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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Lauren has earned the reputation as an Ice Princess, and not without merit, so much so she even has a glare named after her. Going by what we’ve previously seen of the right hand woman to the team’s manager, she’s stand offish and has made her resentment at being at the club rather clear. The time and distance away from the stadium have been therapeutic but she is in no way looking forward to being back, or the prospect of running into the team’s goalie, Mike Beacon.
As a result of misplaced good intentions, Mike let the best thing that ever happened to him slip through the net. His attempts to break the ice are not forth coming but he did not reach his level of success without hard graft and tenacity. Although Lauren has her guard up, he makes it his mission to break through her defences.
I was so impressed by how little unnecessary drama there was. Mike and Lauren were such likeable characters and I so much enjoyed cheering them on toward their much deserved happiness. Pipe Dreams is the perfect hat trick to a series that comes to an end much too soon for my liking.
And on that note *cough* Nate& Becca's story *cough**
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
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
Review originally posted at http://fictionvixen.com/review-pipe-dreams-sarina-bowen/
Just when I thought I couldn’t love Sarina Bowen any more, she throws another second chance romance into her release schedule. And this time it’s a super sexy goalie and the woman who practically runs the Brooklyn Bruisers who get their second chance at love. Happy Sigh.
If you didn’t read the teaser for Pipe Dreams at the end of Hard Hitter, or even if you haven’t yet picked up this series (shame on you), then just trust me, it led to me practically salivating for this book to hit my Kindle. SO MUCH ANGST. Omg. I expected a whole heck of a lot of emotional, make me angry, make me teary-eyed goodness and I was not wrong. Almost from the moment I opened Pipe Dreams my chest felt tight and I wanted to alternately kick Mike Beacon in the nuts and give Lauren a big ole hug while murmuring that some guys are clueless.
So, some background… Mick Beacon is the goalie for the Brooklyn Bruisers and Lauren Williams has worked for the organization since her father was the Team Manager. Once upon a time, after Mike walked in on his wife right in the middle of getting it on with another man, he and Lauren finally let their attraction for each other blossom into an intense, sexy, meaningful relationship. Then suddenly Mike disappears from Lauren’s life and goes back to his wife. And for two years Lauren has hated, yet missed him. Missed their life together, mourned their love, but resolutely put the Brooklyn Bruisers and Mike Beacon behind her. It wasn’t hard to do once Nate, the new owner of the team, decides to use her in his Manhattan office while Becca works in Brooklyn. But when Becca gets hurt Nate makes the decision to move Lauren back to Brooklyn temporarily, which means that she and the man who abandoned her are about to be around each other a lot more than Lauren is okay with.
Damn it, my heart. Lauren’s pain and Mike’s cluelessness just about broke it a thousand times AND THAT WAS ONLY THE FIRST HALF. By the way, This couple’s story is told in both past and present scenes until about 20% in, then it becomes all present day Mike and Lauren. I make it sound like Mike is a total douche, but he really isn’t. He’s a guy stuck in a shitty situation with zero communication skills who thinks he can handle everything on his own. Lauren is the person who still loves him and still has no idea why he left her seemingly out of the blue. After the beginning, and figuring out the whys and hows of Mike disappearing on Lauren I really needed him to own up to his mistakes and apologize. He does, but jeez he moved fast after that. He kind of zeroes in on Lauren, decides they need to pick up where they left off two years before and jumps in with both feet. It felt… kind of fast to me. I don’t know. In my head I was like … whoa there fella, slow it down.
I’ve always said one of the reasons I love this author so much is that her writing, her characters, their backstories and love lives, and problems and well, everything, just feels so true to life. Mike and Lauren are a perfect example of that. Relationships are messy. Sometimes the right thing to do in any situation isn’t obvious. Sometimes what you want to do and what you should do are two very different things. Sometimes you fuck up and hurt people, and sometimes you get the chance to make it right and live out your life exactly how you wanted to. Once you get into this story you’ll understand why Mike did what he did. I kind of thought he and Lauren moved a little too fast after they got back together, but other than that I loved their love story.
My only question now is, will Nate and Becca ever get their own book? Is that coming any time soon? Because I will beg if I have to. Pleasepleaseplease say this is happening.
I would say that this is yet another amazing read from Sarina Bowen, but by now that’s just a given. Anything with this author’s name on it is guaranteed to satisfy 100%. Final Grade- B+
Favorite Quote:
Just when I thought I couldn’t love Sarina Bowen any more, she throws another second chance romance into her release schedule. And this time it’s a super sexy goalie and the woman who practically runs the Brooklyn Bruisers who get their second chance at love. Happy Sigh.
If you didn’t read the teaser for Pipe Dreams at the end of Hard Hitter, or even if you haven’t yet picked up this series (shame on you), then just trust me, it led to me practically salivating for this book to hit my Kindle. SO MUCH ANGST. Omg. I expected a whole heck of a lot of emotional, make me angry, make me teary-eyed goodness and I was not wrong. Almost from the moment I opened Pipe Dreams my chest felt tight and I wanted to alternately kick Mike Beacon in the nuts and give Lauren a big ole hug while murmuring that some guys are clueless.
So, some background… Mick Beacon is the goalie for the Brooklyn Bruisers and Lauren Williams has worked for the organization since her father was the Team Manager. Once upon a time, after Mike walked in on his wife right in the middle of getting it on with another man, he and Lauren finally let their attraction for each other blossom into an intense, sexy, meaningful relationship. Then suddenly Mike disappears from Lauren’s life and goes back to his wife. And for two years Lauren has hated, yet missed him. Missed their life together, mourned their love, but resolutely put the Brooklyn Bruisers and Mike Beacon behind her. It wasn’t hard to do once Nate, the new owner of the team, decides to use her in his Manhattan office while Becca works in Brooklyn. But when Becca gets hurt Nate makes the decision to move Lauren back to Brooklyn temporarily, which means that she and the man who abandoned her are about to be around each other a lot more than Lauren is okay with.
Damn it, my heart. Lauren’s pain and Mike’s cluelessness just about broke it a thousand times AND THAT WAS ONLY THE FIRST HALF. By the way, This couple’s story is told in both past and present scenes until about 20% in, then it becomes all present day Mike and Lauren. I make it sound like Mike is a total douche, but he really isn’t. He’s a guy stuck in a shitty situation with zero communication skills who thinks he can handle everything on his own. Lauren is the person who still loves him and still has no idea why he left her seemingly out of the blue. After the beginning, and figuring out the whys and hows of Mike disappearing on Lauren I really needed him to own up to his mistakes and apologize. He does, but jeez he moved fast after that. He kind of zeroes in on Lauren, decides they need to pick up where they left off two years before and jumps in with both feet. It felt… kind of fast to me. I don’t know. In my head I was like … whoa there fella, slow it down.
I’ve always said one of the reasons I love this author so much is that her writing, her characters, their backstories and love lives, and problems and well, everything, just feels so true to life. Mike and Lauren are a perfect example of that. Relationships are messy. Sometimes the right thing to do in any situation isn’t obvious. Sometimes what you want to do and what you should do are two very different things. Sometimes you fuck up and hurt people, and sometimes you get the chance to make it right and live out your life exactly how you wanted to. Once you get into this story you’ll understand why Mike did what he did. I kind of thought he and Lauren moved a little too fast after they got back together, but other than that I loved their love story.
My only question now is, will Nate and Becca ever get their own book? Is that coming any time soon? Because I will beg if I have to. Pleasepleaseplease say this is happening.
I would say that this is yet another amazing read from Sarina Bowen, but by now that’s just a given. Anything with this author’s name on it is guaranteed to satisfy 100%. Final Grade- B+
Favorite Quote:
“You own me,” he said. “I never wanted to let you go.”
“It’s not easy for me to believe in you,” she said quietly.”
He looked up at her. “I know. But I’m going to change that.”
3.5 rounded up because Mike is a stellar human and the side thing with Becca and Nate tickled me.
I am a HUGE Sarina Bowen fan, I have LOVED everything of hers I have read. This was a little on the tame side and there were parts that didn't work for me as well as her other novels, but it was still fun, made me smile, there were smexy times and a few sweet and heartbreaking moments with father-daughter stuff.
I loved Mike, he could have done better with how he handled things, but I did actually totally understand his decision and I thought it was a pretty good one. Elsa was a fucking brat that I wanted to strangle. No 13 year old gets a pass at calling people "fucking sluts" or cursing about "fucking math" or in general treating people like shit just because life is hard. Allowing her to be horrible because her mother is dead is not good parenting. I did feel badly for her, there were horrible things, I understood the anger and such, but just no. Anyhoo, rant over.
Lauren was sweet, I liked her near the middle but honestly I was slow to warm to her and I'm not sure why that was.
I am a HUGE Sarina Bowen fan, I have LOVED everything of hers I have read. This was a little on the tame side and there were parts that didn't work for me as well as her other novels, but it was still fun, made me smile, there were smexy times and a few sweet and heartbreaking moments with father-daughter stuff.
I loved Mike, he could have done better with how he handled things, but I did actually totally understand his decision and I thought it was a pretty good one. Elsa was a fucking brat that I wanted to strangle. No 13 year old gets a pass at calling people "fucking sluts" or cursing about "fucking math" or in general treating people like shit just because life is hard. Allowing her to be horrible because her mother is dead is not good parenting. I did feel badly for her, there were horrible things, I understood the anger and such, but just no. Anyhoo, rant over.
Lauren was sweet, I liked her near the middle but honestly I was slow to warm to her and I'm not sure why that was.
Such a good second chance romance. Mike is a single dad and a widower who is trying to get back together with his ex girlfriend. Even though it made it harder on the couple, I liked that the daughter didn't support the relationship. To me it made it more true to like. Kids don't always like their parents entering new romantic relationships. You could feel the love between the two main characters. The longing to get back to what they once had. Plus Hockey!
This one seriously got me in the feels. Mike Beacon and cold little Lauren. man oh man.
Their history and how they come to try again years later. It's just the stuff great sports romance books are made of. And adding Elsa, Hans, Justin and the whole crew .... it's just the best thing ever.
These books make me smile, blush, excited, sad and want to run to the nearest hockey arena.
On to Nate and Becca!!!
Their history and how they come to try again years later. It's just the stuff great sports romance books are made of. And adding Elsa, Hans, Justin and the whole crew .... it's just the best thing ever.
These books make me smile, blush, excited, sad and want to run to the nearest hockey arena.
On to Nate and Becca!!!
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
If you are looking for a great second chance romance, sports romance with elements of light angst, humor, hockey team friendship and. Agood amount of groveling and redemption from the MMC towards the FMC, I highly recommend that you give this book a go.
Cheating-no ( MMC was legally separated before starting a relationship with FMC)
I read Brooklynaire first ( 4th in the Brooklyn Bruisers series) before this one ( which is #3) and I read a comment that said the Author excelled at 3rd person narrative ( that one was on 1st person). I would have to agree. I really thought the 3rd person narrative really flowed well in this story.
Lauren, the hockey team owners daughter pines for the Goalie Mike for 8 years. Mike is married with a toddler when they first meet. She doesn't know if he has any feelings for her in return and shelves any chance for romance. Mike holds back any feelings for Lauren until after he finds out his wife has been cheating on him for over a year. They separate and he pursues a relationship with Lauren.
A year and a half later, after Lauren and Mike are planning a life together, he goes back to his wife and leaves Lauren devastated.
When he sees Lauren again 2 years later, after his wife has passed away he decides he's not going to let a second chance at true love escape him again. The question is will Lauren give him another chance after he broke her heart?
Give me a good grovel and a real heart to heart conversation, which the author did and I am a happy reader.
Cheating-no ( MMC was legally separated before starting a relationship with FMC)
I read Brooklynaire first ( 4th in the Brooklyn Bruisers series) before this one ( which is #3) and I read a comment that said the Author excelled at 3rd person narrative ( that one was on 1st person). I would have to agree. I really thought the 3rd person narrative really flowed well in this story.
Lauren, the hockey team owners daughter pines for the Goalie Mike for 8 years. Mike is married with a toddler when they first meet. She doesn't know if he has any feelings for her in return and shelves any chance for romance. Mike holds back any feelings for Lauren until after he finds out his wife has been cheating on him for over a year. They separate and he pursues a relationship with Lauren.
A year and a half later, after Lauren and Mike are planning a life together, he goes back to his wife and leaves Lauren devastated.
When he sees Lauren again 2 years later, after his wife has passed away he decides he's not going to let a second chance at true love escape him again. The question is will Lauren give him another chance after he broke her heart?
Give me a good grovel and a real heart to heart conversation, which the author did and I am a happy reader.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No