Review: This book is filled with sweet and sexy.  I can’t wait to read more about The San Diego Barracudas.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 15, 2014
On The Surface is the first book in the new In The Zone series by Ms. Willoughby. She has delivered her readers a beautiful story that is fast-paced and full of lots of action on and off the ice. It’s a winner for anyone who is a fan of sports theme romance, a fan of hockey, or any reader that loves to sink into an emotional sexy story full of passion and love.Erin and Tim could not have been more ill-suited for one another. He is a professional hockey player whose entire life has always revolved around the game and Erin is a pediatric nurse who takes pride in healing and helping people. She knows nothing about hockey and only has preconceived ideas that it’s all about violence and fighting.When circumstances arise that force them together there is an immediate connection that neither can deny. I loved the way their relationship started out. She was not about to jump in bed with him just because he is a famous sports star. As a matter of fact, the first half of the story is just foreplay that helps to build up the anticipation and sets the stage for a guaranteed explosive scene when they finally give in to their desires.Tim has some heartache from the past he has to learn to deal with. He lost a daughter to leukemia when she was just five. Since then he has made a vow he is never having children again. He will never willingly put himself in a position to feel that hurt again. As he and Erin start to plan a future, this is a major issue that they have to face. I always think this is one of the hardest conflicts in a romance book. Whatever the reason for one or another not wanting children, it’s a rough concept to face. It’s not like a compromise can be made, it’s much harder to deal with than the location or career conflicts. I don’t want to spoil anything within this book, but I thought it was handled very well. There was a lot of growth and acceptance with both characters. Their trials and struggles really helped to solidify their love.I absolutely adored Tim. He is a sweet caring guy, who is always willing to show Erin how much he loves her. Yes, he has his faults too. No man, even a fictional character can be completely perfect, but he knows when he screws up and is quick with his apologies.And I loved watching Erin go from knowing nothing about hockey to end up loving everything about it and becoming a huge fan. Everyone should love hockey! It’s the best sport ever!This book is filled with sweet, it’s filled with sexy, it’s filled with love and understanding, and best of all it’s filled with tons of actual hockey time from a writer that knows the game. I can’t wait to read more about The San Diego Barracudas.Review copy provided for an honest review.