Blog Tour: A Favor for A Favor: Helena Hunting
From the New York Times bestselling author of Pucked and A Lie for a Lie, a new stand-alone romance about trading favors, battling wills, and winning love.
When I joined Seattle’s NHL expansion team, I thought it was the start of something great. But nothing ever goes the way you expect. Take my introduction to my new neighbor. She came rolling in on the hot mess express at midnight, making a racket while she tried to get into my team captain’s apartment. Did I mention that he’s married to a woman who definitely was not her?
Imagine my surprise when I end up with an injury that has me out of the game for weeks, and she’s the one to offer to help me. I should probably add that she’s not the captain’s mistress. She’s his sexy, pastel-haired younger sister.
So we come up with an arrangement: she rehabs me so that I can get back on the ice sooner, and she can add a professional athlete that isn’t her brother to her client list. Seems simple enough. As long as I can keep my hands to myself and my hormones in check.
Stevie Bowman is RJ/Rook's little sister from A Lie for a Lie. She is moving to Seattle for a new PT job, her boyfriend, and to be near her brother and his new family, but her previously set up plans take a dive when she gets there. But fortunately, her brother has his vacant apartment she can stay in.
Rook's teammate and new nemesis, Bishop Winslow, is her across the hall neighbor. They do not get off to the best start, and they find themselves playing some little games for a bit. But when he gets injured and needs some extra PT, it seems to be a win-win for both of him. She gets professional experience and he gets back on the ice faster.
Their arrangement is full of some antagonism and sexual tension, but they also start to develop an odd friendship. Slow burn torture, forbidden elements, and growing feelings start to make things a bit messy.
Stevie has always lived in her brother's shadow and does not like it when his spotlight shines on her. Bishop will more than likely eventually garner that same kind of attention. Bishop has been used in the past by girls wanting to ride his fame. And Rook is one hundred percent an older brother who does not approve of any shenanigans. Not to mention the professional aspect of being a therapist and client.
So there are plenty of reasons to say NO. But as they trade favors and time, things just keep heating up.
So there are plenty of reasons to say NO. But as they trade favors and time, things just keep heating up.
This is a slow-burn, enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, sports romance. It brings back Rook/RJ who I loved in the first book, but from Bishop and Stevie's point of view, he can kind of be overbearing, overprotective, and bossy. I really liked the beginning, but it got a bit repetitive for me in the middle. And the big conflict and some things related were a bit frustrating. But by the end, I was liking it again. I really liked their goody-goody teammate, Ryan Kingston and am glad he will be the subject of the next book.
Stevie Bowman is moving into her brother Rook/RJ’s condo while she starts a new job as a physical therapist. The plan hadn’t been to live in Rook’s penthouse apartment, but arriving a few days earlier than expected uncovered a surprise that changed her living arrangements quickly.
Bishop Winslow lives across the hall and is Rook’s teammate. A serious injury has him sidelined just when he needs to be out on the ice the most. But when Stevie offers to help his PT process and possibly speed his healing in return for only the experience of rehabbing a professional athlete it seems to be a perfect arrangement for both of them.
I loved the games they played across the hall. Both as assertions of their personalities and as they carried an undertone of flirtation, the games ramped up the steam between them even as they both claimed to hate the other.
There is so much back and forth between these two. Every time I thought they were making headway beyond the tenuous friendship they had, one would do something that made me (and the other character) question the true motives. This was a slow burn, for sure. But the tension between them kept things interesting.
I am looking forward to more from this series. The combination of humor and tension is perfect for a fun read. Bishop’s teammate, Ryan, is the “good boy” of the bunch and I loved the perspective he gave throughout this book. His hinted story is sure to be a good one!
Bishop Winslow lives across the hall and is Rook’s teammate. A serious injury has him sidelined just when he needs to be out on the ice the most. But when Stevie offers to help his PT process and possibly speed his healing in return for only the experience of rehabbing a professional athlete it seems to be a perfect arrangement for both of them.
I loved the games they played across the hall. Both as assertions of their personalities and as they carried an undertone of flirtation, the games ramped up the steam between them even as they both claimed to hate the other.
There is so much back and forth between these two. Every time I thought they were making headway beyond the tenuous friendship they had, one would do something that made me (and the other character) question the true motives. This was a slow burn, for sure. But the tension between them kept things interesting.
I am looking forward to more from this series. The combination of humor and tension is perfect for a fun read. Bishop’s teammate, Ryan, is the “good boy” of the bunch and I loved the perspective he gave throughout this book. His hinted story is sure to be a good one!
“Say you were taking a woman to a formal work function. Would you get her flowers or something?” I’ve gone on my fair share of dates, had a few relationships, but I’ve never been one for hearts and flowers or any of that bull. I’m thinking I might need to do that with Stevie, though, since she’s been screwed over pretty hard.
“Is this a date or a favor for a friend?”
“I guess she thinks I’m doing her a favor.” At least that was the impression that I got when I offered to go with her.
“Is that actually what you’re doing?”
“Yes and no.”
“Can you give me a little more to go on?”
