Bury the Hatchet

Tulsa Thunderbirds #1

by Catherine Gayle

USA Today bestselling author Catherine Gayle presents the first book in the Tulsa Thunderbirds hockey romance series, a sexy spin-off from her emotional Portland Storm series.

They both need to make amends…
But they might be making more than that.

Tulsa Thunderbirds goaltender Hunter Fielding has a lot of kissing up to do following a few brash and uncalled-for statements. Now he needs to prove to the watchful eyes that he’s changed for the better. But cozying up to Little-Miss-Perfect-Gone-Bad isn’t his idea of making amends.

Agreeing to marry a hockey star to clear her “bad girl” reputation is the worst idea Oklahoma’s former sweetheart, Tallulah Belle Roth, has ever heard. With cameras constantly in their faces, Hunter and Tallie need to prove their sickeningly-sweet, do-good lives are the real deal—just to Bury the Hatchet once and for all.

But when the cameras are off, desire burns hot. Can fake and just for show turn into something real and forever?

The Tulsa Thunderbirds series reading order
1. Bury the Hatchet
2. Smoke Signals
3. Ghost Dance
4. Rites of Passage
5. Rain Dance - releasing September 28, 2017

The Tulsa Thunderbirds series is a spin-off from Catherine Gayle’s Portland Storm hockey romance series. Storm fans can expect the same emotional backdrop and hot hockey action wrapped up in a sexier, edgier package.

hockey romance, sports romance, first in series, marriage of convenience, athletes, jocks, alpha male, sexy romance, free, free romance, free first in series, jock, alpha male

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

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 9, 2015

About the author

***Please note that series numbering of the Portland Storm series is different at Goodreads than it is on Catherine's website or at any retailer. Goodreads policy will not allow the series numbering to match anything else. If this confuses you, please complain to Goodreads, as it is not Catherine's fault.***

Catherine Gayle is a USA Today bestselling author of more than forty contemporary hockey romance and Regency-set historical romance novels and novellas. Soon, she'll be launching her debut contemporary small-town romance series. She's sold more than three-quarters of a million books. She’s a transplanted Texan living in North Carolina with two extremely spoiled felines. In her spare time, she watches way too much hockey and reality TV, plans fun things to do for the Nephew Monster’s next visit, and performs experiments in the kitchen which are rarely toxic.

Catherine doesn't check messages on Goodreads very often. Please contact her through her website for a timely response.

Reviews

[Dali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Currently Free (7/25/2018)

A wonderful blend of touching, tender and sexy. Catherine Gayle writes the perfect kickoff book to her hockey series, the Tulsa Thunderbirds, giving us a lovely story about self-discovery, courage, family and love.

Feeling unhappy and deject knowing he’s one of the best goaltenders in the NHL but has to play for a new team which will take years to get their act together, an inebriated Hunter Fielding made public remarks about his new home town of Oklahoma he shouldn’t have. Both his manager and the administration for the Tulsa Thunderbirds need him to do damage control. Their solution? Win over Oklahoma by embracing its former sweetheart.

She’s not just any Southern Belle, Tallulah Belle “Tallie” Roth is Oklahoma’s darling, set to compete in the Miss USA pageant and go on to be Miss Universe. That is until a vacation with her fraternity sisters and a wild night with too much alcohol interferes with her judgment and tarnishes her image. The very public and negative press forces her to give up her crown and all aspirations for future competition. As a counterbalance, she’s being pushed into what should appear to be a step towards maturity by starting a happy marriage with another public figure under scrutiny.

Will Tallie and Hunter rescue each other? Can they ignore their obvious attraction during the year they’ll be married? Can they keep their hearts protected and uninvolved?

“I wanted to look after her heart. I wanted to be the one to protect her from all the shit in the world that kept trying to rob her of her smile.”

This book was a wonderful read. I couldn’t picture a goody-goody beauty queen and a tough, surly hockey player. But as with all her other books, Catherine pulls it off marvelously with steamy tension, deep emotion and some unforeseeable twists.

I always enjoy Catherine’s heroes and Hunter is no exception. Even with his gruff, “I can take care of my own problems attitude,” I swooned when his protective instincts are brought out by Tallie’s too easy acquiescence and the obvious stranglehold her mother has over her. I cheered every time he pushed her to be herself and ask for what she wants, and fanned myself with all his male – with a capital M – sexiness.

