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A review by the_cover_contessa
Body Check by Elle Kennedy
funny
hopeful
fast-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? It's complicated
3.0
Thank you to Harlequin and Edelweiss for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I'm all about hockey romance. And I love how Elle Kennedy writes them. This book was so much fun. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and watching them morph and change and fall for each other. Throw in forbidden love and it makes it even more fun.
Hayden is a fun character who craves stability after growing up being dragged around by her hockey coach of a father. She never liked hockey, either. She throws herself into the one night stand without abandon and comes out on the other side more attached than she wanted to be. There's an immediate attraction to Brody, something she cannot deny, though she tries throughout the book.
Brody is known to be a guy who doesn't settle. He's had his share of bad boy ways. But when he meets Hayden, there's something about her that he wants all of. I love that he's not broody. I love that he tells her exactly how he feels and what he wants, even if she pushes him away.
Of course it's not all sex and spicy times for this book. The plot is interesting with the fixing of the games, people being bribed, and finding out who done it. I think the biggest plot line is that of betrayal for both Hayden and Brody and how this effects their relationship and potential commitment to each other. I did find things may have just been thrown in to try and pull more tension from the reader; like Hayden's father's alcoholism, which seems kind of unnecessary and wasn't treated how I would have liked it (coming from a family of addiction). I think more research was needed for this part of the plot line.
My only issue with the book was Hayden and her "ex". She doesn't exactly cheat, but it kind of feels like it with how she keeps things from him. I'm not ok with that sort of dishonesty. It seemed to me Hayden knew she didn't want to be with the ex, yet it felt like maybe she was dragging him along a bit, making him wait for her even though they were on a break.
The book definitely lived up to its label of spicy rom-com. I found myself laughing at many times and the spice had me squirming and wanting more. The chemistry between the main characters was enjoyable. And I found both characters relatable. Or at least as relatable as I can when it comes to famous hockey players.
Overall, this was a nice read. I'd read more hockey romance from this author because I do love Kennedy. I can tell this is one of her earlier works, having read more recent things and seen how much more easily her books progress with plot lines that a bit more deep than what was given here.
I'm all about hockey romance. And I love how Elle Kennedy writes them. This book was so much fun. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and watching them morph and change and fall for each other. Throw in forbidden love and it makes it even more fun.
Hayden is a fun character who craves stability after growing up being dragged around by her hockey coach of a father. She never liked hockey, either. She throws herself into the one night stand without abandon and comes out on the other side more attached than she wanted to be. There's an immediate attraction to Brody, something she cannot deny, though she tries throughout the book.
Brody is known to be a guy who doesn't settle. He's had his share of bad boy ways. But when he meets Hayden, there's something about her that he wants all of. I love that he's not broody. I love that he tells her exactly how he feels and what he wants, even if she pushes him away.
Of course it's not all sex and spicy times for this book. The plot is interesting with the fixing of the games, people being bribed, and finding out who done it. I think the biggest plot line is that of betrayal for both Hayden and Brody and how this effects their relationship and potential commitment to each other. I did find things may have just been thrown in to try and pull more tension from the reader; like Hayden's father's alcoholism, which seems kind of unnecessary and wasn't treated how I would have liked it (coming from a family of addiction). I think more research was needed for this part of the plot line.
My only issue with the book was Hayden and her "ex". She doesn't exactly cheat, but it kind of feels like it with how she keeps things from him. I'm not ok with that sort of dishonesty. It seemed to me Hayden knew she didn't want to be with the ex, yet it felt like maybe she was dragging him along a bit, making him wait for her even though they were on a break.
The book definitely lived up to its label of spicy rom-com. I found myself laughing at many times and the spice had me squirming and wanting more. The chemistry between the main characters was enjoyable. And I found both characters relatable. Or at least as relatable as I can when it comes to famous hockey players.
Overall, this was a nice read. I'd read more hockey romance from this author because I do love Kennedy. I can tell this is one of her earlier works, having read more recent things and seen how much more easily her books progress with plot lines that a bit more deep than what was given here.