A Groom of One's Own cover art

A Groom of One's Own

An Appies Hockey Romance

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A Groom of One's Own

By: Emma St. Clair
Narrated by: Emily Ellet, Rock Engle
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About this listen

He always dreamed of getting married—but for love, not to avoid deportation.

Eli Hopkins has it all—almost. A hockey career with the wildly popular Appies. Teammates who are like brothers. The only thing he's missing is someone to share it all with. Oh, and correctly filed visa paperwork.

Due to administrative error, Eli is about to lose everything. Unless he can find someone to marry him in the next thirty days. He might have the perfect woman in mind. The only problem? He'd like to marry her for real, not simply for legal purposes.

Now, Eli faces the challenge of winning over a wife who thinks the marriage is in name only...

A Groom of One's Own is a closed-door marriage of convenience hockey rom-com with heart and humor, sizzle but no spice. Perfect for fans of sports romance who want a little less heat.

This book connects to Just Don't Fall and Absolutely Not in Love from the Sweater Weather series, but all books can be listened to as standalones.

©2024 Emma St. Clair (P)2024 Podium Audio Clean & Wholesome Contemporary Romantic Comedy Sports Marriage Heartfelt Witty Hockey
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Emma St. Clair’s books are usually a recipe for joy: fast-paced plots, sweet banter, golden-boy heroes with a side of cinnamon. And at first glance, A Groom of One’s Own had all the right ingredients: a soft-spoken animal shelter worker, a visa snafu, and a man who visits the shelter just to see her (and the dogs, but mostly her). I was so ready for pining. For shy glances. For the slow burn. Instead... they were married and tickling each other before I could even believe they’d had a proper conversation.

This is where it lost me: the insta-love and emotional speed-run. The book spans about two weeks, and while it’s clean and sweet, the jump from casual hellos to “do I love her?” felt rushed and unearned. It lacked the simmer I’ve come to expect from St. Clair’s stories.

And then there’s the treatment of disability, which I found frustrating and deeply disappointing. Eli’s relationship with his disabled mother felt like a well-meaning attempt at sweetness, but it landed as infantilizing. I kept thinking: why not a mobility aid? Why not agency? The book tiptoed into inspiration-porn territory, and for me, that was the point of no return.

Started warm and fuzzy, ended with secondhand cringe. I stayed for the dogs and the promise of softness—but I wish this one had taken its time and respected the gravity of its subplots.

This was a fine book

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