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Three estranged sisters struggle to sustain their late father’s failing hockey franchise in Kate Meader’s sizzling Chicago Rebels series. In this second entry, middle sister Isobel is at a crossroads in her personal and professional lives. But both are about to get a significant boost with the addition of a domineering Russian powerhouse to the Rebels....
Isobel Chase knows hockey. She played NCAA, won Olympic silver, and made it thirty-seven minutes into the new National Women’s Hockey League before an injury sidelined her dreams. Those who can’t, coach, and a position as a skating consultant to her late father’s hockey franchise, the Chicago Rebels, seems like a perfect fit. Until she’s assigned her first job: the man who skated into her heart as a teen and relieved her of her pesky virginity. These days, left-winger Vadim Petrov is known as the Czar of Pleasure, a magnet for puck bunnies and the tabloids alike. But back then... let’s just say his inability to sink the puck left Isobel frustratingly scoreless.
Vadim has a first name that means “ruler,” and it doesn’t stop at his birth certificate. He dominates on the ice, the practice rink, and in the backseat of a limo. But a knee injury has produced a bad year, and bad years in the NHL don’t go unrewarded. His penance? To be traded to a troubled team where his personal coach is Isobel Chase, the woman who drove him wild years ago when they were hormonal teens. But apparently the feeling was not entirely mutual.
That Vadim might have failed to give Isobel the pleasure that was her right is intolerable, and he plans to make it up to her—one bone-melting orgasm at a time. After all, no player can perfect his game without a helluva lot of practice...
Source: advance egalley provided in exchange for an honest review
I amuses me how though I'm not a hockey fan I look forward to these sports romances so much. Truthfully, the game itself goes over my head but I'm here for the story and this Chicago Rebels series presents the stories from a different angle -- that of a female run organization.
Isobel and Vadim have history and meeting up again brings out all the animosity and hurt. Raised by her father to be the best female hockey player ever, her dreams were crushed due to an injury. She found a new career in coaching but she's always felt that she never lived up to her true potential. Vadim who was recently traded to the Rebels is sidelined by an injury and only under Isobel's watchful coaching can he be healthy enough to be back on the ice sooner rather than later. The problem is that they can't get along. Way back when she was a young girl on the cusp of greatness, she and Vadim were secretly an item. It was her father's ambition for her that led to their breakup and Vadim being blackballed for a short period of time. Just as in the first book, Irresistible You, Isobel like her sister Harper, continues to live under their dead father's ever present shadow. It's hard to detach personal ambition from guilt over letting him down. Now she and Vadim they have to work together they have to balance their feelings alongside professional etiquette with everything being more precarious because of Isobel's position as owner and also as an assistant coach. Tongues will wag and reputations will be at risk should people start suspecting anything between them.
While the description might make it seem that the problem between them comes down to sex, it doesn't. There is a lot more going on with each of them though nothing overdramatic. Isobel is still dealing with the disappointing blow to her career. Not only that, she's also looking to break the barrier by becoming a coach of a professional men's hockey team. And she has to prove that she's the right person for the job by more than just her last name or the fact that she's a part-owner. This means dealing with the occasional skepticism or random sexist comments thrown at her. Meanwhile, Vadim has to come to terms with someone who was once close to him whom he had written off years ago. This particular storyline brings out his more sentimental side. The one thing I will say that is uneasy for me is the two of them pursuing something knowing full well what a delicate position Isobel is in being a team owner whose every move is documented and judged. These are the very same concerns Harper had in the first book as she took up with Remy. You just get protective of these characters and don't want them to get hurt. At the same time, it is a look into how women in the workplace are held to a different and often more rigid standard, especially when they're in a position of power.
Meader does also give us sneak peeks of future books by teasing us with tiny subplots. (Seriously, she has me excited for book 3!) I utterly enjoyed So Over You, and that it offers something new by featuring a strong, intelligent and capable female athlete who can go toe-to-toe with any other competitor on the ice. It's a fun and sexy distraction that you shouldn't miss!
