It's such a sweet series. It's only one of two hockey romance series that I've found to be closed door romances.

This can be read as a stand-alone. I don't remember if they meet in book 3, but if they do, it's brief.

Anyways, this one is about Farrah and Bruce. They share a kiss one night, and then the next morning, Bruce finds out she's not a stranger, but his captains sister. One who's gone through a painful divorce.

Farrah is pretty gun shy. Her divorce explains it. What she thought was a HEA was a man who left after he found out she's going to have difficulty becoming a mother.

Bruce is such a cinnamon roll, though. Anyone would find it hard to say no. But her brother is very protective of her and when he finds out that their slowly becoming more than friends... He is not happy. Farrah is getting back on her feet and living with him, and he is not pleased at ALL.

There's also the problem of the hockey season. Bruce isn't having an easy go of it. The goalie is an important part of the team, and the fans are not kind. There's a great running storyline with them!

Bruce is so perfect for Farrah! The way he takes care of her just melts your heart.

I really enjoyed this hockey series from Leah Brunner. Bruce and Farrah are super cute and I loved seeing past characters in these books. This is a non spice slow burn romance.

I love this series.

Bruce and Farrah just became my new favorite couple.

If you love a sweet, fun and flirty romance this is it. After their meet cute reality sinks in when Bruce walks into his teammates house to find the girl from the bar who he hasn’t been able to stop thinking about. She is not ready for a relationship but that doesn’t stop him from bringing his flirt game.

If you’re looking for a fun clean hockey romance this is it. I loved it and had such a fun time watching these two fall in love
Please check content warning for some topics contained in this book.

what an amazing ending to such a good series! Bruce is literal perfection, this man had me obsessed since page one and I just loved him. Farrah has been through so much in her life and seeing these two find their HEA in this sweet hockey romance mad me so happy. these two deserve one another and are so perfect for each other. the connection they had was just beautiful. I am so sad that this series is over but this was the perfect way to end it

⭐️ 4/5 🌶 1/5
જ⁀➴
Book 4 in the DC Eagles Hockey series.
Standalone interconnected romances.

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This book is based on the team's goalie, Bruce. We love a romantic, cutsie, sexy goalie (forever thinking of Jeremy Swayman from the Boston Bruins).

Bruce meets a woman in a bar one night and things spark, only to find out that she isn't ready to step into another relationship after her recent divorce..... anddddd she is his captain's sister.

I liked that Bruce was written to an impossible standard of tender, sweet, caring, thoughtful, always putting others first, and where he had no embarrassment in enjoying himself how he preferred. Men like this do exist - I have one - so I like reading them.

The poor FMC, Farrah, just has so much going on, and to be fair, that's life in your 30s. From divorce, to her health issues and navigating trust again.

Plus, it's all focused around ice hockey 💁‍♀️

I enjoy Leah's work because she can deliver romantic tension without needing the full sex scene. Yes, I read both closed door to erotica, and sometimes I want the romance and tension with longing and pining.

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🏒 Teammate's Sister
🏒 She is 5 years older than him
🏒 Forbidden Romance
🏒 PCOS & Divorce rep
🏒 He falls first
🏒 Tender, loving, goalie MMC
🏒 Realatable FMC in her 30s
🏒 Romantic
🏒 Spice with heated scenes, but fades to black

ARC REVIEW:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The D.C. Eagles might seem like your ordinary NHL team. However, the men who play for them (and their significant others) are anything but ordinary. Surrounded by a team filled with happily married men, goalie Bruce McBride is ready to settle down. He comes close to finding his ‘dream girl’ one night at a bar. But when he learns said girl (Farrah) is the sister of his teammate and captain, Ford ‘Remy’ Remington, his hopes are dashed. Will his plans for playing the long game lead to his happily-ever-after, or will he respect his friend’s wishes and move on?

Leah Brunner combines popular tropes with her exquisite writing skill in her latest book, Secret or Shutout. The end result is a five star read I will never forget. This book literally has everything I want and need in a romance (dual POVs, he falls first, and forbidden/ hidden love).

The love story between Farrah and Bruce, while filled with palpable chemistry, was the quintessential slow burn. Having been mistreated in the past, Farrah was understandably hesitant to love. Thankfully, Bruce respected her needs. While he actively perused her, he allowed Farrah to set the pace of their relationship. By having a long courtship, the pair was able to establish a strong foundation built on respect and admiration. The hospital scenes were the perfect depiction of selfless and unconditional love. We all NEED a Bruce McBride!

While this is only my second time reading a book by the incredibly talented Leah Brunner, she has quickly become one of my ALL time favorite authors. I am convinced she has unlocked the secret for penning the ultimate romances.

Special thanks to Netgalley, LBP LLC, and Leah Brunner for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

* Secret or Shutout is the fourth book in the D.C. Eagles Hockey Series. Each book is written as a standalone novel, but readers are encouraged to read the series in its entirety. If that is not possible, I highly recommend at least reading book #3, Betrothal or Breakaway before reading this one as Farrah is featured in that book.

These are always so much fun to read. They are silly and quick and just a little sassy and salty. I love the alludes to the Washington Capitals.

Secret or Shutout by Leah Brunner is a compelling romance that blends heart, tension, and drama in an unforgettable way. The story centers on Riley and Jace, two characters whose undeniable chemistry is overshadowed by the secrets they each carry. As their relationship evolves, the emotional depth of their personal struggles becomes more apparent, keeping readers invested in whether they can overcome their pasts and find trust in one another. The push and pull between their growing attraction and the obstacles they face creates a riveting journey full of suspense and tender moments. Brunner expertly weaves together themes of vulnerability, forgiveness, and personal growth, making Secret or Shutout a must-read for fans of emotional, character-driven romance.

A delightful sports romance that blends humor and heart. The chemistry between the main characters is undeniable, and the storyline keeps you engaged from start to finish. Fans of romantic comedies with a sports twist will absolutely love this one. The pacing is spot-on, the character development adds depth to the romance, making it more that just a typical sports love story.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of Secret or Shutout by Leah Brunner

Leah Brunner does it again! Each book just gets better and better!

The transition from strangers to sorta friends to more was phenomenal! The emotional and physical struggles Bruce and Farrah go through were written very well, and I could practically feel their turmoil myself as it was happening.

I love that this book is an interconnected standalone, because it’s great to see how the other characters (from previous books) are doing now! The author does a great job at keeping all the characters personalities true to the character in different books (especially Ford, Colby, and Melanie)!

I highly recommend this book if you love sweet treats, hockey, good humor, relatable characters, and found family!

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and Leah Brunner for providing me with an advanced copy of this book! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Ahhh I've been looking forward to reading this one! If you love romance with the sizzle but prefer the fade to black/closed door, this one if for you!! My only minor gripe is that Bruce is a name I reallyyyy don't like (for no reason in particular, but sometimes you have a personal vendetta against a name, you know?) and unfortunately for me, it is also the name of the male main character.
I love the PCOS representation and how it was handled by the author!
There was a slight age gap (Farrah is a few years older than Bruce), Brother's best friend, he falls first and forbidden romance tropes. Sooo a winning combination!
It was a super sweet romance and well written. I'll definitely be reading whatever Leah Brunner releases in future!

A huge thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Either I started this book at the wrong time or it wasn’t for me.
I really struggled connecting with the characters. I usually love a sport romance but I couldn’t connect with this book.
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to read this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Secret or Shutout is the fourth instalment of the D. C. Eagle’s Hockey series. This book is a slow burn, best friends sister romance that is filled with some lighthearted moments as well as heavier topics (PCOS, infertility and divorce mentioned). This book can be read as part of this series or as a standalone (as I did), but there are mentions of couples from previous books so I will definitely be circling back to finish the first three books at some point!

The chemistry between Farrah and Bruce is there from the start and really had me rooting for the relationship. Having PCOS handled in such a respectful way was such an incredible experience, as I don’t think I’ve read a book (or at least remember) in which is was discussed like this.

Overall this makes the book such a good read for me and definitely made me want to read the rest of the series!

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the eARC of this book. I leave this review honestly and voluntarily.

I was SO excited for this one!!!! I love this series and I’m sad to see it end! That said I have all the feels with this book! Leah is an amazing author and her characters are so easy to love! Farrah and Bruce are everything! Bruce is fun and flirty, Farrah has been through it but she is still trying and learning to believe in love.
I LOVED the DC Eagles and I’m sad to see the end of the series but it’s been an awesome ride!

Bruce and Farrah has lots of chemistry from the very beginning. I enjoyed the story of how they two overcome obstacles and fall in love. I also enjoyed the brotherhood of the hockey players and the friendship of the wife’s and girlfriends.

Love this Hockey romance from Leah Brunner. I felt that she did a great job portraying the true nature of dating a hockey man.

This was a sweet hockey rom-com. Light in the spice so if spice isn’t your thing this is for you!

❤️ she is older and he chases her
- Farrah is older and Bruce chases her regardless of the baggage and insecurity she has! Her past marriage was awful and heartbreaking and Bruce goes out of his way to show her that not every man is a jerk.
❤️ baker & hockey player - enough said 😂
❤️ her brothers friend
- Remi is not only Farrah’s brother and Bruce’s friend but also Bruce’s coach. So much tension with the forbidden love! It starts to take a toll on hockey and friendships.
❤️loved the Canadian references
❤️Bruce. All of him. His cockiness, his family and him being a “Big Brother” to Jackson.
❤️it brings to light a lot on PCOS

This was a sweet and sassy book and the third in the series!

Publishing date was March 27th so get your copy now!!

I really really wanted to like this book, in theory it has everything that I love - forbidden romance, NHL, he falls first; but I just ended up feeling a bit indifferent about it.

I would’ve liked to send more depth to the characters , so much of what happened to them that made their backs stories interesting seem to happen off page and we were just told about it rather than experiencing any of it and that made me not care about the characters as much as I would usually. I didn’t really feel the chemistry between them so although there were some lovely interactions and I felt like I should’ve been able to root for them I just couldn’t really get on board.

I would’ve liked to see more of the relationships with the side characters as well. One of the things I love about sports romance is the sense of the team and the relationships between the players, but I didn’t really get that from this book.

It was an easy read, there were some funny moments and some sweet moments. I didn’t hate it, it was perfectly enjoyable but just didn’t quite give me the buzz I expected.

This book was absolutely adorable, and once I started, I couldn’t stop. Farrah and Bruce shared a single kiss as strangers, but when they later realized who the other was, Farrah decided it was best not to pursue anything further. Bruce, however, had other plans. He put his heart into showing Farrah what they could have together, standing by her again and again, even as she struggled with her own personal challenges. His persistence and devotion made it impossible for her to resist. If you’re looking for a heartwarming, feel good read, this one is definitely worth it!

Absolutely loved this book! I have been waiting for Bruce’s story and this made all my dreams come true! I thought all the points of infertility, the age gap, and brother’s team mate were handled so well! I was cheering for Bruce and Farrah the whole time. Can’t wait to just reread this whole series over and over again! Wish I could really go to an Eagles game!