ARC Review: Hard Hitter by Sarina Bowen

Recommended Read!

“…there’s nothing better this time of year than a good hockey story and this series seems to capture not just the romance but the atmosphere of the game as well.”
~ Under the Covers

Hockey romance fans… let yourselves be lured in by the hot man chest covers! The stories inside are just as delicious. In just two books I’ve come to care about this whole team, from the players to the people behind the scenes. I love how we get such a full glimpse of this Brooklyn Bruisers organization in each book and it makes it a great reading experience.

But of course, there’s also the romance! I made the mistake of reading the teaser at the back of Rookie Move and I was dying to read this book. There’s something very appealing to me about the combo between the hard edged team captain Patrick and the team’s massage therapist and yoga teacher Ariana. The chemistry was there from the very beginning and it was a delight to see him, especially, slowly opening up to her. He carries some emotional baggage that he needs to work through, but I was happy that it wasn’t dragged out to be something so difficult to overcome. They complemented each other perfectly while being polar opposites otherwise.

I also loved both characters separately. Patrick came off as this big brute of a man, and it was nice to peel back those layers and find the insecurities and feelings behind why he did what he did at times. I think Ariana was key in getting under his skin with her bubbling attitude and open mind.

I found HARD HITTER to be a fun and surprisingly quick read. It’s very light and without overdone complications and had the right balance for me between team, sport, friendships, conflict and romance. The girls bonded more and there’s an overall feeling of friendship that I really enjoy in these types of stories. And let’s face it…there’s nothing better this time of year than a good hockey story and this series seems to capture not just the romance but the atmosphere of the game as well. It really is so much fun to read for that. And while I enjoyed the first book, HARD HITTER was even better than I was expecting.

Now, I know that Pipe Dreams isn’t about team owner Nate and Becca… Sooooo are we getting more than three books? Because I’m dying for that story. Like I need it NOW!