Tag Archives: hockey romance

Tristan (San Francisco Shockwaves ) by Samantha Linde-review tour

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Tristan (San Francisco Shockwaves 3) by Samantha Linde-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 17, 2023

I was a forever-bachelor kind of guy.

I never planned on settling down.

I never wanted a family of my own.

Until a phone call came, the one woman I’d secretly loved my entire life needed my help.

I went from bars and hook-ups to late nights on the couch.

When her daughter is born, I find myself captivated by both of them, and falling deeper in love.

What happened to my forever-bachelor life, and is that the life I want?

••••

REVIEW:TRISTAN is the third instalment in Samantha Lind’s contemporary adult SAN FRANCISCO SHOCKWAVES erotic hockey romance series. This is Shockwaves’ player Tristan Henderson, and twenty-four year old Kendra Torres’ story line. TRISTAN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Tristan and Kendra) TRISTAN follows in the wake of the domestic assault against our story line heroine. Kendra Torres life had spiralled out of control landing her in the hospital where she would discover she was pregnant with her abusive ex partner’s child. With the help of her brother Jackson, and his best friend, pro hockey player Tristan Henderson, Kendra accepted Tristan’s offer of a home and support, far away from the nightmare back home. Recovering and living in California, Kendra must consider her future going forward, a future that may or may not include the man she has lusted after most of her life. Tristan has been in love with his best friend’s sister for as long as he can remember, and with Kendra at his side, Tristan knows that marriage and family together is just around the corner. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Kendra and Tristan, as they navigate married life, a new baby, and changing careers in the future.

Kendra Torres has no career options but she loves to cook. An idea for ready-made home cooked meals finds Kendra on the rapid path to success with the help of the wives of the San Francisco Shockwaves. Tristan Henderson never thought he would settle down let alone start a family but one night with Kendra changed Tristan’s direction in life, a direction in which they will travel together.

The relationship between Tristan and Kendra is a best friend’s sister romance in which our couple have lusted after one another for years but Kendra’s brother Jackson has laid down the law, daring Tristan not to cross the proverbial line between friendship and $ex. Living together pushes our couple into one another’s arms, a push that will lead to their own happily ever after. 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 the previous two couples:Ryker and Avery, Aiden and Tori, as well as the introduction of Kendra’s brother Jackson Torres.

TRISTAN is a quick read; a fast paced story of domestic abuse and survival, family and friendships, acceptance and love. The premise is heart breaking and captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are charismatic, and determined to thrive.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Ryker
Aiden

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Samantha Lind is a USA TODAY Bestselling contemporary romance author. When she’s not dreaming up new stories, she can often be found with her family, traveling, reading, watching her boys on the ice, or watching her favorite professional hockey team (Go Knights Go!), and listening to country music.  She can be contacted by email or found on Facebook. 

Keep up with Samantha Lind and subscribe to her newsletter: http://bit.ly/FDSLNL

FOLLOW: Website / Newsletter / Facebook/ Facebook Group/ Instagram/ Twitter/ Goodreads/ Amazon Author /Bookbub

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Hard Hit by Brenda Rothert & Kat Mizera-review tour

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Hard Hit (St. Louis Mavericks 5) by Brenda Rothert & Kat Mizera -review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

Goodreads Link → https://bit.ly/HardHit_GR

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 21, 2023

Michael Boone has just one goal: to get traded to his hometown team so he can be closer to his family. But when a runaway bride who happens to be his coach’s daughter jumps into his car to escape Mr. Wrong, the heat is on … in more ways than one.

Boone
I’m supposed to be a guest at my coach’s daughter’s wedding to a player from another team, but instead I find myself helping her escape it. The timing couldn’t be worse—I have to stay in Coach’s good graces to secure the trade I need. But when the sexy, newly single redhead with legs for days shows up in my life again, I can’t say no.

Jolie
After escaping marriage to a man who made me feel like I was never enough, I plan to focus entirely on completing my dissertation. Science has never let me down—I can avoid emotional entanglements by focusing on cold, hard data. But when I’m powerfully drawn to a man who is warm and, okay, I’ll admit it—also hard—all bets are off. Mr. Right Now is exactly what I need, until both of us find ourselves wanting the one thing we can’t have—more.

••••••

REVIEW:HARD HIT is the fifth instalment in the contemporary, adult ST. LOUIS MAVERICKS erotic, hockey romance series co-authored by Brenda Rothert and Kat Mizera. This is team member Michael Boone, and PHD student /coach’s daughter Jolie Gizzard. HARD HIT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary but for back story and cohesion, I recommend reading the series in order as many previous scenarios are mentioned.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Jolie and Michael) HARD HIT follows in the wake of a runaway bride. Jolie Gizzard was about to marry a man of her father’s choosing, a man she didn’t love, and who didn’t love her in return. On the run, Jolie jumps into hockey play Michael Boone’s car, the man with whom Jolie will fall in love. Jolie is the daughter and only child of Michael’s grouchy coach, and as such, Jolie has been declared off limits by the man in charge but all does not go according to plan when Michael Boone finds himself a temporary parent to his sister’s son, and struggles in the wake of his own brother’s illness. Hoping for a trade, Michael finds himself falling for a woman who may or may not be available when an impending trade comes through. What ensues is the building but forbidden relationship between Michael and Jolie, and the potential fall-out as Jolie’s father not only threatens Boone, but his actions, threaten to push Jolie out of his life.

Michael Boone never considered dating the coach’s daughter but Jolie was no longer engaged, and our heroine wanted something more from our story line hero. Jolie would often help with looking after Boone’s nephew, a young man caught in an impossible situation. Boone is desperate for a trade to be near his brother but a trade means leaving the woman with who he may be falling in love.

The relationship between Jolie and Michael begins as a rescue-Jolie is a runaway bride who doesn’t love the man she has been forced to marry. Knowing the coach will not be happy with the current situation, Michael Boone intends to keep his distance but finds himself falling for a woman who could break his heart. The $ex scenes are provocative and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

For fans of the series, most of the previous story line couples return as several impending births push the players together. We are reintroduced to Hadley and Weston (Hard Fall), Sariah and Nash (Hard Pass), as well as Jolie’s father Coach Gizzard, her grandmother Grandma G, Boone’s brother Andy (via phone), their sister Emma, and nephew Joey.

HARD HIT is a story of family and relationships, power and control, desperation and determination, acceptance and love. The fast paced, character drive premise is captivating and energetic; the characters are animated and edgy; the romance is spicy and sassy.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Hockey with Benefits by Tijan-review tour

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Hockey with Benefits by Tijan-review tour

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Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3lqdR69

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 7, 2023

Hockey with benefits. That was what Mara proposed, and I was down.

She said no feelings and she meant it.

Just benefits. No strings attached. Nothing else. Not even friendship.

College was her escape, including us.

I didn’t have time for a girlfriend.

I had classes, the team, my family, and the game.

It was all working too…

Until somewhere down the line, things got messy.

Until somehow we were dealing with threats, secrets, rivals, and so much more.

Until I began to want her in ways that weren’t part of the deal.

Our agreement didn’t just get checked into the wall, it got obliterated.

•••••

REVIEW:HOCKEY WITH BENEFITS by Tijan is a stand alone, contemporary, new adult, erotic, college romance focusing on college hockey player Cruz Styles, and Mara Daniels. HOCKEY WITH BENEFITS is set in, and is interconnected with the author’s Fallen Crest series.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise including mental illness and acquaintance r@pe, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Cruz and Mara) HOCKEY WITH BENEFITS follows the unconventional relationship between college hockey star Cruz Styles, and Mara Daniels. Mara and Cruz are not quite friends with benefits but have an understanding to be one another’s intimate, sexual partners. Keeping their relationship a secret means the unwelcome scrutiny of, and questions from so-called friends, roommates, other students and bullies. Cruz has caught the eye of every female puck bunny, and Mara must deal with the sl^t shaming and vitriol of the jealous fans but all is not well in the lives of our story line couple as issues of fractured family dynamics and mental illness are slowing destroying the psyche of two young people whose entire lives are still ahead. What ensues is the building but atypical romance and relationship between Mara and Cruz, and the potential fall-out as Mara’s life begins to spiral out of control, wreaking havoc on anyone who has crossed her path.

