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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A FABULOUS CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE! I listened to this book on audio during my typically horrid commute and was more than pleasantly surprised. I say that because it’s not a romantic suspense, and stories without without a combo of good guys, bad guys, and a crime to be solved or crisis to be averted don’t always hold my attention. Definitely NOT an issue in this case. This story centers around the extremely hot and hunky “enforcer” of a newly formed NY hockey team and the team’s massage therapist. The hockey aspect provided an interesting backdrop, and it’s clear the author adores professional hockey. The writing is fantastic, and Ms. Bowen added in a touch of intrigue to make the story that much more riveting. I enjoyed this book so much I listened to two others in her series, but I’ll save those reviews for another day. A 5-star read for me!
Another win by Sarina! Hard Hitter was the second book in her Brooklyn Bruisers series and it was amazing! Love hockey and love this team! Their relationship was beautiful, it started slow and built up to an unbreakable bond. They learned how to trust and be one together.
Patrick had been an enforcer for years and it had started to take a toll. His body wasn’t as young as it used to be and needed some extra conditioning. He was supposed to be meeting with the team’s massage therapist but he kept avoiding her. He didn’t think she would be able to help, until she got her hands on him. Could she help him heal, in more ways than one?
Ari had enough going on in her life so getting involved with a client should be on the no go list. But why did she feel drawn to Patrick? Something about him had her wanting more. Would she be able balance her crazy life and him or would it be too much?
Don’t forget the suspense! Not only did I love watching these two find their way, it kept me on the edge of my seat! Overall great addition to this series! Can’t wait to read more about these hunky hockey players!
Hard Hitter is the second book in the Brooklyn Bruisers series. It is a complete standalone, so it can be enjoyed completely on its own. And it is certainly enjoyable.
Patrick O’Doul is the Bruisers captain and enforcer. He’s the tough guy who fights to protect his teammates. He’s also really hot and a bit of a loner. Ok, more than a bit. He’s been having some issues with injuries lately, so he’s been forced to get treatment from the team’s sweet yoga instructor/massage therapist. For a guy who’s not comfortable being touched by others, it’s hell on earth. Except for the fact that Ari has captured his attention, and he finds her really attractive.
Ariana Bettini loves her job as the yoga instructor and massage therapist at the Brooklyn Bruisers hockey team. Recently single, she’s not looking for a relationship right now. When Patrick first shows up for their sessions she can tell he’s closed-off and doesn’t like to be touched. She’s intrigued by the guy and also finds him really attractive. She’s determined to help him heal, but the proximity makes them get to know each other better. And their attraction to each other grows exponentially.
Ariana doesn’t want to date anyone right now, but Patrick is not the giving-up kind of guy. There are a few complications along the way to make things more fun: A violent and desperate ex-boyfriend to whom Patrick has a connection that could jeopardize his whole career, and a boss who might not approve of office relationships.
I love the Brooklyn Bruisers series. It’s hockey romance at its best. Sarina Bowen is one of the best writers I’ve ever read, and she excels in hockey romance. She writes great characters you want to hang up with and call your friends. They feel like real people with real problems and emotions. She will play with your emotions in the best possible way, making you laugh through your tears, as she always does. It’s her super power. Hard Hitter is compelling and will make you want to keep reading until the end without stopping.
Hard Hitter is an excellent story that everyone should read. It’s Sarina Bowen at the top of her game. She’s truly a gifted storyteller, and one of the things that make her so very special is the way she has of including difficult but important topics in her books. And she does it flawlessly and in a way that doesn’t work against the story. And I really appreciate her sense of humor. It comes through loud and clear, but in a very understated way that makes it shine. If you love well written, emotional and witty stories, you should give this book—and series—a shot. Because you will end up asking for more Bruisers. And I can promise you won’t be sorry.
I liked it. I am also partial to hockey stories.
“I only want you, Ari. For this, and all things.”
After reading Rookie Move, if you told me that I would spend 300 + pages swooning over Patrick O’Doul, I would have called you a liar. I often looking forward to secondary characters getting their stories told, but O’Doul was different. He didn’t have a lot of redeeming qualities, and I wasn’t sure I would care all that much about him.
Leave it to Bowen to prove me very wrong.
Opening the book with Patrick’s point of view helped me to get inside his head instantly, and what a complex place that was to be. As captain of the Bruisers, veteran, and enforcer, Patrick was still an enigma to his teammates. Heck, no one had ever been in his apartment. He’s moody and grumpy (my favorite!), and just a big ball of fun. Little did he know the teams masseuse was about to blow a hole in his master plan to spend his life alone.
Ari was my kind of girl, and Patrick’s polar opposite. She’s bouncing ball of happiness and serenity Ari was strong when she needed to be, and willing to ask for help when her situation became extreme. I loved her vulnerable side. Ari had her hands on seriously hot, hockey players every day, but none of them got to her the way Patrick did. She wanted to crack his rough exterior, but hadn’t yet figured out how. You could tell right away she was really into him, but after a disastrous relationship, she felt it necessary to stay single for a bit. You’ll see how well that works out.
Hard Hitter is Bowen’s hottest book to date.
Two words: Massage Table.
Holy heck! I was fanning myself for a week! The chemistry was absolutely electric. Patrick and Ari burned up the pages, and all they had to do was look at each other. It didn’t take Patrick long to realize what he had in Ari, if only he could get her to see it. He was like a dog with a bone. He found his game changer, but he also found a way to be patient. I loved how long it took their relationship to evolve, and the lengths Patrick went to prove how he felt about Ari.
Here is what you need to know about Bowen, if you don’t already. The woman can write the hell out of a book. She manages to mix humor, with scorching sex scenes, a little bit of drama, and a supporting cast you just love and want stories for (Beacon! Beacon! Beacon!). I have not yet found a single flaw in any of her books, and I have read them all, multiple times. There is little better than losing yourself inside one of her books. I am counting down the weeks until I can get lost in her next one.
Stellar. Simply stellar. Right from the beginning everything clicked for me and I was all in. I’m am completely in love with this story and these characters. Loved all the details and the build. Seriously entertaining and sexy read!
This one’s the captain Patrick O’Doul and the team massage therapist Ari’s story. These two are such a cute couple. Patrick is an enforcer on the team and so engages in a lot of on ice fighting but he’s tired of this. It’s been hard on his body and his brain. After he can no longer hide issues he’s been having with his long term hip injury from the trainers he is sent to Ari’s table. She is the polar opposite of him, all zen and gentle. Some ghosts from her past threaten her and Patrick is in full on protector mode but she is desperate to stand on her own two feet so is resistant to let him in fully.
There is a little action and drama in this one and I loved that Ari was so determined to be independent. She didn’t NEED a man or a relationship, she CHOSE him in the end. Sarina has a great way of slipping the heat in and dialing it up without you even realising. Let me just say as a former massage therapist with a fold up massage table stored in our cupboard under the stairs. I will not be able to look at it again without blushing. Holy Hotness Batgirl!!! Anyway I am so glad that Patrick got some happy in his life after the start he had, he so deserved it and Ari restored her faith in men and ended up in a beautiful relationship. Great book.
Read: 6/11/17
Hard Hitter is the second book in the Brooklyn Bruisers series by Sarina Bowen. It was enjoyable and entertaining.
Patrick O’Doul was a defenseman and the enforcer on the NHL team, the Brooklyn Bruisers. He was gorgeous, intense, focused and a loner. He had a tough young life and he was used to fighting for what he wanted.
Arianna “Ari” Bettini was the beautiful masseuse and yoga instructor for the Bruisers. She was just getting out of a bad relationship, one that bordered on abusive but she was fortunate to have left prior to it getting there.
Ari and Patrick were thrown together to help Lee Patrick healthy and in shape. He was a veteran and his body wasn’t getting any younger.
I loved the friendship that Bowen developed between Ari and Patrick. The attraction was there but it wasn’t the focal point of the story until the story progressed. The initial focus was how Ari worked with Patrick prior to the games to help him heal. That’s where the friendship developed while the attraction was secondary and lying in wait. The building of the relationship contributed to additional depth and substance within the storyline.
I love hockey, although I love most sports, hockey is probably my favorite sport. I loved how Bowen described hockey from both Patrick and Ari’s viewpoint. It wasn’t typical yet it didn’t appear far fetched. It was a different perspective and provided depth and authenticity to the storyline.
Bowen also included a little suspense and drama into the story to make it more interesting. Additionally, I loved how Bowen portrayed the camaraderie between the players. It brought an additional complexity, humor and enjoyment.
All in all, I enjoyed the storyline. It was a great addition to the series and Bowen provided teasers for additional books. Next up is Beacon in Pipe Dreams. I never saw this one coming and I can’t wait!
I didn’t think I’d like Patrick’s story, but it was actually pretty sad. Him and Ari are so stinking cute together, there was several audible awww’s.
She always delivers a must read book.
Just finished it this morning. I enjoyed it.
Sarina Bowen Fast paced action, sizzling romance, fab friends, hockey… all wrapped up into one novel!
O.M.G. This. book.
I’ve been a fan of the Brooklyn Bruisers series and this one has been on my TBR shelf. I decided to wrap up in a blanket and station myself on the couch to read. What a treat this book was. It’s got everything I like: well developed characters and terrific writing.
Arianna is recovering from fall out from a romance that went on too long. She’s sworn off dating and has committed herself to her massage and yoga practices with the Bruisers. She’s friends with familiar characters from other books in the series (Georgia, Nate, Becca, and the players) and is a self described “cynical girl with trust issues and a ticking biological clock.”
Patrick is the Bruiser’s Enforcer … and if you don’t know what that is, look it up. (This is where the writing is fab, because Ms. Bowen lets the readers in on this aspect of hockey in a way that is woven into the story). He’s gone further than any kid who grew up like he did, but he’s tired … tired of fighting, tired of being afraid of getting hurt, and, if he would admit it, tired of being alone and not being loved. He sets his sights on Ari and despite her protests, sets out to win her over.
Amid their romance are delightful scenes of hockey travels, Ari’s persistent ex who wants access to her place for nefarious reasons, a hockey team standing behind both Patrick and Ari, and Patrick’s baggage of a bad decision that could ruin his career and put his beloved team in a bad light.
Ms. Bowen is one of my favorite authors and this book is a terrific example. There is dialogue that is witty, soul-baring and sigh-worthy, emotional scenes that have you cheering on Patrick and urging Ari to give in, and writing that changes POV to give you insight into each of the characters.
Download this book … and clear your calendar, because you’ll want to read the whole series!
Ari and Patrick had a lot to overcome as their love story was twisted and interconnected to her past. Chapter 15, the team coming up with ideas on making women fall in love with men was the absolute best chapter I’ve ever read. The storyline was well thought out and well written. I love how the author interweaves other characters storylines into whatever story she is writing.
There’s no doubt whatsoever that Ms. Bowen is the queen of hockey novels. Her knowledge of this game never ceases to amaze me, her detailed account is as such that for someone like me who would love to see a live game felt as if she were there. It was actually like having a lesson in this sport’s ethics, too. I had a vague idea why there’s so much aggression on the pitch; however, I didn’t realise the importance team’s supporters give it. It seemed to me that more provoked violence there was, the more crowds were drawn in. I could quite understand how the female protagonist whose profession is tightly knit to the players felt while watching them get a good bashing!
I have to admit that I hadn’t read the first book in this series, but this didn’t affect my reading enjoyment at all. There wasn’t one moment when I felt out of my depth in the storyline’s fast moving pace and I easily became invested in all the characters. Ms. Bowen also refreshed my memory regarding the sport’s vocabulary by explaining certain definitions to me. The importance of an Enforcer; a hard reputation to live up to and difficult to imagine. No wonder there are so many injuries in this sport since it is their job to impede or react to overly aggressive players. The high-pressure coming from all angles added angst to Hard Hitter and helped me comprehend how stressful it must be living up to this title. One thing is for sure, it’s only fitting for someone capable of taking on such a demanding responsibility. This person has to be built like a wall and take as much as he is given. This person is Patrick O’Doul.
“He has an ego the size of the stadium. If you have any trouble with him, I’m happy to play the bad cop.”
My heart went out to the captain of the Brooklyn Bruisers for more than one reason. Patrick is a lovely soul. A tad moody and quite the loner when it comes to his personal life, what I liked about him is he’s not at all full of himself! In fact, his concern for the game and attitude towards his teammates’ well-being I found humbling. Yet his handling of an unacceptable deed which was of his own doing, and his gullibility to trust those he shouldn’t have, really got me mad. In my eyes, it was the route of all evil. Nonetheless, how it panned out became a much-wanted twist and a half in the story. Although I tried to put myself in his shoes, for me, the whole situation was the be-all and end-all. I yearned for him to find a solution. In a nutshell, I was just as disappointed in him as he was in himself. Time is ticking away and he’s terrified that sooner or later the cat will be let out of the bag.
“He puts up an asshole front, and he’s kind of an egomaniac. But he’s got that whole macho honor code thing working.”
Henry, the team’s head trainer rubs salt in Patrick’s wound by ordering him to go to physio-sessions which he has no time or like for. How cool can a trainer be when all he wants is the best for his players! I really connected to this guy’s togetherness and had no option but to agree with him. He could do no wrong for me. And the press breathing down the captain’s neck helped little and added to my anxiousness. The new young owner of the hockey team who I might add is gorgeous, appears to be the only one who has little to say in the matter but obviously wants results. Results. Always results. Companions will back him up without knowing the whys and wherefores because they have faith in him. And the plot thickens!
“Why, Patrick O’Doul.” “I’d almost think you liked this.”
“It’s tolerable.”
To my delight, Ari Bettini saunters into the scenario like a breath of fresh air. This is her moment. Her chance to do something she loves and show them what stuff she’s made of. She also needs a break from her past and no way wants to mess it up. So, this change in her life couldn’t have come at a better time as you will see. Now it’s not going to be a bed of roses. She’s not only got to convince one of the players that he needs her expertise but put to use her mental skills on the whole hockey team. After much cajoling, Patrick goes to her appointments and is grateful that she respects his personal space. I loved how Ari trod carefully and tended to his needs with utter professionalism and no favoritism. Once he realises that she could help him with his injury and fears, he’ll try his hardest not to miss his hour with her. There’s much more to Patrick than meets the eye though. On occasion, both he and I were confused by some of his out of character actions. Certainly, the likes of breaking rules weren’t on their agendas—thus, how they’d deal with them side by side makes for a heart-warming read.
“I wouldn’t ever touch a client inappropriately. It would violate the trust that you give me when you climb onto my table.”
The banter between Ari and Patrick is fabulous. Texts go back and forth as they feel their way in a relationship which boils down to trust. They made me cry, smile and brought out all my emotions. If it were ever possible, I could have given them a good talking to. At times, I had my doubts! Ari doesn’t want to let on about her past and O’Doul’s not forthcoming about his, either. What is plainly obvious is the sizzling hot chemistry between them. Ah, but if it wasn’t for her! The saying — ‘Behind every great man is a great woman,’ couldn’t be more fitting in this story. Because she is great. Can he be great by her side?
“Humor me. I’ve never had anyone to spoil before now.”
