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WANTED: single dad needs nanny.
In more ways than one.
 
Martin "Brick" Bricker is living the good life. He's playing the sport he loves, has all the women he can handle, and parties like a rock star. At twenty-six, he has no interest in slowing down or taking anything seriously —except hockey, of course.
 
Then a knock at his door changes everything. Suddenly he's the single father to a five-year-old daughter he didn't know he had, and he's trading his playboy ways for barbies.
 
Amelia Stacey struggles to make ends meet and juggles her day-care job with a full load of college classes. When she's offered a temporary, two-week nanny position making more money than she imagines, she jumps at the chance. Before she knows it, she's in over her head, not just with her five-year-old charge but with the girl's hot single father.
 
Brick always goes after what he wants, and he wants Amelia. Only responsible Amelia doesn't want anything to do with the party boy. Struggling with fatherhood and his unexplainable attraction to his nanny, Brick has to figure out where his daughter and Amelia fit into his life. If they fit at all.
 
But one thing's for sure: Brick can't block this shot straight to his heart.

234 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 20, 2017

580 people are currently reading
979 people want to read

About the author

Jami Davenport

100 books1,171 followers
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USA Today bestselling author Jami Davenport writes sexy contemporary, new adult, and sports romances, including Gone Missing, Seattle Sockeyes, and The Scoring Series.

Jami lives on a small farm near Puget Sound with her Army Ranger-turned-plumber husband, a Newfoundland drool monster, and a prince disguised as an orange tabby cat.

Jami worked in IT for years and is also a former high school business teacher but recently achieved a life-long dream of being a full-time author. A horse lover since birth, Jami showed dressage horses for over thirty years. Now she gardens and goes glamping, along with other travelling adventures. She's a lifetime Seahawks and Mariners fan, and has season tickets to the Seattle Kraken hockey team. She still misses her SuperSonics.

An avid boater, Jami has spent countless hours in the San Juan Islands, a common setting in her books. In her opinion, it's the most beautiful place on earth.

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506 (39%)
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415 (32%)
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285 (22%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
Profile Image for Kate.
2,282 reviews357 followers
June 25, 2017
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Going to keep this short.
I hated this book and those that know me I rarely react so negatively towards a book. But this book oh made me so mad! I’m always game for reading the nanny trope but this was truly awful.
I didn’t like the Hero in the book he is an imbecile, a muppet, a douchecanoe. He has no redeeming qualities and I would have punched him if I had been the heroine. Instead of getting to know his daughter he was trying to get into the nanny’s pants and ignored his daughter. He missed his playboy lifestyle and only at the very end did he see the light.
I went on about conquests he could have, ditched his daughter to go out drinking with his teammates just so that he could be cool. Had women hanging off of him although he was really interested in the heroine.
I didn’t get the heroine. She could have done so much better. It is tragic what happened to her but to put up with this shit. Nah wouldn’t have done it. Macy is the real star of the book. She sure did brighten it up.
Ms. Davenport can write an engaging story but for me it was anything but that. I had constant moments were I rolled my eyes and where I thought that it wasn’t really original and that the book could have been more. This author and I aren’t well suited and it happens. Good luck to all of you that loved this book and the author. I’m just one of very few. Most likely anyway.

Review can also be found @ http://jerisbookattic-reviewblog.blog...


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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Simply Love Book Reviews.
7,046 reviews870 followers
June 8, 2017


This is a really hard review for me to write, I’ve enjoyed Jami Davenport’s work for some time now, some books more than others but that’s how it goes with an avid reader. However, Goaltending just didn’t work for me on many levels so I’m going to break it down into what worked for me and what didn’t work for me.

What didn’t work for me in Goaltending:

The “hero” was an overgrown, spoiled, man-child with a Peter Pan complex. His constant flirting and innuendo about sex to his child’s nanny wasn’t sexy in the least, it was sexual harassment. Regardless of the past incidents in your life that “shaped” you, nothing excuses the constant come-ons and inappropriate suggestions and when someone says no, you need to respect that.

The “hero’s” attitude towards the 5 year old girl who was dropped on his doorstep and is supposedly his daughter was unfathomable. Okay, I get that you don’t want to be a dad, I get that you aren’t sure she is yours even though she looks like your sister did as a child, I get that you are mad, scared, and don’t know what to do, but you NEVER say things in front of a child that would make that child feel “less than.” OMG, for someone who had issues with a step-mother from hell, you’d think he’d be more compassionate, but he was not.

The “heroine” was working on a degree to work with children yet never once did she suggest to the “hero” that his 5 year old child who had not only lost her mother, but her grandmother, and was at times sullen and moody should possibly see a grief counselor. Given he is a profession hockey player it wasn’t like he couldn’t afford it, and it was evident the child needed someone to help her sort out her losses and the fact that the man who donated sperm to conceive her didn’t want her around.

