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Strong and Wild: An Enemies to Lovers Hockey Romance (Lakes Hockey Book 2) (Lakes Hockey Series)
An aspiring baker and a pro hockey player seek common ground in this fiery enemies-to-lovers romance from the author of the Sky Ridge Hotshots series. Micky has big dreams, and she's doing everything she can to make them a reality.…
- Release Date
- 2026
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Our Review
About the book
In the second Lakes Hockey novel, Micky works at a Minnesota hockey bar while saving to open her own bakery and cocktail lounge. Her cocky new neighbor, rookie Rhys, has one season to prove himself and has sworn off distractions, but a hidden connection between them makes keeping his distance difficult.
Our review
A flirty, frosting-dusted neighbors romance with plenty of heat and a little less depth than the premise promises.
The appeal here is the chemistry. Micky is ambitious and funny, a heroine with a plan and a business dream, and Rhys is the kind of rookie whose bravado barely covers his nerves about making the team. St. James writes their next-door proximity with mischievous energy, and the bar setting gives the book a lived-in, blue-collar texture that sets it apart from glossier sports romances.
Where it slips is the middle. Once the two characters get together, the conflict relies heavily on miscommunication and secrets that a single honest conversation could clear up, and the pacing slackens as a result. The spice level is high, which will delight some readers and feel like padding to others. It’s an enjoyable bridge in the series, though the later books handle emotional stakes with more confidence.
What we loved
- Micky’s bakery dream gives her real goals beyond romance
- Fun forced-proximity setup between neighbors
- A cozy, grounded hockey-bar setting
Keep in mind
- The conflict leans on secrets and miscommunication
- Explicit content occasionally crowds out character development
Read it if you like
Readers of Hannah Grace’s Wildfire, Bal Khabra’s Collide, or anyone who loves neighbors-to-lovers stories.
The verdict
A playful, steamy middle chapter in the Lakes Hockey series that entertains without quite lingering.
