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Vancouver Storm #1
Behind the Net
He's the hot, grumpy goalie I had a crush on in high school... and now I'm his live-in assistant.
After my ex crushed my dreams in the music industry, I’m done with getting my heart broken. Working as an assistant for an NHL player was supposed to be a breeze, but nothing about Jamie Streicher is easy. He’s an intimidatingly hot, grouchy jerk who can't stand me. The guy has a massive ego. Keeping things professional will be no problem, even when he demands I move in with him.
Beneath his surliness, though, Jamie’s surprisingly sweet and protective.
When Jamie learns how bad my ex was in bed, his competitive nature flares, and he encourages and spoils me in every way. The creative spark I used to feel about songwriting? It’s back, and I’m writing music again. Between wearing his jersey at games, rowdy parties with the team, and being brave on stage again, I’m falling for him.
He could break my heart, but it might be worth it.
Behind the Net is a grumpy-sunshine pro hockey romance with lots of spice and an HEA. It’s the first book in the Vancouver Storm series, and can be read as a standalone.
Tropes:
grumpy sunshine
slow burn
boy obsessed
pro hockey
forced proximity (boss vs assistant + roommates)
spice coaching
After my ex crushed my dreams in the music industry, I’m done with getting my heart broken. Working as an assistant for an NHL player was supposed to be a breeze, but nothing about Jamie Streicher is easy. He’s an intimidatingly hot, grouchy jerk who can't stand me. The guy has a massive ego. Keeping things professional will be no problem, even when he demands I move in with him.
Beneath his surliness, though, Jamie’s surprisingly sweet and protective.
When Jamie learns how bad my ex was in bed, his competitive nature flares, and he encourages and spoils me in every way. The creative spark I used to feel about songwriting? It’s back, and I’m writing music again. Between wearing his jersey at games, rowdy parties with the team, and being brave on stage again, I’m falling for him.
He could break my heart, but it might be worth it.
Behind the Net is a grumpy-sunshine pro hockey romance with lots of spice and an HEA. It’s the first book in the Vancouver Storm series, and can be read as a standalone.
Tropes:
grumpy sunshine
slow burn
boy obsessed
pro hockey
forced proximity (boss vs assistant + roommates)
spice coaching
424 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2023
12.3k people are currently reading
142k people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Archer
10books9,496followersStephanie writes spicy, hilarious rom-coms. Her books feature sharp banter, stubborn women, lots of laughs, and guaranteed HEA’s. She lives in Vancouver, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 14,741 reviews
July 3, 2023
it wasn’t horrible- i just got the biggest ick from “songbird�
July 10, 2023
abolish corny pet names in romance books please i am so tired
August 10, 2023
kicking, screaming, giggling, running around my room.
July 11, 2023
god gave me eyes and i chose to disgrace him by reading this
July 14, 2023
Garrett Graham, I’m sorry I ever doubted you. Come home, the kids miss you.
September 7, 2023
2.25⭐️ the only good thing about this book was daisy, the fucking dog.
September 11, 2023
my headache was getting worse every time he called her "songbird"
February 17, 2024
maybe we can keep our clothes on for once pls
December 28, 2023
� 3 stars
this is probably gonna be a very short review, because i don’t have that much to sayi know, i was shocked too. plus i also want to give myself a break and not force reviews on books where i actually don’t have that much to say, because those reviews don't make me happy and most of it is just words and i'm just trying to fill out the review, but you’ll no longer be seeing me do that. now i just wanna enjoy my reading and enjoy writing reviews (there will still be rants, love letters, long reviews etc. just not from books where i actually don’t have that much to say)
this is just a regular hockey romance book and hockey romances will always hit one way or another. this was surprisingly good, but again nothing special. i did enjoy this because all i needed was a hockey romance with a little spice and spice i definitely got, but if you’re looking for something more and deeper than that this book won’t satisfy you, but i’d still recommend if you’re in the mood for a cute, spicy, easy read. normally i’d write a paragraph about each main character, but as i said i don’t have that much to say. the characters were likeable and cute together, but it wasn’t any of those characters you’ll remember for the rest of your life, but that’s good too sometimes, they can’t all be nesta archeron's and dante maroni’s. when that’s said i would’ve liked the book more if he didn’t call her “my pretty assistant� every second chapter, but i’m willing to overlook that a little because i’ve been in a big ass slump and i finished this book so that means it must’ve done something right. i’m also really looking forward to the second book in this series, because i already know that bantering is gonna be great and i love the characters. i honestly think it’s time for me to get back into my hockey romance era, because i’ve missed these vibes so much.
