USA Today bestselling author Catherine Gayle presents another novel in the Tulsa Thunderbirds series, a sexy hockey romance spin-off from her Portland Storm series.He had it all.And lost it in an instant.The night Dmitri Nazarenko won hockey’s Holy Grail, he lost more than he ever bargained for. With a world of guilt weighing him down, Dima can never forgive himself for his tragic misjudgment. … never forgive himself for his tragic misjudgment. Turning his body into a shrine of past mistakes, he hides behind tattoos that memorialize his failures and a beard that masks his pain.
But London Hawke sees right through him. The fiery woman refuses to pity a man like him. No stranger to incurable injuries, London lets nothing stand in the way of living her life. Seeing an able-bodied man haunted by the ghosts of his past is a surefire way to trigger her annoyance, and that’s exactly what she finds in Dima.
When they face off, it becomes a battle of wills. Their constant bickering turns to an unavoidable dance between the sheets. But she won’t accept sharing a bed with the past for long. Will Dima learn to fight his demons, or will London leave him to dance with his ghosts alone?
The Tulsa Thunderbirds series
1) Bury the Hatchet
2) Smoke Signals
3) Ghost Dance
4) Rites of Passage
5) Rain Dance
6) Dream Catcher – coming soon
7) On the Warpath – coming soon
more
4.5 stars-
Catherine Gayle is my favorite author of hockey romance. She writes great detail about the sport aspect, enough to satisfy the major hockey fan, but woven into the story in such a way a non-sports fan will still appreciate. That said, this book blew me away far beyond the sports aspect. It showcased how talented a story teller Catherine Gayle truly is, and has me left a bit ho-hum about every book I’ve picked up since. In general, I’ve found Miss Gayle does an excellent job creating a distinct voice for each of her characters. In Ghost Dance, we have a Russian hero. Dmitri speaks in the broken English you’d expect from his character. When shifting to other characters, the voice and syntax completely alters. It seems minor, but these types of details really drew me into the story and brought the characters to life. The heroine is not your average romance female either. She is an intelligent, assertive woman who is wheelchair bound due to a hockey injury. London comes across slightly brash and demanding for part of the book, and I went back and forth liking her and thinking she’s overbearing. However, as you learn more details about her character, her attitude makes sense. I often lament in reviews about authors not developing characters. London and Dmitri are probably two of the most developed characters I’ve read in a very long time. The reader witnessed growth personally and within their relationship, making the romance believable and enjoyable. I enjoy both of this author’s series, but the Tulsa Thunderbirds tend to be grittier characters, stories, and during the sex scenes. Ghost Dance definitely lived up to that tendency. The sexy scenes were great and made sense considering the characters’ personalities, delivering a good dose of heat. The obstacles and angst also felt believable and not manufactured simply as a plot point. This book was excellent and I can’t wait for the next in the series. I highly recommend for any reader looking for a story with interesting, strong characters who don’t fit the typical romance novel mold.
4.5+ stars
Dimitri “Dima” Nazarenko is a surly Russian on the Tulsa Thunderbirds that has been hiding his guilt under a beard, long hair, tats, and a gruff attitude for years. One poor decision changed his friend’s life and he still has trouble coping with it. He keeps people at arm’s length and cannot seem to move on.
London Hawke is a parapelegic sled hockey player. During a charity game, they develop some hot, not-so-friendly competition, but she seems to be able to see underneath his facade. And she decides to investigate it further whether he invites her attention or not.
He’s moody, angry, and lost. She’s fiery, pushy, mouthy, and sarcastic.They tease and taunt. She pokes at him unmercifully to get a rise out of him. When forced to spend more time together, they only react stronger. They drive each other crazy. He doesn’t like to let people get close. She is obstinate and won’t stop pushing him. They are volatile and unstable. They develop a pattern of fighting and f******, deflection, and running. She makes him lose control. She is stubborn and has a strong need to be in control.
Along the way they both are challenged and forced to look at their lives and their comfort zones.They have challenges, issues, and some drama to deal with. He needs to let go and move forward. She needs to face her own demons that she has buried. It is hard to truly love until you feel worthy of it, or to fix others without first fixing yourself.
This is actually my favorite overall story in the Tulsa Thunderbirds series. I was glad to get their dual points of view especially since they were not always forthcoming with their feelings. Even though the characters where strong-willed, volatile, and at times difficult, I actually liked them and their intense dynamics. It made it more significant and emotional when their vulnerabilities were exposed and they began to understand the need for some compromise. Dima was a big, strong teddy bear and I totally fell for him.
I enjoyed getting more with Hunter, Tallie, and baby Harper (Bury the Hatchet). Dima’s role as the “baby whisperer” and his soothing Russian confessionals with the baby were so heartwarming and cathartic. We also got to visit more with Razor and Tori (Smoke Signals) and there was a tease for Drew’s book Rites of Passage that is bound to be interesting.
**I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.