Review of SCORE by Victoria Denault

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Victoria Denault’s new hockey series gets off to an amazing start with SCORE. Fans of her previous books will NOT be disappointed. Perfect blend of hockey, heartbreak, and romance. Definitely recommend!
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Description

He’s used to winning, but now he’s playing with his heart.
Jude Braddock. Hockey god. That’s how everyone sees him now. But when they were teenagers, Zoey knew him as the kid who didn’t have enough nerve to make a move on their one and only disastrous date. Seems he doesn’t have that problem anymore, though. According to the rumors, he’s with a different woman every night. After a rough divorce, the last thing Zoey needs is more heartbreak. But Jude’s cocky, playful attitude is mighty hard to resist.

Jude knows he isn’t built for long-term relationships. But he’s getting sick of women pounding on his door in the middle of the night looking for a rematch. When Zoey comes back into his life, it’s like fate has given him a second chance. He’ll do anything to make her happy again. Is this what love looks like? He has no idea. All he knows for sure is that this time, he’s playing for keeps.

Review of CONFESSIONS OF A FORMER PUCK BUNNY by Cindi Madsen

Cindi Madsen creates a fun, flirty, sexy, and engaging tale that will draw readers in from the very first page. CONFESSIONS OF A FORMER PUCK BUNNY is told in a confessional style from the main character, Lindsay’s, point of view. She fully admits to being a “puck bunny” ( a female ice hockey fan whose interest in the sport is primarily motivated by sexual attraction to the players rather than the enjoyment of the game itself) but she has been on a mission to change her ways. Her newfound resolve is tested when she meets hot defenseman, Ryder “Ox” Maddox. Will Ryder be able to break down her walls and hang ups about dating a hockey player? Will secrets from their past rise up and ruin their chance at happiness? Readers will be eager to find out. This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. Definitely recommend!

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Description

Confession #1: I used to be a puck bunny, but after a hockey player broke my heart, I gave up all things hockey. Now I’m just focused on finding a way to pass my math class so I can graduate college.

Confession #2: Ryder “Ox” Maddox’s deep, sexy voice sends fuzzy tingles through my entire body, and I’m powerless to stop it. Which is a big problem since the hot, surprisingly funny hockey player is my new math tutor. 
Confession #3: I can’t stop thinking about how ripped Ryder is from all his hockey training, and how fun it’d be to cross lines with him. 
Confession #4: I kissed a hockey player and I liked it. 
Confession #5: If I’m not careful, I might relapse and fall for Ryder, and then I’ll be totally pucked.
Each book in the Taking Shots series is a standalone, full-length story that can be enjoyed out of order.
Series Order:

Book #1 Getting Lucky Number Seven

Book #2 Anatomy of a Player

Book #3 Crazy Pucking Love

Book #4 Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny

Review of DEFENSIVE ZONE by Catherine Gayle

Catherine Gayle gives readers the HOTTEST book yet in the Portland Storm series!!! The youngest of the Weber clan, Dani, is used to getting her way and she has her sites set on Cody “Harry” Williams. While her at times childish and bullish pursuit of Harry can be downright annoying, Dani’s character will grow on the reader as she grows and matures throughout the book. The steamy scenes between Dani and Harry will more than make up for any qualms about Dani’s character. Harry himself is a terrific character that the readers will LOVE. After being teased with his story in previous books, it was great to finally get a chance to see what makes him tick. Readers will enjoy finding out why Dani mentally calls him “Dirty Harry”. He lives up to his nickname. Definitely recommend!

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Portland Storm defenseman Cody “Harry” Williams owes his coach everything—especially for bailing him out of trouble in the past. It’s up to Cody to repay him by keeping his hands to himself around the coach’s sensual and mischievous daughter. All signs point to this task being easier said than done…

Up-and-coming fashion designer Dani Weber always gets what she wants—and she wants Cody Williams. Cody’s sexy, geeky-chic bowties and hard-to-get attitude only make her want him more, and Cody’s resistance is fading…fast.

Review of OFF THE ICE by Julie Cross

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Julie Cross gives us a wonderful romance that will draw readers in from the very first page. This is not your typical YA book, full of fluff and hearts and stars. There are some controversial subjects brought up in the book, including: teen pregnancy; underage drinking; physical and emotional abuse; cancer; sexuality; and sex. They are brought up in such a way that they blend seamlessly into the story. There is no “shock and awe” intended. There is no conscious effort to “gotcha” the reader. The book manages to still be an enjoyable read despite the sometimes heavy subject matter. Readers will be drawn into the story and become invested in the character’s lives. Definitely recommend!
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Description
All is fair in love and hockey… 

Claire O’Connor is back in Juniper Falls, but that doesn’t mean she wants to be. One semester off, that’s what she promised herself. Just long enough to take care of her father and keep the family business—a hockey bar beside the ice rink—afloat. After that, she’s getting the hell out. Again.
Enter Tate Tanley. What happened between them the night before she left town resurfaces the second they lay eyes on each other. But the guy she remembers has been replaced by a total hottie.When Tate is unexpectedly called in to take over for the hockey team’s star goalie, suddenly he’s in the spotlight and on his way to becoming just another egotistical varsity hockey player. And Claire’s sworn off Juniper Falls hockey players for good.
It’s the absolute worst time to fall in love.
For Tate and Claire, hockey isn’t just a game. And they both might not survive a body check to the heart.

Review of BACK CHECK by Kelly Jamieson

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Kelly Jamieson does it again with another FANTASTIC tale in her “Aces Hockey” series! A great second chance romance with plenty of action, on and off the ice, will have readers eagerly turning pages. Readers will fall in love with Tanner and Katelyn’s story. Definitely recommend!

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Description

The so-bad-they’re-good alphas of hockey’s Chicago Aces are back in this emotionally charged novel of sex, love, and second chances from the bestselling author of Top Shelf and the Heller Brothers series.

Tanner Bennet hates weddings. They just remind him that he simply isn’t cut out for any kind of healthy, committed relationship—never has been, never will be. After getting rejected by the girl he thought was “the one” all those years ago, he made a huge mistake and married the wrong person. Now that the divorced heartbreaker has reluctantly agreed to be a groomsman for one of his NHL teammates, the last thing he expects is a chance at redemption with the one that got away.
After Marc Dupuis of the Chicago Aces hires wedding planner Katelyn Medford, she discovers that her big break comes with a twist: a reunion with her college sweetheart. The way she dumped Tanner still haunts her. Eight years—and three broken engagements—later, Katelyn knows she’ll never have that kind of innocent, wide-eyed passion again. Still, she and Tanner soon generate enough body heat to burn up the sheets. And even with Tanner’s career with the Aces up in the air, Katelyn’s wondering whether the time is right to let him in for real.

Review of ON THE LINE by Victoria Denault

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Victoria Denault does it again with her fifth book in the “Hometown Players” series! Readers will be eager to sink their teeth into Avery and Stephanie’s story. Full of laughter, steamy sex, heartbreak, and hockey action. Definitely recommend!
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Description

He had total control of his game–until she changed all the rules . . . As one of the best players in the NHL and the “golden boy” of the league, Avery Westwood knows he has to keep his cool–on and off the ice. His whole life is a carefully constructed image of perfection for the media and his brand sponsors. Of course, that means he can never let his true feelings show. But when it comes to the sexy sister of his former teammate, Avery might be willing to make an exception . . . even if it means breaking all his own rules. 

As far as Stephanie Deveau is concerned, having a thing for Avery is the equivalent of psychological napalm. Très bad idea. Then he moves in next door, all sexy smiles and a deliciously hot body that she can’t resist. Something’s happening between them–it’s intense, a little (a lot) out of control, and real. Only Avery doesn’t know everything about Stephanie’s past. And the one exception to his rule might just be the one girl who could destroy his career. 

Review of RITES OF PASSAGE by Catherine Gayle

Catherine Gayle never fails to impress but RITES OF PASSAGE might be her best book yet! It isn’t just another hockey romance novel. Gritty and real, it deals with subject matter that isn’t fluffy unicorns and rainbows. The main characters are both dealing with being recently diagnosed with having HIV and how they move on with their lives. The book also deals with tough subjects that will leave the reader better off for having read about them. There is also plenty of love, lust, and hockey action to keep readers from getting too bogged down in the challenging storyline without taking away any of the seriousness of the issues. Definitely recommend.

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Where do you go once you’ve hit rock bottom?
With his world already in shambles, Andrew Nash’s life plummets even further after a freak accident on the ice exposes his deepest secret. Still unsure if he should ever return to the game he’s devoted his life to, the future Thunderbirds captain knows he isn’t quite ready to throw in the towel. Meeting a talented and sexy artist changes everything for Drew.
But Ravyn Penn’s past is darker than his, and her wounds cut deeper. Drew’s looking forward, but Ravyn is stuck dwelling over a life that leaves her guilt-ridden and full of regret.
Drew’s a fighter, and he knows they need to claw their way out of the past—together—even when the future promises no guarantees. But can Ravyn let go and blindly trust him—taking a rite of passage through the darkness—to find the life they both deserve?

