Tag Archives: hockey romance

Aiden (San Francisco Shockwaves 2) by Samantha Lind-review tour

Posted on by
10

Aiden (San Francisco Shockwaves 2) by Samantha Lind-review tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 20, 2022

It took just one look and I knew she was meant to be mine.

Her body language told me she was onboard, but my job had her slamming on the brakes. She was convinced professional athletes had a puck bunny in every city, but that was far from the truth.

I agreed to be her friend for now……but how do I make her see we’d be better as lovers than just friends?

••••••

REVIEW:AIDEN is the second instalment in Samantha Lind’s contemporary, adult SAN FRANCISCO SHOCKWAVES erotic, hockey romance series. This is Shockwaves’ center Aiden Fox, and VP of marketing for a record label Victoria aka Tori. AIDEN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Aiden and Tori) AIDEN follows the building romance and relationship between Shockwaves’ center Aiden Fox, and VP of marketing for a record label Victoria aka Tori. Victoria is best friends with Avery Reid, San Francisco Shockwaves captain Ryker Jorgensen’s girlfriend but Tori knows very little about the game of hockey, and an invite to a home game finds Tori face to face with her future in the guise of Shockwaves’ center Aiden Fox. The attraction to one another is immediate, and Aiden doesn’t waste any time asking our heroine out to dinner but Tori must come to terms with Aiden’s hockey schedule when she is offered a position on the road, herself. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Aiden and Tori as our couple find ways to keep their relationship growing during times apart.

The relationship between Tori and Aiden is one of immediate attraction. Best friends dating best friends and teammates mean mutual commiseration, as well as time spent apart and together on the road. The $ex scenes are seductive and passionate, without the use of over the top,sexually graphic language and text..

We are reintroduced to Ryker and Avery, as well as Ryker’s daughter Ellie; several members of the San Francisco Shockwaves: Tristan, Damien, Jason, and Blake, as well as Tori’s parents Robert and Whitney. Tristan’s story line is next.

AIDEN is a fast paced story of friendships, relationships, and love. The premise is entertaining and engaging- once again, there is absolutely no conflict, no hardships to overcome, no outside interference or threats. The characters are charismatic and wonderful; the romance is steamy and hot.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one RYKER

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Samantha Lind is a contemporary romance author. Having spent the first 27 years of her life in Alaska, she now calls Iowa home where she lives with her husband and two sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading, watching hockey (Go Knights Go!), and listening to country music.

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

Share

COEN (Pittsburgh Titans 4) by Sawyer Bennett -Review Tour

Posted on by
11

COEN (Pittsburgh Titans 4) by Sawyer Bennett -Review Tour

 

 

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 27 2022

Coen Highsmith was a league star, but he lost more than his team the day the Pittsburgh Titans’ plane crashed. Can he be saved from his downward spiral of guilt and regret to become the man he once was?

I had it all—a successful hockey career, the respect and adoration of the fans, a rotation of beautiful women warming my bed, and a feeling of self-worth and contentment with the direction of my life. But that all changed the day the team plane went down, taking my only chance of redemption with it. Now I’m left with the daily reminder of all my failures and my inability to correct them.

My new teammates are tired of my attitude and following my suspension, I hole up in a mountain cabin to get away from all of it. The isolation is exactly what I need to get out of my own head, and I’m beginning to think I could be content in this quiet forever.

Tillie Marshall isn’t the type of woman who would usually catch my attention, yet she manages to do so for all the wrong reasons. I’m here for the peace and seclusion but the quirky artist is hell-bent on destroying that by cutting down the trees that separate our properties so she can open a pottery studio. If it’s a fight she wants, it’s a fight she’ll get. I have the money and the time and no issues bringing her down through the court system. While I see flashes of steely determination within her, I’ve found that being a jerk comes naturally these days and she won’t be hard to intimidate.

Unfortunately, that gorgeous and somewhat odd neighbor who has been causing me grief is creating another type of feeling within me. And once that spark is lit, Tillie displays a faith in me that for the first time since the crash I desperately want to believe. Now it’s time for me to step up and become the man—no, a better man than I once was.

