PIPE DREAMS is book 3 in Sarina Bowen's Brooklyn
Bruisers contemporary romance series centered around an
NHL hockey team. Goalie Mike Beacon and business dynamo-
in-training Lauren Williams have an epic kind of love
story with the requisite number of hurdles sent their way
to block their mutual happiness. PIPE DREAMS is told with
multiple flashbacks to earlier years when Mike and Lauren
first met, and when they were briefly together and
deliriously happy before tragedy struck. I'm always a
little leery of flashbacks in a story, but Sarina Bowen
keeps things straight for readers by consistent and
clearly marked dates at the opening of chapters. There is
a significant amount of angst in PIPE DREAMS, but the
characters make it worth tagging along for the ride.
Bad timing describes a lot of key events in Mike Beacon's
life. Specifically, when it comes to his relationship
with Lauren, bad timing has been crippling. At the
opening of PIPE DREAMS, Lauren is coming to grips with
being in close quarters with Mike, for the first time
since their abrupt and soul shattering break-up about two
years ago. Having this story told from alternating
perspectives is critical, because Lauren tries to hide
her true feelings and Mike has a lot that he doesn't
always get to say to the women in his life. I think
Sarina Bowen does a very skillful job of balancing the
past and present, and the emotionally exhausting with the
humor and sexiness.
In addition to the back-and-forth between Mike and
Lauren, a lot of the drama in PIPE DREAMS comes from
Mike's parenting struggles with his 13-year-old daughter
Elsa. These moments between father and daughter show what
a good guy Mike is, and what his priorities are. I also
really like the family dynamic between Mike, Elsa, and
her nanny/music tutor Hans. Hans is a great supporting
character, and his presence diffuses some of the
teenager-induced tension. I love how Sarina Bowen can
tell a compelling story with realistically flawed
characters, and a happy ending that takes a lot of hard
work and isn't perfection.
PIPE DREAMS is soul-wrenching and sexy at the same time.
This is a great book for readers who enjoy character-
driven, complicated romances. I look forward to seeing
how Nate and Becca's relationship evolves in future
books.
A goalie has to trust his instincts, even when taking a
shot to the heart…
Mike Beacon is a champion at defending the net, but off the
ice, he’s not so lucky. A widower and a single father, he’s
never forgotten Lauren Williams, the ex who gave him the
best year of his life. When Lauren reappears in the Bruisers
office during the playoffs, Beacon sees his chance to make
things right.
Lauren hates that she’s forced to travel with the team she
used to work for and the man who broke her heart. There’s
still undeniable sexual tension running between her and
Mike, but she won’t go down that road again. She’s focused
on her plans for the future—she doesn’t need a man to make
her dreams of motherhood come true.
Lauren plays her best defensive game, but she’s no match for
the dark-eyed goalie. When the field of play moves to
Florida, things heat up on the beach.
One of Mike’s biggest fans doesn’t approve—his teenage
daughter. But a true competitor knows not to waste the
perfect shot at love.
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