I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
Crosby by Sawyer Bennett Series: Portland Wildfire #1
Published by Big Dog Books on May 19, 2026
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Juno Paxton has built her award-winning documentary career dismantling institutions people blindly worship. Her latest assignment is her most high-profile yet: immerse herself in the league’s newest hockey expansion team—the Portland Wildfire—for an entire season and create a behind-the-scenes film the league can parade around as “authentic.”
Juno doesn’t buy it. Not the hype, not the hero worship, and definitely not the polished personas of pro athletes. She expects egos, theatrics, and plenty of manufactured grit.
What she doesn’t expect is Crosby Hale.
The Wildfire’s starting goalie is stoic, meticulously focused, and infuriatingly camera-shy. He wants nothing to do with her film, her questions, or her insistence that he “show some personality.” Unfortunately for him, the league wants Juno’s documentary to center on the enigmatic goaltender who refuses to cooperate.
But the more time Juno spends with Crosby, the more she glimpses the steady, thoughtful man beneath his guarded exterior. He isn’t the stereotype she’s built her name exposing—he’s better. The more she learns about him, the harder it becomes to keep her documentary, and her heart, objective. And for Crosby, letting Juno in feels less like a mistake and more like the beginning of something worth fighting for.
This brand new expansion team is settling old scores, electrifying a new arena and introducing a new cast of players to delight hockey romance fans! I really enjoyed getting the lay of the land with a new warm-hearted owner, a bit of leftover drama coming in from various sources and settling in with Juno making a documentary about the growing pains. The team that we’ve met so far seems like a solid group of guys who are quickly trying to mesh into a winning team and form the brotherhood that will eventually take them far. It’s a bit of a set up when the faces are new and the groundwork has to be laid to draw us in. I’m definitely hooked! The main characters for this story were Crosby and Juno and both brought a lot to the table to set up drama, angst and attraction. I did not like the ending because it was super abrupt and left a lot of things up in the air. Good characters and drama though, so I’m looking forward to continuing in this world.
CROSBY
Sawyer Bennett
Release Date: May 19
Meet Sawyer Bennett:
New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life
experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary
romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just
about everyone.
A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur,
stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to
her wonderfully naughty dogs.
If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter
(http://www.sawyerbennett.com/signup).
Connect with Sawyer Bennett:
https://geni.us/SawyerBennett
Blurb:
She’s here to expose hockey’s biggest flaws. He’s the complication she never planned on. Neither one
is prepared for the sparks that fly every time they collide.
Juno Paxton has built her award-winning documentary career dismantling institutions people blindly
worship. Her latest assignment is her most high-profile yet: immerse herself in the league’s newest
hockey expansion team—the Portland Wildfire—for an entire season and create a behind-the-scenes
film the league can parade around as “authentic.”
Juno doesn’t buy it. Not the hype, not the hero worship, and definitely not the polished personas of pro
athletes. She expects egos, theatrics, and plenty of manufactured grit.
What she doesn’t expect is Crosby Hale.
The Wildfire’s starting goalie is stoic, meticulously focused, and infuriatingly camera-shy. He wants
nothing to do with her film, her questions, or her insistence that he “show some personality.”
Unfortunately for him, the league wants Juno’s documentary to center on the enigmatic goaltender
who refuses to cooperate.
But the more time Juno spends with Crosby, the more she glimpses the steady, thoughtful man beneath
his guarded exterior. He isn’t the stereotype she’s built her name exposing—he’s better. The more she
learns about him, the harder it becomes to keep her documentary, and her heart, objective. And for
Crosby, letting Juno in feels less like a mistake and more like the beginning of something worth fighting
for.
Warm, witty, and unexpectedly emotional, CROSBY launches the Portland Wildfire series with a slow-
burn enemies-to-lovers romance between a skeptical filmmaker and the goalie determined to stay out
of her spotlight… until she becomes the one thing he can’t turn away from.
Buy Link:
https://geni.us/SB_Crosby
Tropes:
Hockey Romance
Forced Proximity
Reluctant Hero
Slow Burn
Workplace Romance
Opposites Attract
Found Family
Emotionally Guarded Hero
Bold, Unapologetic Heroine
