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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
I don't know what I want in modern romance. I've been reading a bunch lately and nothing quite scratches the itch. This was a well-constructed romance with smart likeable mature leads. Nearly everything that worried me about the setup of the book was handled really well, but overall it left me a bit meh. Patrick O'Doul is a burned-out hockey enforcer for a team in Brooklyn. Ari is the team yoga trainer and massage therapist. The book opens with O'Doul buying drugs to help him stayed focused and keep his anxiety under control for fights. But thank god, this is NOT an addiction story. Ari's got problems too. She's just kicked out her long term boyfriend who turned abusive and now he's developing stalker tendencies.
I loved this one. The main characters were strong, had back stories and a good relationship, and I loved all of the supporting characters as well. Also, I really enjoyed the backstory of the male lead.
4.5/5 - I really liked the second book in the Brooklyn Bruisers series. Sarina Bowen knows how to write a good romance, with a real story that feels authentic. I loved the two main characters O'Doul and Ari in this book. They were a good couple with some great chemistry.
I really liked O'Doul's discovery of how to woo a woman. The scene where he is getting all the guys to write down ideas for how to convince someone to date you was funny and absolute perfection! I also really liked how the author wrote about domestic violence (though she didn't call it that) and also foster care. She wrote it with care, understanding, and believability.
I have really enjoyed working my way through (so far) Sarina Bowen's backlist!
I really liked O'Doul's discovery of how to woo a woman. The scene where he is getting all the guys to write down ideas for how to convince someone to date you was funny and absolute perfection! I also really liked how the author wrote about domestic violence (though she didn't call it that) and also foster care. She wrote it with care, understanding, and believability.
I have really enjoyed working my way through (so far) Sarina Bowen's backlist!
“Next time you put your hands on me at work I’m gonna start moaning like a porn star.”
OMG I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK.
It was the sweetest adult romance ever.
An what I meant in an adult way not just because of the spicy times ( we love it) but the plotline and the chemistry and relationship development was very mature which I love so much.
There was a good balance of story and character plotline.
I enjoy we get to see both sides of the main character individual's stories.
In this book, we get topics on drug use, stalking, toxic relationships, abusive childhood, insecurity etc.
The chemistry between Patrick and Ari was so cute.
It's good that it wasn't a typical instant kind of love.
We get a good build-up, a chase, teasing and banter.
What I enjoy the most in this one compared to the first one is there is a more detailed focus on hockey.
We get to see the match, the chemistry within the team and more side character involvement.
I am excited to read the rest of the series!
“You’re everything that I want, and everything I need. You already have my heart, and I don’t want it back.”
OMG I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK.
It was the sweetest adult romance ever.
An what I meant in an adult way not just because of the spicy times ( we love it) but the plotline and the chemistry and relationship development was very mature which I love so much.
There was a good balance of story and character plotline.
I enjoy we get to see both sides of the main character individual's stories.
In this book, we get topics on drug use, stalking, toxic relationships, abusive childhood, insecurity etc.
The chemistry between Patrick and Ari was so cute.
It's good that it wasn't a typical instant kind of love.
We get a good build-up, a chase, teasing and banter.
What I enjoy the most in this one compared to the first one is there is a more detailed focus on hockey.
We get to see the match, the chemistry within the team and more side character involvement.
I am excited to read the rest of the series!
“You’re everything that I want, and everything I need. You already have my heart, and I don’t want it back.”
I love all of these stories. I like how so far the guys we’ve met have way different personalities and struggles and aren’t cookie cutter, like I’ve seen in a lot of series. I’m pretty sure SB is incapable of writing a bad book.
Read
Stars: 4
POV: dual
HEA?: yes
OW/OM Drama: no
Cheating: no
Cliffhanger?: no
Tropes: hockey, sports, coworkers,
Read
Stars: 4
POV: dual
HEA?: yes
OW/OM Drama: no
Cheating: no
Cliffhanger?: no
Tropes: hockey, sports, coworkers,
4.5 STARS. I’m not 100% sure why he likes her outside of the fact that’s she’s hot but I really enjoyed this story.
the subplot with ari's ex was not my favorite, but aside from that, i really enjoyed the chemistry between ari and patrick
Since I started this story out with Brooklynaire, I knew Patrick and Ari got together but let me just say, they might be my favorite couple. Or maybe they tie with Castro and Heidi. In any case, their story was sweet and I loved the different but related storylines that comprised the plot. I really liked Patrick’s protective nature when Ari needed it, but I equally loved Ari’s kindness and care for Patrick’s injury and her handling of his touch aversion. They were just so sweet to each other.
Patrick, the captain of the Bruiser’s hockey team, is sent to Ari for massage for chronic muscle pain that he tried to keep under wraps too long. After a little bit of a rough start, these two become fast friends. Underlying attraction has long simmered between them, but Ari has just gotten out of a bad relationship and Patrick has never been in one. However, Patrick decides to pursue Ari when he can’t get her out of his head, and gets some advice on the sly from his teammates, which turns out to be quite amusing. Things with her Ex heat up and he threatens both their careers.
This was such a good read on many levels. You can’t help but like both characters. They both have so many admirable qualities and are just really cute together. The plot has many layers and keeps the story moving along at the perfect pace. You get the love story, but also a really interesting separate storyline too. Let’s just say that Ari’s Ex is a jerk. I love how the characters slowly got to know each other and Patrick’s background is revealed in pieces so we get to understand the bigger picture that makes him the guy he is. I really loved this book which is an amazing start to a fantastic series. I’m a little sad that I’m almost done with the whole thing!
Patrick, the captain of the Bruiser’s hockey team, is sent to Ari for massage for chronic muscle pain that he tried to keep under wraps too long. After a little bit of a rough start, these two become fast friends. Underlying attraction has long simmered between them, but Ari has just gotten out of a bad relationship and Patrick has never been in one. However, Patrick decides to pursue Ari when he can’t get her out of his head, and gets some advice on the sly from his teammates, which turns out to be quite amusing. Things with her Ex heat up and he threatens both their careers.
This was such a good read on many levels. You can’t help but like both characters. They both have so many admirable qualities and are just really cute together. The plot has many layers and keeps the story moving along at the perfect pace. You get the love story, but also a really interesting separate storyline too. Let’s just say that Ari’s Ex is a jerk. I love how the characters slowly got to know each other and Patrick’s background is revealed in pieces so we get to understand the bigger picture that makes him the guy he is. I really loved this book which is an amazing start to a fantastic series. I’m a little sad that I’m almost done with the whole thing!
Much wholesome and heartwarming. Broody boy who never wanted to date meets nice girl who knows what she wants and it's not him (but also yes it is). I stan this author.
I liked Patrick O'Doul and his back story. I liked Ari. However, I felt like the story became more about the bad guy than it did the love story, and then when we finally got our HEA it seemed to wrap up way too quickly for me.