From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Toni Aleo, comes a spin off series from the Assassins: The Bellevue Bullies!
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 … 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.
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3.75 stars—BOARDED BY LOVE is the first instalment in Toni Aleo’s contemporary, new adult BELLEVUE BULLIES hockey romance series focusing on the University of Bellevue, Tennessee hockey team. This is university hockey star Jude Sinclair, and choreographer/dancer/student Claire Anderson’s story line. The Bellevue Bullies series is a spin off from the author’s ASSASSIN series. Jude and Claire were first introduced in the previous series. Claire is Phillip Anderson’s niece (Breaking Away, Assassins #6).
Told from dual first person perspectives (Jude and Claire) BOARDED BY LOVE follows the building romance between university students, hockey star Jude Sinclair, and choreographer/dancer Claire Anderson. Claire Anderson has struggled most of her life until the day her uncle rescued her as she spiralled out of control. Now a sophomore in university, Claire will come face to face with hockey star Jude Sinclair, a man she knows nothing about. As Jude begins a slow seduction of our story line heroine, Claire battles between head and heart knowing her life as a burlesque dancer is not conducive to the lifestyle of a budding hockey star. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Claire and Jude, and the potential fall-out as Jude uncovers Claire’s lies of omission.
Claire’s earlier life controls her present. Frightened of abandonment and losing it all, Claire works nights as a burlesque dancer in an effort to protect herself from the same life she lived when her mother was alive.
The relationship between Claire and Jude is one of immediate attraction; a palpable sexual energy that does not go unnoticed by family and friends. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Claire’s uncle Phillip and his wife Reese; Jude’s brothers Jayden and Jace, their sister Lucy, and parents Mark and Mrs. Sinclair; as well as roommates, students, and several dancers.
BOARDED BY LOVE is a story of family, friendship, secrets and lies; a story of betrayal, desperation, trust and love. The premise is engaging and energetic; the romance is seductive and captivating; the characters are colorful, dynamic and passionate.
This story grabbed me by the heart (as all of Toni’s books do) and I fell for the characters so easily. I was so invested in the story that I couldn’t put it down.
Original Read: 9/7/15
Re-Read 1/29/18 and Review Added.
Boarded by Love was the first book in the Bellevue Bullies Series and a spin off from Toni Aleo’s Assassins series. I loved it the first time I read it and I’m not surprised I loved it just as much the second time.
Jude Sinclair was the cocky, arrogant, respected and uber talented captain of the Bellevue Bullies college hockey team. He was NHL Bound and the only question was how high he would be drafted. He always enjoyed his pick of no strings, one night stands until he met his game changer, Claire.
Claire Anderson was introduced to us in Breaking Away, book 6 of the Assassins series, as Phillip Anderson’s niece. She was now beautiful, independent, confident in herself and driven. After her horrific childhood until she was saved by her uncle at sixteen, she was focused on making her own way in life.
The foundation of the story was the relationship building between Jude and Claire; however, true to Aleo’s style, two secondary stories were running simultaneously – Jude and Claire’s separate backstories. They all merged in the end, but it kept it intriguing, entertaining, fast paced and emotional.
Boarded by Love was well written, well developed, and charming. There were a few editing errors, but nothing numerous and too distracting.
All in all, I was reminded why this was one of my all time favorite series and why Jude and Claire rank among my favorite characters. I may need to re-read the entire series as this re-read was well worth it.
Loved this book!!! I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to read more about Jude and Claire.
I really got hooked on this. I truly enjoyed the characters. Jude’s devotion is a book boyfriends best quality. Clair’s story through the book just makes you want to root for her.
Claire Anderson and Jude Sinclair
Both Sophomores at Bellevue College in Nashville, TN.
Claire and Jude met in the quad, as Claire was going tree to tree, taking down some flyers, someone had hung up, about a friend of hers.
One look was all it took for Jude to want to find out who this girl, whom he has never seen before is. For the first time ever, he has to work to get to know a girl.
Once a playboy, now, just one look at Claire, makes him want to be a ‘one woman man’.
Trust, Love, Security and Lies…those are the key words of this story. Words that will make your heart soar one minute and break the next.
I laughed and cried so hard throughout this book. It was such a good book, one that makes you open your eyes to what is right and true and fair for all in life. Not everything that is done is done maliciously.
Sometimes it is done, because the person does not want to hurt anyone, but in turn, people gets hurt ten times worse.
You should never hide your true self. Always be honest. Claire will attest to that fact.
I really thought I wasn’t going to like this book. Turns out I was wrong. I’m glad when I’m wrong about a book. Well just the ones I think I won’t like but end up liking.
Jude Sinclair is a total ladies man. He’s captain of the hockey team, and is about to go into the draft. One day after practice he notices the finest backside he’s ever seen. Deciding he needed to see the face, he meets Claire. When Claire walks away, he follows. They have a flirting match in which Claire leaves Jude wanting more.
Claire dances burlesque at Ms. Prissy’s, goes to school, and teaches dance at her soon to be aunt’s dance studio. Claire finally decided to have a boyfriend only to find out he slept with someone else and gave that person crabs. Good thing it didn’t get far with him. The next day Claire is ripping down posters of now ex-boyfriend that previous girl (now with crabs) is putting up all over campus. While doing this she meets Jude. A man who finally ignites a spark in Claire’s heart but she’s going to make him work for it.
Super cute story. I’ve been in the mood for a sports romance and this happened to hit the spot. As previously mention in another review I sorted my kindle by author and am reading A-Z. This is the third book I’ve read in this method and I’m not disappointed.
Boarded by Love has been on my TBR list for a while now, so it feels good to finally cross it off.
I enjoyed reading this book, it was hard to put down.
Held my interest so much that I stayed up reading til 2 am
I have loved each of the books in both series. Great reads!
This book expressed how from a horrible beginning in life you can achieve your being happy, successful and live your dreams with Love to complete your happily ever after.
Good read of what it takes to build a relationship based on time and trust. I enjoyed the sports part of it, and the characters had a cute romantic story. I enjoyed the music references throughout the book.
I had only read one book by Toni Aleo prior to this one and it was a stand alone. Jude was the college hockey star, play boy with a one and done attitude towards the girls. Claire had a rough childhood until she ended up with her uncle Phillip. She wasn’t looking for a relationship and didn’t want to ever have to rely on anyone ever again. So when she meets Jude she blows him off but kind of challenges him to find her again. She has some secrets that she doesn’t reveal and that will come back to haunt her later. This story is about how these 2 young people figure out how to love and trust someone else.
I really enjoyed Toni’s writing style. This is a sweet story of young love with some steamy thrown in. This is a spin off from another series and I am looking forward to getting to know some of the characters better. I recommend this enjoyable read.
Love the book and read the other ones in the series
I loved the characters and how they evolved. They were honest, realistic, and totally likeable. You could feel their love and their pain. Great story. Well-written.
Had a hard time getting through this book. We are suppose to believe a tough hot dude was suppose to for some unknown reason fall for Claire. He becomes almost silly in is actions towards her and has to ask his brother what he needs to do to date a girl. Was disappointed/
More of a sexy young adult book. I couldn’t get into it so I stopped midway
‘Boarded by Love’ is the first book of the ‘Bellevue Bullies’. This book is how I met Toni Aleo and got hooked What can I say, I am a huge Toni Aleo fan and I will read any book she writes in the future even without reading the synopsis. For me reading order was kind of messed up. I first read ‘Bellevue Bullies’ and then started reading ‘Assassins’ but during my first re-read, I combined both series and re-ordered them. Now it makes more sense Because for me it was kind of got confusing when I was reading ‘Boarded by Love’, there are these aunts Reese, Elli, Audrey, Piper, Fallon, Harper and then the uncle Phillip Anderson and they were all big deals but I didn’t understand why. It all made sense after reading ‘Assassins’.
So our hero and heroine for the ‘Boarded by Love’ are Jude Sinclair and Claire Anderson. Hopefully, you all remember Claire from ‘Breaking Away’. If not I totally recommend you to read that first, so you will get more of the background story. Claire is now a sophomore at University of Bellevue, she is going for a business degree. She had a horrible childhood until she started living with her uncle when she was 16. Claire is strong, beautiful, confident and really talented dancer and choreographer. Jude is sexy, sweet, cocky, and really talented hockey player, who is the captain of Bellevue Bullies. Jude is also a manwhore and doesn’t do relationships, but that totally changes when he meets with Claire. They are both not looking for a relationship but Claire cannot resist Jude’s charm and Jude knows the moment he meets Claire that she is a game changer. The chemistry between them is off the charts and they are soooo cute together. I loved how Claire makes Jude work for a date and he is tenacious and never gives up his pursuit until Claire agrees to go on a date with him. With their hectic schedules dating becomes a hassle but somehow they always make time for each other. They fall in love with each other hard and fast. Claire even trusts Jude enough to talk about her past. Even though Claire was afraid that Jude will be running away, he shows her that he loves all of her and her past doesn’t change anything for him.
One of my favorite parts of the book is when they meet with the families. Jude comes from a loving family, except his douchebag father. His mom is awesome. He has two brothers Jayden and Jace, who are also hockey players and his sister Lucy is an interior designer. OMG! When they are together, they are all like cats and dogs but you can feel the love and care between them. Other than his dad, all of them were really nice to Claire and loved her. However, Jude wasn’t that lucky. When Jude meet with the aunts, all of them were really nice to him but dinner with Phillip was a disaster. OMG! The way Phillip behaved was hilarious, I was laughing pretty hard. But soon Phillip is not the only problem their relationship faces. Teaching at Reese’s studio is not the only job Claire has, she also works as a dancer and choreographer in a Burlesque club. Other than Reese and the girls she works with in the club nobody knows about her job in the club. She is not really enjoying dancing part of her job but she makes a lot of money. Because of her painful past she is still having hard time to trust people to stay in her life and money is the only security she has and she doesn’t want to give that up. However, because she doesn’t want to keep lying to Jude and Phillip, she decides to quit. But before she has a chance everything comes out in the open. Will Phillip and Jude be able to forgive and accept Claire’s choices? Will Claire’s and Jude’s relationship survive? If you are wondering the answers, start reading ‘Boarded by Love’ as soon as you can
This story is about importance of family, trust, unconditional love and forgiveness. It was great to be part of Claire and Jude’s journey. If you are looking for a sweet, sexy, and heartwarming story, you should give ‘Boarded by Love’ a shot.
Would I recommend this book: Yes.
Would I re-read this book: Already did.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
The review was originally posted on: http://miabookaddict.com/
Completely predictable.
Some really memorable scenes and a fun story line.