Now or Never (San Francisco Thunder #4) by Victoria Denault-a review

Now or Never (San Francisco Thunder #4) by Victoria Denault-a review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 15, 2019

From the bestselling author of the Hometown Players series comes a sexy romance about a bad boy hockey player who wants a second chance to win the heart of his high school crush.

All Winnie Braddock wants is a quiet place to be alone and time to heal her battered heart. But the refuge she’d hoped for in her family’s summer cottage is destroyed when she gets there to find Holden Hendricks literally camped out in the driveway. He made her life hell when they were kids, and despite what he says, it doesn’t look like much has changed. She doesn’t care if her brother hired Holden to renovate the house this winter; she wants him gone.

You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take. Holden knows that hockey saying all too well. After all, he could have gone pro if he hadn’t messed up so much as a kid. But now he’s desperate to prove he’s changed for the better, especially to Winnie Braddock. As the two work together to fix the cottage piece by piece, they realize that perhaps they can give each other the new beginning they’ve both been waiting for-if they’re just willing to take the shot.

••••••••

REVIEW: NOW OR NEVER is the fourth instalment in Victoria Denault’s contemporary, adult SAN FRANCISCO THUNDER romance series. This is thirty year old, home renovator Holden Hendricks, and twenty-nine year old, primary school teacher Winnie Braddock’s story line. NOW OR NEVER 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 (Winnie and Holden) NOW OR NEVER follows the enemies to lovers, acrimonious relationship between thirty year old, home renovator Holden Hendricks, and twenty-nine year old, primary school teacher Winnie Braddock. Years earlier Winnie’s brother Jude’s best friend Holden Hendrick’s made Winnie’s life a living h*ll. Teasing and bullying escalated until the day Winnie punched Holden and broke his nose. Fast forward to present day wherein Holden Hendrick’s has returned to his home town, unwelcome and without forgiveness for sins of the past. When given the opportunity to renovate and repair the Braddock’s family cottage in Maine Holden will come face to face with his past, a past that is unwilling to forgive and forget. Enter Winnifred Braddock, and the woman with whom Holden will fall in love. What ensues is the tempestuous relationship between Holden and Winnie, and the potential fall-out as secrets and the inability to trust continue to push Holden at every turn.

Holden Handricks’ life was destroyed when at the age of ten, his mother died in a freak accident. Angry and grieving, for the next several years, Holden lashed out at everyone and everything, including our story line heroine. Holden’s earlier self-destruction destroyed any chance of turning professional in the game he loved, a game he sacrificed for someone else. Hoping to make amends to everyone back home, the constant rejection was difficult and painful. Winnie Braddock just buried her beloved father and is unable to let go of the grief and pain. Breaking up with her boyfriend of eleven years meant Winnie wanted time alone never thinking she would spend weeks with a man she decreed her mortal enemy. Living side by side Winnie would soon discover that the man with whom she is falling in love is not the same, angry boy whose actions turned her life upside down.

The relationship between Winnie and Holden is acrimonious at best. Their bitter and caustic back and forth is fuelled by Winnie’s inability to trust, and the reminder of a time long ago when Holden did everything to push Winnie’s buttons. Secrets from the past, and Winnie’s issues of trust continue to dog our couple throughout the story. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are reintroduced to Winnie’s brother Jude and his wife Zoey (Scored #1), and their sisters Dixie and Eli (Slammed #2), Sadie and Griffin (When It’s Right #3); as well as a Winnie’s friend and townie Cat’ Holden’s sister Bradie and her son Duke, and a couple of Holden’s friends from the past.

The world building departs from hockey and the San Francisco Thunder. Holden was a rising star in the junior hockey leagues but life choices destroyed any chances for a professional career, a career every knows would have been as successful as Jude’s.

NOW OR NEVER is a story of family and friendship, death and loss, forgiveness and moving forward. The character driven premise is engaging and spirited; the characters are broken, flirty and real; the romance is moving and emotional. NOW OR NEVER reveals the pain of childhood trauma; the regret of sins and bullying; and the second chances for two people hurt by words and loss. On the flip side, I struggled with the heroine’s immature attitude throughout most of the story, sometimes too much childish behaviour is difficult to accept.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book three-WHEN IT’S RIGHT

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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When It’s Right (San Francisco Thunder #3) by Victoria Denault-a review

WHEN IT’S RIGHT (San Francisco Thunder #3) by Victoria Denault

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 14, 2018

IT’S ALL A MATTER OF TIMING

Griffin Sullivan is handling the ultimate balancing act. Between being a single dad to an active six-year-old and the crazy demands of his job as a hockey coach, finding love is not in the cards. But when the team’s goalie is rushed to the ER, he’s immediately captivated by the gorgeous, sassy nurse on duty… who just happens to be the sister of one his players.

Sadie Braddock has always had a big, open heart and a bit of a wild side. But since her dad got sick, she’s closed herself off to life and love. Relationships are way too complicated – and so is Griffin. He’s also funny and tender and sexy as hell. How can something that feels so right come at the worst time ever? Then again, someone to lean on may be exactly what they each need – if they’re only brave enough to take the risk

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REVIEW:  WHEN IT’S RIGHT is the third instalment in Victoria Denault’s contemporary, adult SAN FRANCISCO THUNDER hockey, erotic, romance series focusing on the Braddock siblings and the San Francisco Thunder professional hockey team. This is thirty-something, hockey coach and single father Griffin Sullivan, and twenty-seven year old, ER nurse Sadie Braddock’s story line. WHEN IT’S RIGHT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Griffin and Sadie) WHEN IT’S RIGHT follows the building relationship between hockey coach Griffin Sullivan, and ER nurse Sadie Braddock. Just your typical night in the local ER finds Sadie Braddock facing her future when her sister’s boyfriend and the goalie for the San Francisco Thunder Eli Casco, is side-lined with a possible concussion. Enter the team’s goalie coach Griffin Sullivan, and the man with whom Sadie will fall in love. What ensues is the slow building relationship between Sadie and Griffin, and the potential fall-out as Sadie struggles with family responsibility, and Griffin’s past makes for some difficult situations.

Sadie Braddock battles between head and heart with her attraction to Griffin Sullivan. Sadie’s father struggles with ever worsening ALS, and our heroine takes full responsibility for the family, their problems, and her father’s continuing care. A martyr to the end, Sadie forgoes any personal happiness in an effort to ensure she is close at hand. Griffin Sullivan, single father, hockey coach and former professional goalie has his sights set on Sadie Braddock but troubles with his ex-wife begin to spiral out of control pulling Sadie into a potential media nightmare if Griffin isn’t able to reign in his former spouse.

The relationship between Sadie and Griffin is a case of insta-lust but slow to develop as Sadie fights her attraction to Griffin in an effort to remain available for her father’s care. A persistent Griffin will finally convince Sadie to take a chance on love, a chance that will be derailed by Sadie’s need to be close to home. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and seductive.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including Jude Braddock and Zoey (Score #1), Dixie Braddock and Eli Casco (Slammed #2), sister Winnie, as well as their parents Enid and Randy Braddock; Griffin’s daughter Charlie his brother Hunter, Griffin’s ex-wife Lauren, and her boyfriend Cale. The Braddock family camaraderie is spirited and real.

WHEN IT’S RIGHT is a thought provoking tale of family, responsibilities, emotions and love. The premise is intelligent and engaging; the romance is spicy and hot; the characters are sassy, fun and energetic although Sadie’s need to martyr herself was questionable although understandable because there is always one child / one sibling that takes on more responsibility than all of the rest. WHEN IT’S RIGHT is an impassioned look at a debilitating disease that affects every member of the family, and the people they love.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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