The Arizona Vengeance is hockey’s hottest new team. But hockey’s hottest goalie is learning that even the best players sometimes need an assist.
Everything is clicking for the Vengeance. We may be new, but we’re well on our way to winning the championship, and I’m having the time of my life headlining the sports media as the hottest goalie—hell, player—ever. I for one am going to live up to my name...because I am Legend Bay.
Dragging my ass home from the gym, I’m blinded by some gaudy, glowing holiday lights. As usual, my hot-as-hell neighbor Pepper Nantais has gone way over the top. But just as I’m about to tell her off, something else catches my eye...Seems like Santa left me a present, and not one I was expecting.
As life takes an unexpected turn, I realize that there’s much more to Pepper than meets the eye. Sure, she’s gorgeous. And exasperating. And her taste in decorating may be a bit...unique.
But beneath her carefree demeanor is a fierce determination and a heart of gold. And before I know it I’ve fallen for her. Hard...
Pepper is exactly the woman I never knew I needed.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
As the third book in the Arizona Vengeance series readers have come to embrace these sexy men of the hockey world, becoming fully invested in their HEAs, and Legend is a delightful addition to the series. In a tale that pulls at the heartstrings, while making you blush a time or two, readers will be charmed by the romance between two very different people who balance each other out beautifully. Add in a bit of suspense courtesy of outside forces battering the happy bubble surrounding this likable main couple and you end up with an entertaining read that has me ready for more of these characters to take center stage.
Next door neighbors Pepper Nantais and Legend Bay have been rubbing each other wrong since he moved in, their differences adding to the obvious sexual tension, but the moment he finds a surprise on his front porch he finds himself counting on her more and more. It’s not long before they’re giving into their palpable attraction in scorching, and endearing scenes, that shows them unexpectedly becoming a family. Throughout this series Legend has shown himself to be cool, calm, and collected. He likes order and is a bit of a stick-in-the-mud due to his childhood spent in the military, which is why his neighbor’s carefree way of life annoys him so much. While she annoys him though, he can also admit that he’s attracted to her and enjoys their sparring matches. The moment he discovers he’s a father is the moment everything changes for him and Pepper as she becomes vital in him learning the ropes of fatherhood and their working together shows them to be a formidable couple. I liked seeing a softer side to Legend as his scenes with his baby girl were endearing and brought a smile to my face. His scenes with Pepper were crackling from the moment they met and giving into their desires led to scorching interludes that had me blushing as readers saw Legend losing his usual control whenever he was with her. Action-packed scenes on the ice were a nice addition to the external forces of chaos caused by a frustrating birth mother and issues surrounding other members of the team that led to a richly rewarding HEA for him and Pepper.
Pepper’s an immensely appealing heroine, a breath of fresh air to Legend’s ordered life. She makes no excuses for her over-the-top decorations, her outgoing nature, or her enjoyment in poking at Legend’s control. Her carefree attitude fuels her crackling connection to him and makes their instant indulgence all the more believable. Behind her Bohemian nature lies a kind heart, an openness to make things better for others, and it’s what binds her to Legend as he undertakes his new role of father. She easily rolls with every change thrown her way, never feeling cheated by what befell her in the past, and her easygoing nature made me like her all the more. She’s the perfect balance to Legend, helping him take time to smell the roses, and get a little dirty in their erotically-charged journey to HEA.
This was a sweet and sexy read featuring a delightful main couple whose romance made me chuckle as well as blush a time or two. These two opposites are crackling together, in perfect sync despite their differences, making each other better through their mutual support of each other. His unexpected fatherhood was the driving force in Legend and Pepper getting together and it was heartwarming to see what baby Charlie brought out in them. Alongside their easygoing romance were a few bumps in the road that felt unnecessary as I was enjoying the sensual haze of their romance and felt that these outside forces were a distraction. Surrounding this entertaining main couple was the other members of the Arizona Vengeance, some whose stories have already been told and some whose stories I’m clamoring to read. Though this story’s focus is mostly about Legend’s personal growth, there’s some exciting action on the ice that shows this team working together as the tight knit brotherhood we’ve seen forming throughout this series. Among the players I’m most intrigued by are Dax, a friend to Pepper who’s got issues of his own in this story, along with Tacker who’s still dealing with the loss of a past love. Tacker’s clearly hurting and I long to see him finally find some happiness in a story that promises to be emotionally intense. On a whole this was another enjoyable addition to Ms. Bennett’s entertaining hockey series that I recommend to readers looking for an unforgettable main couple in a journey to HEA that’s been a long time coming.
My rating for this is an A-/B+
*I got this book from NetGalley for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released multiple books, many of which have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists.
A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.
Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active daughter, as well as full-time servant to her adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or even better, both.
Sawyer also writes general and women’s fiction under the pen name S. Bennett and sweet romance under the name Juliette Poe.
No comments:
Post a Comment