Brooklynaire

Brooklyn Bruisers #4

by Sarina Bowen

A sexy new standalone from USA Today bestseller Sarina Bowen. You'd think a billion dollars, a professional hockey team and a six-bedroom mansion on the Promenade would satisfy a guy. You'd be wrong. For seven years Rebecca has brightened my office with her wit and her smile. She manages both my hockey team and my sanity. I don't know when I started waking in the night, craving her. All I know is that one whiff of her perfume ruins my concentration. And her laugh makes me hard. When Rebecca gets hurt, I step in to help. It's what friends do. But what friends don't do is rip off each others' clothes for a single, wild night together. Now she's avoiding me. She says we're too different, and it can never happen again. So why can't we keep our hands off each other?

Genres: Romance, Sports, Friends To Lovers, Sports Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Hockey

298 pages, ebook

First published February 12, 2018

About the author

Sarina Bowen is the 24-time USA Today bestselling and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary fiction, including: The Five Year Lie, the True North series, and the Brooklyn Hockey series. She's the co-author of Him/Us and the WAGs series with Elle Kennedy. And more!

You can find a complete reading order list of Sarina's books on her website. Or see what's coming next from Sarina, and sign up for her newsletter so you don't miss a new book or a deal.

Reviews

[Bibi · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Even better the second time around! With a mountainous TBR shelf looming, it's almost impossible to carve time for a re-read of favourites, but I needed a swoony hero and Nate simply does it for me**

Very rarely do you get an author who writes a realistic portrayal of the billionaire character.

Most authors write the illusory billionaire who lacks the work ethic or lifestyle that is synonymous with those in that tax bracket.

Similarly, the wealthy guy would always get characterised as a narcissistic manwhore with S&M proclivities who is either thinking of or having sex 2-4-7 to the point it’s hard to believe they have time to, you know, actually initiate or execute billion dollar ideas.

Listen, I'm not knocking it because I understand that sex sells, still, it's refreshing to read authors such as Bowen tell a nuanced and complex story which utilizes sex, not as a plot driver, but within the context of a loving relationship.

I mean, who does that? No whips, slaps or even a "he impaled her on his wide girth"? *snorts*

In any event, I liked that our hero, Nate, was a nice guy who worked hard for his money and I loved that Rebecca, his office manager, met him well before he was even a thousandnaire. More than this, their relationship evolved organically, spanning several years, and when eventually they became a couple I was rooting for them and loved how they maturely navigated the challenges and pitfalls on the path to their HEA

If you want a sweet love story, then you really can't go wrong with Brooklynaire.

[CristiinaReads୨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

➳Attraction between friends that are oblivious about it, but have strong friendship feelings towards each other making it harder for them to release their lust towards each other...



➳When it comes down to friends to lovers romances, Sarina Bowen has nailed it to the core with this new addition to the continuing story line of the Brooklyn Bruisers, but still considered as a stand-alone of course. Having read the Sarina Bowen books in the past, I love this book ten-times more do to it being in a dual-pov, first person perspective. The story line itself is wonderful, and it captivates you to the dirty mind that Nate has there is no turning back, but only moving forward to what else has has up his sleeve.

➳To me, I found this love story appealing for those who are into office AND sports romances. The attraction between Nate and Rebecca is present, but it's also one that Rebecca seems to be oblivious about. Nate, internally, expresses his feelings and attraction towards Beca, but due to his past, he is afraid to unleash those feelings and let Rebecca know about it. Everything changes when they both collide towards something one night, and they interact physically.



➳The angst is always there, no matter what. And in the beginning, all you want to do is yell at Rebecca and Nate to just do it already! To stop neglecting their attraction and go for it already...



➳Overall, this was such a sweet romance story that gets your head filled with angst and so many filthy emotions and thoughts;) However, it will also entertain you with the appearances of the previous characters from the Brooklyn Bruiser's series. Thank you to Nina and Sarina for giving me an advance copy of this puppy. I am now utterly invested in any sort of writing by Sarina that's for sure...

➳ARC kindly provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review...

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[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars!!!

Until you wake up naked with your boss of seven years, you haven’t lived.


THIS is the book I’ve been waiting for in the Brooklyn Bruisers series. Yeah, this is a hockey series and Nate’s not a hockey player, but semantics. Nate is actually the owner of the Brooklyn Bruisers. He’s a very rich and very successful man in all of his endeavors, and Rebecca is the girl that’s been with him from the start. She’s worked for him before he made all his money, and he’s been gone for her for a while now.

Rebecca and Nate are just friends… right? That’s what Rebecca thinks. Even though she’s crazy attracted to Nate, he’s always been off limits to her. Gah! I love a good friends to lovers romance. Rebecca gets hurt, and Nate proves just how good of a friend he is. He also starts showing her that maybe he wants a little more. I wanted this couple together so badly. I shipped them from the start of the series. The anticipation drove me crazy. I loved the slow burn between them. You could just feel the chemistry sizzling. They were the perfect pairing.

I love Sarina’s writing, characters, and wit. Brooklynaire can be read as a stand-alone, but don’t miss out on the other great books in this series. This book was sweet, sexy, and a whole lot of fun! I mean… ‘So. Cat tacos?’ LOL! Pick it up and read it if you’re looking for a fun and fresh friends to lovers read!

[Jenny••Steamy Reads Blog•• · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love a book where the guy goes after the girl. Not saying the girl didn’t want it, but when a guy pursues the girl, I like it a lot


Nate Kattenberger, owner of the Brooklyn Bruisers and a Billionaire Business owner. He’s handsome, he’s sappy, he’s hidden his lust for damn near 7 years for his assistant. I loved damn near everything about Nate. His drive to succeed, his passion for the one he wants, his protectiveness, okay I think you get it. He was nearing the perfect stage for me.

Rebecca Rowley is a dedicated family woman. She dropped out of college to help her mom and sister after her father passed away. Got a job with noneother, Nate Kattenberger. She fought her attraction to him for years, knew she would never live up to his standards, be the woman he needed her to be. Right?? We all have those thoughts I’m sure. She literally was there for Nate every step of the way in his business adventure. She started from ground zero with him building and making his business succeed into a billion dollar company. And she's still there....

Tables turn and Nate simply can’t hold back anymore with his attraction. When things start progressing, the angst starts. But it’s good, it keeps you begging for more, it holds you hostage until you finally get what you want. And I did get it. And I really liked what I got.

A very enjoyable, solid, sweet read. Love this author, and definitely this book. You want simple, sweet, and some sappy angst, look no further





.

[Sarina Bowen]

This week I sent everyone on my newsletter list a deleted scene from Brooklynaire! If you haven't been getting my newsletters, you can sign up here .

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The audio was SO BLOODY GOOD!!!

I had high hopes for the audio considering I loved reading Brooklynaire so much, but this one surpassed my expectations. It was so bloody good. The narrators brought Nate and Becca to life, sucked me into the Brooklyn Bruiser world, and made me desperate to listen to the rest of the series. I wish the rest of the Brooklyn Bruiser's had Bingley in them.

You remember Bingley, don't you?

Come on, who could forget Nate's very life-like security system? For any Pride and Prejudice fan, this one will put a smile on your face. Not quoting...because I am shockingly lazy and always forget to take note of quotes BUT, I loved Nate and Becca's conversation about choosing a voice for the system. At first, Nate suggests Darcy, and I'm nodding my head picturing Colin Firth's voice. But, as Becca explains, Darcy is not exactly a talkative kind of fellow. Bingley is definitely more suited to following directions. You know I'm right...

Anyways, Brooklynaire was awesome for the read and for the listen. Whichever form takes your fancy, you can't go wrong. Not changing my rating, just wish I could give extra stars for an awesome performance by the narrators.

I haven't bothered to read my previous review but I'm sure it's my usual ramblings, but, knock yourself out if you wish. If not, just do it!! You will not regret picking up this series.

This series is AWESOME!!
Sarina Bowen is AMAZING!!

**********

Bubbles of joy and heart flutters...

I broke one of my reading rules. I was never going to be one of THOSE readers that snuck a read in when out in public. I’m not talking about the times when you’re sitting at a baseball game and you listen to an audiobook as you watch. I do THAT a lot. I’m not even talking about those times when you take your Kindle out while waiting for an appointment. I do THAT too. I’m talking about the dodgy habit of casually taking out your phone, pretending to look at messages and reading instead…WHILE IN THE PRESENCE OF FAMILY, FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES!! I even did the nodding head, pretending to listen, thing.

I AM SO ASHAMED!!
(Well, maybe not ashamed, but I do feel marginally guilty...)

BUT, I HAD TO!!

It feels like I’ve been waiting for Nate and Becca’s story FOREVER!! But spare a thought for poor Nate and Becca, their love story has been brewing for SEVEN YEARS!! This is not one of those stories where you feel sad and morose because you watch them pine away for each other. These two are busy living their lives, working hard and getting ahead. Obviously, there’s an underlying hum of attraction but there are oodles of reasons why they can’t act on that attraction. The first mountain to climb…Nate is Becca’s boss.

I’m not normally a fan of jumping back and forth in time with my reads. It’s not an easy thing to get right without it feeling like *GET TO IT ALREADY* or *IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON FROM THE PAST*. Sarina Bowen has managed to do it with a little quirk and a touch of pizazz. I needed to live it to get a feeling for where these two started and how they got to be. It completely sucked me in and made me desperate to see it play out.

We meet a few of the women in Nate’s life and see him struggle with friendship, love, betrayal and heartbreak. These struggles made it obvious to me that Becca was the right woman for him. Nate is super protective, kind, generous and sweet. His attraction to her was obvious and once they connected, I never doubted his devotion to Becca.

I LOVED Brooklynaire (yes spellcheck, I know it’s not a word, please don’t take it upon yourself to change it EVERY BLOODY TIME). It was everything I hoped and waited for. There were plenty of ups and downs with a few spanners thrown in the works. I loved catching up with the gang and getting to know a few of the characters even better.

If you have loved the Brooklyn Bruisers series so far, you will LOVE Brooklynaire. Watching Becca and Nate’s story unfold was riveting. I was never bored or frustrated…OK, I was a little frustrated, but people in love do knucklehead things once in a while. I loved watching Nate hold Becca up when she was about to fall. I loved watching Becca give Nate comfort when things weren’t going to plan. Brooklynaire was funny, sweet, sexy and loving. It was perfect and I highly recommend.

Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.

[Rachel L · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

“Everything seems fine and ordinary. Or at least it did until I hit my head.”

Brooklyn Bruiser fans, we finally have Nate and Becca’s story! And it was SO worth the wait!

Becca has worked for billionaire Nate since the beginning, before he earned all the money and fame. Over seven years the two have had a great friendship and worked really well together. And while both are attracted to the other, neither one of them knows it or will admit it.

When Becca injures her head on the ice, Nate steps in to help take care of her. Doctors cannot figure out exactly what is wrong, and it’s extremely frustrating for Becca who just wants to get back to work. Staying at Nate’s place, she does her best to work out the past few years and how they ended up where they are now.

“We work together all the time. I can’t be the girl who just casually sleeps with her boss.”

The thing I love about Sarina Bowen is, I enjoy her books 99.999999% of the time. Her writing style just works for me. Brooklynaire was such a fun read and a great escape from reality. I spent the majority of my weekend reading this avoiding real life tasks like cleaning and leaving my house.

While technically this is the fourth novel in the Brooklyn Bruisers series, it can totally be read as a standalone. Believe me, I skipped book two (hides in shame). I loved this story and glad we finally got to see Nate and Becca’s side of things and why it took them so long to give up the ghost and get together.

Sexy, fun and entertaining, this is the book you want to one-click right when it releases right away!

“Everything worthwhile is complicated.”

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All/any quotes in this review came from an advance unedited copy and may be subject to change in the final product.


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[Astrid - The Bookish Sweet Tooth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review @ Vanilla & Spice Books







I can't go wrong with a Sarina Bowen book. I just love this woman's stories so much. And can we take a second to appreciate this FINE cover?

In Brooklynaire Sarina Bowen gives us wonderfully endearing main characters and a set of fabulous supporting cast. Rebecca's concussion, which she  sustained from her brilliant idea to step on the ice of the Brooklyn Bruisers practice rink takes longer to heal than anyone anticipated. Good thing that team owner and bossman Nate Kattenberger secretly carries a torch for Becca and makes her stay with him in his high end house and arranges for an an appointment with a specialist.

There is an easy, lovely friendship between these two. It's the relaxed companionship between two people who have known one another for a long time. In their case it's been seven years, when Nate was a genius, albeit hot computer nerd starting up his company and engaged to an unfaithful tramp. Now a successful tycoon he hasn't changed. He's still hot, still a nerd and everyone knows how much I love them (especially if they look like the guy on the cover. Dayum, I mean seriously).

The women in my life exist to put me in my place. It’s a goddamn fact.

Nate is just amazing and almost too good to be true. He is SUCH a good guy, a great boss to everyone and especially to Rebecca. He pays attention and is observant and aware of the things going on around him. Mostly. I thought it was hilarious that everybody in his orbit knew how in love he was with Rebecca when he thought he was being sneaky. Being oblivious is something he has in common with Rebecca because she was probably the only one who didn't know about it either. It's a small miracle that they actually found together

Nate wants everybody to feel comfortable. He never pushes the woman he cares so much about, worries about her and respects her wishes...at least as long as she voices them. He is fiercely protective of Rebecca and that was totally adorable. He is generous, magnetic, tender with his woman and good-natured, and who knew that nerdiness could be so sexy? He gave me the swoons the way he was pining for Rebecca. If you could wish for the perfect specimen of the male population I would take Nate.

“Down, boy,” I order.
Nate sticks out his tongue and pants like a puppy. “I’m two seconds away from humping your leg. It’s been three days since I saw you last, Miss Rowley.”

He is described as a little bit socially awkward. I didn't see it, not really. Yes, he had a tendency to zone out in a conversation but in social situations he was very aware of what is polite and what isn't, and how to behave. I thought he was more goofy than quirky.

Rebecca is independent, strong with a generous dose of sass. She doesn't allow herself to crush on bossman again. She's been there, done that and bought the coffee mug. She's a college drop-out, which happened out of necessity when her father passed away, a fact that has always been a thorn in her side. Of course it's one of the reasons she can't imagine that a charismatic, hot guy like Nate would be interested in her. Rebecca is loyal, fierce in her convictions but a little bit of a chicken. It takes her a while to get used to the budding feelings between Nate and her. Avoidance is one of he strategies she uses when she can't make sense of things.

While I didn't always agree with the way Rebecca handled things I understood where she was coming from - and that's the beauty of it when an author gets it right. Even if the heroine handles things completely differently than I would, explain it to me, get me on board. It's what Ms Bowen always gets right for me. Rebecca's reluctance of anything else other than friendship with Nate made complete sense. Was it frustrating? Yes! But it never got to a point where I wanted to throw my Kindle.

Their love for palindromes provided a lot of entertainment and Nate's AI assistant Bingley was wonderful - although he wasn't human he had his own personality. Props for that, because I'm sure it wasn't easy to find the right balance without it sounding too Sci-Fi.

Becca: NAOMI, DID I MOAN?
Nate: Don’t ever change. Love your dirty mind.
Becca: Also questionable: SIT ON A POTATO PEN, OTIS.
Nate: Poor Otis. How about, EGAD, NO BONDAGE?
Becca: Too prudish. I prefer: NO, TIE IT ON.
Nate: Touché.

I spotted a couple of characters I'd like to know more about. Alex and Stew are both Nate's friends and I can imagine that we might get stories with them. Of course now I also have to go back and read the other books in this series because, damn, I need to know what happened with Lauren.

Brooklynaire's plot isn't unusual or innovative. However, It's a solid, delightful and sexy sports romance with all the things I love best about them. It has one of the sweetest male characters and a fierce, sassy heroine packed in a boss/employee and friends-to-lovers trope. If that works for you, you can't go wrong when you pick this up!

"My life is constant noise. Meetings and obligations and two thousand employees. It’s great, but it’s loud. When you kiss me, everything goes quiet. That’s the only time I can forget everyone else.” I roll to the side and put my lips right beside her ear. “And when I’m inside you, we’re all that matters. I crave it so much.”

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK



This is one of those books in a series that had me ready to scream and stalk the author to get. Nate and Becca have been secondary characters that are mentioned in previous books only enough to get me curious but never enough to give any of their answers. So instead I had to patiently sit and wait for their book to come out and hope my expectations can be met. Well I can certainly say that with this couple my exceptions were not met-they were blown right off the rink.

For seven years Becca worked for Nate as their relationship grew from boss/employee, to friends. But it never went further no matter how much they both wished it would. Until an injury puts Becca closer than ever to Nate and those feelings get impossible to ignore.

I loved getting to know more about Nate and Becca, and I really liked that there were a few parts that took us back to when they first met. There weren't a bunch of flashbacks, but just a few that gave more of a backstory on these characters. They had a really strong connection that had me loving them together and going crazy when they wouldn't give in to that chemistry.

Overall, this is a great boss/employee story that I will definitely recommend. Full of just the right amount of angst it will leave you on the edge of your seat as you wait for Nate and Becca to admit their true feelings. I think it would be better to read at least the previous book before this one but it's not fully necessary if you don't mind some spoilers.

ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Wish Fulfillment Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
One of the best things about reading a series... is watching and thinking about secondary characters who demand their own books. A crafty, smart author will give life to these characters... making us curious and interested. They will give us just enough of a glimpse here and there in the series so that at a certain point... these characters cannot be denied...There is enough demand by readers to plead... Please give us this couple's story.

Sarina Bowen could teach a masterclass in secondary characters... in every single book I have read... and I have read a bunch... each tale will have other characters who hold their own on the page...and in each of the Brooklyn Bruisers books, the owner of the team and his assistant did their part in bringing the books to life.

Now we have their story and it is a sweet and lovely tale.

Nate has had an interest in Rebecca for a very long time. He has never let her know about it because she works for him and is close to being his best friend... He cannot think of what his life would be like without her. She came to work for him before the Billions before he was famous and sought after...He can be himself around her and that is precious.

Rebecca has been with Nate as his office manager for 7 years. She has looked out for him and made sure his life ran smoothly. When she first started working for Nate, he was engaged. That made sure Rebecca kept Nate squarely where he needed to be... boss and friend. Even after Nate broke up with his fiancee, Rebecca never overstepped...

So you have these two people who have feelings for each other... one more clearly aware than the other... and when Rebecca hurts her head and is not recovering the way she should, Nate steps in and makes sure she gets the treatments she needs.

This brings these two closer than ever before and then...a friendship/boss line is crossed...bringing all sorts of complications to the forefront...

This romance had a lot going for it...it was crafted well, read fast and you wanted both of them to have their HEA together. Mission accomplished.

Rookie Move (Brooklyn Bruisers, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Hard Hitter (Brooklyn Bruisers #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pipe Dreams (Brooklyn Bruisers, #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Brooklynaire (Brooklyn, #4)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Overnight Sensation (Brooklyn, #5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Superfan (Brooklyn, #6)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Moonlighter (Brooklyn#7/Company #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Sure Shot (Brooklyn, #8)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Bombshells (Brooklyn, #9)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Shenanigans
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Love Lessons (Brooklyn, #7; Brooklyn Bruisers, #12)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
What makes a perfect weekend????
Why having Brooklynaire set to your Kindle!!!!
●•●•●•●•●•●•●•
If you have been Hooked on the Brooklyn Bruisers
Then you have been Waiting...
No, Dying for this book!

Nate is that guy...
The one who has been Pining for his Right Hand Gal, Rebecca...

Only for 7 Years...

But then something happens bringing Nate and Becca together...
And with both of them having all that Pent-up Want...
They experience a Night to Remember...

Now What...
She says... Can't repeat, Can't be a couple...
Nope, She can't have her own....

Brooklynaire (Brooklyn Bruisers #4)-February 12th 2018


A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Chelsea (chelseadolling reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid smutty read! It did have a little bit of unnecessary conflict towards the end, but I'm honestly getting so used to the drama of new adult romances that it didn't annoy me as much as it usually would. I will definitely be checking out more from Sarina Bowen in the future when I'm in da mood for some smuts

[Nissa | Of Pens and Pages Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

We finally have Nate and Rebecca's book, y'all! To everyone who has read at least one of the Brooklyn Bruisers novels, you know there's something going on between the tech billionaire owner of the hockey team and his right-hand woman. Brooklynaire was three books in the making, but it was worth the wait. It was just as sweet and satisfying as I imagined it to be.

My life is constant noise... When you kiss me, everything goes quiet. That's the only time I can forget everyone else."

To first-time Brooklyn Bruisers readers, you're in for a treat! This sweet and steamy friends-to-lovers romance, with hints of angst and forbidden feelings in the workplace, is filled with all the pent-up tension two people who have been harboring feelings for each other for years can possibly have.

Tech genius and Brooklyn Bruisers owner Nate Kattenberger and his office manager Rebbeca Rowley have been working together for seven years, but for at least half those years, the two have been feeling more and more for each other. The only reason they have never once acted on it is because of their great friendship and work relationship.

When Rebecca gets injured, forcing her to take a few weeks off work, Nate does everything he can to help her feel better. And now that they've got the chance to spend time together outside of work, it's even harder to ignore the attraction and connection that's basically screaming at them.

But as mentioned above, there's a reason Nate and Becca have never acted on their feelings for so long. It might ruin their long-standing friendship and complicate their work relationship, too. And it's even harder for Rebbeca since she's working for Nate. She can't risk losing her job, especially not now that she's supporting her sister, husband and baby.

In Brooklynaire, we get to see a little more of the history between Nate and Becca, when she joined the team, and when the non-platonic feelings for each other started coming in. I loved reading about their relationship! The progression was so gradual, sweet AND sizzling with all the sexual tension.

And I just have to say this, but when heroes think their heroines are "f*ing adorable", it does crazy things to my heart. Nate is attracted to Becca, and he also thinks she's sexy, but I love it so much that he thinks she and everything she does is adorable. It's obvious how much he adores her, how he thinks the world of her, and just, ahhh. The feels!

I loved the Jane Austen references, Bingley, THE PALINDROMES!!!, the banter between them, and pretty much everything related to this couple. Nate and Becca were both lovable characters, so it was even easier to root for them. Thanks to the seven years of working together, they have formed a great bond and rapport. It was heartwarming to see how much one understood the other, they have each other's back, and that they would do whatever they can for one another. It's not an "I can't live without you", but an "I can live without you, but I'd rather not". An "I'm great on my own, but we can also be great together."

If you've read the previous Brooklyn Bruisers novels, you'll see a lot of familiar faces here. And this is set at the same time as Pipe Dreams, so yes. I guess you'll see it on the other side now haha!

Brooklynaire is a standalone, so it's not necessary to read the previous books. You don't have to worry about feeling lost any step of the way. But still, I highly recommend reading the first three books!

Tropes: Boss-Employee, Friends to Lovers, Office Romance, Sports—Hockey
POV: Present: First Person, Dual POV; Past: Third Person
Standalone: Yes

*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

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[Geri Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

I had high expectations for this book because it's Nate! And Becca! I've been waiting for this book since I've read the first Brooklyn Bruisers book and Sarina Bowen did not disappoint. I adored this book with all of my heart.

Brooklynaire is a fun, all out swoon-worthy romance with Sarina Bowen's trademark flair.

Nate and Becca had been in this perpetual will they won't they sexual tension since the first book in this series. In case you haven't been keeping up, Becca is the office manager for the Brooklyn Bruisers and Nate is the owner. He also happens to be a tech genius billionaire.

I adored their friendship. The transition from employee to friends and then to lovers was seamless. They shared a history together, and Becca was there from the very beginning of Nate's company. They went through the usual ups and downs together as well. But one significant event -- and this is not a spoiler since it has been revealed in the previous books in the series -- stood out and that was the moment when Becca was transferred from Nate's Manhattan office or basically his inner circle to the Bruisers facility.

To Nate it was self-preservation. To Becca it felt like a demotion, and it was sort shadowed their relationship ever since even though they remain good friends. We finally get to know the reason why this happened and the confrontation that followed was utterly satisfying to me.

Aside from my abnormally high expectation with the romantic aspect of this book, I was also curious about how Ms. Bowen will address the issue of the imbalance of power between these two characters. Nate is the all powerful billionaire and Becca is an assistant. Her livelihood depended not just on her skills but how she deals with people around her. And Nate's romantic interest in her could potentially have a negative impact on her career and how people would perceive her.

I absolutely liked how the author was able to deal with this very real issue especially in light of the workplace harassment scandals that have now been brought to light. And if you say right now that you don't want to read anything as controversial or political undertones in your book, then tough! 'Cause you're getting it here, and it's wonderful.

The conflict, the banter, the secondary characters made this book a worthwhile read. I loved Lauren's cameos. And yes, we do get more hockey talk in this book which is always a bonus. Aaaaand someone or something else gets introduced in this book that OMG made me nerd out so hard. Not only that, it added some comic relief. It was a very clever inclusion, Ms. Bowen. Very clever indeed.

Anyway, read this book, people! It can be read as a standalone yet but I highly recommend reading the first books in the series, just so you can get a feel for how other people sees Nate and Becca.

ARC provided by the author for a voluntary review

[Bree Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mini-review: I have no idea what series this book belongs to because it takes place in the same world as Brooklyn Bruisers and in some places it is listed as part of that series and others it is listed as the Brooklyn Series. Either way it can be read as a standalone. It follows the story of a quirky millionaire who owns an Apple-like tech company and a hockey team. It’s a friends-to-lovers workplace romance with so much longing and swoon, I can’t even. I’m so in love with the hero in this book and how much he pines after the heroine without her ever knowing.

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original review: The New Romantics

*I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

*4.5 Stars!*

After two years of waiting...

... BROOKLYNAIRE IS FINALLY HERE!



If you know me, then you know have long I've been waiting for Nate and Becca's story. I've been shipping these two since Rookie Move and I may have let obsession get a little out of hand because I was down right ready to riot if this ship never set sail. Okay, enough of me and my empty threats, let's get to me fangirling about one of my favorite reads for 2018.

Brooklynaire is the fourth book in the Brooklyn Bruisers and while it can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the previous three books to get the full experience. Nate and Becca's romance has slowly been developing across these three books so you definitely don't want to miss all that angst. Speaking of angst, there's a lot of that in Brooklynaire as Nate and Becca both consider blurring the lines of professionalism. But with seven years of friendship on the line, is the risk for love worth it?

One of my favorite things about this story is the way that it's structured. We start off in the present with Becca's accident and then we get to go back seven years to see how Nate and Becca met. I loved alternating between the past and the present and being able to see how these two met and became friends of over the years. We also get an insight to both Nate and Becca's past and I may or may not have wanted to fight a few characters from their past. ALSO, THIS BOOK HAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE TROPES! I'm a sucker for when one of the MCs become ill and the other MC has to take care of them until they are better. I literally died while Nate was taking care of Becca even though she tried her best to refuse his help. Accurate representation of me:



THIS ROMANCE IS EVERYTHING! Friends-to-lovers. Slow-burning. Nerdy. Just absolute perfection. This relationship has been seven years in the making and Sarina doesn't rush any of the development. It's so authentic. Sweet. Will literally have you swooning and feeling all the feels. Is it wrong to say I might even be jealous of these two because I low key am.

Becca and Nate definitely my top couple for this series and honestly, that's saying a lot because Georgia and Leo were pretty damn close to perfection. Becca is such a relatable heroine. She comes off as a very confident individual but in Brooklynaire we got to see that she does have her bad days and I loved that. She's so selfless and always willing to step in when someone needs help. She's the perfect match for Nate because she sees him for who he truly is. Nate is a babe. He is my ideal hero, both in books and in real life. He's such a nerd too and I loved his affinity for palindromes.

Brooklynaire was everything I wanted AND MORE! All these months of waiting were definitely worth it and I couldn't have asked for a better happily-ever-after for one of my favorite OTPs! Shout out to Sarina Bowen for writing this story even if it was never one she intended to write. SHE DID THAT! My 2018 has been made because of it!

[Sam I AMNreader · Rating 1 out of 5]

Plot points and reveals here, read at your own risk. I'm basically cataloging my issues with the book.
Final thoughts: While the final 40% were lovely, sexy, sweet, and a likely attempt at redemption, the beginning of the book handled the power dynamic in too threatening of a manner for me. There were a couple situations, in order to include in the book, that could have been changed ever so slightly to work just fine.
Sexy: Someone sneaks into your hotel room after being invited and a similar situation ensues-or someone you are in a relationship with...Not sexy? read spoilers if you want to know
Sexy: Office romance where the couple is somehow on equal footing but required to sneak away to deal with their feelings, deny their feelings for so long until combustible, or sneaking off to get in some loving and keep it from others...
Not sexy? Manipulative behaviors in order to deal with said feelings and complete lack of awareness and sensitivity.

And thus concludes what I believe to be my longest review. It's a shame, the end had so much potential, but the atrocious beginning was, for me, inexcusable.

ETA 3/10/18 Also, I want to add A(Is for Awkward) excellent review link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... which pointed the fact that Becca lived paycheck to paycheck after 7 years in the same position. ugh.

DETAILED AND SPOILERY ISSUES BELOW:

Let's first just go ahead and acknowledge I'm the outlier here. Noted. And I'm not actually done with the book yet...But I can't wait:

There are a few power dynamics I can’t stand. I don’t think I’ll ever be okay with student/teacher or student/professor relationships. (Remains to be seen if Penny Reid pulls this off for me-but I’m cringing). Doctor/patient is generally a no-go zone.

In Brooklynaire, we have a workplace dynamic that I can be pretty tolerant of. I actually don’t know why I’m okay with it, but there’s something about the forbidden aspect where the dynamic can work really really well for me. I can practically hear eyes rolling, and yes, I may lose some credibility with you all. I can’t even explain myself-but I like Beautiful Bastard. Among others. Granted, I haven’t read BB in a while, so take this with a grain of salt-I am. It’s all problematic and inherently manipulative…But, indulge me because I’d like to point out some issues. I would also like to say honestly that it could be me having heightened sensitivity to male-dominated work environments at the moment where maybe that normally wouldn’t piss me off to no end. Take it for what you will.


In Brooklynaire, Nate is a mother-fucking creep. I actually don’t buy his social awkwardness, what with his speech to his team (GAG), his noticing Lauren and Mike’s relationship, among other things. Is he focused?Sure. Doesn’t make him socially awkward. So, Becca’s been with Nate as his employee since the start-up days, where they needed office and administrative help. These employees in my estimation the unsung & true COOs of any area, but Nate scoffs “for clerical work, uh no” when his partner asks him about stock options for Becca. Look, everyone does heavy lifting at a start-up, so fuck off Nate.



Blah blah blah a few years pass and Nate realizes just exactly how fond he is of Becca. So when he purchases a hockey team, he essentially moves her, or has her trading places with Lauren because of Lauren's workplace romance. I’m not sure if this should point to his sensitivity (Lauren) or his out and out manipulation to get an object of his affection out of the way (Becca). Either way, I don’t think this is an admirable move, and multiple characters pressure Becca to ask why he really did it. It didn’t fit either woman (Lauren or Becca) better in terms of work. This is a major manipulation by the CEO of a company of his assistant because of his feelings for her. He punished her for his feelings. Nate is a tool.

Then there’s this part in the present where Nate shows up at Becca’s apartment. Now granted, there’s a little more integration in their lives with their work of each other than maybe expected, but that’s pretty ummm. Just no? Work and home should have boundaries. And one of those is your boss doesn't show up at your house unannounced. K. thanks.

Then he’s making her doctor appointments for a super specialist in concussions (oh sorry, that’s how all this begins in present day, Becca has a concussion, but worse) and bringing her. At some point, he basically just drives her back to his mansion to stay without having a conversation with her. I don’t know about you guys but it’s uncomfortable. This is highly manipulative, gross, alpha behavior under the guise of caring about someone.

Still, I’m letting it slide. There’s a reception, where he ‘lets Becca out’ for a while. Frustrated by an encounter with one of Nate’s friends she downs some champagne, which is a no-no in her condition. She stumbles back to her room with Lauren who is dead set on coming back to check on her. So, in Lauren’s book, I was pretty against this move but this book made it worse: Conveniently, Becca sleeps in lingerie. Lauren knows, takes her key card, promises to check back. SENDS NATE INSTEAD. You.fucking.fuckers. This is not what Becca asked for. You have removed her choice. She now has a man in her room without her knowledge or permission. She wakes up, tells Nate about her dream (she was shopping) and of course he makes a move. Also, she acts like it's not a biggie for him to see her lingerie. I don't know, if my zipper's down at work I'm mortified. Also, if my male boss who I already give plenty of time to made me move in his house and then walks into my hotel room quietly without my knowledge I’m thinking he’s a creep. That he carries through with (condom-less!) sex in her state of influence (no indication whether that’d be an issue) when she’s half asleep and HIS EMPLOYEE and then tells her not to ruin it by talking-unless she must. I feel really really done.

It’s one thing to have a troubling power dynamic and still have it be sexy. It’s another thing to have a character repeatedly manipulate a character using said power dynamics until he finally gets her into bed as she’s coming to the realization slowly that indeed this has been the issue with her work all along, and that he’s adored her all this time. There has to be some balance. Other books have had the employee as the instigator. A fearless heroine, decent discussions on the issue. This has none of those. I was truly hoping the hotel drunk (?) check in wasn't their first encounter....but, oh, it was.

