Mile High: Windy City Book 1

That post–book glow after Mile High is REAL. You’re so right—yes, it’s long, but somehow Liz Tomforde makes it comfortable long. Like sinking into a couch you never want to get up from. The pacing, the banter, the slow emotional build? Chef’s kiss. Evan Zanders 😮‍🔥 The way his public image vs. private self was written?? UGH. That soft, protective, quietly broken athlete energy?? No one does it like him. And his chemistry with Stevie—so natural, so warm, so earned. You don’t just read them, you believe them. And STEVIE 😭 She’s strong, grounded, kind without being a pushover. The air hostess + athlete pairing loved it 🩷. Now let’s talk about Ryan because SAME. The man walked into the book and said “Hi, I’m your next book boyfriend” 🤭and left no crumbs. Hot, charming, secretly emotional, and a whole personality of his own. The way he’s set up? Criminally good. And the FOUND FAMILY?? The teammates, the friendships, the banter—it all just wraps around you. Every side character felt alive, not just filler. If Mile High was a “great start of the year” book, that’s because it’s one of those: comfort read ✔️ emotionally satisfying ✔️ swoony but grounded ✔️ makes you stare at the wall after finishing ✔️ Also… yes. The cover. The vibes. The writing. Everything just hits.

Do I think Evan Zanders is the bestestestestestestestest of all the book-boyfriends ever written? YES... Have you ever read a book and thought, 'Man, I'd really like a partner who's exactly like this MC?' (let's be honest, we all lust after Jeremy Volkovs and Aeros but IRL? lol no!) But Evan Zanders? Yes, please. I'd be lucky to have a partner like him. He'd be the mentally stable one with all the healthy communication. Because Evan FREAKING Zanders is the god of book boyfriends. My oh my, this man... >He is sorted enough to understand his vices, flaws, strengths, shortcomings, and feelings. >>Because he actively goes to therapy. >>>And he works on himself. >>>>And is intuitive and puts in active effort to understand his partner's insecurities and give her the reassurance she requires. >>>>>AND pushes her to be her best mentally healthy self. >>>>>>He is also an active advocate for mental health. >>>>>>>All the while being a smirking, funny, absolutely stunning, panty-dropping, badass hockey player. I mean... there's not even a competition. ---->End of Evan 'Zee' Zanders Propanganda<----- Coming to the book itself... easily one of the better (dare I say one of the best) organic romances I've ever had the pleasure of reading. My biggest issue with most contemporary stand-alone romances is that they end up feeling very insta-lust/insta-love ish. But Mile High's love story played out nice and slow and, more importantly, believably. Our MMC is Evan Zee Zanders (if you have not yet figured it out by my gushing above). He's a star NFL player and a self-proclaimed playboy. He is also a godfather to his best friend and team player's kids and is an overall sweetheart. Our FMC, Stevie Shay, has just been assigned to be the air hostess to the private jet that Zanders' team uses to go around to their games in the United States. They meet when Stevie tries to do an exit row safety instruction on the flight, and Zanders is in the said exit row. Thankfully, no Insta-lust anywhere! Other than each of them admiring the other's ahem assets almost objectively in an almost passing observation. The story slowly evolves into admiration, then lust, then love. Admittedly, there's an inherently rom-com-esque sequence of serendipitous meetings and trauma-based bonding that is inevitable in a rom-com, but in Mile High, these are actually convincing. Because Stevie works for Zanders' team AND is the twin sister of THE GOAT basketball player of Chicago's NBA team, the meet-cutes that lead the leads hurtling towards the forever kinda love require barely any suspension of disbelief. The whole damn book, I was squealing, blushing, and a giggling mess. I don't generally tend to superimpose myself with MCs, but I found myself really relating to her as an everyday woman who's doing her job and navigating a world where she lives and thrives but sometimes just doesn't fit all the way in! Most of the scenes I teared up in were Stevie's. Hands-down, one of the stronger heroines in the rom-com book verse. Unfortunately, there is a third-act break-up situation that heavily leans towards noble idiocy mixed with a bit of self-doubt. It was also a tad melodramatic for my tastes, with a whole cathartic inspirational speech to the paparazzi. I'm not a fan of any of those. Still, even amidst the tropes that I don't enjoy, the book manages to end just as beautifully as the beginning and the middle. Liz Tomforde truly created 488 pages of romance that feels warm, cozy, and a little bit magical...

This is no doubt my fav read of the year. The love story is super cheesy , just as I like :P . And I am so in love with the guy, he's actually too good to be real! But then this is what books are all about, they take you someplace else only! In my opinion it is totally worth a shot and it’s pretty easy to read for even the new readers. This is a perfect blend of romance and SPICE ;)

I am truly at a loss of words to convey just how much I LOVEEEEEEED, ADORED AND CHERISHED being in Zee and Vee's little world! God, I cannot express how big of a place every bit of their story has made in my heart. It was beautiful, heartmelting, wholesome, deeply meaningful, tender, hilarious and soulful beyond measure! It made me smile endlessly, feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside, filled up my soul with comfort, made it glow with warmth, got me all emotional out of pure joy and made me swoon in countless ways. It's truly ALL HEART. 😭😭❤️❤️ Please do give their magical, magical story a try! I promise, you won't be disappointed at all. You're going to fall TRULY, MADLY AND DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH THEM JUST LIKE I DID. 🥺😍✨ I know for a fact that I'm never getting over them and everything that their story had to offer! It brought me the purest happiness, comforting safety and gentle warmth when I really, really needed it. 🤗🌻

The book has an interesting premise but along the way it drags a bit much and can get repetitive. It could have been made into a 300 pager and then it would be crisp.

I actually really really enjoyed this book. I saw this one so much on the internet that I was very eager to read it. Well, Zanders is just a gaint softy and Stevie is perfect for him. I loved their chemistry, witty banter, constant bickering. On the other hand, if this book would have been a bit shorter, the reading could be more enjoyable.

Arrived in perfect condition

I don’t know why I have waited so long to read this book. It’s everything…yes it’s long but not even a single page felt extra….the character and story development is to the point. It deserves more than 5 starts. I pace, the relationship, the positivity the characters and this book have….everyone wants to be with such people….I have been extremely satisfied from first page to end wanting to read it non-stop. It has a nice flow which is also the best part. This has everything one can hope for in the book. The love, frendship, family, relationship dynamics….everything

I think I might have found a new favourite book and a new favourite author! What you can expect: - hockey romance - enemies to lovers - forbidden romance - forced proximity - plus-sized heroine - found family - great mental health rep Stevie is a flight attendant working for Zanders' NHL Team for the whole hockey season. In the beginning Stevie cannot stand Zanders, who is trying to get under her skin at any given opportunity. The chemistry between them, however, is undeniable and they agree to spend one night together to get it out of their system. Turns out (to the surprise of absolutely nobody) it is not enough for either of them, which complicates things a lot both for Stevie, due to the non-fraternization policy her job mandates, and Zanders, who needs to keep up his image of unrepentant playboy to ensure his team will renew his contract. I honestly could not put this book down. Their banter and chemistry was just *chef's kiss*, but what I appreciated even more was the fact that they felt like real people. Both were burdened by old wounds and trauma, which the author handled, in my opinion, with so much care and respect. Mental health is championed a lot in the book and I truly loved that. The relationship between Stevie and Zanders was so healthy, open and respectful of the other's needs and struggles. I teared up every time they felt comfortable enough to be vulnerable and real with each other. Liz Tomforde's storytelling is real and captivating. Her characters are full-fleshed and their struggles are extremely relatable. As a reader, you find yourself rooting for Zanders and Stevie from page one. It's truly refreshing to see these two characters grow and heal their old wounds, working to overcome their personal hurdles, setting some healthy boundaries and finally getting their happy ending. It made the heartache and the tears really worth it.

So I started this book thinking, “Oh fun, a hockey romance. Light, flirty, maybe some steam.” HAHA. HAHAHAHA. Plot twist: I got emotional trauma, therapy flashbacks, a feminist queen, a golden retriever disguised as a hockey player, AND a rescue dog storyline that made me cry into my snack bag. 🎢💔🐶 Let’s start with Stevie. QUEEN. ICON. LEGEND. She’s curvy, fierce, hilarious, and she doesn’t back down — not when it comes to love, to her career, or to her self-worth. The growth?? Immaculate. The sass?? Unmatched. The scene where she faces the press?? CHILLS. Give this woman a cape because she’s a real-life superhero. 👑 And when she said “I choose myself”? I actually passed away. RIP me. Now, Zanders… 😮‍💨 Started off as your typical hot, emotionally unavailable sports guy with all the red flags. But underneath the arrogance? A cinnamon roll with deep trauma, a surprising amount of therapy, and zero clue how to handle real feelings until Stevie broke his brain (and then rebuilt it — you’re welcome, sir). He made mistakes. BIG ones. But he grew. Like, actually grew. He even adopted Rosie, the senior doberman Stevie loved — and I SOBBED. 🐾😭 Let’s not forget the MVP of sanity: Maddison, the bestie with a heart of gold and a family that made me want to move in with them immediately. And Stevie’s twin Ryan? I need more. And Indy, the chaotic colleague? Iconic. The found-family energy in this book is top tier 💕 This book had it all: ✨ Banter ✨ Spice ✨ Emotional destruction ✨ Dog content (the real reason I stayed) ✨ Personal growth arcs so intense I felt like I’d just gone through a breakup myself Final thoughts? 💘 Love conquers all. 😤 Zanders better treasure Stevie for the rest of his life. 🐶 Rosie = actual angel. 🍝 I will never emotionally recover from this. 📚 Book 2? Yes, but after I lie down for… a week.

This book was super easy to follow, I loved the story line and characters. I also thought there were great life lessons/reminders amongst the book as well. Some, which really did bring me back to earth and think twice. This book also made me laugh as well as cry where it was sooo beautifully written! I think I shall remember this book for the foreseeable and the reminders it teaches us! I loved the storyline of this book! Sometimes, I’m just not a huge fan of the spicy scenes. But I was hooked from start to finish! Also, I’ve heard Mile High is the least favourite out of the series, so I’m intrigued to see how the rest of the series plays out! Spoilers below****** ————————————————————————————- I adore Zanders and Stevie! I loved separately as well as together. I am also a fan of how Stevie was more of a curvy woman and how Liz mentioned about stretch marks, different size breasts and just typical body features which is natural! More so, how Stevie shopped in thrift stores. As for Zanders, again I love Liz mentioning mental health, but it’s also fresh for it to reiterated that men do also suffer mental health! This book definitely touched sensitive subjects, but in a positive way. Showing mental health is normal, body dysmorphia is normal etc. But this book also reminded us to know our worth, know we’re all beautiful and it’s okay to have bad days! The love between Zee and Vee is so cute!! I hope we see a little more of them in the next books!

Mile High is a cute hockey-romance full of laughter, banter and a little bit of spice. This was a recommendation from a friend and I'm glad I read it as it was one of the best romances I have read (I have not read that many!). I really enjoyed Stevie's character as a whole - she was ambitious, assertive and represented many of those out there who live with body image issues and overbearing parents who are only disappointed with them. Through her, the reader is able to go on a journey where Zee helps her accept herself and not care about any ones opinions other than her own. She has a lot of growth from the beginning compared to the end, and I think Tomforde conveyed these thoughts and feelings perfectly. Zee is a character with depth and I actually quite enjoyed reading about him and his character's past. He is a man who isn't afraid to show emotions, although is forced to hold a bad boy image in fear that he will lose his job playing for Chicago with his friends. We learn a lot about his past and the issues he had which affect him and we get some great information on men's mental health through his character. I think its really important to highlight this as not many books exist where men can relate to someone who is not hiding their struggles. The romance between Stevie and Zee was in a constant state of tension; this was emphasised by the consistent banter between the two as Zee became interested in his new flight attendant while Stevie only tried to keep away in fear she would lose her job. Evidently, they both eventually realise they are attracted to each other and thus begins the heart-warming relationship that blooms between them. We are faced with angst, tension and sadness throughout the story but evidently met with an ending that made me happy, I really enjoyed reading this and I can't wait to read book 2! I think that some of the themes regarding self-worth and mental health struggles was also really important to exist so readers can relate - and I think it really left an impact on the greatness of the book.

I can’t believe it took me this long to start the Windy City series. Honestly, I loved this one so much that I immediately started The Right Move because I was so excited for Ryan and Indy… and then realized I never even wrote my review for Mile High first. One of my favorite things about this book was the characters. Stevie felt like a real woman, and it was refreshing to see a FMC with a body type we don’t always see represented in romance. Watching her grow into her confidence throughout the story was so satisfying, and I loved how Zanders supported that growth while also working through his own struggles. Their chemistry, banter, and tension were so well done. Stevie especially had me laughing. She definitely gave Zanders a run for his money in the beginning and it was so fun to watch their dynamic play out. And the spice? Yeah… it absolutely delivers. I’m usually not a fan of third-act breakups, but this one didn’t feel forced. It actually made sense for their growth and where the story needed to go. This book had me giggling, kicking my feet, and at one point wanting to throw it across the room. I also really appreciated the deeper themes woven throughout the story, especially around body positivity, mental health, and how family relationships can shape the way we approach love and trust. It made the romance feel even more real. If you’re looking for a hockey romance with great banter, real emotional growth, and characters you can root for, this one is definitely worth picking up.