I loved this series, I binge read it in two days! I love hockey stories and this author writes lovely ones. There’s sexy times but they are mostly sweet and heartwarming stories. The characters have their layers and their issues but in common they all are honorable, kind, good friends. This series chronicles the lives of four hockey players in the Chicago NHL team, and the women they fall in love with.
BOUND and CAPTIVE - Ryke & Kate
Kate and Ryke meet in a support group for people who are dealing with tragic loss. Ryke lost his wife to a car accident and Kate lost her unborn baby at 10 weeks of pregnancy. Both also feel guilt because Ryke’s marriage was having problems even though he loved his wife deeply. Kate’s boyfriend left her when she got pregnant, and when she lost her baby, she had to deal with two losses. She was just getting onboard with the idea of having a baby when she lost it so she’s mired in feelings of guilt. Their story spans two books in this series because their issues were so strong and prevalent. Even though they were attracted to each other from the first moment they met, Kate was very fragile and lost in her grief. When a second tragedy befalls them, their road back to happiness was even bumpier than at first.
I loved the heart wrenching moments of vulnerability and moodiness that Kate went through, and loved that Ryke was frustrated but accepting. He was so committed to loving Kate that he was willing to go through hell, just to be with this woman that he loved so completely. In spite of her many character swings, her defensiveness, her flings into deep depression, she loved Ryke with all her heart and she fought against her grief and her depression so she could be a good girlfriend/wife.
This was a passionate and angsty story and I loved every minute, even though I sometimes got impatient with Kate. But grief is a different road for everyone and she was a valiant soldier in following through her recovery.
EDGE - Luke & Dell
Luke is Ryke’s best friend, and a total player; he was a blond, blue-eyed hunk, very accustomed to the constant one-night-stands in the life of a famous hockey player. When he injures his knee and has to transfer to a minor hockey league to rehab after recovering from his injury, he meets the team’s trainer, a beautiful redhead called Dell. The immediate attraction for Luke was the total indifference in Dell’s look and the fact that she was a no-frills woman. Totally gorgeous, pint-sized and fiery to match her red hair, she was very knowledgeable about hockey, excellent at her job, and loved as one of the guys in the team. Due to the league’s no-fraternization policy, they had to take things slow, once Luke got over Dell’s restraint.
Dell has a little five-year old boy, Kyler, who is her whole world. She didn’t want to have a man in her life due to past relations and her hectic work schedule that involved being on the road with the team. But Luke is persistent and too charming and he got away with it. Both Dell and Luke had over-bearing fathers. Luke’s was a drunk hockey has-been who hounded Luke over his playing and Dell’s is a hockey team coach with a reputation for being an a-hole. Both parents interfered and made their being together a challenge.
For Luke to fall in love with a woman and forsake his man-whoring ways was a big deal, but Dell was the one and he was hooked. It was adorable to read their banter and their serious times, to see Luke dealing with Tyler, Dell calling Luke “Blondie” and all of their sweet and sexy moments. I loved seeing Luke man up and become a family man.
DRIVE - Nico & Sadie
Dell had a best friend from college, Sadie, who lives with her and Kyler. Sadie was her roommate in college, close like a sister and she helped Dell raise Kyler. When Dell has to leave on the team’s away games, Sadie is the one who stays with Ky. Sadie has abandonment issues because she lost her parents and little brother in a plane accident when she was in high school. There was an aunt who moved from Europe to help her finish high school but moved back to her home when Sadie started college. So, except for Dell and Kyler, Sadie has no family. She’s a successful journalist and has a column similar to Sex and the City, except it’s about her adventure in singledoom.
Nico comes from extreme poverty and is playing in the smaller league where Luke did his rehab. They became good friends and when he’s called to play up in Luke’s team, he still feels insecure of his place in the team. He works hard so he can help his family now he has a much better salary. When he meets Sadie, he fakes being a Russian with little knowledge of English. Sadie had to go but gave him her number, then surprise! They meet at Luke and Dell’s wedding, where Sadie is maid of honor and Nico is one of the groomsmen. And Sadie finds his English very much improved.
Their future squabbles are fun to read, the zingers Sadie sends over only work to increase Nico’s sexual attraction to her. This story was a little more straighforward once both opponents sheathed their swords and accepted their attraction and hot chemistry. Their issues were mostly Nico’s family issues and Sadie’s fear of giving her heart away and suffering a crippling loss again.
Nico was very cocky and Sadie very snarky so they were a match made in heaven!
RELEASE - Orion & Samara
Possibly my favorite read in this series. Orion Caldwell was such a nice guy! He loved with his whole heart, he trusted completely, and he would do anything for his family. Crushed when his girlfriend cheated on him with his best friend, the last thing he wanted was to go back home. In spite of this, he did because his mother and sister needed his help. His brother-in-law suddenly left and abandoned his family and Orion needed to help his struggling sister.
When he goes to buy milk for his mother, he meets Samara, who graduated with him from high school. He was friendly, she was not, even though she checked him out. She used to be a goth in high school but now she was fresh faced and gorgeous. He was intrigued by her look and her indifference and a little miffed that she was so unfriendly. So of course, he came back for more!
He chanced upon Samara again when he took his niece and nephew to the library for story time and found that Samara was the one reading the story, doing the voices, smiling at the children, delighting in what she was doing. She was a completely different person from the gruff indifferent woman he met at the Supersaver. Determined to know more about her, he goes on the offensive, asking for a date, being his charming self.
What I loved about this story was the unfurling of Samara. She was awkward, shy, uncomfortable around Orion at first. It was obvious to me she had been victimized earlier, but Orion’s gentleness, his wonderful manners, the way he cared for her and his family, were successful in opening up her defenses. Little by little, a wonderful, generous and caring woman is revealed, who wins over Orion’s family and friends.
Orion’s ex makes several appearances and I loved that Orion takes no prisoners and tells her off, no kindness allowed. Call me spiteful but I enjoyed that!
The final part of this story was a little dramatic and emphasized Samara’s and Orion’s huge hearts.
Overall, what I loved about this whole series was the handsome men and their awesome women. Each man and each woman had their own kind of gorgeousness, all were honorable, kind, generous. All four couples made for a very closed knit group of friends and they appear in each other’s books as supporting friends. The women from the first books accepted the new girlfriends and welcomed them into their hockey world. I loved the togetherness, the family spirit among friends, the joking and the camaraderie. It felt good to finish but I will miss them!