Thank you to Helena Hunting and her team for the advance reader copy of If You Keep Me, the sixth and final interconnected standalone in the Toronto Terror series.
It is so bittersweet to say goodbye to the Toronto Terror. I have adored each instalment of this series, and I never wanted it to end. Anyone who has been a fan of this series knows just how long we have all been anticipating Tally and Flip’s romance, and Helena knocked it out of the park! What a wonderful ode to all I have loved in this series, a found family so amazing, each book read like coming home.
I am a Helena Hunting review team member, but I remain honest and genuine in my reviews.
Things I should never, under any circumstances ever do: ask my secret crush, aka. the most notorious (reformed) playboy in pro hockey, to take my virginity.
Too bad, I did.
After a string of terrible dates, I did the unthinkable. I propositioned Flip Madden.
Of course, he said no.
It isn’t that he’s almost a decade older than me, or that I’m still in university.
It’s because I’m his coach’s oldest daughter.
Not to mention my dad would bludgeon him with his hockey stick if he found out.
Which he won’t, because it will never happen.
And now things are awkward because there’s no going back.
Except Flip is more protective than ever, and his eyes follow me around every room we’re in together. He brings flowers to my recitals and reads all the books I recommend.
Things I should never, under any circumstances ever do: hope Flip Madden might actually want me too.
Check out my more detailed thoughts below…
- Characters: If You Keep Me featured two of my most anticipated characters, Tallulah “Tally” Vander Zee and Phillip “Flip” Madden. From the first few pages of this series back in If You Hate Me, we were introduced to Flip, Beatrix’s professional hockey player brother, a notorious bad boy in the sport. So I have been anticipating Flip’s story for years and have enjoyed his character growth not just in this instalment but throughout the whole series. Those who have been along for the entire ride will get an extra payoff when they read this story. All the work he did to make himself a better person has come to fruition in this final book, where he wants to be a good friend and not take advantage of Tally. Speaking of Tally, I have also been greatly anticipating getting into the head of the coach’s daughter, the youngest member of the Babe Brigade. Tally is a dance major at Tilton U and is going through more than normal stressors for a final semester; her parents are divorcing, and she’s got this massive crush on Flip. Tally felt so real, reacting to all these things like any of us would; she may be one of the most relatable characters Helena has ever written. Paired with Flip, whom I pegged as the guy who is misunderstood, the player everyone thinks does not have it in him to be compassionate and caring. Trust me, get ready to fall hard for both of these characters.
- Setting: It feels bittersweet to be writing my final review for a Toronto Terror book, as it is a goodbye to how much Toronto was also a character in this universe. As a Canadian, of course, I loved it especially when characters acted so unabashedly Canadian. It was much more than the city of Toronto; it was the team and the friends that populated it. I loved the team, from the best logo for a fictional team ever created, as Canadian Geese are the true terrors to a found family so huge that almost every player, staff member, wife, girlfriend, and blood relation was involved. Name me a more amazing friend group than the babe brigade and so many wonderful individual friendships, especially Dred and Flip’s, that had quite a few shining moments in this instalment.
- Pacing: I devoured this, which has been true for the previous five books in this series as well. I cannot recommend it more if you have not started your Toronto Terror journey to sit back and enjoy the adventure of some of the best found family hockey romances out there.
- Romance: I adored Flip and Tally’s relationship. It starts with her propositioning him, but he’s not the playboy he once was and works his hardest to resist the enormity of the feelings he’s always had for Tally. This story starts as a slow burn, and truly, this relationship has been slow-burning for the entire series so far, so when the spark caught flame, it was electric. Falling for the coach’s daughter is a top-tier trope in a sports romance, and Helena does a wonderful job depicting a relationship that is tested at every turn. While also showcasing a couple that only grows stronger and did not crumble in the face of all that was thrown at them.
If You Keep Me is 4.5/5 stars
You can pick up the story here.
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Thank you again to Helena and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!
