Review: Roman by Sawyer Bennett

Title: Roman by Sawyer Bennett
Cold Fury Hockey Series Book Seven
Publisher: Loveswept
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 216 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett steams up the ice all over again as the Carolina Cold Fury hockey team’s hottest bad boy gets his first taste of something good.

In a league full of troublemakers, Cold Fury defenseman Roman Sýkora stands out—at least when it comes to negative publicity. When he’s not chilling in the penalty box, the sizzling Czech skate demon is racking up tabloid headlines for his scandalous behavior with the ladies. But now Roman’s feeling the burn from management to clean up his act, or else. Luckily he’s got an enticing distraction: a fun-loving barista who plays the ukulele and brings out a side of Roman he didn’t know he had.

Lexi Robertson came to Raleigh, North Carolina, to finally meet her father, Brian Brannon, and her half sister, Gray, both of whom work in the Cold Fury’s front office. That’s where she first meets sexy, intimidating Roman—who’s really a big softie at heart. As one relationship takes off, another begins: Brian seems to be clicking with Lexi’s boss at the coffee shop. But when the friction between Roman and her new family heats up, Lexi wonders whether she’s a pawn in their game. Feeling hurt and foolish, Lexi’s ready to quit while she’s ahead. Trouble is, Roman’s not ready to quit on her.

Review:

Roman is the seventh installment in Sawyer Bennett’s Cold Fury Hockey series and features two very sweet romances.  This latest release can be read as a standalone but I recommend the previous books as well.

Roman Sýkora is Cold Fury’s resident bad boy both on and off the ice.  An aggressive defenseman who has racked up an impressive amount of penalties and suspensions, he is not all happy with general manager Gray Brannon’s edict to clean up his act both professionally and personally.  With a reputation as a player, Roman’s love life is often fodder for the gossip pages, so it is no surprise that Gray is not exactly pleased when he begins dating her newly discovered sister Lexi Robertson.

Lexi had no idea who her father was until about ten months ago and she is finally ready to meet Brian Brannon face to face.  Much to her surprise, he welcomes her with open arms but half-sister Gray is a lot more cautious about welcoming her to the family.  Throw in Gray’s antipathy toward Roman and Lexi’s new relationships with both Roman and Gray are somewhat precarious.  Despite being caught in the middle, Lexi continues dating Roman but will her sister and boyfriend’s inability to make peace with each other undermine their romance?

Roman and Lexi are surprisingly well matched despite the fact that they are complete opposites.  Lexi is laidback and carefree but quite family oriented.  Roman is intense and focused with very few close ties to his teammates or his family.  Roman is a no commitment kind of guy and he has no idea how to woo a woman. Fortunately for him, Lexi is low maintenance and easy to please and their romance is off to a strong start with little internal conflict. However, the problems between Roman and Gray are becoming a huge frustration for Lexi and she is fast running out of patience with both of them.

The secondary romance between Brian and Lexi’s boss and close friend Georgia Mack is an enjoyable addition to the storyline.  Brian is long widowed and he has not dated anyone seriously since his wife passed away. He has a few reservations about becoming involved with Georgia but their attraction is so strong they are soon dating.  It is wonderful to see an older couple get the opportunity to fall in love and their relationship is delightfully free from drama or angst.

Roman is a low-key addition to Sawyer Bennett’s Cold Fury Hockey series.  Roman and Lexi are endearing characters that are very easy to like and their romance is sweet yet deliciously sexy.  Fans of the series will be thrilled that Brian unexpectedly finds love with Georgia and of course, it is quite the treat to see more of Gray, Ryker and his always adorable daughters. Another lovely installment in an outstanding series that old and new fans will enjoy.