Review: The Penalty Player by Kristin Lee

Title: The Penalty Player

Author: Kristin Lee
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 

She guards her heart behind old rules and fresh scars.

I’m determined to prove she’s the only game I want to win.

Now, a Caribbean getaway with our friends throws us into one room, with one bed, and buried flames ignite.

Every minute spent close to her brings back just how much I’ve always loved her—especially when a rogue lizard sneaks into my bed, sending us into a fit of laughter and landing us tangled together under the island stars.

When we return to reality, we face game changing twists—one of which is a big fat plus sign—a slap shot I didn’t see coming.

The Penalty Player is a complete standalone in the multi-author series Hockey USA.

Review:

Kristin Lee has brought the heat again in her book The Penalty Player.

Becca is divorced and is worried that she's never going to have the things in life she expected to have. A husband, kids, and a life worth living. But as her Mamaw told her, "When what you need is a hell-raising, beer-drinking man who loves to be surrounded by friends and family." (Boy do I wish I could have met that lady when I was younger!) So when she goes on the Stallion's reunion, the last thing she hopes to find is the man she's always loved... with his girlfriend. But after Corbin and his girlfriend show up, one thing leads to another, and Corbin's girl finds her way home.

Corbin has always done what his father wants until now. So when he gets to the reunion and sees Becca there the pull is too much. Fate lends a hand, and they are "forced" to share a room since Becca's friend wasn't able to make it to the reunion, leaving an empty bed and another couple needed Corbin's single room.

This book brings the best to just one bed, forced proximity, and hockey romance (though I would have loved a ton more hockey -- but who wouldn't? I mean hockey players... am I right?)

I'd like to thank the author and Happily Booked PR for the opportunity to read this book.

************ I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.

Review: Shiver by Giuliana Victoria

Shiver: Philia Players Book Four by Giuliana Victoria
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What happens when a friend calls in a favor? Well, if you're like Samara, you do what you can. But, when Samara does a little digging on her new client, she's not sure she likes what she sees. But, out of loyalty to her friend, she'll go through with the favor even if it means spending time with the ever annoying playboy Luca.

Luca is floored when a stranger shows up on his doorstep telling him that he has a daughter. A DAUGHTER! Hell, he didn't even know he had a kid much less a baby that is only a few short months old. Luckily Luca's friend knows an attorney who can help him through this mess. And Luca doesn't miss a beat.

This grumpy/sunshine book really pulled at my heart strings and showed me how people can step up when they are called to do so. I really missed the hockey atmosphere in this book, but loved how Luca stood up for Samara when she was not strong enough to do so for herself. This book gave me all the feels.

I'd like to thank the author for the opportunity to read this book.

View all my reviews

Audiobook Review: Final Shot by Rosie P. Burke

Final Shot by Rosie P. Burke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Okay, I want to know if Bryan will be my book boyfriend for the week. He's so yummy, yummy you could just eat him up. I'm not sure what Olivia's problem is... hold on, yes I do.

Best friends from the time they met, Olivia and Bryan were bound to push boundaries. But would this boundary be something they could come back from? Olivia made up her mind ten years ago, will circumstance bring her decision to an end?

Wow, Rosie, you really brought the tension to light in this book. I loved feeling the tug and pull that these two wonderful characters brought to the page/ear... whatever; they brought it.

Another hockey romance listen that really had me going. Narrator Harlow Wilde did an astounding job nailing character voices.

I'd like to thank the author for the opportunity to listen to and review this book.

View all my reviews

Review: Unthinkable by Dani Galliaro

Unthinkable by Dani Galliaro
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved being able to read a book that had a FMC who was more like me than anyone I've ever read before. Mara suffers from POTS, MCAS, and HEDS, which I suffer from in addition to other ailments. But to find a character so like me felt life affirming. If she can power through all the things she has to deal with, then yes... I can too.

Jack... well, I wasn't expecting him. Jack needed more from Sydney than she could have ever given him, and now he's found someone who's willing to give him what he needs and he does the same for her. (Once he pulls his head out of his butt!)

This has a great set of characters, and I love how Dani writes.

I'd like to thank the author and Happily Booked PR for the opportunity to read and review this book.

View all my reviews

Audiobook Review: Coach's Call by Rosie P. Burke

Title: Coach's Call

Author: Rosie P. Burke
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
Coach Tommy Hark
My world revolves around two things: Hockey… and my daughter Clara. Since my “ex” left Clara with the door attendant of my apartment building five years ago, I’ve managed to make it work pulling double duty. Coach of the best professional hockey team in the league plus mom and dad. Would that be triple duty? Whatever. When my go-to babysitter has to bow out to finish her education before taking the bar, I find myself struggling to be everything to everyone for the first time ever. A chance encounter sends me the solution in the body that would have the devil praying for forgiveness.

Amy Perez
You can't go home again. Well, I mean—I could. Technically. Nothing's been said or done to banish me from my parents’ homestead in Oklahoma; I just know that’s not the place for me. The issue is, even working at Charleston’s, the preferred bar for the local pro hockey team, it’s difficult making ends meet. When my friend Bitsy shoots me some insider info on a prominent man needing a live-in sitter, it seems like all my prayers have been answered.
Can I ignore the fact he’s the most delicious man I’ve ever seen? I need this job too much to be tempted by his rock-hard abs. His shaggy hair. His calloused hands. The way he is with his daughter…

Review:

Thou shalt not lust after your nanny... or your boss. But what happens when Coach Tommy Hark needs help with his daughter during the season and hires the hotter than sin Amy Perez? Not only does he find it hard to not lust after her, she finds it hard to do the same to him. But the one thing they both agree up on is that Clara comes first, and always will. So when trouble comes knocking (quite literally)...

   

 ... what are they to do? The only thing they can think to do, fake an engagement. But how long will they be able to hold on to the fake part of the relationship before someone gets hurt? Only time will tell.

As always, Rosie is a master with making her characters endearing and loveable. Even when they don't feel loveable to themselves, she makes us root for them either way. Clara was such a lovely little 5-year-old, and I wanted to protect her with as much fierceness as her father and nanny did. 

The only thing I missed with this book in the Dropped Puck series is a little bit more of the player interaction that we got with all the other books. If that would have been in there it would have been a 10 star review for me. (If only I could give those!) 

************ 

 I'd like to thank the author for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Icing the Enemy by Kristin Lee

Title: Icing the Enemy

Author: Kristin Lee
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 

USA Today Bestselling Author, Kristin Lee brings you a enemies to lovers hockey romance full of sass, swoon and spice.

I’m not your typical jock—no endless string of hookups or partying until dawn. I’ll wait for the real thing.

Until a chance encounter at a truck stop with a defiant, blue-eyed bombshell with a broken down car and a dog sends my heart racing. Oakley James makes my brain short-circuit and my body stand at attention.

But it doesn't take long for her to show her true colors and I find myself agreeing to marry the person I'm desperately trying to hate.

Why?

She needs her trust fund.
And I need to honor my grandmother’s dying wish and stop the gossip mag rumor mill.

But meeting a woman at a truck stop should come with a warning.

Beware, she may steal more than your truck–she may steal your heart.

Icing the Enemy is a complete standalone in the multi-author series Hockey USA

Review:

I'm in LOVE! <3 All kinds of feels over here y'all. When you've got a Golden Retreiver MMC and a spunky FMC, what's not to love?

I wanted so much for this to work out for Oakley and Corbin. From the meet cute and beyond, I was cheering them on. And what a meet cute it was. Oakley will inherit a trust fund, but there are some stipulations. She must be 21... CHECK. She must be married... (insert record scratch here)

  . 

So what's a girl to do? Not much if she's stranded at a truck stop with a smoking car and a cuddly dog. That's when big Strong Corbin shows up and nearly sweeps her off her feet right then and there. 

From there it's a whirlwind of mistakes made again and again, and a long road to finding that forever sometimes isn't more than just an arm's reach away.

I loved this book. I would snatch Corbin away from Oakley in a heartbeat if I didn't think she'd scratch my eyes out, protecting what's hers. So, I'll just have to live vicariously through this book and the characters there. The only thing I think was missing was a final confrontation between Oakley and her sperm donor. That, I felt, needed to be done.

************ I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.

Audiobook Review: Saving Grace by Rosie P. Burke

Title: Saving Grace

Author: Rosie P. Burke
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
Garrison Balchek
I'm the best goalie in the league. That's not me blowing smoke. I've got the stats to back me on this. My ability to see the ice, predict plays before they happen, read the players are all skills I've honed since the first time they strapped me into a pair of skates. But it's not just the ice where I enjoy watching people. That part of me is something no one can ever know. Makes finding The One difficult. But finding The One For Tonight? That I can do.

Grace Schwaltz
I've spent my entire life making sure things run smoothly. A planner, the queen of details. I stand on the sidelines, sit in the players boxes, or generally stay out of the way. That's my job. It's why they call me the PR Guru. But nights? Those are for me. I may be a wallflower professionally but I'm a freaking orchid at night: Lookie no touchy.

A chance meeting at an exclusive club that caters to various desires has these two questioning what they thought was the right fit. What you see is what you get. Right?

Review:

Saving Grace by Rosie P. Burke is the 4th book in her Dropped Puck Series and boy does she hit us hard with this one.

Grace has had a thing for Garrison for a while, but being the person in charge of keeping everyone looking good from a PR standpoint has her keeping her distance. But boy does she love to bust his balls.

Garrison is the best goalie in the league. He sees all, that's what he gets paid for. But when it comes to Grace, he wants to see more. He always has. When he sees her at the members only club he frequents, he's taken aback and can't wait to see more of her. And see he does.

