Next Best Swing by Shann McPherson

 

Not so long ago, Brookes Devereaux was the world number one golfer. Now, fresh out of rehab, his comeback is not quite according to plan, and he's seriously starting to worry that the old Brookes is gone for good, and what's left is nothing more than a 32-year-old washed-up has-been. When faced with the real threat of losing his tour card, Brookes and his management team are left scrambling. But, with a litter help from his meddling 80-year-old bestie, Brookes decides that Poppy Crawford, the curvy cart girl with endless sunshine and spunk, might just be what he needs to help him improve his image. Brookes and Poppy come to an arrange; she agrees to be his fake girlfriend for the summer, and he'll pay her enough money that she'll finally be able to get out of her ex-boyfriend's apartment. It's the perfect deal: Brookes isn't at all interested in her or a relationship, and Poppy needs money to help turn her small business into a dream career. But when Poppy helps Brookes find himself again, and Brookes helps Poppy fight the demons from her past that she's kept hidden from everyone, the two grow closer. And when the lines between real and fake, and right and wrong begin to blur, Brookes finds himself wondering if what he didn't want, might exactly what he needs. Next Best Swing by Shann McPherson was published on April 9th, 2026. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Shann McPherson and The Smuthood. I want to first explain that I know every little bit about golf so this was all new to me. Though, since I didn't know much about golf I was not lost in the book. Golf was only a small part of the plot of the story. I absolutely loved this book. I loved Poppy and her spunky behavior and Brookes grumpy behavior. I absolutely hated another character in this book as he made me uneasy just like he did to Poppy. The author knew how to make sure that the other character came across the reader so well that it makes you feel uneasy by his behavior. I loved how Poppy and Brookes were not instantly in love. It took time through the book for them to get to the point of past friends. The smut scenes were sweet and did not overpower the plot of the story. The plot of the story flowed really well from each scene and I felt like by the end of the book a lot of my questions were answered. I highly recommend checking out this book. I for one will read more books by Shann McPherson. 

Tropes 

Sports - Golf 

Fake Dating 

Forced Proximity 

Friends to Lovers 

Grumpy Sunshine 

Slow Burn 

Happy Ever After (New York Thunder #4) by Shann McPherson

 

Two words describe Happy Slater; unserious and slutty. The second line defenseman, son of a former supermodel and a rockstar, is known for a good time and not a lot else. But sometimes appearances can be deceiving, and it's often the ones we least expect that are hiding the biggest secrets. Hannah Draper, daughter of New York Thunder head coach, Lance Draper, has officially had it with men. Forced to wait in the rain for an Uber that never shows, that is driven by - yep - a man, it only proves her point that all men suck. During her time of need, the last person Hannah wants to accept help from is Happy Slater, but desperate times often lead to terrible mistakes. After an unexpected night of hate-filled passion, they part ways only to find themselves brought back together again, and again, and again. Just when Hannah thinks she's got Happy figured out, he opens up his heart and shares his deepest secrets with her. This new side to the once insufferable member of her dad's hockey team has her cold heart thawing and her resolve to cancel all men starts to slip. But as the unlikely pair try to navigate their foreign feelings together, ghosts from their past start to surface, threatening everything. Happy Ever After by Shann McPherson will be published January 14th, 2026. This is book four of the New York Thunder series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Shann McPherson and The Smuthood. I fell in love with this series from Best Kept Secret. I thought that was going to be the high of the series but in reality I think this book took over the stop. This book had me giggling and crying, and squealing. I absolutely loved Hannah in this book. I felt like she grew as the character in this book. Then there is Happy....omg I think he has such a unique name. Anyways, I loved him and really could not see him as a Playboy in the book. So when the truth of his secret comes out I was not surprised. Though, the secret really sent me in a frenzy. I loved the plot in this book. Yes, it's fast paced and they fall in love quickly but the characters have known each other before this book. Also sometimes it's fun to read a fast paced book. I highly recommend checking out this book. I for sure need to read the other books in this series. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"Are you going to be able to fuck me if I let you come right now, or are you a pathetic one-hit wonder?" 

"Oh, fuck yes, good boy!" 

"I'm going to suck your cock so you'll stop being such a downer." 

New York Thunder Series 

1. Famous Last Words

2. One Night Only

3. Best Kept Secret 

4. Happy Ever After 

Tropes

Sports Romance - Hockey

He Falls First 

Single Dad

Best Kept Secret (The New York Thunder #3) by Shann McPherson

 

If there's one thing Logan Cullen is good at, it's hockey. With an ex-NHL player with impossibly high standards as a father, there was never any other option. If there's another thing Logan Cullen is good at, it's hiding the truth. But when the shine of being one of the best in the league starts to fade, the dull brings out the scars he's learned to hide so well. There's only so much fame, women, and money can blur before he's left wondering how much longer he can keep up the facade. That is until he meets the one person's who's off limits. After spending a night with his teammate's little sister, Logan feels like maybe there's more to all this than hockey. But then, as it always does, fate plays a cruel hand and he unwittingly manages to screw everything up. Best Kept Secret by Shann McPherson was published September 18th, 2025. This is the third book in the New York Thunder series. 

So I was asked for my honest review from The Smuthood and from Shann McPherson. I was iffy about this book by the cover. I know that's a huge shocker, but I am so glad that I decided to sign up to read it. I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. It took me a few days to read it and I could not put it down. The two main characters Logan and Millie I fell in love with both of them right from the start. Both characters had strengths and they had failures based on their individual past. I loved how Millie needed to be a rock for Logan. Usually in books that I have read it's usually the guy who needs to be a rock. This book is so sweet and yes, there is some spice but it's really tame based on other books that I have read. The only thing is I felt like it jumped from each character's point of view a lot in this book. I felt like it kept the book fast past rather than slow with a build up. But I highly recommend this book and I can't wait to read more by Shann McPherson. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"Logan, my ex is there. He's drunk. Possibly even high....Showing up with you is only going to cause...trouble." 

"Good thing I know how to fight then, huh?" 

"This is so against the rules...Messing around with the a teammate's sister....Fuck the Rules." 

"Millie, I'm not fucking playing...I want you waiting outside next to the bouncers in eleven fucking minutes, or I will come in there, throw you over my shoulder and carry your drunk ass out. You wanna test me, babe?" 

What if he has a bad habit? Like drinking milk straight from the carton or, I don't know, picking up prostitutes and carving their bodies into pieces with a chainsaw. 

"Who did this to you?" 

New York Thunder Series 

1. Famous Last Words 

2. One Night Only

3. Best Kept Secret 

4. Happy Ever After

Tropes 

Forced Proximity

Second Chance

Sports Romance - Hockey

Best Friend's Sister 

Virgin 

Secret