Review: Powerplay by Heather B. Moore, Sophia Summers, Rebecca Connolly

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

He’s ready to quit his pro-hockey career. She’s doing everything to keep her career afloat. And neither of them have time for distractions.

Jax Emerson, legendary forward for the Chicago Flyers, is ready to throw it all away when he uncovers the truth behind his NHL contract. The last thing he needs is more media attention, or his father to get involved in his contract, or a beautiful woman apologizing once again for an accident.

Meg Bailey didn’t think her life could get any worse, until it does. Time is running out before her business is forced to close. When Jax Emerson offers a solution, she knows that by accepting his help, she might be getting in too deep. And deep is not a place her heart is prepared to go.

My Review

I love how these characters are a little older and established in their careers, which brought a level of maturity to their relationship. They aren't playing games- what you see is what you get, and the honesty is refreshing. The chemistry is so great  (and I'll never look at Pac-man the same way again!) and even though there are sparks early on, they both take things at a steady rather than rushed pace. I enjoyed the plot and seeing some behind-the-scenes hockey drama with the politics of contracts. I also enjoyed the interactions and banter between the hockey teammates and their friends from other teams. A strong addition to the series that made me want to read it again... so I did ;)

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Welcome to Northbrook Hockey Elite! 

Six professional hockey players used to play on an elite club team together, but have all separated and now play in the pro-hockey leagues. Not all of them were friends, yet circumstances bring them together, and for the greater good, maybe they can put aside their differences.

Visit us on Facebook: Swoony Sports Romances

Northbrook Hockey Elite series:

About the Authors

Rebecca Connolly

Rebecca Connolly writes romances, both period and contemporary, because she absolutely loves a good love story. She has been creating stories since childhood, and there are home videos to prove it! She started writing them down in elementary school and has never looked back. She currently lives in the Midwest, spends every spare moment away from her day job absorbed in her writing, and is a hot cocoa addict.

Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

BookBub | Website | Newsletter 

Heather B. Moore

Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty publications. Her historical novels and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes women's fiction, romance, and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom.

Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt, the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in Utah. Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.

Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Blog | Email list

Sophia Summers

Sophia Summers is an award winning author who just wants to relax a little and enjoy a great beach read. She lives in a quiet southern town brimming with an extra dose of hospitality and a

whole lot of charm.

She writes historical romance under a different name. You can follow her on www.sophiasummers.com. Be SURE to join her Newsletter for freebies and fun. 

Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram | Bookbub | Website | Newsletter

Review: Faceoff by Rebecca Connolly, Heather B. Moore, Sophia Summers

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

She isn’t supposed to want him. He isn’t supposed to want her. But wanting each other is inevitable.

Clint McCarthy has finally achieved his dream of playing for a professional hockey program, and is eager to make his mark with his new team. While getting settled in his new city, he happens across Bree Stone, whom he has known for years, with their respective brothers both being in the famed Belltown Six Pack. But for the life of him, he can’t remember Bree ever looking so attractive. Or being so captivating. Or taking over his every waking thought.

In the middle of her graduate degree, Bree has no time or desire for working on her dating life, or lack thereof, but the impossibly handsome Clint McCarthy coming back into her life makes everything complicated. She shouldn’t be focusing on him, or on them, not when her professional future hangs in the balance. But once she hears about Clint’s past with the Northbrook Hockey Elite program, and where that program stands now, Bree just might find a way to make her career, and a future with Clint, come to life.

My Review

Yay!!! I'm so happy there is another sports romance series from this trio of authors! There is a tie-in from the Belltown Sixpack characters, but this one is definitely all hockey. I think what makes these books stand out to me is how effortlessly well-developed the characters are; I feel like I get to know them quickly and their personalities are unique. Clint is in a major transition of his life and while he's capable and confident, we also see a vulnerable side of him as he gets used to his new circumstances. I love how his friendship with Bree progresses naturally to romance and the maturity they both have in their relationship as they fall in love but also realize that there are major parts of each others lives that they choose not to compete with, rather, they support and encourage each other. And they have *great* chemistry! Bree has not been a hockey fan but learns the game for Clint's sake which was super sweet and fun how it impresses him. I enjoyed the descriptions of the game play and how it brought the emotion and intensity of the players to life. We are introduced to the characters the future books in the series will feature- the alumni from Clint's youth hockey league who are working together to revitalize the program. I am so excited to continue reading this series, especially after such a strong first book!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Welcome to Northbrook Hockey Elite! 

Six professional hockey players used to play on an elite club team together, but have all separated and now play in the pro-hockey leagues. Not all of them were friends, yet circumstances bring them together, and for the greater good, maybe they can put aside their differences.

Visit us on Facebook: Swoony Sports Romances

Northbrook Hockey Elite series:

About the Authors

Rebecca Connolly

Rebecca Connolly writes romances, both period and contemporary, because she absolutely loves a good love story. She has been creating stories since childhood, and there are home videos to prove it! She started writing them down in elementary school and has never looked back. She currently lives in the Midwest, spends every spare moment away from her day job absorbed in her writing, and is a hot cocoa addict.

Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

BookBub | Website | Newsletter 

Heather B. Moore

Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty publications. Her historical novels and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes women's fiction, romance, and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom.

Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt, the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in Utah. Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.

Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website | Blog | Email list

Sophia Summers

Sophia Summers is an award winning author who just wants to relax a little and enjoy a great beach read. She lives in a quiet southern town brimming with an extra dose of hospitality and a

whole lot of charm.

She writes historical romance under a different name. You can follow her on www.sophiasummers.com. Be SURE to join her Newsletter for freebies and fun. 

Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram | Bookbub | Website | Newsletter

Review: Kissing on Third by Heather B. Moore, Rebecca Connolly, Sophia Summers

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

His past will never go away. Hers has left deep scars. Together, maybe they can build something new.

Levi Cox carved his baseball game out of the dirt. The hard way. Bouncing between foster homes as a kid, and trying everything he could do to protect his kid brother from bullies, Levi backs down from no one and has a record to prove it. Baseball has given him a purpose and a career. A way to provide for his brother. When Levi meets Finley Gray, he finds things happening to his heart that he never thought possible. She has her own broken past, using boxing as her outlet. Yet the more Levi gets to know Finley, the more he’s convinced they belong together. Breaking through Finley’s tough exterior might be Levi’s hardest challenge ever. But he has a feeling it will be more than worth it.

My Review

The tough exteriors of both these athletes hide their vulnerabilities, but together they allow each other to explore their deeper feelings, not just of a romantic nature, but the issues they are struggling with. I appreciated how genuine Levi is with Finley, even with his charming lines- he is sincere about them. He's not a player since he's been so focused on his career and brother, which made me like him even more. He's hesitant to move too fast for Finley, but the advice of his baseball brothers help him see that he shouldn't play it too cool. I admired the determination of both of them to go after what they want. A satisfying conclusion to the Belltown Sixpack series! These books can be easily read in any order- don't miss them!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Welcome to Belltown! Six baseball players meet in the college town of Belltown, Massachusetts, becoming best friends, their lives intertwining as they each get called up to the Major Leagues.

Follow Sawyer, Cole, Axel, David, Ryker, and Levi in these six swoony sports romances.

Belltown Six Pack Series:
 
Hitching the Pitcher
Falling for Centerfield
Charming the Shortstop
Snatching the Catcher
Flirting with First
Kissing on Third

Review: Flirting With First by Sophia Summers, Heather B. Moore, Rebecca Connolly

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Trista’s movie star status keeps her from the one guy she’s ever really wanted—professional baseball player, Ryker Stone.

Ryker Stone, one of the famed Belltown Six Pack loves what no one else notices in Trista McKinney. But when co-star and heart throb, Trevor Dayton, starts a social media campaign, competing for her attention, and Ryker’s baseball schedule and pressures amp up, Ryker lays it all on the line to win her over forever.

Trista McKinney doesn’t need winning. She’s been Ryker’s from the very beginning, but her movie’s production schedule and her dreams of one day winning an Oscar make it almost impossible for things to progress between the two.

