My standards are high for a Kate
Meader book. I have adored her firehouse saga, and the
novella that kicked off this series (found in the HOT ON ICE
anthology and sold separately as well, I believe) left me
definitely ready for more. While this book's heroine did not
captivate me as fully as I had hoped, I'd still grade it
highly and recommend it to anyone who enjoys hockey
romances, or the employee-employer trope.
Harper has legitimate baggage to deal with, I can't deny
her that. I can see how her tyrant of a father programmed
her into the behavior she exhibits throughout this work and
many of her choices make therapeutic sense to me. However,
dramaturgically, they drove me insane. I literally yelled,
"JUST TELL HIM" about four times regarding a specific
incident in her past that was deeply affecting her future,
that Remy was in the complete dark about. When that finally
came to light, it still was handled appropriately to
Harper's character but frustratingly for me. Just a pet
peeve of mine, no fault of the character.
However, the growth arc of the sister's dynamic, getting to
know the team, seeing Addison from the novella (who is one
of my favorite heroines of 2017, by the way) -- all of this
absolutely worked. I can't wait for what's in store for
these folks.
Hot in Chicago series author Kate Meader returns with her
all new, scorching Chicago Rebels hockey series, featuring
her signature “steamy sex scenes, colorful characters, and
riveting dialogue” (Romantic Times). Three estranged
sisters inherit their late father’s failing hockey franchise
and are forced to confront a man’s world, their family’s
demons, and the battle-hardened ice warriors skating into
their hearts.
Harper Chase has just become the most powerful woman in the
NHL after the death of her father Clifford Chase, maverick
owner of the Chicago Rebels. But the team is a hot
mess—underfunded, overweight, and close to tapping out of
the league. Hell-bent on turning the luckless franchise
around, Harper won’t let anything stand in her way. Not her
gender, not her sisters, and especially not a veteran player
with an attitude problem and a smoldering gaze designed to
melt her ice-compacted defenses.
Veteran center Remy “Jinx” DuPre is on the downside of a
career that’s seen him win big sponsorships, fans’ hearts,
and more than a few notches on his stick. Only one goal has
eluded him: the Stanley Cup. Sure, he’s been labeled as the
unluckiest guy in the league, but with his recent streak of
good play, he knows this is his year. So why the hell is he
being shunted off to a failing hockey franchise run by a
ball-buster in heels? And is she seriously expecting him to
lead her band of misfit losers to a coveted spot in the
playoffs?
He’d have a better chance of leading Harper on a merry skate
to his bed…
Excerpt
“Remy!” A tall redhead wearing what looked like a band of
gauze lassoing two Goodyear blimps threw her arms around his
neck. “I can’t believe you’re here!”
The new arrival practically knocked Harper out of the way,
pretzeled her stacked body around Remy’s, and sucked on the
Cajun’s lips like an anteater. It took him a good three and
a half seconds—but who was counting?—before he drew back.
“Have we met, chérie?”
“We have now, Jinx,” she purred. “I just wanted to welcome
you to Chi-Town. Properly.”
His mouth hardened slightly. “Well, it sure is a pleasure,
but right now I’m kind of in the middle of something, so
I’ll have to take a rain check.” His eyes flickered over the
woman’s shoulder to where Harper was sipping on her whiskey,
enjoying the show. She had a perfect view of the woman’s
tramp stamp—the positively poetic Get Some with an arrow
pointing down—along with her above-the-waistband
leopardprint thong.
Goodyear Blimps speared a look designed to put Harper six
feet under twice over and then quickly recalibrated her
smile for Remy. From her cleavage, she extracted a
(crumpled, undoubtedly sweatstained) business card and
placed it in Remy’s jeans pocket. It took a few moments to
ensure it was safely secured.
“The welcome offer is open-ended, Jinx.”
Another wince crossed Remy’s face, though Goodyear missed it
as she was too busy trying to maintain her center of gravity
on her totter toward the bar.
“ ‘The welcome offer is open-ended, Jinx ,’ ” Harper
mimicked in her most breathless gush, adding a bout of
vehement eyelash batting into the mix.
“Don’t be jealous, now, Harper. I sent her away, didn’t I?”
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