Pipe Dreams by Sarina Bowen
Series: Brooklyn Bruisers, #3
Contemporary Romance/Sports
May 2, 2017
Berkley

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: Bitter much? Why yes, I still am.

Mike Beacon, the first string goalie for the Brooklyn Bruisers, married young and worked hard to build a promising career while raising a family. When he files for divorce, he runs to the one person who understands him best; Lauren Williams. He and Lauren slip easily from friends to lovers but while looking for apartments, Mike disappears with little explanation.

Heartbroken, Lauren accepts a job offer in New York and never looks back. When the PA for the Bruisers’ is injured, Lauren is forced to come back to Brooklyn and take over for her. Mike is thrilled and plans on using this chance to fix the mistakes he made in the past and reclaim his future with Lauren. Only, Lauren has her own future mapped out and he’s not in it.

But one thing a goalie learns while guarding the pipes…nothing is impossible.

Readers may be surprised to see Bowen granting another couple a second chance at romance in the third installment in her popular Brooklyn Bruisers series. Though part of a series, each book can be read comfortably on its own. Many fans assumed this would be Becca and Nate’s story but Bowen apparently has a plan and it requires Lauren to come first. That works for me. Now, I’ve loved Lauren since first meeting her in Rookie Moves. Like Georgia and Becca, she also works for Nate Kattenburger, the billionaire owner of the Brooklyn Bruisers, but in his Manhattan office. Cantankerous and uptight, Lauren coming to work in the Brooklyn office is the equivalent of a root canal without any novocaine. The reason for that?

Mike Beacon. Her first real love and loss.

There had been a time when this team had been Lauren’s whole life. Until that sudden, awful moment it wasn’t. Somewhere in that clot of players down below was the one who turned her entire world upside down.

Lauren may have to stay in Brooklyn until Becca gets better, but she doesn’t have to like it. No one can make her enjoy being back with the team. She doesn’t have to give Mike Beacon or his ridiculously sexy chin dimple the time of day. And she most certainly will not fall for in love with him again.

Because she never stopped.

Don’t be nice to me. Don’t talk to me. Don’t look at me. Just stay between the pipes and guard the damn net. And leave me the hell alone.

Second chance love is a favorite trope of mine. I love seeing two people reconnect, especially when there is some antagonism and groveling. Though it’s only been two years, it feels like a lifetime to this couple. Not only because of the separation itself but also how they separated and the fact that they lost all the years of friendship they had built up before becoming romantically involved. Bowen does a fantastic job of slowly rebuilding Lauren and Mike’s relationship while addressing what tore them apart.  Bowen digs deep into this couple; forcing them to face the elephant in the room early on. My heart hurt when I learned what happened and why.  Especially Lauren. She wasn’t just heartbroken by Mike’s actions, she was devastated.

I spent six months wondering what I had done so wrong that made you erase me from your life.

I loved Lauren. Bowen does an excellent job characterizing her with wonderful wit, intelligence, self-confidence, and a very strong will. She doesn’t suffer fools lightly and has no problems letting you know how she feels. I liked she didn’t instantly fall back into Mike’s arms just because he apologizes and wants her back. He has to win back the trust and respect he sacrificed. Her forgiveness of him does help her to open up in other areas. The wall she put up after Mike left slowly comes down as she spends more time in Brooklyn, reconnect with the hockey team and her co-workers.

Mike was harder for me to connect with. He’s a charming, decent, good-natured man who was forced to make a difficult choice and he chose the path he felt was best for everyone. He tries hard to make amends and I respected the fact he didn’t make excuses and owned up to the pain he caused Lauren. I  did feel we never really got to see his true emotions over the situation. We saw plenty of reminiscing over his and Lauren’s relationship. We are shown how much he loved her and regretted what happened but we never hear how leaving her affected him.

I’m sorry I shut you out. You didn’t deserve that treatment from me. I’m sorry I made you the collateral damage to my lifetime of fuckups.

Lauren and Mike’s chemistry is hot and spicy with plenty of sexual tension, made more so by their memories.  I did have some issues with Mike when it came to his obliviousness about certain things. The gossip was a red flag. I find it hard to believe he never heard anything derogatory about him and Lauren’s relationship, considering his daughter did.

The main conflict plays out well though surprisingly the drama in here is almost null. Dual POVs ensures that readers get to watch this couple’s growth and journey towards their HEA once again. Bowen’s trademark humor is loud, proud, and delights as Bowen writes yet another entertainingly sexy contemporary romance that doesn’t overwhelm or underperform. I am looking forward to the next in the series, title and release date to be announced.

GRADE: B

Prior Sarina Bowen Reviews

Recent Reviews
The Genre Minx Book Reviews
Heroes and Heartbreakers
All About Romance

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