I really thought a wrote up a blurb about this already. I read it a while back and I really liked it but I realize life happened and I didn’t get a chance to write it out. I never get a dull sports romances from Helena Hunting. So I knew even though I knew nothing about the story, I wouldn’t be disappointed. And again I was not disappointed. I got this on Audible and it is always a bonus to have Jacob Morgan doing the performance. As always… Let’s get to it.

This story follows Bishop and Stevie. Bishop (I am loving the names of all the male characters. I love the chess trope. ) doesn’t like Rook… and I was really interested to find out why. In the first book, I loved Rook. I will let you all in on a secret, I am not a fan of books where men don’t think their sister is grown enough to date men on their own or need their permission to see someone. But I gave it a try nonetheless. Its seems that Bishop and Rook have bad blood because of the time that Bishop spent playing with other teams against Rook. But even if you don’t like the guy why do you assume that a woman showing up to his place is someone he is seeing on the side? (I mean she is banging at all hours of the night… But still.) That is a large leap.

Bishop is this big, surly, mountain of a hockey player who is trying to be on the top of his game. He has a lot going on in her personal life with taking care of his brother after his father’s death. His brother is not trying to listen to what is being told to him which is destined to set any adult on edge. So he is unfazed when people say he is an asshole… and he definitely comes across that way in the first meeting with Stevie. He is traded to the new expansion team in Seattle and he is dealt one blow after another.  His on-ice nemesis, Rook, has been named team captain over him.  Bishop came to the Seattle with a promise of being captain, until Rook waived his no trade clause to join the newest NHL expansion team and took the title. Bishop hates that Rook took his position and is close personal friends with head coach Alex Waters. After Rook makes a suggestion to the coach, Bishop is moved from his beloved forward position to defensemen. There isn’t anyone he hates more than Rook. 

Unfortunately for Stevie, the book starts off badly from her. Stevie is making a long-distance move from LA to Seattle for a new job. She’s excited to be moving in with her boyfriend and starting her career in physical therapy in a few days. The trip hasn’t been great since the airline lost some of her luggage, damaged the rest and treated her to an extended, unscheduled layover but she can’t wait to surprise Joey, arriving early to spend her birthday with him. Instead of a warm welcome, she finds him plowing some random on their couch in what’s supposed to be their new home. She immediately washes her hands of Joey completely, refusing to spend a single minute in that place and accepts use of Rook’s empty apartment in favor of staying with him. Stevie has lived her whole adult life in the shadows of her brother’s NHL success.  She is never sure if people are her friends because of her or because of they are using her to get closer to her brother. (And I wonder what that is like. That has got to be tragic because you can’t even know who to trust.) Stevie ends up coming in the middle of the night to her brother Rook (RJ) house. It is actually his player digs payed for by the team and he is not there since he moved in with his girlfriend. (See post about A Lie for a Lie.) That doesn’t stop the next door neighbor Bishop from insinuating that she is a side piece to RJ.

What follows is a cat and mouse game between Bishop and Stevie…. I had to remember they are younger than I am now… and younger me would also be trying to get a glimpse of the hot neighbor. Bishop isn’t the only one that is making assumptions. Stevie is a bit unnerved to have an attraction to Bishop. Especially since he is a jerk. She believes he’s a manwhore thanks to the constant parade of obvious one-night stands leaving his place. There is nothing I like more than both characters being wrong about each other.

The two’s path have to cross when Bishop is hurt on the ice. He takes a particularly brutal hit and it is an opportunity for Lainey. She really need something that sets her apart from being Rook’s sister. Since she is Bishop needs extra physical therapy to get back on the ice as soon as possible. He agrees to give her a written recommendation in exchange for her help with extra rehab. It seems like they could get through this without falling for one another but romance readers know better.

I felt bad for Stevie because for all her toughness there was nothing that prepared her for having to work with her douchey ex boyfriend. I know she was trying to branch into a new field but the way he kept cornering her and harassing her as if he wasn’t the one that was caught cheating… and it seems that wasn’t the first time. I wondered what was it that he figured he wanted from her. But I will say that it is her douchey ex that brings Bishop and Stevie closer together. Stevie enlists Bishop to be a buffer and he is more than happy to help.

I usually I love a slow burn but I really wanted Stevie to get with Bishop but his groin injury made that quite difficult. I enjoyed that it allowed the two of them to get to know each other. They got over their misconceptions and about each other. It didn’t help that I was also wanting to see the fall out with Rook over dating his sister.

The climax didn’t disappoint but I enjoyed Bishop and Stevie together… In the end as one of Stevie’s worst fears comes true (which almost causes Rook and Bishop to come to blows. Stevie must decide what she wants from life…

Of course, I listened to this on Audible.. and I have to say the performance of Jacob Morgan as Bishop was all I needed to see in order to get it. Jacob Morgan never disappoints. I enjoyed the banter between the two characters as both he and Erin Mallon acted it out. I give it a 5 out of 5. I totally would recommend.