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Blue Line Hockey #7
Cherrypicker
Derry Cronwell has only wanted two things in life, to be able to play professional hockey and the freedom to make his own choices in life. When he finally manages to land a spot on the Hawks’ farm team, he hopes to finally have both of his dreams come true. There are only a couple of problems. First, Derry’s brother, Pat is the captain of the Cougars—the Hawks’ biggest rivals—Second, Derry is terrified that his deepest secret will finally get out—that he’s gay and has a massive crush on Hawk’s defenseman, Fallon.
Fallon and the Cougars have a grudge that goes back for years, so the last thing he wants is one of their bratty little brothers on his team. But as he gets to know Derry, Fallon finds himself drawn to the timid offense man. Then Fallon finds out just how bad Derry’s private life is, and he knows he will do anything to help the other man. Will Fallon be able to rescue Derry from all his demons?
Fallon and the Cougars have a grudge that goes back for years, so the last thing he wants is one of their bratty little brothers on his team. But as he gets to know Derry, Fallon finds himself drawn to the timid offense man. Then Fallon finds out just how bad Derry’s private life is, and he knows he will do anything to help the other man. Will Fallon be able to rescue Derry from all his demons?
85 pages, ebook
First published July 1, 2012
6 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Stephani Hecht
250 books862 followersStephani Hecht is a happily married mother of two. Born and raised in Michigan, she loves all things about the state, from the frigid winters to the Detroit Red Wings hockey team. Go Wings! You can usually find her snuggled up to her laptop, creating her next book or gorging on caffeine at her favorite coffee shop.
When she’s not running around like crazy, trying to get her kids to their various activities, she’s currently working on numerous projects. In the coming months, she has several books coming out with eXtasy Books in both The Lost Shifter Series and Drone Vampire Chronicles, plus a few additional projects that are still in the development stages.
Visit Stephani on the web at:
Email her at:
archangelwriter@yahoo.com
When she’s not running around like crazy, trying to get her kids to their various activities, she’s currently working on numerous projects. In the coming months, she has several books coming out with eXtasy Books in both The Lost Shifter Series and Drone Vampire Chronicles, plus a few additional projects that are still in the development stages.
Visit Stephani on the web at:
Email her at:
archangelwriter@yahoo.com
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 24, 2012
Is it me or is Stephani's books getting shorter and shorter? I am a big fan of Stephani Hecht and its taking all of my power to continue to do so. This is my list favorite of her series. Books dealing with the Canton brothers were nice. The one with Sergi was nice as well.
However, the series is going straight downhill. With this book, we have one of the MCs who is getting abused by his brother. I don't have a problem with abuse MC's. What I do have a problem with is no closure. We are left with more questions and no answers. This book felt more of an outline than a book and that's saying something since the stories are pretty thin to begin with. I got to the end and was like WTF. Is this it? What about his brother? What was the outcome of that situation? Did the MC find out how much money his brother was stealing from his trust fund? How could a whole hockey team beat up on one person constantly and no one did anything? How come nothing was done when it came to light? Questions like that.
I'm not even sure if I want to continue with the rest of this series. It was still better than the previous stories though. So, alas it gets 2 stars from me.
However, I left this story with the thought, "If you are not going to tell a whole story, then what's the point?"
However, the series is going straight downhill. With this book, we have one of the MCs who is getting abused by his brother. I don't have a problem with abuse MC's. What I do have a problem with is no closure. We are left with more questions and no answers. This book felt more of an outline than a book and that's saying something since the stories are pretty thin to begin with. I got to the end and was like WTF. Is this it? What about his brother? What was the outcome of that situation? Did the MC find out how much money his brother was stealing from his trust fund? How could a whole hockey team beat up on one person constantly and no one did anything? How come nothing was done when it came to light? Questions like that.
I'm not even sure if I want to continue with the rest of this series. It was still better than the previous stories though. So, alas it gets 2 stars from me.
However, I left this story with the thought, "If you are not going to tell a whole story, then what's the point?"
August 22, 2012
A sweet story about the brother of one of the Cougars, the arch enemies who joins the team with the rest of the gang. The team is expecting to hate him because of his association with his brother, but it soon becomes clear he's nothing like his brother and is now the target of their hate and has been abused since a child. He's taken under the wing of the surliest player who soon has him standing up for himself.
My only issue was when he is attacked and nearly killed by the brother, he agrees to go to the police (and it also seems the brother has emptied his trust fund) but then it ends. I wanted to see the guy brought to justice.
My only issue was when he is attacked and nearly killed by the brother, he agrees to go to the police (and it also seems the brother has emptied his trust fund) but then it ends. I wanted to see the guy brought to justice.
August 6, 2012
I love these series (although I skipped the previous book) and this one was nice and sweet too, with a tad of angst as usual from this author. I just find it a bit unrealistic, that almost everyone in this hockey team seems to be gay. It doesn't spoil my enjoyment too much, but I can't help but feel a little like with 'everyone is gay' fanfics.
July 2, 2012
I love the series , and the stories just either i read quicker this time or the stories seem smaller each time. i loved both charachters just the ending seemed very abrupt i wanted to know more xx
September 15, 2016
Nice concept, fell short as it felt rushed and underdeveloped. I can do insta-attraction, but everything else was just too quick for me.
September 2, 2012
When I’m in the mood for a well-written romance that will leave me with a smile on my face, I’ll grab a book by Stephani Hecht. Her books never fail to entertain me and they always give me an hour or two of a nice escape from my everyday life. The Blue Line series is one of my favorites by her. I’ve enjoyed every one of these books and I’m looking forward to reading more of this series.
Derry is not your usual hockey player. He’s smaller than most, and he’s had to overcome a lot of mental abuse from his older brother, Pat. Pat is a successful hockey player who likes to taunt and cruelly torment Derry, but the young hockey player’s sheer determination to do what he loves (which is to play hockey) and try to live his own life makes him a strong career driven man, even though Derry doesn’t always believe it himself.
When Derry receives an offer to play for the Hawks he knows he’s got a hard road ahead of him. His brother is a key player for the Hawks main rivalry, the Cougars, and Pat is notorious at playing dirty on and off the field. This has tainted Derry’s own reputation. But almost as soon as Derry joins the team, the other teammates start seeing Derry is nothing like his older brother. He soon becomes close friends with other teammates, but try as he might, there is one player that Derry wants to be liked and respected by on and off the field. Fallon.
Fallon has hated the Cougars and Derry’s brother, and he fully expected Derry would be as much of a jerk as his older brother. And although he immediately tries to see the worse in Derry, there is a sweet goodness about him that Fallon can’t ignore. Despite his best efforts, Fallon quickly starts to realize that behind Derry’s determination to be a key, respected player for the Hawks, there is also a heart of gold inside him. Soon, Fallon finds himself liking and falling for Derry and when he finds out how cruel Derry’s older brother really is, he becomes determined to do what he can to support Derry and to have the young man in his heart and arms forever.
I really liked this book. It’s a great addition to this wonderful series and I enjoyed revisiting some of the main characters from the other books in the series. Both heroes are stubborn and strong-willed enough to work through the many obstacles that are thrown their way. Although I really liked both of them, Derry was my favorite hero. He has a lot of overcome, but manages to work through both those professional and personal barriers with a strength that I really came to admire. I also enjoyed watching Derry and Fallon become close and fall in love. All in all, this feel-good story really was what I needed today and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Here are the Blue Line books in series order:
Offside Pass
Between the Pipes
Cup Check
Blind Pass
Change on the Fly
Playing the Point
Cherrypicker
Derry is not your usual hockey player. He’s smaller than most, and he’s had to overcome a lot of mental abuse from his older brother, Pat. Pat is a successful hockey player who likes to taunt and cruelly torment Derry, but the young hockey player’s sheer determination to do what he loves (which is to play hockey) and try to live his own life makes him a strong career driven man, even though Derry doesn’t always believe it himself.
When Derry receives an offer to play for the Hawks he knows he’s got a hard road ahead of him. His brother is a key player for the Hawks main rivalry, the Cougars, and Pat is notorious at playing dirty on and off the field. This has tainted Derry’s own reputation. But almost as soon as Derry joins the team, the other teammates start seeing Derry is nothing like his older brother. He soon becomes close friends with other teammates, but try as he might, there is one player that Derry wants to be liked and respected by on and off the field. Fallon.
Fallon has hated the Cougars and Derry’s brother, and he fully expected Derry would be as much of a jerk as his older brother. And although he immediately tries to see the worse in Derry, there is a sweet goodness about him that Fallon can’t ignore. Despite his best efforts, Fallon quickly starts to realize that behind Derry’s determination to be a key, respected player for the Hawks, there is also a heart of gold inside him. Soon, Fallon finds himself liking and falling for Derry and when he finds out how cruel Derry’s older brother really is, he becomes determined to do what he can to support Derry and to have the young man in his heart and arms forever.
