Rookie Move (Brooklyn Bruisers #1) by Sarina Bowen

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The first novel in a sexy new series featuring the hockey players of the Brooklyn Bruisers and the women who win their hearts—from the USA Today bestselling author of the Ivy Years series.

In high school they were the perfect couple—until the day Georgia left Leo in the cold... 

Hockey player Leo Trevi has spent the last six years trying to do two things: get over the girl who broke his heart, and succeed in the NHL. But on the first day he’s called up to the newly franchised Brooklyn Bruisers, Leo gets checked on both sides, first by the team’s coach—who has a long simmering grudge, and then by the Bruisers’ sexy, icy publicist—his former girlfriend Georgia Worthington.

Saying goodbye to Leo was one of the hardest things Georgia ever had to do—and saying hello again isn’t much easier. Georgia is determined to keep their relationship strictly professional, but when a press conference microphone catches Leo declaring his feelings for her, things get really personal, really fast....

Source: advance e-galley from publisher (Berkley Publishing Group) in exchange for an honest review


If Sarina Bowen has a book out you know I want to read it. Rookie Move bridges the gap between her NA series, The Ivy League and this new adult series, Brooklyn Bruisers. If you read The Fifteenth Minute (Ivy League #5) you might remember Leo in there. He didn't have a big role in it but it set the stage for this next leap.

Georgia is a publicist with the brand new expansion team, Brooklyn Bruisers. Her plate is currently full because the head publicist left and she has to prove to her boss that she can handle the workload. She also has to prove that she can break away from her father's shadow who just happens to be the team's new coach. If that weren't enough pressure, she finds out at the last minute that the team's latest player acquisition is none other than her ex-boyfriend, Leo Trevi. As high school sweethearts they were on fire but Georgia ended things abruptly by the time they graduated. Georgia is a hot, blubbering mess initially until she regains control of her senses. Leo is kind, warm and patient. He never understood why she broke up with him so the situation is just as crazy for him as it is for her. The only difference is that he's willing to start over whereas she's feeling guilty and awkward about them working together.  She tries to keep it professional at the office and cordial outside but they just have too much history between them (read: chemistry) for it to be ignored. 

Folks, I don't necessarily get hockey but I appreciate the athleticism that's involved and the rabid fan base that surrounds it. Which is why I enjoy reading Bowen's series because she gives me just enough of hockey - the behind the scenes and the actual playing time - balanced by the main storyline. Something else I feel she does well is introducing social themes. She excels at showcasing life-changing events through someone else's eyes doing it respectfully and with finesse. (A shining example of this is, The Shameless Hour.) She does it here with Georgia's backstory which goes a long way to explaining why she and Leo fell apart. It'll make you look at these two differently seeing them with even more substance and depth.

Rookie Move has all the things you enjoy from Bowen - humor, action, romance and hot magic time! It's fun, too, when some of the characters from the Ivy League books pop in for a visit. Do I really need to say anymore? Now I just need to sit patiently and wait for the next one, Hard Hitter that comes out next year. 

~ Bel

Mystic Summer by Hannah McKinnon

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From Atria Books:

“When two roads diverge...take the one that leads to the beach! Hannah McKinnon delivers a charming gem of a novel in Mystic Summer. I adored this book.” —Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Rumor

A chance run-in with a college boyfriend puts a young woman’s picture-perfect life in perspective in this warm-hearted and lyrical novel—from the author of The Lake Season.

Since finishing graduate school, Maggie Griffin has worked hard to build an enviable life in Boston. She’s an elementary school teacher in a tony Boston suburb, a devoted sister, and a loving aunt. With her childhood best friend’s wedding quickly approaching and her own relationship blossoming, this is the summer she has been waiting for.

But when Maggie’s career is suddenly in jeopardy, her life begins to unravel. Stricken, Maggie returns home to seaside Mystic, Connecticut, where she expects to find comfort in family and familiarity. Instead, she runs into Cameron Wilder, a young man from her past who has also returned home, and whose life has taken a turn that puts Maggie’s city struggles in harsh perspective. When tragedy strikes for Cameron, Maggie is faced with big decisions as she weighs what matters most and strives to stay true to the person she’s become.

Set against the gorgeous backdrop of a New England summer when past and present collide, Mystic Summer is a gorgeous novel about looking back, moving forward, and the beauty that blooms when fate intervenes.

