Gloves Off by Stephanie Archer
Archer has a remarkable talent for writing stories with emotional depth in an approachable way that makes getting lost in a book easy and fun.
The gloves are off and rings are on in Stephanie Archer’s latest marriage of convenience hockey romance!
Gloves Off is the 4th book in the Vancouver Storm series of interconnected standalone hockey romances, and it delivers all the charm and spice we’ve come to expect and love from these books.
Throughout the series, we are introduced to Alexei Volkov, the dedicated enforcer for the Vancouver Storm, who is deeply committed to hockey. This makes the team doctor, Georgia Greene, his number one enemy, as she views him as hopeless and on the chopping block for retirement.
Their tension started in a prior book, but don’t worry, you can jump into this as a stand-alone. (Though you will miss out on some incredible hockey romances if you do.)
From Butting Heads to Swapping Rings
Alexei has lived in Canada most of his life but has never been able to gain citizenship, and Georgia has dedicated her life to helping rehabilitate injured athletes and avoiding her grandfather’s legacy of being wealth- and image-obsessed.
Turns out Alexei could be deported upon retirement from hockey, which is any day now, considering his age and injuries. Georgia’s program has lost its funding, and the inheritance she’d get from her grandfather if she got married would keep it going for 10 more years. Cue a good old-fashioned marriage of convenience to whisk readers away to romcom land.
It’s not an easy decision for either character to jump into this marriage; they have a history of butting heads and throwing jabs at one another, all stemming from their professional insecurities.
Spicy and Swoon-Worthy Moments
I loved their banter and the way they hid behind insults to cover up their real feelings. The chemistry between them was explosive, particularly in a library scene at a hospital benefit. And when sexual tension and jealousy mix, it’s bound to ignite a fire between our main characters. Did I mention this book is spicy? It’s worth repeating.
While they had some hilarious and blush-worthy interactions, this story really came to life in the quiet moments at the home they now share. Georgia sleepwalks into his bed — and he lets her. Alexei gets caught being cuddly with her pet bunnies — she silently swoons. They begin unintentionally taking care of each other — I may have swooned a few times myself.
As if that wasn’t enough, Archer manages to do something in this series that romance readers love: she avoids the 3rd act breakup. It’s a miracle! This doesn’t mean we avoid conflict, though. Our main characters have to work through their insecurities, learn to communicate, and compromise to get their happily ever after.
A Fun, Page-Turning Romance
Stephanie Archer has a remarkable talent for writing stories with emotional depth in an approachable way that makes getting lost in a book easy and fun. This was so much fun, in fact, that I read all 464 pages in a day and a half. Who doesn’t love a page-turner that leaves you feeling happy and hopeful?
Any book that leaves me grinning at the page is a winner, and this continuation of the Vancouver Storm series did just that. Book 4, and the series keeps getting better.
Stephanie writes spicy romantic comedies with sharp banter, lots of laughs, and guaranteed HEAs. She believes in the power of best friends, stubborn women, a fresh haircut, and love. She lives in Vancouver with a man, a dog, and a baby.
Publish Date: 6/17/2025
Genre: Fiction, Romance
Author: Stephanie Archer
Page Count: 464 pages
Publisher: Dell
ISBN: 9798217091157