SO OVER YOU is the second book in Kate Meader's Chicago Rebels series centered around a hockey team full of hotties. This is the ideal book for readers who enjoy "second time around" love stories. Vadim Petrov and Isobel Chase enjoyed a sweet yet deliciously forbidden love affair in their youth, when he played for her father's team. Because of her dad's machinations, Isobel and Vadim were separated -- until now. Now she's the team owner, as well as his coach, and he's a hockey superstar in need of some special TLC. Now that they're all grown up, they find that the spark between them is still there and things get explosive very quickly.

Because Vadim has the dubious nickname "the Czar of Pleasure," and because things ended badly between him and Isobel years ago, I worried he might be a self-centered jerk just looking to pad his ego by pursuing Isobel again. That is not the case. I'm so glad that Kate Meader chose to tell this story from alternating perspectives, so that the reader can get a better feel for the two main characters. On the ice, Vadim has laser-like focus and can come across as cold, but when it comes to his kid sister and Isobel, his inner emo boy is revealed. This hidden vulnerability makes Vadim a more compelling character. Kate Meader includes enough of the history between Isobel and Vadim to have readers empathize with their regrets, their longing, and the joy that comes from reconnecting, without getting the story bogged down with too many flashbacks.

This hero and heroine have a lot in common, but have difficulty seeing themselves objectively. Vadim and Isobel both have siblings who mean the world to them, but they have complicated relationships because of fathers who cared more about hockey than people. I like the fact that Vadim and Isobel are both athletes and respect each other's passion and dedication to the game. Both characters are a little hardheaded and, with some grumbling and a little drama, they bring out the best in each other and promote a change of perspective. Kate Meader does a phenomenal job of telling a deeply emotional and character-driven story, while throwing in some sizzle and a few laughs.

SO OVER YOU is full of passion, fierce players with attitude, and a hard-won happy ending. Some of the supporting characters, like team trainer Kelly and Isobel's sister Violet, really pique my interest and make me eager to read more about them in future books. I look forward to Kate Meader's next Chicago Rebels novel.