Source: advance e-galley received from the publisher


Some days just call for a sweet story that soothes you and puts your heart at ease. Like comfort food. Mystic Summer is that kind of a novel. When faced with life changes coming at her from her work and personal life, thirty-something year old Maggie decides to return to her picturesque hometown of Mystic. Being with her loving family, away from the madness, she can take a few deep breaths to plan her next move. She’s surprised when she runs into her first love - her high school sweetheart, Cameron. Seeing him is a reminder of a previous life that seems so much simpler. What she doesn’t count on is feeling just as connected to him now as she was back then. To further complicate things, she has a boyfriend who’s a rising, young TV actor who adores her and he has his own commitments. Maggie inevitably finds herself at a crossroads as she immerses herself back into Mystic life and into Cameron’s, all the while asking that ultimate question: what will she be when she grows up? The other question: how does Cameron fit in?

Hannah McKinnon has written a romance that's cute and devoid of any unnecessary angst. This was exactly what I needed. I also liked her description of the many spots around Mystic that have special meaning to Maggie. As for Maggie herself, she's an adorable, tender-hearted young woman who receives a second chance at creating a life of happiness but on her terms. You should grab this feel-good read to take along on your next trip to the beach or pool! 

~ Bel
  

Regret Me Not by Danielle Sibarium

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For Mackenzie Green life is full of regrets; regrets from choices she made in the past, regrets for the things she’ll never see in her future. She regrets letting her grades slip while her sister was in rehab, ensuring she’ll never break away from the rumor-run, small town she lives in. She regrets breaking up with her future All American football playing boyfriend, Brayden Turner out of fear of getting hurt. Most of all she regrets every decision she made leading up to the night that changed her life forever.

It’s only after Brayden cuts her off completely that Mackenzie realizes how much she wants him in her life.

Can Mackenzie find the courage to learn from her mistakes and move forward or will she spend her days consumed with regrets? Is it too late to convince Brayden she wants him in her life and that she’s in it for the long haul? Most of all, can she accept that sometimes bad things happen no matter how hard you try to protect yourself from them? Can she put it all behind her or will she live an unfulfilled life full of regrets?

It starts at a college homecoming dance. Kenzie is dancing with her ex, Brayden. She’s conflicted the entire time they’re dancing; delighting in his proximity but nervous about what the intimacy could lead to. She pushed him away months ago thinking that if she broke up with him, he’d be free to pursue his college football career, date whomever he wants without having her heart broken. Back in high school, everyone vocalized how Brayden had all the potential in the world, the golden child of his family who could be a pro football player. Kenzie didn’t want to hold him back. But she also wasn’t quite honest with herself at the time about her own trust issues that had more to do with her than with Brayden. Despite his protests, she kept him away. Regret Me Not is all about the ups and downs of a young relationship, choices and their consequences.

A greater part of the story is how they initially came together and how their relationship progressed from there. Brayden, having noticed her for a while was the persistent but patient one, taking things slowly with Kenzie so as not to scare her off. Kenzie always marveled at how eager he was to be with her, admitting that she had trouble fully trusting that he wouldn’t stray. A lot of her state of mind had to do with her family's chaos at the time. Her older sister Jess had just gotten out of rehab for her drug addiction. Kenzie was sort of left adrift for a while as the focus remained on Jess.  All she could think of was getting away from their town so she could start over at a college somewhere else.

Brayden is so certain of what he wants for himself and his future. Kenzie fits right in the middle of that. As much as he is the ultimate “forever guy”, there were moments where even I just like Kenzie, felt overwhelmed by his declarations of true love and being together forever. Who knows for sure that their high school girlfriend or boyfriend is their one true love? I’d seen a few of my college friends freshman year with promise rings or engagement rings, so certain about their futures only to then break up once college life truly got under way.  That made it slightly difficult for me personally to get behind Brayden but no way did it take away from him being a stand-up guy.

Kenzie is the opposite where she’s riddled with confusion. In her mind, doing what’s right means denying her own happiness for the sake of someone else's. She's hesitant about commitment after witnessing how her sister crashed and burned because of an intense relationship. She's crippled by her insecurities and rather than communicating with Brayden, she closes herself off completely.

Sibarium takes her time developing this heartfelt story giving a perfect sense of the time that lapses. Things eventually come to a head in a very dramatic fashion, forcing everyone to face reality. Wondering what choices they’d make kept me engaged and I found myself wishing for certain things to happen for them. They face many challenges together whether it’s of their own doing or events beyond their control. Either way, these challenges force them to grow up much faster than they’d expected, testing their commitment to each other. Will they stand by and lose it all or fight for what they want? 

~ Bel