❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

A lovely book, great storyline and full of wonderful characters.
The angst and passion blend beautifully together and it’s well written.
There are one or two parts that are a lit slow, but I feel it could be a very good series, I would read more of them x

4 Star Review Crossing The Line by Kelly Jamieson

This is librarian Mabel Smits and her brother Marek’s best friend Ben Antonov’s story. which was well written and entertaining.

Both were at a crossroads and it was interesting to watch their relationship develop. Mabel had crushed on Ben since her teens and the last thing she expected when she moved in with her brother to avoid her ex boyfriend was to find Ben staying.

The attraction between them sparks until it becomes impossible to ignore. What happens when lines are crossed? Will it bring them together or rip them apart?

I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a perfect fit for readers who crave a steamy, off-limits romance with a dash of humor, friendship, and self-discovery, set against the backdrop of the high-stakes world of professional hockey.

Crossing the line
By: Kelly Jamieson

Opposites so good together!

💕📚⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📚💕

In an all new series from one of my favorites we get Ben and Mable’s story. He’s an introvert and she’s very outgoing but both have hearts of gold. Page after page these two come together and it was truly enjoyable watching them connect on multiple ways. The authors writing is flawless and the words are so captivating, the plot had so many twists and turns and none that I was expecting, and many shockingly intimate I have become a huge fan of this author. The author writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some are quick witted story lines are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.


Authors blurb: Ben
On the ice I’m formidable, relentless and I lead by example. Now my coach wants me to step up as Captain – and lead the team off the ice too. But this is my worst nightmare; I’d rather play hockey naked than do any kind of public speaking! To make matters worse, my best friend’s sister has shown up out of the blue to live with us temporarily. We have a history… it’s awkward, she’s starting to invade my fantasies and I can’t seem to escape her. But maybe she could be the answer to my problems…

Mabel
Moving in with my brother was not part of my life plan, but I have no choice at the moment. I need to get away and start my life over. I just wish I didn’t have to share the condo with Ben. I thought I’d buried my teenage crush, but seeing him all the time has me fascinated with him all over again! But now he’s asking for my help to be more outgoing and confident, and basically fake it until he makes it. Sure I can help, but that would mean a lot of time alone. I need to stay strong and resist the obvious temptation...

This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in single POV this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know your 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.

Thanks Netgally for letting me read and review.📚💕

Thank you to Kelly Jamieson, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. My review is voluntary and all opinions expressed are my own.

This was a very good story. Showcasing how some people deem extroverts as too much and introverts as not worthy. Focusing on the players of the New Jersey Storm. Ben is up for consideration to be captain. He has concerns it won't happen. Ben is a guest at his teammate Marek's home when Marek's twin Mable comes to stay also. Leading to al. Kinds of fun and not so fun situations.

What a beautifully written story by Kelly! A new series you're going to fall in love with! Ben and Mabel will steal your heart in this one! 5 hot hockey stars for this one!
Mabel is in a relationship, and she's realizing it's not the best. He controls her and has made her doubt herself. When she's finally had enough, after his ultimatum, she packs her stuff and leaves. She doesn't tell her family what she's been through, because they think he's the best thing to happen to her, they have no clue she lost her identity while with him. When she moves into her twin brother Smitty's condo, she has no idea that Ben, the guy she crushed on when she was younger, and he's staying in the spare room, she's left to sleeping on the couch.
Ben can't believe how beautiful Mabel is, and his attraction to her is growing, but she's off limits. Besides, he has his own insecurities, with speaking to people, he always screws it up. When his coach tells him he is up for the Captain position, and also wants him to become the face of a charity the team supports, he knows he needs help. When Smitty offers up his sister as his help line, he knows he's in trouble.
Kelly wrote an amazing story about two people with their own insecurities, and how they learn to work through them! This is one heck of a story you will love! Grab this asap!

This is a sweet love story about an emotionally abused young woman and the hunk of a hockey player man of her teenage dreams come true! Meet Mabel Smit, she has been in a relationship with her boyfriend Julian for about a year now. He is a professor of anthropology at Penn State. Unfortunately, Mabel starts to see things about the way he treats her, and lets just say it's not what other people see.

She decides to leave and move to New Jersey with her brother Marek Smit. This is her twin brother, and he plays for the Storm hockey team. He also has a temporary roommate at the moment. Ben Antonov also plays for the Storm and is only staying with Marek until condo is ready for him to move in. Meanwhile, Mabel is sleeping on the couch. She will be out as soon as she finds a job and a place of her own.

Ben asks her to help him become more like her. Open, talkative, knowing how to have a conversation with someone and being comfortable. He was an extreme introvert and does not know how to be anything else. She finally agrees. Without giving the whole thing away one thing may lead to something or it may not....

Happy reading

Thank you Boldwood Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Crossing The Line by Kelly Jamieson is a steamy, hockey sports romance. After getting away from her ex and starting her life over, Mabel moves in with her brother and his hockey player best friend Ben. When Ben is asked to be the team Captain, he finds himself asking Mabel for help with being outgoing and confident. After reluctantly agreeing to help Ben, Mabel quickly realizes the teenage crush she had on Ben may have never gone away! Will spending all this time together lead to temptation? In the beginning, I took a while to really immerse myself in the story, but I soon found myself enjoying the characters and plot.

This story is packed with hockey players, spicy moments, and love! I really loved Ben. I enjoyed having a MMC who despite being a hockey player was more introverted, kept to himself, and socially awkward. The way he navigated those moments really made me relate to him in some ways. I’ll be honest, I didn’t love Mabel right away, but as I read further along I found myself really applauding her for making the choices that she wanted in life.

I’m a sucker for an off limits, brother’s best friend/ teammate’s sibling romance. So watching Mabel and Ben’s undeniable chemistry unfold was really nice to see. I also love a spicy, steamy book and this book will have you warmed up! You’re in for a treat! The beginning was a bit slow for me, which is why I rated it the way I did, but as the story progressed, I was hooked with the character development, drama, and romance.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this book! Jamieson really brought to life a story filled with romance, spice, and hockey players. I rate this book a 4 out of 5. I would recommend this book to those who love sports romances, spicy scenes, and young adult books. If this sounds like something you like, I recommend you check it out!

Thank you again to Boldwood Books, NetGalley, and Kelly Jamieson!

Full of humor, heart and heat, Crossing the Line brings the burn and so much more. Jamieson pushes the boundaries of romance with unpredictable emotions, irresistible characters and a fiery spirit that encompasses it all. A MUST HAVE WICKED ADDICTION.

Crossing the Line is the newest release by author Kelly Jamieson. What happens when you fall for your best friend's sister? Well, Ben is about to find out exactly that!

Ben is an NHL player, but not the typical outspoken and in your face type of player. Ben is an introvert... very quiet and shy, but he is trying to overcome his shyness in order to get the Captain position on the team. He is currently living with his best friend and teammate, Smitty. It's only a temporary living situation until his condo is ready to move into. However, things change when Smitty's sister comes to stay there, too.

Mabel has just left an emotionally abusive relationship and needs to find a job and a place to live. Wanting a fresh start, she decides to move to New Jersey and temporarily stay with her twin brother, Marek. Upon her arrival, she is surprised to learn that her high school crush is also staying with her brother. She may have been caught off guard, but she decides to make the best of it. After all, how hard can it be seeing as years ago, Ben made it clear he had no interest in her.

The story that unfolds is definitely an "opposites attract" situation. Ben is a shy and quiet introvert, and Mabel is an outgoing extrovert. I enjoyed following the journey of Ben and Mabel truly getting to know each other, flaws and all, and not judging one another. This is a story that has a bit of everything in it, and I absolutely loved seeing the relationship grow between the main characters!

I would like to thank the author, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books for allowing me the opportunity to receive an ARC of Crossing the Line. My views are my own and are in no way influenced by anyone else.

I love a good hockey romance story and Crossing the Line has it all from easy to like characters and a storyline that is a perfect mix of fun and serious moments. And throw in a best friend/teammates sister with a touch of opposites attract and I am all in!
Ben is definitely an introvert and quiet off the ice. He doesn’t do well in social situations with strangers but once he hits the ice he’s confident and has a knack for seeing what the team needs to do to improve and win games and the coach and owner see his potential for a spot as captain next season. However, he needs to completely step out of his comfort zone to make the team happy.
Mabel is Ben’s teammates, Smitty’s sister and she just got out of an emotionally abusive relationship. She wants to find herself again and has some self trust issues when it comes to men, but she also has a knack of living life and is outgoing. So, with her talent for talking to anyone Ben asks for her help and she reluctantly says yes. These two have known each other each other for a long time and now that they are sharing an apartment with Mabel’s brother, this might just be their time for a little romance and steamy moments. They are both making changes in their lives and find themselves leaning on one another as they navigate what comes next both in their careers and in their personal lives. I loved their journey and was thrilled to be along for the ride.

Crossing the line is a brother’s best friend, ice hockey romance.
Mabel just got out of a toxic relationship and is trying to find herself again and lands on her brothers doorstep.
Ben is also staying with her brother while his apartment is being renovated.
They both have their own issues, Mabel boyfriend has made her doubt herself and she needs to find herself. The coaches want Ben to be the next captain and are pushing him to be more outgoing.
Ben and Mabel both have a crush on each other, and staying in such close quarters is not helping matters. When Ben needs an extrovert coach, he can’t think of a better person than Mabel, making them spend even more time together.
I found this to be a wonderful read. Ben is a shy and introvert guy vs Mabel who is an extrovert. Together they balance each other and bring out the best in each other. This was a heartwarming and spicy read. I absolutely loved Ben’s team mates and I hope they each get their own stories.

I was ecstatic to be back in Kelly Jameison’s hockey world! Oh how I love how she writes hockey. One of the reasons that I simply adore her books is because they are filled with characters that are not afraid of their feelings, work through them like adults, and are people you genuinely wish you could be friends with. And Crossing the Line was absolutely no different- even though we are on a new team in a new city.
Let’s start with Mabel. She has always been viewed as the quirky flighty sibling and friend. But in reality is very accomplished in her career as a librarian. She is well educated and has a variety of interests. She also has a light around her that draws people to her, but that light has been dimmed a little over the last few years. Fresh out of a toxic relationship she lands on her twin brother, Marek’s couch.
Ben Antonov is living his childhood dream of playing professional hockey with his best friend Marek, or Smitty. However, there is pressure on Ben to be more outgoing and engage with the community more which is not at all in Ben’s wheelhouse. In addition, his best friend, Marek’s twin, arrives in town crashing on their couch. It brings back all his old feelings he once had for….but something is not right with Mabel and he’s the one that notices.
I love the history that Mabel and Ben share- and how their perceptions of one another are so different from what the other thinks it is. These two immediately start to build a friendship and see that the other one has strengths and attributes the other doesn’t have. I really love how Ben was so open and honest about what he sees are his shortcomings, when really those are things that draw most people to him, Mabel included. Ben has a giant heart and is able to see so much, including how much Mabel is hurting and keeping from those closest to her. Mabel and Ben give into their romantic feelings and OH MY GOODNESS. Ben…sweet Jesus this man! The chemistry that this duo have not only between the sheets but outside of them make them such an amazing pair. They truly bring out the best in one another. If you enjoy a brother's best friend, throw in hockey, a book loving librarian, with well developed characters this most definitely is the book for you! Also, if Kelly is a new to you author this is a fantastic place to start but know you will be doing a binge of her other books!

If, like me, you're a sport's romance junkie Crossing the Line is perfect and highly readable.

Following the break up of a bad relationship, Mabel temporarily moves in with her professional hockey playing brother who has a team mate residing in his spare room, leaving the couch as Mabel's only option.

The story of Mable and Ben, as it progresses, is beautifully sweet and uplifting. It is so easy for the reader to recognise how well they fit together.

Building each other up and having each others' backs is a common theme throughout the story in both the relationship between the two main characters and, The Storm Ben's ice hockey team.

I'll certainly be back to Kelly Jamieson's stories, especially if more players from The Storm have their chance at an HEA.

I'm rounding up from 3.5. Mabel leaves an abusive relationship and goes to stay with her brother. Ben has been friends with Mabel's brother Malek since high school and is staying with him until his condo is ready. Ben is a shy introvert and Mabel is the complete opposite. Ben asks Mabel to help him come out of his shell and they grow closer. It was a little frustrating with some of the slang used in the story since the words used weren't in existence when they were supposedly said. Rizz is a word that just needs to disappear, but I digress. Both characters have baggage and seem to bond over it. There's of course some conflict and it's handled pretty well to get us where we need to. Carson's story was brief and had me curious as to what happens to him.

I really enjoyed this book and the message it sent. On the surface, Ben is perfect and has it all. He is a professional hockey player, waiting for his condo to be ready to move in to, and he isn’t hurting when it comes to women. But, nobody actually sees him or understands him. On the flip side, Mabel is looked at as flighty and unreliable. Again, no one sees who she really is.

I loved the chemistry between Ben and Mabel, and how they had a past unrequited, or was it, attraction to each other. They both end up staying with her brother/his teammate and he ‘hires’ her to help him be more outgoing. Being extremely introverted makes it hard for him to not be awkward in social settings, but he has the chance to be the captain, so he needs to figure it out. As they spend time together they start seeing each other in a different way and realize what happened in the past might not be what it seemed.

This was a really good book, and I was glad to see her stand up for herself with her ex, instead of having the men in her life take care of it for her. I also appreciated how Ben stood up for her, even if it could ruin his shot at the captain role. I wish there would have been more resolution with her parents. I can’t wait for more in this series. I received an ARC and this is my honest, voluntary review.

A hockey romance with a sweet soft hearted MMC and social butterfly FMC. I really enjoyed the awkward and shyness of Ben, how Mabel pulled him out of his shell and how perfectly the meshed together. Ben was the perfect man following Mabel’s previously toxic relationship, how sweet and caring he was, while showing up for her in ways she wasn’t used to. I wish there was more banter, chemistry and an edge with this one. After reading so many hockey romances the bar was high, though i really did enjoy this one it fell flat in some places.

Crossing the Line by Kelly Jamieson is about a shy hockey player and his roommate/teammate’s sister. After receiving an ultimatum about attending a faculty dinner instead of supporting her BFF at a difficult time, Mabel Smits has had enough and finally gets the nerve to leave him. Ending the relationship means she has to leave her librarian job, which she loves, and move in with her twin brother Smitty; unaware that Smitty has offered his spare room to his best friend and ice hockey team mate Ben Antonov while Ben is waiting for his own apartment to become free.

Ben is a leader on the ice, but shy, , socially awkward, and not comfortable speaking up. As one of the players in contention to become the captain next year, but as a introvert he hates speaking to the press, doesn’t know how to handle small talk, and nor feel comfortable speaking up in the locker room. Being his complete opposite Mabel offers to coach him, allowing these two to become closer; awakening feelings from their crushes when they were kids. Mabel agrees to coach Ben with how to talk to others, while Ben noticed that Mabel was no longer her fun, confident, outgoing self. Little by little he gets the story from her, how her ex was controlling and abusive, changing her into the person he believed she should be. While helping each other finding ways to be who they needed to be, their attraction grow. Mabel and Ben support each other, emphasizing their values, and accepting their flaws without judgment. A story that reminds us: you don’t need to change to be accepted, and that imperfection is part of what makes each of us unique.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #Boldwood #CrossingTheLine

Great hockey romance! An excellent read...lots of emotion, great characters and a happily ever after. I have read a couple of different books by Kelly Jamieson and she does not disappoint. I really enjoy her writing style, plots and overall character development.

This book follows Ben and Mabel who have known each other for years but haven't seen each other in a while. Ben is best friends with Mabel's brother, his teammate in the NHL and his temporary roommate until his condo is ready. When Mabel needs a temporary place to live, she ends up on the couch at her brother's...in the same condo as Ben...her childhood crush. Mabel is definitely quirky, outgoing and doesn't meet a person who can't be a future friend. However she has lost herself a bit in the last year or so due an emotional abusive ex who won't leave her alone. Ben on the other hand is the most introverted person you will ever meet; he will always chose to be by himself over a large gathering. When the team manager/owner consider him for captain of his team, they tell him he needs to do more with the public, media and his team socially. His solution? Get Mabel to coach him to be more outgoing. She balks at first as she doesn't want to get too invested but eventually goes all in. As the two work together and learn more about each other, past hurts get some explanation and a connection is formed.

But nothing is ever that easy. Can Mabel trust love again? Can Ben be more open and communicative in a relationship? And when the ex comes looking around, how will both handle it?

Overall a great read. Lots of emotion and heart. Plus hockey! Would definitely recommend.

This had some of our favourite aspects of a contemporary hockey romance: close proximity; brother's best friend/roommate; extrovert-introvert; hot hockey players and more.

After a disastrous end to a toxic relationship has librarian Mabel fleeing both her job and her city, she ends up camped on her hockey-playing brother's couch attempting to start over. The only problem...her brother's friend, and current houseguest, Ben.

Need I say more?

I initially found the writing style a little stilted but quickly adapted, and I enjoyed Mabel & Ben's building tension, as well as their appreciation of each other just as they were.