Riley Thomas has always hated hockey. It’s loud, aggressive, and full of men who think they can charm their way through anything. But when she meets Nate Calloway, who is tall, quiet, and more than just the star defenseman of the local hockey team, she can’t help but be drawn in.
What starts as a casual fling soon becomes something Riley never expected. Beneath Nate’s tough exterior lies a man who’s been running from himself, and the closer they get, the more Riley realizes she’s fallen for someone she can’t trust. But Nate’s hiding something. A secret that’s bigger than their chemistry, and one that could break them both.
Nate’s forced to choose between his love for Riley and the life he’s built around the ice. With one foot in the locker room and the other in a world he doesn’t feel worthy of, he’s on the edge of losing everything.
But the game isn’t over yet. And neither is their love. Can Riley forgive him and take a chance on the man behind the jersey? Or will they both be left in the penalty box of their own making?
Offside Hearts is a slow-burn, emotional romance about love, forgiveness, and finding the courage to skate on thin ice for the one person who makes it all worth it.
When emergency vet tech Mara is forced out of vet school after being diagnosed with an auditory processing disorder, her world shatters. Burned out, betrayed, and exhausted from constantly being the one who helps, she quietly tries to end her life. But survival lands her in a psychiatric facility, where silence is heavy and healing feels impossible. Then she meets Theo, a former trauma therapist with his own scars. Neither wants to connect, but in their shared wreckage, a fragile thread forms. The Quiet Shift is a raw, unflinching story about burnout, invisible battles, and the brutal, beautiful moments where healing quietly begins.