He plays defense in the NHL. She’s a pediatrician whose fiancé is cheating on her. When they meet and become friends, will they be able keep their relationship in the “friend zone?” And can they help heal each other’s past heartache?Just when everything in Alex’s life seems to be falling into place, she gets bad news that shakes her to her core. Her fiancé, NHL star Marcus Reid, has been cheating … NHL star Marcus Reid, has been cheating on her. With multiple women.
Cole Shaw plays defense for the Wolverines’ NHL team. He keeps his life simple: play hockey, defend the goal, and don’t worry about relationships or love. It’s not what he wants or needs. That is until his teammate’s fiancé, Alex, asks Cole the truth about what Marcus has been up to behind her back.
Alex appreciates Cole’s friendship and begins to feel things for him she knows she shouldn’t. Why would she want to be with another NHL player? They’re only ever looking to score? But Cole proves he’s different.
If Alex’s ex, Marcus, can’t have her, he doesn’t want anyone to get her. Now Cole is at risk of losing his spot on the team. As much as Cole wants more with Alex, he can’t jeopardize everything he’s worked his whole life for.
Even though Alex and Cole’s chemistry is ice-melting, can they figure out how to play the game together without losing everything?
Defending Your Heart is book two in the Rules of the Game Series. Book three releases March 2019. All books in the Rules of the Game Series can be read as standalones.This book contains mature content. 18+
Other titles by Emma Tharp
1.What About Her (The Bluff Harbor Series Book One)
2. What About Us (The Bluff Harbor Series Book Two)
3. Drawn to Dark
4. Keeping It Casual
5. Moving On (McLoughlin Brothers Series Book One)
6. All In (McLoughlin Brothers Series Book Two)
7. Alive Again (McLoughlin Brother Series Book Three)
8. Crashing Christmas: A Billionaire Office Romance
9. Always Just Us (Just Us Book One)
10. Forever Just Us (Just Us Book Two)
11. Scoring Chance (Rules of the Game Book One)
more
“Defending Your Heart” Is NO Easy Task When Faced With A LOVE That Just May Last!
When this Gal is Told about her Her Cheat’n Fiancée,
She Goes about things the Right Way…
She Confronts the Guy, then seeks OUT some Facts!
When She is through with that…
She knows the Real work Must Start, & She’ll NEED to begin with what’s called “Defending Your Heart!”
That’s Easier Said than Done,
When HIS TeamMate is Sooo Very Much Fun…
NOT to Mention HE’s been there,
When She NEEDED SomeOne to Care!
Just a Hug, A Shoulder for a Cry… This is the Sweetest, MOST Caring Guy!
It’s HARD to keep “Defending Your Heart” When He’s tearing your Walls DOWN Faster than you can build ‘Em!
I was granted an ARC of Emma Tharp’s “Defending Your Heart: A Friends to Lovers Hockey Romance (Rules of the Game Book 2)” via Booksprout; I recommend this book to others based upon its own merits. All opinions expressed within this review are uniquely my own & freely given!
Until next time… Happy Reading!
A wonderfully sweet well written friends and confidants romance story. This quick hockey based story included some drama, a cheating fiancee, romance, friendship, love, and some steam. It flowed smoothly with a fast paced storyline that had me addicted page after page. Cole and Alex were intereting and well developed with a nice suppporting cast of characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3 1/2*
Alex has no idea her long time boyfriend Marcus isn’t what she thought he was.
When a friend tells her some news she wonders who to trust.
Cole is shy in nature & see’s that Alex is beautiful why can’t others appreciate what they have?
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
Nice story
Her fiance is cheating on her with many different women. She finds out by asking one of his teammates. They start a friendship but her ex is not happy and now his place in the team is being threatened. So although he wants more with her, he cannot risk his place on the team.See if he can have both
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I’m a sucker for hockey players, what can I say?
3.5 stars. Alex has broken off her engagement with her cheating rat fiancé Marcus. He just wanted to have fun. Cole is on the same hockey team and has taken an interest in Alex. Spoiled brat Marcus does his best to disrupt the team causing problems and Cole heartache. He just doesn’t want to ruin his reputation being the dumpee. Nicely written and enjoyable read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book
Another amazing and exciting book in the ‘Rules of the Game’ series! It is a great read with a perfect storyline that is superbly written. The storyline is consistent, relatable, and well-developed with ups and downs, lots of drama, humour, and witty banter. The story flows smoothly; it will pull you in and hook you until the end. It is quite enjoyable and a must read. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I absolutely loved this book and was honored to have been able to read and review. It was such a phenomenal read and had amazing characters as well as an amazing story line. I just could not get enough of it and once I started reading it I could not put it down. I recommend that you read it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Lovers of hockey romance will love this one! A quick, entertaining read with lots of chemistry! Cannot wait for the next one!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved this new story in the “Rules of Game” series. This is a stand alone story with some interconnected characters. This story is a fast and some what short read that is well written. I love the characters; well most of them anyway. In the first book in the story you hear a little bit about Marcus and his character. You also meet Cole. Marcus and Cole are on the same hockey team but complete opposites. This story is more about Alex, Marcus and Cole. It is a friends to lover story of Cole and Alex. Alex learns about Marcus’ wonderful character and leans and decides she has had enough. I enjoy Cole and Alex’s story. Wonderful characters and story. This story has a cheating fiance, a little drama, friendship, romance and a little steam. I cannot wait to read the next story! I am looking forward to reading Brii and Teddy!!!
Alex finds out her fiancée, Marcus, is a cheater. Heartbroken she leaves him and their future. Cole is the quiet, good guy and Marcus’s teammate. They connect and become friends which quickly escalates. I like the story but felt like it skipped some things. Didn’t see the connection from friends to more. Easy quick read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Defending Your Heart: A Friend’s to Lovers Hockey Romance by Emma Tharp is a great read. interesting,sweet,easy to read and enjoyable. great storyline,interesting characters with great chemistry, great addition to the series well done!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Alex has been cheated on by her fiancé Marcus. When she asks Cole to confirm her suspicions she wants to be friends with him. They both have an attraction for one another. Will she get back together with Marcus as he persists perusing her? Will she and Cole give in to their attraction to one another?
I absolutely can’t get enough of this series! Every book has been excellent!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Alex has no idea her fiance has been cheating on her until some of Marcus teammates girlfriend’s let her know. She knows she has real friends in those girls for stepping up and letting her know.
Will she be able to pick up the pieces? When she discovers her attraction to Cole, another team member will she be able to let him in?
Sad and Exciting to move on after such a bad experience.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was an entertaining read where you get to see two characters bond and get to know one another as friends and then of course it begins to move past just friendship. Isn’t that the best way for a relationship to begin? Our characters are great in this book. We have Alex who is a pediatrician that is dating a NHL player named Marcus. Alex finds out that he has been cheating on her with multiple women. As you read the story you feel for Alex both as the reader and as a woman. We also get to meet Cole, who is also a player in the NHL and Marcus’s teammate. Alex goes to Cole to ask him to confirm the things that she has been told about Marcus. This is an intriguing story that involves Alex trying to get to the truth about Marcus, Marcus not wanting to let her go, Cole wanting more than friendship with Alex and Cole possibly losing his spot on the team if he persists to go after Alex. This is a well written story on how all characters travel down the road that leads them to their HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a fast-paced and wellwritten book that held me captive from the start. The storyline is intriguing and the characters great. Loved the chemistry between Alex and Cole.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.