••••••

REVIEW: COEN is the fourth instalment in Sawyer Bennett’s contemporary, adult PITTSBURGH TITANS, erotic, hockey romance series focusing on the NHL’s fictional Pittsburgh Titans. This is star player Coen Highsmith, and artist Tillie Marshall. COEN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for back story.

SOME BACKGROUND: Several weeks earlier, a devastating plane crashed claimed the lives of the entire Pittsburgh Titans hockey team including coaches and staff. Rebuilding the team, owner Brienne Norcross, offered positions to one-time professional and semi-pro players, including our story line hero.

Told from dual first-person perspectives (Coen and Tillie) COEN follows in the wake of hockey star Coen Highsmith’s suspension from the NHL. Since the plane crash that killed his former team, Coen has struggled with survivors remorse and personal guilt, a struggle that was about to spiral his professional career. Taking his anger out on fellow players and officials, Coen finds himself sidelined as the team is about to head into the Stanley Cup playoffs. Determined to quit hockey, Coen buys a cabin in the woods, preferring to become a recluse, all by himself but Coen never expected to come face to face with his closest neighbor, a woman who wants to change the landscape to further her art. Enter Tilden ‘Tillie’ Marshall, and the woman with whom Coen will fall in love. What ensues is the building but acrimonious relationship between Tillie and Coen, and the potential fall-out as Coen must come to terms with the loss of his friends, and the remorse that often threatens to overwhelm.

Tillie Marshall knows loss first-hand but has battled all of her life to fit in and belong. Bullied since childhood, Tillie empathizes with her new neighbor, a man who is currently struggling to fit in where he doesn’t feel he belongs. Coen Highsmith wants to be left alone but his new neighbor is determined to take down the trees between their mutual cabins. Threatening a lawsuit , Coen must battle between head and heart when he begins to fall for his new found enemy.

The relationship between Coen and Tillie begins acrimoniously when Coen discovers Tillie has plans to remove several trees. In an effort to stop Tillie from changing the landscape Coen hires a lawyer to stop the woman with whom he is falling in love. Love is about to change our story line hero, love that breaks through the grief and sadness of a man who is unable to forgive himself. 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 most of the previous story line couples and characters, as well as Tillie’s closest friends, and the requisite small town bullies and gossips.

COEN is a story of loss, grief, guilt and sorrow, forgiveness and moving forward. The premise is captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are battered but starting to thrive.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Baden
Stone
Gage

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.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | BOOKBUB | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | INSTAGRAM

Share

FLOPPER (Vegas Venom 1) by Colleen Charles-a review

Posted on by
11

FLOPPER (Vegas Venom 1) by Colleen Charles-a review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 23, 2022

As one of the top goalies in hockey I live a sweet Vegas lifestyle: VIP treatment at all the hottest spots in town – ushered past every velvet rope – and all the puck bunnies I can handle.
Until my whole world changes when fate takes my sister, leaving her precious baby an orphan.
Even though I’m still mired down in grief, I step up and adopt my niece. After all, I already adore her.
I’ve just started to get a handle on things when the perfect woman literally falls into my lap, sending me and my newfound single dad life reeling.
She’s everything I ever wanted, but how can I offer her my heart while it’s still broken?
After our first meeting, she confesses that she needs lessons in seduction. Easy enough. We agree that once I teach her everything I know, we’ll part as friends.
But when we kiss… I see stars. I catch feelings. And after one taste of her, I’m not willing to let go.
My Venom buddies try to warn me not to get too close, but they shouldn’t worry because I won’t let myself fall all the way.
Yeah, about that..

•••••••

REVIEW: FLOPPER is the first instalment in Colleen Charles’ contemporary, adult VEGAS VENOM erotic, hockey romance series focusing on the members of the NHL’s Vegas Venom. This is team goalie Noah ‘Flopper’ Abbott, and author/book store owner Molly Campbell’s story line.

