Secret or Shutout

D.C. Eagles Hockey #4

by Leah Brunner

A 6'5 NHL goalie walks into a bar and meets the love of his life...no, this isn't the start of a bad joke.

I had a chance encounter in a dimly lit bar that led to an earth-shattering kiss with a beautiful stranger.

But then the next morning my world is rocked again--when I walk inside my team captain's house and see her.

Farrah Remington isn't a mysterious stranger after all, she's the little sister of my captain and best friend. A woman firmly off limits to anyone on the D.C. Eagles.

Now, I have to pretend that kiss never happened. But the more I see Farrah, the hotter our chemistry burns, and the stronger our connection grows--until we can't resist each other any longer.

Sneaking around isn't ideal, but what my team captain doesn't know won't hurt him (or piss him off in the middle of the Stanley Cup playoffs).

I'm with my dream girl and my team is sailing through playoffs...until the truth comes out.

Now my team captain hates me, I can't keep pucks out of my net to save my life, and the woman I love won't speak to me.

Can I save my relationship, my friendship, and enough goals to help the D.C. Eagles finally win the Cup...or will I get shut out of Farrah's life forever?

Secret or Shutout is a dual POV, fade-to-black romance that can be read as a stand alone. This work of fiction contains mild language, depictions of PCOS, infertility, and divorce. If you are sensitive to these subjects, please use this content warning to make an informed decision about reading this book.

Genres: Romance, Sports, Hockey, Sports Romance, Hockey Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 27, 2025

About the author

Leah Brunner is an Amazon top 25 best selling author who writes romance filled with explosive chemistry and relatable, flawed characters. She loves writing character driven stories that will tug at your heart strings and also make you smile.

When she's not writing, she can be found spoiling her Maine Coon cats, or watching The Office with her kids.

Although she's a Midwestern girl at heart, Leah is a proud Air Force spouse and has moved all over the United States with her husband and three children.

You can find Leah on Instagram @leah.brunner.writes

Or join her Facebook reader group: Leah's Lit Lovers

Reviews

[paula ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

Don't be mistaken, I liked the book, but I was a little disappointed too... 😢

Let's talk about the best part of the book first: Bruce and Farrah. I really loved them. Their connection is incredible, and they're both adorable. I was really hurt by what Farrah goes through in the book, but she's a true warrior. 🥹

Well, here's what I liked least about the book. Honestly, I'm a little sad that the series ended this way. I felt like it was rushed, an epilogue with zero emotion or empathy for the rest of the characters... I felt it was a bit rushed. I think Leah could have given us a little more.

There were also parts of the book that felt incredibly long and didn't get anywhere. I found it a bit boring at times.

All I can say, though, is that I'm dying to read Noah's book and I hope to see some cameos from other characters in this series. 🤩

[Gigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the perfect end to the series! Bruce McBride has been my favorite Eagles teammate since the first book, and I was dying for his story. Let me tell you... it did NOT disappoint. I am fully, completely, hopelessly in love with him. Leah Brunner always delivers, but this one had me straight-up giddy the whole time!

Bruce is just everything. He's flirty, cocky, loyal, sweet, and incredibly supportive. This giant hockey goalie takes care of Farrah in the softest, most heart-melting ways, and his reaction to her PCOS and possible infertility is the definition of green flags. He’s the perfect mix of tough and tender, and I couldn’t get enough of him.

And Farrah? Ugh, my heart. She’s been through so much, and I just wanted to wrap her up in a hug. Watching her learn to believe in love and love herself was everything. Not many heroines could match Bruce, but Farrah DESERVES him, and I was cheering for them the whole way.

Throw in hilarious team banter, fun hockey moments, all the cameos from characters I adore, and the most amazing bonus epilogue ever, and you’ve got an easy 5-star read.

Tropes:
❤️‍🔥 Teammate's Sister
❤️‍🔥 Reverse Age Gap
❤️‍🔥 Forbidden Romance
❤️‍🔥 PCOS Rep

🚨🚨 TW: Divorce, PCOS, Infertility

[Paris (parismaereads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up for Goodreads

My Quick Takes:
- 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
- Language 🤐 moderate
- Spice ❤️‍🔥 heated kisses, fade to black
- Content 🤔 divorce, infertility, pcos rep, innuendo

Bruce’s book is HERE!! The book we’ve all been waiting for and Leah Brunner delivered. Forbidden romance, pining, and steamy kisses abound in Secret or Shutout.

I loved how relatable the female main character was and the struggles she faced and worked through. Pairing her with a big, lovable, golden retriever of a male main character was the perfect combination.

