Review — If You Claim Me by Helena Hunting
Helena Hunting delivers an absolute knockout with If You Claim Me! This is easily my favorite book in the series—equal parts tender, funny, and heartbreakingly beautiful.
Librarian Mildred “Dred” and NHL bad boy Connor Grace are a perfect pairing of sunshine and storm. What starts as a fake marriage to make his grandmother happy becomes a deeply emotional journey of love, forgiveness, and self-worth. Connor’s reputation as the league’s villain hides a man who’s been misunderstood and mistreated for years, and Dred’s quiet strength and compassion are exactly what he needs to believe he’s worthy of something real.
I loved everything about this book: the found family moments, the callbacks to past characters (Quinn! Lovey! Flip 🥹), and the gentle humor that balances out the heavier emotional beats. Dred’s resilience and Connor’s vulnerability had my heart in a vice from beginning to end.
The audiobook took an already fantastic read and made it unforgettable. Kat Auden and Jason Clarke are perfection together—the emotion, pacing, and chemistry come alive through their duet performance. (Listening speed: 1.25x | Length: 12h 45m)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 Narrated by Kat Auden & Jason Clarke (DUET)
Tropes & Vibes:
💍 Marriage of convenience
🏒 Hockey romance
📚 Librarian x billionaire athlete
☀️ Sunshine x grumpy
💔 Tortured hero redemption
🐹 Hedgehog pet (!!)
🏠 Found family
🔥 Spice that enhances the love story, not overshadows it
This book hit every note I love in a romance—heartfelt, spicy, and full of redemption. If You Claim Me is pure emotional magic.
✨ Verdict: My favorite of the series. Five swoony, heart-squeezing stars.
