Face Off: A Novel (D.C. Stars)

This collectible paperback edition features full-color character art and a never-before-seen bonus chapter.

From USA TODAY bestselling author Chelsea Curto comes the first book in her hockey romance series DC Stars, a steamy rivals-to-lovers romance between an NHL player and her team’s captain.

Emerson “Emmy” Hartwell has spent her entire career fighting for a place in the NHL. Now, she’s finally earned a spot with the struggling DC Stars, and she’s determined to make the most of it.

Maverick Miller is the best player in the league, but even his talent hasn’t been enough to turn the Stars into winners. As team captain, he’s desperate to change turn things around, which means keeping the peace with the team’s fiery new left-winger—even if the two of them clash at every turn.

But when the tension between them reaches a tipping point and they fall into bed together, Emmy and Maverick agree it was a one-time mistake to get the distraction out of their systems so they can focus on the season. After all, Emmy doesn’t date hockey players, and Maverick—infamous for his playboy reputation—doesn’t date anyone.

Except…what should’ve happened just once happens again, then again. They tell each other their friends with benefits arrangement is only for the season. But despite facing off on the ice, behind closed doors, the pair is nothing but fire.

Chelsea Curto is the USA Today best-selling author of banter-filled romance novels that highlight strong women and the men obsessed with them. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time between the Northeast and Florida while daydreaming about what book she’s going to write next.

Follow her on:

Instagram: @authorchelseacurto

TikTok: @chelseareadsandwrites

Face Off by Chelsea Curto is a contemporary sports romance that blends emotional vulnerability, chemistry, and the familiar push and pull of two people trying hard not to fall for each other. At its heart, the story follows characters who are drawn together by circumstance and attraction, but who both carry personal baggage that makes opening up feel risky. Like many strong romance novels in the sports setting, the book is not really just about hockey or competition—it is about trust, healing, fear, desire, and learning how to let someone in when life has taught you to stay guarded.

The novel centers on a relationship that develops in a setting full of intensity, discipline, and public pressure. The male lead carries the confidence and energy you would expect from an athlete, but beneath that exterior he is more emotionally layered than he first appears. He is used to control, performance, and keeping his personal life somewhat separate from the rest of the world. The female lead brings her own strength, but hers is often quieter and more internal. She is not simply there to admire him or get swept away by his charm. Instead, she has her own reasons for being cautious, and that caution gives the romance its tension and emotional depth. Their connection grows through banter, reluctant closeness, and a series of moments where what starts as attraction begins turning into something harder to deny.

One of the most engaging parts of the story is the way the relationship unfolds gradually. There is a magnetic pull between the two leads from early on, but the book does not treat romance as instant emotional certainty. Instead, it shows how feelings can grow in messy, complicated ways. They resist each other at times, misread each other at times, and struggle with the difference between what they want and what they believe they can handle. This gives the novel a grounded quality, because their emotional conflict feels rooted in insecurity and lived experience rather than simple misunderstanding for the sake of drama. Their interactions are shaped by longing, frustration, humor, and the fear of getting hurt, which makes the eventual intimacy feel earned rather than rushed.

Chelsea Curto writes the emotional side of romance in a way that feels accessible and easy to sink into. The characters are attractive and compelling, but they also feel human in their flaws. The hero may seem sure of himself in public, yet he reveals tenderness, protectiveness, and genuine emotional need in private moments. The heroine is not written as weak just because she is careful with her heart. In fact, some of the strength of the story comes from how she holds back until she feels safe enough to trust what is happening between them. That emotional slowness creates room for meaningful character development, and it helps the reader understand why their bond matters.

The sports backdrop adds energy and structure to the story. Hockey, with its physicality and adrenaline, mirrors the emotional stakes of the romance. There is pressure, competition, reputation, and the need to stay composed even when emotions are running high. This environment helps shape the hero’s identity and gives the relationship external pressures beyond just personal hesitation. The fast-paced sports world also contrasts nicely with the quieter emotional moments between the leads, making scenes of vulnerability feel more intimate. Even readers who are not especially interested in sports can still enjoy the novel, because the athletic setting supports the romance without overwhelming it.

Another strength of the book is its tone. It balances emotional angst with charm and warmth, which keeps the story from feeling too heavy. There are likely moments of flirtation, teasing, and chemistry that make the relationship entertaining, while the deeper emotional beats give it substance. This is often what makes sports romance so satisfying when done well: the reader gets both the fantasy of a charismatic athlete and the emotional payoff of seeing two wounded or hesitant people choose each other. **Face Off** seems to fit comfortably into that space, offering a romance that feels both escapist and emotionally sincere.

The conflict in the novel comes not only from external complications but also from the internal barriers both characters carry. Each of them has expectations, fears, or past disappointments that affect how they approach love. This means the story is not just asking whether they are attracted to each other, but whether they are emotionally ready to take the risk of something real. Their journey involves confronting assumptions, being honest about desire, and deciding whether vulnerability is worth the possibility of pain. That emotional struggle is what gives the romance its payoff. When characters have to work through real fear to choose love, the ending tends to feel more satisfying.

In simple terms, **Face Off** is a story about two people who are strongly drawn to each other but must move past emotional walls before they can have a real relationship. It offers the appeal of a sports romance—confidence, passion, physical chemistry, and a high-energy setting—while also focusing on softer emotional themes like trust, protection, and personal healing. The romance develops through tension-filled interactions and growing closeness, making the characters’ connection feel believable and rewarding. Readers who enjoy stories with emotionally guarded characters, strong chemistry, and a blend of spice and heart will likely find the book enjoyable.

Overall, the novel delivers what many readers look for in contemporary romance: a compelling couple, emotional tension, moments of vulnerability, and the promise of love that feels earned through struggle and honesty. Chelsea Curto appears to build the story around the emotional evolution of the relationship rather than relying only on dramatic twists, which gives the book a more intimate feel. Face Off is ultimately about more than attraction. It is about what happens when two people who are used to protecting themselves begin to realize that love might require them to take off the armor they have been wearing for a long time. If you enjoy sports romance with heart, chemistry, and emotional growth, this book is likely to leave a satisfying impression.