This is the second book in the series about the extremely dysfunctional Wynn Family, a Hockey Dynasty. Fortunately, the author provides a family tree of sorts at the beginning to help keep all the characters straight. The first book was about Theo, how he rescued Lacey from Los Vegas, and brought her to California, where she pretended to be his girlfriend to throw in the face of his brother, PJ, who he and the entire family believed stole his previous girlfriend. But things are often not like them seemed, and it was PJ that was being used by said girlfriend. In the end, all worked out for the best, because Theo and Lacey fell in love and PJ and Theo have reconciled. However, PJ is still holding on to guilt for that and many other things that were never his fault, but he accepted the blame for.
The book starts with Theo and Lacey's big wedding (they had already married in Los Vegas) and PJ lays eyes on Lacey's friend, Taylor Hart, a speech language pathologist, who loves working with kids. They hit it off, but when Taylor tries to make a former boyfriend, Manny, jealous, Manny starts a fight with PJ (a typical Wynn gettogether) and she inexplicably gets mad at PJ. PJ has been working on himself and trying to be a better person and keep his temper in check, but part of his family doesn't want to let him forget his mistakes, so gets angry at Taylor, thinking that he again was with someone else's girl. PJ and Taylor are attracted to each other, but misunderstandings keep them apart, until a family crisis in Taylor's family, leaves her convinced that forever love doesn't exist, and her dream of love and a family is dead. Yet, she finds herself going to PJ for comfort. (He has also been keeping her dog Byron.) Then it is PJ's turn to screw up, until Theo convinces him to get his head on straight and forgive himself. At first I did not like Taylor as she seemed irrational, but both characters grow and open themselves to love.
The author has created a fascinating family of characters that will take her through many books. The books are written in an entertaining and compelling voice, which makes them terrific reads. I'm looking forward to the next one.
I read an ARC from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.