Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Slammed
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.victoriadenault.com/
CITY: Los Angeles
STATE: CA
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: Canadian
married
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in Quebec, Canada; married.
EDUCATION:Earned a B.A. and a graduate diploma; has studied at UCLA Extension School.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer. Has also worked as a journalist, actor, stand-up comic, editor, and in marketing and advertising.
MEMBER:Romance Writers of America.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Victoria Denault is a writer. She worked as a journalist, actor, stand-up comic, editor, and in marketing and advertising before turning her attention to writing romance novels. Denault uses her love of hockey and her experience of living around the United States to influence her writing.
One More Shot
One More Shot marks the start of the “Hometown Players” series. Jordan Garrison broke Jessie’s heart when he left her for the NHL draft. Six years later, she is not sure if she still loves him or hates him. But Jordan is determined not to let her go this time.
A Harlequin Junkie Website contributor mentioned: “I enjoyed One More Shot a lot, but it also frustrated me a lot, too. It wasn’t a strong enough conflict, though.” A contributor to the Dear Author Website noted that “Jessie grew the most in the story. She had to put aside her pain and perceived betrayal. She had to trust Jordan and pursue him…. I felt that she was more vulnerable that Jordan and wished for a little more equality in the relationship. Overall, though, I enjoyed this angsty, sexy high school sweetheart story.”
Making a Play
With Making a Play, Sexy and scandalous hockey player Luc Richard is told by his team’s manager to get out of the tabloids. He retreats to Silver Bay, Maine, where he reconnects with Rose Caplan. While Rose used to be shy, she shows Luc that the new Rose knows exactly what she wants.
A contributor to the Fiction Fangirls Website stated: “I love the way” Rose and Luc’s “relationship developed in this story. Clearly they have a past and the romantic feelings are already there, but once they both give validation to those feelings, it’s full speed ahead and it’s beautiful.” A contributor to the Badass Book Reviews Website commented that “Luc’s interactions with the Garrison men in this book were a highlight for me; I loved the camaraderie. Their good-natured ribbing and determination to keep each other in line was so fun to read. As for Rose and her sisters, Rose is my favorite of the three. She is way more easy-going than the other two.”
The Final Move
In The Final Move, hockey star Devin Garrison is dismayed as his marriage falls apart. Callie Caplan had a steamy affair with Devin, but she has avoided relationships. When the two reunite, they must sort out their feelings and priorities.
Writing in Xpress Reviews, Kellie Tilton suggested that readers who enjoyed “the first two titles will enjoy this denouement, while new readers won’t get lost diving into this installment.” A contributor reviewing the novel in Harlequin Junkie opined that “Callie is wonderful and real. I cared about her and her conflict, and I love her love and strength for all those around her.” The reviewer also pointed out that the novel “can be read as a standalone.”
Winning It All
With Winning It All, Shayne Beckford blames hockey for ruining her parents’ marriage and her brother’s dreams. She has a one night stand with Sebastian Deveau, who she later finds out is a professional hockey player. While she moves to distance herself, he won’t let her get away.
A Harlequin Junkie Website contributor confessed that the novel “wasn’t my favorite book of the series, mainly because of Shayne’s blinding hatred of hockey players…. It left me frustrated with her at times. Still, it was a good book and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys hockey romances. If you’ve read the other books in the series, you’ll want to read this one as well.” A contributor to the Book Briefs Website shared: “I really enjoyed Winning it All. I thought the writing was great, the romance was fantastic and the characters were fun. Overall, it is a book that I would recommend to others.”
On the Line
In On the Line, hockey golden boy Avery Westwood tries to maintain a flawless image in the media. Stephanie Deveau is attracted to him but thinks their relationship would not go well. When he moves next door to her, though, they both break their life rules for potential happiness.
A contributor reviewing the novel in Harlequin Junkie reasoned that “Avery and Stephanie are a charming couple, and it is nice to read a romance that starts as a true friendship before developing into more. Their chemistry was electric and Ms. Denault built the sexual tension perfectly. My only complaint with the story is that I feel like Stephanie’s addiction and sobriety was handled clumsily.” A contributor to the Book Starlets Website claimed that “this book is full of lust, passion, and some heartbreak,” adding that “if you haven’t read the ‘Hometown Players’ series I highly recommend reading them all! They are all fantastic for their own reasons, but Avery Westwood has officially skated away with my heart.”
Game On
With Game On, hockey player Alex Larue is always the life of the party. Brie Bennett is suspicious of him when he volunteers at her charity. Both have secrets to hide but much to give each other.
A contributor to the Ever After Book Reviews blog confessed: “I loved every emotions-churning minute of this story.” A contributor to the Open Book Society Website admitted: “I really enjoyed all the couples from the previous books that I hadn’t met since this is the first book I’ve read in the series! They were all engaging and fun.” The same reviewer concluded that ‘the hockey itself took up very little of this book, as the main focus was really on the emotional side of things, specifically Alex’s horrible childhood. And, of course I love a good emotional story, which made me love the book that much more. This book has impressed me enough that I feel I really need to go read the previous installments.”
Score and Slammed
With Score, the first novel in the “San Francisco Thunder” series, Jude Braddock is a star hockey player who has a reputation for going through women quickly. Zoey is on the mend after a rough divorce. When these two former high school classmates reunite, though, both must trust that they other won’t crush their hearts. Writing in RT Book Reviews, Bridget Keown took note of “the consistent reinforcement of the female characters’ strength and individuality.” Keown also observed that “several genre-defying complications make the story feel unexpectedly fresh.”
In Slammed, San Francisco Thunder hockey team publicist Dixie Braddock is enamored with the team’s new goalie, Eli. If they get caught, though, she will lose her job. Eli does not want to forfeit his place on the team, nor does he want to lose Dixie.
A contributor to Publishers Weekly claimed that “readers will appreciate that Denault knows her hockey and delivers a satisfying story.” Again writing in RT Book Reviews, Keown found the novel to be “a bit slow to start.” Nevertheless, Keown labeled the account a “spicy, emotional, and rewarding romance that will appeal to sports fans and hockey neophytes alike.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, October 23, 2017, review of Slammed, p. 69.
Xpress Reviews, December 11, 2015, Kellie Tilton, review of The Final Move, p. 1.
ONLINE
Badass Book Reviews, http://badassbookreviews.com/ (September 22, 2015), review of Making a Play.
Book Briefs, https://bookbriefs.net/ (September 6, 2016), review of Winning It All.
Book Starlets, http://bookstarlets.com/ (December 6, 2016), review of On The Line.
