Crosby (Portland Wildfire 1) by Sawyer Bennett- review tour
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 19, 2026
She’s here to expose hockey’s biggest flaws. He’s the complication she never planned on. Neither one is prepared for the sparks that fly every time they collide.
Juno Paxton has built her award-winning documentary career dismantling institutions people blindly worship. Her latest assignment is her most high-profile yet: immerse herself in the league’s newest hockey expansion team—the Portland Wildfire—for an entire season and create a behind-the-scenes film the league can parade around as “authentic.”
Juno doesn’t buy it. Not the hype, not the hero worship, and definitely not the polished personas of pro athletes. She expects egos, theatrics, and plenty of manufactured grit.
What she doesn’t expect is Crosby Hale.
The Wildfire’s starting goalie is stoic, meticulously focused, and infuriatingly camera-shy. He wants nothing to do with her film, her questions, or her insistence that he “show some personality.” Unfortunately for him, the league wants Juno’s documentary to center on the enigmatic goaltender who refuses to cooperate.
But the more time Juno spends with Crosby, the more she glimpses the steady, thoughtful man beneath his guarded exterior. He isn’t the stereotype she’s built her name exposing—he’s better. The more she learns about him, the harder it becomes to keep her documentary, and her heart, objective. And for Crosby, letting Juno in feels less like a mistake and more like the beginning of something worth fighting for.
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REVIEW:CROSBY is the first instalment in Sawyer Bennett’s contemporary, adult PORTLAND WILDFIRE erotic, hockey romance series, a spin off, set in the author’s numerous interconnected hockey series. This is Portland Wildfire goalie Crosby Hale, and documentarian Juno Paxton’s story line.
Told from dual first person perspectives (June and Crosby) CROSBY follows the introduction of the new NHL expansion team the Portland Wildfire,and their owner Patrick Rowe. JunoPaxton is an award winning documentary filmmaker, and the Portland Wildfire is her latest project.Spending one year with the team, Juno is hoping to learn a little bit about management, the players, their significant others and the people behind the scenes but getting access to goalie Crosby Hale is proving harder than she could have ever imagined. Crosby’s past has followed our hero to Portland, and the spiral finds itself forcing a confrontation that Crosby never expected.
The world building focuses on the building camaraderie and friendships, previous entanglements and relationships, and the potential fall-out when lies threaten any chance for a struggle-free season.
The relationship between Juno and Crosby begins acrimoniously as Crosby struggles with Juno’s persistent and potentially invasive questions. Crosby doesn’t like to be the centre of attention but the past is determined to pull Crosby into a myriad of troubles. Juno knows that to cross a line has the potential to affect her professional integrity but Crosby and Juno are determined to prove there is more than a passing fling. The $ex scenes are impassioned and provocative without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, energetic and dynamic secondary and supporting characters including the members of the Portland Wildfire, owner Patrick Rowe, management, coaching staff, family and friends-a few familiar faces and mentions keep the interconnected series cohesive.
CROSBY is a story of betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, family and friendships, relationships and love. The character driven premise is detailed, edgy and captivating but there is little to no conflict resolution-the reader is left hanging wondering what will happen; the romance is seductive and passionate; the characters are desperate, determined and charismatic.
Copy supplied for review
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.
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