Contents of blog copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2023
I've been gone a while. I started reading fanfiction to escape and I got sucked in an abyss.

I have no idea if someone else is hosting similar challenges. I just grabbed some of what I have hosted before.

Here's to a happy year of great reading
Jan2023: Not much has changed. Writing a fanfiction now O_o as well as reading but I bought 7 new books in December and hope to get those read soon. Crossing fingers about adding challenges (late!)

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

A is for . . . Alex (sports romance)

Repetitive note with slight changes each time:
woo hoo, no note needed ;-)


Alex
by Sawyer Bennett

Series: Carolina Cold Fury Hockey, book 1
Publisher: Loveswept, imprint of Random House
ISBN: 978-0-553-39300-2
Release Date: Oct 2014 
Genre: Sports Romance 
344 Pages

format available: audio, ebook 

Author's website | Twitter 


Book Blurb
Hockey star Alexander Crossman has a reputation as a cold-hearted player on and off the rink. Pushed into the sport by an alcoholic father, Alex isn’t afraid to give fans the proverbial middle finger, relishing his role as the MVP they love to hate. Management, however, isn’t so amused. Now Alex has a choice: fix his public image through community service or ride the bench. But Alex refuses to be molded into the Carolina Cold Fury poster boy . . . not even by a tempting redhead with killer curves.

As a social worker, Sutton Price is accustomed to difficult people—like Alex, who’s been assigned to help her create a drug-abuse awareness program for at-risk youth as part of the team’s effort to clean up his image. What she doesn’t expect is the arrogant smirk from his perfect lips to stir her most heated fantasies. But Sutton isn’t one to cross professional boundaries—and besides, Alex doesn’t do relationships . . . or does he? The more she sees behind Alex’s bad-boy façade, the more Sutton craves the man she uncovers.


My Thoughts
I got to be truthful here, I don't know if I would have purchased Alex if I didn't want to start at the beginning of the series. It was Zach that I was interested in ;-)

Alex isn't just the player they love to hate. . .
I even snicker as I see a sign across the ice proclaiming, Crossman for MVP, Most Valuable Prick.
As you read you can understand somewhat but still. Just because you hate to play hockey doesn't mean you need to be a prick about it and I'm sure if you opened up to your coach he'd help with your dad.

Speaking of the dad. Four chapters in and you don't hear much about him but he's in line for a Worst Parent of the Year award.

Now we head over to Sutton. An old boyfriend has called and they have a date tomorrow night. Let me rephrase that. The boyfriend she had all through college and thought they were getting married until he broke up with her to "sow his oats" two weeks before graduating called and they're going out tomorrow night. As she tries to imagine their last time together, Alex interferes and she gives up for the night.
Then I head to bed myself and hope to God that Alex Crossman isn’t going to star in my dreams. I don’t know if I can handle that type of excitement.
back to reading. . .

Dad flashbacks start in chapter five. I'm polishing his award before I give it to him. Not that he'll notice I did a nice job or anything. The letters are probably slightly off. I'm sorry to say it but so far, both kids would have been better off with a different dad. Too bad this one would have taken someone else out with him. Yeah, it's harsh, but dang. The kid shows talent but your reliving your dreams through him just makes him hate you. A little encouragement would have gone a long ways.

okay, off soapbox now.

back to reading . . .

A definite appreciation of the male species, but not a crush

You do remember that most romance novels have a happy ending right? They're totally gonna get together. I'm just worried what Cassie (truly a slut) and old boyfriend will do before Alex and Sutton get their happy ever after.

back to reading . . .

I don't know what else to say. We met Sutton's Dad. Sutton and Alex have sex and they make love. Alex (and a team mate!) attend Thanksgiving dinner with Sutton's family. I really like Sutton's younger brother. The old boyfriend shows up. This scene is sad and funny at the same time.

I've only read 68% of it (ebook) and am wondering when Cassie is going to show back up or Alex is going to do something to hurt Sutton. Things are going so well and there is so much left in the book that I'm doubting the happy ever after ending.

back to reading . . .
I’m going to keep her until I’m ready to destroy her, and then I’ll just add that to the pile of guilt I’m already suffering under.

Can you feel his pain? This is why I doubt the HEA. grrr. . . I'm polishing that award again. It needs to be nice and shiny so maybe the dad will see his reflection in it. Oh, wait. He'll never see what he needs to see, after all, he's not to blame.

back to reading . . .

Tears.

Any other month I'd be reading the next books in the series (Garrett and Zack), we'll have to see, I may get book 3 read before book 2 ;-)

This was a little sexier than I remember Loveswept being but the last book I read that know was a Loveswept was over 30 years ago. Time for me to check out the line again.

Disclaimer: This was a private purchase but the review is not written any differently than if I had received a complimentary review copy. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours. Book information courtesy of the author and publisher.


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2015

9 comments:

Anna (herding cats-burning soup) said...

Heh. I have these on my tbr pile. I read one of hers last year and holy cow it was HOT. Yay for these having some heat to them :)

Stormie Kent said...

Hi Gina,
Wow, a review every day? I'm impressed. Great post.
A to Z Challenge blog #1416
stormiekent.com/blog

Helen V. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Helen V. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Sounds like a steamy book:) I'll have to look into these.

Kat said...

Sounds like an interesting series. I love hockey, and books, so I will have to add this to my never-ending TBR pile! (I see it's only 99cents on AMZ, maybe I should 1 click. Hmmm....*finger hovers over button* Can't wait to read more of your reviews throughout the month! Happy blogging -and reading-!!

Book Dragon said...

Thanks Kat, I'm crossing my fingers. I discovered this morning that I'm not happy with my G book . . . I may be making a purchase soon ;-)

Brooke Showalter said...

Great post for the first letter! I haven't read a book with a hockey player before.

Brooke Blogs

Christine London said...

Love your candor. This story has a great premise. You got me to wondering how the characters are going to get to that HEA, especially given such a beginning!

Good luck with A-Z :)

Disclaimer

In accordance to the FTC guidelines, I must state that I make no monetary gains from my reviews or endorsements here on Book Dragon's Lair. All books I review are either borrowed, purchased by me, given as a gift, won in some kind of contest, or received in exchange for an honest review.