“Her ex is going to be there and I don’t want her to go alone.”
“You don’t want her to go alone because you’re worried he’ll be a jerk or he’ll try to take advantage of her?”
“Sure, yeah, that’s part of the reason.”
“Instead of me dragging the information out of you, why don’t you lay it down for me?”
“So, Stevie—”
“Hold up, we’re back to Rook’s little sister?”
“Who else would I be talking about?”
“I thought you said there isn’t anything going on between you, and now you’re taking her to some kind of work function? That’s not a favor; that’s a date. Does Rook know?”
“It’s none of his damn business.”
“I’m not sure he’ll see it that way.”
“Well, he doesn’t have control over her or what she does, or what I do.” I’m agitated now. “She’s not going to that thing alone. I don’t trust that ex of hers, and I don’t want her to end up in a situation she doesn’t like.”
Kingston tips his head to the side. “Dang.”
“What?”
“You like her.”
“Well, yeah, I like her.” What’s not to like? She’s gorgeous, and she’s funny and feisty; her body is rockin’; and she’s fun to be around, super chill, and genuinely selfless.
“Like you actually want to date her, though.”
I shrug, because what am I going to say? The answer to that is yes, I want to date her, but the timing needs to be right. “I don’t want the ex thinking he has another chance.“
“You really love complicated situations, don’t you?”
“They just tend to find me, is all.”
“When’s this event you’re supposed to take her to?” King asks.
“Saturday.”
He frowns. “We get back at noon on Saturday.”
“It’s in the evening.”
“You better hope our flight isn’t delayed.”
I hadn’t considered a delay. The only reason that would happen is if the weather isn’t good. “It doesn’t start until five. I should have plenty of time to get home and throw a suit on.”
Kingston nods and taps restlessly on the edge of the pool. “So would you call this your first date?”
“We hang out all the time.”
“‘Hang out’ meaning what?”
“Other than PT sessions, we watch hockey, eat pizza, stuff like that.”
Kingston blinks several times in rapid succession. “That’s it?”
“I pick her up from work a lot.”
“Have you ever bought her flowers before? Brought her any gifts?”
“I brought her over an aloe plant once. But, like I said, it hasn’t been like that.” I don’t get why he’s so hung up on the flowers.
“Again, please try not to take offense, but are you sure you haven’t inadvertently put yourself in the friend zone?”
“How do I know if I’m in the friend zone?” I haven’t had a lot of friends who are girls. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever had a friend who’s a girl who isn’t related to me. And I only have two female cousins, whom I see a couple of times a year at family functions. They’re significantly younger than me, so mostly I avoid them.
It’s Kingston’s turn to blow out a long breath. “If you put your arm around her and she gets all snuggly but doesn’t try to take it any further, it could mean you’re in the friend zone.”
I don’t know what my expression must be, but the panic I feel inside quite possibly reaches my face. I feel like it should be obvious that I’m interested. A guy doesn’t spend endless hours with a gorgeous woman who combines weird pizza toppings for shits and giggles. But then again, I haven’t attempted to make a move on her since the almost-kiss. And any conversation I’ve tried to have with her about it has been shut down. In fact, she wants to pretend it didn’t happen. I hadn’t considered that this might be because she actually didn’t want it to happen at all. She seemed just as into it as I was. Or maybe I’ve been misreading the whole thing. “If I’m in the friend zone, how the hell do I get out?”
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Pucked series comes a romantic comedy about instant attraction, second chances, and not-so-little white lies.
Sometimes I need an escape from the demands, the puck bunnies, and the notoriety that come with being an NHL team captain. I just want to be a normal guy for a few weeks. So when I leave Chicago for some peace and quiet, the last thing I expect is for a gorgeous woman to literally fall into my lap on a flight to Alaska. Even better, she has absolutely no idea who I am.
Lainey is the perfect escape from my life. My plan for seclusion becomes a monthlong sex fest punctuated with domestic bliss. But it ends just as abruptly as it began. When I’m called away on a family emergency, I realize too late that I have no way to contact Lainey.
A Secret For A Secret
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From New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting comes a new romance about trading secrets, breaking the rules, and playing for keeps.
My name is Ryan Kingston, and I’m a rule follower. I’ve never been in a fistfight. I always obey the speed limit. I don’t get drunk, and I definitely don’t pick up random women at bars.
Except the night I found out that my whole existence has been a lie.
I got drunk. And picked up a stranger.
Her name was Queenie, and she was everything I’m not: reckless, impulsive, and chaotic. We did shots and traded secrets. And ended up naked at my place.
She left me a thank-you note in the morning and her panties as a parting gift. But no way to contact her.
Six weeks later I’m sitting in the first official team meeting of the season, and there she is. I neglected to mention that I’m the goalie for Seattle’s NHL team.
And Queenie? Turns out she’s the general manager’s daughter.
Helena Hunting
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NYT and USA Today Bestselling author, Helena Hunting lives outside of Toronto with her amazing family and her two awesome cats, who think the best place to sleep is her keyboard. Helena writes everything from contemporary romance with all the feels to romantic comedies that will have you laughing until you cry.
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