Review: Hooked By Love - Toni Aleo

Things are out of control for the Sinclair boys! With two already in the NHL, Jace Sinclair is ready to follow in his brothers’ HUGE skates in the last Bellevue Bullies novel…

Jace Sinclair here, and I’m amazing. There is no other way to describe me. I am the leading scorer for the Bellevue Bullies, I’m the captain, and people love me: my family, my teammates, my coach, and the NHL. I already have one foot in the draft and I’m ready. This is my last year in college–it’s basically a conditioning year to get me ready for the NHL, to further my game, and I have to be focused. But then, it’s also my last year to have fun and not give a damn before my life really starts. Which means I’m gonna run through every girl I meet. That’s my plan. Because my one and only love is hockey. It keeps me warm even when it’s freezing. It’s always there when nothing else is. And it pushes me to be the best I can be. It’s my love.

That is, until I see her against a tree with a guitar.

Avery.

The last thing I wanted was to meet anyone. My heart is on the bench because I’ve watched my mom get broken by the person I call my father, and I don’t want that for myself. I don’t want to be hurt by anyone. I can’t give them that power.

But my heart is begging for ice time, and I can’t control it around her.

* * *

I’ve always been in the background. No one has ever had time for me and that’s fine; I’ve learned to cope. Coming from a family where hockey is life, the last thing I want is some big, burly hockey player charging at me. I don’t have time for it, but Jace Sinclair isn’t one to be deked around. The thing is, I came to the University of Bellevue for one reason and one reason only. To make my dreams of being a singer/songwriter come true. To work in the industry and pay my dues. Become who I really want to be.

I didn’t want to meet anyone. I didn’t want to end up freezing the puck with him. It’s not what I want.

I have demons.

I have issues.

Living in the shadows, no one even knew until it was too late. But Jace wants to know.

He wants me.

And that scares me the living hell out of me.

We were so worried about what would happen if we fell, but we never thought what could happen in the process of falling. We never saw it coming. But it’s here, and the repercussions are not pretty. We should have known that there is no way out of the zone when you are being Hooked by Love.

(Courtesy of Goodreads website)

My review:

I actually read this a couple of days ago, but needed time to get my head around just how absolutely fucking amazing this book is!

Confession- I pretty much binge on anything written by Toni Aleo, but Jace's and Avery's story grabbed me by the throat and just would not let go. Even though it has been more years than I care to admit since I stepped foot on a college campus, I felt as if I was reliving those years- feelings of insecurity and new-found freedom, delight in independence but still wanting someone to count on, everything.  

I have stated before that switching POVs is not something I really like, but no one does it like Toni. She makes it seem so easy to slip from Jace's mind into Avery's that I never felt lost or confused- each character's voice was so distinct that it was pretty clear who was speaking.

Toni- this book made me laugh, roll my eyes, cry and cheer. I simultaneously wanted to hug and strangle characters. And, much as it pains me to say, the hate that I feel for one character in particular can't be healthy. But you, my dear, have written yet another book that I can't wait to tell everyone to read!!

It Feels So Good to Be Back!!!!

I can't even begin to describe the craziness that has been my life lately... School starting...surgery...back to school...7th graders are crazy...trying to keep my sanity and now, THANK GOODNESS for Christmas break!! I recently found a new series--new to me, at least- and I devoured the whole series in a week. I am so lucky that my GT students like to read--they get their work done, open a book and you better believe I read too. I have to show that I practice what I preach, right? So, the series is the Black Knights, Inc series by Julie Ann Walker and OH MY GOD!! The link to her site is here. If you like your men former military, total alphas and on motorcycles--check these out immediately!!

Teaser Tuesday: Here comes Jordie!! Toni Aleo's Overtime is coming soon!!

Overtime by Toni Aleo

Series: Assassins Series #7

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Goodreads

PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON

Down and out with an injury keeping him away from the game, Assassins’ defenseman Jordie Thomas lives for the blades of his skates on the ice and the feeling of oblivion off it. With no choice but to heal, he’s forced away from the sport that runs through his veins. With everything at stake and darkness setting in, he quickly finds himself spiraling even further out of control. As his life begins to come crashing down around him and his contract with the Nashville Assassins on the line, he’s given an ultimatum. Ready or not, Jordie is forced to face his past, the fears that consume him, and the one woman he let walk away.

Kacey King had her professional dreams come true, yet her heart was battered and broken. With an Olympic gold medal around her neck, she’s ready to look forward to the future but without the one man she wanted in it. She’s missing the key pieces of her heart she left months ago with the only person who was capable of destroying it, causing her to falter in all her plans to move on.

In the game of life, there are winners and losers, and neither Jordie nor Kacey want to be on the losing bench. If only Jordie could convince Kacey he’s a changed man and that he wants her right by his side as his MVP for the biggest and best parts of a life they build together. With emotions running high and the game on the line, can two proud people find happiness with each other, or will their hearts and souls be left in the cold? Will they see that sometimes having someone by your side who knows the good, bad, and broken is better than going it alone and losing everything through the back of the net? They are out of time on the game clock and fighting for the win of their lives.

But overtime was made for an Assassin like Jordie.

---------- Teaser ----------

     “What? Scared I’ll get my feelings hurt?”

“You don’t have feelings, Jordie. You’re allergic to them,” she said simply, her hand digging deeper into his skin. 

He smiled, covering the grimace that was surfacing. She did her job great, but she had always been a little rough. “That’s not true. I have feelings for you.”

She paused and looked up at him. “Wanting to fuck me may be a feeling but not the feelings I want.”

---------- About the Author ----------

Toni Aleo is the author of the Nasvhille Assassins series: Taking Shots, Trying to Score, Empty Net, Falling for the Backup, and Blue Lines.

When not rooting for her beloved Nashville Predators, she’s probably going to her husband’s and son’s hockey games and her daughter’s dance competitions, taking pictures, scrapbooking, or reading the latest romance novel.

She lives in the Nashville area with her husband, two children, and a bulldog. Read more about Toni here.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads 

Teaser Tuesday: Toni Aleo's Overtime

Overtime by Toni Aleo

Series: Assassins Series #7

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Goodreads

PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON

Down and out with an injury keeping him away from the game, Assassins’ defenseman Jordie Thomas lives for the blades of his skates on the ice and the feeling of oblivion off it. With no choice but to heal, he’s forced away from the sport that runs through his veins. With everything at stake and darkness setting in, he quickly finds himself spiraling even further out of control. As his life begins to come crashing down around him and his contract with the Nashville Assassins on the line, he’s given an ultimatum. Ready or not, Jordie is forced to face his past, the fears that consume him, and the one woman he let walk away.

Kacey King had her professional dreams come true, yet her heart was battered and broken. With an Olympic gold medal around her neck, she’s ready to look forward to the future but without the one man she wanted in it. She’s missing the key pieces of her heart she left months ago with the only person who was capable of destroying it, causing her to falter in all her plans to move on.

In the game of life, there are winners and losers, and neither Jordie nor Kacey want to be on the losing bench. If only Jordie could convince Kacey he’s a changed man and that he wants her right by his side as his MVP for the biggest and best parts of a life they build together. With emotions running high and the game on the line, can two proud people find happiness with each other, or will their hearts and souls be left in the cold? Will they see that sometimes having someone by your side who knows the good, bad, and broken is better than going it alone and losing everything through the back of the net? They are out of time on the game clock and fighting for the win of their lives.

But overtime was made for an Assassin like Jordie.

---------- Teaser ----------

         He had consistently been making bad decision after bad decision. Each one was staring back at him from behind his closed lids, and he wished he could make them all go away. But still they flashed in his face, demanding his attention. 

       Going in for the puck when he knew there was a goon of a player behind him and ending with his leg in two. Which resulted in his career being up in the air.

       The drinking. Fuck, the drinking.  

       Getting involved with his best friend’s sister.

       Falling in love with said sister, and then pushing her away, like he always did everyone. 

       And all of Louisiana. 

       It was time to make the right choice for once. 

       He had to, because he had already lost the one person who meant everything to him, and he couldn’t lose hockey too. 

       That couldn’t happen.

---------- About the Author ----------

Toni Aleo is the author of the Nasvhille Assassins series: Taking Shots, Trying to Score, Empty Net, Falling for the Backup, and Blue Lines.

When not rooting for her beloved Nashville Predators, she’s probably going to her husband’s and son’s hockey games and her daughter’s dance competitions, taking pictures, scrapbooking, or reading the latest romance novel.

