast. Honestly though, zero chemistry for me. He found her mesmerising at the ballet show. She found him attractive afterward and they quickly soon fell in bed together.
Then, came the surprise baby trope. And at that point, I don't think any of these characters got the character developments they needed to convince the readers that they actually can work with each other. One party was being a sobby mess all the times and another being so placid and mild. I just had a hard time connecting between these two. It's frustrating to read the milestone or important moments between them before the baby comes and still, feeling so detached from the story.
Also, I found so many spelling mistakes in my copy. Is it only me?
March 27, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
"Skating the Blue Line" by Jocelyne Soto is a delightful rollercoaster of romance, passion, and unexpected twists. From the very first page, I was drawn into the captivating world of the main characters and their journey towards love amidst unexpected circumstances.
One of the standout aspects of this novel is the spice. Soto masterfully weaves steamy scenes throughout the narrative, adding depth and intensity to the romantic encounters. The chemistry between the characters sizzles off the page, keeping readers eagerly turning the pages to see what unfolds next.
I especially love a story where the MMC falls first and falls hard. His vulnerability and sincerity add layers to his character, making him more relatable and endearing.
As someone new to the surprise pregnancy trope romance genre, I found "Skating the Blue Line" to be a pleasant surprise. This book was both heartwarming and engaging.
Overall, "Skating the Blue Line" is a captivating romance novel that will leave readers hooked from start to finish. With its well-liked characters, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, it's a must-read for fans who enjoy sports romance and a surprise pregnancy trope. I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this!
"Skating the Blue Line" by Jocelyne Soto is a delightful rollercoaster of romance, passion, and unexpected twists. From the very first page, I was drawn into the captivating world of the main characters and their journey towards love amidst unexpected circumstances.
One of the standout aspects of this novel is the spice. Soto masterfully weaves steamy scenes throughout the narrative, adding depth and intensity to the romantic encounters. The chemistry between the characters sizzles off the page, keeping readers eagerly turning the pages to see what unfolds next.
I especially love a story where the MMC falls first and falls hard. His vulnerability and sincerity add layers to his character, making him more relatable and endearing.
As someone new to the surprise pregnancy trope romance genre, I found "Skating the Blue Line" to be a pleasant surprise. This book was both heartwarming and engaging.
Overall, "Skating the Blue Line" is a captivating romance novel that will leave readers hooked from start to finish. With its well-liked characters, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, it's a must-read for fans who enjoy sports romance and a surprise pregnancy trope. I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this!
August 23, 2023
Na tuto sportovní jednohubku jsem se poměrně dost těšila, už je to doba, co jsem četla nějakou hokejovou romanci, a mé oko rozhodně upoutala i líbivá obálka knihy. Mou zvědavost dost probudila i anotace knihy, která je čtenáři naservírována hned v úvodu. Bohužel u této anotace také zůstalo.
Kniha mi totiž nenabídla víceméně nic navíc. To, co bylo v anotaci, se odehrálo v podstatě v celé knize. Scházelo mi tu nějaké překvapení, nějaký ten wow efekt, vzrůšo a tak. Jenže kromě peprných scén musím říct, že jsem byla dost zklamaná. Zápletka byla naprosto předvídatelná. Jediné, co bylo fajn, byl vzájemný chtíč mezi hlavními hrdiny. Tato sportovní romance mezi profesionálním hokejistou a baletkou mohla jednoznačně nabídnou podstatně více.
Námět na příběh přitom rozhodně nebyl špatný. Jenže měl tento příběh opravdu dost chyb. První, co mě trklo, kromě toho, co jsem již zmínila výše, bylo to, že autorka psala o jedné věci opakovaně. První cca tři kapitoly se dozvíte jen to, jak tam hlavní hrdina nechce být a jak se hlavní protagonistka cítí sexy, toť vše. Další věc, která byla špatně byl nulový vývoj postav. Nikam moc nepokročily.
Říct, že byl jejich vztah pak velmi zvláštní, je hodně slabě řečeno. No a ten závěr? Hledala jsem, kam se mi poděly další kapitoly, protože ten byl opravdu hodně divný.
Kniha mi totiž nenabídla víceméně nic navíc. To, co bylo v anotaci, se odehrálo v podstatě v celé knize. Scházelo mi tu nějaké překvapení, nějaký ten wow efekt, vzrůšo a tak. Jenže kromě peprných scén musím říct, že jsem byla dost zklamaná. Zápletka byla naprosto předvídatelná. Jediné, co bylo fajn, byl vzájemný chtíč mezi hlavními hrdiny. Tato sportovní romance mezi profesionálním hokejistou a baletkou mohla jednoznačně nabídnou podstatně více.
Námět na příběh přitom rozhodně nebyl špatný. Jenže měl tento příběh opravdu dost chyb. První, co mě trklo, kromě toho, co jsem již zmínila výše, bylo to, že autorka psala o jedné věci opakovaně. První cca tři kapitoly se dozvíte jen to, jak tam hlavní hrdina nechce být a jak se hlavní protagonistka cítí sexy, toť vše. Další věc, která byla špatně byl nulový vývoj postav. Nikam moc nepokročily.
Říct, že byl jejich vztah pak velmi zvláštní, je hodně slabě řečeno. No a ten závěr? Hledala jsem, kam se mi poděly další kapitoly, protože ten byl opravdu hodně divný.
May 20, 2023
Oh I liked this book, it was a good read with good characters.
Many do not like the trope of "Surprise Pregnancy" I like it and more if it is well written and here I feel that it was like that, I feel that they treated everything in a very mature and coherent way. Chloe is our FMC, she is a ballerina and we know that profession is both competitive and exhausting, she meets our MMC Liam captain of the Chicago city hockey team at a presentation and they spend a night together; now, they do not friends but neither a couple, just "lovers" but as you read the first impressions you feel like they want something more but because of their occupations they don't have the time or thoughts for something else, until one day everything changes and instead of two are three and this is where I tell you that the way this story is written makes everything very bearable, how mature Liam and Chloe acted, how Chloe didn't give up on her dream of being a ballerina and how Liam supported her was good to read.
There was no big drama other than an issues that I think are more than accurate, it was a bit seen at the beginning but it doesn't take away from the good of the book, I consider it half a slow burn because although the science to have a baby is there, they have a straight until almost the end where they are just friends but with that tension that I like to read so much.
This is the first book I've read by the author, and I love reading about hockey players obsessing over their women so it was a win-win to find that with good writing, i can't wait for the second book in this series!!
🫂thank you to Jocelyne Soto and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for gave me this arc in exchange for my honest review 📚!!
__________________
Oh, este libro me gustó, fue una buena lectura con buenos personajes.
Si bien a muchos no les gusta el trope de “Embarazo Sorpresa” a mi me gusta y más si está bien escrito y aquí siento que fue así, siento que trataron todo de una manera muy madura y coherente. Chloe es nuestra protagonista, ella es bailarina y si bien sabemos esa profesión es tanto competitiva como exhaustiva, conoce a nuestro MMC Liam capitán del equipo de hockey de la ciudad de Chicago en una presentación y pasan una noche juntos, ahora bien ellos se hacen no amigos pero tampoco novios, solo “amantes” pero a medida que lees las primeras impresiones sientes como ellos quieren algo más pero por sus ocupaciones no tienen el tiempo o pensamientos para algo más, hasta un día todo cambia y en vez de dos son tres y aquí es donde les digo que la manera en la que está escrito esta historia hace que todo sea muy llevadero, lo maduro que actuaron Liam y Chloe, como Chloe no renunció a su sueño de ser bailarina y como Liam la apoyaba fue bueno de leer.
No hubo un drama muy grande más que cuestiones que creo que son más que acertadas, se veía un poco al principio pero no le quita lo bueno al libro, lo considero medio slow burn porque si bien la ciencia para tener un bebe esta alli, tienen un tramo derecho hasta casi al final donde son solo amigos, pero con esa tensión que tanto me gusta leer.
Este es el primer libro que leo de la autora, y me encanta leer sobre jugadores de hockey que se obsesionan por sus mujeres así que fue un ganar ganar encontrar eso con una buena escritura.
Many do not like the trope of "Surprise Pregnancy" I like it and more if it is well written and here I feel that it was like that, I feel that they treated everything in a very mature and coherent way. Chloe is our FMC, she is a ballerina and we know that profession is both competitive and exhausting, she meets our MMC Liam captain of the Chicago city hockey team at a presentation and they spend a night together; now, they do not friends but neither a couple, just "lovers" but as you read the first impressions you feel like they want something more but because of their occupations they don't have the time or thoughts for something else, until one day everything changes and instead of two are three and this is where I tell you that the way this story is written makes everything very bearable, how mature Liam and Chloe acted, how Chloe didn't give up on her dream of being a ballerina and how Liam supported her was good to read.
There was no big drama other than an issues that I think are more than accurate, it was a bit seen at the beginning but it doesn't take away from the good of the book, I consider it half a slow burn because although the science to have a baby is there, they have a straight until almost the end where they are just friends but with that tension that I like to read so much.
This is the first book I've read by the author, and I love reading about hockey players obsessing over their women so it was a win-win to find that with good writing, i can't wait for the second book in this series!!
🫂thank you to Jocelyne Soto and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for gave me this arc in exchange for my honest review 📚!!
__________________
Oh, este libro me gustó, fue una buena lectura con buenos personajes.
Si bien a muchos no les gusta el trope de “Embarazo Sorpresa” a mi me gusta y más si está bien escrito y aquí siento que fue así, siento que trataron todo de una manera muy madura y coherente. Chloe es nuestra protagonista, ella es bailarina y si bien sabemos esa profesión es tanto competitiva como exhaustiva, conoce a nuestro MMC Liam capitán del equipo de hockey de la ciudad de Chicago en una presentación y pasan una noche juntos, ahora bien ellos se hacen no amigos pero tampoco novios, solo “amantes” pero a medida que lees las primeras impresiones sientes como ellos quieren algo más pero por sus ocupaciones no tienen el tiempo o pensamientos para algo más, hasta un día todo cambia y en vez de dos son tres y aquí es donde les digo que la manera en la que está escrito esta historia hace que todo sea muy llevadero, lo maduro que actuaron Liam y Chloe, como Chloe no renunció a su sueño de ser bailarina y como Liam la apoyaba fue bueno de leer.
No hubo un drama muy grande más que cuestiones que creo que son más que acertadas, se veía un poco al principio pero no le quita lo bueno al libro, lo considero medio slow burn porque si bien la ciencia para tener un bebe esta alli, tienen un tramo derecho hasta casi al final donde son solo amigos, pero con esa tensión que tanto me gusta leer.
Este es el primer libro que leo de la autora, y me encanta leer sobre jugadores de hockey que se obsesionan por sus mujeres así que fue un ganar ganar encontrar eso con una buena escritura.
May 19, 2023
This is the first book in a new hockey series, but it can be read as a standalone. It’s also the first book I’ve read by this author. I’m looking forward to reading more of her work. This was a fast-paced, low-drama, quick read.
Liam is captain of the Chicago Dark Knights hockey team. He’s not looking forward to attending a black-tie event but as a spokesperson for the company hosting the event, he has no choice. He decides to hide in the back and take a nap during the ballet, but he can’t take his eyes off of one of the ballerinas. When another attendee makes Chloe uncomfortable while mingling after the performance he comes to her rescue and sparks fly. The two have so much chemistry their one-night extends over the week until he leaves for away games and she begins winter rehearsals. Everything changes with an unexpected pregnancy.
Trying not to give anything away, but I loved that the pregnancy didn’t lead to an instant relationship. Instead, it slowed things down and we see the two develop a relationship over time. There was plenty of mutual pining but the two focused on the baby and we see their connection deepen into a friendship with no expectation of anything romantic in the end. Yes, there were times when they could have communicated their feelings but they both agreed ahead of time what their focus was going to be.
I adored Liam, he is definitely swoony. The “he falls first” vibes were strong, even though they were both falling. Everything he did was focused on Chloe and the baby. He was sweet but also had this alpha protectiveness about him. It was a perfect mixture.
I enjoyed the plot of the story, and the characters, and fell in love with some of the supporting characters. There was a lot to like about this one. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Liam is captain of the Chicago Dark Knights hockey team. He’s not looking forward to attending a black-tie event but as a spokesperson for the company hosting the event, he has no choice. He decides to hide in the back and take a nap during the ballet, but he can’t take his eyes off of one of the ballerinas. When another attendee makes Chloe uncomfortable while mingling after the performance he comes to her rescue and sparks fly. The two have so much chemistry their one-night extends over the week until he leaves for away games and she begins winter rehearsals. Everything changes with an unexpected pregnancy.
Trying not to give anything away, but I loved that the pregnancy didn’t lead to an instant relationship. Instead, it slowed things down and we see the two develop a relationship over time. There was plenty of mutual pining but the two focused on the baby and we see their connection deepen into a friendship with no expectation of anything romantic in the end. Yes, there were times when they could have communicated their feelings but they both agreed ahead of time what their focus was going to be.