Mara Daniels has many friends and supporters within the college community but Mara’s secrets are known only by a few. It is these secrets that are about to destroy the strained relationship Mara has with those who have only surmised about the real Mara Daniels, and with it, the spiral that continues to affect her private and personal life. Cruz Styles doesn’t want a girlfriend, and his ‘arrangement’ with Mara is perfect such that no heart will be broken until the heart wants something more than the head is willing to accept. Life as a star; a member of the popular crowd means exposing both the good and bad for our story line couple but no one ever expected that Mara would be thrown to the wolves in the wake of protecting someone else.

The relationship between Mara and Cruz begins as a sexual agreement; a ‘friends with benefits’ type of relationship but a relationship that supposedly starts and ends in the bedroom. Mara never thought she would find someone that would accept the emotional scars that have affected her ability to trust, and Cruz knew his position on the hockey team meant he couldn’t always trust the people who wanted something more than he was willing to give. The $ex scenes are passionate, erotic and intense.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and wild secondary and supporting characters including several members of the hockey team, roommates, friends, frenemies, rivals and family.

The world building focuses on issues of mental health, and the resulting consequences and ramifications for those standing in the direct line of fire. Until one has lived or experienced the true depth of the pain and heart ache of such an illness, there is always someone waiting to tear you down.

HOCKEY WITH BENEFITS is a story of fractured family dynamics, friendships and relationships, betrayal and mental illness, acceptance and love. The premise is emotional, heart breaking and unique; the characters are broken, damaged yet brave; the romance is seductive and provocative.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new YA series along with so many more from north Minnesota where she lives with a man she couldn’t be without and an English Cocker she adores. 

Connect with Tijan

Facebook/ Twitter / Reader Group / Goodreads/ Bookbub/ Website/ Amazon Author Page

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Aiden (San Francisco Shockwaves 2) by Samantha Lind-review tour

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Aiden (San Francisco Shockwaves 2) by Samantha Lind-review tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 20, 2022

It took just one look and I knew she was meant to be mine.

Her body language told me she was onboard, but my job had her slamming on the brakes. She was convinced professional athletes had a puck bunny in every city, but that was far from the truth.

I agreed to be her friend for now……but how do I make her see we’d be better as lovers than just friends?

••••••

REVIEW:AIDEN is the second instalment in Samantha Lind’s contemporary, adult SAN FRANCISCO SHOCKWAVES erotic, hockey romance series. This is Shockwaves’ center Aiden Fox, and VP of marketing for a record label Victoria aka Tori. AIDEN 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 (Aiden and Tori) AIDEN follows the building romance and relationship between Shockwaves’ center Aiden Fox, and VP of marketing for a record label Victoria aka Tori. Victoria is best friends with Avery Reid, San Francisco Shockwaves captain Ryker Jorgensen’s girlfriend but Tori knows very little about the game of hockey, and an invite to a home game finds Tori face to face with her future in the guise of Shockwaves’ center Aiden Fox. The attraction to one another is immediate, and Aiden doesn’t waste any time asking our heroine out to dinner but Tori must come to terms with Aiden’s hockey schedule when she is offered a position on the road, herself. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Aiden and Tori as our couple find ways to keep their relationship growing during times apart.

The relationship between Tori and Aiden is one of immediate attraction. Best friends dating best friends and teammates mean mutual commiseration, as well as time spent apart and together on the road. The $ex scenes are seductive and passionate, without the use of over the top,sexually graphic language and text..

We are reintroduced to Ryker and Avery, as well as Ryker’s daughter Ellie; several members of the San Francisco Shockwaves: Tristan, Damien, Jason, and Blake, as well as Tori’s parents Robert and Whitney. Tristan’s story line is next.

