M

I am Lover of romance, who indulges in the romantic adventures of literature

My name is Renee, and I am the host of this site. I am a 34 year old woman, on the prowl for her mate, searching out the best of books, exploring the wilds of the imagination and delving into the heart of a beautiful love story.

 

Triple The Love Review-Rookie Move, Hard Hitter, Pipe Dreams by Sarina Bowen

by | Nov 2, 2018 | Book Reviews, Triple The Love Book Review | 1 comment

Triple The Love Review-Rookie Move, Hard Hitter, Pipe Dreams by Sarina Bowen

Triple The Love Review-Rookie Move, Hard Hitter, Pipe Dreams by Sarina BowenRookie Move by Sarina Bowen
Also in this series: Brooklynaire , Overnight Sensation
Series: Brooklyn Bruisers #1
Published by Berkley on September 6, 2016
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Sports, Hockey
Narrator: Nicol Zanzarella, Rock Engle
Length: 9 Hours and 53 Mina
Pages: 336
Format: Audiobook
Goodreads
AmazonLibrary ThingLibrary ThingLibrary ThingLiteral Club
four-stars

The first novel in a sexy new series featuring the hockey players of the Brooklyn Bruisers and the women who win their hearts—from the USA Today bestselling author of the Ivy Years series.


In high school they were the perfect couple—until the day Georgia left Leo in the cold...

Hockey player Leo Trevi has spent the last six years trying to do two things: get over the girl who broke his heart, and succeed in the NHL. But on the first day he’s called up to the newly franchised Brooklyn Bruisers, Leo gets checked on both sides, first by the team’s coach—who has a long simmering grudge, and then by the Bruisers’ sexy, icy publicist—his former girlfriend Georgia Worthington.

Saying goodbye to Leo was one of the hardest things Georgia ever had to do—and saying hello again isn’t much easier. Georgia is determined to keep their relationship strictly professional, but when a press conference microphone catches Leo declaring his feelings for her, things get really personal, really fast....

Rookie Move is the first book in Sarina Bowens infamous Brooklyn Bruisers series which takes place in New York City as the setting. This is a hockey romance and I have to admit that even though I love Hockey as a sport (I blame my Canadian blood) I haven’t read that many Hockey themed romances which is odd considering how much I love me some sexy sport romances. There is nothing more irresistable than a sport player. And boy these Brooklyn Bruisers are HOT as all get out and plus make the best heroes that you want to keep for your own.

Rookie Move is a second chance romance which features our hero Leo Trevi, who is a Rookie to the team but has great potential. But there is one problem the new head coach hates him and his daughter is the love of his life that broke his heart years ago. He still has no idea why Georgia broke up with him but now he has a chance to find out the truth and see what he is capable of with his new team.

Georgia made the hardest choice of her life to break up with Leo. She knew that she loved him but she also had just suffered a trauma of being raped, and the relationship that she had with Leo changed and broke it off with him hoping it would be a fresh start. But after all this time, she still loves him. But she needs to be professional, as the coache’s daughter and the head of the PR of the team she has a serious job to do but her heart keeps getting in the way and she might have to make a difficult choice or will she?

Rookie Move is one of those second chance romance that tugs at those heart strings of emotions and just aches your heart and soul both in good and bad ways of course. I have only read one other book by Sarina Bowen but Rookie Move was so addictive and I just didn’t want to put this audiobook down. I loved the way these two narrators portrayed this book, and boy they were fantastic. We do see some small glimpses of their relationship in the beginning when they were young and fresh in love. They were each others firsts and they just swept me up in laughter and fun times. I loved these flashbacks because they were brief and didn’t consume the whole book. We only see a handful of them in the first half of the story which was nice and then we get to see their chance to find each other again. Now at first I was really nervous with Georgia to be honest. Because Leo wasn’t at fault in any way for the break up and we get the impression that he had no idea why she broke up with him because she wasn’t honest with him. Now once you understand that she was raped and the aftermath. Leo was such a rock, but their sex life was put on hold. We see how Leo was young too and didn’t know what to do to help the girl he loved through such a bad time in her life. But he did what he could but to be honest neither of them were truly open and honest as they should have been. We see the pain that Georgia goes through and even though she has changed and become stronger ever since then, we see that it still affects her. We also see another complication that drove me nuts….Georgia’s father. Oh boy he was a piece of work in how he treats Leo. I felt so much compassion for Leo in this book if only for how her father treats Leo. He is the head coach but we learn that he and Leo were very close once but after Georgia’s rape, her father treats Leo with such disdain. And now that Leo has joined the team, he pretty much makes Leo’s life hell at times and never treats him fairly. So we see how much harder that Leo has to work to be treated with any decency and he isn’t passive. He is a alpha male in some ways….he is driven and determined to succeed no matter the obstacles that stand in his way. I love how he goes after what he wants both in the sport that he loves and the woman he has never forgotten.

