Tag Archive | Hockey

Boyfriend Bargain by Ilsa Madden-Mills–Review

Wow!! OMG!! I’m flabbergasted!! I just hope I can convey all that I’m feeling with this book. Ilsa Madden Mills not only has the magic touch with her books, but she is a true storyteller. I was saddened to hit ‘The End’. I wanted more with this enduring, hilarious and loving cast of characters. Not to mention, imagining Zack as the cover model!

On paper, Boyfriend Bargain is a New Adult College Sports Romance, however, once you turn the page, you soon realize that BB is more than that. We have two seniors in college, Zack Morgan and Sugar Rae Ryan, both destined for greatness, neither working any less than the other, but one from the affluent side and the other from the trailer park. (Think you might have it figured out? I bet you don’t!)

Zack Morgan, larger than life, real -life Thor. Take that phrase, ‘Big Man on Campus/BMOC’ and throw it out the window. Zack not only has the campus, he has the city and the surrounding general area worshiping at his feet. Pressure, much? Hawthorne University is in Sparrow Lake, MN where the state is a big-time hockey state. Zack is on his way to the NHL but has elected to finish his degree and accomplish a few other items on his personal ‘to-do’ list before graduation.

Sugar (gosh I love that name for a girl from the south), is an introverted, quirky, awkward and funny character. She has ended up on the losing end of the privileged stick. For the longest time, it has been her and her mother, but then tragedy strikes, and she finds herself moving to Minnesota to live with Mara. Mara is the closest thing to family now. She finds herself at Hawthorne University and through misguided notions finds herself a pre-law student.

Ilsa has written a band of characters that are so relatable and down to earth, despite everything going on in their lives. Zack, oh man, Zack is such a lovable character. There is so much depth to him, that I felt like I was on a treasure hunt with each layer removed.

Sugar is a breath of fresh of air. She is down to earth, humble, yet feisty. Wow! I LOVED the banter between her and Z. I was witnessing two souls who had found their perfect match, yet, wouldn’t fess up and say, ‘yep, were perfect for each other’. Independently and together, they had a mound of stuff to get through to even think about them as a couple, but let’s not forget that this started as a fake relationship. Sugar thought she needed Zack for a certain reason. Despite having written up a very legal and binding contract 😉, all things must evolve and fake soon turns into what?

While reading, I never felt as though I was an outsider reading a book. I felt as if I was part of the inner circle and was witnessing these events first hand. The emotions were real and roller coaster in feeling. The ‘intimate’ moments were HOT, SIZZLING and STEAMY. The writing, character development and plot were exquisite. It’s true that Boyfriend Bargain is based around a sports romance, but I urge you to try it, because it is so much more!! I, without hesitation, highly recommend you to read about Zack and Sugar!!

Royally Pucked by Pippa Grant–Review

Apr6

Manning Frey has been involved in yet another scandal, that his father, the King of Stolland, must deal with. In dealing with this latest scandal, his father has banished Manning to the US to play for an NHL team. After all, he is only the fourth in line behind his brothers and nephew, so he truly is the spare to the spare to the spare of the heir. His only importance is that he betrothed to an annoyingly stuck up women who wants nothing to do with Manning. However, they are expected to get married when he turns thirty.

Gracie Diamonte owns the one and only bakery in her small town of Goat’s Tit, Alabama. By day, she is the sweet southern baker, but her dark side is that of ‘the world’s filthiest-minded baker’. Yep, she stares at dick pics all day and makes them into edible cookies. This topic alone brought many laughable moments throughout the book.

Overall, there were many laugh out loud moments. From Manning’s roommate/teammate Ares, to the ‘emotional support monkey’ of Manning’s betrothed and Gracie’s sister (Joey) and her business partner (Peach), there was never a dull moment.

Manning is put on an extremely short leash, so he has security around him all the time and finds it extremely difficult to shake them. In the beginning of the book, Gracie and Manning have a quick, but intense encounter following one of his games. Four weeks later, there is the newest spare to the throne. What follows is hilarity of a mess among the characters, while Gracie and Manning fight for their happily ending.

I realize this only a book and not true life, but I had a hard time with Manning just being sent off to play hockey despite his ranking in ascension to the throne. I guess I had a hard time reading his storyline in this aspect and NOT try to compare it too English royalty. It wasn’t a huge hang-up or made me like the book any less, it just seemed odd that a Prince could play a dangerous sport and not help the family even if he was banished to the US. Him playing for the NHL was good grounding factor and made him more human and lovable.

Gracie kicked A@@. I loved her character. She mentioned many times about how stupid she was (she has dyslexia) and was perfectly happy living her life in Goat’s Tit. Upon meeting Manning though, she developed some balls (not as much as her sister), but enough to fight for what she wants. As much as I loved Gracie and Manning, I can’t wait for Ares’ book to come out. I need to get inside that monosyllabic, GIF sending giant to see how he ticks!!

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Playmaker by LP Dover–Review

Feb27

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Despite being the third book in this series, Playmaker can be read as a standalone book. I have read the other books in this series and was anxiously awaiting Maddox’s story.

Let me preface this by saying, I LOVE Maddox, but between him and Lacey, I just wanted to smack them upside their heads. I’m getting ahead of myself here, let me give you a quick synopsis.

Two years prior, Lacey and Maddox are in Las Vegas and have a good time together. That time spent together led them to a Las Vegas chapel where they got married, however, next morning Lacey has ghosted on him leaving absolutely NOTHING behind. During this time, Lacey is waiting to finish med school. Maddox, however, has hired a private investigator to see if he can find his wife, ‘Paige’. He gets his hands on a copy of the wedding certificate and sees who he truly married. Fast forward to eleven months from the present when they are both together in the same room for a function and neither approaches the other. Misunderstandings and immature actions are done which led them to present time which is Callie and Dallas’s wedding.

While reading I just sat their yelling at them through the screen, so wanted to smack them upside their heads and scream out of frustration, which I did. I felt for Maddox as he was trying to do everything right to get his wife back. Did he do some immature things, yes, but he realized it was wrong to do. Lacey, though, I loved her, but completely hated her. She was so wishy-washy and back and forth with Maddox, that I don’t know how he was able to maintain his sanity. Their chemistry and connection was fierce and fiery, if only they could get over some of their issues.

I am a huge fan of LP Dover and this series, but I just wasn’t completely feeling it like I did with the other books. As I’ve said, I love Maddox, but Lacey just seemed to have to many insecurities that made her slightly neurotic and unable to trust Maddox. All in all, though it was a good book and there was HEA.

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Picture of hockey player after game sitting in locker room

Blocked by L.P. Dover–review

Oct31

Blocked Ebook Cover

Blocked is another fabulous read from LP Dover. It centers around Callie and Dallas. Dallas is the goaltender for the Charlotte strikers. Callie is an OR/ER nurse whose brother happens to be on the same team as Dallas.

Justin and Maddox (brother and cousin to Callie) do not like Dallas and are furious when they find out they’re dating. Promises were made to never hurt Callie and a semi truce was made.

Through multiple misunderstandings Dallas appears to be the bad boy that he was prior to Callie, causing heartache and grief. Through meddling friends and family though things get resolved.

This book is much more than just a bad boy hockey player falling in love. It encompasses true heartache, incredible joy and complete sadness.

LP Dover knows how to write a fabulous hockey read that revolves around two strong characters with an incredibly funny supportive cast. One click this read for a great story.

5 stars