Overtime by Kat Mizera

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

Title: Overtime
Author: Kat Mizera
Series: Moo U #5
Published by: Heart Eyes Press
Release Date: April 26, 2021
Format: eARC
Pages: 271
Genres: Sports Romance, Contemporary, Romance
Potential Triggers: View Spoiler »ectopic pregnancy loss « Hide Spoiler
Source: Heart Eyes Press
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2021 COYER Spring
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon
My rating:

Blurb:

Hotshot hockey star Patrick Graham has been groomed for the pros since before he could walk. Fast forward to his junior year of college, and he’s having the time of his life. What could be better than pucks, partying, and having his pick of campus women? But if Patrick doesn’t buckle down and get his grades up, he could find himself benched for the championships. Could a beautiful brainiac be the solution to his problems?

Nineteen-year-old Master’s student Ellie McGinn could do so many things with her biology degree, but her mother is pushing her toward a future she doesn't want. Tutoring a hockey hottie seems like the perfect opportunity to start making her own choices and living life on her own terms.

When learning turns to yearning, will they be ready to face the heat and heartache that love can bring?

My Review:

I received a free copy through Heart Eyes Press in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

4 stars — Ellie!!!  I totally forgot that this was an Ellie I already knew, so bonus fun for anyone who is a fan of the True North series.  (but you don’t miss out on anything if you haven’t read about her already)

I did not expect to love Patrick as much as I did!  He was the twin I was less excited about, and after reading Gametime, I was even less excited.  Honestly?  This Patrick and that Patrick didn’t match up quite as well, but that can happen with different authors.  Basically if you chose to read Paxton’s book first, he’s better than you’ll expect.  And if you didn’t, don’t worry you didn’t miss anything significant as far as Patrick is concerned.

Patrick was surprisingly sweet, devoted, and loving.  I loved the way he embraced these new feelings for Ellie, and really connected with her.  He was always trying to do what he thought was best (even to his detriment).  I expected a bit more struggle from his grades, but that was shoved to the background pretty early…bit bummed about that, but that was kind of because his sensitivity about his grades was built up in Paxton’s book.

It was fun to see Ellie a couple years older, getting more comfortable in her skin, and struggling with growing up in a “genius” environment.  She was a perfect balance of smart and achieving mixed with “she’s still only 19 years old, and forced to grow up too early.”  She had some really interesting battles to fight with her Mother, and I kind of wanted her Mom to get a clue earlier than she did.  In a way it made her Mom’s turnaround a bit less believable, b/c she fought so hard and unreasonably before then.  But it was an interesting thing for Ellie to be dealing with.  I loved how forthright and adventurous Ellie could be — she may not have had the experience, but she was all in when presented with the opportunity.

And they were super cute together!  I loved that there was a balance between the lust/steam factor, and the funny/sweet/hanging out moments.  I really felt their connection, even if it was fast.  I wanted them to figure things out.

I will admit that the hemming and hawing over how they were going to make it work went on a bit longer than I’d like…it’s the difference between 4 and 4.5 for me.  I think I needed incremental steps instead of constant denial that there was a compromise/solution.

It was interesting to see what is likely cameos from Ms. Mizera’s other series in this book.  I have a feeling fans are going to love it.  It was *almost* too much, but I really loved the advice they gave, *especially* Renee.

So yeah, this was a super pleasant surprise!  I love it when books take all my expectations and throw them out the window and give me exactly what I didn’t know I needed.