Review: In The Penalty Box by Lynn Rush and Kelly Anne Blount

We received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Willow doesn’t want to be home in Wisconsin. She should be in Colorado training for Nationals and then the Olympics. One injury could ruin her entire figure skating career and she hasn’t made the PT progress she was hoping for.

Brodie’s entire life revolves around hockey. His goal is to play at Boston College next year, just like his dad. Brodie doesn’t have time for romance, he’s got to focus. But when the best goalie on the team gets injured and Brodie sees Willow at the rink, he asks her to sub in for one game.

Only, something clicks for Willow. She played street hockey as a kid with her friends and being back on the ice…minus the failed jumps, might be the best thing for PT. 

However, Willow starts to love hockey and as it becomes a bigger part of her life, her recovery takes an optimistic turn. Only, she likes going to high school with her friends. Hockey and being part of a team is fun. Then, there’s Brodie. It’s clear they have a connection from the start. But, is it worth starting something if Willow is still trying to get back to her figure skating career?

We really love ice-skating/winter themed books so we were thrilled to receive an ARC of In The Penalty Box! This book did not disappoint and was a perfect feel-good romance to curl up with on a cold winter day. 

Though it started out a bit slow, we were immediately sucked in by the dual POVs. Alternating perspectives can be hard to nail, but the authors did it well and we enjoyed both narrators equally. 

Willow was a total bad ass and we were happy to see her make the transition to hockey so seamlessly. We knew from the start that Brodie would be a total babe, but Willow definitely did not fall for his antics right away. She made him work for it! Their chemistry was incredible, both on and off the rink. Their banter was hilarious and we loved how they pushed each other. 

It was definitely interesting to see the sexist pushback Willow received from some of her new teammates. We really hated a few of them and wanted to punch them, ha! But Willow fit right in and her internal struggle between hockey and figure skating was relatable. It is extremely hard when you have to admit your dreams have changed, and we were happy to follow along on Willow’s journey to figure out what she wanted. 

Brodie also had a bunch of ups and downs at home, including with his brother and father. Though he had a rough exterior, he also has a heart of gold. Willow and Brodie entered each other’s lives at the perfect time. 

We also loved the side characters. Jessa and Willow and Brodie’s teammates had us cracking up at times. And we all need a Gramps in our lives. 

Overall, if you’re looking for an adorable winter romance, check this one out. The chemistry was definitely the best part of the book  ! 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️