After meeting with some of the Carolina Reapers in the first book of the series, I was glad to see them again in SAWYER. This time, they welcome a young goalie who wants to make big in the NHL but has fucked up his first call. Sawyer is a nice guy, all out to help his sick mother, but also a bad motherfucker. He’s always been the one to help, so it’s a nice change when he meets Echo, who’s going to keep him afloat when nerves go wild.
It’s an instant friendship, with lots of heat. The book starts a bit as a slow burn, but everything is quickly swept away once the characters kiss. Damn that kiss. It’s like they have sex with their mouth. After that, and because neither is ready for a relationship, they settle on being casual. You can guess that feelings won’t stay away for long.
I really enjoyed the struggle of Sawyer when he becomes a NHL player. Samantha Whiskey is good when she writes about his fears and insecurities.
She does well too with the side story that brings the angst in the relationship: Echo’s ex coming back, decided to fuck with her life to get her back. It brings some tension between all the characters.
So yeah, it’s a good hockey romance, and I can’t wait to meet again with the Reapers.
Quickie
Series: Carolina Reapers #2 (but the series is a sequel to Whiskey’s series Seattle Sharks, 9 books)
Hashtags: #hockey romance #no string attached #friends-to-lovers
Triggers: mention of drug consumption
Main couple: Echo Hayes & Sawyer McCoy
Hotness: 4/5
Romance: 4/5
+ dynamics between the members of the hockey team (and their spouses)
- Echo’s backstory felt a bit too much