REVIEW: Shoot Your Shot by Lexi LaFleur Brown

Shoot Your Shot by Lexi LaFleur Brown: NHL star Jaylen Jones is on a hot streak, and he’s convinced it’s all thanks to a one-night stand with a fiery tattoo artist named Lucy. When he finds himself facing a slump, he decides to track her down, believing she’s his good luck charm. But Lucy isn’t impressed by Jaylen’s fame or his superstitions—she’s perfectly content with her life and career, and she’s certainly not interested in being a hockey player’s lucky token. As their paths cross again, sparks fly, and the undeniable chemistry between them grows. But with Jaylen’s career on the line and Lucy struggling to balance her dreams with her heart, they’ll both have to face their fears and learn to trust in something bigger than luck. Can a game of chance lead to a winning love, or will they both miss the shot?

I am such a sucker for a good sports romance and this book definitely did not disappoint one bit! Shoot Your Shot is a fast-paced, steamy sports romance that blends the thrill of hockey with the heat of an unexpected love story. I loved the way that Brown explores how superstition, luck, and fate intertwine with love in this book, while also delivering plenty of passion and humor.

Jaylen was your typical male sports star, used to getting his way and showboating about his accomplishments. While he might come across as this arrogant, show off but beneath his bravado, he has some vulnerability, particularly when it comes to his belief in the “lucky” encounter with Lucy. We get to see him show his softer more natural side while he is with Lucy, especially while he is trying to prove to her that she is more than his good luck charm. It was really nice getting to see his character grow and realise that relationships take a lot of work and effort to be fruitful.

Now for our fiery tattoo artist leading lady, Lucy, she is tough, self-sufficient, and unapologetically herself. She’s not interested in being just another woman to fall into the orbit of a professional athlete. From the moment they meet, she is far from starstruck by Jaylen, which is refreshing for a sports romance. I really enjoyed getting to see her grow through the book from hiding behind witty remarks and humour, to embracing the possibility of allowing someone into her heart and all the fears and uncertainty that comes with this.

While their relationship is steamy and passionate, it often felt like it’s more about physical connection than emotional growth, especially in the beginning. The emotional depth of their bond only begins to develop later in the story, with Jaylen shifting from seeing Lucy as a mere lucky charm to recognizing her as someone he truly cares about. Meanwhile, Lucy comes to terms with her own fears of intimacy and self-worth. What I did like about their connection was that their dynamic is built on mutual respect and a push-pull of attraction and reluctance to be too dependent on one another which slowly grew into learning how to lean on each other instead of shouldering everything alone. I think there was a bit more room for both characters to grow more but it was still well written. I think my only issue with this book was that there were moments that the pacing felt a bit off but this was just a minor issue.

Shoot Your Shot is a fun and fast read if you’re looking for a lighthearted, steamy romance with a dash of sports superstition then this is the book for you!

Book Info:

Publication: March 11, 2025 | Canary Street Press |

When Jaylen Jones doesn’t secure an NHL contract at the end of training camp, he worries his hockey career is over. But after an anonymous one-night stand on his last night in town, his luck turns around and a last-minute roster spot opens up on the Seattle Rainiers. Connecting his fortune to the girl he spent the night with, superstitious Jaylen is suddenly desperate to keep her around.

Aspiring tattoo artist Lucy isn’t so sure about the proposition to remain Jaylen’s lucky charm—she’s been called a lot of things in her life, but good luck has never been one of them. But stuck in a career slump, Lucy has everything to gain. Hoping for an apprenticeship at a tattoo parlor hasn’t offered her much stability, and Jaylen is willing to pay any price to get Lucy to agree…so maybe sending him a routine text message before each game won’t be too hard.

What starts as an agreement to trade favors—a good luck text for an appearance at a charity event, or well wishes in exchange for prime game tickets—quickly turns into sizzling chemistry that’s too delicious not to give in to. But Lucy’s been in too many situationships to even think about getting attached again, and Jaylen is clearly only with Lucy as long as it’s helping his career…neither of them expecting getting lucky could be so complicated.