NOTE: For information purposes, a flopper is a goalie prone to going down on the ice to stop pucks.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Molly and Noah) FLOPPER follows the building romance and relationship between goalie Noah ‘Flopper’ Abbott, and author/book store owner Molly Campbell. Three years earlier Noah lost everyone he had ever loved, and with the death of his sister Natalie and her husband Steve, Noah became the only parent to his niece Vivian, a young girl that would become his own. Fast forward to present day wherein Noah, who hasn’t had time for a personal life finds himself at The Last Chapter, a local book store, where he will meet owner Molly Campbell. An adult themed book party pushes our couple into a compromising situation, a situation in which Molly hopes to ask Noah for additional help. What ensues is the ‘friends with benefits’ situationship between Molly and Noah, and the fall-out when the truth about the past, digs a knife further into our story line hero.

Molly Campbell needs lessons in seduction, and Noah Abbott is perfect for the job but keeping their ‘situationship’ limited to a ‘friends with benefits’ only is a struggle for two people who have spent too much time alone, having had their hearts broken by similar situations. Noah Abbott is all about family, and as he and Vivian are the sole surviving members of the Abbott family, Noah refuses to get involved with anyone else. A ‘friends with benefits, education in seduction’ is the perfect situation for our story line hero, a situation that is about to get ugly when the past is revealed.

The relationship between Molly and Noah begins by accident when our heroine literally falls into Noah’s arms. From the outset, the relationship is one of friends to lovers that will quickly turn into something more but Noah is about to sabotage the woman he loves, pushing her out of his life, leaving them both with a broken heart. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to a colorful and energetic cast of secondary and supporting characters: Molly’s assistant Mona; her agent Angela, as well as Vivian’s nanny Frannie, several members of Noah’s grief support group, and the Vegas Venom hockey team-Anders Beck, Latham Newberry, Clayton ‘Cash Money’ Hale; team owner Dante Giovanetti and newcomer Marco Rossi.

FLOPPER is a story of grief and loss, blame and recovery, family and friendships, understanding and love. The premise is emotional and heart breaking but the potential conflict is easily deduced; the romance is seductive and captivating; the characters are charismatic, dynamic , broken but struggling to heal.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Share

JOCK WANTED (Rookie Rebels 6) by Kate Meader-Review Tour

Posted on by
12

JOCK WANTED (Rookie Rebels 6) by Kate Meader-Review Tour

 

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 14, 2022.

She has her heart set on a hockey player.

Any hockey player.

When the new general manager of the Chicago Rebels tasks Tara Becker with faking it with one of his players to help clean up the naughty jock’s act, she’s all over it. She’ll make that misbehaving hunk of muscle look good and get her dream guy into the bargain.

Only the path from fake to real is riddled with thorns . . .

New Rebels GM Hale Fitzpatrick thinks ditzy blonde and wannabe WAG Tara is the perfect solution to his PR problem – until she isn’t. Soon Fitz realizes that maybe he doesn’t have control of the strings after all . . . especially when he starts to fall for his pretty little puppet.

A fake relationship hockey romance – with a twist!

••••••

REVIEW:JOCK WANTED is the sixth instalment in Kate Meader’s contemporary, adult ROOKIE REBELS erotic, hockey romance series. This is forty-two year old, Chicago Rebels GM Hale ‘Fitz’ Fitzpatrick, and twenty-eight year old, social influencer/hair stylist Tara Becker’s story line. JOCK WANTED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. The Rookie Rebels series is a spin off from the author’s Chicago Rebels series-several characters cross over for back story and cohesion.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Hale and Tara) JOCK WANTED follows in the wake of a PR nightmare for the Chicago Rebels. Newly acquired player Dex O’Malley’s public persona is a nightmare, and GM Hale Fitzpatrick is desperate to clean up his player’s image. With the recommendation of a ‘fake girlfriend’ for Dex, Fitz and PR manager Sophie set their sights on ‘all around bubbly girl and WAG wannabe’ Tara Becker, the woman who would steal our hero’s heart. Tara Becker is desperate to find a husband, and everyone thinks Tara is a bimbo and a gold digger but only Tara knows the truth behind her current situation. When contracted to be the pretend girlfriend of embattled Dex O’Malley, Tara jumps at the chance but never expected to fall in love with someone else. What ensues is the fake relationship between Dex and Tara, as Tara and Hale cross a line from which they can never go back.

