Skip to content

The Escapist Book Blog

"Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book." – Author Unknown

  • About Us
  • Book Reviews
    • Book Reviews by Author
      • Book Reviews (A-F by Author)
      • Book Reviews (G-L by Author)
      • Book Reviews (M-R by Author)
      • Book Reviews (S-Z by Author)
    • Book Reviews by Title
      • Book Reviews (A-F by Title)
      • Book Reviews (G-L by Title)
      • Book Reviews (M-R by Title)
      • Book Reviews (S-Z by Title)
    • Series List
  • Recommendations
    • Favorite Reads – 2025
    • Favorite Reads – 2024
    • Favorite Reads by Year
    • Recommendations by Genre
  • Author Spotlights
  • New Releases
  • Coming Soon
  • Contact Us
    • Review Requests
    • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

Sports Star

Release & ALC Review: Only For Him (Only For, #3) by Natasha Madison

March 13, 2026March 13, 2026 AJ Brother/Best Friend

  Only For Him by Natasha Madison is live! Emotional scars  |  Frenemies with benefits  |  Hockey romance  |  Single dad  |  Teammate’s sister   |  Sworn off relationships   Amazon   Blurb Nothing could prepare […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Right Your Wrongs (Kings of the Ice, #6) by Kandi Steiner

March 10, 2026March 10, 2026 AJ Drama

  Right Your Wrongs by Kandi Steiner is live! The sixth and final book in the Kings of the Ice series, this is a dramatic and emotional second-chance romance that really brings the feels. It’s […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Dirty Hit (Portland Fury, #1) by Livy Hart

February 2, 2026 AJ Forbidden

Dirty Hit by Livy Hart is live! The first book in the Portland Fury series, this is a fun and heartfelt read, a forbidden sports romance between a debut NHL coach and her star player. […]

Read more

Audio Review: Only on Gameday by Kristen Callihan

January 23, 2026 AJ Fake Relationship

Buy:  Amazon Review 3.5 stars A brand new book from Kristen Callihan, this is a childhood friends-to-lovers, unrequited yearning, fake-engagement sports romance with heaps of chemistry and an emotional slow-burning romance. It’s the first of what […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Hart Street Lane (Return to Dublin Street, #3) by Samantha Young

January 15, 2026January 15, 2026 AJ Drama

  Hart Street Lane by Samantha Young is live! A beautiful story of unrequited love with a friends-to-lovers, fake engagement romance that stole my heart.   Amazon   Blurb A steamy fake engagement from New […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Only For Love (Only For, #2) by Natasha Madison

January 9, 2026January 9, 2026 AJ Drama

  Only For Love by Natasha Madison is live! This is a beautifully emotional story with the most gorgeous romance and a heartfelt journey for two wonderful characters. I loved this book.   Amazon   […]

Read more

Audio Review: The Striker (Gods of the Game, #1) by Ana Huang

December 28, 2025December 29, 2025 AJ Audio Recommendation

Buy:  Amazon Review 3 stars The first book in Ana Huang’s Gods of the Game series, this is a brother’s rival, forbidden-ish, soccer/football romance that is steamy and emotional. It’s a solid read, though a […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Playing the Field (Los Angeles Devils, #1) by Stacy Travis

November 12, 2025November 12, 2025 AJ Brother/Best Friend

  Playing the Field by Stacy Travis is live! This is such a sweet read! A brother’s-best-friend, teenage crush, forced proximity sports romance with chemistry, heart, and the most gorgeous love story.   Amazon   […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Thrown for a Loop (New York Legends, #1) by Sarina Bowen

November 4, 2025November 18, 2025 AJ Audio Recommendation

Thrown for a Loop by Sarina Bowen is live! A second-chance hockey romance between a figure skater and NHL player, this book brought Cutting Edge vibes (“toe-pick!”), and it’s such a gorgeous read!   Amazon  […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Stand Your Ground (Kings of the Ice, #5) by Kandi Steiner

October 24, 2025October 24, 2025 AJ Age Gap

  Stand Your Ground by Kandi Steiner is live! This is such a fantastic read! It’s entertaining and wickedly sexy, but it’s also a deeply emotional story of trauma and healing with characters that owned […]

Read more

ARC Review: Play Me by Adriana Locke

September 14, 2025February 3, 2026 AJ Enemies-to-Lovers

Buy:  Amazon Blurb He’s supposed to be playing rugby—not playing me. I didn’t think it was possible to hate someone. Like utterly despise another human. Then I was hired to babysit the Royals’ newest star […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Only For Tonight (Only For, #1) by Natasha Madison

September 12, 2025January 8, 2026 AJ Friends-to-Lovers

  Only for Tonight by Natasha Madison is live! The first book in a new series from Natasha Madison, she returns to her hockey dynasty with a fantastically fun, sexy and romantic friends-to-lovers, surprise pregnancy […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Protect Home (The Atlanta Boys, #3) by Indy Valentine

August 22, 2025August 24, 2025 AJ Enemies-to-Lovers

Protect Home by Indy Valentine is live! A frenemies-to-lovers, surprise baby sports romance with an irresistibly swoony hero, this is a fun, sexy read   Amazon     Blurb Tenley He’s baseball’s untouchable golden boy—fast […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Over the Moon (Rosewood River, #3) by Laura Pavlov

July 29, 2025July 28, 2025 AJ Forbidden

  Over the Moon by Laura Pavlov is live! Back to Rosewood River for the third book in the series, a forbidden sports romance that is sweet, sexy, and gorgeously swoony. I loved this story! […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Beloved Beaty: Alex and Magnolia 3 (Beauty, #6)

July 15, 2025July 15, 2025 AJ Romance

  Beloved Beauty by Georgia Cates is live! This is the sixth book in the Beauty series, and the third and final book of the Alex and Magnolia trilogy, and it finishes off their story […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Crazy Love (Single Dad Playbook, #5) by Willow Aster

July 10, 2025October 2, 2025 AJ Fake Relationship

  Crazy Love by Willow Aster is live! The final book of the Single Dads Playbook series, and Willow Aster has delivered the swooniest, sweetest and most heartwarming romance! Single player Penn meets his match […]

Read more

Review: American Beauty: Alex and Magnolia 2 (Beauty, #5) by Georgia Cates

July 6, 2025July 7, 2025 AJ Romance

Buy:  Amazon Review 3.5 stars! The second book in the Alex and Magnolia Trilogy, and after their whirlwind three months together in Australia, our soulmates find themselves on opposite sides of the planet now that Magnolia […]

Read more

Review: Steel Beauty: Alex and Magnolia 1 (Beauty, #4) by Georgia Cates

June 28, 2025June 28, 2025 AJ Romance

Buy:  Amazon Review 4 swoon-filled stars I fell in mad love with Georgia Cates’ Beauty series when it came out. The story of Jack Henry and Laurelyn completely stole my heart. And now, Cates has returned […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Beyond the Stroke (Carolina Current, #1) by Erin Hawkins

May 30, 2025May 31, 2025 AJ Fake Relationship

  Beyond the Stroke by Erin Hawkins is live! A golden retriever/black cat fake marriage of convenience romance, this is such a sweet read!   Amazon   Blurb “You know, Wildflower, I think you just […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Wicked Love (Single Dad Playbook, #4) by Willow Aster

April 10, 2025April 10, 2025 AJ Romance

  Wicked Love by Willow Aster is live! The fourth book in the Single Dads Playbook series, this is a beautifully romantic grumpy/sunshine, single dad, surprise pregnancy story. It has all the feeling and build-up […]

Read more

Audio Review: Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

April 3, 2025 AJ Audio Recommendation

Buy:  Amazon Review 3.5 stars A steamy college sports romcom, this is a fun, clever and sexy romance, and I really enjoyed this one. Scarlett is a student athlete at Stanford. She is studying pre-med […]

Read more

Audio Review: Wild Side (Rose Hill, #3) by Elsie Silver

March 29, 2025March 29, 2025 AJ 6 Star Reads

Buy:  Amazon Review 6 stars! Oh my heart, I adored this read! The third book in the Rose Hill series, it’s a dramatic, emotional and exciting enemies-to-lovers, fake marriage romance that had me swooning, laughing […]

Read more

New Release & ARC Review: The Girlfriend Zone (Love and Hockey, #4) by Lauren Blakely

March 26, 2025April 8, 2025 Mel Age Gap

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes the next standalone hockey romance in her Love and Hockey series, THE GIRLFRIEND ZONE! This sexy, coach’s daughter, one who got away, age gap, forbidden […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Save Your Breath (Kings of the Ice, #4) by Kandi Steiner

March 20, 2025March 19, 2025 AJ Celebrities

  Save Your Breath by Kandi Steiner is live! The fourth book in the Kings of the ice series, this is a beautifully emotional best-friends-to-lovers, fake relationship, celebrity/sports romance that is full of chemistry and […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: On Loverose Lane (Return to Dublin Street, #1) by Samantha Young

February 20, 2025February 20, 2025 AJ Enemies-to-Lovers

  On Loverose Lane by Samantha Young is live! Oh, what a gorgeous read! A sexy and emotional second chance, enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, sports romance with epic chemistry and all the feels – and […]

Read more

Posts navigation

Older posts

Welcome

This is a blog for romance booklovers, by romance booklovers. Please be aware that due to the nature of the books reviewed on this site, the content is recommended for people aged 18+

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

What We’re Reading

  • Mel (ARC)
  • AJ (ARC)

What We’re Listening To

  • AJ

What’s Happening on Facebook?

Latest Reviews

  • Release & ALC Review: Only For Him (Only For, #3) by Natasha Madison
  • Release & ARC Review: Right Your Wrongs (Kings of the Ice, #6) by Kandi Steiner
  • Audio Review: Thaw of Spring (Knife’s Edge, Alaska, #2) by Rebecca Zanetti
  • New Release & ARC Review: If You Keep Me (Toronto Terror, #6) by Helena Hunting
  • New Release & ARC Review: It Seemed Like A Good Idea (Darling Springs, #1) by Lauren Blakely
  • Review: Riftborne (Esprithean Trilogy, #1) by Bree Grenwich and Parker Lennox
  • Release & ARC Review: Whisper Sweet Nothings (Rosewood River, #6) by Laura Pavlov
  • Audio Review: Dead of Winter (Knife’s Edge, Alaska, #1) by Rebecca Zanetti
  • Review: The Situationship (Part of Your World, #3.5) by Abby Jimenez
  • Review: A Crown of Ruin (Blood & Ash, #6.5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Latest Favorite Reads

Cursed King
Come What May
Hart Street Lane
Only For Love
The Scribe OG
Holiday Fling
In a Second
An Irish Rockstar for Christmas
Mate
Bossing My Holiday
Half Light Harbor
The Death-Made Prince
Fire Heart
Fire
I Dreamt That You Loved Me
The Homemaker
Crazy in Love
Severed Heart
Crazy Love
One Last Rainy Day
A Royal Mile
You, Me and Forever
Say You'll Remember Me
Anathema
If Tomorrow Never Comes
Undeniably Enemies
Wild Side
Save Your Breath
My Silver Lining
Buried Dreams
From Nowhere
Merger ecover copy (1)
On Loverose Lane
Here and Now
The Sleight Before Christmas
The Apple Tree
The Grief We Hold
Chase Lovett Wants Me
Reckless Love
WordPress Photo Gallery Plugin

Search by Bookshelf

  • 6 Star Reads (51)
  • Action (298)
  • Age Gap (111)
  • Angsty (223)
  • Anthology (16)
  • Audio Recommendation (387)
  • Badasses (90)
  • Bikers (64)
  • Billionaire (94)
  • Book News (793)
  • Brother/Best Friend (117)
  • Celebrities (113)
  • Dark & Gritty (188)
  • Drama (956)
  • Dystopia (16)
  • Enemies-to-Lovers (260)
  • Epic Romance (169)
  • Fake Relationship (102)
  • Fantasy (97)
  • Favourite (299)
  • Feeeeeeels (746)
  • Forbidden (101)
  • Friends-to-Lovers (532)
  • Historical (13)
  • LOL Funny (602)
  • Military (68)
  • Mindf**k (15)
  • MM/Menage (61)
  • Mystery/Suspense (240)
  • New Adult (240)
  • No Strings (13)
  • Novella (285)
  • Paranormal/Urban Fantasy (417)
  • Post-Apocalyptic (20)
  • Quickie (25)
  • Rockers (136)
  • Romance (3,143)
  • Sci-Fi (4)
  • Second-Chance-Romance (420)
  • Single Parent (214)
  • Sobfest (61)
  • Sports Star (251)
  • Steamy (2,672)
  • Suspense/Thriller (39)
  • Uncategorized (6)
  • Young Adult (145)
Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: aReview by aThemes