Bittersweet (True North #1)
   by: Sarina Bowen

Publication Date: June 14, 2016
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source:  e-ARC received via BocciPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 348 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the orchard.

The last person Griffin Shipley expects to find stuck in a ditch on his Vermont country road is his ex-hookup. Five years ago they’d shared a couple of steamy nights together. But that was a lifetime ago.

At twenty-seven, Griff is now the accidental patriarch of his family farm. Even his enormous shoulders feel the strain of supporting his mother, three siblings and a dotty grandfather. He doesn’t have time for the sorority girl who’s shown up expecting to buy his harvest at half price.

Vermont was never in Audrey Kidder’s travel plans. Neither was Griff Shipley. But she needs a second chance with the restaurant conglomerate employing her. Okay—a fifth chance. And no self-righteous lumbersexual farmer will stand in her way.

They’re adversaries. They want entirely different things from life. Too bad their sexual chemistry is as hot as Audrey’s top secret enchilada sauce, and then some.

 

 

Oh Grumpy Griff, I just adore you. Having really enjoyed Sarina's Ivy Years series, I was excited to get my hands on her new series! I definitely enjoyed this one, save for a few minor issues. I felt it was a bit on the longer side for a contemporary romance and there were some parts that I felt dragged on a bit. I also wish Audrey and Griff had actually opened up and communicated a bit sooner than they did. Those small things aside, I really did enjoy being in Vermont with Audrey, the Shipley family, Zach, Zara, and Jude!

 

As I said, Griffin is a grump. A bearded, former football playing, grump of a beast. And damn, did I love that. He was hardworking and an overall GOOD guy, which I can never get enough of. After his father's passing, he came home to help his mom run the farm and take care of his siblings. He sacrificed his career in professional football to do this, and while most people would be bitter, he takes his role seriously and with pride. He is looking to change things around the farm and I admired his drive to do so.

 

Audrey is also trying to make her own way, determined to do things on her own and without the help of her micromanaging mother. She found her passion in culinary and in order to hopefully make a name for herself and own her own restaurant, she is forced to do grunt work for a group in Boston. They give her tasks not suited to her career, which is how she lands on Griff's farm. The two knew one another in college and I liked seeing them reconnect. I have to admit Audrey could be a bit frustrating though. She likes Griff and they engage in some very sexy times, but she really holds herself back, knowing they can't start anything with one another due to the fact that she lives and works in Boston. She adores his family, loves helping his mom in the kitchen, and ends up really befriending Zara- all huge motivators for her to figure out how to make it work!

 

I have to mention Jude. Having just been released from prison, he is taking some time to work on the Shipley farm before heading home. I adored his quiet demeanor and am looking forward to the story he has to tell. He was such a good fit with everyone and really ended up holding his own despite Griff's initial hesitations.

 

Overall, I really enjoyed this first book in Sarina's new series and am looking forward to Jude's story next!

Steadfast (True North #2)
   by: Sarina Bowen

Publication Date: July 12, 2016
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via BocciPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 313 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 5/5 stars

She’s the only one who ever loved him—and the only one he can never have.

Jude lost everything one spring day when he crashed his car into an apple tree on the side of the road. A man is dead, and there's no way he can ever right that wrong. He’d steer clear of Colebury, Vermont forever if he could. But an ex-con in recovery for his drug addiction can’t find a job just anywhere.

For Sophie Haines, coming face to face with the man who broke her heart is gut-wrenching. Suddenly, he’s everywhere she turns. It’s hard not to stare at how much he’s changed. The bad boy who used to love her didn’t have big biceps and sun-kissed hair. And he’d never turn up volunteer in the church kitchen.

She knows it’s foolish to yearn for the man who returned all the heartsick letters she wrote him in prison. But the looks he sends her now speak volumes.

No one wants to see Sophie and Jude back together, least of all Sophie's police chief father. But it's a small town. And forbidden love is a law unto itself.

 

 

Oh my goodness gracious y'all. I loved this book so freaking hard. I knew Jude's story would be a good one and Sarina did NOT disappoint. I am the biggest sucker for second chance romances. I adored Jude and Sophie together and I hated how much of their time was spent in secret, not being able to freely be together. It hurt my heart because they both need one another so desperately in each other's lives.

 

Jude and Sophie have some pretty heavy history together. However, despite everything that's happened, the two still love one another. I thought Jude would have to work harder to get Sophie back, but I felt she was in such a bad place with her own family life, that it was natural for her to crave what Jude once made her feel. He was the only one who actually listened to her and while she knows she shouldn't be going down this road with him again, she doesn't have the energy to stop it.

 

These two have explosive chemistry and I could feel how much they loved and needed one another coming off the pages. Jude is a very different person now than he once was and while he does still get discouraged about his future and fight off cravings every day, he genuinely doesn't want to fall back into old habits. I admired him for that and I also like that Sarina didn't gloss around the issue of addiction and drug abuse. He has such a great support system too that I'm glad he learned to rely on. The Shipleys are the most amazing people ever and I love them to death. Their Thursday night dinner tradition is one that Jude looks forward to every week. He also goes to group on Wednesdays at a local church and he has taken to volunteering in the kitchen along with Sophie. He loves doing that also and just seeing him feel a sense of accomplishment and value was so awesome.

 

I have to give Sophie major props for sticking around and dealing with her family as long as she did. I understand her reasoning for doing so, but I can't imagine living in such a toxic atmosphere day in and day out. She isn't a cynical, bitter woman either. Instead, she is kind and forgiving and I just love how right she was for Jude.

 

I am just so invested in these characters now. I loved seeing the epilogue of this one and I am beyond ready for Zach's book next!

 

 

 

 

Us (Him #2)
   by: Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

Publication Date: March 8, 2016
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via BocciPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 255 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Can your favorite hockey players finish their first season together undefeated?

Five months in, NHL forward Ryan Wesley is having a record-breaking rookie season. He's living his dream of playing pro hockey and coming home every night to the man he loves–Jamie Canning, his longtime best friend turned boyfriend. There's just one problem: the most important relationship of his life is one he needs to keep hidden, or else face a media storm that will eclipse his success on the ice.

Jamie loves Wes. He really, truly does. But hiding sucks. It's not the life Jamie envisioned for himself, and the strain of keeping their secret is taking its toll. It doesn't help that his new job isn't going as smoothly as he'd hoped, but he knows he can power through it as long as he has Wes. At least apartment 10B is their retreat, where they can always be themselves.

Or can they? When Wes's nosiest teammate moves in upstairs, the threads of their carefully woven lie begin to unravel. With the outside world determined to take its best shot at them, can Wes and Jamie develop major-league relationship skills on the fly?

Warning: contains sexual situations, a vibrating chair, long-distance sexytimes, and proof that hockey players look hot in any shade of green.

 

 

When I saw there was going to be a sequel to Him, I was equal parts nervous and equal parts giddy with excitement. Typically sequels equal more drama and unrest for our couples and I didn't want that for Jamie and Wes. However, I am so glad Bowen and Kennedy gave them this sequel. We definitely got to see their happy ending in Him, but I knew they had more trials to face, especially with Wes's status as the hot, new rookie hockey player. Wes has not come out to his teammates or the world and that is something that plays a huge role in this book. I really love that they explored this, as well as how Jamie is dealing with these new changes in his life.

 

This book definitely hurt my heart at times and I just wanted to hug both of these guys and tell them everything would be ok. It's not an angst-filled book, but there were moments where I felt the sadness and longing just jumping off the pages. Wes and Jamie are great together but they did need to be more open with their feelings instead of wondering about the other's. They do get to that point, but it definitely took some work on both of their parts. There were also some moments that felt awkward between them even when they weren't having issues and I wasn't sure why. The two have plenty of sexy times and it's obvious they have hella chemistry, but there were times in this book I had trouble feeling their connection with one another.

