💚Julian (New York Vipers 2) by Sawyer Bennett & Bill Keenan-review💚
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 1, 2026
Julian Langley has everything a man could ever want—a sprawling Manhattan townhouse, a multi-billion-dollar portfolio, and ownership of the New York Vipers, one of the most coveted franchises in professional hockey. What he doesn’t have, and will never allow himself, is anyone who matters too much. Carrying a devastating loss that completely reshaped him, Julian has since built his life around the certainty that nothing will ever cost him that dearly again.
Harper Hawthorne isn’t looking for a billionaire. She’s looking for a way to keep the lights on. Single-handedly holding her world together since she was a teenager, Harper works two jobs, lives in a rent-controlled apartment on the Lower East Side, and sacrifices everything for her younger brother. When an unexpected phone call lands her a chauffeur job behind the wheel of Julian’s car, she takes it for exactly what it is: a paycheck.
Julian notices everything about her. Harper tries not to notice anything about him. What begins as a professional arrangement starts to crack at the edges when Harper proves, repeatedly and effortlessly, that she’s unlike anyone Julian has ever encountered before. She’s too sharp to ignore, too genuine to keep at arm’s length, and entirely unimpressed by his world in a way that makes it impossible for him to stop thinking about her.
Julian doesn’t do commitment. Harper doesn’t believe in fairy tales. But some collisions are inevitable and some people are worth every risk you swore you’d never take again.
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REVIEW: JULIAN is the second instalment in the contemporary, adult NEW YORK VIPERS hockey romance series, co-authored by Sawyer Bennett and Bill Keenan, This is forty-four year old, New York Vipers owner Julian Langley, and thirty-two year old Harper Hawthorne’s story line. JULIAN 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 (Julian and Harper) JULIAN follows Harper Hawthorne’s foray into the world of wealthy businessman and professional hockey. Working several jobs to keep a roof over their heads, Harper Hawthorne finds herself down a job, now chauffeuring New York Vipers’ owner Julian Langley but from the outset Harper becomes more than a driver but a confidant and friend as well. Working for Julian merits Harper a few perks including game night tickets but it is Harper’s ability as a former customer service agent that will garner surprising results for both team owner Julian and the New York Vipers PR machine. As Julian and Harper’s relationship turns into something more, Harper finds herself on the outside looking in as Julian struggles to let go of the past.
The world building focuses on the discrepancy between the have and the have nots. Julian is a billionaire businessman who wants for nothing but love, and Harper is struggling to ensure she and her brother have food for their next mean.From the hockey arena to private jets, late night dinners and island getaways, our couple begin to explore the possibilities of their own happily ever after but Harper will be cast aside as the ghost engulf our story line hero.
The relationship between Harper and Julian begins as a business arrangement when Harper is hired as Julian’s driver. Harper is well versed in customer service, and will come to the proverbial rescue as Julian’s PR team struggles to keep ahead of a potential scandal. Julian begins a slow seduction of our story line heroine but his heart refuses to move forward, essentially destroying any chance for happiness with our story line couple. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
The secondary and supporting characters are limited but engaging. We are introduced to Harper’s seventeen year old brother Dylan, and Julian’s butler aka housekeeper Percy, as well as the return of professional hockey player James ‘Grizz’ McAvoy.
JULIAN is a story of loss and grief, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is edgy and emotional; the romance is seductive and edgy; the characters are determined, sassy and charismatic.
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
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Meet Sawyer Bennett:
New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.
A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.
If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).
Connect with Sawyer Bennett:
Meet Bill Keenan:
Bill Keenan played hockey at Harvard University from 2005 to 2008 and professionally in Europe from 2009 to 2012. After completing his MBA at Columbia Business School, he worked for two years in Deutsche Bank’s investment banking division. He currently serves as COO of Graydon Carter’s Air Mail.
Connect with Bill Keenan:
https://www.instagram.com/billkeenanwrites/