favorite moments and quotes:
“I’m being an intimidating jackass, but I need to know why she’s crying so I can fix it.�
“That girl I used to be is still in there I just have to find a way to get her out.�
“Tell me.�
“BDz.�
“M.�
“You’re surprisingly nimble�
“I’m very good with my fingers.�
“Kiss me.�
“I’m so fucking gone for this girl.�
“You need to stop looking at me like that, songbird.�
“Or what?�
“Or I’m going to lose my mind.�
“The best songs are honest.�
“She smiles, and I fall a little harder for her.�
“I love coming home to you.�
“I don’t think I can.�
“You say what a lot, but I can’t remember the last time you were right.�
“Pippa’s my forever person.�
“Having issues doesn’t make you weak. It makes you stronger.�
tropes; hockey romance, assistant x player, childhood crush to lovers, forced proximity, grumpy x sunshine, and boy obsessed
“� 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩. 𝙄 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚, 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛, 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣.�
this is probably gonna be a very short review, because i don’t have that much to say
this is just a regular hockey romance book and hockey romances will always hit one way or another. this was surprisingly good, but again nothing special. i did enjoy this because all i needed was a hockey romance with a little spice and spice i definitely got, but if you’re looking for something more and deeper than that this book won’t satisfy you, but i’d still recommend if you’re in the mood for a cute, spicy, easy read. normally i’d write a paragraph about each main character, but as i said i don’t have that much to say. the characters were likeable and cute together, but it wasn’t any of those characters you’ll remember for the rest of your life, but that’s good too sometimes, they can’t all be nesta archeron's and dante maroni’s. when that’s said i would’ve liked the book more if he didn’t call her “my pretty assistant� every second chapter, but i’m willing to overlook that a little because i’ve been in a big ass slump and i finished this book so that means it must’ve done something right. i’m also really looking forward to the second book in this series, because i already know that bantering is gonna be great and i love the characters. i honestly think it’s time for me to get back into my hockey romance era, because i’ve missed these vibes so much.
favorite moments and quotes:
“I’m being an intimidating jackass, but I need to know why she’s crying so I can fix it.�
“That girl I used to be is still in there I just have to find a way to get her out.�
“Tell me.�
“BDz.�
“M.�
“You’re surprisingly nimble�
“I’m very good with my fingers.�
“Kiss me.�
“I’m so fucking gone for this girl.�
“You need to stop looking at me like that, songbird.�
“Or what?�
“Or I’m going to lose my mind.�
“The best songs are honest.�
“She smiles, and I fall a little harder for her.�
“I love coming home to you.�
“I don’t think I can.�
“You say what a lot, but I can’t remember the last time you were right.�
“Pippa’s my forever person.�
“Having issues doesn’t make you weak. It makes you stronger.�
tropes; hockey romance, assistant x player, childhood crush to lovers, forced proximity, grumpy x sunshine, and boy obsessed
August 10, 2023
If I have to read the nickname ‘songbird� one more time I might go insane.
July 7, 2023
”I have feelings for you, songbird.�
UMMM
I SO ATE THIS BOOK UP. I loved their tension, their banter and THE SPICE!!
I recommend this book to YOU if you like: grumpy x sunshine, smut, hockey romance and cute moments!
5-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
GOING TO BE MY FAVORITE BOOK GOING TO RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE WHO LIKES ROMANCE EVEN A LITTLE BIT‼️‼️
UMMM
I SO ATE THIS BOOK UP. I loved their tension, their banter and THE SPICE!!
I recommend this book to YOU if you like: grumpy x sunshine, smut, hockey romance and cute moments!