 

One of my favorite parts of this book comes in the form of a new character, Blake Ryan. Oh my goodness, Blake was HILARIOUS. He was so obnoxious that you couldn't help but love the guy. He really ended up surprising me with his loyalty and genuineness. Jamie and Wes might have felt a little suffocated by the guy in the beginning, but he really became a true friend and one of the best people to ever have in their corner. I would love a book for him (and Jess!) That would be a fun one to read!

 

Again, I couldn't be happier to get this sequel. Jamie and Wes's story was not over and I loved getting to see the what comes next now that they are together.

 

The Fifteenth Minute (The Ivy Years #5)
        by: Sarina Bowen

Publication Date: Oct. 13, 2015
Publisher: Rennie Road Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received via BocciPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 294 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Freshman Lianne Challice is known to millions of fans as Princess Vindi. But sometimes a silver screen sorceress just wants to hang up her wand, tell her manager to shove it, and become a normal college student. Too bad that’s harder than it looks.

She’s never lived a normal life. She hasn’t been to school since kindergarten. And getting close to anyone is just too risky — the last boy she kissed sold the story to a British tabloid.

But she can’t resist trying to get close to Daniel "DJ" Trevi, the hot, broody guy who spins tunes for hockey games in the arena. There's something haunting his dark eyes and she needs to know more.

DJ's genius is for expressing the mood of the crowd with a ten second song snippet. With just a click and a fade, he can spread hope, pathos or elation among six thousand screaming fans.

Too bad his college career is about to experience the same quick fade-out as one of his songs. He can't get close to Lianne, and he can't tell her why. And the fact that she seems to like him at all? Incredible.

 

 

YES! I was so excited for Lianne and DJ's book! They are super adorable together and I couldn't wait to see her get her guy! Out of all the female leads, I think I can relate to Lianne the best. (Not the famous part obviously) I loved that she was a gamer girl and I have to admit that I found myself hiding out in my dorm room in college a lot of times my freshman year. I didn't connect to many new people and stuck with my best friend for the most part. Naturally I loved seeing Lianne develop so many friendships in this book. That girl deserves some awesome people in her life who don't look at her and see a celebrity. I especially didn't like the fact that people made digs at her because of that.

 

Underneath the shy, slightly nerdy exterior though, Lianne has spunk and I loved that DJ saw that in her immediately. They have some pretty sexy scenes together, even though DJ is hiding something pretty big from Lianne. He knows he shouldn't pursue her, but after that first kiss, they were pretty inevitable. Their love of music was epic and I loved seeing them spin tracks together.

 

I felt for DJ and his situation. His treatment by the college was unfair and I hated that such a good guy had to go through that and question every minute of the night everything went to hell because accusations were made against him. I am glad he ended up disclosing the truth to Lianne, as he really likes her and doesn't want to keep things from her. (Or have her hear from it another source).

 

I loved seeing Bella and Rafe again, as well as our other hockey favorites. There is just such a camaraderie here and it really warmed my heart to see. Sarina Bowen writes killer friendships and I seriously hope there's another book in this series because I'm just not ready to say goodbye! (Leo needs a better girl anyway!)

 

I really enjoyed reading this most recent installment in Bowen's The Ivy Years series. Lianne is just a fun character to read about and I am so glad she got her own book!

 

The Understatement of the Year (The Ivy Years #3)
    by: Sarina Bowen

Publication Date: Oct. 15, 2014
Publisher: Rennie Road Books
Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-copy provided via BocciPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 306 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3/5 stars

What happened in high school stayed in high school. Until now.

Five years ago, Michael Graham betrayed the only person who ever really knew him. Since then, he’s made an art of hiding his sexuality from everyone. Including himself.

So it’s a shock when his past strolls right into the Harkness College locker room, sporting a bag of hockey gear and the same slow smile that had always rendered Graham defenseless. For Graham, there is only one possible reaction: total, debilitating panic. With one loose word, the team’s new left wing could destroy Graham’s life as he knows it.

John Rikker is stuck being the new guy. Again. And it’s worse than usual, because the media has latched onto the story of the only “out” player in Division One hockey. As the satellite trucks line the sidewalk outside the rink, his new teammates are not amused.

And one player in particular looks sick every time he enters the room.

Rikker didn’t exactly expect a warm welcome from Graham. But the guy won’t even meet his eyes. From the looks of it, his former… best friend / boyfriend / whatever isn’t doing so well. He drinks too much and can’t focus during practice.

Either the two loneliest guys on the team will self destruct from all the new pressures in their lives, or they can navigate the pain to find a way back to one another. To say that it won’t be easy is the Understatement of the Year.

 

 

I can't emphasize to you all enough how much I am enjoying this series. Maybe it's because it's been so long since I've read a truly great college new adult romance series, where the characters go to class, they go to sports practices, hang out with friends, attend social functions, etc. It's not all about the romance and sex. Friendships are developed and emphasized and I love seeing these characters find their way.

 

With that being said, I am a bit bummed to say this book has been my least favorite of the series thus far. I say this mainly because I was SO frustrated with Michael. I hated how he treated Rikker for a good portion of the book and while I understand his fears, it was really frustrating at the same time. It took Michael a good long while to come around and admit to himself that he had feelings for Rikker, so there was a lot of avoidance on his part.

 

I really loved Rikker though. It's not easy to be the new guy- but it's even harder to be the new gay guy. He deals with a lot of crap because of his sexual orientation and it really hurt my heart to see people be so cruel. I also hated how lonely he was. While he ends up befriending Bella and Hartley, he still doesn't have that camaraderie that some of the others have. He isn't ashamed of who he is and where Michael clung to his fear, Rikker stared it in the face and came out the better man.

 

One of my favorite new additions to the series is Bella. She has a reputation for being the hockey go-to girl, but she really has deeper feelings for Michael. Naturally, she is deeply hurt when she finds out the truth, but she is still supportive of her friend. I am really looking forward to her story because she really deserves to find her person.

 

Even though I wasn't crazy about Michael, I did enjoy the romance once we got to that point. Michael has always felt more for Rikker, so seeing him finally coming to terms with that and embracing his feelings really endeared him to me. It just took a long time to get to that point. I know it seems sort of unfair for me to be hung up on Michael, because I honestly cannot imagine what it's like to be struggling with your identity and sexual orientation. He has been raised in a very Christian environment, and while his parents were always a bit more lenient than say Rikker's, he is afraid of the repercussions. He sees firsthand what Rikker deals with the slurs and the separation and he isn't ready to step out into that just yet. I really hope we get to see more of Rikker and Michael in Bella's book now that they are together!

The Shameless Hour (The Ivy Years #4)
    by: Sarina Bowen

Publication Date: Apr. 12, 2015
Publisher: Rennie Road Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-copy provided via BocciPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 332 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 5/5 stars

The girl who’s had everyone meets the boy who has no one.

For Bella, the sweet-talking, free-loving, hip-checking student manager of the Harkness men’s hockey team, sex is a second language. She’s used to being fluent where others stutter, and the things people say behind her back don’t (often) bother her. So she can’t understand why her smoking hot downstairs neighbor has so much trouble staying friends after their spontaneous night together. She knows better than to worry about it, but there’s something in those espresso eyes that makes her second guess herself.

Rafe is appalled with himself for losing his virginity in a drunken hookup. His strict Catholic upbringing always emphasized loving thy neighbor—but not with a bottle of wine and a box of condoms. The result is an Ivy League bout of awkwardness. But when Bella is leveled by a little bad luck and a downright sinister fraternity stunt, it’s Rafe who is there to pick up the pieces.

Bella doesn’t want Rafe's help, and she’s through with men. Too bad the undeniable spark that crackles between the two of them just can't be extinguished.

 

 

While the previous book in the series was my least favorite, this one just might be my favorite. (It's pretty close with Bridger's book, The Year We Hid Away) I adored Bella with Rafe and I loved how they became friends first, which seems to be the common theme in this series. This book tackles a pretty important topic that I fear is more common in college settings than most realize.

