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Hellions Angels #3
Virgin Territory
Practice Makes Perfect
Patrick “Patch” Donnelly has what it takes to be the best goalie in the NHL…if only he could learn to control his temper. When Coach orders him to get his head in the game with private yoga classes, Patch isn’t having it. There’s no way this tough Boston guy would be caught dead downward dog-ing his way to inner peace. But if he refuses, he risks his starting position and the dream he sacrificed everything for, including joining the priesthood.
Yoga instructor Margot Kowalski is over men. After yet another toxic relationship, she’s eager to forget love and focus on growing her business. Doing the Hellions head coach a favor by helping out a troubled player can't hurt, and it might give her career a high-profile boost. But free-spirited Margot is soon charming the pants off Patch. Literally. Her sassy combination of sweet and sexy proves irresistible to the goalie. Before Patch can give into temptation though, he’ll have to confess his biggest secret:
He’s a virgin.
But Patch is hiding more than sexual inexperience, and his dark past soon threatens to destroy his shot at true love.
Patrick “Patch” Donnelly has what it takes to be the best goalie in the NHL…if only he could learn to control his temper. When Coach orders him to get his head in the game with private yoga classes, Patch isn’t having it. There’s no way this tough Boston guy would be caught dead downward dog-ing his way to inner peace. But if he refuses, he risks his starting position and the dream he sacrificed everything for, including joining the priesthood.
Yoga instructor Margot Kowalski is over men. After yet another toxic relationship, she’s eager to forget love and focus on growing her business. Doing the Hellions head coach a favor by helping out a troubled player can't hurt, and it might give her career a high-profile boost. But free-spirited Margot is soon charming the pants off Patch. Literally. Her sassy combination of sweet and sexy proves irresistible to the goalie. Before Patch can give into temptation though, he’ll have to confess his biggest secret:
He’s a virgin.
But Patch is hiding more than sexual inexperience, and his dark past soon threatens to destroy his shot at true love.
149 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2018
160 people are currently reading
1543 people want to read
About the author
Lia Riley
19 books1,026 followersLia Riley is a contemporary romance author. USA Today describes her as "refreshing" and RT Book Reviews calls her books "sizzling and heartfelt." She loves the beach, fresh flowers, foggy redwood forests and a perfect pour over coffee. She is 25% sarcastic, 54% optimistic, and 122% bad at math (good thing she writes happy endings for a living). She and her family live mostly in Northern California.
Visit her at www.liariley.com to learn more.
Visit her at www.liariley.com to learn more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
January 12, 2024
2.5 rounded down i'm annoyed about the luluroe mention
writing: good | plot: needs work but tough to execute at this page length | ending: ight lol
my opinion
This is the shortest and therefore the most insta-lovey, so brace yourself. Can someone hire a developmental editor for this author because she can actually write but it's like she challenges herself to wildin out every third page. PLS MA'AM IM TRYING TO BE A FAN!!!
Like the other two books, the FMC was a head-scratcher. Margot is all about strong, independent vibes, but has a no ginger rule because she was smashed and passed by a ginger.... IN HIGH SCHOOL. 7 YEARS AGO. I'm sorry to say but the fact that he was ginger had NOTHING to do with his behaviour. Also, SHE WORE LULUROE LEGGINGS. LULUROE. LULU. ROE.?????? YES, THE PYRAMID SCHEME. WTF.
This is about, you guessed it, a virgin, but with a lil reverse uno. HE'S the virgin, and she's the community bicycle (respectfully this is a gender neutral term). Bold storyline but if there's one thing I learned about this author from this series, is that she's not afraid to go there. Wherever that may be, she's there. And everywhere else. As you can see I'm still going through it.
If my notes are correct, I think in this book she wrote the line that not even Jane Austen's mind could conceive: "a bead of precum gleamed from the tip, refracting light like a diamond" Anddddddd we're done. Goodnight and God Bless America.
pros and cons
pros: i like the writing style, interesting storyline with male virgin
cons: something trifling occurs or is said every other page, fmc was annoying (again)
____
Check out my YouTube and my TikTok
writing: good | plot: needs work but tough to execute at this page length | ending: ight lol
my opinion
This is the shortest and therefore the most insta-lovey, so brace yourself. Can someone hire a developmental editor for this author because she can actually write but it's like she challenges herself to wildin out every third page. PLS MA'AM IM TRYING TO BE A FAN!!!
Like the other two books, the FMC was a head-scratcher. Margot is all about strong, independent vibes, but has a no ginger rule because she was smashed and passed by a ginger.... IN HIGH SCHOOL. 7 YEARS AGO. I'm sorry to say but the fact that he was ginger had NOTHING to do with his behaviour. Also, SHE WORE LULUROE LEGGINGS. LULUROE. LULU. ROE.?????? YES, THE PYRAMID SCHEME. WTF.
This is about, you guessed it, a virgin, but with a lil reverse uno. HE'S the virgin, and she's the community bicycle (respectfully this is a gender neutral term). Bold storyline but if there's one thing I learned about this author from this series, is that she's not afraid to go there. Wherever that may be, she's there. And everywhere else. As you can see I'm still going through it.
If my notes are correct, I think in this book she wrote the line that not even Jane Austen's mind could conceive: "a bead of precum gleamed from the tip, refracting light like a diamond" Anddddddd we're done. Goodnight and God Bless America.
pros and cons
pros: i like the writing style, interesting storyline with male virgin
cons: something trifling occurs or is said every other page, fmc was annoying (again)
____
Check out my YouTube and my TikTok
March 3, 2018
Would you look at those eyes? It’s like they can see right through me. My goodness, I’m just going to stare for a few minutes. Anyway, beautiful cover.
Now for the rest of the review. Patrick is a 25-year-old NHL goalie, and a virgin! He’s brooding and tough on the outside but inside he is the hurt little boy who misses his mom. I loved Patrick. I fell for him as soon as he got served in the most inconvenient way possible.
Margot on the other hand, I couldn’t get behind. I found her character unrelatable. She is a yoga teacher who eats vegan pizza and tells the reader repeatedly how much sexual experience she has. She also thinks back to her disastrous first time from a decade ago far more often than I’m comfortable with. Although I loved Patrick, I didn’t love Margot.
One of my favorite parts of any romance novel is watching the relationship grow, seeing the couple trust each other. I love when they share their pasts, secrets and shames only to realize that other person still loves them. I didn’t see that in this book. Flashbacks were used to fill in their backgrounds instead of communication. Which is a shame because they would have been great conversations to have.
Which leads me to a bit of honesty I wasn’t sure if I should include. My rating for this book is based in large part on this books potential. It’s such a unique idea that I’m sure wasn’t easy to write. But I found myself lying awake at night imagining all the super meaningful conversations Margot and patch could have had.
I loved the idea of the story. After I read the description, I had so many questions that needed to be answered. How is a 25-year-old hockey super star still a virgin? Why? For example. Unfortunately, the answers left me needing more. Patch has such a tragic past, it would have been great to see him share it with Margot.
Overall, Virgin Territory is a good quick read that will leave you with a smile on your face. The idea is interesting and unique. There aren’t a lot of books about male virgins on the shelf so in that sense it was a very refreshing read. I’d certainly recommend it for anyone looking for something to read over the weekend that won’t leave you heart broken and emotional.
I received a free copy of this book prior to publication from the author/ publisher via Edelweiss.
Now for the rest of the review. Patrick is a 25-year-old NHL goalie, and a virgin! He’s brooding and tough on the outside but inside he is the hurt little boy who misses his mom. I loved Patrick. I fell for him as soon as he got served in the most inconvenient way possible.
Margot on the other hand, I couldn’t get behind. I found her character unrelatable. She is a yoga teacher who eats vegan pizza and tells the reader repeatedly how much sexual experience she has. She also thinks back to her disastrous first time from a decade ago far more often than I’m comfortable with. Although I loved Patrick, I didn’t love Margot.
One of my favorite parts of any romance novel is watching the relationship grow, seeing the couple trust each other. I love when they share their pasts, secrets and shames only to realize that other person still loves them. I didn’t see that in this book. Flashbacks were used to fill in their backgrounds instead of communication. Which is a shame because they would have been great conversations to have.
Which leads me to a bit of honesty I wasn’t sure if I should include. My rating for this book is based in large part on this books potential. It’s such a unique idea that I’m sure wasn’t easy to write. But I found myself lying awake at night imagining all the super meaningful conversations Margot and patch could have had.
I loved the idea of the story. After I read the description, I had so many questions that needed to be answered. How is a 25-year-old hockey super star still a virgin? Why? For example. Unfortunately, the answers left me needing more. Patch has such a tragic past, it would have been great to see him share it with Margot.
Overall, Virgin Territory is a good quick read that will leave you with a smile on your face. The idea is interesting and unique. There aren’t a lot of books about male virgins on the shelf so in that sense it was a very refreshing read. I’d certainly recommend it for anyone looking for something to read over the weekend that won’t leave you heart broken and emotional.
I received a free copy of this book prior to publication from the author/ publisher via Edelweiss.
March 8, 2018
*I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Virgin Territory is the final book in the Hellions Angels series and one I was most excited for because virgin heroes are my fave and I’ve been dying to get the scoop on the goalie who has a reputation for finding trouble. Patrick Donnelly is currently on the hot seat after an altercation at a bar leads him to being sued. Needing a way to cool his hot-tempered attitude, his Coach decides that it would be best for him to take private yoga classes. But things don’t go as planned and instead keeping his cool, things heat up as Patrick finds himself falling fast and hard for his instructor, Margot Kowalski.
Virgin Territory was a short and steamy romance that left me wanting more. This is basically an insta-lust romance because Patrick goes from never wanting to be touched by anyone to being ready to hop right into bed with Margot. There’s nothing really wrong with that, but I wished that things were slowed down because I didn’t feel like I got to know either of these characters well enough before the banging commenced. There’s also a lot of telling instead of showing, like we’re told Patrick had a rough upbringing and that’s the reason why he’s so guarded but dammit I wanted some more emotions on the page. The same goes for Margot. She’s kind of a free-spirited person who marches to the beat of her own drums, but again we’re told that and I wanted to just see more of her personality on the page. The banter between these two was very entertaining and while they are an odd pair, they are a perfect fit for one another. While I didn’t end up loving Virgin Territory as much as I had hoped, the Hellions Angels series is still a fun and sexy sports romance series worth checking out!
Virgin Territory is the final book in the Hellions Angels series and one I was most excited for because virgin heroes are my fave and I’ve been dying to get the scoop on the goalie who has a reputation for finding trouble. Patrick Donnelly is currently on the hot seat after an altercation at a bar leads him to being sued. Needing a way to cool his hot-tempered attitude, his Coach decides that it would be best for him to take private yoga classes. But things don’t go as planned and instead keeping his cool, things heat up as Patrick finds himself falling fast and hard for his instructor, Margot Kowalski.
Virgin Territory was a short and steamy romance that left me wanting more. This is basically an insta-lust romance because Patrick goes from never wanting to be touched by anyone to being ready to hop right into bed with Margot. There’s nothing really wrong with that, but I wished that things were slowed down because I didn’t feel like I got to know either of these characters well enough before the banging commenced. There’s also a lot of telling instead of showing, like we’re told Patrick had a rough upbringing and that’s the reason why he’s so guarded but dammit I wanted some more emotions on the page. The same goes for Margot. She’s kind of a free-spirited person who marches to the beat of her own drums, but again we’re told that and I wanted to just see more of her personality on the page. The banter between these two was very entertaining and while they are an odd pair, they are a perfect fit for one another. While I didn’t end up loving Virgin Territory as much as I had hoped, the Hellions Angels series is still a fun and sexy sports romance series worth checking out!
February 4, 2018
2.5 stars
I’ve read other Lia Riley books and enjoyed them, so I was intrigued by this one.
I liked Margot and Patrick well enough. She stands up for herself and goes after what she wants. He’s gruff and stand off-ish. Together there is a sweetness between them and decent chemistry.
Plot wise, there were a lot of moving parts. Lots of backstory and conflict for both of them, not to mention their working relationship. I would have liked to see more of them getting to know each other. There were some chances of him on the road that could have been utilized. Instead, there was telling instead of showing.
Overall, I liked aspects of the story {His being younger and inexperienced. Her being sex positive.} but it felt like it wasn’t as fleshed out as it could have been.
**Huge thanks to Avon Impulse for providing the arc free of charge**
I’ve read other Lia Riley books and enjoyed them, so I was intrigued by this one.
I liked Margot and Patrick well enough. She stands up for herself and goes after what she wants. He’s gruff and stand off-ish. Together there is a sweetness between them and decent chemistry.
Plot wise, there were a lot of moving parts. Lots of backstory and conflict for both of them, not to mention their working relationship. I would have liked to see more of them getting to know each other. There were some chances of him on the road that could have been utilized. Instead, there was telling instead of showing.
Overall, I liked aspects of the story {His being younger and inexperienced. Her being sex positive.} but it felt like it wasn’t as fleshed out as it could have been.
**Huge thanks to Avon Impulse for providing the arc free of charge**
March 13, 2018
I've rated this a C+ for AAR which is equal to 3.5 stars.
Of all the plotlines in Lia Riley's Hellions Angels series, Virgin Territory was the one I was looking forward to the most. And yes, it's absolutely because — as the title suggests — this book features a virgin hero.
For the first fifty percent or so of this read, I was all aboard the Virgin Territory train. Yes, fine, I'll admit, I'm a complete sucker for the inexperienced hero trope but I really did feel the connection between the two leads. And while they do transition way too quickly into the sexytimes for my liking – as in, literally after their first meeting and spending.. oh, twenty minutes together? — I appreciated that the follow-up encounters were nicely spaced throughout the story and a little slower going, though not lacking in intensity.
Full review can be found at AAR.
Of all the plotlines in Lia Riley's Hellions Angels series, Virgin Territory was the one I was looking forward to the most. And yes, it's absolutely because — as the title suggests — this book features a virgin hero.
For the first fifty percent or so of this read, I was all aboard the Virgin Territory train. Yes, fine, I'll admit, I'm a complete sucker for the inexperienced hero trope but I really did feel the connection between the two leads. And while they do transition way too quickly into the sexytimes for my liking – as in, literally after their first meeting and spending.. oh, twenty minutes together? — I appreciated that the follow-up encounters were nicely spaced throughout the story and a little slower going, though not lacking in intensity.
Full review can be found at AAR.
November 12, 2018
I like Lia Riley’s writing—which strangely reminds me of the cocksure voices of authors like Kimberly Kincaid, Avery Flynn and a few others—and the self-assured tone that’s found throughout makes the reading process a breeze. And that was enough to request for an ARC of this book, though the premise of the story when I first read it, admittedly made me very wary of it, particularly when this thing called ‘virginity’ comes into question.
