This is not a sports romance. The hero happens to be a hockey player, but the story isn't really about that at all. Its really about a girl in the witness protection program. This book is really more of a contemporary romance similar to her Second Chances series, just about a hockey team instead of a football team.
Kristen picked the WRONG guy. Now, because of it, she is living in a town under a different name and has to fake her own death to try and get him to abandon his pursuit of her. Throwing a wrench in her plan? Kellan, the pro hockey player who comes into the bar/restaurant she works at. He makes no bones about his desire to get her to date him. She wishes she could, but dating is just not in the cards for her.
I have found that most LP Dover books read quick. She typically tends to jump right in and I appreciate that! There are a couple of characters from previous series' of hers (Armed and Dangerous, Gloves Off, Second Chances) but you don't need to have read it. For those of us who have read it, it is just a nice little cameo!
Kellan is not like your typical pro athletes. He isn't a puck bunny chaser. He isn't a man whore. He really is just a nice guy who happens to play professional hockey. He is...dare I say it...NORMAL! How could you not love him!? I wanted him to break through Kristen's barriers because he deserved happiness as much as she did. I am curious to see if the rest of the series keeps this more romantic suspense bend or if it becomes more of a sports romance story.
Ok, now having said that, let me address some of the issues I had. First, she got her degree in Interior Design from MIT. They don't offer degrees in Interior Design. Maybe she got a degree in Architectural studies...But still. You don't go to MIT to be an interior designer. That just doesn't make good sense. You go to a famous design school like Savannah Art and Design, Rhode Island Design, or something. Second, after her first date with Kellan, she tells him about her past, her name change, and faking her own death. WitSec rule number one is you can't tell anyone anything!
I did think the surprise twist was interesting. I hadn't even THOUGHT anything like that. However, the rest of the book is pretty predictable. Overall, this was a good story: good characters, good plot, but not great. I enjoyed it and read it in a few hours, but I probably will forget all about it among the sea of other books I read.
- POV: dual 1st
- Tears: no
- Trope: secret identity, on the run
- Triggers: Kristen's ex was emotionally abusive; it is not described in great detail since the story starts pretty much with her flight from him, but may be upsetting for some readers.
- Series/Standalone: stand alone
- Cliffhanger: spoiler
- HEA: spoiler
Hawke by Sawyer Bennett, The Enforcer by Helenkay Dimon, The Hot Shot by Kristen Callihan...then you will probably like Hard Stick!
See full review on The Book Disciple