 

We met Bella in the previous book, as the spunky, feisty, hockey manager who doesn't hide the fact that she likes hooking up with the players on the team. She got a little razzed about it by one of the other players (Big-D, who is a total big D....) but no one really did any slut-shaming with her. She doesn't do relationships, as both times she's allowed herself to fall, she's gotten her heart broken. She's confident in herself and I love that she goes through life so brazenly and without shame. Which is why my heart absolutely broke for what happened to her in this book. I hated seeing the light snuffed out of such a vibrant girl because there are so many cruel people in this world. No, it's not what you're probably thinking thank goodness, because I think I would have been destroyed had things gotten worse. However, seeing Bella transform into a girl who hides herself away and shut out the world, was not cool. I am so thankful she had so many amazing people in her corner.

 

Rafe is absolutely one of the best people she could have the privilege of knowing. Sure, things were a little awkward after they slept together one night, but he ended up being such a good friend to her. I loved that he was so dedicated to her and trying to help her through everything, but he still wanted her desperately. However, Bella doesn't do relationships and he refuses to sleep around. (Love the role reversal!) Don't worry though. These two have plenty of sexy times together and I just adored them together.

 

I also really liked Bella's roommate Lianne. In the beginning she isn't a very likeable character because of how she pretends Bella doesn't exist, but she does come around and I ended up loving her. She's a total geek and she's really shy. Oh and she's famous too, so there's that. I'm so glad Sarina decided to write a book for her. She needs to come out of her shell and feel the love too!

 

We do get to see Rikker and Michael like I hoped and they are happier than ever, so I'm glad they were able to get past everything and really work as a couple. While this book isn't centered around hockey as much as some of the others, I did love seeing them rally behind Bella, especially after she completely isolated herself from everyone. It was heartwarming to see how much they cared for her and missed her.

 

You can read all of these books as stand-alones, so I would definitely make sure you get this one, especially if you love a realistic, poignant storyline that has great friendships and romance to round it out.

The Year We Fell Down (The Ivy Years #1)
    by: Sarina Bowen

Publication Date: Mar. 21, 2014
Publisher: Rennie Road Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-copy received via BocciPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 268 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The sport she loves is out of reach. The boy she loves has someone else.

What now?

She expected to start Harkness College as a varsity ice hockey player. But a serious accident means that Corey Callahan will start school in a wheelchair instead.

Across the hall, in the other handicapped-accessible dorm room, lives the too-delicious-to-be real Adam Hartley, another would-be hockey star with his leg broken in two places. He’s way out of Corey’s league.

Also, he’s taken.

Nevertheless, an unlikely alliance blooms between Corey and Hartley in the “gimp ghetto” of McHerrin Hall. Over tequila, perilously balanced dining hall trays, and video games, the two cope with disappointments that nobody else understands.

They’re just friends, of course, until one night when things fall apart. Or fall together. All Corey knows is that she’s falling. Hard.

But will Hartley set aside his trophy girl to love someone as broken as Corey? If he won’t, she will need to find the courage to make a life for herself at Harkness — one which does not revolve around the sport she can no longer play, or the brown-eyed boy who’s afraid to love her back.

 

 

When the opportunity arose to read and review Sarina Bowen's The Ivy Years, it was not one I could pass up. I had previously heard about this series from another blogger who enjoyed and I loved Sarina's HIM, which she co-authored with a favorite author of mine. Being the first book in the series, I loved getting to know everyone. Sarina has done a fabulous job of developing friendships and giving us a realistic view into college life. Those two elements are really key for me in a well-developed new adult college romance.

