Gloves Off

A Marriage of Convenience Hockey Romance (Vancouver Storm, Book 4)

De: Stephanie Archer

Narrado por: JF Harding, Stella Hunter

The only way to get my inheritance? Marry Alexei Volkov—the grumpiest enforcer in the NHL, a brutally handsome jerk, and the last man I’d ever fall for.

In public, we act as besotted newlyweds, but in private, we’re at each other’s throats. He’s competitive, arrogant, and surly. The guy’s never cracked a smile in his life. He’s jealous of my ex, he glares at my high heels, and insists he’s not attracted to me. He’s only marrying me for citizenship.

Fighting with Alexei is more fun than expected, though, and beneath his grouchy exterior, Alexei is surprisingly caring, protective, and generous.

He cooks for me and worries about my safety.

He sends me flowers with secret meanings and spends way too much money on me.

He makes me sleep in his bed and calls me his wife.

For a guy who said he’d never fall in love with me, Alexei’s doing a good impression of it… and now I’m wondering if this marriage is fake after all.

Gloves Off is an enemies to lovers marriage of convenience hockey romance. It's the fourth book in the Vancouver Storm series but can be listened to as a standalone.

©2025 Stephanie Archer (P)2025 Stephanie Archer

Delicious

A true enemies to lovers story. This is one of the best examples of how to do the genre justice. That Alexi🥵 and I truly love the MFC.

Love/Hate

This was the ultimate slow burn. The character development along with the layering of the narration was top-tier. How they slowly and painstakingly succumbed to their feelings was so hot.

Fake marriage

The banter in this book is top tier! It’s a laugh out loud, sexy, hockey romance! Took a while to hit spice…totally worth the wait!!🌶️🌶️🌶️
Definitely a reread!!

The narrators in this book are 10/10! Outstanding performances by both of them!

Great close to the series

Engaging, heartfelt, and hockey fans will enjoy too. Or, you’ll become a hockey fan. Like me

The ENEMIEST to LOVERS ever!

JF Harding and Stella Hunter SHINE in this well written enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience to REAL, story.

Alexei and Georgia - he's the enforcer on the ice for the Vancouver Storm, and she's one of the team doctors. They've always been attracted to each other, but they have also always hated each other because she said he should retire from hockey, and he thinks she's someone she's not.

You GUYS! This is the ENEMIEST enemies to lovers book I've ever read. You won't be able to see how they could ever have this kind of marriage of convenience to get what they both need and survive!

The character development is amazing and the story is compelling.

This is a wonderful, wonderfully written book. READ IT! I already can't wait for the next in the series!

Sweet Scale: 5/5
Spicy Scale: 4/5

Such a Fun Listen

I have really enjoyed the Vancouver Storm Series and book four, Gloves Off did not disappoint! I was so excited for Alexi's love story. JF Harding was the perfect Alexi and Stella Hunter brought Georgia's sass and big heart to life. This is an enemies to lovers story with plenty of heartfelt swoony moments that will bring plenty of smiles to your face. As always, Stephanie Archer brings a spicy fun story to the reader without stressful drama.

Distinct and realistic dual characters.

Love this story and its character development ending in love and marriage. Depth and emotion from the voice actors.

Love Them!

This was my favorite book so far. Hilarious, charming with plenty of enemies to lovers banter. Also my favorite narrator duo of the series. Didn't care for the female voices "for the characters" in the first 3 and didn't care for the male voice "for the character" in the 3rd book. But this one was a fabulous pairing! Either way it's a great series all around.

Best In the Series So Far!

I didn't think anyone or anything could top Rory Miller, but here we are. Where to even begin with this one!

Well for starters, if you have a "my wife" kink, then you will be very pleased (according to my Kindle search it shows up 80 times!).
If you're looking for a true hate to love, then you will be very pleased.
If you like sharp and witty banter, then you will be very pleased.
If you like the marriage of convenience trope, then you will be very pleased.
If you like it when the MMC gives the FMC a cute, but not really cute, but will still make you giggle nickname, then you will be very pleased.
If you are looking for an MMC who falls HARD and is obsessed, then you will be very pleased.
There is even something in here for The Vampire Diaries fans.

I absolutely loved this book! I didn't think I would like it more than The Fake Out, and I definitely didn't think I'd like Alexei more than Hayden Owens, but I sure did.

This book follows Alexei Volkov, the aging legend/superstar of the hockey team and Georgia Green, one of the team's doctors. The two start the book hating each other - she thinks he's an asshole and he thinks she's a shallow rich girl who cares about nothing but materialism. They agree to a marriage of convenience when she needs to be married to secure her inheritance (which she plans to donate to her hospital research) and he needs to secure his family's immigration status to avoid being sent back to Russia. Turns out, they have more in common than they think, and they slowly realize they were dead wrong about each other.

Let me tell you - this is truly a HATE to LOVE and I ate up every second of it. I finished it two days ago and I'm still sad it's over.

The chemistry between Alexei and Georgia was perfect, and their little jabs back and forth were chef's kiss. As their feelings slowly evolve and grew into more, you can feel the desire and yearning for each other drip off the page. This was one of the most enjoyable hockey romances I've ever read - definitely in my top 5!

For the audiobook listeners, you are in for a treat. JF Harding as Alexei was one of the best listening experiences of any contemporary romance I've listened to. He's up there with Jacob Morgan/Zachary Webber and Connor Crais. I don't think anyone could have done a better job brining Alexei's broody, reserved, sexy personality to life. Georgia is probably my favorite FMC in the series so far, and I don't think any other narrator would have done her justice--Stella Hunter really shined! She was fiery, funny and sweet, and exactly how I imagined her to be.

Can you tell I loved this book?

Alexei and Georgia ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I needed them like air and Stephanie did not disappoint!!! The grumpy, the banter, the flowers 😍😍😍😍 I want so much more !! I am so ready for Tate and Jordan!! Give it to me!