Themes: he falls first, he takes care of her, curvy female main character, reverse age gap, brother’s teammate

Thank you to the author, Leah Brunner, for providing me with this book to read and review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secret or Shutout by Leah Brunner
D.C. Eagles Hockey series #4. Hockey romance. Lighthearted, slow burn. Sister of best friend troupe. Closed door. PCOS and infertility topics. Can be read as a stand-alone but couples from the previous books are included as secondary characters here.
NHL Goalie Bruce McBride meets the woman of his dreams one night in a bar. They chatted for hours, ate wings, and shared an unforgettable kiss. But it was also the night Farrah Remington signed her divorce papers so she walked away at the end of the night knowing she wasn’t ready for more.
Bruce has stayed “hands off” his team captain’s sister until she’s ready. She doesn’t want her brother to know about the new relationship yet. It might put the team dynamics at risk. But Farrah lives close to her brother and his wife and keeping secrets is never easy.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook narrated by Alex Picard and Lee Samuels. Both did a marvelous performance on their POV chapters and the various voices. I don’t expect good children’s voices from an adult and this was about par. Not bad, just not believable. Thats ok. The adults more than convinced me of their love for their partners, the excitement of the game, and ribbing of friends. There are a lot of characters but following the main couple is easy.

Adorably romantic. The hero loves romcoms and would rather spend time relaxing with the spouses than his teammates. And Bruce is always willing to help. His family, his teammates, his “little brother”, the spouses, Farrah. Whatever and whenever something is needed.
Swooning over the beautiful couple and drooling all the wonderfully described desserts.

I was gifted a copy of the audiobook from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media. I own ecopy versions of the whole series.
4.5

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Leah Brunner for an eARC.

MY HEART CAN’T HANDLE.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK

Oh my gosh this was everything I wanted and MORE. I could not put it down and why would I? IT WAS PERFECT. But I’m also a mess because this series is over and how I adored it with every fiber of my being. D.C. Eagles are one of my favorite sports teams ever now.

Bruce and Farrah have immaculate chemistry. Burning up my kindle and begging for them to kiss already. I loved how their opposite natures played off of each other and the softness that Bruce showcased with Farrah. Gosh this book was swoony y’all. And the medical content (check content warnings below) was handled in a respectful, real, and tender way. It breaks your heart and gives you hope, because differing emotions can exist at the same time.

Don’t even get me started on seeing all of my loves from previous books. It’s all fantastic. I’m obsessed with this team. I love the banter and the way they take care of each other. Can I please have a girl group like this too??? There’s a sense of healing reading this book.

I’m an emotional puddle and can’t beg you enough to pick up this series. THANK YOU.

Also excuse me, that jersey moment? IYKYK.

Overall audience notes:
- Hockey Romance
- Language: low
- Romance: closed door
- Violence: low
- Content warnings: PCOS (ruptured ovarian cysts and surgery involved), infertility, divorce (recounted)

[audrey ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I looove a brother’s best friend romance!! This is my first read in the DC Eagles series, I definitely need to read the rest of the series.
I really loved the relationships between all the characters and Bruce and Farrah are a perfect fit. Farrah has PCOS and has experienced infertility and Bruce was adopted and provides respite care for a foster child that he calls his little brother. These two were like two missing puzzle pieces and I loved every minute of watching their relationship grow.
The narrators were fantastic and added to the experience, I went and looked for more books they have narrated.

Thank you to the author and Dreamscape Media for the ALC!

[Danielle Kaitlin (daniallreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanna know how much I loved this book????

I ordered the rest of the series before I even closed the back cover.

Thank you #partner @bookedwiththeemilys and @leah.brunner.writes for the gifted copy of "Secret or Shutout"

Now I don't know if you guys are aware... (insert sarcasm here), but I have it down b a d for sports romances this year. I'm extra weak for hockey books.

Let me start by saying I loved the romance between Farrah and Bruce. I appreciated that Bruce would do anything to prove his love for her. I normally wouldn't bat an eye at the whole gifting love language, but when he dropped that fancy oven... I audibly squealed. It's nice to read about a man not being afraid to show that he has it had for a woman.

This story has a special place in my heart now because Leah wrote physical hockey happening in the plot. Sports books that have actual sports action are a w e s o m e. Even berrer the DC Eagles are going through the playoffs to win the Stanley Cup soooo (imo) its following the best time of the season. Intense play. The girlfriend and wives have cute matching outfits. The games mean so much more.

Sign me up to be a WAG (IFYKYK)

The thing that made me really adore this the most was the focus on Farrahs PCOS and Bruce being adopted. I have never read a romance where the couple has to navigate through the complications of her medical issues and having the option of adopting so early in a relationship. It's refreshing seeing fictional characters go through realistic situations.

It was so c o o l to learn about Bruce and his journey as being an adopted child, his mission to make others feel loved. His relationship with Jackson made me so happy.

Final thought, I loved how strong Farrah was. She went through the ringer in this book, and seeing her shine at the end was so w o r t h it.

Now excuse me while I ignore the rest of my tbr and read the rest of this series. I am going to be chaotic and read Colbys story first!

🏒 Goalie MMC
🏒 Forbidden Romance
🏒 Reverse Age Gap
🏒 PCOS Rep
🏒 Dual POV
🏒 Closed Door
🏒 Captains Sister

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

•𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰•

{𝐃.𝐂. 𝐄𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲: Book 4}

🥅 Release Date: March 27, 2025 🥅
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What a great ending to this series! After book 3, which I wasn’t a big fan of, I wasn’t sure what to expect with this last book, but I ended up really enjoying it! It does have a bit more content than some sweet/clean reads (see content notes below), but I felt like that didn’t detract from the story at all.

After going through a rough divorce, Farrah ends up at a bar, where she proceeds to meet and kiss the man of her dreams. But the next morning their budding relationship comes to a grinding halt when Farrah discovers that her dream man is no other than her brother’s teammate from the D.C. Eagles, and everyone knows that she’s been forbidden to date any of the hockey players.

As time goes on, Farrah moves on from the hunky, blonde hockey goalie and starts a business with her friend, Melanie. Bruce, on the other hand, has most definitely NOT gotten over the curvy, brunette beauty he met at the bar that fateful night. When, in a turn of events, the two are forced to work together a few times, the feelings come flying back for Farrah and are rapidly escalated for Bruce. The news of their newly budding relationship does not go over well with Farrah’s brother, Remy, and cold hostility forms between the teammates. When the only option to keep everyone happy is to make their relationship a secret, will it be able to last and hold up under all of the pressure, or will the lies come tumbling down on their heads?

Reasons to read this book:
🥅 HOCKEY
🥅 She’s older & a curvy FMC
🥅 He falls harder
🥅 She’s his good luck charm
🥅 WAGs
🥅 Nella 🥰
🥅 PCOS awareness

Content Notes:
• innuendo
• language
• fade to black
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Thank you @bookedwiththeemilys and @leah.brunner.writes for the gifted copy of this arc!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ha sido un poco decepcionante porque el anterior de la saga me encantó y este ha estado solo bien. La parte de la ruptura del tercer acto ha sido innecesariamente larga y tediosa de leer.
Los personajes están bien, pero no me ha terminado de enamorar su historia. Espero que el siguiente de la autora mejore y lo pueda disfrutar más.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Leah Brunner comes out with a book I have to drop everything and read. And this book was no exception, it was sweet and adorable and had my feet kicking. Bruce is one of the sweetest guys I’ve ever read and the way he continually proves himself and sticks by Farrah made me swoon. I’m convinced Leah can do no wrong in this hockey series.

[Lex B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Men who pine 👨🏻‍🍳🤌🏼💋

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

27th March 2025

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.75 stars)

Secret or Shutout was my very first hockey romance, which is a bit odd since I’m a huge hockey fan and I enjoy reading romance novels. It was a fun book, filled with love and laughter, and a bunch of tears along the way.

The MMC, Bruce, was a huge cinnamon roll hero. He’s a 6’5” goalie on the very successful DC Eagles NHL team. He’s a big goofball with a heart of gold. The FMC, Farrah, is reeling from a divorce when they meet as strangers in a bar and wind up talking all evening. They wind up with an amazing kiss but they don’t exchange info. It’s not until later that Bruce finds out that Farrah is his team captain’s sister, which makes her completely off-limits!

So a lot of the book covers Bruce’s efforts to win over Farrah, who is finally getting to a good place after her divorce, without upsetting her brother. I enjoyed the dual POV throughout the story.

Farrah suffers from PCOS and I’m not sure I’ve read a book that features this and explains it so well. Farrah is mourning the fact that she will probably not be able to have children of her own (at least part of the reason for her divorce, ugh!). It’s one of several things that keeps her from fully committing to Bruce, along with the fact that he’s a few years younger than she is.

Another thing that the author dealt with well was the topic of adoption and fostering. Nice to see positive representations on those topics.

I loved the chemistry between these two and the camaraderie among the Eagles teammates and their wives. It’s a real community and they help each other in so many ways. There were quite a few characters to keep straight, because this is the fourth book in the series but the first one I’ve read. I didn’t find that to be a big problem, but I did get the various couples a bit mixed up. Other than that issue, this would be just fine to read as a standalone.

