Review: Hawke by Sawyer Bennett

Title: Hawke by Sawyer Bennett
Cold Fury Hockey Series Book Five
Publisher: Loveswept
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 244 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The New York Times bestselling hockey series featuring the Carolina Cold Fury continues as the team’s most notorious party animal gets blindsided by the one that got away.

Off the ice, elite defenseman Hawke Therrien enjoys his fair share of booze and good times. And why shouldn’t he? He’s worked his way up from the minor leagues and made himself a star. The only thing Hawke misses from that life is the pierced, tattooed free spirit who broke his heart without so much as an explanation. She’s almost unrecognizable when she walks back into his life seven years later—except for the look in her eyes that feels like a punch to the gut.

Vale Campbell isn’t the same girl she was at twenty. As crazy as she was about Hawke, her reckless behavior and out-of-control drinking were starting to scare her. She had to clean up her act, and that would never happen with Hawke around. Cutting him loose was the hardest thing Vale ever had to do—until now. Because she’s still crazy about Hawke. And if he could ever learn to forgive her, they just might have a future together.

Review:

Hawke by Sawyer Bennett is a sizzling hot second chance at love romance.   While it is the fifth installment in the wildly popular Cold Fury Hockey  series, it can easily be read as a standalone (but I highly recommend the entire series).

While both Hawke Therrien and Vale Campbell are newcomers to the Cold Fury hockey team, they are not strangers to one another. They dated during high school and college but right before Hawke began his hockey career seven years earlier, Vale  abruptly broke up with him without explanation. Although both have moved on, it soon becomes clear that they each harbor unresolved feelings over their failed relationship.

While Hawke’s heart was broken when Vale dumped him, he put her out of his mind and heart and focused on his career.  Although he still parties hard, he has settled down a bit now that he is older.  He has not had another serious relationship but he is not celibate either.  Hawke really thought his past with Vale was behind him so he is more than a little shocked when his resentment for her comes rushing back.

Vale has done a lot of growing up in the years since parting ways with Hawke.  She has given up her wild child ways and once she decided what to do with her life, she focused on school and her career.  Unlike Hawke, she has had a few long term relationships although nothing quite as intense or serious as their romance.  Vale tries to maintain a professional distance from Hawke but once he renews his friendship with her dad, they end up spending time together outside of the arena.

Although a lot of years have passed since Vale and Hawke split up, neither have really gotten over their failed romance. Their interactions are fraught with sexual tension and teeming with unresolved anger and pain from the previous relationship.  However, their attraction burns hotter than ever and they eventually move past some of their resentment and discuss what went wrong.  Hawke senses that  Vale has not been completely honest with him and this leads to some trust issues on his part.  Despite the many changes she has made in her life, Vale is still impulsive and makes unilateral decisions when their renewed relationship hits a rough patch.

Despite their steamy love scenes, the relationship between Vale and Hawke lacks depth due to their immaturity and lack of communication.  There are some genuinely sweet moments between them and there is never any doubt they share a mutual attraction but their relationship’s foundation is shaky due to  Vale’s failure to be completely honest with Hawke.  The conflict between them is based on lack of communication and Vale’s animosity over past events becomes very exasperating since she refuses to discuss what is bothering her.

Despite a few frustrations with both Hawke and Vale, Hawke is an enjoyable romance.  All in all, it is a overall sweet and sensual addition to Sawyer Bennett’s Cold Fury Hockey  series that old and new fans are sure to enjoy.  I’m a huge fan of the series and I’m definitely looking forward to reading Max’s story!