The O Zone (Bears Hockey 11) by Kelly Jamieson -a review

Posted on December 26, 2021 by Sandy

The O Zone (Bears Hockey 11) by Kelly Jamieson -a review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 4, 2022

Owen Cook
I have one goal: To be the best hockey player I can be. I’m not going to waste the opportunity I have. All my focus is on hockey. I avoid distractions like women and relationships during the hockey season, but when a quirky subway busker asks me out on a fake date, somehow I’m intrigued enough to accept.

Emerie Ross
I gave up my music dreams to look after my half-sister. I don’t want her to feel as alone and neglected as I did after our mother died. But my ex-boyfriend is still trying to win me back and now my stepfather is helping him. Gah! I’d rather drink bleach than marry Roman Moretti. If they think I’m involved with someone else, maybe they’ll give up on that idea. All I need is a man…a date for a party.

Owen
When Emerie introduces me to her wicked stepfather (ha) I realize I’ve made a huge mistake. He’s my boss—the man who owns the team I play for. And he’s not happy to see me with Emerie. Can you say career ending move?

Emerie
Oops. I hate hockey. How was I supposed to know who Owen is? How are we going to keep Vince from trading him away? How am I going to make sure I stay happily un-married? We’re going to have to keep up this pretense even if it means me going to hockey games. Ugh. Even if it means disrupting Owen’s rigid routines. Even if it means everything gets a lot more complicated

•••••••

REVIEW:THE O ZONE is the first instalment in Kelly Jamieson’s contemporary, adult BEARS HOCKEY II erotic, hockey, romance series-spin off/companion to the author’s Bears Hockey series. This is New York Bears, professional hockey player Owen ‘Cookie’ Cooke, and busker Emerie Ross’s story line. THE O ZONE can be read as a stand alone, you do not have to have read the previous series to follow or understand.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Owen and Emerie) THE O ZONE follows the building romance and relationship between professional hockey play Owen Cooke, and busker Emerie Ross. Owen Cooke is all about the game of hockey but a local busker has caught our hero’s attention, a busker who needs Owen’s help to avoid a confrontation with her ex and pushy step- father but to Owen’s shock, said father is the New York Bears team owner, and a man who refuses to accept his step-daughter’s relationship with our story line hero. As Owen and Emerie’s relationship goes from fake to romantic, Emerie’s father takes a stand forcing Owen to reconsider his future with our story line heroine. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Emerie and Owen, and the potential fall-out as Emerie finds herself persona non-grata with both her father, and the man with whom she has fallen in love.

Emerie Ross has never revealed her connection to her famous step-father but in the wake of her mother’s death, Emerie has never felt accepted or loved but for her relationship with her younger half-sister. Busking on the side, without her step-father’s knowledge, Emerie has always wanted a career in music but found herself raising her half-sister in her step-father’s absence. Owen Cooke suffered a devastating loss and has pushed himself to prove he is worthy of his professional status . Owen is obsessed with hockey to the point of ignoring everything else, and Emerie’s place in his life, is about to push our hero over the edge.

The relationship between Owen and Emerie begins as a fake relationship, friends to lovers, in which their romance begins to affect our story line hero. Having never considered his own happily ever after, Owen finds himself at a crossroads when his future is on the line, and the past refuses to let go. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

Most of the original series couples return as secondary and supporting characters. We are introduced to Emerie’s father Vince D’Agostino, her sister Cat D’Agostino, Owen’s parents,and Emerie’s ex Roman Moretti.

THE O ZONE is a story of family, relationships, rejection and love. The premise is emotional and heart breaking; the romance is seductive ; the characters are energetic, broken but healing.

Previous reviews
Must love Dogs and Hockey
You Had Me at Hockey
Talk Hockey to Me

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Kelly Jamieson is a USA Today bestselling author of over fifty romance novels and novellas. She writes the kind of books she loves to read–sexy romance with heat, humor and emotion. Her writing has been described as “emotionally complex”, “sweet and satisfying” and “blisteringly sexy”. She likes coffee (black), wine (mostly white) and shoes (high!). She also loves watching hockey. She is the author of the popular Heller Brothers Hockey series, Aces Hockey series, and the Rule of Three trilogy.

Connect with Kelly

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3oqDFet
Instagram: https://bit.ly/37x0pTe
Amazon: https://amzn.to/33MTofY
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/33Njsb2
BookBub: https://bit.ly/39LQaxm
Website: https://www.kellyjamieson.com

Talk Hockey To Me(Bears Hockey) by Kelly Jamieson -Review tour

Posted on May 13, 2021 by Sandy

Talk Hockey To Me(Bears Hockey) by Kelly Jamieson -Review & Excerpt tour

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

Add TALK HOCKEY TO ME to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2QausLH

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date My 10, 2021

They can resist their attraction…until their hearts rocket them across the blue line.

Hunter
Timing. Hockey careers are made or broken on it, and mine has taken exceptionally broken road. I’m not a star. I’m a grinder, I work hard, and I’m finally at the point I can put the past behind me and get the fat, long-term contract I deserve.

But my agent—the man who stuck by me through every crash and burn—has had a heart attack. I need another agent now, or my one chance for the good money will slip through my fingers. Kate’s a rookie, but she loves the game like I do, so I pick up the phone. And I wonder if she remembers that one night in Cancun as vividly as I do.

Kate
Hockey. All my life I’ve lived it, breathed it, played it. Now it’s my business. As an agent, I’m tied to my phone at all hours, but nothing prepared me to hear Hunter’s voice. The last time I saw him—three years ago—there was a lot of bare skin and horny hormones involved.

I’ve handled it all in my short career—sexism, harassment, being broke, being laughed at. Resisting the attraction between us should be easy. Until it isn’t. And Hunter’s past shakes his confidence hard enough that he could make the worst decision at the worst possible time…

••••••

REVIEW: TALK HOCKEY TO ME is the third instalment in Kelly Jamieson’s contemporary, adult BEARS HOCKEY erotic, hockey romance series. This is hockey player Hunter Morrisette, and sports agent Kate Bridges’ story line. TALK HOCKEY TO ME can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Kelly Jamieson pulls from real world events in both the junior and professional hockey leagues including the tragedy of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash of 2018.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Hunter and Kate) TALK HOCKEY TO ME follows the rekindling romance and friendship between twenty-six year old, hockey player Hunter Morrisette, and sports agent Kate Bridges. Kate and Hunter were friends in college but Hunter ghosted Kate following a one-night stand in Cancun while on spring break, breaking our heroine’s heart in the process. Fast forward to present day whererin Hunter Morrisette is now a free agent but his rep had a heart attack forcing Hunter to look for new representation. Enter sports agent Kate Bridges. What ensues is the building professional and romantic relationship between Kate and Hunter, and the potential fall-out as Hunter struggles with what was and what will never be.

Hunter Morrisette struggles with issues of PTSD in the years following the bus crash that claimed the life of so many of his friends but an offer from the New York Bears, where several of his former teammates now work and play finds our hero, once again struggling with PTSD, and the memories from the night that he soon won’t forget. Kate Bridges knows a thing or two about hockey having played the sport most of her life but when the opportunity came to represent our hero, Kate was reluctant, refusing to let Hunter break her heart, a second time. Fairly new to the business, Kate is excited to get Hunter as a client but battles between head and heart when personal feelings continue to re-emerge.

The relationship between Hunter and Kate is a former friends to lovers, second chance romance. Hunter ghosted our heroine following a one-night stand, and Kate refused to cross the line now that their relationship was professional but old feelings and emotions pull at her heart, and Kate is hoping their friendship turns into something more. 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 Hunter’s former teammates Eaton Millar and Josh Heller; Kate’s father Joe Bridges, and he brother Ryan.

TALK HOCKEY TO ME is a story of struggle and loss, of second chances and love, of acceptance and moving forward. The premise is emotional; the romance is captivating; the characters are broken, dynamic and strong.

Reading Order and previous reviews
Must love Dogs and Hockey
You Had Me at Hockey

