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Review

4 stars!

I love this book! It’s a fun, sweet and sexy sports romance with a beautiful love story, and I couldn’t put it down.

The second book in the Brooklyn Bruisers series, this is the story of NHL team captain Patrick O’Doul. The big, strong enforcer has been putting his body on the line for his sport for years now, and it’s taking its toll. Not only is it mentally draining, but a recurring hip injury leaves him with a lot of pain, and he is forced to attend massage sessions with the team’s therapist.

Ari Betinni is the masseuse and yoga instructor for the Brooklyn Bruisers. She’s passionate about her job, and when the loner team captain winds up on her table and seems averse to being touched, she’s determined to help him. Their frequent sessions turn into an unexpected friendship, and attraction quickly and naturally follows in a sexy, sweet and chemistry-filled romance.

I loved watching these two come together! Patrick has had a difficult life which has left him a bit emotionally scarred, and Ari is coming out of a really bad relationship, so they’re both a bit fragile. Added to that, Ari is nervous about a ‘workplace romance’ and how it might reflect on them both, but Patrick is not a man easily deterred.

“Patrick,” she warned. “I’m not joking. We obviously have a bit of chemistry . . .” She rubbed a bit of oil onto her fingers and then started in on the muscles just above his knee.
He snorted. “We have a bit of chemistry. And hockey has a bit of violence. We practically burned down your bed together.”

There’s a great sense of fun between these two as they joke and laugh together, and the freedom and easiness of their teasing, flirty glances and banter is great.

“Next time you put your hands on me at work I’m gonna start moaning like a porn star.”

And there’s a really gorgeous emotional element to this relationship, especially with Patrick who has lived a mostly closed-off life and hasn’t ever been in love before. He’s this huge, gruff alpha, and seeing his tender side come out absolutely melted me. Whenever he called Ari “sweetheart” I totally swooned! And watching him fall for the first time was amazing and completely heartwarming.

“You’re everything that I want, and everything I need. You already have my heart, and I don’t want it back.”

But it’s not just the job that has Ari worried. She is in an extreme situation with her ex-boyfriend, who is threatening and dangerous, and that stress is starting to creep into all facets of her life. When Patrick becomes involved, it just becomes more complicated, and the two of them will have to battle to find their happy ending.

There’s a bit of drama with this one, but it’s so worth it to watch not only the love story, but also the character development as Patrick and Ari move on from their pasts and embrace what they have found together. It’s fun, sweet and passionate, and really entertaining, and I loved it.

4 stars!