Sarina Bowen Archives - Page 3 of 6

Book Review: Overnight Sensation by Sarina Bowen

Jan 29, 2019

Overnight Sensation by Sarina Bowen

Pages: 341
Publish date: January 22, 2019
Publisher: Tuxbury Publishing LLC
ASIN: B07K5WL48S
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Everyone knows the girl is off limits. But it’s so good to be bad. There’s this girl…
Heidi and I have been trading hungry looks all year, and everything she does makes me smile. But I don’t do girlfriends, and I certainly can’t get involved with the league commissioner’s daughter. I need shots on goal, not a hookup and a widely misunderstood paparazzi photo.
Can I resist her, though? The way she teases me should be a game penalty for interference with my libido.

There’s this guy…
Jason wants me, but he won’t admit it. That man looks at me the way a hockey player eyes the lunch buffet after practice–and I love it.But when victory is finally within my grasp, I blow it and humiliate myself. Even then I can’t even avoid him–as the team intern, I’m in constant view of his hard body and cocky smile. I need another chance. Jason Castro is about to learn the true meaning of an overnight sensation.

Overnight Sensation:

When a new Sarina Bowen comes out, of course, I have to read it right away. And I am so glad that I did, I adored Overnight Sensation, and I’m so happy that there is a new hockey romance from Sarina Bowen.

This one follows someone we all know and love Jason Castro as he tries to navigate the year after a “little stumble.” And while he thought everything would be focused on ice hockey, Heidi makes her way into his life. When Jason didn’t make the last goal and bring his team to victory last season, he thought everything was over. He had his chance and it blew it. So this season Jason Castro is putting everything in. What he didn’t expect was for Heidi Jo to come into his life as she did. And when a paparazzi photo is taken at the wrong time and is outrageously misunderstood, Jason and Heidi and both getting more than they bargained for.

I have adored Jason Castro from when he first came into Sarina Bowen’s ice hockey world. So when I heard that her new book would be about him, I was super excited. And let me tell you I wasn’t disappointed. While this isn’t my favourite of this series or her books. I still had so much fun reading it.

Jason can just have my heart. While he is a charmer, he isn’t really the ‘manwhore’ we sometimes get in romance novels. His charm just made him a natural at talking with not only women but anyone else really. He was like this big kid, but not in a bad way. I also adored the way that he cared for Heidi when she wasn’t exactly in the right state of mind, it was really nice to see that. Jason is not only charming, but also very sweet. And that really showed throughout Overnight Sensation. But Jason also has a past that he is hiding from nearly everyone. And it haunts him with everything that he does.

Alex Korolkoff

Then there is Heidi, who I didn’t love as much as other readers. Don’t get me wrong, I still really enjoyed her as a protagonist, but it was much harder to connect with her. What I did love about Heidi was that she never gave up. She pushed and pushed and pushed. It’s really nice seeing a female, protagonist that doesn’t give up. I can never have enough of them. And Sarina Bowen is amazing at writing female characters who are career driven and likes to be challenged. She took everything that was thrown at her, and it took a lot to take her down, even a little. Heidi’s character arc was really good, it made me go from liking her, to really enjoying her as a protagonist

Jason and Heidi was gold. They were adorable together. At first, I found that Jason and Heidi were very different from one another, but as Overnight Sensation went on, not only did they find out more about each other, but the reader did too. I loved that they both challenged one another and kept each other on their toes. It really made for an engaging aspect of the novel and the growth of their relationship. Jason’s demons did play a lot with his mind and the choices that he makes considering Heidi, but she was also there for him

I didn’t like the relationship between Heidi and her father. None of it sat right with me from the beginning, and the reasoning behind it didn’t sit well either. I hated how Heidi, didn’t really stand up to him enough. Yes, she did move out, but that just wasn’t enough. She still let him walk all over her. And then he was forever just as easy. I really do wish there was more tension between these two. A lot of what he did would have hurt me a hell of a lot more than Heidi showed it did.

I adored seeing the Brooklyn Bruisers again. It felt so warm and familiar to be back with all the crew. From the team to Rebecca and Georgia. It put a smile on my face reading about the characters that we know and love. Having these old characters back also added such entertainment, the banter between the team is next to nothing and really adds humour and character.

Christiana Rivers

Overall, I loved Overnight Sensation. Sarina knows how to write a fantastic sports romance that isn’t just about the sport or the romance. It’s about relationships, finding out who you are and learning about not only yourself but those around you. Jason and Heidi were fantastic, I couldn’t get enough of them. Alone there were pretty good, but together, they just blew up. Overnight Sensation explores finding yourself in hard times, letting go of the past and sometimes, it’s good to have someone by your side. If you have loved Sarina Bowen before, you will adore this. If you love sports romances, then pick this up. Or whether you just want a little getaway, then here you are.

Have you read Overnight Sensation? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? What is your favourite sports romance? Let’s Chat!

Don’t forget to check for Brooklynaire, book 4 in the Brooklyn Bruisers series as well as my other Sarina Bowen book reviews.

Book Review: Fireworks by Sarina Bowen

Nov 14, 2018

Fireworks (True North #6) by Sarina Bowen

Pages: 343
Publish date: November 13, 2018
Publisher: Tuxbury Publishing, LLC
ISBN: B07H22C3YL
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Skye Copeland is on paid leave from her broadcasting job after accidentally drawing a pecker on the traffic map.

Let that sink in. Like it’s her fault the traffic pattern that day created a perfect schlong?

Skye isn’t laughing. She needs this job. And that’s the only reason she’s agreed to chase down a story in her least favorite place—that hell on earth known as Vermont.

A quick trip. In and out. Much like – never mind. Skye can sneak into the town that once tried to break her, get the story and get back into the good graces of her producer. Easy peasy.

Except things go sideways even as she sets foot over the county line. Her step-sister is on the run from a violent drug dealer. And the cop on the case is none other than Benito Rossi, the man who broke her teenage heart.

His dark brown eyes still tear her apart. And even as she steels herself to finally tell him off after twelve years, the old fireworks are still there.

Things are about to go boom.

Fireworks:

I received an e-arc of Fireworks by Sarina Bowen from the author for review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

If you’ve been here a while, then you know that I love Sarina Bowen books, so when I heard she was writing another True North novel, I nearly screamed. And then when I heard it was about Benito I nearly jumped out of my seat. I love learning more about the Rossi and Shipley family, and Fireworks really added another depth to these family in Vermont.

Fireworks follows protagonist Skye Copeland as she arrives back in Vermont, a place where she never thought she would step back in to. She left this town for a reason, but after an incident at work, she wants to hide away for a little while. But this town doesn’t just hide secrets, but also Benito Rossi. The one person who she gave her heart too and he broke it. She thought she would be in and out, no one would know that she’s there, but things don’t go to plan and boy are we in for a ride.

I really enjoyed Fireworks, it had the classic Sarina Bowen romance, with a little mystery intertwined. And while I didn’t love it as much as her previous books in the ‘True North,’ series, it was still engaging and addicting as much as her other books.

I’m still not sure how I feel about Skye, for the most part, I really liked her. I loved getting to know, getting to know her story. And gosh some of the things that happened to her broke my little heart. And while saying all this I wanted Skye to be a little more vulnerable. She was so closed off because of her child and teenhood, that it really played with who she was. And who she let in.

As Fireworks goes on, Skye’s wall so breaks down and the reader is able to see a different side of her. I loved that Skye was hella strong. She had been through so much, but she pushed and pushed and go to where she is in the book. In saying that I hated her work situation. I hated the way that she was treated and wished she had left. But then I also understand why she didn’t.

And while I thought I would love Benito, I didn’t. I did like him, but his possessive nature at times wasn’t my favourite. Okay, not possessive, but too worried about Skye’s safety that it felt suffocating. Other than that I really enjoyed Ben. I liked that he liked his job, that he would do anything for his family. He was sweet and caring and just made my heart happy. And while he was protective, he was also supportive and that just made me smile.

I really did enjoy the romance in Fireworks. It’s a second chance romance that just squeezes my hearts to bits. It’s got that classic Sarina Bowne, tension and anticipation, and the romance blows me away. Ben and Skye were so cute together and they just feel right back into each other. I adored that we got to see the flashbacks of how they were like together before and I thought it created a great sense of their relationship up until now. The reader is able to see Ben and Skye fall back in love with one another but is also able to see what is keeping them apart.

What one of my most favourite parts of this book, is the flashbacks. I think it added just another layer to this novel. The reader is able to see Ben and Skye falling in love with each other twice and it was great. The flashbacks, however, are very hard to read. She went through a lot as a teen, things that NO one should ever go through. But I understand why Sarina Bowen also included those scenes. Because I know that I was able to understand Skye a whole lot better.

The notion of family is a big theme in Fireworks, much like her other books. Ben is not only apart of the Rossi family, but also the Shipley family and together they are a force. I loved seeing characters from previous books interacting with one another. Family is so important to me, so seeing that in books, just makes me happy and I can connect with characters a whole lot more. Nevertheless, we also see bad family relationships throughout Fireworks, but I think it worked in favor of the novel.

Overall, I really enjoyed Fireworks by Sarina Bowen. It explores second chances, family and trusting in yourself. It has a little mystery, a little love and lots of lots of Sarina Bowen charm. Ben and Skye test each other, but in the end, they both know they love one another. Fireworks is a great addition to the True North series and I for one cannot wait for more.

Have you read Fireworks by Sarina Bowen? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? What is your favourite romance trope? Let’s Chat!

Book Review: Boy Toy by Sarina Bowen and Tanya Eby

Aug 14, 2018

Boy Toy by Sarina Bowen and Tayna Eby

Pages: 451
Publish date: August 14, 2018
Publisher: Tuxbury Publishing LLC
ASIN: B07D9X3HW9
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – iBooks

Liam

The moment Sadie Matthews walks through the daycare center door, I feel my world tilt in her direction. Again. I fell for her when I was fourteen, and I’m still not over her. Problem: she still thinks of me as a teen she used to babysit. But I’ve learned a few things about pleasing a woman in the last fifteen years. I can’t wait to show her how good it could be. I need to move quickly before I lose her again. This is more than a game to me, but I still plan to win.

Sadie

I’ve just survived the worst year of my life. As a single mom of twin toddlers, I don’t have time for a man. I barely have time to finish a thought. Who knew that Liam McAllister would grow up to be so devastating? He’s everything my husband was not: tall, built, and willing to have a tea party with my girls.

I can’t possibly get involved with him. He’s too young for me. Too handsome. But he’s so persuasive…

Boy Toy:

I received an e-arc of Boy Toy from the authors in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I didn’t know how I was feeling before I started reading Boy Toy by Sarina Bowen and Tanya Eby. I hadn’t been a massive fan of the previous two book in this series; Man Hands and Man Card. I enjoyed them, but I didn’t particularly love them. But as soon as I started reading Boy Toy, a lot of things changed.

Boy Toy by Sarina Bowen and Tanya Eby follows recently divorced mother of twin daughters Sadie as she tries to re-navigate her life as a single woman. So it’s a surprise when she drops her kids off at daycare and sees someone she used to babysit. And he definitely isn’t a boy anymore. Liam hasn’t seen Sadie in nearly fifteen years, and when he sees her walk, it’s like he is teen again and his crush has risen straight to the surface. Sadie doesn’t think she is ready to jump into a new relationship and Liam isn’t going to be around forever, but hey who says you can’t have fun.

Boy Toy was a massive surprise for me. As I said before I wasn’t a massive fan of this duo’s previous books in this series. And I am not sure what it was exactly, but I was able to connect with the protagonist a lot better in this one. Sadie and Luke were both very raw characters and so in turn so was the romance. It was still sexy, but there was this innocence about it, like first love or falling in love for the first.

I really enjoyed Sadie as a protagonist in Boy Toy. She was witty and charming and I loved seeing her try new things again. After a really heartbreaking and somewhat loveless marriage, it was really nice to see Sadie, not only fall for someone again but also love herself. Throughout the previous two novels we really get to see Sadie at some of her worse and in Boy Toy, we finally see her at her best. I adored the interactions with her daughters and from the get-go, the reader is able to see that she will do anything for them.

Liam, ah what an amazing human being this man is. From the start the reader is able to see Liam interest in Sadie, he doesn’t really hide it well and gosh it made up for a few laughs. I also adored his Liam’s want and need to care for the kids at the daycare. Especially Sadie’s little girls. Liam’s kindness, love, and thoughtfulness shines throughout the whole book and adds depth to an already interesting character. He would do anything for Sadie and her girls and gosh that just hit me right in the heart.

I loved seeing how nervous both Sadie and Liam were going forward, but also how much they wanted to. Sadie’s previous marriage really took a toll on her self-esteem and throughout Boy Toy, Liam is able to break down the walls and make Sadie love herself again. I think that was such an important part of their relationship and really stood out to be. Sadie also has time, believing that she has failed as a mother. And Liam is able to show that Sadie is totally the opposite and excels at what she does and her love for her twins beats nothing.

Overall, Boy Toy was such a fun, entertaining read. This rom-com has it all, romance, laughs, and best of all family. I just fell in love with the characters and their lives and couldn’t put the book down for a second. Boy Toy explores the notion of second chances, loving yourself and being a family. It’s about sacrifice and learning to take what life throws at you. If you are looking for a fun, entertaining but also heart pulling read, then this one is for you.