Ms. Bowen’s character development is as always, par excellent. Her storytelling technique in this book is unusual since dates mark a timeline above and beyond pucks, goals, love or sorrow. It is a story that melds perfectly into her concept of happenings and can’t wait for PIPE DREAMS coming in May. Bravo Ms. Bowen!
This is a great start to a new series. Loved it!
3.5 stars
Hard Hitter was a sweet and sexy romance. I enjoyed it for what it was. Ari and Patrick were terrific together. The simplest massage scenes had so much chemistry and heat. The brooding Patrick was so caring towards Ari when her ex kept interfering with her life. She on the other hand made Patrick want to open himself up more. Especially towards her. Her problems with her ex dragged on for too long but luckily the secondary characters like Leo, Georgia, Becca, Nathan and Beacon made up for that. Overall a great hockey romance.
Love love loved it 🙂 the characters had me swooning !
Omg Patrick is so dreamy and i fell so hard for him! i loved how he overcame his childhood and made something of himself 🙂 i thought it was great how he got to know Ari and how they had this amazing connection once he let himself open up 🙂 i loved that he was there for her when her d-bag of an ex was making her life awful , this was the first time that Patrick has ever falling in love and wanted someone to share his life with and Ari didn’t make it easy but i loved that he didn’t give up ,they fit each other 🙂
I love Ari ,she’s smart and fun and it was great how she gets a bunch of Hockey players to do yoga 🙂 i liked how she was able to sense that Patrick didn’t like to be touched and how she was able to show him it was ok to let your guard down ,after hearing about his childhood she understood why and it was awesome that he shared that part of his life with her 🙂 they are awesome together 🙂
i am enjoying this series so freaking much ,i can’t wait to read the other books asap 🙂
I feel like these characters are now part of my family. When I’m in a book funk I just know that picking up a book in this series will put me right.
O’Doul has been a bit of a shy and retiring character to date. Yes, he’s an enforcer on the ice but off the ice, he’s more of a recluse and being one of the older players, lives life at a more sedate pace.
When his injuries start to become more than a nigglesome pain, he is forced to seek the care and attention of team massage therapist, Ariana or Ari. O’Doul doesn’t like to be touched and struggles to settle when Ari is working on him but he respects her as a person and tries to do what his team expects of him.
When Ari and O’Doul’s phones get unexpectedly swapped, O’Doul starts to see that the carefree yoga and therapist has a dark side to her and an ex that is determined to make her life hell. With O’Doul running to her assistance, Ari’s wish to keep her private life just that, private, is soon squashed especially when her ex sees her and O’Doul kissing and decides O’Doul needs to be taught a lesson.
Before he knows it, a bad decision made by O’Doul comes back to haunt him and rather than making inroads with Ari, where their tentative relationship is concerned, he soon finds himself wondering if he will be outed from the team and Ari’s life in one go.
O’Doul started out as a bit of an enigma but it wasn’t long before I really appreciated him as a player and a person. He was kind and supportive towards Ari. His loyalty to the team was second to none and he is clearly a player that you’d want to spend more time around.
Something stopped me giving this story 5 stars, and I still can’t quite put my finger on what it is, but I will settle on giving it an easy 4.5 stars.
I enjoyed this more than the first book in this series. I liked Patrick and Ari, they felt real and their banter and interaction had me giggling out loud. I loved when Patrick had his team mates writing romance ideas and fining the ones he found stupid. Really this entire book was fun, I highly recommend it.
I loved Hard Hitter!! Team captain and ‘enforcer’ Patrick O’Doul fights on the ice in games and fights his chronic pain. He fights against allowing team massage therapist, Ari Bettini from getting under his skin and exposing his well hidden weaknesses.
Hot hockey hunks, sexy swoony romance, humor and emotion… everything I could want in my romance book and all read to me by amazing narrators! I’m extra glad that I went with the audiobook for this story. I’d be very happy if these narrators could read all my books to me!
-5 Stars!-