ROMAN (Cold Fury Hockey #7)
Sawyer Bennett

In a league full of troublemakers, Cold Fury defenseman Roman Sýkora stands out—at least when it comes to negative publicity. When he’s not chilling in the penalty box, the sizzling Czech skate demon is racking up tabloid headlines for his scandalous behavior with the ladies. But now Roman’s feeling the burn from management to clean up his act, or else. Luckily he’s got an enticing distraction: a fun-loving barista who plays the ukulele and brings out a side of Roman he didn’t know he had.

Lexi Robertson came to Raleigh, North Carolina, to finally meet her father, Brian Brannon, and her half sister, Gray, both of whom work in the Cold Fury’s front office. That’s where she first meets sexy, intimidating Roman—who’s really a big softie at heart. As one relationship takes off, another begins: Brian seems to be clicking with Lexi’s boss at the coffee shop. But when the friction between Roman and her new family heats up, Lexi wonders whether she’s a pawn in their game. Feeling hurt and foolish, Lexi’s ready to quit while she’s ahead. Trouble is, Roman’s not ready to quit on her.

Roman Sykora does everything fast...on and off the ice. He does what he wants, when he wants, and is seen as a trouble maker. He is cocky, sarcastic, alpha, impulsive, and a loner. His wild lifestyle and stunts are becoming social media blunders for his image and his team, and the  general manager, Gray Brannon, is not happy about it.

Lexi Robertson is sassy, sweet, quirky, happy, funny, and free spirited. She has come to Raleigh to meet the family she just recently found out that she had, so her life is in an adjustment stage. Catching the eye of the team bad boy is not the best idea when your new family is upper management of the Cold Fury organization. But she is adventurous and positive, and just cannot seem to resist his charms.

Roman has never wanted to spend time with just one woman, but Lexi is different. But it is hard to prove that to the people who won't forget his past transgressions and are watching every move he makes. She makes him want more and even though changing his personal lifestyle is not that difficult when motivated, it is hard to change the type of aggressive hockey player he is. And there is a lot of pressure not only to perform, but also to not make mistakes or use poor judgment that causes penalties for himself or the team.  His spot on the team could be put in jeopardy with one false move.

But Roman and Lexi together have a fun rapport, camaraderie, chemistry, and genuinely enjoy being together. Their lives are just a bit complicated.

This book is a family affair in the love department. It also features Dad, Brian Brannon, and his return to the dating world. I loved his fiery match, and they were funny and flirty. She was determined to shake the stuffiness out of the CEO and make him feel alive again. And we also get more with Gray, Ryker, and the girls. But Lexi's new family also comes with interesting dynamics, drama, and it is not always easy. There is jealousy, mistrust, and a bit of sibling rivalry. Roman is not used to being around families so that adds even more pressure on him since they are so closely tied with his career. And Lexi is put in the middle at times between Roman and Gray and their strained relationship. Sometimes I really just wanted to shake them myself. 

It is told in multiple points of view of Roman, Lexi, and Brian as they try to figure out the intricacies of handling new relationships when their lives are tied in various ways. It is sweet, humorous, sexy, and made me smile a lot. I love this team and this group of characters. I will keep reading them as long as she keeps them coming. I am looking forward to Max's little brother, Lucas next.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Roman Sykora is relatively new to the Cold Fury team, and has remained on the outside of those who consider the team a family. He has played high level hockey since he was a teenager, and is used to being on his own, without the support of family or close friends. He is also known as the team’s bad boy, fighting on the ice, enjoying public scenes off the ice. His antics on and off the ice have put him under the hot seat with pressure to clean up his act.

Lexi Robertson is in Raleigh to get to know the father and half sister she had only recently learned about. While her family was never large, she values the connection and now that her mother is gone, hopes that Brian and Gray Brannon can fill the need for family. She doesn’t expect the flirting with Roman, while waiting in the Cold Fury offices, to be anything but a little fun, until he makes the effort to find her again.

The chemistry between these two surprised even themselves. I loved watching Roman, especially, as he fought feelings he had never dealt with before. He wasn’t a man who needed people around, and finding himself in the position where he needed and enjoyed having Lexi around was not something he was familiar with, nor particularly comfortable with.

In addition to Roman and Lexi’s romance, there is a secondary story floating in the background between Brian Brannon and Georgia Mack. These two are such opposites that when I noticed the flirtation going on, I was struck with utter glee at watching Brian try to contain the exuberance that is Georgia. This felt like a bonus story wrapped up inside the primary story.

As usual, I found myself grinning at the antics of all the characters. I was frustrated right alongside Lexi as Gray and Roman held on to the animosity between them. I cheer each of them on as they stepped out of their comfort zone in order to support the other. As the 7th Cold Fury novel, Roman has big shoes to fill. This bad boy and his quirky, happy lady are the perfect additions to the Cold Fury family. 

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.

ALEX (Cold Fury Hockey #1)

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As a social worker, Sutton Price is accustomed to difficult people—like Alex, who’s been assigned to help her create a drug-abuse awareness program for at-risk youth as part of the team’s effort to clean up his image. What she doesn’t expect is the arrogant smirk from his perfect lips to stir her most heated fantasies. But Sutton isn’t one to cross professional boundaries—and besides, Alex doesn’t do relationships… or does he? The more she sees behind Alex’s bad-boy façade, the more Sutton craves the man she uncovers.

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Our 4.5 star reviews

Carolina Cold Fury star Garrett Samuelson never wants to miss out on a single minute of fun. Whether he’s playing hockey, hanging out with friends, or walking the red carpet with a new date on his arm, he lives every day to the fullest. When he meets Olivia Case, he sees someone who’s exactly his type—confident, sexy, smart . . . his next fling. But the more he pursues her, the more Garrett shares a side of himself that other women don’t normally get to see.

Olivia has been keeping a secret. While Garrett lives for the next thrill, Olivia’s not sure she’ll live to see the next day. She’s undergoing treatment for some serious medical issues, and she doesn’t have time for a relationship with no guarantees—especially one with a hot-as-sin womanizer who won’t take no for an answer. But as she gets to know the real Garrett, Olivia can’t help falling for him . . . hard. To reveal the truth would mean risking everything—but you can’t score without taking the tough shots.