With feelings high, both of their careers in the balance, can Trista and Ryker find a path to professional success without losing what they’ve found in each other?

My Review

It was so fun to see the continuation of a meeting that happened between two people in one of the previous Belltown books! Ryker fills in for Cole when he decides to ditch the famous actress his agent set him up with, and Ryker's friendship with Trista moves to the next level in this book. It was interesting to see Trista's insecurities and secret passion for math that makes acting and modeling just another job for her. Ryker is a good friend to her, but he's trying to play it cool so that she'll stay interested in him. I love the perspective of the guys and realizing how differently they think and perceive things. I enjoyed the personal side of their relationship, but the media side of their lives was not only frustrating and exhausting to them, it was to me as a reader. But that really drove the conflict and the plot, so I kept reading and appreciated the way Ryker and Trista handled the hype and obstacles along the way as they grew closer together. The dynamic of the Belltown Sixpack was as always a highlight of the book for me, it really makes this series stand out!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Welcome to Belltown! Six baseball players meet in the college town of Belltown, Massachusetts, becoming best friends, their lives intertwining as they each get called up to the Major Leagues.

Follow Sawyer, Cole, Axel, David, Ryker, and Levi in these six swoony sports romances.

Belltown Six Pack Series:
 
Hitching the Pitcher
Falling for Centerfield
Charming the Shortstop
Snatching the Catcher
Flirting with First
Kissing on Third

Review: Snatching the Catcher by Rebecca Connolly, Sophia Summers, Heather B. Moore

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Grizz is about to break all of the rules for something he never imagined he would be risking . . . His heart.

Rachel Bennett has spent her entire life reaching for her dreams to dance professionally, and has come close enough that she’s content with where she is. Enter Grizz McCarthy, one of her brother’s best friends and a member of the beloved Belltown Six Pack. Ranked as one of the hottest pro athletes of the year, Rachel finds there is so much more to Grizz than that, and soon he has her reaching for more.

Rachel should be off limits for David “Grizz” McCarthy. That’s a universally accepted fact, courtesy of his bond with his brothers in the Six Pack. But the more time he spends with Rachel, the less he cares about that fact, and what it could do to his friendships.

My Review

I've been excited to read Grizz's story! As the level-headed catcher he is a leader of the faltering baseball team, and it was interesting to see how he dealt with the struggles while his other Belltown teammates found success. Rachel knows athletes and this group of players specifically since her brother is one of them, and when she connects with Grizz in Pittsburgh (he rescues her from a horrible date) their friendship naturally develops and deepens into something more. There is a great balance of humor, flirting, chemistry, and emotion as they support each other and see where the future leads. Rachel's love of dance and devotion to ballet was neat to read about since I'm currently taking beginner ballet classes for fun (and exercise) and felt like I could relate in the tiniest way ;) No excess drama or conflict here, which made the plot avoid the extreme highs and lows, but rather gave a pleasant experience with extremely likeable characters you can't help but root for. Another great addition to the fun Belltown Sixpack series! (These books can be read in any order- pick one... or all... of them up ASAP!)

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Welcome to Belltown! Six baseball players meet in the college town of Belltown, Massachusetts, becoming best friends, their lives intertwining as they each get called up to the Major Leagues.

Follow Sawyer, Cole, Axel, David, Ryker, and Levi in these six swoony sports romances.

Belltown Six Pack Series:
 
Hitching the Pitcher
Falling for Centerfield
Charming the Shortstop
Snatching the Catcher
Flirting with First
Kissing on Third

Review: A Timeless Romance Anthology: Kissing A Billionaire by Taylor Hart, Heather B. Moore, Sophia Summers, Annette Lyon, Danyelle Ferguson, Sarah M. Eden

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Money doesn't equal happiness. But sometimes it paves the way . . .

