Veena’s review of Hooked On You (Chicago Rebels, Book 4) by Kate Meader
Contemporary Romance published by Pocket Star 29 May 18
Kate Meader really hits all the emotional notes in this series. The Chicago Rebels is a sports franchise on the skids when the series starts. As the team goes from strength to strength, the author does a masterful job of breaking forbidden taboos in the sports world, even as the lead characters in each book find their happily ever after. The chemistry between Violet and Bren has smoldered throughout the series. Let’s read on to see how their romance plays out.Violet has a large chip on her shoulder and no love lost for her biological father, Clifford Chase. Being named as one of his heirs, along with her two sisters, is a surprise for her and not necessarily a welcome one. After a definite rough start, she’s bonded with her sisters, cheered as they’ve each found romance. Even as sparks fly between her and recovering alcoholic captain Bren St. James, she seems to be content to provide cover for her gay friend, Cade Burnett.
Things come to a head when Bren’s ex-wife unexpectedly dumps his children with him when he’s in the throes of playoff fever and away games. Violet is the only expendable person on the team who can pinch hit until a nanny is hired. Stripped away from all pretense and forced to play house together, these two wounded souls finally have a chance to find common ground and perhaps that HEA.
Violet has had her share of rock bottom as she battled with and survived cancer. Bren has fought with addiction and seems to be winning, even as the team he captains is finally recovering. Bren’s story will touch your heart as he struggles to rise above all his troubles to be a great dad, team captain, and also win the fair lady.
The conversation flows, the reader is fully involved with the story, and previous characters from the series show up as needed to provide the right support. Ms. Meader has rapidly climbed to my MUST-READ list and I plan to go backward and read her previous series as I wait to see where she takes us next.
Grade: A
Summary:
The steamy Chicago Rebels series returns with this racy and sassy tale of embittered hearts, second chances, and going for the goal—on and off the ice.
Violet Vasquez never met her biological father, so learning he left his beloved hockey franchise—the Chicago Rebels—to her is, well, unexpected. Flat broke and close to homeless, Violet is determined to make the most of this sudden opportunity. Except dear old dad set conditions that require she takes part in actually running the team with the half-sisters she barely knows. Working with these two strangers and overseeing a band of hockey-playing lugs is not on her agenda…until she lays eyes on the Rebels captain and knows she has to have him.
Bren St. James has been labeled a lot of things: the Puck Prince, Lord of the Ice, Hell’s Highlander…but it’s the latest tag that’s making headlines: washed-up alcoholic has-been. This season, getting his life back on track and winning the Cup are his only goals. With no time for relationships—except the fractured ones he needs to rebuild with his beautiful daughters—he’s finding it increasingly hard to ignore sexy, all-up-in-his-beard Violet Vasquez. And when he finds himself in need of a nanny just as the playoffs are starting, he’s faced with a temptation he could so easily get hooked on.
For two lost souls, there’s more on the line than just making the best of a bad situation… there might also be a shot at the biggest prize of all: love.
No excerpt available.
