The Snowers have the most captivating guys on and off the ice. But, money, talent, and looks don’t always equal good decisions. Lucky for bad boy star player Mikah, Piper has just the solution he needs. Love? Sure, that. But to get there, she’ll pull out all the tricks from under her hat to get the sexy score, the win, and live happily ever after. Take a peek at Piper’s goal:
Get a professional ice hockey player to sign a purity pledge? Well…there are worse jobs.
When Piper, the team’s new Purity Minder, gets stuck in an elevator with Mikah, the star bad boy, her heart and her puck costume fall to the floor. That’s the first of several tricky challenges she faces in her quest to lockdown his pumped-up millionaire libido. No guts, no paycheck.
Hockey hero Mikah is focused and driven. A professional. From day one, he’s wary of the team’s Purity Minder. The only thrill she’s offering is a chastity belt. No thanks. As far as his love life goes, he’s up for a tryst as long as his bedroom remains a commitment-free zone.
But, when Piper enters the zone, she shatters Mikah’s defenses faster than a body check to the boards. Will Piper melt the heart of this ice hot hockey heartthrob?
Emily writes fun, happily-ever-after romance novels. She holds a BA in Psychology from Texas A&M University and an MFA in Creative Writing from American College Dublin. Her Adult Contemporary are under the name Emily Bow and Young Adult under Emily Evans. A native Texan, she loves travel, movies, and books and may be found at www.EmilyBow.com and www.EmilyEvansBooks.com.
I love a good hockey romance, and, when I saw the blurb for Pure Love - and that cheeky purity pledge mention - there was no way I could pass up on that level of intrigue. And boy did this exceed my expectations (in the best of ways)!
The chemistry and tension between Mikah and Piper was fire and ice, the gravitational pull that kept drawing them together relentless. I loved seeing the roots formed by their friendship, even as they teased and tempted one another, the lines drawn between them blurring as defenses folded and love struck…hard.
Bow’s execution of humour was crafty and fun, the unique meet-cute and wild antics of the team enjoyable and a great testament to why Piper landed herself this unexpected job opportunity as their purity minder. There was a healthy dose of laughter and allure that glided from page to page, and the banter shared not just between Mikah and Piper, but the rest of their group, was often natural and homely, like they were their own little family.
Unfortunately, as much as I enjoyed the concept and many of Bow’s characters, these wins were challenged by the executions in the narration and some of the plot points. While there were some beautiful and tender moments shared between them, there were also moments that I didn’t appreciate the way Mikah continued to push for a fling and “one weekend”, defending his reasoning for avoiding commitment even after Piper had made it clear where she stood and what she wanted. I also wasn’t a fan of the stacked cheating trope utilised and felt that it ended up being too much - especially all at once - for the climax.
That said, this was still an enjoyable read that brought something fresh to the sports arena, and I wouldn’t be opposed to reading more about the Snowers and the challenges they face off the ice.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the advanced copy of Pure Love. 3⭐️
I am addicted to sport romance hockey is a catnip to me. nice story line and not boring BUT the writing is so difficult the sentences are diffgicult to understan I struggle often to understand them and i was confused trying to catch who was speaking nice opening with the puck costume scene on the elevator nice meet cute but not realistic, hockey teams are industry this sounds more primary school or neighbor/small village amateurs team than professional team. 2,5 stars I just reviewed Pure Love by Emily Bow. #NetGalley [NetGalley URL]
I’m a sucker for a hockey romance (I have no idea why, I’ve only ever watched ice hockey with my ex and *bad memories!*) so this got me excited but unfortunately while I loved the storyline, I really struggled with the execution.
The way the author writes is almost in short statements. The story dives right in but a lot of information and dialogue is missing. I found myself having to re-read a lot of paragraphs because I didn’t know which character was talking or where they were. A lot of time inbetween was cut.
The character names were all very unique but the cheating trope was put in three times, there was a lot of events that did not need to be in the novel as they were unnecessary and did not make much sense. They did not contribute to the story or the characters in any way.
This novel would of been a lot more enjoyable with better editing for sure
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this novel
This was an adorable romance! It has the cutest meet cute and the story showcases all the things we love from the slow burn style romance.
I enjoyed that it was written to focus on the characters growing emotions and fears regarding the relationship rather than solely the attraction to each other.
This book is worth the read and I will now be adding Emily Bow to my list of authors to watch because she writes beautifully
A unique romance centers on Piper, a graduate history student trying to restart her life after a bad break up and Mikah, a leading scorer and family-legacy hockey player for the Snowers. When they meet through a Snowers engagement, the two are immediately smitten. But will Mikah's aversion to long-term relationships get in the way of what could be a fresh start for both of them?
A fast read with a gratifying, passionate plot.
**I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Piper is a girl who was burned by a past relationship really bad and doesn’t want to be a “fun” buddy or friends with benefits .
Mika is “allergic “ to anything beyond a one night stand .
Through circumstances they keep circling back around to each other and each time it’s increasingly difficult to keep to their boundaries .
My favorite two scenes are when Piper takes her cousin and sister to the renaissance fair ; and also when Mika and his brother were confiding in each other about some issues that came up .
I loved the characters in this book and the connection between Piper & Mika were really convincing . I’m excited to read the next book in the series :-)
3 I REALLY wanted to like this book. It had a lot of elements to make it good, but there was too much of a cluster for me to stay on one path. I felt like there was more than one storyline trying to happen. I didn’t care for how both Mikah and Piper always referred to his teammates as bros; it felt immature and didn’t fit how the characters were projected. Mikah also seems to have a one track mind and doesn’t think about the things he’s saying out loud. He seems to be clueless about women yet confident about them at the same time. Like he doesn’t realize that he’s being a jerk.
Piper is trying to navigate her feelings verses what she deserves after her last relationship so her actions seemed erratic at times. The fact that she kept getting slammed in the face with cheating bothered me as well.
Together they seemed like a yo-yo and there were too many scenes that were outrageous for me. I believe they were meant to add humor to the book but I didn’t get the joke most of the time.
Dahlia just seems to be crazy. I didn’t like what she added to the book as it didn’t seem to benefit the progress of Piper and Mikahs relationship. I didn’t care for most of the side characters actually. I loved Calista and would love her to have a romance of her own.
Just as I was finally starting to get into the book and enjoying it, it ended. It didn’t end with an opening, it just fell a little flat. Happy couple and promising future, but I’m left wanting more. There was a hint that the next book will be Calista, which I’m looking forward to reading though!
Tudor, Anne Boleyn , History Major, Hockey, Player, purity pledge, slow burn, bonkers ex, spiteful enemies, soap opera, ARC for Honest Review, Netgalley
I am always drawn to a sports/hockey romance, so when I read the synopsis for this novel by Emily Bow, I was very interested in discovering a new sports series to enjoy. This is the first novel I have read from Emily Bow and it is the first novel in her Snower's Hockey Romance series. I found Emily Bow's writing to be easily accessible and the pacing was decent through out. I am definitely not apposed to reading more of Bow's work, but ultimately this story did not resonate strongly with me.
The romance is between Mikah, a star player with a player's reputation, and Piper, the team's new purity minder. And while these two have a really fun and promising meet cute, I ultimately felt like too much of the story revolved around secondary characters and I never truly felt or believed in the connection between Mikah and Piper.
This novel mainly read to me more like a new adult novel, with I am not against, but I did not go into this novel expecting. Because of this I don't think I every truly connect to our hero or heroine. We also spent a lot of time with the hero and heroine in the company of secondary characters, and in my opinion it felt like there was just too much time spent with them apart for me to see their relationship grow from anything that was surface level. None of this is to say that this novel is not well written or worth reading, I just think going into it with the proper expectations will help with your enjoyability.
