That One Night by Emily Rath Summary

That One Night by Emily Rath is a contemporary romance novella about Dr. Rachel Price, a sports medicine specialist who has a passionate one-night encounter with Jake, a mysterious stranger, in a Seattle hotel. They agree to keep their identities anonymous, sharing only one transformative night together. When Rachel relocates to Jacksonville for a fellowship, she discovers Jake is part of the NHL team she'll be working with, giving fate a second chance to reunite them.

Emily Rath is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author specializing in romance and fantasy. She holds a PhD in peace studies and political science and formerly taught African politics before becoming a full-time author. Beyond That One Night, Rath has written the chart-topping Jacksonville Rays hockey romance series (including Pucking Around and Pucking Sweet), the Second Sons regency romance series, and the Tuonela dark fantasy duet, amassing over 600 million Amazon pages read.

That One Night is perfect for readers who enjoy steamy contemporary romance with emotional depth, one-night-stand-to-second-chance tropes, and sports romance settings. Fans of hockey romance series, character-driven intimate encounters, and stories about fate and destiny will appreciate this novella. It's ideal for those seeking a quick, passionate read with higher heat levels and meaningful character connection. As a prequel to the Jacksonville Rays series, it also appeals to readers wanting to explore the world before diving into the full-length novels.

That One Night is worth reading for fans of emotionally charged, steamy romance novellas. Despite its brevity, it delivers profound character development, exploring how fleeting encounters can create lasting impact. The chemistry between Rachel and Jake is magnetic, blending physical attraction with genuine vulnerability and humor. Readers appreciate the snippet-ready format as an introduction to Emily Rath's Jacksonville Rays universe, though some may find the anonymity premise requires suspension of disbelief. It's particularly valuable for those who enjoy standalone prequels that enhance larger series.

That One Night explores themes of fate versus choice, examining whether meaningful connections are destined or created. The novella delves into transitory yet life-changing encounters, challenging the notion that only long-term relationships produce profound emotional impact. Additional themes include vulnerability and emotional armor, as both Rachel and Jake hide behind professional facades while craving authentic connection, and anonymity as freedom, where not knowing each other's identities paradoxically allows deeper honesty and intimacy in their single transformative night together.

In That One Night, Rachel and Jake establish a "no personal details" rule—no names, jobs, or real-life information—to preserve the magic of their encounter. This anonymity allows both characters to escape the pressures of their public lives and professional reputations, creating a safe space for vulnerability. The rule reflects their fear of ruining the connection with reality's complications, yet ironically deepens their emotional intimacy. When they part, Jake leaves only the note "Find me again," maintaining the mystery while expressing hope for reunion.

Rachel's rejection from the prestigious Barkley Fellowship serves as the catalyst that brings her to the hotel bar where she meets Jake. This professional disappointment represents her struggle with family expectations—her twin brother Harrison is a successful chef, intensifying her feelings of inadequacy. The rejection makes Rachel vulnerable and open to taking emotional risks she wouldn't normally consider. When she later receives the fellowship after another candidate drops out, it becomes the mechanism that relocates her to Jacksonville, facilitating her fateful reunion with Jake.

That One Night functions as a prequel novella (Jacksonville Rays #0.5) introducing readers to the world of Emily Rath's hockey romance series. The story establishes Rachel and Jake's foundational relationship before the events of Pucking Around, the first full-length novel. Reading this novella provides emotional context and backstory for their dynamic throughout the series, though the Jacksonville Rays books can be enjoyed independently. It sets up the Jacksonville NHL team setting, Rachel's role as team medical staff, and the romantic tension that carries forward into subsequent novels.

Rachel and Jake's relationship in That One Night is compelling because it balances intense physical chemistry with unexpected emotional vulnerability. Their decision to remain anonymous paradoxically creates deeper honesty—they can reveal authentic selves without fear of judgment. Jake's protective instincts when rescuing Rachel from "Chad McBoatface" demonstrate genuine care beyond attraction. Both characters struggle with hiding their true identities behind public personas, making their night together a rare space where they feel truly seen. The relationship challenges traditional romance pacing by creating profound connection in compressed time.

The "Find me again" note is the only message Jake leaves Rachel when he departs the hotel room at dawn, honoring their agreement to maintain anonymity. This handwritten farewell captures the central tension of their story—the desire for reconnection without breaking their rules. The note represents Jake's hope that fate will bring them together if their connection is meant to continue, while avoiding the vulnerability of directly asking to see her again. It becomes a poignant symbol of their relationship's uncertainty and the possibility of second chances.

That One Night presents fate as both comfort and test for its protagonists. Rachel explicitly believes in signs and cosmic timing, interpreting their meeting as more than coincidence. Rather than exchanging contact information, both characters trust that if they're meant to reunite, fate will arrange it—a romantic but risky gamble. Their eventual reunion in Jacksonville when Rachel joins Jake's team validates this belief in destiny's intervention. The novella suggests that while chance creates opportunities, individuals must still choose to recognize and act on fate's offerings, blending predetermined encounters with personal agency.

Some readers find the anonymity premise in That One Night requires significant suspension of disbelief, questioning why two adults wouldn't simply exchange names or numbers despite their chemistry. Critics note the compressed timeline makes the depth of emotional connection feel rushed for some tastes, though others appreciate the intensity. As a novella, it's substantially shorter than typical romance novels, which may disappoint readers seeking more extensive character development. Additionally, those unfamiliar with the one-night-stand-to-second-chance trope may find the setup contrived, though genre fans generally embrace the romantic premise.