sports

Thrown by a Curve by Jaci Burton

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Thrown by a Curve (Play by Play, #5)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Play-by-Play #5
Reviewed by Kay

First, let me tell you a little bit about this book and then I’ll let you know what I thought of it.

Alicia Riley is a sports medicine therapist who gets assigned to Garrett Scott’s rehab case after his failed improvement after a possible career ending injury. Being a Riley gives her some insight because she has a pro football playing brother and cousin. She also has a baseball playing cousin and her female cousin is married to a pro hockey player. To say she has grown-up around sports is an understatement.

Garrett Scott is the star starting pitcher for the St. Louis Rivers who has been rehabbing after his injury. He decides he wants Alicia in on his rehab after she basically calls him out on his not trying hard enough. He likes her spunk and forthrightness.

This novel totally redeemed the series for after the last book which I did not enjoy very much. I was shocked by that because I LOVE Jaci Burton books. I get giddy when she has a new book coming out. I liked both of these characters even though Alicia was a bit boring here and there. I did like her attitude and approach to Garrett. Garrett’s thoughts regarding family were a bit over the top for me. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one.

Offsides by Juliana Stone

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Offside (The Barker Triplets, #1)
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-The Barker Triplets #1
Reviewed by Kay

Billie-Jo Barker was a pro hockey player in Europe who has come home after a career ending injury. She lives with her sister Bobbi-Jo, who’s rude and hateful. Also with her father suffering from dementia and her grandfather who has his hands full dealing with all of them. She joins the town hockey league as their first female player. Most of the men in the league and the town are opposed except for the man who broke her heart years ago.

Logan Forest is a mechanic of some sorts in his home town. He is shocked to see Billie-Jo at home. He has always known of her but not really paid much attention to her because he only saw her sister, Betty-Jo. He thinks it will be great to watch Billie-Jo play hockey because of her talent. Not to mention his attraction to her.

  • These two characters are really into each other in a big way. Billie-Jo has loved Logan forever and has a secret to go along with that. Logan has these crazy feelings for Billie-Jo that leave him at a little loss for words. There was some conflict in this novel but not what I would call high level. I enjoyed it and may continue on with the series. 

Empty Net by Toni Aleo

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Empty Net (Assassins, #3)
Grade-A
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Assassins #3
Reviewed by Kay

I got this book right before I went to the Romantic Times book convention in Kansas City, so it took me a while to finish it. Those fifteen hour days didn’t leave much time for reading or I would have finished it very quickly.

Audrey Parker is the heroine for this story. If you’ve read the second book in the series, and you need to read them all in order, you’ll remember she is the sister of Fallon Brooks. Audrey works for the family wine business and hates it. She has deplorable taste in men also. She’s a full figured gal but not to the point I considered her heavy. She has had to make tough decisions and even made some bad decisions. After hooking up with her brother-in-law’s best friend at her sister’s wedding, she runs out not bothering to wake him the next morning. In her defense, she didn’t fully connect who he was until after they had slept together.

Tate Odder is the new goalie for the Nashville Assassins. He has learned to speak English and fully embraces his new country. He lost his family to an auto accident and struggles to deal with anxiety that is caused by their deaths. He takes one look at the woman at his best friend’s wedding and thinks she is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. He feels that they really connected(no pun intended) when they spent the night together and he’s very hurt that she snuck out while he was sleeping.

These two characters were both kind of broken due to the terrible losses that they suffered. Audrey fought her attraction to Tate for a long time. She was still sort of hung up on her horrific ex. Tate was very sweet and patient with her. He was all-in and let her know it. Let me tell you how sexy I think that is! The only problems I had with Tate were that he kept the reason for his sadness to himself even while wanting Audrey to open up. Also, he betrayed her trust regarding a secret that wasn’t his to tell. I don’t want to give anything else away so I’ll stop there. You just have to read this book, this series.

I had the pleasure of meeting Toni Aleo at the conference I just attended. She was very nice and kind. I enjoyed our brief conversation and am looking forward to any and all of her books. They are filled with wonderful characters you get to revisit and emotional scenes that will leave you in tears. If you haven’t read Toni Aleo yet, you really should.