I didn’t mean to roast Gio Montagalo, goalie and crown jewel of The Houston Baddies hockey team. Honestly, I was screaming at the TV in a sports bar like any self-respecting sports junkie does when their team is on a losing streak! So when his twin sister sidles up on the stool beside me, laughing at my commentary, I figured I’d made a fan, too. What I didn’t expect? For her brother—the guy I called “a flashy ice peacock with the reflexes of a sloth”—to hear about it.
Yikes. What were the odds?!
Next thing I know, Gio is in my DMs with a challenge: “Hold up a sassy sign at my game and hit me with your best shot. Roast me in front of everyone.” For him, it’s fun. For me, it’s humiliating. But I did it. Glitter included. And because the universe thrives on chaos, the Baddies won.
Now Gio thinks I’m his good luck charm, begging me to show up with more signs. He also wants to see me—off the ice.
What does a hot, hockey hunk want with a bookish girlie like me?
I try to keep my distance. Mostly.
Soon, Gio is showing up at my job for swoony kisses and trying to charm my dog—also named Gio—and failing because my dog hates him at first sight. I wonder if this whole “lucky charm” thing has less to do with hockey and more to do with the overwhelming, undeniable pull I feel toward him. Or maybe it’s fate’s way of showing me that sometimes, the guy you roast on national TV can be the one you accidentally fall for.
| Title: | Hit Me With Your Best Shot |
| Author: | Sara Ney |
| Series: | Houston Baddies Hockey Book 1 |
| Pages: | 376 |
| Category / Genre(s): | Contemporary |
| Trope(s): | Sports Romance Opposites Attract |
| Point of View: | First Person, Present Tense, Dual Viewpoint (H & h) |
| Location: | Houston, Texas, US |
| HEA: | ✔️ |
| Release Date: | 10 March, 2025 |
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The most Sara Ney book ever
If you take a normal Sara Ney book – with her usual dose of banter and snark – and then dip it in some Sara Ney sauce – for even more of the same – then you’ll get close to what this book is. Sara Ney to the max.
This book is what I’m hoping will be the start of a brand new series. But either way – this book stands completely alone and isn’t connected to any previous story from Ms Ney. It comes with its own happily ever after as well as a tease for a story for the hero of this story’s sister.
I don’t know why I, even for a single second, expected our self-confessed nerdy heroine to be a shy, retiring sort. She was not. She’s is mouthy, sassy, smart, cutting and oh so funny. I would never act like her – but I liked her immensely. That’s not to say she wasn’t insecure and unsure in her own way. And I liked that about her, too. It’s always good to see real characters in romance novels – even if they find themselves in unreal situations. I mean, who would ever be so lucky as to bump into the hottest goalie in the country, mistake him for a normal man, then find a way to make him fall in love with her? Not me so far!
“Sara Ney to the max.”
Gio started off as a nice hero. Kinda normal. But as the book progressed – and as Austin got to know him – he let his crazy flag fly. He was an absolute hoot. A cheeky and charming mix of ego, nutter and joker. But he was also real and honest with Austin. And like her, he had a touch of insecurity and a bit of baggage which again made him real.
This book lives and dies on the relationship between Austin and Gio. The banter, the texts (which are a delight), the chats and the way they just bounce off one another. I was in heaven. If there ever was a perfect couple for each other – it’s this pair. They were so similar and yet complemented each other. It was so much fun to watch them dance their way into love.
I’ll be honest – the big reveal (which I’m calling it to avoid spoilers) towards the end of the book didn’t really sit right with me. It just gave me a squished nose feeling. But I admit that it was completely on brand for Austin – and Gio seemed to be more than fine with it. And luckily the book continued for a while which brought me right back to the 5-star loving it.
We get a small tease for Nova’s book and I’m already desperate for it. But as for this story – it was exactly what you’re looking for and expect from a Sara Ney novel. It had every bit of the sexiness, snarkiness and wisecracks you could ever want. Definitely 5 stars and recommended.
* I received this book in exchange for my honest review.*
Sara Ney is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances. Among her favorite vices, she includes: iced latte’s, historical architecture and well-placed sarcasm. She lives colorfully, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets, and fancies herself British.
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