I was given the opportunity to listen to this audiobook from the author through StoryOrigin and while I am thankful for the opportunity boy was this book hard to listen to. The narrator must have been Canadian and she misprounounced so many words (from the way an American would have said them) that it almost had me DNFing the book. I'm glad I didn't because the book itself was good, but OMG! It was the most painful hours I have ever listened to a book. I will go out of my way to NEVER listen to anything narrated by this person again.

************ I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.

Review: Ice Contact by Ellie K. Drake

Title: Ice Contact

Author: Ellie K. Drake
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
Olivia Brooks, the talented national anthem singer for the Milwaukee Steel Riders hockey team, feels like she's nothing more than background music in her own life. Stuck in a miserable relationship, she craves something more. One night, after being abandoned at a bar by her neglectful boyfriend, Olivia shares an unforgettable moment with a striking stranger, convinced she'll never see him again.

Hayes Larson, the newest star center for the Milwaukee Steel Riders, never imagined how much his life would change when he first saw Olivia Brooks. Fresh from a painful breakup, Hayes doubted he'd ever find true love again. But the instant he locked eyes with Olivia, he felt an overwhelming connection he couldn't ignore.

Three weeks later, their worlds collide in a way neither of them saw coming. As Olivia sings the national anthem at the home opener, her heart stops when she spots the stranger from that fateful night staring back at her from the ice.

With everything on the line—her career, her relationship, and her chance at love—will they risk it all for a shot at happiness? Find out in "Ice Contact"!

Review:

Olivia, the beloved National anthem singer for the Milwaukee Riders hockey team, finds herself in a tumultuous relationship with a class A douche canoe. When his reckless actions lead to the loss of her cherished job, Olivia is left questioning whether she can ever forgive him. Will his next move be the worst thing that could happen, or will it be a chance for redemption?

Hayes, a new trade to the Milwaukee Riders, is determined to move past the pain caused by his ex. Seeking solace on his first night in Milwaukee, he visits Walt’s on Water for a quick drink. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters the mesmerizing siren song emanating from the stage. Fully aware of the consequences, he finds himself drawn to the alleyway where he has an encounter with an unavailable woman. Only his moral compass, and Johnny, keep him from doing something they’ll both regret. 

Three weeks pass, and neither Olivia nor Hayes anticipate the life-changing surprise that fate has in store for them.

Ellie K. Drake’s Ice Contact delves into the profound realization that every woman deserves to feel comfortable in her own skin. She deserves to be loved, cherished, and adored.

Ms. Drake’s choice of topics is highly relevant and empowering for women. She addresses timely issues with characters who are relatable and endearing. Moreover, the book includes intimate scenes that are both captivating and sensual.

I eagerly anticipate the release of the second book, which promises to delve deeper into the lives of Olivia and Hayes, as well as the other intriguing characters.

************

I’d like to thank the author and The Author Agency for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Trading Tinsel by Rosie P. Burke

Title: Trading Tinsel

Author: Rosie P. Burke
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
Just seven minutes younger than her twin sister, Evelyn “Eve” Carter, has always felt like the “shadow sister.” She’s fun when her sister is functional, more go with the flow than the structured nature of her womb-mate. Even looking exactly alike, she somehow still managed to come second to the first guy she really crushed on, Nick Atterton. Her sister’s high school boyfriend. Her sister’s near-fiancé. Fleeing halfway across the country to attend college in Miami, FL, Evie hopes to distance herself from that beacon of perfection and the daily soul crushing feeling of inadequacy.

Nick Atterton has loved the game of hockey since he was six years old. The next closest thing to that pure, unfiltered adoration was his high school girlfriend. But when he can’t commit to forever, they end things. Just in time for his trade to Miami.

A quick trip home for Christmas ends up rerouted when Nick and Evie find their flight emergency landed in Nashville due to an unexpected ice storm. One room, a bottle of tequila, and 24 hours. Will tinsel and trinkets be the only thing exchanged this holiday season? Or will they be permanently added to the naughty list?

----

The Dropped Puck Series is a 6 book hockey romance series following the Chicago Sharks as they fight through a season of ups and downs. A collection of stand alones, each book can be read on their own, but I do recommend following the order in which the books are published as the characters do make follow up appearances in the subsequent stories.

Review:

Hockey, hockey, hockey... I just can't get enough.

Having read books 1 & 2 of this series I was all on board with being able to read this author's 3rd up for the Chicago Sharks alumni Nick Atterton. 

What happens when you're in love with your sister's ex boyfriend? You back off, right? Well, not if you're Eve the youngest (by 7 minutes) twin who's always been the screw up. But what if she just can't stop feeling for Nick what she's felt for so many years? Everything's fine, until Emerson (her better than good "older" sister) finds out. Will their love be strong enough to weather her sister's wrath? The only way to find out is to read the book, because I'm not telling you. 

I love the dynamic the team has with Eve. They know right from the start that she's good for Nick, but will he listen? Or will he get in his own way?

Be prepared for a STEAMY book with pure yumminess swirled right in.


************

I'd like to thank the author and StoryOrigin for the opportunity to give an honest review of this book in exchange for a free audiobook copy.