Taking a Shot by Taryn Leigh Taylor – a Review

Taking a Shot by Taryn Leigh Taylor – a Review

 

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Description:
Hockey star Brett Sillinger’s never been afraid of a little trouble. But when his personal life ends up in the tabloids, he knows his career is on thin ice. Luckily, a new team decides to take a chance on him. All he has to do is keep head in the game. But when temptation walks up wearing black knee-high boots, looking for one night of nameless, no-strings passion, well, what’s a guy to do?

Chelsea London is looking to misbehave. What’s being good ever gotten her, besides getting dumped and passed over for a big promotion at work? But her one delicious night of rebellion has unexpected consequences–her hot one-night stand is the latest addition to her father’s hockey team. And suddenly, one night of bad-girldom isn’t nearly enough.

But one false move, and Brett might spend this season in the penalty box…

 

Review;

I really enjoyed Taking a Shot by Taryn Leigh Taylor.  It was a fun, fast, flirty read with just enough hockey talk to keep this hockey fan happy.  I really liked Brett and Chelsea from the get go.  Both characters are fun, witty, sexy and know how to charm the socks off each other. Their scenes are full of fun, sexy, flirty chemistry and keep the story going from beginning to end.  Watching the two of them deal with their adventure was enjoyable from beginning to end.

Even though Brett is the ‘supposed’ bad boy of the hockey world, we do learn he has a heart of gold underneath all his screw ups in his younger hockey days.  His scenes with his sister/brother-in-law and new niece are so precious and sweet that you can’t help but want him to get a HEA in his social life and professional life.  I loved the way he went completely overboard with all his baby shopping for her, but what I loved most was how he wanted Chelsea to be a part of it all and go with him to meet the newest addition in his family. Those were precious and tender scenes and we get to see that Chelsea and Brett are falling in love with each other and don’t realize it yet, or just don’t want to see it yet. 

Yes there is just enough drama between the two of them to keep the story going, but thankfully it didn’t over power the rest of their story. It was just the right amount of drama to make both characters realize they had fallen in love and that the other person was the best thing to ever happen to them.  I especially enjoyed the final scenes where Chelsea decides she’s going to win her man back.  I had a few chuckles with these scenes thanks to a couple of the supporting cast of characters but there were also some oooo and aaaa moments too. 

Taking a Shot is the type of book you can read in one sitting, tucked away in your little reading nook with a good glass of wine and box of chocolates.  If you’re a sports fan, especially a hockey fan and enjoy a good sports themed romance, then this one’s a must.

Until next time, happy reading everyone!!

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Publisher

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TAKING A SHOT by Jaci Burton-a new release review by Marcie

TAKING A SHOT by Jaci Burton

Taking a Shot
By Jaci Burton

I had never read anything by Jaci Burton before, but when TRC put the cover for Taking a Shot up I knew it was a book I had to check out. The main male lead is a professional hockey player and that’s my number one sport. I swear I was born in a hockey rink. Actually, I’ve been going to hockey games since in the womb so it’s in my blood. Nothing like watching a bunch of guys skating on ice after a rubber puck, jostling, fighting, roughing it up to score a goal. A very enjoyable way to pass an evening. So I had a feeling this book would be right up my alley. Not to mention the cover is damn hot. Okay enough of my ramblings about hockey, onto my review. 😉

Taking a Shot is part of Burton’s Play-By-Play series. I’ve only read this one and if it’s any indication for how she writes, she’s an author that can keep me interested in storyline and characters, especially of the athletic variety. Her athletes are definitely not lacking in the hotness department or stamina department, both on the playing field and the bedroom.

Ty Andersson is a professional hockey player who plays for the St. Louis Ice. He and his teammates have made it a habit of hanging out at Riley’s, a popular sports bar in town after home games. Ty had met the bar’s manager Jenna Riley through her brother Mick earlier on and now has become intrigued with her. There’s only one problem with that, Jenna has vowed to never date or fall for anyone involved in sports. Being the athlete he is, Ty never gives up on a challenge, and right now, Jenna is a challenge Ty has set his sights on.

Jenna Riley comes from a sports oriented family. Her two older brothers Mick and Gavin are professional athletes. Mick plays pro football and her brother Gavin plays pro baseball. On top of all that her family has always run one of the city’s most popular sports bars Rileys. No matter where Jenna turns there’s something sports oriented always popping up in front of her. From her brothers, to their friends, to work. She can’t seem to escape it. So when Ty Andersson walks into the bar one fateful night, Jenna decides that she needs to stay clear of him before something happens.

Jenna never saw herself becoming the manager of Riley’s Sports Bar, but after her father suffered a heart attack a year ago, she felt she owed it to her family to step up and take charge. In doing so Jenna put her plans and dreams on hold and never told her family about a secret talent she’s had all her life. It isn’t until Jenna starts seeing Ty that things begin to change for her. Even though she’s stated she’ll never date or fall for a guy involved in sports Jenna can’t seem stop the attraction or chemistry she feels for Ty.

As the relationship progresses Jenna keeps trying to convince herself she just hasn’t expelled Ty from of her system yet. It’s like she’s trying to exorcise some demon from her life, but instead she keeps falling further and further in love with Ty and doesn’t realize it, or at least won’t acknowledge it.

Not only is Jenna falling fast for Ty, but so are the walls she’s built up around herself. She starts to let Ty into her life more and more, even going so far as to confess her secret passion in life, singing and song writing. Ty convinces her to sing for him one night and from that moment on gets Jenna thinking that maybe she doesn’t have to put her dreams on hold or keep her singing and song writing a secret anymore. There’s only one problem, Jenna is afraid of failure. This fear of failing goes all the way back to the time she spent backpacking her way through Europe. She had joined up with a band and was living her dream singing in different bars and towns night after night until one day she was told she wasn’t good enough. From that day on she decided to keep her talent a secret.

Jenna isn’t the only one who’s built up walls to protect themselves, Ty has too, but for different reasons. Ty witnessed his parent’s marriage fall apart from an early age and decided that commitment and marriage wasn’t for him. He didn’t want to chance the same thing that happened to him when he was a kid to happen to a child of his own. However, the more time he spends with Jenna and her family Ty starts to re-think his ideas on love, marriage and commitment. He realizes that he’s falling for Jenna and maybe there’s hope for him after all. Ty realizes that if he can get over his fears of commitment and marriage, then maybe Jenna can get over her fears as well. Ty pushes Jenna to pursue her dreams and tell her family about her talent. Knowing this won’t be an easy task Ty is patient and allows Jenna to come to her own conclusions, even when she blows up at him and tells him it’s over. Being the ‘never back down from a challenge’ type personality Ty decides it isn’t over but gives Jenna the time she needs. In the end Jenna comes to realize she doesn’t want a life without Ty or her dream. She opens up to her family and sings for them, then tells them about her dream of running a music bar, where she can sing whenever she wants and promote other singers and bands. Being the supportive family they are, her parents and brothers are there for her and let her know they will always be. Once Jenna comes clean with her family and accepts who she really is she’s able to completely embrace what Ty has brought to her life and what they can be together. Jenna decides it’s finally time to go after what she wants and that’s a life with Ty and her music.

Being the hockey fan that I am I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Burton gives you action on and off the ice. It’s hot and heavy at times and other times very sweet and romantic. I enjoyed both characters and feel anyone who loves sports as much as I do will enjoy this book or any of Burton’s books in the Play-by-Play series. Even if you aren’t a sports nut you’ll enjoy this book too. Looking forward to back tracking now and reading the previous books in the series and then any future one’s she writes.

Play-by-Play Series reading order
-The Perfect Play
-Changing the Game
-Taking a Shot
-Playing to Win (Sept 4, 2012)

reviewed by Marcie

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