Are you looking for a new hockey romance book to read? How about the first book in a new series? Is second chance romance one of your favorite tropes? What about a bit of forced proximity? Friends to enemies to lovers? Do you enjoy New Adult romances that are set at college? Well look no further because Open Lanes by Mary Morano is the answer! Open Lanes is the first book in the Moosehead Hockey series, and it just released on July 1, 2021!
Why yes, this is the third hockey romance book that I've reviewed this week! And no, I'm not complaining one bit. It is my weakness. My obsession. And I rarely turn down the opportunity to read this area of the romance genre. I will say that college hockey isn't my usual read, but that isn't going to deter me from Open Lanes one bit.
In this book we meet up with Nicole and Brayden. These two have been best friends since birth, and honestly their parents have always believed these two were meant to be together. Around middle school though, everything changed. Brayden started being a jerk, and was just relentless when it came to picking on Nicole. Of course more often than not, this lead to tears for her. As for Brayden, he was dealing with these feelings that he didn't understand. Brayden's behavior turned these two friends into enemies. Nicole thought she would be free of him when she went away to college in Maine. But then Brayden announced he was going to the same school on a hockey scholarship. Flash forward to the end of their sophomore year, and it's time to head home for the summer. Nicole's boyfriend is driving her to the airport. After they have a much needed discussion in the car, he ditches her on the side of the road. She has no cell service, and there are basically no cars driving this stretch of road. As she continues walking, she finally hears a car coming up. That is when her mind goes into overdrive, and starts thinking all the thoughts. When a male gets out of his car, and is trying to talk to her, she does her best to ignore him. That is until he starts laughing. Turning around she is surprised to see Brayden. He convinces her that he'll drive her to the airport. On the way, she falls asleep, and he skips right passed the airport. (this is after talking to both of their parents, and getting the okay) What happens next is 5 days of sight seeing, conversation, a change in feelings, an overdue apology and explanation, and the beginning of what is meant to be.
I know I'm far past the age of these two characters (I could be their mom), but that didn't stop me from loving every second of the book. Also when Nicole first got into Brayden's car, and got a whiff of his hockey gear, I understood the overwhelming smell that she was assaulted with. That poor woman. I loved how everything played out in this story. From the friends to enemies aspect, to Brayden trying to stay in touch while at college, to how the car ride happened, and everything Brayden had planned for the trip. It was all so good, and I love that he incorporated activities/stops that we right up Nicole's alley. He knows her, and what she enjoys. Then there were a couple much needed conversations that happened, and I love how Brayden just laid it all out there. It shows that he has matured. Other than Nicole's ex, there wasn't a thing that I didn't enjoy. This book was a quick read. It kept me fully engaged. There was one point where Nicole read her book out loud for Brayden to hear that had me laughing hysterically. Which I then had to explain to my husband why I was laughing so hard.
Open Lanes was absolutely fantastic. It was Mary Morano's debut, and let me tell you, I have a sneaking suspicion she is going to become a favorite. I am looking forward to October when Snipe releases. From the little tease we had at the end of Open Lanes, it is also going to be a good book.
I highly suggest you check out Open Lanes. If you do, please let me know your thoughts on the book, characters, setting, etc.
Thank you for reading my thoughts,
Laura
Brayden
My dream has always been to go pro, but in that dream, she’s standing beside me. I messed up my chance once before but now I have a second chance. Just like on the ice, I will do anything I can to win. This time I’m playing for keeps.
Nicole
He tortured me through High School, followed me across the country to college, and now I am stuck in a car with him for five long days. All I want to do is get home and go back to pretending he doesn’t exist. If only my stupid hormones would get on board with the plan.
Now Available from these retailers:
$3.99 for a limited time!
EXCERPT
For the first time, the precarious situation that I found myself in really hit home. I was a 20-year-old female, walking down the side of an empty highway with no help in sight—talk about the beginning of every serial killer movie ever made. I couldn’t even alert anyone to where I was, or the fact I wasn’t on my flight back home as planned. It would be hours before anyone even knew I was missing. Whoever was in this car heading toward me could rape, kill, and chop me up into little pieces to feed to the bears in the woods before anyone even knew something was amiss. I started walking a little faster, knowing there was no way I was going to outrun this car, and there was nowhere to run to anyway. There wasn’t even anywhere to hide. I was in the middle of nowhere on a highway surrounded by nothing but flat open land for miles in either direction. I felt my anxiety starting to ramp back up. Taking slow deliberate breaths, I counted down backwards from twenty, allowing my body to calm itself down enough that I was able to find some semblance of control. I couldn’t panic right now because that would leave me no chance for survival.
In an effort to distract myself, I focused on the fact that if I did disappear, they will blame Señor Prick, since he was the last person anyone saw me with. Then he would have to spend the rest of his life in jail thinking about how he could have saved my life. That was the least he deserved if I died right now. I’d be dead and eaten, what did I care if he was wrongly accused? I’m not bitter or anything.
The sounds of the car grew closer, and I heard the beat of the music playing from inside. I started walking faster, not paying attention to the fact that my suitcase was like a big yellow flag screaming ‘look at me.’ I heard the car tires hit the gravel behind me, as it pulled to the side and slowed down. It was close—too close for comfort if I had to be honest. This wasn’t looking good. I hope they at least put a good picture of me on the missing person posters, not my god-awful high school graduation picture like they tended to use on those things. The profile picture on my Instagram would be my first choice, I hope someone suggests that to them. I heard the car stop, and the window squeak as it rolled down, before a deep voice called out.
“Hey, do you need some help?”
I kept walking, not wanting to make it easier than it would already be for him to kill me. I really hoped he wasn’t a sadist, choosing to prolong my death by torturing me and hope he just kills me quickly. I really didn’t think I could survive torture, even papercuts made me cry. I kept walking, picking up the pace once more so I was practically running away. Behind me I heard the dinging sound a car makes when the door is opened, and the car is still running. Great, he was getting out. Now he was going to chase me. Yes, I kept myself in shape, but to be honest, the only running I ever did was when I was late for class, and that usually ended with me being bent over wheezing. My situation was quickly going from bad to worse.
“Hey, I know you can hear me. I won’t hurt you; I just don’t feel comfortable leaving a female on the side of the road. Can I give you a ride somewhere?” The voice behind me asked. I snorted at his statement before yelling back over my shoulder.
“I’m pretty sure all serial killers want you to believe they won’t hurt you. Then they chop you up and leave you in the mountains for bears to eat. No, thank you, I don’t plan on being bear food today!”
Suddenly, a deep laugh rang out behind me. I stopped, was he laughing at me? What kind of serial killer did that? Isn’t he supposed to be chasing me? Maybe he doesn’t want to exert the energy yet to chase me? Or maybe this is all part of his sick twisted game. His laughter continued behind me as my annoyance ticked up a notch. What. The. Hell. Hands on my hips, I spun around to tell him off, only to stare into a very familiar, and very unwelcome face.
Casually standing in front of me, with his thumbs hooked in his jean pockets as he relaxed back against the hood of his black SUV was none other than Brayden Montgomery. Fucking Brayden.
~ Coming Soon ~
Releasing October 1
$3.99 for a limited time!
About Mary Morano
Mary is a single mom who decided to take her own advice and follow her dreams of being an author. She’s a New York Islanders Fan and can be often found driving her kids to one of their many sports activities. She enjoys reading, and watching Harry Potter, Avengers Movies, and SVU. You can find her on social media, and she would love to hear from you!
Author Links
Thank you to Mary Morano and Give Me Books PR for providing me with an advanced copy of Open Lanes.
