High Sticking the Heart

A Scoring Chance Series, Book 1

De: Marie M.

Narrado por: Christian Fox, Vanessa Vasquez

No last names, no phone numbers, no job titles....

Ariella: In theory, it was the ideal way to keep me from getting attached. My life plans left no room for distractions—not if I was going to break out of my culture’s machismo and prove to my family that I could make it on my own. And the 6’4” Texan rocking boots and a cowboy hat? He was exactly the type of distraction I was avoiding. So when the hot Wrangler-wearing man strolled up to me at a bar with a desperate plea to pretend to be his date, the rules were necessary…and completely useless.

How was I supposed to know my fake date was the star hockey player for the very team I was just hired as the strength and conditioning coach for?

Dalton: Pro tip: If your goal is to stay single so you can focus on not repeating last season’s disaster, maybe don’t ask a dark-haired beauty with looks that could kill to pretend to be your date. Especially not when her laugh makes you feel alive for the first time in years. Because that charade may last longer than you’d anticipated…and trying to keep things fake? Feels like a damn high stick to the heart.

©2025 Marie M. (P)2025 Marie M.

The relationship

The story is relatable being Hispanic strict family aspect, and it was hilarious felt something me and my Prima’s would get into.

Why did I wait so long to start reading sports romances?!

This story was honestly the cutest thing ever.
I absolutely loved the Mexican FMC. She felt so real and relatable una chingona, independent, and fully focused on chasing her goals. Seeing that kind of drive and representation in a romance just hit different.
And Dalton… ay mi corazón. He is literally the definition of if he wanted to, he would. The way he shows up, supports, and cares? Goals. Actual goals.
Also, my heart went out to him so many times (stupid Emma 😠 lol).
I know I’m probably rambling, but I truly, truly enjoyed this story. It was sweet, emotional, and left me wondering why I didn’t start reading sports romance sooner.

Cute hockey book

Hockey romance
Workplace
Coach x hockey player
Strong FMC
Golden retriever MMC
Dual POV - 1st person

Dual narration - Vanessa Vasquez & Christian Fox
Yummy! I love Christian’s voice and pair that with Vanessa and you have a banger!

Ari is trying to make it in a male dominated world. Getting mixed up with one of her hockey players was not part of her plan.

Dalton is playing on his father’s hockey team, trying to get his father approval. Also navigating a break up and the ex causing issues.

I loved how these two met. It was cute. I also really love Ari, she is strong, independent, and fiesty.

Overall, a very cute and fun listen for any hockey romance fan!

Narrators accents were perfection

This book took me by complete surprise. I went in completely blind, only knowing it was a hockey romance. First those chapter titles had me dying! They were so unhinged but in the best way possible! Second, Ari is probably one of my favorite FMCs I’ve ever read! She was so spicy, independent & speaks her mind. She didn’t let others put her down. Her cousin Gracie was so unhinged. I was cracking up with some of the things that were coming out of her mouth! Dalton was your typical southern gentleman. He was so sweet and patient with Ariella. I loved the little acts of service he did for her like getting her coffee in the morning. Dalton knew how independent Ari was and he never took that away from her. The audiobook brought this book to a whole new level. Vanessa Vazquez and Christian Fox had the perfect accents for Ari and Dalton. Vanessa fully embodied Ari’s personality and Christian had a smooth southern voice that was music to my ears. Their voices melded so well together and it made my reading experience even more enjoyable. I am completely invested in this world Marie has created and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Bantering

I love the representation of a Hispanic female in the culture. Cute hockey romance definitely will be reading the second book.