The Book I Love: July 2026

Thursday, July 2, 2026

Book review: KNIGHTS LIKE THESE, by Kendall Ryan

Off the Ice #3

Archer & Sydney

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I would just like to say this book was beautiful. Of the whole series so far, this one touched me the most. It had layers, feelings, quiet heartbreak, and the kind of slow‑burn love that stays with you long after you finish.

This is one of the best friends‑to‑lovers stories I’ve ever read. Sydney has loved Archer since she was fourteen, and you can feel that history in every page. She loved him from the moment he walked into her ballet class as a quiet, intense teenager. Their lives stayed intertwined through college, relationships, marriage, heartbreak, and parenthood. All that history made their story feel rich and lived‑in, earned.

The twins were a delight. Lily with her wild energy and tiny‑litigator attitude, and Luke with his quiet seriousness and love for marine life. They added so much heart to the story. And I loved how much they loved Sydney!

Archer’s journey was emotional. He’s a man who hides behind “safe choices,” and watching him finally face his truth was powerful. Sydney’s growth was just as meaningful—finding her purpose, her joy, and her place in Archer’s world.

I should also mention Lauren, Sydney’s friend from back home. Initially I didn’t love her because I found her too meddling, too bossy—but by the end, she surprised me. She showed real compassion when Sydney was unraveling, and her kindness mattered. And I think we’ll see her in a future book, too!

This book had nuance, tenderness, humor, and a whole hockey family that made everything richer. A gorgeous slow burn with a payoff that felt earned. Five stars, easily.

Purchase links

Kindle: https://amzn.to/4nH9QGy

Goodreads: https://geni.us/grknights

About the author

Kendall Ryan writes contemporary romance. Her books have been featured on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestsellers lists a combined total of more than 100 times.

Connect with Kendall:

➜ WEBSITE www.kendallryanbooks.com

➜ NEWSLETTER www.kendallryanbooks.com/newsletter

➜ FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/kendallryanbooks

➜ INSTAGRAM www.instagram.com/kendallryan1

➜ TWITTER www.twitter.com/kendallryan1

Book review: ICE COLD CHEMISTRY, by Kendall Ryan

Off the Ice #2

Banks & Winnie

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A tender, protective, slow‑building romance that feels like healing, this book gave me everything I love in a romance: a woman rebuilding herself, a man who feels too closed‑off to love, and the slow, careful way they find safety in each other.

Winnie starts fresh with a new job and strict rules for herself after a painful past. She wants peace, confidence, and a life where she doesn’t shrink for anyone. But her first days at work are rough — too many immature men who don’t know how to behave, too many comments that make her feel small again. And just when she thinks she has to deal with it alone, someone steps in.

Banks.

When the sleaze Grayson Reed goes too far, Banks steps in. Not loudly, not dramatically — just with that quiet authority that shuts a whole room down. And when he sees Winnie shaken one day, he decides he’s done watching from the sidelines. He offers to be her fake boyfriend to protect her from the players’ behavior, and the moment they test it at lunch, everything changes. The room goes silent. The guys behave. The yoga class finally becomes what it should be. And Winnie gets to breathe again.

He’s quiet, broody, and looks like he’s always one second away from growling at someone. But underneath all that is a man who has lived a life full of instability and loneliness, and it shows. He doesn’t talk much, he doesn’t let people close, and he definitely doesn’t know what to do when he meets someone who makes him feel something real.

Their connection grows in small, gentle moments — the kind that sneak up on you. He protects her without making her feel weak. She softens him without forcing him to change. They start to trust each other, to open up, to feel seen for the first time. And the more time they spend together, the more you feel that warm, steady pull between them.

There are challenges, misunderstandings, and moments where old fears try to ruin something good. But what makes this story beautiful is how they work through it. Winnie learns she deserves someone who shows up. Banks learns that not everyone leaves. And together, they build something that feels safe, sweet, and full of hope.

By the end, you’re smiling because these two finally get the love they’ve always needed — a love that feels like home.

What I loved:

Winnie came from pain and found someone who gave her safety, joy, and a place to stand tall. Banks came from abandonment and found someone who stayed, who loved him, who made him believe he deserved a home. They healed each other in quiet, steady ways. They learned, trusted, and built something real. And Banks discovered that family isn’t always blood — sometimes it’s the people who choose you and stay.

A tender, protective, emotional romance that made me smile, ache, and cheer for these two. A perfect five‑star read.