This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
About The Book
Five nights. Two adversaries. Only one bed in their hotel room.
I’m at the height of my hockey career. Yet my arrogant brother is always trying to recruit me into the family business: a global security company so secretive that I don’t even know its name.
Pass, thanks. I don’t need a summer job.
But the jerk ambushes me with a damsel in distress. That damsel is Alex, the competitive, sassy girl I knew when we were kids. Now she’s a drop-dead gorgeous woman in deep trouble.
So guess who’s on a flight to Hawaii?
It’s going to be a long week in paradise. My job is keeping Alex safe, while her job is torturing me with her tiny bikinis. Or maybe we’re torturing each other. It’s all snark and flirting until the threat against Alex gets serious. And this jock must become her major league protector.
Moonlighter is a stand-alone novel for Brooklyn Bruisers team member Eric Bayer. No cliffhangers, no prior experience necessary. Expect: a growly hero, a lady boss with no time for his attitude, and a war of wills and hormones. Bonus: a hunk wearing a baby in a sling.
My Review
First Impressions
Moonlighter is the first book in the duo series by Sarina Bowen. I have really neglected this author of late, but when I saw this one available in my library’s digital catalog, I just knew that I had to grab it up and I am so happy that I did too. It immediately drew me into the story. Moonlight is a combination of themes that I think only Sarina Bowen could actually make work. It was delicious in the way that she drew this couple together and it delivers in a mix of factors that fans of this
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Eric Bayer
Eric Bayer, is a professional Hockey player. He is recovering from a knee injury and his sport is his life. He has had little interest in getting involved in his family’s business.
The Heroine: Alex
Alex, is a sassy intellectual heroine that has had to work order to gain the respect of her peers. She is on the verge of releasing an AI device, and her ex assaulted her and there is a target on her back by an unknown source.
One does not win an argument with a woman. One simply survives it.
Summary
Eric is enlisted by his brother when there is a woman’s life in danger, and not just any woman, a woman he was once best friends with as a teenager. But now Eric and Alex are full fledged adults, and Alex doesn’t even recognize them at their first meeting. But when Eric becomes aware of Alex’s situation, he reluctantly agrees to pose as the boyfriend to draw their enemy out. And as Alex and Eric work together in trying to find out who is after her, there is also a budding relationship that is becoming rebuilt over time between them, but while Eric is on board with Alex, Alex is busy with her project and creation and doesn’t want the distraction that Eric offers her. But Eric is determined to prove to Alex that they are worth fighting for.
What I Loved
I will be honest in that I had NO clue what I was really getting into with this one. I just went into it blindly. Its been so long since I read a Sarina Bowen and I had forgotten how entertaining her writing can be. I just found these two so captivating and just easily drew me into it. I absolutely adored both characters. They both were so delightful. I really understand where they each were coming from. This also has a unique take on accidental pregnancy that I think will work for most readers. As no the hero is NOT the father, but from her ex. I really found this element put in different. Normally we don’t see that type of aspect for a “Accidental Pregnancy” trope. I was drawn into the banter that is implemented. I absolutely adore it and it had me so charmed by the characters and the humor just added the right touch where this book will work for readers that enjoy either a serious toned story or are more romantic comedy type of readers for romance.
Tech used to be the luxury. Now it’s the lack of it that rich people really crave.
I want to say that I wanted to love this one more than I actually did. Not saying that I didn’t like it. Because I really enjoyed it. But the pacing quality was all over the place and the heroine was going hot and cold with the hero and I didn’t like the “cold shoulder” she would give him just because of other impressions people may have on her. I understood her motivations, I just didn’t think the hero did anything to deserve her scorn at times. I am picky when it comes to the heroine, and even though I understood her in some ways, I just didn’t agree with how she acted because the hero was GLORIOUS! He was such a gentleman and sexy and had such a caring strong heart.
The plot of the story was so interesting though. I was easily drawn into it here. I actually really enjoyed the growth of the story line that is implemented. It was SO different than anything that I have read from this author so far and I was intrigued to see where she would take it. It definitely delivered on some great strong points. I had such a delightful with the “danger” aspects to the story. It wasn’t overdone and really balanced well with the lighter toned side of the romance itself and the character’s bantering. If you like your suspense well balanced with the story then this story must be on your list.
“Baby,” I rasp. “I’m trying really hard here not to fall too deeply in love with you, but you don’t make it easy.” Alex buries her face against the messy sheets and laughs. “You are such a romantic.” “I know, right?” I flop a careless hand onto her soft hair. But even if my sentiment lacks finesse, it’s still true.
I want to make mention of the ending though. The ending was just not something I enjoyed at all. I am still wondering if that was a HEA, its definitely more of a HFN. It felt so abrupt to me though, and didn’t have a HEA vibe to it. Hopefully they stay together?? LOL
Overall View
I found Moonlighter to be a superb story that delivered a balance of suspense and light contemporary romantic fun that is guaranteed to curl your toes and bring a warm smile to your face! Definitely a keeper and one I would recommend to others.
Title: Moonlighter
Author: Sarina Bowen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: eBook
Source: Library
Length: 370 Pages
Book Links
Amazon| Barnes and Noble| Kobo| Goodreads| StoryGraph| Literal Club
Book Evaluation
Storytelling Quality: 4
Story Itself: 3.5
Character Development: 3.5
Writing Style: 4
World Building 4
Feels + The Romantic Heart 4
Pacing 3.5
Plot 4
Cover Art 4
Ending 3
Book Ratings
Overall Rating of the Book
Steam Level
Simmering—soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warm- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin’ up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.
Trigger Warning
Gun Violence, Domestic Violence
Series Order
The Company
Moonlighter-Pub 2019 #1 in the Series
Loverboy-Pub 2020 #2 in the Series
About The Author
Sarina Bowen is the twenty-time USA Today bestselling author of three dozen books, including: the True North series, and Brooklyn Hockey. She’s the co-author of Him/Us and the WAGs series with Elle Kennedy. She’s the author of The Ivy Years series, and more!
Are you looking for a friends-to-lovers story or maybe even a secret baby book? You can read a list of Sarina’s books broken out by trope and style.
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I have read a few books where the hero wasn’t the father. It’s always interesting to see how the hero will take to the baby. This hero was wonderful. I thought their childhood connection was sweet too.
I’m glad you enjoyed this one. I liked the whole hero wasn’t the father thing. I thought it was a different take and one I haven’t seen often in books. I think if you liked this one, you will enjoy book 2 as well.
I really enjoyed this one! I thought that the couple had a lot of chemistry and I agree that the fact that the hero wasn’t the father of her baby added an interesting element.