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Minnesota Caribou #1
Benched
I'm Adam Spencer.
Star center for the Minnesota Caribou professional hockey team.
I've sworn off women because I caught my fiancée with my brother.
Now, they're both dead to me. They represent pain and betrayal.
I've never known a goal I couldn't score - or a girl I couldn't score with.
Until I see her curled up in a sexy ball in my hospital room.
Julia Wales is lush, smart, more determined than I am, and one hundred percent off limits. She's my friend's sister and I've wanted her for years.
For the first time in my life, I want someone I can't have.
She's the successful business owner who obeys every rule. I'm the guy who breaks them.
Not since my injury have I shown a woman my scars.
Until now... and there's no going back.
Star center for the Minnesota Caribou professional hockey team.
I've sworn off women because I caught my fiancée with my brother.
Now, they're both dead to me. They represent pain and betrayal.
I've never known a goal I couldn't score - or a girl I couldn't score with.
Until I see her curled up in a sexy ball in my hospital room.
Julia Wales is lush, smart, more determined than I am, and one hundred percent off limits. She's my friend's sister and I've wanted her for years.
For the first time in my life, I want someone I can't have.
She's the successful business owner who obeys every rule. I'm the guy who breaks them.
Not since my injury have I shown a woman my scars.
Until now... and there's no going back.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 29, 2016
2782 people are currently reading
1642 people want to read
About the author
Colleen Charles
152 books1,183 followersAfter 26 years in Corporate leadership at a Fortune 500, I discovered people within the organization lacked integrity. I’d always known deep in my soul that I was trying to fit a square peg in to a round hole since I’m the typical creative type. I miss my staff but I don’t miss the corporate world. It’s been said that the Universe will let you know if something isn’t right for you. The first time, it will hit you with a pebble. Then a brick. Then a boulder. Let’s just say that I got flattened. When my fifteen pound toy dog, Nigel, was threatened, I knew it was time to say goodbye.
It’s true.
Here’s what I found within the first thirty days of being free. Writing stories from my heart that readers love means more to me than working myself in to an early grave for people who only care about their bottom line.
My heart has never been more full and my soul has never been more satisfied.
I’ve never worked so hard in my life but it doesn’t even feel like work. It’s worth it. All of it. Because it’s about the joy that’s found within the journey. The highs and the lows because I get to write stories for all of you.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading, enjoying and recommending the stories that I write. When you share my work with others, nothing is more rewarding. Your word of mouth is my very best friend … that, and your reviews. There is nothing more important to me than all of you.
I love to hear from my readers and answer all communications personally. You can find me at:
It’s true.
Here’s what I found within the first thirty days of being free. Writing stories from my heart that readers love means more to me than working myself in to an early grave for people who only care about their bottom line.
My heart has never been more full and my soul has never been more satisfied.
I’ve never worked so hard in my life but it doesn’t even feel like work. It’s worth it. All of it. Because it’s about the joy that’s found within the journey. The highs and the lows because I get to write stories for all of you.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading, enjoying and recommending the stories that I write. When you share my work with others, nothing is more rewarding. Your word of mouth is my very best friend … that, and your reviews. There is nothing more important to me than all of you.
I love to hear from my readers and answer all communications personally. You can find me at:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews
June 9, 2023
This was so messy and not in a good way. It started off so promising where the hero finds his fiancé hooking up with his brother. He's so angry that he ends up getting into an accident and ending up in the hospital. The heroine knows he's injured and he's her brother's best friend, so she goes to visit to make sure he's okay. That was all great, but this quickly became so messy and dramatic and it just didn't flow well at all. I quickly lost interest in the story and just didn't care if the hero and heroine ended together. The story as a whole felt disjointed as drama after drama was thrown in. I was excited to try a new to me author, especially with a hockey romance, but it was a miss for me.
November 10, 2021
3 Stars!
I’m a huge fan of hockey romance novels…..why you ask? I have NO IDEA, I live in Texas! Although I did like this book, it was a bit too wishy washy for me to really enjoy it.
I liked the characters and the storyline but I felt like Julia spent too much time going back and forth between believing & not believing in the feelings that Adam had for her.
It had a little more drama than what was necessary for my taste.
I’m a huge fan of hockey romance novels…..why you ask? I have NO IDEA, I live in Texas! Although I did like this book, it was a bit too wishy washy for me to really enjoy it.
I liked the characters and the storyline but I felt like Julia spent too much time going back and forth between believing & not believing in the feelings that Adam had for her.
It had a little more drama than what was necessary for my taste.
January 13, 2019
This is gonna have some spoilers***
So I’ll be up front in saying this was a DNF at 75% for me. Book ends at 87%, just FYI.
Okay, so I’m actually all about insta love and was so excited when Julia and Adam connected from the beginning. But then of course we gotta take it slow. So I ride that out for them to finally get together and some sexy time. I turn the page for the next chapter and boom, 3 months have passed and more drama comes and tears them apart.
