Rowdy Hearts

Devils Hockey #1

by Stephanie Julian

When a big-city girl falls into the arms of a small-town hockey god, does he get to keep her?

I’m Rowdy, and yeah, I lived up to the name. I’m the captain of the St. David Devils, the worst team of misfits in pro hockey and the most fun you’ll have on ice. We thrive on chaos.

Lately though, being the town’s favorite son has become a burden. I’m restless and bored. I want more and a job offer at another team is tempting. But I can’t imagine ever leaving my hometown.

Until Tressy stumbles into our local bar, dressed in a Cinderella gown and carrying her sweet little girl. She falls into my arms, looks into my eyes and steals my heart. She needs help, but she’s not used to asking for it. She’s beautiful, fiercely independent and hiding something.

Luckily for her, St. David is the perfect place to lay low. And now I have the time to prove she can trust me. And to prove that the heat between us is real. I just have to convince Tressy to embrace the crazy…

Genres: Sports, Contemporary, Hockey, Romance, Hockey Romance, Small Town Romance, Sports Romance

282 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 18, 2024

About the author

Stephanie Julian is a USA Today and New York Time best-selling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. She writes stories with sultry heat and sweet heart.

She is the author of the best-selling Salon Games and Indecent series. INVITE ME IN (previously published as BY PRIVATE INVITATION) was an RT Magazine Top Pick. AN INDECENT PROPOSITION was named by BookBub as one of the 20 Best Erotic Books.

Stephanie is happily married to a Springsteen fanatic and the mother of two hairy sons.

Find out why reviewers call Stephanie's stories "fascinating," "truly fantastic," "intoxicating," "highly imaginative" and "hot enough to peel paint."

Reviews

[Kaitlin Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ Sooo I was given the wonderful opportunity to be an ARC reader. I hope not to spoil anything for anyone as I know this won’t be realize for almost 2 weeks from when I’m writing this….

Overall, I really liked it. Cute story with a dreamy MMC. I appreciate that this was really a hockey romance. Often times books are advertised as hockey romance, but really it’s about a guy who plays hockey and it’s never mentioned again.


What I really struggled with was there were a lot of areas with what truly seemed like typos that weren’t caught, but these typos really made it difficult to comprehend at times. For example, there were times that it shifted from first person to third person. Additionally, the first couple chapters were over stimulating. So many characters introduced, but also referred to as different nicknames. This obviously resolves as the story line progressed.

[Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. Let me start with the things I liked. I really liked that hockey was actually a part of this book because half the time when I read hockey romances, it's just mentioned that the MMC is a hockey player and then no actual hockey is involved, and I'm a big hockey fan so I appreciate any little bit of actual hockey in these kind of books. Rowdy is also a sweet golden retriever of a MMC and he's just too cute with Tressy and her daughter Krista. But the thing I didn't like was that the book seemed like it needed a good beta reader or editor to go through it and find all the weird grammar mistakes (like "Krista, did you miss you?") and typos. Also there are things that just get dropped and forgotten about by the end of the book. Like the whole reason why Tressy is in St David and has to stay the weekend is because she got a flat and bent her rim or axel on a Friday and the town mechanic won't be working until Monday to fix it. But then she gets a phone call and has to return to NYC before the car is ever mentioned of being fixed and the issue is never mentioned again. But I am also overly critical of stuff like that. This was a cute, fuzzy, feel good happy ever after story and I had fun reading it despite the things I didn't like that much.

[Destany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

A super cute story! I love hockey romances, so having this fun hockey team to read about is great! I loved learning about the players and their personalities. One thing I had trouble with was keeping everyone straight hahaha I also kind of felt meh about the reason Tressy ended up there with Krista. But I am a fan of quirky characters in small towns - so that evened it out!

[Lisa Yee Swope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephanie Julian has been writing "hockey romance" far longer than that has been its own genre, and she doesn't just write the couple, she writes the team and the community and she actually writes hockey in a way that non-sports people enjoy. In Rowdy Hearts, as it's the first in a new series, she had a lot of introductions to do very quickly, much of which built to reinforce the cinnamon bun nature of Rowdy when Tressy entered the picture and didn't trust anyone. I look forward to reading more about the St David Devils team.

[Franjessca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rowdy Hearts by Stephanie Julian is an adorable, steamy, small-town hockey romance that actually includes hockey. So, if you are a hockey fan, like I am, you’ll enjoy reading this book, especially if you miss watching hockey in person or on the TV screen. Don’t worry; it has a romantic storyline, too, and you’ll fall head over heels for the hockey player who is a big softy when it comes to the FMC and her daughter.