Review of MAYBE THIS KISS by Jennifer Snow

***Available NOW***

Perfect story to kick start your holiday season! Great second chance romance will grab you from the first page and have you eagerly turning pages to see what happens next. Full of fun, romance, heartache, steamy scenes, and a hint of hockey will keep readers entertained. Fans of Sophia Henry, Catherine Gayle, and Kelly Jamieson will enjoy the mix of a hockey loving family and military drama. Definitely recommend!
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Description

Love is always worth the risk . . . 

Neil Healy was happy to be promoted to Air Force lieutenant colonel, but he’s less than thrilled that the new job has brought him back to his hometown. The memories alone could kill a man, to say nothing of actually seeing the woman he never got over. Neil knew avoiding Becky Westmore would be impossible, but he didn’t expect the chemistry between them to be as strong as ever.
All Becky wants this holiday season is to get through the month of December with her sanity intact. Not helping? Her ex-boyfriend’s return to Glenwood Falls. Even after a decade apart, Neil still makes her feel in ways no other man has. But Christmas is a time for miracles, and maybe Becky’s will be a second chance at first love.

Review of UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT by Sophia Henry

Readers will be excited to FINALLY read Pavel Gribov’s story and see what made him behave like an egotistical jerk in previous books in Sophia Henry’s AMAZING “Pilots Hockey” series. Readers will not be disappointed! Pavel is so worth the wait. Fun, sexy, serious, and steamy read will have readers frantically turning pages to see what happens next. Definitely recommend!

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Kristen Katsaros wants a life full of adventure and laughter. After a difficult childhood, her motto is to live each day like it’s her last—because it just might be. So when Kristen’s parents send her on a post-grad singles cruise in the Caribbean to meet a Greek husband, she promptly hooks up with the hottest guy she’s ever met. Pasha’s decidedly not Greek, but Kristen gives him a pass because he’s got fun written all over his rock-hard abs.

 Pavel Gribov, the cocky playboy of the Detroit Pilots hockey team, can score any girl he wants. But when a teammate drags him on a singles cruise, he can’t resist the chance to help out a drop-dead gorgeous damsel in distress by pretending to be her boyfriend. Before long, the fake fling turns intimate, fueled by something much deeper than lust.

Kristen and Pasha both agree to walk away once the cruise is over, but reality hits like a slap shot when Kristen finds out Pasha lied about everything. Just when she’s ready to start living again, the two stubborn survivors must decide if they can bear to lose the best thing that ever happened to either of them.

 

Review of WINNING IT ALL by Victoria Denault

Victoria Denault gives us another great hockey player to fall in love with, Sebastian Deveau. Readers won’t be able to stop themselves from being ensnared by his charms. His character really wins the book and makes up for some of the bumpy character traits that the heroine, Shayne Beckford, has. Shayne has had some bad experiences in her life with men who have played hockey and has sworn off having anyone in her life that has ANYTHING to do with hockey. She takes her aversion to the game and players to a new level. Readers might get frustrated with Shayne’s attitude but luckily Sebastian is there to save the day. His character such a great blend of sexy, snarky, heartfelt, and fun. Everyone will be wanting a boyfriend like him. Great mix of laughter, tears, wit, steamy sex, and hockey action will draw readers in and leave them wanting more. Definitely recommend!

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Description

All’s fair in love and hockey. . . 
As his team’s enforcer on the ice, Sebastian Deveau is America’s favorite fighting Frenchman. But he’s just as likely to get into trouble off the ice–especially when it comes to women. 

Shayne Beckford is so over hockey. It ruined her parents’ marriage. It spoiled her brother’s dreams. And let’s not even talk about her college boyfriend . . . So when Sebastian Deveau walks into her brother’s gym, she has no idea who he is. All she knows is that he’s one gorgeous man with the sexiest accent she’s ever heard. And since she never has to see him again, she lets him give her the best orgasm of her life right on top of the gym’s dryer.

But Sebastian isn’t going to let this one-night stand get away so easily. He fights for what he wants, even if it takes fighting a little dirty . . . 
More in the Hometown Players series:

One More Shot

Making a Play

The Final Move