So this is all me, my own writerly and readerly hang-ups, that are being reflected in this review.
The imbalance of sexual experience, for want of a better way of putting it, isn’t exactly a trope I like to read about; the role reversal here didn’t make much of a difference—the sexually-experienced woman and the virgin man, with the former going as far as to instruct the latter. And that makes me cringe, because reading romance novels has never been a tit-for-tat issue for me; I don’t purposefully go for books that deliberately try to turn the tables on supposed stereotypical gender roles simply because there have been too many manwhores and inexperienced women. While readers may crow about and love the role reversal here, my own reason deviates somewhat: I delve into romance to actually root for a couple that I think I can genuinely get behind and for a few hours of escapism from reality which good writing has the capability of doing, rather than for the purpose of gender shaming or the robust defence of one over the other.
Unfortunately, ‘Virgin Territory’ felt like that for me from the start—too much of it like a woman’s slamming rant against sexist men in order to reinforce what women should be allowed to do/believe in the 21st century. Like in ‘Head Coach’, there was a tad bit much of what sounded like meta-speak for women’s rights: why slut-shaming is wrong, why women should be free to have the sex they want, yada yada and it did come across as somewhat preachy at times…all through the mouth of Margot, whose repetitive, defensive insistence of it felt annoying after a while, particularly when it stemmed from a position of insecurity and loneliness.
There’s also the problem that seems inherent in ‘virgin’ romances, whether the virgin character is male or female—that a huge, huge deal is made out of it, or that it is either a huge stumbling block that makes people pause or that virginity is something pesky to be gotten rid of. Admittedly, that Patch’s religion had a part in this story, that he wanted sex to mean something and for once, I could actually appreciate how the church had been an anchor in his life, rather than the usual interpretation of toxic religion that much of romantic fiction uses as a crutch against love and sex. I felt for Patch, the difficult history he’s had, and the self-awareness he had of himself, which already put him far above many heroes I’ve read about.
Needless to say, for reasons that are clearly my own, ‘Virgin Territory’ was an excruciating read. I found that I couldn’t go on past the halfway mark, not because I don’t like Riley’s style, but because the subject matter put me off too much.
*ARC by the publisher via Edelweiss
So this is all me, my own writerly and readerly hang-ups, that are being reflected in this review.
The imbalance of sexual experience, for want of a better way of putting it, isn’t exactly a trope I like to read about; the role reversal here didn’t make much of a difference—the sexually-experienced woman and the virgin man, with the former going as far as to instruct the latter. And that makes me cringe, because reading romance novels has never been a tit-for-tat issue for me; I don’t purposefully go for books that deliberately try to turn the tables on supposed stereotypical gender roles simply because there have been too many manwhores and inexperienced women. While readers may crow about and love the role reversal here, my own reason deviates somewhat: I delve into romance to actually root for a couple that I think I can genuinely get behind and for a few hours of escapism from reality which good writing has the capability of doing, rather than for the purpose of gender shaming or the robust defence of one over the other.
Unfortunately, ‘Virgin Territory’ felt like that for me from the start—too much of it like a woman’s slamming rant against sexist men in order to reinforce what women should be allowed to do/believe in the 21st century. Like in ‘Head Coach’, there was a tad bit much of what sounded like meta-speak for women’s rights: why slut-shaming is wrong, why women should be free to have the sex they want, yada yada and it did come across as somewhat preachy at times…all through the mouth of Margot, whose repetitive, defensive insistence of it felt annoying after a while, particularly when it stemmed from a position of insecurity and loneliness.
There’s also the problem that seems inherent in ‘virgin’ romances, whether the virgin character is male or female—that a huge, huge deal is made out of it, or that it is either a huge stumbling block that makes people pause or that virginity is something pesky to be gotten rid of. Admittedly, that Patch’s religion had a part in this story, that he wanted sex to mean something and for once, I could actually appreciate how the church had been an anchor in his life, rather than the usual interpretation of toxic religion that much of romantic fiction uses as a crutch against love and sex. I felt for Patch, the difficult history he’s had, and the self-awareness he had of himself, which already put him far above many heroes I’ve read about.
Needless to say, for reasons that are clearly my own, ‘Virgin Territory’ was an excruciating read. I found that I couldn’t go on past the halfway mark, not because I don’t like Riley’s style, but because the subject matter put me off too much.
*ARC by the publisher via Edelweiss
March 7, 2018
3.5 stars for this latest hockey romance by Lia Riley. Margot is sexually experienced ( though still struggles with slut shaming events in her past) and hockey goalie Patrick is a virgin. Patrick wears his Catholic guilt for being unable to prevent his prostitute mother's death like a horsehair shirt. It's kept him from getting involved with a woman so when he is sent to yoga instructor Margot his first instinct is to rebel against his sudden attraction to her but that doesn't last long. It's an insta-lust start, with an emotional connection that grows. There's an ex/stalker subplot to go along with the developing romance. There are a few hockey scenes and some locker room conversations and some previous series characters make appearances. It's not my favorite of the series but still an enjoyable read.
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss for review.
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss for review.
March 2, 2018
I have a feeling this may be the last book in the Hellions Angels series, and if it is, it was a great finale.
Who?
• Patch, the Hellions goalie, with anger issues and a dark past, who has never been in a relationship with a woman.
• Margot, the free spirited yoga instructor, who after many years, has more or less come to terms with her past, but struggles to find men, who keep her interest.
What?
After his bar altercation, Patch was ordered by his coach to meet with Margot to learn some anger control techniques. When they met, sparks flew, but will Margot get more than professional with Patch? And will Patch be able to open up to Margot about his past?
Why?
I really enjoyed these two together. They were so different from each other, and those differences worked in their favor, as each brought out something in the other.
Both Margot and Patch had demons from their past that they battled from time to time. While Margot's usually resulted in failed relationships, Patch's kept him from having any romantic relationships and also put his future in jeopardy.
Margot was everything I expected and more. She was sassy and strong willed, and although she seemed at peace with her past, it would rear its ugly head, and we would see the vulnerability that Margot worked hard to keep hidden. I hated seeing Margot let her past get her down, and was so over the moon, when Patch eased her fears about it.
Patch seemed all hard and gruff, but there was a heart of gold under there. When I learned about his past and why he found it difficult to form a relationship with a woman, it brought tears to my eyes. I was so thankful that he had his bestie, Father Sully and hockey to help pull himself out of those dark places. And when he was with Margot, he just put it all out there. I couldn't help but swoon when he bared his soul.
There were a bunch of little storylines going on, but they could never outside the romance for me. I thought Patch and Margot had great chemistry, and it's always fun reading a story where the woman has more experience than the man.
Overall
Another great Hellions book, which delivered the Sam-trifecta: I laughed, smiled, and swooned. My chief complaint was that I wished these books were longer, because I utterly enjoyed all my time with these characters and wanted more.
Who?
• Patch, the Hellions goalie, with anger issues and a dark past, who has never been in a relationship with a woman.
• Margot, the free spirited yoga instructor, who after many years, has more or less come to terms with her past, but struggles to find men, who keep her interest.
What?
After his bar altercation, Patch was ordered by his coach to meet with Margot to learn some anger control techniques. When they met, sparks flew, but will Margot get more than professional with Patch? And will Patch be able to open up to Margot about his past?
Why?
I really enjoyed these two together. They were so different from each other, and those differences worked in their favor, as each brought out something in the other.
Both Margot and Patch had demons from their past that they battled from time to time. While Margot's usually resulted in failed relationships, Patch's kept him from having any romantic relationships and also put his future in jeopardy.
Margot was everything I expected and more. She was sassy and strong willed, and although she seemed at peace with her past, it would rear its ugly head, and we would see the vulnerability that Margot worked hard to keep hidden. I hated seeing Margot let her past get her down, and was so over the moon, when Patch eased her fears about it.
Patch seemed all hard and gruff, but there was a heart of gold under there. When I learned about his past and why he found it difficult to form a relationship with a woman, it brought tears to my eyes. I was so thankful that he had his bestie, Father Sully and hockey to help pull himself out of those dark places. And when he was with Margot, he just put it all out there. I couldn't help but swoon when he bared his soul.
There were a bunch of little storylines going on, but they could never outside the romance for me. I thought Patch and Margot had great chemistry, and it's always fun reading a story where the woman has more experience than the man.
Overall
Another great Hellions book, which delivered the Sam-trifecta: I laughed, smiled, and swooned. My chief complaint was that I wished these books were longer, because I utterly enjoyed all my time with these characters and wanted more.
March 7, 2018
This book came on fast and furious. I mean, it's a short one - and there's a lot of stuff going on - but I was engaged right away and, ugh, you guys - I loved Patch Donnelly.
I think there's a special place in my heart for virgin heroes. And for me, this virgin hero got everything right. I loved Patch's backstory - which was much more emotional than I had been anticipating. In fact, none of this actually played out in a way that I would have guessed, and I loved it all the more for that.
It is ultimately a very sweet story. And a damn sexy one on top of that (no, seriously - *fans self*). Things move very quickly, but I didn't actually have any problem with that and I didn't feel like I missed out on anything. I adored how sincere and authentic Patch's connection with Margot felt. I loved how they interacted with each other, how open they were to each other, and in the end - how fiercely they loved each other.
I feel like the Hellions Angels series gets a little better with every installment and with Virgin Territory, it has definitely hit its stride. This is a fun book, a sparky, sexy little romance and I loved every minute of it! ~ Shelly, 4.5 Stars
***
It’s a rare occurrence when a book hits all the marks for me. I love sports romance with broody, tough, and a bit grumpy leading man and the amazing woman who love him despite all his crazy “flaws.” Add in the fact that he is a virgin and I’m ignoring the world for the next few hours. Which is exactly what happened when I started Lia Riley’s Virgin Territory.
I’d been dying to read Patch Donnelly’s story since the beginning of this awesome Hellions Angels series began. There was just something so mysterious about him and his broodiness that I knew I had to know more about him—to fall in love with him as Margot did. Patch doesn’t talk much—he keeps his past, his secrets, and his thoughts to himself. Until there’s just something about Margot Kowalski who draws him out.
Margot is a bit of a free spirit—she makes her own way with her yoga teaching and desire to open her own business. She’s recommended to the Hellions’ head coach to help Patch work on his anger management. Something that the relaxation methods of yoga are perfect for.
But what’s also perfect is the way Margot and Patch hit it off—the way they connect, the way they are immediately attracted to each other, the way they’re able to get past each other’s guard and into the other’s heart is amazing to see. I loved how they loved. And I loved Patch’s back story—his hesitancy to get close, to get intimate . . . and seeing the relationship develop.
It wasn’t easy, it wasn’t perfect, but it was perfect for them. And a perfect reading experience for me. ~ Missy, 4.5 stars
I think there's a special place in my heart for virgin heroes. And for me, this virgin hero got everything right. I loved Patch's backstory - which was much more emotional than I had been anticipating. In fact, none of this actually played out in a way that I would have guessed, and I loved it all the more for that.
It is ultimately a very sweet story. And a damn sexy one on top of that (no, seriously - *fans self*). Things move very quickly, but I didn't actually have any problem with that and I didn't feel like I missed out on anything. I adored how sincere and authentic Patch's connection with Margot felt. I loved how they interacted with each other, how open they were to each other, and in the end - how fiercely they loved each other.
I feel like the Hellions Angels series gets a little better with every installment and with Virgin Territory, it has definitely hit its stride. This is a fun book, a sparky, sexy little romance and I loved every minute of it! ~ Shelly, 4.5 Stars
***
It’s a rare occurrence when a book hits all the marks for me. I love sports romance with broody, tough, and a bit grumpy leading man and the amazing woman who love him despite all his crazy “flaws.” Add in the fact that he is a virgin and I’m ignoring the world for the next few hours. Which is exactly what happened when I started Lia Riley’s Virgin Territory.
I’d been dying to read Patch Donnelly’s story since the beginning of this awesome Hellions Angels series began. There was just something so mysterious about him and his broodiness that I knew I had to know more about him—to fall in love with him as Margot did. Patch doesn’t talk much—he keeps his past, his secrets, and his thoughts to himself. Until there’s just something about Margot Kowalski who draws him out.
Margot is a bit of a free spirit—she makes her own way with her yoga teaching and desire to open her own business. She’s recommended to the Hellions’ head coach to help Patch work on his anger management. Something that the relaxation methods of yoga are perfect for.
But what’s also perfect is the way Margot and Patch hit it off—the way they connect, the way they are immediately attracted to each other, the way they’re able to get past each other’s guard and into the other’s heart is amazing to see. I loved how they loved. And I loved Patch’s back story—his hesitancy to get close, to get intimate . . . and seeing the relationship develop.
It wasn’t easy, it wasn’t perfect, but it was perfect for them. And a perfect reading experience for me. ~ Missy, 4.5 stars
March 2, 2018
Romance novellas are hit and miss for me. I've read some excellent books that deliver a compelling romance in under 150 pages, and I've read others that miss the mark. Unfortunately, this is one that never came together for me.
There are two key conflicts in the book, and both are resolved without much effort. The first is what brings our leads together: Patch is required to practice yoga with Margot to learn to control his anger issues. After only a single session, Patch keeps his cool during a locker room disagreement and after that doesn't seem to struggle much with a problem that was originally severe enough to potentially bench him for the season. I found it hard to believe that Patch's anger issues were solved so easily.
I'll admit that the second conflict is one I do not enjoy reading about in romance novels: Aside from my personal feelings about this plot point, the conflict revolves around a character who reads like a cartoon villain, and the problem is solved too easily.
My other issue was characterization. When Margot is introduced she's rallying against slut shaming, wearing a pussycat hat, and carrying a Nevertheless, She Persisted bag. I know this woman (heck, I kind of am this woman), but the way it's presented all at once reads as more of a caricature than a character. Or the author trying to prove how feminist her heroine is. Patch's characterization was better, but it was hard to believe that he'd reveal he's a virgin only an hour after meeting Margot.
The one thing I really enjoyed was reading a romance where the woman is more experienced than the man. It's so often the reverse, and having a hero who was inexperienced (but still incredibly confident) was really refreshing and something I'd enjoy reading more of.
Creating a convincing and genuine love story in 137 pages is a difficult challenge (page 138-150 are dedicated to an excerpt of another book). At the end of the day, this is a book that had many of the right elements in place but needed to give them room to evolve and grow, or needed to trim down to a single conflict. There was enough potential here that I would considering picking up a full length novel from Lia Riley if it caught my eye.
There are two key conflicts in the book, and both are resolved without much effort. The first is what brings our leads together: Patch is required to practice yoga with Margot to learn to control his anger issues. After only a single session, Patch keeps his cool during a locker room disagreement and after that doesn't seem to struggle much with a problem that was originally severe enough to potentially bench him for the season. I found it hard to believe that Patch's anger issues were solved so easily.
I'll admit that the second conflict is one I do not enjoy reading about in romance novels: Aside from my personal feelings about this plot point, the conflict revolves around a character who reads like a cartoon villain, and the problem is solved too easily.
My other issue was characterization. When Margot is introduced she's rallying against slut shaming, wearing a pussycat hat, and carrying a Nevertheless, She Persisted bag. I know this woman (heck, I kind of am this woman), but the way it's presented all at once reads as more of a caricature than a character. Or the author trying to prove how feminist her heroine is. Patch's characterization was better, but it was hard to believe that he'd reveal he's a virgin only an hour after meeting Margot.
The one thing I really enjoyed was reading a romance where the woman is more experienced than the man. It's so often the reverse, and having a hero who was inexperienced (but still incredibly confident) was really refreshing and something I'd enjoy reading more of.
Creating a convincing and genuine love story in 137 pages is a difficult challenge (page 138-150 are dedicated to an excerpt of another book). At the end of the day, this is a book that had many of the right elements in place but needed to give them room to evolve and grow, or needed to trim down to a single conflict. There was enough potential here that I would considering picking up a full length novel from Lia Riley if it caught my eye.
July 22, 2024
I probably wouldn’t have picked up another Lia Riley book so soon after Head Coach but this was a 2-in-1 book that my sweet, loving boyfriend bought me so I had to read the whole thing obviously. However, for a book called Virgin Territory I’m not sure what I was expecting. I was glad that the virgin was the guy and not the girl but that was the ENTIRE plot. It was just a virgin trope for the whole book. I don’t understand why Lia Riley wrote these two books with less than 200 pages each. These books could have been great with more depth, going into the clear trauma that each of the characters had, furthering the character’s relationships with other characters, etc. Reading these books felt like a major problem is almost about to happen and you’re hoping that it doesn’t happen because you just want your favorite characters to be happy, but then the giant problem just doesn’t happen??? And then you’re left there like “oh… ok..” When there was a minor problem, it was solved remarkably easy. There was just nothing really going for this book except the spicy scenes. And there were so many spicy scenes. Which is fine, but I wanted a plot with my porn!! Also they said “I love you” to each other after like 2 days of KNOWING each other???? Excuse me?? 4/10
March 22, 2024
A steamy hockey romance between a virgin hockey star and an experienced yoga instructor who tries to help him get his game back and teaches him so much more. Spicy and fun, this was a great addition to a fav sports romance novella series. Good on audio too!
June 17, 2024
just atrocious. i can’t think of any redeeming qualities.
short romance novels are hard to do because the joy of romance is in the build up. this book took all of that build up out and gave absolutely nothing.
unhinged quotes from this to come in the morning.
short romance novels are hard to do because the joy of romance is in the build up. this book took all of that build up out and gave absolutely nothing.
unhinged quotes from this to come in the morning.
Read
April 17, 2024Don’t make jokes with your friends about books because then you have to sit and read the whole thing so you can make even better jokes
February 19, 2018
This series has been so fun to read and Virgin Territory is another winner! From the first time Patrick and Margot meet, you just know the sparks are going to fly between these two! I loved these two characters, both individually and together.
Patrick may be a virgin, but when he meets Margot, something just clicks for him and he knows she’s the one. Margot’s been hurt time and time again by the men in her life, but she knows she can trust Patrick and sees the good in him.
But Patrick has painful things from his past that lately have affected his actions and he’s is in jeopardy of losing his spot as starting goalie on the Denver Hellions Hockey team. With the help of Margot and the support of his coach and friends, he’ll do whatever it takes to make things right.
Virgin Territory had the sweet, sexy, emotional and heartfelt moments. Lia Riley’s writing always has me glued to the pages and this one was no exception. Loved it!
**I received an ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review**
Patrick may be a virgin, but when he meets Margot, something just clicks for him and he knows she’s the one. Margot’s been hurt time and time again by the men in her life, but she knows she can trust Patrick and sees the good in him.
But Patrick has painful things from his past that lately have affected his actions and he’s is in jeopardy of losing his spot as starting goalie on the Denver Hellions Hockey team. With the help of Margot and the support of his coach and friends, he’ll do whatever it takes to make things right.
Virgin Territory had the sweet, sexy, emotional and heartfelt moments. Lia Riley’s writing always has me glued to the pages and this one was no exception. Loved it!
**I received an ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review**
July 18, 2018
Virgin Territory is the third book in Lia Riley's Hellions Angels series. This series has been light-hearted, romantic and a whole lot of fun for me. I was excited to dive into Virgin Territory because 1) the hero is a virgin and 2) he is a ginger! I'm glad to say that Virgin Territory was just the fun book I needed when I read it. I was pleasantly surprised that the heroine was also older than the hero. You don't see that a lot in romance, so I was happy to see Lia Riley normalize that in her book. Both Patrick and Margot are great characters, who are very easy to root for. I liked Margot - she was so peppy and lively, and just a genuinely sweet girl who brought happiness wherever she went. I also thought Patrick was a well-developed character. He has his reasons for being a virgin, and they were heartbreaking, but what a guy he was. I liked watching Patrick and Margot fall for each other - fair warning, it happens pretty swiftly, but this is one of the cases of insta-love that I wasn't all too bothered by, mostly because I felt their connection from the very beginning. Virgin Territory also has great subtle and not-so-subtle feminist overtones to the book that I always appreciate in any romance novel. All, in all, this was a fun and sexy read for me. Looking back, book two, Head Coach, is definitely my favorite of the series, but I enjoyed all three books!
June 24, 2025
This was a fun and steamy read between a virgin hockey player and an experienced yoga instructor. This is a short one so it gets right to the point following an instant attraction storyline and things progress pretty quickly from there. Even though it’s a quick read, you still get some backstory on the main characters and there is still a plot.
I loved Margot and Patrick together and the bond they shared, even if it happened rather quickly. One thing I wish we would have gotten though would be more in depth conversations between the two of them. Most of the important background stories regarding their pasts were told through flashbacks. I think that if we would have seen them having these conversations with each other it would have made their connection more believable since they would actually be getting to know one another.
Overall, I enjoyed this one, I just wish it would have been a tad more developed.
Read this if you like:
🏒 Virgin MMC
🏒 Hockey romance
🏒 Insta-lust
🏒 Witty banter
🏒 First love
🏒 Athlete/yoga instructor
I loved Margot and Patrick together and the bond they shared, even if it happened rather quickly. One thing I wish we would have gotten though would be more in depth conversations between the two of them. Most of the important background stories regarding their pasts were told through flashbacks. I think that if we would have seen them having these conversations with each other it would have made their connection more believable since they would actually be getting to know one another.
Overall, I enjoyed this one, I just wish it would have been a tad more developed.
Read this if you like:
🏒 Virgin MMC
🏒 Hockey romance
🏒 Insta-lust
🏒 Witty banter
🏒 First love
🏒 Athlete/yoga instructor
March 26, 2018
Honestly, the dedication of this book turned me off so much that I DNF'd before I even got to the first page. I'm so tired of politics... I don't want to see it in my romance reading, which is usually an escape for me. When I want politics, I will pick up a political romance or something with court intrigue. I wasn't expecting to be hit with it in a hockey/sports romance. Sigh. Maybe there aren't politics in the book, but I'm not going to make the time investment to find out.
