Tag Archives: hockey romance

Boone (Pittsburgh Titans 11) by Sawyer Bennett-review tour

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Boone (Pittsburgh Titans 11) by Sawyer Bennett-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Apple /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 16, 2024

Boone Rivers uses his fame and fortune as a professional hockey player to his advantage, but not in the way most people would think. Volunteering as often as his busy schedule will allow, Boone meets one brave young boy who turns his world upside down.

As a first-line right winger for the Pittsburgh Titans, I thrive on the thrill of the game. I live for the smell of the ice, the cheer of the crowd and the way my heart pounds whenever I step into the arena. But once I’m out of my skates, my focus is on giving back to the city of Pittsburgh.

It’s funny how life puts people in your path. I meet Aiden while visiting the children’s hospital and I’m struck by the strength and resilience of this 12-year-old kid fighting for his life. As my visits continue, we bond over video games and hockey until one day Aiden’s older sister walks into his room and I realize there might be a bigger purpose here.

Lilly Hoffman has the weight of the world resting on her slight shoulders. Aiden’s illness isn’t getting better, she’s at risk of losing her job and their father is looking for the answers to his prayers at the bottom of a liquor bottle. I find myself wanting to lessen Lilly’s burden and what starts as a simple act of friendship turns into so much more. As we grow closer, I can’t help but fall for this fiercely protective and independent woman with a tender heart and bruised but not yet broken spirit.

As we face a future of never-ending uncertainty, I vow to be Lilly’s source of strength and comfort. Lilly and Aiden have reaffirmed to me the importance of giving and receiving love unconditionally, even in the darkest of times. And no matter what happens next, no one can take that from us.

Boone contains subject matter that may be sensitive to some readers. If you would like additional details, please visit the book page for Boone on my website.

•••••

REVIEW: BOONE is the eleventh instalment in Sawyer Bennett’s contemporary, adult PITTSBURGH TITANS contemporary, adult , hockey romance series focusing on the Pittsburgh Titans professional hockey team. This is twenty six year old Boone Rivers, and twenty-two year old, Lilly Hoffman’s story line. BOONE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers. Have tissues at the ready, you are going to need them.

SOME BACKGROUND: Several months earlier, a devastating plane crashed claimed all but three members of the Pittsburgh Titans hockey team including owners, coaches and staff. Rebuilding the team, owner Brienne Norcross, offered positions to one-time professional and semi-pro players. These are their stories.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Boone and Lilly) BOONE follows the building romance and relationship between our story line couple. Boone Rivers volunteers at the local children’s hospital where he will meet, soon to be twelve year old, Aiden Hoffman, and his sister Lilly. Aiden has acute lymphoblastic leukemia and Lilly has become his mother, father, guardian and protector. With their father struggling at the bottom of a bottle, Lilly has little time for herself. Meeting hockey player Boone Rivers gives Lilly a chance at her own happiness but with the Pittsburgh Titans entering the playoffs, her brother’s illness worsening, and their father trying to get sober, Lilly battles between head and heart with the prospects that life is about to deal another blow. As her relationship with Boone becomes something more, the reality of what is heart breaking and sad. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Boone and Lilly, and the fall-out as Aiden’s health takes a turn for the worse.

The world building focuses on dying and death, family and acceptance, grief, addiction and recovery. Boone is the personification of support and resilience, as Lilly must come to terms with what is happening and why.

The relationship between Boone and Lilly is one of immediate attraction. Aiden Hoffman is a big Pittsburgh Titans fan, and in this he is hoping for a romantic relationship between his sister and Boone. With her father in recovery, and her brother struggling with his health, Lilly’s guilt is exacerbated when she takes time for herself. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including many of the previous story line couples and players we have already met. We are introduced to Aiden Hoffman, and his father Steven, as well as Boone’s parents, and his siblings Damien and Claire.

BOONE is a story of love and loss, grief and acceptance, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is heart breaking and emotional; the romance is seductive; the characters are strong, determined and charismatic.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Baden
Stone
Gage
Coen
Drake
Cannon
Hendrix
Camden
Bain
Van 2

Reviewed by Sandy

Copy supplied for review

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.