AIDEN is a fast paced story of friendships, relationships, and love. The premise is entertaining and engaging- once again, there is absolutely no conflict, no hardships to overcome, no outside interference or threats. The characters are charismatic and wonderful; the romance is steamy and hot.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one RYKER

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Samantha Lind is a contemporary romance author. Having spent the first 27 years of her life in Alaska, she now calls Iowa home where she lives with her husband and two sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading, watching hockey (Go Knights Go!), and listening to country music.

FOLLOW: Website / Newsletter / Facebook/ Facebook Group/ Instagram/ Twitter/ Goodreads/ Amazon Author /Bookbub

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COEN (Pittsburgh Titans 4) by Sawyer Bennett -Review Tour

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COEN (Pittsburgh Titans 4) by Sawyer Bennett -Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 27 2022

Coen Highsmith was a league star, but he lost more than his team the day the Pittsburgh Titans’ plane crashed. Can he be saved from his downward spiral of guilt and regret to become the man he once was?

I had it all—a successful hockey career, the respect and adoration of the fans, a rotation of beautiful women warming my bed, and a feeling of self-worth and contentment with the direction of my life. But that all changed the day the team plane went down, taking my only chance of redemption with it. Now I’m left with the daily reminder of all my failures and my inability to correct them.

My new teammates are tired of my attitude and following my suspension, I hole up in a mountain cabin to get away from all of it. The isolation is exactly what I need to get out of my own head, and I’m beginning to think I could be content in this quiet forever.

Tillie Marshall isn’t the type of woman who would usually catch my attention, yet she manages to do so for all the wrong reasons. I’m here for the peace and seclusion but the quirky artist is hell-bent on destroying that by cutting down the trees that separate our properties so she can open a pottery studio. If it’s a fight she wants, it’s a fight she’ll get. I have the money and the time and no issues bringing her down through the court system. While I see flashes of steely determination within her, I’ve found that being a jerk comes naturally these days and she won’t be hard to intimidate.

Unfortunately, that gorgeous and somewhat odd neighbor who has been causing me grief is creating another type of feeling within me. And once that spark is lit, Tillie displays a faith in me that for the first time since the crash I desperately want to believe. Now it’s time for me to step up and become the man—no, a better man than I once was.

••••••

REVIEW: COEN is the fourth instalment in Sawyer Bennett’s contemporary, adult PITTSBURGH TITANS, erotic, hockey romance series focusing on the NHL’s fictional Pittsburgh Titans. This is star player Coen Highsmith, and artist Tillie Marshall. COEN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for back story.

SOME BACKGROUND: Several weeks earlier, a devastating plane crashed claimed the lives of the entire Pittsburgh Titans hockey team including coaches and staff. Rebuilding the team, owner Brienne Norcross, offered positions to one-time professional and semi-pro players, including our story line hero.

Told from dual first-person perspectives (Coen and Tillie) COEN follows in the wake of hockey star Coen Highsmith’s suspension from the NHL. Since the plane crash that killed his former team, Coen has struggled with survivors remorse and personal guilt, a struggle that was about to spiral his professional career. Taking his anger out on fellow players and officials, Coen finds himself sidelined as the team is about to head into the Stanley Cup playoffs. Determined to quit hockey, Coen buys a cabin in the woods, preferring to become a recluse, all by himself but Coen never expected to come face to face with his closest neighbor, a woman who wants to change the landscape to further her art. Enter Tilden ‘Tillie’ Marshall, and the woman with whom Coen will fall in love. What ensues is the building but acrimonious relationship between Tillie and Coen, and the potential fall-out as Coen must come to terms with the loss of his friends, and the remorse that often threatens to overwhelm.

Tillie Marshall knows loss first-hand but has battled all of her life to fit in and belong. Bullied since childhood, Tillie empathizes with her new neighbor, a man who is currently struggling to fit in where he doesn’t feel he belongs. Coen Highsmith wants to be left alone but his new neighbor is determined to take down the trees between their mutual cabins. Threatening a lawsuit , Coen must battle between head and heart when he begins to fall for his new found enemy.

