Sawyer Bennett

The Arizona Vengeance is hockey’s hottest new team. But hockey’s hottest goalie is learning that even the best players sometimes need an assist.

Everything is clicking for the Vengeance. We may be new, but we’re well on our way to winning the championship, and I’m having the time of my life headlining the sports media as the hottest goalie—hell, player—ever. I for one am going to live up to my name . . . because I am Legend Bay.

Dragging my ass home from the gym, I’m blinded by some gaudy, glowing holiday lights. As usual, my hot-as-hell neighbor Pepper Nantais has gone way over the top. But just as I’m about to tell her off, something else catches my eye . . . Seems like Santa left me a present, and not one I was expecting.

As life takes an unexpected turn, I realize that there’s much more to Pepper than meets the eye. Sure, she’s gorgeous. And exasperating. And her taste in decorating may be a bit . . . unique.

But beneath her carefree demeanor is a fierce determination and a heart of gold. And before I know it I’ve fallen for her. Hard . . .

Pepper is exactly the woman I never knew I needed.

Legend Bay takes life seriously. He is a level-headed and extremely focused goalie for the Arizona Vengeance. He likes order, rules, and control. He is not looking for a serious relationship or anything to tie him down. His wacky neighbor, Pepper drives him to distraction with her vibrant, Bohemian ways and tacky lawn art. She is a children's author and illustrator, and is often around. They both annoy and fascinate each other at the same time.

They love to outdo and challenge the other. And then one day his life changes in a way he never imagined. And Pepper is who he calls on for help. And suddenly they are thrust into a situation requiring them to work together. The more time they spend together, the more their differences don't seem to matter and the attraction seems to grow.

This was sweet, sexy, heartwarming, and had some suspense and drama. I really liked both Legend and Pepper's personalities. They were mature and communicated. They had great chemistry and balanced each other out. I found Legend to be pretty adept at making these big transitions in his life. Their change from enemies to friends to lovers flowed easily. Neither was really looking for love, but they just kind of fell into it. The romance was sweet, hot, and was relatively without relationship  angst. But there was definite drama from external sources that drove the plot. Some things were a bit predictable, but some were not. But this was an easy read to get sucked into, and I really did enjoy these characters and their story.

I liked getting more with Bishop, Brooke, Erik, Bleu, Dax, and Tacker and even a couple of other cameos. I am really interested in both Dax and Tacker's stories now as there were some  more teases. They have the potential to be more emotional due to the subject matter.

 I received this book for free from netgalley and author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Legend Bay is methodical and organized, with every part of his life fitting into a neat orderly box. When a new neighbor moves in next door and fills her yard with kitchy eclectic decor, Legend finds his peaceful retreat spoiled. Even though Pepper’s free spirit and love of color irks Legend, she is the person he calls first when his life takes a twist he didn’t see coming.

I love a good enemies to lovers, opposites attract, and single dad stories, and this book checks all three boxes. There is a lot going on in Legend’s life, but he rolls with the punches as best as he can while trying to find a new balance. Pepper is confident in herself and enjoys getting under Legend’s skin with her yard decorations almost as much as she enjoys the decorations for herself. Even though she pokes his buttons, she is also the only one he trusts enough to have his back as he adjusts to a life he knows nothing about.

I loved watching as their dynamic shifted from antagonistic neighbors, to reliable partners, to a cohesive unit. This was a relatively smooth transition, as it happens fairly quickly. They weren’t looking for what they found together, but it fit with who they were. Due to their background, they were not strangers at the beginning of the book, and they quickly find ways to put their animosity aside and work together. As they work more closely the sparks turn from annoyance to attraction.

I loved returning to the Arizona Vengeance world, with cameos from Legend’s teammates and others. This story has a little more suspense and drama than I remember from previous Vengeance books, and I loved the addition for this particular story. There is also more plot building for both Tacker and Dax, and both teases have me anticipating these stories even more than I already was.

I received this book for free from netgalley and author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

UPCOMING:

DAX

(Arizona Vengeance #4): 
Pre-order Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo
(releasing July 9, 2019)

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released multiple books, many of which have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active daughter, as well as full-time servant to her adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or even better, both.

Sawyer also writes general and women’s fiction under the pen name S. Bennett and sweet romance under the name Juliette Poe.