***Trigger Warning: contains graphic scenes depicting domestic and sexual abuse***

He’s in a drought. No rain. No goals. No women.

She has what it takes to quench his thirst.

Ethan Higgins, a defenseman for the Tulsa Thunderbirds, is in a rut. He hasn’t scored a goal in ages, and he hasn’t had a woman in his bed for even longer. The only thing in his favor is that he gets to spend time with his son when the T-Birds play at home on the weekends. Determined to be nothing like his abusive father, Ethan sets out to show his son how a real man behaves, and Natalie Turner gives him the perfect opportunity to do so.

Natalie has nowhere to turn when her boyfriend gets physical with her, this time in public—at least not until Ethan steps in to offer her a safe place to stay. Wary of trusting anyone, especially another hockey player, and even more so one as rough and tough as Ethan, Natalie attempts to resist the lure she feels toward the protective man. When Ethan’s son does a Rain Dance, the skies open up. But will soaking their hardened and cracked hearts be enough to end the drought? 

I have to start this review by saying to heed the trigger warnings if it is an issue for you, because like with other difficult situations in this Tulsa Thunderbirds series, Catherine Gayle did not sugarcoat this story. Some of the beginning is hard to take because it does feel so real, raw, desperate, and volatile. But with that being said, this is ultimately a positive story of survival and hope.

Natalie Turner has been conditioned to believe that her life will continue to exist as it has for years...isolated and at the mercy of her boyfriend Hayes Lennon who is on the Tulsa Thunderbirds. But one night, an unexpected knight appears and intervenes on her behalf. An unlikely support is initiated that night and soon she would need to ask for help. 

Ethan Higgens is also a defenseman on the Thunderbirds. He has always been a bit quiet and reserved. He is a divorced dad who lives for hockey and his son. He is also a survivor of his own traumatic childhood, and he cannot handle seeing a woman being harmed.

She has a long road to recovery both physically and emotionally. She has trust issues, is scared, broken, and feels alone. He becomes Natalie's protector and support. He is good, kind , patient, caring and understanding. And also brings the Thunderbird family along with him. He begins to make her feel safe. But they both are trying to figure out what is happening between them. Is it temporary? Real Feelings or just obligation?  An after effect of the traumatic situation? What happens if she does not need him anymore?

This is Natalie's journey to finding strength, support, safety, real affection, healing, and hope. Ethan is an absolutely swoonworthy hero. They way he treats his son, his ex, and Natalie is just so sweet, tolerant, and caring. He is big, brawny, and alpha, but also tender, loving, and understanding. This is a case of two people who found each other in the worst of situation and were not looking for love. She really had no hope and he felt powerless to make it better. And he had his own demons. But somehow they began to breathe light into each other's dark places. But true healing takes time and patience, and they need to proceed with caution for both of their sakes. They are both scared of making mistakes and causing pain. And they both struggle internally with their own issues, while facing external distress and drama as well. 

As I stated before this one is pretty graphic at the beginning and really paints the picture of pain, desperation, and hopelessness. It made me wince, cringe, get angry, and I truly hurt for Natalie. Ethan made me believe that good men are out there and that people can overcome anything. This is a heartfelt story of trust, vulnerability, intimacy, open hearts,  hope, healing, fighting demons, and moving forward.

It brings back all of the characters from this series that we have seen struggle with their own issues. They are a great support system and provide more understanding and care to a woman who was kept isolated. They both have challenges to face, but they are easier with a group like this to stand by them.

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

Bury the Hatchet (Tulsa Thunderbirds #1)
Hunter Fielding has long since proven himself to be one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. The problem? His former team had another (slightly better) backstop. They left Hunter out to dry, the upstart Tulsa Thunderbirds claimed him in the expansion draft, and he made a few stupid comments about backasswards Oklahomans. Now the T-Birds say the only way he can redeem himself is to make nice for the media with some local goody two shoes who’s made some mistakes of her own.

Oklahoma’s sweetheart could do no wrong until she could do no right.

Tallulah Belle Roth was the reigning Miss Oklahoma USA until a night of out-of-control drinking, a naked foray in a hot tub with very bad boy, and a bunch of lowlights on TMZ. Now she’s been stripped of her crown and is facing the censure of the same people who made her out to be Little Miss Perfect. Tallie won’t ever get her title back, but her life is another matter—and the only way the public will allow her to do that is if she presents herself as happily settled with someone else under Oklahoma’s eye.

The marriage is to be in name only—one year of sickeningly-sweet lovey-dovey PDA, all to get their detractors to bury the hatchet. Those kisses and tender moments for the cameras take an emotional toll, though. Can in name only be enough?


Smoke Signals (Tulsa Thunderbirds #2)