Are you ready for Kane Bellan’s story? I have a problem. Potential problem? I’m not really sure. Here’s the deal. There’s this girl—isn’t that how it always starts?—and her name is Mollie. I like her. I mean really like her. I hope that doesn’t make me seem less manly than my professional hockey player persona implies. But here’s the issue—she’s my best friend. The one person I can count on for … for everything, who’s been there with me for all the moments, big and small. When Mollie shows up at my door, travel weary and scared following an incident with an ex, my instinct to protect her goes into overdrive. It’s then that I know she’s more than just my best friend and the skates are swept out from under me when I find out she feels the same way.Our transition from friends to lovers to potentially something more is seamless, the Arizona Vengeance is back on the ice looking for a repeat championship, and my life has never been better. Just when I think I’ve got it all figured out, the realities of us both having careers which keep us on the road put our blossoming relationship on ice.It feels like the game just went into overtime and I’m on the verge of either the biggest win or most disappointing loss of my life. And losing is never an option.
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for the audio –
Kane is one of those great friends to lover stories. Kane and Mollie have been best of friends for years. Neither knows when they crossed the line to love but they have both been quietly letting the pressure on the secret build all that time. As Mollie comes for a visit, things suddenly explode for the two of them and their relationship. I really enjoyed the story as they got right to the heart of Kane and Mollie. There was enough story to enjoy and drama as needed. There were some really heartfelt lessons at the end as well as some “pull your head out” moments. Definitely glad I listened.
All of the previous characters were introduced and recognized. I didn’t have to play catch up or feel that I had to have listened to the previous books to appreciate Kane.
The narrators, Jeremy York and Lessa Lamb, were both smooth and in sync to listen to. I never had to worry about trying to figure out who was talking. They made the story more of an enjoyable listen.
Kane and Mollie have been best friends since the first day of college. As both follow their dreams, Kane a member of the Arizona Vengeance and Mollie, a wanderer and travel blogger, they have remained close. When a terrifying incident brings Mollie to Kane’s door earlier than he expected, he is extremely happy to see her but knows something is wrong.
When one of Kane’s teammates asks Mollie out on a date, Kane doesn’t like it and is jealous. He realizes he loves Mollie more than just as a best friend and suggest they give a relationship a chance. As their relationship progresses, Kane is hopeful Mollie’s wanderlust will keep her with him instead of on the road. When Mollie accepts a yearlong opportunity to travel Australia, will her decision ruin what she and Kane have or will they find their HEA?
The is truly a wonderful friend to lovers’ story!
Kane never thought he’d ever in his lifetime even think about settling down. He always enjoyed his freedom as it was and hockey was his number one priority. However once his best friend Molly suddenly shows up at his place worn out and nearly sleeps for 24 hours he knows something is up. Molly writes a travel blog and visits sights all over the world with her faithful companion Samson her beautiful dog.
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Molly decides she needs time away from traveling and hanging out with her best friend is the best way to spend her time. However she’s not telling the whole reason for wanting to stay with Kane. She’d rather not worry him and they’ve been friends forever nothing more except one drunken evening they had a little thing but since then they’ve chosen to just be buds.
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Overall the story was another amazing piece of the Arizona Vengeance Series!! I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us next!
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A sexy friends to lovers romance. Kane and Molly’s chemistry was instant and hot. I enjoyed their sweet and low angst story and the cameos from another series. Jeremy York and Lessa Lamb’s narration was great and added an additional element to storyline.
