Lovin' los libros

 

 

I absolutely adore sports-related romances so I was psyched to see that Sawyer Bennett's new series would revolve around a hockey team! Hockey isn't really my sport, but I have been to a few hockey games so I could appreciate the excitement Sutton felt when she experienced her first one!

 

Alexander Crossman consistently earns the MVP title for the Carolina Cold Fury. While it does indeed stand for Most Valuable Player, he has also been dubbed as Most Valuable Prick. He is not a very friendly guy and bucks authority at every opportunity. Hockey is a career for him, but he doesn't share the love of the game like many of his teammates do. He doesn't do relationships-only casual hookups, making it clear he's not interested in anything more. He is brutally honest and certainly doesn't care about winning any brownie points with other people. He is who he is and he isn't going to change. Until, his coach pulls him in to discuss his behavior and the fact that his image needs a makeover if he wants to avoid further complications with the team. He is volunteered to be the spokesman for a drug outreach center for troubled teens. He can't deny it's a worthy cause, but he really doesn't like being told what to do. I really liked Alex. For as big of a jerk as he could be, Bennett doesn't make it overkill to the point where I didn't find him to be past redemption. There is one thing he does that really upset me later in the book, but quickly corrects the behavior, so I didn't end up loathing his character. Alex is a pretty private guy and doesn't give in to vulnerability often. He lives his life emotionally detached and that has worked for him. Until now.

 

Enter Sutton Price. Sutton is sweet, caring, beautiful, and vibrant. As a counselor at the drug outreach center, her passion is helping troubled teens. She is dedicated to her family and adores her younger brother. She is just the kind of person to completely tilt Alex's world onto its axis. Because of her profession, she can see that there's more to Alex than meets the eye. She is patient and kind, but she can also hold her own against the arrogant hockey star. She is definitely attracted to the tall, dark-haired hockey player, but feels it best to keep their relationship platonic. As prickly as Alex can be, he does know how to turn on the charm and he finds himself drawn to Sutton. He enjoys their conversations about hockey and how she lights up with excitement at learning about a sport he thought he hated for good.

 

I loved watching Sutton and Alex together. They are both so good for one another. It is a battle for Alex to open up and give his heart to Sutton and for a minute I was afraid he never would. Loaded down with the pain of the past, Alex suffers under the crushing weight of his father's criticism and truly believes he is nothing but a reflection of his game.

 

One of the most notable side characters would have to be Garrett, whom the next book revolves around. He was a great character and I love how at ease and relaxed he is. He's a fun guy who's all about living life and I enjoyed seeing him befriend Alex. Most of the other guys on the team stay clear of Alex, but Garrett is the newbie and just pushes his way in. Garrett is quite the ladies man and isn't ashamed at his revolving door of women. He ends up being a pivotal part in Alex's grand gesture, so it's obvious he has a big heart as well.

 

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. I liked the depth Bennett added to these characters' situations as it showed just how resilient they both are. It also made their relationship that much more meaningful, especially seeing how much Alex's worldview has changed from the start of the novel to the end. I am a big fan of Sawyer's so I am thrilled she decided to write this series because I am such a sucker for a sportsman!

 

 

 

Upon meeting Garrett in the previous book, I was super excited to meet the girl who would tame his playboy heart! I really enjoyed the romance in this one. It was incredibly sweet, which I thought was important especially dealing with the sensitive nature behind the book. This one does have a lot of New Adult clichés, but don't let that hinder you from reading it. Bennett is a brilliant romance writer and her characters have so much heart, you will immediately fall for them!

 

I really do like that Garrett is just a guy who likes women and wants to have fun. He hasn't been burned by love or have some traumatic past that keeps him from committing. He's not against anything serious, but his track record certainly says otherwise. He is known for his one night stands and doesn't hook up with the same woman twice. When he meets Olivia at a team party, he is intrigued by the woman that didn't fall for his charms and advances. He can't seem to get her out of his head, so naturally he pursues her. For being a notorious playboy, Garrett changes his ways pretty quickly after meeting Olivia. The two get serious rather fast, and I did get that insta-love vibe.  Normally this would bother me, but again- I fell so hard for these characters and they already had a huge obstacle to overcome- I appreciate Bennett didn't load the book down with a lot of unnecessary drama. In fact, the drama that is present towards the end of the book is to be expected and man did it break my heart for both Garrett and Olivia.

 

I loved Olivia's character. She is going through something very scary and yet she handles it the best way she can. She has the most amazing support system of friends, and once Garrett is let in on it, he is another great person to have in her corner. Garrett could be a bit suffocating at times and even I wanted to yell at him to stop treating her like glass. He does it out of affection though, so you can't be too mad at him. Before, his entire world was hockey and now his worldview has shifted to accommodate love, which takes him by surprise.

 

Their scenes together are sexy and sweet. I love how intense they could be together, but still retain this tenderness that most people long for. They develop pretty deep feelings for one another very quickly and that is why their fear of losing one another is so great.

 

I love how much of Alex and Sutton we saw in this book too. Where Garrett had a moment last book with Sutton, it's Alex's turn to have one with Olivia and what he said gave me chills. We also get to know some of the other Carolina Cold Fury players and see them interact also. Something pretty big happens to shake the foundation their team stands on and it will have an even bigger impact in Zack's book next.

 

Despite a touch of insta-love and some tried and true New Adult themes, I really enjoyed Garrett's book. I loved the romance between him and Olivia and the epilogue was pretty much everything.