Sloane Hamill came to Philadelphia for one reason—to disappear.
After a devastating mistake cost her everything, she's living under a false identity, taking one risky job after another, and praying no one discovers the truth. The rules are simple: keep working, keep quiet, and never let anyone get close.
Then Callan "The Reaper" Drake walks into her treatment room.
The league's toughest defenseman has spent his entire career sacrificing his body for the game. With a career-threatening shoulder injury, a brutal custody battle for his seven-year-old daughter, and a reputation built on violence, Callan has nothing left to lose—except the people he loves.
He needs someone to keep him on the ice.
She needs someone who'll never ask about her past.
What starts as a professional arrangement quickly turns into stolen moments, dangerous attraction, and a connection neither of them expected. But secrets don't stay buried forever. When Sloane's past catches up with her and Callan is forced to choose between his career, his family, and the woman who's become his greatest weakness, they'll discover that some risks are worth everything.
Because some love stories aren't gentle.
They crash.
They burn.
And they leave scars worth keeping.
Perfect for readers who love emotionally intense sports romance, hockey romance, grumpy/sunshine, single dad romance, forbidden romance, and unforgettable book boyfriends.
Tropes
🏒 Hockey Romance
❤️ Grumpy × Sunshine
🔥 Morally Grey Hero
💍 Forced Proximity
💕 He Falls First
🩺 Physical Therapist Heroine
👨👧 Single Dad
🤍 Found Family
💥 Secret Injury
⚡ Emotional Redemption
📖 Dual POV
Perfect for fans of: The Deal, Him, Pucked, Kulti, The Wall of Winnipeg and Me.
Content Warnings: Explicit romantic content, hockey violence, chronic pain, past substance abuse, emotional trauma, parental custody dispute, and mature themes.
Alina Rose writes emotionally intense sports romance with morally grey heroes, fierce heroines, and the kind of love that hurts so good.