A Review by Wendy
4.5 Multi-Layered and All of Them Good Stars
* * * *1/2
* * * *1/2
Spoiler Free
Disclaimer: My intoxication with this cover caused me to breakdown and learn how to insert a graphic for my review. I am not ashamed to say.... Damn...Whoever this fella is...He was the perfect Roman for me. Period.
We are so lucky in our lives because we are exposed to so many cultures every day. We meet those who have been raised differently from us and with this interaction... it opens our eyes and hearts to new understanding of others. Sawyer Bennett gave us this life lesson in her latest Cold Fury Hockey entry, Roman.
In this book we dive deep into a man who has been living his life the only way he knows how... on his terms and full out. He is Czech and from the moment he showed any possibility of talent on the ice, he focused on being the best he could be. This meant him separating from his parents at a very young age... with only a few times seeing them every year. This was the way for him to learn hockey... this was the sacrifice parents made for their children to succeed.
This system of training and nurturing talent caused Roman to be the best... yet it also caused him to not have the same feelings about family as many of his team members. It caused him to feel disconnected to his parents and uncomfortable in group settings, like having friends over...He had learned through his Hockey career to be friendly but keep a distance because he could be traded at anytime.
Now Roman was not all cold...Oh, no... He knew how to enjoy himself whether on the ice as a defenseman... translation Enforcer if necessary...or as the ladies man who couldn't seem to stay clear of hook-ups dead set on getting all the publicity they could while using unseemly methods...
To Lexi Robertson, family means Everything. Growing up, she only had her mother. The two of them had a very solid bond which allowed Lexi to live a life of discovery and freedom with loving support. She traveled all over the world and her mom was happy for her girl to be strong enough to follow her heart. When Lexi's mom finally told her she had cancer, Lexi rushed back and spent the last weeks with her....hearing all the loving memories they had shared and also secrets her mother hadn't.
Lexi learned just before her mother's passing who her father was...It took her by surprise and she needed time to take it all in. She took months to learn about her father, the owner of the Cold Fury Hockey Team. She learned she had a half sister too. All Lexi ever wanted was more family... and now if these people will be willing to accept her...she may have it.
These two meet under interesting circumstances. Roman is being called on the carpet for another "scandal" by the team's manager Gray. Gray is annoyed with Roman's behavior. She acquired him because he was the best at what he does on the ice...he will defend and throw down, protect his teammates and the puck with every ounce of his being...But he also racks up penalties while doing his job, is always late to practice and now with latest scandal, she feels enough is enough.
Roman walks into the lobby of the Fury's headquarters late and has to wait to go back. It is there he sees this young woman who piques his interest. Lexi is sitting on another couch working her phone. He is struck by her unique sense of style... colorful tights under denim shorts with Doc Martens...finished off by a black leather jacket over a simple white t-shirt. Her face is hidden by silky dark hair and all of this interests Roman.
When both are addressed by the receptionist; the message is clear- Roman is in the doghouse for being late as usual for his appointment.... while Lexi is told her appointment will happen soon... but the receptionist apologizes for the inconvenience. This causes Lexi to look up and show her face to Roman... and his breath is taken away.
This also causes Lexi to say an off side remark about double standards...which opens the door to the both of them having a conversation before either appointment. Roman is thinking this woman is something different...a rule breaker just like him...and Lexi doesn't let Roman know she is aware of how famous he is...and acting like all the other "Hockey Pucks" he is use to. Both go off to their individual meetings... both will not forget the experience.
Lexi proceeds to have her life changing meeting with her dad. She explains all of the backstory; she only is looking to have a personal relationship with this newly discovered family.
This leads to the additional layers of the story...what does Lexi really want, how does the only daughter, Gray, react to hearing she may have a half sister...and what complications does the interest sparked between Roman and Lexi have with all of this.
This story worked for me on so many levels. Every single character had their own personal growth arc. What was unique was how Lexi and her dad were the most mature and even keeled throughout this. We were shown how uncomfortable Roman was with Gray's asserting her managerial power over him. How both refused to acknowledge the good each did for the team. We also saw how Roman was willing to try so very hard for Lexi... and was feeling the changes in him about what he thought was important when it came to her.
These two had off the charts chemistry. They based it in Truth. They were open with each other about fears and concerns... and that is sexy all on its own.
We also got a WONDERFUL BONUS.... a secondary grown-up love story within this tale...Yes people, older generations still wish to have love in their lives...and they deserve it too!
Sawyer Bennett has Cold Fury Hockey down to a science... yet at the same time... she has not become lazy with it... she keeps finding different ways to show us more... more about the sport and the men.
If you are curious about the Cold Fury Team, there are many entries to enjoy. I have been reading them from the beginning and with each one, I fall a little harder for this team.
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
Since the release of
her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer
Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both
the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.
A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.
Sawyer likes her Bloody Mary’s strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.
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