Review: Amazing Hockey Romance Series
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 23, 2014
Sports themed romances are some of my absolute favorite books to read. Both on and off the ice, court, and field, readers are given an intense and fast paced story that shows the edge an athlete has when he has both the love of the game and a good woman. One of my favorite hockey series is Brenda Rothert's Fire and Ice Series. It provides a fantastic look into the dedication it takes to be a professional hockey player as well as how an athlete's determination cannot only help him win the game but perhaps even the girl.Edge is book three in the series, and it focuses on Luke Hudson, Ryke's teammate and best friend. At the beginning of the story, Luke gets injured from a knee to knee hit and has to spend a few weeks down in the minors for rehab. He has a lot to prove to himself as well as his father in this rehab assignment, so there's an immense amount of pressure on him to regain not only his speed but his dominance on the ice. Luke needs to remain 100% focused on getting back to the pros because hockey is his life; in his mind, it's all he has, and without it, he has no direction or purpose. But then along comes the team's gorgeous physical therapist, Dell Pierce, and Luke's focus is split between a woman who's supposed to be hands off because of the team's no fraternization clause and the game he loves. As they fight their attraction for one another and then think of ways to skate around the no contact rule, Luke's rehab stint expires - thanks, in part, to the extra attention Dell gives him. So now that they can be together, how do they get past the many other obstacles that stand in their way?Boy does Brenda Rothert know how to write complex storylines and multifaceted characters! Luke and Dell both have a lot to live up to when it comes to proving themselves to their fathers, and it seems like no matter how hard they try to please them, it's never enough. Dell is such a dynamic heroine. She's a single mom who gives 100 percent to both her son and her job. She's completely unlike any other woman Luke has been interested in because her focus is not on herself. The way she can put those big burly hockey players in their place is phenomenal, and the witty banter she exchanges with Luke only makes him want her more. I loved experiencing the slow burn of their relationship. It put me on edge almost as much as it did them; there were many times I thought the sexual tension was going to explode. Due to Dell's history with men, she's hesitant to complete any of the "challenges" he gives her when they're not allowed to touch each other, but Luke's experience with sex actually allows her to relax a bit and revel in a number of firsts with him.I'm a dual point of view junkie, so I am so glad Brenda gives readers both Luke and Dell's perspectives. To be given what they are both thinking and feeling as complications arise and mistakes are made allows us to truly understand what's at stake for both of them as they figure out which path they should go down. Another aspect of this series that I love is the fact that we get to catch up with Ryke and Kate and see how everything is going. Their path to happiness was such a struggle, so I love seeing them content with their little family.Luke and Dell's story is a passionate look at what happens when hard work pays off on both a personal and professional level. It's about realizing that there's more to life than trying to live up to someone else's unrealistic expectations. It's such a fantastic story that has the perfect blend of steam, angst, and humor. I really hope Brenda continues with this series because I'd love to read more stories about other players from Ryke and Luke's team or perhaps, Dell's best friend, Sadie.A complimentary copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.4.5 poison apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)