As a hockey fan, I enjoyed the parts of the book that focused on the actual games, but there wasn’t a ton of that, so a reader without a big hockey background wouldn’t have any trouble. A number of hockey terms were explained along the way.

The spice in this book is mainly kissing and closed doors, nothing explicit. There’s a fair bit of innuendo in the banter.

Thank you to the author and Booked With The Emilys for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Bethany C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in less than 24 hours and absolutely ate it up!!!! I love a hockey romance, I love the found family, and I loved the romance in this book. I’ve been waiting for this couple since I finished Betrothal or Breakaway and it was everything I hoped for!!! The perfect amount of pining, angst, but no spice. I absolutely love this closed door series and highly recommend!!

Thank you to the author and @bookedwiththeemilys for the arc!!

[Emily | emilyisoverbooked · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Booked with the Emilys and Leah Brunner for the gifted copy of this book!

What is it about hockey romance?! I know... those tall, brawny men who are sweet and gushy and know how to take care of a woman... and Bruce McBride is the best of them. YES, he's BLONDE. But don't hold that against him. He's so swoony and just what Farrah needs after being married to a total dufus. The friendship and team vibes in this book are strong, as it's the last of the Eagles, but you don't have to read the previous books in the series in order to enjoy this one. I love how perfectly Farrah fit into this little hockey fam. Absolutely read this series!!

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, I think this one has got to be my favorite of the series! I felt this one had the most hockey content, most tension, and most serious plot lines compared to the others. Bruce, you’re hot. But I have some qualms about a certain someone being the villain of the story, and a few too many unrealistic scenarios that happen throughout the book. I’ll bring the receipts when you want the proof. 💅🏾

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this one and the whole D.C. Eagles series! I adore a good hockey romance and this one didn’t disappoint. I love Bruce and Farrah and their journey does take you on a wave of emotions especially with the struggles Farrah faces with her PCOS. This series with the boys friendship group and later with the girls truly makes this storyline. I love the found family aspect and the way they all support each other. Highly recommend this one and the whole series. I received a complementary copy from NetGalley.

[Megatron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just beyond words 🥹 So perfect. Swooning for days. Leah is a genius!

[Glenda Hendershott · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 🌟
Audiobook

[Paige Megehee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always a silly time:)

I still prefer betrothal or breakaway which I know is a bold statement but I am standing by it. Now BBB has all read this so I feel accomplished either way

[Mercedes | Andthatswhatsheread · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggle with books that use infertility or PCOS as a plot point and reason to not date someone. And this book was HEAVY with that. Not enough happened plot wise and it got super boring. I’m bummed the series ended this way 😭

[Sarah W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course I would be introduced to this author with the last book in an interconnected standalone series. I seem to do that more and more lately but I’m not mad because I absolutely loved this book and will 100% be going back to read the rest.
The connections between the teammates and their families were so fun to read. They light heartedly teased one another but also gave tough love in a respectful way. The romance was so cute. I loved how flirty he was but also extremely sweet and caring. Their banter was so good but those times that Farrah needed Bruce’s help in a serious way melted my heart the way he took care of her. It had a good balance between the rom com and serious moments. It had good tension and chemistry without needing the spice. As a spice lover, I was not really missing it in this romance.


Thank you @bookedwiththeemilys @leah.brunner.writes for the #gifted copy.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC copy

Trigger warnings are there for a reason. This book is beautiful and at times tough to read, especially as a woman but it is written so well that you just feel all the emotions these characters go through. Such an easy read, I could not put it down.

[Marian. · Rating 3 out of 5]

📌 I received an advanced listening copy of this audiobook through netgalley, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.

Bueno, llegamos al final de esta serie que es una de mis favoritas y que tiene un lugar especial en mi corazón, estoy un poquito triste pero a la vez feliz de que todos tengan su final feliz.

Bruce y Farrah me gustaron, su historia fue buena pero esperaba un poquito más y este libro se me hizo un poco más dramático que los demás (que para mi son ligeros de leer), el tema de la infertilidad de Farrah está muy bien tratado, siento que la autora tuvo cuidado con ese tema pero aun así siento que fue casi toda la personalidad de Farrah y aunque repito me gusto, siento que me falto mucho entre los dos protagonistas.

Los narradores me mantuvieron entretenida, trajeron a estos personajes a la vida de muy buena manera y eso hizo que disfrutara un poquito más.

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Well we've reached the end of this series which is one of my favorites and has a special place in my heart, I'm a little sad but at the same time happy that everyone has a happy ending.

