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Cover of Rival Season

Rival Season

Katie Bailey;Leah Brunner (2026-05-14)

Subgenre
Age groupAdult 18+
Content ratingR
Pages (Standard (250-400))
SeriesHockey Boys of Loft 3B #
Setting
CSM age18+

Content levels

ViolenceMild
Sexual contentSteamy
LanguageModerate

Trigger warnings

Cheating/InfidelityBetrayalHeartbreak

Positive tags

Found Familyhappy endinghealing arcHumorSwoony

Tropes

AthleteContemporaryEnemies to LoversFake DatingForced ProximityGrumpy SunshineHEA (Happy Ever After)Hockey RomanceOpposites AttractRevenge PlotSecond ChanceSports Romance

Themes

Healing from BetrayalTrust and VulnerabilityFound FamilyOvercoming the PastLove vs CareerSecond Chances

Synopsis

He's trying to outrun his past... Penn Matthews is living beyond his wildest dreams. He's made it to the NHL, shares a swanky loft with his teammates, and best of all, he's able to support his little sister. Life is good, and his rocky past is finally behind him. Until Hazel Palmer shows up at his door. His downstairs neighbor is as feisty as she is gorgeous, and the type of woman he'd be very interested in-if he hadn't sworn off falling in love years ago. But when Penn finds out Hazel just got her heart broken by his longtime rival, he steps in to help. ...She wants revenge on her cheating ex Hazel should be writing her dissertation, but it's hard to focus while dealing with betrayal, a breakup, and the constant distractions from her rowdy upstairs neighbor. At first, she's convinced the tattooed hockey player in 3B is just another idiot playboy, but when Penn comes to her defense one night, the feuding neighbors realize they share a common enemy-and decide to get payback. The plan is simple: Fake date to make her ex jealous, and get the jerk out of both their lives for good. But when fake kisses turn into real connection and Penn's past threatens to catch up to him, what started out as sweet revenge soon escalates into risking everything...