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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
wasn't a huge fan of this compared to the other 2 books
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of my fav second chance romances. Rookie Move is up there but this one, with Lo and Mike, a both older in their late-20s/early-30s, felt more bittersweet – especially with Mike's ex-wife being stricken with terminal cancer just as their divorce is finalized which is why he broke up with Lo. Their coming together again 2 years later was relatively low-angst. The challenges stemmed largely from Mike's antagonistic 13yo daughter but that is resolved fairly quickly. All in all, very satisfying.
March/21: Another comfort re-read. I was reminded of how much I liked this pining-hero-second-chance romance by the mention of Elsa and Mike in Superfan.
March/21: Another comfort re-read. I was reminded of how much I liked this pining-hero-second-chance romance by the mention of Elsa and Mike in Superfan.
I have to admit, I wasn’t super excited for this when I started reading it because I wanted to get to Nate and Becca’s book more but didn’t want to read the series out of order. And I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised! On paper, this wouldn’t usually work for me at all. Books where the hero/heroine has a kid are not typically my cup of tea, but Sarina Bowen did it really well here!
This had such potential to have a strong female lead but for me she became just another heroine who became lost to the hero's shadow. She had such a strong independent nature at the start but as soon as Mike made his presence felt she fell back into his arms.
It took me awhile to get into this book. I wasn't wowed or gripped. It was just okay in the end. I'm enjoying this series, and the little tidbits of Lauren and Mike in previous books was enough to make me want to read their story and find out why Lauren was uptight, unapproachable and offish to the charming and easygoing goalkeeper of the Brooklyn Bruiser. The story was done with a past and present format, and through the recollections you find out how Lauren and Mike went from being friends to lovers, and then it all went to hell with Mike's "previous" life putting him in an seemingly impossible situation.
I wasn't too impressed with how easy Lauren succumbed to Mike's charm and cajoling. I wanted there to be more tension and Mike working to make amends. It was far too easy and neat. Then there was the extra drama of Mike's young daughter. I wasn't too impressed with how much he let her get away with.
All in all, it wasn't bad. Just didn't grip my attention to make it memorable or interesting. Here's hoping the next one is better.
I wasn't too impressed with how easy Lauren succumbed to Mike's charm and cajoling. I wanted there to be more tension and Mike working to make amends. It was far too easy and neat. Then there was the extra drama of Mike's young daughter. I wasn't too impressed with how much he let her get away with.
All in all, it wasn't bad. Just didn't grip my attention to make it memorable or interesting. Here's hoping the next one is better.
emotional
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
medium-paced
I hadn’t wanted to read this one because of how rude Lauren was in the last book, but this one clears everything up. The reunion is rushed, and I was surprised how little Beacon’s daughter was involved, but overall this was another great book in the series.
TW/CW: In addition to those below, there’s a semi-detailed childbirth scene.
TW/CW:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Pregnancy
Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Infidelity, Death of parent
Foreplay for Becca and Nate
I thought it was pretty good, but I am just so excited for Nate and Becca it just felt like filler and teasing.
I thought it was pretty good, but I am just so excited for Nate and Becca it just felt like filler and teasing.
Three stars. This is difficult, do I compare this to other writers or to Sarina Bowen's other books?
So, I was a bit meh about the first book in the series, [b:Rookie Move|27190530|Rookie Move (Brooklyn Bruisers, #1)|Sarina Bowen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1456486844s/27190530.jpg|47232527] but really liked the second, [b:Hard Hitter|28869598|Hard Hitter (Brooklyn Bruisers, #2)|Sarina Bowen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1466612763s/28869598.jpg|50874737] and this is probably my least favourite.
In the previous two books we have been treated to Lauren Williams the Queen Bitch, Nate's right hand woman who looks down on Georgia, Ari and Becca and makes nasty comments. I was really looking forward to reading her story. But, wham bam, suddenly she's a sweet woman hiding her heartbreak? Oh, Sarina I thought you were better than that.
Lauren's story is that two years ago she and the Brooklyn Bruiser's goalie Mike Beacon were a couple, totally loved up and about to buy a place together when, out of the blue he dumps her and moves back in with his estranged wife and their daughter. Lauren has coped with the heartache by avoiding anything hockey-related and Brooklyn in particular, until Becca's concussion meant that Nate (the owner of the Bruisers) asks Lauren to manage the hockey team's office for the balance of the season. Now she could be spending up to two months up close and personal with the team, managing their travel arrangements and travelling with them.
Mike Beacon's life consists of hockey and his 13 year old daughter Elsa. Since his wife Shelly's death he has no room for anything else in his life. But he hasn't forgotten the love of his life Lauren and now she is around more often he wants to start up again. Of course there's a reason why he left Lauren, and I bet you can guess why. Again, Sarina, really?
I get that sports romances are a bit of a cliche all by themselves but this just felt like a tick box of storylines. I'm not sure if my feelings are intensified because (frankly) I didn't like either Lauren or Mike or whether that is a symptom of the novel.
So, I'm hoping the next book will be Nate and Becca, we've certainly been waiting long enough. Will I like alternate books in this series and therefore it will be a smash or is this series not for me? Either way, Sarina Bowen is still an autobuy author for me.
So, I was a bit meh about the first book in the series, [b:Rookie Move|27190530|Rookie Move (Brooklyn Bruisers, #1)|Sarina Bowen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1456486844s/27190530.jpg|47232527] but really liked the second, [b:Hard Hitter|28869598|Hard Hitter (Brooklyn Bruisers, #2)|Sarina Bowen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1466612763s/28869598.jpg|50874737] and this is probably my least favourite.
In the previous two books we have been treated to Lauren Williams the Queen Bitch, Nate's right hand woman who looks down on Georgia, Ari and Becca and makes nasty comments. I was really looking forward to reading her story. But, wham bam, suddenly she's a sweet woman hiding her heartbreak? Oh, Sarina I thought you were better than that.
Lauren's story is that two years ago she and the Brooklyn Bruiser's goalie Mike Beacon were a couple, totally loved up and about to buy a place together when, out of the blue he dumps her and moves back in with his estranged wife and their daughter. Lauren has coped with the heartache by avoiding anything hockey-related and Brooklyn in particular, until Becca's concussion meant that Nate (the owner of the Bruisers) asks Lauren to manage the hockey team's office for the balance of the season. Now she could be spending up to two months up close and personal with the team, managing their travel arrangements and travelling with them.
Mike Beacon's life consists of hockey and his 13 year old daughter Elsa. Since his wife Shelly's death he has no room for anything else in his life. But he hasn't forgotten the love of his life Lauren and now she is around more often he wants to start up again. Of course there's a reason why he left Lauren, and I bet you can guess why. Again, Sarina, really?
I get that sports romances are a bit of a cliche all by themselves but this just felt like a tick box of storylines. I'm not sure if my feelings are intensified because (frankly) I didn't like either Lauren or Mike or whether that is a symptom of the novel.
So, I'm hoping the next book will be Nate and Becca, we've certainly been waiting long enough. Will I like alternate books in this series and therefore it will be a smash or is this series not for me? Either way, Sarina Bowen is still an autobuy author for me.