I liked Bruce and Farrah, their story was good but I expected a little more and this book was a little more dramatic than the others (which are easy for me to read), the subject of Farrah's infertility is treated very well, I feel that the author was careful with this subject but still I feel that it was almost all of Farrah's personality and although I repeat I liked it, I feel that I missed a lot between the two main characters.

The narrators kept me entertained, they brought these characters to life in a very good way and that made me enjoy it a little more.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

The DC Eagles series is one of my very favorite set of hockey romances! I’ve read the books that come before this one multiple times because I love these characters so much and each MMC (main male character) in their specific book is amazing. Yet, Bruce might just edge the rest of them out a little bit, simply because of the heart of that man!

Bruce is unendingly patient with Farrah as she is resistant to a relationship with him after being so horrible hurt by her ex husband. Bruce doesn’t know everything involved in the hurt she suffered (and continues to suffer), but he knows he loves her. Bruce is, basically, everything that Farrah’s ex wasn’t. But Farrah has to open her heart to Bruce’s love and trust that it will not fade with the possibility of infertility hanging over her.

This story was absolutely swoony and sweet, with a slow burn that resulted in a deep love between two people that I couldn’t help but be all in for. My heart hurt for Bruce as he questioned to himself why his best friend didn’t think he was good enough to date his sister. He was truly and deeply hurt by Remy’s actions during part of the story.

The author did an amazing job of capturing everyone’s emotions in this novel. The highs and lows, the love and the heartbreak, and definitely the happily ever after. The epilogue and bonus series epilogue are not to be missed. The audio version was wonderfully read & really brought these characters to life for me.

Be aware that these stories are closed door, with a bit of language and innuendo. Honestly, the language and innuendo are nothing compared to other general market books, in my opinion, but worth mentioning if you are used to your reads not having any rough words.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...

[BookLionQueen · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to @bookedwiththeemilys, NetGalley and Leah Brunner for a copy of the ebook and NetGalley and Dreamscape for a copy of the ALC in exchange for my thoughts.

WOW. This is my first Leah Brunner and it did NOT disappoint. I thought this was such a fun story that also had some emotional and hard hitting topics. Bruce and Farrah's relationship was so cute! A random meet cute and pining that lasts for a long time feels like the perfect recipe for a romance. Although I started reading with the last book in the series, this makes me all the more excited to read the others! I had a blast with this one, Nella was adorable and Bruce's relationship with Jackson was so sweet! I thought all of the content was handled very well and the chemistry was PERFECT. (Closed door: epilogue has a fade to black scene between a married couple.) I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Narration: Wow. I thought the dual narration and the narrators did an amazing job, especially the male narrator. He brought Bruce to life. The narrator for Farrah brought so much emotion to all of the right places.

ALSO AARON MARIANO AHHHHH (Iykyk).

CW's: Infertility and medical procedures

[Mar · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

I had two big issues with this one:
1. Making our heroine's whole personality the fact that she "might" not be able to have kids because she has PCOs and although the subject was treated well and the author took her time to explain it, I don't like that it was a huge part of the conflict between our MCs.
And 2. I'm tired of the "we can't date because your brother and I are besties" trope, and I didn't read the blurb, so that's on me, but in the year of 2025 why is that still a problem?
This was cute and time and had some very deep and heartwarming moments, but it felt like a filler book, and knowing this is the final book from a series I adored made me sad it ended like this.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Bruce is a sweet golden retriever who wants love and a family as all his friends have found their person.
Farrah has been married and hurt and struggles with her struggles to get pregnant.
I wish there was more depth to Bruce and more backstory for him. We learned a lot about Farrah and her backstory I wish there was more Bruce! But overall I enjoyed the story, a very cute rom com!

[Evers Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Scoop: a light fluffy hockey romance, PCOS storyline, FMC is the MMC's hockey captain's little sister.

Leah Brunner's books are liking eating an entire bag of powdered sugar donuts. At first it is fun and addicting, then you feel bored and sugar sweet packed out, and lastly, you surrender to it and give in to the stomach ache. The romance is SO heavy in the book. I really enjoyed the team and WAG scenes. Maybe more so than the romance storyline. My favorite romance parts were when they very first met in the first chapter of the book. I do think it went down from there.

Farrah is a really bad business partner, I hope Mel is receiving 90% of the profit, because she is doing 90% of the work. I am now looking for business partnerships where my only job is baking, while my partner does all the planning.

🤬 = frequent medium language
🌶 = lots of steamy kisses and innuendo. No sex.

🏆 = 3.5 stars

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK