Kyla has tried so hard to be one of the boys. She was always like a little sister to Tag. One summer, things changed from sibling teasing to blazing sexual tension. When they’re reunited for a two-family reunion, the desire and lust are still there, simmering below the surface.Tag is a pro hockey player who is cynical about women. He knows they’re only interested in him because of who he is. Kyla is an attorney who’s still trying to be “one of the boys” at her law firm. They’re both adults and neither of them is looking for a relationship. A hot summer week at the lake. Need. Attraction. There’s no reason they shouldn’t explore each other.
Kelly Jamieson is a USA Today bestselling author of over 70 romance novels and novellas. Her writing has been described as “emotionally complex,” “sweet and satisfying,” and “blisteringly sexy.” She likes black coffee, white wine and high heels…and of course cheering on her Winnipeg Jets during hockey season! She loves hearing from readers, so please visit her website at www.kellyjamieson.com.
I didn't think it fair to rate this book as I didn't finish it. I very much enjoyed the first book in the series and was looking forward to reading this one. It started out great and I was a happy camper. But then we got to the first love scene and the book lost me. The hero/heroine have known each other for years; they grew up together. He was like the big brother and she the little sister. She started getting different kinds of feelings for him in her late teens, hello, what girl wouldn't? He's gorgeous and a great athlete headed for stardom. But he wisely shut her down knowing they were both too young and he was just starting a pro career.
Years later they meet when both families plan a weeks vacation in their cottages on the lake. Sparks fly once again and this time they are older and more mature.
Sounds good doesn't it? I thought so. But then comes the first love scene and our hero brings a bag of sex toys. WTF?? He's on a "family" vacation with mom and pop and his 3 brothers??? For a weeks vacation?? I couldn't understand the reasoning behind this. Plus this was their first encounter of the close action kind and I thought that also strange. What if the heroine wasn't a fan of the kink. You would think this would be a warning sign. They should have at least done the Nast first and then in pillow talk after he could say something like "How be I bring the ball gag, tape, paddle and dildo next time?". At least heroine would have some kind of warning hero liked games besides that of hockey.
It was at this point I had to give this one up. I can't say anything about the writing, up until that scene I was digging it. And I don't want to penalize the author for my own personal bugaboo.
Hopefully I can post this without having to star it. I shall find out in a moment
Shorter than the previous (120 pages vs. 190), therefore less characterization more tell than show and a shorter time frame - the whole story happens in less than 2 weeks. This left me hungry for more, I felt there were too many open questions by the end, too much change hinted but not done yet or not confirmed - Kyra had worked on improving her life balance for 5 days; good for her but after years of abuse, much more time is required to lead to a real longlasting improvement. Not very convincing for me, though I liked the friends to lovers part.
Seeing as yesterday was hockey's version of the Super Bowl, with the Winter Classic (even though I'm a Blackhawks fan, I did have to cheer on the NY Rangers with fellow Rochester, NY native, Ryan Callahan), I thought it appropriate to read a hockey story. And this one did not disappoint!
Kyla is an overachieving, overworked lawyer trying to make partner at her law firm. She sacrifices everything, even outings with her family, in order to prove to the old boys network that she's worthy of partner. But maternal guilt and resentment of her treatment at work have her throwing her suitcase together and driving to the families lakeside cottage for a week vacation with her family and their cloth family friends, the neighbors the Hellers.
Kyla has thought of all the Heller brothers as an extension of her family, with the exception of Tag. He was her teenage crush that went no where. But seeing him again has stirred up all those teenage feelings and hormones into a woman's lust filled cravings of a boy who has grown into a seriously hot man. Kyla fights her feelings, while sneaking peeks at Tag, but keeps reminding herself that her life is her job and making partner and messing around with Tag won't get her anywhere.
Tag, burned by women who only see him as a hockey player and the size of his wallet, has the same reaction to Kyla. But he doesn't get serious with women anymore and he's afraid Kyla's brother would beat the crap out of him for even touching their sister. But Tag's not as good as Kyla in fighting his feelings for her and convinces Kyla that a week long fling isn't such a bad idea.
Kyla and Tag are hot together. She doesn't shy away from his kinky bag of tricks (literally) and sees Tag the man. Tag shows Kyla how to have fun, both inside and outside of the tent, and what's been missing in her life as she wastes away inside the four walls of her law firm. Despite their vows that this week together was just a fling, you can see how each of them fight their feelings for each other and that when the week ends, neither of them are going to be happy.
The story was enjoyable and a way to escape to those summer months where you long to be lazy and to let loose.
This was a hot and sweet continuation from Breakaway that features Jase's older brother, Tag and Kyla, a childhood friend of the family.
