Check the Halls by KM Gills (Oct 15, 2025) I loved the first book in this series, O Goalie Night, so much and I was incredibly intrigued by the characters who were the center of this book, so I jumped right into this one soon after finishing the first.
NHL superstar Ben Michaels, previously known to be a bad boy on and off the ice, is working hard to improve his his behavior on both fronts. Particularly because he spiraled for a bit last year after learning that his ex, Maddie, got engaged. She’s the only girl he ever loved and even after a decade apart, he’s never gotten over her. Madelyn Clairmont lives the perfect life on paper – dream job, dependable fiancé, and a life that’s all planned out. But when they accidentally run into each other it throws them both for a loop, and when Maddie needs a favor, Ben steps in to help. Could it be possible that they might get a second chance after all these years?
This is the second in the Ottawa Otters holiday hockey romance series and I loved it as much as the first. These are that great combination of fantastic storytelling, great tropes, characters that grow and discover themselves while they find their HEA. And I wanna talk about the BANTER. Ben and Maddie needle each other as only two people who know each other deeply and loved each other completely could do. Finally, it was amazing to get to return to all of the characters we love from the first book and check in on them again. It was simply so fun to read.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Andi Eloise and Brandon Francis are downright fantastic. I loved how they portrayed the banter, deep affection, and caretaking between Maddie and Ben. It is a stand-out narration.
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 