Release Blitz: The Girlfriend Zone: Lauren Blakely
I had one date with Leighton McBride before I found out she’s the coach’s daughter. And now the only woman I want is the one woman I can’t have.
(Love and Hockey #4)
Lauren Blakely
Goodreads
Amazon | Audible
May 26, 2025
In my defense, I had no idea the tattooed, glasses-wearing, soulful hottie I spent one perfect day—and one unforgettable night—with was a hockey star on my father’s team.
And Miles didn’t know I was the coach’s daughter.
That’s the point of a “no-work-talk” date.
But now? He's as forbidden to me as I am to him.
When I land a new gig as the team photographer, we vow to keep it professional. We mostly succeed…except for that time after a game when he couldn’t keep his talented hands off me. And, okay, maybe that other time before a road trip. But I swear, it won’t happen again.
Too much is at stake—I can’t risk my heart or my father’s team.
But when I’m asked to dog-sit Miles’s pack of rescue pups for a few weeks, I discover there’s more to him than I ever imagined—a man who’s genuine, thoughtful, and irresistibly real.
He looks at me like he can’t believe his luck. Touches me like he never wants to let go. And listens to my hopes and fears.
My heart’s getting dangerously attached. But if I follow it… am I putting everyone’s dreams on the line?
Sea Dogs player Miles Falcon has a meet-cute that leaves him insta-infatuated and wanting to find her again. Luckily his grandma Birdie has the hook-up and knows more about this mysterious beauty. Leighton is working on trying to build her photography business. She’s younger, sassy, opinionated, witty, and just the kind of woman he sees as the one for him.
Due to Birdie's matchmaking shenanigans, they managed to connect and spend some quality time that affected them both. But it’s in a safe space with no outside noise or issues. Not only do they banter well, but have a real attraction and enjoy each other’s company.
However, when the real world shows its face, they realize that there would be a forbidden component to any future relationship. Leighton is his coach’s daughter and has already worked hard to overcome some personal challenges and build her own career and be independent. Miles is a decade older and owes a lot to his coach for his current career success.
However, when the real world shows its face, they realize that there would be a forbidden component to any future relationship. Leighton is his coach’s daughter and has already worked hard to overcome some personal challenges and build her own career and be independent. Miles is a decade older and owes a lot to his coach for his current career success.
Miles is charming, funny, caring, and just a good guy who has seen his friends fall in love, and he just wants to be able to explore more with this woman who has knocked him off his axis. But he also is honest and feels guilty about the situation.
It’s got these whole star-crossed lovers, meant to be, but trying to stay apart due to circumstances thing going on. It's a mix of all kind of forbidden, pining, crossing paths, fond and hot memories, and a real connection and a raw natural chemistry that didn’t just fade away. They feel like it's impossible and they can't let Coach down because they both respect him so much and they also have good things going on in their careers that directly relate to the team.
They play with loopholes, trying not to be alone, trying to move forward, focusing on friendship, stealing moments, and keeping secrets. But there is fatigue of resisting and peace and heat when together. It's hard to keep worrying about what could go wrong when it feels so right.
But I’m not going to lie, my heart hurt. It’s like they had to lock it in this box once they figured out the reality of their situation, but no key’s going to fit and contain it all. And then you roll in the guilt, regret, pining, want, and just having to pretend while in the same circles and it is complicated and takes an emotional toll. Even if they are happy in their little hidden bubble, the outside noise affects them. And eventually they will have to deal with it.
It's a beautiful, heartwarming, sweet and spicy, age-gap, forbidden love story about acceptance, empowerment, and being heard, seen, and belonging. It is steamy and scorching hot. They are very compatible in the ways of the boudoir and their scenes are straight-up fire.
I was so invested in these two. We’ve known pieces of their story from the other books, but then we didn’t really know how deep the connection was and how significant their time together had been. So it hurts even worse to know what they had been hiding and how much they had been missing. I loved these two together and how they understood and supported each other, had fun, and made each other feel alive, wanted, and needed. I love this series, and I can't wait to see what is coming next. Underneath the sports romance in these books, there is conflict and so many emotions, and they are hard-earned happy endings.
Leighton is a photographer building her career and working to be independent. She is exploring boudoir photography and building her client list. She also deal with hearing loss that impacts her in loud environments but not in normal conversation, but also has her feeling self conscious after several boyfriends broke up with her over it. She has a magical day with a stand-in model but when she learns who he is, she puts distance between them because he is off limits.
Miles is rebuilding his hockey career after a major injury. He owes a lot to his current coach, who took a chance on him. His confidence took a shot when he spent so much time away from the game, but he has some great leadership opportunities coming his way if he can keep things moving in the same direction. He fills in for a model as a favor to his grandmother and hits it off with the photographer. But when he learns she is the coach’s daughter, he has to forget how magical their date was in order to not anger the man.
These two have such a cute getting to know you moment. I loved the coffee shop moments as they bumped into one another, and then heat rises quickly when Miles fills in for a late cancelling model for one of Leighton’s photo shoots. That whole first day and date together was nothing short of magical and I couldn’t help but wish their road could have been smoother at that point. (It would have drastically shortened the book, but I always wish the road was smooth!) But it all comes to a screeching halt when they learn the hockey connection they share.
I loved their journey as they begin working closely when Leighton takes a job with the Sea Dogs. They really tried to keep things friendly, and it worked, sort of. But I also loved watching the heat build as their proximity got closer and closer.
Oh my goodness! I was really enjoying this book -- the characters, the situation, all the things. But something about the last half really pulled me in and was perfection! I considered giving this book a 4.5 star rating, but the last half really pulled it up for me. I loved the way Leighton’s hearing loss was handled, as well as the secret relationship and the fallout of that. The side characters really helped to make this story as well. Between their families (both the functional members and the less functional ones) and the Sea Dogs teammates and wives/SOs, there were a lot of people to keep track of who knew the secrets and who did not. I always love the way Lauren Blakely writes her teams, and the Sea Dogs are a well oiled machine with a whole lot of personality! I can’t wait for Tyler’s book and more from this series.
Miles
I breathe out hard, giving in to the lust that grips me, the want I feel for her…my coach’s daughter.
For a few seconds, I freeze over those words—coach’s daughter.
Don’t go there again. Get it together. Stop f*&king thinking of her.
But the dick is sometimes stronger than the will.
I ignore that voice because it doesn’t matter what I do when I’m home alone. It’s what I do when I’m with her that counts. I haven’t crossed the line again. And baggage or no baggage, we’re not going to be a thing. But her admission that she looks at the pictures too? It’s what I wanted. It’s what I needed. It’s also all I can have of her.
So what’s the harm in giving in tonight?
(Love and Hockey book 1)
Our 5 star reviews
A forbidden romance with my brother’s hockey teammate wasn’t on my to-do list when I moved across the country…
Neither is spending my first evening in a new city with the sexy stranger who rescues me when I’m locked out of a friend’s place wearing next to nothing.
But I’m trying to get out of my comfort zone so getting out of the rest of my clothes with him seems like a good way to start.
In the morning, I learn the filthy-mouthed man with the talented hands is not only the hotshot new hockey player on my brother’s team.
He’s also – wait for it – my brand new roommate.
Thanks, fate.
But the last thing I need is a complicated fling so we agree to a friends-only rule.
It’s not easy though. Wes is bossy, flirty and generous.
He gives me rides to work.
Pitches in at my library’s fundraiser.
Takes care of me when I get hurt.
I don’t know how long I can stick to our rules, especially the night Wes comes to my door and tells me exactly how he’d like to break them.
Every single one.
The Romance Line
Wanted: one hot billionaire to pose as my Christmas boyfriend. Must be willing to make my cheating ex jealous when you kiss me under the mistletoe at all the holiday parties. Bonus points if you make him cry.
To my surprise my billionaire boss is more than up for the challenge of coming down the chimney as my holiday boyfriend. The sexy single dad desperately needs a plus one at a Christmas Eve wedding, where he’s the best man and I’m the maid of honor.
And since my ex is in the wedding party too, my boss and I team up as a pair of insta-lovebirds for the holiday season, including during the annual week-long Christmas competition leading up to the snowy destination wedding.
But soon staying up late to string the best popcorn balls ever turns into a scorching night in his arms where the chestnuts aren’t the only thing roasting on the open fire.
(Love and Hockey #2)
Our 5 to 5.5 star reviews
The first rule of handling PR for a hockey team? Never hook up with a player.
That shouldn’t be a problem since the last man on earth I want to give an image makeover to is our goalie. He’s infuriatingly hot, famously grumpy and lives to spar with me after every game.
But shining up his rough edges is my path to landing the promotion I desperately need, so I grit my teeth and do my job. No matter how hard he makes it (especially with that sexy smirk and cool blue eyes.) As we travel from pose-with-a-pet photo opps to cuddle-a-kitten fundraisers, we bicker like it’s foreplay.
Turns out it is.
Because as I get to know the man behind the broody iceman exterior, it’s me that melts – right into his arms as he devastates me with a kiss that turns into the hottest, most forbidden night of my life.
Only once turns into every night as Max shows me how much he wants to take care of me. His possessive touch makes me feel adored for the first time in my life.
But the man is entirely off limits and I can’t risk my job for more of those soul-deep kisses.
Because the only thing worse than hooking up with a player is falling head over heels for him.
Our 4.5 to 5 star reviews
To my surprise my billionaire boss is more than up for the challenge of coming down the chimney as my holiday boyfriend. The sexy single dad desperately needs a plus one at a Christmas Eve wedding, where he’s the best man and I’m the maid of honor.
And since my ex is in the wedding party too, my boss and I team up as a pair of insta-lovebirds for the holiday season, including during the annual week-long Christmas competition leading up to the snowy destination wedding.
But soon staying up late to string the best popcorn balls ever turns into a scorching night in his arms where the chestnuts aren’t the only thing roasting on the open fire.
Can all these winter wonderland nights seeking revenge turn into the real thing when we return to the office? Or are we destined to go the way of a Christmas tree on New Year’s?
The Proposal Play
(Love and Hockey book 3)
(Love and Hockey book 3)
My plan when I win a date in Vegas with my brother’s hockey star best friend? Poker and go to sleep early. Instead, I wake up with a ring on my finger and the sexy athlete naked in my bed.
But Asher’s my best friend too so we’ll get this annulled and laugh about this secret for years to come.
Trouble is our wedding pics went viral overnight.
Now everyone thinks we’re a real couple. We race back home, where I’ve just landed the big art commission of my dreams and he’s launching a sports charity so we need to look like we meant to tie the knot.
Easy enough. We’ll claim we’ve been secretly in love, while staying in separate rooms for the rest of the hockey season.
The last thing either one of us wants is to ruin a decade-long friendship by falling into bed again.
Trouble is, I experience a new side of my husband at home. He cooks for me, encourages me…and buys me so many toys.
And, it’s more fun to share your toys with a friend.
We’re just enjoying temporary marital benefits.
Except, the more times he calls me his wife, the more I start to wonder if Asher was ever pretending?
And if my heart is ready to take the biggest risk of all.
Lauren Blakely
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A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s cute but spicy. Lauren likes dogs, cake, and show tunes and is the vegetarian at your dinner party.
A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s cute but spicy. Lauren likes dogs, cake, and show tunes and is the vegetarian at your dinner party.
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