Captain Cranky: A Closed-Door College Hockey Romance
About this ebook
Callum Matsuda has his future mapped out: lead Riverside University's hockey team to a championship, get drafted to the NHL, and maintain the perfect image scouts demand. What he doesn't need is a viral video showing his temper, threatening everything he's worked for—with the same high-stakes pressure you'd expect on a game-winning drive during Thursday Night Football.
The solution? A semester-long documentary showing the "real" Cal—mature, well-rounded, draft-worthy. The problem? His assigned filmmaker sees right through him.
Iris Chen is supposed to be focused on law school applications, not babysitting an arrogant hockey captain for a sports journalism credit. She knows nothing about hockey and cares even less—until she meets Cal and realizes the gorgeous, guarded athlete is nothing like the jock who shattered her heart last year. He's complicated, driven, and frustratingly easy to talk to.
What starts as forced proximity becomes something neither can ignore. Late-night study sessions, family dinners, and a midnight skating lesson change everything. Cal is falling first and falling hard, determined to prove he's nothing like the athlete who hurt her before.
When a malicious article exposes their relationship as an alleged PR stunt, Iris must decide: trust the man who's captured her heart, or protect herself from another devastating betrayal?
🏒 Why Readers Will Love This Book:
If you're searching for your next swoony slow burn romance book or looking for uplifting audiobooks on sports and healing, this emotional page-turner delivers deep chemistry, unforgettable characters, and a guaranteed HEA!
Key Tropes & Highlights:
🏒 Hockey Romance & College Sports: Intense team dynamics, high stakes, and pure sports action.
🎥 Forced Proximity & Fake PR Stunt: A reluctant filmmaker paired with a protective hockey captain.
💘 He Falls First & HARD: A softie hero who will do anything to earn her trust.
🌟 Diverse Characters & Emotional Depth: Japanese-American hero (Callum) × Chinese-American heroine (Iris).
☕ Closed-Door Romance: High emotional intimacy, swoony chemistry, and fade-to-black heat (no explicit content).
From award-winning author Sandeep Rao, this heartfelt novel is perfect for anyone obsessed with hockey love, slow-burn emotional tension, and addictive sports stories.
Grab your copy today and get ready to fall for Callum Matsuda!
