Last Friday night, my husband Matthew spent twenty minutes organizing his cables—again—while I sat on the couch watching him with a mix of affection and amusement. He looked up and said, "What? Organization equals peace of mind." And I realized that sometimes the most endearing thing about someone is their quirks. That’s exactly how I felt reading If You Love Me, where Roman’s protectiveness and steady presence turned out to be exactly what Lexi needed, even when she didn’t realize it.
Plot Summary
If You Love Me by Helena Hunting is the fourth book in the Toronto Terror series. After a magical weekend together three years ago, Lexi and Roman haven’t seen each other since she left without a way for him to contact her. Now, Lexi is the first female assistant coach in the league, newly recruited to the Toronto Terror—where Roman is a veteran goaltender. He’s rightfully angry about how things ended, but as they’re forced to work together, neither can deny the chemistry still burning between them. The problem? Their jobs make any relationship forbidden. This is a slow-burn, workplace, age-gap, single-dad romance filled with emotional depth, sizzling tension, and a found family that will steal your heart.
Why I Love This Book
I love how If You Love Me delivers emotional intensity alongside genuine character growth. Lexi is strong, passionate about her career, and determined to prove herself in a male-dominated field. Roman is protective, steady, and utterly devoted—not just to Lexi but to her sisters, who need family support. Their chemistry is electric, and the forbidden element of their workplace relationship adds delicious tension. The mutual pining is perfectly executed, and when they finally give in to their feelings, it’s everything. I also adored the Toronto Terror family—they rally around Lexi and her sisters in the most heartwarming way. There’s minimal miscommunication because these are mature adults who talk through their issues, which I appreciated so much.
Who Will Like This Book
If you enjoy sports romance, workplace romance, age-gap, single-dad heroes, or slow-burn chemistry with steamy payoff, you’ll love this story. Fans of found family, protective heroes, and books where therapy is normalized will be delighted. The book is emotionally rich without heavy angst. It’s ideal for readers who want a romance that balances heat, heart, and healthy communication. This works as a standalone, but reading the series adds depth to the friendships.
⚠️ Trigger warning: references to past trauma (off-page), family illness, workplace power dynamics, explicit sexual content, mild adult language.
Tagged As
sports romance, hockey romance, Toronto Terror series, workplace romance, forbidden romance, age gap, single dad, slow burn, mutual pining, found family, emotional, steamy, protective hero, HEA, standalone, contemporary romance
Steam Level
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Explicit
The book features seven well-placed, explicit love scenes that are steamy and emotionally satisfying. Roman is protective but also has a deliciously filthy mouth in the bedroom. The intimacy serves the relationship development and adds to the emotional arc. Chapter 37 is particularly memorable!