The writing was smoother than Breakaway and I loved the friends-to-lovers vibe. It was just as hot as Breakaway but way too short and no hockey action!
childhood friends + lawyer + jock + No epilogue + very short + everything happens without much development of the story ------------ And I wonder this: you take a bag full of sex toys for a week vacation with your family? (Father, mother, brothers and sisters-in-law, friends of the family and children.) O.o
This was a sweet friends to lovers story. Kyla was the only girl within the two families that grew up together. Kyla was always trying to be one of the boys but could never quite keep up. In their teen years, Kyla made a play for Tag, but Tag held her off. So now, the families are getting back together for a rare reunion of sorts, and Kyla and Tag can't ignore their chemistry. They decide to do no-strings sex. Neither of them wants a relationship. We all know what that means in these stories, lol. Anyhoo... Tag had a decently kinky streak. Good thing Kyla already trusted him! I thought it was so funny that everyone knew what was happening between them while they were trying so hard to act normal. Even Tag's MOM asked Kyla where it was going! AWKWARD! Anyway, a cute story overall. Pretty steamy sex between Kyla and Tag.
I got this series as a box set for a bargain price.
This book read as a short. I was waiting for the issue for the H/h and instead got an ending. The issues that the individual characters were facing were solved without incident. The main problem presented was "what will everyone think?" and that was solved with a single conversation.
Querks that made me wonder. What person takes their BDSM goodie bag on a family camping/ holiday cottage trip where you KNOW you will be sharing with a sibling and have no privacy??? I could understand a little improv' along BDSM lines when you are in a tent, behind the cottage your respective families are staying in, but ball gags??? That stretches belief.
This was a cute, but somewhat forgettable, short-ish story.
I LOVE the Heller brothers! I fell in love with Jace in Breakaway, and each book gets better and better. Tag is one of my favorites, and I love that his heroine is a childhood friend with the potential of more.
I'm a sucker for a sexy sports series, and The Heller Brothers puts extra steam and sexiness into hockey! If your a fan of sports erotic romance, check out the Hellers!
This is book two in the Heller Brothers series. I liked this book much better than the first. Tag Heller is the oldest hockey playing brother in this series. His team in Phoenix has just been bought and brought to Winnipeg, where Tag is originally from. As captain and from the area he is the face of this new NHL team. Not really his comfort zone. His parents have a cabin on a lake and the whole family is coming for a week. He needs a break from his PR role.
Kyla is almost a partner in her law firm. She is waiting to hear the good news. However, she has lost weight, having panic attacks, grinding her teeth, stomach problems and having headaches. She has no life but work. Her mom asks her to come to the cabin at the lake for next week. The Heller’s, who live next door will all be there too. Kyla feels she needs to stay to cement this partnership. She discovers the decision has now been put off for a few more weeks and admits she is a mess and heads to the lake.
Kyla isn’t at the lake two minutes when she ends up fainting in front of both families. Kyla and Tag have always been attracted to each other but never acted on it. They are spending quite a bit of time together.
We get a bit of an epilogue w book one, Jace and Remi. I think Jace’s team made it to the Stanley Cup but lost. Jace wants to do a paternity test on the baby Brianne is carrying and claims is his. A peak at his other two brothers and his parents.
This review was originally posted on my review blog Deanna Reads Books I liked faceoff a little bit better than Breakaway, but I wish it was just a little bit longer. It would have great to have a little bit more characterizations too. But if you are looking for a short and sexy book, I would recommend this one.
I don't read a lot of books that deal with kink, so this one was a little bit of a surprise for me. Because Tag brings out his "bag of goodies" during the first intimate scene with Kyla. I know a lot of other readers didn't like this because they felt like it felt so weird. I was just surprised by it, because I wasn't expecting it in this book. It didn't bother me though.
I love friends to lovers, so I loved the idea of these two finally getting together after all these years. They did struggle with ending the fling, because clearly they had feelings for each other!
I think the one thing that bothered me about this one, was that there was no hockey action at all! I love reading hockey romances because I love the sport, so I like reading scenes about the dudes playing or the women watching the game, and I think this book was just too short to get into that.
I stumbled upon Kelly Jamieson on Radish when she released the first Heller book Breakaway on their app. When I found out it was a book I bought it and for the most part I loved it. Then I found the Ace Hockey series before reading this one. And I have to say you can see a HUGE difference in how she grew as an author. This book for the most part was ok. I was interested, but didn't get sucked in like other series that she has written.
It was pretty short book, but I kinds liked it. It's still understandable that they fell in love with each other so quick since they've known each other all their lives. Butttt the first official sex scene kinda through me off.. That kinky bag inside that tent. Idk I didn't see Tag as that kinda man since I read Hat Tick before his book (I wanted to know what went down with Jase and Remi not realizing all three of them make an appearance.. oops). Anyways besides the fact that the writing style of the book sounded like someone just talking about a story it as pretty good. I enjoyed it.
The first book of this series was so good, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the second! I loved how Tag is older and Kyla is a driven career woman. This book, however, it lost me with the glass dildo. The first time they hookup, while on a family vacation, he brings out all kinds of bondage play? While some tape sounds like a fun, totally believable option, an entire bag of play things? And he tells/shows them all to her? *Insert Skeptical Look*
I tried to keep reading after that, but all I kept thinking was how I just couldn't believe a glass dildo with hearts on it. And seriously...what girl would want their guy to use HIS dildo on them? I mean, who else has that been in and we all know men aren't the best cleaners... Maybe I'm too vanilla but that just seems gross to me.
I'm not sure why, but I just didn't feel like the characters were as robust as the first book. They had backstories, so I'm not sure why I didn't connect with them...but I just didn't.
Tag Heller was living the perfect life in California. Had a home on the beach, played for an NHL team, until that team was sold and now he’s moving to Winnipeg. Sure, his parents live there, so that’s nice. But trading the sun and beach for frigid winters, not so much. Before the season starts, his family is spending a week in their summer home on the lake. Kyla MacIntosh is trying to make partner in all all boys attorney firm. She has been so stressed, that she decides to take a week off and visit her family in Winnipeg. Since they are going with their neighbors, the Heller’s, to their summer home. She hasn’t seen any of the Heller brothers in years. Growing up she always had a crush on Tag Heller. As they reconnect, their chemistry is off the charts. So why not have a fling for a week. However, at the end of the week everything becomes more complicated. This was a fabulous read!
I hate this, but I debated between 2.5 and 3 stars for Faceoff for a long time. It got the extra .5 stars because I liked how it dealt with having to make a work/personal life balance and the pressures of being a woman in a male dominated workplace. I also liked the idea of two people who had grown up together reconnecting and falling in love. There were some pretty sweet moments. What ruined the story for me was the place Tag and Kyla's sexual relationship went and how quickly it got there. Tag's bag of tricks threw me off, and wasn't quite believable. I mean, I don't know ANYONE who would bring that bag to a week getaway at a lake with their parents. I could have done without all that. I'm sad this book wasn't a hit for me because I love Jamieson's writing and the first book in this series.
This one was a lot shorter than the previous book. I liked meeting the new characters & seeing glimpses of the previous ones. These two had good chemistry & I loved that they’d been friends since childhood & that their families were so close. I also loved how ambitious & intelligent Kyla was, and how mature but playful Tag was. I do have to say though that him bringing a suitcase or whatever full of kinky sex toys—on a *family* trip, no less—was a bit ridiculous. Also, I couldn’t help but find the narrators strong midwestern (Minnesotan?) accent comical in some places & distracting in others.
I thoroughly enjoyed Tag and Kyla's story. I enjoyed their shared childhood history, and loved how they came together in this book. I loved the tent scenarios, and how the brothers tried to claim it after Tag had set it up for his purpose alone. I enjoyed how Kyla learned to stand up for what she truly wants, and allowed herself to consider her possibilities and explore her options.
A referral to this book is what brought this series to my attention, and I did enjoy this book specifically.
3.5 stars, so I rounded up While these 2 are good for each other, I had a few things that bothered me. I liked that Kyla was smart and strong, but the way she views herself had me struggling with her success. I did like seeing her find her confidence and balance, but didn't like the way it happened. I also didn't feel like we got a lot of info on Tag. I mean, we know who he is but I wished for more on what makes him tick. I'm really glad these 2 were able to face what was keeping them apart and come into their own. I like these families and will continue with the series.
Kyla is an overworked lawyer finally taking time off to relax with her family and neighbors including her childhood crush Tag, for a week. They instantly reconnect and start a week long romance with intend of just casual. Both end up over their heads and falling for each other. Quick paced, smooth storyline, second in series so a little out of loop but not overwhelming. Steamy and cute.
It was a good book. My main issue with it was in their first sexual encounter, Tag brought out all of these toys leading the reader to believe things were going to get fun. But they were never used. What’s the purpose of including it if you are not going to use them? It was hot, and there was good chemistry. It was just good.
2.5 ⭐️ I struggled with this one as I started this series out of order. I just didn't feel the chemistry here between them and couldn't buy Tag and Kyla's relationship. Grew up together, and both families are close. Family weekend/reunion at the cottage w/ little to no interaction in years between tbese to makes it hard to buy in.
These books are so cute and sweet and spicy! I love me a good hockey romance, and I find myself coming back to a few over and over again through the years, this series being one of them. I love Tag so much. I swear, if I could find me a man like this, I would never let go! And I loved seeing how Kyla learned to relax and let go, though I am always disappointed in her job choice at the end lol
This series feels off, Tag & Kyla have danced around each other for years with both families being deeply entwined. They try to hide their attraction, but of course everyone see through them. Actual interactions between them are bizarre. 2 adults in a tent in backyard with a little BDSM while both families are within earshot
Another good, solid installment to the series, likeable characters who you rooted for from the beginning. Some parts felt a little rushed for me and the ending seemed very abrupt. But a good read none the less.
Absolutely no plot. At all. It's just about them and....... that's it. Like, pretty dumb second-guesses and good chemistry. The End. Good things about it: it's a fast fast read, it's enjoyable (to a point) and it was free.
Honestly so fucking cute, I can't- like omfg they're adorable, I love some cute childhood crush to lovers, along with the whole knowing eachother through family but never really seeing eachother as family, it's so cute, and I love how supportive everyone was
I enjoyed the story, but it felt like it was building to something bigger than the way it ended. Hopefully the unanswered questions get fleshed out along the way in the other brothers’ stories.
Oh, Kyla. I don’t know how you thought you’d resist Tag. He finally gave in to what he’d always wanted and it was spectacular. Love, love love this book!