Underneath It All

Storm #2

by Cassandra Carr

Professional hockey player Rob D'Amico is confused when he's chosen to take part in a reading program for inner-city students. While athletes are role models, he tends toward the gregarious and playful side, rather than a studious bent.

Despite the lack of funding plaguing her inner-city district, every day kindergarten teacher Alaina Rossa ensures her students learn something to prepare them for life. At first she's unsure how a hockey player will help her achieve that goal.

When Rob visits Alaina's class for the first time, they welcome him with open arms, despite the lack of even the basic supplies for their education. He takes it upon himself to get the students what they need, sweeping Alaina up in the excitement.

As time goes by and she learns more about Rob, Alaina finds her heart opening to him. Is it possible her soul mate could be found in a world so different from her own? And for Rob, the last person he thought he'd find forever love with was an elementary school teacher wearing clothes permanently stained with finger paint. But when you're playing for keeps, sometimes you have to get a little dirty.

Genres: Hockey, Sports, Hockey Romance, Romance, Sports Romance

268 pages, ebook

First published October 20, 2013

About the author

Cassandra Carr is a multi-award winning romance writer. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out online. Cassandra's books have won numerous "Best Book Of" awards and her novella Unexpected Top was nominated in the E-book Erotic Romance category of RT's Reviewers' Choice Awards.

She thinks the best part of being a writer is penning stories about love and sex while most others struggle with commutes, micro-managing bosses and cranky co-workers.

Website http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassand...
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr
Email AuthorCassandraCarr AT gmail.com

Reviews

[Mary Hefferman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story

This was a wonderful story. Storyline was smooth and exciting. Makes me want to read more. Cannot wait to read the next book.

[Nicole Dunton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rob is a hockey player who is dedicated to his sport. He decides to donate his time reading to a local kindergarten class. However, he is horrified to find the classroom lacking many of the things he felt should be in there. He convinces the teacher, Alaina to let him donate to the classroom so the kids can have the materials they need. He never expected to fall for the beautiful modest woman, and he didn't expect her to feel the same.

I really adored this book. I liked it even better than the first book! And that says a lot being that I thought the first book was so sweet and hilarious. Rob is a really amazing guy and it showed in the first book, but this book is actually his story. It was nice to really get to know him. I have no problems with this book at all. It was really adorable!

I listened to the audio book of this, so I feel it's only fair to review the narrators as well as the author and the story. I can't say enough how amazing and talented these two are. This is not the first audio book I've heard that these two narrated. They definitely put a lot of extra into the story. They make you feel like you are literally part of the story.

I fully recommend this book. The book was awe inspiring. What they did for the children in this book to help make sure that they got the most of their education was amazing. I wish that there could be people like that everywhere. The love story was amazing as well. Just wanted to root for both of them the whole way through! Such amazing characters!

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second installment in the The Storm series is a sweet story that shows the slow build-up of a relationship between the kind-hearted Rob and the quiet and pristine teacher Alaina. It reacquaints us with hockey players seen in the first installment and brings the love story of Sebastian and Sarah to an immensely happy conclusion while leaving yet another cliffhanger to end this story.

Alaina teaches at a poor inner-city school and thus feels the pains of living frugally. She's a standoffish woman at first, untrusting of everyone, but is soon won over by Rob's kindness. She wants more for her students, and for herself, so Rob's visits become a welcome occurrence. He gives her the financial means to help her students and the emotional support to keep fighting for those kids. He makes her feel good about herself but also self-conscious as she doesn't want to be a kept woman dependent on his help. She's grateful for him but is angered by how easy things are for him too. It's an emotionally difficult relationship at times that leads her to many tearful moments but immensely satisfying too as seen by the numerous steamy encounters and quiet moments of cuddling.

Rob is a strong-willed person not like other athletes as he's frugal with his money and only wants to do good. He doesn't want to live in the spotlight, he just wants to be appreciated for the man he is rather than the athlete. He's the perfect boyfriend saying and doing many sigh-worthy actions. He's a supportive boyfriend who's always there to build her confidence whenever she doubts her appeal. Even when he's at his lowest emotionally, after sustaining an injury, he's still a sweet and supportive man.

