Line Change
By: Heidi McLaughlin
Series: Northport U
Book # in Series: 1 of 1
Genre: Sports (Hockey) Romance
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: March 19th, 2024
My Rating: ✮✮✮✮
My Reading Format: Advanced Copy Received To Review Honestly
Synopsis:
Thea Jenson has her future meticulously planned out. Graduate from college. Get a job. Marry her high school sweetheart and have two beautiful children. When she decides to transfer schools, her brother suggests she move in with him and his unruly hockey roommates. Everything in her life is going according to her plan . . .
. . . until she bumps into Kyler in their kitchen and sparks fly.
Kyler Rose, the starting center for the Northport University hockey team, is done for the moment he lays his eyes on Thea. But he can’t allow her to become a distraction. He’s determined to make it to the NHL. That’s if he doesn’t get booted for failing grades first. And even though he’s on scholarship, it doesn’t pay his bills or provide for his family. Neither do the tips he earns from his bartending gig. When an offer to make some fast cash falls in his lap, he takes it, thinking no one will care if he gets hurt . . .
. . . except Thea does care.
But just as Kyler finds a way to navigate his feelings for Thea, an unexpected link to his family comes to light and he finds himself in the fight of his life to protect those he loves the most – his family.
Line Change is the first book in Heidi McLaughlin’s Northport U series. This hockey romance follows Kyler and Thea. Their grumpy/sunshine romance is a whirlwind of emotions, so be prepared for all the feels!
Thea Jensen hit a standstill where her life is concerned. Everything from her relationship to her college life feels repetitive. So, with a free spirit mind frame, she decides to pack up, change colleges, and enroll in Northport U (the college her brother, Jude, is currently attending). A new chapter is exactly what she’s in need of right now. But moving into the hockey house is about to give her the most important chapter of her life when Kyler ‘Ky’ Rose comes into her life.
Kyler Rose has the weight of the world on his shoulders. From his mother constantly needing money, to being a provider for his sister and niece, the man has never been able to depend on someone to help him through his own crisis. That is until Thea Jensen, his best friend’s sister, moves into the hockey house. The only issue aside from Thea being his best friend’s younger sister is the fact that she also has a boyfriend of four years… Maybe it’s for the best. After all, he doesn’t need the distraction of a relationship at this time. Especially when he’s trying to build his stats in hopes of one day entering the draft….
The more the story grows, the more things start to unravel.
My Thoughts:
I’ve always been a slight fan of Heidi McLaughlin’s writing. Every book I picked up from this author, I have loved! I went into this novel expecting to like it, and ended up overjoyed to find myself loving this one. If you’re a fan of the Grumpy/Sunshine trope along with the Brother’s Best Friend Trope, give Thea and Ky a try!
Let’s start with Kyler. This man had my heart in turmoil and my stomach in knots. I felt his pain, his sorrow, and his loneliness. There were numerous times when I wanted to reach into my kindle and hug this poor tortured soul. Here’s a man who everyone can depend on, but at the end of the day there is no one standing in his corner. I’m not going to lie; I may have shed a tear…. or two… for this man and all he had bottled up throughout the years. His character, emotions, and turmoil are easily relatable. I don’t blame this man, at all, for being the broody/grumpy man he’s become.
And then we have Thea. Thea is a bright light in this novel. She’s someone who goes out of their way to help those in need. If she sees someone is down on themselves, she’ll be there cheering them on. Her and Ky’s relationship starts on a very rocky point. I loved this fact; the buildup is worth the hours of anticipation! I loved watching her crack her way through the years’ worth of steel armor Ky has built around his heart. What more can I say aside from I loved Thea’s character!
I have to say, if you are a fan of romance novels where sexy times aren’t the main focus, this is the novel for you! This novel is not lined with sex on every page and this was refreshing for me. I just finished a few novels that verged on erotica, and I loved actually diving into a relationship and seeing the characters grow as people. My heart loved this aspect most of all!
Now for the reasoning behind why I dropped a star on my rating. I wanted more angst from Thea in those certain heartbreaking moments. Don’t get me wrong, I loved her fighting side, but I also wanted to see her have that pivotal breakdown moment before the climb of redemption happened. I wanted to grieve a crumbling relationship that was once so strong, I was given a hint of that, but I wanted to feel everything crumbling down around me.
Overall, I really enjoyed Line Change by Heidi McLaughlin! I can’t wait to see what’s coming next in the Northport U series. I’m hoping it’s Millie’s story! I have a feeling her story is going to be littered with so much angst!!!
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Read Today:
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/48Ymx6Z
Amazon World: https://mybook.to/linechangehm
Peace Love and Happy Reading,
Hm… Maybe I will give this author another try with this book. I read another one of hers earlier this year and it was okay/good. I didn’t feel called to read more, though.
Hopefully you enjoy it, if you decide to read it!