Beyond the Stroke by Erin Hawkins
Releasing May 30, 2025
Rating: LOVED

Beyond the Stroke is yet another fun, steamy romance from Erin Hawkins, who’s quickly becoming a go-to romcom author for me!

Artist Summer escaped her emotionally abusive family and fiancé, got a camper van, and ended up waiting tables and walking dogs in a small coastal Carolina town. Although she comes from a wealthy family, she’s on her own and struggling to make ends meet, especially with her asthma and no health insurance.

Decorated Olympic swimmer Rory is recovering from injury and training to make it to one more Olympics before he has to call it a career, but his meddling parents and ex-girlfriend are conspiring to make his life miserable and get him to settle down. What he wouldn’t give to get them off his back!

When Summer and Rory come crashing together, a wave of protectiveness (and attraction)  comes over him, and a marriage of convenience is born beyond the stroke! Summer does everything she can to push him away—after experiencing her family and ex, she’s seen there’s no such thing as happily ever after and knows true love isn’t in the cards for her…

Loved Beyond the Stroke! Summer and Rory are such genuinely good people—they have their flaws but I just adore them both. Rory’s protective, loving, and playful spirit break down Summer’s walls and help her confidence after her family destroyed it. Summer helps show Rory there’s beauty in life beyond swimming. Add in the swimming crew, small town characters, and adorable dogs, and it had a fantastic found family vibe too.  

If you’re looking for a lighthearted and fun read with truly loveable characters plus some hot steamy scenes, check out Beyond the Stroke.

Thank you to Pen Palm PR for my advance copy of Beyond the Stroke! All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Rating: 4.5
Themes and Tropes: Sports Romance (swimming), Golden Retriever MMC, Artist FMC, Small Town, Slow Burn, Marriage of Convenience, Found Family
Steam: Medium 
Pair With: Wine from the Carolinas

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