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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
I liked this a lot more than the first book although I still wish parts of the plot had been a bit more developed. Like when Ari's parents come visit, this is seemingly the first time we learn that she's close to her parents? We learn her backstory only in pieces and I didn't get a good sense of her background. And then O'Doul's story is so insane you'd think it would have made national news, it's literally rags to riches.
Ari is the yoga instructor and massage therapist for the hockey team. Patrick O'Doul is a hockey defender and team captain. His mom murdered his dad (or vice versa?) and so he's been in foster homes since he was 8. But the foster homes were really bad, way too many kids that beat him up and took his food. One day he went past a local gym and started copying the boxing he saw until they invited him inside. When asked why he was so interested in boxing, child O'Doul admitted he got beaten up and his food stolen. The gym guys were all shocked and started looking out for him - teaching him to fight. Later when he expressed an interest in hockey, they gave him a pair of skates. He doesn't explain how he went on to become good enough to be drafted by the NHL so it's a bit unbelievable but makes his story all the more insane. Because he grew up fighting, he naturally took on the fighter role for his team. But that's really battered his body and at age 32 he's worried he's past his prime. A colleague told him about uppers and said how it helps him feel amazing so O'Doul bought some once but stopped after he ran out because it made him feel shame for using it.
However, it turns out the guy he bought it from was Ari's ex, Vince. After O'Doul goes to Ari for a routine massage session, there's a phone mixup and he sees threatening messages that Vince is sending Ari. Vince was abusive to Ari and after a bad fall she left him, tried to kick him out but he keeps coming back. She knows he's into shady stuff but not sure what.
Vince continues threatening Ari to let him in over the course of the book and starts blackmailing her and O'Doul. He has pictures and video of O'Doul buying drugs and he threatens to alter them to make it look like the entire team is doping. Ari lets him in to retrieve a bloody gun he's kept as evidence blackmail, but then gang members show up and kill Vince while Ari escapes out the window with Patrick's help (he lives nearby). With Vince conveniently dead, I guess the blackmail video died with him. O'Doul apologizes to his team and they manage to get past the bad PR. At the end it's clear he and Ari will get married and he is open to having children with her.
The chemistry between these 2 characters was great. I really liked the plot. My only complaint is really the characters not being fleshed out enough, although there's great character development over the course of the book, and the ending wrapping up a bit too conveniently.
However, it turns out the guy he bought it from was Ari's ex, Vince. After O'Doul goes to Ari for a routine massage session, there's a phone mixup and he sees threatening messages that Vince is sending Ari. Vince was abusive to Ari and after a bad fall she left him, tried to kick him out but he keeps coming back. She knows he's into shady stuff but not sure what.
Vince continues threatening Ari to let him in over the course of the book and starts blackmailing her and O'Doul. He has pictures and video of O'Doul buying drugs and he threatens to alter them to make it look like the entire team is doping. Ari lets him in to retrieve a bloody gun he's kept as evidence blackmail, but then gang members show up and kill Vince while Ari escapes out the window with Patrick's help (he lives nearby). With Vince conveniently dead, I guess the blackmail video died with him. O'Doul apologizes to his team and they manage to get past the bad PR. At the end it's clear he and Ari will get married and he is open to having children with her.
The chemistry between these 2 characters was great. I really liked the plot. My only complaint is really the characters not being fleshed out enough, although there's great character development over the course of the book, and the ending wrapping up a bit too conveniently.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked it better than the other two that I read in this series, as both Patrick and Ari were very likable folks and fit well together. The side plot about just how much of a crazy jerk Ari's ex-boyfriend was a little over the top distracting.
The audiobook was well done. But, Patrick didn't sound Minnesotan. The only reason I say that is because I've lived in Minnesota for two decades now. Otherwise that format was fine, and Patrick as written wasn't 'wrong' for Minnesota, other than not knowing how exactly a boy in foster care could afford to play hockey is a mystery. I get that the guys from the boxing gym bought him is first skates, but man, hockey is so expensive for kids and their parents. Club dues, all the equipment, as they rent ice time, everything about it is super expensive. Patrick couldn't keep the kids in the group home from stealing his food, but now they just leave his gear alone? Uuugh, I guess that's why he learned to fight.
The whole aspect of having an enforcer be the love interest is a neat perspective. I've always wondered why someone would pick that role on a team. Patrick's backstory was good for that. They didn't spend enough time dealing with the obvious psychological scars he'd have from having witnessed what he did as a child. They spent more time talking about his physical reactions, not wanting to be touched, but dang, he could probably use some time on the couch with a psychotherapist too.
Maybe both of these characters could get a group discount on counseling, as Ari's family didn't really care that her ex was terrorizing her, as her uncle is more concerned about his record album collection. Gotta love the vinyl, apparently. They did descent set-up for the next two books in this series too. I'll probably read Brooklynaire, as I'm hoping it's more like this than Pipe Dreams, which I was less wild about.
The audiobook was well done. But, Patrick didn't sound Minnesotan. The only reason I say that is because I've lived in Minnesota for two decades now. Otherwise that format was fine, and Patrick as written wasn't 'wrong' for Minnesota, other than not knowing how exactly a boy in foster care could afford to play hockey is a mystery. I get that the guys from the boxing gym bought him is first skates, but man, hockey is so expensive for kids and their parents. Club dues, all the equipment, as they rent ice time, everything about it is super expensive. Patrick couldn't keep the kids in the group home from stealing his food, but now they just leave his gear alone? Uuugh, I guess that's why he learned to fight.
The whole aspect of having an enforcer be the love interest is a neat perspective. I've always wondered why someone would pick that role on a team. Patrick's backstory was good for that. They didn't spend enough time dealing with the obvious psychological scars he'd have from having witnessed what he did as a child. They spent more time talking about his physical reactions, not wanting to be touched, but dang, he could probably use some time on the couch with a psychotherapist too.
Maybe both of these characters could get a group discount on counseling, as Ari's family didn't really care that her ex was terrorizing her, as her uncle is more concerned about his record album collection. Gotta love the vinyl, apparently. They did descent set-up for the next two books in this series too. I'll probably read Brooklynaire, as I'm hoping it's more like this than Pipe Dreams, which I was less wild about.
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick and enjoyable read. It was easy to follow. There was a wide cast of characters., but it was easy to follow who everyone was. Ari's backstory was very interesting and it was unraveled well and with good pacing.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Cute and entertaining. More romcom
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated