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In the Zone #1
On the Surface
NHL player Tim Hollander lost his temper one time and threw a water bottle at an abusive fan. After “Bottlegate,” he’s traded to the San Diego Barracudas, where he’ll need to keep the bad publicity to a minimum while proving he can still compete with the younger guys on the ice.
Erin Collier is a pediatric nurse who’s never seen a hockey game but gets in line for Tim’s autograph at a PR event in hopes of impressing the doctor she has a crush on. When an obnoxious fan gets pushy toward Erin, Tim rushes to defend the pretty stranger, throwing a punch in the process.
Grateful for the rescue, Erin agrees to stand by Tim during the resulting press conference and host him at a hospital charity event. Their chemistry is palpable, and soon their lives are intertwined. But Erin doubts a hockey player is capable of anything resembling a real relationship. And if Tim can’t get her to see beyond what’s on the surface, they’ll never last longer than a single season…
Erin Collier is a pediatric nurse who’s never seen a hockey game but gets in line for Tim’s autograph at a PR event in hopes of impressing the doctor she has a crush on. When an obnoxious fan gets pushy toward Erin, Tim rushes to defend the pretty stranger, throwing a punch in the process.
Grateful for the rescue, Erin agrees to stand by Tim during the resulting press conference and host him at a hospital charity event. Their chemistry is palpable, and soon their lives are intertwined. But Erin doubts a hockey player is capable of anything resembling a real relationship. And if Tim can’t get her to see beyond what’s on the surface, they’ll never last longer than a single season…
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First published March 4, 2014
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April 17, 2014
Oh good God! Once again I'm alone with my two-star rating. While I did find it to be a good story, it was the execution of it that didn't work for me. All the emotions, scenarios, words, everything - all of it felt forced. I wish I could explain it better. All of it came across as too good to be true; that all the pieces of a puzzle fell in the right place with no jarring of any kind. Then there's the protagonists, Tim and Erin. I'm sorry, but honestly I didn't feel any chemistry or heat between the two, or what the attraction was, all of which I believe is because they both lacked character development. It also doesn't help that I felt both came across as teenagers instead of the adults they are.
I don't know why I'm having such a hard time trying to get my thoughts down. How about this - my first thoughts when I finished the novel, "boring," "uninteresting," "juvenile," and "passionless."
Considering I'm the only one with a low rating, don't go by what I've written. That decision is yours to make. As for the rest of the series? I'm going to take a pass.
I don't know why I'm having such a hard time trying to get my thoughts down. How about this - my first thoughts when I finished the novel, "boring," "uninteresting," "juvenile," and "passionless."
Considering I'm the only one with a low rating, don't go by what I've written. That decision is yours to make. As for the rest of the series? I'm going to take a pass.
April 11, 2014
Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: A
His lips turned upward, but his eyes narrowed. “Sweetheart, this is not foreplay. I’ll show you foreplay. I’ll foreplay you all the way into tomorrow.”
“Promise?”
“Absolutely.”
Tim meets Erin at fan event when she gets in line for his autograph to give to a doctor that she has a crush on at the hospital where she works as a pediatric nurse. She has no idea who Tim is and doesn’t understand anything about hockey, but her doctor-crush loves hockey and she wants that autograph to help break the ice. While in line, a fan gets out of hand and Erin, not one to keep comments to herself, gets into it with the fan who pushes her down and Tim doesn’t let that go. He gets into a fight and unfortunately, he’s still known from another incident in his past, “Bottlegate”, when he threw a bottle at a fan during a game who was talking trash to Tim and hitting very close to home when the comments were about his daughter who had recently died. Tim’s reputation can’t take another public beating, so he does a press conference with Erin to set the record straight on what happened and it’s the beginning of a relationship that I simply could not get enough of. Tim and Erin are two people who at first glance seem to be mismatched, end up being exactly what the other person needed.
I couldn’t put this story down, that’s usually the biggest sign of how much I love a story and in this case, the characters. There is something completely likable and 100% enjoyable about both Erin and Tim. They’re good people. And it was such a joy to read their story, it’s not one filled with a bunch of outside angst or obstacles for them to get through to be together. It’s about these two people finding a way to combine their lives, both of them with demanding careers and both with dreams about what they want in life. Some of those things don’t actually mesh and the result is an emotional story that shows both Erin and especially Tim letting themselves be vulnerable and trying to move beyond past heartache, pain and fear of starting their lives together.
Tim’s story got to me the most. He lost his 5 year old daughter to leukemia and it’s something that’s he’s never been able to move past and has vowed that he’ll never go through that kind of heartbreak again. He doesn’t want kids and it’s a big issue for him and Erin to talk about and figure out if it’s going to be a relationship deal breaker. I loved how it was handled. Tim and Erin actually talked (I know, right!) about the important things that impacted both their lives and they didn’t do the common things I so often read in romances: keep secrets, put off talking about something, lie, etc. etc. etc. They talked about everything and it just felt refreshing in a way. Tim is such a good guy, I dare anyone to not like him. Erin is sweet and it’s endearing to see her want to learn more about hockey for the simple reason that the man she loves plays and she wants to understand that huge part of his life. These two characters were charming on page from the moment they were both introduced and I actually hated to come to the last page. I wanted their story to keep going.
I’m a sucker for a sports romance and there’s no shortage of hockey here. While not overwhelming, it served to show just how important hockey has been in Tim’s life, where he’s at in his career which is on the downside now and how he’s working hard to make one last big push to better himself before retirement comes calling. The scenes centered around hockey also serve to introduce us to Tim’s teammates and best friends and I can’t wait to get all of their stories. Each guy was given just enough page time to get me really interested and I loved the scenes with Tim and his best friends, Alex and Jason.
For as much as I loved the sports theme and the overall romance (which is completely sexy by the way, always a nice plus when the couple is crazy hot together) the scenes that will stand out most to me are the ones with Tim finally opening up to Erin about his daughter and how her death gutted him. He breaks down, he is still trying to deal with his grief and he leans on Erin for support which she gives him unconditionally. All of these scenes were so well done and so emotional it added just another layer to this relationship that I was already completely caught up in.
This is one of the best, most satisfying romances I’ve read in a long time. I love the added element of Tim being in the NHL, I love a good sports story! But Tim, Erin and their romance was so well done, I couldn’t get enough. Theirs is the type of romance that was easy to fall into because they’re both so likeable, so easy to root for and if On The Surface is a sign of what’s to come in this new series by Kate Willougby, I can’t wait for more.
Blog rating: A
His lips turned upward, but his eyes narrowed. “Sweetheart, this is not foreplay. I’ll show you foreplay. I’ll foreplay you all the way into tomorrow.”
“Promise?”
“Absolutely.”
Tim meets Erin at fan event when she gets in line for his autograph to give to a doctor that she has a crush on at the hospital where she works as a pediatric nurse. She has no idea who Tim is and doesn’t understand anything about hockey, but her doctor-crush loves hockey and she wants that autograph to help break the ice. While in line, a fan gets out of hand and Erin, not one to keep comments to herself, gets into it with the fan who pushes her down and Tim doesn’t let that go. He gets into a fight and unfortunately, he’s still known from another incident in his past, “Bottlegate”, when he threw a bottle at a fan during a game who was talking trash to Tim and hitting very close to home when the comments were about his daughter who had recently died. Tim’s reputation can’t take another public beating, so he does a press conference with Erin to set the record straight on what happened and it’s the beginning of a relationship that I simply could not get enough of. Tim and Erin are two people who at first glance seem to be mismatched, end up being exactly what the other person needed.
I couldn’t put this story down, that’s usually the biggest sign of how much I love a story and in this case, the characters. There is something completely likable and 100% enjoyable about both Erin and Tim. They’re good people. And it was such a joy to read their story, it’s not one filled with a bunch of outside angst or obstacles for them to get through to be together. It’s about these two people finding a way to combine their lives, both of them with demanding careers and both with dreams about what they want in life. Some of those things don’t actually mesh and the result is an emotional story that shows both Erin and especially Tim letting themselves be vulnerable and trying to move beyond past heartache, pain and fear of starting their lives together.
Tim’s story got to me the most. He lost his 5 year old daughter to leukemia and it’s something that’s he’s never been able to move past and has vowed that he’ll never go through that kind of heartbreak again. He doesn’t want kids and it’s a big issue for him and Erin to talk about and figure out if it’s going to be a relationship deal breaker. I loved how it was handled. Tim and Erin actually talked (I know, right!) about the important things that impacted both their lives and they didn’t do the common things I so often read in romances: keep secrets, put off talking about something, lie, etc. etc. etc. They talked about everything and it just felt refreshing in a way. Tim is such a good guy, I dare anyone to not like him. Erin is sweet and it’s endearing to see her want to learn more about hockey for the simple reason that the man she loves plays and she wants to understand that huge part of his life. These two characters were charming on page from the moment they were both introduced and I actually hated to come to the last page. I wanted their story to keep going.
I’m a sucker for a sports romance and there’s no shortage of hockey here. While not overwhelming, it served to show just how important hockey has been in Tim’s life, where he’s at in his career which is on the downside now and how he’s working hard to make one last big push to better himself before retirement comes calling. The scenes centered around hockey also serve to introduce us to Tim’s teammates and best friends and I can’t wait to get all of their stories. Each guy was given just enough page time to get me really interested and I loved the scenes with Tim and his best friends, Alex and Jason.
For as much as I loved the sports theme and the overall romance (which is completely sexy by the way, always a nice plus when the couple is crazy hot together) the scenes that will stand out most to me are the ones with Tim finally opening up to Erin about his daughter and how her death gutted him. He breaks down, he is still trying to deal with his grief and he leans on Erin for support which she gives him unconditionally. All of these scenes were so well done and so emotional it added just another layer to this relationship that I was already completely caught up in.
This is one of the best, most satisfying romances I’ve read in a long time. I love the added element of Tim being in the NHL, I love a good sports story! But Tim, Erin and their romance was so well done, I couldn’t get enough. Theirs is the type of romance that was easy to fall into because they’re both so likeable, so easy to root for and if On The Surface is a sign of what’s to come in this new series by Kate Willougby, I can’t wait for more.
June 1, 2015
So a 2 star rating, why? Because this could've been a lot shorter story. I'd have given it 3 stars if there'd been about 100 pages cut. The story just kept going & I thought it definitely could've been trimmed down in a lot of places to give a more fluid & faster paced book. The extra material made it drag.
The story itself is cute. Nurse is trying to get an autograph from a hockey player, fan gets rough with her, NHL player defends her, they start dating, etc. I liked both characters, even if the nurse annoyed me at times. Otherwise, ok-good. Wouldn't read this again & kind of wish I hadn't read this, but it wasn't horrible.
The story itself is cute. Nurse is trying to get an autograph from a hockey player, fan gets rough with her, NHL player defends her, they start dating, etc. I liked both characters, even if the nurse annoyed me at times. Otherwise, ok-good. Wouldn't read this again & kind of wish I hadn't read this, but it wasn't horrible.
April 14, 2014
My Review:
I really enjoyed this book. It was simply a fun, entertaining contemporary romance with the added benefit of a sports/hockey setting which I loved.
Tim is a pro NHL player coming close to the end of his career and starting out at a new team in San Diego. He's been one of the greats over his career and I liked that this book wasn't about him being washed up. In fact, he has a great year overall with his playing.
Erin is a nurse in the pediatric wing of the local hospital. She's not a hockey fan... at all. In fact, she's never even watched a game, but they meet when she stands in line to get his signature for one of the docs at her hospital that she has a crush on.
The book felt very real. Erin is a normal girl and Tim is not a normal guy. He's a pro athlete, gorgeous, fit, sexy, rich. She knows this isn't going to last, but she plans to enjoy it while she can. As a result, Tim is MUCH MORE "present" in the relationship than she is. She doesn't even allow herself to think about them long-term whereas Tim is already seeing forever in their future. It was a great dichotomy because I could see any normal person feeling that way in a relationship like this.
There are several different layers of the story on this one, but my favorite aspect of it was Tim's little girl that died from leukemia. Of course, this has left lasting scars for Tim. He doesn't want kids ever again. He can't do that again. But Erin loves kids...she works in pediatrics. This is a huge thing between them and it really worked as a plot line in this story. It was heart-wrenching, but at the same time, you could totally see where he is coming from. The resolution to that part of the story was so perfect and unexpected. I loved it.
I love hockey themed books and this is a great example as to why. Everything about this book just worked. Tim is a great guy with a great circle of friends. I even enjoyed the scenes where the three of them were working out in the off-season. I liked that the author still had him very much as a force on the team as well as the PR stuff going on...especially working with kids. The kids scenes in this book were GREAT! Erin is a normal girl, but she has such incredible heart. I loved how she discovered her love for hockey. The Hockey for Dummies scenes were great.
I highly recommend this one and can't wait for more from this series and author. She's a new author to me and I like her!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. It was simply a fun, entertaining contemporary romance with the added benefit of a sports/hockey setting which I loved.
Tim is a pro NHL player coming close to the end of his career and starting out at a new team in San Diego. He's been one of the greats over his career and I liked that this book wasn't about him being washed up. In fact, he has a great year overall with his playing.
Erin is a nurse in the pediatric wing of the local hospital. She's not a hockey fan... at all. In fact, she's never even watched a game, but they meet when she stands in line to get his signature for one of the docs at her hospital that she has a crush on.
The book felt very real. Erin is a normal girl and Tim is not a normal guy. He's a pro athlete, gorgeous, fit, sexy, rich. She knows this isn't going to last, but she plans to enjoy it while she can. As a result, Tim is MUCH MORE "present" in the relationship than she is. She doesn't even allow herself to think about them long-term whereas Tim is already seeing forever in their future. It was a great dichotomy because I could see any normal person feeling that way in a relationship like this.
There are several different layers of the story on this one, but my favorite aspect of it was Tim's little girl that died from leukemia. Of course, this has left lasting scars for Tim. He doesn't want kids ever again. He can't do that again. But Erin loves kids...she works in pediatrics. This is a huge thing between them and it really worked as a plot line in this story. It was heart-wrenching, but at the same time, you could totally see where he is coming from. The resolution to that part of the story was so perfect and unexpected. I loved it.
I love hockey themed books and this is a great example as to why. Everything about this book just worked. Tim is a great guy with a great circle of friends. I even enjoyed the scenes where the three of them were working out in the off-season. I liked that the author still had him very much as a force on the team as well as the PR stuff going on...especially working with kids. The kids scenes in this book were GREAT! Erin is a normal girl, but she has such incredible heart. I loved how she discovered her love for hockey. The Hockey for Dummies scenes were great.
I highly recommend this one and can't wait for more from this series and author. She's a new author to me and I like her!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
March 9, 2016
I knew I was going to like this book when I read all the less-than-clever, yet totally realistic hockey nicknames at the beginning of the book. And when I read that the jerk Bottlegate fan was from Philly? Also realistic!
It's really refreshing to read about adults, handling themselves in adult ways. The way Erin and Tim (can I also say I liked that they had regular names?) met was really clever and adorable.
It's really refreshing to read about adults, handling themselves in adult ways. The way Erin and Tim (can I also say I liked that they had regular names?) met was really clever and adorable.
October 29, 2017
re read via audible.
I was wondering how this would hold up on re read. I really enjoyed it! Again.
Prior comments
4.5 stars. What a sweet romance! Tim could not have been sweeter. Slightly damaged from a terrible tragedy. Did not feel like I got to know Erin beyond the surface, but she was a solid heroine. Their relationship was totally driven by Tim, which I liked. And there was no real heart wrenching drama. It was a fun, light read. Just what I needed after a couple of dark ones!
safety gang
I was wondering how this would hold up on re read. I really enjoyed it! Again.
Prior comments
4.5 stars. What a sweet romance! Tim could not have been sweeter. Slightly damaged from a terrible tragedy. Did not feel like I got to know Erin beyond the surface, but she was a solid heroine. Their relationship was totally driven by Tim, which I liked. And there was no real heart wrenching drama. It was a fun, light read. Just what I needed after a couple of dark ones!
safety gang
April 12, 2014
5 Stars
Tim Hollander was part of the team that just won the Stanley Cup but he was traded to the San Diego Barracudas to make a PR nightmare go away. He is fortunate he is now on a team with his two best friends; together they have committed to starting training camp in the best shape ever. They are not the young hot shots anymore, they need to play some great hockey and stay out of trouble. That was exactly what Tim planned on doing until a rowdy autograph seeker gets out of control. He is sure it will be another PR issue; then Erin stepped forward.
Tim and Erin seemed like real people to me. Just as in real life; the love that Tim and Erin had for each other shaped them into the people they were at the end of the book; and I don’t think they could have become the people they were without each other.
There are plenty of steamy scenes in this book to go along with the ones that pull at your heart. The hockey references and game scenes are not too much for someone like me who is not a hockey fan.
First book in the series and first from the author for me and I want more! I hope I get a glimpse of Tim and Erin in the next book and the remainder of the series...because I don't want my time with them to end.
I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest review.
My complete review can be found at http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspo...
Tim Hollander was part of the team that just won the Stanley Cup but he was traded to the San Diego Barracudas to make a PR nightmare go away. He is fortunate he is now on a team with his two best friends; together they have committed to starting training camp in the best shape ever. They are not the young hot shots anymore, they need to play some great hockey and stay out of trouble. That was exactly what Tim planned on doing until a rowdy autograph seeker gets out of control. He is sure it will be another PR issue; then Erin stepped forward.
Tim and Erin seemed like real people to me. Just as in real life; the love that Tim and Erin had for each other shaped them into the people they were at the end of the book; and I don’t think they could have become the people they were without each other.
There are plenty of steamy scenes in this book to go along with the ones that pull at your heart. The hockey references and game scenes are not too much for someone like me who is not a hockey fan.
First book in the series and first from the author for me and I want more! I hope I get a glimpse of Tim and Erin in the next book and the remainder of the series...because I don't want my time with them to end.
I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest review.
My complete review can be found at http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspo...
August 15, 2014
Great book! I loved Tim and Erin and I'm so glad they got their happily ever after. There were some terrific secondary characters as well, and I'm happy to know we're going to see them again. I'm not even a big hockey fan but that didn't matter - the hockey was the setting, not the plot. It was a beautiful love story wrapped up in great writing ribbons.
June 26, 2015
4.5 Sweet STARS
“I know. It’s fast. I just don’t see any reason to waste time playing games. I know how I feel about you.”
Told in 3rd person POV.
Tim Hollander, NFL player who has won two Stanley Cups, has been traded to the San Diego Barracudas after the “Bottlegate” incident when a fan trash talked about him and said something way too close to home (relating to the loss of his daughter). At age 33, he is not as young and fast as some of the new players so he works extra hard to impress the coaches and show everyone he’s still got it. Now also he must keep up his public image and make sure he doesn’t do anything rash for bad publicity.
Erin Collier, a pediatric nurse, has no clue about hockey but is in line for Tim’s autograph so she could impress the doctor she’s been crushing on. But after a encounter with a obnoxious fan, Erin is pushed down. She has two brothers and will not let anyone push her around. Tim rushes to defend the beautiful Erin and ends up punching the fan. Erin, grateful that Tim defended her, helps him with a press conference to set the record straight and clear up his reputation. This marks the beginning of their relationship.
I really liked that they started out as friends who can joke around first. They give into their desires quickly but it felt right. The pace was perfect even though it was only a few days but it felt like they knew each other longer. The mutual attraction is undeniable. It. Was. HOT.
TIM! I LOVED TIM! He is really funny, SWEET, confident and just plain ADORABLE! A nice guy. It was refreshing to see that the sexy hockey hunk was not a typical playboy nor a jerk. Another plus: He isn’t afraid of commitment and is honest about his feelings. His internal dialogue was adorably hilarious at times! He ’s really superstitious and believes Erin’s kisses on his hockey stick make him play better. So what does he do? He literally stocks up on her kisses! Gahhh hahaha! It was seriously cute and endearing. Oh my, near the beginning when he texted her a picture of ‘I miss you’ written in sand…SWOOOOOON. He has Erin in his mind for the future. Tim is just so damn sweet and lovable!!
To Erin, my dream girl, then, now and always.
“You bought me a toothbrush?"
“I did. A pink one.”
“So you’re okay with having pink in your house.”
“I am very okay. I am—” he lowered his voice, “—Couples Man.”
She laughed. “Is that like your superhero alter ego? By day you’re Tim Hollander, fiercely intimidating hockey player, but by night, you’re...Couples Man?”
“That’s right.” He puffed his chest out. “I do not mind holding hands in public….I willingly go to chick flicks. I don’t care if you use my razor, and pink toothbrushes hold no power over me.”
However, he is a partly broken man. He lost his 5 year-old daughter to leukemia and is still struggling with the loss. He doesn’t want to ever go through that heartbreak a second time. One of the issues towards the end is that he does not want kids, ever again. It took him a while to open up to Erin about his heartbreaking past and how much his daughter’s death had affected him. He never intentionally hid it from Erin, just never had the chance to bring something like that up. I loved that they talked about it together and Erin was really understanding and sympathetic. Tim is truly a good guy with a great heart.
Erin is strong-willed, kind, and charming but she could also be really feisty at times. It was hilarious that she reminded Tim of a "little Chihuahua, ready to take on the big dogs." She gives an honest effort to learn about hockey because Tim loves it so much and she loves Tim. I really liked her!
What I loved the most was that this couple was functional. Although they had their own issues to work out in the end, they were both understanding of the other and they talked. No lies. There was no unnecessary heartbreak from stupid drama or lack of communication. The conflicts were understandable & realistic and maturely solved. Best part: No breakup!
He needed her. And she needed him.
Love, in a nutshell.
All in all this was a sweet, sexy book with likable characters and plot.
The epilogue of their life a year later was good too!
MORE QUOTES~
…extremely large Escalade.
“Overcompensate much?”
He shrugged. “You know, you got a small dick, you do what you gotta do.”
Oh my.
To think she’d teased him the other night about overcompensating. For him to overcompensate, he’d have needed to buy an eighteen-wheeler.
***
“I had a really nice time,” she said. What a lame statement.
“But...”
She blinked in surprise. “There’s no but. I don’t have a but.”
“Oh yes, you do. Your butt is the stuff of dreams.”
She smiled. That was lamer than what she’d said, but it still made her feel appreciated. “You’ve been watching my butt?”
“Every chance I get. If it were New Year’s, that would be my resolution. ‘Watch Erin’s butt more.’”
“Yours is pretty nice too.”
He grinned. “You think? It’s the skating.” He turned around and, with his hands on his hips, flexed his ass. “You can touch it if you want to.”
***
“Possessive much?” she asked, knowing the answer, but selfish enough to want to hear him say it anyway.
“Extremely.”
“The road goes both ways, you know. If Beyoncé sidles up to you and offers to be your sex slave forever, you’re going to laugh in her face, right?”
“Of course. I’ll say, ‘B, you silly girl, I already have a perfectly good sex slave—’ Ow!”
“Oh, sorry. Your ear got in the way of my teeth.”
September 6, 2015
This story was filled with love, laughter and sadness.
This is the first installment in the In the Zone series and I absolutely loved it. It was a story that sucked me in from the very beginning and I couldn’t it down. I enjoyed all of the characters especially Tim and Erin. There were couple of times that I couldn’t help but laugh out loud because of the situation. I loved when Tim took Erin ice skating and how the author describes the other kid skaters and how fast they were going around her. The writing was brilliant and descriptive. These two characters are perfect for each other but like any relationship there are bumps on the road before the happily ever after can happen.
Tim Hollander is an interesting hockey player that deserved a happily ever after. He had already been married before and this little girl passed away. He was just traded and now he is in sunny San Diego playing with the Barracudas. He had already been in trouble because of an incident that involved a fan known as the “Bottlegate” incident. Now he was getting ready to do an autograph signing with another fellow hockey player and a man stated was a Big Brother wanted autographs for the kids. Only that he was lying out of his teeth and he was outed. What Tim didn’t think would happen happened when this man pushed a woman and Time went to defend her. Unfortunately this ends up in the internet and it’s time to get the woman he tried to defend to help him with the media. He just never thought he would end up depending on her to take care of him.
Erin Collier is an amazing woman that loves helping children. Her dream is to work in the labor and delivery department with all those cutie pies. I do have to say one thing and that is that that was also my dream when I was growing up. I thought it was be awesome to be able to hold a baby, feed them, bathe them but let’s continue with Erin. Well Erin had the hots for one of the doctor that worked in her department and he had just gotten a divorce. So not only did she try to impress him but some other workers tried their best also. But then an incident happened with she went to get a burger she never would have thought it would lead to an altercation. She didn’t think that the person that was trying to get autographs was being truthful and she made a comment. Now that comment ended up becoming a shove and of course she was not going to let him be a bully and she shoved back. Only that the next shove she ended on the floor and Tim Hollander came to the rescue.
Their sort of relationship started with her taking care of him because he had food poisoning. That is the first time that Tim ends up dreaming about Erin and from that day forward they go out. I couldn’t believe that after they leave his hotel room they end up running into the man that Erin has a crush on. I was crushed with his comments and I felt so bad for Erin and once again Tim came to the rescue. But the weirdest thing was that she ended up yelling at him for it. Tim and Erin end up having a good start to a real relationship and love that they actually communicate. Erin is also going to have to stop with the he’s a professional athlete and he could have a different woman every night. Tim really liked her and he showed her and if he really wanted someone else he probably could get another woman but he wanted only her.
On the Surface was an amazing read. There were intense moments in this story and I was able to connect with the characters emotionally. The chemistry between these two characters was sensual, passionate and just plain HOT. I love that these two characters seem so real and it could be just about anyone in my life. I love that when Tim had her go to her first hockey game I love how enthusiastic she was. Then Tim and his shenanigans of calling her while he was wearing his birthday suit and having a HOT, HOT time.
I can’t wait to read to read Out of the Game, Alex’s story.
I received this book from the author and this is my honest review
This is the first installment in the In the Zone series and I absolutely loved it. It was a story that sucked me in from the very beginning and I couldn’t it down. I enjoyed all of the characters especially Tim and Erin. There were couple of times that I couldn’t help but laugh out loud because of the situation. I loved when Tim took Erin ice skating and how the author describes the other kid skaters and how fast they were going around her. The writing was brilliant and descriptive. These two characters are perfect for each other but like any relationship there are bumps on the road before the happily ever after can happen.
Tim Hollander is an interesting hockey player that deserved a happily ever after. He had already been married before and this little girl passed away. He was just traded and now he is in sunny San Diego playing with the Barracudas. He had already been in trouble because of an incident that involved a fan known as the “Bottlegate” incident. Now he was getting ready to do an autograph signing with another fellow hockey player and a man stated was a Big Brother wanted autographs for the kids. Only that he was lying out of his teeth and he was outed. What Tim didn’t think would happen happened when this man pushed a woman and Time went to defend her. Unfortunately this ends up in the internet and it’s time to get the woman he tried to defend to help him with the media. He just never thought he would end up depending on her to take care of him.
Erin Collier is an amazing woman that loves helping children. Her dream is to work in the labor and delivery department with all those cutie pies. I do have to say one thing and that is that that was also my dream when I was growing up. I thought it was be awesome to be able to hold a baby, feed them, bathe them but let’s continue with Erin. Well Erin had the hots for one of the doctor that worked in her department and he had just gotten a divorce. So not only did she try to impress him but some other workers tried their best also. But then an incident happened with she went to get a burger she never would have thought it would lead to an altercation. She didn’t think that the person that was trying to get autographs was being truthful and she made a comment. Now that comment ended up becoming a shove and of course she was not going to let him be a bully and she shoved back. Only that the next shove she ended on the floor and Tim Hollander came to the rescue.
Their sort of relationship started with her taking care of him because he had food poisoning. That is the first time that Tim ends up dreaming about Erin and from that day forward they go out. I couldn’t believe that after they leave his hotel room they end up running into the man that Erin has a crush on. I was crushed with his comments and I felt so bad for Erin and once again Tim came to the rescue. But the weirdest thing was that she ended up yelling at him for it. Tim and Erin end up having a good start to a real relationship and love that they actually communicate. Erin is also going to have to stop with the he’s a professional athlete and he could have a different woman every night. Tim really liked her and he showed her and if he really wanted someone else he probably could get another woman but he wanted only her.
On the Surface was an amazing read. There were intense moments in this story and I was able to connect with the characters emotionally. The chemistry between these two characters was sensual, passionate and just plain HOT. I love that these two characters seem so real and it could be just about anyone in my life. I love that when Tim had her go to her first hockey game I love how enthusiastic she was. Then Tim and his shenanigans of calling her while he was wearing his birthday suit and having a HOT, HOT time.
I can’t wait to read to read Out of the Game, Alex’s story.
I received this book from the author and this is my honest review
April 7, 2014
In On the Surface (In the Zone #1) Kate Willoughby seamlessly weaves together all the best characteristics with phenomenal dialogue allowing this reader to fall in love, alongside Erin and Tim.
Pediatric nurse Erin Collier has a serious crush on her coworker, Dr. Adrian Oliphant. As a recent divorcee, all of the nurses are vying for his attention – Erin’s plan is to bake her way into his heart. However, she quickly alters her path once she discovers he is a hockey fanatic. It is a consequence that Erin decides to grab lunch at the same local Q burger that is hosting a Barracuda signing. She sees it as an opportunity to impress Adrian by getting a few autographs. Instead of an autograph she gets into a shoving match with an autograph scammer – only to be rescued by Tim Hollander, the Barracuda’s new right winger. The author, Kate Willoughby’s, portrayal of Erin was very well-written – the compassion mixed with her insecurities was impressive. She is an amazing character; her emotional journey from a workplace crush to true love is remarkable.
Recently traded to the San Diego Barracudas reunites Tim with his previous New York Ranger teammates, Alex Sullivan and Jason Locke – hopefully we will get their stories in the future ‘In the Zone’ releases. Tim has two goals this season (1) get into peak condition and (2) minimize the negative publicity he received after ‘Bottlegate’. Despite his best intentions, he gets into a fistfight during a Barracuda signing at a local restaurant with an abhorrent fan that accosts a woman in his line. Tim’s character has a strong history, a story that defines him, and it makes him very desirable – but it is his dedication to Erin that make him truly shine.
If you are a sport romance fan then I highly recommend this series. I’ll be on the Barracuda bench – cheering them on.
This review also appears on Harlequin Junkie.
Disclosure: This book was provided to me free of charge for the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments, and ratings are my own.
Pediatric nurse Erin Collier has a serious crush on her coworker, Dr. Adrian Oliphant. As a recent divorcee, all of the nurses are vying for his attention – Erin’s plan is to bake her way into his heart. However, she quickly alters her path once she discovers he is a hockey fanatic. It is a consequence that Erin decides to grab lunch at the same local Q burger that is hosting a Barracuda signing. She sees it as an opportunity to impress Adrian by getting a few autographs. Instead of an autograph she gets into a shoving match with an autograph scammer – only to be rescued by Tim Hollander, the Barracuda’s new right winger. The author, Kate Willoughby’s, portrayal of Erin was very well-written – the compassion mixed with her insecurities was impressive. She is an amazing character; her emotional journey from a workplace crush to true love is remarkable.
Recently traded to the San Diego Barracudas reunites Tim with his previous New York Ranger teammates, Alex Sullivan and Jason Locke – hopefully we will get their stories in the future ‘In the Zone’ releases. Tim has two goals this season (1) get into peak condition and (2) minimize the negative publicity he received after ‘Bottlegate’. Despite his best intentions, he gets into a fistfight during a Barracuda signing at a local restaurant with an abhorrent fan that accosts a woman in his line. Tim’s character has a strong history, a story that defines him, and it makes him very desirable – but it is his dedication to Erin that make him truly shine.
If you are a sport romance fan then I highly recommend this series. I’ll be on the Barracuda bench – cheering them on.
This review also appears on Harlequin Junkie.
Disclosure: This book was provided to me free of charge for the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments, and ratings are my own.
November 28, 2016
*sigh* such a cute book, I wish I would have a similar first encounter, not the fight part, but where a super good looking guy gets interested in little ol' me and asks me out XD
- The hero's past was Bottlegate, that fan was just and old plain asshole, and it's just wrong how the media crucify him on the smallest wrong, when he's such a nice guy.
- I liked his honesty as well, how right from the start he told the heroine he was interested, and kept up his pursuit not pushing or pressuring her.
- I liked the heroine she was nice and cute, and certainly has a backbone, I liked how the hero kinda saved her when that doctor degraded her, and then she just up and changed interest and poof he's in the past, which he deserved since he furthered his assholery by asking her out after the hero insinuated that they slept together.
- I liked how the hero, went after her, and it wasn't only to impress her, he did most things for other people and these stuff where the thing that touched and appealed to her the most XD
- I liked how natural they became together, how he didn't hesitate to show her his affections in private or in public, how they settled into a rhythm at his home.
- I hated the fact that the hero was dead set on not having kids after he proposed to her, and it was a low blow when he gave her a weekend to either choose him and no kids, or kids but no him.
- Loved the ending, it was beautiful and the epilogue even more so, and it had a bit of humor, but I'm just curious for the results that they were waiting for in the epilogue.
Overall, *thumbs up*
- The hero's past was Bottlegate, that fan was just and old plain asshole, and it's just wrong how the media crucify him on the smallest wrong, when he's such a nice guy.
- I liked his honesty as well, how right from the start he told the heroine he was interested, and kept up his pursuit not pushing or pressuring her.
- I liked the heroine she was nice and cute, and certainly has a backbone, I liked how the hero kinda saved her when that doctor degraded her, and then she just up and changed interest and poof he's in the past, which he deserved since he furthered his assholery by asking her out after the hero insinuated that they slept together.
- I liked how the hero, went after her, and it wasn't only to impress her, he did most things for other people and these stuff where the thing that touched and appealed to her the most XD
- I liked how natural they became together, how he didn't hesitate to show her his affections in private or in public, how they settled into a rhythm at his home.
- I hated the fact that the hero was dead set on not having kids after he proposed to her, and it was a low blow when he gave her a weekend to either choose him and no kids, or kids but no him.
- Loved the ending, it was beautiful and the epilogue even more so, and it had a bit of humor, but I'm just curious for the results that they were waiting for in the epilogue.
Overall, *thumbs up*
March 30, 2014
Tim that boy has some control issues where Erin is concerned, "unable to help himself, he leaned over and kissed her lightly on the mouth, once, twice. Her eyes opened slowly and she focused on his face and her expression was part confusion, part uncertainty. He kissed her again with a little more intent." Tim, he always knows what to say, "you're right. I could never leave you after sex because then I'd miss your early morning spoon ritual." She remembered that morning vividly...his hand on her butt, squeezing. Her face pressed against his broad back. That rock-hard a** of his." He also has a animal side that I loved a lot, "his rigid length felt so good against her sex, "possessive much?" Also he's the type of person to realize he's an a** the moment he's being an a**, "eff. he felt like the biggest a**hole in the world. What could he possibly say? Not a effing thing. Nothing he could say, barring "I changed my mind. Let's go make a baby right now," was going going to make the situation any better." But once he got his head out of his a**, he finally states what he wants, "hey." He put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "You may not be sure, but I am. I want you to get pregnant. I want us to make a baby together. Why the heck do you think I've been jumping on you every night like clockwork?" I enjoyed reading this book, Tim was something else and I loved him.
August 13, 2016
This was the first book I've read by Kate Willoughby, and I absolutely loved it! Couldn't even put it down -- literally read it in 1 day! "On the Surface" is the 1st book in Kate's series, In the Zone. In this story, we meet Tim Hollander and Erin Collier. Tim was recently traded to the San Diego Barracudas, and during a fan event, there's a guy in front of Erin who wants Tim to sign all these memorabilia, so he can sell it off. Erin thinks her thoughts out loud, and the guy overhears her. He shoves Erin, and Tim punches the guy. Of course, this was caught on camera.
Because of the "Bottlegate" incident, PR is quick to hold a press conference, so they can do damage control. Erin was more than happy to be by Tim's side during the press conference explaining that Tim was defending her.
Tim and Erin then start going out, and they both realized they had feelings for each other. Erin knew nothing about hockey, so it made for some funny scenes when Tim had to teach her about the sport. Tim was open towards his feelings towards Erin, and even though their relationship seemed to be moving quickly, the way Tim saw it, if you know you're meant to be with someone, why deny it? They go through their ups and downs, but they work things out!
Kate has gained a new fan! I'm looking forward to the next book in this series, "Across the Line," which features Tim's teammate Calder Griffin!
Because of the "Bottlegate" incident, PR is quick to hold a press conference, so they can do damage control. Erin was more than happy to be by Tim's side during the press conference explaining that Tim was defending her.
Tim and Erin then start going out, and they both realized they had feelings for each other. Erin knew nothing about hockey, so it made for some funny scenes when Tim had to teach her about the sport. Tim was open towards his feelings towards Erin, and even though their relationship seemed to be moving quickly, the way Tim saw it, if you know you're meant to be with someone, why deny it? They go through their ups and downs, but they work things out!
Kate has gained a new fan! I'm looking forward to the next book in this series, "Across the Line," which features Tim's teammate Calder Griffin!
May 31, 2016
After having thrown a water bottle at an abusive and mean fan, Tim changes hockey teams and now has to prove he can still keep up with the youngsters and lead a scandal-free life.
Erin tries to score an autograph for her crush, who is also her boss. When she gets into a fight with a guy in the queue waiting for an autograph of Tim, Tim jumps in and rescues her, to ease off the attention of the media after this new incident, Erin agrees to stay and explain the situation to the press along with him.
They fall for each other, but the last thing Erin wants is date a hockey player.
I was a bit disappointed, the daughter of the hero dies of Leucemia which seems so obviously designed to be a sympathy and emotion trigger, seemed just a bit too much in an otherwise light hockey romance. I did like the heroine, she is outspoken and funny, but her crush on her doctor in the beginning didn't seem to fit to her character in general.
The writing style often seemed wooden and stiff but I had some chuckles too. Some bits seemed unbelievable to me like the hero still playing with the outdated shoes from his other team and then being surprised how light the new models today were. I think at least when changing the team in a pro league you get new hockey shoes.
I won't follow the series but there is a m/m installment coming out which I will certainly pick up!
All in all ok, but nothing great.
Erin tries to score an autograph for her crush, who is also her boss. When she gets into a fight with a guy in the queue waiting for an autograph of Tim, Tim jumps in and rescues her, to ease off the attention of the media after this new incident, Erin agrees to stay and explain the situation to the press along with him.
They fall for each other, but the last thing Erin wants is date a hockey player.
I was a bit disappointed, the daughter of the hero dies of Leucemia which seems so obviously designed to be a sympathy and emotion trigger, seemed just a bit too much in an otherwise light hockey romance. I did like the heroine, she is outspoken and funny, but her crush on her doctor in the beginning didn't seem to fit to her character in general.
The writing style often seemed wooden and stiff but I had some chuckles too. Some bits seemed unbelievable to me like the hero still playing with the outdated shoes from his other team and then being surprised how light the new models today were. I think at least when changing the team in a pro league you get new hockey shoes.
I won't follow the series but there is a m/m installment coming out which I will certainly pick up!
All in all ok, but nothing great.
March 9, 2015
I'm undecided on the rating. I really liked this for the first half but by the end I was pretty frustrated with the conflict and resolution. I'm just... when there's a fundamental difference in what two people want, particularly when they had only known each other for about six months, I felt like it should have been handled differently. If nothing else, it's something they should have discussed before getting engaged very publicly. The proposal was probably where the wheels started to fall off for me tbh. Not just the proposal itself but Tim's whole thought process behind it.
I'm going with three stars overall but by thread it was probably 2.5 rounded up.
I'm going with three stars overall but by thread it was probably 2.5 rounded up.
January 16, 2015
4.5 HUGE Hearts!!
That's it! I am a huge fan of Hockey Romance! It was a little slow starting but Tim just melts your heart. From the first encounter with him and Erin I was hooked!! They make such a good match and the things that Tim does....swoon! This story was really personal to me because I lost a baby sister very young so I know how heartbreaking that can be.
Fantastic job on pulling the emotions out. I was so sad to see it end but I thought it was wrapped up beautifully and I'm anxious to read the next one!!
~ Toshia
That's it! I am a huge fan of Hockey Romance! It was a little slow starting but Tim just melts your heart. From the first encounter with him and Erin I was hooked!! They make such a good match and the things that Tim does....swoon! This story was really personal to me because I lost a baby sister very young so I know how heartbreaking that can be.
Fantastic job on pulling the emotions out. I was so sad to see it end but I thought it was wrapped up beautifully and I'm anxious to read the next one!!
~ Toshia
December 24, 2015
Love!
I enjoyed the flow of this book, from all characters' perspectives. I found myself getting deeply involved with everything that was happening in their lives, even the ones that weren't the main focus. I could feel the emotion from every character. Loved this book! Now on to book 2!
I enjoyed the flow of this book, from all characters' perspectives. I found myself getting deeply involved with everything that was happening in their lives, even the ones that weren't the main focus. I could feel the emotion from every character. Loved this book! Now on to book 2!
May 8, 2014
One of the better hockey books that i have read in a while. Loved that they discussed their problems, and that they didn't have perfect lives before they met. Looking forward to more!
March 27, 2015
Good read
Enjoyable read. There were a few lol moments that had me cracking up. Planning on getting the other books in the series
Enjoyable read. There were a few lol moments that had me cracking up. Planning on getting the other books in the series
May 16, 2015
Enjoyable, sweet story with likable characters.
July 19, 2020
3 to 3.5 stars.
April 24, 2024
4 stars. I enjoyed this book a lot.
This book was surprisingly good and had a pretty light/not overly angsty feeling to it, especially considering this hero’s past. The hero was married with a daughter, but his daughter died at five years old from leukemia.
This book starts about five years after those events, when the hero is traded to a different hockey team. I really don’t like how depressing some books with these heavy topics can be - child loss and cancer are obviously really tough topics in any context. It’s not my personal preference to read books that send me into a state of depression… thankfully, this book’s focus was largely on the MCs and their relationship, plus the hero’s career in the NHL.
Did I feel like the author did a little rug sweeping with the heavy topics? At times, yes. I wish that the hero had talked about getting therapy, and had worked his issues and feelings out with a professional. Therapy was never mentioned, which was surprising considering just how traumatizing losing a child is. He also seemed pretty well-adjusted considering how traumatic his past was. He wasn’t compensating and never really spiraled too badly (although there was mention of him becoming violent once soon after his daughter’s death and his hockey career suffering). I do appreciate that he wasn’t written as a total mess of a man.
All that said, the worst part of this story was how the question of having children was handled. The hero, understandably, never wants to have another child. Meanwhile, the heroine had always wanted kids. Usually that kind of thing is a deal breaker, but the author seemed to basically have all of her side characters giving bad advice to both MCs, telling them both to suck up their feelings if they love their partner. It obviously all works out at the end, but it felt a little too easy. They really should have sought out counseling - but that’s not an exciting enough storyline, I guess.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and I would love to read more by this author but I’m not really into the direction that she took with the next two books.
Safety is good
No virgins
No major details about heroine’s past but there’s no bs about her not enjoying sex in the past. She does feel that she needs a connection to enjoy sex and has a 3-week rule.
Hero was a manwhore in the past, when he first joined the NHL, but got over that quickly
Hero is divorced and had a daughter who passed from leukemia. He never loved his wife, but decided to give their relationship a go when she got pregnant. They got divorced after the death of their daughter.
Some OM drama from a doctor who the heroine is interested in at the start of the story. She gets over her interest quick after meeting the hero.
No OW drama but the hero’s ex wife does make an appearance when he visits his daughter’s grave. She’s married with a child and is pregnant with a second.
No cheating
TW: death of a child, cancer
This book was surprisingly good and had a pretty light/not overly angsty feeling to it, especially considering this hero’s past. The hero was married with a daughter, but his daughter died at five years old from leukemia.
This book starts about five years after those events, when the hero is traded to a different hockey team. I really don’t like how depressing some books with these heavy topics can be - child loss and cancer are obviously really tough topics in any context. It’s not my personal preference to read books that send me into a state of depression… thankfully, this book’s focus was largely on the MCs and their relationship, plus the hero’s career in the NHL.
Did I feel like the author did a little rug sweeping with the heavy topics? At times, yes. I wish that the hero had talked about getting therapy, and had worked his issues and feelings out with a professional. Therapy was never mentioned, which was surprising considering just how traumatizing losing a child is. He also seemed pretty well-adjusted considering how traumatic his past was. He wasn’t compensating and never really spiraled too badly (although there was mention of him becoming violent once soon after his daughter’s death and his hockey career suffering). I do appreciate that he wasn’t written as a total mess of a man.
All that said, the worst part of this story was how the question of having children was handled. The hero, understandably, never wants to have another child. Meanwhile, the heroine had always wanted kids. Usually that kind of thing is a deal breaker, but the author seemed to basically have all of her side characters giving bad advice to both MCs, telling them both to suck up their feelings if they love their partner. It obviously all works out at the end, but it felt a little too easy. They really should have sought out counseling - but that’s not an exciting enough storyline, I guess.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and I would love to read more by this author but I’m not really into the direction that she took with the next two books.
Safety is good
No virgins
No major details about heroine’s past but there’s no bs about her not enjoying sex in the past. She does feel that she needs a connection to enjoy sex and has a 3-week rule.
Hero was a manwhore in the past, when he first joined the NHL, but got over that quickly
Hero is divorced and had a daughter who passed from leukemia. He never loved his wife, but decided to give their relationship a go when she got pregnant. They got divorced after the death of their daughter.
Some OM drama from a doctor who the heroine is interested in at the start of the story. She gets over her interest quick after meeting the hero.
No OW drama but the hero’s ex wife does make an appearance when he visits his daughter’s grave. She’s married with a child and is pregnant with a second.
No cheating
TW: death of a child, cancer
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2017
Okay but not ultimately memorable. It lacked a certain zing I guess. The story was fairly well developed as were the characters but that was about it. There were certain times where I felt like the time line was wonky. For example: the guys went to a gym. It seemed like later that day or the next one the hero and heroine meet. Then they've been going to the gym for 10 weeks but no, it's the day after the hero and heroine meet. What?
That wasn't a huge problem. The bigger problem was that I didn't really feel the attraction between the two. Not sure why they loved each other. I did like the hockey elements though and the marriage proposal was a good one.
Might try more in the series to see how it develops.
That wasn't a huge problem. The bigger problem was that I didn't really feel the attraction between the two. Not sure why they loved each other. I did like the hockey elements though and the marriage proposal was a good one.
Might try more in the series to see how it develops.
May 7, 2014
There are good sports romances and there are cringeworthy sport romances. Despite the number of 5* reviews saying otherwise, I strongly maintain that this is one of the latter.
It is like the author has come up with a list of "scenes" you typically find in a romance and has set out to tackle them all in quick succession without any real natural flow:
- Knight in shining armour to the rescue
- Possible alternate love interest - cue jealousy (Doctor Olifant who disappears within a blink of an eye after some build up)
- Meeting Heroine's family (Erin invites Tim over to her sister's house minutes after saying they need to take things slow ....)
- Hockey superstitions (I get that they exist but the whole focus on kissing the stick really grated on me and when Erin told Tim that his great playing was not due to the superstition but due to himself, I felt like shouting "DUH!".
- Male bonding (Power Play - can someone please tell me what the purpose of this segue? I can only presume a set up for a future love interest?)
- Tragic past (failed marriage and daughter dying)
- Moving in together weeks after meeting
- Meeting Hero's family (and of course they are the perfect American family)
- Flash engagement
- THE obstacle (he never wants to have children, she does .... except, oh wait, he changes his mind)
- Life/death (he got hurt; he plays hockey)
Added to all of the above, there is some awful dialogue.
“Oh my God, Tim.” She laughed. “Babies don’t have asses.”
He frowned. “Then where does all their baby shit come from?”
“Their butts or their bottoms.”
“Same thing,” he said.
“It’s not the same thing at all,” she said as he kissed her between her breasts. “You don’t get an ass until puberty.”
This is in the middle of them having sex! I mean you would be hard pushed think of words worse than 'baby shit' to ruin an amorous moment!
But oh no, it gets worse with this delightful conversation between our hero and one of his teammates:
Chastain laughed. “Hey, calm down. I’m just fucking with you.” He chugged some orange juice and wiped his mouth with his napkin. “So, let me see. The marriage thing. Well, it’s got its pros and cons, like anything. When PMS hits, or as we call it in our house, ‘The Rage,’ you can’t go to your own place like you could when you were single. And the kids really put a cramp in your sex life.” He leaned closer to Tim. “I mean, fuck. You a breast man?”
Tim blinked. “Yeah. Fucking love them.”
“Exactly. So, here’s the deal. I get that breast milk is like nature’s superfood for babies and it creates this unbreakable bond between the mother and the kid, but I really fucking miss having her tits to myself. I think she’s planning on weaning Antoine by Christmas, which would be like the best present ever. Merry Christmas, Jean Claude. Here’s that pair of knockers you asked Santa for.”
Tim laughed. He’d had no idea Chastain had a sense of humor, or that he would share intimate details of his life with him either. This was a kinder, gentler Chastain than the one who used to slam him into the boards when they were on different teams.
“On the other hand,” Chastain continued, “you never have to use condoms. I don’t know about you, but that right there is heaven on fucking Earth.”
Now don't get me wrong, I am sure guys say things in locker rooms which they would never say in mixed company but seriously, SERIOUSLY?! On behalf of my gender I despair and don't want to read this in a romance where I appreciate realism but still want to be left with a smidgen of respect for the hero.
But never fear, Erin is not a complete angel.
Erin fidgeted with her straw. “I don’t know. That’s hard. God, I almost wish I were infertile. That way the decision would be out of my hands.”
“That wouldn’t help. There’s adoption. Or surrogacy. That’s expensive, but he’s rich enough, right?”
I am not a maternal person by nature but even I know that wishing you were infertile just to avoid a difficult decision is a no-no when there are women out there wishing they could have their own children.
So those are just some of the dialogue highlights, I could continue but I think you get the gist.
Needless to say I won't be coming back for the rest of the series.
April 14, 2014
My first hockey themed contemporary romance and I loved it. Shhh, don't tell my hubby or he'll rub it in because his efforts to educate me in this sport have been only moderately successful at this point. I enjoyed the detail given to the sport and the camaraderie amongst the players who were friends, but I also enjoyed the character and romantic development too.
The story opens when Tim Hollander first comes to San Diego as a new veteran player for the local NHL team. He has a lot to prove between a poor previous season and a PR fiasco. His friends, Alex and Jason, are both on board with working hard and playing their best season ever. Shortly before the preseason he finds himself once again the focus of the news media for losing his temper with a fan. He is left relying on that cute, attractive nurse who was there at his signing booth to stand beside him and set everyone straight. That should have been the extent of it, but Tim doesn't want to part ways and he can't get enough of Nurse Erin even if she has yet to see his good side between the fight and then later when he spends the night getting sick.
Erin Collier loves her job in pediatrics and it doesn't hurt that she is crushing bad on one of the doctors. Dr. O doesn't seem to know she exists so she decides to up her game to gain his attention and one quick trip for a lunch run gives her an idea. Dr. O loves hockey and there is a signing going on at the burger place so she'll just get one of those player's signatures and make Dr. O really sit up and take notice. Instead of an autograph, Erin walks away with the whole hockey player. She does her duty by defending him to the press when a jerk fan tried to hurt Erin and then she feels sorry for him when he gets violently ill. When he seems better, she plans to step graciously back out of Tim's life, but instead she nods okay to breakfast, lunch, a day at the beach, invitation to come see him play. Erin feels like its all one big dream and soon reality will come crashing in. She wants to put the brakes on and Tim's hitting the gas pedal. Does she take a chance on all this?
Sometimes I can be such a reading coward. I think I've been burned lately by a few drama llamas and over the top angst-filled plots so that when I got into this book and saw where it was developing, I braced myself for the impatience, irritation and dissatisfaction to follow. But... all the stuff I dreaded didn't happen. Of course there was some barriers and conflicts to get past and of course the characters had flaws that affected their relationship, but when the heat of the moment was over, they handled their biz like adults. I was left in awe a few times. Soooo refreshing! It was amazing to read a story where the issues were allowed to just wax and wane naturally without overdoing it. The characters exchanged turns telling the story and their relationship developed quick in ways, but the deeper portion took some time. Passion was there and it was hot between them.
What a great series opener that introduced future main book characters for me to look forward while giving a strong and engaging romance set against a sports backdrop. Lovers of sports romance should really give this book a try.
My thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story opens when Tim Hollander first comes to San Diego as a new veteran player for the local NHL team. He has a lot to prove between a poor previous season and a PR fiasco. His friends, Alex and Jason, are both on board with working hard and playing their best season ever. Shortly before the preseason he finds himself once again the focus of the news media for losing his temper with a fan. He is left relying on that cute, attractive nurse who was there at his signing booth to stand beside him and set everyone straight. That should have been the extent of it, but Tim doesn't want to part ways and he can't get enough of Nurse Erin even if she has yet to see his good side between the fight and then later when he spends the night getting sick.
Erin Collier loves her job in pediatrics and it doesn't hurt that she is crushing bad on one of the doctors. Dr. O doesn't seem to know she exists so she decides to up her game to gain his attention and one quick trip for a lunch run gives her an idea. Dr. O loves hockey and there is a signing going on at the burger place so she'll just get one of those player's signatures and make Dr. O really sit up and take notice. Instead of an autograph, Erin walks away with the whole hockey player. She does her duty by defending him to the press when a jerk fan tried to hurt Erin and then she feels sorry for him when he gets violently ill. When he seems better, she plans to step graciously back out of Tim's life, but instead she nods okay to breakfast, lunch, a day at the beach, invitation to come see him play. Erin feels like its all one big dream and soon reality will come crashing in. She wants to put the brakes on and Tim's hitting the gas pedal. Does she take a chance on all this?
Sometimes I can be such a reading coward. I think I've been burned lately by a few drama llamas and over the top angst-filled plots so that when I got into this book and saw where it was developing, I braced myself for the impatience, irritation and dissatisfaction to follow. But... all the stuff I dreaded didn't happen. Of course there was some barriers and conflicts to get past and of course the characters had flaws that affected their relationship, but when the heat of the moment was over, they handled their biz like adults. I was left in awe a few times. Soooo refreshing! It was amazing to read a story where the issues were allowed to just wax and wane naturally without overdoing it. The characters exchanged turns telling the story and their relationship developed quick in ways, but the deeper portion took some time. Passion was there and it was hot between them.
What a great series opener that introduced future main book characters for me to look forward while giving a strong and engaging romance set against a sports backdrop. Lovers of sports romance should really give this book a try.
My thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 30, 2014
Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2014/04/16/...
I adore my hockey books, and while I’ve enjoyed many that I’ve read in the past, Willoughby absolutely blew me away with this one. This may be my new favorite hockey romance, or at least it’s in the top 3!
Tim loves playing professional hockey. It was always his dream, and one incident with a fan almost ruined his career. He let his temper get the best of him, and now he is paying the price by being traded to a new team. Tim is determined to show his new team that he still has what it takes to play in the NHL, but running into the sexy Erin is throwing a wrench in his all hockey-all the time plans.
Erin is a nurse that has hopes of marrying one of the doctors she works with, when Tim comes to her rescue at an event, Erin is thankful and willing to go to the media to help with his image. Erin is attracted to Tim beyond belief, and the more time they spend together, the more her doctor starts to look like second best. But Tim and Erin both want to take different paths in the future. Can they commit knowing one person has to potentially give up a dream?
There was so much in this book that really worked for me. I loved the progression of the romance between Tim and Erin. They didn’t have a whole lot of drama or angst, and they built their relationship up steadily over the course of the entire book. There was no big fight, no big traumatic thing to pull them apart. The obstacles they encountered as a couple were big, but they handled it like mature adults, communicating and talking and working through their hopes and dreams and fears in a very realistic and wonderful way. The romance was probably one of the best I’ve read in awhile.
I thought Erin was a great heroine. She didn’t really know anything about hockey, but I loved the way she was willing to learn as she and Tim became more and more serious. I thought the way she handled her crush on the doctor was cute too. As much as she wanted to hold onto the idea of being with her doctor, she was also very realistic in looking at how wrong he was for her, and how right her relationship with Tim was.
I thought Tim was an amazing hero. Between the struggles he had dealing with his past, and the concerns he has about still being strong in a sport where he is getting to be one of the old guys, Tim came across as a larger-than-life but really down-to-earth guy. He had a great support system in his two best friends, and I hope we get to see more of them in books to come. I loved the way he threw himself into his relationship with Erin 100%, and wasn’t even able to see a future without her. It was super sweet and endearing and oh-so sexy.
All in all, I thought Willoughby’s first In the Zone book was absolutely incredible. The hero and heroine were both well developed characters that drew me in from the very start. The romance was so realistic and believable, and I loved the way these two built up from nothing to the solid relationship they had by the end. I can’t wait to see what Willoughby has in store next.
I give On the Surface an A-
I adore my hockey books, and while I’ve enjoyed many that I’ve read in the past, Willoughby absolutely blew me away with this one. This may be my new favorite hockey romance, or at least it’s in the top 3!
Tim loves playing professional hockey. It was always his dream, and one incident with a fan almost ruined his career. He let his temper get the best of him, and now he is paying the price by being traded to a new team. Tim is determined to show his new team that he still has what it takes to play in the NHL, but running into the sexy Erin is throwing a wrench in his all hockey-all the time plans.
Erin is a nurse that has hopes of marrying one of the doctors she works with, when Tim comes to her rescue at an event, Erin is thankful and willing to go to the media to help with his image. Erin is attracted to Tim beyond belief, and the more time they spend together, the more her doctor starts to look like second best. But Tim and Erin both want to take different paths in the future. Can they commit knowing one person has to potentially give up a dream?
There was so much in this book that really worked for me. I loved the progression of the romance between Tim and Erin. They didn’t have a whole lot of drama or angst, and they built their relationship up steadily over the course of the entire book. There was no big fight, no big traumatic thing to pull them apart. The obstacles they encountered as a couple were big, but they handled it like mature adults, communicating and talking and working through their hopes and dreams and fears in a very realistic and wonderful way. The romance was probably one of the best I’ve read in awhile.
I thought Erin was a great heroine. She didn’t really know anything about hockey, but I loved the way she was willing to learn as she and Tim became more and more serious. I thought the way she handled her crush on the doctor was cute too. As much as she wanted to hold onto the idea of being with her doctor, she was also very realistic in looking at how wrong he was for her, and how right her relationship with Tim was.
I thought Tim was an amazing hero. Between the struggles he had dealing with his past, and the concerns he has about still being strong in a sport where he is getting to be one of the old guys, Tim came across as a larger-than-life but really down-to-earth guy. He had a great support system in his two best friends, and I hope we get to see more of them in books to come. I loved the way he threw himself into his relationship with Erin 100%, and wasn’t even able to see a future without her. It was super sweet and endearing and oh-so sexy.
All in all, I thought Willoughby’s first In the Zone book was absolutely incredible. The hero and heroine were both well developed characters that drew me in from the very start. The romance was so realistic and believable, and I loved the way these two built up from nothing to the solid relationship they had by the end. I can’t wait to see what Willoughby has in store next.
I give On the Surface an A-
October 30, 2015
I had this book on my radar when it first came out and then quite frankly forgot all about it. It was recommended in a group I'm on Facebook and since I was feeling a need for a sports romance I gave it a go. And I'm so glad I did!
Fans of Jaci Burton's Play by Play should definitely check this series out. Revolving around one team of hot hockey players, ON THE SURFACE kicks off with a good dose of steam, and a side helping of sweet. This romance between one of the best players in the team and a nurse who started off not caring about hockey but coming to Tim's help was just what I needed! I gobbled it up in record time.
Tim has had a few rough years. His 5 year old daughter died, he got divorced, he got traded and had to move to a new city. The only good thing is this new team reunites him with some of his best friends. And as he's trying to get his head back in the game and ignoring being the "new" old kid in town he meets a sexy nurse, Erin, who consumes his thoughts from the very first day their worlds collided.
This is a quick romance, meaning they go from 0 to 60 pretty fast. For the most part I was ok with that, except when it came to the actual progress of their relationship and getting to the I love yous. But they complement each other so well I can almost overlook that. At least it didn't suffer from a case of insta-love.
Tim was definitely likeable. He's not a tough alpha, but he's packing a lot of testosterone (isn't that what we love about sports romance?) and it was nice to see Erin balance that out in their relationship. Of course, it helped that their chemistry was great!
The author did really good in putting some obstacles that were real enough to cause doubt but also showed that the characters were mature enough to make good decisions. It was refreshingly lacking in the drama and that's just what I needed.
I can't wait to dive into the next! I already know I'm dying for one couple but I see they're not next for me. Just means I have to catch up faster.
Reviewed by Francesca
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May 12, 2014
Find more on the blog: https://hotstuffbookreviews.wordpress...
I received this book via Netgalley for an honest review.
I love reading Contemporary Romance novels with a hockey player as the lead male character, but sometimes I’m disappointed. Not this time around though.
This story is told from Erin and Tim’s POV and it was easy to really see the difference between both POV without it being too much or caricatural. They both have their own voice and I could “see” it.
Also, being able to be in both of their head gave another appeal to this story that would have been too common and even boring otherwise. Here, because we have an access to Tim’s head we could understand his hang-ups, mostly in the second half of the book.
Erin is a likable female lead character. She’s not whiny, she’s strong and kind and sweet. She’s the every day kind of girl and that’s what I like about her. Though, I think the author could have told us more about her family background instead of focusing solely on her sister. What about her parents? Past relationships?
Tim is so very sweet! He’s got just enough of a ”caveman’’ behavior to make me swoon. The author made me immediately love him. If I had been in Erin’s shoes I wouldn’t have been able to resist him!
The writing style itself is flawless. The dialogues are full of life, they’re perfectly blending in the story and the descriptive parts. I was hooked before I was finished with the first chapter.
The secondary characters are really interesting and I can’t wait to read the next installments with them. I already miss the Barracudas!
Even though this story is mostly sweet and swoon worthy with a few hot scenes to spice things up, the second half of the book broke my heart a few times. I don’t want to give anything away, but it worked perfectly on me. I felt even more strongly for Tim even though I think the author could have delved into this sooner and even deeper to give another layer of angst.
I spent a wonderful time reading this book and I immediately checked goodreads to see when I could read the next installment. Not before August! At least, it’s sooner than I was expecting. I look forward to it.
Who read this book? What do you think about Tim Hollander? I think he’s my new book boyfriend of the week!
I received this book via Netgalley for an honest review.
I love reading Contemporary Romance novels with a hockey player as the lead male character, but sometimes I’m disappointed. Not this time around though.
This story is told from Erin and Tim’s POV and it was easy to really see the difference between both POV without it being too much or caricatural. They both have their own voice and I could “see” it.
Also, being able to be in both of their head gave another appeal to this story that would have been too common and even boring otherwise. Here, because we have an access to Tim’s head we could understand his hang-ups, mostly in the second half of the book.
Erin is a likable female lead character. She’s not whiny, she’s strong and kind and sweet. She’s the every day kind of girl and that’s what I like about her. Though, I think the author could have told us more about her family background instead of focusing solely on her sister. What about her parents? Past relationships?
Tim is so very sweet! He’s got just enough of a ”caveman’’ behavior to make me swoon. The author made me immediately love him. If I had been in Erin’s shoes I wouldn’t have been able to resist him!
The writing style itself is flawless. The dialogues are full of life, they’re perfectly blending in the story and the descriptive parts. I was hooked before I was finished with the first chapter.
The secondary characters are really interesting and I can’t wait to read the next installments with them. I already miss the Barracudas!
Even though this story is mostly sweet and swoon worthy with a few hot scenes to spice things up, the second half of the book broke my heart a few times. I don’t want to give anything away, but it worked perfectly on me. I felt even more strongly for Tim even though I think the author could have delved into this sooner and even deeper to give another layer of angst.
I spent a wonderful time reading this book and I immediately checked goodreads to see when I could read the next installment. Not before August! At least, it’s sooner than I was expecting. I look forward to it.
Who read this book? What do you think about Tim Hollander? I think he’s my new book boyfriend of the week!
April 9, 2015
This was such an enjoyable read!
I was drawn in form the very beginning, especially by the characters.
Tim is just joining a new hockey team after a bit of a controversial episode. Immediately he is doing PR for the team, which leads to him getting in another 'bit' of trouble. But luck is on his side because it's during this event that he gets to meet Erin.
Erin is a Pediatrics nurse with her eye on a promotion to Labor & Delivery. She loves children and is her dream to help deliver them into the world. She also would like to get laid some time soon and has her eyes on a certain doctor on staff. It is with the idea of impressing said doctor that she gets in line to have a cap signed by one of the players. But her attempt fails miserably when she gets in a heated argument with the guy in front of her. Lucky for her, she just met the new member of the team and he will make sure to get her sign merchandise and much, much more!
I liked this story very much. So much so that I read it twice simply because. What truly made the story so great for me what the camaraderie between Tim and Erin. It was easy for me to see how perfect they were for each other because their rapport shined through the page with their every interaction.
It sure helped that they had great chemistry too! Phew, that first kiss alone was a scorcher! I liked that the author took her time in bringing them together, but that she didn't hold back when they did get together. It was hot!!
There were additional elements thrown into the mix that made this story so enjoyable. I especially enjoyed the range of emotions the characters portrayed. From anticipation to hesitation all the way through fear and disappointment, every single emotion jumped of the page and served to impact the reader. There were fun moments, laugh-out-loud moments, tender and heated moments too. Heck, I might have shed a tear or three too!
All in all, a fantastic and truly enjoyable story...and I don't even like hockey!
I was drawn in form the very beginning, especially by the characters.
Tim is just joining a new hockey team after a bit of a controversial episode. Immediately he is doing PR for the team, which leads to him getting in another 'bit' of trouble. But luck is on his side because it's during this event that he gets to meet Erin.
Erin is a Pediatrics nurse with her eye on a promotion to Labor & Delivery. She loves children and is her dream to help deliver them into the world. She also would like to get laid some time soon and has her eyes on a certain doctor on staff. It is with the idea of impressing said doctor that she gets in line to have a cap signed by one of the players. But her attempt fails miserably when she gets in a heated argument with the guy in front of her. Lucky for her, she just met the new member of the team and he will make sure to get her sign merchandise and much, much more!
I liked this story very much. So much so that I read it twice simply because. What truly made the story so great for me what the camaraderie between Tim and Erin. It was easy for me to see how perfect they were for each other because their rapport shined through the page with their every interaction.
It sure helped that they had great chemistry too! Phew, that first kiss alone was a scorcher! I liked that the author took her time in bringing them together, but that she didn't hold back when they did get together. It was hot!!
There were additional elements thrown into the mix that made this story so enjoyable. I especially enjoyed the range of emotions the characters portrayed. From anticipation to hesitation all the way through fear and disappointment, every single emotion jumped of the page and served to impact the reader. There were fun moments, laugh-out-loud moments, tender and heated moments too. Heck, I might have shed a tear or three too!
All in all, a fantastic and truly enjoyable story...and I don't even like hockey!
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