“I f*cking loved the fact that she put her foot down. She was growing a spine, standing up for herself at least some of the time, and it was sexy as all hell.”

But what caught me by surprise was how much I liked Tallie. I usually like heroines who are strong and self-assured and so Tallie’s docility put me on the fence. But even though she had lived under her mother’s thumb her entire life, had been made to feel inadequate and complied with everything she was told to do, she had an incredibly charming sass and once she saw the freedom Hunter offered her, she fought for it.

“I’d decided that was going to be my focus for the time I spent as Hunter’s wife. I was going to use it to make my own decisions about where I wanted to go from here.”

It also broke my heart to see how Tallie’s mother used her and never really cared about her. So I loved Tallie even more when she fought to bring Hunter and his family closer together especially when she herself didn’t have a good example of what a family should be like. Even when Hunter fought against it as well. It was also heartbreaking how Hunter viewed his brother’s life as unsalvageable.

“This was my husband and his family—whether the marriage was meant to last or not—and I ought to be by his side, whatever was happening.”

What I enjoyed the most though was seeing how Tallie and Hunter’s attraction to each other blooms into a sweet, tender and scorching relationship. Because the more time they exchange loving touches and kisses for the cameras, the more the tension grows behind closed doors. And along with it, a deeper, more lasting connection forms as well with their daily interactions and them being open to one another. So much that perhaps a year won’t be enough, perhaps only forever will do.

“The effect he had on me, this magnetic pull, only grew stronger with each day we spent together. I didn’t like it. I didn’t know what to do with it, but I couldn’t get out from under its pull no matter how hard I tried.”

I can’t not mention the secondary characters and probable future main characters that complete this story. Using hockey and a team expansion as her backdrop, Catherine introduces us to this new series of interesting professional athletes. I loved Razor who I hope we get to know more in the near future and I also enjoyed having Zee and Dana from Breakaway (the Portland Storm book 1) as part of the team who bring some much needed experience both on and off the ice. I can’t wait for the next book!

Catherine is certainly one of my go-to authors for a sweet, satisfying romance. Bury the Hatchet is a standalone, full-length, sports romance filled with sexual tension, sizzling scenes and lots of emotion. It’s the first book in the Tulsa Thunderbirds hockey series with a happy ending.

Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance (explicit, sexual awakening)

Amazon US -> http://amzn.to/1GGZR6q

* I was graciously given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author. The excerpts are from that copy. *

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[Mou: Fae of Heartfelt ARC · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good one. It was totally safe. The hero was respectful.

"I liked being with women who were confident within themselves and went after what they wanted, not the sort who snapped to attention the second you said boo." - I immediately liked him during that line.

The heroine was kinda pathetic at first but she got better slowly. Can't say she did lots of things accept being A hockey players wife but her effort towards the hero's brother (who was a drug addict) was very admirable.

Overall I enjoy it.

It was safe but the author mentioned several times about hero's best friend, who was also the hero's occasional sex partner. And it creates a little misunderstanding between them which was resolved very quickly.

No OW drama, No Slut shaming... It was a perfect Unicorn read... :P

[Kiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't completely remember, Hunter probably was a manwhore, being a famous hockey player and all.
Tallie was almost a virgin.

However, let me just point out, I PERSONALLY did NOT have a problem.

His past as a manwhore was NOT thrown in my face, and he was NOT an user.

He was extremely respectful of women, and if he whored around, that's with women with mutual consent, with paying them the due respect.

He was a man who knew the meaning of the word "consent". To him, not only "no means no", it's also "a yes needs to vocally expressed in specific terms".

So no, I don't have a problem with his past, as it stayed where it belonged. in the past.

Tallie WAS an almost virgin, but not by choice. She was NOT holding out for love. She did NOT fall in love with Hunter because of sex. She, unlike many heroine, knew how to keep love and sex separate. If she didn't have a horrid mother and an agent, she probably would have had equal number of sexual partner as Hunter and still end up married to Hunter in the right way.

This was an extremely safe book. Hunter was committed from the moment he got engaged to Tallie, and the amount of respect he has shown her was amazing.

However, if it is your trigger, it's your trigger.

[✿kawehi.reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆ I received an ARC via the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ! ☆

My first Catherine Gayle read, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Granted, the writing started a little rough for me, in whole, it was fluid and had a great concept and premise.

So, what's this book about?

A hockey star who’s delved himself into quite a scandal.
And former home state beauty queen.

Both of whom need to fix their image pronto if they want to reclaim their previous glory with the press and fans.

The solution? Marriage in hopes of damage control and fixing their tarnished reputations.

Bury the Hatchet was intriguing, sexy, and everything a true hockey romance lover would look for! I was lucky to have been alerted to this read and would totally recommend to you sports fan! It was quite the steamy, and guilty pleasure type of ride if you know what I mean *wink wink*!

[Anna]

Dnf at 10.
The heroine is so childlike. "Daddy reserved a restaurant, momma will help with wedding..."
Dear, and what are you doing??? She is a beauty pageant. And without brain I see..
Nope!

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (11/14/2020)! 🎁

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slick's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

4.5 Stars

For me it was easy to be excited about this expansion series by Catherine Gayle and yes I prefer the term expansion as to spin-off because this is a series about hockey and this series is about an expansion NHL Hockey team in the Bible Belt of Oklahoma. A goalie whose mouth has landed him in hot water with not only the teams owner and management but the whole state and a woman who has been stripped of her Miss Oklahoma crown for conduct unbecoming a pageant queen find themselves forced into a marriage in name only for publicity sakes but what goes on behind closed doors is no one's business but their own or is it? I loved the twists and turns in Bury the Hatchet as these two unlikely lovers meet, begin to realize how much they enjoy each other's company and find themselves falling in love all while managing their families, a new home, playing for a new team and all the changes married life brings.

I really felt for Hunter Fielding on more than once occasion during this book. Paying for a drunken remark by being forced into a marriage to a local girl Hunter tries very hard to do right by his team but he soon makes his new wife his number one priority as he begins to see the very strange, twisted and somewhat abusive life she's had for most of her life. On top of that his older brother's drug riddle exploits are causing him more embarrassment and his team isn't just struggling they can't seem to find a way to play together much less win. For a guy whose always wanted to succeed Hunter is having some big feelings of inadequacy but he also finds sharing the burden of life with someone he cares about lightens his load.

All of her life Tallulah Belle (Tallie) Roth has had someone telling her what to do, how to eat, and how to think. Her once moment of fun was caught on video and has caused her whole life to be turned upside down but for some reason this doesn't bother Tallie all that much especially once she gets a good look at the man they want her to marry. While it becomes obvious Hunter's family isn't without its problems she can also see that absolute love they have for each other and she begins to question so much about her life and upbringing. To top it off her ex-pageant guru is acting strange, her mother has cut off communication with her but her father and her new husband both urge her to find her place in the world and make it her own.

From the start these two were just too adorable together; I loved that they were attracted to each other yet because of their unusual circumstances Hunter held back much to Tallie's dismay. I absolutely loved the way these two became a cohesive unit even before they acted on their attraction. I swear every time Hunter told Tallie that she could do whatever she wanted because it was HER life, I wanted to kiss him (except Tallie might have b*tch slapped me if I had). I admired Tallie for not only doing things to better herself and her circumstances but also in her sweet way trying to mend fences for Hunter in more ways than one. And I absolutely appreciated the way that the very inexperienced Tallie was the one that forced the intimacy issue between them by exerting herself and telling Hunter exactly what she wanted from him. Holy hotness, I loved these two exploring each other together!

Every book Ms. Gayle writes has a message but her books aren't preachy because she does an amazing job of weaving the story around the issue and make them a part of her story. The first book in a series is always tough because you are setting up the series and introducing lots of characters but not once did I feel that the romance between Tallie and Hunter was lost in this book; they were front and center and stealing my heart from the first chapter until the last. Sweet, sexy and sophisticated Bury The Hatchet is a fantastic start to a new series and I look forward to watching the Thunderbirds climb out of the cellar and give the Storm a run at taking the Stanley Cup home!

Review copy provided for an honest review.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hockey twist on the pretend arranged marriage trope could be interesting indeed. This is a spinoff of Catherine Gayle's Portland Storm series, which I'm a fan of, this time it centers on the expansion draft team the Tulsa Thunderbirds. I won't be getting into the nitty gritty of the draft, it's a hot topic though, some players from Portland and newbies are in this new team. This is Hunter's story a goaltender from the Storm.