 

I really liked seeing Corey and Adam develop a friendship first. I wasn't crazy about the fact that he had a girlfriend for so much of the book, especially since I felt they were only for surface level reasons. We do eventually find out his reasoning for being with her as long as he was and I have to say, it kind of made sense. It still drove me a little nuts because it was obvious he had a much deeper connection with Corey and I hated seeing her feel like she couldn't compare. I didn't love the romance in this one, mainly because of how it came about. Corey and Adam are friends for so long, but after one night- the lines blur and after some fooling around and Adam's girlfriend returns, it was like that night never happened. Corey clearly has feelings for Adam and he can't seem to stop thinking about her, but he doesn't make any moves to try and make things right. Finally, he breaks up with his girlfriend and the next day he's kissing Corey and taking her out, as if none of that other stuff had even occurred. I felt Corey's character was no pushover either, so I was surprised that she gave in as easily as she did. I would have made him work for it a bit.

 

Don't get me wrong, I do like the two of them together. They were a great match and I loved how awesome Adam was, especially given all of the embarrassing things Corey shared with him concerning how the accident has affected her body. He is a great friend to her and really makes her first year at school a lot more bearable, as does her roommate Dana. Dana was also a good friend to have because she didn't treat Corey as fragile or unable. She is a go with the flow kind of girl and I liked that she was genuine.

 

This book also felt a bit long to me. While I like character driven novels and was engaged, it felt like I had read quite a bit but wasn't as far into the book as I thought.

 

I am really looking forward to Bridger's book next. He is a friend of Adam's and his on the hockey team. While he has a rep as a player, he seems like a good guy and his devotion to his sister was absolutely precious. I am hoping we'll see many of these characters in the next book because Bowen did a great job of making me feel connected to them and part of their circle.

The Year We Hid Away (The Ivy Years #2)
   by: Sarina Bowen

Publication Date: June 1, 2014
Publisher: Rennie Road Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-copy provided via BocciPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 274 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

She’s hiding something big. He’s hiding someone small.

Scarlet Crowley’s life was torn apart the day father was arrested for unspeakable crimes. Now the shock has worn off, but not the horror.

It’s a safe bet that Scarlet is the only first year at Harkness College who had to sneak past TV news trucks parked on her front lawn just to leave town. But college will be Scarlet’s fresh start. Clutching a shiny new student ID — with a newly minted name on it — she leaves it all behind. Even if it means lying to the boy she’s falling for.

Bridger McCaulley is a varsity hockey star known for being a player both on and off the ice. But a sobering family crisis takes that all away. Protecting his sister means a precarious living arrangement and constant deception. The only bright spot in his week is the few stolen hours he spends with Scarlet.

The two form a tentative relationship based on the understanding that some things must always be held back. But when grim developments threaten them both, going it alone just won’t work anymore. And if they can’t learn to trust one another now, the families who let them down will take everything they’ve struggled to keep.

 

 

Happy sigh. This book. I really loved this one. Bridger and Scarlet were amazing together and I loved how much they supported one another through everything. That's not to say they didn't have a few ups and downs, but I am glad their relationship was relatively drama free. This series is very character driven and I adore seeing how important these friendships are to these characters. We didn't get much of Adam and Corey from the previous book, but we do see them briefly, so that was nice.

 

Bridger's life is very different than the one he previously lived. No more hook ups, no more partying, and unfortunately no more hockey either. He has completely reordered his priorities and I have to say I admired the hell out of him for that. His sister comes first and he takes that responsibility very seriously and selflessly. He accepts his new role as a caretaker and college student and doesn't bemoan his loss of freedom and wildness. There really is no better guy out there than Bridger. He doesn't plan on Scarlet, but she ends up being such a bright spot for him amidst so much stress. His free time is severely limited, so he doesn't feel he can offer Scarlet much in the way of a relationship.

 

Once Scarlet discovers what Bridger is doing though, all bets are off. There's no need to hide anymore and she understands that his life is complicated and that he can't devote all of his time to her. It was refreshing to read about a strong female who doesn't need to be the center of her boyfriend's universe. Scarlet has problems of her own anyway. While Bridger's secret may be out, she is too afraid to 'fess up to her own. She knows he doesn't need the added stress and while I get she was trying to protect him, he shared a lot with her and she should have reciprocated faster than she did. My heart ached for Scarlet and not only for what she was going through, but how she was treated because of it. She just wants to go to school and try to escape the madness that is her home life and I can't say I blame her.

 

Scarlet and Bridger do not have an easy time but I loved their moments together. Once everything is out on the table, the two really make an unbeatable team. They love and support one another and it was uplifting to see.  

Him
   by: Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

Publication Date: July 28, 2015
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received via BocciPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 276 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 5/5 stars

They don’t play for the same team. Or do they?

Jamie Canning has never been able to figure out how he lost his closest friend. Four years ago, his tattooed, wise-cracking, rule-breaking roommate cut him off without an explanation. So what if things got a little weird on the last night of hockey camp the summer they were eighteen? It was just a little drunken foolishness. Nobody died.

Ryan Wesley’s biggest regret is coaxing his very straight friend into a bet that pushed the boundaries of their relationship. Now, with their college teams set to face off at the national championship, he’ll finally get a chance to apologize. But all it takes is one look at his longtime crush, and the ache is stronger than ever.

Jamie has waited a long time for answers, but walks away with only more questions—can one night of sex ruin a friendship? If not, how about six more weeks of it? When Wesley turns up to coach alongside Jamie for one more hot summer at camp, Jamie has a few things to discover about his old friend...and a big one to learn about himself.

Warning: contains sexual situations, skinnydipping, shenanigans in an SUV and proof that coming out to your family on social media is a dicey proposition.

 

 

When I saw Elle Kennedy was pairing up to write a M/M romance, naturally I HAD to have it. This was my first experience with Sarina Bowen and I can safely say I NEED her other books. This book... you guys. It was BEYOND hot. Seriously. I felt like I needed to go jump in my pool to cool myself down. These ladies do not hold back and man are the scenes STEAMY. All sexiness aside, this was just a GREAT read. I loved the storyline, the romance, the banter... it all came together SO WELL and I just enjoyed every minute of this one.

 

I loved both Wes and Jamie. They were such a great pair and I liked being inside both of their minds to see what they were thinking and feeling. Jamie hasn't heard from Wes in years and now the two are brought face to face as their teams play in the Frozen Four championship with their respective schools. They had been best friends for years until all of a sudden they weren't. That separation hurt both of them, and now Wes is determined to make things right. He misses his friend, but it's more than that too. He has deep feelings for him... but Jamie doesn't reciprocate those feelings.... or so he thinks. I can't imagine what it was like for Wes at 18 to feel the way he did and then fear he ruined the best friendship he ever had.

 

Jamie never understood why his friend cut and run. He never made a big deal out of that night and now that he knows Wes is openly gay, he doesn't think any less of his friend or is weirded out by this revelation. If anything, Wes's return to his life really opens his eyes to some things he may have never considered before. He doesn't understand the jealousy that courses through him at seeing his best friend chat it up with another guy, but he knows he doesn't like seeing it. Spending time with Wes again really changes a lot of things for Jamie and I liked how naturally that happened. Sure, Jamie has questions and is a bit confused by his feelings, but he doesn't freak and jump ship. He's pretty open about exploring these newfound feelings and soon he finds himself falling for his best friend as well.

 

I like that Bowen and Kennedy explored some deeper rooted issues in this book as well, as Wes and Jamie have some prejudices to overcome and not everyone is ok with two men being with one another. Wes is going into the major leagues and his plan is to fly under the radar for at least his first year, as he doesn't want complications with his new team. Wes doesn't think he and Jamie have a chance beyond their summer together, which made me sad because he was too afraid to talk to Jamie and find out what he thought and felt about the whole thing. The summer has completely changed everything for Jamie. He not only realizes he's in love with his best friend, but he is also starting to question his career choice. I found myself desperate for these two to communicate with one another and I was ready to smack Wes for being so bull headed!

 

Overall, this was a fantastic story and I really liked how their romance developed. It was sexy, steamy, and sweet all at the same time and I was rooting for them from the get-go! They are two great guys and they deserve happiness and to be together, damn what anyone else thinks. The ending with Jamie's family is perfection and definitely filled my heart with joy. I really hope these two ladies pair up again to write another novel because HOT DAMN they rocked it.