On a positive note - I love the cover. I received an advanced copy of this book from Avon.
On a positive note - I love the cover. I received an advanced copy of this book from Avon.
March 26, 2024
The plot is lacking...and since this book is barely over 200 pages, that's somewhat to be expected.
October 18, 2024
loved the premise of this book and wanted it to be so good so bad but it was actually so painful to read. saying bible verses while freaking it really threw me off
March 31, 2018
3.5 (probably would have been 4 if the epilogue wasn't a concentrated dose of all the rushed half-baked cliches the rest of the book didn't have)
December 31, 2024
Idk if I’ve ever read a book that’s mentioned sex more. There were definitely some plot lines I’ve never seen before in books but idk if that’s good or bad 😄
June 6, 2024
So cute!
March 1, 2018
What a waste of time!
Review to come when I'm less pissed off about this book
Full review
This was my first time reading Lia Riley and I was drawn to the premise of a virgin hockey player getting together with a more experience woman. The story had a few laughs and while I liked bits of it, in the end this turned out to be a big disappointment.
Things started promising with a funny, smart heroine being all sex positive and taking no slut shaming from anyone. The hero was also rather intriguing from the start - a troubled hockey star goalie with anger management issues, too easily resorting to physical violence when challenged. And he was a virgin with no experience of intimacy with women, not even holding hands or kissing. Early on we get the reasons for this - a difficult childhood and family issues that were still haunting him.
It was after they met that things went downhill for me. She was a yoga instructor and he was referred to her as a way to get his anger under control. He went to her home for a yoga session for the first time and boom, insta-lust. Within minutes of meeting her, he was so smitten that he was ready to get intimate with her right away, after years of avoiding any physical contact with women. I just didn't buy it. They didn't really get to know each other, there was no courtship, no dealing with his issues with intimacy and anger, just instalust.
Then as can be expected our virgin hero turned out to be a natural at sex, giving her the best orgasms of her life. He was perfect in everything and his tendency towards violence was quickly resolved with the sheer power of true love.
It was a short read, too superficial and neither the characters, nor the conflict seemed fleshed out enough. It was all cliche after cliche - her evil ex (who couldn't get over the fact he wasn't her first lover, was bad in bed, never cared about her pleasure and turned aggressive and stalkerish after their break up and to top it all off, he turned to be involved in tax fraud).
I found the suspense plot too thin and far too easily resolved in the end. I felt all the good characters were too good to be true and all the bad ones were just comically bad. The characters lacked nuance which made it all too unrealistic for me to enjoy their story. I want my contemporary romances more rooted in reality. While I don't mind the dream/fantasy type of romance hero, I can't accept when serious issues are brought up and then brushed off to a quick resolution without giving them any depth.
I ended angry and disappointed in this story because I felt it had to potential to be something good but it was hastily written, predictable, lacking any depth and nuance. The few good jokes here and there and my overall appreciation of the hero was not enough to save it.
Review to come when I'm less pissed off about this book
Full review
This was my first time reading Lia Riley and I was drawn to the premise of a virgin hockey player getting together with a more experience woman. The story had a few laughs and while I liked bits of it, in the end this turned out to be a big disappointment.
Things started promising with a funny, smart heroine being all sex positive and taking no slut shaming from anyone. The hero was also rather intriguing from the start - a troubled hockey star goalie with anger management issues, too easily resorting to physical violence when challenged. And he was a virgin with no experience of intimacy with women, not even holding hands or kissing. Early on we get the reasons for this - a difficult childhood and family issues that were still haunting him.
It was after they met that things went downhill for me. She was a yoga instructor and he was referred to her as a way to get his anger under control. He went to her home for a yoga session for the first time and boom, insta-lust. Within minutes of meeting her, he was so smitten that he was ready to get intimate with her right away, after years of avoiding any physical contact with women. I just didn't buy it. They didn't really get to know each other, there was no courtship, no dealing with his issues with intimacy and anger, just instalust.
Then as can be expected our virgin hero turned out to be a natural at sex, giving her the best orgasms of her life. He was perfect in everything and his tendency towards violence was quickly resolved with the sheer power of true love.
It was a short read, too superficial and neither the characters, nor the conflict seemed fleshed out enough. It was all cliche after cliche - her evil ex (who couldn't get over the fact he wasn't her first lover, was bad in bed, never cared about her pleasure and turned aggressive and stalkerish after their break up and to top it all off, he turned to be involved in tax fraud).
I found the suspense plot too thin and far too easily resolved in the end. I felt all the good characters were too good to be true and all the bad ones were just comically bad. The characters lacked nuance which made it all too unrealistic for me to enjoy their story. I want my contemporary romances more rooted in reality. While I don't mind the dream/fantasy type of romance hero, I can't accept when serious issues are brought up and then brushed off to a quick resolution without giving them any depth.
I ended angry and disappointed in this story because I felt it had to potential to be something good but it was hastily written, predictable, lacking any depth and nuance. The few good jokes here and there and my overall appreciation of the hero was not enough to save it.
March 14, 2018
TW: High school bullying, grief, drug use, stalking
Anyone who has stuck around for the last three years of me blogging will know that I developed a love for ice hockey romances. Don't ask me why. I've never watched a game, and about all I know is that people play with sticks, pucks, and fists, and the game is divided into periods, not halves or quarters. That's it. But books about ice hockey players really get me going, and I'm just going to go with it.
I figured this book would be a safe bet. A goalie with a bit of a temper is sent to relax with a yoga instructor. Said goalie also happens to be a virgin (wow, a virgin hero?!), while the yoga instructor is a few years older and a quite a bit more experienced. Neither wants relationships for different reasons. And it could have worked!
Except it didn't quite get there for me. For a start, there seemed to be about 100 pages missing. Despite Patch's aversion to intimacy and Margot's man-break, they're quick to jump into bed, and also quick to start using the L-word. It just didn't make any sense to me. This could have been a great slowburn story, with Patch trying to work out his issues before immediately gaining superpowers that granted him the ability to perform perfect oral on the first try. There could have been angst and confusion and a growing inferno of heat before falling into bed. And not giving Patch the chance to mess up and figure out sex for the first time was a missed opportunity. I know how well private yoga lessons can work in books thanks to Breathless , and it's a shame the author felt the need to rush this book. It was like a last-minute submission minutes before the deadline.
That being said, if you mentally fill in the getting to know each other stuff yourself, there was chemistry between Patch and Margot. It was interesting to read about an almost-priest who can quote scripture, and yet it never felt preachy. (Preachy books are an instant turn-off for me.) And I loved how the Margot and her friends had each other's backs, and how Margot was so outspoken against slut-shaming. (I cheered when she told off the college girls.) So there were some winning moments.
Unfortunately, though, this was a bit too rushed, a bit too insta-love, and a bit too unbelievable with Patch's magic sex skills. I'm bummed.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2018
Find this review and more at
kimberlyfaye reads.
Man oh man do I love me some Lia Riley. I wanted to get my hands on Patch since I first met him in Mister Hockey. I mean, a badass ginger hockey player who was going to be a priest earlier in life and so he just happens to be a virgin? Come on. This is Kim catnip. And let's take a minute to appreciate that cover while we're at it, ok? H.O.T.
I absolutely adored Patch and Margot's story. It was fun to watch Patch get all worked up over Margot. He was all in for her the first time they met, which might come off a little instalove for some people, but it didn't bother me a bit. It totally worked for them and their story. Patch might've been a virgin — correction, a virgin who had never even as much as kissed a woman — but he knew passion and when it came right down to it, he had the moves. His temperament was nicely balanced by Margot's more chill disposition and I really enjoyed them together.
Virgin Territory was another great, entertaining story from Lia Riley. She's one of my go-to authors when I want some swoons and steam. This was a super quick read, too. I thoroughly enjoyed all the Hellions Angels books and can't wait to see what's next for her!
I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
FAVORITE QUOTES
"All I'm saying is that if you have to slut-shame to make yourself feel better, then you're doing life wrong."
He was a twenty-five-year-old virgin... a virgin's virgin. He'd never gotten to first base, let alone scored a home run. No kissing. No nothing.
"I want to kiss you everywhere. Map your skin with my mouth. Memorize every last part."
Him. Her. Him. Her. Two beats of a heart. Two bodies made one.
Man oh man do I love me some Lia Riley. I wanted to get my hands on Patch since I first met him in Mister Hockey. I mean, a badass ginger hockey player who was going to be a priest earlier in life and so he just happens to be a virgin? Come on. This is Kim catnip. And let's take a minute to appreciate that cover while we're at it, ok? H.O.T.
I absolutely adored Patch and Margot's story. It was fun to watch Patch get all worked up over Margot. He was all in for her the first time they met, which might come off a little instalove for some people, but it didn't bother me a bit. It totally worked for them and their story. Patch might've been a virgin — correction, a virgin who had never even as much as kissed a woman — but he knew passion and when it came right down to it, he had the moves. His temperament was nicely balanced by Margot's more chill disposition and I really enjoyed them together.
Virgin Territory was another great, entertaining story from Lia Riley. She's one of my go-to authors when I want some swoons and steam. This was a super quick read, too. I thoroughly enjoyed all the Hellions Angels books and can't wait to see what's next for her!
I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
FAVORITE QUOTES
"All I'm saying is that if you have to slut-shame to make yourself feel better, then you're doing life wrong."
He was a twenty-five-year-old virgin... a virgin's virgin. He'd never gotten to first base, let alone scored a home run. No kissing. No nothing.
"I want to kiss you everywhere. Map your skin with my mouth. Memorize every last part."
Him. Her. Him. Her. Two beats of a heart. Two bodies made one.
March 9, 2018
I actually couldn’t put this book down –
I adore Lia Riley’s books: humor, heart, heat and plenty of time to escape into the story hide the often deeper struggles of her characters. We’re onto the third book in this series, and this is Margot’s story; good friend of Breezy and Neve and a wholesale change from the two sisters. Margot is a yoga instructor, and hoping to open her own studio plus more; she just needs to get started with concrete moves. When Margot and Neve cook up an idea that involves Margot working with the team’s goalie: a man known for his hair-trigger temper, teaching him to learn to focus on the ice, and stay out of trouble off. However, there are issues here: particularly Margot’s rather free-wheeling attitude toward sex and her tendency to ‘go for it’ with those she’s attracted to: usually resulting in disaster.
Patch (Patrick) is a Boston boy, star goalie and keeper of a huge vault of secrets, and one close friend who knows only a part of the story, Sully, Father Sullivan, another Boston-boy and hockey player, roommate in college and now a rather unorthodox priest, determined to help his friend. But Patch’s questions about yoga, and his skepticism about the ability to gain anything from the time is strong: and then he meets Margot. Instantly he’s attracted, but the disquiet he feels around women because of his own mother’s horrible history, leave him unsettled. But, he wants, no needs, to play hockey so he’s giving Margot’s advice a try. And, when it works, REALLY works for him and allows him to remove the rage just below the surface, he’s hooked.
There was so much to work through in this one: Patrick’s shame and rigid reactions to his childhood traumas, Margot’s now stalking ex and his attempts to bully her, a scurrilous lawsuit against Patrick’s assault on an ambulance-chasing lawyer and his refusal to tell the whole story which may exonerate his culpability, and the growing attraction and closeness of Patrick and Margot. Full of heart and hope for more: Patrick is such a good man: protective, honest, wanting to be and do better and utterly devoted to the game, his willingness to try new things, even when they are wholly out of his comfort zone when prodded on by Margot show a great desire to trust and want to feel more “normal” even when he will say those moments only happened on Sundays when he was a child. I actually couldn’t put this book down – fortunately the story was fast-paced and moved seamlessly from one moment to the next, keeping me intrigued, interested and engaged. This series never fails to disappoint, with heart, humor and plenty of friendship to share: allowing moments to check in with the couples after their stories have moved from the spotlight.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
I adore Lia Riley’s books: humor, heart, heat and plenty of time to escape into the story hide the often deeper struggles of her characters. We’re onto the third book in this series, and this is Margot’s story; good friend of Breezy and Neve and a wholesale change from the two sisters. Margot is a yoga instructor, and hoping to open her own studio plus more; she just needs to get started with concrete moves. When Margot and Neve cook up an idea that involves Margot working with the team’s goalie: a man known for his hair-trigger temper, teaching him to learn to focus on the ice, and stay out of trouble off. However, there are issues here: particularly Margot’s rather free-wheeling attitude toward sex and her tendency to ‘go for it’ with those she’s attracted to: usually resulting in disaster.
Patch (Patrick) is a Boston boy, star goalie and keeper of a huge vault of secrets, and one close friend who knows only a part of the story, Sully, Father Sullivan, another Boston-boy and hockey player, roommate in college and now a rather unorthodox priest, determined to help his friend. But Patch’s questions about yoga, and his skepticism about the ability to gain anything from the time is strong: and then he meets Margot. Instantly he’s attracted, but the disquiet he feels around women because of his own mother’s horrible history, leave him unsettled. But, he wants, no needs, to play hockey so he’s giving Margot’s advice a try. And, when it works, REALLY works for him and allows him to remove the rage just below the surface, he’s hooked.
There was so much to work through in this one: Patrick’s shame and rigid reactions to his childhood traumas, Margot’s now stalking ex and his attempts to bully her, a scurrilous lawsuit against Patrick’s assault on an ambulance-chasing lawyer and his refusal to tell the whole story which may exonerate his culpability, and the growing attraction and closeness of Patrick and Margot. Full of heart and hope for more: Patrick is such a good man: protective, honest, wanting to be and do better and utterly devoted to the game, his willingness to try new things, even when they are wholly out of his comfort zone when prodded on by Margot show a great desire to trust and want to feel more “normal” even when he will say those moments only happened on Sundays when he was a child. I actually couldn’t put this book down – fortunately the story was fast-paced and moved seamlessly from one moment to the next, keeping me intrigued, interested and engaged. This series never fails to disappoint, with heart, humor and plenty of friendship to share: allowing moments to check in with the couples after their stories have moved from the spotlight.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
March 11, 2018
Steaminess Level: Mature
I requested this book for review based on a Twitter recommendation (thank you!). I didn't know much about it beforehand, so there weren't a lot of expectations going into it regarding content, steaminess, etc.
I'm not a sports enthusiast, so I was pleasantly surprised when I actually enjoyed the hockey content. To be fair there weren't actually a whole lot of scenes regarding the sport and what there was wasn't terribly detailed, so that might have had something to do with it. I think there was more information given to the yoga aspect of the story than any of the hockey playing, but that wasn't really a problem because neither the yoga nor the hockey was actually a big part of the story, more vehicles for the characters.
Margot and Patch are introduced when Patch, needing to deal with some anger issues following a lawsuit brought by a sleazy lawyer, makes an appointment with Margot, a yoga practitioner. This idea actually sounded really good to me, but I really think that the yogi/client relationship degenerated far too into "hockey player's girlfriend happens to be a yoga practitioner". While their relationship as a couple seemed nice, the development was full steam ahead from the time they met and love happened in the course of less than a week if my timeline is correct and they were engaged/business partners two months later.
Speedy plot aside, the difficulties that Patch and Margot faced in the book were resolved very quickly and easily, almost too much so. Stefan, Margot's ex who exhibits stalker behavior and commits minor vandalism, vanishes from the story in off page action and is dealt with in convenient terms (he happens to have been committing tax fraud, something that never came up during the rest of the book). Guy, the lawyer threatening Patch, conveniently threatens Patch in a hallway during a settlement meeting, laying out his sleaziness which Margot and Patch's friend/priest Sully catch on camera and audio.
Virgin Territory is a quick read that was decently fun and I think people that like well written intimate scenes would enjoy it a lot. There are two current companion novels that were previous published whose characters appear in this one, thought I wouldn't say they're required reading before picking this up.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I requested this book for review based on a Twitter recommendation (thank you!). I didn't know much about it beforehand, so there weren't a lot of expectations going into it regarding content, steaminess, etc.
I'm not a sports enthusiast, so I was pleasantly surprised when I actually enjoyed the hockey content. To be fair there weren't actually a whole lot of scenes regarding the sport and what there was wasn't terribly detailed, so that might have had something to do with it. I think there was more information given to the yoga aspect of the story than any of the hockey playing, but that wasn't really a problem because neither the yoga nor the hockey was actually a big part of the story, more vehicles for the characters.
Margot and Patch are introduced when Patch, needing to deal with some anger issues following a lawsuit brought by a sleazy lawyer, makes an appointment with Margot, a yoga practitioner. This idea actually sounded really good to me, but I really think that the yogi/client relationship degenerated far too into "hockey player's girlfriend happens to be a yoga practitioner". While their relationship as a couple seemed nice, the development was full steam ahead from the time they met and love happened in the course of less than a week if my timeline is correct and they were engaged/business partners two months later.
Speedy plot aside, the difficulties that Patch and Margot faced in the book were resolved very quickly and easily, almost too much so. Stefan, Margot's ex who exhibits stalker behavior and commits minor vandalism, vanishes from the story in off page action and is dealt with in convenient terms (he happens to have been committing tax fraud, something that never came up during the rest of the book). Guy, the lawyer threatening Patch, conveniently threatens Patch in a hallway during a settlement meeting, laying out his sleaziness which Margot and Patch's friend/priest Sully catch on camera and audio.
Virgin Territory is a quick read that was decently fun and I think people that like well written intimate scenes would enjoy it a lot. There are two current companion novels that were previous published whose characters appear in this one, thought I wouldn't say they're required reading before picking this up.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2018
Virgin Territory by Lia Riley is a sports romance with a twist! A feisty and strong female character and a hockey player who is strong and sexy, but also a virgin, which is rare in the romance world!
Patrick “Patch” Donnelly needs to control his tempter. He is on his way to becoming one of the best goalies in the NHL, so he needs to get himself together. However, when his coach basically tells him to do yoga to help him, he wants no part of it. But when he meets Margot, the sparks fly. But he has a secret, a big one! Patrick carried a dark past that weighed on him and made him appear standoffish and moody, but as the story progresses, we get to see more of him.
Margot Kowalski is working hard to achieve her goal of owning her own yoga studio. This will be her focus after yet another failed relationship. Who needs a man, right? But when a friend asks for a favor to help one of his players, it may be what she needs to push her business ahead. I loved Margot. She was such a nice and caring person but wall all kinds of feisty as well.
After getting in trouble off the ice, Patrick is ordered to do yoga to help him control his anger. Though he wants nothing with yoga, his reaction to meeting Margot was unexpected. But they are both professionals and dealing with past issues. On top of that, they were opposites, but you know the saying about opposites attracting!
This was both an emotional story and sweet read. It is a quick story with things moving quickly. There is a bit of suspense, but it is resolved quickly. Though this was my first read in the series, I did not feel lost at any point and enjoyed the story. This can be read as a standalone.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
Patrick “Patch” Donnelly needs to control his tempter. He is on his way to becoming one of the best goalies in the NHL, so he needs to get himself together. However, when his coach basically tells him to do yoga to help him, he wants no part of it. But when he meets Margot, the sparks fly. But he has a secret, a big one! Patrick carried a dark past that weighed on him and made him appear standoffish and moody, but as the story progresses, we get to see more of him.
Margot Kowalski is working hard to achieve her goal of owning her own yoga studio. This will be her focus after yet another failed relationship. Who needs a man, right? But when a friend asks for a favor to help one of his players, it may be what she needs to push her business ahead. I loved Margot. She was such a nice and caring person but wall all kinds of feisty as well.
After getting in trouble off the ice, Patrick is ordered to do yoga to help him control his anger. Though he wants nothing with yoga, his reaction to meeting Margot was unexpected. But they are both professionals and dealing with past issues. On top of that, they were opposites, but you know the saying about opposites attracting!
This was both an emotional story and sweet read. It is a quick story with things moving quickly. There is a bit of suspense, but it is resolved quickly. Though this was my first read in the series, I did not feel lost at any point and enjoyed the story. This can be read as a standalone.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
March 9, 2018
There is so much more to Patch than I anticipated, keeping his emotions on lockdown has resulted in an eruption or two more often than not on the ice. However, his heart is in the right place and his hotheaded ways land him in hot water when he tries to do the right thing only to be accosted by the biggest douche on the planet.
We already know Margot as Breezy's (Mister Hockey) best friend, although the image she projects hides a sensitive soul who has had to embrace a persona forced on her in her formative years.
Both Patch and Margot have emotional scars stemming from their youth and exasperated by negative thought patterns. For two people seemingly so different neither expects the type of connection they find with each other. Accepting and supporting of each other allows them both to flourish, providing a stable base neither has experienced before.
Unfortunately, toxic people threaten the harmony they have established between them. In a surprising plot curve, Margot and Patch find the solution to both of their problems in an unexpected turn of events :)
The previous couples, Breezy and Jed (Mister Hockey) and Neve and Tor (Head Coach) make an appearance throughout Virgin Territory adding to the world building and connection to the plot as a whole.
Virgin Territory is a little different to the usual romance due to the truly wonderful and unusual characters. the romance is whirlwind but nonetheless swoon-worthy.
We already know Margot as Breezy's (Mister Hockey) best friend, although the image she projects hides a sensitive soul who has had to embrace a persona forced on her in her formative years.
Both Patch and Margot have emotional scars stemming from their youth and exasperated by negative thought patterns. For two people seemingly so different neither expects the type of connection they find with each other. Accepting and supporting of each other allows them both to flourish, providing a stable base neither has experienced before.
Unfortunately, toxic people threaten the harmony they have established between them. In a surprising plot curve, Margot and Patch find the solution to both of their problems in an unexpected turn of events :)
The previous couples, Breezy and Jed (Mister Hockey) and Neve and Tor (Head Coach) make an appearance throughout Virgin Territory adding to the world building and connection to the plot as a whole.
Virgin Territory is a little different to the usual romance due to the truly wonderful and unusual characters. the romance is whirlwind but nonetheless swoon-worthy.
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