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Las Vegas Sidewinders goalie Karl Martennson is 6

210 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2016

80 people are currently reading
383 people want to read

About the author

Kat Mizera

137 books1,202 followers

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5 stars
251 (50%)
4 stars
155 (31%)
3 stars
72 (14%)
2 stars
14 (2%)
1 star
7 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
Profile Image for Christine.
457 reviews29 followers
April 24, 2016
Mix a hot goaltender, a sweet self conscious woman and a bat$hit crazy ex and you have a novel with twists and turns you'll never see coming. That is what Kat Mizera has created in Las Vegas Sidewinders: Karl (Book 3 in the series). Karl Martennson, back up goaltender for NHL's Sidewinders, has had a rough year. Not only is he dealing with being a back up and getting sat for the majority of the season he's being taunted by their #1 goalie. The best thing in his life is his new relationship with Kate Lansing, PR genius, but when his ex from 5 years ago show up out of the blue he's thrown for a loop. The end of their relationship was pretty clear. Kate loves her job and takes pride in her work, but always in the back of her mind her self image and dislike for her body comes into play. Kate's family has pressured and belittled her for so long it takes forever for Karl to instill in her he adores her for who she really is. When Karl's ex pushes on her Achilles heal she can't help but thing he's too good for her. With pressure from both Karl's and Kate's families and situations beyond their control can these two come out the other side unscathed?

I've got to hand it to Kat Mizera she has created an amazing series that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I enjoyed these characters though Drake from book 2 still holds my heart. This book deals a lot with self image and how words can hurt others and can eat away at a beautiful, strong, independent woman until she can't believe in herself and trust that others love her for who she is. Karl is being pulled in so many directions there is a time you just want to hold him and tell him everything will be ok. Karl is a sweetheart and adore's Kate but with some distance and time between them and a melding ex and a confusing family you just can't help but feel for him and his situation. As I said before this book has twists and turns I couldn't see coming from a mile away. I love when a book stumps me and this series has done that with each novel. I'm excited for more of these characters and we've been spoiled with three novels in as many weeks. Hats off to Kat Mizera for a complete hat trick on the first three novels in her Sidewinders series. 4.5 Stars for Las Vegas Sidewinders: Karl

*** Reviewed for Sweet & Spicy Reads - ARC provided for a honest review ***
Profile Image for Darcy.
14.7k reviews545 followers
November 18, 2022
I really liked what we saw of Kate and Karl in the last book. They were cute together, so I looked forward to this one. I will say that Kate's insecurity got old fast for me. I get why she was insecure, but it was the same argument over and over between her and Karl.

I hated how these 2 were torn apart, you could tell that Karl's ex was driving things and a crazy bitch on top. I just didn't expect things to swing so wildly out of control towards the end. Karl and Kate, along with those that were helping them, did their best to think ahead, to try to counter any things the crazy ex would throw at them, deeply altering their lives. Turns out what they did wasn't enough and she wasn't just crazy, she was bat shit crazy!

The end was a bit bittersweet, good news for our couple, but bad news for others.
Profile Image for Nerdy Dirty & Flirty.
3,985 reviews362 followers
June 13, 2016
description

Over the top drama that was just... perfect!
Karl Martennson and Kate Lansing have been dating for months but, surprisingly, their relationship is anything but on solid ground. Right from the start, uncertainty and trust are the huge stumbling blocks they are going to have to face and fight through if they are going to make it…
And it was hard to say if they were with so much turmoil and drama swirling between and around them. Did I say drama? Well, if I didn’t let me repeat that – DRAMA!! Different kinds and more than enough to stir a dozen pots over and over. A relationship is a lot of work and hard at the best of times. Between family, exes and a struggle with self-esteem, how much can two people take when everything is thrown out there for an international, and very public, audience?
The entire team is involved when things get downright dirty and messy. Karl is caught in some not very good judgement calls but I really felt for the consequences he faced. Kate was pummeled from one situation to the next and both of them were going to pay the price. Karl’s teammates, the family that has been created, really came together to support both of them with laughter, love and the kicks in the pants at just the right times. Real people in crazy, “you can’t make this s**t up* situations made for an over the top, absolutely perfect, romance.
I want and need more Sidewinders! Please, please, please say there will be more!
Profile Image for CARLA.
251 reviews1 follower
July 21, 2016
I was not sure what to expect going in to this book. Karl and Kate seemed so perfect in Drake and Erin's book. But as in real life nothing is perfect. I was constantly surprised while reading this book. There was a lot of suspense and a lot of crazy. This book would make a great Lifetime movie. If you expected Karl and Kate to have a calm, peaceful, drama-free life you are in for a treat. There is lots of family drama, team drama, crazy ex drama, self-esteem drama, and just...drama. You will never get bored while reading.