The relationship between Coen and Tillie begins acrimoniously when Coen discovers Tillie has plans to remove several trees. In an effort to stop Tillie from changing the landscape Coen hires a lawyer to stop the woman with whom he is falling in love. Love is about to change our story line hero, love that breaks through the grief and sadness of a man who is unable to forgive himself. The $ex scenes are intimate 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 including most of the previous story line couples and characters, as well as Tillie’s closest friends, and the requisite small town bullies and gossips.

COEN is a story of loss, grief, guilt and sorrow, forgiveness and moving forward. The premise is captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are battered but starting to thrive.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Baden
Stone
Gage

Reviewed by Sandy

Copy supplied for review

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.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | BOOKBUB | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | INSTAGRAM

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FLOPPER (Vegas Venom 1) by Colleen Charles-a review

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FLOPPER (Vegas Venom 1) by Colleen Charles-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 23, 2022

As one of the top goalies in hockey I live a sweet Vegas lifestyle: VIP treatment at all the hottest spots in town – ushered past every velvet rope – and all the puck bunnies I can handle.
Until my whole world changes when fate takes my sister, leaving her precious baby an orphan.
Even though I’m still mired down in grief, I step up and adopt my niece. After all, I already adore her.
I’ve just started to get a handle on things when the perfect woman literally falls into my lap, sending me and my newfound single dad life reeling.
She’s everything I ever wanted, but how can I offer her my heart while it’s still broken?
After our first meeting, she confesses that she needs lessons in seduction. Easy enough. We agree that once I teach her everything I know, we’ll part as friends.
But when we kiss… I see stars. I catch feelings. And after one taste of her, I’m not willing to let go.
My Venom buddies try to warn me not to get too close, but they shouldn’t worry because I won’t let myself fall all the way.
Yeah, about that..

•••••••

REVIEW: FLOPPER is the first instalment in Colleen Charles’ contemporary, adult VEGAS VENOM erotic, hockey romance series focusing on the members of the NHL’s Vegas Venom. This is team goalie Noah ‘Flopper’ Abbott, and author/book store owner Molly Campbell’s story line.

NOTE: For information purposes, a flopper is a goalie prone to going down on the ice to stop pucks.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Molly and Noah) FLOPPER follows the building romance and relationship between goalie Noah ‘Flopper’ Abbott, and author/book store owner Molly Campbell. Three years earlier Noah lost everyone he had ever loved, and with the death of his sister Natalie and her husband Steve, Noah became the only parent to his niece Vivian, a young girl that would become his own. Fast forward to present day wherein Noah, who hasn’t had time for a personal life finds himself at The Last Chapter, a local book store, where he will meet owner Molly Campbell. An adult themed book party pushes our couple into a compromising situation, a situation in which Molly hopes to ask Noah for additional help. What ensues is the ‘friends with benefits’ situationship between Molly and Noah, and the fall-out when the truth about the past, digs a knife further into our story line hero.

Molly Campbell needs lessons in seduction, and Noah Abbott is perfect for the job but keeping their ‘situationship’ limited to a ‘friends with benefits’ only is a struggle for two people who have spent too much time alone, having had their hearts broken by similar situations. Noah Abbott is all about family, and as he and Vivian are the sole surviving members of the Abbott family, Noah refuses to get involved with anyone else. A ‘friends with benefits, education in seduction’ is the perfect situation for our story line hero, a situation that is about to get ugly when the past is revealed.

The relationship between Molly and Noah begins by accident when our heroine literally falls into Noah’s arms. From the outset, the relationship is one of friends to lovers that will quickly turn into something more but Noah is about to sabotage the woman he loves, pushing her out of his life, leaving them both with a broken heart. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to a colorful and energetic cast of secondary and supporting characters: Molly’s assistant Mona; her agent Angela, as well as Vivian’s nanny Frannie, several members of Noah’s grief support group, and the Vegas Venom hockey team-Anders Beck, Latham Newberry, Clayton ‘Cash Money’ Hale; team owner Dante Giovanetti and newcomer Marco Rossi.