5-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
GOING TO BE MY FAVORITE BOOK GOING TO RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE WHO LIKES ROMANCE EVEN A LITTLE BIT‼️‼️
Shelved as 'dnf'
July 29, 2023DNF @52%
The cringe is strong with this one ☠️
The cringe is strong with this one ☠️
Read
July 2, 2023dnf 22%
instalove always destroying things for me 🧍
instalove always destroying things for me 🧍
July 16, 2023
i genuinely don’t know why i pushed myself to read the entire thing
December 7, 2023
I don't think I've ever read a book with two hornier MCs, and let me tell you, I ate it up!
February 23, 2024
Some hockey, a little bit of music, but mostly porn.
July 7, 2023
I feel like this book was too long, and for no good reason. Cringe dialogue, cringe storyline, cringe nickname, cringe characters!! The characters also have zero chemistry. Overhyped!
February 9, 2024
Dnf’d at 60%. It was too insta-lusty and the fmc was all over him before even meeting him 😭. And somethings just didn’t make sense. They lost me from the moment he fired her and she bought him cupcakes the nest day?? If someone fired me for no reason i’d go and throw eggs at his house not gave him cupcakes 😭😭
Im sorry buket ily😭🫶🏻
Im sorry buket ily😭🫶🏻
March 7, 2025
3.75 stars
Behind the Net has everything I was craving in a good sports romance—a grumpy hockey player, the cutest dog, a perfect balance of romance and sports, wholesome moments, and immaculate spice. The story wasn’t anything special, just a typical hockey romance, yet I devoured it in just two days. It’s a bit long for a contemporary romance, but I have no idea where those 440 pages flew by. The pacing was slow—it’s a slow burn, given the fact that the characters had instant attraction to each other—but the insta-lust/love was executed so well.
This is my first book by Stephanie Archer, and I can see myself getting used to her writing, her characters, and especially her sweet and spicy stories. The writing was simple, the characters were drawn out viscerally, with depth and vulnerability that made them feel real and flawed. The spice in this book is one of the best I’ve read in a while! It was so good!
Pippa Hartley had been betrayed by her ex-boyfriend, he stole her confidence, faith, and trust. She is an incredible singer but struggles with musical creativity until Jamie walks into her life and makes her see how incredible she is. Pippa is a hard-working woman who feels deeply and is the sweetest person. She is thoughtful and kind, but there is a fire within her that only Jamie can bring out. I liked seeing her growth—from a girl with no dreams to one with passion, bringing out the real Pippa.
“I sing my heart out. I sing about wanting more, wanting to believe in myself, wanting to break free and be my own person.�
Jamie Streicher is the grumpy striker—the one who hates everyone but loves his dog and his girl, Pippa. He carries the burden of everything in his life and wants to make things right because he feels obliged to everyone around him. It took me a while to warm up to his character because he was unnecessarily rude at times, but once he started showing his sweet and loving side—the one that cares for the people he loves—I couldn’t help but swoon over him. He was also possessive when it came to Pippa, and we love a jealous man.
“Pippa’s my forever person.�
“I love coming home to you.�
“She smiles, and I fall a little harder for her.�
Pippa and Jamie’s love story is filled with wholesomeness, sweetness, witty banter, emotional moments, and the perfect amount of spice. Their obsession with each other runs deep—their chemistry is sizzling, heavy with sexual tension and undeniable attraction. What I truly loved was how they helped each other and found comfort in each other’s company. How Jamie helped Pippa regain her confidence, how he pushed her to create music just for herself because he loved her in every way. And how Pippa made sure Jamie never felt alone, always giving him her support and love. It was simply so beautiful and precious.
This book has no third-act breakup or miscommunication trope, and the ending was perfect and satisfying. I’m so excited for Rory and Hazel’s story next. I have a feeling it’s going to be my favourite in this series!
—ĔĔĔĔĔ�
Just need a cute and no brainer hockey romance 😗
“Pippa Hartley is standing in my living room, playing with the dog, and I can’t breathe.�
Behind the Net has everything I was craving in a good sports romance—a grumpy hockey player, the cutest dog, a perfect balance of romance and sports, wholesome moments, and immaculate spice. The story wasn’t anything special, just a typical hockey romance, yet I devoured it in just two days. It’s a bit long for a contemporary romance, but I have no idea where those 440 pages flew by. The pacing was slow—it’s a slow burn, given the fact that the characters had instant attraction to each other—but the insta-lust/love was executed so well.
This is my first book by Stephanie Archer, and I can see myself getting used to her writing, her characters, and especially her sweet and spicy stories. The writing was simple, the characters were drawn out viscerally, with depth and vulnerability that made them feel real and flawed. The spice in this book is one of the best I’ve read in a while! It was so good!
“I thought you were gorgeous, too,� he murmurs, looking at me in a way that makes me feel like I can’t breathe. “Even back then.�
Pippa Hartley had been betrayed by her ex-boyfriend, he stole her confidence, faith, and trust. She is an incredible singer but struggles with musical creativity until Jamie walks into her life and makes her see how incredible she is. Pippa is a hard-working woman who feels deeply and is the sweetest person. She is thoughtful and kind, but there is a fire within her that only Jamie can bring out. I liked seeing her growth—from a girl with no dreams to one with passion, bringing out the real Pippa.
“I sing my heart out. I sing about wanting more, wanting to believe in myself, wanting to break free and be my own person.�
Jamie Streicher is the grumpy striker—the one who hates everyone but loves his dog and his girl, Pippa. He carries the burden of everything in his life and wants to make things right because he feels obliged to everyone around him. It took me a while to warm up to his character because he was unnecessarily rude at times, but once he started showing his sweet and loving side—the one that cares for the people he loves—I couldn’t help but swoon over him. He was also possessive when it came to Pippa, and we love a jealous man.
“Pippa’s my forever person.�
“I love coming home to you.�
“She smiles, and I fall a little harder for her.�
Pippa and Jamie’s love story is filled with wholesomeness, sweetness, witty banter, emotional moments, and the perfect amount of spice. Their obsession with each other runs deep—their chemistry is sizzling, heavy with sexual tension and undeniable attraction. What I truly loved was how they helped each other and found comfort in each other’s company. How Jamie helped Pippa regain her confidence, how he pushed her to create music just for herself because he loved her in every way. And how Pippa made sure Jamie never felt alone, always giving him her support and love. It was simply so beautiful and precious.
“You need to stop looking at me like that, songbird�
“Or what?�
“Or I’m going to lose my mind.�
This book has no third-act breakup or miscommunication trope, and the ending was perfect and satisfying. I’m so excited for Rory and Hazel’s story next. I have a feeling it’s going to be my favourite in this series!
—ĔĔĔĔĔ�
Just need a cute and no brainer hockey romance 😗
December 17, 2023
This was super meh, review to come!
July 13, 2023
if stephanie archer has no fans, i am DECEASED
she can do no wrong in my eyes and behind the net exceeded all of my expectations.
imagine you're lowkey destitute so your sister is able to swing you a job as an assistant to a pro hockey player. on day one, you knock on his door only for it to be the hockey god you crushed on in high school who seemingly has no idea who you are and is not happy you're here. EXCEPT HE TOTALLY REMEMBERS YOU AND YOU'VE RENDERED HIM SPEECHLESS.
i loved pippa. i loved her sister. i am on my KNEES for jamie.
no one writes praise and reassurance from start to finish like miss stephanie archer. 10/10 recommend.
she can do no wrong in my eyes and behind the net exceeded all of my expectations.
imagine you're lowkey destitute so your sister is able to swing you a job as an assistant to a pro hockey player. on day one, you knock on his door only for it to be the hockey god you crushed on in high school who seemingly has no idea who you are and is not happy you're here. EXCEPT HE TOTALLY REMEMBERS YOU AND YOU'VE RENDERED HIM SPEECHLESS.
i loved pippa. i loved her sister. i am on my KNEES for jamie.
no one writes praise and reassurance from start to finish like miss stephanie archer. 10/10 recommend.
November 29, 2024
Nothing actually happened in this book apart from them being insanely attracted to each other. I need more than that.
July 21, 2023
Very cute, low on angst, high on feels, WITHOUT 3RD ACT BREAKUP, featuring a doggo, lots of steam! 🙌❤️�
May 31, 2024
and i will never be listening to songbird by fleetwood mac ever again
December 17, 2023
3,25 stars
rtc later
.
thanking my gorgeous girl buket for making me start this and ALSO help me find the book after tons of research i made at school yesterday just to find it ahaha
she is an icon she is a legend and she is the moment🫂🤍
rtc later
.
thanking my gorgeous girl buket for making me start this and ALSO help me find the book after tons of research i made at school yesterday just to find it ahaha
she is an icon she is a legend and she is the moment🫂🤍
June 28, 2023
I was so incredibly lucky to Beta read this and I adored every moment of it. Jamie and Pippa are everything to me and this book deserves a million stars!!!
After reading the ARC, I’m finally able to put into words how much I loved this book. Not only did I have the best experience beta reading, but the characters were so relatable and realistic while also being so swoony and fluffy.
Pippa and Jamie brought the HEAT & all the swoon and I had permanent smile lines on my face the whole time. The tension? Immaculate. The spice? SPICY. The relationship dynamic? So damn sweet. I loved that there wasn’t a third act breakup, and focused more on two people working together to get their HEA. Jamie was the grumpiest but also a secret softie and romantic which is my fav📚
If I haven’t convinced you to read it yet, here’s a bit of what to expect:
- he buys her things
- jealousy moments 🤌🏻
- spicy coach 🌶�
- a stray dog who is the star of the show
- the best BANTER (In classic Stephanie archer fashion)
- family love
Go add this to your tbr, read it immediately and fall in love with this new world Stephanie has written!!
The hugest shoutout to Stephanie for the ARC and opportunity to beta read.
After reading the ARC, I’m finally able to put into words how much I loved this book. Not only did I have the best experience beta reading, but the characters were so relatable and realistic while also being so swoony and fluffy.
Pippa and Jamie brought the HEAT & all the swoon and I had permanent smile lines on my face the whole time. The tension? Immaculate. The spice? SPICY. The relationship dynamic? So damn sweet. I loved that there wasn’t a third act breakup, and focused more on two people working together to get their HEA. Jamie was the grumpiest but also a secret softie and romantic which is my fav📚
If I haven’t convinced you to read it yet, here’s a bit of what to expect:
- he buys her things
- jealousy moments 🤌🏻
- spicy coach 🌶�
- a stray dog who is the star of the show
- the best BANTER (In classic Stephanie archer fashion)
- family love
Go add this to your tbr, read it immediately and fall in love with this new world Stephanie has written!!
The hugest shoutout to Stephanie for the ARC and opportunity to beta read.
July 30, 2023
pov u read a book, wrote rtc, the review did in fact not come, and u forgot literally every single thing that happened in this book.
anyways, it had good vibes?
�
this
this was good
rtc besties
anyways, it had good vibes?
�
this
this was good
rtc besties
July 3, 2023
Solid read, just not really for me.
The characters were cute together and I enjoyed the romantic portions, especially toward the end, it was just a bit too instalust for me. It’s steamy but it happened a little too often for me.
And also sincerely, I’m tired of female characters who don’t have good sex lives before meeting the H. She was with her ex for 8 years and never came once. Like how exhausting. Of course the first time with the H she does.
The side characters were fun.
No virgins, he’s experienced but no mentions of his sex life prior
OW - no drama, but he clears up something with his ex from five years prior who he never loved, it was very nice actually and refreshing
OM - her ex causes drama and she sees him a couple of time, no issues are caused with the H, she handles it
The characters were cute together and I enjoyed the romantic portions, especially toward the end, it was just a bit too instalust for me. It’s steamy but it happened a little too often for me.
And also sincerely, I’m tired of female characters who don’t have good sex lives before meeting the H. She was with her ex for 8 years and never came once. Like how exhausting. Of course the first time with the H she does.
The side characters were fun.
No virgins, he’s experienced but no mentions of his sex life prior
OW - no drama, but he clears up something with his ex from five years prior who he never loved, it was very nice actually and refreshing
OM - her ex causes drama and she sees him a couple of time, no issues are caused with the H, she handles it
August 24, 2023
Every other page I got the ick. Lazily written which translated into a cringe-fest I hope I forget, sooner rather than later.
September 29, 2023
THIS WAS SO CUTE AHHHH THE WAY THEY BOTH LIKED EACH OTHER IN HIGH SCHOOL AND HAD NO IDEA BYEEEEEE IM GONE OBSESSED
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