Neve Angel’s life is all work and no play, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. One of Denver’s top sports reporters, she’s fought hard to make it in a male-dominated world, and she won’t back down from a fight with anyone–not even the Hellions’ gruff head coach, Tor Gunnar. Her hostile relationship with the icy Scandinavian is the stuff of local legend. Tor Gunnar hates dealing with the … with the media; at best, they are a nuisance and at worst, a distraction. And no one distracts him more than the scrappy, sexy reporter who gets him hot under the collar. When he wins a not-so-friendly bet with Neve, he decides it’s high time they either kiss or kill each other, and invites her as a date to an out-of-town wedding.
But what happens when enemies become lovers? Will they be able to smother their sizzling attraction, or is it time to start playing for keeps?
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This is from Lia Riley’s series Hellions Angels about people associated with this hockey team located in Colorado. Neve Angel dominates in a field dominated by males and loves what she does: sports reporter.
Tor Gunnar is head coach of the said Hellions, a gruff, tough no-nonsense fellow who rules the rowdy bunch of loose fisted players and keeps them focused with his tough attitude. The only kind the players respond to.
Neve and Tor are at it again but this time by texts. She wants his respect for the fabulous pro job she does and he can’t stand pesky media people who he thinks are a nuisance. When they meet for the first time, she gets under his skin all the while being drawn to the strong and independent Neve who is ‘tenacious as a goddam bulldog even though she was as tiny as a Chihuahua.’
Their prickly relationship becomes popular on social media as she gets increasingly successful at baiting him and then publishing his comments. Tor is a single dad and hides the deep bruises left from his broken marriage well behind his frosty personality. Until Neve unlocks the austere Tor’s smoldering passions and get more and more involved with each starting with the wedding Tor does not want to attend.
Lia Riley masterfully allows the sparks to ignite into a roaring fire. She’s created unforgettable characters in this sexy romp of a sports romance. Other than the brief attempt at creating conflict which fell flat BTW, I loved it!
One of the best I’ve read in a while!
Riley is a new to me author and this series has been on my TBR for a while. I’m so glad I picked this series up!
Tor and Neve’s book is a great hate/love relationship and I loved their verbal sparring. Neve and her inner monologue was hilarious and I loved her. Tor, once he let his guard down with Neve was tender, considerate and sweet, with a dominant edge. Loved him.
I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series, Virgin Territory after hearing about the angry and mysterious Patch.
*copy provided by publisher
I’m not honestly sure that there is anything I love more than a growly, surly alpha with an ooey gooey underbelly. And that, friends, is exactly what Ms. Riley has given us with Tor Gunnar, and I – not surprisingly – found him utterly irresistible.
Enemies to lovers romance is a tricky trope for me. I don’t always connect and I sometimes find myself easily frustrated by the animosity, wanting to skip ahead to the good stuff (you know, swoons). This one hit all my sweet spots though – I never felt like it was too harsh on the “enemies” front, and I completely bought into the “lovers” transition. I felt like the burn between them was apparent even as they traded barbs, and when they let themselves explore their heat? Woo baby. Prepare yourself for sparks and swoons and satisfied sighs.
This is a super quick and super easy read. It wrapped up a little quickly and perhaps a smidge too neatly in the end, but the whole package was such a fun, sexy, enjoyable reading experience that I honestly had no trouble buying in to Tor and Neve’s happily ever after. Head Coach was a hit for me, and I cannot wait for more Hellions Angels (seriously, Patch? **grabby hands**).