This was great! I’m not usually a fan of friends to lovers, but I really enjoyed this one! Plus, the hockey angle is fun; like when the team and their significant others all hang out. Kane and Mollie are so sweet and have wonderful chemistry. He’s the hockey player, she’s a travel blogger type person, they’ve known each other since college and have remained best friends for years. I do think they were both lying to themselves for too long about being okay only being friends, but it’s great that once they do become more, they are full steam ahead. Some good passion between them! Add in dealing with a stalker; loved how smart this is played, and some wanderlust issues, and you have yourselves a story. I actually would’ve loved a bit more suspense to the story from the stalker angle, but still an interesting aspect. The only other thing I didn’t care for was most of chapter 1; I don’t think it was necessary to go into that much detail about a friends with benefits type scenario. Who cares about that; just a brief mention would’ve sufficed. At least, it didn’t seem Kane was the sleep around type of guy though; love that! He’s a nice, sweetheart of a man. Mollie is a sweetheart too! They’re a good fit! Overall, this story was an entertaining read! Love checking in with the past couples from this series too! Super excited for the next book; I hope Ella doesn’t torture Jim for too long. Also, I’m excited to read about the player in the hospital and the girl he saved finding love! At least, I hope that the way that story will go!
Also, I listened to the story on Audible with a male and female narrator. Both did an awesome job! Great listen! They both fit Kane and Mollie perfectly!
Where to start with this book.. it was such a great read and refreshing to have steam and love with little drama. Kane and Molly are such a sweet couple that made me wish I had a best friend to fall in love with. As with all of Sawyers books, I love getting characters from her other books that pop up for some fun. You will never regret reading this book!
These Arizona Vengeance boys are going to kill me some day! Kane is the eight book of the series and I have to tell you that I just loved his story. This is a friends to lovers book and you will see that Kane and Mollie have known each other for at least a decade, best friends, have been through a lot and afraid of letting lust in their way.
However, they are now 10 years older and, in a way, ready for this leap, not without a lot of good scenes and some convincing…
These books are so great! The camaraderie between the players and even between Kane and Mollie is wonderful and the book is realistic in putting these adults in a difficult and yet wonderful situation that is loving a person.
I loved this book!
I love a good friends to lovers romance so much!
Kane and Molly have been best friends since college, through thick and thin, always cheering each other on from wherever he played hockey and she was travelling at that time.
When they get together, it was just a tad too “oh well, that’s done now” for me. I don’t love constant back and forth, but there seemed to be nothing, no awkwardness or anything over changing it all.
I really enjoyed them finding out what they want out of life and how it can fit with what the other one wanted. The backstory element served nicely to join with another series of Bennett’s, but was also somehow gotten over a bit fast for me. I would have liked it all to have some more stewing time.
This is one of my favorites in this series. Although Legend will forever be my favorite Kane and Mollie are up there, plus friends to lovers are always a good trope. Seeing the chemistry and love grow was so great. I could not put this down and I am now waiting for Jim’s book. Sawyer Bennett has made this series one of the best.
Kane and Mollie have been best friends for over 10 years, but the stars have never aligned for them to be together in any other way. Mollie is a traveler – she has a tricked-out camper van and travels all over the world with it – just her and her trusty dog Samson. Kane, on the other hand, is a pro-hockey player for the Arizona Vengeance. He has adored Mollie forever, but knows he would never hold her back from her dreams of being out adventuring in the world. The same way she knows she would never hold him back from his dream of playing in the NHL.
A scary incident on the road leads Mollie to Phoenix, and the safety and security of Kane’s place. While she’s there their relationship blossoms into more than either one of them had ever dreamed. Mollie fits right in with the other Vengeance wives and girlfriends, and to Kane’s surprise, he finds that he LOVES having her be part of the team family. He also finds that he loves simply having her around, waking up with her and just being together. What would have scared the ever-living crap out of him only a few months earlier, now feels absolutely right, since it’s with Mollie.
Hanging over their heads and their newfound romantic relationship though, is a man from Mollie’s past, and it takes some time for that to get sorted. There is a small crossover into Sawyer’s other amazing series – Jameson Security – making things even more interesting and fun. Once the threat to Mollie is over though, she starts missing being out on the road on her own again. The feelings of guilt about wanting to be out there but also wanting to stay with Kane eat away at her.
They have issues of timing and trust to work through, but their love for each other ultimately proves to be exactly where each of them wants to be. Kane is a great addition to the Vengeance series, and I love getting little peeks into the lives of the other players we’ve gotten to know from previous books. Next up in the series is Jim Steele’s story, and it promises to be amazing as well.
This one was just ok for me. I actually like their friends to lovers trope, but the conflict of Mollie’s background to me felt thrown in there due to just having a conflict in the story. It just felt uneventful for me. I did like seeing some of the side characters to flush out their stories or to see of what is to come next in the series. I still look forward to what’s next.
Narrators Jeremy York and Lessa Lamb were good for their characters. I’m really starting to enjoy Lessa.
I received this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Kane is book 8 in the Arizona Vengeance series and it is a fantastic friends to lovers romance that had me engaged from
beginning to the end!
Kane and Mollie have been friends for years. They were both worried about crossing that line from friends to lovers, but once they did the sparks ignited into flames, but is that going to be enough? And when you combine their evolving relationship with the comradely and support from the players on the Vengance team and the edge of danger that threatens Mollie and it is a story I didn’t want to put down.
I also had the added benefit of not only enjoying the story but listening to the audio version which absolutely added to my experience.
This is one of my favorite tropes! Best friends to lovers! We meet Kane who is a second string player for the Vengeance. He is loving his single life. Never thinking of pairing up. Until his best friend showed up at his doorstep needing a place to crash. Kane is great! He rocks the good boy vibes but when he is with Molly…he is really into her. Molly is neat and has an amazing job. Granted it could be dangerous but still..the things she has done and places she has been. These two are amazing together and really everything just seems to fall in place.
I loved getting to know more of the second string in here. Looks like some good stories for these boys! There are a few other surprised guests in here that I was happy to see.
Overall this is another wonderful story. This author keeps coming up with different stories and I love these female characters jobs! I did listen to this on audio. Leesa Lamb and Jeremy York did a great job!
Actual Rating: 3.75/5 stars
We are officially in “Season 2” of the Arizona Vengeance series with Kane. The first seven books focused on the men in the first line of the team, and starting with Kane, we’re hanging out with the group of men in the second line. But, never fear! The Arizona Vengeance are a close knit team, and ALL the men (and their wives and girlfriends) do get together so our favorites from “Season 1” still make appearances. I am really enjoying getting to know the second line group though. We get glimpses of their stories and I’m very intrigued! I can’t wait for their books.
Anyway, Kane is a friends-to-lovers story. Kane Bellan and Mollie Callister met in college and quickly became the best of friends. Over the years, their career separated them as Kane is a professional hockey player based in Arizona and Mollie is a travel blogger, but they text each other every day and Mollie often goes to Kane’s games whenever she’s in the area. But, one morning Mollie shows up unexpectedly at Kane’s door. An ex-boyfriend had attacked her and she needed her best friend. Kane, who would do anything for Mollie, insists she stay for as long as she needs. Kane and Mollie always insist they’re just friends, but it’s obvious to everyone that they’re in denial. So, when one of Kane’s teammates takes Mollie out on a date, Kane felt all kinds of emotions that he couldn’t deny anymore that what he feels for Mollie is more than friendship… And the story takes off from there.
I really enjoyed Kane and Mollie’s characters. They were both very likable, and since I listened to the audiobook, I thought that narrators did a good job bringing them to life. It was fun seeing Kane and Mollie navigate their relationship from friends to lovers. They were well-matched and their story was a great addition to the Arizona Vengeance series. I did give it 3.75 stars because while I found Kane entertaining, it was just that: a fun diversion. It didn’t quite had the punch of Erik or Dax’s books, which are my top favorites in the series.
If you’re in the mood for a fun, quick friends-to-lovers hockey romance, Kane is your book. I highly recommend the audiobook edition as well. Like I said, the narrators Jeremy York and Lessa Lamb were excellent. I did listen to Jeremy York before and he’s always delivered, but it was my first time listening to Lessa Lamb and I’d definitely listen to her again. For fans of the Arizona Vengeance series, Kane is not to be missed!
Audio Review
I have loved listening to this series and could not wait to get my ears on Kane. The guys and gals of the Arizona Vengeance Series have all been great characters and I love how each new book keeps us posted on the previous characters we love so much. This is Kane and Mollie’s story for love but it’s so much more. They have been best friends for years. In college they tried for more but wasn’t willing to risk their friendship so that has been they way it has been for the last ten years, that is until she shows up and he realizes he wants so much more.
This book is a fast track to love that took a long time to get there. It has some danger that they wind up getting help from Jameson Force Security to resolve so we get a cross over of another great series. We get a glimpse into two new characters that I hope have books coming up and lots of love. This book is well written and keeps your attention and keeps you guessing at times as well.
Jeremy York and Lessa Lamb did a great job as Kane and Mollie. I enjoyed listening to them from start to finish.
I loved this book and highly recommend it. It is part of a series but it is a stand alone as well. You do not have to have read or listened to the previous books but they are all good too so I hope you do.
Kane by Sawyer Bennett is part of the Arizona Vengeance Novel series # 8. They can be read as Stand Alones. You can not go wrong with this series. Starting at Book #1 with Bishop. The books are really good to start the series, but still at #8 and I still want more. Kane and Mollie’s story of how their friendship sets the foundation of their relationship. “We can consider our friendship to be four walls and a roof, and what you and I have on the inside is all that counts, right?” I really enjoy the sense of family the Vengeance’s have built. The support for each other has been there since book one, it just keeps getting stronger.
I love that the main characters are the focus of the book; yet the build up of the secondary characters leave you wanting to hear their story. And I want more.
Blurb:
I have a problem.
Potential problem?
I’m not really sure. Here’s the deal.
There’s this girl—isn’t that how it always starts?—and her name is Mollie. I like her. I mean really like her. I hope that doesn’t make me seem less manly than my professional hockey player persona implies. But here’s the issue—she’s my best friend. The one person I can count on for everything, who’s been there with me for all the moments, big and small.
When Mollie shows up at my door, travel weary and scared following an incident with an ex, my instinct to protect her goes into overdrive. It’s then that I know she’s more than just my best friend and the skates are swept out from under me when I find out she feels the same way.
Our transition from friends to lovers to potentially something more is seamless, the Arizona Vengeance is back on the ice looking for a repeat championship, and my life has never been better. Just when I think I’ve got it all figured out, the realities of us both having careers which keep us on the road put our blossoming relationship on ice.
It feels like the game just went into overtime and I’m on the verge of either the biggest win or most disappointing loss of my life. And losing is never an option.
Outstanding Loving the Vengeance Series!
Kane
An Arizona Vengeance Novel
By: Sawyer Bennett
Narrated by: Jeremy York, Lessa Lamb
Sawyer Bennett delivers another awesome novel to her “Arizona Vengeance” series. This is his is an excellent friends to lovers sports romance! Ms. Bennett is a master at hockey romances, we met the first line of the Arizona Vengeance Hockey team in the earlier books, it is time to meet the second line players, this book is Kane and Mollie’s story. Kane is fairly new member of the team he came the way of the Cold Fury. Mollie has been his best friend for years, sure there was on slip up where they had a drunken one night stand but they decided to put it behind them and not risk their wonderful friendship. When Mollie shows up at his apartment he picks up that something is not right, when she opens up and tells him what happened to her he was livid. He told her she could stay as long as she needed. Kane gets an awakening after seeing one of his teammates interested in her, his awakening is he wants to be more than just friends. I loved everything plays out in this book, the story is beautifully plotted and there is never a dull moment. There is plenty of drama, heartfelt and emotional moments and a wonderful romance. Great cameo from Kynan and his security to help capture Mathew, great to see some of the other members and their awesome ladies from the Vengeance too. Mollie fit right in with the ladies. Sawyer Bennett, thank you for another awesome, enjoyable and entertaining story, I love how much heart you put into your characters and books.
I listened to the Audible edition, Lessa Lamb and Jeremy York are fabulous narrators and voice artists. They were perfectly casted to bring these characters to life. They did an awesome job portraying the characters, giving each their own voice and personality. Lessa Lamb’s take on Mollie was spot on, as was Jeremy York’s take on Kane, sounding just as I pictured them to sound. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured the characters emotions and projected them into their performance. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another fantastic listen
A genuinely beautiful, endearing, and heartfelt friendship to lovers romance. Kane and Mollie are absolutely perfect for one another but with their careers can they make it work? I adored they way they communicated, their chemistry, and just their undeniable connection. Sawyer Bennett never ceases to amaze me. I enjoyed every single moment of this book.
From the moment I started reading Ms. Bennett’s Arizona Vengeance series I found myself utterly delighted by each sexy and caring hero as well as each strong-willed and supportive heroine. Through seven previous books I’ve come to see these couples as family, craved their HEAs, and each glimpse of them since has endeared all of them to me even more. This eighth installment is another winner, a pretty carefree friends to lovers romance with enough suspense to add a bit of depth to the overall storyline, and I found myself turning the pages in anticipation of the HEA to come.
Mollie Callister is a travel blogger, one who loves flitting from one locale to the next discovering new things. There’s one constant in her life though and that is her friend of ten years, Kane, someone she knows she can always count on and who she runs to when an ex leaves her feeling threatened. Kane soon becomes her safe zone, but things also become more complicated between them as an unguarded moment between them in the past reawakens their hearts and has them trying to be something more than friends. Mollie’s a likable heroine, one with sass and spunk, and it made for witty banter between her and Kane along with interactions teeming with sexual tension. She’s always exuded confidence but the danger she’s facing has her feeling a bit vulnerable which made me even more grateful for Kane’s presence. There were times I was frustrated by her though as it felt like Kane was more willing than Mollie to give and take when it came to juggling their careers. Despite that I still found her to be an easily relatable heroine who knew what she wanted out of life and went after it.
Kane Ballen is a charmer, a new addition to the Arizona Vengeance hockey team, but no less important. He hasn’t been part of the team for long but he’s slowly starting to feel like a member of the family which will become important when Mollie lands on his doorstep. He hasn’t had time for the ladies either, but the moment Mollie shows up the combustible connection always simmering beneath the surface roars to the forefront, and has him wanting something beyond friendship with her. I adored the jealousy he displayed when others expressed an interest in her, fell for his protectiveness and his doing all he could to make a future with her. He’s a delicious hero who I wish existed in real life!
This was a romance full of warm fuzzies courtesy of two people meant to be more than friends. The foundation between them was solid from the start and had me rooting for them from the first page to the last. There’s a crackling connection between them, a loving and supportive side to their pairing too, and I enjoyed watching the evolution of their relationship as they went from playful friends to sexy soulmates. There were a few roadblocks along the way though regarding the danger directed towards Mollie (which allowed for the appearance of characters from another of Ms. Bennett’s series) as well as issues regarding their unconventional careers. Nothing worth having is easy though and it will take a bit of give and take to juggle what they want out of life, decide what’s truly important, as they reached their satisfying HEA. Along with this likable main couple came a cast of equally appealing secondary characters, couples from previous books that supported Mollie and Kane like they’re one of the family. I was especially drawn to the ups and downs of fellow teammate Jim Steele’s marriage, a storyline that will continue to play out. The introduction of another new teammate, Riggs Nadeu, also left me giddy with anticipation of the next installment in this reliably entertaining series!
This story had it all! Best friends to lovers, some angst, and hockey what more could you possibly need! All the feels with this story, 5 hockey sticks for this one! Sawyer does not disappoint!
We are back with the Arizona Vengeance, Kane this time! He’s got a girl who’s basically a friends with benefits type of girl. But when his best friend Mollie shows up at his door, no one else seems to exist! He can tell Mollie’s been through something tough, but he waits for her to open up and tell him what it is, and after she’s done, he’s super protective of her. When one of his teammates asks her out on a date, he doesn’t understand why he’s feeling the way he is, they are just besties after all.
Follow their story as these two try to handle all that’s coming their way! Will their relationship stay the same? Will it be forever changed? Read along and find out!