A very solid start to a brand new series, this quick and sexy forbidden romance introduces plenty of characters that I’d like to get to know better. I love the team aspect, and I’m already looking forward to a few of the love stories that are coming up next. The love story in this particular book was kinda meh for me though – I liked both characters, I liked them together, but the fact that our hero believes the heroine is in a relationship with his agent sours some of the sweetness. That subplot went on for way, WAY longer than I would’ve liked, so it took some of the fun out the romance for me. But the book is otherwise pretty great – it’s low angst and high feels, with a strangers to friends to lovers romance that focuses on the emotional connection. I loved that aspect of the story, and our hero’s genuine affection for his girl shone on every page.
The story follows Aiden, a pro hockey player who has always been lucky. Things seem to work out for him, but lately his luck has been changing. When he meets a great girl on New Year’s Eve, Aiden thinks it’s the start of a love connection. But Saige is dating his agent, and that makes her completely off-limits. She throws a drink in his face that night and Aiden’s luck starts turning around, so his superstitious teammates encourage him to recreate the scenario – before EVERY game. Suddenly, the girl Aiden would like to get to know better is a major part of his life, and that’s complicated. Though Saige isn’t truly in a relationship with someone else, she’s also not interested in starting something up with a hockey player who is sure to let her down. But attraction lingers between them, and it’s impossible to ignore.
So the two major things that bummed me out about the storyline are that 1. we don’t actually see the meet cute in this. It’s part of Countdown to a Kiss, the novella that precedes the first three books in the series. The introductions to the first three relationships are all in that novella, so I do suggest reading it first. 2. The whole “dating someone else” storyline definitely felt slimy at a certain point. It’s one thing to crush on “someone else’s girl,” it’s another thing to further cross emotional/physical lines. So, while I liked Aiden a LOT and I loved the slow burn, I couldn’t get completely invested in the relationship. Without that aspect of the story though, this would’ve been great. I also really liked some of the other characters who are introduced, and I am very much looking forward to the next book. This is definitely successful as a series starter – I can’t wait for more. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this sports romance.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3hll0in
Blurb:
Lucky.
The one adjective used to describe my entire hockey career. I prefer to call it hard work, at least I did until my game went to complete crap. I haven’t scored in eight games and the team owner is talking about trading me.
I’ve never believed in superstitions. Never needed one. I suppose I was “lucky” in that way. But now the best way to refer to me is desperate. I’d wear the same socks for an entire year just to be the high-scoring center I used to be.
Imagine my surprise when after spending New Year’s Eve with a woman, I score a hat trick in the next game—that’s three goals in one game for you non-hockey lovers. Now, I have to track her down and bribe her to do it again before every game. Get your mind out of the gutter, I’m not talking about it.
I find her and when I get to know her better, I end up spending more time thinking about her than my game, but she’s made it clear she wants no part of me. She’s going to learn that I didn’t become a professional hockey player without having to fight for what I want.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3hll0in
The series continues in August!
We were introduced to the couple that will be featured in The Trouble With #9, and I’m intrigued! I’m looking forward to reading it in August.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3qAv4s5
About the Authors:
Piper Rayne, or Piper and Rayne, whichever you prefer because we’re not one author, we’re two. Yep, you get two USA Today Bestselling authors for the price of one. Our goal is to bring you romance stories that have “Heartwarming Humor With a Side of Sizzle” (okay…you caught us, that’s our tagline). A little about us… We both have kindle’s full of one-clickable books. We’re both married to husbands who drive us to drink. We’re both chauffeurs to our kids. Most of all, we love hot heroes and quirky heroines that make us laugh, and we hope you do, too.
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