Hunter and Tallie are in hot water in Oklahoma for different reasons. Best solution get back in the good graces of the public a little rouse playing house for a while. These two people are opposite in how they view things and act. Tallie at first was a follower, not much backbone and always centered on pageant life . Hockey is all Hunter knows, as disgruntled as he is to start over he's serious, he loves his family despite their problems and is generally a good guy. I wasn't a huge fan of Tallie at first but I'm glad she evolved.

The transition from not friends to semi allies to married was smooth. It might be gradual but you can see the changes in both of them as individuals as time goes on. Tallie starts to know what she wants, be more assertive and be proactive. Hunter slowly opens up and cares for more than his career. The lines begin to blur for them when a threat seems to appear. It's not forced at all though and this changes their status.

I enjoy hockey themed books especially when it's accurate and well done. Catherine has the perfect balance of hockey and romance plus team spirit in her books. The stories are all diverse but the sport is a central theme which is great, the characters are appealing and has their own story to tell. I'm excited for Razor's story next up.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunter and Tallie have pissed off Tulsa. So, what better way to save face and make the public like them than to get married? Yeah. I couldn't think of a better way either.

Hunter has just been shipped to Tulsa to play for the new NHL team, the Thunderbirds. Let's just say he is less than thrilled with this idea and he isn't quiet about it. He loved being in Portland and playing for the Storm--even if he was only playing back up goalie.

Tallulah Belle, Tallie to her dad and Hunter, was reigning Miss Oklahoma. One drunken night in Cancun changes all of her plans. Stripped of her crown, Tallie can no longer compete in pageants and her dream of becoming Miss Universe is gone. This tarnished reputation of hers has left her in quite the negative light.

Agents and family alike decide that the best possible way to help these two is to arrange a marriage. The marriage is to last no more than a year and each will leave with what s/he entered the relationship with. That's it. Oh, and they have to make it appear real. Go out in public, flaunt it, PDA, make it believable. Seems easy enough.

What neither ever expected to do was fall in love. Sure, they were husband and wife, but this was only supposed to last one year and then they could part amicably. Too bad fate had other plans.

Throw in some controversy--including an unloving mother, a brother struggling with addiction, and ex-lover, and a pageant guru--and you have a fun story that is both heartfelt and thrilling.

The dialog is fun. The issues are real even, if they aren't typical issues. Hunter and Tallie were an excellent way to start off the Thunderbirds series. I can't wait to meet the other players.

[Lit Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Over the top, completely ridiculous storyline, a hockey player and a beauty queen are "forced" to marry and devolop lust and feeling for eachother... sometimes I like ridiculous, hey! sometimes I crave it !! This time it did not work for me; I did my share of power reading through the pages, and there was nothing memorable about the story or the characters to tempt me to recommend this in the future.

[Lana · Rating 2 out of 5]

You'd think with all the marriage-law fic that I've read that I'd like an arranged marriage "RL" book more... but you'd be wrong. This whole plot didn't work for me.

[Nancy Stopper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started slow for me. As much as I wanted to like it starting out, I just wasn't. The premise seems contrived - two people who have damaged their public reputation will redeem themselves by getting married? You would expect to redeem your reputation by marrying someone with a spotless record, not someone whose public persona is as screwed up as yours. And, woo hoo, for a long time, I really disliked Tallie. She fits the definition of a "sheep" to a "T", not able to make decisions for herself or express her own opinion. But, that is what her mother and her creepy image consultant Lance have created and she has perfected it. But Tallie really grew on me as the book progressed and she found her voice and I really great to like her as the book progressed.

We really got to know Hunter in this book. I like how the author portraies his relationships with Carrie and his brother, and show that beneath all of his anger and disappointment around his brother, there is still a seed of love left. He is an alpha hero who immediately sees the need to protect Tallie, and also to release her from the figurative chains that have bound her her entire life. He does that in spades and throughout the book, you see Tallie emerge as the truly sensitive woman that she is beneath the plucking and the makeup and the airbrushing forced upon her. I enjoyed the character development of Tallie the most and by the end of the book, I found myself reading faster and faster to see how Tallie and Hunger work out.

