RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW - Checking the Center (The Zamboni Diaries #0.5) by Delancey Stewart

Title: Checking the Center

Series: The Zamboni Diaries, Book #0.5

Author: Delancey Stewart

Genre: Sports (Hockey Romance), Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers

Release Date: August 31, 2023

Cover Design: Kelly Lambert Greer

Cover Photo: Jane Ashley Converse

Cover Model: Tim Reed

“Have you ever read a book and immediately felt like you were watching a romcom on tv? That’s exactly how this book made me feel.” ★★★★★ Pucking Reading

A forced-proximity, naked-man-on-my-couch hockey romcom that'll have you snort-laughing!

You have to be pretty desperate to consult someone referred to as the Drunken Psychic for insight into your perennially single status.

But that's me...

• Working in a bakery despite dreaming of culinary school.
• Hanging out with my happily married friends and trying not to be gut-twistingly jealous.
• And renting a blissfully sweet one-bedroom apartment on the banks of a river that has been a much-needed refuge.

Until now.

Because tonight, after trying to make heads or tails of the psychic's mysterious pronouncements about my love life, I arrive home to find a man on my couch.

A very naked, very muscley, very handsome man.

Did I mention he was butt naked?

And things only get more confusing from there. We have a whole conversation, in which he reveals that he's the star center for the Wilcox Wombats hockey team, Rock Stevens. And that Rock is actually his real name. And that he's in town for a week for an all-star pickleball tournament. And that my apartment is actually his apartment.

And then he refuses to leave. Things only get more confusing from there.

As we try to navigate our sudden forced-roommates situation while the landlord gets to the bottom of the mixup, Rock decides to turn the tables. Instead of being annoyed that I'm in his apartment, he suddenly becomes charming. Sweet, even. And even though I know it's a mistake, he charms me right up onto the kitchen counter, and... well, you can imagine the rest.

The guy's only in town for a week. Surely I can protect my silly single heart for that long? But with every stolen kiss and whispered promise, I can't help but wonder if I'm the one who’s getting played.

So, it's been a hot minute since I read Delancey Stewart, but once I got started reading this, I had to wonder why I haven't been reading her work more because she can create both hilarious characters and characters you can relate to. Loved the friendship between Drea, Paige and Maddy; I got a big kick out of their unscheduled visit to seek some type of advice regarding Drea's love life. The initial meeting of Rock and Drea could be disconcerting on one level, and terrifying on another level, but in this instance it's hilarious. They really seem to be good for each other, and I'm hoping we'll get a longer story on their relationship at some point in the future. Especially because I'm curious about the relationship Rock has with his mother, was hinted at in this book but we weren't given any more information. I'm already looking forward to Sly's story in a few weeks.

HOSTED BY: