Nothing But Trouble

Chelsea Ross accepts a job as personal assistant to NHL star Mark Bressler, who is recovering from a career-ending car accident. Mark's surly attitude has driven away previous assistants, but Chelsea needs the bonus money she'll earn if she can last three months in the position. Chelsea's background as a B-movie actress and Mark's status as a former hockey captain create immediate tension in their working relationship. Their opposing personalities and lifestyles clash as Chelsea attempts to help Mark with his recovery while he resists her efforts at every turn. The interactions between Chelsea and Mark evolve from professional obligation to something more complex as they begin to see beyond their initial impressions of each other. Their developing relationship must contend with Mark's bitterness over his lost career and Chelsea's ambitions in Hollywood. This romance explores themes of healing, second chances, and the ways unexpected connections can help people move forward from past disappointments. The hockey setting provides a backdrop for examining identity and purpose when life takes an unplanned turn.

Readers call this a fun, light romance focused on a former NHL star and his troublemaking personal chef. Many reviews note the strong chemistry between the main characters and humorous kitchen scenes. Readers appreciated: - Fast-paced dialogue - Hockey background details - Side characters, especially the hero's teammates - Cooking elements woven into the story Common criticisms: - Predictable plot following standard romance formulas - Rushed ending - Limited character development beyond the leads - Some found the hero's initial behavior too harsh Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (180+ reviews) BookBub: 4.1/5 (300+ ratings) Reader quote: "A perfect beach read with sizzling kitchen scenes and hockey drama, though don't expect anything groundbreaking." - Goodreads reviewer Several reviewers mentioned this book works well as a standalone, despite being part of a series.

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🏒 Rachel Gibson's hockey-themed romance was partly inspired by her love of the sport and her experience watching her son play hockey throughout his childhood. 💑 The book's main character, Chelsea, is named after the author's niece - though their personalities couldn't be more different. 🏆 Nothing But Trouble was nominated for the 2011 RITA Award for Contemporary Single Title Romance by the Romance Writers of America. 📚 This book is part of Gibson's "Chinooks Hockey Team" series, but can be read as a standalone novel without reading the other books in the series. 🎯 The novel's setting of Seattle was chosen specifically because the city didn't have an NHL team at the time of writing (2010), allowing Gibson creative freedom with her fictional team without conflicting with real hockey franchises.