Dear Roomie: A Grumpy-Sunshine Hockey Romance: A Rookie Rebels Novel

Kate Meader

May 2021 · Rookie Rebels Book 5 · Kate Meader Books

About this ebook

Reid Durand isn't here to make friends.

Coming from a legacy of hockey greatness, he has games to win and things to prove. With his focus during his first season as a Chicago Rebel on his drive to succeed, every vice is off the table. No booze, no sugar, and definitely no women.

Kennedy Clark is the master of the side hustle.

She'll walk your dog, brew your espresso, and pick up your dry-cleaning, all while rocking it in Warrior pose. Standing still is impossible for her because the moment she starts to slow down, it'll come rushing back in a torrent. The memories. The pain. The heartbreak.

Their meet-cute is more of a freeze-cute. Besides, they already know each other. He's the rude, entitled customer at her coffee shop, or what used to be her coffee shop since she just got fired—because of Mr. Extra Shot Americano himself.

Reid didn't intend to get Kennedy fired.

He didn't intend to rescue a dog after the poor thing ended up in the lake.

And he definitely didn't intend to acquire a new roommate.

A curvy, chatty, tempting roommate. 

Now this perfect storm of events are about to wreak havoc on his neatly-ordered life.

Reid Durand isn't here to make friends, and he's certainly not here to lose his heart to a puppy, a team, or a chaos agent like Kennedy. But then we don't always get what we want ...

Romance, contemporary romance, new adult, new adult romance, sports romance, hockey romance, standalone romance, roommate romance, forced proximity, dog sitter, dog walker, alphahole

Ratings and reviews

Reid and Kennedy s love story in Dear Roomie by Kate Meader, book five in the Rookie Rebels series, was an emotional, intriguing, sexy, and enjoyable hockey romance. This story should really have been named Grumpy Cinnamon Roll Meets Sunshine Nomad. Reid and Kennedy come from very different, if not equally heartbreaking, backgrounds, which lead them to the current situation. Reid has been a royal jerk, getting traded from NHL team to team, never staying in one place for very long; always trying to earn the love and respect of his famous hockey stepfather. Kennedy is a Jane of All Trades; able to teach English in foreign countries, yoga, dog-walker, barista, you name it. She is currently in Chicago to help her grandpa’s wife adjust to living in a senior center; the person who took Kennedy in after the death of her parents. When Reid and Kennedy rescue an adorable, but badly abused, dog, they end up rescuing each other. I loved that Kennedy refused to accept Reid’s grumpiness at face value. The slow burn between these two was as adorable as Bucky and led to a very explosive, sizzling connection. I also enjoyed the exploration of love, loss, and toxic family dynamics along with how Reid and Kennedy were able to know what the other needed in order to get past their scars, but were also willing to do the work for their own. I also enjoyed catching up with other Rebels and their families while also meeting new ones. I want to know what going on with Erik and Casey. I also want to see a story for Bastian, Reid’s brother. Ms. Meader wrote an emotional, amazing, burn the sheets, sports romance that should not be missed. She provided a tale rich with emotions, sizzling chemistry, difficult topics, revealing conversations, and endearing characters giving Reid and Kennedy a chance at closure with their pasts, a real love, and a future together. I highly recommend Dear Roomie to other readers and look forward to the next book in this series. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

DEAR ROOMIE is the fifth instalment in Kate Meader’s contemporary, adult ROOKIE REBELS erotic, romance series focusing on the members of the NHL’s Chicago Rebels hockey team. This is twenty-seven year old hockey player Reid Durand, and twenty-five year old barista/ yoga instructor Kennedy Clark’s story line. DEAR ROOMIE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. The Rookie Rebels series is a spin off from the author’s Chicago Rebels series-several characters cross over for back story and cohesion. Told from third person perspectives DEAR ROOMIE follows Kennedy Clark in the wake of not only losing her home but her job as well. Living out of her car, Kennedy would come to the rescue of a drowning dog only to come face to face with the man she blames for the loss of her job. Enter professional hockey player Reid Durand. Reid, unable to drop the dog off at the pound, offers Kennedy the job of dog-sitting, a job that brings her up close and personal with the man with whom she will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Kennedy and Reid, and the potential fall-out as Kennedy’s time in America comes to a close. Kennedy Clark is a bit of a free spirit spending many months of the year travelling abroad but the late approval of her working visa finds Kennedy ‘roommates’ with our story line hero, a man who struggles to prove he is worthy of professional stardom. Growing up in a hockey family, Reid has always felt like the odd man left out, having to work harder to prove he is just as good as his brother and the man he calls dad but all is not well in the Clark family dynamic, and things go from back to worse as brother is pitted against brother both in and out of the game. The relationship between Reid and Kennedy begins acrimoniously as Reid is less than friendly with our story line heroine but not only is Reid a thorn in Kennedy’s side, he also struggles with teammates, friendships, and the people he loves. Reid Durand is petulant, sulky, and often withdrawn but raised to win at all costs, has cost our hero the ability to make friends. Always keeping apart from others, Reid battles between head and heart when he finds himself falling for Kennedy Clark. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting character including several from the original Chicago Rebels. We are introduced to Reid’s step-father Henri, and his brother Bastien, as well as Kennedy’s grandmother, and her senior’s hockey fans. DEAR ROOMIE is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; a story of bullying and struggle, of acceptance and moving forward. The premise is engaging and entertaining; the romance is seductive; the characters are impassioned and energetic

Heart Heat & Humor! Dear Roomie is absolutely everything I want out of a romance. A “cold” hero with hidden depths, a spirited heroine who hiding herself behind her walls with a sunny, and outgoing disposition. A story that is compelling and consistent, and secondary characters that add to the story rather than distracting from, and most importantly, the romantic tension is off the charts. Kate Meader scored a goal with this one! Reid Durand is all about his career. After being on four teams in five years he is working hard with no time to make friends, with no relationships, no alcohol, no distractions and keeping his personal life personal. Constantly trying to win the approval of his pushy, NHL legend step-father to the detriment of his relationships with his hockey step-brother Bastian, and anyone else. Kennedy Clark is the master of travel and of part-time jobs to save enough money for her next overseas trip, since she is just in Chicago for a little while to make sure Edie her grandfather’s second wife is okay at her new place. Kennedy is always outwardly happy, and outgoing but inwardly always trying to limit who she lets in so she doesn’t let her heart get hurt ever again. But she has been having a rough time of it lately after getting evicted and then losing her job she doesn’t know what else to do… These two have crossed paths already, but soon their lives collide when a one eye mutt is thrown into Lake Michigan and Reid dives into save him and Kennedy dives in to rescue them both. But although Reid knows the cute pink haired barista, she definitely doesn’t like him especially after getting her fired. So when he needs a Dog nanny for Bucky he hires Kennedy to make amends. But what these two don’t count on is the tension and oh my what heat these two have…her sassy banter will distract and entice and along with his teammates ribbing is everything you will adore. And then there is Grandma Edie’s lol antics that just might do even more. This is one you won’t want to miss, so start this hockey romance with its abundance of humor, heart and heat. I loved every minute of their journey to forever.

About the author

Originally from Ireland, USA Today bestselling author Kate Meader cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Harlequins thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron, fire hose, or hockey stick, and she’s there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with big-hearted guys and strong heroines - and heroes - who can match their men quip for quip.