The Risk is part enemies to lovers part fake relationship all in a college hockey setting. I love Elle Kennedy and her Briar University guys. Now, I also love her Harvard guys!
Rain makes things wet. Somebody call the Nobel Prize judging committee.
Brenna is the daughter of the Briar hockey team's coach and therefore the sworn enemy of the Harvard hockey team. Brenna isn't close with her dad any more, but she still will always be his daughter; that means she will NOT be fooling around with the captain of the Harvard team. Brenna is a very free spirit kind of girl. She doesn't 'do' relationships. She has a solid amount of self confidence and knows she is gorgeous. This made her a little unrelateable to me. She is the type of gorgeous that guys literally drool over. She knows it, too. I don't know how to relate to a girl like that so she felt a little distant from me. However, when she realized that Jake might just be her 'in' to a coveted internship, she lies and tells the man in charge that Jake is her boyfriend.
Jake is an accomplished hockey player who is already signed with the NHL and isn't going to let this girl wreck his team his senior year! I liked Jake because he is smart and sassy (I know, not a word we usually use to describe guys, but it fits!). He enjoys messing with Brenna-its like a battle of wills. They have great banter. He is determined to not let this girl wreck his senior season by messing with his teammates. He didn't count on being attracted to her though. These two are hilarious! Both of them have quick humor and razor sharp comebacks. It made this such a fun read.
According to my father, Coach Pederson sacrifices babies to Satan and performs blood magic in his spare time.
Jake quickly became one of my favorite book boyfriends. He is smart enough for Harvard, respected by his teammates, humble about his future, and dedicated to his sport because he loves it. All of that makes him so hot in my book. Brenna wasn't my favorite heroine but that is kind of the theme of this series. These girls are a bit harder to like. Normally, its the guys who are doucebags and come around. In Briar U, its the girls who are tougher for me to like. Weird, right? But oddly, its a nice change of pace. Also, the slight backstory of Brenna's ex was interesting. I think everyone knows a story like his from their hometown so it really was relevant and important. I also loved that she got out of that relationship!
- POV: dual 1st
- Tears: no
- Trope: enemies to lovers, fake relationship, college, hockey
- Triggers: none
- Series/Standalone: stand alone within an interconnected series
- Cliffhanger: no
- HEA: yes
Overnight Sensation by Sarina Bowen, Elements of Chemistry by Penny Reid, The Hot Shot by Kristen Callihan...then you will probably like The Risk!
See full review on The Book Disciple