I really liked this book. It’s a great addition to this wonderful series and I enjoyed revisiting some of the main characters from the other books in the series. Both heroes are stubborn and strong-willed enough to work through the many obstacles that are thrown their way. Although I really liked both of them, Derry was my favorite hero. He has a lot of overcome, but manages to work through both those professional and personal barriers with a strength that I really came to admire. I also enjoyed watching Derry and Fallon become close and fall in love. All in all, this feel-good story really was what I needed today and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Here are the Blue Line books in series order:
Offside Pass
Between the Pipes
Cup Check
Blind Pass
Change on the Fly
Playing the Point
Cherrypicker
Read
January 24, 2023Another good story in the series (it's amazing how many gay hockey players there are in these teams!) with a focus on a serious subject. Every aspect of Derry's life is controlled by his brother and his brother has a terrible reputation.
Derry's brother is captain of the Cougars, one of the roughest and least accepting teams. Derry is very afraid that his brother will discover he is gay.
Derry joins the Hawks, the Cougars biggest rivals and also the team his crush, Fallon, plays for. The story focuses on Derry's relationship with Fallon and the challenge of Derry playing in games versus the Cougars and facing his brother's wrath on the ice.
As per some of the earlier books, the story felt a little short and it would have been nice to see a longer book with a more deeper look at the characters.
On a side note, the books are all quite short, only about 70-80 pages long, with prices varying from AU$4 to AU$5 per book. I read them all in one day, back-to-back, and am not sure I felt I got good value for my money. Yes, I liked the series but adding the total cost of 8 books makes it relatively expensive (or maybe I am just a scrooge!)
Derry's brother is captain of the Cougars, one of the roughest and least accepting teams. Derry is very afraid that his brother will discover he is gay.
Derry joins the Hawks, the Cougars biggest rivals and also the team his crush, Fallon, plays for. The story focuses on Derry's relationship with Fallon and the challenge of Derry playing in games versus the Cougars and facing his brother's wrath on the ice.
As per some of the earlier books, the story felt a little short and it would have been nice to see a longer book with a more deeper look at the characters.
On a side note, the books are all quite short, only about 70-80 pages long, with prices varying from AU$4 to AU$5 per book. I read them all in one day, back-to-back, and am not sure I felt I got good value for my money. Yes, I liked the series but adding the total cost of 8 books makes it relatively expensive (or maybe I am just a scrooge!)
January 18, 2015
Installment 7 in the Blue Line hockey series. Could be read standalone but would be a bit confusing without reading the previous installments.
I've enjoyed all these books and this is no different, though I do read with reality suspended!
In this story, Derry has to learn to stand up to his bully brother and Fallon and the rest of the team help. Derry was a bit of a contrast, tough hockey player on one hand and the victim of abuse on the other. The story ends just as Derry is starting to regain himself from his brother, so its up to us readers to decide how Derry and Fallon get on.
I've enjoyed all these books and this is no different, though I do read with reality suspended!
In this story, Derry has to learn to stand up to his bully brother and Fallon and the rest of the team help. Derry was a bit of a contrast, tough hockey player on one hand and the victim of abuse on the other. The story ends just as Derry is starting to regain himself from his brother, so its up to us readers to decide how Derry and Fallon get on.
August 27, 2012
Maybe it's my own fault for trying a new-to-me author by reading a series story out of order, but this was really unsatisfying. The characters weren't fleshed out very well, and by the end, things still felt unresolved.
[Edit: Apparently, I read book #4 last year and barely remember it. Despite my love of m/m sports romance, this series is not for me.]
[Edit: Apparently, I read book #4 last year and barely remember it. Despite my love of m/m sports romance, this series is not for me.]
December 2, 2012
I love books that can make me cry and this book is one of the most touching books I have read in a while. As always, Ms. Hecht does an exceptional job of portraying character's heartbreaks and struggles. I absolutely loved it and stayed up late to finish it.
March 25, 2024
Blue line hockey 7
D is the younger brother of hockey thug who’s been verbally and physically abusing him for years, after he’s transferred to a better team he finds both friends and love in the form of team enforcer F
D is the younger brother of hockey thug who’s been verbally and physically abusing him for years, after he’s transferred to a better team he finds both friends and love in the form of team enforcer F
July 2, 2012
3.5 stars
July 28, 2012
2.5 stars
November 11, 2014
3.5 stars
May 31, 2013
Wasn'tvery memorable. Not bad Not Great. Middle of the road. I wish there was more on the psychological effects of abuse...
April 23, 2017
This felt half finished. :(
September 27, 2012
This would have been a whole lot better if it hadn't suddenly ended.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews