RYKER (Cold Fury Hockey #4) by Sawyer Bennett – a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 8, 2015-

The stakes have never been higher for Carolina Cold Fury goalie Ryker Evans. With his contract running out, he’s got a year left to prove he’s still at the top of his game. And since his wife left him, Ryker has been balancing life as a pro-hockey star and a single parent to two daughters. Management is waiting for him to screw up. The fans are ready to pounce. Everybody’s taking dirty shots—except for the fiery redhead whose faith in Ryker gives him a fresh start.

As the league’s only female general manager, Gray Brannon has learned not to mix business with pleasure. And yet even this tough, talented career woman can’t help breaking her own rules as she gives Ryker everything she’s got. She hopes their hot streak will last forever, but with Ryker’s conniving ex plotting to reclaim her man, the pressure’s on Gray to step up and save a tender new love before it’s too late.

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REVIEW: RYKER is the fourth installment in Sawyer Bennett’s adult, contemporary Cold Fury Hockey erotic, romance series focusing on the Carolina Cold Fury professional hockey team. This is Cold Fury goalie and single father Ryker Evans, and Cold Fury’s general manager and former USA Olympic woman’s hockey team goalie Grayson Brannon’s storyline. RYKER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous storylines is revealed where necessary.

Told from alternating first person points of view (Ryker and Gray) RYKER follows the building relationship between Ryker and Gray-a forbidden love story that focuses on the trials and tribulations of the first female general manager in the NHL, and the length Ryker and Gray will go to to hide their relationship from the public and fellow team members. What ensues are a series of clandestine dinners and nights, and the growing animosity of some of the Cold Fury players towards their new general manager.

The relationship between Ryker and Gray is one of forbidden love. Ryker is a single father of two young girls whose soon-to be ex wife had an affair with Ryker’s former teammate. Gray is a never-married young woman whose abilities as general manager go above and beyond the norm. Ryker and Gray’s attraction to one another is immediate but Gray fears repercussions from the media and the team if their relationship should ever be made public-Gray hired Ryker as the new Cold Fury goalie and Ryker’s ability between the pipes has landed him the first string goalie position. The $ex scenes are erotic and intense; seductive and provocative.

The secondary and supporting characters include most of the previous storyline couples as well as Ryker’s two young daughters Violet and Ruby. Ryker’s ex makes an appearance to add conflict to his growing relationship with Gray; and there is also the requisite evil in the form of a team member whose hatred for the first female general manager is psychotic and insane.

The world building continues to focus on the team, the players, and the relationships of the Carolina Cold Fury professional hockey club. If you are a fan of hockey and the NHL, Sawyer’s muse (inspiration) for Ryker Evans is none other than Henry Lundqvist, goalie for the 2015 New York Rangers.

RYKER is a fast paced storyline where another member of the Cold Fury hockey team finds his happily ever after. The premise is engaging and realistic; the characters are colorful, energetic and opinionated; the romance is sexy and hot. There are moments of betrayal and revenge; friendship and family; moving forward and letting go. And I also like the fact that our heroine is strong enough in her abilities to not accept failure or listen to those trying to destroy her personal and professional career.

Sawyer Bennett’s writes with passion; she is devoted to her storylines and the characters we grow to love. COLD FURY HOCKEY is a phenomenal series –a go to read every time.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Alex
Cold Fury Hockey #1
by Sawyer Bennett
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance, hockey
Release Date: October 14, 2014

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ABOUT THE BOOK: October 14, 2014

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of ALEX by Sawyer Bennett

Hockey star Alexander Crossman has a reputation as a cold-hearted player on and off the rink. Pushed into the sport by an alcoholic father, Alex isn’t afraid to give fans the proverbial middle finger, relishing his role as the MVP they love to hate. Management, however, isn’t so amused. Now Alex has a choice: fix his public image through community service or ride the bench. But Alex refuses to be molded into the Carolina Cold Fury poster boy . . . not even by a tempting redhead with killer curves.

As a social worker, Sutton Price is accustomed to difficult people—like Alex, who’s been assigned to help her create a drug-abuse awareness program for at-risk youth as part of the team’s effort to clean up his image. What she doesn’t expect is the arrogant smirk from his perfect lips to stir her most heated fantasies. But Sutton isn’t one to cross professional boundaries—and besides, Alex doesn’t do relationships . . . or does he? The more she sees behind Alex’s bad-boy façade, the more Sutton craves the man she uncovers.

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Garrett
Cold Fury Hockey #2
by Sawyer Bennett
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance, hockey
Release Date: February 17, 2015

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of GARRETT

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GARRETT (Cold Fury Hockey #2) by Sawyer Bennett

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 17, 2015

Carolina Cold Fury star Garrett Samuelson never wants to miss out on a single minute of fun. Whether he’s playing hockey, hanging out with friends, or walking the red carpet with a new date on his arm, he lives every day to the fullest. When he meets Olivia Case, he sees someone who’s exactly his type—confident, sexy, smart . . . his next fling. But the more he pursues her, the more Garrett shares a side of himself that other women don’t normally get to see.

Olivia has been keeping a secret. While Garrett lives for the next thrill, Olivia’s not sure she’ll live to see the next day. She’s undergoing treatment for some serious medical issues, and she doesn’t have time for a relationship with no guarantees—especially one with a hot-as-sin womanizer who won’t take no for an answer. But as she gets to know the real Garrett, Olivia can’t help falling for him . . . hard. To reveal the truth would mean risking everything—but you can’t score without taking the tough shots.

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ZACK
Cold Fury Hockey 3
by Sawyer Bennett
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance, hockey
Release Date: June 9, 2015

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of ZACK

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 9, 2015

Rising star Zack Grantham has been stuck in a downward spiral of grief ever since the car accident that left him a single dad and put his career on hold. Back on the road with the Carolina Cold Fury and still crippled by emotional baggage, he’s in need of some serious help with his son. But while the nerdy new nanny wins his son’s heart, Zack isn’t sure he’s ready for a woman’s touch—even after getting a glimpse of the killer curves she’s hiding under those baggy clothes.

Kate Francis usually keeps men like Zack at a distance. Though his athlete’s body is honed to perfection, he refuses to move on with his life—and besides, he’s her boss. Still, the sparks between them are undeniable, tempting Kate to turn their professional relationship into a personal one. But before she makes a power play for Zack’s wounded heart, Kate will have to open him up again and show him that love is worth the fight