She lives in the Nashville area with her husband, two children, and a bulldog. Read more about Toni here.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads 

Review of Ravaged: An Eternal Guardians Novella (#7.5)

"Duty crumbles to ashes in the fires of love."

Summary from Goodreads.com:

Ari—Once an Eternal Guardian, now he's nothing but a rogue mercenary with one singular focus: revenge. His guardian brothers all think he’s dead, but he is very much alive in the human realm, chipping away at Zeus’s Sirens every chance he can, reveling in his brutality and anonymity. Until, that is, he abducts the wrong female and his identity is finally exposed. It will take more than the Eternal Guardians, more even than the gods to rein Ari in after everything he’s done. It may just take the courage of one woman willing to stand up to a warrior who’s become a savage.

Let me first say that I have been on a historical romance binge lately, so I was a bit concerned about re-entering the world of the Eternal Guardians after a long absence.  Let me next say that I should've kept the faith, because once I started reading, I felt as though I had never left!!

Once again, the gods are calling on someone to do a less-than-pleasant job for them, and this time it is Daphne.  The former Argonaut Ari is viewed as a threat and Daphne is sent to deal with it. But as she spends more time with Ari, she discovers her information is inaccurate. But now can he trust her?

I found myself having to stop reading several times, and not because there was anything wrong with the story. Rather, my heart was pounding and I needed to settle down before I could continue.  So many series lose a bit of their "punch" after a few entries- not so with Ms. Naughton's Eternal Guardians.  This latest installment in the series is just as powerful and exciting as any of others and is a perfect example of why the Eternal Guardians are on my auto-buy list!!

(**I did receive an ARC in exchange for a fair review**)

Review: Clipped by Love - Toni Aleo

I can't even begin to put into words how this book made me feel.  My reviews tend to be pretty straightforward, so here goes:

READ THIS BOOK IMMEDIATELY!!

Okay, maybe a bit more.

I almost wish I was in college again so that I can relive the craziness. Ms. Aleo does a phenomenal job of not only describing the experience of being in school, but also the ups and downs when you have no control over your emotions or the person who evokes them.

Jayden's and Baylor's relationship is overpowering from the start and never has a dull moment. It seemed almost effortless for Ms. Aleo to switch from the POV of Jayden to Baylor and back again. Being able to slip into their heads (and hearts) truly made me feel as though I was in the story rather than an observer.

Don't fret if you haven't read Boarded by Love (though you really should!!) - Jayden's and Baylor's story can certainly be read as a standalone. And don't think that you have to be a hockey fan (though, again, you should be!)

But you should be concerned if you miss out on such a strong and beautiful story!!!

Buy it on Amazon

Buy it on Barnes and Noble

Buy it on Kobo

Clipped by Love (Bellvue Bullies #2) by Toni Aleo

Things are heating up for the Sinclair boys! With one already in the NHL, Jayden Sinclair is hoping to be next! 

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This has been the toughest year of my life. I watched my brother go into the draft without me, my mom got divorced, and the weight of my family’s issues is heavy on my shoulders. I feel like it’s my job to fix everything while working my butt off in school and trying to make my game better. I have to go into the draft. It will give my family the support they need, and it will prove that I’m good enough. But to get there, I have to show I can be the best captain for the Bellevue Bullies. The spot is mine—no one can take it. First though, Jude is making me go on a brother’s weekend. Innocent enough, I guess…until I see her. She’s the biggest competitor I’ve ever faced. Not only for my spot but also my heart. It’s hard to ignore someone like Baylor Moore. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don’t lose. I can’t. My dad has bred me to be the best in anything I do. I am driven, I am smart, and I am going to be the first woman in the National Hockey League. No two ways about it. I’ve worked too hard. I’ve been through too much not to have what I want. I know I can do it. I will make my dad proud, and no one will stand in the way of that. That is, until I let him in. He scares me. He makes me feel. And he could very well be the one person who can make me want more than just to win. 

We both have the same goal. Victory. But how do you compete against the person you want to win? It’s not easy. Love isn’t something you can control. It isn’t like a puck that can be handled by a stick. No, it has a mind of its own and does what it wants. 

Neither of us saw it coming, and we really don’t know if there is a way to score, especially when you’re being Clipped by Love.