If you like a more coming of age story in which our characters feel like they are still growing into their adulthood than this is definitely a book for you. This sports romance has very much a happy for now and more open ended conclusion to its story.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really liked this book. I’m not obsessed with it but I didn’t hate it. I still gave it four stars even though I’m not a fan of sport romances. Overall the plot was great and the spicy level was kept on the lower side. One of the things I loved about this was that even though it is a romance book it didn’t entirely surround the couple and nothing else. The main couple definitely was the main focus but I got to see aspects from the family dynamics, friends, and other couples interactions. Another thing is how unlike other books our female main character was not falling to her knees the second she saw the love interest(although mentally she was) and how the love interest was on the more dominant side she stood her ground on what she wanted and she was in control of herself. Eventually we got to see how in love the two were together and how our male main character was so protective of her. I went through a whirlwind of emotions from happy to sad then sad to pissed but in the end I was happy. My only real complaint is I wish there was an epilogue but I hope I’ll be seeing them in the second book. So I definitely intend on reading the sequel when it comes out in a couple of months. You can get Pure Love on May 27th.
When the star player of the snowers sees a woman in her skimpy underwear by the elevator the last person he imagined her being is the team‘s purity minder but that’s exactly who she is. Piper‘s cousin is engaged to the owner of the team and so she was doing her a favor by dressing up as a hockey puck when unfortunately her costume got caught in the elevator and ripped off. End up course this is when she ran into the most gorgeous man shit ever seen. Isn’t looking for commitment and definitely not one that is an up for a little fun in the bedroom and at first he sticks to his guns but the more he is around piper the stranger his thoughts on commitment become. Can piper keep her morals and Michael or will she just be another notch in his belt? this isn’t the best summary but trust me when I say this is such a great book! I thought this book was so funny and I highly recommend it. If you love wrong comes then you definitely need to read “pure love.“ I really hope they make this into an audiobook I will certainly be looking for it. I received this book from NetGalleyShelf and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
I believe that there was potential for the idea of this book but it was not executed correctly. A lot of the time I was just confused. The author's writing style is difficult to follow and did not flow. I was confused on whether it was dual POV, 1st person, or 3rd person. If I read this book drunk I would probably understand it better.
I also think that the author was trying to fit too many events into the book. A lot of the time events and scenes felt like fluff, just there to occupy some space.
On a positive note, I liked how Mikah and Piper's relationship was drawn out. I am not a fan of insta-love but enjoyed their relationship at a normal pace compared to other books with the same trope. I would have loved this book if it were not for the poor dialogue and execution of writing.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review*
I loved this book very much and enjoyed it. I love sport romance so this was so welcome. I started reading it expecting it to be mostly about hockey like other books I have read and I am so glad that I was wrong.
I liked how this book had more storyline outside of the hockey aspect but it still plays a big role in the book as Mikah is a pro hockey player.
I also liked how Mikah had character development after Piper entered his life and supports him. His family is dysfunctional and Piper brought him a bit normalcy.
I liked Pipers sister and she was passionate about a hockey captain even thought he didn't know who she was. Loved the present that the sister gives Piper and her cousin at the end.
I didn't like the whole cheating aspect in the book. Not the main couple but the side characters. It was a big part of the book and the storyline got repetitive because of it.
I love sports romance books so I was beyond excited to read Pure Love.
Piper’s cousin Delilah offers Piper $1,000 to teach purity classes to a sorority & $2,000 to get some of the hockey players to attend and pledge to bring up their bad reputation. This turns into more purity minder opportunities for Piper and more chances for Piper to spend time with Mikah, the hot hockey player who she met on the elevator while being half naked due to a costume malfunction.
Piper & Mikah have undeniable chemistry.
While I liked the storyline and the twist on this sports romance story, I struggled with the writing.
I had to keep re-reading sentences to figure out whose thoughts I was reading and who was speaking.
I also wanted more details about what was going on in the character’s heads to make me feel more connected to the characters.
Just wow! A "Purity Minder" as part of a hockey team? A hockey team with egotistical millionaires who can have any woman at any time? I couldn't get my mind around that. However, after reading the romantic story, I was more than pleased. A great concept, different but with an enjoyable premise, well developed characters and definitely a new idea! Grab a coffee and a spot on the sofa, this book will keep you reading from start to finish in one day. Loved it! This review is solely my own opinion.
Who doesn't love a hockey romance? Piper and Mikah's story is cute, where 'purity minder' Piper is hired to keep an eye on the partying of the Snowers hockey team. Hockey star Mikah isn't 'ready' for a relationship, but when sparks fly... I gave the story three stars because the plot is a little jumpy, and as an avid hockey fan, there were some parts that just weren't consistent with the sport. There are some laugh out loud funny bits and it's not particularly heavy, but trigger warning for cheating. Otherwise it's a quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced e-copy for review.
This book was so cute! I really zoomed through it, which is always great. Piper was such a great main character and she was such a strong independent woman. I loved how she was subtlety proving her points throughout the book, there wasn’t a time where she didn’t stand up for herself. I love seeing that in main characters. On the other hand, our supporting characters were also amazing. They had such good banter and were amazing friends to each other. I loved to see it so much. Thank you to NetGalley and Emily Bow for the eARC.
Hockey hero Mikah is focused and driven. A professional. From day one, he’s wary of the team’s Purity Minder. The only thrill she’s offering is a chastity belt. No thanks. As far as his love life goes, he’s up for a tryst as long as his bedroom remains a commitment-free zone. But, when Piper enters the zone, she shatters Mikah’s defenses faster than a body check to the boards. Will Piper melt the heart of this ice hot hockey heartthrob? Micah & Piper had an entertaining read. And am voluntarily leaving my review.
“i dream about how you feel. how you taste.” *passes out*
WOW WOW WOW I REALLY LIKED THIS BOOK!! i’m a sucker for a hockey romance and this did not disappoint! the plot was very unique and quite wholesome and i absolutely loved the tension between piper and mikah!! and i love how it based around purity but the spice was awesome!😂
totally recommend this book if you love slow burn and/or hockey romances!!
Piper's goal is to get hockey star Mikah to sign a purity pledge. This is easier said than done. Piper is attracted to him from the moment they first meet, and Mikah is a commitment-phobe. This book was a unique love story with the purity pledge aspect of it. You don't see that aspect in the majority of romance books. The whole book was well-written and their story felt very realistic to me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.
i received this book as an arc from netgalley! okay, this book was cute, but the amount of times i cringed was not good… it was so frustrating to see him fight and stand his ground against commitment, but i suppose it adds something to the book. i’d be interested to read ronan and calista’s story together!! :)
You know it's not the book for you when you avoid reading altogether... I had to DNF this and move on to something better. This was just a weird plot, the writing felt strange and out of tune, and the characters were all so flat... This whole book was annoying me and putting me in a book funk so bye bye.
This book was just not for me. I tried so hard to like it but it just didn’t work out. The plot is unique, I never read anything like it. However, there were too many sentences; I feel like the author abused the concept of periods. So yeah, just not for me.
***Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Great opening. A little rough and awkward reading for a little while after. But once the red hot scenes started the story moved quickly. All climaxing into a surprise ending. I was looking forward to reading the next one in the series, but it’s not out yet.
The book was slow it started like at the beginning but I loved it it was very balding and kind of dramatic but it kept you interested the whole way and I was kind of surprised how much I liked the sporty theme of hockey players and I am the purity minder thing it was amazing and I have to give this book an astonishing four out of five because it was just beyond comparable
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had a really hard time with this book. It was cute story but I did not like how it was written in short statements. I also had a hard time determining whose POV we were reading. I think the writing style was just not for me.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
i enjoyed this book and felt that the plot line was good, but i also felt that the execution was lacking at times. however i did enjoy mikah and piper’s story and watching it all unfold !