I’m starting to become just a tad bit addicted to this series. This book was everything I hoped it would be and Isobel and Vadim were a fantastic freaking couple. Cade and Dante....here I come!!
I loved how So Over You showed a different aspect to hockey, with three estranged sisters having to direct their late father's team, things have been rather tense of late. And Isobel knows her hockey, as she used to play in the past. She was so focused on her hockey she didn't want anything to be in her way - not even the sexy hockey player she was falling for. That is - until he disappeared from her life.
The three sisters are finally starting to open up to each other a little bit, and that is one of my favorite parts on So Over You. Sharing the same father, but never really living together has not made them close. Now, though, from the grave, their father is doing his best to make them get to know each other. Both in some perverse way of still deciding for them, and, possible, because he did love his daughters and want them to have family.
Isobel took some great risks in So Over you, both professionally, personally and as a player. When things got heated up between her and Vadim once more, she wanted to flee. And at the same time, she really felt like she deserved some heat and passion in her life. Other members of the team made me want to punch them, so when Vadim went a bit overboard, I was totally cheering for him!
Characters:
Isobel is my kind of female character. She is tough, but still very feminine. She is open-minded, strong, and knows what needs to be done to make the team successful.
Vadim is the typical stoic Russian hockey player. But there is much more to him than that, and I loved seeing all the different layers to his personality.
Violet is Isobel's younger sister, and I am so very curious about her! She is the most secretive of the sisters, but also the one who seem to be most open-minded.
Harper is Isobel's older sister, and she already has her book out Irresistible You. She was very much present here, too, and as I said above, I loved seeing the three sisters getting to know each other better.
Writing style :
So Over You is written in third person point of view, past tense, and mostly from Isobel's perspective. I love how even her thoughts are a bit sarcastic at times, because her personality really shines through. All the time! There were some chapters from Vadim's perspective too, and I enjoyed getting to know The Ruler much better.
Feels :
All the feels. There was so much both from the past and the present that impacted So Over You, and I loved every part of it. There was hope, anguish, love, despair, happiness, sadness... You name the feeling, I probably felt it!
Violet looked like she belonged here with her fabulous gold bustier, a black band masquerading as a skirt, and lashings of ink adorning her gleaming olive skin. Really, she fit in anywhere that was cool and dangerous.
She turned and woosh! Sure, she didn't need all that breath in her lungs anyway. Vadim Petrov sat on a chocolate velvet couch wearing a sharp suit, and icy stare, and a half-naked blonde.
Well, I am happy to say, I found another fine hockey romance series to add to my "must read" list. I loved all the complicated family ties, and Vadim and Isobel are a couple I have no problem shipping.
"Oh for Gretzky's sake", this book delighted me! There was this one quote, that pretty much summed it up for me: "This family is a soap opera looking for a daytime network slot."
•Pro: So much delicious drama. I am NOT a fan of too much drama between the hero and the heroine, but I tend to enjoy it, when it is largely outside of the relationship, as it was with this book. Mommy issues, daddy issues, identity issues -- there were a lot of issues, but Meader did a great job weaving all these things together.
•Pro: Isobel was a woman to be reckoned with. With her impressive hockey pedigree and sassy wit, I couldn't resist her, but what really made me love her, was her vulnerability. Isobel was sort of adrift following a career ending injury, and I was really rooting for her to find her way.
•Pro: Vadim was broody perfection. He was so complicated and I loved each and every new nook and cranny I learned about him. His adoration for Isobel totally endeared him to me, and even when he was a total grump, he made me smile.
•Pro: This is a second chance romance, and you know who loves second chance romances? This girl! These two had a short lived relationship back when they were teens, and Vadim always held a small flame in his heart for his Bella. It was great to see them back together fanning the flames, and I loved the way Meader slowly kindled the fire.
•Pro: I enjoyed all the relationships that were explored. There was the relationship between the "Chase" sisters, Vadim and his sister, Vad and his mother, Isobel and her father, but of course, my favorite was the relationship between Vadim and Isobel.
•Pro: The Chase sisters are an interesting bunch. I liked learning their history and seeing them their affection for each other grow as they supported each other through the good and the bad times.
•Pro: Meader knows how to write great banter and how to judiciously use pop culture references to spice it up. From Friends and Dirty Dancing to soup in bread bowls, there were all these little additions that made me smile.
•Pro: The epilogue was satisfying and did a great job setting up the next book.
Overall: This is my first Meader book, and I am already reading my next one (Irresistible You). I loved the drama, the complications, the romance, the banter, the characters. The Rebels have won me over, and I cannot wait to read more.
*I would like to thank the publisher for the review copy of this book.
So Over You features a second chance romance with a little twist. Isobel Chase and Vadim Petrov had a moment as teens before her father found out. She won an Olympic Medal before an injury ended her hockey career and is now a one-third owner of the Chicago Rebels. Vadim suffered a knee injury, and the team was able to trade for him. I laughed when I learned about their shared history and became caught up in the discussions, chemistry, and back and forth banter.
The romance quickly pulled me in with its laughter and chemistry before tugging at my heartstrings and connecting me emotionally. While this isn't a true second chance romance, it was powerful, sexy, sweet, and memorable.
I love that each book has the heroine grow. While Isobel deals with the team, siblings, and her coaching career she also reaches a crossroads when an opportunity to play again arises. I felt like the author understood what injured players face.
I love hockey, (Go FLYERS) but can honestly say I am not a huge fan of sports novel romances. Having said that, Meader has me caught up in the overall story arc. Conditions of a will, estranged sisters, and the hockey franchise have pulled me in. While not bogged down with sports talk, we do spend time with the team and get a sense of the inner workings of the arena and sport. We spend time with the players both on the ice and off. Meader has given us villains, supporting characters and obstacles to keep everyone in check. One hockey player is an arse, and I am curious as to whether there is more to his issues. The next book, which I am assuming is the final book will share the youngest sisters story and the fate of the Chicago Rebels. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer