I liked ROMANCING THE GRUMP but didn't love it. I loved the grumpy x sunshine trope - Nathan was the perfect grump!

I enjoyed the little glimpses of kindness that Nathan showed Summer and could totally see how she fell in love with him. I struggled with the second hard more because Summer started to seem a little desperate, and I got sick of Nathan's continued reminders that it was fake.

I also liked that there was no 3rd act break up - a refreshing twist!

Overall a good romantic comedy that is easy to read

Thanks to NetGalley and JPC Publishing for the ARC! Opinions are my own

I loved this book so much! Nathan and summer were so perfect for each other. I love a good grump and nathan didnt let me down. This was so heartwarming and romantic. loved it.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.

Another goal for Appies creator Jenny Proctor. I adore this series and how wonderfully she has managed to give each character a unique character that makes us love them. I'm always happy to see a new novel

This book was so freaking cute not going to lie. I loved the chase and avoid between then two main characters. I don't think I will ever read a book where there is fake dating involved and will not like it. Loved it here although the fake part wasn't so fake from the beginning. They were both attracted and interested in one another but they were just fighting it off due to personal reasons. The writing was well done and it felt really easy to read and it was pretty slow burning in the way that you want to see how they will end up together. I also liked how we (very unusually) stopped the 3rd act breakup which was refreshing since that is mostly caused by miscommunication and both characters in this book, thankfully, knew how to communicate!

I am deducting half a star for the epilogue-it felt really rushed and made the main character look a little pushy- and another half a star for it having absolutely zero spice and because I think I prefer when the chasing is mostly done by the mmc instead of the fmc but both of these are clearly personal preference so ignore it if you're looking for what this book promises.

I received an ARC from netgalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you so much to Jenny Proctor, NetGalley, and JPC Publishing for the gifted copy !

This is Book 4 of the Appies Series.

I was lucky enough to receive as an ARC 🥰

Jenny Proctor's Romancing the Grump is a delightful and heartwarming tale that combines the classic "sunshine and grump" trope with the excitement of hockey romance, delivering a story that will melt even the frostiest hearts.

Nathan Sanders, known as the grouchiest player on the Appies hockey team, has no interest in romance or companionship, perfectly content with his solitary, grumpy existence. Enter Summer Callahan, a ray of sunshine with an irresistible charm and an unwavering belief that even the toughest shells hide the softest centres.

The story kicks off when a viral social media post forces Summer to step in as Nathan’s fake girlfriend. Intrigued by Nathan’s surly demeanour, Summer sees this as an opportunity to break through his icy exterior. Despite Nathan’s initial resistance and clear declaration of disinterest in any relationship, their undeniable chemistry makes their fake relationship feel increasingly real.

Proctor skilfully navigates the evolution of Nathan and Summer's relationship, balancing humour, tension, and genuine moments of connection. Summer’s relentless optimism and warmth contrast beautifully with Nathan’s grumpiness, creating a dynamic and engaging interplay. The chemistry between them is palpable, with each interaction peeling back Nathan’s layers and revealing the vulnerability beneath his tough exterior.

The character development in Romancing the Grump is particularly noteworthy. Summer is a well-rounded character with her own strengths and insecurities, making her more than just the cheerful foil to Nathan’s grumpiness. Nathan’s gradual transformation from a guarded, grumpy hockey player to someone willing to open up and embrace love is both believable and heartwarming.

Proctor’s writing is crisp and engaging, infusing the narrative with humour and heart. The dialogue sparkles with wit, and the progression of the fake relationship to something real is handled with a deft touch, making the readers root for Nathan and Summer every step of the way.

Romancing the Grump is a charming, feel-good romance that beautifully showcases the transformative power of love and kindness. Jenny Proctor has crafted a delightful story with endearing characters and a heartwarming happily-ever-after that will leave readers with a smile on their faces.

This is the first book I read in this series! I am now a fan and will be going to read the rest!

I loved Nathan and Summer! The fake dating trope is one of my favorites and it was executed flawlessly. There's plenty of witty banter and swoon-worthy moments. There was undeniable electric chemistry between them and it had me rooting for them the entire time!
It was an enjoyable read! I recommend this book to fake dating trope fans!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book!

Jenny Proctor's book] just give me a heart warming, cozy blanket feeling in this sweet rom com. Romancing the Grump just pulls you in and root for the couple to find their way. Romancing the Grump is her 4th book in the Appies hockey series and I just loved Summer and Nathan. I really enjoyed this story and I can't wait for more from Proctor.

This was my first read through NetGalley and I loved it! Loved the grumpy sunshine and the fact there was not a big breakup about 3/4 of the way through the book. Would definitely read more by this author!

Loved this book so much! As one who married a grump, I love the grumpy MMC trope. I also love whole Appies team and how the dream team loves and supports each other. There’s lots of character growth - learning to let others help you, learning to choose your friends wisely, learning that you can make your life good. Everything in the book felt natural and authentic. Definitely recommend this for anyone who loves sweet romance.

Content: father who suffered from alcoholism, a scene with throw-up smells, a sleazy previous boss, light swearing
Romance: only make-outs

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you love a hockey romance, this book is for you! It has grumpy x sunshine, fake dating, laugh out loud moments… overall a great read!

It’s three stars because to me it was a good book, but not great. I think I’m over the grumpy x sunshine if I’m honest.
I don’t get why the hockey bloke always needs to be grumpy. I know there’s others in this series, and others out there. But I always seem to find the grumpy ones. Yes, I know the clue was in the title. But I never find the others until I’ve read the gimpy one in the series…. Anyway….

Nathan I did really like. He was sweet, if a bit of an idiot. But the girl…Summer? I wasn’t keen on her. She just seemed… I guess I have to agree with another review on here, desperate.
She was just trying to cling on to anything. Not listening to the words he was saying. OK, he did like her too, just didn’t say. But it’s the old trope again - “I can change him.”

I’m sure somewhere in here it floated around the “not like other girls” line too… please.

Don’t get me wrong, I did like the book. I read it quickly which means I got right into it. But it just didn’t leave any great impression.

Romancing The Proctor by Jenny Proctor is a romantic comedy that centers on Nathan Sanders, a hockey enforcer, and Summer Callahan, a lawyer.

To be honest, I really liked the first half of the book, but the second half didn't appeal to me as much.

Considering how grumpy Nathan was, the first half had me gushing over the fact that he would full on smile at Summer. Also, he would make her coffee each morning.

However, he started to irritate me in the second half with his entire "remember this is fake because I don't date" nonsense. Then there’s the fact that Summer began to come off as desperate.

*Thank you to NetGalley, JPC Publishing, and to the author, Jenny Proctor, for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.*

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book.

Another great hockey romcom! I am all about grimy x sunshine fake dating. This one had me hooked from page one!

This was an extremely well-written romance novel. I loved both the main characters (and in particular how strong and reasonable the female main character was). I loved and fully believed in the romance, and how it progressed. The supporting cast was just great. I laughed out loud quite a bit, which to me is a sign of a cleverly written book. I look forward to reading the whole series.

My only *minor* critique is, generally speaking, I would prefer to speculate how they feel about each other by their actions and dialogue, not be told through inner-dialogue. I'm generally a fan of show, don't tell, and there was just a bit too much tell.

I strongly recommend this book and will seek out the author's other work.

Romancing the Grump is a fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, hockey romance and the second book in the Appies Hockey Romance series. Both the MMC and MFC were easy to root for and bought out the best in each other. Closed door with lots of sizzle but no spice. A cute, enjoyable read.

Why is this my first time reading Jenny Proctor? That's the first question I asked myself as soon as I was done reading Romancing the Grump. I asked because it was such a good sports romance featuring grumpy/sunshine and fake dating tropes, which are my weaknesses. Summer and Nathan are easy to love and cheer on!

Summer is an attorney who landed a new job working for a hockey team, the Appies. She had to leave her previous job because of a gross boss and I am glad she made the move. On her first day on the job, she has a run-in with the grouchiest player on the team, Nathan. If you look up grumpy in the dictionary you'll find his picture, and everyone knows it. But why can't Summer help the tingles and butterflies when he is near? They met a while back, but he hardly spoke. Nathan has been used to keeping to himself and solely focusing on being great at his sport and showing up for his teammates. But after he goes viral for doing what he does best, being grumpy, he needs to be seen in a new light. So, the team's PR manager suggests he and Summer should fake date. They may not speak much, but at least Summer will get to see his beautiful face.

Fake dating is just meant to lead to something more...at least in the books right? And I think it was inevitable for the pair. Although it was challenging every step of the way because of Nathan's hesitancy. He did not want to enter into a relationship for fear of becoming like his father. Not giving enough to his partner. But as time goes on, they can't help but feel real feelings. I love all the tender moments they share and the beauty of falling in love when you least expect it. I want to read all of Jenny's books because I couldn't get enough of her writing!

No surprise that I absolutely LOVED this book!!! It had some of my favorite tropes - hockey romance, grumpy x sunshine, and fake dating! If you like any of those tropes then you will enjoy this book.

Their relationship was very sweet. It’s a closed door romance and is not very spicy if that’s what you are looking for in a book.

I loved this book so much that I breezed through it in a day. Having loved ‘Absolutely Not In Love’, I was pretty excited for Nathan & Summer’s story which was introduced in that book.

Summer & Nathan’s first encounter in the first chapter set the tone for their chemistry. The grumpy x sunshine banter is so fun and perfect. We get to know pretty soon how much Nathan is affected or attracted by Summer, but Mr. Grumpy fights his feelings as he doesn’t want to date anyone. I loved how Summer was so sure of her feelings and wanted to take a chance and laid out her heart to Nathan.

There are so many swoon worthy moments in the book that I loved. Let me reassure you that it maybe a closed door romance, but Jenny like always, writes the best chemistry and sensual kisses that it was so much better than over explicit scenes. The highlights for me were:

- the moment between them when they touch foreheads through the screen and Nathan full on smiles for the first time
- when Nathan stands up possessively for Summer in front of her ex.
- how Summer takes care of Nathan while he is unwell
- a complete chapter full of text exchanges which made me giggle
- Nathan’s conversation with his mom regarding his view on his dad’s role on their life
- the whole Appies team especially Felix and Gracie, Alex who I wish to see more in a book in future.

Overall, I would really recommend this book if you are looking for a grumpy x sunshine, closed door, hockey romance with all the feels!

I received a copy of this for my honest review

In this sweet romance book our FMC has just started a new job as an in house attorney for a minor league hockey team. On her first day she runs into our MMC. She has met him before, and even tried to go out with him, but he shut her down. But he's on the team she now represents, and they will be spending time together at work. Or at least that's all it should be, until his social media presence as a grump let's the hashtag #tamethebeast trends making some inappropriate response videos. To try and kill the hashtag, they are offered the idea to fake date. This wouldn't be as bad if she wasn't already in like with him. But when she truly works to be his partner, does it help enough to change his mind on no dating until after hockey.

Captivating from start to finish, this book seamlessly weaves together the allure of fake dating, the irresistible charm of grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and the exhilarating world of hockey players. it's a delightful read and it had everything I wanted in a book I would love to read more from this author in the future and will definitely be checking out her catalog!