I could not put this down. Sometimes a book just clicks with you. This was one of those. It was also great returning to the world of the Brooklyn Bruisers/Bombshells.
This had different tropes for me. I think I’ve only read one married in Vegas story so I didn’t know how I would feel. It was great so it may be a new trope for me. It does have a marriage of convenience vibes, so that could be why I like it. Neil is incredibly wealthy-like billionaire money-not just hockey money. I’m not always a fan of obnoxiously rich characters, but he was great. It helps that he’s fairly self-aware.
It’s also a hockey romance. I’m always on board for a hockey romance-especially if it’s written by Sarina Bowen. And both main characters were hockey players which makes me so happy. Both Neil and Charli are passionate about hockey. I’m just a sucker for that.
Now, let’s get more into the romance. Bowen is an expert at pacing a romance. Neil is actually attracted to Charli and has been for awhile. He’s excited for this opportunity. She’s attracted to him, but not a fan of being involved with a hockey player, especially a filthy rich one. This causes some great push and pull tension. It was definitely steamy and you could feel the chemistry. But I really liked the little things. Neil would do very subtle things to show he cared about Charli. Sometimes he would just casually touch her. I’m a sucker for a a casual non-sexual touch. Quarantine may have made me like it even more.
The conflicts were a bit predictable, but that’s rarely an issue for me. I don’t want to go into details on that because…spoilers. There was one thing I thought would happen for Neil, but it didn’t. That actually made me happy.
I really liked how Bowen handled Neil’s diabetes. She showed how potentially dangerous it can be, but also you can have a normal life. My brother is diabetic so I see this often.
There are some mentions of SA. It’s brief, but I want to provide a bit of a warning.
This has some very sweet and touching moments. It’s also funny and full of shenanigans. Bowen is really good at finding that balance.
I listened to this on audio which I really enjoyed and recommend. Jason Clarke is definitely becoming a favorite. I'm not a fan of this cover though. It’s like uncanny valley Chris Pine. I’ll still buy a physical copy, but it’s a tad weird.
Should I re-read the previous books now?
Thank you for reading!
Holly