Hard Hitter

This is the 2nd book in the Brooklyn Bruisers series. This can be read as a standalone novel. For reader enjoyment and understanding, I recommend reading the series in order. Patrick has been hot for Ariana AKA Ari for a while. Every time she is near, he feels the heat turn up to scalding. The problem is she has not seemed to notice him in return. Ari loves her job, and does not want to have to choose Patrick over the terrific position she has now. She is worried her boss would not approve of the employees connection. With all that she is still facing from past problems, she is afraid to try again. This series is full of hot men! I found myself laughing and crying right along with the characters. I love how hockey can be hot and fun at the same time.

3.5 stars. The second in the Brooklyn Bruisers hockey romance series, Hard Hitter focuses on team captain Patrick O'Doul and team masseuse and yogi Ari Bettini. O'Doul is the quiet, mysterious, stalwart team enforcer, taking hit after hit and entertaining the hockey crowds with fights each night. But now the team trainers are forcing O'Doul to get massage therapy because he's experiencing serious pain during the lead up to the playoffs. Enter Ari, who has been through a terrible and recent break-up, and is trying to swear off men. Her touch and calm demeanor take a bit to get inside O'Doul's head, but once it does...their chemistry ends up being off the charts. But there are some serious skeletons in the closet and Ari and O'Doul need to figure out how and if building a relationship will work... while their pasts threaten to tear them each apart. I really enjoyed Patrick and Ari's story. Darker than Georgia and Leo's from the first book, Hard Hitter focuses on strong characters with a lot of baggage. I appreciated the amount of time Sarina Bowen committed to having them sort out all of their issues. The narrative is in third person, but each chapter alternates between Patrick and Ari's viewpoints, and they're both just...really good people who need each other. Patrick's story is haunting and frustrating, and I loved how much of a contrast there was between his public persona and his private one. In particular, his views on fighting in hockey, and his opinion of himself just felt so authentic. Ari, meanwhile, is in a really really awful situation with her ex, who's essentially stalking her. She really questions herself and her opinions throughout the book, and I appreciated that Bowen allowed her to be that cautious and vulnerable. I also adored the secondary characters - we get to see a lot more of Leo Trevi and Georgia Worthington from the first book, as well as Becca, Nate, Lauren and some of the other players on the team. I loved how naturally they all fit into Ari and Patrick's world. Can we talk a little about the love scenes, because they are some of the most...interesting that I've read from Sarina. Let's just say that the characters take full advantage of the benefits of a character's occupation. It's creative and sexy. There are definitely moments when Hard Hitter gets much darker than you expect it to - there are issues with drugs, addiction, domestic abuse and more that get dealt with. It's not a super light read. Yet the romance really works, and like the mysterious O'Doul himself, takes a bit to get to know. You'll be glad you did, though, because there are funny, sweet, kind, and sexy moments that will make you swoon...and make you wish desperately for the next book in the Brooklyn Bruisers series.

This review was written by Marie for a guest review post on Ever After Book Reviews blog: 5 Stars Wow! I love, love, love, love, love this book! It’s a perfectly written romance that has all of the elements necessary for a feel-good love story. A rough around the edges but gooey in the middle hot guy… check. A beautiful and vulnerable woman with a bit of a spitfire personality… check. A great theme… check. An intimate situation that sends their bodies in to a confused frenzy… check! Ramped up sexual tension… double check!! Throw it all together, and in the end, it’s perfection. The story of Patrick and Ari is wonderful. It’s exciting, sweet, and the two of them have tremendous chemistry. I can always count on Sarina Bowen to concoct yet another wonderful romance that’s impossible to put down! ***I read and reviewed a paperback copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All conclusions reached are my own***