I also disliked that the heroine changed her tune and moved in with the “hero” and his daughter when she was thrown out of her current living quarters. She was making a decent living as the man’s nanny worst case scenario she could have moved into a long term hotel for at least a little while. While they weren’t intimate right away, the sexual harassment continued as did his indifference for his child.

To be honest I didn’t really like either of the main characters; he was too selfish, spoiled and condescending and while she stood up to the hero some things, she also let him cajole her into forgiving him way too easily. She was weak and while I had no doubt she adored the child, I felt in some ways that was about her own selfishness at wanting something she couldn’t have.

What did work for me in Goaltending:

I appreciated that the “hero” did finally (IMHO way too late) realize his daughter and the “heroine” were what he needed in his life.

I loved how the settled down members of his team really tried to help the “hero” try and realized what he had in his life and that even though his life was changing it was for the better. Even his best friend seemed to understand how amazing his daughter and his nanny were and how happy they made him, but he didn’t want to face that his life was changing.

The precious 5 year old Macy, whose life had been turned upside down in the last year of her life, was entertaining and honestly fairly well adjusted considering everything going on in her world. Considering I frequently work with children her age, I found her actions to be pretty spot on and also extremely sad because it was so obvious she just wanted someone to love her and a place she could call home.

Overall Goaltending was a big disappointment to me, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work for others and because I've enjoyed author Jami Davenport's work in the past this book won’t stop me from looking for more work from her in the future.
Review copy provided for a voluntary, honest review.
Profile Image for Rejane.
1,366 reviews62 followers
November 30, 2017
Giving up at 70%-ish (read through chapter 11). This book is a huge disappointment.
The hero is a man-child who only thinks about his sexual exploitations. The heroine,of course, was always in that stupid trance in front of him.
She works with kids (and goes to college for a degree to work with kids) but fails miserably in helping the little girl. The relationship between father (hero) and daughter, up to 70% in the book, haven’t progressed. He was always thinking his daughter was putting a halt on his manwhore days. It’s a mess. And I don’t care what happens anymore. There’s no character growth, both of them are the same since the beginning. And I cannot shake the feeling the whole situation is a little too convenient for the female mc as a living in nanny.
And for this author’s book, the down and dirty didn’t happen yet. A big minus too.
She’s very attracted to him and vice versa.
But she “pretends “ to fight the attraction even if she gave in to kisses and a hot make out session interrupted by the girl. She came to a point to tell him her bff was available for casual sex if that was what he wanted.
Parting ways now.
I’m very annoyed with this book
Profile Image for Auntee.
1,356 reviews1,473 followers
January 27, 2018
This was my first book by this author, and while the writing was generally good, and the plot was certainly interesting, (playboy NHL goalie has to grow up fast and change his lifestyle when his unknown-to-him 5 year old daughter shows up on his doorstep) I almost gave up on it.
Why? The man/child hero, Marty ‘Brick’ Bricker.

The sexual harassment of his babysitter and his refusal to act like a man instead of a teenage boy almost had me slamming my kindle shut. But I hate to give up on a book too soon, and I was curious if Brick would ever grow up.

Thankfully, with the encouragement of babysitter/nanny Amelia (who was light years ahead of Brick in maturity) the hero eventually gets his act together and mans up near the end of the book—almost too late for me.

Plenty of heat and dirty talk, a lovely, smart heroine, and an adorable little girl had me sticking with this one. Strangely enough, by the end of the book Brick was on the right track and I ended up liking him.

I just might have to return to this series.
3 1/2 stars
Profile Image for Tpagirl Loves Romance.
1,672 reviews185 followers
May 27, 2017
Goaltending was the eighth book in the Seattle Sockeyes series by Jami Davenport. The storyline was a journey of discovery, healing, accepting mistakes and moving forward.

Martin "Brick" Bricker was the goalie for the NHL Seattle Sockeyes. He was the quintessential playboy and king of one night stands. He never lacked for female companionship for the night. His life was rolling along in his usual partying ways until a five year old girl, Macy, was literally dropped on his doorstep as his daughter. It would be sweet to say he took to fatherhood like duck to a water, but yea, not so much. Pretty much anything that he could possibly do wrong, he did. The one right move he made was to hire a nanny. Enter Amelia Stacey. Amelia was kind hearted and perfect for Macy. She was a great addition to their lives, but didn't come without her own baggage. All three of them had past challenges that had to be addressed and overcome.

The plot was fairly complex. As for Brick, Davenport did a great job of painting an arrogant, selfish and clueless hero with cheesy pick up lines. It took most of the storyline for Brick to grow into a worthy hero with redeeming qualities. He eventually did, but Davenport took us through some frustrating and ridiculous moments to get us there.

True to form, Davenport included the strong supporting cast of characters that we've grown to love throughout the series as well as provide insight into new characters.