Cocktails & Books, http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com/ (April 2, 2017), review of Score.
Dear Author, http://dearauthor.com/ (June 20, 2015), review of One More Shot.
Ever After Book Reviews, https://everafterbookreviews.blogspot.com/ (November 25, 2017), review of Game On.
Fiction Fangirls, https://fictionfangirls.com/ (September 10, 2015), review of Making a Play.
Harlequin Junkie, http://harlequinjunkie.com/ (June 11, 2015), review of One More Shot; (December 21, 2015), review of The Final Move; (September 16, 2016), review of Winning It All; (November 23, 2016), review of On The Line.
Open Book Society Website, http://openbooksociety.com/ (October 10, 2017), review of Game On.
RT Book Reviews, https://www.rtbookreviews.com/ (March 4, 2018), Bridget Keown, reviews of Score and Slammed.
Victoria Denault Website, http://www.victoriadenault.com (March 18, 2018).
About
Victoria_612_sized
Victoria’s a member of the Romance Writers of America and is represented by Kimberly Brower.
Victoria’s debut novel, One More Shot, was released June 2, 2015. Making a Play and The Final More released later the same year and two years later, the now six book series, concluded with Game On, in October 2017. Her first trade paperback series, San Francisco Thunder, debuted May 2017 starting with Score and the follow-up Slammed released December 5, 2017.
Victoria’s characters are mostly from simple beginnings with big hearts, bigger passions, bold personalities and authentic obstacles on their winding path to true love. Their journeys are never easy, but they’re always worth it.
Victoria’s love of writing and books began at 12 when she picked up her first Sweet Valley High and grew from there as she devoured everything from Christopher Pike to SE Hinton to Mary Higgins Clark and more. Her favorite childhood gift remains the 1930s typewriter her parents found at a garage sale. It was on that typewriter she first began writing her own stories.
Victoria has a BA in English, a graduate diploma in Journalism and has taken both creative and screenwriting courses at UCLA Extension. She’s worked as a professional cheerleader, reporter, editor, stand-up comic, actor and in marketing and advertising before becoming a full-time author. She was born in Quebec, Canada where hockey is a religion and has been a fan of the sport since childhood. She’s written editorial and humor pieces on the National Hockey League and has had her articles picked up by Yahoo Sports and the Vancouver Canucks.
Victoria has lived in many major cities across North America, spent her childhood summers in Maine and adult summers in Spain. She’s now happily settled in Los Angeles with her husband and their two chubby Chihuahuas, Gus and Belle.
Denault, Victoria. The Final Move
Kellie Tilton
Xpress Reviews.
(Dec. 11, 2015): p1+.
COPYRIGHT 2015 Library Journals, LLC
http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/reviews/xpress/884170-289/xpress_reviews-first_look_at_new.html.csp
Full Text:
Denault, Victoria. The Final Move. Forever Yours. (Hometown Players, Bk. 3). Dec. 2015. 384p. ISBN
9781455564057. $3.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Devin Garrison got the high-paying NHL contract, his team won the Stanley Cup, and he scored the perfect
marriage. He can't fail--until now, that is, when his wife asks for a separation. Enter Callie Caplan, longtime
friend of the Garrison family and perpetual wild child. Devin's always found her attractive, but the two
never saw eye to eye on the idea of commitment. With Callie helping to pick up the pieces of his personal
life, Devin realizes perfect may not be what he wants anymore. And Callie will have to see if she's ready to
put her fears aside and risk it all for love.
Verdict In the series' conclusion, Denault (One More Shot) closes the final period with Devin and Callie's
steamy story. The myriad relationships between the Garrison and Caplan families make the series a
standout, and The Final Move has both clans fully involved. The circumstances surrounding Devin's failing
marriage and the timing of his relationship with Callie could make some uneasy, but Denault manages to
nip most of those issues in the bud. Fans of the first two titles will enjoy this denouement, while new
readers won't get lost diving into this installment.--Kellie Tilton, Univ. of Cincinnati Blue Ash
Tilton, Kellie
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Tilton, Kellie. "Denault, Victoria. The Final Move." Xpress Reviews, 11 Dec. 2015, p. 1+. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A439272234/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=9b3e3839.
Accessed 4 Mar. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A439272234
3/4/2018 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1520202547390 2/2
Slammed
Publishers Weekly.
264.43 (Oct. 23, 2017): p69.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Slammed
Victoria Denault. Forever, $14.99 trade paper (336p) ISBN 978-1-4555-9768-0
Fans of sports romances will enjoy Denault's second San Francisco Thunder hockey contemporary (after
Score). Dixie Wynn is proud that she earned her job doing PR for her star brother's hockey team on her own
merits. Getting stuck in an elevator at the rink with hot young goaltender Eli Casco is a fun distraction from
work and her father's illness, and soon she is involved Eli. He has physically recovered from an on-ice
accident in which a skate to his jugular vein nearly killed him, but he's lost some of the edge that made him
successful. His suggestive banter charms Dixie, and her practical attitude is a good influence on him. She
tells herself that their relationship doesn't violate team rules because he is still in the minor leagues. But
when Eli gets called up to the Thunder, the lovers realize they have to end the relationship before Dixie's
jealous coworker or Eli's gossipy teammates find out. The sizzle in this relationship propels the romance
forward as the characters cope realistically with the stresses of work and family. Readers will appreciate
that Denault knows her hockey and delivers a satisfying story. Agent: Kimberly Brower, Brower Literary
and Management. (Dec.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Slammed." Publishers Weekly, 23 Oct. 2017, p. 69. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A512184192/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=8fef718c.
Accessed 4 Mar. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A512184192
SLAMMED
Image of Slammed (San Francisco Thunder)
Author(s): Victoria Denault
Though Denault’s second San Francisco Thunder novel is a bit slow to start, it resolves into another spicy, emotional and rewarding romance that will appeal to sports fans and hockey neophytes alike. The first-person narrative and initial distance between the protagonists may make it difficult for some readers to believe in the potential of this relationship to evolve beyond quips and one-liners. Once they are brought together and given room to grow, however, both of these characters show hidden depths, making their happily ever after one worth savoring on a number of levels. Newcomers should have little trouble with this installment, though there are plenty of rewards for series devotees.