Drama: one almost date rape, one billboard that ruins a business, one billboard that makes a business thrive, one brother that cheats with a fiancé, one date rapist that is also with the fiancé. One fiancé who desperately wants a reality show. One heroine who doesn’t always believe the hero, but then she does believe him but then she doesn’t trust him and then she does trust him. One drug test that a brother hijacks and switches tubes out (seriously...not even believable.) A whole bunch of people who apparently just leave their doors unlocked because people were always coming home to people in their houses they didn’t want there.
I usually try not to leave negative reviews because I can appreciate the authors hard work, but this one was just all over the place. I can handle drama, but not even an ounce of this was believable. Which I get it, it’s fiction. It can be anything the author deems it to be. In short, this book was a hot mess without any of the hot.
So I’ll be up front in saying this was a DNF at 75% for me. Book ends at 87%, just FYI.
Okay, so I’m actually all about insta love and was so excited when Julia and Adam connected from the beginning. But then of course we gotta take it slow. So I ride that out for them to finally get together and some sexy time. I turn the page for the next chapter and boom, 3 months have passed and more drama comes and tears them apart.
Drama: one almost date rape, one billboard that ruins a business, one billboard that makes a business thrive, one brother that cheats with a fiancé, one date rapist that is also with the fiancé. One fiancé who desperately wants a reality show. One heroine who doesn’t always believe the hero, but then she does believe him but then she doesn’t trust him and then she does trust him. One drug test that a brother hijacks and switches tubes out (seriously...not even believable.) A whole bunch of people who apparently just leave their doors unlocked because people were always coming home to people in their houses they didn’t want there.
I usually try not to leave negative reviews because I can appreciate the authors hard work, but this one was just all over the place. I can handle drama, but not even an ounce of this was believable. Which I get it, it’s fiction. It can be anything the author deems it to be. In short, this book was a hot mess without any of the hot.
September 1, 2016
This is a book that I find that you've got to have the taste for to like it. Not what I was expecting so I really struggled to connect with it. I was looking for sports and romance it has nothing to do with sports but has a bit of romance. It also had too much going on so it was difficult for me to engage.
February 18, 2021
I was excited by the premise, the fact that this was a hockey romance, but I was a bit disappointed in the end. Even though it was exactly what it was.
The drama bothered me. Too much for my taste. The villains in the story were so stupid they were ridiculous. They were cartoon villains–the ones who have a plan that you know is gonna fail big time, and yet they still do it. And they kept coming back. Again. And again. I ended up annoyed.
As for the main characters, they made some stupid decisions too! Like they wanted their enemies to have free rein. Some of their actions made no sense at all. I had the hardest time relating to them.
And that made me sad because I wanted to love them. They had delicious scenes together, sweet and tender. I could see the romance as if it was behind a curtain, but I was never allowed to watch it in plain sight.
Quickie
- Series: Minnesota Caribou #1 (can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #hockey romance #small town romance #brother’s friend
- Triggers: attempted assault and mention of past assaults, cheating, bullying
- Main couple: Julia Wales & Adam Spencer
- Hotness: 3/5
- Romance: 3/5
- + all the drama was entertaining but…
- – I felt like I was reading an old soap opera, it was too much at times
The drama bothered me. Too much for my taste. The villains in the story were so stupid they were ridiculous. They were cartoon villains–the ones who have a plan that you know is gonna fail big time, and yet they still do it. And they kept coming back. Again. And again. I ended up annoyed.
As for the main characters, they made some stupid decisions too! Like they wanted their enemies to have free rein. Some of their actions made no sense at all. I had the hardest time relating to them.
And that made me sad because I wanted to love them. They had delicious scenes together, sweet and tender. I could see the romance as if it was behind a curtain, but I was never allowed to watch it in plain sight.
Quickie
- Series: Minnesota Caribou #1 (can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #hockey romance #small town romance #brother’s friend
- Triggers: attempted assault and mention of past assaults, cheating, bullying
- Main couple: Julia Wales & Adam Spencer
- Hotness: 3/5
- Romance: 3/5
- + all the drama was entertaining but…
- – I felt like I was reading an old soap opera, it was too much at times
February 22, 2017
Didn't Love
Two MCs who didn't communicate, a H who couldn't tell his ex-fiancé off for good, a h who assumed a lot or was crying (or both). A storyline that seemed far-fetched. Overall a mess for me and I love a hockey H.
Two MCs who didn't communicate, a H who couldn't tell his ex-fiancé off for good, a h who assumed a lot or was crying (or both). A storyline that seemed far-fetched. Overall a mess for me and I love a hockey H.
July 30, 2019
DNF at 21%
November 12, 2021
DNF - super annoying, over the top antagonists...
Super disappointed. Really wanted to love Adam and Julia
insensitive to a lot of trigger issues.
Super disappointed. Really wanted to love Adam and Julia
insensitive to a lot of trigger issues.
August 2, 2020
I . . . I really went in to this book excited based off the blurb/synopsis.
What I should have done, though, was read reviews because then I’d be able to get back the four hours I spent reading this nonsensical roller coaster.
It wasn’t just a “will they or won’t they” sort of roller coaster, either, but an over the top drama coaster that, really, left me less exhilarated and more sick to my stomach.
I mean:
• a cheating fiancée who is so vindictive, because she lives in rich daddy’s shadow, that she would ruin people’s lives JUST to be on a reality television show?
Let’s not mention how she throws her weighty wealth around to get what she wants, so she either hates living in his shadow or loves his money but hates him or . . .?
Like, dude, you’re rich; go be a good person and make something of yourself if you want people to look favorably upon you.
• a brother so spiteful over unrequited love that he’d help cook up a doping scandal AND sleep with his brother’s fiancée?
Did they have two different upbringings because Adam, the male protagonist, went on and on and on about how his parents instilled in him values like respect and integrity, so, the younger brother was either a thrown away kid or so blinded by blond, rich girl that he’d hurt his only living family? Huh?
• typical “spoiled, privileged white guy who preys on women” makes a few cameos that, honestly, I could’ve done without. Sexual assault should not be used as a “damsel in distress” tactic, especially so flippantly. No one insisted on Julia, the female protagonist, being taken to the hospital, no one insisted on her filling a report the first time—it’s all swept under the rug.
Which, true, is often reality, but if we’re suspending belief and inspiring through books, why NOT have her take action? Why not address the trauma something like this would cause? Why is the sole dramatic focus on a stupid billboard and not on the fact that DouchbagCarter almost raped her in an alley then assaulted her again in her home?
Was there truly no other way for Adam to be a “knight in shining armor” to Julia than for her to be almost raped twice?
When it comes down to it, the writing was repetitive (we get it, she likes the Caribou and, apparently, no one she’s grown up with can get their name right even though they’re the local darlings), the sex was lackluster (and never once was safe sex mentioned even though Adam’s fiancée was cheating on him with multiple men, one of whom seems to be a known rapist), and things just felt . . . stilted.
Honestly, the two stars are less for the book and more so because, as a writer myself, I know the hard work that goes into writing and putting oneself and one’s work out there for the world to judge. And while I wish I could have given this book a better rating/review, I really can’t.
10/10 would not recommend
What I should have done, though, was read reviews because then I’d be able to get back the four hours I spent reading this nonsensical roller coaster.
It wasn’t just a “will they or won’t they” sort of roller coaster, either, but an over the top drama coaster that, really, left me less exhilarated and more sick to my stomach.
I mean:
• a cheating fiancée who is so vindictive, because she lives in rich daddy’s shadow, that she would ruin people’s lives JUST to be on a reality television show?
Let’s not mention how she throws her weighty wealth around to get what she wants, so she either hates living in his shadow or loves his money but hates him or . . .?
Like, dude, you’re rich; go be a good person and make something of yourself if you want people to look favorably upon you.
• a brother so spiteful over unrequited love that he’d help cook up a doping scandal AND sleep with his brother’s fiancée?
Did they have two different upbringings because Adam, the male protagonist, went on and on and on about how his parents instilled in him values like respect and integrity, so, the younger brother was either a thrown away kid or so blinded by blond, rich girl that he’d hurt his only living family? Huh?
• typical “spoiled, privileged white guy who preys on women” makes a few cameos that, honestly, I could’ve done without. Sexual assault should not be used as a “damsel in distress” tactic, especially so flippantly. No one insisted on Julia, the female protagonist, being taken to the hospital, no one insisted on her filling a report the first time—it’s all swept under the rug.
Which, true, is often reality, but if we’re suspending belief and inspiring through books, why NOT have her take action? Why not address the trauma something like this would cause? Why is the sole dramatic focus on a stupid billboard and not on the fact that DouchbagCarter almost raped her in an alley then assaulted her again in her home?
Was there truly no other way for Adam to be a “knight in shining armor” to Julia than for her to be almost raped twice?
When it comes down to it, the writing was repetitive (we get it, she likes the Caribou and, apparently, no one she’s grown up with can get their name right even though they’re the local darlings), the sex was lackluster (and never once was safe sex mentioned even though Adam’s fiancée was cheating on him with multiple men, one of whom seems to be a known rapist), and things just felt . . . stilted.
Honestly, the two stars are less for the book and more so because, as a writer myself, I know the hard work that goes into writing and putting oneself and one’s work out there for the world to judge. And while I wish I could have given this book a better rating/review, I really can’t.
10/10 would not recommend
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2024
This book was terrible. Awful. I only read it because the audiobook reader was the same as another book I read. Here’s my major issues:
-MMC drives drunk because he’s upset and wants to go get his dog from his friend/neighbor who was watching him. He crashes the car. The dog is LITERALLY NEVER MENTIONED AGAIN.
-FMC is sexually assaulted once at 20% through and then AGAIN at like 90% through, and MMC thoughts in the aftermath are 50% how hot she is and how much he wants her, and 50% how the incident was all his fault. The emotional support for her was not there. It was so gross.
-MCs only had sex twice and it was boring.
-MMC happens upon his ex fiancée having sex (once with his brother, once w the man who sexually assaults FMC) and we get about as much description of those sexual scenes as we do about our MCs having sex, which is super weird and disgusting.
-description of the book made it seem like this was a forbidden romance situation, in that the MMC was teammates with FMC’s brother, who forbid the romance once upon a time…. But the brother is conveniently “playing hockey in Europe” and never contacts the sister one time in the book; not about the assault, or the slander in the news reporting the assault, or the news about her dating MMC…. So that’s misleading!
-FMC only has one friend even though she grew up in the town and went to college locally
-MMC is trying to recover from a sports injury and return to hockey, but there’s almost no discussion of what he’s doing to recover, and he works out never….
-MMC’s thoughts towards the ex fiancée are so misogynistic. I mean I hate cheaters too but constantly calling her a wh—e is a bit dramatic especially when putting the FMC on a pedestal in contrast.
Ultimately if I didn’t listen to audiobooks on 1.9x speed, and if I didn’t start this book before a busy day of driving, I wouldn’t have finished and would‘ve abandoned it. Thinking about writing this review is what kept me going. This book was so bad that at multiple points I thought “well at least it can’t get WORSE,” and then it DID get worse!!
-MMC drives drunk because he’s upset and wants to go get his dog from his friend/neighbor who was watching him. He crashes the car. The dog is LITERALLY NEVER MENTIONED AGAIN.
-FMC is sexually assaulted once at 20% through and then AGAIN at like 90% through, and MMC thoughts in the aftermath are 50% how hot she is and how much he wants her, and 50% how the incident was all his fault. The emotional support for her was not there. It was so gross.
-MCs only had sex twice and it was boring.
-MMC happens upon his ex fiancée having sex (once with his brother, once w the man who sexually assaults FMC) and we get about as much description of those sexual scenes as we do about our MCs having sex, which is super weird and disgusting.
-description of the book made it seem like this was a forbidden romance situation, in that the MMC was teammates with FMC’s brother, who forbid the romance once upon a time…. But the brother is conveniently “playing hockey in Europe” and never contacts the sister one time in the book; not about the assault, or the slander in the news reporting the assault, or the news about her dating MMC…. So that’s misleading!
-FMC only has one friend even though she grew up in the town and went to college locally
-MMC is trying to recover from a sports injury and return to hockey, but there’s almost no discussion of what he’s doing to recover, and he works out never….
-MMC’s thoughts towards the ex fiancée are so misogynistic. I mean I hate cheaters too but constantly calling her a wh—e is a bit dramatic especially when putting the FMC on a pedestal in contrast.
Ultimately if I didn’t listen to audiobooks on 1.9x speed, and if I didn’t start this book before a busy day of driving, I wouldn’t have finished and would‘ve abandoned it. Thinking about writing this review is what kept me going. This book was so bad that at multiple points I thought “well at least it can’t get WORSE,” and then it DID get worse!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2024
2/5⭐️ 2/5🌶️ 3/5🎧
This had so much potential to be a good book but both Julia and Heather are such dramatic whiny little bitches throughout the WHOLE FUCKING BOOK and it frustrated me to no end. Not to mention how this should have all ended when Julia's business bounced back but instead it was pushed out with a bunch of unnecessary bullshit AND THEN everything came out... plus a bunch of more bullshit.
The audiobook was good because of our boy Teddy but the bitch who narrated Julia kept sounding like she was a 50 years old when imitating someone else when in fact they were mid 20's..
Do not recommend 🙄
This had so much potential to be a good book but both Julia and Heather are such dramatic whiny little bitches throughout the WHOLE FUCKING BOOK and it frustrated me to no end. Not to mention how this should have all ended when Julia's business bounced back but instead it was pushed out with a bunch of unnecessary bullshit AND THEN everything came out... plus a bunch of more bullshit.
The audiobook was good because of our boy Teddy but the bitch who narrated Julia kept sounding like she was a 50 years old when imitating someone else when in fact they were mid 20's..
Do not recommend 🙄
May 31, 2021
DNF at 48%
My god this is awful. There is so much drama, weird time hops, way too many extraneous characters, and neither character is particularly likeable. Not to mention the fact that the writing is elementary at best.
And then this line happened: "I’d have to teach her that it was my job to provide and protect and all she needed to do was respect, admire and receive."
No, thanks, I'm out. I don't have time for weak willed wannabe alpha males simping for the patriarchy.
My god this is awful. There is so much drama, weird time hops, way too many extraneous characters, and neither character is particularly likeable. Not to mention the fact that the writing is elementary at best.
And then this line happened: "I’d have to teach her that it was my job to provide and protect and all she needed to do was respect, admire and receive."
No, thanks, I'm out. I don't have time for weak willed wannabe alpha males simping for the patriarchy.
