{"title":"Shelly's Picks","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"you-should-be-so-lucky","title":"You Should Be So Lucky","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn emotional, slow-burn, grumpy\/sunshine, queer mid-century romance for fans of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eEvvie Drake Starts Over\u003c\/em\u003e, about grief and found family, between the new star shortstop stuck in a batting slump and the reporter assigned to (reluctantly) cover his first season—\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eset in the same universe as\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eWe Could Be So Good\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 1960 baseball season is shaping up to be the worst year of Eddie O’Leary’s life. He can’t manage to hit the ball, his new teammates hate him, he’s living out of a suitcase, and he’s homesick. When the team’s owner orders him to give a bunch of interviews to some snobby reporter, he’s ready to call it quits. He can barely manage to behave himself for the length of a game, let alone an entire season. But he’s already on thin ice, so he has no choice but to agree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMark Bailey is\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003enot\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003ea sports reporter. He writes for the arts page, and these days he’s barely even managing to do that much. He’s had a rough year and just wants to be left alone in his too-empty apartment, mourning a partner he’d never been able to be public about. The last thing he needs is to spend a season writing about New York’s obnoxious new shortstop in a stunt to get the struggling newspaper more readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIsolated together within the crush of an anonymous city, these two lonely souls orbit each other as they slowly give in to the inevitable gravity of their attraction. But Mark has vowed that he’ll never be someone’s secret ever again, and Eddie\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003ecan’t\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ebe out as a professional athlete. It’s just them against the world, and they’ll both have to decide if that’s enough.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cat Sebastian","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":53085724475686,"sku":"9780063272804","price":23.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/4221\/5462\/files\/IMG-0368_caa43d01-8bff-42ee-89a6-20654ff9f2c6.jpg?v=1733440729"},{"product_id":"the-wingman","title":"The Wingman","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthor: Stephanie Archer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eIn this steamy hockey romance, an extrovert NHL player with secret feelings coaches his shy best friend in dating—from the viral TikTok author of\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold a-text-italic\"\u003e Behind the Net\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold a-text-italic\"\u003eThe Fake Out\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShy, newly single Darcy Andersen needs to gain confidence in relationships, and who’s going to help her? Hayden Owens—the hottest defenseman in pro hockey, her outgoing best friend, and her new dating coach.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHayden teaches her the art of being a player, but convinces her to practice with him. They’ve been friends for years, but their flirting lessons and practice kisses push the bounds of friendship. They’re roommates but sleeping in the same bed. He buys her a toy as a favor . . . but helps her use it. All that relationship stuff Hayden’s always avoided? He doesn’t seem to mind it anymore.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRule number one of being a player is no attachments, but when Hayden sees her picking up other guys, he’s jealous enough that Darcy wonders . . . maybe her wingman’s been waiting for her all along.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eDon’t miss any of Stephanie Archer’s steamy Vancouver Storm series: BEHIND THE NET • THE FAKE OUT • THE WINGMAN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hopeless Romantic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50158912864550,"sku":"9798217091140","price":24.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/4221\/5462\/files\/TheWingman.jpg?v=1740062816"},{"product_id":"role-model","title":"Role Model (PRE-ORDER, NOT IN STOCK)","description":"\u003cp\u003eBook 5 of 6: Game Changers\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuthor: Rachel Reid\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eUSA TODAY\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling author Rachel Reid's next Game Changers hockey romance sees a grumpy professional hockey player meet his match in an out-and-proud social media manager…\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe hits just keep coming for Troy Barrett. Traded to the worst team in the league would be bad enough, but coming on the heels of a messy breakup \u003cem\u003eand\u003c\/em\u003e a recent scandal… Troy just wants to play hockey and be left alone. He definitely doesn’t want to “work on his online presence” with the team’s peppy social media manager.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHarris Drover can tell standoffish Troy isn’t happy about the trade, but Harris doesn’t give up on people easily. Even when he’s developing a crush he’s sure is one-sided. And when he sees Troy’s smile finally crack through his grumpy exterior… That’s a man Harris couldn’t turn his back on if he wanted to.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSuddenly, Troy’s move to the new team feels like an opportunity—for Troy to embrace his true self, and for both men to explore their growing attraction. But being together behind closed doors is one thing, and for Troy, being in a public relationship with Harris will mean facing off with his fears, once and for all.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hopeless Romantic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50956622889254,"sku":"9781335534613","price":23.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/4221\/5462\/files\/rolemodel.jpg?v=1753997719"},{"product_id":"king-of-wrath","title":"King of Wrath","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: \u003c\/strong\u003eAna Huang\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eGods of Sin - Book 1\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e--\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e*A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER*\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn arranged marriage billionaire romance standalone from New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Ana Huang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShe was my North Star, the brightest jewel in my sky.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRuthless. Meticulous. Arrogant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBillionaire CEO Dante Russo thrives on control, both personally and professionally.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe never planned to marry…until the threat of blackmail forces him into an engagement with a woman he barely knows.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVivian Lau, jewelry heiress and daughter of his newest enemy. The wife he never wanted, and the weakness he never saw coming.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt doesn't matter how beautiful or charming she is. Dante will do everything in his power to destroy the blackmail and their betrothal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere's only one problem: now that he has her, he can't bring himself to let her go.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e***\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElegant. Ambitious. Well-mannered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVivian Lau is the perfect daughter and her family's ticket into the highest echelons of society.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMarrying a blue-blooded Russo means opening doors that would otherwise remain closed to her new-money parents.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile the rude, elusive Dante isn't her idea of a dream partner, she agrees to their arranged marriage out of duty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCraving his touch was never part of the plan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNeither was the worst possible outcome: falling in love with her future husband.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ana Huang","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":53122233827622,"sku":"9781728289724","price":25.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/4221\/5462\/files\/Screenshot2025-10-17at10.41.00AM.png?v=1760712072"},{"product_id":"9780063429581","title":"Star Shipped","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor: \u003c\/strong\u003eCat Sebastian\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCat Sebastian’s long-awaited foray into contemporary romance! A witty, emotional, and deliciously slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance between two costars on a popular sci-fi television series.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSimon and Charlie, actors on a long-running sci-fi show, can’t stand one another. Charlie is impetuous, outgoing, and basically feral, and Simon thinks he should have stayed in reality television where he belongs. They’ve spent the better part of a decade quarreling over the spotlight and pretty much everything else, and everybody in the industry knows it. Now that Simon’s contract is finally done, he can move to New York, start fresh with work he actually likes, and get away from Charlie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSimon’s only problem is that people might assume he’s been pushed off the show due to being impossible to work with. And he \u003cem\u003eis \u003c\/em\u003ekind of difficult to work with. He doesn’t get along with people—unlike Charlie, who somehow tricked everyone on the show into adoring him despite some outrageously bad on-set behavior during the show’s first season. Simon would rather never have to see Charlie again, but reluctantly agrees to stage a very public friendship during the short time before he moves. When Charlie has to leave town to deal with a family emergency, this means Simon comes along. Their road trip brings Simon to places he would never have willingly chosen to visit—and he finds he’s actually not having a terrible time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe more he gets to know Charlie, the more Simon suspects he’s underestimated his former coworker. Simon also realizes that after seven years, Charlie might know him better than anyone ever has. Even stranger, Charlie seems to be starting to actually like him, despite knowing him so well. Still, Simon is about to move three thousand miles away, so whatever’s starting between him and Charlie can’t really amount to anything... right?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTropes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnemies to Lovers\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOpposites Attract\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eForced Proximity\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSlow Burn\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cat Sebastian","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":53085719527718,"sku":"9780063429581","price":24.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/4221\/5462\/files\/BNCImageAPI_fd86f24d-24a3-4c1c-b821-028411321177.jpg?v=1770775730"},{"product_id":"9798217180707","title":"Bromantasy (Deluxe Edition)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor: \u003c\/b\u003eMaire Roche\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTwo heroes. One brain cell.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBROMANTASY is a cozy, queer fantasy about the mortifying ordeal of being known by your totally platonic best friend and the epic quest that might force you to confront the truth.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis deluxe limited first run edition will feature beautifully designed colored edges—while supplies last!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eFellas, is it gay to kiss your bff while on a quest through the forest you’re unqualified for?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJuniper O'Reilly is good at only two things: demolishing a pint of mead and finding the perfect skincare routine. Everything else—taking care of the farm, bartering for goods, any sort of manual labor—falls to Juniper’s best friend, the absurdly capable, endlessly patient Mo Elmthorn.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut when Juniper accidentally volunteers them both for a quest to kill a fearsome monster, he knows he’s finally gotten in over his head. Juniper \u003ci\u003ehates \u003c\/i\u003ecamping, he \u003ci\u003ehates \u003c\/i\u003ethe dark, and there’s \u003ci\u003eno way\u003c\/i\u003e all these foraged mushrooms are going to sit well in his stomach. One thing he \u003ci\u003edoesn’t \u003c\/i\u003ehate? How good Mo’s thighs look in his questing pants—he doesn’t have \u003ci\u003etime\u003c\/i\u003e to think about that, though, with a monster to hunt and their futures on the line.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut monsters come in all shapes and sizes. When Juniper and Mo realize that the terrifying beast they’ve sworn to kill is just a scared little girl torn from her family, they’re off to find not only the true villain of the story, but maybe even a happy ending.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Máire Roche","offers":[{"title":"Deluxe Edition","offer_id":52999889551654,"sku":"9798217180707","price":28.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/4221\/5462\/files\/BNCImageAPI_e86c0eac-4ea3-44fb-a69f-a39fa98fc2a6.jpg?v=1775855119"},{"product_id":"9798347038992","title":"His Tesoro (Deluxe Limited Edition)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor\u003c\/strong\u003e: Emilia Rossi\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEmpire of Royals - Book 1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eBest of #BookTok: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold a-text-italic\"\u003eOnce she dreamed of love. Now her future is just another deal struck in blood.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSofiya Ivanova spent years locked away due to her father’s disdain at having a defective daughter. The head of the Bratva can’t be associated with weakness―and to him, that’s all she is. That is, until a marriage alliance gives him the opportunity to use her as a pawn in his game.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs Sofiya heads down the aisle, she carries a fragile hope that she might find freedom, belonging, even \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003elove\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e on the other side of this business arrangement. But her new husband makes it brutally clear he wants nothing to do with her. Despite his coldness, she can’t deny her attraction to the handsome Don . . . especially when she glimpses the caring man beneath his harsh exterior.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMatteo Rossi’s life has been defined by betrayal. After a traitor murdered his parents, he clawed his way to his rightful place as Don of the Italian Mafia. Now, with enemies closing in from all sides, he’ll do whatever it takes to maintain control of New York City―including taking Sofiya as his wife. Except, he never expected \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eher:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e the sweet, sunny bride consuming his every thought.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut when the delicate trust between them splinters, Matteo will stop at nothing to protect his empire . . . even if it means risking the woman who’s stolen his heart.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Emilia Rossi","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52855133438246,"sku":"9798347038992","price":25.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/4221\/5462\/files\/81Qralti7NL._SY466.jpg?v=1774627620"}],"url":"https:\/\/hopelessromanticbooks.ca\/collections\/shellys-picks.oembed","provider":"Hopeless Romantic","version":"1.0","type":"link"}