Hard Hitter (Brooklyn Bruisers, #2) by Sarina Bowen
Release Date: 3rd January 2017
Published: Berkley
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He’s a fighter in the rink, but he’s about to learn that playing nice can help you score…
As team captain and enforcer, Patrick O’Doul puts the bruise in the Brooklyn Bruisers. But after years of hard hits, O’Doul is feeling the burn, both physically and mentally. He conceals his pain from his coach and trainers, but when his chronic hip injury becomes too obvious to ignore, they send him for sessions with the team’s massage therapist.
After breaking up with her long-term boyfriend, Ari Bettini is in need of peace of mind. For now, she’s decided to focus on her work: rehabilitating the Bruisers’ MVP. O’Doul is easy on the eyes, but his reaction to her touch is ice cold. Ari is determined to help O’Doul heal, but as the tension between them turns red hot, they both learn that a little TLC does the body good…
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I’m not sure what it is about a grumpy hero, but they really get my engine revving. Luckily for me Patrick O’Doul falls into this category. If you’re already a fan of the series, you’ll remember O’Doul as the team captain and enforcer of the Brooklyn Bruisers. He comes across as rather prickly, and socialising with his team outside the confines of the rink is not high on his agenda.
When the skates come on, the gloves are off, but recovering from the hits is starting to takes its toll. Rather frustratingly for Patrick it’s also something that has not gone unnoticed by the team’s management. On top of his identity crisis Patrick now has to deal with mandatory sessions with the teams yoga instructor and massage therapist, Ariana Bettini.
Trust is an important component in a therapy session, and Ari knows she has her work cut out for her. Closed off in body language and his willingness to partake in the sessions, Ari has more to conquer then O’Doul’s dislike of being touched.
On the ice he was flashy and confident. But up close in person he was one of the more cautious souls she’d ever met.
As time goes on their uneasy routine becomes more tolerable for Patrick, he finds focusing on other things, namely one Miss Bettini make for a more appealing session, and in a huge turn around he soon finds himself counting down the time between each one.
Breaking through with Patrick is a not just a career goal but a personal one too. She’s intrigued with him in more than a professional capacity, and with so much on her plate, it’s as much as a surprise to her as it is to Patrick that he should be the one she leans on.
“Show me, sweetheart. Wherever you lead, I’m following.”
As Ari heals Patrick’s body, in turn he heals her past hurts. The trust that she needed from him is reciprocated and what blossoms is an incredibly sweet and passionate romance.
It’s been a brilliant year to be a fan of Sarina Bowens. She has been frequent and consistent with her releases, and I have enjoyed dutifully gobbling them all up. As well as Rookie Move, Hard Hitter is a fantastic addiction to a series I have no reservations in recommending. Her characters are always likeable and well thought out and engaging with them and the story is always an immediate and pleasurable experience.
About Sarina Bowen
Sarina Bowen is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. She lives in Vermont’s Green Mountains with her family, six chickens and too much ski gear and hockey equipment.
In 2016, Sarina became a Rita Award winner! The Romance Writers of America honored HIM by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy with Best Contemporary Romance, Mid-Length.
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