Dixie Braddock has worked tirelessly to secure her position as publicist for the San Francisco Thunder, and isn’t about to jeopardize her career by getting tangled up with any of the players — until a scorching kiss with a future goalie has her thinking about playing with fire. Eli Casco was king of the ice before an unforgettable accident stalled his career. Now he finally has a chance to play for a championship team and a shot at the woman of his dreams — but will playing in the majors mean giving up Dixie? (FOREVER, Dec., 336 pp., $14.99)
Reviewed by:
Bridget Keown
SCORE
Image of Score (San Francisco Thunder)
Author(s): Victoria Denault
Denault launches a new series, featuring the bad boys of the San Francisco Thunder, with gusto, passion and heaps of tension and sensual detail. Though she deals in familiar plot tropes, each scene is infused with surprising emotional depth, not only between the protagonists, but between their friends, teammates and family. Several genre-defying complications make the story feel unexpectedly fresh. Moreover, the consistent reinforcement of the female characters’ strength and individuality turns this book into something unique, and provides plenty of incentive for fans of sports romances to seek out this new series without delay.
NHL star Jude Braddock’s reputation is legendary — both on the ice and off. But even though he knows he’s not made for long-term relationships, Jude is tired of women knocking on his door in the middle of the night, looking for another hook-up. So when he is reunited with the one woman who captured his heart, Jude determines that this time he’ll play for keeps. Zoey may once have been a brash, fearless teenager, but after a bitter divorce, she is deeply wary of letting her heart get hurt again — even if Jude’s attentions are the very thing she’s always wanted. (FOREVER, May, 368 pp., $14.99)
Reviewed by:
Bridget Keown
Review: Game On by Victoria Denault
Author: Victoria Denault
Series: Hometown Players #6
Release Date: October 10, 2017
Publisher: Forever Yours
Source: Net Galley
Pages: 320
Reviewer: Elizabeth
Rating: 5 Stars
Add to Goodreads
"I don't break hearts. I break headboards . . . "
When it comes to scoring in the pro hockey league, Alex Larue is crushing it-with the hot puck bunnies. He's the life of the party, the guy with all the jokes . . . and the one whose Party Guy mask keeps the real him well hidden. The last thing he needs is anyone finding out about his troubled past, or the nightmares that haunt him still.
Brie Bennett is less than impressed by Alex from the moment she meets him. And even though he insists on volunteering at the charity she runs, she doesn't trust him. He's hiding something...but so is she. She's not just the rich, privileged New York princess he thinks she is. The animosity between them is undeniably addictive and as their worlds keep colliding it becomes supercharged with something else - attraction. But if they stop playing games and let each other in, they both might lose.
Elizabeth's Thoughts
10 Amazing Stars!!!
GAME ON is by far, one of the best reads of 2017!
I absolutely LOVE Alex and Brie’s story. So much heart, heartache, amazing feels, struggles, emotions, and so much love! This is book exemplifies love in its truest form.
The synopsis of the story only cracks the surface of this amazing journey of suffering and strength. The book is brilliantly written. I was immediately drawn into the story and couldn’t put the book down! The characters are real, flawed, loveable and easily relatable. The storyline is beautifully fragile and yet immersed in quiet strength.
I laughed, I cried and I loved every emotions-churning minute of this story. I whole-heartedly recommend it to any fan of romance, of love and of family. An absolute must-read!
I voluntarily read a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own.
GAME ON (HOMETOWN PLAYERS, BOOK #6) BY VICTORIA DENAULT: BOOK REVIEW
by hmhibbit, October 10, 2017
Sharing is caring.
Game On
Hometown Players, Book #6
By Victoria Denault
ISBN# 9781538727010
Author’s Website: http://www.victoriadenault.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi
*Beware of possible Spoilers*
Alex Larue has never had an easy life. Growing up in an abusive foster home, and then running away and living on the streets has scarred him in ways that nobody realizes, even those that call him friend. Luckily some coaches saw the potential in him when he was a kid, and made sure to keep developing his skill. He didn’t make it into the NHL the normal way, but clawed his way in fighting and kicking! Now, he’s been traded once again. At least he has friends on his new team, The Brooklyn Barons. Unfortunately, the coach is not among them! He didn’t want Alex on his team, and makes sure Alex knows it!
Alex doesn’t believe he’s relationship material, with all the demons he has from his past. Instead he’s become the stereotypical playboy athlete, bragging about having the most sleepovers in the league and stating that he breaks headboards, not hearts!
Alex meets Brie in the local Starbucks. Unfortunately, she heard his crass remarks about her body, spoken in French, and understood every word! So imagine his dismay to discover that she runs the charity that he’s decided to volunteer at, Daphne’s House, that helps get homeless kids off the streets. Brie doesn’t like him, and is quite blunt about it! However, he grows on her once she sees how he is with the kids. He even brings a girl to her that desperately needs the help of Daphne’s House, if only the courts would cooperate.
And, as time passes, Brie and Alex learn that they have more in common than either could have ever dreamed of.
I wasn’t going to read this book. I was worried that it would be too similar to Jaci Burton’s Play-by-Play series, and I didn’t want to get the two confused! But I’m so glad I gave this book a chance! I absolutely loved it!!
The characters are engaging and well-developed! I loved our tortured hero, Alex! He hides his pain with a cocky smile and humor.
“Every house needs a party to break it in, make it feel loved.”
“She’s a crazy person,” Luc informs me with a grin that says he wouldn’t have it any other way. “But if you don’t plan one, she’ll plan it for you.”
“I’ll have one, but I can’t this weekend,” I explain. “I’m attending a fund-raiser tomorrow and besides, I don’t have any furniture other than a bed. I could still have a party with just that, but it’s not a party I’d invite old married people like you to.”
Luc laughs. Rose turns pink and shakes her head. “You single hockey players are the worst.”
None of Alex’s friends or team mates know the horrible past he has led, and Alex likes it that way. He’s ashamed and doesn’t want their pity. But he does what he can to help other kids in the same situation, he just likes to keep his charity work to himself.
Brie is a tough cookie as well. She hasn’t been through the hell that Alex has known, but she could have easily been in the same shoes, if her parents hadn’t seen her on the news and adopted her. It’s the reason she created Daphne’s House, but the charity’s financial situation is in dire straits.
I really enjoyed all the couples from the previous books that I hadn’t met since this is the first book I’ve read in the series! They were all engaging and fun! And, I love that it was Alex that figured out Callie was pregnant! Who would have figured the playboy would be the one to make the connection?
“With Ashleigh we had to try forever. But Callie and I .. we were just going to see what happens.”
“Babies.” I grin at him because he’s a doofus right now. “Babies are what happens, Captain.”
I also loved seeing how Alex was with the kids, especially Mac!
