No matter how hard Scarlett tried to be good, she always ended up being bad.
But everything was different now.
She was making her way up the ranks in her dream job, working as a publicist for the San Francisco Gold.Finally, her life was back on track.
Then she met Kaydon. He was new to the team—a power forward—and the moment she laid eyes on his sexy-as-sin body she’d dreamed about what that power might feel like in bed. But he was off-limits.
She worked for the team, and though she’d spent much of her life being bad, she couldn’t risk her job by jumping into a relationship that could easily get her fired.
Even if it was with a man like Kaydon. Unfortunately, despite her best intentions at keeping her distance, he was good—very good—at convincing her to be bad.
I'm back with yet another new hockey romance novel! Off-Season by Jami Davenport is the sixth book in her Scoring series, and it is now available! So let's take a trip to Seattle, where Andy is just finishing up his rookie season with the Seattle Sockeyes, and he's making plans for the off-season.
Andy and his team had an amazing season! No, they didn't win the Stanley Cup, but they made it pretty far. That last game was rough though, and afterwards, Andy was given some hard truths. Now here it is the off-season, and Andy just wants to escape to the woods for some alone time. How difficult can it be to go camping in an RV? Who cares that he has zero experience, he can figure it out! Except that is where it all starts to go south. After arriving to the campground, Andy is attempting to back in his trailer. Except he's never done this before, and that is showing based on the fact he is about to crash. Thankfully Kennedy is at the campsite right next door, and she is a very experienced camper. After all her job is to do PR for her family's RV brand. So she's done it all, and is very confident in her skills. She offers a helping hand, and gets Andy's RV all settled in. Even though he's a grump the entire time. Kennedy isn't letting that put a damper on her time though. Things keep going wrong for Andy, and each time he finds himself at Kennedy's door obtaining assistance. As time goes on, Kennedy and Andy are spending more time together. With that time, comes sharing of their lives, and Andy slowly beings to open up about his struggling relationship with his family. All is going great between Andy and Kennedy, a bond is being formed, and the attraction levels are quite high. That is until Andy's teammates track him down. That changes the entire dynamic, and the relationship between the two begins to shift.
I went into Off-Season with extremely high hopes. Hockey romance is the best thing ever, and it is my happy place. I lead with that because something was off with this book. Not only did it take me a lot longer to read than normal, but I didn't feel the connection between Andy and Kennedy. I really enjoyed Kennedy's character, and she is an amazing woman. She has traveled all over the world, often times on her own, and she is the brand ambassador for her family's RV company. She knows her stuff, and she is more than willing to teach others what she knows. She is a giving person. She is the sunshine in this grumpy/sunshine romance. Then there's Andy. He's obviously the grump in this trope. Andy comes across as someone who is better than you. He's above you. He can do it all on his own, he doesn't need any help or guidance. Which is why he received the hard truths that he did at the end of the season. He's really just an ass, and even knowing his history, that didn't change my thoughts towards him. He isn't a likable character. Or at least not from my perspective. There wasn't a redeeming moment with him that had me flipping my thoughts. The saving grace of this book, and the reason I gave it 3.5 stars on Goodreads, is the storyline between Andy and Gage. These two are teammates on the Seattle Sockeyes team, as well as half-brothers. But there is an issue between them, and they do not get along for a variety of reasons. THAT captured my attention. The romance with Kennedy was a nice distraction, but I really would have loved to have dove deeper into the relationship between these brothers.
So, did I like the book? Yes, kind of. I liked Kennedy. I liked the setting. I liked the tension between Gage and Andy, and everything that was unfolding there. Would I re-read it? No I wouldn't. But to be fair I rarely re-read books, so there's that. However there are books that I am open to re-reading in the future, and this one doesn't fit the bill.
Do I recommend Off-Season? Yes, yes I do. As I've said before, just because a book doesn't vibe well with me, doesn't mean that it won't for another person. That is why ratings are so subjective. How I feel about a book, or what I took away from a book, isn't going to be the same for you.
Should you choose to read Off-Season, please come back and fill me in on your thoughts. I'd love to chat about the book, the characters, and all that jazz. Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts. I appreciate you stopping by.
Laura
Andy
I just ended my rookie year with the Seattle Sockeyes in a win-or-go-home game, and we went home. I played a big part in that loss thanks in part to my lack of team play. It's time to lick my wounds, re-examine my role, and come to terms with demons I've been avoiding for too long. I buy an RV and take to the wilderness for a little solitude and lot of soul-searching. Just me, my dog Bones, and nature. There's one problem. My campsite neighbor is a too-cheerful, busy-body camp host. She brings out the worst in me, but I can't stop thinking about sharing a sleeping bag with her.
Kennedy
As a brand ambassador for a large RV manufacturer, it's my job to make sure everyone is enjoying their camping experience. Usually I'm quite good at fixing problems and assisting campers until I meet the hot, grumpy hockey player next door. He claims he wants to be left alone; but after one look at his lost expression, I'm certain that's the last thing he needs. To complicate things, we have chemistry, the kind which blazes past all misgivings and singes everyone in sight.
USA Today Bestselling Author Jami Davenport writes sexy contemporary and sports romances, including her two new indie endeavors: the Game On in Seattle Series and the Madrona Island Series. Jami’s new releases consistently rank in the top fifty on the sports romance and sports genre lists on Amazon, and she has hit the Amazon top hundred authors list in both contemporary romance and genre fiction multiple times. Jami ranked Number Seven on Kobo’s Top Ten Most Completed Authors, an honor bestowed on the year’s “most engaging” authors based on an average page completion rate by their readers.
Jami lives on a small farm near Puget Sound with her Green Beret-turned-plumber husband, a Newfoundland cross with a tennis ball fetish, a prince disguised as an orange tabby cat, and an opinionated Hanoverian mare.
Jami works in IT for her day job and is a former high school business teacher. She’s a lifetime Seahawks and Mariners fan and is waiting for the day professional hockey comes to Seattle. An avid boater, Jami has spent countless hours in the San Juan Islands, a common setting in her books. In her opinion, it’s the most beautiful place on earth.
Connect with Jami!
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Bought is a steamy long novella by USA Today Bestselling Author, Colleen Charles, about a sexy CEO who will stop at nothing to stop his geeky best friend from auctioning off her virginity. It's the fourth Naughty Little Book and is a standalone with all the steam and feels you're looking for, along with an emotional HEA.
I love a good friends to lovers story, and so as I read the teaser for Bought I had high hopes. I can't lie, the fact that Colleen Charles has this book based in Minnesota was also a major draw for me. I had read one other book by her a couple years ago, and I had been wanting to read more. Anytime a book mentions Caribou over Starbucks, I have to smile, and of course read the book! I'm a sucker for books set in Minnesota, and for when Minnesota based businesses are mentioned within said stories.
Anyway...Bought introduces us to Emmie and Rush. These two have been friends for a couple of decades now. Rush has always had feelings for Emmie, but has kept that information to himself. One day, after Emmie lands a new job, the two are talking, and Emmie explains how this new job will help her to pay off all her student loan debt a lot faster. Rush still isn't sold on her new job, but is supporting his friend no matter what. Flash forward a few days, and Emmie tells Rush of a plan she has. She found a website where she can auction off her virginity, and the price these "investors" are willing to pay would wipe out her debt. She's going for it. But Rush can't let this happen. He has to intervene. Not only for Emmie, but for himself. He knows that he and Emmie are meant to be. So what does he do? Naturally he signs up on the website to join the auction.
I have mixed feelings on this book. On one hand I love the friends to lovers storyline. I love how these two have such history together, and that there is an attraction there. On the other hand there's the whole auctioning off Emmie's virginity. That doesn't sit well with me. At all. I feel like, in my mind, the majority of the story should have been different. It should have focused around Emmie's job, and the trying out of the adult toys that the company produces. It could have been an uncomfortable discussion with her best friend, turned into a night of exploration. Or something along those lines. The entire auction situation just feels gross, and I can't see Emmie doing this. She is this intelligent woman who knows what she wants. She also seems like the type of woman who would research the hell out of this idea, and then quickly forget about it. Again, I could see her talking to Rush about all this, and them working out an "agreement" or something.
My gut says to give Bought 3 stars. Yes, I liked the characters. Yes, I LOVED that this book was set in Minnesota. Yes, friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. BUT it all comes back to the auctioning off of her virginity. I just can't with that. This book had such potential, I just wish it had gone a different route. (and I know I am in the minority on my thinking, as most reviews I've peeked at are raving about this novella.)
If you're looking for a friends to lovers romance that is a quick/short read filled with steamy moments, and is set in Minnesota, then download the book. Personally, I probably shouldn't have downloaded it since I knew going in that this auction situation was the main premise, but I had hoped that something else would have transpired. Sigh.
This little novella is not going to distract me from reading another Colleen Charles book though. It will remind me though to take the book at face value. If the teaser says _____ is going to happen, believe that, and decide if it is something I truly want to read.
Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on the book Bought. My hopes were high, but they were slightly crushed. It happens. Not every book will be a favorite. Happy Reading my friends.
Laura
A leader is the one who never gives up.
I built my company from the ground up and now I sit on a throne of iron.
But I've sworn off love because I only want one woman.
The one I can't have.
We met back in grade school. Chasing each other around the playground. Spilling our secrets in the dead of night.
I crushed hard and those feelings I caught haven't even begun to fade.
So when my sweet, innocent Emmie wants to erase her six-figure student loan debt by auctioning her perfect body off to the highest bidder?
I see red.
If my naughty little engineer thinks she can gift her purity to another man...
Did you see that Brenda Rothert and Kat Mizera have released the first book in their new St Louis Mavericks hockey series? Well they did, and friends, if you are an emotional reader be sure to have the tissues on hand. Just trust me on that. I'm speaking from experience.
Hard Fall is the name of the first book in the series, and this one sucker punched me. You see we start off the book by meeting Lauren, Ben, Hadley, and Weston (Wes). Lauren and Ben are getting married, and Hadley and Weston are part of the wedding party. Ben and Lauren think they'd be good together. Yet when they first meet, Wes says a stupid thing, and then that just riled Hadley up, and she voiced her opinion. She did not hold back. THAT was their introduction. Flash forward 7 years. Ben and Lauren went out on a date night, while the sitter had the kids at home. The unimaginable happens. Wes rushes to their house to confirm the news, and Hadley immediately flies in from New York. Their best friends were now gone, and the lawyer just told them that they've been given custody of the kids. So not only are Wes and Hadley grieving, but they've been thrusted into the parenting world, and have to care for these two kids who are missing their parents like mad. Forced proximity + enemies to lovers + opposites attract = a fun combination for a romance novel. Oh, and you better believe there is drama as well. Drama from both Wes and Hadley, and big time drama from Ben's parents.
If you know me, you know that I freaking adore hockey romance. I mean my shelf on goodreads shows that I've read 120 hockey romances. Yes, 120. I have a problem, okay not a problem, a preferred sport within the sports romance genre. You may also know that not every one of those books has vibed with me. There has been the occasional book that just didn't sit right for various reasons. That was honestly the case with Hard Fall. Now don't get me wrong, I liked the concept of the story. I had tears running down my face from time to time. I also enjoyed the setting, and the trope. I also enjoyed the relationship that Annalise had with Lars. Then there was all the flash back scenes with Ben and Lauren, and the letters that they left behind. Oh the tears. So I enjoyed all of that. I even enjoyed the drama that the grandparents brought. My problem was with Wes and Hadley. I didn't like them individually, and I really didn't like them as a couple. Wes would constantly egg Hadley on, and then she'd go off on him. Yes, he was purposely provoking her, and it was annoying and immature. Then there was Hadley. All she could really think about was her job, and her grief. She couldn't see that Wes was also grieving, and he also had a job to do. She picked apart every little thing that Wes would say, and she would then get angry with him. It was over the top and not necessary. Both of these characters were quite immature given their ages.
Hard Fall had such potential, in my mind, given the found family/unexpected parents storyline. Even with the enemies to lovers aspect and the forced proximity setting, there was potential. Yet because of my dislike of Wes and Hadley, the book ended up falling a bit flat. So let's talk my rating. I gave it 3.5 stars on Goodreads. As I sit here collecting my thoughts, and writing everything out, I'm still going back and forth on that rating. I can't say I would go higher, but for me, Hard Fall is somewhere in the 3 to 3.5 star range. Book ratings are are so personal. Personal in the way that it is how the book spoke to us the reader. So while I gave it a 3.5, it might be a 4 or 5 star read for you. It's all in how you connect with the story, the characters, the setting, the flow of it all, that determines your feelings on the book.
Now, Hard Fall was the FIRST book in the series. Am I going to let this book affect my thoughts on future stories? Absolutely not. You see Lars has his book coming next, and I am really intrigued by that. I could feel a connection to him when he would appear with Annalise. I am wanting to know more about him, and how his HEA will happen.
Thank you for taking time to read my long winded thoughts about Hard Fall. I appreciate you taking time to read what I wrote. Regardless of my opinion on the book, I hope that if the teaser speaks to you, that you'll take the time to read the book for yourself. You may connect with it differently than I did.
Laura
The St. Louis Mavericks are having the best season in team history. On pace for a pro hockey record, the unexpected death of their captain and star player knocks them off course in ways they never expected.
Weston
My world was turned upside down the day Ben Whitmer died. Best friends since junior hockey, Ben was like a brother to me. My voice of reason and a grounding force on and off the ice. But as heartbroken as I am, I don’t have the luxury of grieving his loss.
Not only do I have to hold our team together, I was named guardian of the two young children Ben and his wife left behind. Well, not just me—me and his wife’s best friend, Hadley. We’ve been left with the impossible task of deciding which of us will raise the kids, but there’s no way I’m letting that uptight ball buster have them.
Lines are drawn, but they begin to blur as I find out there’s more to Hadley than I thought. A lot more.
Hadley
I can’t take the place of my beautiful best friend in her children’s lives. But I love them so fiercely that I’ll do whatever it takes to raise them the way their parents wanted.
Wes Kirby is an obnoxious womanizer, and I won’t let him take Ben and Lauren’s children from me. Deciding to temporarily live together in our friends’ home, we attempt to provide the kids stability while we figure out which of us is better suited to raising them.
As we learn parenthood together, my enemy Wes slowly becomes something different. Something more. And I’m left wondering not only if I’m enough for the kids, but if Wes and I are enough to last.
Also, don't forget to add Hard Fall to your Goodreads TBR!
About the Authors
Brenda Rothert was a print journalist for nine years. She made the jump from fact to fiction in 2013 and never looked back. From hot hockey romance to steamy romantic suspense, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. She's a lover of Diet Coke, lazy weekends and happily ever afters.
For all the latest on Brenda and her books, join her Facebook reader group, Rothert's Readers.
USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Kat Mizera is a South Florida native. Born in Miami Beach with a healthy dose of wanderlust, she's called Los Angeles, Long Island, upstate New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Atlanta home. She's never been able to pick which locale is her favorite, but if pressed, she'd probably choose the west coast.
A typical PTA mom with a wonderful and supportive husband (Kevin) and two amazing boys (Nick and Max), Kat can usually be found scrapbooking or indulging in her second love (after writing) - traveling. Greece is one of her favorite places in the world. She loves that Athens is a big city with a small-town feel. The food, beaches and culture keep her going back as often as possible.
Kat's been a working freelance writer for nearly 30 years. She sold her first article--a review of a rock concert--for $10 in 1985. Since then she's been an entertainment journalist, waitress, bartender, legal assistant, food critic, magazine editor, substitute teacher, and sports writer. She also spent some time working at A & M Records in Los Angeles.
As you can guess from her Las Vegas Sidewinders series, Kat loves hockey and occasionally writes articles about her favorite team, the Florida Panthers. The rest of the time, she writes novels: sexy, romantic fiction that she hopes makes you as happy as it makes her. There's something enticing about hockey players and romance...
Are you looking for a new hockey romance series to read? How about one that is set in St Louis Missouri? Are you a fan of the enemies to lovers trope? Well then be sure to check out Hard Fall by Brenda Rothert & Kat Mizera when it releases on September 14th!
*if you are an emotional reader, I suggest having tissues on hand for the moments when the tears just flow.
The St. Louis Mavericks are having the best season in team history. On pace for a pro hockey record, the unexpected death of their captain and star player knocks them off course in ways they never expected.
