“A fantastically fun, HOT love story.” – Kendall Ryan, New York Times bestselling author All I want is to play hockey on the Ice Knights, instead, I’m in a viral video for all the wrong reasons and my mom–yes, my mom–has taken over my dating apps. Then, when I think it can’t get any worse, the fates deliver Zara Ambrose, a five-feet-nothing redhead with more freckles than inches and who’d … freckles than inches and who’d rather be anywhere other than on a date with me.
Now a bet with her friends and my PR nightmare have us both stuck in this go-on-five-dates-with-the-same-person hell situation. But if we band together, we can get the whole thing over with and go on with our lives. It’s perfect! No feelings. No future. No fuc– *ahem* fun. No naked fun.
What could go wrong? Nothing–as long as I remember the rules. Don’t notice the way she looks in a dress. Don’t react when she does that little shivery sigh thing whenever we touch. Don’t think about the fact that she’s never had a toe-curling orgasm that wasn’t self-delivered and just how badly I want to change that.
Five dates–that’s it–and then we go our separate ways. At least, that was the plan…
Each book in the Ice Knights series is STANDALONE:
* Parental Guidance
* Awk-Weird
* Loud Mouth
more
Get a group of alpha males together and the trash talk is bound to flow. Such is the basis for this fun, yet insightful story about NHL player Caleb Stuckey and Zara Ambrose.
A recorded cab trip with some of the rookie’s on his team goes viral overnight after the guys brag about their luck on and off the ice. Caleb’s mother comes up with the idea of showing her son’s remorse by having him date a woman she picks out via a new app called Bramble. Caleb just wants to get back to playing hockey.
Zara is a miniatures artist and a self-professed workaholic. She has zero interest in dating men (bad experience with a flighty father), but gives in to her friend’s pressure after a few too many drinks and adds a racy bio to the Bramble website, never expecting a call to come through. When it does, her father begs her to try it as a way for him to get his SAG card through the TV segments.
Caleb and Zara’s first meeting is awkward. Neither one wants to be there, but are determined to make the best of a bad situation. They decide on the required five dates, and done.
Too bad their attraction is off-the-charts!
Favorite Lines
What was wrong with her? He hated mashed potatoes. Only sociopaths hated mashed potatoes. It was a sign on top of all the other ways they were total and complete opposites
Parental Guidance- Avery Flynn
“Life is like hockey—you put in the preparation, you put in the work, and you pray like hell that the calls will go your way.”
Parental Guidance- Avery Flynn
This is a fun read! I give Parental Guidance 4 lovely kisses.
Wonderful sports romance! Parental Guidance is the hot hockey RomCom you need in your life!
Humor, Heart, and a Hockey Hottie!
Parental Guidance has everything I love about romantic comedies.
1. An independent, sassy, guarded heroine.
2. A hard working, sexy, more than meets the eye hero.
3. Unforced humor (not over the top).
4. Laugh out loud inner dialogue and witty banter .
5. Flammable chemistry (think slow burn).
6. A group of endearing, quirky supporting characters.
7. Emotional vulnerability.
8. Scorching sexytimes. (Kaboom!)
9. A strengthening of connection and inner conflict.
10. Happily Ever After
If these traits sound like things you enjoy too, I say this is the book for you! A fun and fantastic read.
4.5/5 Stars
Disclaimer: This review MAY contain spoilers.
I absolutely loved The Hartigans series by Avery Flynn and I knew that I had to read this new book that is starting off her Ice Knights series. When I read the synopsis I knew that this would be a book that would capture my attention and my heart. I wasn’t wrong.
I found the plot of this story a comical and interesting idea. I knew that so much could be done with the idea of parents picking the dates for their children. The sequence of events was definitely compelling. I was eager to find out what would be unleashed next in the story. The only thing that I took issue with is the reasoning for Caleb’s participation in the dating app in the first place. He and his teammates were recorded on a video where his teammates were pretty much trash talking women and their teammates. Though Caleb wasn’t one of the guys doing the trash talking, he didn’t put a stop to it either. I found that a really loose reason for him to take the brunt of the blame, even if he was in more of a leadership position on the team. He wasn’t the one talking trash so it felt like a weak plot point that he should have to shoulder the blame and take the consequences for the team.
Avery Flynn really has a gift in capturing the essence of her characters. She builds them up beautifully so that the reader gets to know them intimately. She works wonders in character development. I loved the growth for both Caleb and Zara in this story. They both had some backstory that was presented well. They dealt with their issues instead of letting their issues hold them back.
The romance was adorable, okay? It was. I loved Caleb and Zara together. They really seemed to fit each other perfectly. As cheesy as that sounds, they really did bring out the best parts of each other. They had wonderful chemistry and their banter always felt natural. Watching them fall in love was a delight!
Overall, this is a fun, fast-paced, and funny read. It has brilliant characters and a story that will keep you wanting more. It has the perfect mix of humor, romance, and entertainment. I highly recommend this one and I can’t wait for the second book in the Ice Knights series!
A FANTASY INDUCING ROMANTIC COMEDY WITH ALLLL THE FEELS AND SEXINESS YOU COULD EVER WANT!
This book is a seriously good time, laugh till you pee yourself rom-com that is unbelievably fun, smart, and just about bursting with sizzling sexual tension. I absolutely LOVED Parental Guidance. It was stupid good with a wicked sense of humor and shenanigans a plenty and characters you can’t help but to adore. The story flowed beautifully and the plot was ON POINT! It was a ton of fun and I can’t wait to read it again!
Parental Guidance gets a FULL ROUND OF FIVE GLORIOUS STARS!
Avery Flynn always delivers and this concept was brilliant! Loved it!
5 Stars
An unorthodox dating app that results in a series of funny, sweet, “foot in mouth” moments. Caleb and Zara will make you laugh, roll your eyes and tear up a bit when those vulnerable moments shine through. Avery Flynn has written two characters that any reader that relate to, full of good intentions and faults that any good person possesses and works through on the road to finding that one person who can love us, even at our most unlovable. I also cannot forget to mention the sweet and funny Anchovy….the perfect addition to this fantastic RomCom!
Cara – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
Tons of laugh out loud fun, wonderful snark, sass, and witty banter along with a good amount of sizzling sexy times. Yep I’m reading an Avery Flynn book and it’s great! Caleb just wants to play hockey but trouble just seems to find him. He’s dealing with a PR nightmare when his hurricane of a mom comes into town adding even more chaos to his life. Before he knows what hit him she has him signed up to an online dating app. Nothing can go wrong with this idea right???? Zara can’t believe she agreed to this crazy dating plan but here she is so let’s get this done. Five dates is all she needs. Surely she can handle five dates. There is no way hearts will get involved in that short amount of time. Yeah, right!
For a fun entertaining read grab this one and get ready to laugh and swoon. I definitely recommend it.
My Review……
Reading the review had me chuckling. It sounded like a right laugh …..
Caleb is in deep bother, it wasn’t really him, but he should have stopped it. His team mates were moaning about the team, the lack of female groupies “puck bunnies” and everything else. Someone posted it and it’s gone viral, and now people are lip reading and posting what they said. It’s a PR’s nightmare…… they need to limit the damage the team have done to the image. And Caleb is going to have to step up and create a new interest for the fans.
Zara makes models, she has a shop on Etsy, but she wants to create one off’s, and show her work in a gallery, so Zara needs publicity. So when her friend puts her on a dating site, a drunk Zara thinks it’s a good idea. Until she meets her “date”……
Together they have to “survive” five dates, those dates are to be public and then will go online. Easy ……
Except there is a problem, Caleb finds the more time he spends with Zara, the more time he thinks of doing naughty and none public things with her, it’s not in the contract, but he really wants more. And Zara wants the publicity for her art work, but being around Caleb is bad for her libido, she wants Caleb, but wanting and having is two different things.
It’s a fun read, laughing at the hilarious predicaments they find themselves in. The characters are likeable, and the situation they find themselves is hilarious, the research the author put in was shown with great enthusiasm, I could almost see myself there.
I tell you Avery Flynn has done it again. Another outstanding rom-com that will knock your socks off. This is the first book of the Ice Knights series, a spin off from The Hartigans series and I got to say that it is off to a brilliant start. Who doesn’t love a hot hockey player right?!?
Caleb is a good hockey player and person, but when he lets the newbies talk trash about women and it gets caught on film, he is the one to blame. In order to get his image and the image of the team back to greatness, Caleb must follow the plan laid out by the PR group. He has to let his mother set him up on a dating app and date who she picks. Since when did he want his mother picking out his dates. Ugh!! But his career as well as another’s is on the line.
Zara is a miniatures artisan. She wants to get her work noticed and to do that she must be her best friends plus one to a special auction. But her friend says she works to much and should get out more. So she blackmails Zara into a dating app and letting Zara’s father pick her date. Ugh! Why do they have to conspire against her.
Upon meeting Caleb, Zara is not sure she this will work. He is not only handsome, but he is famous. But these two come to an agreement to make it work. The only problem is…..how do they not fall in love?
This book was such a fun treat. It is full of snarky humor and good nature fun. The characters are not only fun but entertaining. Caleb is a great guy, whom people don’t give the benefit of doubt. He is really not what others make him out to be. He is kind, sweet and definitely not a man whore. Zara is sweet, blunt and very talented. The two fit perfect together and the chemistry is off the charts.
Overall the book is the perfect rom-com that I really enjoyed reading. After reading about the Ice Knights in the last Hartigan series, I was intrigued and hoping that Ms Flynn would continue their story. How exciting it is that she did that. This book flows nicely and is full of humor that will have you laughing out loud. The romance is perfect to give you that butterflies in your tummy feeling. This book can be read as a standalone, but if you want to get to know some of the other characters better then I would start with You are sure to enjoy this sweet romance. So pick it up today.
Parental Guidance was my first book by Avery Flynn, and I loved it. It was a lovely, different book with great characters that melted my heart. In fact, all of the characters were so likeable and relatable that I found myself quickly engrossed.
Caleb melted my heart, and I really wanted to give him a big hug so many times. He is a big softy and had a few issues to deal with that just made me love him more. Zara is a straight talking, feisty little firecracker who made me laugh and gave me all the feels. Although these two don’t think they could work, it’s soon obvious that they are perfect; they just have to realise that, too.
Caleb and Zara both have difficult parents who have given them some anxieties to deal with in adulthood. That makes for a real page turning plot; the plot was unique and flowed at just the right pace. Who would even think to let their parents handle their dating life? Not me!
When I first read the blurb for Parental Guidance, I thought it sounded funny. I’m so glad I took a chance on this book!
Avery Flynn has once again delivered a romance that brings the humor and the heart! Fake relationships are always fun, and Caleb and Zara’s story was not only a fun read, but also delivered an emotional punch as these two had to navigate through some past issues to find their way to their future together.
“Five dates and we’re done. Period” – what a great plan for both Zara and Caleb . Without the pressure of having to date, these two were able to let their guards down a bit and I loved how that led to some fun banter and allowed them to get to know each other a bit deeper than the “being on your best behavior since we’re just dating” would have let them. And I think without starting off the way they did they never would have been able to address the baggage that they had to deal with. I loved how they were so compatible in so many ways, and it was easy to see Caleb was the one for Zara when Anchovy clearly approved of him!
Zara’s dad and Caleb’s mom added the whole “Parental Guidance’ to the story and brought both humor and heart. As over the top that these two could be, it was clear that they wanted the best for their children, and I was so happy to we got to see those relationships strengthen and mend. Caleb’s teammates showed why Caleb thought of his team as family, keeping Caleb’s head in the game and giving him relationship advice, or at least trying to in that guy way that is always awkward and uncomfortable and often leads to a bit of friendly violence. And we all need a friend like Gemma – someone to serve us some shots of tequila and get us to step outside of our comfort zone and remind us we need to live, well, maybe minus the tequila!
I had a lot of fun with this one and enjoyed Caleb and Zara’s story. Filled with Avery Flynn’s trademark sass, snark, humor, heart, and heat, this is one for your TBR!
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book I received from the publisher from NetGalley.
Sooo good!! Familar cast of characters, humor, passion, flawed hero & heroine, adorable Great Dane, meddling parents, simply wonderful love story about 5 dates and not falling in love. I adore our pint sized, minaturist heroine, Zara and our oversized, don’t pay attention to me, want to help everyone, hero, Caleb. This is a simply phenomenal read. Quirky, sweet, steamy, all the feels! I feel so good after finishing this. Avery nailed it! I received a review copy from Netgalley. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
5 Star Review Parental Guidance (Ice Knights #1) by Avery Flynn
Avery Flynn is a new author to me and I have no idea why that is. So when the opportunity to read and review book one in a new series came up, I jumped at the chance.
Caleb Stuckey plays for the Ice Knights, it’s all he wants to do. He has been using a dating app but when a situation turns in to a PR nightmare he knows that he’s in trouble. When his mother takes over the app, she chooses Zara Ambrose for his next five dates. Zara has her own issues after betting with her friends, so after all what can go wrong, it’s only five dates?
Zara is sassy and feisty and I loved her. The chemistry between Caleb and Zara sizzles.
I loved the banter between them as they got to know each other and I freely admit to some laugh out loud moments which got me some strange looks on the train. The secondary characters were just as entertaining. This is a story of family and friendships as well as Zara’s awesome dog called Anchovy.
I love stories about ice hockey and Parental Guidance was a great read; I cannot wait to read more in the Ice Knights series.
Fresh, funny, and flat-out hot, Parental Guidance delivers the perfect summer read. Avery Fynn just keeps getting better! Do yourself a favor and grab this book!
Five Stars!
What a cute read! It’s everything I love in a romance. These two really didn’t want to do the dating app but both did and they both had rules. But rules are meant to be broken. And Caleb and Zara both broke the rules. Five dates and nothing more but what they didn’t realize is they didn’t need five dates. These two were perfectly paired. They fit each other even though they were opposites. And in the end they did get their happily ever after.
Parental Guidance is a must read romance. You get all the emotions and you get a lot of belly laughs with this read.
Highly recommended to any romance lover.
Andrea B
Reviewer for Everything Marie Book Blog.
*I was given an advanced copy of this book by Net Galley in exchange for my honest and voluntary review. All thoughts and opinions are those of my own.*
I really enjoyed this book. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I would definitely recommend this book.
It was a fun read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Parental Guidance was a fun easy read! It centered around a hockey player who epically put his foot in his mouth and feisty miniature maker who would do anything to help our her Dad.
These two were thrown together in the most bizarre dating trial by none other than their parents. Each with their own agenda they lay down some rules and use each other to get what they need. Humorous moments ensue and soon feelings start to blossom. Rules are made to be broken right?
This was a good romantic book!
This was a fun story about a salty and sassy Zara giving Professional Hockey Player Caleb a run for his money or more like, his heart.
This had a slow start but into Chapter 2 it started to pick up and become interesting. I enjoyed both personalities, the funny Great Dane Anchovy, as well as the overall story.