Another reason I love this book is that it’s about a hockey player, and I’m a HUGE hockey fan! In fact, I wish Alex was real so he could be on my favorite team, The St. Louis Blues! Based on the description in the book, I picture him as a Ryan Reaves or Scottie Upshall type of player, the ones that bait the other teams into taking stupid penalties!
I loved when Alex invited the kids to a game, gave them the full tour, and they even got jerseys to keep. This is something that the Blues would have totally done, making me feel like he would be a good fit for my team … if he was real (details, details). It reminds me so much of Vladimir Tarasenko and Ari! If you don’t know the story you should definitely follow the link and read up. Basically Vladi met Ari during one of the events the Blues did to help sick kids feel good and meet their favorite players and he fell in love with young Ari, who had been fighting cancer since she was three. He and his wife stayed in touch with her and her family. He then won an item the Blues had donated at a charity auction (outbidding a very determined fan in the process), The prize was to travel with the team for a two game road trip, and he gifted the trip to Ari for her birthday! The video of his surprise is below and is pretty sweet. During the trip she got to ride on the plane with the team, and go to the games as a special guest. The fan base is as smitten with Ari as Vladi is and consider her a lucky charm of sorts!
Oh the feels!
Of all the sports, I truly feel that hockey players have the biggest hearts. The things they do, make me proud to be a fan, even though it’s a truly underappreciated sport.
Back to the book though. The hockey itself took up very little of this book, as the main focus was really on the emotional side of things, specifically Alex’s horrible childhood. And, of course I love a good emotional story, which made me love the book that much more.
This book has impressed me enough that I feel I really need to go read the previous installments.
I’m also sad to report that per Denault’s website this is the final book of the series! NOOOO!!! Say it isn’t so!! I just found this series and I’m not ready for it to be over!! And, honestly this book didn’t read like a series finale, but apparently it is. Sadness.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
REVIEW: On the Line by Victoria Denault
Posted November 23rd, 2016 by Sara @HarlequinJunkie in Blog, Contemporary Romance, Review / 1 comment
onthelineOn the Line by Victoria Denault: On the Line is the fifth addition to Victoria Denault’s wonderful contemporary sports series – Hometown Players – and it is another winner. We meet both Avery Westwood and Stephanie Deveau in the previous books, but it is not necessary to read them before starting On the Line. Of course, the whole series is great, so you cannot lose if you decide to pick them up as well.
Avery Westwood is the best player in the NHL and also the most straight-laced. His good boy image is his number one priority, because his manager father has made him believe his reputation is just as important – if not more – than his ability to play hockey. Avery is not a womanizer, chooses his friendships carefully and is extremely cautious in everything he says and does. His self-control has paid off, because he has lucrative sponsorships and respect from the public. When he turns into a free agent and has his pick of hockey teams, he surprisingly chooses the worst team in the league, the San Diego Saints.
What no one knows and what Avery’s unwilling to admit is that his decision was heavily influenced by one of San Diego’s newest residents, Stephanie Deveau. Avery has known Stephanie for a few years through her brother who was his former teammate. He and Stephanie formed a comfortable friendship although both have always been attracted to the other. Avery is now interested in moving past platonic and pursuing a romantic relationship with her. Stephanie is crazy attracted to him but knows how uptight he is about his reputation, and she has a past that would be exposed if they were publicly a couple. A past that wouldn’t fit with his good boy image. Stephanie was a runaway at sixteen who became addicted to painkillers. She overdosed, went to rehab and is now sober, but she doesn’t share her past with anyone and is especially leery of confiding in Avery, who is often judgmental.
Their friendship grows after his move to San Diego when he conveniently moves in next door to Stephanie. They cannot deny their attraction and soon find themselves as friends and lovers but grappling with much stronger feelins. Avery still has his father’s voice in his ear and is hesitant to go public with a relationship. Stephanie is falling hard for Avery but very scared to reveal her skeletons. Both have a lot to lose if they fall in love, and both are afraid to take the risk.
Avery and Stephanie are a charming couple, and it is nice to read a romance that starts as a true friendship before developing into more. Their chemistry was electric and Ms. Denault built the sexual tension perfectly. My only complaint with the story is that I feel like Stephanie’s addiction and sobriety was handled clumsily, and it distracted me. She still drinks alcohol and even drank to excess in the story. She explains that she still drinks because she was addicted to narcotics and not alcohol, but many do not consider this sober. I started worrying about Stephanie rather than concentrating on her and Avery’s romance. Many readers will not feel this way or have any reaction to this party of the story, which is why I consider it a small miss in an otherwise sweet and sexy hit.
Book Info:
4S 12/6/16 | Forever Yours | Hometown Players #5
He had total control of his game–until she changed all the rules . . .
As one of the best players in the NHL and the “golden boy” of the league, Avery Westwood knows he has to keep his cool–on and off the ice. His whole life is a carefully constructed image of perfection for the media and his brand sponsors. Of course, that means he can never let his true feelings show. But when it comes to the sexy sister of his former teammate, Avery might be willing to make an exception . . . even if it means breaking all his own rules.
As far as Stephanie Deveau is concerned, having a thing for Avery is the equivalent of psychological napalm. Très bad idea. Then he moves in next door, all sexy smiles and a deliciously hot body that she can’t resist. Something’s happening between them–it’s intense, a little (a lot) out of control, and real. Only Avery doesn’t know everything about Stephanie’s past. And the one exception to his rule might just be the one girl who could destroy his career.
A STARLET REVIEW: ON THE LINE BY VICTORIA DENAULT
December 6, 2016
ON THE LINE RELEASE BLITZ BANNER.jpg
On the Line by Victoria Denault
Publication Date: December 6th, 2016
Publisher: Forever Yours
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Denault_OnTheLine_ebook.jpg
Synopsis:
He had total control of his game–until she changed all the rules . . .
As one of the best players in the NHL and the “golden boy” of the league, Avery Westwood knows he has to keep his cool–on and off the ice. His whole life is a carefully constructed image of perfection for the media and his brand sponsors. Of course, that means he can never let his true feelings show. But when it comes to the sexy sister of his former teammate, Avery might be willing to make an exception . . . even if it means breaking all his own rules.
As far as Stephanie Deveau is concerned, having a thing for Avery is the equivalent of psychological napalm. Très bad idea. Then he moves in next door, all sexy smiles and a deliciously hot body that she can’t resist. Something’s happening between them–it’s intense, a little (a lot) out of control, and real. Only Avery doesn’t know everything about Stephanie’s past. And the one exception to his rule might just be the one girl who could destroy his career.
on The line Teaser 3.jpg
My Review
This is my favorite book of the series! I have been waiting for “Mr. Perfect Westwood” to fall from grace and I don’t mean that in a bad way. Throughout this entire series Avery Westbrook has been the epitome of self-righteousness. From his killer good looks, to being the golden boy of the sport, a teammate everyone loves. Avery had it all. But what you see on the outside isn’t always a direct reflection of the inside. Avery to me was very much a boy in a mans body. He was groomed from a very young age to eat, sleep and breath, not only hockey, but his image. He’s poised and says all the right things at all the right times. He’s professional in his personal life, but he’s really just a lonely man on the inside.
When Stephanie stuck it to Avery in the last book in this series (and these can be read as stand alone yes, but they kick off in the last book) I knew that Avery and Steph were going to be explosive. But since Steph is a recovering drug addict, she has reservations about having a relationship with Avery. His need to be the perfectly polished golden boy following all the rules all the time, lead Steph to believe that she wouldn’t be good for Avery. His father would never approve if he knew her past. But feelings cannot be kept isolated forever and when Avery becomes more then her brothers old teammate and the truths unravel, the fireworks fly!
This book is full of lust, passion, and some heartbreak. Steph is just trying to live past her past, but it comes up to haunt her in a brutal public fashion and you will cry for her heartache. I was so sad that Steph had to endure the ridicule she did. She was young and made mistakes, we all do. But seeing the transformation of Avery was what warmed my heart the most. Watching him grown into the man I knew from the beginning he could be was a pleasurable ride! From the time we met him in this series, I laughed at his antics and his rituals. Especially his Chicken Parm before games ritual, which is just too funny! But there is so much more to Avery’s personality then what we saw previously! I adored him before during and after. Even if I did get pretty mad at some of his decisions at times.
If you haven’t read the Hometown Players series I highly recommend reading them all! They are all fantastic for their own reasons, but Avery Westwood has officially skated away with my heart!
five-starsfive-starsfive-starsfive-starsfive-stars
REVIEW: Winning It All by Victoria Denault
Posted September 16th, 2016 by Sara @HarlequinJunkie in Blog, Contemporary Romance, Review / 2 comments
Winning-It-AllWinning It All by Victoria Denault: Seattle Winterhawks enforcer Sebastian Deveau is on a quest to find love like his friends and fellow teammates have found. Shayne Beckford is working at her brother’s gym as a yoga instructor. At the grand opening she meets Sebastian, and, thinking he’s a local businessman, has a one night stand with him. Only Sebastian doesn’t want it to be a one night event. Shayne is willing to consider it until she discovers his true occupation. Sebastian is determined to prove to Shayne that not all hockey players are unfaithful players like her own father.
I liked Sebastian and how determined he was to convince Shayne that they could have something good. Shayne, on the other hand, irked me at times. She has daddy issues after catching her father, who had been a hockey player, having an affair with a teammate’s wife when she was a child. She wants nothing to do with her father, even refusing to take money to get a new car when hers breaks down. She’s angry at her mother for staying in a relationship where she gets cheated on constantly. As a result, she has a hatred for all hockey players. She doesn’t believe they can be faithful, which causes her to be very wishy-washy when it comes to her relationship with Sebastian. She wants to be with him, but then she doesn’t want to be with him because of his job. She wants to trust him but feels she can’t, once again because of his job.
“My brain is an evil pessimist but my heart is a hopeful romantic.”
We get to see Jordan and Jessie from the first book in the series, One More Shot. Jessie has gotten a job at the gym and hits it off with Shayne, but once Shayne realizes she’s engaged to a hockey player, she puts distance between them. It was nice to see that Jessie wouldn’t give up on being her friend though, despite the fact Shayne isn’t comfortable around Jordan and his teammates.
We get to see a bit more of Captain Avery Westwood. Even though he didn’t do the right thing by refusing to do an ad for the gym (he had been a college teammate of Shayne’s brother, Trey), I thought it was nice that he tried to make up for it even though it made him uncomfortable.
Avery isn’t great at taking responsibility for his actions, mostly because he’s never had to. People let him get away with shit because he’s Avery Westwood.
There seems to be something brewing between Avery and Sebastian’s sister, Stephanie. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with that, considering Avery seems to live his life based on his image, and Stephanie is a former drug addict.
This is the forth book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone. Sebastian is a minor character in other books though, so if you want an introduction to him and to learn more about Jordan and Jessie, then you may want to start from the beginning.
Winning It All wasn’t my favorite book of the series, mainly because of Shayne’s blinding hatred of hockey players and her unwillingness to believe that not all of them were like her father. It left me frustrated with her at times. Still, it was a good book and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys hockey romances. If you’ve read the other books in the series, you’ll want to read this one as well.
Book Info:
03.5S September 6, 2016 | Forever Yours | Hometown Players #4
As his team’s enforcer on the ice, Sebastian Deveau is America’s favorite fighting Frenchman. But he’s just as likely to get into trouble off the ice–especially when it comes to women.
Shayne Beckford is so over hockey. It ruined her parents’ marriage. It spoiled her brother’s dreams. And let’s not even talk about her college boyfriend . . . So when Sebastian Deveau walks into her brother’s gym, she has no idea who he is. All she knows is that he’s one gorgeous man with the sexiest accent she’s ever heard. And since she never has to see him again, she lets him give her the best orgasm of her life right on top of the gym’s dryer.
But Sebastian isn’t going to let this one-night stand get away so easily. He fights for what he wants, even if it takes fighting a little dirty . . .
{Review+Giveaway} Winning It All by Victoria Denault @BooksbyVictoria @GrandCentralPub @ForeverRomance
September 6, 2016 Michelle @ Book Briefs Giveaways, Reviews 0 ★★★½
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Denault_WinningItAll_ebook
Book Title: Winning It All (A Hometwon Players Novel, #4)
Author: Victoria Denault
Genre: Sports Romance
Release Date: September 6, 2016
Publisher: Forever & Forever Yours | Grand Central Publishing
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions
Goodreads Button with Shadowbook blurb
All’s fair in love and hockey. . .
As his team’s enforcer on the ice, Sebastian Deveau is America’s favorite fighting Frenchman. But he’s just as likely to get into trouble off the ice–especially when it comes to women.
Shayne Beckford is so over hockey. It ruined her parents’ marriage. It spoiled her brother’s dreams. And let’s not even talk about her college boyfriend . . . So when Sebastian Deveau walks into her brother’s gym, she has no idea who he is. All she knows is that he’s one gorgeous man with the sexiest accent she’s ever heard. And since she never has to see him again, she lets him give her the best orgasm of her life right on top of the gym’s dryer.
But Sebastian isn’t going to let this one-night stand get away so easily. He fights for what he wants, even if it takes fighting a little dirty . . .
excerptI am nothing if not competitive and I will not let this man – this delectable stranger – feel like he’s won some kind of Flirt Off. I don’t pull back far from the kiss, just enough to break our contact. My eyes flutter open at the same time his do and any hint of that smile on his lips is gone. I see the debate flickering behind those unreal crystal blue eyes and dark, heavy eyebrows. I feel the hesitation. His hand on my jaw gets looser. His thumb lifts up like it’s going to sweep my lips again, but it doesn’t. He stops because I pulled back and it’s made him uncertain. Good. I don’t want to be the only one off-balance here. But he doesn’t want to stop – I can sense that, feel his desire radiating off of him. I can see the debate in his head dancing behind those light eyes. Does he play it cool and wait for me to make another move, or does he just go for what he wants, admitting to himself and to me, that he can’t resist just as much as I can’t?
He tightens his grip on me and I smile for the briefest second before it’s forced from my face when he leans in and captures my lips again. This time he’s the one who gave in. Now we’re even.
And now for a mini review of Winning it All , because I think the excerpt makes you want to read the book. 😉
My Thoughts
Winning It All is the fourth book in the Hometown Players series by Victoria Denault. The hometown Players novels are all inter connected standalone, sports romances. This is the first book in the series I have read, but I had no problems following along with the storyline. I think you can really start with any of the books and be just fine. Read the summaries, pick your favorite sounding character and start there. It will at least give you a taste for Victoria’s writing style and let you know if you want to continue on with the series or not.
This must be hockey day on Book Briefs because it is the second hockey related sports romance that I have read and reviewed today. And when it comes to sports romances, college football and hockey are my two favorite sub genres and sports. (just like in real life) There is just something about hockey players that I love. They are so fierce and tough on the ice, that I love getting to see them off the ice as well.
Winning it all is Sebastian and Shayne’s story. I really really loved Sebastian and I liked Shayne, but it was much less so. I found to her be kind of annoying. I am not saying that I don’t understand why she is the way she is. Her issues with her father were pretty serious, and I get the impact they had on her, but she still irked me. I think she was the reason, I couldn’t move up from like to love with this book. But Sebastian was a great saving grace for the story. I loved him, and he carried the book for me.
I really enjoyed Winning it All. I thought the writing was great, the romance was fantastic and the characters were fun. Overall, it is a book that I would recommend to others. I would certainly grab another book from the hometown players series and give it a try.
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Victoria Denault loves long walks on the beach, cinnamon dolce lattes and writing angst-filled romance. She lives in LA but grew up in Montreal, which is why she is fluent in English, French and hockey.
REVIEW: The Final Move by Victoria Denault
Posted December 21st, 2015 by Sara @HarlequinJunkie in Blog, Contemporary Romance, Review, Sports Romance / 4 comments
The Final Move by Victoria Denault: Devin has had it all his entire life, so the-final-move-victoria-denaultwhen his marriage and family falls apart he doesn’t know what to do with himself. When Callie moves into his new apartment with him since she’s new to the city, she takes it on herself to take care of him and keep the self-destruction to a minimum, suffice to say.
But when her helping only stokes the attraction between the two, they finally stop resisting what has been between the two for years. Devin is interested in commitment, never the type to sleep around, while Callie refuses to even think the word love.
“Devin…stay with me.”
“I could stay. I want to so fucking badly. But…you’ll blow it off in the morning as a drunken mistake. And I’m not you mistake, Callie. I’m the best thing that ever happened to you. If you can’t admit that, then it’s over and it’s staying over.”
Callie is wonderful and real. I cared about her and her conflict, and I love her love and strength for all those around her. Devin did not work for me, however. Angry and generally distasteful in the beginning, only his actions with Callie towards the end gave him redemption as my hero. I do love his love and fight for her by the end. When he loves, he loves and he proves it well.
I like the living together situation, too, that’s a trope I seem to enjoy a lot. And it’s a whole lot of fun to watch it take place. And both their families are just lovely, truly a great community. Devin just needed to be able to relax and let his family see he has faults.
Third in the Hometown Players series, The Final Move can be read as a standalone and I’d recommend for any Hockey romance fans.
Book Info:
03SPublication: December 8, 2015 | Forever Yours | Hometown Players #3
Hockey legend Devin Garrison thought he blew his shot. But his relationship with Callie Caplan just went into overtime.
Sexy, rich, and one of the biggest stars in the NHL, Devin Garrison has always been the one who had it all. That is until his marriage falls apart and he realizes he has to start over. If he’s honest, there has only been one woman who ever really excited him-Callie Caplan. They shared a night that was hotter than the late-summer sun, but in an instant-Callie was gone, pretending it never happened.
Callie Caplan isn’t the wild child people think she is. It’s true she’s avoided relationships, but only because she’s seen how crazy love can be. And her messy, imperfect life is crazy enough without opening her heart to a man-even one as picture perfect as Devin. But when fate brings them back together-just as they need each other most-Devin is determined to convince Callie that what she’s feeling is real. And this final play may be their chance at forever . . .
REVIEW: MAKING A PLAY (HOMETOWN PLAYERS #2) BY VICTORIA DENAULT
POSTED SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 BY JAIME IN 5 STARS, ATHLETE, CAN BE READ AS A STAND-ALONE, FRIENDS TO LOVERS, HEA, JAIME'S FAVORITE AUTHOR, JAIME'S FAVORITES, LIFELONG LOVE, REVIEW / 0 COMMENTS
I received this book for free from NetGalley, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.
Review: Making a Play (Hometown Players #2) by Victoria DenaultMaking a Play by Victoria Denault
Series: Hometown Players #2
Also in this series: One More Shot, The Final Move, Winning It All, On the Line (Hometown Players Book 5), Game On
Format: eARC
Pages: 288
Amazon US
Goodreads
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
Published by Grand Central Publishing Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, New Adult, Sports
One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
He'll do whatever it takes to win--on and off the ice. Luc Richard is the hottest player in the NHL--and it has nothing to do with hockey. His racy relationship with his supermodel ex set the tabloids on fire but nearly put his career on ice. To avoid being traded, Luc agrees to ...
