Back Check: An Aces Hockey Novel by Jamieson
Publication Date: January 10, 2017
Contemporary/Sports Romance
Loveswept

Reviewed by Kini

The so-bad-they’re-good alphas of hockey’s Chicago Aces are back in this emotionally charged novel of sex, love, and second chances from the bestselling author of Top Shelf and the Heller Brothers series.

Tanner Bennet hates weddings. They just remind him that he simply isn’t cut out for any kind of healthy, committed relationship—never has been, never will be. After getting rejected by the girl he thought was “the one” all those years ago, he made a huge mistake and married the wrong person. Now that the divorced heartbreaker has reluctantly agreed to be a groomsman for one of his NHL teammates, the last thing he expects is a chance at redemption with the one that got away.

After Marc Dupuis of the Chicago Aces hires wedding planner Katelyn Medford, she discovers that her big break comes with a twist: a reunion with her college sweetheart. The way she dumped Tanner still haunts her. Eight years—and three broken engagements—later, Katelyn knows she’ll never have that kind of innocent, wide-eyed passion again. Still, she and Tanner soon generate enough body heat to burn up the sheets. And even with Tanner’s career with the Aces up in the air, Katelyn’s wondering whether the time is right to let him in for real.

Second chance romances are one of my favorite tropes, so I was all over this book. Jamieson did not let me down. This is 5th in a series and reads well as a stand alone. Tanner and Katelyn reconnect while she plans the wedding of his team-mate. At first they both try to avoid the other. Katelyn begins to think that Tanner hates her. They then decide to give the whole “let’s be friends” thing a shot. We know in rom land that never works and of course they end up having dirty sexy times together.
Jamieson writes some super hot sex scenes and this was no exception. After they try the friends thing for like two days and then they are at a party together, things get pretty steamy, fast.

“I don’t think we can be just friends,” he continued. Because there’s too much heat between us. But truthfully, Katelyn?” She blinked, trying to resist leaning into his touch and rubbing her cheek against his palm. “I want to fuck you so bad, baby.” Heat rushed through her in a dizzying wave.

After they engage in some let’s get reacquainted sex, they decide that perhaps they can try again at their relationship. Things didn’t work out when they were in college because they were young and trying to find their way. Tanner called drafted into the NHL and Katelyn wasn’t able to leave her family. Tanner comes from a dysfunctional family with divorced parents and both parents have remarried several times. Tanner hasn’t had a model of someone loving him long-term and unconditionally. This comes into play for the big conflict.

When the conflict arises, I felt the author did a good job and kept it realistic. Tanner refers to himself as a loser of few times and who amongst us hasn’t felt like that at times. Obviously he comes to his senses and does a pretty good job at groveling.

There are a lot of characters in this book, as it centers around a hockey team. Again it can be read as a stand alone. I’ve only read the one prior to this. But if a lot of characters annoys you, this might not be the book for you. There is one character Hallsy, he lost his wife in book 4, and I am here for Hallsy and his story. I hope that it will be next.

Overall, this was a solid read. Jamieson is one of my go to authors for a solid story, some hot sex, conflict that is not overblown, and of course a satisfying HEA.

Grade: B-

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