The author has indicated that this series may be a bit more sensual / erotic than the Portland Storm series from which this was spun off. Unfortunately, to me, that only translated into an almost excessive use of the "f" word, even when Tallie and Hunter were expressing their feelings for each other. I believe a book can be sensual and even erotic and not have to devolve into crassness, which I felt this did at times. I also struggled early on with some "pop culture" references the author includes - such as Game of Thrones - which will make this book lose some relevance quickly. I haven't watched Game of Thrones so I have no frame of reference for this mention and as time passes, readers will have little to no context with which to understand this statement.

So, after what I consider a weak start to the book, with characters I struggled to like and relate to as the book begins, as the book progressed it became enthralling to me and an enjoyable read by the end. Despite my struggles with certain aspects of the story, this book is what I would expect from Catherine Gayle and her hockey-based romances and was an enjoyable read!

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehhhhh 3 1/2 stars. Like, I liked it, but parts of it were disjointed and it just really didn't flow that well. I feel like we got to know h pretty well but I still feel like I know nothing about H. So the character development could have used some work. Needed some editing work as well ("tears pricked behind my ears" wait what?)

That said, the author described an expansion draft and got all the contract and process details right, which was awesome, so kudos to the author.

As far as specific to the audiobook, I really hated having just one narrator reading both parts. It was super distracting and at times creepy.

We'll see how the next one goes.

[Eleanore June]

I've been trying to read this one for over 2 weeks, I'm more than halfway through, but I just can't keep going.

I don't care about either Character and that is just making it impossible for me to keep with it.

It is dissapointing because Ghost Dance, a later book in this series, was one of my favorite books last year. I'm so glad I read them out of order because Ghost Dance should not be missed! This one, however, always felt as forced and fake as their marriage.
DNF @ 65%

[Alyson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just started reading this book and I'm not sure I can go on! How can getting married be a fix for a woman who aspires to be Miss USA? You can't be married, or ever have been married to be a contestant in a Miss USA pageant! Even if that weren't the case, I don't think marrying a hockey player with his own public relations issues would be the answer. Not sure I can get past this.

[Alex ♈ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bury The Hatchet
Catherine Gayle

Gayle’s first in her new spin-off Tulsa Thunderbird hockey series is a fast-paced contemporary arranged marriage romance staring a couple in need of redemption. The fast tempo narrative is witty and gritty and is delivered via her accustomed first person point of view from both the hero and heroine. Her hero Hunter, a good hearted bad boy is easily recognized as the backup goalie by her Portland Storm fans her heroine is a big-hearted pageant queen who’s in for a rude awakening when she gets fitted for her big-girl panties. The secondary characters are essential to the story and some will also be recognized by fans of her other hockey series. The spectacular love story, getting to know the new organization and the OMG revelations will have fans rushing to the next books in the series.

All in all the breathy voice of Michael Pauley is a good choice for the series and I’m hoping that as he gets better acquainted with the characters and the situations it will show in his narration. He was spot on with the male characters but I thought he could do a bit better with the female ones but overall he did a good job. And the musical interludes between chapters rock!

Tallulah Belle (Tally to her friends) Roth made a HUGE publicity and personal faux pas while vacationing in Cancun that cost her not only her Ms Oklahoma crown but the chance to go on to compete for Ms USA and Ms Universe. But worse than that it cost her, her reputation and dignity. But never fear because mommy-dearest and her pageant guru and bane of her existence Lance have the perfect solution to make her once again the pride of Oklahoma.
Goalie Hunter Fielding might have gone a bit overboard when after learning he was being traded to the newly formed NHL Tulsa Thunderbirds team he ill advisedly over imbibed and spewed unattractive adjectives about his new team and his new town’s inhabitants. Okay so maybe it was more than a bit overboard but how will marrying some, Southern-Belle-Bad-Girl, airbrushed, airheaded pageant queen make it better?
Can this temporary team of two atoning for their sins win it all?

[Shawna Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to learn that Ms. Gayle was going to do a spinoff of the Portland Storm Series (which I love) and that the series was going to be bit more edgy.

What I liked: The Hockey! Ms. Gayle does an awesome job in bringing a realism in our description of team dynamics, practices and game play. While there was not as much Hockey as normal, it was perfect as always.

I ended up liking both and Hunter and Tallie. I liked how they handled the situation they found themselves in. They were both mature about and didn't cause unnecessary drama. They talked about issues and genuinely tried to get to know each other, but they each had realistic doubts about each other feelings.

I loved the team! I was glad to see Razor and Z & knows I'm gonna enjoy getting to know the other guys on the team.

What I didn't Like: It was hard for me to get 100% behind the forced marriage. However, Ms. Gayle did a great job in telling the story that it didn't hamper my enjoyment in the story.

I was a big fan of the ending either. The author drop on huge bomb about Tallie and then she went on like no big deal. Also there was a whole sub-plot of Hunter's brother, that didn't have a satisfying conclusion. I feel there is more to Hunter and Tallie story and hope some of the holes are cleared up in future books.

Overall this was a good start to the series and will be reading the other books in the series.

[Jac (For Love and Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Gayle is one of those authors that I know I need to set aside a good amount of time to read one of her books because once I start, I won't be able to put it down! Bury the Hatchet is no exception to that rule.

One thing I love about Catherine Gayle and her books is that she isn't afraid to tackle "tough topics"! From book one in her Portland Storm series, we've seen that to be true. And she does it in a way that I think most authors would shy away from. And I think I have cried at all but one of these books - and I don't cry easily at books! Bury the Hatchet hits a topic close to home for me - Addiction. And I love how she handled it. She was true to the effects, no tip-toeing!

Hunter is one of the characters that we briefly met in the Portland Storm series, but didn't have much of a chance to get to know yet, so I wasn't really sure what I thought of him. But I was excited that he was opening the franchise in Tulsa. (Owned by a televangelist and his wife, no less!)

I was sure my hangup would be Tallie - I mean a pageant queen? ICK!! But I was shocked at how much I loved her. She's strong-willed and forging her own ground! (And she handles the twists that are thrown at her beautifully!)

If you're a fan of contemporary romance? This book is for you! It'll hook you from page one and leave you turning the pages until you're done!

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Conflicted on this one: it was competently written and engaging enough that I wanted to finish it (and sort of want to read the next one despite some major misgivings about how it'll deal with a theme) and I'm trying to not rate books down for being exactly what they represent themselves to be, but. BUT.

These are certainly written for a very 90s-style iddy audience who wants Big Drama and Angst. That said, the majority of the book seemed to have dialled the over the top drama down more than the Portland series, and I was pleasantly surprised/thought this series might be a better fit for me. And then with like 15% left of the book things escalated rapidly to prove me wrong.

I also didn't like the uncritical adoption of a Native American mythological figure and iconography for the invented NHL team in this--there could have been so many other options that wouldn't have had this issue, and the mention of 'war drums' being played when the home team scored just doubled down on that.

Content notes: mention of a character witnessing rape, character is physically assaulted by an authority figure.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is like the aftermath of Miss Congeniality, but with 98% more hockey.

Also, an arranged marriage. Which I admit is one of my most favorite things ever in romance novels. No matter how ludicrous the set-up. And this one is pretty ludicrous. But I'm willing to go with it.

It's just a sweet and loving romance novel, with really horrible appropriation of Native American culture. It's so problematic. I'd give it another star if it wasn't for the horrible naming the team the Thunderbirds and playing war drums when they score a goal and just no. Noooo. I mean, it's not quite as bad as having named the team the Wichita Jesuses, but almost. The Wichita St. Michaels, maybe? And bury the hatchet? That's eastern Native American tribes, like the Iriquois. That wasn't a tradition among the Wichita, who would have been in Oklahoma. Native American tribes and cultures are not interchangeable.

Best moment in the book is the team's reaction to the swear jar though. Almost a spit-take.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tallulah Belle Roth and Hunter Fielding were forced into a marriage to improve both of their images by the new NHL team, the Tulsa Thunderbirds, which sounded like a bad idea to both of them. He was drafted to the new team in the hot and humid midwest from the top team in the league and was caught on camera expressing his unhappiness about the change in his career. She was the former Miss Oklahoma and pictures of a vacation trip to Mexico and a compromising position stripped her of her title.