All in all, Goaltending was enjoyable, entertaining and a nice addition to the series. There were a few editing errors of missing or extra words, but nothing major. My overall rating is a 3.5, rounded to 4. Although we're not certain what's immediately next in the series, the stage is set for Matt and VI's story; which has the potential to be an explosive and delightful match.
Profile Image for Laura.
2,594 reviews113 followers
May 25, 2017
***ARC Provided by the author and L. Woods PR***

2.5 Stars

There were things I liked about this story. I liked Brick, mostly. And I liked Amelia. I thought they were a good match, and I really liked their chemistry. Their scenes together, their attraction, and the draw they have to one another were realistic and I believed in their relationship and the resolution.

Unfortunately, I was not sold on the parts of the plot that were centered around his daughter. I had a tough time believing in 2 things...the reaction of his family when he found out about the child, and the behavior of his mother at the end. Neither worked for me. At all. It is difficult to discuss this without spoilers, but I didn't think the reactions were authentic. And, I was not able to get past this.

I was annoyed by the behavior of his family at the beginning, and I thought it was over the top. I was annoyed by his behavior at the end, his lack of idea how he wanted to handle the situation was not appealing to me, and the actions of his mother were, again, totally over the top.

I wanted to like this book, and I did enjoy the middle of the story...but the events at the beginning and toward the end pulled me out of the story enough that I was not totally able to engage with it.

I don't really recommend this book.
Profile Image for Erin Lewis.
6,215 reviews219 followers
May 24, 2017
5 star Review Goaltending: Seattle Sockeyes Hockey (Game On In Seattle #8) by Jami Davenport

This is book 8 in the series and another winner for Jami Davenport in my humble opinion. What's a guy to do when he opens his door and finds a 5 year old girl unaccompanied on his doorstep with a note in her hand and her calling him Daddy? That's the position that Martin "Brick" Bricker suddenly finds himself in.

The goalie for the Sockeyes Hockey Team he certainly lives a life of wild partying. The last thing he needs or wants is to find himself suddenly the father of a 5 year old daughter Macy.
I will admit that I wasn't very keen on "Brick" at first, but he certainly turned himself around and I eventually got over my initial dislike of him.

Amelia Stacey is studying as well as holding down a job with a day care centre, not far from Brick's place. When he visits the centre in hopes of getting assistance with his sudden charge, Amelia sees a chance to make life a little easier with her financial struggles and promptly agrees to be a temporary nanny to Macy whilst Brick is away.

The only complication is Amelia finds herself wildly attracted to Brick. Even worse, he has decided that she is what he wants and what Brick wants, he gets.

Brick is an arrogant jerk at first and not at all likeable. Slowly he changes and as his relationship grows with Macy, he finally redeems himself. The building of the relationship with Macy had me laughing at times, their banter was so funny. For such a little girl, my heart just broke for all that she had been through and I was so relieved when Brick stood up and became the father she so desperately needed and wanted.

This was more a story of growing relationships and love, in various forms and I liked that Brick and Amelia, although involved spent a great deal of time making sure that Macy was secure. Don't get me wrong they certainly had there fair share of hot and heavy moments but Ms.Davenport did not concentrate on that angle alone.

I will certainly be reading more from this series as soon as I can.
Profile Image for ItaPixie.
1,277 reviews149 followers
February 21, 2019

Goaltending was the first book in the Seattle Sockeyes Hockey series I have read and if the others are as good as this one I have a lot of sports books to read.

This story has all my favorite tropes hockey player + single dad and I couldn't not to like and enjoy it and Jami Davenport writing made it really really special.
I got attached to every single character and I hope to read more about them in the future.

Brick journey kept my attention from beginning to end.He started as a selfish playboy and became a man page after page,redeeming himself with the help of a cute little girl and a lovely nanny.


Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews128 followers
Want to read
October 26, 2022
💝 FREE on Amazon today (12/03/2017)! 💝
Profile Image for Heather.
1,579 reviews26 followers
May 21, 2017
**Advanced copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**

Going into this book, I wasn't so sure what I thought of Sockeyes goaltender Martin "Brick" Bricker. He's always struck me as a guy very set in his player-esque ways and frankly I wasn't sure if he would ever want to change them. As we get to know Brick, we learn very quickly that partying, women and cold are among his favorite things. Clothes and settling down are a couple of things that he really doesn't care for.

Just after the new regular season starts for the Sockeyes, the doorbell rings and Brick finds the last thing he ever expected; his five year old daughter with nothing more than a suitcase, her favorite doll and a letter. He quickly learns that this little girl has lost both her mother and grandmother to death in a very short period of time. While he tries to establish whether or not Macy really is his flesh and blood, he knows that the more imminent problem is the fact he's leaving on a road trip in two days and has no one to care for the little girl.

Amelia Stacey is working for her sister-in-law at her daycare, but that really isn't what she wants to be doing. It's what she has to do to make ends meet so she can continue to take college classes. When Brick stops in to ask if they have any suggestions for short term nannies, Amelia sees that this could be a great way to make some money very quickly. Amelia accepts the two week term and looks forward to spending time with Macy. What she doesn't anticipate is falling head over heels for the little girl, nor was she expecting to be drawn in by Brick, even though it's hard to deny his hotness!

When Brick has a crisis of conscience about whether he is fit to be a father, Amelia tries to make him see that all Macy needs and wants is to be loved. Will deep seeded issues from Brick's past cause him to make a decision that will not only cause him to lose Macy, but Amelia as well?

By the end of this book, what I loved was its realness. What Jami Davenport tackled in this book was real. The feelings, the fears, the triumphs and the struggles. It may not be your "typical" romance, but it's real and to me that was the best story that could have been told. This was a great addition to the Game On in Seattle series!
Profile Image for Renee Entress.
5,593 reviews78 followers
May 25, 2017
4 star

I was pulled right into this story. The story has laughs, pain, secrets, and heartbreak.

If you have not read the below I would recommend reading those books(s) first
Skating on Thin Ice: Seattle Sockeyes Hockey (Game On in Seattle, #1)
Crashing the Boards: Seattle Sockeyes Hockey (Game On in Seattle, #1.5)
Crashing the Net: Seattle Sockeyes Hockey (Game On in Seattle, #2)
Love at First Snow: Seattle Sockeyes Hockey (Game On in Seattle, #2.5)
Melting Ice: Seattle Sockeyes Hockey (Game On in Seattle, #3)
Hearts on Ice: Seattle Sockeyes Hockey (Game On in Seattle #3.5)
Blindsided: Seattle Steelheads Football (Game On in Seattle, #4)
Bodychecking: Seattle Sockeyes Hockey (Game On in Seattle, #5)
Bottom of the Ninth: Seattle Skookums Baseball (Game On in Seattle #6)
Game Changer: Seattle Steelheads Football (Game On in Seattle #7)



This is Amelia and Martin “Brick”’s story. Brick is living a great life. He is playing hockey and has all the woman he wants until a knock on his door changes his entire life. He now has a five year old daughter that he never knew about. Amelia is trying to make ends meet and pay all her bills but she is struggling. When a two week temp job comes up making money she so desperately needs she jumps at the chance. She falls hard for the little girl. Sparks fly with the dad but she really needs this job. Brink wants Amelia and is used to getting what he wants. Can he get her give him a chance if he changes his playboy ways?

I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read.

I recommend this book.
Profile Image for Sheena.
988 reviews26 followers
May 23, 2017
Mixed review ....

With a slight twist on the theme of secret baby/sports romance this book focused on Brick, a hockey goalkeeper and player on and off the rink and Amelia the smart, strong woman, whom he hired to be a nanny for the surprise package that arrived on his doorstep.........I really liked the premise of the story but unfortunately the circumstances surrounding the arrival of Brick's daughter stretched all credibility for me...

The story was written from the perspective of the main characters which gave an insight into how self absorbed Brick was for the majority of the story...the characters were believable albeit shallow and alas I could not relate to Brick who in truth was a selfish ass for 90% of the time and whilst Amelia was perfectly nice I did not understand her willingness to forgive and forget...I did love Macy who added a breath of fresh air and humour to the narrative and the world surrounding the hockey team itself was engaging and fun ...the interactions between the guys and their significant others were full of camaraderie and friendship and as this series progresses the relationships and personalities become increasingly interesting and complex....

The eighth book in the series...this was a mixed bag for me; it was fun, easy reading and relatively angst free although there were some emotional moments....but it was also frustrating and unrealistic at times and most important of all the romantic relationship between Amelia and Brick never quite worked for me and as a consequence I was not totally invested in their search for a happy ever after.....This book was reviewed for Summer's Eve Reads...
Profile Image for Julie.
2,003 reviews31 followers
May 23, 2017
Martin Bricker or Brick, loves his life, he's a professional hockey player with a rich lifestyle, he has everything he wants, hot women, parties, and did I mention women?
Life's great until one morning the fun comes to an abrupt end when he's rudely awaken by a knock on his door, upon investigation he's knocked side ways when he discovers the culprit to be a 5yr old girl called Macy who claims he is her "daddy", and he has to look after her now. That can't be right! But first he has to find some help.
Amelia Stacey works with her sister-in-law who has a day care centre while she goes to college,
she also lives in the basement apartment. So when Brick offers her a big pay cheque for a live-in nanny position for two weeks she takes it.
Brick had a lot to learn about children, and he was a big jerk at times passing his responsibilities around instead of facing them himself. The reasoning comes out in the end because Brick could never really be a bad guy.
There's not much hockey action this time, but Brick and Amelia's story is full of emotion and fun with Macy stealing many of the scenes with her precocious ways, she was great. My favourite from the series so far, but still looking for more. I highly recommend it!
Profile Image for Diane Lynch Lynch.
1,883 reviews52 followers
May 25, 2017
Goaltending: Seattle Sockeyes Hockey (Game On in Seattle #8) by Jami Davenport Goalie, Martin "Brick" Bricker’s playboy social life comes to a halt when his five-year-old daughter, that he didn’t know he had, is left at his doorstep.  He hires nanny, Amelia Stacey, to help take care of her.  He puts the moves on Amelia, but she’s blocking all his shots.  This contemporary sports romance is suitable for adults.
 
At first, I wasn’t crazy about Brick.  I liked him more as the story progressed.  I appreciated that he realized when he was being a jerk.  Deep down, he is a good guy who guards his heart.  I like Amelia.  She is hardworking and great with kids.  I felt bad about the things she went through.  They are both broken and help each other become whole.  Macy is a cute kid.  My heart went out to her and all her loss.  I like how her relationship evolved with Amelia and her dad.
 
I enjoyed the plot.  It was believable and heartfelt.  There were interesting twists.  The characters grew and overcame pertinent obstacles.  There were many humorous scenes.  One of my favorites was when Brick’s teammate, Rush, was babysitting Macy.  I enjoyed the ending; it felt well resolved.  I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
Profile Image for Susan Trewick.
571 reviews18 followers
May 22, 2017
This is the 8th book in this series but can be read as a standalone, though I do suggest you read the previous books as they are fab!
I did enjoy this book, I read it quite quickly and in one sitting. The story follows Brick and Amelia, I liked Amelia, she had a rough time with her previous relationship but was still feisty and didn't put up with any crap from Brick. Brick was a total arse!! He was a total player and didn't want to settle down, he loved his life how it was but then a huge spanner is thrown into his life and knocks him off course. At times I really disliked him, he spent a lot of time trying to please his friends and live up to his player name than seeing what a gift he had been given. He does make a few stupid decisions, luckily he has Amelia to help pick up the pieces. He does redeem himself by the end of the book and becomes the man you know he can be! Overall an enjoyable read, can't wait to read the next book in this series.


*** reviewed for sweet and spicy reads-ARC provided for honest review ***
Profile Image for Angie McGuire.
1,127 reviews13 followers
May 25, 2017
I loved Loved Loved this book. I wasn't sure how it would be, seeing that Brick was a stereotypical playboy, who couldn't keep it in his pants, but Amelia changed that for him. She brought him from a very dark, and miserable life that resulted from the lack of love from a marriage standpoint when he was younger. Watching your mother get torn apart from a cheating father can really mess you up. So understanding Brick's standpoint on relationships completely made sense.

Being thrown for a life changing loop, Brick had massive decisions to think about.. But being in his shoes, I'm sure anyone would understand the hesitation he had when it came to renting on one person for the rest of your life. It was hard to hate him for it. Amelia changed everything for him in a way that he just didn't see coming. In her lived the willingness to love and care for those in her life.

They're are many things I just can't go into as it will give things away, and spoilers are not my thing, but trust me. This book is so worth the read. Watching Brick change so drastically and for very good reasons, was a wonderful way to make this story flow. I voluntarily reviewed this book given to me by the author. I love reading books in this series, because the characters are so great. These two are no different.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Clinton.
865 reviews36 followers
May 22, 2017
Jami Davenport brings us back into the world of Seattle Sockeye Hockey and we get the story of Goaltender Martin "Brick" Bricker and Amelia Stacey.
Brick is the teams goaltender but he also is one of the teams playboys. Different women all the time, commitment phobe and just an all around good time guy. But what he never expects is to find standing on his doorstep is the most adorable little girl.
Amelia Stacey college student, daycare worker and a woman trying to move on from a past she is not proud of. But when Brick walks into the daycare her life changes in an instant.
Brick & Amelia have a common interest that is they both are taken with Macy. Amelia instantly, But Brick kicking and screaming. Can one little girl reach into their hearts and heal them both.
This story will pull on your heartstrings from the minute Macy shows up in the story. You will see the struggles that the three of them go through but you will also be cheering them on with every turn of the page. But the one thing is for sure is that this story will leave you not only with hope but with a smile on your face.
Profile Image for Suzi (Obsessive Reading Disorder).
2,233 reviews
May 24, 2017
I really enjoyed meeting the previous couples in this series. And I LOVE single parent tropes. However, I just could not feel the love between Brick and Amelia. I wanted to love it. It was just ok for me.

Macy, shows up on Brick's doorstep unannounced and declares him her Daddy. His response is so beyond shocked. I can't figure out how any decent human would even consider what was going through his head. Disbelief would be there, but he did nothing to comfort or even understand this child until the very end of the book.

Brick's relationship with the nanny Amelia is a business transaction, but he spends most of his time trying to get her in bed with him and very little time trying to understand his daughter's needs. I am all for the suspension of disbelief, but this one stretched it a bit for me. When the highlight of the story is the child and not the romance of the couple, I think the mark has been missed.

*Complimentary copy provided for an honest review.
Profile Image for JKAF.
566 reviews4 followers
May 22, 2017
I didn't want to like Brick but when he saw the light it made me like him a little more.