I adored Liam, he is definitely swoony. The “he falls first” vibes were strong, even though they were both falling. Everything he did was focused on Chloe and the baby. He was sweet but also had this alpha protectiveness about him. It was a perfect mixture.
I enjoyed the plot of the story, and the characters, and fell in love with some of the supporting characters. There was a lot to like about this one. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
March 19, 2025
3,25 ⭐️
June 29, 2023
This is the first book in a new hockey series by Jocelyne Soto, but it can be read as a standalone. This is the first book I've read by this author and it won't be the last. This was a fast-paced, low-drama, quick read.
This follows Liam and Chole. Liam is captain of the Chicago Dark Knights hockey team. He’s not looking forward to attending a black-tie ballet event, but since he is a spokesperson for the company hosting the event, he has no choice. He decides to hide in the back and take a nap during the ballet, but he can’t take his eyes off of one of the ballerinas. When another attendee makes Chloe uncomfortable while mingling after the performance he comes to her rescue and sparks fly. The two have so much chemistry their one-night extends over the week until he leaves for away games and she begins winter rehearsals. Everything changes with an unexpected pregnancy.
I absolutely loved watching their relationship progress. I adored Liam, he is definitely so sweet and swoony. I loved the he falls first vibes, even though they were both falling. Everything he did was focused on Chloe and the baby. I loved his alpha protectiveness mixed with his sweetness. It was a perfect mixture.
Tropes:
He Falls First
Surprise Pregnancy
Forced Proximity
Friends to Lovers
One Night Stand
Slow Burn
Overall: 4.25
Spice: 3
This follows Liam and Chole. Liam is captain of the Chicago Dark Knights hockey team. He’s not looking forward to attending a black-tie ballet event, but since he is a spokesperson for the company hosting the event, he has no choice. He decides to hide in the back and take a nap during the ballet, but he can’t take his eyes off of one of the ballerinas. When another attendee makes Chloe uncomfortable while mingling after the performance he comes to her rescue and sparks fly. The two have so much chemistry their one-night extends over the week until he leaves for away games and she begins winter rehearsals. Everything changes with an unexpected pregnancy.
I absolutely loved watching their relationship progress. I adored Liam, he is definitely so sweet and swoony. I loved the he falls first vibes, even though they were both falling. Everything he did was focused on Chloe and the baby. I loved his alpha protectiveness mixed with his sweetness. It was a perfect mixture.
Tropes:
He Falls First
Surprise Pregnancy
Forced Proximity
Friends to Lovers
One Night Stand
Slow Burn
Overall: 4.25
Spice: 3
September 10, 2025
I got this book as a gift from my husband’s friend’s mom (not sure if she really knew what she was gifting me, I think she just thought it was cute because we were a real life ballerina/hockey player). This book has at least one grammatical error on every single page. It’s so bad BUT IT’S SO GOOD I NEED TO READ THE WHOLE SERIES. Highly recommend reading on your honeymoon if you’re a former ballerina & your husband is a former hockey player 😉
May 21, 2023
Jocelyne Soto is a new to me author and I was intrigued since it checked off a few trope boxes for me. I give it 3.5 ⭐️ and 2.5 🌶️ Liam and Chloe’s story is a cute slow burn sports romance even though it is a quick read. Chloe finds out she’s pregnant after a one night stand and the chemistry between them is definitely steamy. But once Chloe finds out she’s pregnant, she puts the breaks on things going any further and builds these 50 story high walls to avoid getting hurt. Liam is ready to go full speed ahead and is ready to build something with her and is made more concrete when she tells him she’s pregnant. He has his work cut out for him to break down those walls that she created after finding out she’s pregnant. Her stubbornness to go against everything that was clearly right in front of her face was dragged out a bit for me. The ending was a little rushed but we get the HEA they were meant to get all wrapped up in a cute bundle of joy.
May 20, 2023
Chloe is living her dream of being a ballerina and performing for one of the most respected dance companies.
A chance encounter and a night of passion with professional hockey player Liam leads to two blue lines and an unknown future.
Chloe and Liam start with an instant attraction to each other and undeniable chemistry, but when she finds out she's pregnant, they realise that they need to concentrate on the baby first leading to a slow build up to their relationship which fits the storyline perfectly.
I did feel like the ending was a bit abrupt and would have loved for an epilogue because I wanted more from these two characters.
Hopefully, we get to see some of Chloe and Liam in the other books in the series, which I'm really looking forward to.
I love the little crossover encounters with characters from other books by Jocelyne, too 💙
A chance encounter and a night of passion with professional hockey player Liam leads to two blue lines and an unknown future.
Chloe and Liam start with an instant attraction to each other and undeniable chemistry, but when she finds out she's pregnant, they realise that they need to concentrate on the baby first leading to a slow build up to their relationship which fits the storyline perfectly.
I did feel like the ending was a bit abrupt and would have loved for an epilogue because I wanted more from these two characters.
Hopefully, we get to see some of Chloe and Liam in the other books in the series, which I'm really looking forward to.
I love the little crossover encounters with characters from other books by Jocelyne, too 💙
June 13, 2023
ARC kindly provided for the author in exchange for an honest review
This book deserves all the stars in the universe!🥹 Jocelyne Soto gave me everything I love in my favorite romances with Skating the Blue Line and Liam & Chloe, I enjoyed these two form start to finish, and I can't believe it took me so long to read them, but I was the happiest with their story, as usual, Jocelyne never disappoints and I think Chicago Dark Knights couldn't have had a better start.
I think Chloe is in my top 3 of favorite girls written by this author: a ballet dancer who is at her best, fun, playful, speaks her mind and knows very well what she wants from her life, BUT her plans are about to change in the most unexpected way possible and I LOVED the journey Jocelyne gave Chloe, from the moment she found out she was pregnant, to all the things she experienced, including her feelings for Liam.
He is the captain of the Chicago Dark Knights and one of the most famous hockey players in town, Liam is the perfect book boyfriend, extremely sweet, cuddly, sympathetic and really pays attention to the details, also, an athlete who doesn't really enjoy being harassed by the media BUT appreciates the support of his fans. Liam's life is also turned upside down from the moment he sees Chloe dance on stage and it was one of the things I enjoyed most about his love story.
And definitely, the love story of Liam & Chloe is one of my favorites from Jocelyne Soto because those two were the most adorable from start to finish! I think the cutest thing was that Liam's feelings are rooted in admiration for Chlo's ballet skills, and when they have that unexpected date and their not-so-casual encounters, their chemistry captivated me: I really liked reading the immediate bond that is formed between them as their feelings for each other strengthened until they discover that they are going to be parents!!! And everything that happens in their plot from that moment on only makes me fall in love with them throughout the story: Liam doesn't stop showing Chloe how important she is to him, and that he cares about her in the same way as for their baby, and all those kisses that she gives him every time he makes a beautiful gesture are the cutest thing I've read in a long time!.
🏒Liam: 5/5
🩰Chloe: 5/5
🏒Plot: 5/5
🩰Love story: 5/5
🏒Secondary characters: 5/5
🩰Universe: 5/5
🏒Cover: 5/5
🌶️: 2.5/5
ARC amablemente proporcionada por la autora a cambio de una reseña honesta
Este libro merece todas las estrellas del universo! 🥹 Jocelyne Soto me dio todo lo que amo en mis romances favoritos con Skating the Blue Line y Liam & Chloe, disfruté de estos dos de principio a fin, y no puedo creer que me llevara tanto tiempo leerlos, pero fui la más feliz con su historia, como ya es costumbre, Jocelyne nunca decepciona y creo que Chicago Dark Knights no pudo tener un mejor inicio.
Creo que Chloe ésta en mi top3 de chicas favoritas escritas por ésta autora: una bailarina de ballet que está en su mejor momento, es divertida, juguetona, dice lo que piensa y sabe muy bien lo que quiere de su vida. PERO sus planes están a punto de cambiar en la forma más inesperada posible y AMÉ el viaje que Jocelyne le dio a Chloe, desde el momento en el que se enteró de su embarazó, hasta todas las cosas que experimentó, incluyendo sus sentimientos por Liam.
Él es el capitán de los Chicago Dark Knights y uno de los jugadores de hockey más famosos en Chicago, Liam es el perfecto book boyfriend, extremadamente dulce, tierno, comprensivo y que realmente presta atención a los detalles, además, en un atleta que no disfruta mucho del asedio de los medios PERO que aprecia y agradece el apoyo de sus fans. La vida de Liam también se pone de cabeza desde el momento en que ve a Chloe bailar en el escenario y fue una de las cosas que más disfruté de su historia de amor.
Y definitivamente, la historia de amor de Liam & Chloe es una de mis favoritas de Jocelyne Soto porque esos dos fueron de los más adorables de principio a fin! Creo que lo más lindo fue que los sentimientos de Liam se cimientan de la admiración por la habilidad de Chlo en lo que al ballet se refiere, y cuando tienen esa cita inesperada y sus encuentros no tan casuales, su química me atrapó por completo: me gustó mucho leer el vinculo inmediato que se forma entre ellos como iban fortaleciéndose sus sentimientos por el otro hasta que descubren que van a ser papás!!! Y todo lo que pasa en su trama a partir de ese momento solo me hace enamorarme junto con ellos a lo largo de la historia: Liam no deja de demostrarle a Chloe lo importante que es para él, y que se preocupa por ella de la misma forma que por su bebé, y todos esos besos que ella le da cada vez que él tiene un gesto hermoso son lo más tierno que he leído en mucho tiempo!, además, su final me gustó muchísimo!
🏒Liam: 5/5
🩰Chloe: 5/5
🏒Trama: 5/5
🩰Historia de amor: 5/5
🏒Personajes secundarios: 5/5
🩰Universo: 5/5
🏒Portada: 5/5
🌶️: 2.5/5
This book deserves all the stars in the universe!🥹 Jocelyne Soto gave me everything I love in my favorite romances with Skating the Blue Line and Liam & Chloe, I enjoyed these two form start to finish, and I can't believe it took me so long to read them, but I was the happiest with their story, as usual, Jocelyne never disappoints and I think Chicago Dark Knights couldn't have had a better start.
I think Chloe is in my top 3 of favorite girls written by this author: a ballet dancer who is at her best, fun, playful, speaks her mind and knows very well what she wants from her life, BUT her plans are about to change in the most unexpected way possible and I LOVED the journey Jocelyne gave Chloe, from the moment she found out she was pregnant, to all the things she experienced, including her feelings for Liam.
He is the captain of the Chicago Dark Knights and one of the most famous hockey players in town, Liam is the perfect book boyfriend, extremely sweet, cuddly, sympathetic and really pays attention to the details, also, an athlete who doesn't really enjoy being harassed by the media BUT appreciates the support of his fans. Liam's life is also turned upside down from the moment he sees Chloe dance on stage and it was one of the things I enjoyed most about his love story.
And definitely, the love story of Liam & Chloe is one of my favorites from Jocelyne Soto because those two were the most adorable from start to finish! I think the cutest thing was that Liam's feelings are rooted in admiration for Chlo's ballet skills, and when they have that unexpected date and their not-so-casual encounters, their chemistry captivated me: I really liked reading the immediate bond that is formed between them as their feelings for each other strengthened until they discover that they are going to be parents!!! And everything that happens in their plot from that moment on only makes me fall in love with them throughout the story: Liam doesn't stop showing Chloe how important she is to him, and that he cares about her in the same way as for their baby, and all those kisses that she gives him every time he makes a beautiful gesture are the cutest thing I've read in a long time!.
🏒Liam: 5/5
🩰Chloe: 5/5
🏒Plot: 5/5
🩰Love story: 5/5
🏒Secondary characters: 5/5
🩰Universe: 5/5
🏒Cover: 5/5
🌶️: 2.5/5
ARC amablemente proporcionada por la autora a cambio de una reseña honesta
Este libro merece todas las estrellas del universo! 🥹 Jocelyne Soto me dio todo lo que amo en mis romances favoritos con Skating the Blue Line y Liam & Chloe, disfruté de estos dos de principio a fin, y no puedo creer que me llevara tanto tiempo leerlos, pero fui la más feliz con su historia, como ya es costumbre, Jocelyne nunca decepciona y creo que Chicago Dark Knights no pudo tener un mejor inicio.
Creo que Chloe ésta en mi top3 de chicas favoritas escritas por ésta autora: una bailarina de ballet que está en su mejor momento, es divertida, juguetona, dice lo que piensa y sabe muy bien lo que quiere de su vida. PERO sus planes están a punto de cambiar en la forma más inesperada posible y AMÉ el viaje que Jocelyne le dio a Chloe, desde el momento en el que se enteró de su embarazó, hasta todas las cosas que experimentó, incluyendo sus sentimientos por Liam.
Él es el capitán de los Chicago Dark Knights y uno de los jugadores de hockey más famosos en Chicago, Liam es el perfecto book boyfriend, extremadamente dulce, tierno, comprensivo y que realmente presta atención a los detalles, además, en un atleta que no disfruta mucho del asedio de los medios PERO que aprecia y agradece el apoyo de sus fans. La vida de Liam también se pone de cabeza desde el momento en que ve a Chloe bailar en el escenario y fue una de las cosas que más disfruté de su historia de amor.
Y definitivamente, la historia de amor de Liam & Chloe es una de mis favoritas de Jocelyne Soto porque esos dos fueron de los más adorables de principio a fin! Creo que lo más lindo fue que los sentimientos de Liam se cimientan de la admiración por la habilidad de Chlo en lo que al ballet se refiere, y cuando tienen esa cita inesperada y sus encuentros no tan casuales, su química me atrapó por completo: me gustó mucho leer el vinculo inmediato que se forma entre ellos como iban fortaleciéndose sus sentimientos por el otro hasta que descubren que van a ser papás!!! Y todo lo que pasa en su trama a partir de ese momento solo me hace enamorarme junto con ellos a lo largo de la historia: Liam no deja de demostrarle a Chloe lo importante que es para él, y que se preocupa por ella de la misma forma que por su bebé, y todos esos besos que ella le da cada vez que él tiene un gesto hermoso son lo más tierno que he leído en mucho tiempo!, además, su final me gustó muchísimo!
🏒Liam: 5/5
🩰Chloe: 5/5
🏒Trama: 5/5
🩰Historia de amor: 5/5
🏒Personajes secundarios: 5/5
🩰Universo: 5/5
🏒Portada: 5/5
🌶️: 2.5/5
April 19, 2024
2.75 ⭐️ 2 ❤️🔥. this was very bingeable, but there were a lot of typos/grammatical errors and lust to love isn’t my personal fav. when it comes to romance novels I personally just prefer a little more chemistry and communication before spice and babies, but this was a quick fun read anyway
May 12, 2023
Ended abruptly
May 16, 2023
Skating the Blue Line (ARC review)
Hockey romances will forever be a favourite, pair this trope with surprise pregnancy and you won me over. This book was so cute. This story was truly beautiful. I loved the relationship Liam and Chloe had. From the incredible chemistry to the perfect moments between them you could see these two people grow and form a special relation. Their feelings blossomed fast and them never acting on them made perfect sense due to their situation. The surprise pregnancy they had to face and the way they handled it were so good. These two people had their baby as their number one priority and for me that was so sweet. Chloe truly is a badass, having a career she worked so hard to get and now being tied to the hottest hockey captain was a win even if it took her time to realize. I truly understood her fears, they were valid and they made sense. Liam was perfect, I truly adored how he was always by her side and as she said he indeed became her anchor. That man did everything for Chloe and their baby. Seeing how both of them were excited for their baby made me so happy. Their steamy moments were to die for. Lover how that man worshipped Chloe. The last chapter gave me all the feels and I loved seeing them happy and at peace.
Book by: Jocelyne Soto
Tropes:
• Surprise pregnancy
• Sports romance
• Forced proximity
• Friends to lovers
• One night stand
• Slowburn
My rating: 4,5/5 ⭐️
Spice level: 2,5/5
Hockey romances will forever be a favourite, pair this trope with surprise pregnancy and you won me over. This book was so cute. This story was truly beautiful. I loved the relationship Liam and Chloe had. From the incredible chemistry to the perfect moments between them you could see these two people grow and form a special relation. Their feelings blossomed fast and them never acting on them made perfect sense due to their situation. The surprise pregnancy they had to face and the way they handled it were so good. These two people had their baby as their number one priority and for me that was so sweet. Chloe truly is a badass, having a career she worked so hard to get and now being tied to the hottest hockey captain was a win even if it took her time to realize. I truly understood her fears, they were valid and they made sense. Liam was perfect, I truly adored how he was always by her side and as she said he indeed became her anchor. That man did everything for Chloe and their baby. Seeing how both of them were excited for their baby made me so happy. Their steamy moments were to die for. Lover how that man worshipped Chloe. The last chapter gave me all the feels and I loved seeing them happy and at peace.
Book by: Jocelyne Soto
Tropes:
• Surprise pregnancy
• Sports romance
• Forced proximity
• Friends to lovers
• One night stand
• Slowburn
My rating: 4,5/5 ⭐️
Spice level: 2,5/5
May 17, 2023
Skating the blue line is a brand new series from Jocelyne Soto. Hockey romance and a surprise pregnancy sign me up. Chloe and Liam were all about dancing (ballerina) and hockey. When they meet sparks fly and a night of passion end up with a baby. It was great to see how they navigate this new phase of their lives. How involve and devoted Liam became with both baby and Chloe. And how Chloe let him in. I enjoyed this story so much, it had heart, love, friendship, laughs and steam. It was great to see all the side characters as well and seeing how supportive they’re of their friends.
Arc provided for honest review.
Arc provided for honest review.
May 22, 2023
A lot of firsts here, a new to me author and series starter. I enjoyed this book, not much drama, the story moved, and I finished it sooner than I thought. I enjoyed meeting Liam and Chloe, they met at a fundraiser, and she immediately captures his attention as she dances. Both have demanding careers, and personal time is at a minimum, but their chemistry is undeniable. When life throws them a curve, they handle the situation together, and I love the devotion Liam shows for Chloe and how Chloe slowly lets him in.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
June 19, 2025
Kicking my feet and blushing! This was sooo cuuute. 😖 My first hockey romance and I very much enjoyed it!! Liam was a dream and I loved him. 🩷 My favorite parts were the sweet moments with him and Chloe; the other stuff stressed me out but that’s okay. The spicy parts were a too spicy for me and there was a lot of cussing which I’m not a fan of but overall, it was a sweet fast read! It made me smile. The ending was eee! I love reading about sweet guys and their babies. 💙🏒
January 3, 2024
Liam + Chloe
-hockey romance
-ballerina
-one night stand
-surprise pregnancy
-forced prox
i honestly loved this book for a surprise pregnancy!! it was VERYYY well done in that regard & terms of communication! & i know so many others will appreciate that!
-hockey romance
-ballerina
-one night stand
-surprise pregnancy
-forced prox
i honestly loved this book for a surprise pregnancy!! it was VERYYY well done in that regard & terms of communication! & i know so many others will appreciate that!
March 19, 2025
“i’d give you the world if you’d let me”
September 8, 2024
I thought the storyline was done fairly well! I’m not usually one to pick up a book revolving around a pregnant main character, but here I was lol. I enjoyed reading up until maybe the last few chapters. The only complaints I have are the massive amount of typos and some phrasing mishaps that could have been corrected easily!! Not sure who her publisher is but I hope the author found a new one!!
