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Top Shelf Stud by Kate Meader
Release Date: February 24, 2026
Series: Chicago Players #3
Pages: 446
Genres: Sports, Romance
The snail doc wants a baby. I volunteered to do the deed. But it isn’t long before I realize a “donation” will never be enough. I want to be a dad, but most of all, I want her.
Franky
When confronted with the cold, hard facts of her diminishing chances to be a mom, what’s a woman of science to do?
Make a spreadsheet of eligible donors, of course.
Finding a man for life is not in the cards, but one for this singular purpose? I can do that. As the daughter of a Chicago Rebels legend and an expert in the field of gastropods—more commonly known as snails and slugs—I have plenty of choices in the worlds of both hockey and academia. The selection process should be easy, especially as my methodology has already eliminated several options, including Jason Isner, childhood nemesis and recently acquired defenseman for the Rebels. I’ve always considered him arrogant, cruel, and to be honest, not the brightest bulb.
I’m rarely wrong. But I might have been mistaken about Jason . . .
Jason
I surprised even myself when I offered to be Franky St. James’s baby daddy, but fatherhood has been a dream of mine forever. If I can achieve my goal without the hassle of a relationship, even better. I won’t be one of those “pump and dump” donors, though. I want the whole package: nighttime feedings, shopping for cute onesies, teaching my kid to skate. I’m in it for life, and as Franky and I travel this road together, I start to imagine what that life might look like. Not just a baby, but a family of my own.
The thing is, the doc has all sorts of hypotheses about jocks and relationships, and it’s going to take a lot of persuasion—sexy and otherwise—to prove her wrong. She might think the mating rituals of her beloved snails are the only “coupling” worth studying, but I’m determined to show her that when it comes to seeking a mate, this player is as driven as any species in the animal kingdom.
Because making a baby is just the beginning . . .
* She needs a sperm donor * Hockey romance * STEM heroine who studies snails * Childhood nemesis * Enemies to lovers * She watches him make his "donation" * Her brain turns him on * Spicy
My Review:
As a world- famous malacologist, Franky St. James has made it her mission to study everything there is to know about slugs and snails. She is at the the top of her career while giving lectures at Lakeshore University. Franky also happens to come from a well-known hockey family, the Chicago Rebels. In her world, she has everything she could possibly want, except for the fact that she is getting older and her time to be able to conceive safely is running out. With her sister already married and having babies, Franky yearns to be a mom. So, as the scientist that she is, she develops a list of potential candidates that would potentially make good donors. The only thing left to do is to go around and start crossing off her list.
That proves to be easier said than done, after getting rejected it takes her by surprise when her childhood nemesis volunteers to be her donor. On the condition that he would like the be involved as the dad as much as possible, throwing Franky off completely. She never expected for Jason Isner to want to be involved, after all they don’t have the best of relationships. Especially after what he called her all those years ago, making her feel odd and unwanted. But it’s been years since that encounter and making him prove that he is the perfect donor is on the agenda, Franky wasn’t expecting to fall for her childhood nemesis in the process.
Having recently signed with the Chicago Rebels, Jason Isner, is ready to make a name for himself with his new team. After going through a rough break up, he is not interested in a relationship at all. His focus is on the game and giving it his all to his team. Until he hears that Franky is looking for a donor with no strings attached in order for her to be a mom. There has always been something about Franky that felt intimidating, he was the jock growing up while she was glued to her snails/slugs. They never got along, but a part of him always wanted to prove that he could be more than just a hockey player. There is also a part of him that wants to be a dad and he can’t let that opportunity go by without convincing Franky that he is the best option. Little does Jason know that his life was about to change forever.
I absolutely loved reading Top Shelf Stud! From the character development to the writing, this story truly had me falling for the characters. They are completely opposites who have a lot in common, so they are able to relate to one another. Making a baby turns into steamy late nights and it’s when the lines are crossed that they have to make a decision not to fall for each other. They also need to navigate how everyone around them is going to perceive their arrangement. They’ve always been nemesis, but Jason is ready to prove that he is it for her. I loved how Jason quickly became Franky’s protector, no matter how much Franky tried to push him away. I loved them together, the ending was really sweet. I would highly recommend checking out this story, I can’t wait to read more from the author in the future! :)
***I received an advanced copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.***
My Rating:
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