~ Bel
// Enjoy this special excerpt from So Over You //
“This little job is the difference between you playing and not. Dancing with the Stars, Vaddy baby. It’s
where all the washed-up pros end up.”
Annoyed at his reaction to her, he
skated away, throwing out over his shoulder, “I will be playing, Isobel. You
will have no say in that. I spoke with Moretti—it is clear why you have this
job.”
Her brow crimped. Naturally, it
was adorable. “Please. Enlighten me.”
“He is new and no doubt under
pressure to bow to the owners. You can write your own ticket.”
“If that’s the case, I’d just appoint
myself as head coach and be done with it.”
“You are also conscious of what
the fans and media think, so you are starting small. Really, you could
have called or texted, Isobel. Buying my contract seems like a lot of work to
bring me back into your world.”
“You weren’t my
first choice. But luckily your poor play this season meant Quebec was happy to
offload you.”
He ignored the brief stab. The
last six months had been difficult. Isobel understood this, yet they could not
resist these little cuts.
“I think you wanted to be closer
to me. Just like before, right, Bella?”
A blush crept up her cheeks on
hearing his endearment for her.
He would test her.
Make her angry and emotional. Make her cry. Because angry, emotional criers
were not the stuff of coaches. If she was serious about a career in the NHL,
she would hear worse.
She would get him
game fit. He would get her battle ready.
He continued to
needle. “Yes, I think that must be it. It seems that the female owners of the
Rebels would like to abuse their position and use the players for their
personal pleasure. Your sister and Remy DuPre—that is interesting.”
“Is it?”
“Harper may have
duped a Rebel player into her bed, but please don’t imagine you and I will be
renewing our acquaintance in a similar manner.”
That got her attention, at last. Her creamy
skin blazed, her crimson mouth twitched, and even from a distance he could see
those melted-shamrock eyes darken. She looked like she wanted scream at him. Burst into tears. Slap his
face.
Yes, Bella. Let us see if you can handle the barbs of every player,
coach, and fan who will dismiss you. Let us see if you can handle me.
Fury powering her stride, she
skated over, skidding to a halt mere inches from his face. As before, she was
magnificent.
“You’ve found me out, Petrov.”
“I have?”
“It’s all an elaborate ruse. We
bought your contract even though you really haven’t been performing well this
season. Let’s face it, you’ve sucked donkey balls, Vadikins. But I convinced my
sisters that I alone could bring you back to top condition. Make you a valuable
asset to the team. I also made sure I’d be the only one working with you . . .”
She leaned up on the tips of her blades, a balancing act that required great
skill and remarkable ankle strength. Close enough that he could have slipped
his tongue between his lips and tasted hers.
Her breath was a hot puff of
temptation. “So we would have all this alone time.”
With that fiery gaze, she held his
own.
Unerring.
Unflinching.
Until her mouth creased, and she broke into a laugh. He remembered
that laugh. Just as before, it hit him right in the balls.
She used the edge of the iPad to
poke him in the chest. “You thought I’d go to all this trouble to try to get
into your hockey shorts, Petrov? I’m a team owner—I can have any of these Rebel
boys with the click of my fingers!” She chuckled, clearly enjoying herself. “Despite
what that supersized ego of yours thinks, the only performance I want from you
is on the ice. Maybe if you spent less time carousing—”
“Carousing?”
“Yes, it’s nicer
than calling you a club-hopping, vodka-sodden manwhore. Less of that and more
effort on your day job, please. And don’t worry yourself that I’m interested in
‘renewing our acquaintance.’ I’ve had better lays with the Ukrainian delegation
at the last Games.”
He had to say he enjoyed this
sharp-tongued, quick-witted version of Isobel. But not enough to admit
it to her.
“There is nothing you can teach
me.”
“So sure, Russian.”
“I am positive.”
“We’ll see.” She skated back to
the edge of the rink. “Again.”
// Giveaway //
To celebrate the release of So Over You, Kate Meader is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card! Enter here!