FLOPPER is a story of grief and loss, blame and recovery, family and friendships, understanding and love. The premise is emotional and heart breaking but the potential conflict is easily deduced; the romance is seductive and captivating; the characters are charismatic, dynamic , broken but struggling to heal.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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JOCK WANTED (Rookie Rebels 6) by Kate Meader-Review Tour

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JOCK WANTED (Rookie Rebels 6) by Kate Meader-Review Tour

 

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 14, 2022.

She has her heart set on a hockey player.

Any hockey player.

When the new general manager of the Chicago Rebels tasks Tara Becker with faking it with one of his players to help clean up the naughty jock’s act, she’s all over it. She’ll make that misbehaving hunk of muscle look good and get her dream guy into the bargain.

Only the path from fake to real is riddled with thorns . . .

New Rebels GM Hale Fitzpatrick thinks ditzy blonde and wannabe WAG Tara is the perfect solution to his PR problem – until she isn’t. Soon Fitz realizes that maybe he doesn’t have control of the strings after all . . . especially when he starts to fall for his pretty little puppet.

A fake relationship hockey romance – with a twist!

••••••

REVIEW:JOCK WANTED is the sixth instalment in Kate Meader’s contemporary, adult ROOKIE REBELS erotic, hockey romance series. This is forty-two year old, Chicago Rebels GM Hale ‘Fitz’ Fitzpatrick, and twenty-eight year old, social influencer/hair stylist Tara Becker’s story line. JOCK WANTED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. The Rookie Rebels series is a spin off from the author’s Chicago Rebels series-several characters cross over for back story and cohesion.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Hale and Tara) JOCK WANTED follows in the wake of a PR nightmare for the Chicago Rebels. Newly acquired player Dex O’Malley’s public persona is a nightmare, and GM Hale Fitzpatrick is desperate to clean up his player’s image. With the recommendation of a ‘fake girlfriend’ for Dex, Fitz and PR manager Sophie set their sights on ‘all around bubbly girl and WAG wannabe’ Tara Becker, the woman who would steal our hero’s heart. Tara Becker is desperate to find a husband, and everyone thinks Tara is a bimbo and a gold digger but only Tara knows the truth behind her current situation. When contracted to be the pretend girlfriend of embattled Dex O’Malley, Tara jumps at the chance but never expected to fall in love with someone else. What ensues is the fake relationship between Dex and Tara, as Tara and Hale cross a line from which they can never go back.

No one knows the truth about Tara Becker’s life, a life she has kept hidden from everyone she loves but Tara has reached a point of desperation, and the offer to earn money pretending to be someone she is not, is the perfect if not heart breaking solution to her problems. Hale Fitzpatrick’s attraction to Tara is immediate but her reputation as a wannabe hockey WAG (wife and girlfriend) pushes all of our hero’s buttons. Falling for Tara was easy, walking away would be the hardest part.

The relationship between Tara and Hale is one of immediate attraction but Hale struggles with the rumors and gossip about our story line heroine. Tara suspects that she would have never crossed Hale’s radar had it not been for her fake-relationship with Dex, a relationship that is about to become more real than anyone could have ever imagined. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, energetic and familiar secondary and supporting characters including several players, management , wives and girlfriends, as well as Tara’s sister Chloe.

JOCK WANTED is a story of family, relationships, friendships and love; a heart breaking tale of secrets and lies, hope and forever. The premise is captivating and engaging; the romance is consuming and provocative; the characters are animated and entertaining.

Previous reviews
Good Guy
Instacrush
Man Down
Fore Player
Dear Roomie
Rebel Yule

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Reader’s Group | Bookbub | Goodreads | Newsletter | Amazon Author Profile

Kate Meader

Originally from Ireland, USA Today bestselling author Kate Meader cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Harlequins thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron or a fire hose, and she’s there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with alpha heroes and strong heroines who can match their men quip for quip.