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Jaime's Review
I think this series might be turning me into a puck bunny because I cannot get enough of these hockey studs! I was interested in Rose and Luc’s relationship from the moment we met them in One More Shot and couldn’t wait to read all about them. I love a good friends to lovers romance.
Luc and Rose have had feelings for each other for years but Luc never thought he was good enough for Rose, and Rose just thought that Luc didn’t think of her as anything other than a friend. It was obvious to pretty much everyone around them that they belonged together but it seemed they were on a path to never figuring it out for themselves. Until, of course, the most absolute worst time for them to realize they wanted more.
Luc was so swoonworthy. He’s cares about Rose and goes out of his way to protect her from being hurt, especially by the likes of him. He’s gotten a bad rep with his team management and vows to be on his best behavior to show himself to be the athlete he was thought to be when he was drafted but Rose is becoming a temptation he cannot ignore. Rose has decided that she’s going to go after him with everything she has because she can’t sit back and be just his friend anymore. She’s prepared to take him anyway she can have him, even if it breaks her heart in the end.
I love the way their relationship developed in this story. Clearly they have a past and the romantic feelings are already there, but once they both give validation to those feelings, it’s full speed ahead and it’s beautiful. Their first time being intimate was probably the most realistic and sweet moment of the whole book for me. It just felt…real.
What makes this story, and whole series, really great for me is the group of friends as a whole. The way they’ve all grown up together, supporting each other and even smacking each other with reality checks when necessary, really connects you to them. I want to be friends with these people. I cannot wait for the next book and all that Callie is bound to put us through!!
About Victoria Denault
Victoria Denault loves long walks on the beach, cinnamon dolce lattes and writing angst-filled romance. Before focusing exclusively on writing novels Victoria was a journalist, a stand-up comic and dabbled in acting. She has lived in many major cities across North America, spent her childhood summers in Maine and adult summers in Spain. She’s now happily settled in Los Angeles with her husband and their two chubby Chihuahuas.
New Release Review: Making a Play by Victoria Denault
September 22, 2015Angie
Making a PlayMaking a Play by Victoria Denault
Book #2 in Hometown Players
Genre: Contemporary/Sports Romance
Publication Date: September 8th, 2015
ARC provided by Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley
Synopsis from Goodreads: He’ll do whatever it takes to win—on and off the ice.
Luc Richard is the hottest player in the NHL—and it has nothing to do with hockey. His racy relationship with his supermodel ex set the tabloids on fire but nearly put his career on ice. To avoid being traded, Luc agrees to take a break from the spotlight—and from women—and spend the off-season at home in Silver Bay, Maine. It’s the perfect plan… until he reconnects with Rose.
Rose Caplan is tired of being shy, sweet, and safe. She’s ready for passion, romance—and Luc. Having loved him longer than she can remember, she’s finally ready to prove she’s not the same innocent little girl he once knew. Off the ice Luc doesn’t do games, but this new Rose makes him feel like playing a little dirty. If he’s really got a shot at her heart then he’s not just playing to win. He’s playing for keeps.
Angie’s Review – 4.5 Skulls – A-
Admittedly, I didn’t have good luck with the first book in this series. But I liked enough about it to stick with it, and I am so glad I did! Making a Play was a sweet, and at times intense, read. Rose (or Fleur, as Luc likes to call her,) was the opposite of her sister, Jessie. She was endearing with a touch of naiveté, and I don’t think she even knew what a grudge was. After years of crushing on her best friend Luc, Rosie lets her sister, Callie, talk her into pulling out all the stops to finally get his attention before she leaves their hometown of Silver Bay (and him) for good. It’s not long before Rose has Luc eating out of the palm of her hand, and all her dreams are coming true. There’s one hitch in her plan – Luc is under pressure from management and his agent to wash himself of his bad boy image, and a relationship with any woman, even one as sweet as Rosie, is something the press will devour. So they have to keep their relationship a secret, which isn’t as easy for Rose as she thought.
I really enjoyed Rose and Luc’s journey. Navigating coupledom wasn’t as easy as Luc thought, and he was inadvertently saying and doing things that pushed Rose away. But they had amazing chemistry, and I loved it every time they’d steam up my Kindle! As far as Rose is concerned, this almost felt like a coming of age story that came a little later in life than usual, and it really worked for her character. I enjoyed seeing her gain confidence and a backbone. One of my concerns was that she was so in love with Luc, I was afraid she’d walk on eggshells around him just to keep him, but that’s not how she was. She was very vocal about how she wanted their relationship to go, and when she wasn’t happy about something, she wasn’t shy about letting Luc know. She was a strong heroine without being pushy, and while some of the decisions she made surprised me, I think they were true to who she was. I adored Luc’s character. He didn’t always do the right thing, but he definitely tried. And he was so hesitant to be with Rose because he knew she was a head in the clouds, romantic, flowers and candy kind of gal, and he wanted her to have that. He just didn’t think he could give her those things.
Luc’s interactions with the Garrison men in this book were a highlight for me; I loved the camaraderie. Their good-natured ribbing and determination to keep each other in line was so fun to read. As for Rose and her sisters, Rose is my favorite of the three. She is way more easy-going than the other two, though we did see more of that from Jessie in this book. Callie is a spitfire, and I’m a little anxious about what kind of heroine she’ll be. But since I liked this book so much, I’m going to cross my fingers and give it a go.
While I don’t think it’s essential to read the first book in this series before reading this one, I do think the interactions between the sisters and Luc and the Garrison men give you an idea of how deep their connections are. To each other, and to their hometown of Silver Bay. Making a Play was a great addition to the Hometown Players series, and I’m excited to read more from this author!
Rating: ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ + ½
REVIEW: One More Shot by Victoria Denault
Posted June 11th, 2015 by Sara @HarlequinJunkie in Blog, Contemporary Romance, Review, Sports Romance / 3 comments
One More Shot (A Hometown Players novel #1) by Victoria Denault: Jordan and One-More-Shot-by-Victoria-DenaultJessie have been best friends since they were in third grade and Jessie and her sisters, orphaned, came to live with their unloving grandmother. Brought into Jordan’s family as unofficial members, Jessie and Jordan were together through everything until it all went awry when they were eighteen. Finally taking that final step from best friend to relationship, it fell apart in misguided assumptions from naive teenagers.
“But then I’d turned around in that church parking lot and my eyes locked with hers and all the anger, betrayal and frustration that’s consumed me was replaced by one thought: God, she’s beautiful.”
After having not seen each other or speaking for six years, they meet once again at Jessie’s grandmother’s funeral. From there, realizing she lives in Seattle, too, he hires her as his physical therapist, and she can’t exactly say no since he’s the enormously famous and influential hockey player.
