Book Review: Overnight Sensation by Sarina Bowen

Series: Brooklyn Bruisers Book #5

Format: ebook

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports/Hockey

Publisher: Self-Published

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

There's this girl...

Heidi and I have been trading hungry looks all year, and everything she does makes me smile. But I don't do girlfriends, and I certainly can't get involved with the league commissioner's daughter. I need shots on goal, not a hookup and a widely misunderstood paparazzi photo.

Can I resist her, though? The way she teases me should be a game penalty for interference with my libido. 

There's this guy...

Jason wants me, but he won't admit it. That man looks at me the way a hockey player eyes the lunch buffet after practice--and I love it. 

But when victory is finally within my grasp, I blow it and humiliate myself. Even then I can't even avoid him--as the team intern, I'm in constant view of his hard body and cocky smile. 

I need another chance. Jason Castro is about to learn the true meaning of an overnight sensation.

Review

I read this so fast-I only put it down because my kindle needed to be charged. Sarina Bowen always sucks me in. She has some sort of magic for my brain.

The world of the Brooklyn Bruisers is so well down. It feels so real and I love the found family of the team. I am always a sucker for male friendships. Becky and Heidi's relationship and interactions were also A+.

Heidi was a fun heroine, but not my favorite. I did like how hardworking she was. Heidi wanted to be independent and was willing to stand up for herself-including to Castro.

Castro was also great. I loved how he would quote Dickens and Shakespeare-and that this was just expected and understood by his teammates. His backstory was a little typical/cliche, but still worked and made me emotional.

They had a pretty fun romance. It's a pretty standard one-one night stand turns into more. But it was done well and I was rooting for them the whole time. I especially liked that they both supported each other and their goals. They do have great chemistry immediately.

Potential Spoiler:

I particularly liked that Castro wasn't afraid of Heidi's dad. And he was never afraid to stand up to him. I respect that.

This book was everything I wanted. Now, I want to know if there is another book coming, because I need Silas' story. He's intriguing and I'm always a fan of a goalie book. 

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Book Review: Bountiful by Sarina Bowen

Series: True North Book #4/Brooklyn Bruisers #3.5

Format: Trade Paperback

Pages: 312

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Christmas Gift

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Self-Published

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Once upon a time a cocky, copper-haired tourist sauntered into Zara’s bar. And even though she knew better, Zara indulged in a cure for the small-town blues. It was supposed to be an uncomplicated fling—a few sizzling weeks before he went back to his life, and she moved on. 

Until an accidental pregnancy changed her life. 

Two years later, she’s made peace with the notion that Dave No-Last-Name will never be found. Until one summer day when he walks into her coffee shop, leveling her with the same hot smile that always renders her defenseless.

Dave Beringer has never forgotten the intense month he spent with prickly Zara. Their nights together were the first true intimacy he’d ever experienced. But the discovery of his child is the shock of a lifetime, and his ugly past puts relationships and family out of reach.

Or does it? Vermont’s countryside has a way of nurturing even tortured souls. The fields and the orchards—and hard won love—are Bountiful.

Review

This isn't my favorite in the True North series, but its a nice addition. Seeing Zara from this perspective made me want to reread the first book. And it's always nice to see the Shippleys again.

Now, I'm not a huge fan of babies in stories-especially secret babies, but Ms. Bowen did a good job with it. And this was probably the most plausible secret baby book I've read. It helps that Nicole contributes to Dave's development. I especially liked when he would get frustrated about people stepping in whenever he would try to take care of her. 

Zara is a great character. So many author would've made her a one-dimensional "slut" in book 1 and been done with it. But not Sarina Bowen. She made her a real character with depth. Her unabashed sexuality is just a part of that.

Oh, and a special shout-out to the Brooklyn Bruisers-especially Castro. They were great friends to Dave and supported him during this tough time. and you know I love a good friendship.

I saw on Sarina Bowen's Instagram there's going to be a book about May and I am all about that.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Book Review: Brooklynaire by Sarina Bowen

Series: Brooklyn Bruisers Book #4

Format: ebook

Rating: 5 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Publisher: Self-Published

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

You’d think a billion dollars, a professional hockey team and a six-bedroom mansion on the Promenade would satisfy a guy. You’d be wrong.

For seven years Rebecca has brightened my office with her wit and her smile. She manages both my hockey team and my sanity. I don’t know when I started waking in the night, craving her. All I know is that one whiff of her perfume ruins my concentration. And her laugh makes me hard.

When Rebecca gets hurt, I step in to help. It’s what friends do. But what friends don’t do is rip off each others’ clothes for a single, wild night together.

Now she’s avoiding me. She says we’re too different, and it can never happen again. So why can’t we keep our hands off each other?

Review

I was so excited for this book. There were little bread crumbs for it throughout the previous books and I'm a huge sucker for sequel bait. And this was exactly what I needed. This feels like a nice cup of tea on a rainy day. It was pleasant and brightened my day.

Normally, Sarina Bowen books rip my heart out, but this was a treat. I loved spending time with Nate and Becca-individually and as a couple. I want to be friends with them! They are fantastic realistic and endearing characters. And its a very good friends-to-lovers romance.

Speaking of the romance-let's talk power dynamics. Generally, I avoid romances between a boss and employee because of the imbalance of power makes me super cringey. And it's even harder to handle in the hyper-aware world post Harvey Weinstein. but Ms. Bowen navigated this well. She acknowledged the potential issues and had Nate and Becca address them as mature thoughtful adults.

I can see this easily becoming a compulsive re-read for me-especially when I need a pick me up. Thank you, Sarina Bowen for still publishing this after Berkley dropped it. it's a fast favorite and I'm so happy it's part of my library.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: Hard Hitter by Sarina Bowen

Series: Brooklyn Bruisers Book #2
Format: Mass Market Paper Back
Pages: 336
Rating: 4 Stars
How I Got It: Purchased
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance
Publisher: Berkley Books

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

 

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...

Review

I honestly don't have much to say about this but I wanted to write something about it.

This was an enjoyable read with interesting and likable characters. The romance was nice and they had good chemistry. Sometimes Ari was a little annoying in her reactions. And the Becca/Nate thing! I must know more. Will there be a separate book or is it just going to be a secondary plot?

And I'm actually excited about the next book after some of the character information we got toward the end of this one.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Review: Rookie Move by Sarina Bowen

Series: Brooklyn Bruisers Book #1
Format: Ebook
Rating: 4 Stars
How I Got It: Purchased
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Hockey
Publisher: Berkley

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

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....

 
Review

I really enjoyed this. I am still a little upset I had to pay $7.99 for an ebook. Traditional publishing has a lot of problems and that's one of them. But I don't hold that against Sarina Bowen.

Speaking of, there were a lot of issues I couldn't overlook. Typos I'm pretty forgiving of, but continuity errors really bother me. They tend to pull me out of the story. If you are a major publishing house there is no reason a book you release has several continuity errors.

Since I considered this an editing issue and this isn't self-published it doesn't impact my rating. But I needed to get it off my chest.

Onto the actual book/story.

I love a good hockey romance-especially with fantastic characters. Georgia is a kick-ass woman. She's very passionate about her job and is very ambitious As a young woman myself I admire her. And her dreams are no less valid than Leo's. He is also fun and very sweet. He isn't your traditional hockey hero and isn't afraid to show his love for Georgia.

The side characters were also well done. But this is Sarina Bowen-I shouldn't be surprised. I loved Silas and am sad because I feel like he will never get his own book. Nate and Becca though. I'm smelling sequel bait and it better happen because I need to know the story about those two. And Nate seems like he wouldn't be a traditional billionaire hero.

The romance was on the steamy side. Sometimes that can be a bit much but it worked. It helps that Ms. Bowen shows Leo and Georgia talking, too. Reunited lovers is one of my favorite tropes so that was a plus. One thing did feel a little rushed though.

I also loved seeing the other Trevi family members. D.J. is one of my favorite Bowen heroes. So, whenever he was around I was happy.

And now I have to wait until January for the next book. I don't want to wait!

Thanks for reading!
Holly