From bestselling romance author Xavier Neal comes an all-new, rom-com sports romance featuring a gorgeous goalie who can block any shot — except Cupid’s…Once upon a time, the Vlasta Vipers hockey team was so incredible — on and off the ice — they were almost mythical.Every other university wanted their team to be them.Every chick who crossed their paths wanted to bang them.Now?Their clout on … wanted to bang them.
Now?
Their clout on the ice is questionable.
Their competition cutthroat.
Their beds…
Well, there will always be puck bunnies ready to keep them warm. After all, no matter how well they do or don’t do, they are the university’s most important athletes.
However, when Remington Ronald Rutledge the 3rd, lands himself on the new head coach’s bad side, which threatens his chances of playing for the season, he finds himself striking an unusual deal with a blast from his past he can barely remember.
Did she always wear these glasses?
Was her hair always this curly?
Has she always had a smile that makes him wanna smile?
What happens when the bad boy who makes all the rules is forced to play by someone else’s?
Can this good-looking goalie let love score, or will blocking it be the biggest mistake of his life?
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I love a really good sports romance, and this one certainly falls into that category. However, I think this is the first time that I took an instant dislike to a male lead in one of Ms. Neal’s books. The 20-year-old, foul-mouthed, entitled rich boy, Remington Rutledge III (aka Ren), made me want to punch him in the face as soon as I met him. As a star goalie for Vlasta University, he really did think he was a god and lives and breathes hockey. Then we meet the female lead, Poppy Diesel, who was his complete opposite – a truly wholesome, kind, good-hearted soul who works at an animal daycare/shelter – and who Ren shares a past with that he has somehow forgotten about. Thankfully, we eventually see the good side of Ren after he is forced to spend time volunteering at the shelter with Poppy, who he nicknamed Hootie, which is absolutely priceless. There are so many funny quotes and moments throughout this story that you can’t help but laugh and love it, and eventually, even love Ren – despite Ren having a couple of “oh no he didn’t” episodes. All in all, this is a hilarious, heartwarming, and sexy story by Xavier Neal. Another win for this author.
This is the second book I’ve read by Xavier. I absolutely loved it!! I’m so glad I came across her posts on Facebook that lead me to her books.
Once you start reading this book you can’t stop!
I loved the characters, the story & all the feelings it made me feel.
I definitely recommend this book!!
Brilliant new series and Iam so looking to rest.no spoilers from me but I simply could not put it down from the blurb to the very last page
What is my options
This crew of hockey players are something else.
Ren is hard to like at the beginning of the book; but as you continue to read it makes sense why he behaves the way he does. He’s beats to his own drum and no one is going to tell him what to do….until Coach Stiles comes along. Coach Stiles needs a book…I love this man!
Poppy is as sweet as can be but she is also tough as nails. Ren and Poppy are forced to work together…Ren tries to sweet talk her but she’s not having it.
These two are so good for each other and their story is sweet, angsty and steamy.
An absolutely fun and amazing read!! I love sports romances, and this did not disappoint!! Ren and Poppy have great chemistry and banter (which I adore!!)! Overall great read!!
A great read. There are a lot of MM hockey romances around lately and this one is definitely worth the time. I couldn’t put it down from the first chapter. It was well written, had an enjoyable storyline and fabulous characters.
This is Hugo and Crash’s story, college hockey player and the dancer, best friends for years. Both have crushed on the other for years but neither has noticed, even when Hugo has been to way too many dance recitals, knows his comfort food and is always there.
A weekend away with Hugo’s friends changes everything.
Remington Rutledge aka Ren was caught on camera saying and doing a lot of unbecoming things. Things that violate his school’s code of conduct for athletes. Things that could get him kicked off the team and out of school. Despite that Ren thinks he is untouchable because of his parent’s money and his talent as the teams goalie, his coach isn’t let him get away with his action. His coach is forcing him to perform community service at the local dog shelter three days a week for the entire semester. If he misses one day he is benched. So he bribes the manager at the shelter, Poppya aka Hootie, to sign off on his hours in exchange for him getting her a date with one of his teammates. But the more time he spends with Poppy he realizes that he doesn’t want her to go on a date with his teammate – he wants to be her his.
Ren did not start off on the right foot – he was a douche of epic proportions and I was really worried that he wasn’t going to be able to come back from that. But then when I learned more about him I realized that most of it was an act and that also the author up-played it for comedy’s sake. Once I accepted that I loved him for what/who he was. He was a riot and a half but at the same time I didn’t connect with his struggle all that much. I didn’t see how his big secret that he had to keep from the team was that big of a deal. But I loved how once he succumbed to his feelings for Poppy he was such a completely different person and I loved that guy too. He was so amazing with her – such a complete 180 from who he used to be. Swoon for sure. And Poppy was rad. I loved her so much. I loved how quirky she was and how she owned it. She was hopelessly devoted to all things dogs and didn’t care what anyone thought about that especially Ren. She was awkward and didn’t have a lot of friends and while Ren was the big man on campus she didn’t take any of his shit and gave it all right back to him. I loved how she would always put him in his place. She was kind of amazing for how awkward she was. This book had me laughing quite a bit but then also had my heart melting at Ren’s change. Loved this one quite a bit.
Freaking hilarious
Have you ever started a book and cackled, yes cackled in glee, at the idea of watching them fall? If not, one click now, the unexpected joy of watching them fall without realizing the only parachute is the one they are pretending doesn’t matter is freaking epic. When they go splat, it would be so satisfying if they didn’t mess with the best person ever!
So Poppy is weird, that doesn’t make her any less than the @sshat. Just because you must love dogs to talk to her doesn’t make her weird…I like to think of her as awesome, loyal, and faithful…and a tiny bit weird. However, Poppy is going to join my new sorority of awesomeness and bring Della’s crazy self into the fold too.
Can’t Block My Love is an absolute blast to read. The banter is completely engrossing. The romance is subtle and even more romantic in its simplicity. But the absolute joy I experienced laughing my self sore, priceless.
Xavier Neal is going to have to hold her calls, put her current work on hold, and absolutely tell me everything. Because some of this crazy, CANNOT be faked.
I cannot stress enough how utterly awesome, ridiculous, and entertaining some of these situations and conversations are. Seriously…Ren’s first time I am still losing my cool snickering, chokung, and sputtering over that doozy.
Can’t Block My Love is definitely worth the time and you may even get a few new friends out of the deal.
I am so in love with this series and these characters. I love that their are foul-mouthed hockey players but also have this underlying layers to their personalities. I love that the females are sassy and mouthy too. I am a hockey fan so I enjoy that part of the story and the subtle play on the theme throughout. I also love the interaction of the characters, both the primary and secondary characters. Super fun, sassy, witty, sweet, funny and filthy! Perfection!
Ren and Hootie’s banter and connection are great. I loved living through their eyes and in the moments with them.
I definitely recommend this HEA.
Dogs, hockey, New adult, virgin, alphahole.
Can’t Block My Love is funny, and a romantic second chance romance. Read to find out how the entitled jock and the anxiety ridden nerd handle community service and love in their quirky own way. Be prepared for college drama, hockey team teasing, funny antics and even some loving moments that will make you smile.
Can’t Block my love
This was a great novel! Sports romance has always been a favorite of mine and i am so happy that Xavier Neal decided to write one. Ren is your Typical Alpha ahole who has a whole other side to him. Poppy or Hootie as he likes to call her, was a childhood friend who he tossed to the side many years ago. Now they are forced to be around each other and they both remember why they were friends in the first place. But while some things are the same, so much has changed since that childhood friendship. Obstacles get in their way that might just be too much for their relationship to overcome!
Great read with some really funny wit and humor! Loved it and definitely recommend it!
This young love sweep me off my feet. I didnt know if loved or wanted to punch Ren in the face! Poppy the sweet nerd. Loved her from the start. I love how Poppy and Ren both brought out sides of them they tried to hide. Their love is pure. It’s a sweet, sexy, funny love store. I found my self laughing at times . I love love to read more about Ren and Poppy. Must read!
My first ever sports read and loved it. Can’t Block My Love well… You have to read it to find out, but know this , you will fall in love with this two. Ren and Poppy! Who would of thought, me liking Hockey, thank you #AuthorXavierNeal for an awesome read! Can’t wait for more 😉
If you love a sweet, fun to read hockey romance then Can’t Block My Love will be a story you will want to read!
I like the two college age main characters. They have good dialogue and are fun together as they challenge and balance each other out. The storyline is enjoyable and engaging as they deal with the pressures they have to face between school for both Poppy and Ren, work for Poppy and sports for Ren. Now they have the added challenges of a new relationship.
I love Ren’s inner dialogue with himself as he battled his public persona, Rutledge, with the private one he wanted to share with only Poppy, Ren. The more time he spends with Poppy the more Ren seems to be on the winning side and this is the side that is willing to wait patiently for her to take their relationship to the next level. She is bringing out feelings in him he has never had and he doesn’t know what to make of them. He is willing to share his secrets with her and in turn Poppy is sharing and opening up to him. What they don’t realize is that they are both finding something in each other that they have always needed and have never been able to find anywhere else. It’s called acceptance to be who they truly are with all of their flaws, secrets and dreams. But, will Ren throw all of this away?
4.5 Stars for Can’t Block My Love
I have to start off by saying it was the blurb and the hockey that drew me to this book because Xavier Neal is a new author to me but now I’m left wondering what I haven’t read any previous books by this very talented author and as soon as time permits I will certainly be checking previous books out.
This book will appeal to lovers of sports romance as well as lovers of romance it’s a entertaining love story with just the right amount of humour added to the mix.
Rem is the goalie for the Vlasta Vipers and he is a character that is hard to like when you first meet him, he has made some bad choices and is irresponsible but the new coach is having none of it and tells him straight you need to earn your place on my team and that means getting out in the community as well as playing well. Ren is told to volunteer at the local animal shelter and that’s where he meets an old childhood friend Poppy or Hottie as he likes to call her.
Poppy is just the person to get Rem back on the straight and narrow but will Rem be ready to take a chance or will he throw it all away……
This is a well written entertaining read that captivated me, Rem is one of those characters we love to hate and it’s only as the story goes on that Poppie draws out the real man and that’s the one I’m sure like me you will fall big time for. This book ticks all the boxes, it will make you laugh it will make you sigh and at times you may well be screaming at your e-reader. Looking forward to more from Xavier Neal and the Hockey Gods.
Xavier Neal’s latest masterpiece takes us on quite a journey. We meet Remington Ronald Rutledge III and his childhood friend, Poppy. But really the story is about 2 couples but each couple are the same people. One couple is Ren and Poppy, who have known each other from childhood, and then we have Rutledge and Hootie. Confused yet? We all have different sides of our personalities and we show certain people certain sides, same as Rem and Poppy. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if all the sides of our personality fell in love with all the sides of our significant other’s personality??
Is that what happens here? Well you’ll have to read the story and find out. I highly recommend Xavier’s latest – it’s a page turner!
Ren alphahole, rude, and hiding something from the world.
Poppy nerdy, insecure, and has had a crush on ren since she was 8.
This one will take a hold of you right from the beginnin, and have your emotions all over the palace. It takes you on an intense read full of questions, lies and and finally truth. Poppy and Ren will pull at your heart and head, and have you wanting to figure everything out to not wanting it to end. Can’t wait to read more from this author