December 4, 2019
I couldn't even finish this book. It was too overwhelming in the crazy department. The cheating, the wreck, the billboard, just too much! The dialogue both between people and inside their head drove my nuts with how no one I know talks like that. I am thankful for kindle unlimited, a service that let's me say it's okay to hate a nook because I barely paid for it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2016
Couldn't put this book down. Well, that's a lie. Heather pissed me off a few times, so I had to put my Kindle down and take 5. Lol
July 18, 2020
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
A great read with twists and turns at every page.
Great characters and a chemistry that’s sky high.
💋💋
A great read with twists and turns at every page.
Great characters and a chemistry that’s sky high.
October 7, 2023
Don't know where to beginn, so many red flags. DUI, date rape drugs, insta fall in love...
I could forgive that the male MC had an accident, while driving intoxicated if it was not taken care of by the money and it was used to let his charakter evolve. I would get the insta closeness, if he had not been engaged the chapter before and ended the relationship because he was cheated on. I don't even know where to start with the female MC. She goes to the hospital for a guy she never really talked to when she learned about the accident on tv? She takes a drink from a stranger because her mother raised her well? Only got to 27% when I didn't want to know any more about them. Didn't finish
2 stars, as the writing itself is not bad
I could forgive that the male MC had an accident, while driving intoxicated if it was not taken care of by the money and it was used to let his charakter evolve. I would get the insta closeness, if he had not been engaged the chapter before and ended the relationship because he was cheated on. I don't even know where to start with the female MC. She goes to the hospital for a guy she never really talked to when she learned about the accident on tv? She takes a drink from a stranger because her mother raised her well? Only got to 27% when I didn't want to know any more about them. Didn't finish
2 stars, as the writing itself is not bad
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2024
DNF writing is so bad.
Hospital for special surgery.
The metaphors are just weird.
Characters constantly mentioning their own physical attributes. “I pulled my auburn hair into a pony tail” if it’s dual POV, have the other person describe their physicality
Their actions were so unmotivated.
Hospital for special surgery.
The metaphors are just weird.
Characters constantly mentioning their own physical attributes. “I pulled my auburn hair into a pony tail” if it’s dual POV, have the other person describe their physicality
Their actions were so unmotivated.
February 4, 2023
chaotic
This was chaotic in the best way possible. I loved that our fmc and mmc had history together and how easily they picked back up, it was like insta love but not really, it was a good balance. I hate heather, that’s it that’s the review.
This was chaotic in the best way possible. I loved that our fmc and mmc had history together and how easily they picked back up, it was like insta love but not really, it was a good balance. I hate heather, that’s it that’s the review.
October 18, 2025
a nope from me.
The only reason I finished this was because it was audio and I was at work listening.
This was alll over the fucking place. Im all for an angsty read but this was just a shit show.
The only reason I finished this was because it was audio and I was at work listening.
This was alll over the fucking place. Im all for an angsty read but this was just a shit show.
June 24, 2022
Simple and typical of the genre.
dnf
March 30, 2025You know a book is bad when you DNF something Teddy Hamilton narrates. 🤡
Read
August 13, 2021DNF at 29 %
This just made me angry. A woman (the mean ex) sabotages another one (Julia) in the worst way possible and therefore making people question her credibility concerning the assault she had to endure.
This just made me angry. A woman (the mean ex) sabotages another one (Julia) in the worst way possible and therefore making people question her credibility concerning the assault she had to endure.
May 31, 2016
Benched 1
Well we have Adam a small town boy who becomes a big time NHL star who gets hurt and them comes to find out that his brother has ruined something he thought was special. When Adam ends up having a tragedy happen. His long time friends sister Julia appears on the scene. Julia who is a small town girl trying to make her business work. When things are put in motion will these two be able to get past some bad things that happen?
Benched 2
All hell breaks loose in this part of Benched. Will Adam and Julia ever be able to to get together? Will Heather the Bitch of the Century and Some others bring all all of Adam and Julia"s life to ruin? Will all be resolved in the next book?
Benched 3
In the third and final installment of the story of Adam and Julia the author has given you a little bit of everything. From humiliation, hurt, joy and happiness. When Adam and Julia finally get to see one another after he was arrested will everything go as planned. All the trouble that the ex will go to so she can get what she wants is down right unbelievable. Just how many people can Heather involve in her web of deceit? Will Adam finally get back on the ice and prove that he was never untrue to his sport? Will Julia be able to get her business back on track after all the damage that has been done to it by Heather? Will Adam and Julia finally get their happily ever after or will there be too much that has went wrong for them to be together?
Well we have Adam a small town boy who becomes a big time NHL star who gets hurt and them comes to find out that his brother has ruined something he thought was special. When Adam ends up having a tragedy happen. His long time friends sister Julia appears on the scene. Julia who is a small town girl trying to make her business work. When things are put in motion will these two be able to get past some bad things that happen?
Benched 2
All hell breaks loose in this part of Benched. Will Adam and Julia ever be able to to get together? Will Heather the Bitch of the Century and Some others bring all all of Adam and Julia"s life to ruin? Will all be resolved in the next book?
Benched 3
In the third and final installment of the story of Adam and Julia the author has given you a little bit of everything. From humiliation, hurt, joy and happiness. When Adam and Julia finally get to see one another after he was arrested will everything go as planned. All the trouble that the ex will go to so she can get what she wants is down right unbelievable. Just how many people can Heather involve in her web of deceit? Will Adam finally get back on the ice and prove that he was never untrue to his sport? Will Julia be able to get her business back on track after all the damage that has been done to it by Heather? Will Adam and Julia finally get their happily ever after or will there be too much that has went wrong for them to be together?
July 5, 2023
1.5⭐️ rounded down to 1⭐️
THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS WRONG WITH THIS BOOK AND SO MANY THINGS THAT ANNOYED THE SHIT OUT OF ME OMG. I THINK I COULD GENUINELY GO ON ABOUT IT FOREVER!?!?
THIS WAS SO UNNECESSARILY LONG!? AND THE SPICE WAS LIKE… NOT EVEN FUCKING WORTH IT!?!?
LITERALLY WTF DID I JUST LISTEN TO!?
ALSO, WHY IS THE MMC COMPARING THE LOVE INTEREST TO HIS MOTHER!?!? THIS HAPPENED SO MANY FUCKING TIMES LIKE, DO U WANNA DATE YOUR MOTHER OR SOME SHI!? GODDAMN
AND JULIA!? RANDOM FUCKING INSECURITIES JUMPED OUT OF LITERALLY NOWHERE!?
AND THE CONFLICTS WITH HEATHER, CARTER, AND MARK!? THAT LITERALLY COULD’VE BEEN RESOLVED SO FUCKING EASILY!? ARE THEY ALL STUPID!? I LEGIT CAN’T WITH HOW DUMB THESE PEOPLE ARE. LIKE. YES. I GET IT’S FICTIONAL, BUT AT LEAST MAKE IT GOOD!?!?
FML. GONNA GO DRINK A BOTTLE AND FORGET I LISTENED TO THIS.
ALSO ANOTHER THING!! WHY THE FRICK DID THE AUDIBLE SUMMARY/DESCRIPTION SAY THAT IT WAS FRIENDS LITTLE SISTER!? HER BROTHER WASNT EVEN PRESENT IN THE BOOK!? LIKE… WHAT!?
THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS WRONG WITH THIS BOOK AND SO MANY THINGS THAT ANNOYED THE SHIT OUT OF ME OMG. I THINK I COULD GENUINELY GO ON ABOUT IT FOREVER!?!?
THIS WAS SO UNNECESSARILY LONG!? AND THE SPICE WAS LIKE… NOT EVEN FUCKING WORTH IT!?!?
LITERALLY WTF DID I JUST LISTEN TO!?
ALSO, WHY IS THE MMC COMPARING THE LOVE INTEREST TO HIS MOTHER!?!? THIS HAPPENED SO MANY FUCKING TIMES LIKE, DO U WANNA DATE YOUR MOTHER OR SOME SHI!? GODDAMN
AND JULIA!? RANDOM FUCKING INSECURITIES JUMPED OUT OF LITERALLY NOWHERE!?
AND THE CONFLICTS WITH HEATHER, CARTER, AND MARK!? THAT LITERALLY COULD’VE BEEN RESOLVED SO FUCKING EASILY!? ARE THEY ALL STUPID!? I LEGIT CAN’T WITH HOW DUMB THESE PEOPLE ARE. LIKE. YES. I GET IT’S FICTIONAL, BUT AT LEAST MAKE IT GOOD!?!?
FML. GONNA GO DRINK A BOTTLE AND FORGET I LISTENED TO THIS.
ALSO ANOTHER THING!! WHY THE FRICK DID THE AUDIBLE SUMMARY/DESCRIPTION SAY THAT IT WAS FRIENDS LITTLE SISTER!? HER BROTHER WASNT EVEN PRESENT IN THE BOOK!? LIKE… WHAT!?
December 8, 2024
This book was not my thing. The way the romance started was different, I’ll give it that, but I found it kinda weird that the fem MC was 1) so obsessed with the team that she disqualified a date because he didn’t care for the team (he was a transplant from another state and she honestly didn’t show much zeal for the team besides this one incident so it was doubly weird), and 2) that she heard her brother’s childhood friend was headed to the hospital and decided to stay by his bedside. I don’t remember anyone ever saying this outright, but I got the impression that the MCs hadn’t seen or talked to each other in a long time (especially because they kept talking about hanging out as kids, with no adult shared memories to speak of). I know she had a crush on him back then, but to haul ass out of a date to go see him was a little creepy. And it wasn’t like she called her brother to tell him his friend was injured, it was just for her. I guess it’s just extra strange because she never explained why she did it, she just did it and the book moved on.
The male MC’s ex-fiancé was cartoonishly evil and lacked any moral compass whatsoever. She was a pretty boring character because there was no depth to her. She wanted what she wanted and that was it. Her shenanigans were a little far fetched and too desperate to be interesting on their own. She seemed to only exist to cause grief, which is a dumb reason for a character to exist unless it’s a comedy/tragedy.
