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Carolina Reapers #9
Brogan
They call me Demon for a reason—I’m the most ruthless Reaper on the ice.
I’m not the person who finds a baby on their doorstep.
Except, after a morning run, I am.
And the note accompanying the little bundle says she’s mine.
Looks like I'm the newest single dad in the NHL.
I was nothing but a burden on my aunt and uncle after my parents died, and I’d decided I’d never have children.
But it seems fate has other ideas, and now I’ve got a three-month-old daughter…and zero clue how to take care of her.
Insert my new nanny—Fiona Andrews, the gorgeous, stubborn, and more than qualified woman who is saving my ass.
She moves in, and suddenly my upside-down world feels more balanced than ever before.
She’s magic with my daughter, patient with me, and has a mouth that drives me wild.
There are lines we can’t cross, shouldn’t cross…and yet keep crossing.
I’m falling fast, but it’s not just my heart that’s at risk anymore,
and if we eliminate those professional boundaries?
I could lose them both.
I’m not the person who finds a baby on their doorstep.
Except, after a morning run, I am.
And the note accompanying the little bundle says she’s mine.
Looks like I'm the newest single dad in the NHL.
I was nothing but a burden on my aunt and uncle after my parents died, and I’d decided I’d never have children.
But it seems fate has other ideas, and now I’ve got a three-month-old daughter…and zero clue how to take care of her.
Insert my new nanny—Fiona Andrews, the gorgeous, stubborn, and more than qualified woman who is saving my ass.
She moves in, and suddenly my upside-down world feels more balanced than ever before.
She’s magic with my daughter, patient with me, and has a mouth that drives me wild.
There are lines we can’t cross, shouldn’t cross…and yet keep crossing.
I’m falling fast, but it’s not just my heart that’s at risk anymore,
and if we eliminate those professional boundaries?
I could lose them both.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2021
477 people are currently reading
3225 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Whiskey
44 books2,790 followersSamantha Whiskey is a wife, mom, lover of her dogs and romance novels. No stranger to hockey, hot alpha males, and a high dose of awkwardness, she tucks herself away to write books her PTA will never know about.
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http://eepurl.com/bSQRWr
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
January 8, 2022
1.75. DNF. This book was a hot mess and boring AF. The amount of spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, nonsensical plot points and inaccurate details (a three month old would NOT have 4 teeth, for example), and characters that were cardboard cutouts, lacking any depth, back story or relatability, made me give up even trying to slog through this.
Dear “Samantha Whiskey”:
Please rehire whatever ghostwriter you hired to write Skater, Logan, and Cannon, and have that person write the rest of your books. Those books had fleshed out characters, believable motivations, and characters that readers could care about.
And for the love of god - hire an editor. Fuqqq I’ll edit your work for free. I just don’t understand how writers release books with SO many blatant errors that make it clear that NOT ONE person read this with a critical eye before publishing. Come onnnnnn…. Be more professional.
Dear “Samantha Whiskey”:
Please rehire whatever ghostwriter you hired to write Skater, Logan, and Cannon, and have that person write the rest of your books. Those books had fleshed out characters, believable motivations, and characters that readers could care about.
And for the love of god - hire an editor. Fuqqq I’ll edit your work for free. I just don’t understand how writers release books with SO many blatant errors that make it clear that NOT ONE person read this with a critical eye before publishing. Come onnnnnn…. Be more professional.
June 8, 2022
Apparently I read this a while ago and had no recollection of it until I started it again.
It’s normal, it was average at best. It was disappointing really, I had high hopes for Demon 🥺
It’s normal, it was average at best. It was disappointing really, I had high hopes for Demon 🥺
December 16, 2021
I was a huge Samantha Whiskey and Carolina Reaper fan when I first found them through her Seattle Sharks series but I am quickly losing the love I first had. The last few books are NOTHING like how the series first started and it's been a roller coaster of writing style, if there will be a plot or actual character development, and now editing. The amount of grammatical and spelling errors in this was atrocious, and I always find it insulting when an author, who previously put out excellent quality, appears to take advantage of their fan base and put out trash simply because they know people will buy it and they can make a quick buck.
At first I thought the pseudonym of Samantha Whiskey was neat and I totally understand the need for privacy, however, I now have to question if there is even an author or just several run through a company. I find it hard to believe an author can be this inconsistent unless they truly don't care.
Brogan's storyline has already been done. Not only that, but he wasn't a "demon". At all. So there was zero character development. Fiona, for someone with a doctorate in psychology, was a hot freaking mess of mommy issues until the very end. There were so many critical scenes that were left out in favor of mediocre "spicy" scenes and it completely missed out on any character attachment for the reader. Like they mention Brogan took her skating at some point? That was an opportunity to have actual conversation between the two to show their chemistry and there was nothing.
This was disappointing and I am not even a little excited for the next one.
At first I thought the pseudonym of Samantha Whiskey was neat and I totally understand the need for privacy, however, I now have to question if there is even an author or just several run through a company. I find it hard to believe an author can be this inconsistent unless they truly don't care.
Brogan's storyline has already been done. Not only that, but he wasn't a "demon". At all. So there was zero character development. Fiona, for someone with a doctorate in psychology, was a hot freaking mess of mommy issues until the very end. There were so many critical scenes that were left out in favor of mediocre "spicy" scenes and it completely missed out on any character attachment for the reader. Like they mention Brogan took her skating at some point? That was an opportunity to have actual conversation between the two to show their chemistry and there was nothing.
This was disappointing and I am not even a little excited for the next one.
December 16, 2021
Head Shaker
Ugh. I literally stopped reading at 96% because I was over the heroine. She has huge commitment and relationship issues caused by her mother and unfortunately Brogan pays for it. He may not have been a relationship person either but not because he was afraid but because he just never met anyone until Fiona that made him want more. He’s clear about his feelings, says I love you first, and gets his mothers wedding ring out but reminds her there’s no pressure. He’s patient but unfortunately Fiona was emotionally not capable of being in a relationship and continued to run away. She claimed things were moving too fast and she needed space but then acted hurt when he actually gives it to her. Heroines like this irritate me and I just couldn’t stop thinking Brogan deserved way more.
Ugh. I literally stopped reading at 96% because I was over the heroine. She has huge commitment and relationship issues caused by her mother and unfortunately Brogan pays for it. He may not have been a relationship person either but not because he was afraid but because he just never met anyone until Fiona that made him want more. He’s clear about his feelings, says I love you first, and gets his mothers wedding ring out but reminds her there’s no pressure. He’s patient but unfortunately Fiona was emotionally not capable of being in a relationship and continued to run away. She claimed things were moving too fast and she needed space but then acted hurt when he actually gives it to her. Heroines like this irritate me and I just couldn’t stop thinking Brogan deserved way more.
December 15, 2021
4 1/2
I love this series...
I love the whole Reaper family...
I loved the heat that Brogan and Fiona delivered...
Maxim needs his story next!
I love this series...
I love the whole Reaper family...
I loved the heat that Brogan and Fiona delivered...
Maxim needs his story next!
May 23, 2022
There's a lot to unpack about this book. First the fact that as this series has gone the quality has gone down. Not just grammatically but structurally too. Now let me say before I continue that I did enjoy this book but I can't help but notice the changes in writing.
There were plenty of opportunities for real communication and character growth to happen but were overshadowed but poorly paced and oddly put "spicy" scenes. I'm sorry but how am I supposed to root for a couple who can only communicate through sex?
Also, there were activities (like Brogan taking Fiona to the ice rink) that were talked about but we never got to see. Things that could have been show to support the idea of individual and dual character growth and plot strengthening. And there seems to be a lack of just common knowledge things that a quick Google search could have remedied.
While I did love Brogan in this book he didn't feel like the Reapers Brogan. You could blame it on the fact we're reading about him through his eyes and the eyes of a love interest but still. We got hints of his past but while he claims to not really be affected by it its the only cause we have for him being what they call him, demon. Which I can tell you now doesn't suit him at all.
Fiona? Well she pissed me off just like the last Heroines have in the past few books. While she wasn't as bad as some of the others she was still terrible. I feel the women in these books have been in desperate need of therapy and someone to kindly put them in their place.
I am glad Brogan called Fiona out on the fact that she seemed to purposely misunderstand him. That's an accurate depiction of not just Fiona but like the last 3 or 4 female counterparts. And I mean for anyone who has been reading my ranty reviews you might be tired of me saying this but these men have just been putting their hearts out on a platter to these women and they just be tossing that crap like it's nothing. I really don't understand lol.
It was a good book but if I'm being honest I mainly continued this book for Brogan and Skye.
There were plenty of opportunities for real communication and character growth to happen but were overshadowed but poorly paced and oddly put "spicy" scenes. I'm sorry but how am I supposed to root for a couple who can only communicate through sex?
Also, there were activities (like Brogan taking Fiona to the ice rink) that were talked about but we never got to see. Things that could have been show to support the idea of individual and dual character growth and plot strengthening. And there seems to be a lack of just common knowledge things that a quick Google search could have remedied.
While I did love Brogan in this book he didn't feel like the Reapers Brogan. You could blame it on the fact we're reading about him through his eyes and the eyes of a love interest but still. We got hints of his past but while he claims to not really be affected by it its the only cause we have for him being what they call him, demon. Which I can tell you now doesn't suit him at all.
Fiona? Well she pissed me off just like the last Heroines have in the past few books. While she wasn't as bad as some of the others she was still terrible. I feel the women in these books have been in desperate need of therapy and someone to kindly put them in their place.
I am glad Brogan called Fiona out on the fact that she seemed to purposely misunderstand him. That's an accurate depiction of not just Fiona but like the last 3 or 4 female counterparts. And I mean for anyone who has been reading my ranty reviews you might be tired of me saying this but these men have just been putting their hearts out on a platter to these women and they just be tossing that crap like it's nothing. I really don't understand lol.
It was a good book but if I'm being honest I mainly continued this book for Brogan and Skye.
December 28, 2021
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
Feels like ages between books in this series, but damn, are they worth waiting for.
All the characters from the team are hot in their own ways , Brogan is in every way the hottest.
He’s Big, gruff, moody, and then he finds a tiny baby girl on his doorstep, just watch that iceberg melt. Perfect.
Great writing from Samantha, think this might be one of my favourite from the series.
💋💋
Feels like ages between books in this series, but damn, are they worth waiting for.
All the characters from the team are hot in their own ways , Brogan is in every way the hottest.
He’s Big, gruff, moody, and then he finds a tiny baby girl on his doorstep, just watch that iceberg melt. Perfect.
Great writing from Samantha, think this might be one of my favourite from the series.
January 10, 2022
Great H, slapable h
Brogan, the H, he’s fantastic. Really enjoyed his character.
And I was really liking Fiona and there relationship building. But as things started to get serious Fiona became more and more annoying and frustrating. She ended up doing some things that I consider horrible treatment to the h. And she never really apologized. But the H apologized for saying something SHE made clear is what she wanted, that she didn’t want a relationship title. What was he supposed to do?! He was right. She was wrong. But she still got mad at him. She treated him poorly. And her hang ups were ridiculous. She was too old and too educated to act the way she did for a large portion of the book.
Brogan deserved better.
Brogan, the H, he’s fantastic. Really enjoyed his character.
And I was really liking Fiona and there relationship building. But as things started to get serious Fiona became more and more annoying and frustrating. She ended up doing some things that I consider horrible treatment to the h. And she never really apologized. But the H apologized for saying something SHE made clear is what she wanted, that she didn’t want a relationship title. What was he supposed to do?! He was right. She was wrong. But she still got mad at him. She treated him poorly. And her hang ups were ridiculous. She was too old and too educated to act the way she did for a large portion of the book.
Brogan deserved better.
December 14, 2021
I've read this plot before and it is a bottom of the barrel type plot. How often does this really happen that it's a standard in hockey genre novels? Well, leave a three month old on a porch where it was already 80 degrees at 7 a.m. was criminal. So, say it happens....
Fiona was not my favorite character. For book smart and having studied psychology she was a real mess about her mother. She needed therapy.
I thought Brogan was great. I continued through for him and Skye
Fiona was not my favorite character. For book smart and having studied psychology she was a real mess about her mother. She needed therapy.
I thought Brogan was great. I continued through for him and Skye
dnf
December 15, 2021DNF@25%
Maybe I will pick it up and try it again at some point…
I didn’t like the heroine at all so I couldn’t keep reading 😩
Maybe I will pick it up and try it again at some point…
I didn’t like the heroine at all so I couldn’t keep reading 😩
December 18, 2021
It was…ok?
It was just ok. Fast read but there was potential for us to get really well developed characters. And we just got surface level.
It was just ok. Fast read but there was potential for us to get really well developed characters. And we just got surface level.
December 26, 2021
I thought Brogan did a good job after finding the baby on his doorstep. Did he freak out, yes, but with the help of his teammates he was able to find a way forward until he found out for sure if the baby was his or not. From there things were pretty predictable, yet I enjoyed reading things. I liked seeing the little family being built and knew one or other (Brogan or Fiona) would freak out and there would be drama at the end. I liked how things were resolved and seeing how everyone was happy in the future.
May 4, 2022
This one got me right in the ovaries. So cute. Brogan and Fiona are a really good couple. I think as a whole one of the few disappointments I have with this series is how some of the characters just never show up again. Even a tif bit about them being traded or retired would be sufficient but it seems a bit odd given how much this team is ‘like a family.’ Also I’m learning that every hockey/sports series needs a teammate with an accent (Russian, Scottish, etc.) and one nanny romance lol
December 26, 2021
Gah! Seeing gruff, broody Brogan fall for not just his nanny, but also an adorable baby girl just gave me all the feels! Plus getting to see all your favorite Reapers again is just the icing on the cake!
January 7, 2022
V cute, v sweet. Slightly too cliche otherwise it would have been a 4 star! Definitely recommend if you love a well written cliche sports romance with a cute as hell baby!
May 10, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up!
February 2, 2022
new fave!
Samantha is one of my favorite authors and Brogan is now my new favorite book of hers… until the next one anyway! Love the story and the dynamic!
Samantha is one of my favorite authors and Brogan is now my new favorite book of hers… until the next one anyway! Love the story and the dynamic!
February 14, 2022
Sampai lupa baca ini kapan. Tahun lalu sih yang jelas. Si Brogan nemu anak depan rumahnya, terus butuh babysitter. Jatcin tuh mereka. Berantem dikit, baikan, HEA. Memang belum ada yang ngalahin Axel dan Cannon 👏
December 15, 2021
Brogan, book 9 of the Carolina Reapers series by Samantha Whiskey, is not your typical single dad story. Brogan Grant’s entire life centered around his professional hockey career with little time for anything else. That is until the day he gets the surprise of his life as he literally finds a baby on his doorstep. While this book could be read as a standalone, I truly loved all of the players and their significant others featured in past books, and get so excited when they reappear on the pages.
Whiskey knows her sports as in evident in this series as well as others she has written, but the hockey action isn’t center stage. The romance is. The interactions between the main and secondary characters proves that she is a true romantic at heart because love always wins out in the end, no matter what it took to get there, and her heroes are always worthy of the title.
When Brogan found out he was a father, his entire demeaner changed. He was scared and unsure of how to care for an infant, but instantly became protective and reached out to his friends for advice and support. His teammate’s wife recommended Fiona Andrews, our heroine, as a nanny and while they weren't looking for love, they found it with each other.
Our heroine is smart and beautiful, and holds a doctorate in child psychology, but something drew her to the position of being a nanny. She is a natural with children, gentle and warm and just what Brogan needed. Each has baggage from their upbringing, and I liked how even though they were insanely attracted to each other, they were friends first, respected each other, and brought out the best in each other.
What I liked best about Brogan, and this is not what I usually like in a romance, is how he wasn’t the typical hero with the right words all the time. He was very relatable and vulnerable when trying to speak from the heart, and was very sincere and apologetic when he needed to be. When it came to Fiona, he was often misunderstood, but he learned from his mistakes, was remorseful, and tried to make things right. Fiona was guarded, and although she wanted to believe true love existed, she did not have the greatest role model in her mother and was sensitive as a result. I loved their character growth and how they connected physically and emotionally.
I loved Brogan and how he tried his best to be a good dad wanting his daughter to feel wanted and cherished. Even with lack of sleep and the heaviness of not being in contact with the baby’s mother, he did right by her and it melted my heart. Here we have this big, burly, super sexy and grumpy guy nicknamed “the Demon” who turns into a pile of mush for both of his girls.
His relationship with Fiona was very organic and so very steamy as these two opposites-attract perfectly complemented each other. Even though they both had plenty of friends, their lives had been empty, and I loved their journey to happiness and becoming a family.
My only wish for this story is that they would have opened up about how they were raised and how it affected their views on relationships. They spoke about this internally so readers are aware, but didn't really speak about it with each other. I also wanted to know if they got married or not…there is a very satisfying and sweet epilogue where they share good news, but I wanted more.
Looking forward to more Reaper romances! So glad there are so many players on a hockey team so they each can get a story!
Whiskey knows her sports as in evident in this series as well as others she has written, but the hockey action isn’t center stage. The romance is. The interactions between the main and secondary characters proves that she is a true romantic at heart because love always wins out in the end, no matter what it took to get there, and her heroes are always worthy of the title.
When Brogan found out he was a father, his entire demeaner changed. He was scared and unsure of how to care for an infant, but instantly became protective and reached out to his friends for advice and support. His teammate’s wife recommended Fiona Andrews, our heroine, as a nanny and while they weren't looking for love, they found it with each other.
Our heroine is smart and beautiful, and holds a doctorate in child psychology, but something drew her to the position of being a nanny. She is a natural with children, gentle and warm and just what Brogan needed. Each has baggage from their upbringing, and I liked how even though they were insanely attracted to each other, they were friends first, respected each other, and brought out the best in each other.
What I liked best about Brogan, and this is not what I usually like in a romance, is how he wasn’t the typical hero with the right words all the time. He was very relatable and vulnerable when trying to speak from the heart, and was very sincere and apologetic when he needed to be. When it came to Fiona, he was often misunderstood, but he learned from his mistakes, was remorseful, and tried to make things right. Fiona was guarded, and although she wanted to believe true love existed, she did not have the greatest role model in her mother and was sensitive as a result. I loved their character growth and how they connected physically and emotionally.
I loved Brogan and how he tried his best to be a good dad wanting his daughter to feel wanted and cherished. Even with lack of sleep and the heaviness of not being in contact with the baby’s mother, he did right by her and it melted my heart. Here we have this big, burly, super sexy and grumpy guy nicknamed “the Demon” who turns into a pile of mush for both of his girls.
His relationship with Fiona was very organic and so very steamy as these two opposites-attract perfectly complemented each other. Even though they both had plenty of friends, their lives had been empty, and I loved their journey to happiness and becoming a family.
My only wish for this story is that they would have opened up about how they were raised and how it affected their views on relationships. They spoke about this internally so readers are aware, but didn't really speak about it with each other. I also wanted to know if they got married or not…there is a very satisfying and sweet epilogue where they share good news, but I wanted more.
Looking forward to more Reaper romances! So glad there are so many players on a hockey team so they each can get a story!
December 13, 2021
I love a grumpy/sunshine storyline and this one was amazing! I love all of Samantha Whiskey's books and when she did a surprise drop on this one, all my plans were cancelled so I could read it.
Brogan is the enforcer for the Reapers and is known as Demon on and off the ice. But when he gets a surprise package at his door, his newborn daughter Skye, his orderly world is thrown in for a loop. Thankfully Langley is there, per the norm, to save the Brogan. Fiona is the oldest of all of her siblings and has a Master's in Child Psychology and is hired to be Skye's nanny. But feeling and chemistry is quickly developed when Fiona sees the real side of the Demon and Brogan learns to trust others.
Brogan is sinfully delicious and he's a top favorite Reaper for sure. Even though he was terrified to be a parent, he did everything he needed for Skye and was the best Dad. Absolutely swoon worthy. He's so growly on and off the ice, that's always a huge plus for me. Fiona was such a positive ray of sunshine for Brogan and Skye. Although we didn't get to see her too much with the other Reaper women, I know she would fit in perfectly. As always, we get little clues on possible upcoming Reapers books and I can't wait.
Brogan is the enforcer for the Reapers and is known as Demon on and off the ice. But when he gets a surprise package at his door, his newborn daughter Skye, his orderly world is thrown in for a loop. Thankfully Langley is there, per the norm, to save the Brogan. Fiona is the oldest of all of her siblings and has a Master's in Child Psychology and is hired to be Skye's nanny. But feeling and chemistry is quickly developed when Fiona sees the real side of the Demon and Brogan learns to trust others.
Brogan is sinfully delicious and he's a top favorite Reaper for sure. Even though he was terrified to be a parent, he did everything he needed for Skye and was the best Dad. Absolutely swoon worthy. He's so growly on and off the ice, that's always a huge plus for me. Fiona was such a positive ray of sunshine for Brogan and Skye. Although we didn't get to see her too much with the other Reaper women, I know she would fit in perfectly. As always, we get little clues on possible upcoming Reapers books and I can't wait.
February 7, 2023
honestly, i skimmed half of this book because i figured out the plot within the first five chapters of the book and i knew it was going to make me mad if i properly read it (not the authors fault, just a personal preference when it comes to surprise babies tbh) but here are some thoughts worth writing down:
why is it that every time an nhl players is left with a baby they didn’t know about the FMC is always overqualified but prefers being a nanny -like girl, if you need the money might as well use that expensive degree you paid for? why is it that the mother of the baby abandons the kid only to come back just for money? why does the main couple always break up because of it?
i mean, i’m glad this was something other than friendship that turns into a friends with benefits situation, even if it involves a baby, but again, what’s up with this people and their inability to communicate like adults?
also, please they all need years of fucking therapy to deal with their unresolved trauma
why is it that every time an nhl players is left with a baby they didn’t know about the FMC is always overqualified but prefers being a nanny -like girl, if you need the money might as well use that expensive degree you paid for? why is it that the mother of the baby abandons the kid only to come back just for money? why does the main couple always break up because of it?
i mean, i’m glad this was something other than friendship that turns into a friends with benefits situation, even if it involves a baby, but again, what’s up with this people and their inability to communicate like adults?
also, please they all need years of fucking therapy to deal with their unresolved trauma
June 10, 2023
First time I’ve read a book and been completely on the guy’s side in the conflict at the end. Homegirl had some toxic ass shit to work through. She got upset and offended when the MMC respected her boundaries. Like, girlie… also her communication was god awful. The MMC was right when he said he had to grow up when his baby landed on his doorstep.
January 12, 2022
Not as good as the other installments... and this one had a small kiddo on it!
So all in all, I am a bit disappointed... There wasn't enough bonding between the MCs. The kid was cute but also didn't play that big of a role as it could have ...
Something was missing.
So all in all, I am a bit disappointed... There wasn't enough bonding between the MCs. The kid was cute but also didn't play that big of a role as it could have ...
Something was missing.
December 17, 2021
3.5 stars
Nice return to The Reapers series, but nothing truly new with the bad boy turned suddenly into single dad finding himself involved with the nanny with issues of her own. Still a quick read with witty banter and lots of heat.
Now if we could finally get Max and Evie’s book the series would be complete.
Nice return to The Reapers series, but nothing truly new with the bad boy turned suddenly into single dad finding himself involved with the nanny with issues of her own. Still a quick read with witty banter and lots of heat.
Now if we could finally get Max and Evie’s book the series would be complete.
December 24, 2021
Why do these Reapers get more and more attractive?
Just when you think that Samantha Whiskey can't produce a male lead as compellingly attractive as the last, she serves up another Reaper!
The story of Brogan, Fiona and beautiful Skye is an easy read for anyone who wants to spend a few hours with a hot hockey star, his surprise baby and the nanny he hires to look after her.
This is a classic 'escape from reality' type of story that seems improbable but enjoyable none the less!
Just when you think that Samantha Whiskey can't produce a male lead as compellingly attractive as the last, she serves up another Reaper!
The story of Brogan, Fiona and beautiful Skye is an easy read for anyone who wants to spend a few hours with a hot hockey star, his surprise baby and the nanny he hires to look after her.
This is a classic 'escape from reality' type of story that seems improbable but enjoyable none the less!
December 30, 2022
Wanted to like this more than I did.
May 15, 2024
1st say 50% was ok I guess. Easy to read
Then quickly went downhill
I need authors to do better please coz that 3act break up was whack.
Then quickly went downhill
I need authors to do better please coz that 3act break up was whack.
June 30, 2024
His nickname is demon but he nothing like that when it comes to his daughter or the women that stole his heart
December 23, 2022
chap 4
“Skye looks a hell of a lot like her daddy,” I said, then cringed when the girls gaped at my use of the word daddy. “Like Brogan. She looks a ton like Brogan.”
“Daddy,” Maddie drew out the word. “I’ll bet he’s one hell of a daddy.”
“If he’s anything like he is on the ice,” Daisy said. “I’m sure he’s fantastic.”
Once he’d found out Skye was definitely his, he dove headfirst into fatherhood
“And as hard as an adjustment as this is for him, he keeps surprising me.”
“I bet,” Maddie said. “How exactly is he surprising you? In the shower, I hope.”
“What if I made jokes about your bosses?”
“I write novels. I’m my own boss,” Daisy said. “So, joke about me all you want.”
“And my boss is technically a board of people, so go for it. I was into group things, once.” I nearly spit out my drink, I laughed so hard, and a warmth settled deep in my chest. “I love you both,” I said, sighing. “Even if you are wholly inappropriate.”
Skye was tucked nicely into the wrap around my chest, but the little toot still wouldn’t shut her eyes. Her belly was full, but her eyes were wide open—content, but fully awake as I shuffled to and from the kitchen island, the fridge, and the sink. Doing my best to return the kitchen to the spotless kind of clean Brogan usually liked.
His tattoos covered the length of his arms and scattered over his chest. I had the absolute ridiculous desire to trace my fingers along the whorls of ink.
glancing down at Skye, who gazed up at me with the prettiest blue eyes. I smiled down at her, wishing she’d nap but happy that she wasn’t a crying mess. If I took her out of this wrap? We’d go nuclear in seconds.
She wiggled and cooed as he came into her view, and he did that thing where he smiled for her and only her. It lit up his hazel eyes, despite the exhaustion underneath them.
“Hey there, little demon,” he said, his voice soft.
Oh, damn you, Brogan Grant, saying all the right things.
chap 5
“You have to sleep, little demon,” I whispered against Skye’s hair as I paced the length of the hallway.
She cooked and cleaned, and took care of my little demon all day.
when Fiona was on demon-duty.
Before I thought about what I was doing, my hands were on her face and I kissed her hard and fast in thanks. It was over in a second—maybe less. Holy shit, what the fuck did you just do?
Fiona stared up at me, her features mimicking the shock I felt.
Kissing Fiona was like nothing I’d ever felt before. I could do this all night. Every night.
chap 6
absently patting Skye’s butt. It was pretty much a habit now, almost an extension movement of my body. The girl hated it when things went still on her.
“I can’t like him anyway,” I said, and Maddie and Daisy groaned.
“Because of your major commitment issues?” Daisy asked with all sincerity.
“It’s not my fault the sanctity of marriage has been lost on me,” I said. “My mother did everything she could to destroy that fairytale years ago.”
Watching her go through husband after husband had me totally against the notion. Did I believe in monogamy? Sure. I just didn’t think I needed to sign away my future to any given person just because we could stand each other’s company for more than a month at a time. And that mindset had cost me several boyfriends in the past, not to mention one disgruntled recent ex who had proposed. Clearly, he hadn’t really known me at all.
My heart sank a little at those certainties, and I scolded myself for clearly getting attached when I knew better. Even with so many of my brothers and sisters, their fathers would take them after the divorce, folding them into new families far away. Sure, we kept in touch, but it was never the same.
“Hey, little demon,” he cooed,
I looked over my shoulder when I realized he wasn’t following me and was stopped dead by the smile on his face.
I’d never seen that smile before. It was different than the one he reserved for Skye and wholly different than the scowl/smirk he reserved for the cameras.
This was different. A genuine surprise and delight shaped his lips as he looked at…
Me.
He was looking at me. Looking at me like I’d answered a question he’d been asking for a very long time.
“What does that make you?” she teased, smiling up at me. “A perk?”
Perk? Fuck yes, I wanted to be a perk. I’d be her perk in my bed, on the couch, against the wall, anywhere she wanted me to be.
“What do you call her?” Carl challenged.
“Mine,” I growled, leaning his direction.
Carl went pale and backed up a couple of steps.
Good.
“That means, don’t call her.” I stared him down, which wasn’t hard considering he was a good five inches shorter than me. “Don’t email her. Don’t text. Don’t DM. Don’t send a fucking fax. Leave her alone.”
I relaxed my shoulders and found Fiona staring up at me, her lips slightly parted. “Was that too much?”
She shook her head. “You are a god.”
chap 8
and another warm shiver danced over my skin at the demand in his tone. Fuck, I liked it way too much. Just like I enjoyed it when he was endearing. Or when he was laughing. Or when he was tearing up the ice like a damned warrior.
pointing up at my girls, Skye and Fiona.
“And you won’t regret it in the morning?” I could handle a lot of things, but being on her list of regrets wasn’t one of them.
“I could never regret you,” she whispered, rolling her hips over mine.
I groaned.
“Now stop thinking, stop worrying, and just be here with me.” She kissed me, and I snapped.
chap 9
One more lift and her knees were on either side of my head. “Sit.”
She braced her hand on the back of the couch and looked down at me with equal parts shock and need. “I’ll crush you.”
I would have laughed if I wasn’t so painfully hard, and already distracted by the prettiest pussy I’d ever seen hovering above my face. “Do you want this?”
“Yes, but I weigh—”
“Sit,” I ordered, this time banding my arms around her thighs and tugging her into my mouth.
She cried out.
There was only Fiona.
chap 11
“Still not a date.” I flashed her a grin and headed to answer the door. Of course, it was a date, but it turned out that while most women might jump at the chance to date an NHL star, Fiona wasn’t one of them. She was so against labeling whatever it was that we were doing, that I’d pitched tonight as a team event instead of a date. Sure, it actually was a team event, but considering that we were going together, and coming home together—where I’d peel that fucking dress off with my teeth…yeah, it was pretty much a date.
“Hey, Evie. Come on in.” I kept my voice soft, knowing that the young woman was more than a little nervous around me.
“Hi,” she answered with a tepid smile that grew into a bright grin when she spotted Skye. “Hiya, Skye!” She held out her hands for my daughter, and I hesitated only a second before forking her over.
The Evie I knew was the shy bookworm who preferred to see life through her camera lens rather than actively participate in it
“Maybe she’s just uncomfortable around adults,” I muttered softly.
“Maybe she’s just uncomfortable around Maxim,” Fiona whispered, patting my arm.
My brows furrowed. “What the hell is there to be nervous about around Maxim? I’m the one with the surly temper. Or hell, be afraid of Cannon. But Maxim? He’s a dick, but never to her. She’s his little sister’s best friend for fuck’s—”
Fiona arched an eyebrow at me.
My mouth hung open for a second. “No way.” I shook my head. “She barely even speaks to him when we’re all together. She’s always tucked away in some corner with Mia.”
“You really think…” I shot a look toward the living room, where Evie was already tugging the tutu off Skye so she could crawl around and wreak havoc.
“That she has a massive crush on your closest friend?” Fiona whispered. “Yes, I really think. I swear, men can be so obtuse.” She shook her head at me and headed into the living room.
Evie had a thing for Maxim?
She leveled a look on me that said she meant business.
Maybe she could hold her own with Maxim. Huh.
chap 13
It kind of felt like I was a giant, immovable boulder, and she was a stream, rushing down the mountain to change the landscape, flowing all around me without knocking me down the hill. She changed everything, touched every part of me, made my entire life better, with so much peace and ease that I hadn’t had to do anything but go along with the change.
“Women like rings.” Axel shrugged.
“This from the guy who conned his wife into marrying him with his Reaper contract,” Cannon scoffed.
“Says the guy who woke up married in Vegas.” Maxim rolled his eyes.
“I’m sorry?” Cannon leaned left and right, as if he was looking for something behind Maxim. “Do I see a woman within fifty yards who can tolerate your shit for longer than a night?”
“Damn!” Sterling laughed. “He’s got you there.”
chap 19
She was my air. She made me desperate and hungry. I was nothing without her warmth, her love.
“Skye looks a hell of a lot like her daddy,” I said, then cringed when the girls gaped at my use of the word daddy. “Like Brogan. She looks a ton like Brogan.”
“Daddy,” Maddie drew out the word. “I’ll bet he’s one hell of a daddy.”
“If he’s anything like he is on the ice,” Daisy said. “I’m sure he’s fantastic.”
Once he’d found out Skye was definitely his, he dove headfirst into fatherhood
“And as hard as an adjustment as this is for him, he keeps surprising me.”
“I bet,” Maddie said. “How exactly is he surprising you? In the shower, I hope.”
“What if I made jokes about your bosses?”
“I write novels. I’m my own boss,” Daisy said. “So, joke about me all you want.”
“And my boss is technically a board of people, so go for it. I was into group things, once.” I nearly spit out my drink, I laughed so hard, and a warmth settled deep in my chest. “I love you both,” I said, sighing. “Even if you are wholly inappropriate.”
Skye was tucked nicely into the wrap around my chest, but the little toot still wouldn’t shut her eyes. Her belly was full, but her eyes were wide open—content, but fully awake as I shuffled to and from the kitchen island, the fridge, and the sink. Doing my best to return the kitchen to the spotless kind of clean Brogan usually liked.
His tattoos covered the length of his arms and scattered over his chest. I had the absolute ridiculous desire to trace my fingers along the whorls of ink.
glancing down at Skye, who gazed up at me with the prettiest blue eyes. I smiled down at her, wishing she’d nap but happy that she wasn’t a crying mess. If I took her out of this wrap? We’d go nuclear in seconds.
She wiggled and cooed as he came into her view, and he did that thing where he smiled for her and only her. It lit up his hazel eyes, despite the exhaustion underneath them.
“Hey there, little demon,” he said, his voice soft.
Oh, damn you, Brogan Grant, saying all the right things.
chap 5
“You have to sleep, little demon,” I whispered against Skye’s hair as I paced the length of the hallway.
She cooked and cleaned, and took care of my little demon all day.
when Fiona was on demon-duty.
Before I thought about what I was doing, my hands were on her face and I kissed her hard and fast in thanks. It was over in a second—maybe less. Holy shit, what the fuck did you just do?
Fiona stared up at me, her features mimicking the shock I felt.
Kissing Fiona was like nothing I’d ever felt before. I could do this all night. Every night.
chap 6
absently patting Skye’s butt. It was pretty much a habit now, almost an extension movement of my body. The girl hated it when things went still on her.
“I can’t like him anyway,” I said, and Maddie and Daisy groaned.
“Because of your major commitment issues?” Daisy asked with all sincerity.
“It’s not my fault the sanctity of marriage has been lost on me,” I said. “My mother did everything she could to destroy that fairytale years ago.”
Watching her go through husband after husband had me totally against the notion. Did I believe in monogamy? Sure. I just didn’t think I needed to sign away my future to any given person just because we could stand each other’s company for more than a month at a time. And that mindset had cost me several boyfriends in the past, not to mention one disgruntled recent ex who had proposed. Clearly, he hadn’t really known me at all.
My heart sank a little at those certainties, and I scolded myself for clearly getting attached when I knew better. Even with so many of my brothers and sisters, their fathers would take them after the divorce, folding them into new families far away. Sure, we kept in touch, but it was never the same.
“Hey, little demon,” he cooed,
I looked over my shoulder when I realized he wasn’t following me and was stopped dead by the smile on his face.
I’d never seen that smile before. It was different than the one he reserved for Skye and wholly different than the scowl/smirk he reserved for the cameras.
This was different. A genuine surprise and delight shaped his lips as he looked at…
Me.
He was looking at me. Looking at me like I’d answered a question he’d been asking for a very long time.
“What does that make you?” she teased, smiling up at me. “A perk?”
Perk? Fuck yes, I wanted to be a perk. I’d be her perk in my bed, on the couch, against the wall, anywhere she wanted me to be.
“What do you call her?” Carl challenged.
“Mine,” I growled, leaning his direction.
Carl went pale and backed up a couple of steps.
Good.
“That means, don’t call her.” I stared him down, which wasn’t hard considering he was a good five inches shorter than me. “Don’t email her. Don’t text. Don’t DM. Don’t send a fucking fax. Leave her alone.”
I relaxed my shoulders and found Fiona staring up at me, her lips slightly parted. “Was that too much?”
She shook her head. “You are a god.”
chap 8
and another warm shiver danced over my skin at the demand in his tone. Fuck, I liked it way too much. Just like I enjoyed it when he was endearing. Or when he was laughing. Or when he was tearing up the ice like a damned warrior.
pointing up at my girls, Skye and Fiona.
“And you won’t regret it in the morning?” I could handle a lot of things, but being on her list of regrets wasn’t one of them.
“I could never regret you,” she whispered, rolling her hips over mine.
I groaned.
“Now stop thinking, stop worrying, and just be here with me.” She kissed me, and I snapped.
chap 9
One more lift and her knees were on either side of my head. “Sit.”
She braced her hand on the back of the couch and looked down at me with equal parts shock and need. “I’ll crush you.”
I would have laughed if I wasn’t so painfully hard, and already distracted by the prettiest pussy I’d ever seen hovering above my face. “Do you want this?”
“Yes, but I weigh—”
“Sit,” I ordered, this time banding my arms around her thighs and tugging her into my mouth.
She cried out.
There was only Fiona.
chap 11
“Still not a date.” I flashed her a grin and headed to answer the door. Of course, it was a date, but it turned out that while most women might jump at the chance to date an NHL star, Fiona wasn’t one of them. She was so against labeling whatever it was that we were doing, that I’d pitched tonight as a team event instead of a date. Sure, it actually was a team event, but considering that we were going together, and coming home together—where I’d peel that fucking dress off with my teeth…yeah, it was pretty much a date.
“Hey, Evie. Come on in.” I kept my voice soft, knowing that the young woman was more than a little nervous around me.
“Hi,” she answered with a tepid smile that grew into a bright grin when she spotted Skye. “Hiya, Skye!” She held out her hands for my daughter, and I hesitated only a second before forking her over.
The Evie I knew was the shy bookworm who preferred to see life through her camera lens rather than actively participate in it
“Maybe she’s just uncomfortable around adults,” I muttered softly.
“Maybe she’s just uncomfortable around Maxim,” Fiona whispered, patting my arm.
My brows furrowed. “What the hell is there to be nervous about around Maxim? I’m the one with the surly temper. Or hell, be afraid of Cannon. But Maxim? He’s a dick, but never to her. She’s his little sister’s best friend for fuck’s—”
Fiona arched an eyebrow at me.
My mouth hung open for a second. “No way.” I shook my head. “She barely even speaks to him when we’re all together. She’s always tucked away in some corner with Mia.”
“You really think…” I shot a look toward the living room, where Evie was already tugging the tutu off Skye so she could crawl around and wreak havoc.
“That she has a massive crush on your closest friend?” Fiona whispered. “Yes, I really think. I swear, men can be so obtuse.” She shook her head at me and headed into the living room.
Evie had a thing for Maxim?
She leveled a look on me that said she meant business.
Maybe she could hold her own with Maxim. Huh.
chap 13
It kind of felt like I was a giant, immovable boulder, and she was a stream, rushing down the mountain to change the landscape, flowing all around me without knocking me down the hill. She changed everything, touched every part of me, made my entire life better, with so much peace and ease that I hadn’t had to do anything but go along with the change.
“Women like rings.” Axel shrugged.
“This from the guy who conned his wife into marrying him with his Reaper contract,” Cannon scoffed.
“Says the guy who woke up married in Vegas.” Maxim rolled his eyes.
“I’m sorry?” Cannon leaned left and right, as if he was looking for something behind Maxim. “Do I see a woman within fifty yards who can tolerate your shit for longer than a night?”
“Damn!” Sterling laughed. “He’s got you there.”
chap 19
She was my air. She made me desperate and hungry. I was nothing without her warmth, her love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2022
this was just okay. i was hella bored and i don’t usually be bored when reading ice hockey romances but there wasn’t much ice hockey lol…the plot was so boring omg y’all i wanted to cry. the ending of the book did annoy me especially with the fmc…i basically just skimmed through the last 3 chapters…yeah
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