From the USA Today bestselling author of Rookie Move comes the second novel in the series that’s hot enough to melt the ice. He’s a fighter in the rink, but he’s about to learn that playing nice can help you score… As team captain and enforcer, Patrick O’Doul puts the bruise in the Brooklyn Bruisers. But after years of hard hits, O’Doul is feeling the burn, both physically and mentally. He … hits, O’Doul is feeling the burn, both physically and mentally. He conceals his pain from his coach and trainers, but when his chronic hip injury becomes too obvious to ignore, they send him for sessions with the team’s massage therapist.
After breaking up with her long-term boyfriend, Ari Bettini is in need of peace of mind. For now, she’s decided to focus on her work: rehabilitating the Bruisers’ MVP. O’Doul is easy on the eyes, but his reaction to her touch is ice cold. Ari is determined to help O’Doul heal, but as the tension between them turns red hot, they both learn that a little TLC does the body good…
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Sarina Bowen, what can I say, I get so excited when I know one of her books are releasing and I am so angry it has taken me this long to read Hard Hitter. I just know that with her writing it’s going to be an awesome book to the point I don’t even care what the book is about as soon as I can I pre order I will do it.
Well Hard Hitter did not disappoint, it was full of sports, drama, excitement and a little suspense in this one, with practically an ex being a stalker to having a rough childhood you needed to learn to fight at 10 to survive.
Ariana was such a great character, she was a great heroine who never bowed down to the gods of hockey, or needed a man to get through life she was strong and a great character to read. She went through a lot when it came to her ex, so I don’t blame her for being guarded when it came to other men.
Patrick, I wasn’t sure about his character from the first book, to be honest I didn’t think I was going to like him, but Sarina did what she does best and makes you fall in love with the hero. Patrick was complicated, wasn’t trusting, and a very hard guy to read, but when you can read a book and you fall in love with his persistence and devotion then this author did a bloody fine job.
I loved this book, I’m a big wrap for sports romance and this book does not disappoint, if you’re looking for, sport, romance, action, a hero and a heroine who save each other, then get this book and if you haven’t started the Brooklyn Bruisers series then do it now
5+++++++++++++ stars for this baby
I’ve really enjoyed this series so far and I can’t wait to get more of the player’s stories. Hard Hitter can absolutely be read as a standalone. However, I think you’d be missing out if you don’t read Rookie Move as well. Just for the simple fact that both books have been a joy to read.
Patrick O’Doul is not only the Captain of the Brooklyn Bruisers but he is also the enforcer for the team, which means a lot of hard hits. When his recent hip injury lands himself in the hands of Ari Bettini, the team’s message therapist, O’Doul has to face a lot things he’s been pushing to the side for years.
Ari’s work has been going fantastically but her personal life is the complete opposite. She is dead set on focusing on her work and not her dating life. That is until O’Doul ends up on her table. There’s something about him beyond his looks that attracts him to her. He seems to have a problem with allowing her to touch him and that only sparks a deep desire for her to help him overcome whatever it is that could cause him to react that way.
As the two work together to make O’Doul healthy again, tension and emotion flies. They start to become attracted to each other. Will they strictly remain professional or will their attraction be too much for them to deny?
I don’t think I could have pulled for two people from the start any more than I did O’Doul and Ari. He’s the team captain with a lot of weight on his shoulders. You know he’s a good guy and just overall likable. Ari is the sweet girl who you just want to be friends with. She has a big heart and just has a natural caring instinct about her.
When O’Doul decides that he really wants to pursue a relationship with Ari, he makes it known and doesn’t give up. I loved how patient he was and at times how clueless he was. It makes him more personable and relatable. It also gave me some great laughs when he has to use the team to get information. The way he went out it was absolutely hilarious.
The thing about Sarina Bowen books is that her writing is so fluid and each character is developed enough that no matter what, I’m always wanting more. This book is exactly that. If you are looking for some hot hockey players, humor, sweet girls and supporting characters that make up a never-ending list of “must get their” story, then this book and this series is for you! I’ve really enjoyed it so far and can’t wait for more.
Hard Hitter is the second book of the series of Brooklyn Bruisers, set in the unique world of the hockey team that is new and green but also the *hot stuff* everyone’s talking about. We had a chance to meet the team in the first book, Rookie Move – Leo Trevi and Georgia’s story, and now in Hard Hitter, we have the story of team’s massage therapist and yoga instructor, Ariana – or Ari – and Patrick O’Doul, or Doulie, the team’s captain.
They are the most unlikely two people to get together – the grumpy, macho man who avoids her massage table and appointments as though the plague got to them, and there’s Ari, who’s loved by everyone in the team, trying to keep her head high in the world where most business is conducted by men. Curiously enough, Sarina seemed to make them work. They are a pair that needs to go through a lot, overcoming their past and current problems to come to the place where they can actually start a healthy relationship.
She is soft and calm and trying to find peace in her life that’s just a little bit messy at the moment – with her abusing ex she threw out refusing to go away from her and having some shady business out and about – and then trying to make this grumpy, hard man, Patrick, cooperate and not make her look bad in her job. Overcoming his aversion to any touching, he becomes a little *too loving* of Ari’s touch, and even she can’t resist the beautiful masterpiece this man is, body and soul. Just a coincidental swap of phones was enough to bring them together – but the spark between them that would blow in the hottest of flames was everything but coincidental.
And together, they let it burn bright. The hot world of fast and violent hockey, sexy hockey players and strong women that long for their happily-ever-after will pull you in… so hard that 4 am will come out of nowhere, and suddenly, you long for as many coffee cups as you can get the next morning, but all with the thought Hell, it was worth it!
Another great one! Omg I’m really loving the whole team, I hope a lot of them get their own books! Can I just say, I’m loving me some Patrick right now. He and Ariana are just perfect together, love their chemistry. Those two are like ying and yang. They are totally different, but fit together nicely. I really enjoyed this one. And holy crap the excerpt for the next book… eek it was blowing my mind!! Can’t wait to read it, it’s going to be soooo good!
Audible Review:
Overall 4*
Performance 4*
Story 4*
Hard Hitter was great! There were a lot more “feels” to this story than I was expecting, especially when it came to Patrick. His back story really tugged at my heartstrings.
I really enjoyed the connection between him and Ari, and I loved that his whole outlook on things changed as the two of them got close.
Ari had a lot on her plate and wasn’t expecting Patrick to impact her life so much.
Honestly, neither one of them really expected what they found in the other, but sometimes the unexpected is just what you need.
The narrators were excellent. Nicol does a great job as Ari, and I think Rock was terrific as Patrick. He did an excellent job of giving voice to Patrick’s vulnerabilities.
This is my first post after two weeks but life got a little crazy for me lately. Friends visiting, crazy work schedule and trying to study for GRE didn’t make it easier for me to read and keep writing reviews. I was planning to write this review for a while but couldn’t find the time but this weekend is just for reading, writing and relaxing Sarina Bowen is one of my favorite go-to authors. I read all her books and really enjoyed them. Sarina Bowen + hockey = Win/Win for me and ‘Hard Hitter’ has both, so it was a great read
‘Hard Hitter’ is the second book of the ‘Brooklyn Bruisers’ series. Our hero and heroine are Patrick O’Doul and Ariana Bettini. If you read ‘Rookie Move’ you already know a bit about O’Doul. He is the captain and also the enforcer of the Brooklyn Bruisers. He hates being an enforcer but he thinks the only reason the team is keeping him because he is one of the best enforcers in the league. O’Doul is really mysteries, he doesn’t spent a lot of time with his teammates outside and nobody really knows him. He is quiet, introvert, strong, loyal and caring but because of his past he keeps his distance and doesn’t get close to anyone. Being 32 years-old enforcer and having a chronic hip injury makes it hard for him to hide his pain from his coach and his coach force him to go to team therapist, which he avoids like a plague. But when his choices are limited to either go to the massage or benched, he picks the massage, which will lead him to Arianna. Ari is the yoga instructor and massage therapist for Brooklyn Bruisers. She is pretty, sweet and loved by everyone around her. Just like O’Doul she doesn’t have a lot of friends outside work. But through the book you will see her friendship develop with Georgia and Becca, which was really sweet.
At their first session O’Doul was super nervous and uncomfortable because due to the events from his childhood, he doesn’t like people touching him. Ari was so sweet and understanding towards him and with time O’Doul started to trust Ari and massage turned something he hated to something he enjoyed and relaxed. O’Doul and Ari has great chemistry and their relationship starts changing with the time they keep spending together. After their hot and passionate night together, O’Doul wants something he never wanted before. He wants to have a relationship with Ari. However, Ari is not looking for one. After a 8-years of relationship and currently being harassed by her ex, the only thing she wants is focus on her job. When O’Doul learns that Ari’s ex is harassing her, he is always there to support and protect her, which makes it hard to resist him for Ari. Ohhh man O’Doul is soooooo great. I loved how Ari brings out his softer side out. He is super kind, caring, protective and loyal underneath his hard-ass enforcer exterior and with his relationship with Ari evolving, his relationship with his teammates and other people around him start to change for better too. One of my favorite parts of the book is when O’Doul forces his teammates to write ideas to woo a girl and fine the guys whose idea was not good enough I don’t want to give too many details and ruin the book for you. If you want to learn how O’Doul woos Ari, you should read the book
If you are looking for a sweet, sexy and heartfelt story ‘Hard Hitter’ is right for you. I cannot wait to read Beacon & Queen Lauren’s story on the third book of the series, ‘Pipe Dreams’, which will be out in May 2nd. Also, just like in ‘Rookie Move’ Becca played cupid for O’Doul and Ari. I love her meddling Even though neither Nate nor Becca plays hockey, I am hoping fourth book will be their story. At least they are part of the team so why not
Would I recommend this book: Yes.
Would I re-read this book: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
The review was originally posted on: http://miabookaddict.com/