Facebook | Reader Group | TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | BookBub | Join Sawyer’s Newsletter

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Thoroughly Pucked (My Hockey Romance 3) by Lauren Blakely-review

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Thoroughly Pucked (My Hockey Romance 3) by Lauren Blakely-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 11, 2024

Two star hockey players and their best friend’s little sister in a runaway bride rom com!

Picture this. I’m about to walk down the aisle when the groom decides to drop this news on me – he wants to dial it down to just f-buddies.

That’s when my brother’s two pro-hockey playing buddies help me escape seconds before the wedding march begins.

But what’s a runaway bride to do with a broken heart and a non-refundable honeymoon? Book an extra ticket and take two off-limits, totally charming, absolutely gorgeous star athletes who want to lift my spirits.

When we arrive there’s only bed in the hotel room.

And it happens to fit three. The goalie, the forward and me.

Looks like I’m about to get thoroughly pucked on my double honeymoon. Talk about lifting my spirits…

••••••

REVIEW:THOROUGHLY PUCKED is the third instalment in Lauren Blakely’s contemporary, adult MY HOCKEY ROMANCE erotic, MFM, hockey romance series. This is forward Ledger McBride, goalie Dev, and hair stylist Aubrey. THOROUGHLY PUCKED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: THOROUGHLY PUCKED is a MFM story line, and a threesome between two men and the woman they love.

Told from three first person perspectives (Aubrey, Dev, Ledger) THOROUGHLY PUCKED follows in the wake of the almost wedding between Aubrey and her fiance Aiden. Left at the altar, Aubrey becomes a runaway bride with the help of her brother’s friends, professional hockey players Dev and Ledger, the two men with whom Aubrey will fall in love. With her honeymoon package still available, our threesome head on a spur of the moment vacation, learning to know what the other one likes. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Aubrey, Dev and Ledger, and the potential fall-out when their time together comes to a close with the start of the new hockey season.

The world building focuses on each characters individually as well as how they interact with one another. We are up close and personal with Ledger’s nightmares, Dev’s struggle in the net, and Aubrey’s battle between head and heart, having fallen in love with both men.

The relationship between Aubrey, Dev and Ledger begins when Aubrey’s brother, Ledger’s agent Garrett, needs his clients to rescue his not so heart broken sister. Dev and Ledger are not newbies to threesomes but both have thought they loved and lost until finding the one woman who loves them both. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, dynamic and familiar secondary and supporting characters including the previous story line threesomes, as well as Aubrey’s brother Garrett, her ex Aiden, and Ledger’s father.

THOROUGHLY PUCKED is a story of family and friendships, relationships, acceptance and love. The premise is engaging and exciting; the characters are determined, fun and flirty; the romance is seductive and provocative.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book two PUCK YES

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Shattered Truths (Lies Hearts & Truths 3) by H. Hunting-review

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Shattered Truths (Lies Hearts & Truths 3) by H. Hunting-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 28, 2023

The first time I met Winter Marks, I almost took her out with my Jeep.
To be fair, she came out of nowhere.

I flirted with her, and she flipped me off and disappeared into the woods on her bike.
But she left me a souvenir: a single hockey skate.

Seemed to me that divine intervention shouldn’t be ignored.

She was my icy Cinderella and I would be her Prince Not-So-Charming.

Winter was more than just a sassy, badass hockey-playing hottie.
She’s stuck in a prison of a life. And I’m the perfect escape.

Neither of us expected to fall.
Or for the truth to shatter us.

••••••

REVIEW: SHATTERED TRUTHS is the third full-length instalment in H. Hunting’s contemporary, new adult LIES, HEARTS AND TRUTHS erotic, romance series, a spin off/next generation from the author’s PUCKED and ALL IN series. This is twenty-one year old, figure skater Randall BJ Ballistic Jr, and twenty year old, hockey player Winter Marks’ story line. BJ is the son of Lily and Randy Ballistic (PUCKED OVER by Helena Hunting).

Told from dual first person perspectives (Winter and BJ) SHATTERED TRUTHS follows the building romance and relationship between is twenty-one year old, figure skater Randall BJ Ballistic Jr, and twenty year old, hockey player Winter Marks. The day Randall BJ Ballistic Jr ‘accidentally’ met Winter Marks changed everything for our story line couple. BJ is one-half of a pairs figure skating team, a figure skating coach, and a young man with a reputation among the opposite $ex. Winter Marks is a twenty year old, ice hockey player whose home life is about to come crashing down, leaving Winter struggling with a direction going forward. Coming from an abusive home, Winter battles between head and heart but an attack against someone she loves will force Winter’s choice, a choice that will change everything for our story line couple. As Winter comes to terms with her life at home, an opportunity of a lifetime will alter her future but another ‘accident’ threatens the man with whom she has fallen in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Winter and BJ, and the potential fall-out as jealousy and betrayal threaten the lives of our story line couple.

The world building continues to focus on the next generation of hockey players and athletes. We are up close and personal with the children of the characters first introduced in the author’s PUCKED and ALL IN hockey romance series. As the young adults come into their own, life is about to throw everyone a proverbial curveball.

The relationship between Winter and BJ begins by ‘accident’ but BJ is rapidly falling for a woman whose home life is questionable and dark. Winter struggles to keep afloat both at home and on the ice, while BJ’s life is the opposite of everything Winter has known. The $ex scenes are provocative and passionate.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and familiar secondary and supporting characters including the second generation children of the couples we met in the original series, as well as the return of said original couples. We are introduced to Winter’s embittered and embattled parents, as well as BJ’s skating partner Adele.

SHATTERED TRUTHS is a story of betrayal, abuse, addiction and forgiveness; family and friendships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is edgy, heart breaking and emotional; the romance is intimate, seductive and impassioned; the characters are flirty, fun and inspiring.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one LITTLE LIES

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

FOLLOW: NYT and USA Today Bestselling author of The PUCKED Series, Helena Hunting lives outside of Toronto with her amazing family and her two awesome cats, who think the best place to sleep is her keyboard. Helena writes everything from contemporary romance to romance comedy, sports romance and angsty new adult romance.
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CAMDEN (Pittsburgh Titans 8) by Sawyer Bennett -review tour

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CAMDEN (Pittsburgh Titans 8) by Sawyer Bennett -review tour

Amazon | Amazon.ca | Nook | Apple | Kobo | Google | Print

 

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 1, 2023

Camden Poe is the last of The Lucky Three, the surviving Pittsburgh Titans who weren’t on the team plane the night it went down. By all outward appearances, he’s adjusted to post-crash life well but inside he’s wrestling with the guilt of living.

The catastrophe that killed the Pittsburgh Titans changed my entire world. My teammates were more than my friends—they were my brothers. I mourned their loss with the rest of the nation but then I did as I’ve been taught… I moved on. I focused on returning to the ice with the newly rebuilt team and put the tragedy behind me. Considering the circumstances, I adjusted well. Or so I thought. Now I’m plagued by nightmares of the crash and my play has suffered as a result. Facing the possibility of losing my place on the team, I need to pull myself together and fast.

My buddy and linemate, Mitch Brandt died in the crash, leaving his wife Danica and son Travis behind to pick up the pieces of their shattered family. After reconnecting with Danica at a support group meeting, I find myself inexplicably drawn to helping her and her son move forward. What starts as two friends finding solace in one another following a tragedy becomes something more, leaving us both wondering if we deserve this chance.

I feel as if I’m walking a precarious line between a man falling for an incredible woman and a man moving in on his dead friend’s wife. But one thing is crystal clear—I’ve found a peace with Danica that I wasn’t sure I’d ever have again. Now I need to find the confidence within myself to push past the insecurities and make sure she knows how important she is to me because if I don’t, I’ll lose the one thing that makes me truly complete.

•••••••••

REVIEW:  CAMDEN Is the eighth instalment in Sawyer Bennett’s contemporary, adult PITTSBURGH TITANS erotic, hockey romance series. This is twenty-six year old, Pittsburgh Titans player, Camden Poe, and twenty-nine year old, widow/single mother/ director of Titan’s charity foundation Danica Brandt’s story line. CAMDEN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Camden Po is one of the three original team members not on the doomed flight.

SOME BACKGROUND: Approximately ten months earlier, a devastating plane crashed claimed all but three members of the Pittsburgh Titans hockey team including owners, coaches and staff. Rebuilding the team, owner Brienne Norcross, offered positions to one-time professional and semi-pro players.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Camden and Danica) CAMDEN follows the building romance and relationship between twenty-six year old, Pittsburgh Titans player, Camden Poe, and twenty-nine year old, widow/single mother/ director of Titan’s charity foundation Danica Brandt. Camden Poe is one of the three surviving original members of the Pittsburgh Titan’s hockey team, and as such, is struggling with nightmares and PTSD. A team meeting of survivors and team members finds Camden Poe up close and personal with Danica Brandt, widow of Camden’s late teammate Mitch Brandt but throughout their growing relationship including Camden’s relationship with Danica’s nine year old son Travis, Camden struggles with issues of guilt, that will affect Danica’s growing love for our story line hero.What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Danica and Camden, and the potential fall-out as Camden battles between head and heart, and the team he is desperate to protect.

The world building continues to focus on the loss and plane crash that killed the Pittsburgh Titans. As the team rebuilds each member will find peace and happiness with someone they love.

The relationship between Danica and Camden is an acquaintance to friends to lovers in which Danica is looking forward to moving on from the past but Camden is hoping to keep everything on the down low. As Danica begins to fall in love, Camden begins to pull away, leaving Danica heart broken and alone. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic, and passionate without the use of the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include several of the previous story line couples, including team owner Brienne Norcross, and Danica’s nine year old son Travis.

CAMDEN is a story of loss and grief, guilt and forgiveness, heart break, acceptance and love. The premise is captivating, engaging, and riveting; the romance is emotional and fated; the characters are broken but healing and strong.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Baden
Stone
Gage
Coen
Drake
Cannon
Hendrix

Reviewed by Sandy

Copy supplied for review

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.

Facebook | Reader Group | TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | BookBub | Join Sawyer’s Newsletter

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TRULY MADLY DEEPLY (Calamity Falls 12) by Erika Kelly-review tour

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TRULY MADLY DEEPLY (Calamity Falls 12) by Erika Kelly-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Chapters Indigo /

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3Z0k0EB

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 15, 2023

What’s the worst thing that can happen to a single dad trying to avoid temptation? Crossing paths with the sexy runaway bride who’s looking to get as far away from her ex as possible.

When runaway bride Grace Giordano needs somewhere to regroup, groomsman Jaime Dupree offers her a guest house on his ranch. It’s no skin off his nose—she’s only in town a few days. Besides, between his daughter and his professional hockey team, he’s got his hands full. Surely, their paths won’t cross.

But when Grace gets the opportunity to run a food truck at the town’s annual music festival, she decides to stay all summer long. The singing baker’s a hit—at the festival and on the ranch.

Jaime might want to focus on his kid and his team, but the singing baker proves to be a mighty big distraction.

One he’s not sure he can resist.

•••••

REVIEW: TRULY MADLY DEEPLY is the twelfth instalment in Erika Kelly’s contemporary, adult CALAMITY FALLS erotic, romance series. This is twenty-eight year olds, NHL team owner/rancher/single father Jaime Dupree, and baker Grace Giordano’s story line. TRULY MADLY DEEPLY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary but for backstory and cohesion I recommend reading books ten and eleven where the current story line arc begins. If you have not read any of the previous instalment there may be spoilers in my review.

SOME BACKGROUND: Several months earlier, upon the sudden death of former professional hockey player and team owner Kurt Grevers, Kurt bequeathed his NHL team to four friends: Declan, Cole, Booker and Jaime but Declan and Cole were still active players, and Booker wanted nothing to do with the NHL leaving Jaime Dupree as the lone hands on owner. Jaime continues to struggle with demons from the past, demons that left him battling grief and guilt in the wake of almost losing everything and more.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Grace and Jaime) TRULY MADLY DEEPLY follows in the aftermath of the almost wedding between Grace Giordano and her long term boyfriend/fiancé Ian. Desperate to escape a marriage to a man whose secrets are dark and expensive, Grace hitches a ride with one of the groomsmen, NHL team owner Jaime Dupree. In the hopes of managing her own life and future, Grace begins working in the small town of Calamity, Wyoming. A baker and pastry chef by trade, Grace is hoping to move out from under the shadow of her big, Italian family, and starting over in Calamity may be the perfect arrangement but Grace never expected to fall in love with Jaime Dupree and his six year old daughter Kinsley, a man who is struggling with demons of his own. A friendship destroyed by childhood fun rendered Jaime a shell of his former self, unable to move beyond the guilt he has burdened for years. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Grace and Jaime, and the potential fall-out as Grace’s love for Jaime isn’t strong enough to keep the demons at bay.

Jaime Dupree continues to struggle with the guilt and grief of loss, not the loss of life, but the loss of a friendship, of a career, and the guilt of destroying the life of someone he loved. A second chance at happiness finds Jaime falling for our story line heroine but even love cannot overcome the guilt of the past. Grace Giordano, along with all of her extended family, has worked in the family bread business for as long as she can remember but Grace is hoping for something more, and an opportunity presents itself in Calamity Wyoming, an opportunity that may end before it has a chance to grow.

The relationship between Grace and Jaime begins as a run away bride scenario. Jaime is in the right place to rescue our story line heroine, a woman who has been betrayed by the man she once loved. Falling for Jaime was never in the cards, a man who refuses to cross the line between friendship and love but a man who is unable to let go of the past. Jaime never expected to find love with our story line heroine but his demons continue to control every aspect of his life, pushing our heroine to reconsider her own future. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large cast of secondary and supporting characters including Grace’s ex Ian; Jaime’s precocious six year old daughter Kinsley, as well as both of Jaime and Grace’s extended families, families, Calamity Wyoming locals, all of whom are very supporting, loving and strong.

TRULY MADLY DEEPLY is a story of family, friendships, relationships, and love; grief and guilt; loss and acceptance, forgiveness and love. The premise is emotional, heart breaking and engaging; the romance is seductive; the characters are numerous, broken, captivating and energetic.

Previous Reviews

It Was Always You
Can’t Help Falling in Love
Come Away With Me
You’re Still The One
Anywhere With You
Love Me Like you Do

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Award-winning author Erika Kelly has been spinning romantic tales all her life–she just didn’t know it. Raised on the classics, she didn’t discover romantic fiction until later in life. From that moment on, she’s been devouring the genre and has found her true voice as an author. Over three decades she’s written poems, screenplays, plays, short stories, and all kinds of women’s fiction novels. Married to the love of her life and raising four children, she’s lived in two countries and seven states, but give her pen and paper, a stack of good books, and a steaming mug of vanilla chai latte and she can make her home anywhere.

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Newsletter Signup ** Erika Kelly Goodreads

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Tristan (San Francisco Shockwaves ) by Samantha Linde-review tour

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Tristan (San Francisco Shockwaves 3) by Samantha Linde-review tour

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 17, 2023

I was a forever-bachelor kind of guy.

I never planned on settling down.

I never wanted a family of my own.

Until a phone call came, the one woman I’d secretly loved my entire life needed my help.

I went from bars and hook-ups to late nights on the couch.

When her daughter is born, I find myself captivated by both of them, and falling deeper in love.

What happened to my forever-bachelor life, and is that the life I want?

••••

REVIEW:TRISTAN is the third instalment in Samantha Lind’s contemporary adult SAN FRANCISCO SHOCKWAVES erotic hockey romance series. This is Shockwaves’ player Tristan Henderson, and twenty-four year old Kendra Torres’ story line. TRISTAN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Tristan and Kendra) TRISTAN follows in the wake of the domestic assault against our story line heroine. Kendra Torres life had spiralled out of control landing her in the hospital where she would discover she was pregnant with her abusive ex partner’s child. With the help of her brother Jackson, and his best friend, pro hockey player Tristan Henderson, Kendra accepted Tristan’s offer of a home and support, far away from the nightmare back home. Recovering and living in California, Kendra must consider her future going forward, a future that may or may not include the man she has lusted after most of her life. Tristan has been in love with his best friend’s sister for as long as he can remember, and with Kendra at his side, Tristan knows that marriage and family together is just around the corner. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Kendra and Tristan, as they navigate married life, a new baby, and changing careers in the future.

Kendra Torres has no career options but she loves to cook. An idea for ready-made home cooked meals finds Kendra on the rapid path to success with the help of the wives of the San Francisco Shockwaves. Tristan Henderson never thought he would settle down let alone start a family but one night with Kendra changed Tristan’s direction in life, a direction in which they will travel together.

The relationship between Tristan and Kendra is a best friend’s sister romance in which our couple have lusted after one another for years but Kendra’s brother Jackson has laid down the law, daring Tristan not to cross the proverbial line between friendship and $ex. Living together pushes our couple into one another’s arms, a push that will lead to their own happily ever after. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text .

The secondary and supporting characters include the previous two couples:Ryker and Avery, Aiden and Tori, as well as the introduction of Kendra’s brother Jackson Torres.

TRISTAN is a quick read; a fast paced story of domestic abuse and survival, family and friendships, acceptance and love. The premise is heart breaking and captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are charismatic, and determined to thrive.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Ryker
Aiden

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Samantha Lind is a USA TODAY Bestselling contemporary romance author. When she’s not dreaming up new stories, she can often be found with her family, traveling, reading, watching her boys on the ice, or watching her favorite professional hockey team (Go Knights Go!), and listening to country music.  She can be contacted by email or found on Facebook. 

Keep up with Samantha Lind and subscribe to her newsletter: http://bit.ly/FDSLNL

FOLLOW: Website / Newsletter / Facebook/ Facebook Group/ Instagram/ Twitter/ Goodreads/ Amazon Author /Bookbub

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Hard Hit by Brenda Rothert & Kat Mizera-review tour

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Hard Hit (St. Louis Mavericks 5) by Brenda Rothert & Kat Mizera -review tour

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

Goodreads Link → https://bit.ly/HardHit_GR

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 21, 2023

Michael Boone has just one goal: to get traded to his hometown team so he can be closer to his family. But when a runaway bride who happens to be his coach’s daughter jumps into his car to escape Mr. Wrong, the heat is on … in more ways than one.

Boone
I’m supposed to be a guest at my coach’s daughter’s wedding to a player from another team, but instead I find myself helping her escape it. The timing couldn’t be worse—I have to stay in Coach’s good graces to secure the trade I need. But when the sexy, newly single redhead with legs for days shows up in my life again, I can’t say no.

Jolie
After escaping marriage to a man who made me feel like I was never enough, I plan to focus entirely on completing my dissertation. Science has never let me down—I can avoid emotional entanglements by focusing on cold, hard data. But when I’m powerfully drawn to a man who is warm and, okay, I’ll admit it—also hard—all bets are off. Mr. Right Now is exactly what I need, until both of us find ourselves wanting the one thing we can’t have—more.

••••••

REVIEW:HARD HIT is the fifth instalment in the contemporary, adult ST. LOUIS MAVERICKS erotic, hockey romance series co-authored by Brenda Rothert and Kat Mizera. This is team member Michael Boone, and PHD student /coach’s daughter Jolie Gizzard. HARD HIT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary but for back story and cohesion, I recommend reading the series in order as many previous scenarios are mentioned.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Jolie and Michael) HARD HIT follows in the wake of a runaway bride. Jolie Gizzard was about to marry a man of her father’s choosing, a man she didn’t love, and who didn’t love her in return. On the run, Jolie jumps into hockey play Michael Boone’s car, the man with whom Jolie will fall in love. Jolie is the daughter and only child of Michael’s grouchy coach, and as such, Jolie has been declared off limits by the man in charge but all does not go according to plan when Michael Boone finds himself a temporary parent to his sister’s son, and struggles in the wake of his own brother’s illness. Hoping for a trade, Michael finds himself falling for a woman who may or may not be available when an impending trade comes through. What ensues is the building but forbidden relationship between Michael and Jolie, and the potential fall-out as Jolie’s father not only threatens Boone, but his actions, threaten to push Jolie out of his life.

Michael Boone never considered dating the coach’s daughter but Jolie was no longer engaged, and our heroine wanted something more from our story line hero. Jolie would often help with looking after Boone’s nephew, a young man caught in an impossible situation. Boone is desperate for a trade to be near his brother but a trade means leaving the woman with who he may be falling in love.

The relationship between Jolie and Michael begins as a rescue-Jolie is a runaway bride who doesn’t love the man she has been forced to marry. Knowing the coach will not be happy with the current situation, Michael Boone intends to keep his distance but finds himself falling for a woman who could break his heart. The $ex scenes are provocative and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

For fans of the series, most of the previous story line couples return as several impending births push the players together. We are reintroduced to Hadley and Weston (Hard Fall), Sariah and Nash (Hard Pass), as well as Jolie’s father Coach Gizzard, her grandmother Grandma G, Boone’s brother Andy (via phone), their sister Emma, and nephew Joey.

HARD HIT is a story of family and relationships, power and control, desperation and determination, acceptance and love. The fast paced, character drive premise is captivating and energetic; the characters are animated and edgy; the romance is spicy and sassy.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Hockey with Benefits by Tijan-review tour

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Hockey with Benefits by Tijan-review tour

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Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3lqdR69

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 7, 2023

Hockey with benefits. That was what Mara proposed, and I was down.

She said no feelings and she meant it.

Just benefits. No strings attached. Nothing else. Not even friendship.

College was her escape, including us.

I didn’t have time for a girlfriend.

I had classes, the team, my family, and the game.

It was all working too…

Until somewhere down the line, things got messy.

Until somehow we were dealing with threats, secrets, rivals, and so much more.

Until I began to want her in ways that weren’t part of the deal.

Our agreement didn’t just get checked into the wall, it got obliterated.

•••••

REVIEW:HOCKEY WITH BENEFITS by Tijan is a stand alone, contemporary, new adult, erotic, college romance focusing on college hockey player Cruz Styles, and Mara Daniels. HOCKEY WITH BENEFITS is set in, and is interconnected with the author’s Fallen Crest series.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise including mental illness and acquaintance r@pe, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Cruz and Mara) HOCKEY WITH BENEFITS follows the unconventional relationship between college hockey star Cruz Styles, and Mara Daniels. Mara and Cruz are not quite friends with benefits but have an understanding to be one another’s intimate, sexual partners. Keeping their relationship a secret means the unwelcome scrutiny of, and questions from so-called friends, roommates, other students and bullies. Cruz has caught the eye of every female puck bunny, and Mara must deal with the sl^t shaming and vitriol of the jealous fans but all is not well in the lives of our story line couple as issues of fractured family dynamics and mental illness are slowing destroying the psyche of two young people whose entire lives are still ahead. What ensues is the building but atypical romance and relationship between Mara and Cruz, and the potential fall-out as Mara’s life begins to spiral out of control, wreaking havoc on anyone who has crossed her path.

Mara Daniels has many friends and supporters within the college community but Mara’s secrets are known only by a few. It is these secrets that are about to destroy the strained relationship Mara has with those who have only surmised about the real Mara Daniels, and with it, the spiral that continues to affect her private and personal life. Cruz Styles doesn’t want a girlfriend, and his ‘arrangement’ with Mara is perfect such that no heart will be broken until the heart wants something more than the head is willing to accept. Life as a star; a member of the popular crowd means exposing both the good and bad for our story line couple but no one ever expected that Mara would be thrown to the wolves in the wake of protecting someone else.

The relationship between Mara and Cruz begins as a sexual agreement; a ‘friends with benefits’ type of relationship but a relationship that supposedly starts and ends in the bedroom. Mara never thought she would find someone that would accept the emotional scars that have affected her ability to trust, and Cruz knew his position on the hockey team meant he couldn’t always trust the people who wanted something more than he was willing to give. The $ex scenes are passionate, erotic and intense.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and wild secondary and supporting characters including several members of the hockey team, roommates, friends, frenemies, rivals and family.

The world building focuses on issues of mental health, and the resulting consequences and ramifications for those standing in the direct line of fire. Until one has lived or experienced the true depth of the pain and heart ache of such an illness, there is always someone waiting to tear you down.

HOCKEY WITH BENEFITS is a story of fractured family dynamics, friendships and relationships, betrayal and mental illness, acceptance and love. The premise is emotional, heart breaking and unique; the characters are broken, damaged yet brave; the romance is seductive and provocative.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new YA series along with so many more from north Minnesota where she lives with a man she couldn’t be without and an English Cocker she adores. 

Connect with Tijan

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