Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: Rookie Move by Sarina Bowen


Publication Date: September 6th 2016 by Berkley
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

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....

My Thoughts:
Georgia and Leo had a forever kind of first love in high school only to have things ruined when Georgia is a victim of a violent crime. She cut Leo loose after graduation day, and her heart was never the same. Six years later, Georgia has a her dream job as publicist for the Brooklyn Bruisers, an underdog sort of hockey team, when she finds out Leo has been traded into the team, and all the old hurt of letting go comes rushing back.

Leo’s just been traded to the Brooklyn Bruiser’s and runs into Georgia, the girl who broke his heart six years ago. As if that wasn’t enough of a shock, her father is the new coach and for some reason has it out for Leo. Seeing Georgia is a punch to the gut, but he’s determined to get Georgia, the girl he’s never forgotten, back. I absolutely LOVED Leo! Hot, muscled hockey god with a sweet, sexy center!  He was all in with Georgia and I admired his determination to make things work no matter what!

I can’t pretend to know how a victim of a violent crime feels, but I was a little upset that Georgia let Leo go all those years ago when he clearly loved her so much. She hurt them both, but sometimes things happen a certain way for a reason. As I read and got Georgia’s perspective it was easy for me to understand her actions, especially when she was only eighteen when all this happened.  My heart ached for both Leo and Georgia, but I was thrilled at their second chance.  Their romance heated up the pages both with flashbacks and present time scenes! Their easy, heated chemistry sizzled off the pages!

I just loved Rookie Move so much! I’m not a fan of angst, but this had just the right amount to pull at my heartstrings without pushing to the point of frustration.  The bumps here in the road for Leo and Georgia never seemed impossible to ride over, and some seemed necessary for their healing.  

Sarina Bowen knocked it out of the park for me with Leo and Georgia’s romance and I’m super excited for the next book!  The teaser at the end for Hard Hitter, which will feature Patrick O’Doul, the team’s serious captain, and Ari the team’s massage therapist/yoga instructor, already has me hooked!
4.5 Suns




Leo Trevi's Hockey Card
*drools*



Excerpt:

“Come right this way,” Georgia heard her coworker and roommate Becca say, the clomp of her Dr. Martens echoing through the grand old passageway. “Nate is excited to meet you.” Becca was the owner’s assistant, and Georgia lingered half a second to wave her down and offer her a donut, too.
But Becca didn’t happen to look in Georgia’s direction as she led a tall man down the corridor. Something about his gait snagged Georgia’s subconscious. So she took a second look.
And that’s when her heart took off like a manic bunny rabbit. Because she knew that man. She knew the chiseled shape of his masculine jaw, and the length of his coal-black eyelashes.
Oh my God.
Omigod, omigod, omigod.
“How was your flight?” Becca asked him, oblivious to the fact that Georgia was spying.
“Not too bad. I got in late last night.”
The sound of his voice fluttered right inside Georgia’s chest. It was the same smoky sweet timbre that used to whisper into her ear while they made love. She hadn’t let herself remember that sound in a long time.
Now it was giving her goosebumps. The good kind.
“Welcome to Brooklyn,” Becca said while Georgia trembled. “Are you familiar with the area?”
“Grew up about thirty miles from here,” he answered while chills broke out across her back.
Holding her breath, Georgia eased her office door further closed, until only a couple of inches remained. She could not be caught like this—freaked-out and speechless, hiding behind a door.
The movement caught Becca’s eye, though. Georgia saw her turn her head in her direction and then pick her out in the crack where the door was still open. Becca raised one eyebrow—the one with the barbell piercing in it.
All Georgia could do was close her eyes and pray that Becca wouldn’t call out a greeting.
There was a pause before Georgia heard Becca say, “Right this way, please.”
Quietly, Georgia stepped into her office and shut the door. After flipping on the light, she let her briefcase and pocketbook slide right to the floor. Only the folder that Nate had given her was still in her shaking hands. She flipped it open, her eyes searching for the new player’s name on the page.
But she didn’t even need the paperwork to confirm what her racing heart had already figured out. The newest player for the Brooklyn Bruisers was none other than Leonardo “Leo” Trevi, a six-foot-two, left-handed forward. Also known as her high school boyfriend, the boy she’d loved with all her heart until the day that she’d dumped him. And now he was here?
“Thanks, universe,” she whispered into the stillness of her office.



Connect with Sarina Bowen:



Berkley has kindly provided a copy of Rookie Move by Sarina Bowen to one Waves of Fiction Follower. The giveaway is open to US residents only.  Just fill in the rafflecopter below for a chance to win.


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5 comments:

  1. I read Steadfast and loved it, Bittersweet is on my TBR

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    1. I really want to get to Steadfast! I read Bittersweet but I loved Rookie Move even more. Hope you enjoy it as well, Milena. :)

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  2. Great review Rachel! I think I will read this one -- you and I felt the same re: Bittersweet but I've seen such good reviews of this one!

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    1. This was much better than Bittersweet, IMO. I hope you love it as much as I did! I do want to try Steadfast. I have a good feeling about that installment. And thanks, Eva! :)

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