Gloves Off
A Marriage of Convenience Hockey Romance (Vancouver Storm, Book 4)
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Narrated by:
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JF Harding
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Stella Hunter
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By:
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Stephanie Archer
About this listen
The only way to get my inheritance? Marry Alexei Volkov—the grumpiest enforcer in the NHL, a brutally handsome jerk, and the last man I’d ever fall for.
In public, we act as besotted newlyweds, but in private, we’re at each other’s throats. He’s competitive, arrogant, and surly. The guy’s never cracked a smile in his life. He’s jealous of my ex, he glares at my high heels, and insists he’s not attracted to me. He’s only marrying me for citizenship.
Fighting with Alexei is more fun than expected, though, and beneath his grouchy exterior, Alexei is surprisingly caring, protective, and generous.
He cooks for me and worries about my safety.
He sends me flowers with secret meanings and spends way too much money on me.
He makes me sleep in his bed and calls me his wife.
For a guy who said he’d never fall in love with me, Alexei’s doing a good impression of it… and now I’m wondering if this marriage is fake after all.
Gloves Off is an enemies to lovers marriage of convenience hockey romance. It's the fourth book in the Vancouver Storm series but can be listened to as a standalone.
©2025 Stephanie Archer (P)2025 Stephanie ArcherOne of the best one in the series
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This isn’t just a sports romance (and I’m not just a sports romance reader). It’s a feminist slap disguised as a slow-burn fake marriage where the grump melts just enough to make your chest ache. Alexei is a Russian golden retriever in enforcer’s clothing, and Dr. Green? Icon. Smart, stubborn, professionally undermined, and never once a damsel. Her comebacks had me wheezing, especially when she outmaneuvered him in heels.
What Archer nails—better than most—is the nuance of female ambition and the quiet grief of choosing between a career and motherhood. That tension gave the story real depth, especially against all the comedic beats (yes, they watch my favourite show, yes, her bunnies are named Stefan and Damon, and yes, I screamed).
The chemistry simmers, the pacing is punchy, and the jealousy is delicious. It reminded me a lot of L.J. Shen’s rhythm—but with more heart and less cynicism. It’s also my favourite in the Vancouver Storm series so far (and I’ve inhaled The Fake Out and The Wingman already).
Final confession?
I smiled like an idiot when he sent flowers with coded meanings. If you know, you know.
Stephan and demon named bunnies and banter <3
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Favourite in the series
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Loved it
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Amazing story development
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