Tag Archives: LoveSwept

Early Review: Zack by Sawyer Bennett

Posted in 4.5 hearts, Reviews by

Zack by Sawyer Bennett

Zack by Sawyer Bennett
Series: Cold Fury Hockey #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: June 9th 2015
Links: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett goes for a hat trick with the latest romance in a sexy series about cool-as-ice hockey players and the women heating up their lives.

Warning: The following contains spoilers from a cliffhanger in Garrett.

Rising star Zack Grantham has been stuck in a downward spiral of grief that has put his career on hold. Back on the road with the Carolina Cold Fury, still crippled by emotional baggage, and now a single dad, he’s in need of some serious help with his son. But while the nerdy new nanny wins his son’s heart, Zack isn’t sure he’s ready for a woman’s touch—even after getting a glimpse of the killer curves she’s hiding under those baggy clothes.

Kate Francis usually keeps men like Zack at a distance. Though his athlete’s body is honed to perfection, he refuses to move on with his life—and besides, he’s her boss. Still, the sparks between them are undeniable, tempting Kate to turn their professional relationship into a personal one. But before she makes a power play for Zack’s wounded heart, Kate will have to open him up again and show him that love is worth the fight.

OH MY GOD. YES. I. Loved. Zack! I’d been seriously SO excited for Zack’s book after reading what happened to him in Garrett. My heart was devastated for him… But I knew that his tragedy would make for an even better book. And yes, Zack absolutely did not disappoint! It’s currently my favorite of the Cold Fury Hockey series, which I highly recommend! It’s a fantastic series about hot, sexy hockey players who fall hard for their women… what’s not to love!?

Zack is a lot different than the two previous books in the series. It has a more serious tone to it, and at the same time, I laughed the hardest in this book. An odd combination, but Sawyer Bennett rocked it. I was a bit worried about how Zack would play out, but I should’ve trusted the author from the beginning. I absolutely adored Zack and Kate’s story – I loved the angst, the forbidden-ness, the sweet moments… it really was a fantastic book.

My insides feel dead, my capacity to care for much of anything seems lost, but there are two things that still keep me functioning. It’s the prospect of playing hockey again, and, most important, my son, Ben.

Zack Grantham is grief-stricken and devastated over the accident that led to the death of Gina, the mother of his son, Ben. Even though he never married Gina, he still loved her, and his heart is still in mourning over her. But life moves on, and when Zack is finally able to get back into hockey, he needs to hire a nanny to take care of Ben when he’s away.

Enter Kate Francis. A dorky, nerdy, hilarious twenty-three year old woman working her way through college. Kate is seriously the most endearing, adorkable heroine ever. I honestly love Kate more than Zack, because she’s just so funny, heartwarming, and incredible. I love Zack too, but he got frustrating sometimes… But Kate is pure heart and gold. I adored the way she took care of Ben and grew to actually love him. She’s so great with him, and she’s fantastic with dealing with a grieving Zack. She’s the only person to have been able to make him smile and laugh since Gina died.

Zack may not have thought much about Kate when she first starts working, but one glimpse of Kate in her short, revealing pajamas and Zack is hooked. The tension between Kate and Zack is out of this world… this book is hot, hot, hot!!! I was fanning myself like crazy once they start a sex-only relationship. Some scenes, like the one in Zack’s man cave… hot. damn. Of course, Zack doesn’t want feelings involved between them because he thinks he’s no longer capable of love after Gina. Which I get, but Zack is stubbornly oblivious to his own growing feelings for Kate.

There’s a part of me that wants to show her everything.
To show here all about exploration and intimacy and all of the different ways I could make her come. I want to learn her body and have her get to know mine. I want her wild with abandon, and every time I take her I want it to be in a way that completely possesses her.

Zack was frustrating in this book, with his refusal to accept his loving Kate, yes, but it was the kind of frustrating that I could understand. Sawyer Bennett did an excellent job in writing and explaining Zack’s character – we can appreciate how he loved Gina, but we can firmly see that Zack grows to be IN LOVE with Kate. His love for the mother of his son doesn’t at all diminish his love for Kate.

