Read Your Writes Book Reviews: New Release ~ DIRTY HIT by Livy Hart

Dirty Hit (Portland Fury, #1)
by: Livy Hart
Series: Portland Fury
Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance
Release Date: February 2, 2026
Publisher: Entangled ~ Amara

Gender-bent TED LASSO meets THE DEAL in a new grumpy/sunshine hockey romance from bestselling author Livy Hart.

When a career-ending injury forces hockey superstar Sadie Rivers to hang up her skates, she never expects to be the NHL’s first female coach. The Portland Fury are the league’s worst team—and Sadie has one season to turn the franchise around. Critics of her “soft touch” coaching style make no secret of their skepticism, but Sadie has never bucked a challenge, on or off the ice.

Defenseman Leo McLaren is hockey royalty. Or he was, until a dirty hit last season left him with a shoulder injury and migraines that have destroyed his game. When he’s traded to the Fury, it feels like the end of his hockey dreams. That is, until the new head coach names him captain—and asks for his help getting to know the team, who resist her personal approach.

Secret coach-captain meet-ups lead to a tentative friendship that quickly turns into sizzling chemistry hot enough to melt a hockey rink. But with the season and both their careers on the line, Sadie and Leo will have to decide if love is a risk worth taking when the game they’re playing demands all they have to give.

Perfect for fans of Elle Kennedy and Emily Rath, DIRTY HIT is an emotional, super-spicy sports romance and the start of the Portland Fury series!

Content Warnings: Dirty Hit is a funny, sexy, feel-good hockey romance with an HEA. However, the story includes elements that might not be suitable for all readers. Our heroine has to confront misogyny and verbal harassment both online and IRL, and because this is a hockey romance, there are descriptions of injuries incurred during gameplay. This book also celebrates explicit, consensual sex. Readers who may be sensitive to these elements, please take note.

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Romance author Livy Hart has two children, too many Funko Pops, and a husband who’s workin’ on the railroad—literally. She currently resides in Dallas, Texas where she enjoys long walks on the concrete and people-watching at malls so big they have their own zip codes. When she’s not writing, she’s bickering with her KitchenAid stand mixer, road-tripping to her sleepy Florida hometown, or sipping espresso on her Nonna’s porch.

Places to find Livy Hart:

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram | Amazon Author Page