August 4, 2025
Maybe I've read too many stories with similar plots, but I struggled to stay engaged. I felt like certain scenes that should have appeared on the page were glossed over. And there was conflict at the end that felt unnecessary and then somehow resolved without seeing it.
November 5, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
I loved that this has accidental pregnancy and was a hockey romance, however, the characters spend more than half the book resisting their feelings for each other to focus on the baby - so much more of a slow burn than I anticipated! Pretty much no steam even though it started out strong 🔥 loved Liam - his sweet Cinnamon roll ways definitely saved the book!
I loved that this has accidental pregnancy and was a hockey romance, however, the characters spend more than half the book resisting their feelings for each other to focus on the baby - so much more of a slow burn than I anticipated! Pretty much no steam even though it started out strong 🔥 loved Liam - his sweet Cinnamon roll ways definitely saved the book!
May 21, 2023
Chloe is a ballerina, a career she has aspired to since she was a young child. She meets Liam while performing at a presentation one evening. Liam is the captain of the Chicago Dark Knights hockey team. He is not fond of black tie events but has to attend them due to being the ambassador of the company hosting them. Though he plans to take a nap during the ballet, a particular ballerina catches his eye, and he becomes entranced by her. After the ballet, Chloe and Liam meet, and they decide to spend the night together. They know it's best not to pursue a romantic relationship because of the demands of their respective careers, so they opt to limit their interactions to the bedroom. But when they learn that Chloe is pregnant, everything changes.
This was my first book by the author, and I enjoyed it. It was a fun, fast-paced read.
I adored the portrayal of Chloe and Liam. They responded maturely once they discovered they were expecting. This surprise did not result in them immediately entering into a romantic relationship. Instead, their decision to focus solely on the baby allowed them to get to know each other and form a deep friendship without the expectation of it turning romantic. They simply went with the flow. They were obviously infatuated with one another, but their attention was on their child.
Liam was extremely supportive of Chloe and her decisions. Everything he did was for Chloe and their child's benefit. He was sweet and caring, but also protective, which I appreciated. Chloe was also very nice. She didn't let her pregnancy stop her from continuing her career as a ballerina, and she made sure she followed the doctor's advice. I enjoyed sharing her pregnancy with her. We witnessed her go through all of the ups and downs of pregnancy, which I had never read about in a book before. Liam and Chloe handled any problems that arose with maturity.
I also enjoyed the side characters, especially Blake and Christian. Their friendship with Liam was fun to read.
Overall, this was a good book and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
Thank you to Wildfire Marketing Solutions and Jocelyne Soto for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first book by the author, and I enjoyed it. It was a fun, fast-paced read.
I adored the portrayal of Chloe and Liam. They responded maturely once they discovered they were expecting. This surprise did not result in them immediately entering into a romantic relationship. Instead, their decision to focus solely on the baby allowed them to get to know each other and form a deep friendship without the expectation of it turning romantic. They simply went with the flow. They were obviously infatuated with one another, but their attention was on their child.
Liam was extremely supportive of Chloe and her decisions. Everything he did was for Chloe and their child's benefit. He was sweet and caring, but also protective, which I appreciated. Chloe was also very nice. She didn't let her pregnancy stop her from continuing her career as a ballerina, and she made sure she followed the doctor's advice. I enjoyed sharing her pregnancy with her. We witnessed her go through all of the ups and downs of pregnancy, which I had never read about in a book before. Liam and Chloe handled any problems that arose with maturity.
I also enjoyed the side characters, especially Blake and Christian. Their friendship with Liam was fun to read.
Overall, this was a good book and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
Thank you to Wildfire Marketing Solutions and Jocelyne Soto for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
✨Hockey Romance
✨Surprise Pregnancy
✨Close Proximity
✨One Night Stand
•Dual POV
•Stand-alone, but first book in Chicago Dark Knights
I enjoyed this book so much! 😍
Liam & Chloe meet at Chloe’s ballet event. They speak afterwards and sparks between them fly instantly. They end up spending the night together, but they both leave wanting more. Chloe is busy with her dance schedule & Liam with his hockey schedule, but they have a week before everything goes crazy and spend the time together. Fast forward four more weeks and they finally get to see each other. But, Chloe soon finds out that she is pregnant. She tells Liam and she comes to the decision of keeping the baby. While she is pregnant, they decide to put their relationship on hold and just be there for each other. As time goes on, they can’t deny their attraction and feelings for one another and decide to give in to one another. But what happens when they have a timeline of when this is supposed to end and go back to living separate lives?
I loved the connection between Liam & Chloe. It was so cute to see Liam be there for Chloe every step of the way to take care of her and the baby. I also loved how he didn’t push her for the relationship, but let her figure it out on his own time. And the scene when he finds out what he is having! 🥺
I can’t wait for Blake & Christian’s books next! 🥰
Favorite Quote:
“Chloe can never mean nothing, because she’s fucking everything to me. She’s more than just the mother of my child, she’s more than just a roommate, more than just a one night stand. She is so much fucking more to me and she doesn’t see it.“
🌶️🌶️
✨Hockey Romance
✨Surprise Pregnancy
✨Close Proximity
✨One Night Stand
•Dual POV
•Stand-alone, but first book in Chicago Dark Knights
I enjoyed this book so much! 😍
Liam & Chloe meet at Chloe’s ballet event. They speak afterwards and sparks between them fly instantly. They end up spending the night together, but they both leave wanting more. Chloe is busy with her dance schedule & Liam with his hockey schedule, but they have a week before everything goes crazy and spend the time together. Fast forward four more weeks and they finally get to see each other. But, Chloe soon finds out that she is pregnant. She tells Liam and she comes to the decision of keeping the baby. While she is pregnant, they decide to put their relationship on hold and just be there for each other. As time goes on, they can’t deny their attraction and feelings for one another and decide to give in to one another. But what happens when they have a timeline of when this is supposed to end and go back to living separate lives?
I loved the connection between Liam & Chloe. It was so cute to see Liam be there for Chloe every step of the way to take care of her and the baby. I also loved how he didn’t push her for the relationship, but let her figure it out on his own time. And the scene when he finds out what he is having! 🥺
I can’t wait for Blake & Christian’s books next! 🥰
Favorite Quote:
“Chloe can never mean nothing, because she’s fucking everything to me. She’s more than just the mother of my child, she’s more than just a roommate, more than just a one night stand. She is so much fucking more to me and she doesn’t see it.“
June 24, 2023
Jocelyne Soto is a new author to me. She had me at hockey player / accidental pregnancy / he falls first trope.
Liam and Chloe should never have met but circumstances have them meeting up by chance. They quickly act on their attraction expecting a 'one and done' scenario but are surprised when that's not how it concludes.
I was quite smitten with both Liam and Chloe and was easily swept up in their story.
Jocelyne Soto's writing style captivated me and has left me wanting more.
I look forward to what she has planned next.
Liam and Chloe should never have met but circumstances have them meeting up by chance. They quickly act on their attraction expecting a 'one and done' scenario but are surprised when that's not how it concludes.
I was quite smitten with both Liam and Chloe and was easily swept up in their story.
Jocelyne Soto's writing style captivated me and has left me wanting more.
I look forward to what she has planned next.
August 11, 2023
I can’t get past the spelling
🩵 🏒 Skating The Blue Line 🏒🩵 (Book 1 in the Chicago Dark Knights series) by Jocelyne Soto
3/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️
🩵 I tried - I really did. But I had to deduct a ⭐️ from my rating for spelling and grammatical errors. Normally, I just let it go and don’t really worry about it - but when you have sentences that are missing key words or spellings of words that should have been easily found by an editor, a re-read, a BETA team - ANYTHING - and they don’t get fixed? I just can’t. This really messed with my head because I shouldn’t have to be editing your book in my head to make it make sense for me. And it just continues throughout the story. I think almost every chapter has 1-5 errors. And normally I don’t harp on that but this was nonsensical to me. Especially if you have such a GOOD story and it gets ruined bit by bit.
🏒 The premise of this story holds one of my least favorite tropes - accidental pregnancy - however I knew it did before I even started reading so it made it that much more bearable. And I was really genuinely intrigued on how the hockey player meets the ballerina and it just drew me in.
🩵 I truly adored the MMC in this story. He meets a lot of the book boyfriend requirements and genuinely he’s just sunshine all day. Some would say he meets cinnamon roll but I think he’s sunshine. His character is what made this book for me. He gave me the feels - he made me sad for him when things weren’t going his way when. I just I adored him.
🏒 The FMC drove me nuts. Not because of the pregnancy because she was actually pretty normal compared to others I have read but she just keeps pushing the MMC away. Constantly. This man communicates so well and she just says “eh you’re lying”. Like how many times does someone have to say something for it to get through your thick skull? It just drove me crazy.
🩵 The story was good - the writing as I stated made this a much harder read than it needed to be.
📚
🩵 🏒 Skating The Blue Line 🏒🩵 (Book 1 in the Chicago Dark Knights series) by Jocelyne Soto
3/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️
🩵 I tried - I really did. But I had to deduct a ⭐️ from my rating for spelling and grammatical errors. Normally, I just let it go and don’t really worry about it - but when you have sentences that are missing key words or spellings of words that should have been easily found by an editor, a re-read, a BETA team - ANYTHING - and they don’t get fixed? I just can’t. This really messed with my head because I shouldn’t have to be editing your book in my head to make it make sense for me. And it just continues throughout the story. I think almost every chapter has 1-5 errors. And normally I don’t harp on that but this was nonsensical to me. Especially if you have such a GOOD story and it gets ruined bit by bit.
🏒 The premise of this story holds one of my least favorite tropes - accidental pregnancy - however I knew it did before I even started reading so it made it that much more bearable. And I was really genuinely intrigued on how the hockey player meets the ballerina and it just drew me in.
🩵 I truly adored the MMC in this story. He meets a lot of the book boyfriend requirements and genuinely he’s just sunshine all day. Some would say he meets cinnamon roll but I think he’s sunshine. His character is what made this book for me. He gave me the feels - he made me sad for him when things weren’t going his way when. I just I adored him.
🏒 The FMC drove me nuts. Not because of the pregnancy because she was actually pretty normal compared to others I have read but she just keeps pushing the MMC away. Constantly. This man communicates so well and she just says “eh you’re lying”. Like how many times does someone have to say something for it to get through your thick skull? It just drove me crazy.
🩵 The story was good - the writing as I stated made this a much harder read than it needed to be.
📚
May 23, 2023
I really wound up liking this book.
I wasn't sure about it going into it at first. It is a series starter, the relationship began super hot and strong, and then the accidental pregnancy comes into play super early in the book. This author handled all of these items and issues very well though.
First, I really enjoyed the author's writing style. Both of the main characters are well developed people and never "broke character" throughout the entire book. I also liked how they gave each other the time and space to just be even has this huge life changing event was happening to each other. The communication they had regarding the pregnancy was wonderful to read. Which also made the tentativeness over communication of their feelings for each other all the more real and hit harder with me. It didn't feel forced. I could place myself in their shoes very easily.
The pregnancy was also something that I liked how it was handled. I liked that birth conrol was utilized on both sides and yet that very slim margin for error on all sides was still there. I also liked how the characters instantly recognized how life altering this event was for both of them and that Liam didn't impose his thoughts or feelings overall on Chloe when she let him know he was going to be a father. He offered support and affection while she worked through her own feelings and thoughts on the matter. Then he was finally able to tell her what he had been thinking and feeling without worry that it would add additional burdens to her. This was so critical and thoughtful. It's the perfect situation that I don't think enough people see in real life. It was also written in such a strong way that fit Liam's character overall.
I also liked the way the feelings between these two were shown even before they were told. You could see them both slowly and softly falling in love. I liked that they tried to remove their physical relationship and put a hold on a romantic relationship while they dealt with the fact they they were going to be parents together. The conscious choice of getting to know each other as people first and adjusting to the fact the they would be in each others lives forever was perfect. I liked that this was an item that was handled seperately from the love story. I also liked how the reader could see the friendship grow into more and how each character reacted to that more in their own unique way. Both characters are written as humans who accept the other for whom they are, and they don't push. They both definetly want more, but they are afraid to ask for more as they don't want to be denied and they don't want something out of obligation. I liked how Liam's character is written as what I would term "quiet alpha" he very clearly is aware of things that Chloe needs and has a very strong protective streak for her, but his way of offering solutions isn't to push or yell or demand. He gives her space or he offers a solution and leaves the final decision to her. He only pushes when things really matter the most to him. Or when there are big feelings involved. Mainly fear, overprotectiveness, and love. Even when he gets so frustrated with her he still only walks out of the apartment rather than staying to have a fight. Being aware enough of your partner to walk away for a little while to let the heatedness of the moment calm so you can both hear each other is stronger than the big blow out fights you can typically see written.
Finally I loved the introduction of the side characters and the world building without it being overly populated with too many side stories and people. It was easy to see where new pieces and stories could come into play in later books, or possibly not come into play, but these characters showed up at times when it felt natural and normal in the story line and for interactions and they weren't forced at all.
Things that stood out to me that I found odd, but didn't truly detract from the story for me, were the lack of interaction that Chloe had with her parents. I would have expected more by play with her mom in particular. Or at least a scene or two with Liam interacting with her parents. From the picture the author painted of the closeness of Chloe's family both from themselves and some things from the culture itself, I feel that the author would have worked in a bit more of Chloe's family. I was actually surprised at the lack of overall interaction with her mom.
The same held true for how distant Betty was in the book as well as the dance company. These are relationships that are typically stronger than the most annoying of siblings with a codependancy that is borderline unhealthy. It was odd reading a book where a principle dancer in such a highly rated ballet company was out of commission at the very height of winter season and none of her dance troupe appeared in any manner in the book. Again, not a detraction from the book in anyway, just an oddity to myself.
Finally, and again touching on side characters I would have expected to see or hear more from were Liam's parents. I understood how they were written as the traditional set of parents yet also loved both their son and Chloe. I would have expected some more check ins from Liam's mom or her reaching out to Chloe to check in on the preganancy progress. The reader knows without a doubt that Liam's family has accepted and grown to love Chloe that isn't in doubt. It's just more of - I would have expected by play between these two women.
Other all, these are really really minor things that stood out to me, yet when taken in whole with the entirty of story and the author's style of writing, they really aren't detractions and I understand why these items weren't written in. The author truly did write her story to focus on Liam and Chloe and wrote it in the buhble that these two people were living in as they grappled with a massive life changing event that hit them from out of the blue.
In real life, most of the other "every day" things become muted as we try and make sense of occurances that upend our course of life. That's how this book was written. Interactions that I wanted as a reader were muted or missing as these two main characters were trying to figure out the pieces of their lives while making a new life and falling in love with each other.
In the end that's the real reason I fell in love with this book and with this series. I want to hear more from these side characters and more from this world. I can't wait to see what comes next in this series.
I wasn't sure about it going into it at first. It is a series starter, the relationship began super hot and strong, and then the accidental pregnancy comes into play super early in the book. This author handled all of these items and issues very well though.
First, I really enjoyed the author's writing style. Both of the main characters are well developed people and never "broke character" throughout the entire book. I also liked how they gave each other the time and space to just be even has this huge life changing event was happening to each other. The communication they had regarding the pregnancy was wonderful to read. Which also made the tentativeness over communication of their feelings for each other all the more real and hit harder with me. It didn't feel forced. I could place myself in their shoes very easily.
The pregnancy was also something that I liked how it was handled. I liked that birth conrol was utilized on both sides and yet that very slim margin for error on all sides was still there. I also liked how the characters instantly recognized how life altering this event was for both of them and that Liam didn't impose his thoughts or feelings overall on Chloe when she let him know he was going to be a father. He offered support and affection while she worked through her own feelings and thoughts on the matter. Then he was finally able to tell her what he had been thinking and feeling without worry that it would add additional burdens to her. This was so critical and thoughtful. It's the perfect situation that I don't think enough people see in real life. It was also written in such a strong way that fit Liam's character overall.
I also liked the way the feelings between these two were shown even before they were told. You could see them both slowly and softly falling in love. I liked that they tried to remove their physical relationship and put a hold on a romantic relationship while they dealt with the fact they they were going to be parents together. The conscious choice of getting to know each other as people first and adjusting to the fact the they would be in each others lives forever was perfect. I liked that this was an item that was handled seperately from the love story. I also liked how the reader could see the friendship grow into more and how each character reacted to that more in their own unique way. Both characters are written as humans who accept the other for whom they are, and they don't push. They both definetly want more, but they are afraid to ask for more as they don't want to be denied and they don't want something out of obligation. I liked how Liam's character is written as what I would term "quiet alpha" he very clearly is aware of things that Chloe needs and has a very strong protective streak for her, but his way of offering solutions isn't to push or yell or demand. He gives her space or he offers a solution and leaves the final decision to her. He only pushes when things really matter the most to him. Or when there are big feelings involved. Mainly fear, overprotectiveness, and love. Even when he gets so frustrated with her he still only walks out of the apartment rather than staying to have a fight. Being aware enough of your partner to walk away for a little while to let the heatedness of the moment calm so you can both hear each other is stronger than the big blow out fights you can typically see written.
Finally I loved the introduction of the side characters and the world building without it being overly populated with too many side stories and people. It was easy to see where new pieces and stories could come into play in later books, or possibly not come into play, but these characters showed up at times when it felt natural and normal in the story line and for interactions and they weren't forced at all.
Things that stood out to me that I found odd, but didn't truly detract from the story for me, were the lack of interaction that Chloe had with her parents. I would have expected more by play with her mom in particular. Or at least a scene or two with Liam interacting with her parents. From the picture the author painted of the closeness of Chloe's family both from themselves and some things from the culture itself, I feel that the author would have worked in a bit more of Chloe's family. I was actually surprised at the lack of overall interaction with her mom.
The same held true for how distant Betty was in the book as well as the dance company. These are relationships that are typically stronger than the most annoying of siblings with a codependancy that is borderline unhealthy. It was odd reading a book where a principle dancer in such a highly rated ballet company was out of commission at the very height of winter season and none of her dance troupe appeared in any manner in the book. Again, not a detraction from the book in anyway, just an oddity to myself.
Finally, and again touching on side characters I would have expected to see or hear more from were Liam's parents. I understood how they were written as the traditional set of parents yet also loved both their son and Chloe. I would have expected some more check ins from Liam's mom or her reaching out to Chloe to check in on the preganancy progress. The reader knows without a doubt that Liam's family has accepted and grown to love Chloe that isn't in doubt. It's just more of - I would have expected by play between these two women.
Other all, these are really really minor things that stood out to me, yet when taken in whole with the entirty of story and the author's style of writing, they really aren't detractions and I understand why these items weren't written in. The author truly did write her story to focus on Liam and Chloe and wrote it in the buhble that these two people were living in as they grappled with a massive life changing event that hit them from out of the blue.
In real life, most of the other "every day" things become muted as we try and make sense of occurances that upend our course of life. That's how this book was written. Interactions that I wanted as a reader were muted or missing as these two main characters were trying to figure out the pieces of their lives while making a new life and falling in love with each other.
In the end that's the real reason I fell in love with this book and with this series. I want to hear more from these side characters and more from this world. I can't wait to see what comes next in this series.
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