The story is full of problems for these two but they learn to stick together, talk out the problems and support each other. The characters are well developed, totally likeable and humorous at times too. The plot moves quickly, including an aspect of danger form a surprise person in Tally's life. Hunter learns to Bury the Hatchet with his brother, his teammates and his new wife making it another great sports romance by Catherine Gayle.

[Jos · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Sweet, Sexy Stars, Just Beautiful:)

Wow, wow, wow, I started this book this morning and couldn't put it down, I LOVED it:) This was the first book I have read by this author and it sure as heck won't be the last. I loved almost every single thing about this story!!!! If I had one minor "issue" it would be that I wanted much more outer dialogue and less inner dialogue because hot damn, I LOVED the interactions between Hunter and Tillie!!!!!!!!! But outside of that minor "issue" the story grabbed me from the get-go and kept me glued to my seat until the very end!!!!! This story was sweet, sexy, truly heartwarming and beautiful in every way!

I cannot wait to read more about them in the future as well as his teammates. I also am curious if we will ever get a story on Kade in the future, too, wink, wink!!!!!

Congrats Catherine Gayle on a really great story!!!!!!

[Sometime · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had an OTT, ridiculous plot and the MCs were a little shaky to start out. But it was fluffy fun to read. Since I got this for free, I have no regrets about reading it.

OW drama almost ruined it for me Carrie is Hunters High School ex but they still remain f-buddies. At least that is how Hunter describes her in the beginning. But when Tallie confronts him about Carrie he tells her they are exes and that she is "family". So which is it Hunter? I really really wanted Tallie to ask just one more question. "If you're not f-buddies, then when was the last time you slept together?". Because after Hunter calls her his FB in his internal dialogue, he makes it sound like he only stops by occasionally to visit his niece, not to see Carrie. I needed more of an explanation from him and the author never gave me one.

[Ginger Snaps · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books where two strangers are forced together in marriage or engagement and actually fall in love with each other. This is about a disgraced hockey player and beauty queen stripped of her crown, who are forced to marry to improve both their images. And while the falling in love seemed natural for both parties, there was scheming and danger coming from other sources. I look forward to reading the subsequent books in this new series if they are half as good as this one was.

[Fatmata Sankoh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tallie and Hunter didn’t meet the normal way. They were in an arranged marriage before they know it but they quickly cared for each other and gradually fell in love. I loved their romance and the easiness about them. Just wasn’t into the added drama of Lance towards the end (it wasn’t needed). A good read.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost set this one aside because the premise was/is ridiculous. Once I got over that I enjoyed the food writing. The characters, even the bad guys were delightfully written.

[Dar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful love story, with just enough gruff and drama for effect but not taking anything away from Hunter and Tallie

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read by Catherine Gayle. I got it free/cheap on Amazon.

In part, I rather enjoyed this. One of my favorite tropes is mashing two very different people together and seeing what happens. Hunter, as a hockey player, is big, intimidating, vulgar, and protective. Tallie has been in pageants since she was old enough to walk and has had every minute of her day planned out for her since then. She's never been able to make her own decisions. Still, she's kind-hearted and sees the best in others. When both of them make big mistakes that the media vilifies them for, their teams decide it's best for them to get a sham wedding to help turn the tide back in their favor.

I found myself really liking Hunter and Tallie. Hunter's protective streak was good for Tallie because it's not exactly a bodily protection like most alpha males--he legit wants to protect Tallie in order for her to live her life the way she wants to. And Tallie is so kind that she wants to protect Hunter by protecting his heart. They work well together.

The plot sort of went in a direction I didn't care for after a while. I mean, it started off great. I loved when it dealt with their issues as a couple (or sham couple). Then it tried its hand at suspense and action and, well, those I always feel all fall in the same vein and it's why I stopped reading a lot of these contemporary suspense romance novels. But it was still good.

I'm interested in seeing who some of these later books follow...

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Sexy love story

Sexy Hunter, hockey player & beautiful Tallie, beauty pageant queen, the two main characters each have made mistakes that have sullied their reputation with their fans and the bad press they've been getting is making things worse. Even though they have never met before they're forcefully persuaded to enter into a marriage of convenience in order to undo all the bad press. That is where all the fun begins. This book has everything...romance, drama, dark secrets, action, some sexual situations (done in good taste). I laughed. I cried. I swooned. I definitely recommend this book.