Jordan refuses to let any misunderstanding happen between them this time and begins to pursue Jessie, even if it’s just for friendship, no matter what it takes.
I enjoyed One More Shot a lot, but it also frustrated me a lot, too. It wasn’t a strong enough conflict, though, more a misunderstanding and then stubbornness keeping them apart. If only Jordan and especially Jessie had accepted they were young and made stupid mistakes six years ago, they could have had a happy rather than angry and angsty reunion.
I did quite enjoy the community Denault created with the two families, though. They were protective, meddling, and totally rooting for the pair’s happiness. Plus she sets up cute romances between the other siblings and friends that I’m definitely going to pick up. Sports stories are a favorite of mine, and I recommend any reader who loves a good athlete pick up One More Shot.
Book Info:
4SPublished: June 2, 2015 | Forever Yours | A Hometown Players novel #1
They say you only get one shot at making your dreams come true.
Jordan is determined to take two.
Drafted by the NHL at eighteen, Jordan Garrison was headed for fame, and there was only one person he wanted to share it with—Jessie Caplan. He was crazy in love with her, and had finally told her so. They shared an amazing night . . . and then everything fell apart.
Jessie tries not to think about the night she gave herself to Jordan—or how he broke her heart. She tries not to think about it, but she does. Especially now, when she’s staring into his sky-blue eyes for the first time in six years. After so much time and torment, she can’t tell if she loves him or hates him. But Jordan has learned enough to know a connection like theirs is rare. He was lucky to find Jessie once. No way will he lose her again.
June 20, 2015
REVIEW: One More Shot by Victoria Denault
JaneB- REVIEWSAthletes / Contemporary / reunited-lovers / second chance at loveComments Off on REVIEW: One More Shot by Victoria Denault
One More Shot (Hometown Players #1) by Victoria Denault
Dear Ms. Denault:
I read this on the way to the Romantic Times convention. I’m in a hockey mood given the playoffs and it was the perfect book to read at the time.
This is a hard book for me to grade because I thought there was one component of the story that was better done than in many books featuring a lost love. On the other hand, I wished that the hero had been allowed / given more chances to show the heroine what she meant to him.
The Garrison boys and the Caplan girls have been friends since they were young children. The Caplan girls were left in the care of their aloof grandmother and found a home with the Garrison family. (There’s more romances between the Garrisons and Caplans although one of them has a kid with another girl so…is someone dying in the future? Anyway, I digress.)
Jordan Garrison was headed for the NHL at the age of eighteen and he wanted to share it with one person…Jessie Caplan but through a series of believable miscommunications and hurt feelings, what is supposed to be the happiness moment of his life turns out to be bittersweet when Jessie refuses to see him again.
Fast forward several years and Jessie gets a job as a therapist in Seattle where Jordan is currently playing on the Seattle pro team. Jordan wants her back. He’s always loved her but after she refused to see him after the draft, Jordan set out to sleep with every available puck bunny around.
The book is told, in part, in flashbacks and even though I don’t like that technique in stories, I felt it was effective here. What happened when Jessie and Jordan were teenagers was important to show both how much they meant to each other and how it all fell apart.
I thought the book did an extraordinary good job of showing the pain that Jessie experienced reading about Jordan’s exploits on the internet. At one point, she logs onto a private message board where puck bunnies exchange detailed versions of their encounters with various players. Jordan features heavily in many of them. The stories that she reads about Jordan are all too painfully accurate as she reads about how other women describe him in bed, the type of lovemaking he enjoys, certain moves, how he holds them, etc. The angst was really genuine and it helped to understand Jessie’s hurt and her wariness about becoming involved with Jordan again.
On Jordan’s part, I felt like he never did enough to pursue Jessie. At one point, Jordan’s told by Jessie’s sister that she waited for him to pursue Jessie, to put aside his hurt and really go after her. But he never does. That’s his character arc but he never has to work hard enough for Jessie. If he’d treated Jessie like he treated hockey, they would have been back together years ago. And I felt like Jessie deserved that pursuit.
Jessie grew the most in the story. She had to put aside her pain and perceived betrayal. She had to trust Jordan and pursue him despite what happened before. I felt that she was more vulnerable that Jordan and wished for a little more equality in the relationship. Overall, though, I enjoyed this angsty, sexy high school sweetheart story finding their way back together.
B-
Best regards,
Jane
REVIEW: SCORE BY VICTORIA DENAULT
POSTED APRIL 2, 2017 BY KAREN IN KAREN, REVIEWS / 0 COMMENTS
Review: Score by Victoria DenaultScore by Victoria Denault
Published by Forever on May 9th 2017
ISBN: 1455597651
Pages: 368
Also by this author: On the Line, Game On, Slammed
Buy on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
Goodreads
An all-new contemporary romance featuring hockey players of the San Francisco Thunder.
Cocktails and Books received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect our opinion of the book or the content of our review.
This is the first book I have read by Victoria Denault and I was impressed. From the first page to the last, this story has great flow and it grabbed me and never let me go. It has wonderfully written dialogue, a delicious story, the characters feel genuine and the interactions between them are fun and flirty. I loved every minute of this charming and fun story which is told from alternating POV’s, so I always know what the characters are thinking and feeling.
Jude Braddock is a professional hockey player with the San Francisco Thunder. Everything in Jude’s professional life is going well and he is excited his team has won the Stanley Cup, but things in his personal life are not going as well.
Zoey Quinlin’s life is in turmoil after undergoing a messy divorce. She is starting over with a new job in residential real estate and her ex-husband enjoys giving her a difficult time. She misses the carefree person she used to be. She would like to have some fun after her marriage ends and she decides Jude is the perfect person to do that with.
Jude and Zoey knew each other when they were teenagers and haven’t seen each other in eleven years. Jude is a womanizer and assumes he isn’t meant for long-term relationships, until he sees Zoey again. I enjoyed watching their relationship build slowly and realistically. I liked Jude and Zoey together. They have fun and trust each other and also have lots of chemistry. Jude stole my heart. He is sweet and vulnerable and he wants to be a better guy for Zoey but he also worries he may hurt her. I love the way Jude grows into the man he is meant to be. He helps Zoey feel more confident and Zoey helps Jude feel better about himself, too.
Jude’s three sisters are hilarious and add a lot of humor to the story. He and his sisters are always bantering back and forth. They love to give Jude a hard time, they constantly tease him and don’t let his head get too big. SCORE is a mix of sexiness, sweetness, and laughter.