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3.15 AVERAGE
3.15 AVERAGE
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Meet Me in the Penalty Box is the first book in a new small town sports series, Orchid City. It can be read as a standalone.
Nico and Harper meet in a bar and the attraction is instantaneous. They talk for a bit and then go off to hook up, but they get interrupted. They exchange phone numbers though, because Nico is determined to get to know her.
Nico Cirone is a rookie in the NHL, and he plays for the Orchid City Vipers. Harper had just moved to Orchid Beach and got a job as the photographer for the Orchid City Vipers. Once they both realize they work for the Orchid City Vipers, they know they can’t be together – there’s a policy about players and workers not being in a relationship.
Does that stop them? Of course not, especially not with Nico’s determination. I’m not a huge fan of the insta-love trope, but Nico was so swoony. I mean, every time he called her love? Gah, it was so cute.
Harper was wary of being with Nico because of her past relationship and because she didn’t want to lose her job, but like I said, Nico wasn’t going to give up. He loved Harper and constantly showed her that without actually saying it. Oh, and he was also protective of her.
I’m a sucker for the “he fell first and harder” trope, and this did not disappoint. Nico was so sweet and swoony, but damn was he a dirty talker. And the spicy scenes were so H.O.T.
This is definitely one of those feel-good, heart-warming stories. I can’t wait for the next book!
Nico and Harper meet in a bar and the attraction is instantaneous. They talk for a bit and then go off to hook up, but they get interrupted. They exchange phone numbers though, because Nico is determined to get to know her.
Nico Cirone is a rookie in the NHL, and he plays for the Orchid City Vipers. Harper had just moved to Orchid Beach and got a job as the photographer for the Orchid City Vipers. Once they both realize they work for the Orchid City Vipers, they know they can’t be together – there’s a policy about players and workers not being in a relationship.
Does that stop them? Of course not, especially not with Nico’s determination. I’m not a huge fan of the insta-love trope, but Nico was so swoony. I mean, every time he called her love? Gah, it was so cute.
Harper was wary of being with Nico because of her past relationship and because she didn’t want to lose her job, but like I said, Nico wasn’t going to give up. He loved Harper and constantly showed her that without actually saying it. Oh, and he was also protective of her.
I’m a sucker for the “he fell first and harder” trope, and this did not disappoint. Nico was so sweet and swoony, but damn was he a dirty talker. And the spicy scenes were so H.O.T.
This is definitely one of those feel-good, heart-warming stories. I can’t wait for the next book!
This is my first Cali Melle book and the first in this series. I love a good hockey romance and was excited to start this one after reading great reviews for the latest book in this series. I always like starting with the first book so here we are.
While premise had potential, the dialog was a bit stiff. It just never clicked for me. I listened to this one on audio and it might have been the dual performance but I think it was a combination of the language used and the voices using them.
There wasn't any character development and the plot ended up falling flat. I wasn't sure why they fell so hard so fast for each other without spending much time with each other. The instant connection didn't translate. This book is more smut than plot which is fine if that is what you are looking for. I really wanted to love this one and I think I'm going to stick with the series with hopes the books get better. If you like smutty hockey romance with more spice than plot, then this might be for you. I would recommend reading this instead of listening to this as I think I might have liked it a little better if I did that.
Tropes & Elements:
While premise had potential, the dialog was a bit stiff. It just never clicked for me. I listened to this one on audio and it might have been the dual performance but I think it was a combination of the language used and the voices using them.
There wasn't any character development and the plot ended up falling flat. I wasn't sure why they fell so hard so fast for each other without spending much time with each other. The instant connection didn't translate. This book is more smut than plot which is fine if that is what you are looking for. I really wanted to love this one and I think I'm going to stick with the series with hopes the books get better. If you like smutty hockey romance with more spice than plot, then this might be for you. I would recommend reading this instead of listening to this as I think I might have liked it a little better if I did that.
Tropes & Elements:
This was just terrible. There was so much stuffed into the book that the relationship build up was rushed and not good. There were clumsy sentences and some proofing that got missed that I just couldn’t get over. It was a cute concept but the author could have cut like 6 of the sun-stories, they didn’t add much and were so unnecessary.
I loved this hockey romance! I really enjoyed how they met and then found each other again. I also loved seeing his hockey superstitions and how nervous he was for her to find out.
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes