It’s a guarantee when this lady combines hockey and romance in a book she scores every time! ~ Rhayne, Guilty Pleasures
Description:
Honey Holbrook is trying hard to leave her past behind her and make a new life for herself. A former spoiled, rich, wild child, her attention-grabbing antics were tabloid fodder for years. Now she has a new job, a new home, and is staying out of the limelight. But the first day of the new job doesn’t go like she expects when her boss and coworkers make it clear she’s not wanted there, and the first project she has to work on is with pro hockey player Matt Heller.
Matt and Honey had a wild and wicked fling eight years ago when he was attending summer development camp for the California Condors – the NHL team Honey’s dad owns. But the relationship ended when they argued over the loser friends Honey hung around with and Matt had to return to college hockey. Before he left, Matt talked to Honey’s dad about Honey’s exploits. She felt betrayed and rejected, and threw herself even harder into her partying lifestyle while Matt tried to carve out a career for himself in the NHL.
Now Matt’s back with the Condors but recovering from a serious injury that has changed his whole outlook on life. He’s not impressed to be working with Honey Holbrook, although her cleaned up image arouses his curiosity. And arouses something else.
Review copy provided for an honest review
I have been a fan of Kelly Jamieson for a long time. It’s a guarantee when this lady combines hockey and romance in a book she scores every time! The conclusion of the Heller Brothers series is bittersweet. These books are one of my favorite hockey themed series. I am sad to see it end, but the final book was amazing and she wrapped it up very nicely.
In Offside, we follow the story of Honey and Matt. Matt plays for the NHL team The Santa Monica Condors and Honey just landed a job (thanks to her dad) as a Programming Coordinator for the charitable foundation of The Condors. Honey has one hell of a bad reputation. She met Matt eight years ago right in the midst of her “party till you drop” days. She has since grown up and gotten her life on track, but the reputation still and will always haunt her. Matt and Honey share a history that did not end well. Neither one was prepared to be thrown into a working situation with the foundation. Matt is just recovering from a season long injury and his concentration needs to be on the game. Honey needs to prove that even though her dad got her this job, she is qualified and able to shine in this new position.
As hard and Honey and Matt try to stick to a professional relationship only, neither one is strong enough to resist the attraction and chemistry that pulls these two together. So the main plot line of the story is developed and we are treated to a lot of sexy heated passion and tension between the two.
We also get to really understand what caused Honey to act out as we follow her heartbreaking journey of redemption. She not only has to prove to herself that she has changed, but she has to show her co-workers, Matt and especially her parents that she is not the same girl. Her backstory with her parents crushed my heart. She overcame so much, and still her mother can’t accept the beautiful daughter she has. My only complaint about the book was, I really wanted a scene where she finally voiced her feelings to her mom. I felt like she proved herself time and time again only to get stomped on by her nasty mother. I’m sure it’s just the bitchy in me, but I really wanted a “screw you, Mom” scene and it never really happened.
With the high profile life these two both lead and the fact that they are in California and surrounded by the press at all times, the conflict of the story is quite predictable throughout most of the book, but it still intrigued me to watch these two overcome so much and finally claim their long overdue happiness.
Whether you are a fan of sports themed romance fan or not, I guarantee this book will satisfy you. It really has the perfect balance of sports and love. Add in some humor, some spicy hot sex, family drama, and hockey team snark, and you are treated to the perfect combination.
4.5 Stars
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