Author: Toni Aleo
Publication Date: September 8th 2014 (first published 2014)
Plot: Jude Sinclair here, hockey player for the Bellevue Bullies and lover of all ladies. Hockey’s in my blood, and not to sound full of myself, but I’m good at it…really good. The draft is within my reach—it’s mine to take—but that’s not the only reason people know my name. They know me because of my way with women. They know the score, and I aim to please. I just tend to stay away from repeat performances. In other words, I don’t do relationships beyond my family and friends. I’m happy with life. However, I should warn you that my story and how I see it playing out is about to change due to a certain redhead on campus.
She’s beautiful. Stunning. Breathtaking.
She’s my game changer.
~*~
He’s trouble from the moment I see him. I don’t know what I’m thinking, but from the moment I meet his gaze, I’m his. It’s a scary feeling.
I’ve never trusted anyone outside my aunt and uncle—and even that took months. I didn’t have it easy growing up. My mom was usually strung out, and she didn’t give me a second thought. Drugs and the men who paid her were more important to her. It was horrible, but I’m stronger today. Because of my past, security is what I need most. Money assures me that I can take care of myself today, tomorrow, and next month. I don’t want to ever be hungry or go without again, so I work hard for every penny.
Oh, by the way, I’m Claire Anderson. I’m a hard-studying sophomore at the University of Bellevue, dancer for the school dance team, and a burlesque dancer at a club, but that’s my secret.
You may think you know how our story ends, but you have no clue. It’s not easy falling in love… or living happily ever after. At first it may seem so, but when is anything worth having ever won without a fight?
Especially when you’re boarded by love.
☆✮ My Review ✮☆
☆ I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! ☆
“I knew you were a game changer, Claire Anderson.”I grin as I look over at him, meeting his lazy gaze.-“And I knew you were trouble.”
My initial thoughts: Ooh! Phillip Anderson's niece, Claire, gets a book?! *hell yeah!*
And it gets published on my birthday?!! *squeals* Oh yes, this is going to be a glorious beginning! I'm in love!♥♥
↑ a.k.a Ms. Toni Aleo :)
And then after reading:
*Cues sad face*
So before I begin, let me first say how much a HUGE FAN of Toni Aleo's I am. That said, I hope you can see how it pains me to rate this read so-so for me. Not great but not bad either. While I finally got to see Phillip’s niece, Claire, get bitten by the love bug and go from troubled teen to budding dance phenomenon, it regrettably just didn’t tug at my heartstrings.
I think what stunted it for me was the insta-love connection that Claire and Jude experience once they meet. Their relationship developed too rapidly, even with the 14-day trial of no sex/strictly friendship rule, and overtook a substantial amount of the book with its progression and amount of mushiness and smutt scenes entwined.
*Made me feel nauseated and distracted from the over all plot message and heart of the story.*
I mean, how could a man-whoring playboy go from screwing every girl left to right, to want to give up his privileged ways for a girl he’s just met? I don’t get it.
It made me think as if their relationship was primarily based on lust and physical attraction at times because they were always talking about how hot/good-looking another was, constantly kissing and feeling each other up, and continuously claiming how much they loved each other without getting to the nitty-gritty about each other’s circumstances.
Then Claire’s withheld secret from Jude was just frustrating to say the least. She should have been fully honest with Jude from the beginning, as much advised by Reese and others, since she wasn't doing anything wrong and it ended up coming up to haunt her in the end. BIG TIME. Why am I mentioning this, you may ask? Well, this once again stems from their “love” skipping the initial dating stages and moving irrationally from friendship into the lovers phase too quickly which ended up causing Claire to not have full trust in Jude.
But that’s just my opinion of course.
On the bright side, I did like the individual personalities of both Claire and Jude. Both were courageous individuals with trying ordeals and are trying to establish a future for themselves.
Then add on, the reunion of our fellow Assassins men, women, and children from Toni’s previous hockey series, the Assassins, and I was in hockey Heaven!!
I swear, I was literally taken back a dose of nostalgia as this was what made me love Toni Aleo in the first place. *does a happy dance*
So over all, its mixed feelings for me on this one guys. I just don’t know....It's between a 2 or 3 star read for me. *cries sullenly*
My Rating:
-Overall : 7
-Plot : 7
-Writing : 7
-Characters : 7
-Cover : 8.5
☆✮ About the Author ✮☆
Toni Aleo is the author of the Nasvhille Assassins series: Taking Shots, Trying to Score, Empty Net, Falling for the Backup, and Blue Lines.
When not rooting for her beloved Nashville Predators, she’s probably going to her husband’s and son’s hockey games and her daughter’s dance competitions, taking pictures, scrapbooking, or reading the latest romance novel.
She lives in the Nashville area with her husband, two children, and a bulldog. Read more about Toni here.
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