“You were what has been missing all my life.”

What was so unexpected about this book was how funny it was. I was expecting the angst, what with the guilt and forbidden aspect to Kate and Zack’s relationship, but I had no idea I would be cracking up so much throughout this book! Kate is so, SO funny. She says the most hilarious, crazy, adorkable things… she’s a complete dork! And Ben was absolutely adorable too – Ben and Zack together totally melted my heart.

If you’re a fan of the series, Zack is a must read! It wrung so many feelings out of me, but by the end I was smiling like a goofball. It was the perfect combination of sexy, angsty, and emotional. Aside from Zack’s frustrations, this book was nearly perfect!

4.5 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: Cold Fury Hockey series

Alex by Sawyer Bennett Garrett by Sawyer Bennett
Zack by Sawyer Bennett Ryker by Sawyer Bennett Hawke by Sawyer Bennett

#1 ~ Alex: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Garrett: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Zack: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Ryker: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Hawke: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#6 ~ Max: Ebook • Goodreads (Dec. 13, 2016)

Check out a special guest post with Sawyer Bennett, in which she interviews the Cold Fury players!

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ARC Review: Crushed by Lauren Layne

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Crushed by Lauren Layne

Crushed by Lauren Layne
Series: Redemption #2 (full reading order)
Release Date: April 14th 2015
Links: Ebook • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Lauren Layne’s latest novel about the healing power of redemption tells the story of a crush gone wickedly wrong, proving that what you want isn’t always what you need.

Growing up in New York, Michael St. Claire never expected to spend his twenties wearing cowboy boots. But that was before he learned about his real father, a total stranger with a family in Cedar Grove, Texas. Once in the Lone Star State, Michael meets Kristin Bellamy, who is exquisitely refined and everything Michael always thought he wanted in a woman. The only problem is that Kristin is dating Michael’s new half-brother, Devon.

Kristin’s mouthy, curvy sister Chloe has always been in love with Devon Patterson. So when Michael offers to help Chloe break up Devon and Kristin, Chloe agrees to a deal that seems too good to be true. Before long, Chloe finally gets her man, only to make a startling discovery: She no longer wants the guy she had to fight for—she wants the one who stood by her side.

After all he and Chloe have been through, Michael swears he’s damaged goods. Can Chloe convince him that love is worth the risk?

This is my first read from Lauren Layne, but it won’t be my last! Thankfully, since I hadn’t read the previous book, each of the books in this series can be read as a standalone, though I got the gist of what happened in the previous one in this novel. I think I still might give the previous books in the Redemption series a try, since I adored Crushed! It was an easy book to read and enjoy – I highly recommend this sweet, funny, heartwarming novel about finding redemption and falling in love with the person you least expected.

Michael St. Claire left his dysfunctional, upper class family to move to Texas to find a way to meet his biological father, Tim Patterson. His relationships with his family and friends are a mess, and he’s hoping to find a place to belong during his stay in Texas. While working as a personal trainer, he meets Kristin Bellamy, who in addition to being gorgeous, has connections to the Pattersons. He’s attracted to Kristin, but she has a boyfriend, and all he really wants an in to meet the Pattersons.

“Cute,” the girl says, gesturing between Kristin and me. “If you two copulate, I’m calling Pampers to tell them I know where their next baby model is coming from.”

Chloe Bellamy is Kristin’s sister. Chloe has always lived in Kristin’s shadow and she’s not about to move out of that place anytime soon. She’s a sarcastic, feisty, straightforward girl – I loved her! She’s hilarious, relatable, and did I mention sarcastic? She’s the kind of heroine I wish I could be friends with. But underneath all the sarcasm, Chloe doesn’t have much confidence in herself, and it doesn’t help that the boy she’s in love with is her sister’s long-time boyfriend, Devon.