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Shenanigans (Brooklyn 6) by Sarina Bowen-Review Tour

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Shenanigans (Brooklyn Bruisers 6) by Sarina Bowen-Review Tour

 

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 15, 2022

What I meant to do in Vegas: Let my hair down for once and celebrate winning a medal at my first women’s hockey all-stars competition.

What I actually did: Got senior prom drunk and woke up married to Brooklyn’s star winger, the great Neil Drake.

He’s the heir to a billion dollars, and I barely survived my childhood. Our friendship is based strictly only on hockey, takeout food and smack talk.

And now holy matrimony. Although we both know it can’t last, especially once his evil family gets wind of our Vegas shenanigans…

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REVIEW:SHENANIGANS is the sixth full-length instalment in Sarina Bowen’s contemporary, adult BROOKLYN hockey, romance series (formerly known as the Brooklyn Bruisers)-a series that now includes the all women’s Brooklyn Bombshells hockey team. This is Brooklyn Bruisers hockey player Cornelius ‘Neil’ Drake, and Brooklyn Bombshells hockey player Charlotte ‘Charli’ Higgins’ story line. SHENANIGANS 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 (Charli and Neil) SHENANIGANS follows the friends to lovers, Vegas marriage, fake relationship between Brooklyn Bruisers hockey player Cornelius ‘Neil’ Drake, and Brooklyn Bombshells hockey player Charlotte ‘Charli’ Higgins. An awards ceremony in Vegas ends with our couple, a very drunk couple, pretending to get married, only to wake up the next morning, married for real. Hoping for a quickie annulment, Neil and Charli discover that leaving Vegas was the worst thing they could do. When a paparazzi posts a picture of the couple entering a chapel, not only does the Brooklyn hockey organization begin to round up the troops, but Neil’s well-to-do family, begin to circle wagons in an attempt to protect their family holdings. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Neil and Charli, and the potential fall-out as both extended families take action, but action with varying degrees of threats and intimidation.

Neil Drake has lusted after Charli Higgins for as long as he can remember but never thought Charli saw him as boyfriend or marriage material. Charli always presented herself as not interested in the opposite $ex, disguising years of mistrust and threats at the hands of many men. When Charli draws a line in the proverbial sand with regards to their quickie marriage, Neil struggles with his growing attraction to a woman who believes she is unworthy of our hero’s love.

The relationship between Neil and Charli is a friends to lovers, fake relationship in which Charli is hoping for an immediate divorce. Targeted and threatened by both Neil’s family and her own, Charli is forced to walk away to protect the man with whom she is falling in love. Neil is quickly falling for the woman he married, a woman who stands up to protect our story line hero. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters cause most of the problems and issues in our couple’s lives-Silas (Superfan 3/Brooklyn Bruisers 7), Bess and Tank (Sureshot 4), the Bombshells’ coach Anton Bayer and his significant other Sylvie (Bombshells 5); Charli’s teammates Fiona, Angelica, and Samantha; her cousin Robert, and brother Dennis; Neil’s long-suffering mother Paloma Drake, his uncle Harmon, and his sister Paisley ; personal shopper Vera, and Neil’s ex Iris. The conflict resolution with Charli’s family ends rather abruptly-I was hoping for more.

SHENANIGANS is a story of family and dysfunction; secrets and lies; betrayal and vengeance, friendships, relationships, hockey and love. The character driven premise is emotional and intense ; the characters are animated, inspiring and energetic; the romance is spirited, edgy and tender.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Rookie Move
Hard Hitter
Pipe Dreams

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Sarina Bowen is the USA Today bestselling author of steamy, angsty Contemporary Romance and New Adult fiction. She lives in the wilds of Vermont.

She is the author of The Ivy Years, an award-winning series set amid the hockey team at an elite Connecticut college. Also, the The Gravity series.

With Elle Kennedy, Sarina is the author of HIM and US.

Follow Sarina: Goodreads / Website / Twitter / Facebook

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