IN THE CREASE (Assassins #12) by Toni Aleo-Review and Excerpt Tour
IN THE CREASE
Assassins #12
by Toni Aleo
Release Date: August 22, 2017
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, hockey, romance,
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / iBooks
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 22, 2017
Jensen Monroe is a unicorn. As handsome as any model, as polite as can be, a goalie of unmatched skill, and the best friend anyone could ask for. But he longs for a particular special someone to make his life complete. He’s been in love with Wren since he was a teenager, but as his best friend’s sister, she’s always been off-limits.
Wren Lemiere has prided herself on being a love ’em and leave ’em girl her whole life. She’s all about equal opportunity in the battle of the sexes. Why should guys like her brother and his best friends get to be the only ones allowed to play the dating game? One wrong move, however, and she finds herself in violation of her own rules.
In need of a fake husband and baby daddy for her unexpected bundle of joy, Wren finally accepts Jensen is the logical one to ask for help. Except he has a counteroffer…one with so many strings attached, they may just find themselves wrapped up in ties that bind. Forever.
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REVIEW: IN THE CREASE is the twelfth installment in Toni Aleo’s contemporary, adult ASSASSINS erotic, hockey, romance series focusing on the men and women of the NHL’s professional hockey team the Nashville Assassins. This is Assassin’s goalie Jensen Monroe, and team psychiatrist Wren Lemiere’s story line. IN THE CREASE 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 third person perspectives (Jensen and Wren) IN THE CREASE is a friends to lovers, best friend’s little sister trope that follows in Wrens’ discovery of an unplanned pregnancy, and the subsequent rejection by the baby’s father. Needing a fake husband and baby daddy for more reasons than she could count, Wren approaches her brother’s best friend Jensen Monroe, a man who has loved Wren for most of his life. What ensues is the building romance between Jensen and Wren, and the fall out when the secrets Wren keeps close to her heart are revealed for everyone to see.
Wren Lemiere struggles with major issues of low self-esteem; her baby daddy’s rejection hits too close to home, and with her brother’s upcoming wedding Wren is desperate to find someone who is willing to play along. Wren’s reputation as a love-em and leave-em kind of girl is a reflection of her upbringing-a childhood mired in jealousy and perceived rejection from the people she loved. Jensen Monroe has been in love with Wren Lemiere for as long as he can remember. As a young, billeted hockey player, Jensen’s found himself fantasizing about his teammate’s sister- a young woman who, to the present day, remained oblivious to Jensen’s love and attraction.
The relationship between Jensen and Wren struggles in the face of unrequited love; Jensen’s willingness to risk his heart and his soul for a woman who refuses to accept anything permanent including a potential future with our leading hero, is heartbreaking and emotional. Wren’s issues of low self-esteem have fractured any semblance of personal worth, and in this our heroine believes she is unworthy of love and affection, including the love of the family in which she grew up. There were plenty of tear-inducing triggers. Some readers may take offense to our heroine’s attitude and unwillingness to give love a chance but Wren battles with her heart as the pain of previous hurt and rejection come full circle both at home and in her personal life.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Wren’s brother Wells and his boyfriend Alex, Vaughn Johanssen and Brie Soladad (Delayed Call #11), Wren and Wells’ parents Winston and Elaine Lemiere, as well as Jensen’s mother and father Emma and Antoine Monroe, and Assassin’s owner Elli Adler, Wren’s former best friend Shanna, and her brother Bradley Washington, and Jensen’s ex Ophelia.
The world building looks at the friendships and love between members of the Nashville Assassins; the family dynamics behind the scenes, and the struggles for one woman to be recognized for who and what she is. Hockey takes a backseat to our leading couple.
IN THE CREASE is an emotional story line; a heartbreaking tale about one man who loves unconditionally, and one woman who believes she is unworthy of love. The premise is energetic and entertaining; the characters are colorful, passionate and dynamic; the romance is seductive and intense. IN THE CREASE is a roller-coaster of emotions; a spirited and inspiring story with a happily ever after.
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
Jensen just stared back at him. “Okay? Why is this hard?”
“Because you’re not moving with us.”
He rolled his eyes. “Jo, we haven’t lived together for six months since you moved in with Brie.”
“I know, but we were across the hall.”
Jensen laughed. “I’ll be fine without you guys—”
“Now, I know this comes as a shock, but we’re having a baby, and we need space for us and the baby.”
“I know—”
“Now, Jenny, I know this is going to be difficult, putting space between us—”
“You know we lived apart for years, right?”
But Vaughn went on. “Just know I will always and forever love you as my brother, and nothing will change. Not the space, the new ball and chain, or the baby.”
“Are you done?”
Brie apparently thought this was hilarious since she was basically choking she was laughing so hard. Which wasn’t anything new. Vaughn might be an idiot, but he was a funny one. As always, Vaughn was unaffected as he said, “We’ll never be done, Jenny, never.”
“Okay,” Jensen said, rolling his eyes again. “Listen, this is awesome. I’m happy for you guys, and let me know when we need to start moving stuff.”
“You’re such a good man,” Vaughn proclaimed before clapping his hands together. “This weekend good for you?”
Laughing, he just shook his head at Vaughn’s antics. “Yeah, man.”
“Thanks, Jensen.”
He smiled over at Brie. “Anytime.”
Rolling his eyes, he went back to eating as a grin played on his lips. He wanted nothing more than for his friend to grow and be in love. Brie was that for Vaughn. They were moving and having a kid, and it was great. Vaughn needed that. So did Wells, who was getting married the following month. Both his best friends were living life, happily and to its fullest. Meanwhile, Jensen was stuck.
He didn’t know how it happened, or even why, but it had. He wasn’t interested in anyone he met, and he didn’t just want to fuck around. He wanted someone to love him for him. The quiet, weird guy in the corner. The one who would lay down his life for anyone he loved. He had redeemable qualities, but for some reason, no one wanted them. They just wanted to have sex.
He didn’t want Netflix and chill; he wanted Netflix and breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and more.
Hmm, he should copyright that.
Taking a huge bite of his chicken, he felt his phone start to vibrate. He pulled it out, seeing that it was a text from Wren, as he chewed. Like always when she texted him, his heart sped up, and his palms went clammy as a lump formed in his throat. Or maybe that was the chicken, he wasn’t sure. Either way, he slid the notification over so that his text thread with her opened up before he read her message.
Wren: Are you free anytime this week?
My 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?
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Cindi Madsen is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and young adult novels. She sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a pretty new pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music and dancing and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.
Lorelei James is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of contemporary erotic western romances set in the modern day Wild West and also contemporary erotic romances. Lorelei’s books have been nominated for and won the Romantic Times Reviewer’s choice Award, as well as the CAPA Award. Lorelei lives in western South Dakota with her family…and a whole closet full of cow girl boots.
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