THE UNDERCOVER BILLIONAIRE by Taylor Hart
When billionaire, Mia Jagger, goes to Casper, Wyoming to covertly evaluate a ranch in foreclosure for her father’s company, she never anticipates falling and hitting her head. When she wakes up and doesn’t remember who she is, admittedly, she’s afraid, and all she wants is that blue-eyed man who held her hand in the hospital. Ross Charm doesn’t want to take a woman who can’t remember anything back to his ranch, but she keeps insisting on going with him and what is he supposed to do—leave her with no one to help her? When her family shows up and they both learn the truth, they must make a choice: let the past keep them apart or let true love have its’ happily ever after.

BE MY PLUS ONE by Heather B. Moore
Amanda Wurst has been preparing for months to meet with a group of venture capitalists and get funding for her app, but twenty minutes into the meeting, she’s both humiliated and embarrassed. Quickly packing up her things, she takes off for the elevator, only to be joined by Jeremy Lode, the president. He apologizes and offers her a partnership for her new app product. At first, Amanda wants to turn him down out of pride, but his offer is too good to refuse. Besides, Jeremy Lode is an intriguing man in more ways than one.

TO HIDE AND TO HOLD by Sophia Summers
Lake Tahoe never looked as good as it did the day Chad meets Grace. Her mysterious effort to keep her life a secret only intrigues him more. When his own life spirals into crazy with his parents trying to set him up with a woman to further their business goals, he’s happy to keep things on a first name basis with Grace. Brilee Grace Townsend loves her eggshell camper, her simple campground, and her Huskie named Bear. Hiding out while she writes the story of her experiences working with a Senator and then walking out on her parents and fortune, seemed like the best part of her Spring until she met Chad. When Chad discovers Grace is the very girl both their parents hoped he would date, he couldn’t be happier. When Grace finds out, she never wants to speak to him again.

BOW TIE OR THE BILLIONAIRE by Annette Lyon
Lauren has built a cosmetics empire and now lives a great life in Europe with a thriving company, more money than she could spend in a lifetime, and a cottage of her own off the coast of Helsinki. But business life has taken a toll; she yearns to return to the laboratory, where she can invent and experiment. She’s decided to partner with another company that can pick up some of her workload. Carmichael Enterprises has a great track record, and she’s eager to negotiate a partnership. But when she meets the head of the company, Carmichael himself, it’s clear that he has no intention of continuing her annual charitable donations. Worse, he wants to move the headquarters, which would mean laying off her entire staff. Too bad she can’t partner with Carmichael’s assistant, Eric. He’s smart, funny, and kind. He even visits sick children in hospitals as Bow Tie the Clown. Lauren finds herself falling for Eric, but chances are slim of that anything can come of it, not when she’s about to cut off negotiations with his billionaire boss.

HOW TO WOO A BILLIONAIRE IN TEN DAYS by Danyelle Ferguson
Love is the last thing on billionaire Penny's mind, but when her grandparents dangle a seat on the Wessex Resorts board of directors in exchange for her entering the dating scene, Penny takes the challenge. Mac is at the resort for a hockey player's bachelor party. When one of the rich players flirts with Penny and gets rejected, he bets run-of-the-mill Mac can't get a date with her. With every date, Mac's bet fund for his business grows, but so do his feelings for Penny. As time runs out, he'll have to choose between wooing the billionaire for money or for love.

THE BILLIONAIRE ABROAD by Sarah M. Eden
When bachelor billionaire Sterling Westcott hires Keighley Ainsworth to plan an important event in Dublin, she jumps at the opportunity. Time alone with her budding crush in a city she’s always wanted to visit? Yes, please! But local event planner Brogan Malone soon weaves a spell of his own, making her begin to question everything she thinks her heart wants.

My Review

A billionaire main character isn't my favorite trope, but I'm glad I read this collection anyway. The authors did a great job bringing the characters to life and creating entertaining plots with just the right amount of romance. I prefer the billionaires that are not high maintenance, but more down-to-earth. There's something intriguing about the lifestyle and power that comes with that kind of money, and by the time I finished the collection I definitely had to reorient myself back to my more humble, non-materialistic circumstances ;) It's a fun read and one I'll probably pick up again in between longer books.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)