I spent six years trying to get over you, and it didn’t take. Our time is now

Now I want to discuss the Brooklyn Bruisers as a team and some of the key players that we are introduced to in these books. There are so many fun characters that we get to see including one that makes a big impression who is the hero of book four and boy it was hard to wait to read his story hehe but I really enjoyed the connection these players have with each other. They haven’t had it easy but the new owner and new coach is breathing new life in the team. We see these players bond as brothers and really come together as a team and this is one of the reasons I love reading sport romances is seeing these friendships form and develop.

Leo gave her one more smile, and it was so full of joy that her heart skipped a beat. Then he turned around and strode off, his long legs eating up the distance toward the elevator bank around the bend.

“Come back to me, George,” Becca said. “Don’t go toward the light.”

“What?”

“Exactly.” Becca snapped her fingers. “Stay with me, babe. Don’t let the hottie who stole your virginity send you into zombieland.”

The romance that builds between Leo and Georgia is heartfelt in so many ways and there were these small moments that just make such a big difference. From the very beginning, Leo isn’t afraid to show his feelings for Georgia and yes he makes some mistakes in this book, but honestly he is such a good hero that you just want to cheer for. Literally….you want to get your pom pom’s out because he deserves it. He wears his heart on his sleeve, he is so devoted to Georgia and so determined to win her heart and her trust despite how much she hurt him. I love this about him that he doesn’t treat her badly because of it. He has such a good heart and isn’t spiteful.

You and I don’t do one night stands. We do forever night stands…

Now Georgia won me over very quickly, despite her past actions. We begin to understand her better and that she hasn’t ever gotten over Leo but their relationship could be considered a bit of a taboo considering that she is the team’s publicist and the hero is a player. It just doesn’t look very professional and she wants to keep her personal life and her career separate from each other so we understand her reasons but we also see how much she still wants Leo. I love the way he slowly wins her over and the intrimacy and chemistry that builds between them. Its explosive at times and so poignant in others. I swear some of their kissing scenes was like watching a movie kiss ….captures your attention with heat and emotion and this book is everything in between. Rookie Move is utterly captivating and sincere in every emotion it portrays….IRRESISTABLE.


Triple The Love Review-Rookie Move, Hard Hitter, Pipe Dreams by Sarina BowenHard Hitter by Sarina Bowen
Also in this series: Brooklynaire , Overnight Sensation
Series: Brooklyn Bruisers #2
Published by Berkley on January 3, 2017
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Sports, Hockey
Narrator: Nicol Zanzarella, Rock Engle
Length: 9 Hours and 50 Mins
Format: Audiobook
Goodreads
AmazonLibrary ThingLibrary ThingLibrary ThingLiteral Club
four-stars

From the USA Today bestselling author of Rookie Move comes the second novel in the series that’s hot enough to melt the ice. 
He’s a fighter in the rink, but he’s about to learn that playing nice can help you score...
  As team captain and enforcer, Patrick O'Doul puts the bruise in the Brooklyn Bruisers. But after years of hard hits, O'Doul is feeling the burn, both physically and mentally. He conceals his pain from his coach and trainers, but when his chronic hip injury becomes too obvious to ignore, they send him for sessions with the team’s massage therapist.   After breaking up with her long-term boyfriend, Ari Bettini is in need of peace of mind. For now, she’s decided to focus on her work: rehabilitating the Bruisers’ MVP. O'Doul is easy on the eyes, but his reaction to her touch is ice cold. Ari is determined to help O'Doul heal, but as the tension between them turns red hot, they both learn that a little TLC does the body good...

From the Paperback edition.

Hard Hitter is the second book in the Brooklyn Bruisers series by Sarina Bowen and after having a blast with book one “Rookie Move” I just knew that I had to have book two in my life. I just couldn’t resist. And as a plus this series can be found in the Audible Romance Package, so if you are a subscriber I can’t recommend these books enough for you. They are superb and the second book succeeded my expectations. I wasn’t sure how this author could make anything better than book one but she did it….somehow much to my great delight

In Hard Hitter, we are introduced to Patrick O’Doul and Ari Bettini. Now Patrick O’Doul is the team captain of the Brooklyn Bruisers and one of the more experienced players. He is also the one in charge of fighting in the rink. But Patrick is getting older, and is starting to feel his injuries more and his energy levels are going down and he can’t afford that. So when a friend hands him some drugs to help him he makes some mistakes but then he realizes he can’t afford to be doing drugs no matter how much they seem to help. When his coach orders him to see Ari, the team’s massage therapist, he is resistant. He can’t stand the touch of others and he is dreading going to see Ari even if he is attracted to her.