Stephanie Julian introduces not only the main characters in Rowdy Hearts but also all the other characters/people who live in the small town of St. David. This is definitely an accurate portrayal of a small town because everyone came together to help the FMC, Tressy, and her daughter, Krista. Tressy was just trying to escape the big city with no destination in mind until she ended up with a flat tire in St. David, where the residents treated her and her daughter as family, not caring why she was running in the first place or if she had a secret.

I loved the cinnamon roll hockey player Rowdy Reston and how he took an immediate liking to both Tressy and her daughter, Krista. He was determined to have Tressy stay in St. David, and he didn’t care if she harbored a secret because he just wanted to keep her and her daughter safe.

Tressy was from a big city and wasn’t used to the hospitality of a small town, so I understood her hesitation about trusting anyone. I would have been the same way, especially when you have a daughter to think about. I loved how she started to open up towards the end of the book and found love and family in St. David. I didn’t think Tressy’s secret was a big deal, but once it was revealed, I understood why she was holding it.

If you enjoy instant attraction love storylines between a big-city heroine and a small-town hockey player, then this book is right up your alley. It also has a small-town feel, in which all the characters are like family. I can’t wait to read more from this small-town and the characters that Stephanie Julian introduced.

Trope(s)/Element(s):
🏒Sports/Hockey Romance
🏒Small-Town Romance
🏒Opposite’s Attract – City Girl and Small Town Hockey Player
🏒Instant Love

Check out all my book reviews at A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real Hockey Romance about St. David and it's quirky town in Pennsylvania the Devils Hockey team that isn't number one or in the NHL but there kind of and awkward fun family and Rowdy is there Captain he's missing something special he's got a big decision to make then Tressy litteraly falls into his arms with her adorable daughter Krista. Tressy her life is crazy early family lead to allot of therapy and a family with a mother who isn't so ready to give up on all that glitters and a sister that's write there with her but Tressy is out she runs her own talent agency now she wants nothing to do with family unfortunately some of her biggest fans are her daughters age and that's a problem when your hiding out and you have a major secret but Rowdy dosen't care about all that he just wants to convince the love of his life to take a chance on a small town that really loves there Hockey team the Devils. I really loved Rowdy he's sweet and and charming Tressy is your typical big city gal but soon the charm of St David works its magic on her. This was a cute slightly steamy read and I would definitely read more books about this Hockey Team.

I was allowed to read and advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Chalice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The couple: Rowdy and Tressy

Romance trope: sports/small town
Series: Devils Hockey
Length: 282 pages

Plot: Rowdy is feeling a little restless in his role as captain of his hometown, minor, minor league hockey team, but everyone's having fun, so it's difficult to think of leaving. Then Tressy rolls into town, obviously running from something, with her daughter in tow. She needs to get back to the big city, but something - someone - is keeping her here. Will Rowdy and this strange town be enough for her, or will she go back to the city and give up a chance at love?

Commentary: I liked this one. Rowdy was a bit of a goof, but he was honest and true and loyal and fun. Tressy was damaged, I think. I hate the thought of child stars anymore. Any story that comes out about any of them is full of abusive mothers, lecherous directors and show runners, drugs, eating disorders, and fraud. I hate that the people who should be protecting the children are the ones using them, and it all comes down to perversion and greed (and isn't greed a kind of perversion after all?). Tressy didn't even have it that bad - she just aged out of her roles and her mother couldn't accept it. But her mother was way too pushy and I don't imagine that will change much, despite the apologies.
Still, I loved the relationship Rowdy built with Tressy and her daughter. The daughter was adorable and Rowdy's mom was the best.

Next book in the series: Rainbow Kisses

[Melanie Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review - 3.5 ⭐️

Rowdy Hearts is a small town hockey romance with a golden retriever MMC Rowdy Lawerence and a single mom FMC Tressy Meyers.

Tressy stubbles in to a small town bar in a fancy dressing carrying her daughter Krista and falls right into the arms of Rowdy. Rowdy’s family and hockey team rally to help Tressy offering her a place to stay until her car can be fixed and she can return home.

Rowdy feels an instant connection to Tressy and her daughter Krista and wants to get to know them better but Tressy is determined to get back to her life in the city. Can Rowdy show Tressy what she’d be missing by not giving them a chance and staying long term or will the call to the city be to much for her to ignore ?

Overall I enjoyed this book and liked how there was actually hockey elements and not just having it mentioned that he’s a hockey player.

I know that ARC copies are often still going through editing so I hope so of the spelling and grammar issues are corrected before publishing.

There were a few times where it switched back and forth between first and third person narration which was kind of hard to follow, but overall I enjoyed this book and looked forward to reading Rowdy’s sister Rains story next !

Thank you Stephanie for the ARC opportunity !

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟 Romcom, hockey in a small town. Scored big with this

Rowdy Hearts, the latest by Stephanie Julian, grabs you on the first page and keeps you reading until the very last page.
The wicked banter between the brothers, the sizzle between Rowdy and Tressa, and set in a small town with
not your typical hockey team. The team nickname the double D’s for St David Devils sets expectations. All good.

Tressa has a secret, and it’s not just one. Rowdy has an opportunity he hasn’t told anyone. When Tressa literally falls into his arms with her little girl in her arms while at team party his life is changed but he doesn’t realize it yet.
When Tressa becomes fully aware of her situation, this small town where everyone is making her and her daughter feel at home, no one knows who she is, and she can’t believe it’s this is real. Not even with the solid, hard muscled smiling Rowdy next to her.
This romcom hockey story is truly a delight to read. The small town aspects are right on target. The banter between the siblings reminds me of my own family. And not to mention the chemistry between Rowdy and Tressa is the icing on the cake. Looking forward for the next story in the series.

[Tanja OMGReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice beach read. I liked both MCs and this crazy small town. I think my only problem was all the names, but when you read the book and this story maybe they'll make more sense.

Rowdy is the capitan of the Devils hockey team. But lately he's been feeling restless. He's keeping a secret from all he loves and he's at a crossroads on what to do. Meeting Tressy puts something in prospective and falling for her come as no surprise the more the story evolved.

Tressy stumbled upon this small town by chance. She needs a place to stay with her adorable little girl and when everyone makes them feel welcome they decided that starting fresh is just what the doctor prescribed. Falling for the handsome Rowdy was not what she wanted but with his help, she finally understands what it means to be truly loved.

This started with a bang and it ended the same. There were some things in between that had me rolling my eyes but nothing to take away too much from the story itself.

*** Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog ***

[Baby Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cinderella with a twist and a hot and funny hockey star that falls first, what more could a reader want. Rowdy, Tressy, and Krista were adorable together and how they met was to me a sweet and entertaining way to introduce the trio. Hockey was at the center of this story, which was a plus, but there was also family drama that was realistic. Tressy as a hard time trusting others and Rowdy has a hard time opening up to his family about issues that are at the tip of his tongue. Krista is adorable and had every character eating out of the palm of her hand. Stephanie did a great job with this book and her introduction to the Devils hockey team put certain main character front and center. It will be interesting to see which of the hockey players mentioned in this book will get their love story next.
either way, I look forward to reading another hockey romance from this author and look forward to seeing more of the hockey teams funny antics...

I received this book for free as an ARC and my reviews and opinions are my own!

[Elizabeth Clinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know Stephanie Julian loves Hockey and you can tell by reading Rowdy Hearts. We meet Rowdy Reston, Captain of The St. David Devils a team of men that love the game but just can’t make it into the NHL but enjoy the camaraderie of being apart of something that’s more like a family. What Rowdy never expects is a woman and her daughter literally fall into his arms and will change his life in more ways than one.
Tressy Meyers is a single mom to an adorable little girl but she is also trying to getaway from life for a moment to catch her breath but when she literally breaks down she finds herself in a sweet town with just as many sweet people who take her into their circle but when she sees no further then Rowdy she knows that sometimes you just know that the course of your life is about to change.
Rowdy & Tressy know that the chemistry is fast moving but sometimes it doesn’t matter how fast or slow it is you can find your HEA when it’s the right person at the right time.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tressy Meyers just needed to get away and left with her daughter Krista with nowhere in mind and drove, until she had a flat. Then she stumbles into a bar in a small town wearing a Cinderella gown carrying her daughter and of course looking way out of place and falls into Rowdy Reston arms.

Rowdy Reston lives in St. David, a small town in Pa. He's the captain of the St. David Devils, a pro hockey team that's nowhere close to the NHL league. They are the worst team of misfits in the Northeast Professional Hockey League but certainly the most fun on ice.

Tressy is hiding something but isn't used to asking anyone for help. She just wants to lay low for a few days and there's no better place than St. David. She has been accepted by the town people with no questions asked and her daughter too.
There's a lot of sparks between Tressy and Rowdy with each having their own secrets. Can they trust each other?

4 stars

[Donna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a first time Author for me but won't be the last. I enjoyed this band of sort of misfit hockey players. They definitely have the humor and sense of family that I enjoy. Rowdy is the captain of this team and he has some deciding to do about his future. But first a princess falls right through a door and into his arms. He becomes her champion whether she likes it or not. I loved their story and the in star love connection they share. Tressy is hiding away from her regular life but somehow no one recognizes her. And that allows her to think slightly clearer. Being an actor has its drawbacks. And Tressy can tell you about all of them. Her life is in a tailspin at the moment and these couple of days away are exactly what she needs. Their love story is all about understanding and accepting what the other person has to give. I adore her daughter and all the other characters that make up.this little town.

[Misty Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐.5/5
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Hockey Romance <-- Like, actual hockey on page!! Woohoo!

Today is the release day for Rowdy Hearts! I received this ARC to read and review. To be candid, I had to DNF this one because it did not jive with me at all. There are a bunch of editing and plot mistakes that hopefully were resolved before the final copy was released today!

The pros:
• MMC is very likable
• Hockey

The cons:
• Author clearly does not like central Pennsylvania and repeatedly calls it middle of nowhere (I live in eastern PA)
• Writing is disjointed
• Everyone has a weird regular name AND a nickname - Rowdy, Tressy, Mitzi, Rebel (and these are the regular names!! People are allowed to have normal names in books)
• 1,000 characters and we meet them all in the first chapter
• 6 year old being called a baby

Anyway, I hope the final copy is much better than what I read because there was potential with the story for sure.

[Crystal Abramson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book as an ARC reader. I’ve never read any of Stephanie’s books, but this was a good first book to read of hers & I will read more.

I’m a fan of hockey romances & while some rarely touch on the sport in itself, this one did. I loved that this had sort of a twist on big-league hockey and focused more on small town, more for fun league hockey. While there are a lot of characters introduced in the beginning, these characters develop over time & I can see where a multiple book series is being developed.

It was a great, quick read.

The reason I gave the book 4 stars was because the coy I received had many errors in the written copy that really needed to be cleaned up. While I know what was meant (& I’ve read many books that have errors), this one had many errors - at times throwing me off. I’m sure the errors were fixed & it will be great once release date comes.

[Jackie Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love hockey or you are a romance lover look no further than Rowdy Hearts by Stephanie Julian. This author is a massive hockey fan and she puts all her knowledge into Captain of the St David’s Devils hockey team Rowdy Reston and single mum Tressy Meyers journey.
Tressy and her daughter are trying to get away and start afresh and she finds herself in a small town where everyone wants to be her friend. Little did she know that arriving in this small town and meeting the hockey captain Rowdy meant her life was about to change forever……
This book touched me on so many levels, I love small town romance, I love single parent journeys and when you add in hockey that’s a win/win for me. The characters are easy to love, the chemistry is steamy and the banter is witty but it was an adorable little girl who stole my heart. I highly recommend you one click this gem of a read and I’m excited to read more by the very talented Ms Julian.

[Tara Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in this series, but felt like there was a lot of repetitive dialogue. Rowdy and Tressy met when she literally fell in his arms. They both have secrets that aren’t willing to share, and the relationship moves quite fast. When she has to go home, he doesn’t fight her, but he wishes she would stay. She wishes she could stay as well, but a story that concerns her daughter is about to be published and she needs to take care of it.

His relationship with her daughter is the sweetest and I was happy to see that he accepted her along with Tressy. I always love when the big hockey player is also a big cinnamon roll. The chemistry is great between Rowdy and Tressy and I think that is why the speed of the relationship didn’t bother me.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in the series. I received an ARC and this is my honest, voluntary review.

[Angela Speir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read many books by this author and was privileged to be an ARC reader for the start of this new series.

I enjoyed this book and appreciated the team and players are not college or NHL but minor (really, really minor) pro league players who play for the love of the game. This fact gives a different twist on the loyalty Rowdy feels toward the team and why his dilemma was monumental, at least in his eyes. We see him as not only a cinnamon roll MC but also a strong leader of this rag tag group of players.

Tressy is a strong-ish, take charge person in the middle of her own life crisis. When she stumbles into St. David. Watching her and her daughter Krista be enveloped into the town and team was wonderful but what will happen when her real life comes calling?

I can’t wait to see who’s next to fall! This book was definitely worth the read and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I think Rowdy Hearts was a great, easy read to do in between heavier books. If you are actually into hockey, I think this book does a great job at actually touching on the sport, with the mentions of not only the NHL but primarily the ECHL and AHL as well. I think so many books speak negatively of the minor leagues of sports, so it was nice to see them discussed as being good things moving up in.

I loved all the nicknames the players had and the dynamic of the team, and how Rowdy acted as captain verse when with just her or family.

It is a love at first sight, HEA romance, and if that is usually what you enjoy, I am sure you will love it!

[Sharon Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything that I expect from a Stephanie Julian novel. Both the main characters were written so well, especially Rowdy himself - he was my absolute favourite. But add in the small-town vibes and insta-love for the pair which had me both excited to see what would happen next, but also wanting the story to last & last.
As with most small-town novels, the cast of supporting characters in this story all add to make the book as special as it ends up being. So, I have everything crossed that there will be plenty more books to come, even if they're only a smidgeon as good as this one, I know I will be loving them regardless.

[Kazz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the main characters were well written, exciting and kept me turning those pages to see how the storyline evolved.Tressy a single mother has escaped with her daughter from her city life for a few days and quite literally falls into the main character Rowdy’s arms when she runs into the pub where he is with the whole hockey team.
This small town romance has all the good feelings and helpful town folk you expect in a story like this.
Looking forward to the next books in the series.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book via BookFunnel and I am writing this review voluntarily

[Jean Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rowdy is captain of the worst team in pro-hockey but they have a lot of fun playing the game and entertaining the crowd. Although Rowdy is definitely getting tired of the constant losing and wants more but he loves living where he grew up and he loves his teammates.

Tressy is a city girl with a child of her own that literally comes falling into Rowdy's hands. She's obviously running from something but no one knows what.

Rowdy and Tressy hit it off but can Rowdy convince Tressy that small town living is where she should be. This was such a great read. Rowdy is incredibly sweet and understanding.

[Desiree Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will try to write without giving up any spoilers! This book was a solid 3.5/5 for it being a cute “hockey” romance. The first couple chapters were hard to keep up with because there was lots of character building and introductions. The story between Tressy and Rocky had a lot of chemistry built into it that made me want to keep reading.
There were a ton of grammatical errors that should have been caught it proofreading.
Overall, a great cute book and definitely recommend a read if you’re looking for a simple romance.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this hockey romance story. Tressy literally falls into Rowdy’s arms when she runs into the pub that his hockey team is hanging out in. From that moment on Rowdy was hooked. It takes a bit for Tressy to trust him. She has her daughter to protect. Both have secrets that are weighing them down. Once they open up to each other they fall pretty hard. Rowdy just has to convince this city girl that she can be happy in his small town with him. Look forward to the next book and Rain’s story. I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Ruth Carswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A romance with a difference Tessy has run away she arrives in st David's and falls into a room full of the local hockey team and their dancers and supporters straight into the arms of Rowdy the captain and son of teams owners. Rowdy parents taker her and her daughter in to look after them . It's instant attraction both have secrets they are hiding hers from past his from what may be his future. This is a great book a small town romance meets sports romance with a difference
Can't wait forRain rowdy's sisters book

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I received this book as an arc my honest opinion.

Rowdy and Tressy are an adorable couple. Tressy shows up in small town Pa after having car issues. She walks into the bar with her daughter and immediately meets Rowdy. Rowdy’s relationship with Tressy’s daughter made my heart all gooey, but sometimes when they referred to her as a baby I kept picturing a toddler and not the kid she is. I did like that hockey was part of the book and not just skipped over.
I did love the story line but sometimes it was just a tad slow for me.


Overall I liked the book there were just things here and there that I had issues getting past.

[StephanieMichelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It has been awhile since I've read a sports romance and the author did a good job of touching on hockey throughout the story but not making it take over the story. I loved all the different teammates and their nicknames. There were fun pop culture references throughout the story, I especially loved when she mentioned Stars Hallow. The only thing that took away from this story were the grammatical errors.

[Carol Kemp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 3.75 stars.

This is such a sweet read, and Rowdy is such a charmer. Right from the start he wants to protect Tressy and her daughter when nobody else did. With the secrets between them affecting their future, fortunately they come clean to each other, and like everything, when you talk it over with someone else, things don't seem as hard as you once thought. I loved all the characters in the book, and look forward to Rain's book

I received an ARC for an honest review.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small town romance 5 stars. - Rowdy and Tressy’s love story comes with a meet-cute, sizzling chemistry and steamy scenes. Rowdy’s family sounds so ideal and it provided a lot of endearing characters. The small town setting sounds perfect and feels like a refuge to Tressy. Rowdy’s character walks that fine line between responsible and fun that comes with a bonus great in bed. I really enjoyed reading this book! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily chose to review it.