Back Check (Kelly Jamieson)

backcheck

The so-bad-they’re-good alphas of hockey’s Chicago Aces are back in this emotionally charged novel of sex, love, and second chances from the bestselling author of Top Shelf and the Heller Brothers series.

Tanner Bennet hates weddings. They just remind him that he simply isn’t cut out for any kind of healthy, committed relationship — never has been, never will be. After getting rejected by the girl he thought was “the one” all those years ago, he made a huge mistake and married the wrong person. Now that the divorced heartbreaker has reluctantly agreed to be a groomsman for one of his NHL teammates, the last thing he expects is a chance at redemption with the one that got away.

After Marc Dupuis of the Chicago Aces hires wedding planner Katelyn Medford, she discovers that her big break comes with a twist: a reunion with her college sweetheart. The way she dumped Tanner still haunts her. Eight years — and three broken engagements — later, Katelyn knows she’ll never have that kind of innocent, wide-eyed passion again. Still, she and Tanner soon generate enough body heat to burn up the sheets. And even with Tanner’s career with the Aces up in the air, Katelyn’s wondering whether the time is right to let him in for real.

Once again, I’ve read this book as a buddy read with Cátia @The Girl Who Read Too, so check out her blog in the next few days to read her take on this one.

After reading Top Shelf a while back, I didn’t hesitate when I saw this one on Netgalley, because I really liked it, and I wanted more of that world. I’m so glad I did, because this book was awesome, I really like this Hockey world that Jamieson created with this series, and I can’t wait to read the other 2 books that I haven’t read yet.

I loved the writing on this one, the book is told in dual POV, third person, but it’s that sort of third person POV that has a unique voice, you know? It was just fast and fun to read, even in its emotional moments.

I’m a sucker for second chance romances, I just love the idea of them, so when I realized that this was one, I was ecstatic. I loved Tanner and Katelyn, they were both well rounded characters, who had clearly grown up a lot since they were last together, and they both also grow considerably during the duration of this book. Both of them are pretty scared to get hurt and hurting the other one again, but their chemistry is amazing, and they are just so darn cute when they finally get together :D.

I loved the inclusion of their friends and Tanner’s team during the whole plot of the book. This is a major thing, because it goes to Tanner’s fears and his strengths and my heart was just so happy with all those amazing friendships.

I really liked the plot, and how for most of the things, Tanner and Katelyn actually talked about their issues. They both make somewhat dumb choices at one point or another, because they were scared (mostly), but I was happy that those dumb moments didn’t overextend, and I was very very happy with the resolution.

I have to recommend this series if you’re into hockey romances, because it is a delight. I love the group of friends, their connections, the writing, the romance, the characters… everything! Give this a chance.