Make your Save 🏒 👩🍼🩺
#hockeyromance #friendstolovers #fakedating #hefallsfirst #nurse
Title: Make your Save
Author: Callie Melle
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Level: 🌶️
My Thoughts:
Hadley works as a traveling nurse. One day, while on her break, she finds a baby in the hospital's safe haven. When she walked over to check on the baby, she noticed a note was left and a bag of the baby's essentials. The note had a photo of the Hockey star, Rowan Taylor and the note stating that Rowan was the baby's father.
Hadley knows Rowan personally because she dated his brother in the past. When Hadley calls him, asking him to meet her at the park. Concerned Rowan meets with her, and then his life quickly changes.
Rowan is nowhere ready to be a father, and completely blindsided by the news. He's in the thick of his hockey career and he's rarely ever home. He's scared, and worried about how that's going to affect him getting custody of his daughter, so Hadley offers to help!
What I loved most about this book is Rowan's reaction to finding out he was a father and even in the thick of his hockey career, he never once chose the game over his baby. He was scared to be a new dad, and had no idea what he was doing, but when his friend Hadley noticed these things she offered to help - no questions asked! She knew that she was partially to blame for this sudden situation, and she was already familiar with caring for newborn babies via her nurse job, and I love that this whole thing bonded the two of them...well the THREE of them. It was so cute, and had such a good plot!
NOTE: This book IS part of a series, which I didn't realize until after I read this one, so I'm not sure which book this is in the series.
As someone who loves sports romance novels, I found 'Make Your Save' to be a refreshing story that combines the intensity of hockey with the warmth of unexpected family ties. The plot revolves around Rowan Taylor, a professional hockey star whose life takes an unforeseen turn when he discovers he has a baby daughter. The emotional depth of Rowan’s character struck me, especially his struggle to balance his demanding career with the responsibilities of new fatherhood. What made this story particularly relatable was Hadley, a traveling nurse whose compassionate nature helps bridge the gap for Rowan. Her prior experience caring for newborns lends a genuine touch to her willingness to support him. This dynamic creates a heartfelt bond not only between the two adults but also with the baby, forming a unique family unit that evolves naturally throughout the story. The book also skillfully touches on themes such as fear of the unknown, personal growth, and friendship turning into something deeper, which are common but deeply meaningful in real life. From my perspective, these elements add layers to the romance and keep readers invested beyond the typical sports love story. Including realistic depictions of the pressures faced by athletes and caregivers adds authenticity, making the characters’ journey all the more immersive. For anyone drawn to sports romance or looking for a story that beautifully explores new beginnings and unconditional support, 'Make Your Save' offers a heartwarming read. Lastly, as this book is part of a series, it piqued my interest to explore the other stories and characters connected to this universe, especially since the narrative stands strong on its own but leaves enough threads to make you want more. This is a great pick for those who enjoy a blend of romance, family drama, and sports life challenges.
