Review: Hooked on You by Kate Meader

Hooked On You
(Chicago Rebels #3)
by Kate Meader
Publisher: Pocket Books
Publication date: May 29, 2018
Genre: Romance
Rating:

The steamy Chicago Rebels series returns with this racy and sassy tale of embittered hearts, second chances, and going for the goal—on and off the ice.

Violet Vasquez never met her biological father, so learning he left his beloved hockey franchise—the Chicago Rebels—to her is, well, unexpected. Flat broke and close to homeless, Violet is determined to make the most of this sudden opportunity. Except dear old dad set conditions that require she takes part in actually running the team with the half-sisters she barely knows. Working with these two strangers and overseeing a band of hockey-playing lugs is not on her agenda…until she lays eyes on the Rebels captain and knows she has to have him.

Bren St. James has been labeled a lot of things: the Puck Prince, Lord of the Ice, Hell’s Highlander…but it’s the latest tag that’s making headlines: washed-up alcoholic has-been. This season, getting his life back on track and winning the Cup are his only goals. With no time for relationships—except the fractured ones he needs to rebuild with his beautiful daughters—he’s finding it increasingly hard to ignore sexy, all-up-in-his-beard Violet Vasquez. And when he finds himself in need of a nanny just as the playoffs are starting, he’s faced with a temptation he could so easily get hooked on.

For two lost souls, there’s more on the line than just making the best of a bad situation… there might also be a shot at the biggest prize of all: love.

 

 

Boy do I love hockey romances, and Hooked on You was no exception. It had your typical brooding hockey player, but it was so much more than that. Now, I will start off by saying that I have not read the previous books in the series. However, I had no problem picking up the story and all the dynamics of the key players in the series. I loved Bren’s brooding Scottish character and Violet’s free spirit. Especially when you realize that she’s dealt with a lot in her young life and has overcome so much to get to where she is today. Throw in a pair of adorable little girls who are a little lost in life, and you have this endearing, romantic story.

Now, even though I had no problem picking up the story, I am well aware that I missed out on a lot! These two characters clearly have history. As well as each of them respectably having history with the other key players in the series. So I definitely plan to go back and read this series from the top. I would love to see how everyone reacted when Violet showed up on their doorstep after their father passed away. I would love to see how Bren’s battle with alcohol and sobriety affected the team and the relationship with the other players. I’m sure those are both things that would have been brushed up on even more in the previous books. I feel like Bren and Violet’s story was the grand finale to the series that everyone was waiting for. So I really need to go back and start it from the top.

One thing that I loved about this book is that it had so many layers to it. It wasn’t simply a romance between a brooding male and a free-spirited female. Violet doesn’t really feel like she belongs with her half-sisters running the hockey team. She also has a lot of emotional scars as from her battle with breast cancer. So, even though she seems care-free and like she doesn’t care, she’s always battling her inner demons. Bren hit rock bottom with alcohol and lost custody of his kids because of it. When his two girls end up staying with him, he gets a second chance to really be their dad again. Both of these characters were struggling with their past, both had a lot going on in their lives, but one thing they both needed was each other.

I’m really glad I read Hooked on You. I’m always a sucker for hockey romance, but I love that the author added so much more to the story. It’s wasn’t simply a romance between a hockey player and the team owner. It had so many subtle things going on that it was hard to put the book down. I wanted to see these two get their happily ever after. I wanted to see the two little girls get a stable and happy home life. This story was just a great read all the way around. I highly suggest it if you are a fan of romances that deal a lot with family, overcoming your inner demons, and sexy hockey players. 😉

 

Favorite quote…

“You’re the vibrant force, a woman who lights up every room she enters. You can’t be expected to dim your sun.”

 

 

 

10 Thoughts on “Review: Hooked on You by Kate Meader

  1. Boy do I love hockey romances” *raises both hands* Yes, please! This book sounds soooo good, and I just love that quote you shared <3 I already wanted to give this author a go, but now I know I just have to read this series 😉

  2. Melliane on 21 May, 2018 at 10:02 am said:

    it’s an author I should try one day I hear a lot about her

  3. I’m glad you’re enjoying this series Kristen. For some reason it isn’t working for me even though I usually love her books. But I haven’t tried this one yet. Maybe I’ll give it one more go.

    Karen @ For What It’s Worth

  4. I haven’t read this one but it sounds good.

  5. Skimming since I’m reading this now but YAY glad you enjoyed!!!

  6. I do enjoy a good sports-themed romance every once in a while so I’ll have to keep this series in mind. I don’t think I’ve ever read one that centered on hockey. Great review!

  7. I’m not a hockey fan in life, but I absolutely adore a nice sports romance, and this sounds like a good one! Hugs…RO

  8. This sounds like a good one! Hugs…RO

  9. I need to catch up on this series, I’ve only read the first book and I enjoyed it.

  10. Ah yes! I love those hockey romances, too. I need to try these 🙂

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