The Penalty Box (Vancouver Wolves Hockey, #3)

by Odette Stone

[bookperson]

Okay, so...

I loved 1st book in this series, 2nd one I was kinda iffy about (Stockholm syndrome much?), but this one was absolutely bonkers.

SPOILERS
It started intriguing - Mica is russian, playing for Canada. He has mob friend (I hate this stereotype, but whatever) (btw this friend has his own book, so if you into it...). Police decides to investigate Mica because of it, he's in trouble with the team owner and his manager offers Mica deal - either marry this girl or you're banned from games. He accepts.
Now heroine. Charlie known Mica for two years and had crush on him. Manager offers her as a bride. Charlie has her own problems (she owes money to the mob, but not the same as Mica's friend), so she accepts.

That's normal for arranged marriage/marriage of convenience in contemporaries.

But then... woof.
They're living together because her house and all her things burned down. They fuck (obviously, but their 1st time happens apx 60% into the book). Before that Mica says to Charlie that he don't want children ever, she's like whatever, idc either way. And they bang drunk and without a condom. Mica says he'll just pull out.... My dude, that's not how this works.
And the next morning she asks her "so you're going to get on the pill, right?" Oh My God, I was ready to cut this man, WHY DONT YOU GO AND GET VASECTOMY IF YOU DONT WANT CHILDREN, YOU DUMB FVCK?? Oh, that's right, because plot.
I hate it here.

Then she gets pregnant, he just walks away for two weeks. BTW there are subplot that someone's basically stalks Charlie, especially when she is in the house alone. Where is your common sense, my guy? She's pregnant and alone for two weeks.

Well, there are also this stalker, his ex that wants Mica back and plots dumb shit, Mica's tragic past etc etc. And they're keeping the child. I hated this moment so much, but I guess plot?

All of these books are formulaic, but at least I had fun with the first two, but third one drove me insane after 50-60%.