No one knows the truth about Tara Becker’s life, a life she has kept hidden from everyone she loves but Tara has reached a point of desperation, and the offer to earn money pretending to be someone she is not, is the perfect if not heart breaking solution to her problems. Hale Fitzpatrick’s attraction to Tara is immediate but her reputation as a wannabe hockey WAG (wife and girlfriend) pushes all of our hero’s buttons. Falling for Tara was easy, walking away would be the hardest part.

The relationship between Tara and Hale is one of immediate attraction but Hale struggles with the rumors and gossip about our story line heroine. Tara suspects that she would have never crossed Hale’s radar had it not been for her fake-relationship with Dex, a relationship that is about to become more real than anyone could have ever imagined. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, energetic and familiar secondary and supporting characters including several players, management , wives and girlfriends, as well as Tara’s sister Chloe.

JOCK WANTED is a story of family, relationships, friendships and love; a heart breaking tale of secrets and lies, hope and forever. The premise is captivating and engaging; the romance is consuming and provocative; the characters are animated and entertaining.

Previous reviews
Good Guy
Instacrush
Man Down
Fore Player
Dear Roomie
Rebel Yule

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Reader’s Group | Bookbub | Goodreads | Newsletter | Amazon Author Profile

Kate Meader

Originally from Ireland, USA Today bestselling author Kate Meader cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Harlequins thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron or a fire hose, and she’s there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with alpha heroes and strong heroines who can match their men quip for quip.

Share

Shenanigans (Brooklyn 6) by Sarina Bowen-Review Tour

Posted on by
12

Shenanigans (Brooklyn Bruisers 6) by Sarina Bowen-Review Tour

 

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 15, 2022

What I meant to do in Vegas: Let my hair down for once and celebrate winning a medal at my first women’s hockey all-stars competition.

What I actually did: Got senior prom drunk and woke up married to Brooklyn’s star winger, the great Neil Drake.

He’s the heir to a billion dollars, and I barely survived my childhood. Our friendship is based strictly only on hockey, takeout food and smack talk.

And now holy matrimony. Although we both know it can’t last, especially once his evil family gets wind of our Vegas shenanigans…

••••••

REVIEW:SHENANIGANS is the sixth full-length instalment in Sarina Bowen’s contemporary, adult BROOKLYN hockey, romance series (formerly known as the Brooklyn Bruisers)-a series that now includes the all women’s Brooklyn Bombshells hockey team. This is Brooklyn Bruisers hockey player Cornelius ‘Neil’ Drake, and Brooklyn Bombshells hockey player Charlotte ‘Charli’ Higgins’ story line. SHENANIGANS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Charli and Neil) SHENANIGANS follows the friends to lovers, Vegas marriage, fake relationship between Brooklyn Bruisers hockey player Cornelius ‘Neil’ Drake, and Brooklyn Bombshells hockey player Charlotte ‘Charli’ Higgins. An awards ceremony in Vegas ends with our couple, a very drunk couple, pretending to get married, only to wake up the next morning, married for real. Hoping for a quickie annulment, Neil and Charli discover that leaving Vegas was the worst thing they could do. When a paparazzi posts a picture of the couple entering a chapel, not only does the Brooklyn hockey organization begin to round up the troops, but Neil’s well-to-do family, begin to circle wagons in an attempt to protect their family holdings. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Neil and Charli, and the potential fall-out as both extended families take action, but action with varying degrees of threats and intimidation.

Neil Drake has lusted after Charli Higgins for as long as he can remember but never thought Charli saw him as boyfriend or marriage material. Charli always presented herself as not interested in the opposite $ex, disguising years of mistrust and threats at the hands of many men. When Charli draws a line in the proverbial sand with regards to their quickie marriage, Neil struggles with his growing attraction to a woman who believes she is unworthy of our hero’s love.

The relationship between Neil and Charli is a friends to lovers, fake relationship in which Charli is hoping for an immediate divorce. Targeted and threatened by both Neil’s family and her own, Charli is forced to walk away to protect the man with whom she is falling in love. Neil is quickly falling for the woman he married, a woman who stands up to protect our story line hero. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters cause most of the problems and issues in our couple’s lives-Silas (Superfan 3/Brooklyn Bruisers 7), Bess and Tank (Sureshot 4), the Bombshells’ coach Anton Bayer and his significant other Sylvie (Bombshells 5); Charli’s teammates Fiona, Angelica, and Samantha; her cousin Robert, and brother Dennis; Neil’s long-suffering mother Paloma Drake, his uncle Harmon, and his sister Paisley ; personal shopper Vera, and Neil’s ex Iris. The conflict resolution with Charli’s family ends rather abruptly-I was hoping for more.

SHENANIGANS is a story of family and dysfunction; secrets and lies; betrayal and vengeance, friendships, relationships, hockey and love. The character driven premise is emotional and intense ; the characters are animated, inspiring and energetic; the romance is spirited, edgy and tender.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Rookie Move
Hard Hitter
Pipe Dreams

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Sarina Bowen is the USA Today bestselling author of steamy, angsty Contemporary Romance and New Adult fiction. She lives in the wilds of Vermont.

She is the author of The Ivy Years, an award-winning series set amid the hockey team at an elite Connecticut college. Also, the The Gravity series.

With Elle Kennedy, Sarina is the author of HIM and US.

Follow Sarina: Goodreads / Website / Twitter / Facebook

Share

DAX (Arizona Vengeance #4) by Sawyer Bennett-Review Tour

Posted on by
12

DAX (Arizona Vengeance #4) by Sawyer Bennett-Review Tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 9, 2019

The Arizona Vengeance is killing it on the ice. But one player can’t seem to keep his eye on the puck—all thanks to the woman he just married to save her life.

My name is Dax Monahan and hockey is my passion. And if you want to succeed in this sport you have to bust your ass 24/7. I’ve never had a hard time focusing on my career, but when my past comes knocking, no amount of training can prepare me for what lies on the other side of the door.

Regan Miles was always like a sister to me. When a shared tragedy brings us face to face after several years, I’m shocked to see just how much she’s changed. Gone is the shy, awkward little girl that always used to chase me and her brother around. Instead, I’m faced with a gorgeous woman who makes it damn hard to concentrate on anything but her.

Turns out, she’s in trouble, and the only way out is to get married.

I surprise myself when I tell her to marry me. Order her, actually. And most shocking of all, she doesn’t even hesitate before saying yes.

So it’s settled. We’re getting hitched and she’s moving to Arizona with me. All platonic, of course.

The catch?
I never knew I’d fall so hard for my best friend’s little sister.

•••••••••

REVIEW: DAX is the fourth instalment in Sawyer Bennett’s contemporary, adult ARIZONA VENGEANCE erotic, hockey romance series focusing on the NHL’s Arizona Vengeance Hockey team. This is twenty-seven year old, left-winger Calvin ‘Dax’ Monahan, and twenty-two year old, nurse Regan Miles’ story line. DAX can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order for the history between and about the characters. Some of the events of DAX cross over and run parallel with the events of book three LEGEND.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Dax and Regan) DAX follows the best friend’s little sister/marriage of convenience relationship between twenty-seven year old, Arizona Vengeance left-winger Calvin ‘Dax’ Monahan, and twenty-two year old, nurse Regan Miles. Months earlier Regan’s brother and Dax’s best friend Lance Miles was killed in a mugging, leaving Regan alone without family or support. Hoping to help Regan move forward Dax offers to help clean up and clear out but something isn’t right with his best friend’s little sister. Desperate for help, Regan accepts Dax’s offer of marriage knowing the marriage would be in name only. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Dax and Regan, and the potential fallout as a misunderstanding may push Regan out of Dax’s life.

Meanwhile, Tacker Hall continues to spiral out of control. At the end of LEGEND Tacker found himself on the verge of losing it all. Suspended and facing legal troubles, Tacker is given an ultimatum by management, an ultimatum Tacker struggles to accept.

The relationship between Dax and Regan is a friends to lovers; a marriage of convenience that grows into something more. The attraction is immediate; their mutual grief buried by the possibility of future loss. 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 several members of the Arizona Vengeance: Bishop and Brooke, Erik and Blue, Legend, Tacker, Coach Claude, and team owner Dominik Carlson, as well as Dax’s sisters Willow and Meredith, and their parents Linda and Calvin Monahan. There is something developing between Dominik and Willow.

DAX is a story of grief , loss and sorrow; revelations, acceptance, romance and love. The premise is captivating and engaging; the romance is seductive and hot; the characters are energetic, strong and dynamic. DAX is a heart breaking and emotional story of one couple’s journey towards a happily ever after –for now.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Bishop
Erik
Legend

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | BOOKBUB | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | INSTAGRAM

Share

Off the Ice (Breakaway #4) by LP Dover-a review

Posted on by
12

OFF THE ICE (Breakaway #4) by LP Dover-a review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 16, 2018

He’s always made the scoring plays, both on and off the ice, but this time he has a new goal … the one for Meghan’s heart.

I’m Justin Davis, all-star center for the Charlotte Strikers. For years, I chased the spotlight, not only with hockey, but through television as well. That’s why I decided to play the bachelor on Rich and Single. Unfortunately, I was stuck with a fake fiancée from hell who I couldn’t stand to be around. Now that our contract is up, I’m allowed to do whatever I want, with whoever I want. I plan to take full advantage of my newfound freedom.

After being on the show, people don’t recognize me for hockey anymore, even with just winning the Stanley Cup for my team. That’s why I’m spending the off season in a remote cabin in Wyoming where the chances of people knowing me are slim. Space is what I need, but when a down to earth beauty needs help on her ranch, I can’t resist. Meghan Taylor is exactly what I’ve been looking for, even though I’m not the kind of man she wants.

Getting her to see the real me has its challenges, but the more time I spend with her, the easier it is for her to see that I’m not the same guy she knows from TV. Being away from the media is one thing, but as soon as I’m back in the spotlight, I’m afraid it’ll change what we have. I don’t want to lose her, but I also can’t hide away in Wyoming forever. It’s a choice I’m not ready to make.

•••••••••

REVIEW: OFF THE ICE is the fourth instalment in LP Dover’s contemporary, adult BREAKAWAY hockey, romance series focusing on the men and women of the Charlotte Strikers, professional hockey team. This is all-star center / reality TV star Justin Davis, and single mother/ primary school teacher Meghan Taylor’s story line. OFF THE ICE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Justin and Meghan) OFF THE ICE follows the building relationship between all-star center / reality TV star Justin Davis, and single mother/ primary school teacher Meghan Taylor. The Charlotte Strikers have just won their second Stanley Cup, and Justin is desperate for some down time in the wake of the televised break-up with his ‘reality TV fiancee’ Miranda Davenport- a spoiled rich heiress whose father pulls the purse strings of many of Hollywood’s leading producers. Time alone to work on his newly acquired Wyoming ranch finds Justin face to face with his future, neighboring rancher, single mother and primary school teacher Meghan Taylor. What ensues is the building but secret relationship between Meghan and Justin, and the potential fall-out as the end of summer approaches, and Justin heads back to get ready for the upcoming hockey season.

Justin Davis is a former bachelor reality star whose personal life had spiralled out of control when the woman he chose made his life a living h*ll. One year later Justin proclaims the end of their relationship on national TV, then ventures to Wyoming for some well-deserved R&R where he will meet single mother Meghan Taylor. Hoping to protect her daughter from the prying eyes of the media, Meghan and Justin keep their relationship on the down-low until the couple find themselves on the front pages of the local rags.

The relationship between Meghan and Justin is one of immediate attraction. Meghan has loved and lost, but isn’t willing to risk her daughter’s happiness for a few weeks of $ex and fun; Justin is hoping for his own happily ever after. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Most of the previous story line couples play secondary and supporting characters including Maddox Ledger and Lacey Easton (Playmaker #3) and Dallas Easton and Justin’s sister Callie Davis (Blocked #2). We are introduced to Meghan’s daughter Ellie, and Meghan’s sister Kimberly.

The world building follows the building romance and love between Meghan and Justin, as well as the potential fall-out of Justin’s aborted relationship between Justin and Miranda.

OFF THE ICE is a fast paced, story of romance and love, friends and family. The premise is engaging and captivating; the characters are colorful and real; the romance is spirited and true. The story line conflict is limited. OFF THE ICE is a welcome addition to LP Dover’s BREAKAWAY series.

Reading Order and Previous reviews
Hard Stick
Blocked
Playmaker
OFF THE ICE

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she began her literary journey she worked in periodontics, enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.

She loves to write, but she also loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes and white water rafting, and has a passion for singing. Her two youngest fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime, usually Christmas carols.

Dover has written countless novels, including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, the Gloves Off series, the Armed & Dangerous series, the Royal Shifters series, the Society X series, the Circle of Justice series, and her standalone novel Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense, but if she got to choose a setting in which to live, it would be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.

L.P. Dover is represented by Marisa Corvisiero of Corvisiero Literary Agency and Italia Gandolfo of Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary Management for dramatic rights.

Website/ Facebook/ Twitter/ Google+ / Amazon / Goodreads / Newsletter

Share

Delayed Call (Assassins #11) by Toni Aleo-Review, Excerpt and Book Tour

Posted on by
9

DELAYED CALL (Assassins #11) by Toni Aleo-Review, Excerpt and Book tour

Delayed Call Banner

DELAYED CALL
Assassins #11
by Toni Aleo
Release Date: March 20, 2017
Genre: adult, contemporary, hockey, romance

Delayed Call

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 20, 2017

Vaughn Johansson is the Nashville Assassins’ star player. He’s brash, cocky, and talented. And he isn’t afraid to let anyone know it. He lives his life on his own terms, never forming romantic attachments, and only allowing his very closest to see his true, caring self.

Brie Soledad has the weight of the world on her shoulders. As the staff reporter for the Assassins, she balances her high-profile job and its heavy travel schedule with being the sole provider for her adult brother with Down syndrome. Sure, she’d like to find love. But who has time for that when there are bills to pay?

Brie has been the match to Vaughn’s gasoline since the day she first held out her microphone to him. They strike sparks off each other, keeping their friends, the team, and the Assassins fans in stitches. Brie’s refusal to fawn over Vaughn sets his teeth on edge and his blood boiling. Especially in that body part…

Brie’s been let down by love before, but she knows she deserves nothing less than real, forever love. Vaughn’s past has left deep, hidden scars, and there are some secrets he cannot bear to reveal. As much as Brie wants him, Vaughn may be too big a risk for her wary heart to take. But he is at his best under pressure. When the delayed call is in effect and he has no choice but to score, Vaughn always delivers.

•••••••••••••••

REVIEW: DELAYED CALL is the eleventh installment in Toni Aleo’s contemporary, adult ASSASSINS romance series focusing on the men and women of the NHL’s professional hockey team the Nashville Assassins. This is star player Vaughn Johansson, and the Assassins’ staff reporter Brie Soledad’s story line. DELAYED CALL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Brie and Vaughn) DELAYED CALL focuses on the building relationship between Assassin’s star player Vaughn Johansson, and staff reporter Brie Soledad-an acrimonious relationship with plenty of sexual tension, and the childish back and forth name calling and insults reserved for adolescent teens. With each encounter the play by play between Vaughn and Brie increases the heat, the rancor, the cutting jibes until someone close to Brie and Vaughn makes a request that neither ignore. What ensues is the accession and acquiescence between Vaughn and Brie but not before Brie discovers that Vaughn has lied to Brie about the most important person in her life.

Vaughn Johansson doesn’t do relationships or love. Yes, he loves his friends like family but to proclaim his love for a woman is something Vaughn has learned never to do and never will again. Brie loves with all of her heart but falling in love with Vaughn Johansson finds our heroine heartbroken and alone, wondering where everything went wrong.

We are introduced to Vaughn’s best friend and roommate Jensen Monroe; their mutual friends, brother and sister Wren and Wells. Jensen has been in love with Wren for most of their adult life but Wren has a secret that will blow apart their little world.

