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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Mike and Lauren. Bruisers' goalie and the daughter of the former team manager. They're also former lovers.
Mike sacrifices Lauren's happiness, reputation, and her future for the happiness of a cheating ex-wife and his mourning teenage daughter.
She takes him back, accidentally gets pregnant and they live happily ever after.
NOPE.
Mike sacrifices Lauren's happiness, reputation, and her future for the happiness of a cheating ex-wife and his mourning teenage daughter.
She takes him back, accidentally gets pregnant and they live happily ever after.
NOPE.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mike was not it. He needed to grovel so much more and he honestly was so pushy. He didn’t respect any of Lauren’s boundries. She was a doormat.
The baby thing absolutely enraged me.
I really enjoyed the other ones in the series plus the spin off. This was was definitely not for me
Content Warnings
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent
Find this review and more at kimberlyfaye reads.
I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I was a wee bit disappointed to find out this wasn't Nate and Becca's book when I read the blurb. I'd been waiting for their story for so long and I was convinced this would be it. Obviously it wasn't their story, but I did get a bit of Nate and Becca goodness during this story and, maybe more importantly, I fell head over heels for Mike and Lauren. There was no way not to love these two.
Again, I'm a sucker for a great second chance romance and Sarina has a way of hitting those out of the park. (Wait, baseball idiom in a review about a hockey book? Just go with it. *wink*) She definitely did with Pipe Dreams. To say Mike and Lauren's past was complicated would be an understatement. They met and started dating while Mike was married, but after he caught his wife was cheating on him. We find out the progression of their relationship and split through a series of flashbacks. It was obvious how REAL the thing was between them from the very beginning. Once tragedy struck, they split and it broke my heart. I just loved these two together so much.
Mike had a lot of lost ground to make up for once Lauren was back in his life. And boy did he ever. I might've had some issues with how he handled things in the past, but there's no denying the man was swoony. He was all in for Lauren, even as she pushed him away and continued to focus on her career and plans for the future. Did I mention I loved Lauren? This wasn't a situation where a breakup totally broke a woman. I mean yeah, she was obviously devastated, but she picked herself up and focused on her career and plans for the future — man or no man. *high five* Fortunately it is possible to have it all, as we found out here.
I loved this one from start to finish. It was super easy to fall for Mike and Lauren and root for them as things progressed. This was as swoony, sexy and even funny as I've come to expect from Sarina's books. I loved getting to see some of my favorites from earlier on in the Brooklyn Bruisers series — *cough* Becca and Nate *cough* — and I hope that this is NOT the last book in the series. There are more stories here to tell... and I'm greedy so I want them all.
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
FAVORITE QUOTES
"I'm not going home tonight. I want to lie in your bed and taste every inch of you."
I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I was a wee bit disappointed to find out this wasn't Nate and Becca's book when I read the blurb. I'd been waiting for their story for so long and I was convinced this would be it. Obviously it wasn't their story, but I did get a bit of Nate and Becca goodness during this story and, maybe more importantly, I fell head over heels for Mike and Lauren. There was no way not to love these two.
Again, I'm a sucker for a great second chance romance and Sarina has a way of hitting those out of the park. (Wait, baseball idiom in a review about a hockey book? Just go with it. *wink*) She definitely did with Pipe Dreams. To say Mike and Lauren's past was complicated would be an understatement. They met and started dating while Mike was married, but after he caught his wife was cheating on him. We find out the progression of their relationship and split through a series of flashbacks. It was obvious how REAL the thing was between them from the very beginning. Once tragedy struck, they split and it broke my heart. I just loved these two together so much.
Mike had a lot of lost ground to make up for once Lauren was back in his life. And boy did he ever. I might've had some issues with how he handled things in the past, but there's no denying the man was swoony. He was all in for Lauren, even as she pushed him away and continued to focus on her career and plans for the future. Did I mention I loved Lauren? This wasn't a situation where a breakup totally broke a woman. I mean yeah, she was obviously devastated, but she picked herself up and focused on her career and plans for the future — man or no man. *high five* Fortunately it is possible to have it all, as we found out here.
I loved this one from start to finish. It was super easy to fall for Mike and Lauren and root for them as things progressed. This was as swoony, sexy and even funny as I've come to expect from Sarina's books. I loved getting to see some of my favorites from earlier on in the Brooklyn Bruisers series — *cough* Becca and Nate *cough* — and I hope that this is NOT the last book in the series. There are more stories here to tell... and I'm greedy so I want them all.
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
FAVORITE QUOTES
"I'm not going home tonight. I want to lie in your bed and taste every inch of you."
4.5 stars
Sarina Bowen is completely responsible for my interest in hockey. Before her, I really didn't pay attention to it.
Pipe Dreams was excellent and the best book in the series so far and I really hope that we get more books in this series, I'm addicted!
Sarina Bowen is completely responsible for my interest in hockey. Before her, I really didn't pay attention to it.
Pipe Dreams was excellent and the best book in the series so far and I really hope that we get more books in this series, I'm addicted!
3.5 ⭐
This series was so fun. I got through these books so fast because the characters were so fun and I loved how they all were interconnected through the Brooklyn Bruiser's hockey team or through Nate's empire. This one followed Lauren (Lo) and Mike who had a past but got dealt a hand of real life sh!t that hurt them both.
Though I loved these two, I did struggle a bit with them moving so quickly without talking about a certain ... member of the family. Lauren is so smart and detailed, I'm just shocked she jumped in without a contract. I'm sorry, I know it's not sexy but as women we need to protect ourselves and the fact that it didn't even cross her mind was insane to me and really irked me a lot.
Other than that - I can't wait to recommend this series to a few of my Long Island cousins.
This series was so fun. I got through these books so fast because the characters were so fun and I loved how they all were interconnected through the Brooklyn Bruiser's hockey team or through Nate's empire. This one followed Lauren (Lo) and Mike who had a past but got dealt a hand of real life sh!t that hurt them both.
Though I loved these two, I did struggle a bit with them moving so quickly without talking about a certain ... member of the family. Lauren is so smart and detailed, I'm just shocked she jumped in without a contract. I'm sorry, I know it's not sexy but as women we need to protect ourselves and the fact that it didn't even cross her mind was insane to me and really irked me a lot.
Other than that - I can't wait to recommend this series to a few of my Long Island cousins.
3.5 stars
Although I enjoyed this one, it was not really my favorite of the Brooklyn Bruisers. I liked the story and I liked the characters quite a bit. I suppose that I'm just a little indignant on Lauren's behalf at her treatment of the WAGS, and the fact that no one ever tried to set them straight.
Although I enjoyed this one, it was not really my favorite of the Brooklyn Bruisers. I liked the story and I liked the characters quite a bit. I suppose that I'm just a little indignant on Lauren's behalf at her treatment of the WAGS, and the fact that no one ever tried to set them straight.
I really enjoyed Lauren and Mikes story. I only wish there was more closure with his daughter Elsa accepting Lauren into her life and what's the name of (spoiler).
With the NHL playoffs in full swing, the timing for Pipe Dreams couldn't have been better. Reading it has enhanced my thirst for hockey and hat tricks. Speaking of hat tricks, Sarina Bowen certainly landed a literary hat trick with this series! Each book just got better and better. Perhaps it's because I feel like I know the ladies of the Bruisers organization and I'm rooting for their happiness.
Pipe Dreams focuses on Lauren, the standoffish assistant to the team owner. Her past with the team goes deep, and it's not all that pleasant. Bowen had me crying inside of the first few chapters. Her heartbreak may have been a few years old, there are some things you never really move on from (like first love...). But with Lauren's work/school schedule, she's kept busy, guarding her heart and avoiding the source of her displeasure, Bruisers goalie Mike Beacon.
First impressions left me feel very uneasy about Mike. The reason for why he up and left Lauren is noble, but his method was pretty darn callous. Sadly I wasn't even sure I wanted the two of them together, but Bowen's writing is so strong. She is clever in her plot devices and character development and Mike was soon worthy in my eyes. These snippets from Mike's perspective simply melted me:
“You’re my happy thought, Lo. Thank you for being with me right now.”
"The first taste of her was like coming home."
"I love you so hard, it hurts."
The man has not had an easy life and Lo was truly his port in the storm. While Lauren wasn't exactly a character that draws the reader towards her prior to this story, but she clearly is misunderstood and unfairly judged and like I said, I cried for her early on and a few times much later in the story. As Lauren continued to plan her life sans Mike, their paths continued to cross. Lauren does expose her true personality, she's loyal and generous and so worthy of finding happiness.
The story flows along at a good pace and as with all books by Sarina Bowen I found I read it in no time. Bowen also wraps up another side plot in this story (THANKFULLY --> because I really needed to see what happens with Becca (wink wink) ) . I would re-read this series in a heart beat meaning this book is a 5 Stars read and the series on the whole is worthy of 5 ++ stars. Bowen has solidified herself as one of my favorite authors and is a #oneclick recommendation!
Pipe Dreams focuses on Lauren, the standoffish assistant to the team owner. Her past with the team goes deep, and it's not all that pleasant. Bowen had me crying inside of the first few chapters. Her heartbreak may have been a few years old, there are some things you never really move on from (like first love...). But with Lauren's work/school schedule, she's kept busy, guarding her heart and avoiding the source of her displeasure, Bruisers goalie Mike Beacon.
First impressions left me feel very uneasy about Mike. The reason for why he up and left Lauren is noble, but his method was pretty darn callous. Sadly I wasn't even sure I wanted the two of them together, but Bowen's writing is so strong. She is clever in her plot devices and character development and Mike was soon worthy in my eyes. These snippets from Mike's perspective simply melted me:
“You’re my happy thought, Lo. Thank you for being with me right now.”
"The first taste of her was like coming home."
"I love you so hard, it hurts."
The man has not had an easy life and Lo was truly his port in the storm. While Lauren wasn't exactly a character that draws the reader towards her prior to this story, but she clearly is misunderstood and unfairly judged and like I said, I cried for her early on and a few times much later in the story. As Lauren continued to plan her life sans Mike, their paths continued to cross. Lauren does expose her true personality, she's loyal and generous and so worthy of finding happiness.
The story flows along at a good pace and as with all books by Sarina Bowen I found I read it in no time. Bowen also wraps up another side plot in this story (THANKFULLY --> because I really needed to see what happens with Becca (wink wink) ) . I would re-read this series in a heart beat meaning this book is a 5 Stars read and the series on the whole is worthy of 5 ++ stars. Bowen has solidified herself as one of my favorite authors and is a #oneclick recommendation!
