“Owner of the thickest thighs in the league”??? Say less.

This book had everything! surprise single dad, hot hockey player, age gap, and nanny romance with just the right amount of chaos and charm.

Lars just found out he’s a dad and basically panics (as expected). Enter Adeline, who’s been in love with him forever and also happens to be the daughter of his teammate… oh, and she needs a job. BAM. She’s the nanny. He’s the d-a-d. The tension? Delicious. The setup? A romcom fever dream.

I adored watching Lars go from “what do I do with this baby??” to “I’ll protect this child with my life.” And don’t even get me started on Adeline being flustered every time Lars existed.

Also, I don’t care how unserious it sounds the mention of “thickest thighs in the league” took me out in the best way. 😂

Highly recommend if you love:
🏒 Single dad tropes
🍼 Forced proximity
👀 A little spice, a lot of heart
📦 And a man who gets emotionally wrecked by a baby swing

Would totally read again when I need something fun but with feels.

This was my first book by Kate Meader, and while the setup was promising—single dad, hockey player, and a nanny with a complicated past—the story didn’t fully land for me. The forbidden romance and age gap had potential, and there were some sweet, heartfelt moments, especially seeing Lars try to figure out fatherhood and watching Addy learn to trust again.

However, I struggled with a few things. The beginning felt a bit chaotic with the number of side characters, especially from Addy's large family. While some of them played important roles later, it was tough to keep track, and at times, the story felt scattered and hard to follow.

Lars' journey as a single dad was one of the stronger aspects, and his early connection with Addy's family was nice to see. But the chemistry between Lars and Addy took a while to develop, and even then, it didn’t feel fully convincing. There were moments that felt cheesy or awkward, and I found myself pulled out of the story by some of the vocabulary choices and dialogue.

Overall, while the book didn’t quite work for me, I did finish it and found myself curious about other characters introduced, especially Summer and Hatch. I’d consider picking up their story in the future. I’d give this one around 2.5 stars—some nice elements, but lacking the depth and spark I was hoping for.

ARC received from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op — thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this.

Let me star by saying thank you to the author and publisher for this book!


For me I think the premise of this story is really promising, but I think there was just something missing for me, I found everything a bit predictable. I did love that characters and the relationship they all had and that the author said exactly who the players were and the partners but I did loose track a bit . I would read other books by this author all being said

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this new hockey romance!

I LOVED this book. I ate it up honestly, i read it in about 12 hours. It's a steamy, single dad x nanny, age gap, forbidden love romance and i am obsessed!

I was hooked from page 1! The book follows Adeline who has a crush on her dads friend and team player Lars - she thought going away to travel would make her little crush disapear but when she returns, she becomes his daughters nanny. It's forced proximity between the pair as she moves in to make it easier to look after his daughter. She soon realises her crush never went and is more into him than ever. It follows their journey navigating new feelings and the bumps that comes with it.
The book is easy to read, flowing and just a lot of fun! I would highly recommend! 4 ⭐️

Sweet Thing
I don’t know what it is, but if you write a book about an off-limits hockey romance, don’t ask me why but I am there.
Sweet thing starts with pro hockey star Lars getting a surprise baby handed to him - at a bar - by his one night stand (also, ahem MARRIED) from several months ago. His best friend & teammate/captain Theo just so happens to have an adult daughter that is currently sans career ….. making an uber-convenient nanny stand-in as Lars tries to figure out the whole “is he really this baby’s father” / parenting / custody thing.
Naturally this sets up for accidental nudity & overheard name moaning, which leads to feelings and sneaking around and then, obviously broken, bloody noses before the teammates are patching things up and we get a happily ever after.

Is it a formula? Yep. Is the probability of this sort of thing actually happening ridiculously low? Yep. Do I care? Nope! As long as it’s written well and I find myself caring about the characters, I will happily get lost in the story. I felt for them, I cringed, I got invested in their story, so all in all, it hit the right notes with me. 😃

I loved being back in the world with this hockey team and its players. I had a little thrill when a certain fight on the ice (from another book) was mentioned! That fight was wonderful.

This story centered around a playboy and the young woman who had a crush on him. Throw in a man trying to do the right thing, and surprise baby for him, and Adeline’s crush, and the reader has more than one trope to like m.

Kate Meador always crafts a good book for her readers!

4.5 ⭐️

honestly i adored this book. all the tropes that were in this book i eat it up every single time !!

i love how it started with adeline having a crush on lars for years but obviously he was too old to do anything about it + he’s your dads friend?!

then lars gets handed a BABY?? so adeline moves in with alts to be a ‘temporary’ nanny (obviously is not temporary)

i do hate a third act breakup so that’s why i didn’t give it 5 stars but THE FIGHT that theo & lars have over addy is crazy & i was obsessed with it

overal i definitely recommend this book & i had such a fun time reading it. will definitely be reading more of kate her books !!

ARC by NetGalley review

My first book by Kate Meader!

Single dad, hockey player X nanny - yes please!!

In the first few chapters I did feel a little lost with the amount of side characters that were introduced, mainly Adeline's huge family., but the roles they played throughout the book I loved.

I loved the relationship Lars had with Addy's family in the beginning and I enjoyed the forbidden romance element. It added to the excitement and "eek" moments when the truth unfolded . Reading about Lars' struggles with being a single dad in the beginning and his learning to be a dad was really sweet and his character growth in that element was so refreshing, raw and realistic.
Addy having been through some trauma and learning to open up and trust Lars was heart-warming and also realistic.

At the beginning of the book I didn't necessarily feel the chemistry between the FMC & MMC but it did grow on me throughout the book.

I'm excited to read the rest of the series, and would recommend this book for a fun, flirty easy read which touches on some honest and raw moments.

Thank you NetGalley & Kate Meader for the ARC.

🍬🔥 Book Review: Sweet Thing by Kate Meader 🔥🍬

A deliciously sexy, heartfelt romance that’s as sweet as candy and just as addictive! Kate Meader’s Sweet Thing blends sizzling chemistry with genuine emotion, making it impossible to put down.

What it’s about:
When veterinarian Tessa meets rugged firefighter Nash, sparks ignite instantly. Between saving lives and saving each other’s hearts, their connection grows deeper, proving that sometimes the sweetest things come when you least expect them.

Tropes You’ll Love:
🔥 Opposites attract
💞 Slow burn romance
👩‍⚕️ Heroine with a big heart
🚒 Firefighter hero
✨ Emotional depth & heat

If you love your romances with passion, tenderness, and just the right amount of spice, Sweet Thing is your next must-read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#SweetThing #KateMeader #SlowBurnRomance #FirefighterRomance #OppositesAttract #Bookstagram #RomanceReads #BookReview

This book was, fine?? It had some good parts, but overall very cheesy, and not well written. My biggest issue was my suspension of disbelief that a 52 year old would still be captain and playing on an NHL team.

I had a hard time feeling invested in Lars and Adeline, and the story generally felt a bit flat and disjointed for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Kate Meader for an ARC of Sweet Thing in exchange for my honest review.
Now, let's get into it:
Lars Nyquist is a sexy hockey player suddenly handed a baby from a one-night stand (more like dumped on his lap). Initially panicked and uninterested in fatherhood, he slowly grows into the role, determined not to repeat his own father’s mistakes. His bond with his daughter Mabel was what kept me hooked throughout.

Now Adeline. I really wish I had liked her. She went through something traumatic while traveling and didn't let it effect her sunshine. Also has a hard time finding her place in her family of superstars. I felt for her. HOWEVER, she came off a bit immature, partly from how her parents coddle her, and partly from her own lack of direction. At 23, she seemed passive and unsure, especially during key moments in the relationship. The miscommunication trope didn’t help and made her come off even more childish.

Despite not connecting with Adeline, I still enjoyed the story. However, the sheer number of side characters became overwhelming, likely because the author pulled in people from many of her other books. I love cameos, but a few would’ve been enough.

If you're into:
× age gaps
× hockey romances
× single dads
× forbidden love
× found family
You’ll probably enjoy this 🖤

Side note: anyone else surprised Hatch and Summer are next? I thought we were getting a friends-to-lovers arc with Rosie and Hatch?

I absolutely love any and all hockey books, and this book did not disappoint. It is my first book by Kate Meader and it definitely won’t be my last. I loved Lars and Adeline’s story. The different perspectives, the witty banter, the sizzling romance what isn’t to love. The growth in how these characters changed throughout this story when baby Mabel came in, warmed my heart. I will definitely be reading this entire series, as well as many more by this author. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. Thank you netgalley and publisher for the advanced copy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read such a wonderful book!! This book is absolutely a 4 star for me, having some of my favourite tropes like age gap, single dad and forbidden romance!! Ot was one of the cutest books I’ve read recently and was a swoon worthy romance!! Lars after finding out he has a love child is forced to face the reality of being a father amidst his own struggles with his father lacking to be a good role model. He finds help from his best friend’s daughter who faces her own problems. Adeline who once had a crush on Lars struggles with security after bring robbed in Greece and unable to come to terms with it. As Lars and Adeline get closer, so do their feelings for one another. Lars is easily one of the most likeable characters as he steps up to be the best father for his baby girl and its so sweet to see him bond with Mabel. I absolutely adored every dynamic in this book and was amazing!! It was honestly one of the cutest books I’ve read recently and would 100% recommend it if you’re looking for a short and sweet romance.

I enjoyed spending more time with the Chicago Rebels and the extended cast of characters. I really like the way Kate connects one series in this world to another. I thought Lars and Adeline were a cute couple and I'm looking forward to more in this new series.

I've read several Kate Meader books and several with these characters, so this was a fun escape read! The age gap aspect was done well and didn't come across as creepy at all. Recommend if you've enjoyed other books in the series.

Ahhh I couldn't stop reading! This book was sooo good!
Their little family is so cutee! These two will definitely make the best couple, their chemistry was instant and the tension was strong! 💗

Sweet Thing is about Lars who has just had a bombshell dropped on his lap! Literally! In the form of a baby called Mabel, his baby! A one-night stand that lead to a secret baby he didn't know anything about and now the mum has vanished. His teammate steps in to help him with the help of his wife and his daughter, Adeline. Adeline has agreed to help him with being Mabel's nanny, especially since she needs a job after going traveling for the past year. She thought in that year she could get over the crush she had for him, but did she? 🙃
We have age-gap, forbidden, single dad x nanny, found family 🔥

Adeline - you can only imagine the trauma she would've been facing after what happened to her on her travels, she was so brave and strong! She was also an amazing person for Mabel and Lars, looking after them and helping when she knew they needed her. She had her own battles with never feeling a part of her family and not having an identity, as she's always seen as Theo's daughter but this is far from how her family see her. She has a lot of insecurities but Lars helps her with these and trys to help push her, so she can become more!

Lars - omg he was an amazing MMC, the way he stepped up for Mabel and became the father she needed overnight was adorable! He had a lot of trauma from his own father and didn't want to repeat his mistakes with Mabel or Adeline. The relationship between him and Theo (Adeline's dad) really makes you realise how forbidden their relationship was but it was nice to see it all work out i the end!

Both of these two had amazing character growth and it was so good to see 🥰
I do kinda wish we got to see a bit more of their relationship, as the conflict kind of took over (understandable) but like it meant we didn't see a lot of them together with Mabel! 😭

Thank you to Kate Meader & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this arc! 💕

This was a cute age-gap forbidden romance. There was plenty of drama and angst, but at times, things felt unresolved. It was an overall good story, I just had trouble connecting to the characters.

Thank you Kate Meader and NetGalley for this ARC, in exchange this is my honest review.

Sweet Thing by Kate Meader was a fun, sweet, romantic hockey romance that I throughly enjoyed.

Adeline is back from traveling the world and is in need of a job and how convient is it that a baby was suddenly thrust upon her father’s teammate and friend Lars. One problem? She had (has) a massive crush on him. But for the sake of team harmony she will attempt to keep the growing feelings at bay.

Lars’ one night stand has left him with a daughter he didn’t know about for the last six months. Now? He needs to figure out his next step for himself and his daughter. Falling in love with his teammate’s younger daughter who takes the role of nanny? Not on the list but he can’t help but feel drawn to her.

The pace was good and the writing was fine and easy. I am not a huge fan of age gap romances but this one didn’t read as creepy and was actually sweet. Lars respects Adeline and wants her to grow and doesn’t want to hold her back with his life and baggage. Adeline clearly is making her own choice. I found the gossip columns sprinkled in to be a bit jarring and ejected me from the story and also read a bit like a gossip girl column rather than Lady Whistledown and they didn’t seem to play much into the story? However, I enjoyed the romance, the light spice, and I always enjoy a good denial of feeling until the bitter end.

Overall I enjoyed the story though and give it a 4/5. The ending was delightful and I cannot wait for the next romance in this saga and hope it gives us a Lars and Adeline update as well. Buy or preorder Sweet Thing by July 15.

This was a good read! I was invested in the story and the characters throughout. The character growth was great, it had me giggling and kicking my feet, and the banter was good. Overall I enjoyed this and would recommend.

It does touch on some harder topics so check triggers.

Sweet Thing is the first book in Kate Meader’s new Chicago players hockey series.

This was my first book by Kate Meader, and I can confidently say it won’t be my last.

Sweet Thing is the perfect blend of emotional depth and sizzling chemistry. Lars Narquist, a defensemen for the Chicago Rebels, is thrown into single fatherhood after a one-night stand leaves him with a daughter he never knew about. Enter Adeline - his teammate’s daughter- who becomes his nanny. Adeline’s nurturing spirit and no-nonsense attitude make her the perfect person to help Lars find his footing….. but the slow-burn attraction between them complicates everything.


If you love:

✅ Age-gap romance

✅ Single dad stories

✅ Nanny/employer tension

✅ Forbidden love (hello, teammate’s daughter!)

✅ Found family vibes

…this one’s for you.

Kate Meader does an excellent job balancing heart, humour, and heat. Lars is a protective, slightly grumpy hero with a soft spot for his daughter - and soon, Adeline. Their connection felt authentic, the tension was palpable, and the emotional payoff was so satisfying.

I laughed, I swooned, and I stayed up way too late reading. A strong start to the Chicago Players series, I’m excited to see where it goes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.