Moonlighter is book one in a delightful new series by one of my favorite authors, Sarina Bowen!! This is a spinoff of sorts from the Brooklyn Bruisers (my favorite). Eric Bayer is an aging hockey player who is the black sheep of his uber successful family. He gets suckered into helping his brother with "The Company". All he has to do is a be a fake boyfriend to an old family friend...that always ends well!
Max's (Eric's brother) company is super secret and part of what they do is provide security. Max is providing security for Alex, and he needs Eric's help. See, turns out Alex has an idiot of an ex who can't take no for an answer. Oh, and she is pregnant with his baby. Eric doesn't want to help, but Max sort of forces his hand. He gets a free trip to Hawaii out of it! Of course Eric and Alex hit it off.
Eric is genuinely funny throughout the story. He has lots of quippy lines and his banter with Alex is great. She has a deadpan type of humor. She's also a brilliant, fierce girl boss CEO! I love that a pro hockey player is the least successful person in this book. I also loved how Eric loves Alex. Their story is full of the unexpected but Eric just seems to roll with it, no matter what and then one day he realizes he loves her. I also liked that Eric's hockey career was coming to an end and he had to face that. In most sports books, the heroes are top notch and if they get injured, they bounce back triumphantly. Eric is dealing with the decision no pro athlete wants to make and he struggles.
Moonlighter gives you a touch of danger as well which I always appreciate. Alex and Eric build a relationship over months and their chemistry is great. You really believe in their feelings for one another. I was completely engrossed in Moonlighter and I can't wait to see where Bowen takes "The Company" next!
- POV: dual 1st
- Tears: no
- Trope: fake relationship
- Triggers: Alex's ex hit her in the face. It happens before the story starts.
- Series/Standalone: stand alone
- Cliffhanger: no
- HEA: yes
A Lie for a Lie by Helena Hunting, Faker by Sarah Smith, Call Her Mine by Melissa Foster ...then you will probably like Moonlighter!
See full review on The Book Disciple