One thing I love most about Kat's books is how the team never lets another player go into anything alone. When you take on one player you are going to get at least 2 or more other players, and possibly their wives too. Kat also takes the time to write about things that we are likely to really face in life. A lot of authors just write mushy, gushy love stories and touch on things that may be hard to deal with. Kate has serious self-esteem issues, mainly thanks to her mom. Karl has tried his best to make her see herself as the beautiful woman he sees, but things get totally messed up and the fall out is tough. Karl also has to face some truths about his life that he never saw coming.

We also get to meet some new characters that I hope everyone enjoys as much as I did. I look forward to seeing what the next book brings. I am addicted to Kat's books! I highly recommend reading them.
Profile Image for Lorraine Fleming.
74 reviews
July 27, 2016
This is the third in the Sidewinders series focussing on Karl and Kate. We started this story at the end of Drake as Karl is Drake's roommate and Kate is Erin's best friend.
Karl is the backup goalie for the Sidewinders and is getting extremely frustrated at this (mainly because of the main goalies taunting) and then he meets Kate. She is amazing and everything he could wish for.
Kate however has spent years being put down by her family about her weight as well as snide comments by other people so her body confidence is extremely low. She is by no means fat but she doesn't see this and questions why he would want her when he could have a slimmer girl.
Karl's ex desides to use Kate's concerns against her but will she succeed?
Karl and Kate are amazing, absolutely love them.
The characters are great and I fell in love with them quickly. I look forward to hearing more about the Sidewinders stars
Profile Image for Debra .
1,435 reviews
August 26, 2017
Karl and Kate first met in a previous book (Drake). Kate has a very successful public relations firm. Karl is the backup goalie for the Las Vegas Sidewinders, an NHL hockey team. They spent the night together and the next morning he woke up to find her gone. He went to the apartment where she was staying and expressed his displeasure. Kate has no self-confidence and plenty of trust issues; she thought she was leaving him before he could leave her thinking he was only interested in the sex.

In Karl, the third book in this series, they are still together and Kate is still afraid that he isn’t serious because she thinks he is so much hotter than she is. Her problems began with her mother and sister who are thin and kept telling Kate she just needed to stop eating so much. Her mother goes so far as to say no one would want to marry her because of her weight. Kate is a size 10, her mother and sister are both size 0. Seriously.

Early in the story we meet Karl’s ex-girlfriend Therese. They dated as teens and suddenly she shows up years later claiming he is the love of her life and they have to get married. Suffice it to say, Therese is crazy and just gets crazier as time goes by. Therese is tall, willowy and beautiful and Kate is instantly intimidated.

We go on to meet Kate’s wealthy family when Kate and Karl go to her sister’s engagement party in Ohio. Later we go to Sweden and meet Karl’s family. It added a lot to understanding Kate and Karl; her mother picked on her leaving her with poor self-worth while Karl’s mother adored him and raised a confident man.

My favorite quote in the book is from Karl after Kate once again tells him he is out of her league and will get tired of her. He asks if this is all because of 20 pounds; at her height the difference between her size and size 0 is about 20 -25 pounds and he wants to know if their whole relationship boils down to those 20 – 25 pounds.

I love these hockey players and the wonderful women in their lives. Now onto the next book, Anatoli, my favorite Russian.
Profile Image for Regina.
2,193 reviews37 followers
May 11, 2021
Kat Mizera writes hockey series unlike what I was ever expecting. She really likes to throw in more tension with her intrigue after she wraps you up into her characters relationships.

This time around, former ladies man, back-up goalie Karl Martennson, a gorgeous Swedish god, falls for the best of friend of his best friend's wife (Drake and Erin). Kate Lansing is a PR genius but has struggled with self esteem issues and her perception of thinking herself fat thanks to her mother.

Their relationship slowly grows but a crazy ex from Karl's past pops up out of the blue and does her damnedest to destroy Karl and Kate's love for each other. The drama and grief she inflicts affects not only them, but Karl's family and friends back in Sweden. The events and chaos that psycho-ex creates was definitely not what I was expecting, showing the Kat isn't one to pull her punches. I still felt at the end that Kate has a lot of issues she has to work through and hope that Karl and Kate continue to pop up in the rest of the series.

Bonus: introduction of Kate's baseball superstar and bad boy client, Dante Lamonte (curious now to read his book in the Inferno series), which I was expecting to cause more turmoil for Karl.
Profile Image for Meg.
197 reviews4 followers
November 28, 2017
5 Stars

Karl by Kat Mizera is book Three of the Las Vegas Sidewinders Series. You do not have to read book one or two in order to read this book but remember that the couples from the first two book will show up in this one. This book was very well written and was a very quick read. This book is a Hockey sports romance so if you love those types of books you will love this one. Karl Martennson is an NHL Hockey Player and is from Sweden so he is tall and very delicious looking. Karl is sick of all the one night stands and has decided he wants to finally settle down. Kate Lansing works in PR for the Las Vegas Sidewinders and has battled with her weight her whole life on top of that she has major trust issues. After Karl and Kate have a one night stand Karl wants there to be more but if his crazy ex-girlfriend has any say in it that will not be the case. You must read the book to find out the whole story! This book did have some violence in it. There was also some sexual content but the scenes are done tastefully. I Really liked this book and once I got reading it I didn’t want to put it down.
Profile Image for Karen Voitik.
3,221 reviews
December 27, 2016
>Book Review – Las Vegas Sidewinders: Karl

>I am an independent reviewer. This book is the third in the Las Vegas Sidewinders series and ends in an HEA. Karl is the Sidewinder back-up goalie. He falls for the friend of his team mates’s wife. Kate is a heavier woman who has been mentally abused over her weight her whole life by her mother. The scenes with her mother are brutal to read. Kate’s low self-esteem causes a lot of issues in her and Karl’s relationship. Karl really put up with a lot of doubt from Kate. I was actually getting sick of Kate’s uncertainty.

> There is a conflict involving Karl’s ex and his sister, Erin. Erin really comes across as strange. Karl’s friend Viggo and Erin seem to be the catalyst for the ex to go crazy. I enjoyed Kate and Karl, but the plot seemed a bit out there. Throw in Kate’s client, Dante and his crazy world and the story starts to seem silly.

> This book is appropriate for an adult audience. I am giving the story 4 stars. I felt Dante could have been introduced without the strangeness of his unwanted fiancée and baby.

Profile Image for Alyson Buxey.
645 reviews2 followers
Read
September 9, 2023
Argh I’m feeling a bit frustrated. I love these characters, this team, the writing but again I felt like the rep was off. I appreciate that Kates biggest issue was her self esteem thanks to some truly crappy people but it felt like it all revolves around getting her to see she was not fat now as opposed to recognising fat is a thing you have and not who you are irrespective of her current, previous or future weight. I did believe that it didn’t matter to Karl but the comments still didn’t quite hit the mark. I also didn’t love that it seemed whenever any sexual practices that were not mainstream or heteronormative were broached there needed to be explanation to separate it from deviant or illegal practices, why? I intend to keep reading for now because of the reasons I outlined above but I’m also hoping to feel Kate and Karl’s relationship move from HFN to HEA because I’m not 100% sold on the HEA yet, irrespective of the steps taken
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,258 reviews4 followers
July 5, 2025
Another bad cover.
I was absolutely loving Karl and liking Kate a bit.
Until life became all about her.
Instead of supporting your husband because his mum is sick and his sister is treated…….. she complains that she is not getting enough attention.
Her issues with her weight are getting tiresome and repetitive.
Her leaving Karl, again, after having no respect or sympathy for him, she lost my respect.
Him calling her out on her behaviour, selfishness, issues and her bitchiness is what anyone would do.
And of course he needs to call her and go after her, again.
While she runs to another man.
I’m sorry but why is she being such a selfish bitch to him
All he has done is support her and love her.
And her telling everyone she is not all about the money is complaining about money.
Therese was just over the top and too much
Profile Image for Chris.
1,966 reviews16 followers
February 22, 2018
Karl and Kate’s relationship is full of drama, misunderstandings, and a crazy ex-girlfriend!
Kate is a confident, successful publicist who does amazing work fixing the reputations and drama in other people’s lives yet she has trouble fixing her own personal perceptions of herself after being told her whole life she was fat. Karl desperately tries to convince her that she
is a beautiful, definitely not over weight, woman who has so much to offer. He finds her hot and doesn’t even look at any other women since he laid eyes on her. His crazy ex brings the drama to this story, so not only are they working through the normal challenges a new relationship can have they have to deal with her trying to break them up using any means possible.
Profile Image for Karen Davis.
218 reviews6 followers
December 31, 2017
Seeing yourself vs what others see

Wow Kat Mizera did it again... hitting this story out of the park! There's so many important issues that Kat touched on during this story that it's hard to mention just one. I think one of the most dangerous obstacles we face in life is self-esteem...whether high or low. Either way hinders us from clearly seeing our needs and tends to leave a disastrous path in its wake. So far like the rest of her stories, Kat Mizera, has done an excellent job weaving sensitive topics into a beautifully detailed book. Great job and I can't wait to read the next story! HAPPY READING EVERYONE!!
Profile Image for May.
1,682 reviews20 followers
August 7, 2020
Omg. Another crazy drama book filled with questionable statements from the author that drove me nuts. Agh.
And one side character that I cannot keep quiet about. One of the side characters is bisexual and the just about every interaction for this character was beyond offensive for all the biphobic language in how he was written. It was extremely offensive and never redeemed at the end. So I have to leave that as the way the author wants us to view bisexual persons and it really pisses me off.
I had really wanted to read book 4 but I may not since I’m really very angry about this book.

Also this girl is so ‘fat’ and she’s size 10. I want to bitch slap someone.
Profile Image for Fleur.
3,786 reviews32 followers
February 6, 2018
Karl and Kate meet without knowing who each other are and who they have in common, Kate is a beautiful women who thinks because she has a fuller figure can't be love but Karl is jut the man to show her she can. I love how Kat Mizera chooses female characters of all varieties as it makes the books so much better as the characters are more real and relate-able. With Kate's Mum constant barrage on her weight and Karl spiteful ex you are left hanging to know if they can weather the storm and get their own Happy ever after like their friends Drake and Erin.
1,276 reviews
June 30, 2022
Once again this was like everything and the kitchen sink thrown into one story - so so so much crazy, not real world drama; it’s like the plot lines of a few years of a soap opera written into one sports romance. The final straw that knocked it down to 2 stars was the line that basically said that the ex gf started acting crazy after she had an abortion - that is some ridiculous Christian pregnancy center propaganda right there that hits especially wrong when I’m reading this the week of Roe vs Wade’s reversal.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Swain.
1,022 reviews28 followers
July 11, 2017
Karl and Kate have quite a story to tell..... I read this after reading Dante's Story with the Temptation series. I balled my eyes out toward the end....

Karl and Kate go thru something gruesome, but they are together and their story truly kept me on the edge of my seat. I love getting together with the Sidewinders guys and joining in on all the action and fun! This is a must read and you will love it sooooo much!!
Profile Image for Andrekia.
215 reviews6 followers
August 30, 2017
We met Karl and Kate in the previous Sidewinder's story (Drake, Book 2). Karl is the back-up goalie and teammate of Drake. Kate is the best friend of Drake's wife Erin. Karl is a Swedish hockey player and Kate is a PR person with self esteem issues mostly stemming from her body image/size. Karl has a psycho for an ex intent on wreaking havoc. Can Karl and Kate survive together?

Karl and Kate are a great couple and their story will have you on the edge of your seat.
4,595 reviews29 followers
June 15, 2021
It feels like every book in this series has a toxic, and insane ex. Toxic would be bad enough but why are all these people unhinged as well? It conflates mental illness with evil and I hate that. I also hated that she killed off her only gay character so far.

That said I really like Karl, but Kate’s total insecurity and lack of trust were exhausting. Mostly enjoyed the side characters from the team and their friends in this one. That helped enough that I could finish it.
2,888 reviews59 followers
June 21, 2017
OMG!!! Nail biter. so exciting. such an adrenaline rush. I don't know where the author comes up with her stories, but she has a fan in me. Add to it the fantastic romance between Kate and karl and this is an over the top wonderful story.
Profile Image for Andretta Schellinger.
Author 4 books45 followers
August 12, 2019
This is the second sidewinders book I read, and this one was intense, even more intense than the first and the first had IEDs in it. I cried, I laughed, I almost threw the book, and that was all in the same page.
181 reviews6 followers
April 6, 2021
I loved this book. It was so great to see Katie finally get a great ending. Who wouldn't love Karl... just the description of him has me panting. It was great to see them over come so very much to allow their love to grow.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
23 reviews7 followers
March 4, 2017
This book was more than a romance and I really enjoyed all the twists and turns.
Profile Image for Danielle Thomas.
440 reviews25 followers
October 5, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. Karl and Kate were made for each other. Kat Mizera writes an excellent story exploring body shaming, cyber-bullying, and the hurtful effects and damage it can do.
Profile Image for Chele.
637 reviews
October 29, 2017
An excellent pulse pounding on the edge of your seat story.
5 stars
7 reviews
February 6, 2018
I really like this series and this author. So far this is my favorite! I love Karl and the way he loves Kate-when she cannot even seem to love herself.
Profile Image for Amanda T.
2,247 reviews35 followers
July 21, 2019
Back and forth.

So the back and forth and the constant issue with Kate was a little buggy but this author is still a great write. The story was so good!
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews135 followers
Want to Read
June 8, 2021
🎁Part of the Las Vegas Sidewinders Vol. 1 (Las Vegas Sidewinders 1-3) which is FREE on Amazon & on Apple iBooks today (6/8/2021)!🎁
2,670 reviews
books-boxed-sets
June 25, 2021
In boxed set - "Las Vegas Sidewinders Vol. 1"
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews