Gage McPherson was the Seattle Shark’s best Grinder, until he shattered his shoulder last season. Time heals all wounds…but the heartbroken single dad has more than his share of trust issues. The playboy only lets one girl close to his iced-over heart—his pint-sized daughter who’s the center of his world. She’s the only thing more important to him than hockey, and he trusts no one with … her…except me.
We’ve been friends since we were kids, and I love his daughter like she’s my own, so what’s the easiest solution to help Gage out? Move in and be his live-in nanny for the season. As far as she goes, the arrangement is perfect. But her drop-dead-sexy father? Frustrating on every possible level.
There is a thick, professional line drawn between us by his own hand, and despite understanding the terms, my body is practically begging him to cross it. Our chemistry is off the charts, but one misstep, and we could hurt the one person we love most. This game is all-or-nothing. Can I risk my heart on a guy who is known for the shut-out, on and off the ice?
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Great story! I love sports romances. And then throw in a nanny trope and it’s golden. But this was even better with it being a best friend of over 20 years. This story was awesome. Bailey and gage were amazing together and so hot. So much chemistry and tension. And lettie was absolutely adorable. The only thing was the conflict. I understood where Bailey came from. She felt cheated but also felt like he wouldn’t even consider her side but honestly she didn’t consider his either. The procedure was already done years prior and she never grasped hi side either. He felt like him and lettie weren’t enough family for her. Each side was equally valid and had merit because they were right in their own. It just didn’t jive with one another. Each person unwilling to change would have to either give up something or end what they had. I didn’t like how she just severed things and then left. That was cowardly and not right. But I loved the ending. Can’t wait for Rory and paiges book.
I love a good hockey romance, throw in a single dad, and a friends to lovers trope and I was hooked. Gage never misleads anyone, who is a one and done guy, only doing one night stands. When it becomes apparent that his daughter is starting to notice the parade of puck bunnies he stops it. Baily was sweet, and she stood up for herself. Not willing to settle for less than what she deserved. As always Samantha delivers some hot and steamy scenes. And my HEA. I’m hooked on the Seattle Sharks.
Anticipating the steam!
This is the story of Gabe & Bailey. Gabe is a hockey player. He also has a three-year-old daughter named Lettie. Her mother left them for someone else before Lettie was two-years-old. Bailey has been Lettie’s nanny for six months to help Gabe out with her, but has just moved in to be a live-in one until she decides what she wants to do with her life. Gabe and Bailey have been friends since childhood. Living in such close quarters brings the attraction between them to a different level. Can he get past his hang ups of his daughter’s mother leaving him and Lettie, and can he ever let Bailey know he can’t give her, her one and only dream? Surprises are many in this story, and I loved every one of them. The love is over-flowing, the struggles are real, the characters are amazing and the twists and turns are unexpected. I absolutely love these two characters.
Parts were icky, parts were good, parts were dragged out too long for drama. This was just an OK read.
I’m not against “reformed manwhore” tropes. But him bringing hook-ups to his house, nightly, knowing Bailey & his 3yo daughter would have to hear/see/interact with them. Ick.
Once Gage & Bailey got together, it was sweet & sexy.
The ex wife element was kind of odd. Why would you wait a year to ask her to sign her rights away if she wasn’t involved at all. This is a professional athlete and this big legal issue is just languishing???
The more kids/no more kids argument/drama was odd and then resolved kinda strangely.
The epilogue was nice.
Overall this was just an OK book. Can’t really say I’m interested in the rest of the series.
Truly enjoyed reading this story. Gage and Bailey have been friends for a long time, she becomes his nanny and the journey of friends to more.. begins. There are obstacles they have to face but its a ride you want to take to see if they can over come all of it.
Well… I really enjoyed Gage & Bailey for the most part! The beginning upset me, however, because of choices Gage makes & his reasons for them. HUGE DISAGREE & I was annoyed. Hard no.
As the story went on, I was able to sort of overlook things, and I did enjoy the story. Lettie was a super cute scene stealer! Heh. And I did love the way the ending/epilogue was handled. : )
Friends since childhood, Gage and Bailey know each fairly well, even more when Bailey becomes the nanny for Gage’s little girl. Abandoned by her natural mother at birth, Bailey is the only mother she knows. Sparks fly when Gage and Bailey get together, but Gage holds a secret the can tear them apart, unless he can let go of the past and trust that Bailey will stay. Love this series. I want to read them all.
A entertaining story. It has a bunch of feels moments, but wasn’t a great storyline. I enjoyed the happy ending though.
My first book by this author and I absolutely loved it. I’m an Aussie so hockey is not on my radar, thanks Google for helping me out with the word grinder.
This is a romance between an athlete and his nanny who is a childhood friend. Gage has a gorgeous 3 year old daughter from a previous relationship. He is such a man whore picking up a different groupie each week to scratch his itch. His nanny is a line he won’t cross as he’s afraid to stuff it all up and lose her.
She’s in love with him and I was waiting for him to wake up and see what was under his nose. The chemistry between them was hot. The banter between them and the child at times hilarious. The story flowed beautifully and it was hard to put it down.
The epilogue rocked and I ended the book in tears…good tears.
I enjoyed this best friends to lovers romance. Bailey and Gage were so sweet together and the chemistry was off the charts. Lettie was the most endearing little girl and added the perfect balance to the story. There was just enough angst to push the story forward and the ending couldn’t have been better! This was the first read for me by this author but it won’t be the last!
4
Good plot, with a few twists thrown in. Gage and Bailey have an adventurous story with all kinds of emotions being pulled from me. Throw in Lettie and my heart just swells with love for these characters.
There were some predictions I called, but this was a good book and I’d recommend it.
#HockeyRomance #FriendsToLovers #NannyLove
Grinder is a single dad, sports romance and friends to lovers story so it has a little bit of everything to keep everyone satisfied. Gage may play on the ice but he also doesn’t leave the ice there, it is also the same thing that he keeps his heart behind. The mother of his child left without a backward glance so how can he ever trust another woman with not only his heart but that of his daughter’s. When he entrusts the care of his daughter to his childhood best friend Bailey, he might find that keeping his heart behind that ice wall might be harder than he thought. Their story is full of chemistry, drama and passion. As these two try to fight for what they want it might just take the sounds of music to bring them some clarity.
This story is a friends to lovers sports romance, packed with sweetness and sexy scenes. Gage is an NHL player and his longtime friend Bailey happens to be his daughter’s nanny.
When Bailey moves in to be with them full time, things start getting a little out of hand due to the hidden desires of these two, but they have been friends all their lives and, in addition to that, Gage has trust issues he’s not ready to overcome. Add to this mix the sweetness of the little girl both of them adore, their friends and mothers pushing trying to push them together and the shadow of an absent mother to make this one a very interesting story.
I’m really impressed by this book, which I understand is Ms. Whiskey’s debut. I enjoyed the storyline, the characters and the development. It’s fast paced, never boring, sexy, romantic and altogether sweet. I will definitely be in line to read more about the Seattle Sharks series.
Gage McPherson tried love once, and he has no intention of traveling down that road again, the last time he did he found himself broken-hearted and left to be a single parent of their daughter. Now everything in his world revolves around that little girl and ensuring she has everything she needs. With hockey season starting again soon, he knows he needs to find someone to care for her when he can’t be there, and there’s only one person he trusts for the job, his best friend Bailey. Hiring her to step in a be a nanny for his daughter seemed like a no-brainer, but now that she is living with them, and taking part in almost every facet of his life he begins to realize he may have got himself into far more than he bargained for… the more time he spends with her the harder it is to resist her. He knows getting involved with her could have catastrophic results, but everything about it at the moment feels so right… but he has a secret one that could put an end to things before they ever really get started.
Bailey has loved Gage for most of her life, but she has never found the right way to make her feelings known to him, and now that they are going to be living together she knows it’s going to be hard to keep them under wrap. Watching he parade one night stands in and out of the door each night, full well knowing that they are getting a part of him that she will never have just about kills her, she’d love nothing more than to be the girl in his bed… even if it is for only one night. But just like always she plays off her feelings for him, and acts as though the only thing they share is friendship… that is until she notices the same heat she carries for him being mirrored in his eyes one night… then it’s game on!
From the moment I read the synopsis for this book I knew I was going to be in for a real treat, with my newfound fascination with anything involving hockey I couldn’t wait to dive into it, and I have to say I was VERY impressed with what I found!! The minute Gage waltzed onto the page I knew I was in trouble, the man exuded sex appeal, carried a domineering presence, and had a cocky swagger that just could not be ignored!! His smooth one liners, caring and gentle nature and unwavering dedication to his daughter had me swooning from the get go and also left me completely envious Bailey… what it would be like to be in her shoes!! I loved every minute of this story, it sparked a smile or two, stirred my emotions, and had some hot and oh so steamy moments that left me in dire need of a fan, overall a VERY impressive and memorable first read for me!! I can’t wait to make a return visit to the series and see what Ms. Whiskey has in store for the other men of the Seattle Sharks series!!!
Highly recommend this one, the minute you meet Gage he’ll have you falling in love, and looking at hockey players in a whole new light!!
ARC given in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.