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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
๐ฃ๐ฑ๐ฎ ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ฝ ๐ข๐น๐ธ๐ฝ - ๐๐ต๐ช๐๐ฒ๐ท๐ฐ ๐ฃ๐ธ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ท ๐๐ธ๐ธ๐ด 4 - ๐ก๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐
Author: Bella Matthews
Couple: Brynlee & Deacon
Tropes: single father, hockey coach x ownerโs daughter, hockey romance, mental health rep, chronic illness rep, large family vibes, found family
Review: The Sweet Spot IS. EVERYTHING! Brynleeโs book took my heart by storm and has yet to let go! From the get go this book captured my interest and I loved getting to know Deacon and Kennedy as they ensnared Brynlee in an epic romance. Bella outdid herself with this final book in the Playing TO Win series and it was the perfect way to say goodbye to these wonderful characters until the next set!
Brynlee and Deacon are two people who just made sense. The attraction and lust never felt forced and also never seemed rushed. I enjoyed how they had a past where they each had a crush on the other, yet never acted on it until they met again years later. Bella was able to develop their story into one of found family and battered hearts as they each delve into their own hardships.
This story had a lot of minor tropes like marriage of convenience secret relationship and forbidden love. I enjoyed how while they were present they did not overpower the book itself as I enjoyed seeing the bond between Brynlee and Deacon grow without those being the forefront. I also LOVED the way Brynlee and Kennedy, Deaconโs daughter, had an instant bond that drew them together. I loved how they each allowed the other to be something they could lean on and thought this was the best part of the story.
The dilemma and heartache that Brynleeโs secret caused was heart wrenching since it disrupted the seamless romance they shared. Bella was able to keep the mystery surrounding her secret until it blew up in the worst and best ways. I wanted to both shake and hug Brynlee when we learn what she had been hiding and was happy that Deacon was able to overcome the anger and be what she needed to get through the revelation.
Brynlee and Deacon were my favorite couple in this series and Bella saved the best for last in my opinion. I enjoyed the romance and spice this book had as well as all the humor and wit. These two were definitely a couple that set up hints for what is to come and I also enjoyed seeing snippets from the previous couples within their story. I cannot wait for Kenzieโs book and the rest of the second generation Bella is giving HEAs!
Rating: 5/5, Brynleeโs book is hands down my favorite so far within this second generation of romances!
Thank you to Bella for sending me this ARC!
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
"๐๐ก๐ ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐ ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐๐ญ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง. ๐๐ก๐ ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐."
Omg this was so good! I loved everything about Deacon and Brynlee. Fake marriage but not really "fake"! ๐ This story was so sweet and emotional. Funny and light at times, then completely wrecks you.
They knew each other as kids and she had the hugest crush on him lol. They run into each other 10 years later and the connection is still there and HOT! ๐คญ Brynlee is such a sweet strong FMC. She's currently struggling with a decision that could change her life forever and she isn't ready to face it. Deacon had his own struggles with his daughter Kennedy. It was so cute seeing his relationship with his daughter. I mean even when they lived in different states, they would read Harry Potter over FaceTime! ๐ฅน He was so in tuned with her feelings and anxiety, and he took care of her so well. I just really loved seeing that side of him. Brynlee joining their family was perfect. She was patient and understanding with Kennedy. It was nice to see them be there for each other no matter what might be coming in the future. Deacon is an amazing addition to this crazy Kingston family. ๐ซถ๐ผ
โ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐โ๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ, ๐ซ๐๐. ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ.โ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ. โ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ.โ
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
fast-paced
I really liked this one! The writing flowed well for me from start to finish, and I was able to finish this book pretty quickly. I thought Brynlee and Deacon had great chemistry, it was evident from their first meeting. I would have liked a little more of their story in the getting to know you phase. They do jump from a couple of dates, to fake marriage, to real love pretty quickly. I had a little trouble with allll the side characters. I know this is the fourth in the series, but there are A LOT of people mentioned in this book. It's not too bad until everyone is in a group setting, which happens quite often. The ending was really sweet, and I loved the way Deacon and Brynlee ended up. This was a first for me from this author, but I will definitely be looking for the next one from her!
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.
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:
N/A
this book has all the right tropes to make an amazing book; single dad, marriage of convenience, hidden/ secretive relationship, heโs a hockey coach & billionaire, childhood crush to lovers and the book has dual pov which i love!! somehow bella managed to do all these tropes justice and i honestly believe this book couldnโt be written any better.
itโs such an easy and fun read, and i honestly couldnโt put it down. just like always with bella her books itโs a 5 star read for me!!
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am giving this one a solid 3.5 stars. As much as it said this is a standalone, I feel like I would have understood a lot more had I read the previous books. This was a pretty fast paced book considering the length. I am still a little lost on how Brynlee knew Deacon when they were younger but from what I gathered she had a crush on him from a far but the age gap was too large. Now they are at different circumstances and things line up better for them to see where things could go while also having a marriage of convenience. The chemistry between these two was there from the jump. While I didn't necessarily understand the dynamics of all of the relationships, I did like the side characters. This universe seems like it could be endless!
Brynlee is at a loss for words. What her cousin just told her can't be true. Her mom wouldn't move her from her job without talking to her about it would she? She can't think about that now because she has run into none other than Deacon Kane. The Deacon that she crushed on so hard when she was young but was never sure how he felt. Well it seems like things have changed because desire is all over his face. They have an unbelievable night together before he has to go back home to get ready for his new job with Brynlee's family. Even with him gone, she can't stop thinking about him. Things have changed now though- his ex wife and new hubby are moving to Japan and Deacon is going to have sole custody of his daughter for a while. He is scrambling to find a nanny when Brynlee comes up with why don't they get married? She can stay with his daughter while he travels. And they can see where things go. But she doesn't want her family to know yet because they are all waiting for the other shoe to drop on a test she is prolonging getting done. A test she hasn't told Deacon about. Even though he holds her heart, will he walk away once he knows everything?
Deacon is going to be the youngest NHL coach in history. He is moving to be closer to his daughter and ex wife. He has no plans of a relationship at the moment. He wants to see where things go. But then he runs into Brynlee. The same Brynlee whose dad made it clear to him that she still wasn't old enough when he went to make a move. The same Brynlee who is now proposing marriage to help him out of a hard spot. The same one who he can't stop thinking about and now gets to call my wife. But why doesn't she want to tell anyone? Especially if there is not a fraternization rule in their organization, and she is already leaving. He wants to shout it from the rooftops because this is all real for him, and nothing would make him walk away.
Overall this was a super easy and fast read. I enjoyed the characters but never felt like I fully connected with them. The disconnect with all of the other characters also contributes to the rating. I felt like their chemistry was great, and the spicy scenes were hot. I liked the setting as well and do look into reading other books by Bella.
Thank you to Valentine PR and Bella for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Brynlee is at a loss for words. What her cousin just told her can't be true. Her mom wouldn't move her from her job without talking to her about it would she? She can't think about that now because she has run into none other than Deacon Kane. The Deacon that she crushed on so hard when she was young but was never sure how he felt. Well it seems like things have changed because desire is all over his face. They have an unbelievable night together before he has to go back home to get ready for his new job with Brynlee's family. Even with him gone, she can't stop thinking about him. Things have changed now though- his ex wife and new hubby are moving to Japan and Deacon is going to have sole custody of his daughter for a while. He is scrambling to find a nanny when Brynlee comes up with why don't they get married? She can stay with his daughter while he travels. And they can see where things go. But she doesn't want her family to know yet because they are all waiting for the other shoe to drop on a test she is prolonging getting done. A test she hasn't told Deacon about. Even though he holds her heart, will he walk away once he knows everything?
Deacon is going to be the youngest NHL coach in history. He is moving to be closer to his daughter and ex wife. He has no plans of a relationship at the moment. He wants to see where things go. But then he runs into Brynlee. The same Brynlee whose dad made it clear to him that she still wasn't old enough when he went to make a move. The same Brynlee who is now proposing marriage to help him out of a hard spot. The same one who he can't stop thinking about and now gets to call my wife. But why doesn't she want to tell anyone? Especially if there is not a fraternization rule in their organization, and she is already leaving. He wants to shout it from the rooftops because this is all real for him, and nothing would make him walk away.
Overall this was a super easy and fast read. I enjoyed the characters but never felt like I fully connected with them. The disconnect with all of the other characters also contributes to the rating. I felt like their chemistry was great, and the spicy scenes were hot. I liked the setting as well and do look into reading other books by Bella.
Thank you to Valentine PR and Bella for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
No
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ1/2
"We are real, red. Nothing has ever been this real. Fuck everyone else."
This book was so sweet and emotional. I adored Brynnlee and Deacon. Their childhood crush turned reconnection many years later was the insta-love read I needed. Throw in a marriage of convenience that starts out fake - if only in name, a puppy, a nine-year-old daughter, and a tight-knit extended family, and you have the recipe for an easy and lighthearted read.
There are some heavier themes, but the overall feel of the book is light. And thereโs a great deal of spice.
This is a fast burn and very spicy MF.
The Sweet Spot is perfect to read when you are looking for something light. Brynnlee and Deacon have the sweetest HEA.
*** It is the final book in the Playing to Win series. I read this as a complete standalone, but I think the reading experience might be better if read in order. ***
๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ1/2
"We are real, red. Nothing has ever been this real. Fuck everyone else."
This book was so sweet and emotional. I adored Brynnlee and Deacon. Their childhood crush turned reconnection many years later was the insta-love read I needed. Throw in a marriage of convenience that starts out fake - if only in name, a puppy, a nine-year-old daughter, and a tight-knit extended family, and you have the recipe for an easy and lighthearted read.
There are some heavier themes, but the overall feel of the book is light. And thereโs a great deal of spice.
This is a fast burn and very spicy MF.
The Sweet Spot is perfect to read when you are looking for something light. Brynnlee and Deacon have the sweetest HEA.
*** It is the final book in the Playing to Win series. I read this as a complete standalone, but I think the reading experience might be better if read in order. ***
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No