Hooked On You (The Chicago Rebels, #4)

by Kate Meader

The steamy Chicago Rebels series returns with this racy and sassy tale of embittered hearts, second chances, and going for the goal—on and off the ice.

Violet Vasquez never met her biological father, so learning he left his beloved hockey franchise—the Chicago Rebels—to her is, well, unexpected. Flat broke and close to homeless, Violet is determined to make the most of this sudden opportunity. Except dear old dad set conditions that require she takes part in actually running the team with the half-sisters she barely knows. Working with these two strangers and overseeing a band of hockey-playing lugs is not on her agenda…until she lays eyes on the Rebels captain and knows she has to have him.

Bren St. James has been labeled a lot of things: the Puck Prince, Lord of the Ice, Hell’s Highlander...but it’s the latest tag that’s making headlines: washed-up alcoholic has-been. This season, getting his life back on track and winning the Cup are his only goals. With no time for relationships—except the fractured ones he needs to rebuild with his beautiful daughters—he’s finding it increasingly hard to ignore sexy, all-up-in-his-beard Violet Vasquez. And when he finds himself in need of a nanny just as the playoffs are starting, he’s faced with a temptation he could so easily get hooked on.

For two lost souls, there’s more on the line than just making the best of a bad situation… there might also be a shot at the biggest prize of all: love.

• ISBN10: 1501180908
• ISBN13: 9781501180903
• Publish Date: 29 May 2018 (first published 7 May 2018)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Emily Bestler Books
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

This review was a long time coming. I had a digital ARC for this book, and due to technical difficulties ALL books I downloaded on two days last year disappeared! Once I realized, it was too late to re-download, but then this book went on sale, I bought it, I read it, and I LOVED it!

Meader won me as a fan of this series with the very first book, and my adoration of the Chicago Rebels family continued to grow with each subsequent installment of the series. I was fully invested in these three sisters as they fought to save this team, and I couldn't help but cheer them on in their quest to make the post season.

Every book was great, but I was chomping at the bit for Violet and Bren's story. Both characters were in the background, and there was this sizzle between them. It was time to learn both of their stories.

As expected, each had a past, which was marked with some sadness. However, Bren and Violet were survivors. Violet had fought back from abandonment and cancer. Bren had worked his way back from betrayal and addiction. They both still had a ways to go, however, their best chance for success seemed to be if they worked their way through it all together.

These two were an interesting pairing. He was sort of grumpy with A LOT of drama in his life thanks to his ex. She was vivacious and came off as the penultimate party girl, aka, the type of woman Bren DIDN'T need in his life. However, when push came to shove, Violet was there in Bren's time of need, and he learned that there was a lot more to her than he originally thought.

It was beautiful watching them peel back those layers, and discover the person, who was underneath. They shared their hopes and fears with one another, and a beautiful friendship grew. Obviously, there were still the sparks and desires to be dealt with, and as it always happens in romance novels, they succumbed to their attraction, but it was obvious there was so much more to this pairing than just primal need.

Other things that delighted me:

• I loved seeing Bren being a dad. His girls were fabulous, and he was spectacular with them.
It was great seeing the bond between the sisters grow, and seeing Violet allow herself to become attached to these people.

• Meader pumped up the good feelings as she took us through the post season. It was wonderful being on the road with the Rebels as they chased their Stanley Cup dreams.

• The ending left me in a puddle of feels, which I have no regrets drowning in.

Overall: A wonderful way to end a series I throughly enjoyed, and will absolutely miss.
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[Rowena]

Another fabulous romance from Kate Meader. Bren and Violet's story was my favorite story of the bunch and I was super thrilled about pretty much everything. So, so good. Full review to come soon.

[kimbacaffeinate]

Such a wonderful story. RTC

[Linda]

Hooked On You fulfilled my every expectation, romance, hardship, hockey and more!