Overnight Sensation: A Hockey Romance (Brooklyn Bruisers, #5)

by Sarina Bowen

Everyone knows the girl is off limits. But it's so good to be bad.


There’s this girl... 

Heidi and I have been trading hungry looks all year, and everything she does makes me smile. But I don't do girlfriends, and I certainly can't get involved with the league commissioner's daughter. I need shots on goal, not a hookup and a widely misunderstood paparazzi photo.

Can I resist her, though? The way she teases me should be a game penalty for interference with my libido. 

There’s this guy…

Jason wants me, but he won’t admit it. That man looks at me the way a hockey player eyes the lunch buffet after practice—and I love it. 

But when victory is finally within my grasp, I blow it and humiliate myself. Even then I can’t even avoid him—as the team intern, I’m in constant view of his hard body and cocky smile. 

I need another chance. Jason Castro is about to learn the true meaning of an overnight sensation.

• ISBN10: 1942444745
• ISBN13: 9781942444749
• Publish Date: 22 January 2019 (first published 1 January 2019)
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Tuxbury Publishing LLC
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 338
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

It's always satisfying to read a Sarina Bowen books, and as always, enjoyable.

Jason's backstory really broke my heart, and that he deprived himself love and deep human connection for so many years caused my heart to ache. I loved his family's enthusiasm, when they thought Heidi Jo could be the real deal for him, because I thought she was the perfect person to help him work through his pain and guilt. She was a spunky and resilient heroine, who took a lot of punches and continuously rolled with them. I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed, and there were a few subplots that seemed unnecessary, but the romance was solid.

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[Linda]

This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookworms
Overnight Sensation is a fantastic story, about love, loss, and taking responsibility - the characters are very relatable, and I fell in love!



Bowen truly did it again with Overnight Sensation! She made me lose a little sleep - because I just had to keep on reading. Her knowledge about hockey, and what happens behind the scenes just made this story even better! Everything that has to be done in and around the rink for both games and practice. All the people who have to work to make it all happen. The way players have to deal with nosy reporters, bloggers, and fans. And how difficult it can be to just stay true to oneself when everyone appears to be watching.

Heidi is a fantastic female lead! She's spunky, she's not afraid of hard work, and she has a lot of confidence. It was refreshing to read Overnight Sensation and have Heidi not shy away from anything, even when the going got a little rough. And Jason is totally swoon-worthy! Not only is he a great hockey player, he's just an overall good person. A great friend, loyal, and he does his best to deal with his demons.

Overnight Sensation brought me so much joy - both because the characters completely carried the story, and because the romance was really sweet. And now, I want to re-read the other Brooklyn Bruisers books just to continue staying with these characters who almost feel like they're my friends.



We've just finished the big scramble where all the new prospects skate with the veterans. It's like Hunger Games on Ice - a flock of youngsters trying to show us up and take away our roster spots.



 

 

[stacey_is_sassy]

Hard to break a habit, but worth it for happiness

Overnight Sensation hit my Kindle and I was really excited to get started. I planned my reading attack plan. Step 1 – finish what I’m currently reading. Step 2 – go to work, try not to think about it as it sits there waiting patiently to start tonight. Step 3 - start my Friday Night Party Night with a glass of wine in one hand and my Kindle in the other with Overnight Sensation locked and loaded. Well, like all good plans set by a compulsive plan maker, things went awry. My eldest wakes up in the middle of the night with gut pains. What follows is 12 hours of … “Mum, I’M DYING!!!!”

So, my plans were delayed but Heidi and Castro were definitely worth the wait.

It’s so easy to get sucked into a Sarina Bowen story. She easily sucks me into a world that is different to my own but makes me feel at home and part of their lives. I love the Brooklyn Bruisers series and each instalment leaves me extremely satisfied. We are not “meeting” Heidi and Castro for the first time be we are getting to know them a whole lot more. Both Heidi and Castro are not at all as they seem and the more I got to know them, the more I liked them.

Castro hides his feelings because I think he’s afraid that a little chink in his armour will take away the barrier protecting his sanity and his heart. Out of habit, he pushes away anyone who gets too close. Everyone gets the carefree and fun Castro. No one can know that he suffers guilt and heartache from losing his first love. When Heidi comes into his life, he knows his attraction will do more than dint his armour. If he lets her, she might just shatter it and take his heart.

Poor little rich girl wants to break the rules. Heidi is very dissatisfied with her life and the decisions that were made for her not with her, about her future. Standing against her father’s strong will, she finally decides to take matters into her own hands. But, independence is hard and her first steps in breaking the rules lead to being ripped off, embarrassed and humiliated. Heidi is made of tough stuff though, she is determined to start acting like an adult in control of her life. With a little help from Castro and Silas (Castro's teammate and housemate), her first steps, while wobbly, take her where she wants to go.

Castro needs to stop pushing people away and learn to trust his heart will be safe with those who he's come to love. Heidi needs to learn that money is not the way to happiness. Her wish list needs to have more than pretty knick-knacks. They both need to break their habits and find their way to happiness.

I really enjoyed Overnight Sensation. While not my favourite in the series, it still gave me all the highs and lows I’ve come to appreciate from this amazing storyteller. I love the closeness of these teammates and the Brooklyn Bruiser gang. They care about each other and definitely have each other's backs. The connection between Heidi and Castro jumped off the pages and it was inevitable that once was not going to be enough for the two of them. Luckily, it doesn’t take half the book for the two of them to realise it and we get to see them form a thing that then morphs into a relationship. Of course, there are bumps in their road to happiness but most of them were easily traversed.

I highly recommend the Brooklyn Bruisers series, Overnight Sensation, and ANYTHING that Sarina Bowen writes. If you haven't tried, I suggest you skate to it, NOW!!

[thebookdisciple]

Overnight Sensation continues my obsession with the Brooklyn Bruisers! In this story, we get the "overnight sensation" Jason Castro as our hero. And his lady love? None other than the commissioner's daughter, Heidi Pepper! She is also a Bruisers' intern, hoping to take over Becca's job now that Becca is marrying the owner.

Jason is having an off start to his season. He isn't living up to his previous season and struggling in his new position as right wing. One area Jason doesn't struggle? With the ladies. He nearly has a 1 night stand with Heidi, not knowing she was the commissioner's daughter. Heidi has decided she is tired of doing whatever her father wants. She doesn't want to go back to Bryn Mawr and finish school. She doesn't want to date the boring, father approved guy who is even more boring in bed. She decides to stand up to her father and take risks. I admired Heidi a lot. Being able to say "This isn't the path I want my life on" is really difficult. When you have overbearing parents who hold the purse strings, it's even harder. But, Heidi doesn't shy away from working hard to keep her independence. She also works hard at trying to get Castro to sleep with her! Sometimes its downright comical and other times my heart hurt for her because you can feel her emotions. Heidi was a character that made me want to be a better person. She was able to look at everything in life as an opportunity and I find that incredibly admirable!

While Castro initially comes off as a typical manwhore jock, you learn pretty quickly that isn't the whole story. Don't get me wrong-he is a love 'em and leave 'em guy for sure, but he is also driven, dedicated to his sport and his teammates, and really sweet with his family. He carries guilt about a past tragedy and you see how it shapes him in subtle ways. I wanted him to man up and be with Heidi despite her father, but I understood his predicament (hello, its basically the CEO's daughter)! His past really moulds him in some tragic ways and that was heartbreaking.

In the 200 + books I read each year, Sarina Bowen's are always some of my favorites and Overnight Sensation delivered. Bowen writes dynamic characters that you bond with quickly and creates a book 'family' you never want to leave. I hope she writes this series forever because I will never tire of it!

 

•   POV: dual 1st


•   Tears: no


•   Trope: boss's daughter, hockey


•   Triggers: none


•   Series/Standalone: stand alone within an interconnected series


•   Cliffhanger: no


•   HEA: yes but I wish there was an epilogue!

Max by Sawyer Bennett, The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan, The Good Luck Charm by Helena Hunting...then you will probably like Overnight Sensation!

 

Overnight Sensation

 See full review on The Book Disciple