Perfect Deke

The Blade Kings, Book 1

De: Ruth Stilling

Narrado por: Alex Kydd, Amelia Hugh

How to complicate your rookie season in the NHL: fake date your former college rival and now teammate's ex-girlfriend.

It's a bad idea, and I know it, especially since Kendra Hart has had a hold over me since our freshman year of college. She has no idea how I feel, and I have zero control over my mouth when her life goes up in smoke and she needs a friend, along with a place to stay.

My coach, who also happens to be my stepdad, is warning me to stay away not only for the team's sake but to spare me from getting hurt. I should probably listen to his advice. However, taking the simple route has never been my thing. And with every "fake" look, touch, and kiss I give her, I think she might be starting to like me for more than just my British accent.

I'm starting to think this might be my best idea yet…

Expect the following tropes: pro-hockey MMC x pro-soccer FMC, golden retriever x black kitten, rival teammate's ex, fake dating, he falls first and hard, and forced proximity.

©2025 Ruth Stilling (P)2025 Podium Audio

Worth the credit

I honestly went into this book not knowing what to expect and it surprised me in a good way! The characters were easy to love and who doesn’t love a good rivals ex girlfriend story?! I love a MMC who pines and is obsessed and that is what this book delivers. (Light plot spoilers ahead)

Sure it was maybe was a bit cheesy in parts but that doesn’t bother me too much. “The big problem” the couple had to overcome was pretty low stakes and not that big of a deal in my opinion. Sure there was some conflict with the MMC and the rival but it worked itself out too. If you like a good love story, and don’t care about there not being any real relationship conflict this is your book!

So Amazing

Okay so this author is now one of my top five authors the relationship she built for these two is amazing the one time I almost wavered she totaled made it okay and worth it I laughed out loud so many times and honestly I hurt and cried with them when they hurt

Jack has a dirty mouth

5⭐️
Narrated by:
Amelia Hugh as Kendra Hart
Alex Kydd as Jack Morgan
I loved eyeball reading this book but the audiobook made it an amazing experience to immersive read this time. Alex's British accent was so good.

Tropes:
🏒 Pro Hockey MMC x Pro Soccer FMC
⚽️ Golden Retriever x Black Kitten
🏒 Rival Teammate’s Ex
⚽️ Fake dating
🏒 Room mates to Lovers
⚽️ He Falls First & Hard
🏒 It's always been you
⚽️ Forced Proximity

Imagine in a British accent hearing this:
“I might f you like it’s the last time I’ll feel you underneath me, but I’ll always love you like it’s forever.”

Solid hockey romance. Thoroughly enjoyed.🏒

Perfect Deke – Ruth Stilling
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️

This was a really solid hockey romance. I genuinely enjoyed it. I do wish there had been just a little more actual hockey woven into the story, and I didn’t love the very last scene — it felt over-the-top and honestly kind of irresponsible. That said, it didn’t ruin the book for me.

What really made this one work were the characters. They felt relatable and refreshingly normal. Loving families (minus Jack’s biological father), a strong and fun friend group, and just enough of that typical cocky hockey-boy energy without making them completely insufferable. I thoroughly loved the narration — John Morgan and Jack Morgan are two of my favorite characters in this world.

They teased Collins and Sawyer for the next book. I absolutely adore Sawyer already. Collins… not so much. In the brief glimpses we got, she gave off strong mean-girl energy, and I struggle with female characters who use trauma as a blanket excuse to treat people poorly. Trauma can explain behavior — it doesn’t excuse being cruel. I’m a little nervous I might hate the next book because of it.

Overall though? Strong characters, great friend dynamics, good spice, and an enjoyable story. I’m definitely continuing the series — cautiously.

Lovable

I loved Jack and Kendra. Sweet and spicy sports romance. Jack is a hockey player and Kendra is a soccer player. He is the teammate of Kendra’s ex-boyfriend, who is a real jackass. She has to move out of her apartment temporarily and Jack offers his spare room.