DELAYED CALL was a bit of a struggle for me in the early portion of the story. The bickering, name calling and insults were so adolescent and juvenile I thought I was reading a YA story line, and I had a difficult time moving forward. I considered DNFing but I plowed forward and I am glad I did. The premise is entertaining and revealing; the characters were melodramatic, theatrical yet playful and energetic; the romance struggled with Vaughn’s inability to let go of the past. DELAYED CALL is a sexy and passionate story about family, friendship and love.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

excerpt

 

When Tricksie started to bark more frantically as he put his hat on, he looked down at her. “Two seconds, baby.”
She continued to bark as he grabbed his keys before reaching for the door, which she took off out of. He went to tell her to calm down, but before he could, he heard a woman’s voice, “Oh, my goodness! Hello!”
Peeking his head out the door, he found Brie on the ground. On her back, her arms around Tricksie as she jumped and licked her to death. “Oh, my God! Hello. My name is Brie. You are the cutest little dog I’ve ever seen in my whole life. Yes, you are. What is your name? Tricksie? Oh, my goodness, I just love you, I do. Is that your name because you are a three-legged baby and your daddy thinks he’s awesome at scoring hat tricks? I bet so.”
“For your information, yes.”
Brie just grinned as she continued to kiss and love on Tricksie. Which Tricksie was eating up like mad. “Do you want a treat? Treat? Ah, come on.”
Then she yanked the leash out of Vaughn’s hand before picking Tricksie up and kissing her head. “Hey, that’s my dog.”
“I know,” was all she said before pushing her door open and taking his dog into her apartment.
“Can I have her back?” Peeking his head in her door, he watched as she went to the kitchen, grabbing a treat bag before putting Tricksie on the counter and feeding her.
“Don’t worry, they’re all-natural treats. The guys across the hall in my last building had four French Bulldogs, and I used to give them treats until they went into food comas.”
Tricksie was going crazy, obviously falling for the blond-haired beauty who stood before her. Like the day before when they had moved Rodney in, she was wearing jeans and a shirt that he assumed said something witty. He couldn’t see because she was still cuddling Tricksie as she fed her. “You shouldn’t give treats to other people’s dogs.”
She looked up from Tricksie, her lips still curved in the most beautiful grin he had ever seen on her face. “You’re right. I’m sorry. Is it okay if I continue to feed her?”
Why did he find her so lovely at that moment? Her hair was a mess, tucked into a knit cap, yet she looked like someone he could cuddle with. If he cuddled. Not that he cuddled. Unsure of his feelings, he shrugged. “She needs to pee.”
“Okay, one more,” she said sweetly before feeding Tricksie and then kissing her hard on the head. “You can come in.”
He didn’t like how she was making him feel. It was weird. Like he wanted to go behind her, bury his nose in her hair, and just hold her. She looked so damn gorgeous, snuggling his dog and making her feel like the princess she was. Vaughn’s hands itched to touch Brie, and he didn’t understand that. He never itched for anything. He fucked women and moved on, but watching Brie as she acted a fool with his dog, he wanted to…cuddle.
Why did he keep thinking that?
Grumbling at his stupidity, he entered, shutting the door but staying right by it. “She really does need to pee.”
“Oh, yeah, sorry,” she said, kissing Tricksie again. “I really love dogs. I never got to have one growing up. Rodney is allergic to them.”
He nodded. “Yeah, Jensen said he had to put her up when Rod came over the other day.”
“It sucks, but I love them so much. They’re so much fun, and bless her, she’s gorgeous. What happened to her leg?”
“Hit by a car. I adopted her like that. She came in hurt, and they fixed her up.”
Her eyes lit up. “That’s sweet you adopted her. She looks happy as all get-out.”
“She’s spoiled, that’s for sure.”


 

 

Delayed Call Teaser 1

About The Author

Toni AleoMy name is Toni Aleo and I’m a total dork.
I am a wife, mother of two and a bulldog, and also a hopeless romantic.
I am the biggest Shea Weber fan ever, and can be found during hockey season with my nose pressed against the Bridgestone Arena’s glass, watching my Nashville Predators play!
When my nose isn’t pressed against the glass, I enjoy going to my husband and son’s hockey games, my daughter’s dance competition, hanging with my best friends, taking pictures, scrapbooking, and reading the latest romance novel.
I have a slight Disney and Harry Potter obsession, I love things that sparkle, I love the color pink, I might have been a Disney Princess in a past life… probably Belle.
… and did I mention I love hockey?

Twitter  Facebook  Web  Goodreads  Amazon Pinterest  

Ardent Prose

Share