Roman: A Cold Fury Hockey Novel

While this one doesn't have the big emotional upheaval that some of the earlier Cold Fury books does, there is still a lot of good feelings going on here. And I for one enjoy an angst free romance from time to time :) Roman may be a troublemaker but he isn't a bad guy. He just enjoys life in a big way and it occasionally causes some waves. From the moment he meets Lexi, though, things are different and with a little faith he proves himself to be a worthy boyfriend. It takes a lot of guts for Lexi to come to NC and confront Brian with her news. We know that he's a fantastic dad to Gray and he proves that he's a genuinely good guy by immediately accepting Lexi into his life. Unfortunately it's a little harder for Gray to accept, but Lexi has such a warm and upbeat personality that she quickly wins her over. Unfortunately the tension between Gray and Roman intrudes on Lexi's life and causes a bit a trouble. But she's a smart girl and with a little help quickly figures things out. I think the most fun thing about this is that we also get Brian's POV here - he not only finds out that he has another daughter but thanks to Lexi he might also find a woman who can liven up his life. He's gotten a little buttoned up over the years and he needs the shake up that he has coming! It's super sweet and brings a little extra joy to the story. Some family drama and a couple of romantic entanglements make Roman a great Spring read. It perfectly shows off Bennett's smooth writing style and knack for creating fun-to-read characters. I'm excited to see what she brings us next! *** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***

Roman Sýkora is a bad boy through and through. Enforcer for the Carolina Cold Fury, he takes his role more than seriously, which means he spends a lot of time in the penalty box. As a man about town, if he sees what he wants, he usually takes it, especially if it’s freely thrown at him. He’s been a loner since his teenage years and he lives life by his own rules, and is happy leading the transient life of a hockey player. Family doesn’t mean a great deal to him. Lexi Robertson is a bright, free spirit. She lost her mother, her only close relative, ten months previously, and has come to Raleigh to meet the father she never knew, Brian Brannon, owner and CEO of the Cold Fury. She’s lonely and wants to be part of a family, again. “There’s something between us…you know it. It’s different. It’s mysterious. But it’s real and we’re both ready.” When they meet, there’s a definite spark between them, but their budding romance is hindered by Roman’s bad relationship with the team’s general manager, Gray Brannon – Lexi’s newfound half-sister. Lexi’s desperate to settle into her new family, but Roman might just be the man to give her lifelong happiness. In the meantime, there’s romance in the air for Brian, too! This was a great, heartwarming story. Roman and Lexi are quite similar in character, both alone, both living by their own rules. Lexi’s happy-go-lucky, free-spirited, fun personality charms Roman completely. She’s so different from anyone he’s ever met and he’s willing to see where things go. In turn, Roman’s alpha tendency and sexy accent really turn Lexi on, as well as his thoughtfulness. She’s knows that under that bad boy persona lurks a man with a big, soft heart. I must say that MY heart melted when he gave her the surprise birthday present! The other thing I loved about his novel was Brian’s POV. He’s such a great guy! It was sweet how open and welcoming he was to Lexi, and his excitement at discovering he has another daughter. I adored the chemistry between him and Georgia, and how she shook up his life and brought excitement to it. These two really made me smile! Another great read from this author and highly recommend!

Book 7 in the Carolina Cold Fury series and we have two love stories for the price of one! We follow Roman Sýkora (ice hockey's bad boy both on and off the ice), and Lexi Robertson, (free spirited ukulele playing barista), as they navigate the minefield of relationships, family and ice hockey management. Cold Fury's owner Brian Brannon gets a 3rd POV (which I loved) as he dips his feet in the dating pool with Lexi's boss and surrogate mother Georgia. Once again Sawyer Bennett blew me away with her storyline, characters and writing, I could really get in the mindset of the characters and my eyes watered on more than one occasion. I loved Lexi's no bull$#!T attitude and the way she handles sticky situations, she's a breath of fresh air. Sexy bad boy Roman is the perfect match for Lexi and I've got to say they bring out the best in each other. Sadly outside of Roman and Ryker we don't get to interact with the rest of the team, can't wait for Lucas' story though, I just can't seem to get enough of the Carolina Cold Fury boys. A full 5 star read. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.