~Weston~
My world was turned upside down the day Ben Whitmer died. Best friends since junior hockey, Ben was like a brother to me. My voice of reason and a grounding force on and off the ice. But as heartbroken as I am, I don’t have the luxury of grieving his loss.
Not only do I have to hold our team together, I was named guardian of the two young children Ben and his wife left behind. Well, not just me—me and his wife’s best friend, Hadley. We’ve been left with the impossible task of deciding which of us will raise the kids, but there’s no way I’m letting that uptight ball buster have them.
Lines are drawn, but they begin to blur as I find out there’s more to Hadley than I thought. A lot more.
~Hadley~
I can’t take the place of my beautiful best friend in her children’s lives. But I love them so fiercely that I’ll do whatever it takes to raise them the way their parents wanted.
Wes Kirby is an obnoxious womanizer, and I won’t let him take Ben and Lauren’s children from me. Deciding to temporarily live together in our friends’ home, we attempt to provide the kids stability while we figure out which of us is better suited to raising them.
As we learn parenthood together, my enemy Wes slowly becomes something different. Something more. And I’m left wondering not only if I’m enough for the kids, but if Wes and I are enough to last.
Don't forget to add Hard Fall to your Goodreads TBR!
About the Authors:
Brenda Rothert was a print journalist for nine years. She made the jump from fact to fiction in 2013 and never looked back. From hot hockey romance to steamy romantic suspense, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. She's a lover of Diet Coke, lazy weekends, and happily ever afters.
For all the latest on Brenda and her books, join her Facebook reader group, Rothert's Readers.
USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Kat Mizera is a South Florida native. Born in Miami Beach with a healthy dose of wanderlust, she's called Los Angeles, Long Island, upstate New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Atlanta home. She's never been able to pick which locale is her favorite, but if pressed, she'd probably choose the west coast.
A typical PTA mom with a wonderful and supportive husband (Kevin) and two amazing boys (Nick and Max), Kat can usually be found scrapbooking or indulging in her second love (after writing) - traveling. Greece is one of her favorite places in the world. She loves that Athens is a big city with a small-town feel. The food, beaches and culture keep her going back as often as possible.
Kat's been a working freelance writer for nearly 30 years. She sold her first article--a review of a rock concert--for $10 in 1985. Since then she's been an entertainment journalist, waitress, bartender, legal assistant, food critic, magazine editor, substitute teacher, and sports writer. She also spent some time working at A & M Records in Los Angeles.
As you can guess from her Las Vegas Sidewinders series, Kat loves hockey and occasionally writes articles about her favorite team, the Florida Panthers. The rest of the time, she writes novels: sexy, romantic fiction that she hopes makes you as happy as it makes her. There's something enticing about hockey players and romance...
Did you know Elise Faber had a new hockey series? Because I didn't! And now I'm finding out that Boldly, book 2, is going to be released NEXT WEEK! How did I miss this news? HOW?!? What kind of hockey romance reader am I? Egads.
So yes, Elise Faber has a brand new book dropping on August 31. It is called Boldly, and it is the second book in the Breakers series. It is a forbidden romance, and I am so ready for it. BRING IT ON.
And yes, since learning this news, I have rushed to Amazon and placed my order for Broken, Boldly, and Breathless. Because it's what I do.
One second, he had everything. The next, it was torn away.
Oliver James was at the peak of his career, captain of the Baltimore Breakers, minutes away from winning another Cup. Then one hit had derailed all that.
All he’d ever known was hockey, and he didn’t know where he fit in a world where playing was no longer a possibility. But then he was offered a chance to bring hockey back into his life. A shot at starting over.
The only condition of that second chance was required meetings with the team psychologist, Hazel.
She was exactly the kind of woman he might have once lusted after—beautiful, kind, a body that screamed sex. She made him feel whole, like a man again.
Except, she wasn’t interested in him outside of being a patient.
Well then, Oliver would just have to convince her otherwise.
USA Today bestselling author, Elise Faber, loves chocolate, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and hockey (the order depending on the day and how well her team—the Sharks!—are playing). She and her husband also play as much hockey as they can squeeze into their schedules, so much so that their typical date night is spent on the ice. Elise changes her hair color more often than some people change their socks, loves sparkly things, and is the mom to two exuberant boys.
