Category Archives: Cold Fury Hockey Series

February 22, 2017 · 11:57 pm

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.

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Filed under Cold Fury Hockey Series, Contemporary, Loveswept, Rated B, Review, Roman, Romance, Sawyer Bennett

December 12, 2016 · 11:56 pm

Review: Max by Sawyer Bennett

Title: Max by Sawyer Bennett
Cold Fury Hockey Series Book Six
Publisher: Loveswept
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 306 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The ice is a cold mistress. As the league’s most eligible goalie, Max Fournier has access to his fair share of willing puck bunnies, but right now he’s more interested in bringing home another championship than a one-night stand. A romantic at heart, Max believes in love; he’s just not great at relationships. So when he finally meets a nice girl who’s not blinded by his celebrity, he’s feeling the heat—and the pressure to save her from herself.

Between working two jobs and raising her sister’s kids, Julianne Bradley doesn’t have time for sports—or men. All she knows about Max is that he’s the sexiest customer to ever grace her gas-station counter. And he sees past her tired eyes and makes Jules yearn for things she can’t have: a glamorous fling, a passionate lover, and the time to enjoy both. Max makes her feel like Cinderella, even though Jules has enough baggage to crush a glass slipper. Luckily, he’s no prince—only a fierce competitor determined to win her heart.

Review:

The sixth installment in Sawyer Bennett’s Cold Fury Hockey series,  Max is a sweet, low-key romance that old and new fans are going to love.

At this stage in his life, Cold Fury goalie Max Fournier is more focused on his career than he is on picking up girls and partying every night.  While he has not had much luck with relationships in the past, he believes in love and happily ever after.  He is instantly smitten when he meets Julianne “Jules” Bradley and Max finds it quite refreshing that she has no idea who he is.  He knows getting involved with her comes with a few complications and at first, Jules is reluctant to get involved with him due to her personal circumstances.  However, Max knows there is something special about her so he is willing to take things slowly so he can hopefully win her over.  He is respectful of her concerns about beginning a new relationship and he is incredibly patient as he tries to help her without overwhelming her or ignoring her objections to his offer to ease some of her burdens.

Jules  has her hands full raising her niece and nephews but she has no regrets about becoming their guardian following her sister’s death.  She is working two jobs to make ends meet and she has little time to spare for a relationship.  If she were at a different place in her life, Jules would have no reservations about dating Max and although she feels a twinge of regret at turning him down, she knows she has made the right decision.  However when Max offers a viable solution that will not only give her financial security but allow her to give up one of her jobs, Jules  realizes it would be foolhardy not to accept his offer.

Max pretty knows right away that Jules is The One for him and he has plenty of patience as he waits for her to make up her mind about them becoming involved.  He is great with Jules’ niece and nephew and he never resents the lack of private time together. Max is not at all afraid to talk about his feelings and he has no qualms about wearing his heart on his sleeve.  Jules is much more cautious since the kids’ well-being is her main priority but she finds Max impossible to resist.  Their relationship is a wonderful blend of  sexy times and cute, heartwarming interactions with the children.  Their romance is mostly free from unnecessary drama but Jules’ self-doubts do become a problem late in the novel.  Will these issues prevent Max and Jules from  living happily ever after?

With very little angst, three adorable children and a steamy romance, Max is a refreshing addition to Sawyer Bennett’s Cold Fury Hockey series.  Max is a sighworthy, charming male lead who is not afraid to risk his heart when he meets the woman of his dreams.  Jules is an equally likable heroine whose fears eventually get in her way of happiness but luckily, she comes to her senses before  it is too late.  All in all, a captivating and heartfelt love story that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend.

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Filed under Cold Fury Hockey Series, Contemporary, Loveswept, Max, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Sawyer Bennett

March 14, 2016 · 11:56 pm

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!

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Filed under Cold Fury Hockey Series, Contemporary, Hawke, Loveswept, Rated C+, Review, Romance, Sawyer Bennett