Speaking of the bad witch’s shenanigans, I didn’t understand why an entire town would give a flying fuck about the accusation that the fem MC broke up the male MC’s engagement. I know they said the witch had a lot of “power” (through her daddy) in town, but the setting is Duluth, Minnesota where there are nearly 88,000 people and where regular folks don’t give a shit about other people’s drama. I could understand if getting picked up by a major news channel or gossip rags and causing the fem MC problems that way, but that never happened. And as for the accusation that the near rape was consensual, I thought there an investigation going on? Did all that just drop off the face of the Earth? Public pressure for her to drop the allegations would have been an interesting route to take. And if the character’s daddy pulled him out of that pickle, there was never any mention of it. So when the fem MC overnight starts having problems with her business that eventually spiral into the doping scandal craziness, I wasn’t invested. It also felt like a lot of drama piled on to drama, piled on to more drama. Just when everything was going okay with the MCs, the witch would pop up like a whack-a-mole and shit all over the table. Plus, the brother got involved in the torment and the “date” rapist too, so the three of them started causing havoc. And the MCs didn’t handle any of it well. It was just way too much going on.
I also didn’t like how the fem MC’s almost rape felt more like an opportunity for the male MC to swoop in and save the day in a very “alpha male, you need me” kind of way. I only say that because after the incident, the fem MC carries on as normal and doesn’t give the incident a second thought until the guy pops up to terrorize her, and then she completely forgets about him again. Including that scene near the end where he attacks her in her home for some reason. There’s never discussion around any of it. The almost rape felt more like a plot device or accessory versus something that’s meant to provide any kind of commentary.
And while the fem MC is facing this growing onslaught of negative press, the male MC is floating down the lazy River with a piña colada in his hand, cruisin’. He didn’t really check in with her at all about how she was handling everything, and when he started playing again, he was MIA a lot. He never even thought to get his PR people or his lawyers or anyone else he knew to help her out. He didn’t do a press release on his own with the newspaper or a news station announcing he was no longer with his terrible fiancé and all the stuff being said about the fem MC being a home wrecker was untrue. If the town was so rabid to jump on someone they saw as a threat to him and his, then he should have had the power to tell them to back off. But he never said anything until the very end. And as much as he went around threatening his brother and ex he never lifted a finger to actually put his money where his mouth was. All talk, no action.
And when shit hit the fan with the doping scandal, she asked for space, understandably so, he tried to push her into staying in contact, and I was like “oh now you have time to be around!” But then the fem MC lost me when she complained to her girlfriend days later that the male MC hadn’t contacted her DESPITE HER ASKING TO GO NO CONTACT. What is this book? Even the characters don’t know what’s going on.
The fem MC’s hare brained idea to put up some counter advertisement, leaning in to the gossip was dumb and I don’t know why it worked. Since it worked, that meant that there were indeed people in town that didn’t care about the “scandals” and her business never should have suffered the way it did (plus there’s always the rebound of bad press is still press so people should have started snooping around her business posing as customers just because they’re nosey). But I need to say agin, it’s Duluth, a sizable city with more than enough people in need of party planner/interior decorating (or design, I can’t remember which it was) services.
And of course, the book couldn’t end without one more dramatic scene, just to put peach syrup on top of a sundae already smothered in chocolate, cherry, raspberry, and blueberry syrup, which, of course, the fem MC only saw part of because she flipped off the TV right before the big “twist”.
I wasn’t invested in the characters, the book was more focused on the drama than the relationship, I don’t think we ever got to really know the characters or see their romance bloom, and the bad guys were very “bad guys”. Not touching the rest of the series.
The male MC’s ex-fiancé was cartoonishly evil and lacked any moral compass whatsoever. She was a pretty boring character because there was no depth to her. She wanted what she wanted and that was it. Her shenanigans were a little far fetched and too desperate to be interesting on their own. She seemed to only exist to cause grief, which is a dumb reason for a character to exist unless it’s a comedy/tragedy.
Speaking of the bad witch’s shenanigans, I didn’t understand why an entire town would give a flying fuck about the accusation that the fem MC broke up the male MC’s engagement. I know they said the witch had a lot of “power” (through her daddy) in town, but the setting is Duluth, Minnesota where there are nearly 88,000 people and where regular folks don’t give a shit about other people’s drama. I could understand if getting picked up by a major news channel or gossip rags and causing the fem MC problems that way, but that never happened. And as for the accusation that the near rape was consensual, I thought there an investigation going on? Did all that just drop off the face of the Earth? Public pressure for her to drop the allegations would have been an interesting route to take. And if the character’s daddy pulled him out of that pickle, there was never any mention of it. So when the fem MC overnight starts having problems with her business that eventually spiral into the doping scandal craziness, I wasn’t invested. It also felt like a lot of drama piled on to drama, piled on to more drama. Just when everything was going okay with the MCs, the witch would pop up like a whack-a-mole and shit all over the table. Plus, the brother got involved in the torment and the “date” rapist too, so the three of them started causing havoc. And the MCs didn’t handle any of it well. It was just way too much going on.
I also didn’t like how the fem MC’s almost rape felt more like an opportunity for the male MC to swoop in and save the day in a very “alpha male, you need me” kind of way. I only say that because after the incident, the fem MC carries on as normal and doesn’t give the incident a second thought until the guy pops up to terrorize her, and then she completely forgets about him again. Including that scene near the end where he attacks her in her home for some reason. There’s never discussion around any of it. The almost rape felt more like a plot device or accessory versus something that’s meant to provide any kind of commentary.
And while the fem MC is facing this growing onslaught of negative press, the male MC is floating down the lazy River with a piña colada in his hand, cruisin’. He didn’t really check in with her at all about how she was handling everything, and when he started playing again, he was MIA a lot. He never even thought to get his PR people or his lawyers or anyone else he knew to help her out. He didn’t do a press release on his own with the newspaper or a news station announcing he was no longer with his terrible fiancé and all the stuff being said about the fem MC being a home wrecker was untrue. If the town was so rabid to jump on someone they saw as a threat to him and his, then he should have had the power to tell them to back off. But he never said anything until the very end. And as much as he went around threatening his brother and ex he never lifted a finger to actually put his money where his mouth was. All talk, no action.
And when shit hit the fan with the doping scandal, she asked for space, understandably so, he tried to push her into staying in contact, and I was like “oh now you have time to be around!” But then the fem MC lost me when she complained to her girlfriend days later that the male MC hadn’t contacted her DESPITE HER ASKING TO GO NO CONTACT. What is this book? Even the characters don’t know what’s going on.
The fem MC’s hare brained idea to put up some counter advertisement, leaning in to the gossip was dumb and I don’t know why it worked. Since it worked, that meant that there were indeed people in town that didn’t care about the “scandals” and her business never should have suffered the way it did (plus there’s always the rebound of bad press is still press so people should have started snooping around her business posing as customers just because they’re nosey). But I need to say agin, it’s Duluth, a sizable city with more than enough people in need of party planner/interior decorating (or design, I can’t remember which it was) services.
And of course, the book couldn’t end without one more dramatic scene, just to put peach syrup on top of a sundae already smothered in chocolate, cherry, raspberry, and blueberry syrup, which, of course, the fem MC only saw part of because she flipped off the TV right before the big “twist”.
I wasn’t invested in the characters, the book was more focused on the drama than the relationship, I don’t think we ever got to really know the characters or see their romance bloom, and the bad guys were very “bad guys”. Not touching the rest of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2016
“And I told you that I’ll be with Julia. She’s all I want. I will never be with you. Not if you were the last woman on the planet after nuclear annihilation and I was the only man who could save the human race from eradication. Got it?” Adam’s expression hardened. The strangest thing had happened. He didn’t hate Heather anymore. He wasn’t angry seeing her. He didn’t even want to call her a whore or lose his shit. He felt nothing.
Charles, Colleen. Benched Boxed Set: Ice Hockey Romance (Kindle Locations 3247-3251). Unknown. Kindle Edition.
Charles, Colleen. Benched Boxed Set: Ice Hockey Romance (Kindle Locations 3247-3251). Unknown. Kindle Edition.
January 29, 2019
My favorite genre right now is hockey and since my real life guys aren't doing so well, I get my enjoyment from fiction. I mean, that has to work out according to plan, right? This author doesn't disappoint here. Seconds chances when life throws in some challenges makes for a very interesting result. Adam and Julia have known each other before but the man code says you don't date your friend's little sister. She's all grown up and so is he now - maybe they can see where things go! Great story!
June 13, 2020
Benched by Colleen Charles is a romance read about a hockey star, Adam Spencer who is currently off the ice due to a torn ACL, and an interior designer Julia Wales. This one had a really great start but the drama was just too way over the top for me. Julia came off as a very smart girl initially but as more and more drama unfolded she wavered way too much on whether she believed in Adam or not. Unfortunately it was off putting. I loved Adam. He is charming, protective and loving. I enjoyed learning about Adam’s friend Reed and his daughter Jessica and look forward to Played next. 3 STARS.
September 27, 2016
I enjoyed this book very much. I'm not going to call it a set because it's short enough to be one complete novel. The only issue I had was the multiple typos. There were some glaring mistakes that took me out of the book momentarily. It's not a big deal, but I just thought I'd warn those of you were are bothered by that. The story is good, I enjoyed some characters and hated the ones I was supposed hate, so all in all I think this book is a success.
March 8, 2018
The story dragged on and also the preview of book goes on how he can’t date his best friends sister. He wasn’t even in book only a couple mentions so that made no sense. If you want a predictable book that drags on this is for you. I’m actually more interested in Sue Ann ~ Julia’s best friend now her dating a hockey player would be good.
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