The Secret Hook-Up by Pippa Grant
Contemporary Romance/Romantic Comedy
August 1, 2024- Self-Published
ARC

Review by Angela

Whenever I need a bit of a breather from angsty, darker romances I pick up a Pippa Grant romantic comedy. The Secret Hook-Up is listed as being book number six in The Copper Valley Thrusters series, but it’s really just an addition into the Pippa Grant Copper Valley universe. There will be many, many, many past characters, across several of her series, who readers of this author will recognize.

This second chance romance features Addie Bloom, the hitting coach for the Copper Valley Thrusters, and Duncan Lavoie, captain of the Copper Valley Thrusters hockey team. Their secret romance ended abruptly several years earlier when Duncan assumed their relationship was more serious than Addie was comfortable with at the time. Since then, they’ve avoided each other at joint team events and generally tried to move on. But one weird, comical chance meeting in a dress shop will bring them together again.

This was a fun romance, slightly ridiculous, but fun, nonetheless. Duncan realizes pretty early on that Addie is the one who got away and is determined to win her back. Addie, who is working in a field dominated by men, tries to walk the straight and narrow, not giving anyone any reason to question her position with the team. She also has a family backstory which pushes her to avoid depending on a romantic partner. Duncan recognizes his mistakes the first go around and is ready to step up and support her unconditionally. And he does. I really think the ‘guy falls first and harder’ trope might be one of my favorites.

There are a whole lot of shenanigans within these pages, and the Thrusters and Fireball players are as ever willing to play pranks and make jokes. In addition to humor, I really enjoyed the relationship between the main characters and enjoyed seeing them come back together to build something strong and lasting. Addie’s character arc felt believable, and Duncan is just a big old teddy bear who wants to be what she needs.

All in all, another quirky, fun read from Pippa Grant. I expect fans of this author will be thrilled with this addition to the Cooper Valley world.

Grade- B