Ari has recently gotten out of a long term relationship where her ex became abusive and unhinged and is still causing her problems. But Ari is a glass half full type of personality and hardly anything gets her down. She is a message therapist and yoga instructor. She loves her job with the Brooklyn Bruisers and being able to help the players with their bodies. She is determined to help Patrick, even if he seems to abhor human touch. She knows it is something involved in his past, but she wants to help him and while she assists him in his therapy sessions and aids in his injuries, a relationship begins to slowly form between them especially when he is there for in when she is in danger. But will their careers come between the relationship and will they find the balance that they need?

I simple had a blast with Hard Hitter and its O’Doul’s book. Now in the first book, we are introduced to the team captain and yeah he can put the reader off to be honest. He is a bit too cocky but he has this confidence that is addictive and a bit endearing. Now in the beginning when we see him start on the drugs, I was really nervous because I wasn’t sure how Sarina Bowen would handle this situation. But it isn’t as bad as it sounds, because Patrick doesn’t get addicted to drugs but we do see him have a moment of weakness and lack of judgement but not everyone can be perfect right? I liked that he has some weak spots and vulnerabilities and makes some mistakes and this one will bite him in the booty eventually. Even though Patrick does have a dark past, the book doesn’t focus on that. He isn’t a brooding type of character that is typical of this which I really enjoyed. Patrick has overcome his past for the most part and moved on and become someone that others look up to and admire and respect. I loved seeing more in his character and seeing all that he has overcome.

“Fuck no. You’re the only one who gets to touch me.” “Okay,” she said, pressing on his shoulder, asking him to lie flat again. “It was only a suggestion. I was trying to make you more comfortable.” “Not possible,” he muttered. “I only want you, Ari. For this and all things.”

Now on Ari’s side of things we do see the strength that she has. I loved her determination to forge a fresh start for herself away from her ex although he is becoming a nuisance. We see how even though she has a career she craves a family….a husband and children. She wants to have someone to come home to. I really connected with her character because she knows what she wants and isn’t ashamed of it. She is older though in her thirties, so she has learned through trial and error what is worth searching and fighting for. But she makes her own mistakes and even though she could be a bit judgmental at times, she learns and becomes a better person in this book which I really enjoyed seeing.

You are priceless…I hope you know that.

The romance that develops between these two is so heartfelt. I really liked the whole message therapist and player set up because it brings forth a level of trust and intimacy from the very beginning, before things get hot and heavy between them which I really admired from Sarina Bowen. But there is also the level of dependence they have on each other….in a healthy way though. Patrick struggles with touch and he has to trust in Ari to help him overcome his fears. Ari has her ex acting crazy and violent at times, and Patrick is there when she needs help. I wouldn’t call this a damsel in distress scenario to be honest. Because she is a fighter, and isn’t afraid of doing what is necessary. But he helps her when she needs it and I liked that she didn’t spurn his help. I know in some books the woman has to do everything and be the strongest and fight her own battles which is all well and good but in this book it shows that we all need help sometime and its not a bad thing to accept it when its the right time and place and situation for it.

I found Hard Hitter to be a phenomenal story that swept me up in this story and I just never wanted it to end! A fabulous addition to a great series that is guaranteed to capture the heart of the reader and is a true jewel to enchant!


Triple The Love Review-Rookie Move, Hard Hitter, Pipe Dreams by Sarina BowenPipe Dreams by Sarina Bowen
Also in this series: Brooklynaire , Overnight Sensation
Series: Brooklyn Bruisers #3
Published by Berkley Books on May 2, 2017
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Sports, Hockey
Narrator: Rock Engle
Length: 9 Hours and 34 Mins
Pages: 336
Format: Audiobook
Goodreads
AmazonLibrary ThingLibrary ThingLibrary ThingLiteral Club
four-stars

A goalie has to trust his instincts, even when taking a shot to the heart…

Mike Beacon is a champion at defending the net, but off the ice, he’s not so lucky. A widower and a single father, he’s never forgotten Lauren Williams, the ex who gave him the best year of his life. When Lauren reappears in the Bruisers office during the playoffs, Beacon sees his chance to make things right.

Lauren hates that she’s forced to travel with the team she used to work for and the man who broke her heart. There’s still undeniable sexual tension running between her and Mike, but she won’t go down that road again. She’s focused on her plans for the future—she doesn’t need a man to make her dreams of motherhood come true.

Lauren plays her best defensive game, but she’s no match for the dark-eyed goalie. When the field of play moves to Florida, things heat up on the beach.

One of Mike’s biggest fans doesn’t approve—his teenage daughter. But a true competitor knows not to waste the perfect shot at love.

Pipe Dreams is the third book in the series and I honestly had to listen to this one right after book two “Hard Hitter” I am so intuned with this series and all the players involved and I am captivated by Sarina Bowen’s writing and her ways of making you want more of these sexy Brooklyn Bruisers and what a team they all are for each other. But this book we are introduced to a unique couple and another second chance romance…The goalie of the team Mike Beacon and his true love Lauren Williams.

In Pipe Dreams Mike and Lauren have a difficult and painful history. Mike is a widower and a single father but Mike and Lauren fell in love years previous but when a complication with Mike’s family came to be, Mike had to make some decisions and he broke Lauren’s heart. Lauren once loved everything Hockey, but when Mike broke her she couldn’t be around it anymore. Thankfully, the team’s owner, brought her to be his office manager in Manhatten. But when Becka is ill and needs some time from work, her boss has her managing the team once again and its not her favorite thing because it means working with Mike. Mike has never forgotten Lauren or ever stopped loving her and now he will fight to win her heart again, he is a goalie after all and they never give up.

Now this was a second chance romance that was a bit more challenging to read at times because boy this pair broke me heart. But unlike the first book, the hero is in the wrong here for the seperation. We learn what happens with the reason why he broke off with Lauren and she had NO idea what was really going on. He wasn’t honest with her and so yeah he deserves any anger she has against him because men are idiots and Mike is such an idiot and a jerk at times but he has a good heart with honest intentions so I tried not to be too hard on his character because he did have his daughter he was trying to protect and care for.

I spent six months wondering what I’d done so wrong that made you erase me from your life.

In the previous book I really didn’t like Lauren she comes off quite frankly as a “bitch” because she really is but honestly…she isn’t one. She is bitter and still hurt though and has never moved on from Mike. Which I definitely understand why her reasons. And yeah she seems a bit cold on the outside, but its more of protecting herself and we see a different side to Lauren in this book which I was really happen about to be honest. I really admired her strength and courage. She is a fighter though and badass at times and you don’t want to cross her. She is good at her job and driven and I admired that. But she also can be kind and caring when she needs or wants to be.

There is one tangle she does have to overcome….Mike’s daughter who is very bitter against Lauren, in fact she is quite mean to Lauren. So to be honest for most of the book I just didn’t care for Mike’s teenage daughter at all, she could be so awful to Lauren when its obvious that Lauren has only been gracious and kind to her and been treated so horribly by so many especially the women connected to the team and the players. But honestly one of my favorite moments is when Lauren and Mike’s daughter come to an understanding and bond and its simply perfect!

This feels right. We feel right. Whether it’s two years that passed or twenty-two, if I hold you in my arms it will always feel exactly right

I loved seeing Lauren and Mike connect again and build their relationship again. Its painful at times seeing Mike having to redeem himself for Lauren and seeing what Lauren has gone through since Mike broke up their relationship. Once you learn everything you really admire both Mike and Lauren and cheer for them on their road to their happy ever after and I guarantee that this book will leave you with a smile on your face and getting you excited for the next book “Brooklynaire”.

About Sarina Bowen

arina Bowen is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. She lives in Vermont's Green Mountains with her family, six chickens and too much ski gear and hockey equipment.

In 2016, Sarina became a Rita Award winner! The Romance Writers of America honored HIM by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy with Best Contemporary Romance, Mid-Length.

You May Also Like…

ARC Book Review-My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long

ARC Book Review-My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long

About The Book In USA Today bestselling author Julie Anne Long’s latest installment in the Palace of Rogues series, a notorious rake meets his match in a doe-eyed girl from the country, changing the course of both of their futures… A London season is the chance of a...

Book Review-Wilde for You by Jennifer Ryan

Book Review-Wilde for You by Jennifer Ryan

About The Book New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ryan’s page-turning Dark Horse Dive Bar series continues with this story of love lost...and found…as a widow seeking to heal her heart crosses paths with a rancher/bartender who offers her a taste of...

Book Review-Leopard’s Hunt by Christine Feehan

Book Review-Leopard’s Hunt by Christine Feehan

About The Book The next exhilarating Leopard novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan. In this pulse-pounding novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Leopard series, animal instinct unites two elite shifters whose heads are at war...

1 Comment

  1. The Bookish Sweet Tooth

    I didn’t read the previous books but totally loved it. And I agree, Sarina’s characters always feel real!

    Lovely review, hon!

    Reply

Leave a Reply