When Chloe and Michael meet, they’re… intrigued by each other. Chloe is unlike anyone Michael’s met, and vice versa. They banter hilariously and they discover that their companionship is easy and comfortable. When Michael become’s Chloe’s personal trainer, they spend more time together and they become somewhat friends, though Michael still keeps his secret about his father. He decides to get an in to the Pattersons through Chloe instead of Kristin now, and he offers to help Chloe get Devon to notice her. Neither of them expected that their friendship could turn into something more.

And somewhere from the vicinity of my chest, the truth sneaks up on me. I know what I really mean is I like you like this. I like you so much more than I should.

I loved the dual POV between Michael and Chloe. I got to understand them so much better that way, especially Michael. He thinks so lowly of himself – he’s a bit of a tortured hero. He’s been hurt and has hurt other people in the past, and he doesn’t believe he deserves a happy ending even though the girl who’s perfect for him is right in front of him. I loved the way their relationship grew in a gradual, realistic way. And the banter between them was the best! I was laughing so much throughout this book – it’s a light-hearted read with just the right amount of angst. I highly recommend it!

With Chloe, it’s easy to forget that I’m nobody.
Because she makes me feel like somebody.

4 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: Redemption series

Isn't She Lovely by Lauren Layne Broken by Lauren Layne Crushed by Lauren Layne

#0.5 ~ Isn’t She Lovely: Ebook • Goodreads
#1 ~ Broken: Ebook • Goodreads
#2 ~ Crushed: Ebook • Goodreads

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Release Day Review: Garrett by Sawyer Bennett

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Garrett by Sawyer Bennett

Garrett by Sawyer Bennett
Series: Cold Fury Hockey #2 (full reading order below)
Release Date: February 17th 2015
Links: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

USA Today bestselling author Sawyer Bennett hits the ice with the story of a playboy athlete whose winning ways lead him to a beautiful woman with a lot to lose.

Carolina Cold Fury star Garrett Samuelson never wants to miss out on a single minute of fun. Whether he’s playing hockey, hanging out with friends, or walking the red carpet with a new date on his arm, he lives every day to the fullest. When he meets Olivia Case, he sees someone who’s exactly his type—confident, sexy, smart . . . his next fling. But the more he pursues her, the more Garrett shares a side of himself that other women don’t normally get to see.

Olivia has been keeping a secret. While Garrett lives for the next thrill, Olivia’s not sure she’ll live to see the next day. She’s undergoing treatment for some serious medical issues, and she doesn’t have time for a relationship with no guarantees—especially one with a hot-as-sin womanizer who won’t take no for an answer. But as she gets to know the real Garrett, Olivia can’t help falling for him . . . hard. To reveal the truth would mean risking everything—but you can’t score without taking the tough shots.

Okay, seriously… the Cold Fury Hockey series most definitely has the HOTTEST covers ever!!! I could look at them and drool all over them all day.

I love women and I love fucking them. But they take a backseat to hockey… my one true love.
Always have, always will.

I’m very picky about books with a hero who’s a manwhore, but Sawyer Bennett nails this one. Garrett was first introduced in Alex as the charming, lovable manwhore, and I was sooo looking forward to his story – and to him getting knocked on his ass when he fell in love. And oh my… when Garrett falls in love, he falls deep and hard. I adored how committed, how loving he was once he found the one woman in the world for him, who turns out to be Alex’s girlfriend’s cousin, Olivia. It’s easy to see how much Garrett cherishes Olivia… and all the more so when he finds out that Olivia might not live to see her next day.

Olivia, Sutton’s cousin, has cancer. She’s terrified that she might not live for very long. But she’s not a quitter, and she’s determined to live life to the fullest. Olivia was such a sweet, admirable heroine. Once she decided to live life to the fullest, she meant it. She tried hard not to let her illness get her down – and having the attention of a hot hunk of a guy certainly helped.

Garrett is determined to make Olivia give him – them – a chance. There’s so much chemistry between them… they are on fire together!! But what starts as a purely sexual relationship quickly turns into something more, something deeper, to Olivia’s reluctance. She doesn’t want to give Garrett hope that what they have will last, because she doesn’t know if she will last. But Garrett, who is amazing, funny, and so freaking GOOD to Olivia, makes Olivia see that what they have is worth it all.

“I love you, Olivia. I waited a long time to find this and there is nothing more important in my world than you. Don’t trivialize this. Accept it. You are it for me.”

The tender moments, sexy moments, and heartbreaking moments in Garrett all make for one highly entertaining read. I was rooting for Garrett and Olivia, who make the most adorable couple ever! Romance fans, especially sports romance fans, should definitely pick up this read!

4 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: Cold Fury Hockey series

Alex by Sawyer Bennett Garrett by Sawyer Bennett
Zack by Sawyer Bennett Ryker by Sawyer Bennett Hawke by Sawyer Bennett

#1 ~ Alex: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Garrett: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Zack: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Ryker: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Hawke: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#6 ~ Max: Ebook • Goodreads (Dec. 13, 2016)

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ARC Review: Too Hot to Handle by Katie Rose

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Too Hot to Handle by Katie Rose

Too Hot to Handle by Katie Rose
Series: The Boys of Summer #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: January 27th 2015
Purchase: Ebook
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Katie Rose’s Boys of Summer series returns for a delicious double-header—with the story of total opposites who are drawn to each other like moths to a flame.

Nikki Case is no fan of baseball. Her ex gambled away a fortune on the sport, and now her PR firm has tasked her with cleaning up the league’s most notorious bad boys. The New Jersey Sonics are known for wild womanizing and booze-fueled brawls, so Nikki expects the worst. Her first stop in the battle to win hearts and minds is star hitter Jake Baldwin—a legendary ladies man so smokin’ he threatens to melt her tough-girl armor.

Although his teammates prank her without mercy, Jake admires the way Nikki gives as good as she gets. She may be the queen of frost, but there’s kindling beneath those sultry curves—and he’s just the man to ignite it. But when a PR nightmare lands the Sonics in headlines across the country, Nikki is ready to walk. Only then does Jake realize how important she is to the Sonics’ success—and that winning the love of a good woman is no game.

I’m such a big fan of sports romances, so when I saw the smokin’ cover of Katie Rose’s Too Hot to Handle, I had to read it! I always love a good sports romance book that can get me into the sport and game, especially when I am pretty much the least athletic person ever!

Jake Baldwin is a certified manwhore. He charms his way through women and he’s not looking to settle down anytime soon. But when his team continues to get bad publicity, Jake meets his match in the woman whose job is to clean up the New Jersey Sonics’ act.

Nikki Case is the woman who’s tasked with fixing up the Sonics’ reputation, but it’s not that easy. The players are rough on her, playing pranks on her, but she’s determined to succeed in her job. She aims her focus on Jake, the star player, but she never expects him to turn his womanizing charms to her.

What starts as a prank for Jake turns out to be so much more as he spends time with Nikki. He slowly manages to take down those walls around Nikki’s heart, but for all his womanizing ways, is he ready for more? I really enjoyed Jake’s character – he may have been a manwhore prior to Nikki, but he’s also a man with a heart of gold. And when he falls, he falls hard. He was just the sweetest with Nikki!

Too Hot to Handle was a sweet and sexy book that fans of sports romances will definitely enjoy. It’s pure fluff, but entertaining fluff. I was rooting for Nikki and Jake to make it work between them. It’s a fairly predictable book, but I was engaged the whole time reading. These two made an adorable couple, and some scenes between them just pulled at my heart! For those looking for a sweet, sexy, quick read, this is for you!

3 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: The Boys of Summer series

Bring on the Heat by Katie Rose Too Hot to Handle by Katie Rose

#1 ~ Bring on the Heat: Ebook • Goodreads
#2 ~ Too Hot to Handle: Ebook • Goodreads
#3 ~ The Heat of the Moment: Ebook (Sept. 22, 2015)

Blog Tour + Early Review & Giveaway: Alex by Sawyer Bennett

Posted in 4 hearts, Blog Tours, Giveaways, Reviews by

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Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour for ALEX by Sawyer Bennett!

Alex by Sawyer Bennett

Alex by Sawyer Bennett
Series: Cold Fury Hockey #1 (full reading order below)
Release Date: October 14th 2014
Loveswept
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USA Today bestselling author Sawyer Bennett scores big-time with the first novel in a sexy new series hot enough to melt the ice.

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.

Buy Links:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • iTunes • Kobo

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I’m becoming a bigger and bigger fan of Sawyer Bennett’s! This is only the second book I’ve read by her, but I’m definitely going to go out of my way to read more of her books. They’re so addicting, sexy, and fun! Alex is Sawyer Bennett’s next upcoming release, and I had so much fun reading it. I highly recommend it for contemporary romance lovers and sports romance lovers.

Alex is the first book in the Cold Fury Hockey series, a series about the members of the Cold Fury hockey team. I know next to nothing about sports, but I freaking loooove sports romances. I don’t know why, but this genre just works for me. I always enjoy myself when reading a sports romance, and Alex was no exception. It’s a sweet, sexy story about a compassionate woman who shows a man who’s never had any love in his life how to love.

Alex Crossman is, to put it bluntly, a jerk. Abused all his life by his alcoholic father, Alex has a heart as cold as the ice he plays on. He has a career playing a sport he hates and he has a ton of bitterness and resentment holed up inside him. But his attitude problems have consequences – he needs to clean up his act or he won’t be able to play. To restore his public image, he’s to be the spokesperson for an anti-drug abuse campaign. Alex thinks it’s simple enough, but when he meets the woman in charge of the campaign, nothing is ever the same.

Sutton Price loves what she does as a social worker. She’s a counselor for drug abuse patients, so she’s put in charge of the anti-drug abuse campaign. What she never expects as the spokesperson is a man who fires her up like no other.

When I look up, I’m momentarily stunned speechless by what may possibly be a mirage. It has to be, because seriously. . . It’s  beyond belief.
He’s beyond belief.
In fact, he’s beyond my imagination.

Sutton and Alex have an instant, hot chemistry when they meet, and while Alex wants to pursue where the chemistry will lead, Sutton is hesitant because of the business aspect of their relationship. She knows why he’s the spokesperson for the campaign, though she doesn’t seem to see Alex as the cold-hearted man everyone else does.

“So, what’s your deal? Are you the team’s bad boy or something?”
“Something like that,” I mutter, not willing to expound on the millions of reasons I’m sitting here. “Apparently I have a bit of an attitude problem.”
Then Sutton does something that I don’t think I’ll ever forget as long as I live. She smiles at me, in a mischievous way, her eyes going more gold than green. She’s so fucking beautiful in this very moment, my breath actually catches.
“I can deal with attitude,” she says with a wink. “Makes things interesting.”

Alex and Sutton are friendly and flirty, and soon, as they spend more and more time together on the campaign, they become more familiar with each other. Sutton sees more to Alex than meets the eye, and Alex warms up to Sutton, teaching her the ways of hockey, and inadvertently falling back in love with the sport himself. These two were really just the sweetest – I was smiling so much throughout this book. I loved seeing Alex and Sutton grow close together, and I loved how both of them changed something in each other for the better.

Our faces just inches apart, he tells me softly, “I lucked out when I met you, Sutton.”

The change in Alex after meeting Sutton was so sweet to read. She teaches him about love, how he’s capable of loving and worthy of being loved. It’s not easy for Alex to accept all this, but Sutton is the perfect girl for him. She doesn’t back down from him and she’s so sweet to him. I fell for their romance – it was the perfect combination of hot chemistry and sweet romance. I definitely recommend reading this book!

4 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: Cold Fury Hockey series

Alex by Sawyer Bennett Garrett by Sawyer Bennett
Zack by Sawyer Bennett Ryker by Sawyer Bennett Hawke by Sawyer Bennett

#1 ~ Alex: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Garrett: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Zack: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Ryker: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Hawke: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#6 ~ Max: Ebook • Goodreads (Dec. 13, 2016)

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Sawyer BennettUSA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Website • Facebook • Twitter

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Alex Crossman/Carolina Cold Fury Hockey Jersey

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