Lucas' story was a bit frustrating at times, both because Stephanie was so closed off, and because it stopped rather abruptly - only to go straight to a kind of epilogue including Van rather than either Lucas or Stephanie.
Story:
Lucas was a story I had really looked forward to, so it might be that my expectations were a bit high. Cold Fury Hockey is one of my favorite series, and Bennett usually manages to sweep me off my feet immediately. The romance here was quite unconventional, because the two protagonists met at a party and agreed to a no strings hot night of sex. Which was all good and fun until there was a condom malfunction.
Stephanie grew up with parents who never saw her, and who still managed to put quite a bit of pressure on her. Early on, she had decided she'd never have a family of her own. Only, her night with Lucas made her plans change completely. He is such a great character, because while he had to change his plans, too, he managed to do so with rose-colored glasses on. Partly because of his own big family, and partly because he is just a good guy all around.
Dealing with away games, a new family on the way, and a woman who doesn't really think she can do the whole relationship thing put Luc in a foul mood on more than one occasion. Added to that whole situation, his little sister showed up suddenly to announce that she quit med school the last semester before graduation, and things got rather difficult for the good guy.
Characters:
Lucas was always the good guy in the Cold Fury series, and because his brother has been involved in prior books, I felt like I knew him better than some of the other characters.
Stephanie managed her life day to day. With no firm plans, because without plans and people to care about, there was less chance of her being hurt.
Writing style :
Lucas is written in first person, present tense, from either Steph's or Luc's perspective.
Feels :
Once I got over my slight disappointment and frustrations, I felt both the anguish and the fear Steph lived with, as well as the hope and the love overflowing from Luc.
I come from a family that's so fucked up we took the 'function' out of 'dysfunctional' in all of the psychiatry books.
A knock at the door startles me and I know it's Luc, not because I don't have any family or friends who would come knocking, but because I have an internal buzzing that just occurred and my body knows it's him.