Archives for February 15, 2026

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

The snail doc wants a baby. I volunteered to do the deed. But it isn’t long before I realize a “donation” will never be enough. I want to be a dad, but most of all, I want her.

Franky

When confronted with the cold, hard facts of her diminishing chances to be a mom, what’s a woman of science to do?

Make a spreadsheet of eligible donors, of course.

Finding a man for life is not in the cards, but one for this singular purpose? I can do that. As the daughter of a Chicago Rebels legend and an expert in the field of gastropods—more commonly known as snails and slugs—I have plenty of choices in the worlds of both hockey and academia. The selection process should be easy, especially as my methodology has already eliminated several options, including Jason Isner, childhood nemesis and recently acquired defenseman for the Rebels. I’ve always considered him arrogant, cruel, and to be honest, not the brightest bulb.

I’m rarely wrong. But I might have been mistaken about Jason . . .

Jason

I surprised even myself when I offered to be Franky St. James’s baby daddy, but fatherhood has been a dream of mine forever. If I can achieve my goal without the hassle of a relationship, even better. I won’t be one of those “pump and dump” donors, though. I want the whole package: nighttime feedings, shopping for cute onesies, teaching my kid to skate. I’m in it for life, and as Franky and I travel this road together, I start to imagine what that life might look like. Not just a baby, but a family of my own.

The thing is, the doc has all sorts of hypotheses about jocks and relationships, and it’s going to take a lot of persuasion—sexy and otherwise—to prove her wrong. She might think the mating rituals of her beloved snails are the only “coupling” worth studying, but I’m determined to show her that when it comes to seeking a mate, this player is as driven as any species in the animal kingdom.

Because making a baby is just the beginning . . .

Meader makes even her quirkiest heroine ever shine! Let’s be honest … lots of talk about snails mating is not romance book material … but Franky St. James is just adorable enough to carry it off and do it while making a sexy hockey god fall head over heals for her. Score!

The next book in the Chicago Players series still keeps Theo Kershaw’s family in the forefront by bringing his half bro Jason Isner to town to play with the Rebels and get mixed up in Franky’s baby daddy drama. He’s her childhood nemesis and barely tolerated, but he brings too many good selling points into the mix when he decides he should be the one to father her baby wannabe … and get to help raise it too! She can only resist him for so long before caving and realizing being in his presence isn’t nearly as bad as she thought it was going to be.

Great characters, lots of heartfelt family goodness and laugh out loud moments along the way. I loved them together and loved the family rallying around them even when they weren’t sure what was even going on. I highly recommend this book as well as the rest of the series to anyone who enjoys a hockey romance filled with passion, heart and humor as well as tons of family and friends all up in their business on the regular. I can’t wait for more in the series!