Love and Hockey Books in Order
About the Love and Hockey series
Series Premise
The series follows members of the San Francisco Sea Dogs and the women who cross their paths—librarians, PR professionals, coaches' daughters, publicists, and more—as one-night stands, chance encounters, or professional proximity ignite forbidden romances, fake dating scenarios, secret hookups, and heartfelt connections that threaten team rules, family loyalties, and career ambitions. Each installment centers on a hockey player (from hotshot forwards to brooding goalies) whose life on the ice collides with unexpected romance, forcing him to balance the high-stakes world of pro sports with the vulnerability of opening his heart.
The series is best enjoyed in publication order, as recurring team members, friendships, and subtle crossovers (like teammates referencing past events or shared group dynamics) build a richer sense of community and continuity, with emotional payoffs that reward following the timeline. That said, each book stands alone as a complete, self-contained romance with its own central couple, unique conflict, steamy arc, and satisfying happily-ever-after, so readers can jump in anywhere without missing essential plot details or spoilers.
Main Characters
The protagonists rotate with each book, typically pairing a charismatic, talented Sea Dogs player with a strong, independent heroine whose life intersects his in unexpected ways.
- Hockey heroes — Skilled, driven athletes (forwards, goalies, defensemen) who are cocky on the ice yet often guarded off it; they bring intensity, loyalty to the team, and hidden depths, evolving from playboy or grumpy archetypes to devoted partners willing to risk it all for love.
- Heroines — Smart, relatable women (librarians, PR pros, coaches' daughters, or career-driven types) who challenge the heroes, match their wit, and hold their own amid the spotlight and scrutiny, bringing warmth, humor, and emotional strength to the partnership.
Setting
The stories are anchored in vibrant San Francisco, where the Sea Dogs play in a high-energy arena filled with roaring crowds, intense games, and locker-room camaraderie. Off-ice action unfolds in trendy city apartments, cozy libraries, bustling PR offices, luxurious Vegas suites, team facilities, and intimate spots like quiet cafes or scenic overlooks—creating a dynamic backdrop that mixes big-city excitement with the intimacy of personal spaces. The hockey world feels authentic, with practices, road trips, media scrums, and post-game celebrations adding texture and stakes to the romances.
Tone & Themes
The tone is playful, spicy, and uplifting—full of laugh-out-loud banter, flirty tension, swoony moments, and plenty of steam, balanced by genuine emotion and light angst that never overwhelms the feel-good vibe. Blakely keeps things fun and empowering, with humor arising from awkward situations, team antics, and the clash between athletes' public personas and private vulnerabilities.
Themes explore forbidden love and breaking rules for the right person, personal growth through relationships, the pressures of fame and performance in professional sports, found family among teammates, balancing ambition with vulnerability, and the joy of discovering someone who sees beyond the jersey to the real person underneath. Loyalty, trust, second chances, and the thrill of taking risks in love recur powerfully.
In the end, Lauren Blakely's Love and Hockey series is pure escapist joy—irresistible sports romances that score big with sizzling chemistry, laugh-out-loud moments, heartfelt emotion, and the ultimate thrill of watching tough guys melt for the women who steal their hearts. These books capture the rush of a perfect goal, the spark of forbidden attraction, and the quiet magic of finding your person amid the chaos of pro hockey. If you're craving steamy, witty, feel-good love stories with swoony athletes, empowering heroines, and happily-ever-afters that leave you smiling, this series is a winner—lace up, hit the ice, and let the romance sweep you away.
FAQ
7 books total: 6 main + 1 extra story
No new book in the series is currently scheduled. The latest book, The Rival Upgrade, was published in February 2026.
The Rival Upgrade was published in February 2026.
The first book in the series is The Boyfriend Goal, published in August 2024.
The series primarily falls into the Contemporary Romance genre.
The series follows members of the San Francisco Sea Dogs and the women who cross their paths—librarians, PR professionals, coaches' daughters, publicists, and more—as one-night stands, chance encounters, or professional proximity ignite forbidden romances, fake dating scenarios, secret hookups, and heartfelt connections that threaten team rules, family loyalties, and career ambitions. Each installment centers on a hockey player (from hotshot forwards to brooding goalies) whose life on the ice collides with unexpected romance, forcing him to balance the high-stakes world of pro sports with the vulnerability of opening his heart. The series is best enjoyed in publication order, as recurring team members, friendships, and subtle crossovers (like teammates referencing past events or shared group dynamics) build a richer sense of community and continuity, with emotional payoffs that reward following the timeline. That said, each book stands alone as a complete, self-contained romance with its own central couple, unique conflict, steamy arc, and satisfying happily-ever-after, so readers can jump in anywhere without missing essential plot details or spoilers.
The series does not currently have a new book scheduled.