Ms. Carr brings the game of hockey to life in realistic scenes both on and off the ice that depict all that a player goes through on a daily basis. The hockey scenes were nicely balanced with the burgeoning romance to allow for a slow build-up, almost too slow at times. There's no big misunderstandings to keep them apart, it's all emotional issues stemming from their financial differences. Financial differences also allow for a subtle commentary on lack of school funding that is brought up throughout the story and continue to bind Alaina and Rob together. Overall, this was an enjoyable read that went on a bit too long with no real roadblocks to a HEA left hanging. I'm curious to see where things go for these two and the rest of The Storm in a future installment.

[Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

•••I listened to the Audible Audio Edition of this book•••



Wen Ross and Kai Kennicott have brought get another story to amazing life! I really enjoy the way they play off each other and make each and every character unique! And I adore the way they stay true to each character's original persona and voice from book to book. It is an amazing feat of their talents to stay so consistent after what I have to believe has to be quite a while between projects! Bravo :)


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The Don & The Kindergarden Teacher?


This series must be listened to (or read) in order. The first book is Should've Known Better. This is the second book. I can't wait to listen to Scorin' on the Fourth of July!


Finding out he has been "volunteered" to participate in an early intervention reading program kind of annoys Rob. What about him says "reading to little kids sounds fun" ?! There is no getting out of it though so he decides not to fight the inevitable. Arriving at the school and having the most gorgeous woman snarling at him and being all Mama Bear over her charges though? That is intriguing! He is drawn to her like he never has been to any other woman EVER... So he decides to make the most of his time at the school. Who knows, maybe he can impress her and she just might agree to go on a date with him! Can he win Elena over? Will she ever agree to go out on a date with him? Will she ever take him seriously? Or will he always be the rich entitled pro athlete bad boy in her eyes?


Elena believes wholeheartedly that reading is important for her student. She doesn't see how pro athletes could possibly help her kids to learn to read better. How can this possibly be a good idea?! And why is she so drawn to the one who is there to read to her class? Why does he seem interested? How could a gorgeous man like him even be remotely interested in a frumpy school teacher like her? Is she just some new conquest for him? Or should she give him a real chance?


***This chicklit contemporary sports romances series is suitable for adult readers who enjoy some drama, uncertainty and misconceptions and quite a bit of humor before the requisite HEA :)

[8o's · Rating 5 out of 5]

Underneath It All is Cassandra Carr's second book in her Storm hockey series. Each book can be read as a stand alone book.

In Underneath It All, hockey player Rob D'Amico is missing his roommate Sebastian. Sebastian (from Should've Known Better) has moved in with his girlfriend Sarah so Rob no longer has a roommate. But all three are still great friends and hang out together. I loved the first book so it was great to see Sebastian & Sarah a lot in this second book.

Rob, as a professional hockey player, is picked to read to inner school kids. On his first day, he meets kindergarten teacher Alaina Rossa. Rob is intrigued with Alaina right of the bat but Alaina is slow to warm up to him. I really liked that. There is no insta-love in this novel. Rob and Alaina's relationship progresses slowly, at a normal similar to real-life pace. For me personally I am kind of burnt out on insta-love stories so this was a nice change from what I have been reading lately.

Overall, I really enjoyed Underneath It All. The romance was interesting, the side-plots were great, and the best part is all the hockey scenes. For me, there is nothing better then reading a hockey romance during hockey season! Cassandra Carr definitely knows her hockey even though The Storm is a fictional team. Highly recommend this story.

I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Phuong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't get enough of reading hockey romance stories written by author Cassandra Carr and I have to admit, I don't really watch this sport. This author has managed to get me hooked with her amazing storytelling and likeable characters. Underneath It All is Rob's story and I've been dying for him to get his own since first meeting him in Should've Known Better as Sebastian's roommate and team mate. We all got to see Rob as the carefree and funny guy in book 1 of this series, but in this one, another side emerges that is so endearing. He shows that he is not just a dumb, selfish hockey player when he agrees to do a reading for kindergarten kids at an inner school. Here, Rob truly shows his more sensitive, kindhearted and tender side who wants to makes a difference in the lives of these underprivileged kids. He sure had his work cut out for him when he first met Alaina, the standoffish teacher who stereotyped him without thought. She soon saw the error of her ways when she got to know him better. Their relationship developed slowly over time and it was nice seeing them do normal things and having real life issues to deal with. I adored Rob and loved seeing his friendship with Sebastian and Sarah heavily written in this story. I enjoyed all the action of the hockey games and glimpses of the other Storm players. I am so looking forward to reading more stories in this series.

[Diane Lynch Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rob D'Amico, is a professional hockey player for the Buffalo Storm. He was selected to participate in a reading program for inner-city kids.

Kindergarten teacher, Alaina Rossa, was not thrilled to have a professional athlete assigned to read to her class, feeling he would not be the proper role model. Imagine her surprise when he took an interest in the class. Not liking that the school was under funded, Rob took the initiative to help get the supplies they need, while getting to know Alaina better along the way.

Underneath It All by Cassandra Carr was an excellent follow up to Should've Known Better (Storm, #1). She did a great job telling Rob’s story yet including Sara and Sebastian from book one.

Cassandra Carr does a remarkable job making the characters feel realistic; showing their growth and experiences. She also, does a tremendous job describing her characters thoughts and emotions. The reader really feels in tune with the characters.

Underneath It All is a touching book. It teaches life lessons and makes you appreciate what you have.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than the first in the series! I put my utter enjoyment of this book down to the two main characters, Rob and Alaina. Rob is such a sweetheart! The way he was with the kids and wanting to help them out to get a better educational start to life and have equal opportunities just melted my heart. He is the perfect male lead and I hate to say it, but I liked him even more then Sebastian from the first book “Should’ve Known better”!

I loved seeing the relationship between Rob and Alaina develop, it wasn’t steam right from the get go, they allowed themselves to grow together and not rush into anything. There wasn’t much drama or anything particularly controversial happening to affect their relationship like in the first book with Sebastian and Sarah, but I still really enjoyed reading this and before I knew it I had finished it in one sitting.

I will be interested to see if Carr continues on with more of the hockey players, but they have a real task trying to live up to Rob, he really stole my heart in this one.



*ARC Submitted for review by author'

[Evita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not the biggest hockey fan, but let me tell you that when I read one of Cassandra Carr's hockey romances, I feel like I do.

Rob, one of the star hockey players for the Storm, is assigned to a kindergarten class in a reading program for kids. He meets their teacher Alaina and at first she is very stand-offish. But Rob being Rob, he gets under her skin.

I really like how their romance started off slow, they were both very vulnerable in a sort of way, and didn't want to reveal more of each other until it felt right for them. Also really like how we got to visit with Sebastian and Sarah and see how their relationship was going.

I might just go and watch myself a hockey game on TV!

Received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Becca Sellers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one shows the huge hearts some of our professional athletes have...

Hockey player Rob gets drafted to become involved in an inner-city reading program for kids...needless to say the conditions the children go to school in aren't up to par so he takes it upon himself to fix it! Kindergarten teacher Alaina didn't really want her class to be interrupted by a hockey player, but makes the best of the situation.and ultimately benefits from it!

Loved the book and the characters! This one really shows the unfortunate struggle some of our schools and teachers face, especially providing supplies for their needy students. Very well written! Definitely will tug on your heart strings!

[Downward dog · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this book to write a review on another site. I love reading about athletes and Rob was a hot, hockey player and also a nice guy. Alaina is a kindergarten teacher and feels out of her element with Rob. She has low self esteem and can't understand what Rob sees in her. I liked Rob, but found it hard to like Alaina. I enjoyed the story, but also thought the ending was abrupt. If you like sports romance and hot hockey guys, you will enjoy this.

[Ashley Hedden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Underneath It All by Cassandra Carr was another great book in the series. I fell in love with Rob's character in the first two books of the series. Rob was a character that you want the best for and you want him to be happy. I loved seeing Rob take part in a reading program for inner-city schools. Rob met Alaina, a kindergarten teacher, and you could see the sparks flying. I loved this story and seeing how generous of a man Rob is. I can't wait to read more by the author. This is a must read.

[Kait · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Rob and Alaina. Rob is assigned to read to Alaina's kindergarten class. From the first meeting there is a slow build in their relationship with a moment or two of passion. You also get some follow up between Sebastian and Sarah from book one which is nice. Overall the book was an easy read but I hated the ending. I felt like it was extremely abrupt and didn't wrap much up.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series. There were definitely some odd things about it, though, such Alaina reacting a certain way to things that happen, but it was never explained why. Plus the story ended really abruptly, as if the author got to a certain point in the story and just said, "ok I'm done now."

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I genuinely liked the characters and general story. But I wished there was more meat to the story. I'm thinking of getting another book by the author to give her another chance. This was my first read of hers.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!! I listened on audio!! Fantastic!! Rob is my new book boyfriend!! I do need to speak with the other about the ending because I can't believe she left me hanging like that!!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story was missing heat and passion. I found the book a little boring. This was not an all consuming hot romance like most other books.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it.

[Heather T · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5