I’m around 39% and it is perhaps the case that I will keep reading. Maybe there’s a conversation to cover this. Maybe there’s something that makes it all better. Right now, all it looks like to me is a manipulative creep using his power and tools to get his long time-obsession into bed. And it looks like Becca is just along for the ride. I’m not okay with it. And fuck you too Lauren.

And sidenote, is this some weird spoof/nod to 50 shades? I don’t care.

Update from 40-62% There was some pretty serious walk back and frank conversations with Nate's best friend. Too little too late for me, and to be blunt--just words. Doesn't make Nate a different character than the one who walked into Becca's hotel room uninvited.

But then it is revealed that Nate's mother dealt with some pretty significant sexual harassment issues. To paraphrase...he'll never be that guy.
At this point, I find the lack of self-awareness utterly stunning. I'm disappointed because Sarina Bowen is actually pretty good with complicated issues.

There's quite a few Minnesota hockey references. At one point it's mentioned that he's a Chicago fan because his parents left MN for Iowa before we got our expansion team. We were only without a team for like 7 years. I don't hockey. I only note this because it was like, BFD around these parts to lose the Northstars. I am assuming he's years younger, however. And I likely wouldn't care if it didn't just feel like a knowledge / factoid drop for its own sake in the book. This just pairs with the 2nd in the series where an orphan from Minnesota miraculously becomes a pro hockey player and no mention of how he supported his hockey playing (a year-round dedication typically with a ton of travel and big time parent commitment) is semi-annoying. But really...that's not the heart of the matter here.

[Corina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been waiting for this book for the last three years, and I’m thrilled to report that the wait was absolutely worth it. Sarina Bowen gave Becca and Nate an amazing, satisfying story.
This friends-to-lovers romance was simply wonderful.

Becca and Nate are the perfect example of the friends-to-lovers trope. They’ve known each other for seven years, worked closely together for years, trusted each other completely, and knew one another like no one else could. They genuinely enjoyed each other’s company and shared the most adorable nerdy quirks. And then came the sex — and OMG, those two were hot!

Nate was every bit as awesome as I remembered: cool-as-a-cucumber, highly intelligent, wealthy, and secretly in love with his office manager. On top of that, he was incredibly sweet, caring, and sensitive. He listened, took care of Becca, gave her space when needed, and was unequivocally in love with her. Once the cat was out of the bag, he had one goal in mind — making Becca his.

Becca, much more conscious of what the public and everyone else might think, made Nate sweat buckets and gave him more than one near-heart attack. I loved Becca from the very beginning, but after Brooklynaire, I adore her even more. She’s vibrant, unique, genuine, and the perfect match for Nate.

Their friendship shone like a beacon whenever they were together — real, deep, and fully reciprocated. The sexual tension was palpable and sizzling. Once they finally gave in to their desires, they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Yet, these steamy moments never overshadowed the story; they enhanced it, showing just how strong their chemistry and attraction truly were.

I also loved that the author allowed them to have their own lives and jobs, without being glued to each other 24/7. That made their relationship feel so much more realistic and believable.

Brooklynaire was everything I hoped it would be, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. Bravo, Sarina Bowen!!

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

LIVE AMAZON : http://amzn.to/2EjAqmH

4-4,5 cute stars ❤️

Sarina Bowen delivers a sweet story!I can even tell you how much I adored Nate!He was everything and the main reason why I loved this story so much!The story line is perfect and the characters well developed!



Becca and Nate are friends and worked together for seven years.When Becca injures her head and has to recover from a concussion Nate gives her the chance to stay at his place so she can recover soon.They start spending more time together and this make her to start having feelings for him!Nate tries to hide his feeling for her but after a night together he can't ignore it anymore!I loved the premise in this one!There wasn't a moment I get bored!I enjoyed every minute of it!




I loved their chemistry and their relationship!They really make me swoon many times!Their sexual tension was palpable!Overall, these two were perfect for each other!I have a little problem with Becca's behavior at some point but didn't stopped me from enjoying the book!

If you are looking for a cute story with a swoon worthy hero and a sweet romance this is perfect for you!!

 

  

[Meghan Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!! Sarina Bowen made me so giddy with this book! Gahh, I'm going to be thinking about Nate and Rebecca for a long time.

Office romance and hockey = YESSSSS!!!!

Brooklynaire is a highly addictive, can't put it down, office romance with a nerdy billionaire twist all wrapped up in a sexy and witty package. I ready Brooklynaire in a day. Believe me when I say you won't be able to be able to stop reading this book!

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time)]

Kindle freebie 5/24/20

[⊱✿⊰ Alicia ⊱✿⊰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars!!

I was on the hunt for a new series to sink my teeth into, I stumbled across this sexy cover and 1-clicked straight away because Sarina Bowen! Nothing more needs saying as I have enjoyed everything I have read of hers and Brooklynaire didn't disappoint!



I listened to the audiobook and it was FAN-FU@#ING-TASTIC! I was immediately pulled into Becky and Nate's lives and the world of the Brooklyn Bruisers.



Rebecca/Becky is the office manager for the Brooklyn Bruisers. She is down on her luck, her sister has moved into her tiny apartment with her new baby and boyfriend, now her life is in chaos. Becky loves working for the Bruisers but one day she walks out on the ice, falls and bangs her head receiving a concussion and head trauma. She is forced to take time off and do Therapy, this accident was the start of big changes in Becky's life.

Nate owns a Tech company that's worth billions, Becky has worked for Nate for years and they were friends the whole time. When Nate buys the Brooklyn Bruisers he transfers Becky to manage the office there, telling her it's where she is needed most when secretly he wants a little space from the temptation that is Becky. I thought is was so cute how much Nate was crushing on Becky and the way it was obvious to everyone except Becky. When Becky has her accident Nate's feelings become even stronger as he steps in to help her.

I loved Becky and Nate! They are both such fun, loving characters. Their banter was fun and their chemistry was intense.



This is a fantastic friends-to-lovers, office romance and I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

Okay, the year is quickly ending, I find myself 11,000 reviews behind and a bunch of those aren’t really even worth me wasting my time on (like this one we can just label as Exhibit A) so I’m going to puke out a couple of sentences real quick and call it done. Brooklynaire was obviously released as an antithesis to all things Christian Grey . . . .



Not that I was a big fan of the Red Room of Pain, but at least something was going on.

You see, professional hockey team owner Nate is a billionaire with heart. He has loved his office manager Becca from afar for years and years (and apparently has chosen to show it by making her the office manager of a billion-dollar empire, but paying her so little that she lives in a shitty neighborhood in an apartment she winds up having to share with her sister, her sister’s baby and the baby daddy). When Becca suffers a concussion, Nate jumps at the opportunity to be her knight in shining armor – promptly moving her into his palace and opening up about his feelings in fairly short order. The two commence the banging, there’s a teensie little bit of very contrived drama thrown in and they get their happily ever after.

Everyone else but me loved this, so obviously I’m once again a wrongreader, but I found these characters, the sex, the (non-existent) plot and everything else about this to be sooooooooooooooooooooo . . . .



This was my first read by this author, but I actually have a couple of her other books on the Kindle. I need to get around to them to see if this was truly just me sucking a turtle or not.

[h o l l i s · Rating 3 out of 5]

I full on didn't want to read this book. The Becca/Nate drama in the background of the Brooklyn Bruisers books prior to this one drove me to distraction. But I can't read OVERNIGHT SENSATION without reading this first because what if there's backstory I need to know. So here we are.

And, shockingly, for the first 40%? I was loving this. Colour me surprised. I was | | close to messaging all my friends shamefaced and shucks about it, too. Glad I waited out the end.

I won't say I hated the last half but it also just felt really.. rushed. One moment it's no, next it's maybe but secret, next it's no, then it's announced for the world to see.. I don't know. It was all over the place. Plus a little "whoopsy" drama moment that just.. why? Was that needed? That said, I don't think I really liked these two as a couple. They are adorable as friends and supportive people in each others' lives but.. or maybe it's just that I didn't really buy Nate's attitude as a lover? Maybe both. Also I'll forever hate that cover. I just can't with it. So that didn't help.

Loved the build up, disliked most of the rest. But I'm not sorry I read it so I count that a major win.

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED IT!

What's not to love about a hot billionaire nerd boy who buys a hockey team?
Nate and Rebecca are soo adorable!

Bingley stole the show though! I want one of my own please. Bingley is so much better than Alexa, Siri or the Ok Google guy! ☺

Great romance with lots of funny and cute moments and some hockey moments. I really enjoyed reading it - even without having read any of the other books in the series. But I'm reading Overnight Sensation next! Might go back and read all the others too one day...

[Jeannine Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

~*~*~*~ SALE - 99c!! ~*~*~*~

4.5 stars!

I LOVED Nate!!!! Nobody writes swoon-worthy boyfriends like Sarina Bowen! ❤️ And Becca was a great leading lady... just like I knew she'd be 😍😍 There was a teeny tiny bit of OW drama that I didn't love (it just felt very unnecessary), but other than that this was a complete win. If you're in the mood for a low-angst read with a sweet hero and a strong heroine, look no further 😏

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Brooklynaire
Series: Brooklyn Bruisers #4
Author:Sarina Bowen
Release date: February 12, 2018
Cliffhanger: No
HEAYes

I’ve known Nate’s mind for years, but his body is a foreign country I’ve never visited before. Somehow I already speak the language.

After finishing a pretty heavy book, Brooklynaire was just the sweet and light read that I was craving. It was low on the drama, high on the sass, laughs, and fun. Another bonus? Despite the the page count hitting the 450 range, it didn't feel like I was reading a lengthy book. I never felt as if it was dragging, in fact, I could have continued the nerdy Nate goodness even longer and not batted an eye. Friends to lovers trope + nerdy genius + Sarina's chuckle inducing brand of humor = another sports romance win.

Becca has known Nate for seven years, before he became a billionaire and owner of the Brooklyn Bruisers. For five years, she worked side by side with him as his assistant and saw him through success and despair. They were more than just boss/employee. They were the best of friends who understood each other at a cellular level. They had inside jokes, they drank tequila together when life brought them down, they geeked out to palindromes. They also silently suffered crushes on each other and buried them for the sake of their friendship.

Becca is just the type of heroine I like to read about. She's tough, highly independent, loyal to her friends and family, and a woman who works hard and doesn't like to stay idle. So it goes without saying that when she gets a head injury on the job, she's completely distressed and agitated over not being able to heal properly and get back to work. Her sense of equilibrium is out of whack in more ways than one, and she can't seem to turn back her internal settings to the home position.

This is where Nate steps in. His worry and protectiveness over her was absolutely wonderful. There was a level of comfort and ease with each other that you only get when two people sail past the bullshit and land in the keeping it real zone. I loved the little flashbacks we got that gave us a front seat to how their relationship began, and how it matured into the bond that they have now.

It’s hard to pinpoint when I stopped looking at Bec like a friend and started dreaming about her. It started sometime after the Juliet fiasco, when I couldn’t help but notice how Rebecca was always there in my life, making every day better.

Becca may have a bit of an inferiority complex towards him because of his accomplishments and success, but she isn't afraid to speak her mind and put him in his place. Not that he really needed that, because he was pretty much the epitome of respectful and sweet.

These two have spent many long years trying to ignore and deny the deep attraction and feeling of completion they give each other. But after she moves in with him temporarily while she's recovering, Nate is unable to keep a lid on his passion for her for very long. Though he's known for being quiet and unreadable, with Becca, he's like an open book. He can't conceal how much he cares about her, and the sexual tension that crackles between them is noticeable to everyone in their orbit.

Though he tries his hardest to navigate them gracefully past friendship, naturally there are going to be worries over taking the risk with their friendship that stand in their way. He never pressures her, but lets her set the pace, and bides his time. On top of that, Becca is determined to not lose the respect of her co-workers and the team by entering into a relationship with the owner. I was a little worried at first that this conflict would drag and keep them apart for too long, but that wasn't the case at all. Fortunately, they build trust in each other and tackle that hurdle gradually without any frustration. His own issues over women using him for his money were a non-issue from the start because he knew Becca never did, and never would look at him with dollar bills in her eyes. She loved him for the man he was, and that was yet another reason in his mind that they fit so flawlessly.

There was a lot to enjoy in Brooklynaire. It was sexy, entertaining, and sweet friends to lovers romance that was low on angst. The sneaking around/secret relationship because of the team's opinion aspect wasn't the most original conflict for me. It made sense, but I've read it a lot in the genre so I need something a little different. However, that didn't detract from my overall enjoyment all that much, and I know most wouldn't even be bothered by it. If you're looking for something to satisfy your sports romance appetite, look no further. Nate and Becca are sure to deliver the goods.

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[Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 So, Cat tacos Stars!

O Fluff Queen! My Fluff Queen!



I've been waiting for this story since Rookie Move where Nate and Becca leapt off the page. Through the first three books their story has evolved but always maddeningly in the background. Until now.

"Everything worthwhile is complicated."

If you've not read the first three, no worries! You're probably better off than the rest of us, because much of this I already knew thus I found myself getting impatient for them to just be together already! Were there another 10-20 chapters after they got together, I would've been happy as a clam. I know they'll show up in the rest of the series, but if there were to be another Nate and Becca book I would not be mad about that. At all.

Brooklynaire is a bit Cinderella with a dollop of opposites attract and a recurring fairy tale vibe.

Billionaire tech genius Nate Kattenberger has been pining for his office manager Rebecca Rowley for years! YEARS! She's seemed oblivious and uninterested. Turns out she's been sublimating her attraction. A head injury sets the wheels in motion triggering all of Nate's protective instincts. Once he opens his heart and house to her in an effort to help her recover, he can't seem to stuff everything back inside the box he'd put all his feelings.

I love love LOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEE Nate!! A geek who has a tendency to get lost in his own head, loves Sherlock and palindromes, he's levelheaded, scary intelligent and generous. He's a billionaire who hasn't lost sight of what really matters, cares about his employees, is forthright and hasn't lost the ability to identify with people far removed from his tax bracket. Is he too perfect?



Just look at that cover! Would you look at that cover? Don't we all want that dude to be perfect? I admit it. I swooned. Sorry. Nope. Not sorry.

Rebecca, on the other hand, confused me. Through all three of the books she's been sassy and fierce, but here she's suddenly insecure and self-conscious about her body and her reputation within the company? Every woman I know struggles to some degree with body image issues so that felt authentic. However, she's worked for Nate in some capacity for seven years. Seven years of proving herself invaluable, competent and reliable, so when she started freaking out about everyone assuming she'd slept her way to the top not only was a squinting but it just didn't jive with the Becca I thought I knew. I still love her, her bubbliness and her ability to make everyone feel at ease. Ultimately she finds a way to make peace with her feelings and her reputation so it was a moot point.

Brooklynaire is sexy. My Fluff Queen is in a class by herself when it comes to bossy tops, so I should've anticipated it but I was still caught a little off-guard when the words started coming out of Nate's mouth. He seemed so... sedate. Always the quiet ones, I tell ya.

There's still a good bit of hockey happening since Brooklynaire overlaps Pipe Dreams. We learn how the playoffs actually went between Brooklyn and Dallas. The twist at the end kicked things up a notch and has me wondering if that's going to crop up again in the future.

The secondary characters are fantastic, as always. I can't even decide who I'd like to read about next. Castro? Heidi Jo? Silas? Stew?



Nate and Becca's relationship is fluff magic and the last chapter plus epilogue were incandescent leaving me with a bad case of the feels and wanting more.

If you need some fluffy, swoony goodness in your life, look no further.



An ARC was provided by the publisher.

[Jacqueline's Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Win Win Win stars

Brooklynaire is a standalone and is part of the Brooklyn Bruisers series, well sort of. The Brookyn Bruiser series is about the hockey players and Brooklynaire is about the owner, Nate.

I have to say, I really enjoyed Brooklynaire, I think the cover is adorable, the storyline was super cute and it was a treat to read from start to finish. I gobbled the pages up like a starved woman. The book just had great flow and perfect balance of tension. Oh and Nate, don’t even get me started on him. He was just PERFECT. If I could ever have a techy nerdy billionaire, please sign me up for him.

Rebecca has worked for Nate for seven years. Nate and Rebecca have formed this nice work / friendship. But after a recent accident that has left Rebecca out of commission for a few days, Nate has kind of stepped in to make sure Rebecca is doing alright.

I really enjoyed the premise of the book and I love love love the relationship between Rebecca and Nate. It’s just overall cute and you can’t help but to root for them to get together.

Nate cares for Rebecca and you soon realize he has had a crush on her for years. For years! How adorable is that. I always love it when the Hero chases after the Heroine. On top of being worried for his employee, Rebecca he is trying to get his hockey team to the playoffs and win.

Rebecca is independent, sassy and full of life. She loves her job and will do anything for her job so when she has to skip work because of her injury, she’s not a happy camper. I loved Rebecca at times and at times she frustrated me to the point where I wanted to slap it. It did add nice tension to the story. Rebecca cares for Nate but she doesn’t want to date the boss you know?

I really enjoyed Brookynaire, it just had everything I enjoyed in a sweet, light and fun read. Nate was the star of the book and you can never go wrong with a Sarina Bowen read.

An ARC was provided

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Brooklynaire http://amzn.to/2FmlxMA

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarina Bowen is easily one of my favorite romance authors. I absolutely loved the Brooklyn Bruisers series and was devastated when I saw Berkley wasn't going to publish any more in that series. I have been dying to read Nate and Becca's story since book one, so I was so excited to finally have them in my hands!

For seven years Nate and Becca have worked together. Becca knows what Nate wants, sometimes before he even knows he wants it. She's the perfect personal assistant and does an amazing job managing Nate's hockey team. When Becca bangs her head and has to recover from a concussion, Nate opens his home to her as a place of peace and quiet. The more time Becca spends around Nate, the more she starts feeling things for her boss that she hasn't felt in a long time. Nate has tried to tamp down his feelings for Becca, but when one night changes everything, he isn't so sure he can ignore his feelings anymore.

Brooklynaire was everything I wanted and more out of Nate and Becca's story. From the beginning, I loved how natural they were with each other and how they got along so well as friends. It was so cute watching them really feel things for each other while trying to ignore them because of their boss/employee relationship. Nate was as adorable as ever and his AI in his house was a character in itself and I loved him!

The pacing of this romance was so perfect and it had me swooning over this relationship. There was so much hesitation on Becca's side and I just wanted to shake her and tell her to run into Nate's arms. It was hard watching Becca feel so helpless after falling and it was cute watching Nate really try to take care of her. Their relationship was just PERFECT and, of course, I loved all of the hockey that they bonded over. We still got our beloved Brooklyn Bruisers and the women from the previous books, so it was like seeing old friends again while reading this book.

Even if you haven't read the rest of this series, you HAVE to read this book! It was the perfect friends-to-lovers, office romance, AND sports romance. Seriously, this book could not have been more perfect. Nate and Becca are my favorite couple ever and I never wanted to put this book down!

[Carvanz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started out with so much promise! The hero was a nerdy tech guy who could go off into a daze while in the middle of a conversation while he ran lines of code through his mind. But now he’s getting distracted by thoughts of his employee and her current ill health. The heroine was smart and snarky and totally understood him and what was necessary to keep him organized. Everything was going so well…and then they had sex.

Once their relationship become intimate, it’s like they were no longer the same characters. The heroine was insecure and questioned everything between them. The hero, despite the heroine telling him she didn’t want to talk about it, just let it go and went with the status quo. I needed to see him make an effort to win her over. They finally do get through the communication breakdown, but then the heroine was worried about their boss/employee rolls. Add in a scene that was totally random and completely unnecessary and I was pulling my hair out in frustration.

While I loved the way this author wrote the flashbacks, as well as pretty much all of the first half of this story, it all fell apart for me afterwards. I really wanted to love this one but I guess I’m falling into the few that it didn’t work for.

Dual POV
Safe H/h worked together for 7 years – are actually friends; H had sex a month before story starts with ow who is also one of his friends and later tells him she’s pregnant and he might be the father; both H/h have sex/relationships with other people during the 7 years; no one once they get together
Triggers ow tells H about om she was with who hit her