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

We walk into the bright and sunny apartment. Being a corner unit, it has lots of windows, and the décor is light and airy, all pale gray and white. “Cute place,” I say.
“Thanks. It’s tiny but I love the neighborhood.”
“It looks like you.”
Kate gives me a skeptical look.
“Organized. Tidy. Modern.”
She gives me a long, impassive look. “That’s me, huh? Tidy?”
Shit. There I go again. I called her tough that night and I think she was insulted. Now I’ve done it again.
“Well, not right now,” I admit, eyeing her sweaty hair and face.
That probably didn’t make it better.
“You’re not wrong.” She sighs and sets the bear head on the small island. “Okay, help me get this off. I really need to pee now.”
We wrestle her out of the costume, and I try not to notice that I’m touching her. Under the getup, she’s wearing a thin tank top and a pair of tiny, tight black shorts. I swallow hard.
One hand grazes her bare arm. Then her thigh. I hear her sharp intake of breath and my gaze lands on her nipples, now hard and poking against her bra and tank top. Christ.
I kneel to help her step out of the costume. She sets a hand on my shoulder for balance and lifts one long, sleek leg. I want to run my hands up and down her leg so badly my palms tingle. My dick is pushing aggressively against the fly of my jeans.
I look up at her. She’s watching me, her lips parted, her eyes pupils dilated. A flush stains her cheeks and she catches her bottom lip between her teeth.
Daringly, I set my hands on her calf and she pulls the other foot free of the fur garment. I slide my hands around the back of her firmly muscled calves, and then up to the backs of her knees. She shivers. “Hunter…”
She’s not stopping me. I glide my hands up the backs of her thighs, then over the little shorts to cup her ass. I straighten my legs and stand, pulling her closer. Bending my head, we’re nearly nose to nose. Her eyelashes flutter. Our mouths are so close… “Kate.”
She pulls back, her eyes full of regret. “Hunter. We can’t do this.”
I close my eyes at the stab of disappointment. “Right. Right. Sorry.”
“Also, I still have to go to the bathroom.” She darts away from me and into the bathroom, slamming the door shut.
I lean against her kitchen island, sweating, breathing hard. My heart is galloping. Jesus. I fucked up. Why did I touch her like that? What the fuck is wrong with me?

Connect with Kelly

You Had Me at Hockey by Kelly Jamieson-Review & Excerpt Tour

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Sandy

You Had Me at Hockey (Bears Hockey) by Kelly Jamieson-Review & Excerpt Tour

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

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2JewCpX

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 8, 2020

Can a spirited, down-to-earth influencer get an uptight hockey player out of his shell?

Josh
I am a warrior. That’s been my motto since I recovered from a near-death accident when I was younger. Now I enjoy my nice, settled life in Dallas playing pro hockey—a boring life is better than being dead. I’m not a party guy or an adventurer; I like my routine and peace and quiet. So being traded to New York is the worst possible change that could happen. And meeting unfiltered and fascinating Sara Carrington throws my life into even more chaos.

Sara
I’ve been considered weird my whole life, which is why I’m still a virgin, but I’ve turned it into a career with my YouTube videos. Who knew people would love watching me talk about my zits, taste test meatless burgers, and try to learn TikTok dances! Now I’m launching a podcast. Getting hockey star Josh Heller as a guest will help gain listeners for sure. I expect a bearded jock with no teeth and nothing to say, but I get a hot as H-E-double-hockey-sticks grouch with a surprisingly dirty mind. My mission to make him laugh is successful, but I want to know why he’s so uptight underneath that panty-dropping smile. Maybe I can teach Josh to have some fun . . . and maybe he can teach me a thing or two along the way.

••••••

REVIEW:YOU HAD ME AT HOCKEY is the second instalment in Kelly Jamieson’s contemporary, adult BEARS HOCKEY erotic, romance series focusing on the New York Bears of professional hockey. This is defenseman Josh Heller, and podcaster/youtuber Sara Carrington’s story line. YOU HAD ME AT HOCKEY 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 (Josh and Sara) YOU HAD ME AT HOCKEY follows the building romance and relationship between defenseman Josh Heller, and podcaster/YouTuber Sara Carrington. Josh Heller was surprised when he discovered that he had been traded from Dallas to the New York Bears, but with surprise came trepidation, not only about a new city and a new team, but a former friend who he has struggled to forgive and forget. An interview with media personality Sara Carrington finds Josh slowly easing into life in the Big Apple but Josh never expected to fall for the spunky podcaster. As life with Bears began to take shape, Josh struggled with a former friendship that died years before. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Josh and Sara, and the potential fall-out as misunderstanding, miscommunication, ego and frustration push Sara out of Josh’s life.

The relationship between Josh and Sara begins as an assignment as Sara is scheduled to interview the Bear’s newest team player. Josh battles between head and heart as the newest arrival to the New York Bears but keeps secrets his trepidation as it concerns a former friendship, and the fall-out from an accident years before. Sara Carrington is a bit of a free spirit, who speaks the truth, and refuses to change in an effort to fit in. Meeting Josh Heller gives Sara the ‘warm and fuzzies’ but Sara has a secrets that is about to be exposed. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic 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 as well as the return of hockey player Easton Millar, and former hotel hospitality manager Lilly Evans (Must Love Dogs and Hockey #1), as well as team members Jamal Jordan aka Jammer, Jay aka JBo, Owen Cooke aka Cookie, Russ aka Evan, Igor Barbashev aka Barbie, Wendell aka Wendy, and Colton aka Gunner. We are introduced to model Layla Young, and Sara’s friends Kaylee, Brandon and Nate.

YOU HAD ME AT HOCKEY is a story of friendships, relationships, acceptance and love. A story of misunderstanding and hurt, heart break and pain, love and happily ever after. Once again, Kelly Jamieson pulls from real world events in both the junior and professional hockey leagues including racism and the tragedy of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash of 2018. The premise is engaging and emotional; the romance is seductive and energetic; the characters are energetic, flirty and fun.

CLICK HERE for Sandy’s review of book one MUST LOVE DOGS AND HOCKEY

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

I ask the driver to wait while I go inside to get her. I texted her to let her know I’m here and she said she’s on her way down. I enter the red brick building through brass doors beneath a small canopy and wait in the lobby. I study the marble tiles and woodwork and the art on the walls under the watchful eye of the doorman.
She emerges from the elevator and I watch her walk toward me, her faux fur coat hanging open. My gaze wanders from a chunky gold necklace shining at her throat, down over the short black dress to her excellent legs, and then lower to sexy black shoes with impossibly skinny heels.
Whoa.
What a contrast from the girl I hung out with the other day. But when I meet her eyes, it’s the same person, those sea green eyes dancing with life and humor. “Hi.”
“Hi. You look gorgeous.”
“Thanks. You look gorgeous too.” She touches the lapel of my black wool coat.
“The taxi’s waiting for us.” I set my hand on her low back and usher her out as the doorman opens the door for us. We slide into the back of the bright yellow car and I give the driver the restaurant address.
Sara shifts so she can face me. “I’ve heard of this place but never been there. This’ll be fun!”
We make small talk on the way there. I discover she watched the game last night, which startles me. Although . . . I like it.
“I have questions,” she announces. “So many questions.”
“About?”
“Hockey. I mean, I didn’t understand much. You guys move so fast out there! They drop the puck and wham, everyone’s skating all over the place.”
“Uh, yeah.” I’m amused by her description.
“They were talking about you.”
“Who was?” Clearly, her mind zips all over the place.
“The TV guys. They seem to think it was a good deal to get you from Dallas. They said . . . hell, I don’t remember what they said, but they were complimenting you.”
My mouth twitches into a near-smile. “Oh yeah? Were they talking about my passing and shooting skills? My controlled entries?”
She frowns. “Why does that sound dirty? How do you make hockey sound dirty all the time?”
“It’s one of my hidden skills. They probably didn’t talk about that.”
She snorts. “No! They didn’t.”
“It must have been my amazing skating. My hockey sense? My high compete level?”
“Well, they weren’t talking about your modesty.”
Goddamn, she makes me laugh.
“They probably said all those things,” she admits. “It sounded really good anyway. I thought how cool it was that I know you.”
I like that she’s maybe a little impressed with me since I’m kind of intimidated by her.
Traffic is nuts. We’re barely moving. The driver keeps honking, but there’s nowhere for the cars in front of us to go, so I don’t get the point of it.
We keep talking, but after a while I pull out my phone to check the time. It feels like we’ve only traveled two blocks. “Shit,” I mutter.
“What’s wrong?”
“Our reservation is for seven. This traffic is nuts.”
“Of course. It’s Saturday night in Manhattan.”
I hate being late. I hate rushing. I hate not being in control. “We could get out and walk there faster.”
She laughs softly and pats my leg. Well, that’s distracting. “Not in these heels, dude.

Connect with Kelly

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3oqDFet

Instagram: https://bit.ly/37x0pTe

Amazon: https://amzn.to/33MTofY

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/33Njsb2

BookBub: https://bit.ly/39LQaxm

Website: https://www.kellyjamieson.com