Brick the goaltender for The Seattle Sockeyes is a wild party guy especially with the ladies but when his doorbell rings and a brown eyed little girl is calling him Daddy he realizes that he just might have to change his ways!
Amelia has been offered a great deal and all she has do is look after Brick's 5 year old daughter Macy for two weeks and she will make $300 a day to help pay her bills.
Amelia wants Brick to step up and be a father but Brick is.......
Profile Image for Sassy Southern Book Blog.
5,406 reviews274 followers
May 25, 2017
Goaltending was the first book I've read by author, Jami Davenport and I can honestly say I will be looking for more of her books. Her writing of this book was some of the best that I have read in sports romance. Goaltending introduces the reader to Martin Bricker, professional hockey star for the Seattle Sockeyes and the ultimate alpha playboy and also introduces us to Amelia Stacy, a child care worker. Martin and Amelia are brought together because Martin has a little girl delivered to his doorstep who turns out to be his daughter. Martin otherwise known as "Brick" needs a caretaker for his daughter because he is always on the go playing hockey and living his life as the ultimate playboy. That is where Amelia comes into the story. The relationship that develops between Martin, Amelia, and Macy, the little girl is so endearing. The journey of "Brick" changing his ways and learning to become a father was amazing. This book will definitely pull on your heartstrings and is a must read. This is a 5 star read and I would give it 10 if I could. - by Julie
Profile Image for Brandi  Dugett.
110 reviews5 followers
May 22, 2017
This story was amazing. I love the Seattle series books by Jami. The books in this series keeps getting better.
A single mid twenties play boy becomes a single father in an instant and needs a nanny. He gets more than he bargained for when he hires Amelia to be a nanny to his 5 year old daughter Macy. Macy's story will make you cry.
I loved this story and recommend it to everyone.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for The Book Lover.
2,070 reviews32 followers
May 25, 2017
This was a really complex and not your typical story.. brick is the typical cocky hockey player, which ego is bigger than his head and crease.. enter Macy an adorable little sassy ball that will alter his ways in the best way possible.. plus the nanny that will make him change his ways and crave something he thought he would never have!
Profile Image for JoAnna G.
677 reviews9 followers
May 21, 2017
I love reading Jamie Davenport. She is one of my go-to authors for hockey books. Though I really liked this book, it felt the beginning was a bit slow. It needed a little kick in the pants and when it arrived I was very pleased. We don’t get a lot of hockey in this book but the elements are there when they talk about it. The writing was good and boy did the author get her point across when it came to.

Now I loved the nanny: Amelia or as she gets a call later Meel by Macy She has a good heart and a devastating past that put her off to the playboy lifestyle men. Let me just say Martin “Brick” Bricker fits that mold to a tee. He is one of the worst playboys that I have read about. Honestly, when reading him I wasn’t sure he could redeem himself. He is the epitome of player. He is sexy, good looking and a professional athlete. He is also cocky and arrogant. I loved his teammates though. Matt was a favorite and so was Rush.

Amelia works at a daycare for her shitty sister in law. I did not like her from the moment I read her. She gets paid along with room and board. She is also a student trying to make ends meet. When the cocky, sexy arrogant man strolls into the daycare with a proposal that she can’t refuse, this is where the fun starts.

Brick has his life upended when he gets a knock on the door and when he opens it he looking into the eyes of his supposed five-year-old daughter. With her caretakers passing away she is left in Brick’s care. He is a jerk. From the moment he meets her he wants nothing to do with her. Amelia is everything that Macy needs at the moment. They have a strong bond. I loved that little girl and my heart broke for her. She is straight and to the point and does not let Brick get away with anything. Brick feels now that he has a nanny he can do what he wants and still be the playboy. What he doesn’t count on is having a heart when it comes to Macy.

The banter between Amelia and Brick was fun to read. I loved Macy and she stole the show. I am not a fan of Amelia’s brother either. Can’t understand how she tolerated his behavior and how he treated her. The author did an excellent job at making me dislike Brick in the beginning.

The story was good as well as the characters as I stated. It was fun and sassy and cute at times. There was sex but it wasn't overabundant. There is innuendo and the chemistry is great between Brick and Amelia. She fit right in with everyone. Overall the ending was perfect and I look forward to reading more from this author. Maybe Matt and Amelia’s best friend Vy next. One can hope.
Profile Image for Misty (Reds Romance Reviews).
3,408 reviews6 followers
May 23, 2017
Goalie Martin Bricker likes his freedom, he doesn't do relationships, attachments, or anything of the sort, he is solely a one night kind of man, settling down just isn't in his vocabulary. But that all quickly changes when he opens the door to a beautiful little brown eyed girl claiming that he is her father, and now her sole caretaker. At first Martin is certain there is a mistake, no way can he be a father, but when things start leaning the other direction he begins to realize he is going to need some serious help, he doesn't know the first thing about being a father or taking care of children. So he hires a nanny, a very sexy nanny at that, and things at his place start to take on a whole new vibe... one that quickly changes his home from bachelor pad to family pad... and it scares the hell out of the normally sure and confident man!

Amelia Stacey's life is non-stop hectic, between taking classes and working she barely has free time to have a social life, not that she really wants one anyway. The last time she wandered down that path it didn't end so well, and she was left with a broken heart and a mountain of debt, that she is still trying to pay off. So, when the opportunity of a lifetime comes along she doesn't think twice about taking it, there is a sexy hockey star standing before her offering her more money than she has ever made to care for his young daughter. She loves children, and the job he is offering will help lighten her load a little and give her the money she needs to get her head above water again, it is almost perfect for her... with the exception of having to keep her urges in check. Her new boss is sexy as hell, but she is determined to not fall prey to his advances... no matter how charming he maybe!

This emotionally charged story captured my attention and my heart from the first chapter and held on tight until the last page was swiped. I was immediately taken with Brick, the moment that man waltzed onto the page I was a goner, he completely drew me in with his witty one liners, and alpha tendencies... he was seriously something else!! Then Macy entered the picture and that little girl completely stole my heart, she was such a sweet little thing, and I loved that she had a feisty streak in her too, and could give her father a taste of his own medicine!! I loved this story so much, it was a well rounded read, that gave me the feels, made me blush, and left my heart happy. I highly recommend you meet this father-daughter duo their touching story is sure to keep you captivated from start to finish!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.
Profile Image for Dawn.
158 reviews
May 24, 2017
I loved this book!!This is Brick and Amelia’s story it is part of a seris but could be read as a standalone.
Brick is goaltender for the Seattle Sockeyes,hes a total player,loves his playboy lifestyle and lives it to max.Women come and go he never gives them a second thought bedding his way through a long line who are only to happy to throw themselves at him on a daily basis, he likes to party and he parties hard. It was only a matter of time before he was caught out and now that day has come!!
Macy was left on his doorstep one morning claiming to be his daughter and wanting to live with him,his life was about to change and as far as he could see not for the better,he wasn’t dad material he didn’t want to give up his life for a child…his child,so he hired Amelia to look after her while he continued life as he had always known it to be only it wasn’t and never would be again.Amelia had her own story recovering from a previous relationship she is working for her awful sister in law at her daycare centre this is where she meets Brick.He offers her an job she cant turn down.Let the games begin!!!
Brick wants Amelia but she wants him to try to be a father to his daughter,he has issues from his own upbringing which still haunt him now.He tries to remain unaffected tries to keep the party lifestyle going instead of Macys world of barbies and horses!! Little by little she chips away at his heart but when the going gets tough he makes a rash decision and gets the life back he missed ..will he regret his decision? Will he party on?Or will he pull out all the stops to get back the family he didn’t think he’d ever want or need?

I just loved this book.Macy was a sweetheart she pulled on your heart and you were rooting for her to finally have the family she needed.Amelie fell for Macy straight away she wanted to care for her but also wanted to show Brick he could be a father and take care of this little girl.She challenged him,pushed his comfort zones and ultimately made him a better man.Brick I wasn’t so keen on at first he was self important cocky and arrogant but once you got under the farcade I could see the man and father he could be.I loved all the secondary characters too the team was like a little family.Emotional and heartwarming,sexy and hot this story will draw you in until the last page!!
Profile Image for Janine - The World Was Hers for the Reading.
1,495 reviews26 followers
October 18, 2017
Martin “Brick” Bricker, goalie of the Seattle Sockeyes hockey team, is happily living the life of a playboy, with plenty of partying and the ability to have pretty much any woman he wants. Things quickly change, however, when a sassy five year old is literally dropped at his door with a note telling him that he is her father, and the only family she has left in the world.

Amelia Stacey, hard working college student, really needs life to cut her a break. Working at a daycare while taking classes full time isn’t easy and leaves her struggling to make ends meet. When Brick shows up at the daycare looking for a temporary nanny and willing to pay pretty much anything to get one, Amelia can’t say no.

Amelia soon realizes, however, that this is no ordinary nanny situation. Brick has no idea how to act like a father, and the incredibly sweet Macie needs some love and stability in her life. After falling head over heels for Macie, Amelia decides to stand up for the young child and force Brick to take on the role of fatherhood that was just dropped on his lap.

This book is a really fun whirlwind of romance. While sparks immediately fly between Brick and Amelia, Brick finds himself wanting more from her than just a fun night of sex . . . which is a first for him. While Amelia finds Brick sexier than sin, she refuses to give in, knowing he is a playboy and needing much more than casual sex in her life. Throw a sassy, yet vulnerable five year old who loves ponies and barbies into the mix and watch the chaos ensue.

Jami Davenport did a great job of giving her characters depth. Both Brick and Amelia have events in their pasts that have shaped their personalities and it is fun watching them both grow throughout the book eventually coming to a straight on collision with one another. Will they survive the upheavals and changes they both face to become a couple, or will they find it is simply easier to walk away?

There is great camaraderie between Brick and his teammates and their banter adds a great comedic element. Both Amelia and Macie have sass and spirit and have no problem standing up to Brick to tell them exactly what they feel. And Brick’s struggles with deciding if fatherhood is for him or if he wants to maintain his party lifestyle add intensity to the plot.

Goaltending was a great read and I recommend you one-click today! 4.5 stars.
Profile Image for Lena Dublin.
742 reviews13 followers
May 24, 2017
Unputdownable. Yes, that's word. It's the perfect way to describe this book. I just could not put it down. This is the first book I have read from Jami Davenport's Game On in Seattle series and it won't be my last. I went one-click crazy after reading Goaltending. Being that it is the first book from the series I have read, I can honestly say that you can read this as a stand-alone. The story was easy to follow and you didn't get lost in the cast of characters.

This book was more than just a sports romance story. It was a story about a family trying to find it's way to each other. It was about three people who have been hurt and how they found the courage to open their hearts to love.

Brick, the Goaltender for the Seattle Sockeyes, was a man who had it all. At twenty-six years old, he was the starting goalie for a a successful NHL team. He had the looks, the body and all the women he wanted. This was until a little girl was dropped off his door step. A little girl that came with a note saying she was his daughter, Macy.

Brick struggled with accepting his new reality. That Brick the Partier needed to be benched and it was time for Brick the Father to take the ice. That being a father to Macy was his new priority. Believing he would not be a good father and trying to pass off his responsibilities, he hires Amelia. She steps in to take care of Macy and to help Brick learn how to be a father. Her focus was to get father and daughter together. To get them to a place where they want to get to know each other. A job that would be easier if she didn't have to fight off his advances and resist his charm and hot body.

Amelia is a woman with heart who is fighting her own demons. She is just as scared at Brick and Macy to offer her heart. Together they were learning how to open up again and become the family they all deserved.

I couldn't get enough of this story. I couldn't get enough of the heat between Amelia and Brick and the heart warming father/daughter moments between Brick and Macy. It warmed my heart to see each of them find their way to each other. A father to a daughter and a man to a woman.

Profile Image for Lucia.
591 reviews6 followers
May 24, 2017
A nanny sports romance with a playboy hockey player who finds himself thrown into fatherhood & a nanny who doesn’t do flings!

Goaltending is a nanny sports romance with a playboy hockey player who finds himself thrown into fatherhood. This well written book is light-hearted but with an emotional heart-wrenching undertone as this single-dad figures out whether he is cut out to be a father figure to a sassy little girl who has been through so much. While this is part of a series, this book can be read as a standalone read.

Told from dual perspective, Brick and Amelia have an instant chemistry that sizzles between them, even if it is a little enemies to lovers style at first given Brick’s playboy reputation and Amelia being someone who doesn’t do flings. Goaltending was a mixed read for me with the characters because I adore Jami Davenport books and single parent romances and Brick’s daughter Macy completely steals this book but I struggled to really like Brick. He had some moments that made you fall for him but other times you felt like you wanted to give him a wake up smack. I could see how through his actions the author was trying to capture his warring emotions and changes but for me it just felt a bit too much at times to fully believe him truly changing. However, that being said, I adored Brick’s daughter Macy and the relationship she builds with her nanny, Amelia. The two of them together were such sassy and awesome characters at times but with their own vulnerabilities. By the end, if I put aside Brick’s negatives, I loved his behaviour in the last couple of chapters and the epilogue that rounded off things with a sweet HEA.

Overall, while probably wasn’t my favourite in the whole series, I did enjoy this single dad / nanny romance and would recommend to fans of this genre or sports romance fans.

*I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
Profile Image for Susan.
122 reviews
May 22, 2017
I give Goaltending: Seattle Sockeyes Hockey 5 stars for being a wonderful story and including two sports I love: hockey and figure skating. I loved the characters, the story line and the conclusion. I felt so much joy watching Brick grow emotionally and seeing his daughter find her place in his heart.

Jami Davenport is an author that is able to blend sports, romance and everyday events into her writing and seamlessly jump from one thing to the next and make it flow so well. Her stories are always captivating and you don't want to put them down.

Martin Bricker, single dad, needs a nanny quickly, but he didn't bargain for what he got when he hired Amelia Stacey. Brick always gets what he wants, and he wants Amelia. But she doesn't want anything to do with him. Struggling with fatherhood and his growing attraction to her nanny, he has to figure out where they fit in his life. Do they fit at all?

Martin "Brick" Bricker is living the good life. He's playing the sport he loves, has all the women he can handle, and parties like a rock star. He's twenty-six, has no interest in slowing down and only takes his hockey seriously. Then a knock at his door changes everything. Now he's the single father to a five-year-old daughter he didn't know he had. Can he trade his playboy ways for Barbies?

Amelia Stacey is struggling to make ends meet. She's juggling her day-care job and college classes. When Brick offers her a temporary nanny position she jumps at the chance to make all kinds of money. But is she in over her head with her five-year-old charge and her hot single father?

Goaltending: Seattle Sockeyes Hockey is a romance novel that started out with a knock at the door. It features love in many ways, a parents love for their child and love amongst lovers. A great story you can't help but fall in love with.

And although this book is part of a series, you do not have to read the others to enjoy this one.
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